Contact us today|info@ctglobalservices.com
FacebookXLinkedIn

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
Læs mere

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
Læs mere

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
Læs mere

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
Læs mere

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
Læs mere

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
Læs mere

Report Server Course

Links: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms153561.aspx http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms156500.aspx http://www.developer.com/db/article.php/10920_3727626_2 http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms157406(sql.90).aspx http://blogs.msdn.com/bwelcker/archive/tags/Reporting+Services/default.aspx http://www.sql-server-performance.com/articles/reporting/index.aspx http://lyon-smith.org/blogs/code-o-rama/archive/2007/03/22/visual-studio-column-guides-redux.aspx http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=9f783224-9871-4eea-b1d5-f3140a253db6&displaylang=en http://visualstudiomagazine.com/columns/article.aspx?editorialsid=1900 Husk Report Builder 2.0 Og her er koden i forbindelse med Report server kurset d 25. - 27 feb: Private Sub LoadInformation()   'load information into list view lstView.Items.Clear()  Dim myCatalogItems As CatalogItem()myCatalogItems = rs.ListChildren("/", True)  For Each cItem As CatalogItem In myCatalogItems  Dim strValues(3) As String strValues(0) = cItem.Name strValues(1) = cItem.Path strValues(2) = cItem.Type.ToString()strValues(3) = cItem.CreatedBy lstView.Items.Add(New ListViewItem(strValues))  Next End Sub Private Sub DisplayCurrentInfo()  Me.Cursor = Cursors.WaitCursor  'display item information in messagebox Dim item As ListViewItem = lstView.SelectedItems(0)  Dim strName As String = item.SubItems(0).Text  Dim strPath As String = [...]

By |2009-02-27T14:44:04+01:00februar 27th, 2009|SQL|Kommentarer lukket til Report Server Course
Læs mere

Powershell Acticvesync wipe

In this Powershell sample (created with ASE) - its possible to create a simple form to let Helpdesk manage Activesync Devices, this is done by finding and wipe/unwipe the device. Feel free to change and clean-up ;-) - Try ASE - http://adminscripteditor.com/ - Its a great editor. #################################################################### # Program..........: ASExWipe.ps1                            # # Author...........: Kåre Rude Andersen ([email protected])          # # Bagground........: Utility to let helpdesk manage Activesync     # # .................: devices.                                      # #################################################################### #region Script Settings #<ScriptSettings xmlns="http://tempuri.org/ScriptSettings.xsd"> #  <ScriptPackager> #    <process>powershell.exe</process> #    <arguments /> #    <extractdir>c:\scripts</extractdir> #    <files /> #    <usedefaulticon>true</usedefaulticon> #    <showinsystray>false</showinsystray> #    <altcreds>true</altcreds> #    <efs>false</efs> #    <ntfs>false</ntfs> [...]

By |2009-02-11T17:05:46+01:00februar 11th, 2009|Powershell|1 Kommentar
Læs mere

Find Query-based Distribution Groups in Domain

To find all QBD groups in your domain run the following. (Remember to change the LDAP string...) On Error Resume Next Const ADS_SCOPE_SUBTREE = 2 Set objConnection = CreateObject("ADODB.Connection") Set objCommand =   CreateObject("ADODB.Command") objConnection.Provider = "ADsDSOObject" objConnection.Open "Active Directory Provider" Set objCommand.ActiveConnection = objConnection objCommand.Properties("Page Size") = 1000 objCommand.Properties("Searchscope") = ADS_SCOPE_SUBTREE objCommand.CommandText = _     "SELECT cn, objectClass FROM 'LDAP://dc=coretech,dc=intra' WHERE " _         & "objectClass ='msExchDynamicDistributionList'" Set objRecordSet = objCommand.Execute objRecordSet.MoveFirst Do Until objRecordSet.EOF    Wscript.Echo objRecordSet.Fields(1).Value    objRecordSet.MoveNext Loop

By |2009-02-10T17:17:15+01:00februar 10th, 2009|Scripting & Development|3 Comments
Læs mere

SQL 2005 Course

Samples, Utils and Links from MOC 2780 SQL 2005 Course. Check All Databases with undocumented stored procedure: EXEC SP_MSForEachDB @command1="Print '?' DBCC CHECKDB ('?')" Another track to the same station. Declare @db VarChar(100),  @dbid int,  @hidb int Select @hidb = Max(dbid ), @dbid = 0 from master..sysdatabases While @dbid < @hidb Begin    Set @db = null    Select @db = name    From sysdatabases    Where dbid = @dbid    if @db is not null       DBCC CheckDB( @db )    Set @dbid = @dbid + 1 End Reindex all tables in a database: EXEC sp_MSforeachtable @command1=“print ’?' DBCC DBREINDEX [...]

By |2009-02-10T10:01:21+01:00februar 10th, 2009|SQL|Kommentarer lukket til SQL 2005 Course
Læs mere

Installing multiple applications using variables

One major benefit of using variables in the software application installation process is the ability to work with "software groups". A software group can be defined as a group of computers that share the same software package e.g. all workstations in R&D orHR. This post describes how to install multiple applications using variables on one collection. Start by categorizing all software packages Which ones need to be in the image Which ones are installed on all computers (can be added as singple Install Software steps in the task sequence) Which ones are part of a specific Software group (handled in [...]

By |2009-02-06T21:40:19+01:00februar 6th, 2009|Configuration Manager (SCCM)|4 Comments
Læs mere

Install software after TS finishes, but as part of the deployment process.

I some times run into problems while installing SW as a part of my Task Sequence.. Now don’t get me wrong, most times the apply  software works like a charm, and everything is installed without a glitch. But every now and then,  a piece of software comes along that just won’t install as part of the TS. To name a couple of the more resent ones i encountered, there is Cisco VPN that has a tendency to cut the network connection for just a second during installation, making the TS fail, or Lenovo(IBM) Presentation Director,  that has to have an [...]

By |2009-02-05T16:14:04+01:00februar 5th, 2009|Packaging & Installation|9 Comments
Læs mere

Deploying Office 2007 – Windows Desktop Search is not currently installed or not up to date

When users start Outlook 2007 for the first time they might be presented with this dialog box: To disable the dialog box you need to make a modification to the registry. I normally add the registry entry to the Office Customization Toolkit (OCT) like this: How to disable the setting in registry: Open registry and navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\12.0\Outlook\Options\General Add a new entry (reg_sz) with the name PONT_STRING Modify the value to "60" Export the registry entry from the File menu How to disable the setting in OCT: Start Office Customization Toolkit OCT by running setup.exe /admin Navigate to Add registry [...]

By |2009-01-29T14:23:35+01:00januar 29th, 2009|Configuration Manager (SCCM)|6 Comments
Læs mere

Disable the Office 2007 Welcome screen

One of the settings that I am often asked to modify when it comes to Office 2007 deployments is disabling the welcome screen. The welcome screen is displayed the first time a user starts one of the Office programs. The setting can be disabled in registry or in the Office Customization Tool (OCT). How to disable the setting in registry: Open registry and navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\12.0\Common\General Add a new Dword (32-bit) Value, type ShownOptIn as the name modify the value to 00000001 How to disable the setting in OCT: First download the updated version of the Admin files from - [...]

By |2009-01-29T13:40:20+01:00januar 29th, 2009|Configuration Manager (SCCM)|8 Comments
Læs mere

Office 2007 deployment

Useful links: http://www.officeusers.org/ - tips and tricks http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc303401.aspx - 2007 Office Resource Kit http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc179219.aspx - Language indentifiers http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/office/desktop/default.aspx - Technet http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/FX102855291033.aspx - Office Online http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc179179.aspx - Office Migration Planning Manager (OMPM) http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/desktopdeployment/bb395347.aspx - Office deployment the "MDT way" http://www.microsoft.com/events/series/technetoffice.aspx?tab=webcasts - Office 2007 deployment webcasts http://www.microsoft.com/events/series/technetoffice.aspx?tab=webcasts&id=42542 - Various Office 2007 webcasts

By |2009-01-26T14:53:40+01:00januar 26th, 2009|Configuration Manager (SCCM)|1 Kommentar
Læs mere

Windows 7 as a configuration manager client

Just want to share my little happy moment with someone - Just installed the configuration manager sp1 client on my Windows 7 Ultimate build 7000 - and it's working :-) Inventory is working Software distribution is working Software Update deployment is working Desired Configuration is working - but my system is not compliant according to the company policy :-)

By |2009-01-22T21:36:15+01:00januar 22nd, 2009|Configuration Manager (SCCM)|2 Comments
Læs mere

Upgrading Windows Vista Enterprise to Windows 7 Ultimate

I just performed an upgrade from my Vista Enterprise SP1 x64 bit to Windows 7 build 7000 on my Lenovo T500. The upgrade path from Enterprise edition to Ultimate is not supported but with a quick little registry fix it turned out to be a painless upgrade. Prior to the upgrade change these settings: HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\Currentversion\EditionID (value Enterprise) to Ultimate This should be enough to pass the prerequisite check and start the upgrade process.

By |2009-01-18T10:13:23+01:00januar 18th, 2009|Windows Client|2 Comments
Læs mere

Useful Links, Editors and Books for Visual Basic, Scripting Edition (VBScript)

Here is a list of links, editors and books. I have mentioned some of them, in the Visual Basic, Scripting Edition Course (MOC 2433). Links: Microsoft Script Center: http://www.microsoft.com/technet/scriptcenter/default.mspx VBScript Introduction http://wiht.link/vbscript-resources VBScript Language Reference: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/d1wf56tt.aspx Microsoft Scripting Guys! Forum - Technet: http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/ITCG/threads/ w3Schools - VBScript Section: http://w3schools.com/vbscript/default.asp SCCM and other Scripts: http://myitforum.com/cs2/blogs/dhite/ UAC and VBSCript: http://www.winhelponline.com/articles/185/1/VBScripts-and-UAC-elevation.html Naming Conventions for Visual Basic: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/110264 Scripting Guy’s Determine Last Logon time: http://technet.microsoft.com/da-dk/magazine/2006.01.scriptingguy(en-us).aspx Encode a Script – Sample: http://www.microsoft.com/technet/scriptcenter/csc/scripts/security/scripts/cscse001.mspx Scripting Games  - Don't Worry, Get SAPI: Using the Speech API to Add Voice and Sound Effects to a Script http://www.microsoft.com/technet/scriptcenter/funzone/games/sapi.mspx COM Authenticating Level [...]

By |2009-01-14T12:17:18+01:00januar 14th, 2009|Scripting & Development|1 Kommentar
Læs mere

Usefull Powershell Links and Books.

Links: Microsoft Scripting guys! Forum: Usually you will get very quick replys and help in there http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en/ITCG/threads Powershell 2.0 and others for All Windows (Windows Management Framework) http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/968929 Writing Help for Windows Modules http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/dd878343(v=vs.85).aspx Importing / Exporting Credentials in Powershell (Manually create Credential object) http://www.leeholmes.com/blog/ImportingAndExportingCredentialsInPowerShell.aspx Working wth ODBC: http://theessentialexchange.com/blogs/michael/archive/2008/01/07/multi-platform-database-access-with-powershell.aspx Create Custom Inputbox: http://www.microsoft.com/technet/scriptcenter/resources/pstips/feb08/pstip0208.mspx Working with Arrays: http://powershell.com/cs/blogs/tips/archive/2008/11/19/working-with-arrays.aspx Change Error Message Colors: http://www.microsoft.com/technet/scriptcenter/resources/pstips/aug07/pstip0817.mspx PowerBoots - Interface for creating WPF GUI's in powershell http://huddledmasses.org/powerboots-tutorial-walkthrough/ Powershell SDK: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=E6E1C3DF-A74F-4207-8586-711EBE331CDC&displaylang=en Free PowerShell Commands for Active Directory http://www.quest.com/powershell/activeroles-server.aspx Blog: ADPowershell: http://blogs.msdn.com/adpowershell/ Outputting Calculated Coloumns in Powershell: http://powershell.com/cs/blogs/tips/archive/2008/11/21/outputting-calculated-properties.aspx The Scripting Guys: How does the RemoteSigned execution policy [...]

By |2009-01-09T17:22:40+01:00januar 9th, 2009|Powershell, Scripting & Development|1 Kommentar
Læs mere

Block IE 8 from being installed through Windows Update

Microsoft will distribute Windows Internet Explorer 8 as a high-priority update through Automatic Updates for Windows XP Service Pack 2 and higher. To avoid this use the Blocker Toolkit. You can download the toolkit from Microsoft http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=21687628-5806-4ba6-9e4e-8e224ec6dd8c&displaylang=en&tm

By |2009-01-09T15:47:21+01:00januar 9th, 2009|Configuration Manager (SCCM)|Kommentarer lukket til Block IE 8 from being installed through Windows Update
Læs mere

Deep Dive Image deployment training now live

We are proud to announce that Coretech's Deep Dive Image Deployment course is ready to launch. The course is based on all the wishes and feedback we have received from customers and earlier students. We will discuss Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7 and Windows Server deployment. On all public courses the main focus will be on Windows Vista. The training can be delivered at the customer site or in cooperation with your local training vendor. For more information contact Kent Agerlund, [email protected]. Title: Deep Dive Microsoft Image deployment Duration: 3 days Material: PowerPoint presentations and hands-on labs Environment: Microsoft [...]

By |2009-01-09T14:45:32+01:00januar 9th, 2009|Configuration Manager (SCCM), OS Deployment|Kommentarer lukket til Deep Dive Image deployment training now live
Læs mere

Creating Configuration Manager 2007 Reports – Part IV Using Prompt

In this example I explain how to use the prompt function. I anticipate that you already by now know how to create the report in Configuration Manager and how to start SQL Server Management Studio. This report will list some basic hardware details with a prompt on the Bios Serial number. I am creating the first part of the report in SQL server 2008 Studio Manager, and the prompt in the Config Mgr. console. When you are working with prompts in reports there is a few things you need to know first. To use variables use the @ symbol eg. [...]

By |2008-12-31T15:23:07+01:00december 31st, 2008|Configuration Manager (SCCM)|2 Comments
Læs mere

Server deployment with Configuration Manager

Before you start any server deployment projects save you self a lot of time by reading these documents: IBM server deployment - http://publib.boulder.ibm.com/infocenter/toolsctr/v1r0/index.jsp?topic=/com.ibm.xseries.tools.doc/deploy_tools_sgst.html HP server deployment - http://h20392.www2.hp.com/portal/swdepot/displayProductInfo.do?productNumber=HPSCCMOSDWP Dell server deployment - http://www.delltechcenter.com/page/Dell+Deployment+Pack+for+Configmgr+%28Server+Deployment%29?t=anon

By |2008-12-29T11:23:46+01:00december 29th, 2008|OS Deployment|Kommentarer lukket til Server deployment with Configuration Manager
Læs mere