TheScarfedOne

@ICTHUS - the settings are in the zip file attached to the blog post. Its done in the registry.

Indeed, me and @john are going :-)

Thin PC is part of Software Assurance under School/Campus and EES Agreements. It was released on 1st July 2011, and should now be showiing up in your Volume Licence Centre. If not, give it a few days, and PM - will get it checked... If you happen top be in the Southwest region, I can show you our setup

So... Windows Thin PC (Windows Embedded Standard 7 - for its full name really) is now out, whats the story? Its the replacement for Windows Fundamentals for Legacy PCS... ie its a cut down version of the current Windows OS, designed for older PCs to make them last a bit longer. You can use it to make a "Think Thin Client"... ie Autologon, start an RDP session and thats it. And thats exactly what Ive done with it. So, hows it all set up, and what do I think of it? Well - it installs in the same way the full Windows 7 OS does. For us here, that means SCCM. Created a capture image from the original media in the same way you do for the full OS (see earlier blog posts for guidance)... created a task sequence to deploy it - it is exactly the same as my main Windows 7 one - minus the core software. Why you might say? Remember, this machine is going to be a dumb terminal. Then, Ive ammended some of the scripts used for deploying my Laptops with Bitlocker. What does that have to do with WTPC? I needed the machine to be configured to autologon for a start! We dont want people having to logon twice! So, all the machines are set to autologon with a restricted network account (in our case called RDPService) - and then the shell has been changed from explorer.exe to mstsc.exe. This makes it run in kiosk mode effectively, there is no taskbar, desktop or anything that can be fiddled with! Just to make doubly sure, Ive used an app called Shelly to launch mstsc as an unkillable process. If it closes, it is just respawned. This system is going to be used in Admin, General purpose ICT rooms (ie those without high GFX needs)... even tho the Remote FX available by using this with RDS in Server 2008 R2 make it pretty good! Prodesktop even works well as does CS5. Ive uploaded the script here, which you need to add as a package in SCCM (or to an accessible folder eg NETLOGON) and then point to it as a Run Command Line in the Task Sequence. Put a reboot after it, and the machine with then autologin and do all the rest of the jazz. Shelly and your RDP file must be in a folder called RDP at the root of C:\. This can be achieved by GPO Preferences under File. Any queries... fire off a comment below... Updates to this original post... we now use Shelly (as described here http://www.insidetheregistry.com/content/viewarticle.aspx?articleid=1722) to handle the RDP shell replacement.

Good point... we tend to get the students to start typing their own username in and then hit search. I do like being able to use a drop down tho.

So, who broke what majorly then? There was no feedback or news on SupportNet that the date was changing?! Even on the 4th the pre-release notes still said for release COB on 30th! @PhilNeal or anyone at Capita... can you enlighten us as to whats happening?

Its gotta be the original FPS of Quake 2 or Doom. Also, loved the capture the flag and paintball mods for Quake :-) ahhhh the good old days of after school Quake Paintball club (to satisfy the parents that we werent playing blood and guts games :-))

Like the concept, and the app looks good, but I do have to give a +1 to WiseSoft Password Control here - which has been rolled out across the site for all staff to use.

Using it in our test environment at the moment and its performing rather well. I do agree with @Ric in some ways though FLP was easier to configure to auto logon, launch RDP etc. I will be posting up all our setup on my blog tomorrow. I had to do some custom scripting and jigging to get it playing nicely. There is still one bit that is bugging me - the timeout on the logon screen. Ive got it sorted for now by having the RDP running as a unkillable taks in kiosk/shell mode. It just keeps relaunching the RDP file if it closes.

We do this OP - please PM me and I will put you in touch with my techie who is working on upgrading our now broken ISA 2006 box to TMG. It is definately possible to do the NATing, and we also use it to make a walled garden for students with infractions rather than a full ban.

I think there is a good running thread on Windows 7 networks going now - I think Ive added to it a few times. If its not stickied... can we? For the most part, when running on its own, it works very well. If you are doing any kind of co-existance; then you will have to have comprimises. The way I handled this before was loopback GPOs for XP, making sure that my 7 settings which were quite specific in the end didnt muddy the water on XP.

Beat me to that @Gatt! LOL. Yep - try integrating some mass storage device drivers into your boot.wim.

I had the same problem with bginfo on 7, so abandoned it - instead settling on using group policy to set a background

Plus one here for the Bookings bit as well. The additions of the extra features recently (templated emails, calendar reminders [been there a while], multiple admins [thanks for that @nickbro ])make it an all round winner :-)

Have to do a plus one here for MDT as a minimum, as it handles this for you. I will post up my unattened.xml which does all the setup stuff. MDT handles (well SCCM for me) handles the drive wiping etc as part of the sequencing. PM if you need any help... or take a look at windowsnoob.com

Ive got a similar one which copies a start menu and desktop from the server, and its got error handling and update sequences in it. I think Ive posted it elsewhere too, but will post it again. On the note of CC x > Vanilla, I did it a few years ago - and went about it as has been described here. New OU and develop in there with inheritance disabled. IMHO, its only the same as any system transition. Ive recently taken over somewhere new and am in the process of renovating the setup there. Im doing exactly the same thing again... new OU and develop all the GPOs there. Lots of people know im an SCCM fan... so if you want any help with that PM me or look on my blog. It is running side by side with FOG at the moment - which is being retired. No performance issues here, and its still only running single server while i wait for my new servers ;-|) Good luck

I had this working a while ago, but Ive moved schools since - and Im digging around! Will hunt out the format I used - as Im going to need it again!

Laptop House Education Show: 17th June 2011 After a break of two years, it was time for these guys to have another Trade Show. Like last time, they didn’t disappoint! So, first for a bit of an intro… Laptop House are an independent IT equipment reseller founded in March 2002; and based just outside Stoke on Trent. They are able to supply major brands including Dell, HP, Toshiba, Acer, Sony, Apple, Fujitsu & IBM, Promethean, Bretford, Smart and many more. Also on offer are additional services, such as Installation, leasing facilities and insurance cover for "ALL" your IT products including any special projects. A combination of "First Class" service (with next day delivery as standard) have earned a reputation for excellence, receiving regular referrals from satisfied customers and now have a client base throughout the UK, extending to almost every county and still ever growing. Right… onto the show itself. With Laptop House being a partner with HP and Acer – there was a good presence from them. Of particular interest was HPs Thin Client range. Through their links, Ive set up (or will hopefully be setting up) evals of the kit for my own virtualization project. And that’s the great thing – its being seen as a project, and getting the full backing and support of the HP specialists. Acer meanwhile were showing off their new tablet range; and looking at the options with their ever growing Veriton PCs – including the newer small form factor and the NetTop Boxes. It shows the view from Acer of the event when the UK EDU Manager was there, and brilliant she was too. Both Acer and HP have started OEM-ing NetSchool recently, as you may have read on the forums. Well, they also had their own stand, with tech and sales support staff present. Very useful discussions on how to quickly and easily get the product (whether it be the full one, the lite that HP supply or the ACM version that Acer use) onto your system. They also had a presentation slot on getting the best from the product. Samsung were demoing their ultra portable laptop range, as were MSI. Great to see the moves in the market these guys are making – and giving good pricing support to education too. Sonicwall were demoing their appliances, as well as giving a presentation on using it and the risks of network and internet security. A mover in the market Ive not seen before – but interesting all the same. I can see this territory being more relevant where Academies move away from their RBC for internet provision. There were others present too – some which I will have forgotten to mention, so apologies to them. As usual, the Laptop House staff themselves were on top form – including the chance to meet the family! All those in EduGeek conferences know how dangerous meeting the family is (legendary still is @littleMiss from BETT2011). So… all that remains is to thank Angela (MD) and my account manager (Mat) – and the rest of the team for a great day. The contacts from the day are already helping – and its only Monday! Ooooh, I almost forgot to mention the food! Thanks also must go to the caterers for the Hog Roast; and to Angela and her mum for the supply of cakes and drinks. Contact details: http://www.laptophouse.co.uk 01782 838883

Following the SWGFL post... I was contact by the Open University who are running an event on the 4th July at the University of Plymouth - sponsored by them, Devon CC, Plymouth CC, SWGFL and others. Details... Peninsula Schools Enhanced Learning Conference: Monday 4th July, at Plymouth University, endorsed by SWGfL and Plymouth City Council. More info at Peninsular Schools Enhanced Learning. They are working with Pete Yeomans at Plymouth University relatively quickly in response to the fact SWGfL aren’t running a conference in Torquay this year. It’s all about using technology in education and to teach – from classroom blogging, to online parental engagement. Tim Ryland is the keynote speaker. Also David Mitchell and Julia Skinner, Ken Corish and others. They’ll be loads of networking opportunities and it’s a great professional development opportunity. You can also register on Plymouth uni’s estore. For all the Plymouth, Cornwall and Devon Schools - it gives us the opportunity, without the issue of so much travel.

Ok, so after I left you all wondering on the AppV score - I thought it was about time to show where we had go to... Well - progress is good, very good! AppV (as if it needed any more ranting and raving) is a seriously cool piece of kit. Take this one problem... using CS4 on out ICT Suite machines and to bring in CS5 would bring a learning curve for staff and students alike. Well, what if you could run the two side by side. Normally, not a chance, but with AppV you can. CS4 sequences rather nicely (think of sequencing like packaging), CS5 is still full install at the moment. So - both can run on the machines independantly of eachother - everyone is happy. Digital Blue is also sequenced up too. Why... well it can be a pain of a bit of software, so to separate it from the OS makes life a lit easier. Same applies to DLK MathsWorks. Anyone who has come across that gem will know what I mean. So you see, you can use it for co-existing software versions, pain in the behind software, and in the case of Office 2010 - software which is just slow to install. Office 2010 has some gotchas tho - mainly in that its Licence protection is its downfall. Never fear though - MS have done their homework on sorting it (as you would expect)... and here is how to do it... http://support.microsoft.com/kb/983462 and the support files are http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?displaylang=en&id=10386 Its very well explained... just click along :-) For those interested... full list of main Apps sequenced so far... Office 2010 Adobe CS4 Audacity Digital Blue Adobe Reader X DLK MathsWorks Media Player Classic CamStudio and there are other departmental ones (I will update with those)

+1 for GLPI particularly if you use the tie in with OCS NG for the automatic inventorying

Was that a hint

Beat me to it there @john,.... was about to step in with my licencing hat on!

You just had too didnt you! Rub it in that ive not got one......yet!

Oh joy! Right... gonna do some shameless blog promotion! Im playing with AppV and you can sequence Adobe Reader. Saves it being "installed" on the machines, and you can simply update your AppV snapshot. Hell... theres even an "get it going quickly" helper too :-) Links over on my blog, literally just posted it!