Microsoft Launches Desktop Deployment Resource Center

Microsoft Corp. has made it easier than ever for IT professionals to evaluate and deploy the Windows® XP operating system and Office XP.

This week, Microsoft launched the Desktop Deployment Resource Center, a "one-stop shop" that provides business decision-makers and IT professionals with resources to address their needs in evaluating, deploying and maintaining Microsoft® Windows XP and Office XP. Resources are indexed by product, company size and stage in migration to ensure that the most pertinent information is made available based on the business's needs.

The Desktop Deployment Resource Center is designed to help guide IT professionals to the tools and resources appropriate for their organizations. The portal offers a comprehensive view of the deployment process by bringing together Microsoft deployment resources such as TechNet, white papers, guides, services offerings, knowledge base articles, third-party tools and best practices from early adopters.

"Our goal with the Desktop Deployment Resource Center is to provide a single portal that aggregates available information and provides direct access to Microsoft's best resources for Windows XP and Office XP deployment and management," said Stephanie Ferguson, director of PC Experience marketing at Microsoft. "To realize the reliability and productivity benefits available from Windows XP and Office XP, businesses should begin their evaluation and deployment today."

IT professionals can be sure that regardless of what stage of the upgrade process they are in -- evaluation, planning, building, deployment or management -- the Desktop Deployment Resource Center will put the most relevant information right at their fingertips.

The Windows XP and Office XP desktop offers businesses the highest levels of reliability and productivity. Windows XP Professional provides the advanced productivity tools that organizations need, and gives IT professionals the power to manage, deploy and support the computing environment more efficiently than ever. The following features of Windows XP Professional aid the deployment process:

System Preparation Tool helps administrators prepare a computer to be imaged, cloning computer configurations, systems and applications.
Setup Manager is a graphical wizard that guides administrators in designing installation scripts, greatly reducing or eliminating the need for user intervention.
Remote Installation Service (used in conjunction with Windows 2000 Server) permits an operating system installation across the network.
User State Migration Tool helps administrators migrate user data and system settings from an old computer to a new computer running the Windows XP Professional desktop.