Microsoft Windows Desktop Deployment Resource Kit

Features

• Cover Type: Paperback with 918 pages
• Published by: Microsoft Press August 11, 2004
• Written in: English
• ISBN 10 Number: 0735618984
• ISBN 13 Number: 978-0735618985
• Book Dimensions: 9 x 7.2 x 1.7 inches
• Weighs: 3.1 pounds

Product Description
Get in-depth technical information and tools to deploy and manage Microsoft Windows XP and Microsoft Office 2003—straight from the source. This official RESOURCE KIT provides Microsoft’s most-requested set-up and support information in one comprehensive and authoritative volume. With it, you get prescriptive guidance to help choose the best deployment method and tools for common scenarios; perform attended and unattended installations; automate the deployment process, control policy and profile settings for desktop operating systems and applications; automate deployments for Office and other programs; and more. The information, tools, templates, and scripts come straight from the source, for the expertise you need to maximize the productivity of your desktop environment and reduce support costs.

About The Author
Best-selling author Jerry Honeycutt has written more than 25 books, including Introducing Microsoft Windows Server™ 2003 (Microsoft Press, 2003) and Microsoft Windows XP Registry Guide (Microsoft Press, 2002).When he’s not writing, he tours cities worldwide to teach IT professionals how to deploy the business desktop, helping businesses both large and small deploy Windows XP and Office XP. Jerry is a frequent speaker at events such as COMDEX, Developer Days, and the Microsoft Exchange Conference.

Reader Reviews
I write this review partially evaluating the information it contains, but also how it has held up over time. This book came out in late 2003 and it is now early 2006. A successor to Windows XP is already known, but that doesn't mean that Windows XP is on the way out or that companies will not just now be deploying that OS either for the first time, or redeploying as a refresh to encompass service packs, hotfixes and larger updated application suites, such as Microsoft Office. In short, a competent title covering the deployment of XP is still needed. In short, everything you need to know about preparing Windows XP for deployment using the Microsoft approved and supported tools and methods is found inside. The authors cover in-depth the planning one should take within the environment to configure, deploy, and manage a desktop. You are instructed on the proper way to prepare the desktop for mass distribution, configure and run the utilities to ensure that the final OS image is not deployed duplicating network identification data, as well as running user state migration to transfer settings between builds. Distribution technologies, such as RIS and SMS are covered, although any commonly used third party utility, such as Symantec Ghost is not. There are also chapters dedicated to reviewing service pack and hotfix management, group policy management, as well as software updates (to Microsoft products, such as Microsoft Office 2003). And lastly, you are given a few different syntax guides to such things as SysPrep and Administrative Templates. I believe, however, that this title could use a second edition. Even when it was released, some of the services covered were on their way out, and two years later, entire chapters of this book are now useless for many. For example, chapter 17 deals with distribution of XP via Microsoft SMS 2.0. Today, SMS 2003 is the standard and deployment of desktops and servers can be done using a feature pack. As the bulk of the Windows XP preparation has not changed, adding the SMS 2003 information would add a great deal of value. This book also talks about using Windows PE as a management OS for deployment. In 2003, WinPE was not available to many (and is still not, although that availability is on the rise and this book does point you to WinPE alternatives), although it is included and licensed in SMS 2003. The current WinPE section is still very informative, but a refresh overview to cover the changes in the more widely available version would be nice. The different service packs released for Windows XP also bring about new components of the OS as well as new generations of deployment tools, such as SysPrep. Again, although the current information is still very useful, a second edition could cover those changes to the OS and tools. All things considered, this is still an excellent title and for the most part is as relevant today as when it was released. Administrators looking for an informational source on configuring and packaging the OS itself will find great value here, whereas those looking for information on the deployment mechanisms may need additional books / material in addition to what is presented here, especially if you are not planning on using Microsoft technologies.