Tag: WAIK

Windows 7 Automatic Installation Kit

The Windows Automated Installation Kit (AIK or WAIK) is among the free tools of choice when it comes down to building custom Windows 7 images and deploying them in a specific environment. But as much as the Windows Automated Installation Kit is capable of streamlining the installation process of custom-built Windows 7 images, it does come with a few limitations that IT administrators should be aware of. For example, they could find that it is impossible to put together an unattend.xml file from within the Microsoft Deployment Toolkit 2010 for a custom Windows 7 x32 image.

The reason is related to the limitations of WAIK. Specifically, “if you run Windows 7 x32 and WAIK x32 you can create unattends for both x64 and x32 custom images. If you run Windows 7 x64 and WAIK x64 you can not create unattends for x32 custom images. Running x32 WAIK on Windows 7 x64 is not supported,” revealed Richard Trusson, a senior consultant with Microsoft Services, UK.

Essentially, admins that are running 64-bit computers will only be able to build catalogs for x64 WIM’s. This limitation dates back to the Windows Vista period. Microsoft explained that WAIK in Vista leveraged the servicing stack binaries in the image in order to create the catalog. In this context, Microsoft did not see it necessary to include the binaries in WAIK. But the decision ended up impacting WAIK. Read More»

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Remote Server Administration Tools for Windows 7

Microsoft is delivering a complete package of tools around the Release Candidates of Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2. Downloads such as the WAIK or Windows XP Mode are accompanying Windows 7 RC and Windows Server 2008 R2 RC, but Microsoft has even more. The Redmond company is also offering the Remote Server Administration Tools for Windows 7 Release Candidate (RC). The solution is designed to bridge Windows 7 clients with server operating systems including Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Server 2008, or Windows Server 2003. Remote Server Administration Tools allow administrators to manage both features and roles on machines running the server operating systems enumerated above from a remote computer with Windows 7.

“It includes support for remote management of computers that are running either the Server Core or full installation options of Windows Server 2008 R2, and for some roles and features, Windows Server 2008. Some roles and features on Windows Server 2003 can be managed remotely by using Remote Server Administration Tools for Windows 7 RC, although the Server Core installation option is not available with the Windows Server 2003 operating system,” Microsoft informed. Read More»

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