Deploying a Windows 7 image with WDS and MDT 2010 - Part 1

This post will tell you about the process of deploying an image using WDS and MDT. It expects you have a set up and working WDS server, and the base Windows 7 OS already installed.

First log onto the WDS server as you will need to edit a few files first.

Go to the deployment share  and go into the 'control 'folder.

 

The first file you will need to edit is ‘bootstrap.ini’. The correct text in the file should look like this.

[Settings]

Priority=Default

[Default]

DeployRoot=\\WDSSERVER\DeploymentShareFolder

SkipBDDWelcome=YES

SkipBDDWelcome – skips the welcome screen when you boot into winPE. This can be changed

DeployRoot – The path to the deployment share. This will need to be changed.

The second file is called ‘customsettings.ini’. The correct text should look like this.

[Settings]

Priority=Default

Properties=MyCustomProperty

[Default]

OSInstall=YES

SkipAppsOnUpgrade=YES

skipBDDWelcome=YES

SkipCapture=yes

SkipAdminPassword=YES

SkipProductKey=YES

SkipAppsOnUpgrade=YES

SkipCapture=YES

ComputerBackupLocation=\\WDSSERVER\deploymentshareFolder\Backup

BackupFile=MyCustomImage.wim

SkipAdminPassword=YES

SkipDeploymentType=YES

SkipDomainMembership=YES

JoinDomain=NameOfYourDomain

DomainAdmin=UserNameToJoinDomain

DomainAdminDomain=DomainName

DomainAdminPassword=PasswordOfUserToJoinDomain

SkipUserData=Yes

SkipTaskSequence=YES

TaskSequenceID=IDOfTaskSequence

SkipComputerName=NO

OSDComputerName=%SerialNumber%

SkipPackageDisplay=YES

SkipLocaleSelection=YES

UILanguage=en-UK

UserLocale=en-UK

KeyboardLocale=0809:00000809

SkipTimeZone=YES

TimeZoneName=GMT Standard Time

SkipApplications=YES

SkipBitLocker=YES

SkipSummary=YES

CaptureGroups=YES

SLShare=\\WDSSERVER\deploymentshareFolder\Logs

Home_page=HomePageForWebBrowser

_SMSTSORGNAME = Your Organisations Name

Most of these options (all of which are changeable) are self explanatory. I will point out TaskSequenceID. You will need to change this to which ever task sequence you wish to use. A list is provided in the MDT workbench.

All of the ones marked in red you will certainly need to change but you can change everything. Also note that the Locale is set up for UK and UK English. You'll need to change that depending on where in the world you are.

Remember to save both files when you finish editing them.

Now if you go back to the ‘control’ folder, you should see folders which have the names of the images you wish to deploy. If you choose the image you wish to deploy and go into the folder you will see 2 files. A ‘ts.xml’ and a ‘unattended.xml’. It is the ‘unattended.xml’ file you want to edit so open it up. This is where the computer gets the information from to set up the computer so you don’t have to stay there and provide it.

The windows system image manager should open up and in the centre pane will have a list of options.

Each one of these can be customized. You will need to go through each one of these to make sure it is customize to the image you will be using it with. 

Continue to part 2