Windows adk windows 10 2004

Businesses that need to deploy Windows in a larger environment often require customization before they can go about their operations and processes. This large-scale deployment is carried out by IT professionals and system administrators on many computers using the toolset, known as the Windows Assessment and Deployment Kit, or simply, Windows ADK.

Microsoft Windows ADK is a collection of tools that you can combine to prepare, assess, and launch image-based large-scale Windows deployments. These tools are also used to test the operating system’s quality and performance, as well as the applications running on it.

The Windows Assessment and Deployment Kit was earlier known as the Windows Automated Installation Kit (WAIK).

Windows ADK can be deployed on a broad range of devices, such as desktops, notebooks, Internet of Things (IoT) devices, etc. This toolkit works across platforms that work with devices with and without screens.

Windows ADK was first introduced in Windows Vista and since then has always been available in the latest Windows operating systems. The tools currently available in Windows ADK have varied through the years, but currently, they include the following:

• Windows System Image Manager
• Windows Preinstallation Environment (WinPE)
• Deployment Image Servicing and Management tool (DISM)

The key advantage of using Windows ADK for IT teams is to apply different tools to test software, drivers, and hardware compatibility before finally moving to Windows 11 or 10.

The Application Compatibility Toolkit, for instance, lets developers and IT professionals test how 32 and 64-bit Windows applications work on a new operating system before the final installation. IT admins can also use Windows ADK to automate large-scale deployments of Windows.

Download Windows 10 and 11 ADK Versions

On a high level, Windows ADK has two different formats, which have their own versions. One format is reserved for Windows Insider Preview users. The other format is available publicly and can be downloaded via the Windows ADK page on Microsoft’s website.

The variant available publicly is usually around 2 MB in size and comes in different versions, where each new release of Windows ADK involves new features and product enhancements.

If you want to know about the version history, take a look at the list below:

The Windows Preinstallation Environment (WinPE) comes as a separate download from the Assessment and Deployment Kit (ADK), before Windows 10 version 1809. To add Windows PE to your ADK installation, you need to download and install the Windows PE add-on after installing the ADK.

When it comes to features, Windows 10 ADK allows you to select specific features at the time of installation. You can pick and choose the exact features you want to include in the toolkit. The options include:

• Application Compatibility Tools
• Deployment Tools
• Windows Preinstallation Environment (Windows PE)
• Imaging and Configuration Designer (ICD)
• Configuration Designer
• User State Migration Tool (USMT)
• Volume Activation Management Tool (VAMT)
• Windows Performance Toolkit
• Windows Assessment Toolkit
• Microsoft User Experience Virtualization (UE-V)
• Application Virtualization Sequencer (App-V)
• Microsoft Application Virtualization Auto Sequencer (App-V)
• Media experience Analyzer

In general, these features let you perform the following functions:

• Add product branding, applications, along with settings
• Keep Windows up to date with the latest updates, language packs, and drivers
• Look for and identify application compatibility
• Perform user data migration between Windows installations
• Manage bulk activation of Windows

How to Install Windows ADK

Since you can only install one version of Windows ADK at a time, you will need to uninstall any existing ADK installation before installing the new one.

Otherwise, you will need to install the new ADK using the command line for multiple ADK versions working on the same computer.

Follow these steps to install Windows ADK using the traditional method:

1. Download the correct ADK version from above.

2. Run the “adksetup.exe” file to start the installation.

3. Now select “Download the Windows Assessment and Deployment Kit for installation on a separate computer” and click Next.

   

4. Select either Yes or No for Windows Kits Privacy and click Next.

   

5. Click Accept to agree to the licensing terms.

   

   The download process will now start.

6. Once downloaded, close the wizard.

   

After the download process is complete, you can move the downloaded files onto the computer on which you want to install Windows ADK.

If you wish to install it on the current computer, then you must select the first option “Install the Windows Assessment and Deployment Kit on this computer” in Step 3 above and then select the components to install.

Download and Install WinPE Add-On

As discussed earlier in the article, starting with Windows 10 ADK version 1809, WinPE is no longer part of the ADK tool. If you wish to get WinPE, follow these steps to download and install the add-on:

Note: The minimum estimated disk space required is 6.0 GB for the WinPE add-on. Hence, it may take longer for the installation to finish than the ADK. The package includes Windows PE(x86), Windows PE (AMD64), Windows PE (ARM), and Windows PE (ARM64).

1. Begin by downloading the WinPE setup file from the links given above for your respective OS version.

2. Run the downloaded “adkwinpesetup.exe” file.

3. The rest of the process is the same as Windows ADK installation.

Windows ADK Validation

To confirm the Windows ADK installation on a device, follow these steps:

1. Open the Programs and Feature applet by typing in “appwiz.cpl” in the Run Command box.

   

2. Check that Windows ADK and Windows PE have been installed.

   

Conclusion

In order to deploy Windows OS on a large scale, you need a Windows Assessment and Deployment Kit. This article covers the basics of the Windows ADK toolkit, its download links directly from Microsoft, and how to install it.

You can also use this tool and its add-on in conjunction with Windows Deployment Server to level up your automation and operations.

Prajwal Desai is a Microsoft MVP in Intune and SCCM. He writes articles on SCCM, Intune, Windows 365, Azure, Windows Server, Windows 11, WordPress and other topics, with the goal of providing people with useful information.

In this blog I will be showing you how to update Windows ADK 2004 on SCCM Server. Windows Assessment and Deployment Toolkit (Windows ADK) version 2004 (10.1.19041) is the latest one which consists of 2 separate downloads, one for Windows 10 ADK and another one Windows PE add-on.

Release of these 2 separate packages started with Windows 10, version 1809 onwards. Windows ADK consists of deployment tools we need deploy and customize for windows images such Windows PE, Deployment Tools, Imaging and Configuration Designer etc.

Uninstall old ADK and Download latest Windows ADK

Before installing latest version, make sure to uninstall previous version of Windows ADK and Windows PE add-on, or else you will get following error message “You must uninstall the Windows Assessment and Deployment Kit”

Launch Programs and Features and uninstall the following old versions:

Windows Assessment and Deployment Kit – Windows 10
Windows Assessment and Deployment Kit Windows Preinstallation Environment Add-ons- Windows 10

Download latest versions through following link:

Download the Windows ADK for Windows 10, version 2004 – will download adksetup.exe
Download the Windows PE add-on for the ADK, version 2004 – will download adkwinpesetup.exe

Installation should be done in a specific order, install Windows ADK first and then Windows PE add-on.

Once downloaded, execute adksetup.exe, it will give option to directly install or provide download path for offline installer. I will be going with offline installer as its always convenient to download the binaries first before executing it.

Under Windows Kits Privacy page, click Next.

Under License Agreement page, click Accept.

This will proceed with downloading the binaries.

Once downloaded, you will get notification of Download is complete.

Execute adkwinpesetup.exe and once again we are downloading the WinPE Add-ons under a specific directory, click Next.

Once downloaded, click on Close to exit.

Install Windows ADK

Navigate to d:\ADK 2004 and execute adksetup.exe, and this time we will proceed with installing Windows Assessment and Deployment Kit – Windows 10, click Next.

Under Select the features you want to install page, you will get list of all components with few components selected by default:

• Application Compatibility Tools
• Deployment Tools
• Imaging And Configuration Designer (ICD)
• Configuration Designer
• User State Migration Tool (USMT)
• Volume Activation Management Tool (VAMT)
• Windows Performance Toolkit
• Microsoft User Experience Virtualization (UE-V) Template
• Microsoft Application Virtualization (App-V) Sequencer
• Microsoft Application Virtualization (App-V) Auto Sequer
• Media eXperience Analyzer
• Windows IP Over USB

Though Deployment Tools is the most important tool, but I will be going with other selected default option.

Once installation is done, click Close to exit.

Execute adkwinpesetup.exe to initiate installation, click Next.

This will come up with a feature Windows Preinstallation Environment (Windows PE), click Install.

This will go through installing features.

Once completed, click on Close.

Update Boot Image (though it is not recommended)

At this instance, it is necessary to update the boot image with new version to utilize new features. Launch SCCM console and navigate to Software Library > Overview > Operating Systems > Boot Images, right click the boot image and Update Distribution Points. This will launch Update Distribution Points Wizard which will give option Reload this boot image with the current Windows PE version from the Windows ADK.

Note: Beware of updating the boot image as you will loose all customization made in the boot image such as DaRT Integration, ADSI Connector or any other customization you might have done. I would highly recommend creating new boot image rather than updating the existing one. If you haven’t done any customization, you can proceed with reloading the boot image with latest WinPE binaries.

Once done, you will see the Boot Image version changed to 10.0.19041.1

Useful Links:

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/get-started/adk-installhttps://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/mem/configmgr/core/plan-design/configs/support-for-windows-10