Deploying Screensaver

[capncrunch]

I am having issues trying to deploy a screensaver to Student PC's. I have created a .scr file and I know where to setup the screensaver in GPO. However I cannot get the screensaver itself to the machines.

I have added a line into the student login scripts to copy the files from

\\server\login script folder\screesaver.scr to the C:\windows\system32 folder

However It will not copy, I suspect it's a permission problem with either the C:\ or the system32 folder. How can I get the .scr file in to the system32 folder either through GPO or via script?

[Steve21]

One thing I'd say straight away, is "generally" without a \ on the end a lot of scripts emo about permissions. Can you post the script you're trying to use atm?

Steve

[sted]

try the script as a pc startup script rather than a user one it runs with full admin privileges

[glennda]

put the screensaver on a network share which has read permissions to everybody

then make a startup script like this

if exist C:\path\to\screen\saver.scr goto end

xcopy \\server\share\screensaver.scr C:\path\to\screensaver\ /c /y

end

if you have spaces in the path (e.g C:\program files\screensaver) make sure you put the whole thing in speach marks (e.g "C:\program files\Screensaver")

Toby

[chazzy2501]

Use Group policy preferences (CSE) you can create the folder and deploy files. It's also easy to update them later as well. You'll be able to shove them directly into the system32 folder if you want. I used this to deploy bginfo into the system32.

[capncrunch]

I was using this in the login script

xcopy \\server\share$\screensaver.scr C:\windows\system32\

The share where the file is kept has everyone read permissions on the share and NTFS (it is where we keep our MSI's so i know the permissions are good) I have tried yours Glennda I call a seperate .bat file from the login script

Call screensaver.bat

Then in that .bat file i have put

If exist C:\windows\system32\screensaver.scr goto end
xcopy \\server\share$\screensaver.scr C:\windows\system32\ /c/y
end

But that has not worked either. The students obviously cannot see the C:\ drive and would have no premissions to system32, is this what is stopping it from copying?

Your option sounds interesting chazzy2501 could you offer some more info or point me in the right direction.

[Steve21]

I have tried yours Glennda I call a seperate .bat file from the login script

Call screensaver.bat

That may be the issue, bearing in mind login scripts run as admin. If you're calling additional files depending how you set them up might not run as an admin.

Is there any reason you don't just want to put it directly as a login script? If not, I'll stick one that should work up tomorrow if I remember.

Steve

[glennda]

That may be the issue, bearing in mind login scripts run as admin.

no they don't login scripts run as the user don't they?

Startup Scripts run as admin.

[Steve21]

no they don't login scripts run as the user don't they?

Startup Scripts run as admin.

Don't they run prior to GPs being applied? Else how comes they can run BAT files/exes etc, if that's disabled to the user? Or am I being dumb and missing something obvious?

Steve

[glennda]

Don't they run prior to GPs being applied? Else how comes they can run BAT files/exes etc, if that's disabled to the user? Or am I being dumb and missing something obvious?

Steve

they might be applied before gpo's run yes but they don't run as admin as you setup permissions to shares etc as the user not admin

[sted]

no they don't login scripts run as the user don't they?

Startup Scripts run as admin.

they dont try puttin a net time \\server /set in and it will fail due to not having required privileges

[glennda]

they dont try puttin a net time \\server /set in and it will fail due to not having required privileges

which part are you refering to? the user or the startup?

[sukh]

login scripts are run as users as well as logoff scripts.

By default users have read access to the system32 directory and using a login script will not allow normal users to write here.

What you can do is set the script at computer startup to run. Copy the scr file to the sysvol/netlogon share or leave where it is now as this is not the issue, Then you can use a GPO to set the screensavev options,

Win 7 - User Configuration\Administrative Templates\Control Panel\Personalization: Force specific screen saver
Windows XP - User Configuration\Administrative Templates\Control Panel\Display

Using GPO preferences will allow a user to change screensaver, if you want to enforce then use the above.

Sukh

[sted]

which part are you refering to? the user or the startup?

user logon scripts

[SYNACK]

Use the startup script instead, problem solved.