Hey everyone, if you are considering any type of client migration on you way to Windows 7 , and you have thought about how to manage the end user experience through the process, you may want to check this out.

P2V Migration for Software Assurance uses the Microsoft Deployment Toolkit and Sysinternals Disk2VHD to convert a user's existing Windows XP or newer client environment to a virtual hard disk then automates the delivery of an updated and personalized Windows 7 operating system containing virtual machine with the user's previous Windows environment, applications and Web browser. The user's previous virtual desktop retains its existing management components, domain membership and policies. The process also publishes applications and the browser for the user to access them seamlessly within Windows 7's start menu.

How the process works:

• Starting in a Windows environment with Windows XP SP3 or newer. Environment is personalized with applications (potentially ) not compatible with Windows 7
• The OS Deployment initiates a fully-automated migration to Windows 7.   This process includes P2V conversion of the running OS using Sysinternals Disk2VH
• The Windows 7 migration completes. Windows 7 contains the previous operating system in its entirety within a virtual machine
• Applications and Internet Explorer links are published from the virtual machine to native Windows 7 ‘Start Menu’
• Incompatible applications from original operating system are launched within Windows 7 using RemoteApp integration and Virtual PC.  These isolated apps run in the guest OS

Some links for you:

• Download Beta P2V Migration for Software Assurance here
• Join the MDT Beta Program here
• Visit the Configuration Manager product homepage here
• Visit the MDT product pages here
• Check out the System Center OSD PM Team blog here

Jeff Wettlaufer
Sr Technical Product Manager
System Center, Management and Security Division