Lenovo ThinkPad X13s Laptop User Guide
- June 10, 2024
- Lenovo
Table of Contents
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:
- Review the documentation prior to building your custom image for the ARM-based ThinkPad X13s.
- Place the contents of the Driver Pack for ThinkPad X13s in the C: Drivers directory.
- 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.
- Apply the OS to the device using the USB deployment media.
- 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.
-
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.
-
Mount the ISO and extract the contents to a temporary folder. For example:
C: \Wim_Files -
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. -
Create two new folders to mount the .wim contents:
C: \Mount
C: \WinRE -
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
-
-
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 -
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 -
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 -
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.
-
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
- Boot the device which needs servicing with the thumb drive that contains the ISO we just created.
- The device boots to Windows Setup.
- Enter your language and other preferences, then click Next to continue.
- Click Install Now,
- If applicable, select the operating system you want to install (Pro or Enterprise) and click Next.
- Accept the license terms and click Next.
- Select Custom: Install Windows only (advanced)
- 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.
- Boot into the OS once the installation has completed.
- (Optional) Install 32-Bit Configuration Manager Client / Run Task Sequence
- ccmsetup.exe [/MP:] [SMSSITECODE=] [SMSMP=] [FSP=] [PROVISIONTS=]
- Set the value for PROVISIONTS as the task sequence deployment ID
- For Example: PROVISIONTS=PRI20001
Appendix C: Notices
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product, program, or service.
Lenovo may have patents or pending patent applications covering subject matter
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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
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References
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