When you perform in-place operating system deployments you can create a task sequence to deploy the operating system image to an existing Configuration Manager 2007 client computer and save the user state on the target computer without using a state migration point. After the successful deployment of the new operating system the user state files will be restored to the new operating system and will be deleted from the path specified. The user state is saved using the read-only _OSDStateStorePath task sequence variable. For more information about task sequence variables, use the following link: About Task Sequence Variables

Use the following procedure to create an operating deployment task sequence that will save the user state locally to the target computer:

Procedures

To create an operating system deployment task sequence that will save the user state locally

  1. In the Configuration Manager console, navigate to System Center Configuration Manager / Site Database / Computer Management / Operating System Deployment / Task Sequences.

  2. To start the New Task Sequence Wizard, right-click the Task Sequences node, and then click New/Task Sequence.

  3. On the Create a New Task Sequence page, select Install an existing image package and click Next.

  4. On the Task Sequence Information page, specify descriptive name for the task sequence and add an optional comment. To specify the boot image that will be associated with the task sequence click the Browse button to launch the Select a Boot Image dialog box and select the boot image. Click Next.

    Important
    The boot image you specify must match the chip architecture installed on the target computer or the task sequence will fail.

  5. On the Install the Windows Operating System page, specify the operating system image package that will be used to install the operating system image by clicking the Browse button to launch the Select an Operating System Image dialog box, if there are multiple images in the image package, use the drop-down to specify the Image that should be associated with the image package. Clear the Partition and format the target computer before installing the operating system check-box option.

    Important
    You must not select the option to format and partition the target computer hard disk. If this selection has not been unchecked the option to save the user state will not be available on the State Migration page of this wizard.

  6. Additionally, on the Install the Windows Operating System page, specify the Windows Product key and Server license mode. If you specify Per server as the license mode, configure the Maximum server connections that will be permitted. You must also specify if the local administrator account should be disabled, or if you want to use the same administrator account for all target computers by selecting the appropriate option. Click Next.

  7. On the Configure the Network page, specify if the target computer will join a Workgroup or a Windows Domain.

    1. If you are adding the target computer to a Workgroup, you must type the name of the workgroup in the space provided.

    2. If you are adding the target computer to a Windows domain, click the Set button to launch the Windows User Account dialog box and specify the user account and password that should be used to add the computer to the Windows domain. You must also specify the name of the Windows Domain and Windows Domain OU that the target computer will be added to by clicking the Browse button. Click Next.

  8. On the Install ConfigMgr page, click the Browse button to launch the Select a Package dialog box and select the Configuration Manager 2007 package that will be used to install the Configuration Manager 2007 client. Specify the Configuration Manager 2007 client installation properties that will be used in the Installation properties window. Click Next.

  9. On the Configure State Migration page, select the Save user settings locally option and click the Browse button to select the USMT package that will be used to capture the user state. Additionally, specify the configuration user settings that will be captured by selecting the Capture network settings and capture Microsoft Windows settings check boxes. Click Next.

  10. On the Include Updates in Image page specify how the target computer will install assigned software updates by selecting the appropriate option.

  11. On the Install Software Packages page click the New button to launch the Program Select Dialog box. Click the Browse button to launch the Select a Package dialog box. Select the Configuration Manager 2007 packages you want to include and click OK. Use the drop down to select the associated programs that should be used.

  12. To complete the creation of the new task sequence, on the Summary page, click Next.

  13. To confirm that the new task sequence was created using the properties specified, review the confirmation on the Confirmation page.

  14. Click Close to close the New Task sequence Wizard.

  15. After you have created the task sequence, you must edit the task sequence. Select the Set Local State Location task sequence step. In the Value window specify the directory that the state store will be saved by typing in the network location between the percent symbols. For example: %C:\MyLocalStateStore%. For more information about editing an existing task sequence, use the following link: How to Edit an Existing Task Sequence

See Also