DeployWindows.Net

TIP: Not going to MMS? Join it virtually!

Lars_Krogh — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 19:42:44 +0000

Search the MMS 2012 Content Catalog here (You'll find Johan Arwidmark; Mikael Nystrom; Ben Hunter and Michael Niehaus there)

More information here

TIP: Hydration Kit for ConfigMgr 2012 released!

Lars_Krogh — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 19:37:35 +0000

Johan Arwidmark has updated his GREAT Hydration Kit for ConfigMgr 2012. It now supports ConfigMgr 2012 RTM.

Grab it here

Download: MDT 2012 released!

Lars_Krogh — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 18:14:06 +0000

Wonderful! wonderful! MDT

Grab the download here

MDT 2012: 2 improvements that I love in MDT 2012

Lars_Krogh — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 08:40:40 +0000

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.

TIP: Getting Started with Windows 7 (8) Deployment

Lars_Krogh — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 11:00:50 +0000

Windows 7 Deployment Learning Portal
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/ff470986.aspx?ITPID=SPBLOG
Windows 7 Upgrade and Migration Guide
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd446674(WS.10).aspx?ITPID=win7dtp

DISM - Step By Step
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/edge/dism-step-by-step-from-dan-stolts.aspx
DISM - Command-Line Options
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd744382(WS.10).aspx?ITPID=win7dtp
ImageX - Command-Line Options
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd799302(WS.10).aspx?ITPID=win7dtp
OCSetup - Add or Remove System MSIs or Packages Online
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd744344(WS.10).aspx?ITPID=win7dtp
OCSetup - Command-Line Options
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd799247(WS.10).aspx?ITPID=win7dtp

Adding Driver Packages to a Boot Image
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd759162.aspx

TIP: Using RunOnceEx

Lars_Krogh — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 09:29:16 +0000

You can use RunOnceEx to execute a command/a sequence of commands and while doing that it will show a progress window

Here is an example installing OpenVPN from C:\SwSetup\OpenVPN

;---
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnceEx]
"TITLE"="Installing Applications"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnceEx\1]
@="OpenVPN 2.1.1"
"1"="C:\\SwSetup\\OpenVPN\\DriverSigning.exe -OFF"
"2"="C:\\SwSetup\\OpenVPN\\openvpn-2.1.1-install.exe /S"
"3"="C:\\SwSetup\\OpenVPN\\DriverSigning.exe -ON"
"4"="sc config openvpnservice start=auto"
;---

Test it by running this command from a command prompt:
rundll32.exe iernonce.dll,RunOnceExProcess

TIP: Using Active Setup

Lars_Krogh — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 09:12:11 +0000

If I need to change a user setting (this can be replacing a file or a registry key) then I can use Active Setup.

Active Setup runs when a user logs in. Normally an entry will be executed once per user (a small window will pop up when the user logs in).

Add this to the registry:

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Active Setup\Installed Components\UniqueID]
"Version"=""
"Stubpath"=""
@=""

UniqueID is just that - it just has to be unique.
Version comes in handy if you want to update a script and run it again under the same UniqueID - typically you won't have to change this
Stubpath is the command = a MSI, a EXE or a VBScript
@ is what will be displayed when the command is being executed

TIP: Tools I use to deploy Windows

Lars_Krogh — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 08:50:00 +0000

Microsoft Deployment Toolkit
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/solutionaccelerators/dd407791
Process Monitor
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb896645.aspx
Process Explorer
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb896653.aspx
PrimalScript
http://www.sapien.com/software/primalscript
Notepad++
http://notepad-plus-plus.org/
Autoit
http://www.autoitscript.com/
Orca
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa370557.aspx
Beyond Compare
http://www.scootersoftware.com/
VMware Workstation
http://www.vmware.com/products/workstation/
Trace32 (Part of the SCCM 2007 Toolkit)
http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?id=9257
Microsoft Network Monitor
http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?id=4865
WinRAR
http://rarlab.com/
Universal Extractor
http://legroom.net/software/uniextract

Personal note 7: Adjust screen resolution on laptops

Lars_Krogh — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 10:27:13 +0000

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

TIP: SCCM GURU Webcast Series with Michael Niehaus

Lars_Krogh — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 12:00:47 +0000

For those who didn't know ...
Michael Niehaus is hosting a SCCM GURU Webcast tomorrow!

More info here