DeployWindows.Net
7Dec/110

MDT 2012: 2 improvements that I love in MDT 2012

There are 2 improvements that I love in MDT 2012.

The first one is the new variable IsOnBattery. You can use this variable when you deploy laptops. The variable will be set to true if the machine is currently running using a battery with no AC power. VERY useful during deployment of laptops (exit the deployment if the machine is a laptop and it runs with no AC power).

The second is the Task Sequence variable HIDESHELL. Setting HIDESHELL=YES in your Customsettings.ini will hide the Windows shell during deployments, so now you do not need to lock the desktop during deployments or do other funny stuff to prevent an enduser breaking the deployment.

Filed under: MDT 2012 No Comments
24Nov/110

Personal note 7: Adjust screen resolution on laptops

Set the screen resolution on laptops during deployment using this tip

Remember to change this line of code:
objWshShell.Run "VidChng.exe " & width & "X" & height & "X32X60"
change to objWshShell.Run "VidChng.exe " & width & "X" & height & X32@60"

Download files

16Nov/110

Personal note 6: Use WSUS and TargetGroups in MDT

Add to Customsettings.ini

[Settings]
Priority=Default,WSUSServer

[WSUSServer]
WSUSServer=http://<server>:<port>

Edit ZTIWindowsUpdate.wsf

If oEnvironment.Item("WsusServer") <> "" then

' Configure the WSUS server in the registry.  This needs to be a URL (e.g. http://myserver).
oLogging.CreateEntry "Configuring client to use WSUS server " & oEnvironment.Item("WsusServer"), LogTypeInfo
oShell.RegWrite "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\WUServer", oEnvironment.Item("WsusServer"), "REG_SZ"
oShell.RegWrite "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\WUStatusServer", oEnvironment.Item("WsusServer"), "REG_SZ"

' Configure TargetGroup in the registry
oShell.RegWrite "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\TargetGroupEnabled", 1, "REG_DWORD"
oShell.RegWrite "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\TargetGroup", "MDTbuild", "REG_SZ"
End if

14Nov/110

Personal note 5: Configure logon UI background in Windows 7

1. Create a new Application (with source files)
2. Place all the wallpapers in the Application folder

The following files (sorted by width-to-height ratio) are supported in the folder:
• BackgroundDefault.jpg
• Background768x1280.jpg  (0.6)
• Background900x1440.jpg  (0.625)
• Background960x1280.jpg  (0.75)
• Background1024x1280.jpg (0.8)
• Background1280x1024.jpg (1.25)
• Background1024x768.jpg  (1.33-)
• Background1280x960.jpg  (1.33-)
• Background1600x1200.jpg (1.33-)
• Background1440x900.jpg  (1.6)
• Background1920x1200.jpg (1.6)
• Background1280x768.jpg  (1.66-)
• Background1360x768.jpg  (1.770833-)

3. Use this script as the quiet install command line

The backgroundDefault.jpg image is loaded and stretched-to-fit when a resolution/ratio-specific background cannot be found. The other resolution/ratio-specific files are self-explanatory

Note.
The images must be less than 256kb in size

11Nov/110

MDT 2012 Beta 2 has been released!

Deploying to a VHD has been fixed in this Beta, so here we go' ... grab the download here

Filed under: MDT 2012 No Comments
3Nov/110

Personal note 3: Windows PE 3.0 driver download

Dell Driver CAB - Includes x86 and x64 drivers - LINK
HP SmartStart Scripting Toolkit Win32 - Includes x86 drivers - LINK
HP SmartStart Scripting Toolkit Win64 - Includes x64 drivers - LINK