Quick Setup

Prepare an OSDeploy workstation and create Hydra boot media with Invoke-OSDeployHydration.

Use Invoke-OSDeployHydration to prepare an OSDeploy workstation, download current Windows and WinPE driver content, and create OSDCloud boot media named Hydra.

Hydration installs software, downloads Windows and driver content, and creates boot media under C:\ProgramData\OSDeployCore. If Hydration enables Hyper-V, restart Windows before creating a test VM.

Run Hydration

1

Confirm the Requirements

Use a workstation with:

• Windows 11 25H2 build 26200 or later
• PowerShell 7.6 or later installed from the MSI package
• Current OSDeploy module
• OSDCloud module version 26.5.24.1 or later
• A valid Recast Software Community License, which is required while the OSDeploy module is in preview; complete Community Registration to install it
• Administrator rights
• curl.exe available in PATH

Open PowerShell 7.6 as an administrator before continuing.

2

Run Hydration

Run the interactive workflow from the elevated PowerShell 7.6 session:

Invoke-OSDeployHydration

Review the workflow and continue. Approve the Windows ADK 25H2 and 7-Zip installations when prompted; declining either required component stops Hydration. Choose whether to install the optional Git, Visual Studio Code, Visual Studio Code Insiders, and Hyper-V components.

Complete any content and wallpaper selections. Hydration detects the workstation architecture, prepares matching Windows and WinPE driver content, and creates Hydra boot media under C:\ProgramData\OSDeployCore\boot. On a physical workstation with Hyper-V enabled, it can also create a VM and boot the generated ISO.

For -Force, -WhatIf, workflow details, and returned objects, see Invoke-OSDeployHydration. For compact syntax and parameter definitions, see the Invoke-OSDeployHydration command reference.