Fix none working DVD/CD drive in Vista and windows 7

When You upgrade a computer to Windows Vista or Windows 7 Beta, or install Windows Vista Service Pack, and after a restart, the computers CD/DVD drive no longer works as expected, or it says driver is not digitally signed, you will have to remove the affected filter drivers. To do this, follow these steps: Open Registry for editing (Regedit.exe). Locate, and then click the following registry sub key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\{4D36E965-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318} Caution To make sure that you are in the appropriate registry sub key, make sure that the Default data value is DVD/CD-ROM and the Class data value is CDROM. In the [...]

By |2009-03-27T15:51:28+01:00marts 27th, 2009|OS Deployment, Windows Client|8 Comments

Configuring Config Mgr. agents to run inventory on a custom schedule

Agent settings are configured for each site leaving you with a single schedule for all clients. To configure some of the clients to run on an individual schedule you can create a script that trigger the action you want to run e.g. perform a hardware inventory. So basically you create a collection containing the computers you want to run the action. Create a package that contains the script. Create a program that runs the script e.g. crscript.exe hw.vbs Create an advertisement with a reoccurrence schedule e.g. every 10 minutes (really not recommended). Script to trigger Hardware inventory ' Set the [...]

By |2009-03-23T17:01:38+01:00marts 23rd, 2009|Configuration Manager (SCCM), General info|3 Comments

Dude, Where’s my Config Mgr Agent log files?

On my workstation i am running Microsoft Windows Vista 64bit. Today i got a small scripting task, which required me to view the Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager Agent Log files. On most Operating Systems (aka. 32bit) the log files are placed in “C:\Windows\CCM\Logs\”. But on mine it was not. I had no luck search the internet, so i tried a files search for one of the logfiles. I discovered that on my system they are located in “C:\Windows\sysWOW64\CCM\Logs”. The reason for this, must be because the agent is 32bit and my system i 64bit. I hope someone else will [...]

By |2009-03-23T12:05:09+01:00marts 23rd, 2009|Configuration Manager (SCCM)|2 Comments

Query to find computers without .Net Framework 3.5 SP1 installed

One of the most asked question in various newsgroups is: How do I create a query that shows all computers without “something”. To create a query like that you start by creating a query that find the opposite and then a query that finds all computers not part of the first result. Query to all computers with .Net Framework SP1 installed select distinct SMS_R_System.Name from  SMS_R_System inner join SMS_G_System_ADD_REMOVE_PROGRAMS on SMS_G_System_ADD_REMOVE_PROGRAMS.ResourceID = SMS_R_System.ResourceId where SMS_G_System_ADD_REMOVE_PROGRAMS.DisplayName = "Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5 SP1" Query to find all computer without .Net Framework SP1 installed select distinct SMS_R_System.Name from  SMS_R_System where SMS_R_System.Name not in [...]

By |2009-03-18T21:11:09+01:00marts 18th, 2009|Configuration Manager (SCCM)|3 Comments

Config Mgr prompting for credentials when running report

This is really a top annoying problem, the constant prompt for credentials each time you open a report. All you need to do is disable the Internet Explorer Enhanced security on the reporting server. This is done by running Add/Remove programs, Add/Remove Windows Components. In Windows 2008 you will find the setting in Computer Management, Security Information, Configure IE Esc. Deselect the checkmark in Windows 2003 and you can start running your reports without the prompt :-) Select Off in Windows 2008.

By |2009-03-18T13:57:13+01:00marts 18th, 2009|Configuration Manager (SCCM), General info|3 Comments

Configuration Manager software updates errors

I just spend a day troubleshooting Software updates errors at a customer site and thought I would share my experiences.  The error codes are all found in the report Last scan state by collection Error code on client Solution 16398 If you search the web you will get many hits on this error. The solution is to apply this WSUS 3.0 SP1 patch http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=6AA8A49D-170C-4077-8B9B-61F7BF5A1281&displaylang=en Once the update is applied you can force a scan on the client. Monitor the ScanAgent.log file 1682 This is a classic error. Check the wuahandler.log file and it will report that the local wsus settings [...]

By |2009-03-17T16:44:25+01:00marts 17th, 2009|Configuration Manager (SCCM)|1 Kommentar

Config mgr report count x86 and x64 operating systems

In this post you will find the code for two reports. The first is a simple report that will count the different system types (x86 etc). The second report can be used as a standard hardware inventory report listing the most basic information like operating system, server name etc. Once you have created the two reports they can be linked together using System type as a prompt/variable. Count System types   SELECT     dbo.v_GS_COMPUTER_SYSTEM.SystemType0, COUNT(dbo.v_GS_COMPUTER_SYSTEM.SystemType0) AS Total FROM         dbo.v_R_System INNER JOIN                       dbo.v_GS_COMPUTER_SYSTEM ON dbo.v_R_System.ResourceID = dbo.v_GS_COMPUTER_SYSTEM.ResourceID GROUP BY dbo.v_GS_COMPUTER_SYSTEM.SystemType0 Basic hardware inventory report SELECT DISTINCT                       TOP (100) PERCENT dbo.v_R_System_Valid.ResourceID, [...]

By |2009-03-16T21:27:25+01:00marts 16th, 2009|Configuration Manager (SCCM)|1 Kommentar

Speed up performance on the Config Mgr. 2007 MMC console

The MMC 3.0 might not be the fastest console in the world so here are a few little tricks that might speed up the performance. Open Internet Explorer, select Internet Options and the Advanced tab. Remove the check mark from Check for publisher’s certificate revocation.   Another trick that might boost the performance when working with snap-ins in the MMC is to use the mmcperf.exe command found in .\Windows\System32\ Open a command prompt Navigate to Windows\System32 Type mmcperf.exe - you will notice that the mmc dll files are now being "GAC'd" which they for some unknown reason aren't by default. [...]

By |2009-03-07T13:00:34+01:00marts 7th, 2009|General info|1 Kommentar

How to stop a client push installation in Configuration Manager

When a client push installation is initiated Config Mgr. generates a CCR - Client Configuration Request file - for each client. To stop the process those files must be manually deleted. As the files are processed they are moved between three different folders. Initially the files are created in the .\inboxes\CCR.box When the CCR is prossed the record will be moved to .\inboxes\CCR.box\inproc Finally all installation request that failed (for some reason) will be stored as the computername in .\inboxes\ccrretry.box

By |2009-03-06T17:59:42+01:00marts 6th, 2009|Configuration Manager (SCCM)|7 Comments

Add Custom Data Type / Structure to My.Settings in VB.NET / WPF

During the work of a new Coretech SCCM Manager GUI in WPF, i ran in to some problems with My.Settings. I have used My.Settings for all settings in the Utility, and are using my own structures for the combo-box value and others. The problem is that i could not create a setting, that contained my own structure instead of a system data type. I simply could not select it in the list: I tried to use the browse function, but no luck. I have searched the net for ages, trying to find a solution, but never found one. This problem [...]

By |2009-03-05T16:15:14+01:00marts 5th, 2009|Scripting & Development|19 Comments

Software Update Management components

Using Software Update Management in Config Mgr. can be a very powerful way to control the patch management process. In this post I explain the basic components that you need to know about before deploying any updates. Updates List The update list contains all my approved security updates for any given month The update list is used in reports The update list can be used to delegate administrative permissions. I can have one update list for server updates that is controlled by our "server guys" and one Update list containing workstation updates. Deployment Template The template contains a target collection [...]

By |2009-03-05T11:56:50+01:00marts 5th, 2009|Configuration Manager (SCCM)|Kommentarer lukket til Software Update Management components

Configuration Manager 2007 Helpdesk training goes live

We are proud to announce that Coretech’s Configuration Manager 2007 Helpdesk course is ready to launch. The course is based on all the wishes and feedback we have received from customers and earlier students. The training will focus on how Configuration Manager can be used by users in the Helpdesk department. We discuss client installation, troubleshooting, software installation, queries and reports, image installation etc.  For more information contact Kent Agerlund, [email protected]. Title: Configuration Manager 2007 Helpdesk training Duration: 2 days Material: PowerPoint presentations and hands-on labs Environment: Microsoft Virtual PC Trainers: Kent Agerlund, Coretech A/S Language: English or Danish Agenda: [...]

By |2009-03-03T15:33:31+01:00marts 3rd, 2009|Configuration Manager (SCCM)|1 Kommentar

Working with regional settings during OSD

I know there are different ways to add regional settings to you build during OS deployment, and some of them are quiet confusing… I'm not trying to put any of the methods down, but I would like to suggest an easy way of adding simple stuff like: Keyboard settings Time Zones Local Settings And all the other sysprep settings. The way I do this is quit simple, and it works every time.. (almost ;-)   As we are going to use a couple of MDT scripts,  creating a package with the necessary configuration files is necessary. If you are already [...]

By |2009-03-02T11:15:35+01:00marts 2nd, 2009|OS Deployment|8 Comments