14 DAY TRIAL // A free tool offered by Microsoft to streamline migrations to Windows 7 RTM and Office 2010 RTM is moving to the next stage in its evolution. The Microsoft Deployment Toolkit 2010 Update 1 has reached the Beta milestone, which is currently being served to early adopters through Microsoft Connect. Testers interested in taking MDT 2010 Update 1 Beta out for a spin will need to head over to Connect, sign in with a valid Windows Live ID and join the testing program.
“If you’re making the move to Windows 7 and Office 2010, you need tools and guidance to help deploy Windows and Office quickly - and do it right the first time. Microsoft Deployment Toolkit (MDT) 2010 Update 1 Beta includes new features like Office 2010 support, the ability for users to initiate and customize their own deployments using Configuration Manager, key enhancements in driver support, and much more,” revealed a member of the MDT team.
Customers familiar with the Microsoft Deployment Toolkit already know that the software giant started offering the RTM build of MDT 2010 in September 2009, a few months after the RTM of Windows 7, but before the OS was available for purchase. Update 1 brings to the table a few enhancements, designed to make the solution accelerator more flexible, while increasing its reliability. In this context, Update 1 to Deployment Toolkit 2010 contains bug fixes, as well as general improvements.
According to Microsoft, “The new version provides new benefits such as:
• Save time and money deploying Office 2010: Customers can now use MDT 2010’s comprehensive tools and guidance to efficiently manage large-scale deployments of Microsoft Office 2010.
• Respond more effectively to user needs: MDT 2010 Update 1 includes a ‘User-Driven Installation’ (UDI) deployment method that leverages Configuration Manager. An easy-to-use UDI Wizard allows users to initiate and customize an OS deployment on their PC that’s tailored to their individual needs.
• More reliable driver installation: MDT 2010 Update 1 boosts the reliability of the driver installation process by detecting each driver’s true supported platforms.”
The Microsoft Deployment Toolkit 2010 5.0 is available for download here.
Microsoft Windows 7 90-Day Eval VHD is available for download here.
Another Windows 7 RTM Enterprise 90-Day Evaluation is available for download here.
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