Windows ADK for Windows scenarios for IT Pros

The Windows Assessment and Deployment Kit (Windows ADK) contains tools that IT Pros can use to deploy Windows. For an overview of what's new in the latest version of the Windows ADK, see What's new in the ADK tools. For the ADK reference content, see Desktop manufacturing.

Create a Windows image using command-line tools

DISM is used to mount and service Windows images.

Here are some things that can be done with DISM:

• Mount an offline image.
• Add and Remove Driver packages to an offline Windows Image.
• Enable or Disable Windows Features Using DISM.
• Add or Remove Packages Offline Using DISM.
• Add languages to Windows images.
• Preinstall Apps Using DISM.
• Change the Windows Image to a Higher Edition Using DISM.

Sysprep prepares a Windows installation for imaging and allows capturing a customized Windows installation.

Here are some things that can be done with Sysprep:

• Generalize a Windows installation.
• Customize the default user profile by using CopyProfile.
• Use answer files.

Windows PE (WinPE) is a small operating system used to boot a computer that doesn't have an operating system. Windows PE can be booted into to install a new operating system, recover data, or repair an existing operating system.

A WinPE image can be created using the article Create bootable Windows PE media. Types of bootable media include:

• Create a bootable Windows PE USB drive.
• Create a WinPE ISO, DVD, or CD.
• Create a Windows PE VHD to use with Hyper-V.

Windows Recovery Environment (Windows RE) is a recovery environment that can repair common operating system problems.

Here are some things that can be done with Windows RE:

• Customize Windows RE.
• Push-button reset.

Windows System Image Manager (WSIM) helps create answer files that change Windows settings and run scripts during Windows installation.

Here are some things that can be done with WSIM:

• Create or Open an Answer File.
• Add a Device Driver Path to an Answer File.
• Add a Package to an Answer File.
• Add a Custom Command to an Answer File.

For a list of settings that can be changed, see Unattended Windows Setup Reference.

Create a provisioning package using Windows ICD

Windows Imaging and Configuration Designer (ICD) streamlines the customizing and provisioning of a Windows for desktop editions (Home, Pro, Enterprise, and Education) or a Windows IoT Core (IoT Core) image. Creating, applying, and exporting provisioning packages with the Windows ICD is covered in the article Create a provisioning package.

IT Pro Windows deployment tools

There are also a few tools included in the Windows ADK that are specific to IT Pros:

• Volume Activation Management Tool (VAMT) Technical Reference
• User State Migration Tool (USMT) Technical Reference