By Patrick Nelson
The Windows Automated Installation Kit (Windows AIK) is a deployment kit.
It allows unattended Windows 7 installations.
The kit allows for capturing Windows 7 images with ImageX; configuring and modifying images with Deployment Imaging Servicing and Management (DISM) and making Windows Pre-installation Environment (PE) images.
Windows AIK works alongside the User State Migration Tool (USMT.)
Other features include the Volume Activation Management Tool (VAMT,) which lets IT automate and run the volume activation process using a Multiple Activation Key (MAK.)
Windows AIK is good for extremely customized environments. Deployments with Windows AIK can take many, flexible forms.
The tools included in the kit include Windows System Image Manager (Windows SIM) for opening images, creating answer files and managing shares and configuration sets.
ImageX is for capturing, creating, modifying and applying Windows 7 images.
DISM is included too. It’s for applying updates, drivers and language packs.
Windows PE is a stripped-down operating system environment.
The Windows AIK has tools for building and configuring Windows PE environments.
USMT is also included. USMT is a migration tool for moving user data from a previous operating system.
The latest release of Windows AIK ties in with Windows 7.
DISM replaces many tools which were in the previous Windows AIK including Package Manager, the International Settings Configuration Tool, and the Windows PE command-line tool.
USMT is now installed as part of Windows AIK.
This Windows AIK creates a new Windows default partition structure where a second partition is created by default–for recovery tools and data encryption, for example.
Windows editions can be changed during deployment using DISM. There is a new (/Apply-Profile) option to reduce the contents of a Windows PE image.
This reduces storage space and is geared towards storage on USB drives.
You can now deploy virtual hard disks (VHDs) with a native boot. In Windows 7, a VHD can be used as the running operating system on designated hardware.
You can create a bootable VHD. Other big changes with this version include the functionality to now manage windows activations with VAMT.
New configurable settings for Windows 7 are available in most images and are managed by Windows SIM.
Microsoft have a new section on TechNet relating to this version of Windows AIK and how it applies to Windows 7 (and Windows Server 2008 R2.)
You can investigate these changes and learn more about the Windows AIK in general by clicking here.
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