hallb15

Lowest spec desktop we have now is a Core 2 Duo E7500 with 2GB RAM and these are second PCs in classrooms. Anything less CPU or RAM wise just doesn't cut it with our software build. All main classroom PCs connected to Smartboards are i3 or Pentium G2030 - @VeryPC_Colin_M you were right, you can't beat these CPUs for the money. In the ICT Suite we have Core i3 with 4GB RAM. Our latest laptops are Core i5 (Thanks to @ICTDirect_Dave) but we still have some old RM Celerons (XP) that are hanging on with a basic build...

You need to include the /silent switch. This is what I use in the teachers logon script: \\server1\NETLOGON\bginfo.exe \\server1\NETLOGON\teachers.bgi /timer:0 /nolicprompt /silent

I don't know anyone who installs in your local area, but Steve at PA Systems, Speakers, Amplifiers | Laser Disco Lights, Band Stage Lighting - Astounded knows his stuff and has given me loads of 'sound' advice (pun intended!) His prices are always good too.

Another quality video on youtube!

I see a red horses head logo with The Knights Junior Corps - is that the correct one?

Nope - no attachment showing here... I can see the /ATTACH in the quote above, but no image displayed.

Anyone seen @Gonk recently? Maybe he's avoiding Socktober due to the fact it already has a theme tune, and its not brassy or jazzy enough...?

Correct - Well done! And well done @VeryPC Al for eventually getting there in the Edit... Doh - I should have made that into a photo and then I would have got a bonus entry...

Nope! More than that to be certain... Less than that... @VeryPC Its way less than 42 Al!

Sock Puzzle There are 10 socks of each of the following colours in a drawer: blue, green, red, yellow and pink, for a total of 50 socks. If the socks are randomly distributed in the drawer (i.e. not in pairs or any other grouping), and you are blindfolded, what is the minimum number socks you must draw from the drawer in order to be certain you have at least 2 socks of the same colour?

This is quality.

I use PCI Database and it seems to be pretty accurate. PCI Vendor and Device Lists If you don't have any luck with the Intel Driver update utility @Vasriel suggested you could try searching for the individual drivers manually. Try this Intel download for the SMBus: https://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?lang=eng&DwnldID=19597 This for the Management Engine: https://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?DwnldID=22596 etc...

"Lady Ga Ga Putt Putt" I can't stop laughing

Not sure if this software might help to get a better MSI extracted from the EXE files you are working with?

We use the Penpals handwriting scheme throughout school - it includes several versions of the Sassoon font. Its expensive though compared to £50! One thing to note if you want to use joined up letters is that the font is only joined in Word 2010 or above as older versions don't allow the extra ligatures or contextual alternates.

Don't be emabarrased. That's what edugeek is for, right? A batch file is just a text file with the .BAT extension. Its really just a list of commands that you would type in at the command prompt (or in MS DOS for those that are from the Pre-Windows era like me!) The simplest way to create one in Win 7 is to right click on the desktop, click New then Text Document. Rename the file to something like software.bat - Windows will ask you if you are sure you want to change the file extension, just click Yes. Then right click that new file and select edit. Now the fun starts. I know you don't like reading but this website is a good, simple resource for batch file help - and many other topics Batch File Help We can do this! If you are considering creating MSIs then you are more than capable of creating batch files. PM me if you like.

I'm not good at reading either - I just wade in and see what happens when I tweak bits and pieces until I find what works. I totally agree, anything is easy when you know how, but batch files can be as complicated or simple as you make them. You could try making one that installs just one piece of software. Play around with it on a test machine - putting the 'pause' command as the last line will make the command prompt window stay open so you can see any errors that may have appeared. Maybe if you could list the programs you want to install, someone on here will have some MSIs or know the best way to install them. I'd be more than happy to help you write your batch file...

Time to dig out a Hiren's boot disk? Active password changer anyone...

Sooooooooo excited. Here's a terrible pic that just doesn't do justice to how stupidly excited I am (what's wrong with me?)

Making MSIs is time consuming, never straightforward and as versions of software change, you have to make new MSIs. I think @sted has the right idea. To make the batch file simpler, and to reduce potential delays to login times, I setup a software install account that I use to log into any freshly installed PC to install the software. Give it full admin rights, and use a simplified batch file without any error checking as you know you are only using it on vanilla PCs. I use BGINFO to display useful info and to set a particularly garish wallpaper so I know I'm logged in using the software install account - don't want to accidentally leave a PC logged in with admin rights! Maybe a bit 'old school' these days but it works for me and I am an old stick in the mud! You can put allsorts in the batch file, below are some examples from my software.bat file. REM Copy Paint onto the local machine. xcopy r:\paint\mspaint.* c:\windows\system32\ /y REM Activate Smartnotebook software "C:\Program Files\Common Files\SMART Technologies\SMART Product Update\activationwizard.exe" --suid clash_notebook --m=4 --a --pk REM Install probotix cls echo. echo About to install probotix. echo. echo. echo. echo please connect and switch on the probotix car now. Once connected and drivers have been installed pause R:\CommonPrograms\Probotix\setup.exe REM Paint.NET "\\svr\packages$\Paint.NET\PaintDotNet.x86.msi" REM UnityWebPlayer \\svr\software\UnityWebPlayer.exe /allusers REM Start Flashplayer download/install rem start iexplore Adobe - Install Adobe Flash Player

Welcome along @JLambert97 I'm looking into getting an apprentice so I'd be interested to hear your experiences. @cpjitservices how did you go about finding an apprentice?

You have a whole room dedicated to Raspberry Pi!? I'll be lucky to find cupboard space for one!

As a primary school, we haven't opted for Raspberry Pi as the general feeling has been that they are too complicated for most primary children. I would be interested to hear what other people think, especially with respect to the 2014 computing curriculum. Some of the aims of the computing curriculum for KS2 seem to fit well with programming on the Raspberry Pi and particularly interfacing with sensors and other external devices. I was toying with the idea of resurrecting our Valliant Turtles by putting a Pi inside...

Well done @Oaktech I wish I could get my room that tidy!

Its amazing to see the vast differences between schools. There doesn't even seem to be a link between the size of the school (number of pupils) and the amount of ICT equipment and ICT staff. We are a large primary with 730 pupils and 85 staff. We have 3 servers. The main server rack is in my office, which is now air conditioned as of July this year. The rack has the main server, two NAS boxes, Espresso desktop 'server', plus several switches, 148 Cat5e patch points, fibre patch panel and digital telephony cabling which go underground to the main school building. The other servers are in the admin office, and the caretakers office in the main building. There's just me, the ICT Manager, no techies although there is talk of getting an apprentice in. I'd post a photo but it really is a mess and I don't have time to tidy up!