If I can import, how do you deploy them in the same manner that imagex would use the images internal answer file using WDT
The simple answer : Yes, intsall.wim files will be compatable between MDT and WDS.
The honest truth : Build a share for building images, and use a second share for production.
People commonly confuse WDS (Windows Deployment Services) and MDT (Microsoft Deployment Toolkit) The alphabet soup of windows deployment can be confusing, but you probably don't need WDS just yet.
You'd really only need WDS for PXE booting.
I highly recommend using MDT to build, capture, and deploy images. MDT uses task sequences, and boot images in combination with install images. If you use a VM to build your reference, you can build a "hardware independent" image that'll run on everything, laptops, desktops, Dell, HP, Lenovo, whatever.
A quick overview of what you would do in the MDT workbench
Download & Install MDT 2012 Update 1 -
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=25175
Download Win7 AIK -
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=5753
Create Deployment Share -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ciT_YqLdcgk
Import Drivers -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWdGBVyD1pM
You would import the existing .wim file from your old imagex days into the Deployment Workbench under Operating Systems.
Create a task sequence and import your .wim file
You would then launch the Windows System Image Manager from the Task Sequence Properties OS Info Tab.
Update the deployment share
Upload boot image from MDT into WDS -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZa6-pJn12M
Theoretically, it'll load the same unattend.xml, if not you should be able to reimport your old answer files in WSIM. If not, you may have some luck copying the answer file over manually into the deployment share control folder, but I wouldn't recommend trying that.
Learning MDT is highly rewarding, and it takes some time, but it really pays off. Once I really understood MDT, my company went from 12 images to 1. Currently we can image, provision, join to the network, and update in less than 30 min.
Deployment Soup Video
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/hh215959
Deploying Windows A - Z
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=6157
Learning to use MDT litetouch
http://www.deploymentresearch.com/Videos/MDT2010LiteTouchUnleashedVideos.aspx
Quick tip. Make sure you organize your drivers. It takes longer in the short term to setup folders for each operating system/architecture/machine type/etc. but in the long run it saves a ton of headache in troubleshooting driver issues. Also, if you are using Dell or HP, they both offer packages of drivers specifically for deployments. – BroScience – 2013-02-13T17:12:18.843
BroScience is 110% right. Driver management is key here. In the out of box drivers section, organize by OS \ Make \ Model that way you can use a driver path variable to take total control. – MDT Guy – 2013-02-13T17:16:52.240