> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://www.osdeploy.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://www.osdeploy.com/powershell-modules/osd/start-osdcloud.md).

# Start-OSDCloud

Prepare and start an OSDCloud deployment session (selects image, language, edition and other options).

| Property | Value                 |
| -------- | --------------------- |
| Module   | OSD                   |
| Platform | WinPE (amd64 / arm64) |

## Description

Start-OSDCloud gathers system information, validates prerequisites (PowerShell version, network, presence of required utilities), and prepares a global configuration used by the OSDCloud workflow. It can select a Windows Feature Update image from local catalogs or an image URL, prompt the user for OS version/build/edition/culture when needed, and then calls Invoke-OSDCloud to run the deployment.

The function supports three parameter sets:

* Default: Choose a Windows feature update by name (recommended for normal interactive use).
* Legacy: Older style parameters (OSVersion + OSBuild) for backward compatibility.
* CustomImage: Use a custom WIM/ESD image from disk or a provided URL.

## Syntax

### Default (Default)

```powershell
Start-OSDCloud [-Manufacturer <String>] [-Product <String>] [-Firmware] [-Restart] [-Shutdown] [-Screenshot]
 [-SkipAutopilot] [-SkipODT] [-ZTI] [-OSName <String>] [-OSEdition <String>] [-OSLanguage <String>]
 [-OSActivation <String>] [-ProgressAction <ActionPreference>] [<CommonParameters>]
```

### Legacy

```powershell
Start-OSDCloud [-Manufacturer <String>] [-Product <String>] [-Firmware] [-Restart] [-Shutdown] [-Screenshot]
 [-SkipAutopilot] [-SkipODT] [-ZTI] [-OSVersion <String>] [-OSBuild <String>] [-OSEdition <String>]
 [-OSLanguage <String>] [-OSActivation <String>] [-ProgressAction <ActionPreference>] [<CommonParameters>]
```

### CustomImage

```powershell
Start-OSDCloud [-Manufacturer <String>] [-Product <String>] [-Firmware] [-Restart] [-Shutdown] [-Screenshot]
 [-SkipAutopilot] [-SkipODT] [-ZTI] [-FindImageFile] [-ImageFileUrl <String>] [-OSImageIndex <Int32>]
 [-ProgressAction <ActionPreference>] [<CommonParameters>]
```

## Parameters

| Parameter        | Type              | Required | Description                                                                                                                                                                                |
| ---------------- | ----------------- | -------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| `-Manufacturer`  | `String`          | False    | (Optional) Computer manufacturer string. Automatically populated from Get-MyComputerManufacturer -Brief.                                                                                   |
| `-Product`       | `String`          | False    | (Optional) Computer product string. Automatically populated from Get-MyComputerProduct.                                                                                                    |
| `-Firmware`      | `SwitchParameter` | False    | Switch. When set, instructs the module to include firmware (MSC) catalog scanning.                                                                                                         |
| `-Restart`       | `SwitchParameter` | False    | Switch. Restart the computer after the deployment finishes.                                                                                                                                |
| `-Shutdown`      | `SwitchParameter` | False    | Switch. Shutdown the computer after the deployment finishes.                                                                                                                               |
| `-Screenshot`    | `SwitchParameter` | False    | Switch. Capture screenshots during OSDCloud WinPE using Start-ScreenPNGProcess. Screenshots are saved to $env:TEMP\Screenshots by default.                                                 |
| `-SkipAutopilot` | `SwitchParameter` | False    | Switch. Skip AutoPilot enrollment tasks during the workflow.                                                                                                                               |
| `-SkipODT`       | `SwitchParameter` | False    | Switch. Skip running the Office Deployment Tool (ODT) tasks.                                                                                                                               |
| `-ZTI`           | `SwitchParameter` | False    | Switch. Zero-touch install mode (ZTI). When set, disk wipes proceed automatically without prompting.                                                                                       |
| `-OSName`        | `String`          | False    | (Default parameter set) A validated OS selection string such as 'Windows 11 25H2 x64'. If omitted the function prompts interactively (unless ZTI is used which selects sensible defaults). |
| `-OSVersion`     | `String`          | False    | (Legacy parameter set) Operating system family, e.g. 'Windows 11' or 'Windows 10'.                                                                                                         |
| `-OSBuild`       | `String`          | False    | (Legacy parameter set) Operating system build (alias: Build) such as '25H2','24H2','23H2','22H2'.                                                                                          |
| `-OSEdition`     | `String`          | False    | Edition of Windows to install (e.g. 'Enterprise', 'Pro', 'Home'). Affects edition mapping and activation type (Retail vs Volume).                                                          |
| `-OSLanguage`    | `String`          | False    | Language/culture tag to install (for example 'en-us', 'fr-fr', 'zh-cn').                                                                                                                   |
| `-OSActivation`  | `String`          | False    | License type for the installation. Valid values are 'Retail' or 'Volume'.                                                                                                                  |
| `-FindImageFile` | `SwitchParameter` | False    | (CustomImage parameter set) Switch to prompt for a WIM/ESD file on removable media.                                                                                                        |
| `-ImageFileUrl`  | `String`          | False    | (CustomImage parameter set) URL to download a custom image if not available locally.                                                                                                       |
| `-OSImageIndex`  | `Int32`           | False    | (CustomImage parameter set) Image index within a WIM/ESD. Default is 0.                                                                                                                    |

## Examples

### Example

```powershell
Start-OSDCloud
Interactive: choose image and options via menus.
```

### Example

```powershell
Start-OSDCloud -OSName 'Windows 11 25H2 x64' -OSEdition Enterprise -OSLanguage en-us -SkipAutopilot
Non-interactive: specify OS selection and suppress autopilot.
```

### Example

```powershell
Start-OSDCloud -FindImageFile -ImageFileUrl 'https://server.example.com/images/install.wim' -OSImageIndex 1
Use a custom image URL.
```

## Related

* <https://github.com/OSDeploy/OSD/tree/master/docs>


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