Microsoft Surface 3 - Manual (Page 20)

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Windows Preinstallation Environment (WinPE) Alternate boot operating system used
to perform deployments and imaging
User State Migration Tool (USMT) Migrates user data from one
environment to another
Volume Activation Management Tool (VAMT) Centrally manages Microsoft licenses
and activation
Application Compatibility Toolkit (ACT) Mitigates application incompatibilities
Table 2.2: Windows ADK Tools.
Note: The Application Compatibility Toolkit is a powerful tool used to provide compatibility fixes, or shims, to resolve
application compatibility issues. Although it is included in the Windows ADK, it is not covered in this guide.
The Windows Assessment and Deployment Kit can be downloaded from the Microsoft Download Center by following
this link:
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=293840
Windows System Image Manager
The Windows System Image Manager (Windows SIM) is the utility that creates and manages the answer files used with
Sysprep and Windows Setup. Answer files are stored in an XML format, so it is possible to manually edit these files.
However, using WISM to manage answer files ensures the resulting file is built from settings confirmed to be valid for
the target operating system. Using the Windows SIM helps to ward against human error when performing a deployment
with configurations set by the answer file.
Deployment Image Servicing and Management
The Deployment Image Servicing and Management tool (DISM) is one of the most important tools included with the
Windows ADK. It is used to mount and service Windows images and replaces the previous imaging solution called
ImageX. ImageX was used by the Windows AIK in Windows 7 and Windows Vista. DISM is a command-line utility that
supports file and package management in images and can be used to apply updates, drivers, apps, and other
configurations to an image. DISM has the ability to service an operating system environment while it is currently running
on a computer, or an offline image.
Even with third party tools where servicing is supported, management of a Windows image is typically performed with
DISM. DISM is also commonly used in system maintenance and repair. In Windows 8 and later versions of Windows, the
DISM utility replaces the deprecated System File Checker (SFC) to verify and repair Windows core operating system files.
DISM is also commonly used to add or remove Windows features.
Windows Preinstallation Environment
The Windows Preinstallation Environment (WinPE) is the alternative operating system executed on the boot media used
by Windows Deployment Services, the Microsoft Deployment Toolkit, System Center Configuration Manager, and
several third party deployment solutions. As a minimalistic environment based on the kernel of the Windows operating
system, WinPE supports the same drivers and many of the same commands as the operating system being deployed.
This ensures compatibility with the destination computers and provides a highly configurable environment which is able