A common security/performance setting is to disable short file names (aka 8.3 file names), and is recommended as part of the Microsoft Solutions for Security (MSS) (Disable Auto Generation of 8.3 File Names [NtfsDisable8dot3NameCreation]). However, as...

I often write little batch scripts, sometimes just as a way to save a lengthy command line. Frequently I also want to output the result to a file and give it a unique (and meaningful) filename. However the built-in %date% and %time% variables expand to...

The Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) 3 Deployment Guide documents a process by which update metadata and update content can be transferred from one server to another isolated server. Since Configuration Manager 2007 relies upon WSUS for the software...

One of the advantages of integrating MDT 2008 with ConfigMgr 2007 is a more dynamic state capture process. The MDT task "Determine Local or Remote" (ZTIUserState.wsf) gives you the ability to estimate the amount of space required for the state store,...

To import computer information into Configuration Manager for OS deployment you have to enter the computer name and then one or both of the following unique identifiers: MAC address or SMBIOS GUID, aka UUID. Many customers use the MAC address because...

Unfortunately I missed the keynote address today because I had some work I had to do. It was a customer and partner panel discussion with live Q&A: executives from Dell, EDS, Carnival Cruise Lines and Virgin Entertainment talking about their experiences...

I recently did some research on the version variable in gpt.ini, what it means, and how to modify it. Unfortunately I found some discrepancies: http://technet2.microsoft.com/windowsserver/en/technologies/featured/gp/faq.mspx says to increase the value...

Attached is a script that I wrote to automate downloading a large file (e.g., ISO, WIM) by using BITS. There are variables at the start that need to be updated with the URL from which to download the file(s), and then the file name(s). If only one file...

Methods to test MP and SLP functionality through the browser. http://sms2003/sms_mp/.sms_aut?MPLIST Seemingly blank page; view source: <?xml version="1.0" ?> <MPList> <MP Name="SMS2003" FQDN="SMS2003.contoso.local"/> </MPList>...

A bit off-topic for most of the posts on this blog...I didn't see this posted anywhere else in this context so I thought I'd share. I'm working on a RemoteFX prototype for a customer and have a HP Z600 Workstation with a Nvidia Quadro NVS 450 video adapter...

The WSUS Deployment Guide has good general guidance on how to export/import content and metadata to a disconnected network. Here are some quick scripts that I whipped up to ease the process, as it's something that you'll probably want to do regularly...

First of all, the delay on this post must be because I'm too techsexy . The first event Tuesday morning was the kick-off keynote by Bob Muglia , Senior Vice President, Server and Tools Business. Actually, the keynote session first opened with Rodney...

This morning's keynote was presented y Kirill Tatarinov, Corporate Vice President, Windows Enterprise Management Division. He continued the DSI discussion and the idea of System Center as "ERP for IT" - embedded knowledge, model-based policy and automation...

Instead of bashing on the keyboard, I’m a proponent of using a tool to generate a random password, such as when creating a service account or new user accounts.  A colleague of mine recently discovered that this is doable with Windows PowerShell...

During a Windows 7 64-bit deployment project the customer gave me a requirement to allow users to install a variety of language packs without adding all of them to the baseline image to keep the size down.  They are already using ConfigMgr to advertise...

A Vista LTI is captured to the BDD server and during import as an Operating System the following error occurs: An unexpected error occurred while updating the view. Unable to open the specified WIM file. The details s how the dump, with "System...

In deploying Windows 7 x64 via a ConfigMgr 2007 SP2 task sequence I have a custom script to change the TCP Global Receive Window Auto-Tuning Level. The command that is executed via the script is: cmd /c netsh interface tcp set global autotuning=highlyrestricted...

I was troubleshooting a problem with a MP today. I ran the MP Troubleshooter - Pre-Install and everything applicable passed. I had already installed SQL 2005 SP2 Standard, running under the context of a domain user account, sms_sql_user (nothing fancy...

A customer requirement for a recent pilot project was to migrate user workstations to Vista for only a few weeks; we have to restore to the previous OS at the end of the pilot. There are other scenarios in which you'd need to restore a system using the...

For the past week I've been out in Las Vegas for the Microsoft Management Summit (MMS) 2008 . Last year I did a better job of posting after each day, but I attribute a lot of that to the fact that a) I had just started my job at Microsoft the week before...

There's probably a sexier way to do it, but the attached script (rename to .cmd) can be used to set Windows Vista SP1 audit policy using auditpol. The current settings are based on the FDCC 2008 Q1 settings. It must be run elevated. I suggest using something...

One of my customers requires additional security settings beyond the OMB-mandated Federal Desktop Core Configuration (FDCC) and I need to apply the settings as local policy during the MDT build process so that disconnected systems still get a baseline...

I was doing some research/testing on IE7 search providers today and thought up a neat trick for quicker access to some common ConfigMgr reports. See Microsoft Support Article ID 918238 for some of the technical details on IE7 search providers. We strongly...

Don Hite has a VBS Script To Change A Remote SMS Clients Cache Size , but I wanted to do it with PowerShell: $Cache = Get-WmiObject -namespace root\ccm\SoftMgmtAgent -class CacheConfig $Cache.size = 10240 $Cache.InUse = "True" $Cache.Put() Restart-Service...

The BDD 2007 Lite Touch Installation Guide (specifically, Ensuring That the Required Infrastructure Exists ) lists the prerequisites for target computers. The lowest possible system is Windows 2000 SP4 with WSH 5.6, MSXML 3, and MDAC 2. While testing...