• Article

How to Create a PXE-Initiated Windows 8 Deployment for UEFI-Based or BIOS-Based Computers in Configuration Manager

 

Updated: May 14, 2015

Applies To: System Center 2012 Configuration Manager SP1, System Center 2012 Configuration Manager SP2, System Center 2012 R2 Configuration Manager, System Center 2012 R2 Configuration Manager SP1

Note

The information in this topic applies to System Center 2012 Configuration Manager SP1 or later, and System Center 2012 R2 Configuration Manager or later.

Note

This topic appears in the Deploying Software and Operating Systems in System Center 2012 Configuration Manager guide and in the Scenarios and Solutions Using System Center 2012 Configuration Manager guide.

Operating system deployment provides System Center 2012 Configuration Manager administrative users with a tool for creating operating system images that they can deploy to computers that are managed by Configuration Manager. This topic shows how you can create a reference operating system image, partition computers differently based on whether the computer starts in UEFI mode or BIOS mode, and deploy Windows 8 to computers that are managed by Configuration Manager 

Scenario Overview

This scenario represents one way to deploy Windows 8 to computers based on specific assumptions and business requirements. The following table provides an outline of the sections that make up this scenario.

Technical Requirements

This section lists the technical requirements of your Configuration Manager environment and client hardware to support this scenario.

Business Requirements

This section lists the business requirements for this scenario.

Pre-Deployment Considerations

This section provides information that you might consider before you perform the steps in this scenario.

Step 1: Prepare and Deploy the Boot Image

  • Step 1a: Prepare the Boot Image

  • Step 1b: Distribute the Boot Image

This section provides information about how to prepare and distribute a boot image.

Step 2: Build and Capture a Reference Operating System Image

  • Step 2a: Add the Windows 8 Operating System Image

  • Step 2b: Create a Build and Capture Task Sequence

  • Step 2c: Distribute the Task Sequence Content

  • Step 2d: Deploy the Build and Capture Task Sequence

  • Step 2e: Run the Task Sequence from the Reference Computer

  • Step 2f: Add the Reference Operating System Image

  • Step 2g: Schedule Operating System Image Updates

This section provides information about how to build and capture a Windows 8 operating system image from a reference computer by using a task sequence.

Step 3: Create a Task Sequence to Deploy the Operating System

  • Step 3a: Create the Task Sequence to Deploy Windows 8

  • Step 3b: Review the Task Sequence Settings

  • Step 3c: Distribute the Task Sequence Content

  • Step 3d: Deploy the Task Sequence to Install Windows 8

This section provides information about how to create a task sequence to deploy Windows 8. The task sequence is available to computers when they startup in PXE.

Technical Requirements

This scenario requires the following technical requirements:

  • All sites in the Configuration Manager hierarchy are running Configuration Manager SP1 and are fully functional.

  • PXE-enabled distribution points are configured and available to select as the content location for task sequence content. For more information about how to configure the distribution point to support PXE, see the Planning for PXE-Initiated Operating System Deployments in Configuration Manager topic.

  • Windows Assessment and Deployment Kit (Windows ADK) for Windows 8 is installed on all site servers and computers that have the SMS Provider site system role. For more information about Windows ADK, see Windows Deployment with the Windows ADK.

  • All computers that are managed by Configuration Manager have x64 system architecture.

  • The computers that are managed by Configuration Manager have either firmware that meets the Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) 2.3.1 specifications or a BIOS firmware interface. For more information about UEFI, see the Unified EFI Forum website.

  • All computers that are managed by Configuration Manager have Trusted Platform Module (TPM) enabled. The task sequence steps that support BitLocker require TPM.

Business Requirements

This scenario accommodates the following business requirements:

  • Create a single task sequence to deploy Windows 8 to computers that have firmware that meets the UEFI specifications or a BIOS firmware interface.

  • The deployment for Windows 8 will be PXE-initiated only.

  • Install all mandatory software updates with the Windows 8 deployment.

  • Enable BitLocker on all computers that install Windows 8.

Pre-Deployment Considerations

Before you deploy Windows 8 to Configuration Manager clients, consider the following pre-deployment steps

  • Windows 8 upgrade assessment: The Microsoft System Center 2012 Configuration Manager Upgrade Assessment Tool gives you information that you can use to determine whether the hardware and software on computers that are managed by Configuration Manager are compatible with Windows 8. The Upgrade Assessment Tool provides the following functionality:

    • Retrieves device driver compatibility for installed peripheral devices and creates reports that you can use to determine which device drivers have to be upgraded to support the Windows operating system.

    • Lets you see which computers meet the recommended system requirements for Windows operating systems and to customize these requirements for your environments.

    • Creates summary reports that you can use to see an enterprise wide view of operating system upgrade readiness.

    • Lets you create dynamic collections for an operating system deployment. The collection query rules can be based on system requirements, application compatibility status, and device driver status.

    Download the Upgrade Assessment Tool from the Microsoft Download Center site.

    For more information, see Configuration Manager Upgrade Assessment Tool.

  • UEFI-based computers: Before you install Windows 8 on a UEFI-based computer, note the following.

    • All computers that are certified for Windows 8 use firmware that meets the UEFI specifications.

    • For some computers, you might have to perform additional steps to make sure that Windows is installed in UEFI mode, and not in legacy BIOS-compatibility mode. It is not supported to switch from legacy BIOS-compatibility mode to UEFI mode by using a task sequence. For more information, see How to Switch from BIOS-Compatibility Mode to UEFI Mode.

    • Some computers might support UEFI. However, they do not support a PXE-initiated boot when in UEFI mode. To provision these computers in UEFI mode, you must start them from boot media instead of using PXE. If the computer performs a PXE-initiated boot, Configuration Manager detects that the computer is in BIOS mode and therefore provisions the computer as such. For more information about how to create boot media, see the How to Create Bootable Media section in the How to Deploy Operating Systems by Using Media in Configuration Manager topic.

    • UEFI and BIOS have different disk partitioning requirements. UEFI hard disks require the GUID partition table (GPT) partition structure, instead of the master boot record (MBR) partition structure that is used in BIOS. When you use a task sequence to deploy Windows 8, the task sequence detects whether the computer was started in UEFI mode or BIOS-compatibility mode, and the task sequence configures the partitions on the hard disk to accommodate the associated requirements.

Step 1: Prepare and Deploy the Boot Image

A boot image contains a version of Windows PE that provides a boot environment for a computer. Windows PE is a minimal operating system with limited components and services that prepare the destination computer for Windows installation. In this scenario, after a computer starts in Windows PE, Configuration Manager begins the Windows 8 installation. You can use the steps in this section to prepare and deploy the boot image that you will use in your Windows 8 deployment task sequence. This section consists of the following steps:

  • Step 1a: Prepare the Boot Image

  • Step 1b: Distribute the Boot Image

For more information about how to manage boot images, see the How to Manage Boot Images in Configuration Manager topic.

Step 1a: Prepare the Boot Image

Configuration Manager provides two boot images: One to support the x86 architecture and one to support the x64 architecture. For computers that start in UEFI mode, you must use a boot image that matches the architecture of the computer; that is, x86 for x86-based computers or x64-based computers. You cannot use an x86 boot image for both architectures for computers that boot in UEFI mode in the same manner that you can for computers that boot in BIOS. For this scenario, only x64-based computers are in the environment. Therefore, this scenario uses the default x64 boot image (Boot image (x64)).

Important

Starting with System Center 2012 Configuration Manager with SP1 and cumulative update 1, Configuration Manager supports a PXE-initiated startup for computers that have the IA-32 architecture.

The default boot image contains standard device drivers and might be sufficient for your deployment. However, you can customize the boot image with one or more of the following configurations:

  • Image properties

  • Drivers

  • Prestart command settings

  • Windows PE background image

  • Command shell support

  • Windows PE scratch space

  • Optional components to use in Windows PE

For more information about how to change the boot image, see the How to Modify a Boot Image section in the topic, How to Manage Boot Images in Configuration Manager.

Step 1b: Distribute the Boot Image

After you prepare the boot image, you must distribute the image to all PXE-enabled distribution points. When the task sequence is run by a client, the client downloads the boot image from the distribution point. You distribute boot images to distribution points in the same way that you distribute other content. You can specify single distribution points, distribution point groups, or collections that are associated with distribution point groups. For more information about distributing content in Configuration Manager, see the Distribute Content on Distribution Points section in the Operations and Maintenance for Content Management in Configuration Manager topic.

Follow these steps to distribute the boot image to distribution points.

To distribute the boot image to distribution points

  1. In the Configuration Manager console, click Software Library.

  2. In the Software Library workspace, expand Operating Systems, and then click Boot Images.

  3. In the Boot Images node, select the boot image objects that you want to deploy.

  4. On the Home tab, in the Deployment group, click Distribute Content to start the Distribute Content Wizard.

  5. On the General page, verify that the content listed is the content that you want to distribute, and then click Next.

  6. On the Content Destination page, click Add, choose one of the following, and then follow the associated step:

    - **Collections**: Select **User Collections** or **Device Collections**, click the collection associated with one or more distribution point groups, and then click **OK**.

  <div class="alert">


  > [!NOTE]
  > <P>Only the collections that are associated with a distribution point group are displayed. For more information about how to associate collections with distribution point groups, see the <A href="gg682115(v=technet.10).md">Create and Configure Distribution Point Groups</A> section in the <A href="gg682115(v=technet.10).md">Configuring Content Management in Configuration Manager</A> topic.</P>


  </div>

- **Distribution Point**: Select an existing distribution point, and then click **OK**. Distribution points that have previously received the content are not displayed.

- **Distribution Point Group**: Select an existing distribution point group, and then click **OK**. Distribution point groups that have previously received the content are not displayed.

    When you finish adding content destinations, click Next.

  7. On the Summary page, review the settings for the distribution before you continue. To distribute the content to the selected destinations, click Next.

  8. The Progress page displays the progress of the distribution.

  9. The Confirmation page displays whether the content was successfully assigned to the points. For more information about how to monitor the content distribution, see the Monitor Content section in the Operations and Maintenance for Content Management in Configuration Manager topic.

Step 2: Build and Capture a Reference Operating System Image

Operating system images are WIM files and represent a compressed collection of reference files and folders that are required to successfully install and configure an operating system on a computer. You can use the steps in this section to import the base operating system image (install.wim) located on the Windows 8 installation media. Then, you create a task sequence that installs Windows 8, mandatory software updates, and applications to a reference computer. You deploy the task sequence to a reference computer and the task sequence captures a new reference operating system image and stores it on a network shared folder. Finally, you can configure Configuration Manager to apply mandatory software updates to the operating system image on a schedule that you specify. This section consists of the following steps:

  • Step 2a: Add the Windows 8 Operating System Image

  • Step 2b: Create a Build and Capture Task Sequence

  • Step 2c: Distribute the Task Sequence Content

  • Step 2d: Deploy the Build and Capture Task Sequence

  • Step 2e: Run the Task Sequence from the Reference Computer

  • Step 2f: Add the Reference Operating System Image

  • Step 2g: Schedule Operating System Image Updates

For more information about how to build and capture a reference operating system image, see the How to Create Task Sequences section in the How to Manage Task Sequences in Configuration Manager topic.

Step 2a: Add the Windows 8 Operating System Image

You must add a Windows 8 operating system image to the Configuration Manager console before you can build the reference operating system image.

Follow these steps to add the Windows 8 operating system image to the Configuration Manager console.

To add the Windows 8 operating system image

  1. In the Configuration Manager console, click Software Library.

  2. In the Software Library workspace, expand Operating Systems, and then click Operating System Images.

  3. On the Home tab, in the Create group, click Add Operating System Image to start the Add Operating System Image Wizard.

  4. On the Data Source page, specify the network path to the Windows 8 operating system image. For example, specify \\MyServer\MyShare\Window8InstallationFiles\sources\install.wim.

  5. On the General page, specify the following information, and then click Next.

    - **Name**: Specify the name of the image. By default, the name of the image is taken from the WIM file.

- **Version**: Specify the version of the image.

- **Comment**: Specify a brief description of the image.

  6. Complete the wizard.

Step 2b: Create a Build and Capture Task Sequence

The build and capture task sequence is run on a reference computer where the task sequence creates an operating system image that is based on a set of operating system source files. The task sequence uses the Windows 8 operating system image that you added in Step 2a: Add the Windows 8 Operating System Image to install Windows 8 on the reference computer. Then, the task sequence adds software updates, applications, and custom settings to the reference computer. Finally, the task sequence captures a new Windows 8 image from the reference computer and stores it on a network shared folder.

Follow these steps to create the build and capture task sequence.

To create a task sequence that builds and captures an operating system image

  1. In the Configuration Manager console, click Software Library.

  2. In the Software Library workspace, expand Operating Systems, and then click Task Sequences.

  3. On the Home tab, in the Create group, click Create Task Sequence to start the Create Task Sequence Wizard.

  4. On the Create a New Task Sequence page, select Build and capture a reference operating system image, and then click Next.

  5. On the Task Sequence Information page, specify the following settings, and then click Next.

    - **Task sequence name**: Specify a name that identifies the task sequence.

- **Description**: Specify a description of the task that is performed by the task sequence, such as a description of the operating system that is created by the task sequence.

- **Boot image**: Specify the default x64 boot image (**Boot image (x64)**).

  6. On the Install Windows page, specify the following settings, and then click Next.

    - **Image package**: Click **Browse**, select the Windows 8 operating system image that you added in Step 2a: Add the Windows 8 Operating System Image, and then click **OK**.

- **Product key**: Specify the product key for the Windows operating system to install. You can specify encoded volume license keys or standard product keys. If you use a non-encoded product key, each group of 5 characters must be separated by a dash (-). For example: *XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX*

- **Server licensing mode**: Specify that the server license is **Per seat**, **Per server**, or that no license is specified. If the server license is **Per server**, you must also specify the maximum number of server connections.

- Specify how to handle the administrator account that is used when the operating system is deployed.

    - **Disable local administrator account**: Specify whether the local administrator account is disabled when the operating system is deployed.

    - **Always use the same administrator password**: Specify whether the same password is used for the local administrator account on all computers where the operating system is deployed.

  7. On the Configure Network page, specify the following settings, and then click Next.

    - **Join a workgroup**: Specify whether to add the destination computer to a workgroup when the operating system is deployed.

- **Join a domain**: Specify whether to add the destination computer to a domain when the operating system is deployed. In **Domain**, specify the name of the domain.

  <div class="alert">


  > [!IMPORTANT]
  > <P>You can browse to locate domains in the local forest. However, you must specify the domain name for a remote forest.</P>


  </div>

  You can also specify an organizational unit (OU). This is an optional setting that specifies the LDAP X.500-distinguished name of the OU in which to create the computer account if it does not already exist.

- **Account**: Specify the user name and password for the account that has permissions to join the specified domain. For example: *domain\\user* or *%variable%*.

  <div class="alert">


  > [!IMPORTANT]
  > <P>You must enter the appropriate domain credentials if you plan to migrate either the domain settings or the workgroup settings.</P>


  </div>

  8. On the Install Configuration Manager page, verify that the Configuration Manager client package is selected, add any additional properties to use for client installation, and then click Next.

    For more information about properties that can be used to install a client, see About Client Installation Properties in Configuration Manager.

  9. On the Include Updates page, specify Mandatory software updates. Configuration Manager installs only the software updates that target the collections for which the destination computer is a member.

  10. On the Install Applications page, specify the applications to install on the destination computer, and then click Next. If you specify multiple applications, you can also specify that the task sequence continues if the installation of a specific application fails.

  11. On the System Preparation page, click Next. Sysprep is automatically available on Windows 8 and you do not have to specify a package.

  12. On the Images Properties page, specify the following settings for the operating system image, and then click Next.

    • Created by: Specify the name of the user who created the operating system image.

    • Version: Specify a user-defined version number that is associated with the operating system image.

    • Description: Specify a user-defined description of the operating system computer image.

  13. On the Capture Image page, specify the following settings, and then click Next.

    • Path: Specify a shared network folder where the output .WIM file is stored. This file contains the operating system image that is based on the settings that you specify in the wizard. Configuration Manager overwrites a .WIM file with the same name, if it exists.

    • Use the following account to access the output folder: Specify the Windows account that has Read and Write permissions to the output shared network folder.

  14. Complete the wizard.

Step 2c: Distribute the Task Sequence Content

Before the reference computer can run the task sequence to build and capture the reference operating system task sequence, you must distribute that content to distribution points.

Follow these steps to distribute the content that is referenced by a task sequence.

To distribute the task sequence content to distribution points

  1. In the Configuration Manager console, click Software Library.

  2. In the Software Library workspace, expand Operating Systems, and then click Task Sequences.

  3. In the Task Sequences node, select the task sequence that you created in step 2b.

  4. On the Home tab, in the Deployment group, click Distribute Content to start the Distribute Content Wizard.

  5. On the General page, verify that the content listed is the content that you want to distribute, and then click Next.

  6. On the Content Destination page, click Add, choose one of the following, and then follow the associated step:

    - **Collections**: Select **User Collections** or **Device Collections**, click the collection associated with one or more distribution point groups, and then click **OK**.

  <div class="alert">


  > [!NOTE]
  > <P>Only the collections that are associated with a distribution point group are displayed. For more information about how to associate collections with distribution point groups, see the <A href="gg682115(v=technet.10).md">Create and Configure Distribution Point Groups</A> section in the <A href="gg682115(v=technet.10).md">Configuring Content Management in Configuration Manager</A> topic.</P>


  </div>

- **Distribution Point**: Select an existing distribution point, and then click **OK**. Distribution points that have previously received the content are not displayed.

- **Distribution Point Group**: Select an existing distribution point group, and then click **OK**. Distribution point groups that have previously received the content are not displayed.

    When you finish adding content destinations, click Next.

  7. On the Summary page, review the settings for the distribution before you continue. To distribute the content to the selected destinations, click Next.

  8. The Progress page displays the progress of the distribution.

  9. The Confirmation page displays whether the content was successfully assigned to the distribution points. For more information about how to monitor the content distribution, see the Monitor Content section in the Operations and Maintenance for Content Management in Configuration Manager topic.

Step 2d: Deploy the Build and Capture Task Sequence

Now that you created the task sequence to build and capture the reference operating system and the content is available on a distribution point, you must deploy it to the reference computer. When the task sequence runs on the reference computer, the computer starts in Windows PE. Then, the task sequence partitions and formats the hard disk on the reference computer, installs Windows 8, installs software updates and applications, and then creates a new reference Windows 8 operating system image that you will use to deploy Windows 8.

Follow these steps to deploy the task sequence to the reference computer.

To deploy the task sequence to build and capture the reference operating system image

  1. In the Configuration Manager console, click Software Library.

  2. In the Software Library workspace, expand Operating Systems, and then click Task Sequences.

  3. In the Task Sequence list, select the task sequence that you created in Step 2b: Create a Build and Capture Task Sequence.

  4. On the Home tab, in the Deployment group, click Deploy.

  5. On the General page, specify the following information, and then click Next.

    - **Task sequence**: Verify that the correct task sequence is selected.

- **Collection**: Specify the collection that contains the reference computer.

  <div class="alert">


  > [!IMPORTANT]
  > <P>Verify that the collection you select contains only the reference computer that will run the task sequence.</P>


  </div>

- **Comments (optional)**: Specify additional information that describes this deployment of the task sequence.

  6. On the Deployment Settings page, specify the following information, and then click Next.

    - **Purpose**: Choose **Available** from the drop-down list.

- Specify when to make this task sequence available. For this scenario, choose **Only media and PXE** to have the task sequence available when you use the pre-execution environment (PXE) to initiate the task sequence deployment.

  7. On the Scheduling page, specify the following information, and then click Next.

    Specify the current date and time for Schedule when this deployment will become available, and then click Next.

    - **Schedule when this deployment will become available**: Specify the current date and time to make the task sequence available on the reference computer.

- **Schedule when this deployment will expire**: Specify the date and time when the task sequence expires on the destination computer.

  8. On the User Experience page, review the default settings, and then click Next. For this scenario, the default settings are likely sufficient.

  9. On the Alerts page, specify whether to generate an alert for a failed deployment, and then click Next.

  10. On the Distribution Points page, click Next. For this scenario, the default settings are likely sufficient.

  11. Complete the wizard.

Step 2e: Run the Task Sequence from the Reference Computer

You have deployed the build and capture task sequence to a collection that contains the reference computer. Now, you must start the reference computer to PXE and run the task sequence to create the new Windows 8 reference operating system image. When you start in PXE, the task sequence that you created in Step 2b: Create a Build and Capture Task Sequence should be available to run. Start the task sequence to restart the computer to Windows PE, partition and format the hard disk drive, and install Windows 8. When the operating system installation is complete, the task sequence begins a capture and stores the new operating system image on a network shared folder.

Step 2f: Add the Reference Operating System Image

After the task sequence creates the Windows 8 reference operating system image, you must add the image to the Configuration Manager console before it will be available to use in the task sequence to deploy Windows 8 to clients.

Follow these steps to add the Windows 8 reference operating system image to the Configuration Manager console.

To add the Windows 8 operating system image

  1. In the Configuration Manager console, click Software Library.

  2. In the Software Library workspace, expand Operating Systems, and then click Operating System Images.

  3. On the Home tab, in the Create group, click Add Operating System Image to start the Add Operating System Image Wizard.

  4. On the Data Source page, specify the path to the Windows 8 reference operating system image. This is the same path that you specified on the Capture Image page in step 2b.

  5. On the General page, specify the following information, and then click Next.

    - **Name**: Specify the name of the image. By default, the name of the image is taken from the WIM file.

- **Version**: Specify the version of the image.

- **Comment**: Specify a brief description of the image.

  6. Complete the wizard.

Step 2g: Schedule Operating System Image Updates

Periodically, new software updates are released that apply to the operating system in your operating system image. You can apply applicable software updates to an image on a specified schedule to reduce the number of required software updates to install after the operating system is installed. This process reduces your vulnerability footprint on the image. On the schedule that you specify, Configuration Manager applies the software updates that you select to the operating system image, and then optionally distributes the updated image to distribution points. For more information about scheduling operating system image updates, see the How to Manage Operating System Images and Installers in Configuration Manager topic.

Follow these steps to apply software updates to an operating system image.

To apply software updates to an operating system image

  1. In the Configuration Manager console, click Software Library.

  2. In the Software Library workspace, expand Operating Systems, and then click Operating System Images.

  3. Select the operating system image to which to apply software updates.

  4. On the Home tab, in the Operating System Image group, click Schedule Updates to start the wizard.

  5. On the Choose Updates page, select the software updates to apply to the operating system image, and then click Next.

  6. On the Set Schedule page, specify the following settings, and then click Next.

    1. Schedule: Specify the schedule for when the software updates are applied to the operating system image.

    2. Continue on error: Select this option to continue to apply software updates to the image even when there is an error.

    3. Distribute the image to distribution points: Select this option to update the operating system image on distribution points after the software updates are applied.

  7. On the Summary page, verify the information, and then click Next.

  8. On the Completion page, verify that the software updates were successfully applied to the operating system image.

Step 3: Create a Task Sequence to Deploy the Operating System

The task sequence performs multiple steps on a client computer at the command-line level without requiring user intervention. In this section, you will create a task sequence to install Windows 8 on computers. The task sequence uses the default x64 boot image, Boot image (x64), to start the computer in Windows PE, partition the hard disk, pre-provision BitLocker, install Windows 8, enable BitLocker, and restore user files and settings. This section consists of the following steps:

  • Step 3a: Create the Task Sequence to Deploy Windows 8

  • Step 3b: Review the Task Sequence Settings

  • Step 3c: Distribute the Task Sequence Content

  • Step 3d: Deploy the Task Sequence to Install Windows 8

For more information about how to create and deploy a task sequence, see the How to Manage Task Sequences in Configuration Manager topic.

Step 3a: Create the Task Sequence to Deploy Windows 8

The task sequence to deploy Windows 8 provides the steps to format and partition the computer, install Windows 8, enable BitLocker, and install mandatory software updates.

Follow these steps to create the task sequence to deploy Windows 8.

To create a task sequence to deploy Windows 8

  1. In the Configuration Manager console, click Software Library.

  2. In the Software Library workspace, expand Operating Systems, and then click Task Sequences.

  3. On the Home tab, in the Create group, click Create Task Sequence to start the Create Task Sequence Wizard.

  4. On the Create a New Task Sequence page, select Install an existing image package, and then click Next.

  5. On the Task Sequence Information page, specify the following settings, and then click Next.

    - **Task sequence name**: Specify a name that identifies the task sequence.

- **Description**: Specify a description of the task that is performed by the task sequence.

- **Boot image**: Specify the default x64 boot image (**Boot image (x64)**).

  6. On the Install Windows page, specify the following settings, and then click Next.

    - **Image package**: Click **Browse**, select the Windows 8 operating system image that you captured and then added in Step 2f: Add the Reference Operating System Image, and then click **OK**.

- **Partition and format the target computer before installing the operating system**: When you select All Images, the source WIM layout is used, and only the BIOS or UEFI partition that maps to the source WIM is used. If you want to use both BIOS and UEFI partition disk actions in a task sequence, do not select All Images.

- **Configure task sequence for use with BitLocker**: Select this setting to use

- **Product key**: Specify the product key for the Windows operating system to install. You can specify encoded volume license keys or standard product keys. If you use a non-encoded product key, each group of 5 characters must be separated by a dash (-). For example: *XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX*

- **Server licensing mode**: Specify that the server license is **Per seat**, **Per server**, or that no license is specified. If the server license is **Per server**, also specify the maximum number of server connections.

- Specify how to handle the administrator account that is used when the operating system is deployed.

    - **Randomly generate the local administrator password and disable the account on all supported platforms (recommended)**: Specify whether the local administrator account is disabled when the operating system is deployed.

    - **Enable the account and specify the local administrator password**: Specify whether to enable the local administrator account. When enabled, specify the password to use for this account.

  7. On the Configure Network page, specify the following settings, and then click Next.

    - **Join a workgroup**: Specify whether to add the destination computer to a workgroup when the operating system is deployed.

- **Join a domain**: Specify whether to add the destination computer to a domain when the operating system is deployed. In **Domain**, specify the name of the domain.

  <div class="alert">


  > [!IMPORTANT]
  > <P>You can browse to locate domains in the local forest. However, you must specify the domain name for a remote forest.</P>


  </div>

  You can also specify an organizational unit (OU). This is an optional setting that specifies the LDAP X.500-distinguished name of the OU in which to create the computer account if it does not already exist.

- **Account**: Specify the user name and password for the account that has permissions to join the specified domain. For example: *domain\\user* or *%variable%*.

  <div class="alert">


  > [!IMPORTANT]
  > <P>You must enter the appropriate domain credentials if you plan to migrate either the domain settings or the workgroup settings.</P>


  </div>

  8. On the Install Configuration Manager page, verify that the Configuration Manager client package is selected, add any additional properties to use for client installation, and then click Next.

    For more information about properties that can be used to install a client, see About Client Installation Properties in Configuration Manager.

  9. On the State Migration page, clear the following settings, and then click Next. The user settings are not captured in this scenario.

    - **Capture user settings**: The task sequence captures the user state. For more information about how to capture and restore the user state, see [How to Manage the User State in Configuration Manager](hh397289\(v=technet.10\).md).

- **Capture network settings**: The task sequence captures network settings from the computer. You can capture the membership of the domain or workgroup in addition to the network adapter settings.

- **Capture Microsoft Windows settings**: The task sequence captures Windows settings from the computer before the operating system image is installed. You can capture the computer name, registered user and organization name, and the time zone settings.

  10. On the Include Updates page, specify Mandatory software updates. Configuration Manager installs only applicable software updates that are deployed to a collection for which the computer is a member.

  11. On the Install Applications page, specify the applications to install on the destination computer, and then click Next. If you specify multiple applications, you can also specify that the task sequence continues if the installation of a specific application fails.

  12. Complete the wizard.

Step 3b: Review the Task Sequence Settings

The Create Task Sequence creates the steps that you must follow to deploy Windows 8. However, before you deploy the task sequence review the settings to make sure that they meet your business requirements.

Follow these steps to review the task sequence:

To review the task sequence

  1. In the Configuration Manager console, click Software Library.

  2. In the Software Library workspace, expand Operating Systems, and then click Task Sequences.

  3. In the Task Sequence list, select the task sequence that you created in Step 3a: Create the Task Sequence to Deploy Windows 8.

  4. On the Home tab, in the Task Sequence group, click Edit.

  5. Verify each step in the task sequence, including the following steps:

    - **Partition Disk 0 – BIOS**: Verify that the volume disk space is sufficient for the boot partition. Notice on the **Options** tab that there several conditions specified to so this step is not run if the task sequence detects that the computer starts in UEFI mode.

- **Partition Disk 0 – UEFI**: Verify that the volume disk space is sufficient for the various partitions. Notice on the **Options** tab that there several conditions specified to so this step is not run if the task sequence detects that the computer does not boot in UEFI mode.

- **Pre-provision BitLocker**: Verify that BitLocker will be applied to the appropriate destination drive and that the **Skip this step for computers that do not have a TPM or when TPM is not enabled** setting is enabled. This step enables BitLocker on a drive while in Windows PE. Only the used drive space is encrypted, and therefore, encryption times are much faster. The step can only be run on computers that have TPM enabled. [Pre-provision BitLocker](hh846237\(v=technet.10\).md) section of the [Task Sequence Steps in Configuration Manager](hh846237\(v=technet.10\).md) topic.

- **Enable BitLocker**: Verify that the Current operating system drive is selected and the encryption type is TPM only. For more information about the Enable BitLocker task sequence step, see the [Enable BitLocker Task Sequence Action Variables](hh846237\(v=technet.10\).md) section of the [Task Sequence Steps in Configuration Manager](hh846237\(v=technet.10\).md) topic.

  6. Add additional steps to the task sequence to support the business requirements in your environment.

  7. Click OK to save the changes.

Step 3c: Distribute the Task Sequence Content

Before you deploy the task sequence to computers, distribute the content to distribution points to make sure that the content is available.

Follow these steps to distribute the content that is referenced by a task sequence.

To distribute the task sequence content to distribution points

  1. In the Configuration Manager console, click Software Library.

  2. In the Software Library workspace, expand Operating Systems, and then click Task Sequences.

  3. In the Task Sequences node, select the task sequence that you created in Step 3a: Create the Task Sequence to Deploy Windows 8.

  4. On the Home tab, in the Deployment group, click Distribute Content to start the Distribute Content Wizard.

  5. On the General page, verify that the content listed is the content that you want to distribute, and then click Next.

  6. On the Content Destination page, click Add, choose one of the following, and then follow the associated step:

    - **Collections**: Select **User Collections** or **Device Collections**, click the collection associated with one or more distribution point groups, and then click **OK**.

  <div class="alert">


  > [!NOTE]
  > <P>Only the collections that are associated with a distribution point group are displayed. For more information about how to associate collections with distribution point groups, see the <A href="gg682115(v=technet.10).md">Create and Configure Distribution Point Groups</A> section in the <A href="gg682115(v=technet.10).md">Configuring Content Management in Configuration Manager</A> topic.</P>


  </div>

- **Distribution Point**: Select an existing distribution point, and then click **OK**. Distribution points that have previously received the content are not displayed.

- **Distribution Point Group**: Select an existing distribution point group, and then click **OK**. Distribution point groups that have previously received the content are not displayed.

    When you finish adding content destinations, click Next.

  7. On the Summary page, review the settings for the distribution before you continue. To distribute the content to the selected destinations, click Next.

  8. The Progress page displays the progress of the distribution.

  9. The Confirmation page displays whether the content was successfully assigned to the distribution points. For more information about how to monitor the content distribution, see the Monitor Content section in the Operations and Maintenance for Content Management in Configuration Manager topic.

Step 3d: Deploy the Task Sequence to Install Windows 8

As soon as you create the task sequence to install Windows 8 and the content is available on your distribution points, you can deploy the task sequence to Configuration Manager clients. Before you deploy the task sequence, make sure that you have a deployment strategy that includes the collections for which you will deploy the task sequence. If you used the Upgrade Assessment Tool in the Pre-Deployment Considerations section, you likely created collections with clients that are ready to upgrade to Windows 8.

Follow these steps to deploy the task sequence to deploy Windows 8.

To deploy the task sequence to install Windows 8

  1. In the Configuration Manager console, click Software Library.

  2. In the Software Library workspace, expand Operating Systems, and then click Task Sequences.

  3. In the Task Sequence list, select the task sequence that you created in Step 3a: Create the Task Sequence to Deploy Windows 8.

  4. On the Home tab, in the Deployment group, click Deploy.

  5. On the General page, specify the following information, and then click Next.

    - **Task sequence**: Verify that the correct task sequence is selected.

- **Collection**: Specify the collection for this deployment. Members of this collection will receive the task sequence to install Windows 8 when they boot to PXE.

  <div class="alert">


  > [!IMPORTANT]
  > <P>To install Windows&nbsp;8 to computers that are not managed by Configuration Manager, you must use a collection that includes All Unknown Computers.</P>


  </div>

- **Comments (optional)**: Specify additional information that describes this deployment.

  6. On the Deployment Settings page, specify the following information, and then click Next.

    - **Purpose**: Choose **Available** from the drop-down list.

- Specify when to make this task sequence available. For this scenario, choose **Only media and PXE** to have the task sequence available when the destination computer boots to PXE.

  7. On the Scheduling page, specify the following information, and then click Next.

    - **Schedule when this deployment will become available**: Specify the current date and time to make the task sequence available to destination computers.

- **Schedule when this deployment will expire**: Specify the date and time when the task sequence expires on the destination computer.

  8. On the User Experience page, review the default settings, and then click Next. For this scenario, the default settings are likely sufficient.

  9. On the Alerts page, specify whether to generate an alert for a failed deployment, and then click Next.

  10. On the Distribution Points page, click Next. For this scenario, the default settings are likely sufficient.

  11. Complete the wizard.