WDS Unsupported...

[chazzy2501]

So I learned that I can't use WDS to deploy Windows 11... That's a pain as it does everything I need it too and (more importantly) I know how to use it.

 

I was under the mistaken impression that the MDT ran on top of WDS... But I guess not..

 

anyone got a nice guide on MDT the microsoft one make my head scratch.

[ThatBoringBloke]

Well, thats a bit of a sh1tter.

[fredesq]

Use the Livetouch_x64.iso from MDT in WDS.

In MDT, just have a basic tasksequence for a W11 install. You might need to use dism to extract the .WIM file from the W11 ISO image, as it's a .esd file on there.

When you boot to WDS, select the W11 task sequence.

Edited March 15, 2023 by fredesq

[Davit2005]

As far as I was aware WDS could provide the boot/PXE environment for MDT.

 

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/deployment/wds-boot-support

 

"Not affected

WDS PXE boot isn't affected by this change. You can still use WDS to PXE boot devices with custom boot images, but you can't use boot.wim as the boot image and run Windows Setup in WDS mode.

 

You can still run Windows Setup from a network share. Workflows that use a custom boot.wim, such as MDT or Configuration Manager aren't affected by this change."

 

I think there are YouTube Videos for setting up MDT though. Basic setup is not too difficult.

Edited March 15, 2023 by Davit2005

[chazzy2501]

So Could I use keep using the windows 10 boot.wim to install windows 11?

[ThatBoringBloke]

So Could I use keep using the windows 10 boot.wim to install windows 11?

 

According to what I've been reading about it just now, yes you can.

[MYK-IT]

sort of related....

 

There's a free online Mini Course - Building the Perfect Lab for ConfigMgr, MDT, and Intune tomorrow, from 2pm to 4pm (GMT) by Johan Arwidmark.

 

Module 1: Building the Perfect Lab

 

• Building a Lab Environment
  
• Selecting Hardware
  
• Setting Up the Network
  
• Automation Is King - Embracing PowerShell
  
• Creating the Virtual Machines
  
• Deploying the Lab Domain Controller
  
• Deploying the Lab ConfigMgr Servers
  
• Deploying the Lab MDT Server
  
• Deploying the Lab Windows 10 and Windows 11 Clients
  
• Post-Deployment Configurations
  

[jmak]

I got a bit stuck on this about 6 months ago and posted on here. As will be a surprise to no one, I got an accurate answer within a couple of hours [emoji4]

 

You have to get exactly the right version of MDT and WDS and there is an update that you need to install before it will work - if you do it in the wrong order, it barfs.

 

I'll dig out the thread later and update this post.

 

I'm using it almost every day to deploy either Windows 10 or 11 depending on which task sequence I select. Both use the same boot file.

[kennysarmy]

So I learned that I can't use WDS to deploy Windows 11... That's a pain as it does everything I need it too and (more importantly) I know how to use it.

 

I was under the mistaken impression that the MDT ran on top of WDS... But I guess not..

 

anyone got a nice guide on MDT the microsoft one make my head scratch.

 

I'm testing Windows 11 currently and am using WDS/MDT - so it's working fine for me

[Davit2005]

You use a custom boot image from MDT so yes in that case you can.

 

The difficult bits are the drivers for Network and hard drive most of the time. Windows 10 was a lot better than previous versions as most other things work to a basic degree out of the box.

 

We used WMI queries against the hardware to only install the necessary drivers, we also built our Golden images on VMWare, one for basic computers and one for IT suites with the software installed to the golden image with task sequences so no further software needed once deployed, could re-image a PC in around 30mins with all the software installed. The IT suites was a pain though as some software would only install in the correct order.

[chazzy2501]

I'm testing Windows 11 currently and am using WDS/MDT - so it's working fine for me

 

I've never used MDT, I only use WDS.. So this was my worry.

 

BUT if I can capture a Windows11 image using the win10 boot.wim to deploy it....fine.

[jmak]

Came back to post a link to the thread that helped me last year

 

https://www.edugeek.net/showthread.php?t=229694

[Chesterman1411]

I had this same worry setting up our new windows 11 image but was able to deploy windows 11 absolutely fine using the same windows 10 boot image. Just last week ended up setting up MDT and it makes the whole build process alot easier once setup so I do reccomend. The litetouch boot images are alot more user friendly than the regular WDS boot images.

[Duke5A]

If you do need a newer boot WIM then the Server 2022 boot wim also works to deploy 11 through WDS without any complaints.

[Julian]

I am using MDT to deploy Windows 11 Education, I am using the generic Microsoft image, with a Powershell script to remove "Store", "X-Box", "Zune", etc .

 

It works, and updating the image is simple.

 

You do have to update MDT before it can handle Windows 11 (MicrosoftDeploymentToolkit_x64.msi, adksetup.exe, and adkwinpesetup.exe).

I also upgarde the MDT server to Server 2022.