MDT

[Chris T.]

We have 200 desktops on Windows XP, I would like to do an inplace upgrade of
all of them to Windows Vista. Can MDT do this? Or is MDT more for clean
install deployments of Vista?

[Dave Guenthner [MSFT]]

Yes. There are several deployment scenarios which can help. The most
common is "New Computer" where you are performing a bare bones, clean
installation of Windows, all data is destroyed. In your case, you may want
to look at the "Refresh" or "Replace Computer" scenario. From within
Windows XP installation, map a logical drive to your deployment point.
From the command line change directories to the scripts directory and
execute LiteTouch.vbs. The script with provide some options which in turn
call USMT to back up existing user data either locally or network share,
wipe the drive, perform clean install of Vista, and the restore user data.

C:\Program Files\Microsoft Deployment Toolkit\Bin\Microsoft Deployment
Toolkit 2008 Help.chm

PS. USMT cab file is not included with MDT by default, you must stage it on
the deployment point as documentation points out. Otherwise you will get an
error about not finding the CAB for USMT.

Dave Guenthner [MSFT]
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

[Chris T.]

Is it recommended to do a new install or in place upgrade of Win XP to
Vista?
What have other IT pro's experiences been?

Post by Dave Guenthner [MSFT]
Yes. There are several deployment scenarios which can help. The most
common is "New Computer" where you are performing a bare bones, clean
installation of Windows, all data is destroyed. In your case, you may want
to look at the "Refresh" or "Replace Computer" scenario. From within
Windows XP installation, map a logical drive to your deployment point.
From the command line change directories to the scripts directory and
execute LiteTouch.vbs. The script with provide some options which in turn
call USMT to back up existing user data either locally or network share,
wipe the drive, perform clean install of Vista, and the restore user data.
C:\Program Files\Microsoft Deployment Toolkit\Bin\Microsoft Deployment
Toolkit 2008 Help.chm
PS. USMT cab file is not included with MDT by default, you must stage it on
the deployment point as documentation points out. Otherwise you will get an
error about not finding the CAB for USMT.
Dave Guenthner [MSFT]
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

[unknown]

Refresh is the best... it's like an upgrade but without the
consequences...

1. It will backup the old computer (using USMT)
2. It will clean the disk (except backup folder)
3. It will apply a new OS (fresh)
4. It will restore the backup

All automated....

And no, itr's no longer needed to create a usmt cab-file.. that issue
has been fixed long time ago... just add the usmt msi package to
\distribution\tools\x86

Regards

Johan Arwidmark
Microsoft MVP - Setup / Deployment
http://www.deployvista.com

Post by Chris T.
Is it recommended to do a new install or in place upgrade of Win XP to
Vista?
What have other IT pro's experiences been?

Post by Dave Guenthner [MSFT]
Yes. There are several deployment scenarios which can help. The most
common is "New Computer" where you are performing a bare bones, clean
installation of Windows, all data is destroyed. In your case, you may want
to look at the "Refresh" or "Replace Computer" scenario. From within
Windows XP installation, map a logical drive to your deployment point.
From the command line change directories to the scripts directory and
execute LiteTouch.vbs. The script with provide some options which in turn
call USMT to back up existing user data either locally or network share,
wipe the drive, perform clean install of Vista, and the restore user data.
C:\Program Files\Microsoft Deployment Toolkit\Bin\Microsoft Deployment
Toolkit 2008 Help.chm
PS. USMT cab file is not included with MDT by default, you must stage it on
the deployment point as documentation points out. Otherwise you will get an
error about not finding the CAB for USMT.
Dave Guenthner [MSFT]
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.