14 DAY TRIAL // With the gold build of the latest iteration of the Windows client now live on MSDN and TechNet, Microsoft has also made available for download the final version of the Windows Automated Installation Kit (AIK) for Windows 7 RTM. The bits went live the past week, just as the Redmond company started offering Windows 7 RTM Build 7600 to its developer and IT professional communities. With Windows AIK customers will be able to perform various tasks associated with the Windows 7 deployment process, including customizations and installations. The kit is available not just for Windows 7 client but also for Windows Server 2008 R2.
“The Windows Automated Installation Kit (Windows AIK) is a set of tools and documentation that support the configuration and deployment of Windows operating systems. By using Windows AIK, you can automate Windows installations, capture Windows images with ImageX, configure and modify images using Deployment Imaging Servicing and Management (DISM), create Windows PE images, and migrate user profiles and data with the User State Migration Tool (USMT). Windows AIK also includes the Volume Activation Management Tool (VAMT), which enables IT professionals to automate and centrally manage the volume activation process using a Multiple Activation Key (MAK),” Microsoft revealed.
The Redmond company explained that the latest version of Windows AIK was designed to play nice with the following releases of the Windows OS: Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Server 2008, Windows Vista and Windows Server 2003. Microsoft warned customers that deploying Windows AIK on pre-release versions of Windows 7 was not recommended as both the offline servicing and Windows Preinstallation Environment (Windows PE) customization components might start behaving unexpectedly.
“To install the Windows AIK, you must first download the ISO, Write the ISO file to a DVD using a third party tool, and then install the Windows AIK from the DVD. For installation on Windows prior to Windows 7, this download requires that you run genuine Microsoft Windows,” Microsoft stated.
The Windows Automated Installation Kit (AIK) for Windows 7 is available for download here.