Where Customization Begins 

  • Windows Assessment and Deployment Kit (ADK)

  • Windows® Automated Installation Kit (WAIK), Windows System Image Manager (WSIM), Win PE and Windows Assessment and Deployment Kit (ADK) Tutorials are right here.
Windows® Automated Installation Kit (WAIK), Windows System Image Manager (WSIM), Win PE and Windows Assessment and Deployment Kit (ADK) Tutorials are right here.
 #24964  by Neuropass
 17 Jan 2013, 15:53
The Windows® Assessment and Deployment Kit (Windows ADK) is a collection of tools that you can use to customize, assess, and deploy Windows operating systems to new computers.

File name: adk\adksetup.exe
Size: 1.2 MB

Download:Win ADK Toolkit


NOTE:
The Microsoft .NET Framework 4 is required and Windows ADK installs it automatically.


System requirements

• Windows® 8
• Windows® 7
• Windows Server® 2012
• Windows Server® 2008 R2
• Windows Vista®
• Windows Server® 2008


Guide: Windows Deployment with the Windows ADK

Installation: Installing the Windows ADK

Overview

Windows Deployment is for OEMs and IT professionals who customize and automate the large-scale installation of Windows, such as on a factory floor or across an organization. The Windows ADK supports this work with the deployment tools that were previously released as part of the OEM Preinstallation Kit (OPK) and the Windows Automated Installation Kit (AIK) and include Windows Preinstallation Environment, Deployment Imaging, Servicing and Management, and Windows System Image Manager.

IT Professionals can use features in the Windows ADK to facilitate deployment of a new version of Windows. The Application Compatibility Toolkit (ACT) inventories applications used in your organization and identifies potential applications compatibility issues. With the User State Migration Tool (USMT), IT Professionals can migrate user data from existing Windows installations. Volume Activation Management Tool (VAMT) enables IT professionals to Windows installations in their organization and manage the activation status of their PCs.

Assessments are for OEMs, IHVs, and IT professionals who measure the operational characteristics of a computer, including its performance, reliability, and functionality. Windows assessments are tools that help you make these measurements, diagnose problems, and determine how to make improvements. Windows assessments can help reduce costs by identifying potential issues as you create your hardware and software experiences. By using these tools, you can help ensure that the hardware and software that you develop are responsive and high-quality.

Features available in the Windows ADK include:

• Application Compatibility Toolkit (ACT)
The Application Compatibility Toolkit (ACT) helps IT Professionals understand potential application compatibility issues by identifying which applications are or are not compatible with the new versions of the Windows operating system. ACT helps to lower costs for application compatibility evaluation by providing an accurate inventory of the applications in your organization. ACT helps you to deploy Windows more quickly by helping to prioritize, test, and detect compatibility issues with your apps. By using ACT, you can become involved in the ACT Community and share your risk assessment with other ACT users. You can also test your web applications and web sites for compatibility with new releases of Internet Explorer. For more information, see Application Compatibility Toolkit.

• Deployment Tools
Deployment tools enable you to customize, manage, and deploy Windows images. Deployment tools can be used to automate Windows deployments, removing the need for user interaction during Windows setup. Tools included with this feature are Deployment Imaging Servicing and Management (DISM) command line tool, DISM PowerShell cmdlets, DISM API, Windows System Image Manager (Windows SIM), and OSCDIMG. For more information, see Deployment Tools.

• User State Migration Tool (USMT)
USMT is a scriptable command line tool that IT Professionals can use to migrate user data from a previous Windows installation to a new Windows installation. By using USMT, you can create a customized migration framework that copies the user data you select and excludes any data that does not need to be migrated. Tools included with the feature are ScanState, Loadstate, and USMTUtils command line tools. For more information, see User State Migration Tool.

• Volume Activation Management Tool (VAMT)
The Volume Activation Management Tool (VAMT) enables IT professionals to automate and centrally manage the activation of Windows, Windows Server, Windows ThinPC, Windows POSReady 7, select add-on product keys, and Office for computers in their organization. VAMT can manage volume activation using retail keys (or single activation keys), multiple activation keys (MAKs), or Windows Key Management Service (KMS) keys. For more information, see Volume Activation Management Tool.

• Windows Performance Toolkit (WPT)
Windows Performance Toolkit includes tools to record system events and analyze performance data in a graphical user interface. Tools available in this toolkit include Windows Performance Recorder, Windows Performance Analyzer, and Xperf. For more information, see Windows Performance Toolkit.

• Windows Assessment Toolkit
Tools to discover and run assessments on a single computer. Assessments are tasks that simulate user activity and examine the state of the computer. Assessments produce metrics for various aspects of the system, and provide recommendations for making improvements. For more information, see Windows Assessment Toolkit.

• Windows Assessment Services
Tools to remotely manage settings, computers, images, and assessments in a lab environment where Windows Assessment Services is installed. This application can run on any computer with access to the server that is running Windows Assessment Services. For more information, see Windows Assessment Services.

• Windows Preinstallation Environment (Windows PE)
Minimal operating system designed to prepare a computer for installation and servicing of Windows. For more information, see Windows PE Technical Reference.



DISM from Windows 8 adds some new features. You can now use VHD images as well:


Code: Select all/Get-MountedImageInfo   - Displays information about mounted WIM and VHD images.
  /Get-ImageInfo          - Displays information about images in a WIM or VHD file.
  /Commit-Image           - Saves changes to a mounted WIM or VHD image.
  /Unmount-Image          - Unmounts a mounted WIM or VHD image.
  /Mount-Image            - Mounts an image from a WIM or VHD file.
  /Remount-Image          - Recovers an orphaned image mount directory.
  /Cleanup-Mountpoints    - Deletes resources associated with mounted images that are corrupt.


Example:

Code: Select allDISM /Mount-Image /ImageFile:"D:\VHD\6.1.7601.17514.amd64fre.win7sp1_rtm.101119-1850.Ultimate.de-DE.vhd" /Index:1 /MountDir:"D:\VHD\Mount"

DISM /Image:D:\VHD\Mount /Add-Package /PackagePath:"D:\Windows6.1-KB2545698-x64.msu"

DISM /Unmount-Image /MountDir:D:\VHD\Mount /Commit




There also also new commands which replaces the old ImageX completely:

Code: Select all/List-Image             - Displays a list of the files and folders within a
                            specified image.
  /Delete-Image           - Deletes the specified volume image from a .wim file
                            with multiple volume images.
  /Split-Image            - Splits an existing .wim file into multiple read-only
                            split .wim (SWM) files.
  /Export-Image           - Exports a copy of the specified image to another file.
  /Append-Image           - Adds an additional image to a .wim file.
  /Capture-Image          - Captures an image of a drive into a new .wim file.
                            Captured directories include all subfolders and data.
/Optimize                -Reduce initial mount time and improve the speed of many servicing commands.



NOTE:
/Optimize

Add it to the command line when mounting a WIM with DISM.
But it only seam to be useful if you mount the WIM to read data (calling discard at unmount). Adding new files like updates causes errors.




DISM includes a new option in Windows 8. The /Remove Parameter in the /Disable-Feature command.


Example:
Code: Select allDISM.exe /Online /Disable-Feature /Featurename:<name> /Remove



If you use the Disable-Feature in Vista and Windows 7, the files from the disabled feature are still stored in the WinSxS folder and you get NO additional free HDD space when disabling a feature.

The /Remove-Flag changes this in Windows 8. NOW ALL THE FILES ARE REMOVED FROM THE WINSXS Folder!

Example:

Code: Select allRun DISM.exe /Online /English /Get-Features /Format:Table

to see which featues you have and you see something like this:


Code: Select all----------------------------------------------------- | -----------------------------
Feature Name | State
----------------------------------------------------- | -----------------------------
SimpleTCP | Enabled



If you now run:

Code: Select all DISM.exe /Online /Disable-Feature /Featurename:SimpleTCP /Remove


the SimpleTCP feature is disabled and the files associated with the SimpleTCP Feature are removed. If you run /Get-Features again you see this:


Code: Select all----------------------------------------------------- | -----------------------------
Feature Name | State
----------------------------------------------------- | -----------------------------
SimpleTCP | Disabled with Payload Removed



Payload Removed = DLLs removed from WinSxS. if you now want to enable the features, the "Turn Windows Features on or off" asks to download the missing files.



With DISM you can also add and remove Metro-Apps from running Windows (/Online) or an Image:


Code: Select allDISM /Online /Add-ProvisionedAppxPackage /PackagePath:C:\App1.appx /SkipLicense




You can also get a List aof install apps:

Code: Select allDISM.exe  /Online /Get-ProvisionedAppxPackages




and remove them:

Code: Select allDISM.exe /Online /Remove-ProvisionedAppxPackage /PackageName:microsoft.app1_1.0.0.0_neutral_en-us_ac4zc6fex2zjp




More Details here: How to Add and Remove Apps




With ADK can now detect and remove replaced updates so that the WinSxS folder no longer grows so much

run this command from cmd prompt with admin rights

Code: Select alldism.exe /online /cleanup-image /startcomponentcleanup



it scans all all updates and checks if they are no longer needed and if this is the case it tries to uninstall them. You can see this in the CBS.log

Code: Select all2012-10-21 14:40:35, Info CBS Deep-Clean: Got [5] packages from the store that can be uninstalled
2012-10-21 14:40:35, Info CBS Deep-Clean: Skipping package [Package_for_KB2739987~31bf3856ad364e35~x86~~6.2.1.1] since it is marked permanent

2012-10-21 14:40:35, Info CBS Deep-Clean: Skipping package [Package_for_KB2740443~31bf3856ad364e35~x86~~6.2.1.1] since it is marked permanent

2012-10-21 14:40:35, Info CBS Deep-Clean: Skipping package [Package_for_KB2740446~31bf3856ad364e35~x86~~6.2.1.1] since it is marked permanent

2012-10-21 14:40:35, Info CBS Deep-Clean: Skipping package [Package_for_KB2740448~31bf3856ad364e35~x86~~6.2.1.1] since it is marked permanent

2012-10-21 14:40:35, Info CBS Deep-Clean: Trying to uninstall package [Package_for_KB2755399~31bf3856ad364e35~x86~~6.2.2.0]

2012-10-21 14:40:35, Info CBS Exec: Uninstall package: Package_for_KB2755399~31bf3856ad364e35~x86~~6.2.2.0
2012-10-21 14:40:35, Info CBS Exec: Uninstall package: Package_for_KB2755399_RTM~31bf3856ad364e35~x86~~6.2.2.0
2012-10-21 14:40:35, Info CBS Exec: Uninstall package: Package_1_for_KB2755399~31bf3856ad364e35~x86~~6.2.2.0
2012-10-21 14:40:35, Info CBS Exec: Unstage package: Package_1_for_KB2755399~31bf3856ad364e35~x86~~6.2.2.0, Update: 2755399-1_neutral_LDR
2012-10-21 14:40:35, Info CBS Exec: Unstaging Package: Package_1_for_KB2755399~31bf3856ad364e35~x86~~6.2.2.0, Update: 2755399-1_neutral_LDR, UnstageDeployment/UnpinDeployment: x86_339b82ce9a8adb551b2a0619dec51cdd_31bf3856ad364e35_6.2.9200.20523_none_40d61ce9c0963925
2012-10-21 14:40:35, Info CBS Exec: Uninstall package: Package_1_for_KB2755399~31bf3856ad364e35~x86~~6.2.2.0, Update: 2755399-2_neutral_GDR
2012-10-21 14:40:35, Info CBS Exec: Unprojecting Package: Package_1_for_KB2755399~31bf3856ad364e35~x86~~6.2.2.0, Update: 2755399-2_neutral_GDR, UninstallDeployment: x86_1995aa86a2baf648aca107ca0ebe14b1_31bf3856ad364e35_6.2.9200.16421_none_96e08146a34fd303
2012-10-21 14:40:35, Info CBS Appl: Selfupdate, Component: x86_adobe-flash-for-windows_31bf3856ad364e35_0.0.0.0_none_4f79d9b3b1b9cfff (6.2.9200.16426), elevation:2, lower version revision holder: 6.2.9200.16384
2012-10-21 14:40:35, Info CBS Appl: Selfupdate, Component: x86_adobe-flash-for-windows_31bf3856ad364e35_0.0.0.0_none_4f79d9b3b1b9cfff (6.2.9200.20527), elevation:2, lower version revision holder: 6.2.9200.16426
2012-10-21 14:40:35, Info CBS Exec: Unpinning Package: Package_1_for_KB2755399~31bf3856ad364e35~x86~~6.2.2.0, Update: 2755399-2_neutral_GDR, UnpinDeployment: x86_1995aa86a2baf648aca107ca0ebe14b1_31bf3856ad364e35_6.2.9200.16421_none_96e08146a34fd303
2012-10-21 14:40:35, Info CBS Exec: Reboot required for Package: Package_1_for_KB2755399~31bf3856ad364e35~x86~~6.2.2.0 while working with Update: 2755399-2_neutral_GDR
2012-10-21 14:40:35, Info CBS Plan: Start to process component watchlist
2012-10-21 14:40:35, Info CBS Exec: The Package or one of its Updates required a reboot so transaction commit was skipped, Package's changes need to be pended.





Source: Windows Assessment and Deployment Kit (ADK)
 #24990  by TheAslan
 17 Jan 2013, 18:11
I'm really hoping that there will be a seperate AIK Tools installer someday, I mean that tool which comes with WAIK which is around 1,7gb, this AIK Tools installer is only few kilobytes, it would be awesome if it would be possible someday, or is it possible already? I'm not sure... :thinking:
 #25005  by Neuropass
 18 Jan 2013, 00:41
You can use this tool and download only what you need. This replaces WAIK. it installs the latest updates.