Seven tools for Windows 7 rollouts

Windows Automated Installation Kit (WAIK)

While this tool is called the Automated Installation Kit, it does much more than just help to automate installation of Windows 7. This tool can be used to configure answer files, capture Windows images and then configure or modify those images using DISM (see my next entry for an explanation of DISM).

This tool also incorporates USMT, discussed in the entry above. Aside from creating,an automated environment for installing Windows 7 (as if that weren't enough!), this tool also provides tools for activating and managing volume licenses. So you can think of WAIK as the tool that brings it all together. With it, you can capture or create the image, modify the answer file and installation files, migrate the user state and then activate the Windows 7 installation.

Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM)

This is the second command-line tool in the bunch and it, too, is part of the WAIK. This tool is the culmination of three others that were used in Windows Vista (Package Manager, PEimg and Intlcfg). But its not just a collection of the older tools. Enhancements have been made for Windows 7 deployments.

Some of those improvements include:

• Add, remove, and enumerate packages and drivers.
• Enable or disable Windows features.
• Upgrade a Windows image to a different edition.
• Prepare a Windows PE image.
• Service all platforms (32-bit, 64-bit, and Itanium), as well as servicing a 32-bit image from a 64-bit host or a 64-bit image from a 32-bit host.

DISM is used to manage the data or information in the Windows image, such as enumerating the components, updates, drivers, or applications contained in an image. It is also used to service the image by allowing you to add or remove drivers, enable or disable Windows features, and upgrade to a Windows higher edition.