diff --git a/windows/collector/Collector.ps1 b/windows/collector/Collector.ps1
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..512034e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/windows/collector/Collector.ps1
@@ -0,0 +1,249 @@
+#Requires -Version 5.1
+# SilverMetal WinPE pre-config collector (WinForms UI). Runs in WinPE under the
+# ADK WinPE-NetFx + WinPE-PowerShell optional components. ASCII body only (WinPE
+# PowerShell 5.1 mis-parses smart quotes / em-dashes). On Finish it generates the
+# answer file and launches legacy Setup; on Cancel / error it exits 1 so the
+# wrapping Start-Collector.cmd falls back to the default autounattend.xml.
+
+try {
+    Add-Type -AssemblyName System.Windows.Forms, System.Drawing
+
+    # Validation helpers + answer-file generator live next to this script under X:\sm\.
+    . (Join-Path $PSScriptRoot 'Test-SmInput.ps1')
+    . (Join-Path $PSScriptRoot 'New-SmAnswerFile.ps1')
+
+    # --- palette ---------------------------------------------------------------
+    $colBg     = [Drawing.Color]::FromArgb(18, 18, 22)
+    $colPanel  = [Drawing.Color]::FromArgb(28, 28, 34)
+    $colText   = [Drawing.Color]::FromArgb(232, 232, 238)
+    $colMuted  = [Drawing.Color]::FromArgb(150, 150, 162)
+    $colAccent = [Drawing.Color]::FromArgb(96, 200, 170)
+    $colError  = [Drawing.Color]::FromArgb(236, 110, 110)
+    $colField  = [Drawing.Color]::FromArgb(40, 40, 48)
+
+    $fontBase  = New-Object Drawing.Font('Segoe UI', 11)
+    $fontTitle = New-Object Drawing.Font('Segoe UI Semibold', 26, [Drawing.FontStyle]::Bold)
+    $fontLabel = New-Object Drawing.Font('Segoe UI', 10)
+
+    # --- form ------------------------------------------------------------------
+    $form = New-Object Windows.Forms.Form
+    $form.Text            = 'SilverMetal Setup'
+    $form.WindowState     = 'Maximized'
+    $form.FormBorderStyle = 'None'
+    $form.BackColor       = $colBg
+    $form.ForeColor       = $colText
+    $form.Font            = $fontBase
+    $form.KeyPreview      = $true
+
+    # Helpers to build consistent controls.
+    function New-Label([string]$text, [int]$x, [int]$y, [int]$w = 220) {
+        $l = New-Object Windows.Forms.Label
+        $l.Text = $text; $l.AutoSize = $false
+        $l.Location = New-Object Drawing.Point($x, $y)
+        $l.Size = New-Object Drawing.Size($w, 24)
+        $l.ForeColor = $colMuted; $l.Font = $fontLabel
+        $form.Controls.Add($l); $l
+    }
+    function New-Field([int]$x, [int]$y, [int]$w = 360, [bool]$mask = $false) {
+        $t = New-Object Windows.Forms.TextBox
+        $t.Location = New-Object Drawing.Point($x, $y)
+        $t.Size = New-Object Drawing.Size($w, 28)
+        $t.BackColor = $colField; $t.ForeColor = $colText
+        $t.BorderStyle = 'FixedSingle'; $t.Font = $fontBase
+        if ($mask) { $t.UseSystemPasswordChar = $true }
+        $form.Controls.Add($t); $t
+    }
+
+    # Title + subtitle (left rail).
+    $title = New-Object Windows.Forms.Label
+    $title.Text = 'SilverMetal'
+    $title.Font = $fontTitle; $title.ForeColor = $colAccent
+    $title.AutoSize = $true
+    $title.Location = New-Object Drawing.Point(80, 70)
+    $form.Controls.Add($title)
+
+    $subtitle = New-Object Windows.Forms.Label
+    $subtitle.Text = 'Pre-install configuration. Set your account, machine and security options before Windows installs.'
+    $subtitle.Font = $fontLabel; $subtitle.ForeColor = $colMuted
+    $subtitle.AutoSize = $false
+    $subtitle.Location = New-Object Drawing.Point(82, 120)
+    $subtitle.Size = New-Object Drawing.Size(640, 24)
+    $form.Controls.Add($subtitle)
+
+    # --- left column fields ----------------------------------------------------
+    $colX = 80; $fldX = 80; $y = 180; $rowH = 64
+
+    New-Label 'Display name' $colX $y | Out-Null
+    $txtDisplay = New-Field $fldX ($y + 26)
+    $y += $rowH
+
+    New-Label 'Username' $colX $y | Out-Null
+    $txtUser = New-Field $fldX ($y + 26)
+    $y += $rowH
+
+    New-Label 'Password' $colX $y | Out-Null
+    $txtPass = New-Field $fldX ($y + 26) 360 $true
+    $y += $rowH
+
+    New-Label 'Confirm password' $colX $y | Out-Null
+    $txtPassC = New-Field $fldX ($y + 26) 360 $true
+    $y += $rowH
+
+    New-Label 'Computer name' $colX $y | Out-Null
+    $txtComputer = New-Field $fldX ($y + 26)
+    $y += $rowH
+
+    # --- right column: flavour + BitLocker -------------------------------------
+    $rX = 540; $rY = 180
+
+    $grpFlavour = New-Object Windows.Forms.GroupBox
+    $grpFlavour.Text = 'Flavour'
+    $grpFlavour.ForeColor = $colMuted
+    $grpFlavour.Location = New-Object Drawing.Point($rX, $rY)
+    $grpFlavour.Size = New-Object Drawing.Size(360, 220)
+    $form.Controls.Add($grpFlavour)
+
+    $flavours = @('developer', 'journalist', 'daily-driver', 'privacy-max', 'essentials')
+    $radioFlavours = @()
+    $fy = 32
+    foreach ($f in $flavours) {
+        $rb = New-Object Windows.Forms.RadioButton
+        $rb.Text = $f; $rb.ForeColor = $colText; $rb.Font = $fontBase
+        $rb.Location = New-Object Drawing.Point(20, $fy)
+        $rb.Size = New-Object Drawing.Size(320, 28)
+        $rb.Tag = $f
+        if ($f -eq 'daily-driver') { $rb.Checked = $true }
+        $grpFlavour.Controls.Add($rb)
+        $radioFlavours += $rb
+        $fy += 36
+    }
+
+    $chkBitLocker = New-Object Windows.Forms.CheckBox
+    $chkBitLocker.Text = 'Enable BitLocker (TPM + PIN)'
+    $chkBitLocker.ForeColor = $colText; $chkBitLocker.Font = $fontBase
+    $chkBitLocker.AutoSize = $true
+    $chkBitLocker.Location = New-Object Drawing.Point($rX, ($rY + 240))
+    $form.Controls.Add($chkBitLocker)
+
+    $lblPin = New-Label 'BitLocker PIN' $rX ($rY + 280) | Out-Null
+    $lblPin = $form.Controls[$form.Controls.Count - 1]
+    $txtPin = New-Field ($rX) ($rY + 306) 360 $true
+    $lblPinC = New-Label 'Confirm PIN' $rX ($rY + 348) | Out-Null
+    $lblPinC = $form.Controls[$form.Controls.Count - 1]
+    $txtPinC = New-Field ($rX) ($rY + 374) 360 $true
+
+    # PIN fields disabled until BitLocker is checked.
+    $setPinEnabled = {
+        $on = $chkBitLocker.Checked
+        $txtPin.Enabled = $on; $txtPinC.Enabled = $on
+        $fg = if ($on) { $colMuted } else { [Drawing.Color]::FromArgb(90, 90, 98) }
+        $lblPin.ForeColor = $fg; $lblPinC.ForeColor = $fg
+    }
+    $chkBitLocker.Add_CheckedChanged($setPinEnabled)
+    & $setPinEnabled
+
+    # --- status line -----------------------------------------------------------
+    $lblStatus = New-Object Windows.Forms.Label
+    $lblStatus.Text = ''
+    $lblStatus.ForeColor = $colError; $lblStatus.Font = $fontBase
+    $lblStatus.AutoSize = $false
+    $lblStatus.Location = New-Object Drawing.Point(80, ($y + 8))
+    $lblStatus.Size = New-Object Drawing.Size(820, 28)
+    $form.Controls.Add($lblStatus)
+
+    # --- buttons ---------------------------------------------------------------
+    function Style-Button($b, $primary) {
+        $b.FlatStyle = 'Flat'; $b.Font = $fontBase
+        $b.Size = New-Object Drawing.Size(150, 40)
+        $b.FlatAppearance.BorderSize = 1
+        if ($primary) {
+            $b.BackColor = $colAccent; $b.ForeColor = $colBg
+            $b.FlatAppearance.BorderColor = $colAccent
+        } else {
+            $b.BackColor = $colPanel; $b.ForeColor = $colText
+            $b.FlatAppearance.BorderColor = $colMuted
+        }
+    }
+
+    $btnDefaults = New-Object Windows.Forms.Button
+    $btnDefaults.Text = 'Use defaults'
+    Style-Button $btnDefaults $false
+    $btnDefaults.Location = New-Object Drawing.Point(80, ($y + 48))
+    $form.Controls.Add($btnDefaults)
+
+    $btnCancel = New-Object Windows.Forms.Button
+    $btnCancel.Text = 'Cancel'
+    Style-Button $btnCancel $false
+    $btnCancel.Location = New-Object Drawing.Point(580, ($y + 48))
+    $form.Controls.Add($btnCancel)
+
+    $btnFinish = New-Object Windows.Forms.Button
+    $btnFinish.Text = 'Finish'
+    Style-Button $btnFinish $true
+    $btnFinish.Location = New-Object Drawing.Point(750, ($y + 48))
+    $form.Controls.Add($btnFinish)
+
+    # --- behaviour -------------------------------------------------------------
+    $btnDefaults.Add_Click({
+        $txtDisplay.Text  = 'SilverMetal User'
+        $txtUser.Text     = 'silver'
+        $txtComputer.Text = 'SILVER-PC'
+        # Leave passwords blank on purpose: the user must set them.
+        $txtPass.Text = ''; $txtPassC.Text = ''
+        foreach ($rb in $radioFlavours) { $rb.Checked = ($rb.Tag -eq 'daily-driver') }
+        $chkBitLocker.Checked = $false
+        $txtPin.Text = ''; $txtPinC.Text = ''
+        $lblStatus.ForeColor = $colMuted
+        $lblStatus.Text = 'Defaults applied. Set a password to continue.'
+    })
+
+    $btnCancel.Add_Click({ [Environment]::Exit(1) })
+    $form.Add_KeyDown({ if ($_.KeyCode -eq 'Escape') { [Environment]::Exit(1) } })
+
+    $btnFinish.Add_Click({
+        $lblStatus.ForeColor = $colError
+
+        $rUser = Test-SmUsername $txtUser.Text
+        if (-not $rUser.Ok) { $lblStatus.Text = $rUser.Message; return }
+
+        $rPass = Test-SmPassword $txtPass.Text $txtPassC.Text
+        if (-not $rPass.Ok) { $lblStatus.Text = $rPass.Message; return }
+
+        $rComp = Test-SmComputerName $txtComputer.Text
+        if (-not $rComp.Ok) { $lblStatus.Text = $rComp.Message; return }
+
+        $blEnabled = $chkBitLocker.Checked
+        $pin = ''
+        if ($blEnabled) {
+            $rPin = Test-SmPin $txtPin.Text $txtPinC.Text
+            if (-not $rPin.Ok) { $lblStatus.Text = $rPin.Message; return }
+            $pin = $txtPin.Text
+        }
+
+        $flavour = 'daily-driver'
+        foreach ($rb in $radioFlavours) { if ($rb.Checked) { $flavour = [string]$rb.Tag } }
+
+        $display = if ([string]::IsNullOrWhiteSpace($txtDisplay.Text)) { $txtUser.Text } else { $txtDisplay.Text }
+
+        $lblStatus.ForeColor = $colAccent
+        $lblStatus.Text = 'Generating answer file and starting Windows Setup...'
+        $form.Refresh()
+
+        $xml = New-SmAnswerFile -DisplayName $display -Username $txtUser.Text -Password $txtPass.Text `
+            -ComputerName $txtComputer.Text -Flavour $flavour `
+            -BitLockerEnable $blEnabled -BitLockerPin $pin
+
+        Set-Content -Path 'X:\sm\unattend.generated.xml' -Value $xml -Encoding UTF8
+
+        Start-Process -FilePath 'X:\sources\setup.exe' -ArgumentList '/unattend:X:\sm\unattend.generated.xml' -Wait
+        [Environment]::Exit(0)
+    })
+
+    [void]$form.ShowDialog()
+    # If the form closes without Finish/Cancel handling exiting, treat as cancel.
+    [Environment]::Exit(1)
+}
+catch {
+    # Any failure -> exit 1 so Start-Collector.cmd falls back to the default answer file.
+    [Environment]::Exit(1)
+}
diff --git a/windows/collector/Start-Collector.cmd b/windows/collector/Start-Collector.cmd
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..79f3c9d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/windows/collector/Start-Collector.cmd
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+@echo off
+REM WinPE entry point. SM_UNATTENDED=1 -> skip the UI and launch Setup with the default
+REM answer file (used by CI / non-interactive builds).
+if "%SM_UNATTENDED%"=="1" (
+  start /wait X:\sources\setup.exe /unattend:X:\autounattend.xml
+  exit /b 0
+)
+powershell -NoProfile -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File X:\sm\Collector.ps1
+if errorlevel 1 (
+  REM Collector failed or was cancelled -> fall back to the default answer file so install still proceeds.
+  start /wait X:\sources\setup.exe /unattend:X:\autounattend.xml
+)
+exit /b 0
diff --git a/windows/collector/winpeshl.ini b/windows/collector/winpeshl.ini
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..19f803c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/windows/collector/winpeshl.ini
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+[LaunchApps]
+%SYSTEMDRIVE%\sm\Start-Collector.cmd
diff --git a/windows/installer/build.ps1 b/windows/installer/build.ps1
index 4656af2..d3fa443 100644
--- a/windows/installer/build.ps1
+++ b/windows/installer/build.ps1
@@ -118,6 +118,18 @@ function Invoke-ForceLegacySetup {
         # unreliable when setup is launched via the CmdLine override (legacy Setup
         # otherwise still shows the language page).
         Copy-Item (Join-Path $PSScriptRoot 'autounattend\autounattend.xml') (Join-Path $bootmnt 'autounattend.xml') -Force
+        # Add WinPE .NET + PowerShell so the collector (WinForms) can run in WinPE.
+        $adk = 'C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Kits\10\Assessment and Deployment Kit\Windows Preinstallation Environment\amd64\WinPE_OCs'
+        foreach ($oc in @('WinPE-WMI.cab','WinPE-NetFx.cab','WinPE-Scripting.cab','WinPE-PowerShell.cab')) {
+            $cab = Join-Path $adk $oc
+            if (Test-Path $cab) { Add-WindowsPackage -Path $bootmnt -PackagePath $cab | Out-Null; Write-Host "   added WinPE OC: $oc" }
+            else { Write-Warning "   WinPE OC missing on runner: $cab (collector needs the ADK WinPE add-on; boot.wim assertions will fail without it)" }
+        }
+        # Stage the collector + winpeshl so WinPE launches it instead of Setup.
+        $smDir = Join-Path $bootmnt 'sm'; $null = New-Item -ItemType Directory -Force $smDir
+        Copy-Item (Join-Path $PSScriptRoot '..\collector\*') $smDir -Recurse -Force
+        Copy-Item (Join-Path $smDir 'winpeshl.ini') (Join-Path $bootmnt 'Windows\System32\winpeshl.ini') -Force
+        Write-Host "   staged collector to boot.wim \sm\ + winpeshl.ini"
         $setup = if (Test-Path (Join-Path $bootmnt 'sources\setup.exe')) { 'X:\sources\setup.exe' } else { 'X:\setup.exe' }
         $cmdline = "$setup /unattend:X:\autounattend.xml"
         $hive = Join-Path $bootmnt 'Windows\System32\config\SYSTEM'