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The installation files were delivered over the corporate network, with upgrade-specific content
coming from the public Windows Update servers.
For employees who hadn’t upgraded by a specified date and time, Microsoft IT was able to “push”
the upgrade package out as a scheduled activity. Typically, these enforced upgrades were scheduled on
Tuesdays and Thursdays during the lunch hour. By the time users returned from lunch, they were able
to complete the brief final setup steps and begin using Windows 10.
Note For a detailed discussion of how Microsoft IT performed the Windows 10 upgrade,
download and read the white paper (in Word .docx format) from https://www.microsoft.
com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=50377.
The result? Approximately 85 percent of the user base was upgraded within four weeks. By contrast,
the Windows 7 deployment in 2009, which used the more traditional custom imaging solution and task
sequence steps, took nearly a year to move 80 percent of employees from their previous operating
system.
Enterprise deployment tools: An overview
Microsoft’s enterprise deployment tools span all the scenarios I discussed previously in this chapter. As
with so many Windows-related tasks, you have almost an embarrassment of riches to choose from in
terms of tools. There are few right or wrong choices, although there are some strongly suggested best
practices. In general, you should choose the tools that work best with your existing or planned infrastructure.
Although it’s possible to use these tools individually, they’re most effective when you create a solution
using a management tool such as Microsoft Deployment Toolkit (MDT) or Microsoft System Center
Configuration Manager.
Microsoft Deployment Toolkit 2013
As of this writing (early 2016), Microsoft Deployment Toolkit 2013 Update 2 is the most recent version
available. (For full details about MDT, see https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/dn475741.aspx.
The download link is here: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=50407.)
Don’t let the older date fool you. This release supports deployment and upgrade of all Windows 10
editions, including the Enterprise LTSB and Education editions. It also supports the Windows ADK for
Windows 10 and includes the latest task-sequence binaries for integration with System Center 2012 R2
Configuration Manager SP1 and later for Windows 10 deployments.
Figure 4-3 shows a custom image in the process of being created, with the option to use custom
drivers rather than applying drivers using Plug and Play.
52 CHAPTER 4 Deploying Windows 10 in the Enterprise