Gongalong

Yep, we're going to buy also. Have always liked NetSupport School (we have the RM Ranger Remote version). Now if only I can encourage them to include all the LAN Ranger functionality...

Room Booking System, as per above.

No, that's Online School Booking. Room Booking System is £300+. £755 for us if we want all of our rooms and SIMS integration https://www.roombookingsystem.co.uk/pricing.asp

Room Booking System is excellent (as is Parents Evening System), but so damn expensive. We're going to try an Office 365 spreadsheet, but if the staff can't work it we'll move to Room Booking System.

Yep, we've phoned and emailed. They've had their chips this time, at least as far as we're concerned. Too unreliable, sadly.

Been offline for us since the 28th, so almost 3 days now.

The proper drivers fixed our issue, but we only have one so aren't imaging.

I've had a demo, and it looks like we're going for the DNA offer anyway (to get the School license), so will probably give it a go. It does have some of the Ranger functionality, but I would like more.

Most likely RM's CC(4) is out for us, as all the client PCs have to be built using CC.

We're only using RM for Ranger and Unify, so haven't had this cost issue... yet. The plan is to use SCCM for deploying software, which RM have said may cause an issue with trying to use CC(4). Not come across Salamander Soft before. What do you use them for? I can't immediately spot anything that would replace RM Ranger functionality. Impero I'm wary of, as I have some friends that have had major issues with them, there was the poor handling of the security issue some months back, and I get frequently pestered by their Sales which is itself a turn off. NetSupport, we'll definitely be using for their School product (RM rebadged their product for Ranger Remote). Their current deal is very attractive, so we'll probably for the whole suite of software, and then we can use that in the future if need be. It's a shame there's nothing that has all of RM LAN Ranger's functionality, but c'est la vie!

From what I could tell, the imaging part could be left alone, but I think the tech sales person was going to check that.

Hi Steve. As mentioned above, we wouldn't actually want the build features of CC, which are the features that are somewhat similar to CM. What we'd use is the security and user profile features, which are similar to LAN Ranger and Ranger Admin. The RM tech sales person seemed a bit taken aback by that, but I think it would still be really useful to us. Following the tech demo, I emailed the RM Sales person on Tuesday with some questions, and a request for an updated quote, but not heard back yet.

There are some features that we would find useful, which we find useful in Ranger, such as seeing which machines are on and off, start menus etc. This is the thread I created with RM Ranger functionality, and we're trying to replicate that as much as possible. http://www.edugeek.net/forums/network-classroom-management/178186-alternatives-rm-ranger.html RM's tech sales said that CC did everything that Ranger did, but it doesn't. For example it doesn't do timed screenshots, and there is none of the RangerReact functionality. In fact the tech sales person why trying to sway me away from using it (!), because we weren't interested in the PC build functionality.

Hi All, We're now at the point of seriously considering moving from RM Ranger to CC(4). Can I ask what people's experiences of it are from a stability point-of-view? We've used RM's support with Ranger and Unify, and although a little bumpy at times it has been OK overall. RM Ranger has been pretty good, and it's a shame it's going end-of-life. Any experiences must appreciated. Thanks

I ended up using the Winaero Theme Switcher. Win 8 version seems to be fine on Win 7 and 10 Downloads / Software

Actually, I take that back. Tested on a second and third machine, Win 10 and Win 7, and it opens the themes dialog. This is something I've seen mentioned in other posts.

Looks like a simple batch file works, just with the folder and file name!

Yes, using something like this Apply a theme from command prompt ?? - Microsoft: Windows XP Pro - Tek-Tips I'll give it a try...

I'm trying to set a shuffled desktop background, so a theme seems to be the only option. I know the theme works, because as above I can just double click the theme file and it works on multiple PCs. Perhaps the bug still exists in Win 10?

Hi folks, Has anyone ever tried using a GPO to set a theme? I’m aware of a bug with Win 7 and Server 2008, resolved with a hotfix, but we’re using 2012 R1 with a mix of Win 7 and 10 clients. The problem I have is that the theme just doesn’t apply. I know the theme itself is fine in both 7 and 10 because I can double click on it and it applies. The GPO does have the scope for the relevant users, and Domain Computers added to it. Any ideas? Thanks

This is the list, hopefully I haven't missed anything. Essentially Ranger for Networks is the difficult bit to replace: LAN Ranger, Ranger Admin, and Ranger Account Manager. Where I know alternatives are available I've mentioned them, but I've not researched any of the remainder, so there could well be alternatives in group policy. Now to talk to RM (Community Connect), and NetSupport, about what their products can do. If anyone has experience of either I'd love to hear it. As far as I'm aware, there are no other products that come close to doing what Ranger for Networks does, which is a great shame. START OF YEAR TASKS AD Account Creation. Alternatives = Powershell, WiseSoft’s Bulk AD Users (if it still works), or manually! Home folder permissions. Not catastrophic if this can’t be done. Alternatives = WifeSoft’s NTFSFix, although this crashed last time we used it. Set home folder quota. No idea on alternatives. Setting start menu program groups/shortcuts. Controlled Assessment login restrictions. Set very specific times and locations that certain AD accounts can login. AD logon hours can do this, but not very precise. Can’t control locations. Drive lockdown. Alternative = group policy. Force Internet Proxy. Alternative = group policy (hopefully!). WPAD’s turned on. Disable: - Task Manager - Ability to lock workstation - Regedit - Command prompt. Alternative = Group policy. - Control panel - Run As Administrator - Shut down SECURITY Screenshots. Can take screenshots at regular interval for any indicated account. No idea on alternatives. Clear previous logon history. No idea on alternatives. Search on: - when PCs were turned on - when a user logged on - what applications were started Title checks Allow student to logon to only one PC DAY-TO-DAY Monitoring logons. How many PCs are turned on, how many logged in, and in which locations. Logging a student off Bulk reset of passwords. Alternatives = Powershell, manual.

SMART are saying that one of the cameras is faulty, so are sending a replacement...

Well, it wasn't the tape. Camera diagnostics sent to SMART...

Well, it wasn't the tape. Camera diagnostics sent to SMART...

We are, thanks!