MDOP - DaRT 7

Microsoft Diagnostics and Recovery Toolset is part of Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack. The above toolset helps you to troubleshoot and repair Windows-based desktops. By using DaRT, you can analyze an issue to determine its cause, for example, by inspecting the computer’s event log or system registry. You can also integrate this tools with your Windows recovery environment (WinRE). This is toolset is bundled with powerful troubleshooting tools such as Registry Editor, Locksmith, Crash Analyzer, File Restore, Disk Commander, Disk Wipe, Computer Management, Explorer, Solution Wizard, TCP/IP Config, Hotfix Uninstall, SFC Scan, Search, Standalone System Sweeper and Remote Connection.

DaRT with above said toolset help you fix a problem as soon as you determine the cause. You can use the tools in DaRT to disable a faulty device driver, remove hotfixes, restore deleted files, Reset Administrator Password and scan the computer for malware even when you cannot or should not start the installed Windows operating system. Which works with both x86 and x64 flavours.

For more details please go through the link About DaRT 7 or Getting Started with DaRT 7

For more information about how to deploy DaRT, see Deploy the DaRT 7 Recovery Image.

MDT 2012—Now Available for Download!!

Microsoft Announced that, the MDT 2012 is now officially available for download.

Download the latest release of MDT 2012 to stay up-to-date on your Operating system deployment needs. New features and enhancements make large-scale desktop and server deployments smoother than before.

Key Benefits:
· Support for Configuration Manager 2012
· Customizable deployment questions
· Ease Lite Touch installation
· Secure deployments
· Reliability and flexibility
· Support for Windows 8

Support for Configuration Manager 2012: This update provides support for Configuration Manager 2012 RC2 releases. MDT 2012 fully leverages the capabilities provided by Configuration Manager 2012 for OS deployment. The latest version of MDT offers new User-Driven Installation components and extensibility for Configuration Manager 2007 and 2012. Users now also have the ability to migrate MDT 2012 task sequences from Configuration Manager 2007 to Configuration Manager 2012.

Customize deployment questions: For System Center Configuration Manager customers, MDT 2012 provides an improved, extensible wizard and designer for customizing deployment questions.
Ease Lite Touch installation:The Microsoft Diagnostics and Recovery Toolkit (DaRT) is now integrated with Lite Touch Installation, providing remote control and diagnostics. New monitoring capabilities are available to check on the status of currently running deployments. LTI now has an improved deployment wizard user experience. Enhanced partitioning support ensures that deployments work regardless of the current structure.
Secure Deployments:MDT 2012 offers integration with the Microsoft Security Compliance Manager (SCM) tool to ensure a secure Windows deployment from the start.

Reliability and flexibility: Existing MDT users will find more reliability and flexibility with the many small enhancements and bug fixes and a smooth and simple upgrade process.

Support for Windows 8: MDT 2012 provides support for deploying Windows 8 Consumer Preview and Windows Server “8” Beta in a lab environment.

MDT works with the Microsoft Assessment and Planning Toolkit and Security Compliance Manager to help you plan, securely deploy, and manage new Microsoft technologies—easier, faster, and at less cost.

Learn more at Solutionaccelerators


Microsoft Download Center to download MDT 2012


MDT home page

Introduction to VMware View 5 - Series1

Here with below link you can find the detailed introduction of "VMware View 5". This webcast covers the details about "End User Computing Trends and Vision" and "VMware View 5 - Whats new".

Please logon to webcast and deep dive into VMware virtualization world and transformation trends of VMware with regards to End User Computing virtulization.

Introduction to VMware View 5

Deploying Windows 7 from A to Z

If you are an enterprise operating system deployment guy, then you might be looking out for a quick, neat article about performing enterprise-scale desktop deployment. The reference article from Microsoft is talks about, how to migrate hundreds or thousands of computers running Windows XP to Windows 7.

Today I would like to talk about a article of Jeremy Chapman, a senior product manager at Microsoft, documents the high-level steps for IT professionals to perform an enterprise-scale desktop deployment project—starting with Windows XP and moving to Windows 7.

This Guide is covers most of below IT Professionals assumptions and scenarios.

1. Moving multiple computers or users from Windows XP or Windows Vista to Windows 7.
2. Transitioning to Windows 7 have user data, settings, and applications that somehow (either partially or completely) need to be migrated to Windows 7.
3. If you would like to avoid manual effort in migrating to Windows 7.
4. Prefering to have applications be part of the customized OS you install or automate application installation as part of the total deployment process.
5. Would like to prefer entire process is as automated as possible. Then this aricle would handy and stepping stone for planning the Windows 7 Migration.

Refer Deploying Windows 7 from A to Z.doc

Windows XP to Windows7 Migration Using MDT 2010

With article I am included couple of demonstration videos which will cover basic steps to migrate Windows XP to Windows 7. This Microsoft demonstration video, you will learn how to build media that will automatically migrate computers from Windows XP to Windows 7 with user data, custom applications and drivers. This demonstration will walk you through the Microsoft Deployment Toolkit (MDT) 2010 Deployment Workbench and how it works.

Video Demo on "Building the Deployment Environment"


Video Demo on "Initiating the Install and Migrating the PC"