Network selection during Windows 8.x deployment in MDT and ConfigMgr

When deploying Windows 8.x with MDT or ConfigMgr, deployment may stop at the network selection screen. When press Connect in the selection screen, deployment will continue. Within this blogpost I show you how to skip network selection.

 
Within MDT:
The CustomSettings.ini (which can be found on Properties, Rules on the Deployment Share) needs to be changed as follows:
 
<OOBE>
   <HideEULAPage>true</HideEULAPage>
   <NetworkLocation>Work</NetworkLocation>
   <ProtectYourPC>1</ProtectYourPC>
   <HideLocalAccountScreen>true</HideLocalAccountScreen> 
 <HideOnlineAccountScreens>true</HideOnlineAccountScreens> 
 <HideWirelessSetupInOOBE>true</HideWirelessSetupInOOBE>
</OOBE>
 
Within ConfigMgr:
The unattend file (additional file which can be used in the Apply Operating System step) needs to be changed as follows:
 
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<unattend xmlns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:unattend">    <settings pass="oobeSystem">
        <component name="Microsoft-Windows-Shell-Setup" processorArchitecture="amd64" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionScope="nonSxS" xmlns:wcm="http://schemas.microsoft.com/WMIConfig/2002/State" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance">
            <OOBE>
                <HideEULAPage>true</HideEULAPage>
                <HideWirelessSetupInOOBE>true</HideWirelessSetupInOOBE>
                <NetworkLocation>Work</NetworkLocation>
                <HideOnlineAccountScreens>true</HideOnlineAccountScreens>
                <HideOEMRegistrationScreen>true</HideOEMRegistrationScreen>
                <HideLocalAccountScreen>true</HideLocalAccountScreen>
            </OOBE>
            <RegisteredOwner>Microsoft</RegisteredOwner>
        </component>
    </settings>
    <cpi:offlineImage cpi:source="" xmlns:cpi="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:cpi" />
</unattend>

For x86 systems, change "amd64" in "x86" to get the job done.
 
Source locations:
Windows 8.1 deployment in MDT 2013
Windows 8.1 prompting for network (some lines missing)
When using the script from TechNet, the red lines are missing. Therefore an error message is displayed during mini-setup (about /unattend) and deployment stops on that point. Now way you can pass a deployment error during mini-setup, so just use the unattend file mentioned here. Hope it helps!

Software Update synchronization from an existing WSUS server

When using ConfigMgr as a update source for WSUS updates, I prefer downloading updates from the internet. In some cases however it's better to use an existing WSUS server as an update source. This because the internet line speed is to slow, or updates are already downloaded on another server. You can use that one for downloading the first batch off software updates. Very handy if you ask me! Just select to "Download software updates from a location on my network" and updates will be downloaded within a few minutes.

This can be done on the following location:
-ConfigMgr console > Software Library > Software Updates > All Software Updates > Download (selection) > Download software updates from a location on my network (Browse)

Just use it to your advantage! No need to download updates again, if they are available already on an existing WSUS server.