SCCM 1902 and Windows ADK

When you deploy operating systems with Configuration Manager, the Windows ADK is a required external dependency. Hence it is important to update the ADK version when you plan to deploy new Windows 10 versions.

What is Windows ADK?

The Windows Assessment and Deployment Kit contains set of tools that you need to customize Windows images for large-scale deployment. You can use the tools to test the quality and performance of your system and applications running on it.

Every new release of Windows ADK is better than its previous version. It is almost difficult to remember what was added in particular version of ADK.

What is Windows PE Add-on for Windows ADK?

Starting with Windows 10, version 1809, Windows Preinstallation Environment (PE) is released separately from the Assessment and Deployment Kit (ADK). To add Windows PE to your ADK installation, download the Windows PE Add-on and run the included installer after installing the ADK.

Should I update Windows ADK?

This is the common question asked by many whether I should update Windows ADK version. Absolutely, there are many advantages of using the latest version of Windows ADK.

• As and when new Windows 10 versions come out, to deploy them using SCCM, you need the latest version of ADK.
• By installing or updating Windows ADK, you get the access to latest features baked in ADK version.

Windows 10 ADK Features

The Windows ADK includes the following features. While you are installing Windows 10 ADK, you can select the below features to install them.

• 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

Download Windows ADK and WinPE Addon

Update Windows ADK on SCCM Server

Now that we have ADK and WinPE add-on installers downloaded, let’s look at the steps to update Windows ADK on SCCM server.

Uninstall Windows ADK

Here is how you uninstall Windows ADK:

• Login to SCCM server.
• Go to Control Panel > Programs and Features.
• Right click Windows Assessment and Deployment Kit – Windows 10 and click Uninstall.

Uninstall WinPE add-on

After you uninstall Windows ADK, you must next uninstall Windows PE add-on.

• Login to SCCM server.
• Go to Control Panel > Programs and Features.
• Right click Windows Assessment and Deployment Kit Windows Preinstallation Environment add-ons – Windows 10 and click Uninstall.

Both Windows ADK and Windows PE add-on are now uninstalled.

Install Windows ADK

To install Windows ADK on SCCM server

• Login to SCCM server.
• Run adksetup.exe as administrator.
• This launches Windows ADK setup wizard with two options under Specify Location.
• Select the first option – Install the Windows Assessment and Deployment Kit to this computer.

Install Windows PE add-on

Here is how you install Windows PE add-on on SCCM server

• Login to SCCM server.
• Run adkwinpesetup.exe as administrator.
• This launches Windows ADK setup wizard with two options under Specify Location.
• Select the first option – Install the Windows Assessment and Deployment Kit Windows PE add-ons to this computer.

There are no additional features except Windows PE to select. Click Install.

Update Boot Images to Distribution Points

Finally, after you install the latest version of Windows ADK, you must always update boot images. The boot images must be updated to all the distribution points present in the setup. Most of all you must update both x64 and x86 boot images.

To Update Boot Images

• Launch SCCM console.
• Go to Software Library > Overview > Operating Systems > Boot Images.
• Right click Boot Image and click Update Distribution Points.

Check the box “Reload this boot image with the current Windows PE version from the Windows ADK“.

SCCM and ADK are now on supported versions to allow for driver injection via the SCCM console.

For further reading on SCCM

SCCM and Intune Co-Management for Windows 10