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Deployment 4 - UPDATE - How to create a custom task sequence

  • Article

I have previously mentioned how to create a custom task sequence to save time when testing application installation in BDD 2007.

You will find the article here.

There are two problems you could run into when using this process with Deployment 4.

  1. If you create a custom task sequence based on a REPLACE template then it fails saying it cannot find \distribution$\control\ts.xml
  2. If you use a different template then I get an error saying you haven’t specified a deploymenttype value.

These problems are caused by checks put in place to verify the type of task sequence being executed. This design essentially means that you cannot use a custom task sequence unless you include an “Install Operating System” task in the task sequence.

Don't worry, there is no need to despair...... I have a solution.

  1. Simply add an “Install Operating System” task to your the task sequence and then you can disable it.
  2. Never use a Replace template to create your custom task sequence.

The task sequence and the process will then function as it would in BDD 2007.

Disclaimer: The information on this site is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, confers no rights, and is not supported by the authors or Microsoft Corporation. Use of included script samples are subject to the terms specified in the Terms of Use .

Comments

  • Anonymous
    January 01, 2003
    So - Deployment 4 - very cool...but I bet your thinking "how can i use the task sequences that I built

  • Anonymous
    January 01, 2003
    The comment has been removed

  • Anonymous
    January 01, 2003
    I am often asked how to setup a custom task sequence that will continue after a reboot. If you have created

  • Anonymous
    January 01, 2003
    PingBack from http://blogs.technet.com/benhunter/archive/2007/02/26/how-to-manually-use-a-bdd-task-sequence-to-test-application-installation.aspx

  • Anonymous
    January 01, 2003
    The comment has been removed

  • Anonymous
    January 01, 2003
    I am often asked how to setup a custom task sequence that will continue after a reboot. If you have created

  • Anonymous
    January 01, 2003
    Ok, I'm new to creating custom task sequences. How could I create a script that would get computer model information, map a drive, and then copy a file based on the computer model information?

  • Anonymous
    January 01, 2003
    Hi Johan, The network connection settings are stored in the Bootstrap.ini file. You no longer to include a disabled OS task. The MS Deployment guys fixed that before it was released. Thanks, Ben

  • Anonymous
    January 01, 2003
    Hi Roy, You TaskSequenceID replaces the BuildID property. You can use this in the same way as you used the BuildID. If you have a look at the "Toolkit_Reference" document included with the MDT documentation you will find more details. Thanks, Ben

  • Anonymous
    November 15, 2007
    Hi Ben, I have a question that sort of relates to the new task sequencer templates... Previously we could define a BuidID (specific image) to a role/computer.  Now that the images are now defined in a task sequencer template, how do we assign a specific template to a role or computer using litetouch? Thanks

  • Anonymous
    November 27, 2007
    Thanks for the reply.  It seems my version of Deployment 4 was different (4.4.0.286.0) and did not contain those docs. I've installed the latest version and can see that you can now set the TS id via the customsettings.ini which allows a TS per deployment point, but using the previous BuildID we could set an O/S to install per Role/Computer.  Is this still possible? I see no TSID or SkipTSID option in the details section and the BuildID and SkipBuildID as still present (but are no longer used?).

  • Anonymous
    November 28, 2007
    Thanks Ben, spent most of the day trying to figure this one out. It would appear that the wizard for the TS ID's prompt always defaults to the first item.  I had a look at ZTIGather and can see that it looks like the remapping scenario is already accounted for... 'Provide mapping between BuildID and TaskSequenceID If oEnvironment.Item("TaskSequenceID") = "" and oEnvironment.Item("BuildID")<>"" then oEnvironment.Item("TaskSequenceID") = oEnvironment.Item("BuildID") End if If oEnvironment.Item("SkipTaskSequence") = "" and oEnvironment.Item("SkipBuild")<>"" then oEnvironment.Item("SkipTaskSequence") = oEnvironment.Item("SkipBuild") End if If you set the buildid to match the TS template you want and then set SkipBuild to yes, then the correct value is applied (check variables.dat).

  • Anonymous
    November 29, 2007
    The comment has been removed

  • Anonymous
    January 30, 2008
    The comment has been removed