Create a reference image – Deploy Windows client

After determining what will be included in the image, you’ll need to create it. Use the following top-level procedure:

1. On a reference computer, install Windows 11 Enterprise 21H2.
2. Apply any Windows updates.
3. Add any drivers, apps, or other required software.
4. Apply any app updates.
5. Configure any installed apps or software as needed.
6. Using the Sysprep.exe tool, generalize the image.

You use the Sysprep.exe app to generalize your image. It’s located in the C:\Windows\System32\Sysprep\ folder and requires administrator-level privileges to reset your operating system, ready for OOBE.

7. Capture the generalized image.
8. Store the captured image in a location accessible to MDT.

In addition to your operating system image, you’ll also need a boot image. Typically, you’ll use the boot image provided on an installation Windows 11 ISO that matches the edition to be deployed.

At the time of writing, Microsoft has not updated the Microsoft Deployment Toolkit to support Windows 11 Enterprise 22H2. It’s incompatible with MDT build 6.3.8456.1000 since the new version no longer contains the x86 version of WinPE that MDT uses. Therefore, you should ensure your reference environment contains the following software:

• Windows ADK for Windows 11 21H2 (Windows 11 Enterprise 22H2 is not supported). The required version of the adksetup.exe is 10.1.22000.1. See https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=2165884.
• Microsoft Deployment Toolkit, Build 6.3.8456.1000. See https://www.microsoft.com/download/details.aspx?id=54259.
• WinPE Addon for Windows ADK for Windows 11 21H2. See https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=2166133.
  

Note Windows 11 is Network-Hungry
During the build and capture phases and creating a Windows 11 reference image, Windows 11 is very active over the network while updating its native applications via the Internet. This is known for breaking Sysprep. If possible, you should disable Internet access during these stages.

Add the images to MDT

After you’ve created any required images, the next step is to add the images to MDT. Before you can add images, you’ll need to create a deployment share. Use the following procedure:

1. Open the Deployment Workbench.
2. Select the Deployment Shares folder.
3. Right-click Deployment Shares and then select New Deployment Share.
4. Complete the New Deployment Share Wizard by providing:

• A local path on the MDT server for the share.
  •A share name, such as Deployment Share$.
• A description.
• The following options can be configured to control the deployment experience when images are created within MDT:
• Ask if a computer backup should be performed.
• Ask for a product key.
• Ask to set the local Administrator password.
• Ask if an image should be captured.
• Ask if BitLocker should be enabled.

5. You can add your images to the deployment share when you’ve created the deployment share.

To add an operating system image, use the following procedure:

1. Expand your deployment share and select Operating Systems.
2. Right-click Operating Systems and then select Import Operating System.
3. Complete the Import Operating System Wizard, displayed in Figure 1-12, by entering the following information:

• Choose OS Type and select Full set of source files, Custom image file, or Windows Deployment Services images.
• Choose Source to enter your image’s source location.
• Choose WDS Server to add a WDS server name if you’re using a Windows Deployment Services image.
  •Choose Destination to add a destination directory name.

FIGURE 1-12 Choosing the operating system image type