Lenovo ThinkPad X13s Laptop User Guide

Lenovo ThinkPad X13s Laptop

ThinkPad X13s Deployment Guide

Overview

The ThinkPad X13s is a modern device that provides a smartphone-like experience with your PC. This device operates at lightning-fast speed from the connected standby and instant-on feature to the optional 5G-enabled Sub-6GHz or 5G mmWave connectivity. It is best deployed using Windows Autopilot, but traditional imaging is also supported.

Difference between x86 and ARM

The ThinkPad X13s requires the ARM version of Windows which has some limitations regarding deployment options compared to x86 versions of Windows. Primarily, Configuration Manager and/or MDT OS Deployment task sequences are not supported for bare-metal custom imaging. With Windows on ARM devices, it is necessary to build USB deployment media using the install media of Windows on ARM. This media is provided by Microsoft to their volume-license customers.
Please note that it is necessary to create unique boot media for each platform.

Image Creation and Deployment

Deployment Method

Beginning with Configuration Manager version 2002, you can now pass a parameter, PROVISIONTS, while installing the client to instantly deploy a nonOS deployment task sequence.

Prepare ISO for ARM64 devices

To prepare an ISO for ARM64 devices, follow these steps:

1. Review the documentation prior to building your custom image for the ARM-based ThinkPad X13s.
2. Place the contents of the Driver Pack for ThinkPad X13s in the C: Drivers directory.
3. Build USB deployment media using the install media of Windows on ARM provided by Microsoft to their volume-license customers. Note that it is necessary to create unique boot media for each platform and that OSD is not supported on Windows on Snapdragon devices.
4. Apply the OS to the device using the USB deployment media.
5. Install the Configuration Manager client and use a standard task sequence to add applications and further configure the device.

Note that if you have a Driver Pack for ThinkPad X13s, you can skip step 2.

For more information on image creation and deployment, refer to the documentation provided.

Note: Be sure to review this documentation prior to building your custom image for the ARM based ThinkPad X13s.

PRODUCT OVERVIEW

This document will describe the ThinkPad X13s and provide guidance on how to build and deploy an image in a managed environment.
The X13s is a modern device best deployed using Windows Autopilot. Traditional imaging is supported, however, it will not fit into existing OSD workflows/process due to Microsoft limitation that OSD is not supported on Windows on Snapdragon devices. Steps to deploy with traditional methods are contained in this document.

What is the ThinkPad X13s?
Take on the world of hybrid work with extreme performance and efficiency on an ultrathin Windows 11 PC with Snapdragon®. With the ThinkPad X13s that is instantly on, always connected, and powered by multiday battery life, you can stay productive anywhere without interruption.
The ThinkPad X13s laptop provides a smartphone-like experience with your PC. This device operates at lightning-fast speed from the connected standby and instant-on feature to the optional 5G-enabled Sub-6GHz or 5G mmWave connectivity. Enjoy higher-quality video conferencing, low-latency performance, and seamless editing and collaboration—even with huge files requiring high bandwidth.

Difference between x86 and ARM
The ThinkPad X13s requires the ARM version of Windows which has some limitations regarding deployment options as compared to x86 versions of Windows. Primarily, Configuration Manager and/or MDT OS Deployment task sequences are not supported for bare-metal custom imaging. With Windows on ARM devices, it is necessary to build USB deployment media using the install media of Windows on ARM. This media is provided by Microsoft to their volume-license customers.
Please note that it is necessary to create unique boot media for each platform. You cannot have one USB key that works for both Lenovo 10w and ThinkPad X13s or any other ARM based device.
Once the device has the OS applied, the Configuration Manager client can be installed and a standard task sequence can be leveraged to add applications or further configure the device.
This document will outline the steps to create such deployment media.

PRODUCT IMAGE CREATION AND DEPLOYMENT

This section provides the installation instructions and requirements for the ThinkPad X13s.

Deployment Metod

• hPrerequisites:
  • 1 x USB Thumb drive for ISO (Minimum 8GB formatted FAT32)
  • Microsoft Volume Licensing Service Center Subscription & Windows 11 on ARM media
  • Microsoft’s Windows ADK to install the necessary Deployment Tools (i.e. DISM). The other components from the ADK are not required.
• Optional:
  • Microsoft Endpoint Configuration Manager (MECM)
  • Custom Task Sequences

Recommendation: Beginning with Configuration Manager version 2002, you can now pass a parameter, PROVISIONTS, while installing the client to instantly deploy a non-OS deployment task sequence.

By following the process detailed below, an enterprise will be able to build and deploy a customized image to devices from a USB thumb drive.
This process will utilize Wipe & Load with Windows Setup. Optionally, a Configuration Manager Task Sequence can also be used at the end to add applications and configurations. This process provides equivalent deployment times as with other Windows platforms.
Warning: Images must be an ARM64 Operating System with ARM64 drivers. Existing x86/x64 images are not supported, so a new ARM64 version will need to be created by following the Prepare ISO for ARM64 devices section below.

Prepare ISO for ARM64 devices

The following steps will describe performing this process on a “donor” preloaded ThinkPad X13s. However, if you have a Driver Pack for ThinkPad X13s, you can place its contents in the C:\Drivers directory and skip step 3.

1. Download the ARM64 ISO from the Microsoft Volume License Servicing Center.

   • Recommended version is Windows 11 21H2 or greater.
   • ThinkPad X13s does not support Windows 10.

2. Mount the ISO and extract the contents to a temporary folder. For example:
   C: \Wim_Files

3. Create a temporary folder and export the ARM64 drivers from within the Operating System using PowerShell:
   C: \Drivers
   DISM.exe /Online /Export-Driver /Destination: C:\Drivers
   NOTE: Alternatively, the SCCM driver pack for the X13s may be extracted to the C:\Drivers folder and used instead.

4. Create two new folders to mount the .wim contents:
   C: \Mount
   C: \WinRE

5. Using DISM, mount the boot.wim file and inject drivers from Step 3. It is important that you also inject driers for /Index:2 with the boot.wim. For the ISO to boot correctly, the WinPE and Windows Setup must have the required drivers injected. Use the following steps to verify the correct index:
   DISM.exe /Get-WimInfo /WimFile: C:\Wim_Files\sources\boot.wim
   Index 1 – WinPE

   • DISM.exe /Mount-Image /Imagefile:C:\Wim_Files\sources\boot.wim /Index:1 /MountDir:C:\Mount

   • DISM.exe /Image:C:\Mount /Add-Driver /Driver:C:\Drivers /Recurse

   • DISM.exe /Unmount-Image /MountDir: C:\Mount /Commit
     Index 2 – Windows Setup

   • DISM.exe /Mount-Image /Imagefile:C:\Wim_Files\sources\boot.wim /Index:2 /MountDir:C:\Mount

   • DISM.exe /Image:C:\Mount /Add-Driver /Driver:C:\Drivers /Recurse

   • DISM.exe /Unmount-Image /MountDir: C:\Mount /Commit

6. It is important to identify which index you want drivers added to with the install.wim. This is the Operating System SKU that will be installed and the media ISO contains multiple SKUs. Optionally, you can add drivers to more than one index if support for multiple SKUs is needed.
   DISM.exe /Get-WimInfo /WimFile: C:\Wim_Files\sources\install.wim

7. Using DISM, mount the install.wim file using the required index and inject drivers from Step 3:
   Note: The following steps are only using Index 3 just as an example. Please adjust the index to the required Operating System as needed.
   DISM.exe /Mount-Image /Imagefile: C:\Wim_Files\sources\install.wim /Index:3
   /MountDir: C:\Mount
   DISM.exe /Image:C:\Mount /Add-Driver /Driver:C:\Drivers /Recurse
   For the “Push-Button” Reset, you will also want to inject drivers into the WinRE.wim that is located inside the install.wim at C:\Mount\Windows\System32\Recovery\winre.wim. This will need to be done for each OS SKU image index you inject drivers to. The WinRE image is at index 1.
   DISM.exe /Mount-Image /Imagefile:C:\Mount\Windows\System32\Recovery\winre.wim /Index:1 /MountDir:C:\WinRE
   DISM.exe /Image:C:\WinRE /Add-Driver /Driver:C:\Drivers /Recurse
   Note: Make sure to unmount winre.wim (C:\WinRE) before install.wim (C:\Mount)
   DISM.exe /Unmount-Image /MountDir:C:\WinRE /Commit
   DISM.exe /Unmount-Image /MountDir:C:\Mount /Commit

8. As the FAT32 file system cannot hold files larger than 4GB, the custom image built may need to be split into separate files to write to the thumb drive. This can be done by using the /Split-Image command with DISM.EXE. An example is provided below:
   DISM.exe /Split-Image /ImageFile:”C:\Wim_Files\sources\install.wim”
   /SWMFile:C:\Wim_Files\sources\install.swm /FileSize:4000

9. Copy the ISO contents from C:\Wim_Files to a FAT32 formatted USB-C thumb drive, excluding the install.wim file that is too large. The install.wim is replaced by the instal.swm and instal2.swm files that were created at step 8.

10. If you need to create an ISO to save the newly built installation media, you can use oscdimg from Microsoft’s Windows ADK.
    oscdimg.exe -m -o -pEF -u1 -udfver102 -bC:\Wim_Files\efi\microsoft\boot\efisys.bin
    C:\Wim_Files C:\ARM64.iso

Imaging a target ARM64 device

1. Boot the device which needs servicing with the thumb drive that contains the ISO we just created.
2. The device boots to Windows Setup.
3. Enter your language and other preferences, then click Next to continue.
4. Click Install Now,
5. If applicable, select the operating system you want to install (Pro or Enterprise) and click Next.
6. Accept the license terms and click Next.
7. Select Custom: Install Windows only (advanced)
8. Select the target partition to install the operating system on and click Next to begin installing Windows. NOTE: You may delete all partitions and just select the Unallocated space of the entire drive and let the Windows Setup recreate the necessary partitions.
9. Boot into the OS once the installation has completed.
10. (Optional) Install 32-Bit Configuration Manager Client / Run Task Sequence
    • ccmsetup.exe [/MP:] [SMSSITECODE=] [SMSMP=] [FSP=] [PROVISIONTS=]
    1. Set the value for PROVISIONTS as the task sequence deployment ID
    2. For Example: PROVISIONTS=PRI20001

Appendix C: Notices
Lenovo may not offer the products, services, or features discussed in this document in all countries. Consult your local Lenovo representative for information on the products and services currently available in your area. Any reference to a Lenovo product, program, or service is not intended to state or imply that only that Lenovo product, program, or service may be used. Any functionally equivalent product, program, or service that does not infringe any Lenovo intellectual property right may be used instead. However, it is the user’s responsibility to evaluate and verify the operation of any other product, program, or service.
Lenovo may have patents or pending patent applications covering subject matter described in this document. The furnishing of this document does not give you any license to these patents. You can send license inquiries, in writing, to:

Lenovo (United States), Inc. 8001 Development Dr – Building 8 Morrisville, NC 27560 U.S.A.

Attention: Lenovo Director of Licensing

LENOVO PROVIDES THIS PUBLICATION “AS IS” WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF NON-INFRINGEMENT, MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. Some jurisdictions do not allow disclaimer of express or implied warranties in certain transactions, therefore, this statement may not apply to you.
This information could include technical inaccuracies or typographical errors. Changes are periodically made to the information herein; these changes will be incorporated in new editions of the publication. Lenovo may make improvements and/or changes in the product(s) and/or the program(s) described in this publication at any time without notice.

The products described in this document are not intended for use in implantation or other life support applications where malfunction may result in injury or death to persons. The information contained in this document does not affect or change Lenovo product specifications or warranties. Nothing in this document shall operate as an express or implied license or indemnity under the intellectual property rights of Lenovo or third parties. All information contained in this document was obtained in specific environments and is presented as an illustration. The result obtained in other operating environments may vary.

Lenovo may use or distribute any of the information you supply in any way it believes appropriate without incurring any obligation to you.
Any references in this publication to non-Lenovo Web sites are provided for convenience only and do not in any manner serve as an endorsement of those Web sites. The materials at those Web sites are not part of the materials for this Lenovo product, and use of those Web sites is at your own risk Any performance data contained herein was determined in a controlled environment. Therefore, the result in other operating environments may vary significantly. Some measurements may have been made on development-level systems and there is no guarantee that these measurements will be the same on generally available systems. Furthermore, some measurements may have been estimated through extrapolation. Actual results may vary. Users of this document should verify the applicable data for their specific environment.

Trademarks
The following terms are trademarks of Lenovo in the United States, other countries, or both:

• Lenovo
• The Lenovo logo
• ThinkPad
• ThinkCentre
• ThinkStation
• ThinkVantage

Qualcomm is a trademark or registered trademark of Qualcomm or its subsidiaries in the United States and other countries.
Microsoft, Active Directory, Internet Explorer, and Windows are trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies.
Other company, product, or service names may be trademarks or service marks of others

Copyright 2022 ©, Lenovo. All Rights Reserved.

First Edition (2022)
© Copyright Lenovo 2022.
LIMITED AND RESTRICTED RIGHTS NOTICE: If data or software is delivered pursuant a General Services Administration “GSA” contract, use, reproduction, or disclosure is subject to restrictions set forth in Contract No. GS- 35F-05925.

References

• Download and install the Windows ADK | Microsoft Learn

Read User Manual Online (PDF format)

Download This Manual (PDF format)

Download this manual  >>