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Quick Start

Use this guide for the shortest path from a prepared workstation to a first deployment.

Stay in the standard path

Use expert mode only when the deployment requires predefined network, time zone, Autopilot, machine naming, or Windows OOBE behavior.

1. Install Foundry OSD​

Install the latest MSI from Requirements.

Open Foundry OSD after installation.

2. Confirm ADK readiness​

Check the main window before selecting media options.

If Foundry OSD shows an ADK banner:

  1. Select the action shown by Foundry OSD: Install ADK, Upgrade ADK, or Downgrade ADK.
  2. Wait for the verification step to finish.
  3. Continue after the media creation actions become available.

Foundry OSD supports the Windows ADK 24H2 build line (10.1.26100.x). If a newer unsupported ADK is installed, Foundry OSD downgrades it to the supported ADK 24H2 release.

Foundry OSD home screen

3. Choose media settings​

Select the standard media options:

  • ISO output path, USB target disk, or both
  • Target architecture
  • WinPE language
  • WinPE driver vendors to include

Use Media Creation when you need to compare ISO and USB behavior before choosing an output.

4. Build the media​

Select the build action that matches the output you need.

OutputUse it when
ISOYou need a reusable file for VM testing, remote mounting, or later distribution
USBYou need Foundry OSD to provision a bootable physical device directly
USB creation is destructive

USB creation erases and repartitions the selected target disk. Confirm the selected disk before starting.

Foundry OSD ready to create media

5. Boot the target device​

Boot the target device from the media.

The bootstrap starts the runtime sequence automatically:

  1. Foundry Connect
  2. Foundry Deploy

6. Validate networking​

Foundry Connect checks whether the WinPE runtime network state is ready.

If networking is ready, allow Foundry Connect to continue. The bootstrap then opens Foundry Deploy. If networking is not ready, resolve the network state before deployment starts.

Read Network Readiness for the runtime behavior.

7. Run deployment​

When Foundry Deploy opens, follow the wizard in order:

  1. Target
  2. Operating System Catalog
  3. Driver Pack
  4. Summary

The wizard enables forward movement only when the required selections for the current page are valid.

Foundry Deploy target selection

Next steps​