Task sequence steps based on the Format and Partition Disk task sequence step type allow the creation of multiple partitions and are typically used to create secondary partitions for storing data. Custom disk partitions are only supported in New Computer scenarios. For Windows XP and Windows Server 2003, MDT only supports installing the operating system to Disk 0 Partition 1.

Note   LTI does not support the deployment of the target operating system to logical drives or dynamic disks.

To configure task sequence steps based on the Format and Partition Disk task sequence step type

1.   Click Start, and then point to All Programs. Point to Microsoft Deployment Toolkit, and then click Deployment Workbench.

2.   In the Deployment Workbench console tree, go to Deployment Workbench/Deployment Shares/deployment_share/Task Sequences (where deployment_share is the name of the deployment share in which you will configure the task sequence).

3.   In the details pane, click task_sequence_name (where task_sequence_name is the name of the task sequence you want to configure).

4.   In the Actions pane, click Properties.

The task_sequence_name Properties dialog box opens (where task_sequence_name is the name of the task sequence you want to configure).

5.   On the Task Sequence tab, in the task sequence hierarchy, go to task_sequence_step (where task_sequence_step is the name of the task sequence step that is a Format and Partition Disk Task Sequence step type), and then click the Properties tab.

6.   On the Properties tab, configure the settings listed in Table 78 based on the requirements of your organization, and then click OK.

Table 78. Configuration Settings on the Properties Tab of Format and Partition Disk Task Sequence Step Type

Setting

Description

Type

Contains the task sequence type, which is always set to Format and Partition Disk.

Name

Contains the name of the task sequence step that appears in the task sequence hierarchy.

Comments

Provides descriptive information about the task sequence step.

Disk number

Includes the disk number to be partitioned and formatted; the disk number is zero-based, which means the first disk will be number zero (0).

Disk type

Contains the type of partition type, which can be Standard (MBR) or GPT.

Volume

Contains a list of the disk volumes to create on the partition.

Create new partition button

Click to create a new partition definition and access the Partition Properties dialog box. For information about completing the Partition Properties dialog box, see Table 79.

Partition properties button

Click to display the Partition Properties dialog box for the partition selected in the Volume box For information about completing the Partition Properties dialog box, see Table 79.

Partition delete button

Click to delete the partition selected in the Volume box. The Confirm Partition Delete dialog box is displayed in which you can confirm (Yes) or cancel (No) the deletion.

 

Table 79 lists the configuration settings for the Partition Properties dialog box. Configure the settings in Table 79 based on the requirements of your organization, and then click OK.

Table 79. Configuration Settings on the Partition Properties Dialog Box

Setting

Description

Partition name

Contains the name of the partition, which appears in the Volume box on the Partition and Format Disk task sequence step type’s Properties tab.

Partition type

Contains the type of partition to be created, which can be Primary or Extended.

Use a percentage of remaining free space

Select to configure the task sequence step to create a partition based on a percentage of the remaining free disk space. If you select this option, specify the percentage in the Size(%) box.

Use specific size

Select to configure the task sequence step to create a partition of a specific size. If you select this option, specify the size of the partition in the Size box.

Make this a boot partition

Select to configure the task sequence step to configure the partition as the boot partition of the target computer. If the check box is:

·     Selected, the partition is configured as the boot partition

·     Cleared, the partition is not configured as the boot partition

File system

Contains the file system for the format process, which can be NTFS or FAT32.

Quick format

Select to configure the task sequence step to format the partition by performing a quick format. If the check box is:

·     Selected, the partition format is performed using the quick format process

·     Cleared, the partition format is performed using the standard format process

Variable

Contains the name of a task sequence variable used to store the drive letter assigned to the partition.

Note   MDT automatically creates an additional partition for new computers when deploying Windows 7 or when BitLocker has been requested.

 

Related Topics

Configure Disk Task Sequence Steps