Step: 1.4: Prepare the Drives

In this step we will format and partition all the attached local drives.

Create a new group and name it Prepare the drives same level as Evaluate Build Type step.

Prepare the Drives step will be executed if following conditions are met;

Add Format and Partition Disk step. We need to specify at least one partition otherwise the Task Sequence won’t save and give error msg.

Partition name: System

Partition Type: Primary

Use Specific size: 40GB

Make this the boot partition: Select

Do not assign a drive letter to this partition: Un-Select

File System: NTFS

Quick Format: Select

Typically the Primary Partition Properties windows look as below;

This can be customized as required.

The important thing is, make sure the total size of drive is bigger than the partition size. Otherwise the task sequence will fail at drive partition stage.

Create a secondary partition similar to above, but change the name to Data then partition size to Use percentage of remaining free space.

Personally, I will create 2 Format and Partition Disk steps, one for VM’s for my own testing and second one for actual production machines.

Add WMI query to apply different partition settings for VMs and production machine.

For VM’s

Add SELECT * FROM Win32_ComputerSystem WHERE Model LIKE '%VMware Virtual Platform%' as below;

For Production machines SELECT * FROM Win32_ComputerSystem WHERE Model LIKE '%VMware Virtual Platform%' as below;

Click here for complete list of tasks for SCCM OSD All in one task sequence.

Click here for SCCM OSD All in one task sequence Visio diagram.