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Device images

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Whether you order new devices or reuse existing ones, you have several options to ensure the image on the device meets our device requirements.

New devices

When you order a new device from an approved manufacturer, follow these steps to make sure they ship devices with the right Microsoft Managed Desktop image and software configuration.

Anytime you plan to enroll a particular device model in the service for the first time, you should test an example to ensure it will deliver the user experience you expect. For more information, see Validate new devices.

Windows 10 Pro

If you're ordering devices with Windows 10, work directly with your OEM sales representative. As of November 1, 2022, OEMs can only sell Windows 10 Pro under the Windows 11 Pro with Windows 10 Pro Downgrade license. For more information, see Windows 10 support dates for the retirement dates of Windows 10 versions.

For customers interested in moving to Windows 11, you can find more information on the recommended process here.

New Dell devices

To order Microsoft Managed Desktop compliant systems from Dell, your Dell sales representative must ensure that your order includes the Ready Image with the optional Microsoft 365 apps preload. For more information on the patch level details of Ready Image and the Microsoft 365 apps preload, go to Dell Windows Image Support Matrix.

New HP devices

When you order new devices from HP, be sure to use the specific SKU listed in the Additional requirements section for each model found in the Shop Windows Pro business devices page. Filter the view to list the Microsoft Managed Desktop devices.

If you're ordering a device from HP that has been approved as an exception, but isn't currently listed on the Device List page, request the SKU to be used for your model. We'll work with HP to get you this information by using your exception request. You can also contact HP directly for any questions about devices and device ordering instructions by using these addresses:

  • Americas: mmd-americas@hp.com
  • Europe/Middle East/Africa: mmd-emea@hp.com
  • Asia Pacific/Japan: mmd-apj@hp.com
  • Global: mmd@hp.com

New Lenovo devices

When you order devices from Lenovo, you must indicate a specific part number in the order. Contact your Lenovo sales representative or Lenovo Channel Partner and ask them to create a "special bid model" with a system that meets our device requirements.

To include a pre-loaded image compatible with Microsoft Managed Desktop, ask the sales representative to reference "system building block part number SBB0Q94938 - MMD Enablement." Work with your Lenovo sales representative or Lenovo Channel Partner for recommended services, support, and imaging services.

New Microsoft devices

All Microsoft devices that meet device requirements come with an image that works with Microsoft Managed Desktop. No other steps are required.

To get the latest image available in the factory on a Microsoft device, work with your Surface specialist to use the Surface "Pegged PO" process.

Existing devices

You can reuse existing devices as long as they meet both:

Follow the steps relevant to your manufacturer.

You can reimage devices either with an image from the manufacturer, or by using the Microsoft Managed Desktop universal image. To get an appropriate manufacturer image, order at least one new device of the model you're reusing. Then, you can obtain the image from that device and apply it to other devices of the exact same model.

Note

It's your the responsibility to create, test, and deploy images. We also recommend using appropriate images provided by the manufacturer whenever possible instead of custom images; this includes the "universal image."

Existing HP devices

HP Commercial PCs shipped with the HP Corporate Ready Image include a .WIM file for recovery. You can use this image to apply the factory restoration image to other devices of the same model.

The following steps will remove all data on the device. Before starting, you should back up any data on you want to keep.

To remove data on the device:

  1. Create a bootable USB drive with WinPE.
  2. Copy these files from C:\\SOURCES to the USB drive:
    • The factory recovery WIM file (for example, HP\_EliteBook\_840\_G7\_Notebook\_PC\_CR\_2004.wim)
    • DEPLOY.CMD
    • ReCreatePartitions.txt
  3. Boot the device to WinPE USB drive.
  4. In a command prompt, run Diskpart.exe.
  5. In Diskpart, run list disk, and then note the primary storage disk number (typically, Disk 0).
  6. Exit Diskpart by typing exit.
  7. In the command prompt, run deploy.cmd <sys_disk> <recovery_wim>, where sys_disk is the disk number of the primary storage disk you determined, and recovery_wim is the filename of the .WIM file you copied earlier.
  8. Remove the USB drive, and then restart the device.

Microsoft

Microsoft Surface devices include "bare metal recovery" images that are specific to each model. You can use these images to reimage devices.

These images use the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE). This is a manual process (not automated). Follow the steps in Creating and using a USB recovery drive for Surface.