Microsoft announced last week that they have a new tool to work for P2V desktops.  Simply put this tool will allow you to desktop virtualization to maintain legacy applications and still move users to Windows 7.The tool works with the Microsoft Deployment Toolkit and/or System Center Configuration Manager plus the Disk2VHD virtual hard disk solution from the Windows Sysinternals Web portal. It can package older Windows desktops into virtual machines that will run on Windows 7 PCs.

IT pros with Microsoft’s Software Assurance (SA) licensing in place within their organization can use a new physical-to-virtual migration (P2V migration) tool in beta release. The tool works with the Microsoft Deployment Toolkit and/or System Center Configuration Manager plus the Disk2VHD virtual hard disk solution from the Windows Sysinternals Web portal. It can package older Windows desktops into virtual machines that will run on Windows 7 PCs.

Microsoft last Thursday released Version 1.0 beta of the P2V migration tool at its Connect portal. The tool and release notes can be downloaded here (requires WindowsLive ID).