System Requirements:
- Windows 8 Enterprise Version
- Windows Server 2008 or Windows Server 2012
- Microsoft .NET Framework version 3.5 with SP1 or later
- Windows PowerShell™ 2.0 or later
- Windows 7 Automated Installation Kit
- Active Directory Domain Services
- Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol
- Windows Deployment Services
- MDT 2012
- Office 2013 Administrative Template files if you would like to package office 2013
Prepare Environment:
The following systems are already available in your organization.
| Purpose | NetBIOS Name | Operating Systems |
| Domain Controller | DC | Windows Server 2012 |
| WDS Server | PrototypeSRV1 | Windows Server 2012 |
| Volume Activation Server | PrototypeSRV2 | Windows Server 2012 |
| Client | Client1 | Windows 8 |
Download and copy desired applications such as Office 2013, Adobe Reader into a folder named “Staging Folder” in E: drive of WDS Server. Download Office 2013 Administrative Template and copy the content into x86 and x64 folders of office 2013.
Step1 : Install Volume Licensing Server PrototypeSRV2 and configure Active Directory Activation
Log on PrototypeSRV2 as an Administrator. Open Server Manager, Click Manage, Click Add Roles and Features, Click Next, Click Next, Select Server PrototypeSRV2, Click Next
Select Volume Activation Services, Click Next, Follow the Screen. From the Server Manager, Click All Servers, Right Click on PrototypeSRV2, Click Volume Activation Tools
On the Introduction Page, Click Next, Click Active Directory Based Activation, Provide Credentials, Click Next
On the Product Key Management Page, Type the KMS Product Key. KMS Key is available in Microsoft volume licensing web site. Log on the volume licensing site or contact Microsoft reseller/partner to obtain KMS Key.
Click Next to continue. Follow the screen to finish volume activation of Windows 8.
Step2: Download and install MDT 2012 and Windows 7 AIK on WDS Server
Step3: Configure Deployment Share in MDT for Windows 8 Enterprise
Hover mouse on right hand side top corner, Click Search, Type Deployment, Click Deployment Assistance, Right Click MDT Deployment Share, Click New Deployment Share, Type the Location of Deployment Share where you want to store application, drivers and OS. Click Next, Click Next, Click Next
Check all the boxes as shown below, Click Next, Click Next, Click Finish.
Step4: Import Applications into Deployment Share
Right Click on Applications, Click Import new Applications. Check Application with source files, Click Next
Type application details shown below, Click Next
Browse and Point the location of source files, Click Next, Click Next
Type setup.exe, Click Next, Click Next, Click Finish.
Now expand Applications, Right Click on Office 2013, Click Property, Click Office Products Tab, Click Office Customization Tool, From Office Customization Tools, Provide Office CD Key, Suppress display, configure outlook profile. Click File, Click Save, Save the file into E:DeploymentShareApplicationsMicrosoft Office 2013Updatecustom.msp locations. Close Office Customization tools, Click Apply, Click Ok.
Follow the above steps, import Adobe Acrobat Reader, on the command details type msiexec /i AcroPro.msi /qn if you would like install Acrobat Pro otherwise AdbeRdr1000_en_US.msi
Step5: Import Windows 8 Enterprise Operating Systems into MDT
Right Click on Operating Systems, Click Import Operating System, Select Full set of Source Files, Click Next
On the Source Page, Select the Source Directory of Windows 8 Enterprise, Click Next, Click Next, Click Finish.
Step6: Import Out of Box Drivers into MDT 2012
Right Click Out-of_box Drivers, Click Import Drivers, Select the source of drivers, Click Next, Click Finish.
Step7: Create Standard Deployment Tasks
Right Click Task Sequence, Click New Task Sequence, Type the Name of the task sequence, Click Next
On the Select Template Page, Select Standard Client Task Sequence, Click Next
Select Windows 8 Enterprise Version, Click Next
On the Specify Product Key Page, Check Do not specify product key at this time, Click Next
On the OS Settings, Type Full Name, Organization, IE Home Page, Click Next
Type Local Admin Password Click Next
Click Finish.
Step8: Update Deployment Share
Right Click on MDT Deployment Share, Click Update Deployment Share, Click Next, Click Finish.
Step9: Import Lite Touch Boot Image into WDS Server
Click Server Manager, Click WDS, Right Click on WDS Server, Click Windows Deployment Services Management Console
Right Click on Boot Images, Click Add Boot Images,
Select Lite TouchPE_X64.wim image from E:DeploymentShareBoot, Click Next, Click Finish.
Step10: Create a Reference Computer
Boot a reference computer using F12 network boot. Select Lite Touch Windows PE boot image, press enter
Click Run the Deployment Wizard.
On the Deployment Share Page, Type \prototypesrv1deploymentshare$, Click Next
Provide Domain Credentials, Click Ok
Select the Task, Click Next
Select Join a Workgroup, Click Next, Follow the screen
Select the Apps you want to install, Click Next
Provide Local Admin Password, Click Next
Click Capture an image of this reference computer, Click Next
Click Begin.
Step11: Create an Answer File for Win8 Image for future
Deployment Share, Click Operating Systems, Right Click on Windows 8 Enterprise Image, Click Property, Click OS Info Tab, Click Edit Unattend.xml
Once the process complete, unattended.xml will be opened using Windows AIK, Now modify the Edit Unattend.xml file, provide domain details, Click File, Click Save as, Save the file as Win8EntUnattend.xml into E:RemoteInstallWdsClientUnattend folder.
Step12: Import Captured Image into WDS Server
Open WDS Server Console, Right Install Image, Click Install new Image, Select the image you captured using lite touch from E:DeploymentShareCapturesWin8Ent.wim file. Click Next, Click Finish.
Right Click on Win8Ent Image, Click Property, Check Allow image to install unattend mode, browse and select the file win8entunattend.xml from E:RemoteInstallWdsClientUnattend folder. Click Apply, Click Ok.
Step13: Deploy the Image to Target Computer.
Open WDS Server, Click Boot Image, Click Add Boot Image, Browse Windows 8 Ent DVD, Select Boot.wim file from Sources folder, Click Next, Type the name of the image as Deploy Image (x64), Click Next, Click Finish.
Boot a target computer using F12, Select Deploy Image X64, Press Enter, Select Windows 8 Ent Image, Follow the screen.
Now Lite Touch Deployment is completed successfully.
Blog by Raihan Al-Beruni 