Heebeejeebee

NovaT seems ok with it on our system. The drives are still mapped it's only Explorer that doesn't see them. This page will help. HBJB

GPO The answer is in this thread. Thanks to the helpful people here I no longer get the nag screen of doom. HBJB

Update: At long last I've managed to get the December update applied. This is only because I persevered and did it the hard and very long winded way, plus I had to get a copy of a working SIMS setups folder that was already on the Dec. update. I don't think SIMS would have helped me any further if we hadn't been forced to apply patch 9664 which requires that you be on the Dec. update. They had closed my case with the message "find a utility that lists open files and see who has it in use". (BTW this was done and it still said that no locks were on the file). Anyway I had to ignore the fact that the file was in use and continue with the update as far as I could, then wait for it to bork out and run the SOLUS from the CD release (not the online version). This told me that some updates needed to finish. I had to make a note of them and use DBUpgrade to do these since the SOLUS fell over again. I then copied the SimsApplicationUpdate.exe (the file that was causing the problems) and the signature file from the folder of the already updated SIMS (supplied by capita) into the setups folder on the server and it worked. Yay !! About bloody time! HBJB

How do you force windows to use that Default User? Just copy a known good one into the Netlogon folder. It will be used in preference to the local one. Right click "My Computer" go to Advanced then User Profiles/Settings. Pick the one you want and click "Copy To" make sure you make sure the Everyone group is put in the "Permitted To Use" section" , browse to the Netlogon folder on your logon server and copy it. You should add "Default User" to the path when you copy it eg the path will read \\logonserver\Netlogon\Default User with Default User bit added by you. HBJB

lol Can't say I've had anyone comment on it but when we used to use a "local" Default User I would re-order the menus at the time of any re-image but now we use a Default User from the Netlogon folder it only has to be done once and it's applied system wide. Yay!! HBJB

Yep, that seems to be the only way those of us who like neat and tidy start menus can do it. :? I've personally given up making a new default profile each time a new app is deployed 'cos I've got better things to do and nobody else seems to care anyway. HBJB

Forgot to mention that I took the opertunity to install MSSQL to another directory rather than the default C:\Program Files\MSSQL Server folder when I moved to a new server. This enabled me to store the SIMs backups in a sensible place and not on the system disk. Is sims the only instance running on this server or is there another programme using it as well? HBJB

Yep, use DBAttach. It's the only way to do it sucessfully. You may already know this but: Don't forget to also transfer the Docstore folder and if you've changed your server name you must change the name of the subfolder that has the old server name eg docstore\newservername\sims\sims\sims. Make sure it's done at the same time as the database transfer or you may not have a matched set. Also if you use NovaT\Cover etc make sure you transfer all those files as well. I forget to do this when I transfered to a new server and it was a few days out on the data. Also FMS if you use it will need to be setup again on the new server with all the databases in the right place. After transfereing the database try to run a report. If it fails with an error about the file not existing in the Document Server it's because SIMS does not know where the Docstore folder actually is despite the socument server giving no errors. There's a command to use in order to set the path again. I'll dig it up if you want. Good luck HBJB stops teaching Granny to suck eggs.

Sorry, meant to say laptops and trolleys. I was considering going the small switch route for convenience sake plus we already have some spare print servers that'll plug straight in. I'll look into the Buffalo APs since they seem to do what I want. Edit: Any idea of the model range? My usual suppliers don't have a lot in their lists. Cheers HBJB

OK so how do you guys provide printing in your mobile classrooms? I'm having to setup a couple soon and would like to know the most reliable way of doing it. I can't seem to find any access points that have built in print servers so would they have to be separate items that are "daisy chained" together? If so what ones do you use? There will only be one network point in the areas where these laptops are going. Cheers HBJB

lol. I did mention that his post nearly qualified him to be reunited with his P45. He's a good lad really and at least he's got a sense of humour. Having said that he's not been here a year yet so that could change at any time. HBJB

Thanks meastaugh1, it worked a treat. I've still recommended to our FM that I move to PDFCreator, but she says she'll have to ask all the teachers if they want to move and I can predict the answer. Cheers HBJB

Downloaded - Ta HBJB

Update: I've tried the CD version still no joy - same error. I then restarted the server (again) and made a copy of the SimsApplicationSetup.exe to make sure it was not locked. All of this was done with the server disconnected from the network and after a restart. After running the SOLUS from the CD again I let it bomb out and tried again immediately. It told me I had to apply updates in order to continue. Bingo I though - I'm getting somewhere. It managed to do the DB upgrades and proceeded to install the Dec. update. Then it bombed again. WFT!! Capita are no help because they've not even answered my case to my satisfaction yet. Their only suggestion was to re-boot the server (like I didn't try that!!) and after telling me that POS they closed the case. Naturally I re-opened it but I think they're ignoring me now. Utter bollocks! I'm now restoring the system yet again. Dinner's in the cat once more. HBJB

I don't think you can get W95 any more but you can buy XP Home and then use your MS Agreement to install Pro. Remember that you will have to "downgrade" again if you stop using the MS Agreement (unless you pay a huge fee) so it might be best to just purchase Pro in the first place. W95 is a qualifying product though. Has this happened because machines have been purchased without an OS in order to save a few quid? HBJB

I'm on the learning curve or making my own mst files. I've done a couple with orca but never had to add a child feature. A copy of the transform would help me understand what's going on I think. Thanks. BTW I've just found out that the file I was testing PDFCreator on for landscape was a dodgy one and have tried several new ones with 100% success. If I could get out of using Contribute I would but I fear that it's now too late to "teach the teachers". Cheers HBJB

Sorry to resurrect this old thread but we're having the same problem here. If I try BazM's solution (first thing I did anyway) when our users log on they get the message "you are not allowed to modufy the printers settings, please see you administrator" still. Users with elevated privileges (temporarily setup on a test account) don't get the message, but they get an extra "Flashpaper" printer (copy 1). We need to create PDF content for the DiDA course. Personally I'd ditch Contribute 'cos it's a waste of space and use PDFCreator instead but for 2 reasons: 1) One of our most whiney IT teachers insists that we use it and 2) PDFCreator seems to have a problem in that it will not create landscape PDFs. All landscape documents are created as portrait despite changing the settings in the printer. I wonder if anyone can help with this trivial but annoying issue. Forgot to mention it's installed via GPO and I'm not sure how to try meastaugh1's suggestion/solution. Cheers HBJB

LOL - 8 mugs today. I'll have to take one or two in for the tech since he often pinches my mug to drink some concoction that's supposed to alleviate this weeks bug he's caught. :? Loads of pencils/pens/stress relieving thingies and heaps of stuff that's going straight into the recycling bin. HBJB

Feet hurt, shoulder hurts from carrying all the free mugs around. Who was it that told me off for not wearing my badge this morning? Do tell. HBJB

Ta - I'll check it out when I get back from the BETT show. HBJB

1050 students 65 Teachers 40 Support 9 2003 servers + 1 linux 300 ish PCs (XP) 100 or so laptops Website (in house) All our own installations of cabling/whiteboards/projectors etc (we have a helpful site manager) IT budgets (3 at present) Responsible for all I.T budgets and bids Responsible for all I.T equipment procurement 34 IWB at present (13 more soon) SIMS PAT testing All the other crap that comes our way (boiler settings/timings, anything vaguely IT etc) Soon to have: A spanking new £1m Virtual Reality Suite/Video Conferencing Suite that I'll be responsible for E-reg Cashless Dinner thingy Just me and one tech who's only just been made full time. I do have a placement webdev at the moment but when he's gone - nothing I guess. Loads more money please !! HBJB

Yeah and if so do ya fancy sending me the msi 'cos it's fubar down here. HBJB

Probably should be a new thread, but what do you use to remote in to your network. I need something here pretty desperately. HBJB

Nice link. I'll give it a go. Thanks HBJB

It must be well burried then. I'll do some digging. HBJB