Automating Windows 7 Installation for Desktop and VDI Environments

Greg Shields

AutomatingWindows7InstallationforDesktopandVDIEnvironments

Chapter3:TechniquesinInstallingApplicationsDuringWindowsDeployment.....................35 StepSeven:CreatingaMasterImagewithApplications.................................................................35 InvokingSysprep.........................................................................................................................................36 CreatingaCaptureImage.........................................................................................................................37 CapturingtheMasterImage...................................................................................................................39 . SteppingBack:ApplicationDeliveryMechanisms.............................................................................43 FromThicktoThin.....................................................................................................................................45 ThicktoThin:WhatDoYouNeed?......................................................................................................45 TheMicrosoftDeploymentToolkit......................................................................................................46 ComingUp:FoldingYourDeploymentInfrastructureintotheMDT.........................................47 DownloadAdditionaleBooksfromRealtimeNexus!........................................................................48

AutomatingWindows7InstallationforDesktopandVDIEnvironments

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AutomatingWindows7InstallationforDesktopandVDIEnvironments

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Chapter3:TechniquesinInstalling ApplicationsDuringWindowsDeployment
Chapter2coveredthefirstsixstepsincreatingafullyautomatedanduniversalWindows7 image.Withthosesixsteps,yourereadytostartdeployingWindowswithfullyautomated ease.However,youcanprobablyimaginethattheresanimportantpieceofthis deploymentthatsstillmissing:theapplications. Inthischapter,Illdiscusstwoverydifferenttechniquesthatyoucanusetoinstall applicationsontoWindows7desktopsduringadeployment.Illstartbyexplainingthe thickapproach,andwillthenbeginthediveintoadiscussionofthelayeredapproach. Thethickapproachisprobablysimilartohowyouvebeenhandlingapplications.Usingthe thickapproach,youcreateoneormoremasterimagesthatcontaintheoperatingsystem (OS)alongwithanyapplicationsyouwantdeployed.Oncecreatedandconfiguredtoyour liking,thismasterimageiscapturedbacktoyourWDSserverandlaterredeployedto computersaroundyournetwork.Theapproachiscalledthickbecausetheimagesgrow largeasapplicationsandconfigurationsareadded. Thethickapproachwithmasterimageshaslongbeenusedbecauseitiseasyto comprehend.Simplycreateanimage,makeanyconfigurationchanges,installand configureapplications,andfinallycapturethatimagebacktothedeploymentserver. Althoughtheapproachrequiresextrasteps,itiseasytovisualizewhattheuserwillget whenthecapturedimageisredeployed:Ifyoucreateditonthemasterimage,theuserwill getit.

StepSeven:CreatingaMasterImagewithApplications
Thecreationofamasterimagestartswiththedeploymentofabasicimagetoamaster computer.Thismastercomputerwillbethelocationwhereyouwillperformtheimage customizationwork.Deploythatbasicimageusingtheprocessyoulearnedintheprevious twochapters. Oncetheimageisdeployedtothemastercomputer,makethechangesyouwanteventually deployedtousers.Inadditiontoinstallingapplications,youmightwanttosetafewoftheir initialconfigurationstomakethingseasy.Youmightalsowanttoinstallanylicensesthat canbelegallyreplicatedthroughoutyournetwork.Rememberthatanychangeyoumake onthismasterimagewillbecopiedtoeveryothercomputerwhentheimageislater deployed. 35

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AuditMode WindowsVistaandWindows7nowincludeaspecialconfigurationmode calledAuditMode.Althoughyoucanabsolutelymakechangestoyourmaster computerwithoutusingAuditMode,thisspecialmodeenablesasetof protectionsformasterimagesduringthiscustomizationprocess. UsingAuditModeisoptionalandoutofscopeforthisbook.Formore information,seehttp://technet.microsoft.com/en us/library/dd799305(WS.10).aspx. Inmysamplemasterimage,IdeployedacopyofWindows7usingourprocessthusfarand theninstalledMicrosoftOffice.Forgrins,Ialsochangedthethemeandconfiguredthe powersettingsforthecomputer.Foroursamplesolution,thesesimplechangesrepresent theonlycustomconfigurationsIllsetinmymasterimage.

InvokingSysprep
YoullneedtoSysprepthecomputerastheverylaststepinthiscustomizationprocess.A Sysprepmustbecompletedtopreparethecomputerforbeingdeployed,asitcompletesa processcalledgeneralization.ThegeneralizationprocesseliminatesallthedataontheOS instancethatlinksittothehardwareonwhichitwasinstalled.Bygeneralizing,youcan laterredeploythisimagetootherhardware. OlderversionsofSysprepwerequitepainfultouse.Luckily,ithasgottenquiteabiteasier inWindows7tocompletethistask.SysprepisnowavailabledirectlyoneveryWindows7 instance.TolaunchSysprep,runthecommand
C:\Windows\System32\sysprep\sysprep.exe

Runningsysprep.exewillbringforwardthedialogboxyouseeinFigure3.1.

Figure3.1:TheSystemPreparationTooldialogbox. 36

AutomatingWindows7InstallationforDesktopandVDIEnvironments

NoteinFigure3.1thattheSystemCleanupActionissettoEnterSystemOutofBox Experience(OOBE),andthattheGeneralizecheckboxisselected.Thesetwosettingsrevert thecomputerbacktoapointwheretheSetUpWindowswizardwillbedisplayeduponthe nextreboot.Thisactionputsthecomputerintothecorrectpositionfordeployment.Thatis thesamepositionweexperiencedwithourbasicimageinthepreviouschapters.Youllalso notethatIveconfiguredtheShutdownOptionstoShutdownthecomputeronceithas completedgeneralizing.Thisisimportantforthenextpartofthisprocess. Note Prestagingthecomputerintothismodemeansthatouroriginalunattend filesthoseweworkedoninthepreviouschaptershouldstillworkin customizingandautomaticallydeployingthiscomputerinthesamewayas ourbasicimage. Youshouldstillbeabletouseyouroriginalunattendfiles,evenagainstthis customizedimage.Justmakesurethatyoureattachthemtothenewimage backinWDSaftercapturingtheimageinthenextstep.

CreatingaCaptureImage
Todeploythisimage,youvefirstgottocaptureittoyourWDSserver.Capturingthat imagerequirestheuseofaspecialbootimageIllcallacaptureimage.Thiscaptureimage bootsthecomputertoWinPEjustlikeabootimage.Butinsteadofhandingofftoaninstall image,thecaptureimageinsteadgathersthecomputersdataintoamasterimage. Letscreatethatcaptureimage.GotoyourWDSserver,andclickBootImages.Rightclicka bootimage,andchooseCreateCaptureImage.YoullbepresentedwiththeCreateCapture ImageWizardjustlikeyouseeinFigure3.2.Givethecaptureimageanameanddescription aswellasastoragepath.YoullnoticethatImstoringmycaptureimagewiththeboot imageinC:\RemoteInstall\Boot\x64\Images.ClickNexttocreatetheimage,whichwilltake afewminutestocomplete.

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Figure3.2:TheCreateCaptureImageWizard. Aftertheimagehasbeencreated,youllbepresentedwithaTaskProgressscreen(not shownhere).TherewillbeanAddimagetotheWindowsDeploymentServernowcheckbox. Selectthatbox,andclickFinish.Thisstepaddsthejustcreatedcaptureimagebacktothe WDSserver,enablingthecaptureimagetobedeployedoverthenetworkjustlikeweve beendoingwitheveryimagesofar. RunthroughtheresultingAddImageWizardtoaddthenewcaptureimagebacktoWDS. Figure3.3showshowIvegiventhisimageanameofMicrosoftWindowsCapture(x64). Completingthiswizardandaddingtheimagetakesafewminutesonceagain,butasa result,youllbeabletocaptureamastercomputersimageinthesamewaythatyoudeploy animageoverthenetwork!

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Figure3.3:TheAddImageWizard.

CapturingtheMasterImage
Thatwasthehardpart.Yourlasttaskinthisstepistocapturetheimageyouvejust generalizedandmadereadyfordeployment.Atthispoint,themastercomputershouldbe powereddownifyouconfiguredSyspreppertheinstructions.Sysprepneedsittoremain powereddownsothatitspowerbackonintoSetUpWindowsstateiscapturedbythe captureimage. Youlldothatnow,butbeterrificallycarefulwiththisstep.Poweronthepowereddown mastercomputerandconnectittoyourWDSserverviaPXEboot.Youmustmakesurenot topoweronthecomputerintoitsWindowsinstallation.Quicklypoweritbackdownifyou haveanyproblemswithPXE.AssumingyouresuccessfulwiththePXEboot,youreready tocaptureitsimage.

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Note Theresanotherimportantchangetobemadeherefirst.Rememberbackin Chapter2whenweattachedtheunattend_x64_client.xmlunattendfiletoour WDSserver?Thatunattendfilebootscomputersandimmediatelybegins deployingourbasicWindows7bootimage.Youdontwanttodeployan imageatthispoint,youwanttocaptureone.So,theunattendfileneedsto disappearforawhile. Toensurethatyouboottothecorrectimage,rightclicktoviewthe propertiesoftheWDSserver,andselecttheClienttab.CleartheEnable unattendedinstallationcheckbox.Youcanreselectthecheckboxafter youvecompletedthecapture. Ifyouvedoneeverythingcorrectly,yourmastercomputerwillboottoa screensimilartothefollowingimage.There,youllwanttoselectthecapture imagetostartthecaptureprocess.Beverycarefulwiththisprocess,as bootingbacktoWindowsmayrequireneedingtoreSysprepandshutdown thecomputerbeforetryingagain.

DontforgettoselecttheEnableunattendedinstallationcheckboxonce youvecompletedyourcapture.ThatreturnsyourWDSserverbacktoits normaloperationforautomaticallydeployingimages. Thenextsetofstepsisamanualprocess;however,thisisOKbecauseyoullbedoingthem relativelyrarely.Afterbootingwiththecaptureimage,youllseeaninitialwelcomescreen. ClickNexttoseetheDirectorytoCapturescreen,similartoFigure3.4. Anyonethinkitsfunnytheycallthisthedirectorytocapture?Sorry,Idigress

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AutomatingWindows7InstallationforDesktopandVDIEnvironments

Figure3.4:DirectorytoCapture. Thedropdownboxonthisscreenisexceptionallyimportant.Initshouldbethevolumeof thecomputeryoullwanttocapturebacktoWDS.YoucanseeinmyexamplethatC:\isthe volumeIminterestedincapturing.Ifyoudonotseeavolumehere,yourSysprepdidnot completesuccessfully.Ifyoudontseeavolume,logoutofthecapturemodebefore attemptinganyotheraction,poweronthecomputerbacktoitsinstalledOS,manually answertheSetUpWindowsquestions,makeanynecessarychanges,andreSysprepthe computerbeforestartingthisprocessagain. InFigure3.4arealsoImagenameandImagedescriptionboxes.Theseareintendedforthe nameanddescriptionoftheimageaswillbeseeninWDS.Ivenamedminetoshowthat thisimageiscomprisedofmybasicWindows7ENTERPRISEimageplusMicrosoftOffice. ClickNexttocontinue. Thenextscreen,showninFigure3.5,identifieswhereyouwanttostoretheinstallimage. BeawarethatthisNewImageLocationscreenbehavesalittlestrangely.Followalong closelybecauseIexperiencedsomeproblemsthefirstfewrunsthrough.

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AutomatingWindows7InstallationforDesktopandVDIEnvironments

Figure3.5:NewImageLocation. Rememberhowcreatingacaptureimagerequiredtwosteps?Inthefirststep,theimage wascreated,thenitwasuploadedtotheWDSserver.Thisratherconfusingwindowneeds toaccomplishbothofthosetasks.Problemisthatyoudontnecessarilywanttostoreyour imageonthemastercomputer;youwanttostoreitonyourWDSserver. Itsherewherethingsgettricky.ClickBrowseintheNameandlocationboxtobrowseto theImagesfolderonyourWDSserver.Forme,thecorrectionlocationwas \\wdsserver\c$\RemoteInstall\Images\Windows7Default.There,givetheimageaname, whichinmycasewasWindows7_Office.wim.Youwillbepromptedtoentercredentialsto makethisconnection. Aftercompletingthisstep,selecttheUploadimagetoaWindowsDeploymentServicesserver (optional)checkbox.EnterthenameofyourWDSserverunderServername,andclick Connect.Youwillbepromptedagainforcredentials.Aftersuccessfullyauthenticatingto yourWDSserver,alistofimagegroupswillappearunderImageGroupname.Selectthe correctimagegroup,andclickNexttocontinue.

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Note Iveseensomeverystrangebehavioratthisconfigurationscreen.Namely, thattheauthenticationsessionusedtoconnecttotheWDSserversdisk couldnotbesharedbytheWDSserverconnection.Togetaroundthisodd limitation,IusedtheservernameforthediskconnectionanditsIPaddress fortheWDSconnection. Youmightexperiencedifferentresults.Ifyourconnectionattemptresultsin anerrormessage,considerusingmydualnameandIPaddresstrickto connect. Youredone!Thecaptureprocessshouldbegin.Capturinganimagetakesabitlongerthan deployingone,soplanonquiteafewminutespassing.Also,aswithimagedeployments,be consciousaboutthelargeamountofnetworktrafficthatanimagecapturecangenerate.At itsconclusion,youshouldfindyournewlycreatedimageintheWDSconsole.Consider performingatestdeploymenttoseehowwellitworksandwhetheryourconfigurations deploycorrectly. Yourconfigurationshouldnothaveaffectedmanyofthequestionsandanswersinyour unattendfile.IfyouhaveconfiguredaspecificimagetobedeployedinyourClientfile, youllwanttochangeitsnameandfilename.Theothersettingsshouldremaineffectiveand shouldcorrectlyanswerthequestionsrequiredbythiscustomimagesSetUpWindows prompt.Ifyouvedoneeverythingcorrectly,youshouldbeabletodeployyourcustom imagesusingexactlythesameprocessasyourbasicimagesfromChapters1and2.

SteppingBack:ApplicationDeliveryMechanisms
StepSevenseemsprettyinvolved,particularlywhenyoupairitwiththerealizationthat everylittlechangetoaWindowsimagewillrequireadeployment,aconfigurationchange, andacapture.Thatsalotofstepswhenyouconsiderhowoftenchangescanbenecessary. AninterestingthingabouttheWindowsXPtoWindows7upgradeincomparisonwith previousOSupgradesarethenewmechanismsnowavailabletoactuallydeliver applicationstousers.BeforeIgetintoanystepbystepprocesses,Iwanttostepbacka minuteandreallyfocusontheconceptofapplicationdelivery.Rememberbacknottoo manyyearsagowhenwedidnthavemanyoptionsfordeliveringapplications.Formostof us,whenauserneededanapplication,wearrivedattheirdeskwithaDVDandinstalledit locally.

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ThatDVDapplicationdeliverymechanismsuiteduswellformanyyears,butovertime, wegrewtiredofneedingtoshowupateverydeskaftereveryrequest.Itisatthatpoint whereotherapplicationdeliverymechanismsgrewcompelling: GroupPolicyObjects(GPOs)begandeliveringapplicationsthroughourActive Directory(AD)infrastructure. ApplicationmanagementsolutionslikeSystemCenterConfigurationManager, SystemCenterEssentials,andothersfromthirdpartiesgainedwidespreaduse. ApplicationvirtualizationsolutionslikeMicrosoftsAppV,amongotherthirdparty solutions,cannowstreamanapplicationthroughwhatcanonlybecalledaglorified filecopy.

Theseniftysolutionsenableustoevolvetowardsakindoflayeredapproachinmanaging ourdesktopsand,indeed,ourdesktopimages.Ratherthaninstallingapplicationsand othercustomizationsdirectlyintoimagesthethickapproachsmartadministrators knowthatathinapproachisalotmoremanageable. Withthethinapproach,deployedimagesremainrelativelybasic,containingfew applicationsthataredirectlyinstalledintotheimage.Pairingdowntheimagetoa configurationthatisassimpleaspossiblereducestheneedforupdatesovertime.Instead, applicationsareinstalled(layered!)ontopofthebasicimageusingoneoftheother mechanismsdiscussedinthepreviousbulletedlist.Youllobviouslyhaveabitmoresetup inconstructingthatlayeringinfrastructure,buttheresultwillbeamuchcleanerandmore elegantsolution.Moreimportantly,aftertheupfrontworkiscomplete,yourdaytoday operationsbecamefar,fareasier. Figure3.6showsagraphicalrepresentationofthislayeringthatIfirstcreatedforTechNet MagazinebackinDecember2009 1 .Init,takealookattheCoreOperatingSystemandits Drivers.Theseelements,whichweworkedoninChapter2,areonlypartofthegiantstack thatmakesupeverydesktop.

http://technet.microsoft.com/enus/magazine/ee835710.aspx

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Figure3.6:LayeringWindowsOSdeployment. Illspendsometimewiththeotherelementsinthisstackinotherchapters.Fornow, however,Iwanttocontinuetheconversationbytalkingmoreaboutthelayermarked Applications.

FromThicktoThin
Thinkabouthowthethinapproachwilldramaticallychangeyourmanagementofdesktop images.Letscomparethinwiththick:Howmanydesktopimagesdoyouhavetoday? Ten?Dozens?Hundreds?Youveneededeachofthosedesktopimagesbecausetheyre slightlydifferentincomposition.OnemayhaveOffice2010onit,whileanotherstillholds Office2007oreven2003.Evenothersmaybedifferentonlyintheirdrivers. Wefixedthedriverprobleminthepreviouschapter.There,weusedWDSDriversnodeto createapoolofdriversthatanydeploymentcanpullfromwhenPlugandPlayfindsa hardwarematch.Accomplishingthismeanswecannowgetridofeveryimagethatsonly differentbecauseofitsdrivercomposition. Thischaptersgoalistogetyoustarteddowntheroadofeliminatingtherestofyour images.Thoseimagesexistbecausetheirapplicationcompositionisdifferent.Thischapter wontyetgiveyouthecompletesolution,butitstartsthediscussion.Actuallygettingto thatthinnirvanawilltakemanyoftheremainingchapters.

ThicktoThin:WhatDoYouNeed?
Thinkabouttheonlyrealwaytogettothissingleimagenirvana:Stoppingthepracticeof installingapplicationsandcustomizationsdirectlyinsidetheimage.Thatskindofaneat thought,yes?IfIdeployanimagethatdoesntcontainapplicationsorthatcontainsonly theapplicationsIwanteverywhereIcanthenlayerontopofthatimageeverythingelse duringsubsequentsteps.

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WhatwouldIneedtodothis? 1. Ineedsomemechanismtoautomaticallyinstallapplicationstodesktopsafter theyredeployed. 2. Ineedsomemechanismforidentifyingwhichapplicationsshouldbeinstalledonto whichdesktops. 3. Itwouldbenicetohaveanotherwaytoinventoryapplicationsonmyexisting desktopsandholdthatinformationinreserve.Icouldthenuseittoredeploythe correctapplicationsafterthedesktopisupgraded. 4. Ineedawaytorepackagethoseapplicationssothattheycanbeinstalledviathis magicalautomaticinstallationsystem.AswiththeWindowsinstallation,fully automatedapplicationinstallationneedstoasknoquestionsduringaninstallation. Itneedstostart,finish,andbedone. 5. Ineedtorecognizethattheapplicationsthemselvesareonlypartofthejob.Along withapplications,mostusershavedatathatneedstobetransferredwiththe application.Usersdontlikeitwhentheirdataisntavailableaftertheircomputeris upgraded,andthemanualstepstomakethatdataavailablearepainfulforthemand us.Asaresult,anyupgradeprojectshouldprobablyautomaticallymanagemyuser dataaswell. Thatsaprettytallorderoffeatures.Andyourerightinthinkingthatwellneedtoadd capabilitiesintoourautomatedsolutionifweretogetthere. WhatsgreatisthatyoucanactuallyfulfilltheseneedsusingMicrosoftsfreesolutions.You canalsofulfilltheseneedsusingforcostsolutions.AsImentionedinChapter1,although Microsoftsnocostsolutionsmightnotbetheslickestonesaround,theyrefree. Ifyourdeploymentprojectissmall,lowincomplexity,orsuffersunderareallysmall budget,Microsoftsnocostsolutionsintegrateperfectlytocreatemostofthissingleimage nirvana.Ifyouvegotafewmorebucks,usethemtoexpandthatsolutiontoincludesome ofthecostlierbitseitherfromMicrosoftorthirdparties.Thoseadditionalspendybits bringgreateradministrativecontrol,morereporting,andbettergranularityintheactions theyperform.

TheMicrosoftDeploymentToolkit
Butthisbookisallaboutthefreetools,sothatswherewellfocus.Imsurethereareplenty ofthirdpartysolutionsalespeoplewhollbehappytoexplainhowtheirproductsmakeall ofthissimpler. OnceyouveimplementedwhatIvetoldyouinStepsOnethroughSeven,youhave everythingyouneedtocreateafullyautomatedanduniversalsystemfordeploying Windows7.YoucanactuallyputdownthisbookandstartdeployingWindowswith success.Infact,ifyourupgradeprojectisreallysmall,thesesevenstepsareprobablyall thatyouneed.

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Ifyourupgradeprojectismorethanreallysmall,thestepstothispointprobablydont fulfillyourneeds.Youvegottobeprettycuriousatthispointhowtogettothislayered approachforapplications,userdata,andothercustomizations.Evenifyouresmall,after goingthroughthatpainfuldeploy,reconfigure,andcaptureprocessafewmoretimes,this layeredconceptwillprobablybecomecompelling. Unfortunately,weveprettymuchcometotheendofthecapabilitiesthatwecansqueezeout ofWDSalone.Inordertotakethatnextstepinevolvingoursolutiontowardsreal automation,weneedtolayeranotherofMicrosoftsacronyms(andapplications)ontopof WDS.ThatnewacronymandapplicationiscalledtheMDTortheMicrosoftDeployment Toolkit. Ifyouvebeenaroundtheblockforanyperiodoftime,youknowthatMicrosofts deploymenttoolshaveforyearsbeenwellawful.Theyworked,buttheywerevery technologyfocusedinthecapabilitiestheypresented.Whattheworldhasreallywantedis amoreprocessfocusedsolution;onethatcouldtrulyautomatealltheusualworkflows thatmakeupanupgradeproject:userdatacollection,applicationinventory,application compatibilitychecking,applicationinstallation,anduserdatainjectionallthoseother tasksthathadforsolongnotbeenthereinRIS,WDS,andtheothertoolsalone.Whatthe worldwantedwasawaytocreatesequencesofthetasksthatgooninanupgradeproject. Thosesequenceswouldbecodifiedinstructionsthatautomaticallydidallthoseniftythings onbehalfoftheadministrator.Whataneatidea,eh?Well,Microsoftlistened,andtheMDT wasborn.

ComingUp:FoldingYourDeploymentInfrastructureintotheMDT
ThenextchapterwillstartourexplorationintotheMDT.Asyoulldiscover,theMDT arrivesasakindofproceduralwrapperaroundallthetechnologiesthatwevealready exploredtothispoint.Youwontnecessarilybethrowingawayanythingyouvealready learned.Infact,bynavigatingyourlearninginthisway,youreparticularlypreparedtodo wellwiththeMDTstasksequencemethodofdeployingWindowsdesktops. Thenextchaptercontinuestheconversationontechniquesininstallingapplications, focusingonthewaysinwhichtheMDTstreamlinestheprocessandmovesyoutowardsa morelayeredapproach.IllstartbyhelpingyougettheMDTinstalledandinitially configured.Then,Illshowyouthestepsyoullneedtoimplementtoincorporate applicationinstallationswithinyourWindowsdeployment. Youalsoknowthatapplicationsarenteverything.Applicationsbythemselvesareonlyof limitedassistance.Youalsoneedtoreturnuserdatabacktoacomputerafteritsbeen upgraded.FollowingChapter4,Illcontinuebydiscussingtheallimportanttopicofuser dataandshowhowtheMDTwillassistinpreservingthatdataduringanupgrade.

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