Going Production – Deploy Windows 8 using MDT 2012 Update 1

Windows 8 RTM is now available and so is the deployment solution to deploy it. As of this writing (August 19, 2012) MDT 2012 Update 1 is the only deployment solution by Microsoft that supports deploying the final version of Windows 8. The other deployment solution Microsoft has, System Center 2012 Configuration Manager, will not support Windows 8 until the SP1 update is released later this year.

Note: Yes, I know: Technically you can use plain vanilla Windows Deployment Services (WDS) and ADK to deploy Windows 8, but that's not a deployment solution. WDS and ADK are only plumbing tools for deployment, not a deployment solution, and MDT 2012 Update 1 will use them in the background anyway. Please do not waste your time trying to build a deployment solution on WDS and ADK, Microsoft has already done it for you: It's named MDT 2012 Update 1!

The Scenario

In this guide you learn to setup MDT 2012 Update 1 to deploy Windows 8 to HP 8560w machines, including the needed drivers and one sample application (7-Zip 9.20)

Download Sample Files

Article sample files (Download)

System Requirements

The steps in this guide assumes you have the following

• A member server named MDT01 running Windows Server 2008 R2 or Windows Server 2012 with the following software installed:
  • Windows Deployment Services
  • ADK
  • .NET Framework 3.5.1
  • MDT 2012 Update 1
• Two domain user accounts (password set to P@ssw0rd)
  • BuildAccount
  • JoinAccount (with permissions to join machines in AD)
• D:\Drivers folder with extracted Windows 8 drivers for 8560w (Use the Windows 7 drivers, HP has not yet released specific Windows 8 drivers)
  • Intel Management Engine Interface (MEI) Driver – SP54317
  • JMicron Media Card Reader Driver – SP52659
  • Validity Fingerprint Driver – SP54614
  • HP 3D DriveGuard – SP53795
• D:\Setup folder containing the following software
  • Windows 8 Enterprise (content of the ISO)
  • 7-Zip 9.20
  • Article sample files

Note: In this guide the domain is corp.viamonstra.com (VIAMONSTRA).

Using MDT 2012 Update 1

Configuring MDT 2012 Update 1 to deploy Windows 8 for the 8650w machines is done in nine easy steps:

• Create a deployment share
• Import the Windows 8 operating system
• Import the drivers
• Add the application
• Create a task sequence
• Configure the deployment share settings
• Update the deployment share
• Add the MDT 2012 Update 1 boot image to WDS
• Deploy the Windows 8 image

Step 1 – Create a deployment share

These steps assume that you downloaded the article sample files (Download) and extracted the file to D:\Setup\Sample Files on MDT01.

1. On MDT01, using the Deployment Workbench, right-click Deployment Shares and select New Deployment Share. Use the following settings for the New Deployment Share Wizard.
   1. Deployment share path: D:\MDTProduction
   2. Share name: MDTProduction
   3. Deployment share description: MDT Production
   4. Options:
2. Using Explorer, copy the following scripts from D:\Setup\Sample Files to D:\MDTProduction\Scripts.
   1. ModelAliasExit.vbs
   2. ZTISetScreenResolution.wsf

Note: The ModelAliasExit.vbs script (written by Michael Murgolo and Ben Hunter) helps MDT trim strange model names into valid model names. For example change "HP EliteBook 8560w (LG661EA#AKG)" to "HP EliteBook 8560w". The ZTISetScreenResolution.wsf script (written by me) configures MDT to allow the graphics driver auto detect method to set the screen resolution.

Step 2 – Import the Windows 8 operating system

1. Using the Deployment Workbench, expand the MDT Production node, and select the Operating Systems node.
2. Right-click on the Operating Systems node, and select Import Operating System. Use the following settings for the Import Operating System Wizard.
   1. Full set of source files D:\Setup\Windows 8 Enterprise x64
   2. Destination directory name: Windows 8 Enterprise x64
3. After adding the operating system, change the Operating System name to Windows 8 Enterprise x64.

Step 3 – Import the drivers

1. Using the Deployment Workbench, in the MDT Production node, select the Out-Of-Box Drivers node, and create a folder named Windows 8 x64. Then, in the Windows 8 x64 folder, create a subfolder named HP EliteBook 8560w.
2. Right-click the HP EliteBook 8560w folder and select Import Drivers, use the following settings for the Import Driver wizard:
   1. Driver source directory: D:\Drivers\Windows 8 x64\HP EliteBook 8560w

Step 4 – Add the application

1. Using the Deployment Workbench, in the MDT Production node, select the Applications node.
2. Right-click the Applications node, and select New Application, Use the following settings for the New Application Wizard.
   1. Application with source files
   2. Application name: 7-Zip
   3. Version: 9.20
   4. Source Directory: D:\Setup\7-Zip 9.20
   5. Specify the name of the directory that should be created: 7-Zip 9.20
   6. Command Line: msiexec /i 7z920-x64.msi /q INSTALLDIR="C:\Program Files\7-Zip"
   7. Working directory: .Applications\7-Zip 9.20

Step 5 – Create a task sequence

1. Using the Deployment Workbench, in the MDT Production deployment share, select the Task Sequences node.
2. Right-click on the Task Sequences node, and select New Task Sequence. Use the following settings for the New Task Sequence Wizard.
   1. Task sequence ID: W8-X64-001
   2. Task sequence name: Windows 8 Enterprise x64
   3. Task sequence comments: Production Deployment
   4. Template: Standard Client Task Sequence
   5. Select OS: Windows 8 Enterprise x64
   6. Do not specify a product key at this time
   7. FullName: ViaMonstra
   8. Organization: ViaMonstra
   9. Internet Explorer home page: about:blank
   10. Do not specify an Administrator password at this time
3. Double-click the new
   Windows 8 Enterprise x64 task sequence.
4. In the Task Sequence tab, in the Preinstall group, after the Configure action, add a Run Command Line action with the following settings:
   1. Name: Enable Screen Resolution Auto Detect
   2. Command line: cscript.exe "%SCRIPTROOT%\ZTISetScreenResolution.wsf"
5. In the Task Sequence tab, in the State Restore group, after the Tattoo action, add an Install Roles and Features action.
6. In the Select the operating system for which roles are to be installed drop down list, select Windows 8
7. Click OK.

Note: If you don't add the Install Roles and Features action, the deployment wizard will not prompt you for roles and features.

Step 6 – Configure the deployment share settings

1. Using Explorer, copy the following files in D:\Setup\Sample Files to D:\MDTProduction\Control. Replace the existing files.
   1. bootstrap.ini
   2. CustomSettings.ini
2. The CustomSettings.ini file has the following content (controlling the MDT deployment wizard behavior and other deployment settings)

[Settings]
Priority=SetModelAlias, Default
Properties=ModelAlias

[SetModelAlias]
UserExit=ModelAliasExit.vbs
ModelAlias=#SetModelAlias()#
 
[Default]
_SMSTSORGNAME=%OSDComputerName% to be installed...
OSInstall=Y
UserDataLocation=AUTO
TimeZoneName=Pacific Standard Time
AdminPassword=P@ssw0rd
JoinDomain=corp.viamonstra.com
DomainAdmin=VIAMONSTRAJoinAccount
DomainAdminPassword=P@ssw0rd
MachineObjectOU=ou=Workstations,ou=viamonstra,dc=corp,dc=viamonstra,dc=com
HideShell=YES
DriverSelectionProfile=Nothing
DriverInjectionMode=ALL
DriverGroup001=Windows 8 x64\%ModelAlias%
 
SkipAppsOnUpgrade=NO
SkipAdminPassword=YES
SkipProductKey=YES
SkipComputerName=NO
SkipDomainMembership=YES
SkipUserData=YES
SkipLocaleSelection=YES
SkipTaskSequence=NO
SkipTimeZone=YES
SkipApplications=NO
SkipBitLocker=YES
SkipSummary=YES
SkipCapture=YES
SkipFinalSummary=NO
SkipRoles=NO

1. Right-click the MDT Production Deployment Share and select Properties.
2. In the Windows PE tab, in the Platform dropdown list, make sure x86 is selected.
3. In the General sub tab, configure the following settings:
   1. In the Lite Touch Boot Image Settings area.
      1. image description: MDT Production x86
      2. Clear the Generate a Lite Touch bootable ISO image check box
   2. In the Windows PE Customizations area, set the Scratch space size to 128.
4. In the Windows PE tab, in the Platform dropdown list, select x64.
5. In the General sub tab, configure the following settings:
   1. In the Lite Touch Boot Image Settings area.
      1. image description: MDT Production x64
      2. Clear the Generate a Lite Touch bootable ISO image check box
   2. In the Windows PE Customizations area, set the Scratch space size to 128.
6. In the Monitoring tab, select the Enable monitoring for this deployment share check box.
7. Click OK.

Note : It will take a while for the Deployment Workbench to create the monitoring database and web service. The console even appears to hang, but no worries, just give a little time 🙂

Step 7 – Update the deployment share

1. Right-click the MDT Production Deployment Share and select Update Deployment Share. Use the default Options.

Note: The update process will take 5 – 10 minutes.

Step 8 – Add the MDT 2012 Update 1 boot image to WDS

1. In the WDS Console, expand MDT01.corp.viamonstra.com, right-click Boot Images and select Add Boot Image
2. Browse to the D:\MDTProduction\Boot\LiteTouchPE_x64.wim file and add the image with the default settings.

Step 9 – Deploy the Windows 8 Image

1. Start your HP 8560w machine, press F12 for PXE boot, and complete the Deployment Wizard using the below settings:
   1. Password: P@ssw0rd
   2. Select a task sequence to execute on this computer: Windows 8 Enterprise x64
   3. Computer Name: PC0001
   4. Roles and Features: .NET Framework 3.5 (includes .NET 2.0 and 3.0)
   5. Select one or more applications to install:
      1. 7-Zip 9.20
      2. HP Hotkey Support 4.5.9.1
2. On MDT01, using the Deployment Workbench, use the Monitoring node to view the deployment process.
3. Done, have some well-deserved coffee, and enjoy the show!

/ Johan