Two years ago I posted a script to automatically set the PATCH property used by ccmsetup.exe to install client updates during the Configuration Manager client installation in a task sequence. That post is found here . Since Cumulative Update 1 for ConfigMgr 2012 has a client update that is almost a necessity...

MDT 2010 introduced a new feature called Finish Actions .  This allowed you to set the variable FinishAction to either SHUTDOWN, RESTART (or REBOOT), or LOGOFF and the computer would be shutdown, restarted, or logged off after the task sequence (and subsequent cleanup) had completed.  Unfortunately...

  In my previous post ‘ How to Limit or Restrict the Use of Bootable Media Devices for OS Deployment Using SCCM ’, I showed you how to limit or restrict outdated boot media devices.  As promised, I am now going to offer a solution for stand-alone media.  I need to start by saying that...

  There is a little known component of the MDT database that, when used with Configuration Manager, can automatically re-install applications that were previously installed on a device.  It is not well known, simply because it isn’t readily visible from the database view within the Deployment...

I've had this tool sitting in a folder on my laptop half-finished for a few months but after a particularly frustrating problem with a script in a ZTI deployment I was encouraged to finish it! The original MDTDebugger that I wrote is a great help for debugging tasks running in a litetouch (LTI) deployment...

"Why deployment is so hard?", “Where can I find all related information?” What else I need to consider?” Those or similar questions are normal during my customer projects. After getting the same questions again and again, I’ve decided to create a Mindmap with all common links...

For a while I have been meaning to write up a solution around dynamic computer naming in Zero Touch. Many people have emailed or commenting on how useful this would be – so here goes. Zero Touch Installation relies on a combination of System Centre Configuration Manager (ConfigMgr) and Microsoft...

Some tools require setting an environment variable when they are used.  For example, the User State Migration Tool has several that can be used for troubleshooting.  One is discussed in the Ask the Directory Services Team blog post here .  Unfortunately, the built-in MDT or ConfigMgr Task...

A couple of weeks ago, I took part in the UK Tech Days event in London. This event – run over one full week – provided a fantastic selection of sessions and included a whole day on desktop related content. During our desktop day we covered desktop virtualisation, an introduction to application compatibility...

Often the simplest tips are the best ones, so here is one I have been using pretty much ever since I started working with MDT. When working as part of a team in the same MDT environment, you can often run into issues when various people are modifying the task sequence, or debugging a process that...

I managed to beat fellow Deployment Guy Michael Murgolo to the honour of the first post of 2011, so it is my responsibility to wish all our readers a happy new year! I hope all your 2011 deployment projects go well, and we've all got some good posts lined up over the coming months which hopefully will...

Thanks you all for your patience waiting for the full set of deployment walkthrough videos to be posted on TechNet Edge . As per my previous post , over the past few months I have been updating the deployment walkthrough videos and I am pleased to announce that the whole video series has now been posted...

29 Aug 2010 Update – I must apologize to all of you who attempted to use this as originally posted. I wrote this script around two years ago and was posting it now because another MCS consultant needed. Unfortunately, while I was trying to remember how I did this, I left out an important detail...

Often when debugging a Windows deployment you might need to know the value that has been assigned to a particular variable. With a LiteTouch installation this is easy, you can just read the variables.dat file, or write a simple VBS/WSF script that displays a MsgBox() window showing the variable you want...

Here is a simple tip that I thought I'd share in the hope that you don't need to lose a few hours of your life trying to work out what is wrong with your SCCM client sotware install! I was onsite with a client recently trying to upgrade some Windows XP computers to Windows 7. However, trying to install...

You’ve no doubt read some of the benefits around using the Software Update Point features of ConfigMgr. However, if you are already using MDT standalone as an Image Engineering environment – there is sometimes a duplication in having to manage software updates in both environments. The most common solution...

When working on deployment projects, there is often a requirement for a workstation to be customised on a location by location basis. Common workstation customisations which are applied in this manner include: Localisation settings (locales, keyboard settings, time zones, Windows (Windows Vista...

The MDT Task Sequences for System Center Configuration Manager 2007 use a clever technique to download and persist the MDT Files package during each phase of the Task Sequence. The Use Toolkit Package step uses the ZTISCCM.wsf script to copy the contents of the package to a WDPackage subfolder of the...

Ever wanted to add your own user communication and interaction to a Configuration Manager task sequence? Below is an HTML Application (HTA) that has a user interface for the task sequence with information about the deployment, a button to cancel or pause the deployment and even a button for a desktop...

Many scenarios arise in which you may want to port your task sequence from one environment to another. Common scenarios include promotion through Lab and QA environments and migration between disconnected hierarchies. Configuration Manager allows you to export task sequences into XML files as an out...

Often times, after creating an MDT or SCCM task sequence, you need to document it for yourself or your customers. Usually, this involves creating a table with the groups and steps, extracting their descriptions, identifying conditions and denoting the step actions and variables and then having format...

Installing ConfigMgr 2007 onto a Windows Server 2008 based server can be a challenge. Having recently been through the process for my own lab environment I thought I’d share the process in the hope that it will save you some time when you need to create this configuration. Before you begin you...

Have you ever wanted to pause the task sequence in MDT 2008 or ConfigMgr 2007 for a few seconds while something catches up...? I had a requirement to do this recently where I ran a task to close and cancel the Windows Sidebar at the start of the State Restore phase of the task sequencer and then turn...

Are you struggling with setting up SCCM 2007 Operating System Deployment and integrating MDT? - I have created a video walkthrough that shows you how to: Setup the server environment for SCCM 2007 OS deployment Configure the SCCM 2007 Site Settings Configure the SCCM 2007 Computer Management...

I am often asked what the best way is to manage drivers with both BDD/MDT and ConfigMgr. With this in mind I thought I would create two blog posts dealing with this topic. The first post (this one) will cover ConfigMgr and the second BDD/MDT driver management. Please note this is not the only way...