The Microsoft Deployment Toolkit team is working on a new solution incorporating Sysinternals Disk2VHD into the desktop migration process: P2V Migration for Software Assurance, and we’d like your feedback on it!
CLARIFICATION:
The “…for Software Assurance” part of the title is specifically because P2V’ing a Windows desktop & using that virtualized image requires Software Assurance for that license in corporate usage. To quote the original Connect source mail I got:“Physical-to-virtual hard drive migration of a Windows installation is a valid operation for customers with Software Assurance and full retail copies of Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows 7. Software Assurance provides users valuable benefits. Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7 installed by Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) using OEM versions of these products may not be transferred to a virtual hard drive in accordance with Microsoft licensing terms.”
Even the most skilled IT shops, with resources to work through application compatibility challenges, often find a few users blocking roll-outs to entire sites or larger numbers of users due to:
- Compatibility of specialized, region or user-specific applications, browser customizations or USB device drivers.
- Missing installation files or media to install applications or drivers for testing or redelivery.
- Critical users who cannot risk losing any functionality of their current desktop environments and require a working backup before moving to Windows 7.
These types of issues make it difficult to completely replace existing systems with Windows 7 without causing user disruption. Allowing users to retain their current desktop environments while moving to Windows 7 can smooth the transition while mitigating or delaying investments required for making applications and hardware natively compatible with Windows 7.
P2V Migration for Software Assurance automates the delivery of an updated and personalized Windows 7 operating system while backing up and converting legacy Windows XP or newer desktop and its applications for seamless use within Windows 7.
Key benefits:
- Reduces Windows 7 deployment time, by helping unblock targeted users
- Extends the timeframe to mitigate application compatibility
- Users can access their legacy applications and customized Web browsers
While P2V Migration can help in targeted cases, by design it is not scalable to large percentages of users in an organization. The best practice is to ensure native compatibility with applications, Web sites and hardware devices for Windows 7 and Internet Explorer 8. Microsoft Enterprise Desktop Virtualization scales to deliver and manage more compact and standardized Windows XP virtual machines to more users requiring a managed set of Windows XP-dependent applications. P2V Migration is recommended in cases where the user requires specific components from their current PC and those components cannot run in Windows 7 and do not warrant being part of a standardized and managed virtual machine environment for broad use. Licensing for P2V Migration requires that the converted Windows XP desktop and Windows 7 environment were installed by Volume License media and covered by Software Assurance.
Download the beta now. This is your opportunity to have a direct influence on an important new Solution Accelerator from Microsoft. Please submit your feedback through Connect and direct any support questions you may have to satfdbk@microsoft.com. This will help us improve product feature and functions, benefitting your organizations in the future. Your time and assistance is much appreciated.
Join the Beta Program
To participate in P2V Migration for Software Assurance Beta program, download and test the tool in your environment then provide timely feedback and suggestions to our development team. This is an open beta download. If you are not already a member of the MDT Beta Program and would like to join, follow these steps:
- Go here to join the beta program: http://connect.microsoft.com/site14/InvitationUse.aspx?ProgramID=1646&InvitationID=P2VM-C49K-PQHR. If the link does not work for you, copy and paste it into the Web browser address bar.
- Sign in using a valid Windows Live ID.
- Enter your registration information.
- Continue to the P2V Migration for Software Assurance Beta page.
Already a member of the MDT beta programs? Go here to get the latest beta downloads:
https://connect.microsoft.com/site14/Downloads/DownloadDetails.aspx?DownloadID=30989
kurtsh
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