How to download the Windows Vista AIK, WDS and Windows PE 2.0

After last months Windows Vista Technical Training Sessions @ Connect, one of the frequent questions I had both during the presentation and in email after the event, is how do people get their hands on the tools that I talked about and demoed.

I promised I would publish the info on how to download it once we had the process in place

Well, overnight the bits were released onto the Microsoft Connect portal

You can sign in there with your passport (click the above link), register your details and get immediate access to the download

What we've actually released is  a beta version of the Business Desktop Deployment (BDD) tools for Windows Vista, which just so happens to contain the bits that we showed off during the event.  The file you probably want to download is BDDVista_Full.cab: This file contains dependent and related tools and guidance, including: Windows AIK with Windows Deployment Services (WDS) and Windows PE 2.0, User State Migration Tool (USMT) 3.0, Application Compatibility Toolkit (ACT) 5.0, Enterprise Learning Framework guide and a deployment whitepaper targeted to mid-sized organizations.

Enjoy!

BDD 2007 Beta 1 now available on Connect

Now Available: BDD 2007 Beta 1 for
Windows Vista and the 2007 Microsoft Office System

The Microsoft Solutions for Infrastructure
& Management (MSIM) team is pleased to announce the Beta release of the
Microsoft Solution Accelerator for Business Desktop Deployment (BDD) 2007.

BDD has changed the face of scaled desktop
deployments, providing true end-to-end guidance and automation for all required
processes. We are excited to announce BDD 2007 Beta 1 to enable Lite Touch
deployments of Windows Vista and the 2007 Microsoft Office system desktop
images. Many things have changed in Windows Vista that will significantly ease
deployment, including new out-of-the-box imaging technologies, XML-based
migration scripts, new tools for image engineering (ImageX and System Image
Manager), and new unattend XML format. As with any advancement in technologies,
getting the maximum benefit requires understanding the tools and technologies,
and BDD 2007 provides the depth of guidance and tooling to make the Windows
Vista and 2007 Microsoft Office system deployment process predictable and
scalable.

 

BDD 2007 is
the best practice set of guidance and automation to optimally deploy Windows
Vista and the 2007 Microsoft Office system. BDD 2007 uses an integrated
deployment workbench built using ImageX, System Image Manager, Windows PE 2.0,
and Windows Deployment Services. The BDD Workbench enables you to build and
manage multiple OS configurations, define network deployment points and network
shares, inject drivers, attach language packs, and chain applications. It even
helps generate ISO and WIM images using Windows PE. BDD 2007 also alleviates
much of the scripting requirements of previous BDD versions by incorporating a
stand-alone task sequencer derived from System Center Configuration Manager
2007.

The BDD
2007 Beta 1 release supports four primary Lite Touch deployment scenarios:

  • New: Format the computer’s hard disk and install a new operating system
    (wipe-and-load) and applications.
  • Refresh: Save all configuration information, remove the existing operating
    system, and install a new operating system and applications.
  • Upgrade: Preserve existing applications and configuration information by
    upgrading the existing operating system.
  • Replace: Save user data from the old computer. On the new computer, install
    a new operating system and applications and restore the saved user data.

This Beta release of BDD 2007 currently supports deployment of Windows Vista
and the 2007 Microsoft Office system Beta releases. Release versions of BDD 2007
will add support for Windows XP and share common tools with Windows Vista across
both x86 and x64 platforms. Included tools and documentation are not feature
complete and we strongly recommend following the release notes to get started.
Zero Touch features will be available for the SMS 2003 OS Deployment Feature
Pack Update to enable hands-free deployment of Windows Vista and 2007 Microsoft
Office system desktops.

 

Where to Find the
Solution

  • BDD 2007 Beta 1 is part of the Windows Vista Tech
    Beta and TAP programs. It is also available as an open beta download. Visit https://connect.microsoft.com and apply for the Business Desktop Deployment 2007 (Beta)
    for Windows Vista and the 2007 Microsoft Office system program.
  • The Beta documentation
    will be available soon on Microsoft TechNet.