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Prajwal Desai

Deploying Windows 7 Using SCCM 2012 R2

In this post we will see the steps for deploying windows 7 using SCCM 2012 R2. In my previous post we saw the steps to capture a reference operating system (Windows 7) using SCCM 2012 R2. Note that this post is different from the one which shows the steps to build and capture the operating systems using SCCM 2012, we will not be using build and capture approach here rather we will capture a reference operating system, i.e. capture windows 7 using SCCM 2012 R2 and we will deploy the same using SCCM 2012 R2 in the this post. We will be creating a device collection first and then we will import the computer information to this device collection. One the computer is added to the collection we will create task sequence, configure it and deploy it the device collection.

So in my previous post we had successfully captured the windows 7 operating system and now we will be deploying the captured image using SCCM 2012 R2. To do that lets create a blank virtual machine without any operating system installed on it. Note down the MAC address of the virtual machine (the same applies to a physical box too).

Lets create a new device collection. This is to add the computer to this collection for which the operating system is going to be deployed. Right click on Device Collections, click Create Device Collection.

Provide the name for this collection , set the Limiting collection to All Systems. Click Next.

We will not define any rules for this collection. Click on Next. Since we will be creating a collection without defining any rule, the wizard prompts that the collection will not contain any members until we define a membership rule. On the pop up box click on OK.

The device collection has been created. Now we will import the computer information to add the new computer object to this collection. Click on Devices, click on Import Computer Information.

Choose Import single computer and click Next.

Specify the Computer name, MAC Address of the computer (MAC address of the computer where the OS is going to be deployed) and click Next.

Click Next.

Choose Add computers to the following collection, click on Browse and choose the new device collection that we created. Click Next.

Once the computer information is imported, click on Close. The process of importing this new computer to a new device collection will take few minutes.

After we create a device collection and import the computer information, the next step is to deploy the captured operating system. Right Task Sequences and click Create Task Sequence. Choose Install an existing image package. Click Next.

Provide the Task sequence name, click on Browse and specify the Boot Image. Click Next.

Click on Browse and specify the Image Package. Choose Enable the local admin account and set the desired password. Click Next.

You can choose to add this computer to the domain or join a workgroup. In this example we will choose the computer to Join a domain, click on Browse and select Domain, Domain OU and specify an account that has permissions to join the computer to the domain. In this example we will be using an user account named sccmadmin which is a member of Domain Admins group. Click Next.

The Configuration manager client package is automatically selected, you can specify additional information in Installation properties such as Management Point, Fallback status point etc. Click on Next.

We will not configure Configuration state migration in this post so uncheck all the checkboxes and click on Next.

You can choose to include the windows updates which will be installed after the OS deployment. We will see the deployment of software updates in a different post, choose Do not install any software updates. Click Next.

Click Close.

Once the task sequence is created the next step is to deploy it to the device collection. Click on Task Sequences, right click the task sequence that you have created for deploying OS and click on Deploy. In the Deploy Software Wizard, click on Browse and choose the task sequence and Collection. Click Next.

Set the purpose as Available and let this task sequence be available to only media and PXE. Click Next.

Leave this to default and click Next.

Leave the User Experience options to default and click Next.

On this screen please read the warning line at the bottom. “A network account is required to access content from Windows PE“. You must define a network access account in order for this deployment to run smoothly. To define a network access account, on the CM2012 R2 console click Administration, under Site Configuration click Sites, in the top ribbon click Configure Site Components, click Software Distribution. Click Network Access Account and add specify the account which has enough permissions to access the network locations.Click Next.

Click Close to close the Deploy software wizard.

So far in this post we have created a device collection, imported the computer information to the collection, created a task sequence for deploying the captured OS and deployed it to the collection. Now we are ready for deploying the operating system, power on the VM / Physical box where the OS is to be deployed, set the device to boot from the network. On the screen press F12 key for network service boot.

Hit Enter key when you see this screen.

On the Task Sequence Wizard, provide the password and click on Next.

You should see the task sequence for deploying OS under the list of Task Sequences. Choose the task sequence and click Next.

The hard disk is being partitioned.

We see that the captured image is being applied to the new computer.

Final screenshot of the windows 7 OS deployment.