Windows Installation and Configuration

Finalizing the Installation

• Windows Update is used to scan for new software, install service packs, and patches after the initial installation.
• Device Manager is used to verify that all hardware is installed correctly and to locate device problems, and install correct or updated drivers.

Lab - Finalize the Windows Installation

• In this lab, you will add user accounts and finalize an installation of Windows 10.

Custom Installation Options

• Disk cloning is used to simplify the installation process on multiple computers by duplicating the information on the base computer's disk to another disk.

Disk Cloning

• A specific program is used to duplicate all the information on the base computer's disk, sector by sector, to another disk, usually an external device.
• The new disk contains a fully deployed operating system and can be used to quickly deploy a fresh copy of the base operating system and any installed applications and data.

System Preparation Tool

• Microsoft's System Preparation (Sysprep) tool is used to remove any undesirable settings before creating the final image.

Other Installation Methods

• Network Installation includes Preboot Execution Environment (PXE) Installation, Unattended Installation, and Remote Installation.
• Image-based Internal partition Installation is a Windows image stored on an internal partition that can be used to restore Windows to its original state.
• Other types of custom installations include Windows Advanced Startup Options, Refresh your PC (Windows 8.x only), System Restore, Upgrade, Repair installation, Remote network installation, and Recovery partition.

Remote Network Installation

• The OS installation files are stored on a server and the client computer can access the files remotely.
• Remote Installation Services (RIS) communicates with the client, stores the setup files, and provides the necessary instructions for the client to access the setup files, download them, and begin the OS installation.

Preboot Execution Environment (PXE)

• A special environment used to boot the computer, connect to the network, and communicate with the server to begin the installation process.

Unattended Network Installation

• Setup.exe must be run with the user options found in the answer file.
• The answer file is created using the System Image Manager (SIM) and copied to the distribution shared folder on a server.

Recovery Partition

• A hidden partition on the disk that contains an image that can be used to restore the computer to its original configuration.
• The recovery partition can be used to restore the computer using a special key or key combination when the computer is starting.

Upgrade Methods

• In-place upgrade updates the OS and migrates apps and settings to the new OS.
• The System Center Configuration Manager (Configuration Manager) task sequence can be used to completely automate the process.
• When upgrading Windows 7 or Windows 8 to Windows 10, the Windows installation program (Setup.exe) will perform an in-place upgrade, which automatically preserves all data, settings, applications, and drivers from the existing OS version.

Learn about the final steps of Windows installation, including updating the OS and verifying hardware installation through Windows Update and Device Manager utilities.