Microsoft QLF-00195, GLC00182 manual User State Migration Tool, VHD Image Management and Deployment

User State Migration Tool

The User State Migration Tool (USMT) is a command-line tool you can use to migrate user profiles, files, and system and application settings from one operating system installation to another. For Windows 7, USMT adds a Hardlink Migration feature that migrates files from one operating system to another on the same PC without physically moving those files on the disk, providing significant performance gains compared to previous file-moving methods. In this case, files are indexed and redirected through the use of links in the new operating system. USMT for Windows 7 also reduces the need to write custom XML files to control migration by providing a dynamic algorithm that discovers user documents at runtime. Additionally, USMT for Windows 7 adds flexibility by enabling offline migrations. And it provides support for volume shadow copy, enabling the migration of files that an application is using at the time of file capture.

Windows Easy Transfer is another migration tool that can help simplify upgrading your PC to Windows 7 by making the transfer of personal data easy and intuitive.

Note: For more information on Windows Easy Transfer, please see the “Getting Started with Windows 7” section.

VHD Image Management and Deployment

Virtual machine images have traditionally required different management and deployment solutions than native file-based Windows Imaging Format (WIM) system images. With Windows 7, you can use the same processes and tools while managing WIM and virtual hard disk (VHD) image files. VHD files based on Windows 7 can be treated similarly to WIM files with regard to offline image servicing and image-based setup. You can manage virtual machine images using DISM and deploy VHD files using Windows Deploy- ment Services and multicast deployment options. VHD files can be deployed in an automated manner, just like WIM files, and can be natively booted into by Windows 7.

VHD boot is a feature of Windows 7 that helps ease the transition between virtual and physical envi- ronments. With VHD boot, enterprises can reuse the same master image both within a virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) and on physical PCs. For example, imagine a call center with 100 users who work remotely through VDI but need the same desktop images as their counterparts who work onsite using traditional PCs. VHD boot is designed for users in a highly managed environment and is best used with technologies such as Folder Redirection and Roaming User Profiles so that the user’s state is not stored in the image.

In Windows 7, deployment tools such as Windows Deployment Services also support deployment and servicing of VHD files. Although this technology opens up new deployment scenarios, there will not be full parity between WIM and VHD in the user experience. For this reason, Microsoft recommends physical deployment of VHDs only to desktops in highly managed environments.

Note: For more information about VHD Boot in Windows 7, please see the “VHD Boot” section of this document.