Display a message whilst installing software

[richard]

I need to if there is a way to do this when installing software via a group policy as I am tired of staff saying its taking an age to login whilst the software is being deployed. The idea being is taht they will at least realise that the machine is doing something rather than just being awkward.

[fooby]

In the windows startup dialog box, it does say installing managed software:Office 2003 (software example) so it is there, but then teachers dont read it, there are red banners on websites i have written, they still dont read it.

Fighting a lost battle i think.

fooby

[richard]

In the windows startup dialog box, it does say installing managed software:Office 2003 (software example) so it is there

I have never seen that when I have been testing things out. i must be missing something somewhere?

[fooby]

This is a Mockup of it, because I couldn't screenshot it.

fooby

[richard]

I never see that though it might be because I do my deployments via the computer instead by the user.

[fooby]

Most likely, that appears on all of mine at computer startup. If the software isnt there it installs (ages) if it is already installed then it whizzes past pretty quick.

fooby

[ajbritton]

@richard: Are you using Group Policy Software Installation or Startup Scripts or some other method? As fooby points out, software which has been assigned to the computer using GP Software Installation DOES show a message whilst installing. Software installed by Startup Script does NOT do this though. Where I have had to go down the Startup Scritpt route, I have created scripts in AutoIt, which can display a progress dialog box during installation.

[richard]

I'm using Group Policy Software Installation.

[ajbritton]

Then assuming you are assigning software to computers, not to users, you should be seeing the type of screen that fooby described.

[richard]

I am assigning it to computers but I still have never seen it

[plexer]

I assign all my software to the computers and you do get the messages described that say installing managed software. However probably still wouldn't matter as they would ignore it anyway.

We had an issue with offline files so I made an announcement in briefing to inform staff what to expect and how to solve it.

Later that day a member of staff told me she was having problems with her offline files.

I enquired as to if she was in briefing that morning to which she replied yes she was.

I then asked if she had heard my announcement to which she replied that "I had started to talk about computers so she switched off"

I mean ffs there is no hope.

Ben

[fooby]

I like that "started talking about computers so I switched off" the thing that angers me is that even with this lack of respect - we will still have to help them....... </rant_before_head_explodes>

fooby

[richard]

I think I found whats happening. The main things I have been deploying are flash and shockwave and these go through as silent installs according to a friend of mine.

[plexer]

Richard: When I deploy flash it still puts the banner up but as these are very small installs it doesn't take very long but I think you'll find even with silent installs which is what all gpo deployed oens are will still display the installing message.

Ben

[john]

Yeah, I deploy Flash and it shows the screen, but if the networks quiet it can only be up for 30 seconds or so on a good spec machine.