Running the Windows Deployment Wizard

To initiate the deployment of Windows to target computers, run the Windows Deployment Wizard. Initiate the Windows Deployment Wizard manually or through Windows DS.

Each deployment scenario (Upgrade Computer, Replace Computer, New Computer, Refresh Computer) uses a different process. Initiate the deployment from a network share, from local drives, or from DVD. After initiating the Windows Deployment Wizard, the deployment process starts. The process prompts for any configuration settings that are not already specified.

Depending on the deployment scenario selected and the configuration options specified in CustomSettings.ini, the Windows Deployment Wizard displays different wizard pages. The logic for displaying (or not displaying) a wizard page is noted for each wizard page in the steps that follow.

To deploy the target operating system to the target computer by using the Windows Deployment Wizard, complete the following steps (while skipping any wizard pages that are not displayed based on the deployment point type selected):

  1. Verify that the folders in Table 22 no longer exist on the target computer.

    The Windows Deployment Wizard creates and uses the folders listed in Table 22 during the deployment process. If a previous deployment was abnormally terminated, these folders may still exist on the target computer. If these folders are not removed, the process will continue from the point where the process abnormally terminated instead of starting from the beginning. Remove these folders, if they exist, before initiating deployment. These folders exist on os_drive (where os_drive is the drive where the operating system is installed).

    Table 22. Folders to Remove Prior to Initiating the Windows Deployment Wizard

    Folder

    Description

    os_drive:\MININT

    This folder is preserved through the deployment process and contains deployment state information (such as users state migration information and log files).

    os_drive:\_SMSTaskSequence

    This folder contains state information specific to Task Sequencer.

  2. Initiate the Windows Deployment Wizard by using one of the following methods:

    • Manually, by connecting to the appropriate deployment point (for example, \\servername\Distribution$\Scripts) and typing cscript litetouch.vbs.

    • Initiating the process through Windows DS, start Windows PE, and then run cscript litetouch.vbs. Any images created by Deployment Workbench automatically start the Windows Deployment Wizard.

  3. On the Welcome to your Windows Deployment Wizard page, select one of the options in Table 23 based on the requirements, and then click Next.

    Use this wizard page to select a deployment shares (called deployment points in Deployment Workbench) based on a site. Sites are logical groupings of one or more deployment points. Sites defined in the LocationServer.xml file. Use this file to group one or more deployment points into a site. The Windows Deployment Wizard can load balance server and network traffic utilization within a site by distributing the utilization across all the deployment points in the site.

    Note   This wizard page appears when the DeployRoot property begins with X:\ or the DeployRoot property equals “”.

    Table 23. Deployment Share Options

    Option

    Select this option to

    Select my deployment share based on my site locale

    Automatically select the deployment share based on the site.

    In the Site list, select site (where site is the site where a control server qualified path to the locations for the desired control server share is located).

    Manually specify the server location

    Manually specify the control server share.

    In the Deployment Share box, type control_server_share (where control_server_share is the fully qualified path to the locations for the desired control server share).

  4. On the Choose a migration type page, select one of the options in Table 24 based on the requirements, and then click Next.

    Note   This wizard page appears when the SkipDeploymentType property is not equal to YES and the DeploymentType property is not equal to NEWCOMPUTER.

    Table 24. Migration Type Options

    Option

    Select this option to

    Refresh this computer

    Optionally, save the existing user state migration data.

    Deploy the desktop standard environment, including operating system and applications.

    Restore user state migration data on the same computer.

    Upgrade this computer

    Upgrade the existing computer by using the upgrade features supported by the target operating system.

    Note   The upgrade process will fail on target computers that have users logged on by using Remote Desktop sessions. Ensure that no users are connected to the target computer by Remote Desktop before initiating the Windows Deployment Wizard.

    Replace this computer

    Save the existing user state migration data from the current computer in use by a user.

    Deploy the desktop standard environment, including operating system and applications, on a new computer.

    Restore user state migration data to the new computer.

    Note   Although it is not a migration scenario, the New Computer scenario can be used to deploy the target operating system to a new computer.

  5. On the Configure the computer name page, in the Computer name box, type computer_name (where computer_name is the computer name to assign to the target computer), and then click Next.

    Note   This wizard page appears when the SkipComputerName property is not equal to YES, the DeploymentType property is not equal to REPLACE, and the DeploymentType property is not equal to UPGRADE.

  6. On the Join the computer to a domain or workgroup page, select one of the options in Table 25 based on the requirements, and then click Next.

    Note   This wizard page appears when the SkipDomainMembership property is not equal to YES, the DeploymentType property is not equal to REPLACE, the DeploymentType property is not equal to UPGRADE, and SkipDomainMembershipIfUpgrade is TRUE.

    Table 25. Specify Computer Membership Configuration

    For this option

    Perform this task

    Join a domain

    Select this option to join an existing Active Directory domain.

    1. In the Domain box, type domain (where domain is the name of the domain to be joined).

    2. In the User Name box, type user_name (where user_name is the name of a user account that has sufficient permissions to create the computer account in the domain).

    3. In the Domain box, type domain (where domain is the name of the domain where the user account specified in the User Name box is located).

    4. In the Password box, type password (where password is the password for the user account specified in the User Name box).

    5. In the Organizational Unit box, type organizational_unit (where organizational_unit is the name of the organizational unit (OU) in Active Directory where the computer account will be created).

    Join a workgroup

    Select this option to join a Windows workgroup.

    In the Workgroup box, type workgroup (where workgroup is the name of the workgroup to join).

  7. On the Specify where to save your data and settings page, select one of the options in Table 26 based on the requirements, and then click Next.

    Note   This wizard page appears when the SkipUserData property is not equal to YES, the DeploymentType property is not equal to UPGRADE, and DeploymentType is not equal to NEWCOMPUTER.

    Table 26. User State Backup Options

    Option

    Select this option to

    Automatically determine the location

    Allow the BDD 2007 deployment scripts and process rules to automatically determine the best location based on local available disk space on the target computer.

    Optionally select the Allow data and settings to be stored locally when possible check box to give preference to storing the data locally.

    Specify a location.

    Save the user state migration data to a specific location.

    In the Location box, type location (where location is the fully qualified path to the locations for storing the user state migration data).

    Note   Alternatively, click Browse to locate location.

    Do not save data and settings

    Discard any existing user state migration data or deploy a new computer with no existing data.

  8. On the Specify whether to restore user data page, select one of the options in Table 27 based on the requirements, and then click Next.

    Note   This wizard page appears when the SkipUserData property is not equal to YES and the DeploymentType property is equal to NEWCOMPUTER.

    Table 27. User State Restore Options

    Option

    Select this option when

    Do not restore user data and settings

    The migration type is New Computer, and there is no user state migration data to restore.

    Specify a location.

    The migration type is Replace Computer.

    In the Location box, type location (where location is the fully qualified path to the location where the user state migration back files are stored).

  9. On the Specify where to save a complete computer backup page, select one of the options in Table 28 based on the requirements, and then click Next.

    Note   This wizard page appears when the SkipComputerBackup property is not equal to YES and the DeploymentType property is equal to REFRESH.

    Table 28. Computer Image Backup Options

    Option

    Select this option to

    Automatically determine the location

    Allow the BDD 2007 deployment scripts and process rules to automatically determine the best location based on local available disk space on the target computer.

    Optionally, select the Allow data and settings to be stored locally when possible check box to give preference to storing the data locally.

    Specify a location

    Save the computer image backup to a specific location.

    In the Location box, type location (where location is the fully qualified path to the locations for storing the computer backup).

    Do not back up the existing computer

    Discard any existing data on the target computer or deploy a new computer with no existing data.

    The Windows Deployment Wizard uses the ImageX utility to perform the backup. ImageX is not intended to be used as a part of the overall backup and disaster recovery process. Instead, ImageX is designed to create a backup of the target computer to assist in recovering user state migration information that may not have been captured correctly.

    Note   Windows Complete PC Backup is a feature of Windows Vista only. BDD 2007 uses the ImageX utility during migration, because it works on all platforms that BDD 2007 supports. Use the Windows Complete PC Backup for enhanced disaster recovery protection after migration is complete.

  10. On the Select an operating system image to install page, in the The following images are available for your computer box, select the appropriate operating system image to deploy, and then click Next.

    Note   This wizard page appears when the SkipBuild property is not equal to YES, the DeploymentType property is not equal to REPLACE, and the BuildGUID property equals “”.

  11. On the Specify the product key needed to install this operating system page, select one of the options in Table 29 based on the requirements, and then click Next.

    Note   This wizard page appears when the SkipProductKey property is not equal to YES, the DeploymentType property is not equal to REPLACE, and the first character in the ImageBuild property is equal to 6 (indicates the Windows Vista build).

    Table 29. Windows Vista Product Key Options

    Option

    Select this option to

    No product key is required

    Assign product keys to target computers by using a KMS.

    Activate the machine with a multiple activation key (MAK)

    Assign a MAK to the target computer and activate the computer over the Internet.

    In the Multiple activation key box, type mak (where mak is the MAK to be assigned to the target computer).

    Use a specific product key

    Assign a specific license key for installation or retail activation.

    In the Product_key box, type product_key (where product_key is the product key to be assigned to the target computer).

  12. On the Specify the product key needed to install this operating system page, in the Product key box, type product_key, and then click Next (where product_key is the product key to be assigned to the target computer).

    Note   This wizard page appears when the SkipProductKey property is not equal to YES, the DeploymentType property is not equal to REPLACE, and the first character in the ImageBuild property is less than 6 (indicates the Windows XP build).

  13. On the Packages page, in the Packages box, select the language pack to be installed, and then click Next.

    Note   This wizard page appears when the SkipPackageDisplay property is not equal to YES, the DeploymentType property is not equal to REPLACE, and the first character in the ImageBuild property is equal to 6 (indicates the Windows Vista build).

    For Windows Vista Ultimate and Enterprise Editions, select more than one language. For all other versions, select only one language.

    Note   During an upgrade, add extra language packs. However, if the languages are not already installed in previous version of Windows or Windows PE, some problems in displaying the fonts may arise.

  14. On the Locale Selection page, select one of the options in Table 30 based on the requirements, and then click Next.

    Note   This wizard page appears when the SkipLocaleSelection property is not equal to YES, the DeploymentType property is not equal to REPLACE, the DeploymentType property is not equal to UPGRADE, and the first character in the ImageBuild property is equal to 6 (indicates the Windows Vista build).

    When upgrading a computer from a previous version of Windows, Deployment Workbench prevents selecting a locale. During an upgrade, Windows Vista upgrades the existing version of Windows with the same language that is currently installed.

    Table 30. Locale Options

    In this box

    Select

    What is your Locale

    The default locale for the target operating system.

    Keyboard

    Keyboard locale to be used with the target operating system.

  15. On the Set the Time Zone page, select the time zone where the target computer is to be deployed.

    Note   This wizard page appears when the SkipTimeZone property is not equal to YES and the DeploymentType property is not equal to REPLACE.

  16. On the Select one or more applications to install page, select the appropriate applications to deploy, and then click Next.

    Note   This wizard page appears when the DeploymentType property is not equal to REPLACE, and the SkipAppsOnUpgrade property is not equal to YES or the DeploymentType property is not equal to UPGRADE, at least one application is defined, and the SkipApplications property is not equal to YES.

  17. On the Administrator Password page, in the Administrator Password and Please confirm Administrator Password boxes, type password (where password is the password for the local built-in Administrator account on the target computer), and then click Next.

    Note   This wizard page appears when the SkipAdminPassword property is not equal to YES, the DeploymentType property is not equal to UPGRADE, and the DeploymentType property is not equal to REPLACE.

  18. On the Specify whether to capture an image page, select one of the options in Table 31 based on the requirements, and then click Next.

    Note   This wizard page appears when the SkipCapture property is equal to NO, the DeploymentType property is equal to NEWCOMPUTER, and the JoinDomain property is equal to “”.

    Table 31. Image Capture Options

    Option

    Select this option to

    Capture an image of this reference computer

    Run Sysprep.exe, and then capture an image of the target computer. Then, store the image in the location specified.

    In the Location box, type location (where location is the fully qualified path to the location for storing the image of the target computer).

    In the File name box, type location (where location is the fully qualified path to the locations for storing the computer backup).

    Prepare to capture the machine

    Copy the required Sysprep files to the target computer, but do not initiate Sysprep. Use this option when to use the Image Capture Wizard in the SMS 2003 OSD Feature Pack.

    Do not capture an image of this computer.

    Deploy the target operating system to the target computer without capturing a Sysprep image of the computer.

  19. On the Specify the BitLocker configuration page, select one of the options in Table 32 based on the requirements, and then click Next.

    Note   This wizard page appears when the SkipBitLocker property is not equal to YES, the DeploymentType property is not equal to REPLACE, the DoCapture property is not equal to YES, the first character in the ImageBuild property is equal to 6 (indicates the Windows Vista build), and the Enterprise or Ultimate version of Windows Vista is being deployed.

    Table 32. BitLocker Drive Encryption Configuration Options

    Option

    Select this option to

    Do not enable BitLocker for this computer.

    Deploy the target operating system without enabling BitLocker™ Drive Encryption.

    Enable BitLocker using TPM.

    Enable BitLocker Drive Encryption and use Trusted Platform Module (TPM) version 1.2 or later. Then, select one of the following options for using TPM:

    • To use TPM only, select the Enable BitLocker using TPM only option.

    • To use TPM with a personal identification number (PIN), select the Enable BitLocker using TPM and a PIN option; and, in the Pin box, type pin (where pin is the BitLocker Drive Encryption PIN for the target computer).

    • To use TPM with a startup key, select the Enable BitLocker using TPM and a startup key option.

    Enable BitLocker using only an external key.

    Enable BitLocker Drive Encryption, and use a randomly generated, 48-character external key.

  20. On the Specify the BitLocker recovery details page, select one of the options in Table 33 based on the requirements, and then click Next.

    Note   This wizard page appears when the SkipBitLockerDetails property is not equal to YES and the BDEInstall property is not equal to “”.

    Table 33. BitLocker Drive Encryption Recovery Details Options

    Option

    Select this option to

    Generate a recovery key

    Generate a recovery key used to recover encrypted content on a computer with BitLocker Drive Encryption deployed.

    Generate a recovery password

    Generate a password used to recover encrypted content on a computer with BitLocker Drive Encryption deployed.

    Store password and key on available removable media

    Store the recovery key and password on available removable media (such as a USB drive).

    Store password and key at the specified path

    Store the recovery key and password on a shared network folder specified in the Path box.

  21. Complete the Specify credentials for connecting to network shares page based on the information in Table 34, and then click OK.

    Note   This wizard page appears when the UserID_isDirty property is TRUE or the UserID property is equal to “” and the DeploymentType property is not equal to REPLACE and the DeploymentMethod property is not equal to MEDIA.

    These credentials are used to access network shared folders used during the deployment process. These shared folders include folders used to store user state migration data or image backups of the target computer.

    Table 34. Credentials Options

    In this box

    Type

    User Name

    user_name (where user_name is the user name of the account that has that appropriate permissions on the network shared folders used by the deployment scripts).

    Domain

    domain (where domain is the name of the domain where the user account, specified in the User Name box, is located).

    Password

    password (where password is the password for the user account specified in the User Name box).

  22. Review the information on the Ready to begin page, and then click Begin.

The Windows Deployment Wizard finishes, and the deployment of the target operating system begins.

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