Tool to find a replace a file on multiple (hundreds) of workstation

[Oaktech]

following on from my thread about an outlook problem, we have created a PRF file that works for test users, but we need a way to deploy the new version.

 

we have approx 700 workstations that have the incorrect PRF file on them in a known location, we need a tool (be it a windows utility, like lan spider, or a batch file to be run at logon) to replace the wrong one and copy the right one.

 

any ideas?

 

Cheers chaps

[ihaveaproblem]

You could use this if all you want to do is copy and replace a file

 

copy /y (servershare) (Destination)

 

e.g.

 

copy /y \\server1\shares\hello.txt C:\windows

 

It will copy the hello.txt from the share to c:\windows on the client machine and replace the file if it already exists. If your using windows server and group policy you can set it as a startup script to push it out to the machines you need to.

[RobFuller]

Group Policies Preferences is what I've used before now to fix up odd little files like that, works very well.

[6Foot2]

Group Policies Preferences is what I've used before now to fix up odd little files like that, works very well.

 

Second vote for GPP.

[MYK-IT]

Third vote for GPP.

[Arthur]

Fourth vote for GPP.

[ihaveaproblem]

I'll be the dumb one and ask... what is GPP? *Goes off googling*

[Arthur]

10 things Group Policy Preferences can do better than your current script! (page 8).

[ihaveaproblem]

10 things Group Policy Preferences can do better than your current script! (page 8).

 

Fifth vote for GPP:p

[garethEds]

If all machines are on then we use Impero to place a file.

 

Gareth

[denon101]

GPP works a treat, not sure what I would do without it!

[mac_shinobi]

Fourth vote for GPP.

 

And there was me thinking you were going to break out your powershell / vbscripting skills and put one together.

 

Never used or seen how to use GPP but sounds good

 

Just skim read the pdf doc that you linked - looks pretty good and a lot easier then all the scripting

Edited September 6, 2011 by mac_shinobi

[localzuk]

As far as I'm aware, GPP needs the client side extensions on the clients if you're using XP clients, and would need a Windows 2008 DC to handle it (GPP was added with 2008 server).

[K.C.Leblanc]

and would need a Windows 2008 DC to handle it (GPP was added with 2008 server).

 

Actually you can just install Group Policy Management on any server running 2008.

 

EDIT: Robocopy and a bit of scripting is another way to do it.

[Oaktech]

the GPP option was not an option for us as our RM cc3 front end does not allow us access to all the MS aspects of GPO, GPP and AD, as such we used a simple VB script in the startup scripts to check for the prescence of the file, delete it and copy the new one. in all but a handful of cases it worked a treat.

[sonofsanta]

Does it need to be a local file? Our Outlook shortcut on Staff desktops is

"C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office14\OUTLOOK.EXE" /importprf \\DOMAIN.LOCAL\files\staff\outlook2003.prf