Gongalong

Hi folks, I want to add a student year’s worth of accounts (around 200) to an Office 365 group. Note it’s an O365 group, not an Exchange group. Frustratingly the web interface for groups both as a user and an admin is different to the Exchange interface. The latter makes it so easy to easy large numbers of users, but the former seems to require that they are added individually (!). Am I missing something and is there an interface hidden away, or some other workaround, that gives similar kind of functionality to the Exchange interface? I’m guessing Azure PowerShell might have some facility, but the learning curve for both that, and connecting it to O365 (which I failed to do last time), are things I’d really rather avoid for such a simple job. TIA

Hi folks, We have some historic VB scripts that map drive letters. I'm loathed to tinker with them, although at some point I will switch to completely GPO based. For the moment I'd just like to get them working properly. The scripts are launched from a GPO. In Win 7 they run fine. In Win 8 they don't launch for the first few minutes, and rarely don't seem to launch at all. I have no idea why there is this long delay, and I'm struggling to know where to start to troubleshoot. The scripts are essentially as follows, albeit I have edited them to give just one example for brevity: Option Explicit Dim objNetwork, strDrive, objShell, objUNC Dim strRemotePath1, strRemotePath2, strRemotePath3, strRemotePath4, strRemotePath5, strRemotePath6 Dim strDriveLetter1, strDriveLetter2, strDriveLetter3, strDriveLetter4, strDriveLetter5, strDriveLetter6 Dim strNewName1, strNewName2, strNewName3, strNewName4, strNewName5, strNewName6 ' strDriveLetter1 = "F:" strRemotePath1 = "\\va-file1\Finance$" strNewName1 = "Finance" ' Section to map the network drives Set objNetwork = CreateObject("WScript.Network") objNetwork.MapNetworkDrive strDriveLetter1, strRemotePath1 ' Section which actually (re)names the Mapped Drive Set objShell = CreateObject("Shell.Application") objShell.NameSpace(strDriveLetter1).Self.Name = strNewName1 ' End of script. Any ideas? TIA

Hi folks, I've an inherited setup here of Ghost Solution Suite 2.5. I want to move this to another server, and although I have the install disc for v2.0, which will only LiveUpdate as far as v2.0.1, I cannot find an installer for v2.5. I have the SLF (Symantec License File) on the server for 2.5, and the license document. By chance does anyone have the installer for 2.5 and can they upload it somewhere, on the assumption I can use the SLF with it? TIA

At a discussion on our local county group that was suggested. I'm thinking it's the better option because you can stick a phone in airplane mode and still store huge amounts of info on it. Although the original request was for a mobile phone detector, which I'm guessing means something that will pick up the radio signals. Apparently exam inspectors, that check the schools are enforcing the rules and regulations properly, have mobile phone detectors.

(I hope this is the right forum as I couldn't see a good fit anywhere) Hi All, I've been asked by our Exams Officer here whether there are any recommended mobile phone detectors. I've spotted a couple on the web, but wary of buying something snake oil-y. I appreciate there are other approaches such as more concerted invigilation, metal detectors, (illegal) jammers etc. but I'm specifically after a recommendation for a detector. TIA

Both classrooms will have projectors and speakers at least, the big unknown for me was what camera and mic to use, and whether a webcam could cut the mustard. Thanks for the 3s-gtech for the Logitech mention. - - - Updated - - - We do have O365, but as this is just a single camera to the projector in the other room I'm guessing it won't matter too much what account's used with Skype/Lync.

Hi folks, Does anyone have any experience of classroom video conferencing systems? At the moment the requirement is somewhat up in the air, but the crux of it is that we want to be able to link two of the on-site classrooms together so that one teacher can teach to both classrooms. It could be a permanent install, or a mobile setup if that’s possible. Also it’s not defined whether the teacher wants to be able to see and hear the other classroom, although I think that would be sensible. I think this is going to need to be more than a webcam and a Skype call, to ensure decent video and sound. Has anyone used a system along these lines that they can either recommend or not? TIA

Yes, I kept an eye on the main page. One day it was fine, nothing unsuitable. The next day articles on erotic novels and goat heads. We've unblocked it but I've warned the teacher of what can be there.

Yes, Reddit is very much unsuitable. I was struggling to find anything unsuitable on Digg though, but maybe I'm missing something.

Hi folks, We've had the request to unblock Digg.com for students (11-16 years old). As far as I can see it's a news site, albeit one with a social element to it. Does it play host to anything unsuitable for children that I'm missing? TIA

Hi folks, There's been a request at our school specifically for iPads, specifically for school purchases iPads used by subject departments. We already have LearnPads from a year or two ago, specifically because of the management issue with iPads i.e. stopping students from messing them up. Have things moved on at all wrt Mobile Device Management for iPads? I've only found two options: - Apple Configurator, which is apparently very poor, and can only run on OS X. Look at the review here by abillybob1994 https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/apple-configurator/id434433123?mt=12 - Meraki, which would mean replacing our wireless (a showstopper in itself), and apparently still isn't a great solution. Is there anything else that actually works? TIA

Hi folks, I'm curious as to whether schools are using tablets or not, and how much they're used. There are five questions, and you can select more than one. Essentially are some staff, all staff, or no staff using them, and the same for students. Have you gone as far as BYOD? Thanks for answering. Note, this is a poll, and I'm not sure if it shows up on the mobile version of the forum.

Event Viewer only seems to show services that are relying on the network e.g. group policy, time sync, complaining because there's no network. I'm going to reimage the PC after a bit more troubleshooting - I have a feeling that will fix it!

3s-gtech: tried an updated driver (newest is Aug 2014, and the previous driver was June 2014) but made no difference. Will try IPv6. I've moved the PC to a completely different switch, yet it still has this startup issue, consistently. LiamH: We do use VLANs, but all the PCs are on the default. We only have the problem with a particular batch of PCs, irrespective of where they are in the school. I see nothing in Event Viewer re. IP address issues, it's as if the cable has been disconnected from the PC, and then plugged in two minutes after power on. Not tried a static IP, but willing to give anything a go!

Hi All, I’ve been asked to investigate a digital note-taking solution for our Parent Advisor, who spends a lot of time out and about, and inevitably taking notes while visiting families. My immediate thought was a Surface Pro 3 with OneNote, but whatever device it is it will need to be encrypted (not sure offhand if this can be done with the Surface Pro) because of the nature of the notes, documents on the device etc. Chances are it will also have to run Windows, to make life easy with domain integration. Any suggestions? TIA

Well the PC, or this particular room of PCs, are the problem. I've moved the PC elsewhere in the school and it still exhibits the issue. A laptop, wired only, in the room is fine. It's a mystery as to what's happened with these PCs that's causing it. We have an identical batch of PCs bought at the same time and they're fine.

Hi All, We have a strange issue with a classroom of Win 7 PCs. When turned on it takes several minutes before they connect to the network, often around 2 minutes but frustratingly the teacher’s PC seems to be taking longer. If I logon as a local admin it’s as if the cable is remove from the back, and then a few minutes later they just connect. Only this classroom seems to be affected, and it seems to have started just this term (only change I can think of is new anti-virus software). I’ve yet to try updated network drivers, although they would have been updated when built. I’ve logged a ticket with our thirdline consultant who look after the switches, just in case something is awry there. Other than that has anyone come across this before, or have any ideas? TIA

Thanks all for the honest opinions.

Shucks, well a lot more exploring then to afford an Eagle...

So I upgraded my Sidewinder with new power plant etc., beam lasers, point defence, and kill warrant scanner. Presumably I just keep looking at the Nav beacons etc. as above? I don't seem to be finding anyone but clean ships. I took on a pirate mission, and very narrowly failed to beat him (lost me ship *sob* 15k insurance spend).

Sadly not, hence the question :-)

Hi folks, We're looking to replace our servers in the Summer, and will need a fair bit of thirdline assistance in terms of speccing hardware, install, migration etc. I'm already aware of Medhurst, Nouveau, Foundation IT, and European Electronique. Can anyone recommend other consultancies in the Home Counties that would do this sort of work? TIA

Do you get the bounties straight away, and how much do they tend to be?

Earned about 70k for 6 or so hours play. Gotta get me that Cobra, but a ways off yet. Cartography does have the advantage of picking up missions along the way.

Hi folks, I'm about 4-5 hours in (taking a break while the servers are maintained). Trading is proving to be a slow way to make money, and a friend suggested cartography. In a way it's easier, and the money's better than trading it seems. Is this a good way to make money early on?