Now that you have an overview of the Windows 7 deployment tools, it is time to learn more Windows 7 deployment. In this post, I’ve collected my favorite Windows 7 deployment resources. If you know of other good articles on the web, feel free to link to them in a comment below.
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Single PC migrations
Upgrading from Windows XP to Windows 7
Upgrading from Windows XP to Windows 7 is a rather long-winded process. As you might know, you can't just pop in the Windows 7 DVD and upgrade an existing XP installation. In my view, in most cases it is better to start with a clean installation anyway. This video tutorial explains in detail how to perform the upgrade. You should print the printed version of the tutorial before you start the upgrade process because your PC will restart during the upgrade. Don't forget to copy your data files to an external drive before you begin.
Upgrading from Windows Vista to Windows 7
While the upgrade from XP to Windows 7 requires five steps, the upgrade from Vista can be completed in only two steps. This gives you an idea why skipping a Windows version—even for single-PC upgrades—usually doesn't save money. Of course, this is just one of many reasons.
Network migrations
Tools to plan and deploy Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008 R2
If you are more the visual and auditory type, you might be interested in this video interview. It also gives you the chance to get acquainted with a couple of Microsoft employees who are responsible for Windows deployment. In this interview, these employees discuss the Microsoft Deployment Toolkit 2010 (MDT), Assessment and Planning Toolkit 4.0 (MAP), and the Infrastructure Planning and Design guides (IPD).
Windows XP to Windows 7 migration interviews
This is a series of interviews covering the topics "Collect, Analyze, and Test," "Remediate Applications - Fix," "Remediate Applications - Virtualize," and "Deploy Operating System." These interviews give you a first look at what awaits you if you have to migrate your Windows XP network to Windows 7.
Windows 7 desktop deployment overview
These nine pages give you an overview of the new deployment features in Windows 7. I recommend this overview only for admins who are already familiar with Vista deployment.
Deploying Windows 7 series by Mitch Tulloch
Before you read Microsoft's documentation, I recommend studying Mitch Tulloch's Windows 7 deployment series in 16 parts. This guide is clearer and more practical than Microsoft's guides and covers everything that is important for small and mid-sized organizations.
Windows 7: Deployment - TechNet documentation
The TechNet documentation is the place to go when you want the details. For my taste, TechNet documentation is sometimes a bit too theoretical, an opinion that also applies to this guide. However, if you work in a large organization you often have no other choice than to study the theory first before you can actually start playing with the tools.
Deploying Windows 7 essential guidance from the Windows 7 Resource Kit and TechNet Magazine
Without a doubt, this guide is the most comprehensive one. At 332 pages it more like an ebook. You will be hard pressed to find a Windows 7 deployment question that is not answered in this PDF file.
Windows Desktop Solution Accelerators – Windows 7
This page offers links to Microsoft's solution accelerators covering topics for every stage of the Windows 7 migration: Planning, delivery, and management. However, not all the topics are related to OS deployment. Most of the content is of interest to large enterprises.
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Do you know of other good Windows 7 deployment guides?
Excellent beginners guides from the Swedish Deployment MVP Johan Arwidmark
http://www.deploymentcd.com
Andreas, thanks. What does the CD cost?
It’s free. Just fill in the form and you get a download link for the iso in return. You might get a promotion mail or two from the Swedish consulting firm Truesec which have five MVPs among their staff. Read the fine print at the bottom of the “Sign up here”-page.
Graphical Quickstart Guide to Microsoft Deployment Toolkit 2010
The initial release of this guide is now available at
http://www.justcode.ca
Click on the link “Download the Graphical Quickstart Guide to MDT 2010” on the main page to go to the download page.
Paul
pauljorgensen5@gmail.com
There is an updated version ( 1.1 ) of the Graphical Quickstart Guide to the Microsoft Deployment Toolkit 2010 available now on http://www.justcode.ca that contains minor updates to the mapdrive sections.
Deploying Windows 7: Graphical Quickstart Guide
Version 2 of this guide is now available at http://www.justcode.ca/mdt/download_guide.html.
This version includes information on MAP, ACT, SQL express, Mapdrive deployments, technical references, etc..