Windows Automated Installation Kit

Windows Automated Installation Kit (Windows AIK or WAIK) is a collection of tools and technologies produced by Microsoft designed to help deploy Microsoft Windows operating system images to target computers or to a VHD (Virtual Hard Disk). It was first introduced with Windows Vista. The WAIK is a required component of the Microsoft Deployment Toolkit.^[1]

History

Windows AIK Version 1.0 was released with Windows Vista. New or redesigned tools and technologies included Windows System Image Manager (Windows SIM), SysPrep, ImageX, and Windows Preinstallation Environment (WinPE) v2.0.^[2]

Windows AIK Version 1.1 was released with Windows Vista SP1 (and Windows Server 2008). A number of new tools were introduced, including PostReflect and VSP1Cln. The new WinPE 2.1 could be more customized.^[3] Supported operating systems include Windows Server 2008, Windows Vista, Windows Vista SP1, Windows Server 2003 SP1, Windows Server 2003 SP2 and Windows XP SP2.

Windows AIK Version 2.0 was released with Windows 7 beta. Significantly, a single new tool, DISM, replaced several earlier tools including PEImg and IntlCfg, which were deprecated. The new WinPE 3.0 has AeroSnaps—a Windows 7 feature. The User State Migration Tool (USMT) was added to this WAIK.^[4] Supported operating systems include Windows Server 2003 R2 SP2, Windows Vista SP1, Windows Server 2008 family, Windows 7 family and Windows Server 2008 R2 family of operating systems.

Windows AIK version 3.0 is exactly the same as 2.0. The version number has only been updated to correspond with the release of Service Pack 1 for Windows 7.^[5] Microsoft has also released a Windows Automated Installation Kit Supplement for Windows 7 SP1. Windows Automated Installation Kit Readme references the WAIK Supplement, which optionally adds WinPE v3.1 to a previously installed, compatible WAIK.

The AIK has been renamed The Windows Assessment and Deployment Kit (ADK) for Windows 8 and now includes the Windows OEM Preinstallation Kit. ^[6]

The Sysprep tool is not included with WAIK, but is instead included on the Operating System installation media (DVD).

Features

Preinstallation environment

WinPE 3.0 (based on Windows 7) running the shell (command prompt) with several of the built in programs, Notepad, Registry Editor, and the Windows Task Manager.

WAIK includes Windows Preinstallation Environment, a lightweight version of Windows that can be booted via PXE, CD-ROM, USB flash drive or external hard disk drive and is used to deploy, troubleshoot or recover Windows environments. It replaces MS-DOS boot disks, Emergency Repair Disk, Recovery Console and Automated System Recovery boot disks. Traditionally used by large corporations and OEMs (to preinstall 1 Windows client operating systems to PCs during manufacturing), WinPE is now available free of charge via the Windows Automated Installation Kit (WAIK).

User state migration

WAIK for Windows 7 includes User State Migration Tool v4.0, a command-line interface tool for transferring Windows user settings from one installation to another as part of an operating system upgrade or wipe-and-reload recovery, for example, to clean out a rootkit. USMT v4.0 can transfer the settings from Microsoft Windows XP or later to Microsoft Windows Vista and later.^[7]

There are many commercially available solutions for migration, including Laplink, Tranxition, and Zinstall.

See also

Microsoft Preboot environments

• Windows Preinstallation Environment
  • Windows Recovery Environment, an extension of Windows Preinstallation Environment

Alternatives

• Windows To Go
• BartPE
  • Reatogo-X-PE, a project based on BartPE
• WinBuilder
  • VistaPE, a project based on WinBuilder

Concepts

• Live CD
• Live USB
• List of live CDs

References

External links

• Windows Automated Installation Kit (AIK) for Windows 7