Create an application to deploy with Windows 10 using Configuration Manager

Applies to:

  • Windows 10

Microsoft Configuration Manager supports deploying applications as part of the Windows 10 deployment process. In this section, you create an application in Microsoft Configuration Manager that you later configure the task sequence to use.

For the purposes of this guide, we'll use one server computer: CM01.

  • CM01 is a domain member server and Configuration Manager software distribution point. In this guide, CM01 is a standalone primary site server. CM01 is running Windows Server 2019. However, an earlier, supported version of Windows Server can also be used.

Note

The reference image used in this lab already contains some applications, such as Microsoft Office 365 Pro Plus x64. The procedure demonstrated in this article enables you to add some additional custom applications beyond those included in the reference image.

Example: Create the Adobe Reader application

On CM01:

  1. Create the D:\Setup folder if it doesn't already exist.

  2. Download the Enterprise distribution version of Adobe Acrobat Reader DC (ex: AcroRdrDC2000620034_en_US.exe) to D:\Setup\Adobe on CM01. The filename will differ depending on the version of Acrobat Reader.

  3. Extract the .exe file that you downloaded to a .msi. The source folder will differ depending on where you downloaded the file. See the following example:

    Set-Location C:\Users\administrator.CONTOSO\Downloads
    .\AcroRdrDC2000620034_en_US.exe -sfx_o"d:\Setup\Adobe\" -sfx_ne
    

    Note

    The extraction process will create the "Adobe" folder.

  4. Using File Explorer, copy the D:\Setup\Adobe folder to the D:\Sources\Software\Adobe folder.

  5. In the Configuration Manager Console, in the Software Library workspace, expand Application Management.

  6. Right-click Applications, point to Folder and then select Create Folder. Assign the name OSD.

  7. Right-click the OSD folder, and select Create Application.

  8. In the Create Application Wizard, on the General page, use the following settings:

    • Automatically detect information about this application from installation files
    • Type: Windows Installer (*.msi file)
    • Location: \\CM01\Sources$\Software\Adobe\AcroRead.msi

    The Create Application Wizard.

    The Create Application Wizard

  9. Select Next, and wait while Configuration Manager parses the MSI file.

  10. On the Import Information page, review the information and then select Next.

  11. On the General Information page, name the application Adobe Acrobat Reader DC - OSD Install, select Next twice, and then select Close.

    Note

    Because it is not possible to reference an application deployment type in the task sequence, you should have a single deployment type for applications deployed by the task sequence. If you are deploying applications via both the task sequence and normal application deployment, and you have multiple deployment types, you should have two applications of the same software. In this section, you add the "OSD Install" suffix to applications that are deployed via the task sequence. If using packages, you can still reference both package and program in the task sequence.

    Add the OSD Install suffix to the application name.

    Add the "OSD Install" suffix to the application name

  12. In the Applications node, select the Adobe Reader - OSD Install application, and select Properties on the ribbon bar (this path is another place to view properties, you can also right-click and select properties).

  13. On the General Information tab, select the Allow this application to be installed from the Install Application task sequence action without being deployed check box, and select OK.

Next, see Add drivers to a Windows 10 deployment with Windows PE using Configuration Manager.

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