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Helping to deploy your world automagically...
Deploying legacy Windows with Configuration Manager 1702 and Windows ADK 1703
I built some machines to test upgrading from legacy Windows (7 & 8.1) to Windows 10 CB 1073. I...
Date: 06/03/2017
Security implications of upgrading to Windows 10
Windows 10 has new security features that protect the system from malicious code being inserted in...
Date: 08/01/2016
Windows 10 Start Layout Customization
This Windows 10 Start Layout Customization guide provides detailed guidance on how organizations can...
Date: 03/07/2016
Script to Make ServiceUI.exe Easier to Use for OSD Custom User Interfaces
Since Configuration Manager task sequences usually run as the System account, the task sequence...
Date: 07/06/2015
Dynamically Setting Variables as Over-writable during Gather
During the MDT Gather process, almost all properties (variables) are treated as “first writer...
Date: 07/02/2015
Writing Data to the MDT Database During Gather
MDT allow you to query the MDT Database during a Gather step using database sections in...
Date: 07/01/2015
Loading Scripts that Have VBScript Classes or that Don’t Have a UserExit Function as User Exit Scripts – Script Update
In a previous post I provided a script that allows loading scripts that have VBScript Classes or...
Date: 06/30/2015
Reducing Windows Deployment time using Power Management
The following post was contributed by Benjamin Rampe a Senior PFE working for Microsoft. While...
Date: 03/26/2015
Excluding Known Multi-Reboot Updates during a ZTI Deployment
The following post was contributed by Cliff Jones a Consultant working for Microsoft Consulting...
Date: 03/10/2015
Configuring Regional and Language Settings Online in an MDT Task Sequence – Script Update
A few years ago I authored a post about this topic. You can find it here. I recently had an...
Date: 02/27/2015
Setting SMSDP When MDT Doesn’t Set It For You
Although you won’t find it mentioned in the MDT documentation, in an OSD task sequence the MDT...
Date: 08/01/2014
Pre-Flight Checks – SMART Check
While writing my last entry titled Pre-Flight Checks – Wireless Connectivity, I figured I...
Date: 05/01/2014
Pre-Flight Checks – AC Power Check
While writing my last entry titled Pre-Flight Checks – Wireless Connectivity, I figured I would go...
Date: 05/01/2014
Pre-Flight Checks – Wireless Connectivity
As many of you know, MDT offers a series of ‘pre-flight’ checks you can run at the beginning of a...
Date: 05/01/2014
New PowerShell Scripting Tools Released
Microsoft Customer Services & Support (CSS) with assistance from the PowerShell team and the...
Date: 05/01/2014
USMT: Architecture-Independent Rules for Migrating 32-bit Applications
Update 2014-04-16: I forgot to include that fact that a locationModify rule is required when using...
Date: 04/14/2014
Removing Windows 8.1 Built-in Applications
Last year I published a PowerShell script that is designed to remove the built-in Windows 8...
Date: 10/21/2013
Deprecation of the OSVersion Property and What to Do About It
The OSVersion variable is populated with a short string representing the version of the operating...
Date: 10/02/2013
Loading Scripts that Have VBScript Classes or that Don’t Have a UserExit Function as User Exit Scripts
Most readers of this blog should be familiar with MDT User Exit scripts, as many of the posts...
Date: 09/13/2013
Remapping Variables in MDT Database Queries
There are occasions where the variables I needed to use to query or retrieve data from the database...
Date: 08/12/2013
Enterprise Management of ActiveX Controls using ActiveX Installer Service
The ActiveX Installer Service (AXIS) is a Windows technology that enables the installation of...
Date: 06/16/2013
Signing Windows 8 applications using an Internal PKI
So – your development cycles have been completed and now you are ready to deploy the much...
Date: 06/14/2013
Update – Removing Built-in Applications from Windows 8
In October last year I published a script that is designed to remove the built-in Windows 8...
Date: 06/07/2013
Automatically Populate the PATCH Property for the ConfigMgr Client Installation – Script Update
Last October I posted an update to the script to automatically set the PATCH property used by...
Date: 06/04/2013
PXE Deployment with Surface Pro
PXE support has been added to Surface Pro as part of the May firmware update. This means that...
Date: 05/16/2013
Deploying Drivers and Firmware to Surface Pro
Important Update - December 9th 2014 - Please do not use the methods outlined in this post to update...
Date: 05/16/2013
Supporting Windows 8 Mail App in the Enterprise
In a recent project we faced an interesting problems using the Windows 8 Mail App. Windows 8 include...
Date: 05/14/2013
Windows 8 – Supporting proxy services with Static Configurations, Web Hosted PAC files and Domain Policy Configured Proxy
Many companies have started using Windows 8 and have noticed with some of the new features there are...
Date: 05/08/2013
USMT Restore Status Notification HTA in Full Operating System
In my previous blog entry, I explained my customer’s need for stand-alone USMT Capture and USMT...
Date: 04/09/2013
USMT Capture Status Notification HTA in Full Operating System
Recently, I had a customer that wanted separate, stand-alone USMT Capture and USMT...
Date: 04/09/2013
Create Windows-To-Go drives in a simple Factory mode
Windows To Go is a feature in Windows 8 Enterprise that allows Windows 8 Enterprise to boot and run...
Date: 02/27/2013
Printer Remapping in Windows 7 Deployments
One of the challenges that I frequently come across is the shift from 32-bit operating system...
Date: 02/12/2013
Windows 8 BitLocker Deployment and PowerShell
With Windows 7 deployments, BitLocker installation for Operating System and data volumes has...
Date: 01/17/2013
Windows 8 – Customizing the Default Lock Screen
Have you tried to change the default wallpaper on the Windows 8 lock screen? Now I live in Seattle...
Date: 12/11/2012
Windows 8: Automating the installation of .NET Framework 3.5 with MDT
[Correction – November 14th 2012] I have been informed that the new built in roles and...
Date: 11/13/2012
Removing Built-in Applications from Windows 8
Update - This script will not work with Windows 8.1 a script for Windows 8.1 can be found here -...
Date: 10/25/2012
Windows 8 Start Screen Customization with MDT
If you are creating a Windows 8 image then you most likely want to customize the Start Screen layout...
Date: 10/25/2012
Automatically Populate the PATCH Property for the ConfigMgr Client Installation - Updated for ConfigMgr 2012
Update 2013-06-12: The newest version of this script can be found here. Two years ago I posted a...
Date: 10/11/2012
Finish Actions for Configuration Manager OSD
MDT 2010 introduced a new feature called Finish Actions. This allowed you to set the variable...
Date: 07/06/2012
Run command line as ___domain user – Incorrect Function Error
When deploying Windows clients using Configuration Manager 2007 and MDT 2010 Update 1, there is...
Date: 04/24/2012
Microsoft Consulting Services (MCS) UK is Hiring
MCS UK are looking for a technical consultant to specialise in client deployment (Windows 7 and...
Date: 03/22/2012
Approval request notification for Systems Center 2012 Configuration Manager
My favorite feature in Systems Center 2012 Configuration Manager (Configuration Manager) is without...
Date: 03/21/2012
Using MBAM to start BitLocker Encryption in a Task Sequence
The script has been updated to abort if the TPM is not Active and to create Endorsement Key Pair if...
Date: 02/20/2012
Expiring Outdated Stand-Alone Media
In my previous post ‘How to Limit or Restrict the Use of Bootable Media Devices for OS...
Date: 02/15/2012
Internet Explorer 6 Migration Roadshow events - UK
Microsoft is working with a number of compatibility partners to host Internet Explorer 6 Migration...
Date: 02/08/2012
Dynamically Installing ‘Computer Specific’ Applications Using Configuration Manager with MDT
There is a little known component of the MDT database that, when used with Configuration...
Date: 02/02/2012
Finding All References to MDT Variables in a Deployment Share: VariableDocumentor v1.0
MDT is very flexible in the ability to define and use variables inline and in different locations....
Date: 01/20/2012
Windows 7 Deployment Options for Small and Midsize Businesses
Happy new year to everyone! It looks like I am making the first blog post here for 2012 :-) To get...
Date: 01/12/2012