Windows 7 / Getting Started

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Choosing a Version of Windows Deployment Services

Windows Deployment Services is included as an installable server role in Windows Server 2008 and Windows Server 2008 R2. Windows Deployment Services is also available as a separate update for Windows Server 2003 SP1. (This update is included in Windows Server 2003 SP2.) The version of Windows Deployment Services that you use in your environment will depend upon your business needs, budget, and existing network infrastructure.

Supported Operating Systems

The Windows operating systems that can be deployed vary with the version of Windows Deployment Services used. The Windows Deployment Services role in Windows Server 2008 R2 can be used to deploy the following operating systems:

• Windows XP
• Windows Server 2003
• Windows Vista SP1
• Windows Server 2008
• Windows 7
• Windows Server 2008 R2

The Windows Deployment Services role in Windows Server 2008 can deploy all the operating systems listed previously, as well as Windows 2000.

The operating systems that you can deploy using the Windows Deployment Services update for Windows Server 2003 SP1 and later depend upon whether Windows Deployment Services is running in legacy, mixed, or native mode. Specifically:

• Legacy mode Supports installing Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Windows Server 2003
• Mixed mode Supports installing Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003, Windows Vista, and Windows Server 2008 (You can also deploy Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 in this mode, as long as you have a Windows PE 3.0 boot image.)
• Native mode Supports installing Windows 2000 Professional Edition, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003, Windows Vista, Windows Server 2008, Windows 7, and Windows Server 2008 R2

Supported Image Types

The types of Windows images that can be deployed also vary with the version of Windows Deployment Services used. The Windows Deployment Services role in Windows Server 2008 R2 can deploy the following types of images:

• Windows Imaging (WIM) file format images
• Virtual hard disk (VHD) images

The Windows Deployment Services role in Windows Server 2008 can deploy only WIM images for a new installation of Windows Server 2008. If you upgrade to Windows Server 2008 from Windows Server 2003, you can also convert RIPREP images to WIM images. RISETUP images are not supported, however.

The types of Windows images you can deploy using the Windows Deployment Services update for Windows Server 2003 SP1 and later depend on the mode in which Windows Deployment Services is running, specifically:

• Legacy mode RISETUP and RIPREP images
• Mixed mode RISETUP, RIPREP, and WIM images
• Native mode WIM images only

Boot Environment

The boot environment used for deployment varies with the version of Windows Deployment Services used. The Windows Deployment Services role in Windows Server 2008 R2 uses Windows PE 3.0 as its boot environment. The Windows Deployment Services role in Windows Server 2008 uses Windows PE 2.1. The boot environment used by the Windows Deployment Services update for Windows Server 2003 SP1 and later depends on the mode in which Windows Deployment Services is running, specifically:

• Legacy mode OSChooser
• Mixed mode OSChooser and Windows PE 2.0, 2.1, or 3.0
• Native mode Windows PE 2.0, 2.1, or 3.0