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Organizations have three common ways to deliver Windows: configure new PCs with Windows Autopilot, upgrade eligible existing PCs in place, or deploy a clean image for a new, wiped, or replacement device. The right choice depends on the device’s starting state, whether apps and settings must be kept, and how much deployment infrastructure IT can operate.
How should an organization choose a Windows deployment method?
Microsoft recommends modern deployment methods unless a specific need calls for a different procedure. In its deployment guidance, Autopilot and in-place upgrades are modern scenarios; bare-metal, refresh, and replace are traditional scenarios. Dynamic provisioning—such as Microsoft Entra ID and mobile device management (MDM) configuration, provisioning packages, and Subscription Activation—is another category, not a fourth option in the three approaches below. These scenarios can complement one another; an organization does not have to adopt one product or method for every device. Microsoft’s Windows deployment scenarios describes the categories.
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| Approach | Best fit | What happens to the device | Preserves apps and settings? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Windows Autopilot | New devices that will be configured for organizational use | The OEM-installed Windows image is configured during the out-of-box experience (OOBE). | Not an upgrade of an existing installation; apps and policies are applied as part of setup. |
| In-place upgrade | Eligible existing devices where continuity matters | Windows Setup updates the installed operating system. | Yes; Microsoft says the process preserves data, settings, applications, and drivers. |
| Traditional image deployment | Clean installs, wiped PCs, or replacing old devices | A fresh image is installed, with user state saved and restored for refresh or replace workflows. | Depends on the workflow; refresh and replace use a save-and-restore sequence for user state. |
1. Use Windows Autopilot for new devices
Autopilot configures a new PC during OOBE using its OEM-installed Windows image. Instead of maintaining a custom Windows image and model-specific drivers for each device, IT defines the configuration and management policies, and can install apps or change the Windows edition as part of deployment. A user typically connects the device to a network and verifies their credentials; the remaining setup can be automated. Microsoft’s Autopilot overview explains the approach.
Microsoft lists Intune, Windows Update client policies, and Configuration Manager among the supported management options. Autopilot is not a universal turnkey option: confirm the current supported Windows version and technical, network, configuration, and licensing prerequisites for the intended setup before rolling it out. It is most useful when devices are new and IT wants cloud-configured provisioning rather than a model-by-model custom image.
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2. Upgrade eligible existing devices in place
For a supported PC that already has Windows installed, Windows Setup can upgrade the operating system while retaining data, settings, apps, and drivers. Microsoft recommends this route for organizations moving eligible existing computers from unsupported Windows versions and notes that it generally requires less IT effort than building a complex deployment infrastructure. IT can control the process with tools such as Configuration Manager. Windows can also roll back automatically if deployment problems occur. See Microsoft’s guidance on upgrading with Configuration Manager.
Check compatibility before choosing an in-place upgrade. It does not cover every transition: Microsoft gives moving from 32-bit to 64-bit Windows and boot-from-VHD installations as examples that require another deployment path. If the goal is a clean installation or the device is being replaced, an in-place upgrade is not the same as a wipe-and-load deployment.
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3. Deploy a traditional image for clean installs and device changes
Traditional deployment is appropriate when the organization needs a fresh image, must wipe a PC, or is moving users to replacement hardware. Microsoft describes three distinct workflows:
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Install a fresh image on a new or wiped device. This is the clean-start option when the existing Windows installation is not being retained.
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Refresh (wipe and load)
Save the user state, wipe the disk, install the image, and restore that state. This rebuilds the same PC while retaining the user state selected for migration.
Replace
Save user state from the old PC, deploy Windows to a new PC, and restore the state there. This supports a device replacement rather than an upgrade of the old hardware.
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These workflows provide control over a clean image and device lifecycle, but require deployment tooling and operational planning. Microsoft documents Configuration Manager-supported workflows for these scenarios in its deployment scenario guidance.
What if you mean installing Windows 11 on a personal PC?
Consumer installation paths are different from organizational fleet deployment. For an eligible personal device, Microsoft recommends waiting for Windows Update to offer Windows 11. The Installation Assistant is an alternative upgrade route. Windows installation media can also upgrade an existing installation or start a fresh installation. Before installing, check that the PC meets Windows 11’s system requirements. Microsoft’s Windows 11 download page provides the current options.
A USB flash drive is one example of installation media, not a requirement for Autopilot or an in-place upgrade. If you boot from installation media to perform a fresh installation, the existing installation and files are erased; back up any files you need before proceeding.
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