Deployment Solution

Hi everyone, I just want to confirm something I have recently discovered: A quick background. I am currently running DS6.9 SP2 on Server 2003 R2, been running great for years. I have started getting ready to build/upgrade the Altiris server to Server 2012 and DS6.9 SP6. I have a bunch(100+) of older Dell desktops/laptops running Win7 just fine but I don’t see Dell offering up Win8 drivers for them. I have the Vista drivers for all of them which have been working well in the current DS6.9 server. - Is true that you can only use Window 8 drivers for WinPE4? - You cannot use Win7 drivers with WinPE4? - Could I simply go with an earlier DS6.9 SP which comes with a lower WinPE version that allows Win7 drivers? Trying to avoid replacing 100+ machines for this one issue! Thank you in advance, Sean

PE 4 is Windows 7.  PE5 is Windows 8.  PE3 is Vista.

 

Just like in the real OS, older drivers MIGHT work, might not.

 

So, for PE4 and DS 6.9 SP6, you'll WANT to get Win7 drivers if possible.  My guess is that most of the Vista drivers will be fine.

 

Remember though, that this is only for NIC drivers, not for the drivers database.  Those have to match your destination OS.

Also remember that it depends on if you're using PE X86/X64 - they have to match.  It's a lot more narrow of a concern than most people realize.

 

I'm pretty sure you'll be fine.

Hi Thomas

Thanks for the info. So to be 100% clear you are saying WinPE4 will import Win7 NIC drivers just fine, importing them using Boot Disk creator in DS6.9 SP6?

And it is possible that the Vista NIC drivers will also import/work just fine for DS6.9 SP6?

When researching I found some people stating that you can only use Win8 NIC drivers for WinPE/DS6.9 SP6, so that has been a concern!

- Sean

PS: I am setting up a 2012 R2/DS6.9 SP6 server right now to test with.

They're backwards.  WinPE 4 is based on the kernal for Windows 7.  WinPE 5 is Windows 8.  So actually, the windows 8 drivers are more suspect than the Windows 7 drivers.

That said, there's always the exception, but yes, Windows 7 drivers should import just fine into BootWiz / BDC in DS 6.9 SP6.  It is designed for that specifically.  Because Windows 7 is little more than an SP for Vista, the Vista drivers "should" also work fine.