How to deploy Windows 10 using Desktop Central

Description

This document provides you the steps required to upgrade the Windows operating system to Windows 10 (Windows 10 version 1903 - May 2019 Update) using Desktop Central. Deploying Windows 10 will not impact any data on the target computers, only the operating system will get upgraded.

System Requirements

You can upgrade your Windows operating system to Windows 10, only if the following system requirements are met:

• The computer should be running on Windows 7(service pack 1) or later versions
• A minimum of 16GB (32 bit) / 20GB (64 bit) of free space is required on the hard disk
• A minimum of 1GB (32 bit) / 2GB (64 bit) RAM memory is required
  You can refer to this link for more details: Windows 10 System Requirements

Steps

To deploy Windows 10, follow the steps given below:

• Downloading and extracting an ISO file
• Deploying Windows 10 using Desktop Central

Downloading and Extracting an ISO file

1. Download Windows 10 ISO file from Volume Licensing Service Center or MSDN.

   Note: You can also download the ISO from Microsoft Software Download center provided that you have a license key to deploy the package.

2. Extract the ISO file and store the extracted components in the network share. The network share should have read permissions for "Everyone" group and should be accessible from all the target computers.

   Note: Ensure that the editions, architecture and OS languages of your target computers are compatible with the downloaded ISO file.

You have successfully extracted the ISO file and it is ready to be deployed via the software deployment feature of Desktop Central.
 

Deploying Windows 10 using Desktop Central

1. Click on Software Deployment tab
2. Under Packages, click on Add Package
3. Choose the application type as MSIEXEC/EXE/ISS/Command
4. Specify the name of the package
5. Choose Network Path and click Browse to locate the setup.exe
6. Under "Installation command with Switches/Arguments" enter the following -
   

   To activate the product key, use the given command line argument -

   "\\<sharename>\<foldername>\setup.exe" /auto upgrade /quiet /PKey "XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX" /compat IgnoreWarning /noreboot

   If you don't have a product key, use the below given argument - 
   "\\<sharename>\<foldername>\setup.exe" /auto upgrade /quiet /compat IgnoreWarning
      Example: "\\DC-machine-1\c$\Desktopcentral\Software Reposity\win10_DVD\setup.exe" /auto upgrade /quiet /compat IgnoreWarning /noreboot

   Note: If you are upgrading Windows 10 from build (1507, 1511, 1607, 1703, 1709, 1803, 1809, 1093) to 1909(Windows 10 Nov 2019 Update), you need not provide any license key and the silent switch should be - "\\<sharename>\<foldername>\setup.exe" /auto upgrade /quiet /compat IgnoreWarning

7. Specify the pre & post installation activities if required.
8. Click Add Package to complete package creation.
9. Navigate to "Packages" and select the package that you have added.
10. Click Install/Uninstall Software.
11. Enter a name and description for the configuration.
12. Define the package settings.
13. Configure the deployment settings.
14. Choose the target computers.
15. Specify the schedule options, if required.
16. Click Deploy.

You have successfully deployed Windows 10 operating system to the target computers.

In case you have encountered errors while installing Windows 10, refer the folowing:

• Click here if Windows 10 was deployed through Patch Management
• Click here if Windows 10 was deployed through Software Deployment