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Friday, August 29, 2008 4:31 PM

Logging All the Configuration Manager Task Sequence Variables

When debugging a MDT based Configuration Manager Task Sequence, it is often helpful to know what certain built-in Configuration Manager variables are set to during a step in the task sequence. For instance, you may want to see if _SMSTSLastActionRetCode
Posted by DeploymentGuys | 2 Comments
Attachment(s): OutputTSVariables.wsf
Tuesday, August 26, 2008 8:39 AM

Non-shrinking WIM files

If you make regular changes to your WIM files with the use of the /MOUNTRW or /DELETE switches of IMAGEX, then you may have noticed that your WIM files do not shrink in size after you commit the changes back to the file.  You could delete 500mb of
Posted by DeploymentGuys | 7 Comments
Sunday, August 17, 2008 6:53 AM

Documenting Your Task Sequences Automagically

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
Posted by DeploymentGuys | 4 Comments
Attachment(s): tsDocumentorv1.xsl
Thursday, August 07, 2008 4:32 PM

How to Setup ConfigMgr 2007 on Windows Server 2008

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
Posted by DeploymentGuys | 10 Comments
Monday, July 28, 2008 8:59 PM

Task Sequence logic tricks using MDT variables

In my particular part of the Microsoft organization (the CTS testing lab), we install just about every OS, at every service pack level, on both major platforms. Because of this, I created a master template that is used to create dozens of task sequences
Posted by DeploymentGuys | 3 Comments
Wednesday, July 09, 2008 10:41 AM

MDT Script Explanations

I get quite a few emails from people asking if there is a help file that details all of the scripts that are supplied with Microsoft Deployment Toolkit (MDT). The scripts form the engine of a deployment and can also help you to develop a framework for
Posted by DeploymentGuys | 1 Comments
Monday, July 07, 2008 5:59 PM

Useful Script Number 6 - Pausing the Task Sequence

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
Posted by DeploymentGuys | 0 Comments
Monday, May 26, 2008 9:36 AM

Getting caught out by your logon script

Whenever I go onsite with a customer to start a Windows Vista deployment project I always like to discuss with them the issues that we will be having during the project.  I do this so that, together, we can try and avoid having the issues in the
Posted by DeploymentGuys | 2 Comments
Monday, May 19, 2008 5:03 PM

Managing Windows Updates

When creating a new operating system WIM image with MDT, one of the things that you should always examine is the new updates for Windows that you will include; my recommendation has always been to make sure that the image is as up-to-date as possible
Posted by DeploymentGuys | 18 Comments
Monday, May 12, 2008 7:40 AM

Expanding the Scratch Space in Windows PE 2.1

Recently, I have had to create a bigger scratch space (the MDT X: drive) in Windows PE to deal with the injection of a largish driver during a Windows Vista deployment. The driver in question is the NVidia driver for the Lenovo P60 and P61 and because
Posted by DeploymentGuys | 4 Comments
Wednesday, April 30, 2008 3:25 PM

Windows Vista Product Guide (Updated for SP1) now Available

For those that need (or want) to know the intricacies of what is included with Windows Vista, the newly updated (for SP1) Windows Vista Product Guide is available for download. The 334 page Windows Vista Product Guide provides a comprehensive overview
Posted by DeploymentGuys | 0 Comments
Monday, March 31, 2008 11:10 AM

"Up-ping" the uptime of your Lite-Touch server

I like the lite-touch installation (LTI) feature of MDT, it think it's great and is very impressive as it allows clients to easily see the benefit that they will gain by using MDT to create and deploy their images. I can go on-site with a customer to
Posted by DeploymentGuys | 2 Comments
 
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