Thread: Need advice: 5000+ systems needing to be upgraded from XP to Windows 7

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Hello everyone! After struggling for 9 months in my current b.s job I'm in, I finally landed a new IT position!

I was doing help desk/desktop support/PC tech garbage (actually more help desk - conned by employer into this position), but this role I accepted (currently going through background check), it's more of a long-term roll-out. I'm kind of a go-to lead setting up policies/procedures/scheduling to upgrade 5000+ desktops/laptops from Windows XP to Windows 7.

I actually kind of do the heavy lifting of upgrading XP to 7 machines in my current crap job, but the new company told me I'm actually going to be doing the coordinating part of it. My current position, we tell the users (and this is the company's process and procedure) that for an upgrade, it will take 24-48 hours depending on how much data they have. Same process - backing up data, wiping HD, upgrading to 7 with company image, restoring data and applications, but we back up their data to an external HD instead of a network share. And the users do not get a loaner. I can implement that in this new position.

The new company told me the turnaround time is going to be 4 hours (backing up data, wiping HD, upgrading to 7 with company image, restoring data and applications). The 4 hours are broken down in 2 days (3pm-5pm 1st day and 8am-10am 2nd day). The data is being backed up and pulled down from a network share. The new company wants to do about 30-40 laptops a day.

I know the toughest parts of the position are the (a) scheduling with end users on doing the upgrade and (b) getting the laptop out of their deathly grips and out of their comfort bubble.

Any ideas, tips, advice to help a fellow CertForums brother out with this new position?

 

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Sounds awesome Rockets34Life,

Have you considered MDT2010 That will do the upgrade and send the old profile settings back across. If you set it up correctly, it has a very nice automation...if you **** it up, you'll be sitting by the keyboard every 10 minutes.

In addition, perhaps you could discuss working later and getting it done in one day (taking time off later of course).
1. It shows a bit of enthusiasm,
2. you won't disturb the user so much,
3. you'll feel better not coming in to do half a job - especially if something happens overnight/next morning which causes you to either not arrive, or be late to work


Good Luck!

 

Thanks Boffy for the reply.

I've never used MDT 2010. I guess I will have to look into that further for maybe a better flow of the process the new company wants. I haven't started with them yet, so we will see.

I would love to work past my time, but I've asked them to flex my schedule so I can come in earlier and leave early so I can fight traffic to pick up my daughter from daycare. My wife and daycare will kill me if I don't pick her up before the cut off time.

 

Fair enough, you've got the motivation to get it done in the morning!

In regards to MDT, take a look - all the information can be found on the MS/technet website.

 

Is there currently any software in place such as SCCM? or will you be doing everything from scratch?

 

I would suggest using the Windows Automated Installation Kit (Windows AIK) to capture and modify the image using the tools it includes like imagex and dism. Both take about an hour or two to learn to use in the manner you need, then deploy the image using the Windows Distribution Service (WDS) on a server if you have that available or have the permissions to give a server that role. Then simply upload the boot image and installation image that you've captured from a reference machine that contains all the programs, updates, and drivers you need (or several images from several machines based on how many different sets of programs and drivers on different machines you have) and set the scopes on the WDS server to the groups of machines you have to the image they need. Then, if your NIC's are PXE capable, set the machines to boot from the network and the image will be pulled down automatically. To make things even simpler, you can put an unattended answer file on the WDS server in the same directory as the images (make sure to name it autounattend or unattend, otherwise you'll have to do further configuration to get the image to point to the answer file). From there, restore your backups and your done!

*edit*

VERY IMPORTANT if you didn't already know. Make sure you sysprep the reference machine before using any tools to capture the image. If you don't, any hardware differences between the reference machine and the clients your imaging will cause the newly imaged machines to have a big friendly BSOD.

 

MDT will be the best way to achieve your goals for deployment.
I cannot link you to anything (new users are not allowed) but if you seach the Microsoft site for "solution accelerators" you will find the right place to start. Find the MDT link, and you will be brought to a page with a ton of articles and videos to help you out.
Also, there is a great video on Channel9 (on the MSDN site) that has a demonstration of upgrading Windows XP to Windows 7 (With Office 2010) and saving and restoring user data in 18 minutes.

David
Windows Outreach Team - IT Pro