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.
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"
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
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
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
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


