Preinstallation and deployment can be streamlined and speeded up for a range of Microsoft technologies, including the company’s main cash cows, with the help of a tool offered by the software giant.
The Express Deployment Tool plays nice with Windows 7 and Office 2010, but also with additional software products including Microsoft Security Essentials.
However, this tool is not for everybody. End users for example won’t be able to leverage it, but system builders and original equipment manufacturers will.
Customers will need a valid OEM account and to already be part of Microsoft’s partner network in order to access the Express Deployment Tool.
“The Express Deployment tool is a new tool we have developed to make Windows deployment faster and simpler. Using the tool you are now walked through step by step to add any customizations to your Windows images,” revealed a Microsoft representative.
“We have included the functionality to add software to your image very quickly and easily. By following the prompts you can quickly add Microsoft Office 2010, Microsoft Security Essentials, Windows Live Essentials, Bing bar and up to 3 third party software packages. All you need are the software disks or installer files.”
An interesting characteristic of the Express Deployment Tool is that it’s designed to work seamlessly with existing OEM Preinstallation Kit (OPK) tools.
According to the software giant, it takes just 1 - 2 hours to set up the Reference PC. Following this initial step, centralized deployment of any image onto new PCs can be easily done in less than 10 minutes.
“The Express Deployment tool also walks you through adding your own OEM branding and gives you the option to setup a recovery image incase Windows fails on your end user. This is all done by the Express Deployment Tool, so NO MORE COMMAND LINE!” the Microsoft representative added.
“Everything is done through the graphical interface so no more trial and error. The tool will tell you when you have completed your image build, it will build a network environment for you to deploy on and will also produce bootable CD’s or USB’s for you to boot the systems you want to deploy to. All you have to do is boot the machine and start off the deployment!”
The Express Deployment Tool is available for download together with the Step-by-Step Guide designed to help system builders and OEMs make the best of the solution.
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