Download the Windows AIK
The Windows Automated Installation Kit (WAIK) is now available for download. This download includes the much anticipated Windows PE 2.0 which is the primary installation delivery method of Windows Vista.
I have been using the WAIK for several months now and it is a huge improvement over the days of the sysprep.inf, unattend.txt, etc. Now you just have to configure one file, the unattend.xml.
The install for WAIk includes the Windows System Image Manager which allows you to create the unattend.xml. You can use the unattend.xml to customize not only your Windows Vista installation but also customize your Windows PE 2.0 boot process.
Other great tools that are included are imagex, our new imaging tool with that allows you to create a WIM file. You can easily create WIM files with both Windows XP or Vista so you don't have to wait until deploying Vista to take advantage of the new tools.
The Windows Deployment Service (WDS), is also included in the WAIK. WDS is a replacement for RIS and allows PXE booting to a Windows 2003 server. You can take your custom WIM file created with imagex and deploy it with WDS.
The help files are outstanding and the Windows System Image Manager has competely integrated help so you can click on any item and hit the F1 key and find great reference information.
Download and start playing with WAIK today at: