Fazza

We use Panda Adaptive Defence that does patching, shows system specs but it does more than that as it's what we use for Endpoint Protection to prevent Ransomware from spreading on our network.

We use a ScanSnap double sided scanner but we only have the cheaper model (ScanSnap iX1300) at around £234+VAT so a lot more than your budget. It's a USB one so although you can put the paper in the automatic document feeder and press one button to scan them all at once (both sides) it requires a PC to be on as you configure the software (that runs in the background) to save in a particular location. We map a drive to a network location and it saves it all in there. The software does automatic OCR (when you enable it) so searching within scanned documents is possible, the software can also be configured to look for particular logos or text (like 'invoice') on certain parts of a page and then save it in a different location etc. so you could get Invoices from Misco to go in the Misco folder you have - a lot of setting up to do for that so we've not bothered! Not sure if you're going to get one that does what you want in your price range to be honest.

The OP says it happens after they've imaged a computer so littertally only one person has logged on - only difference between their builds is the OS they say.

The only way to do it is to create an OU and block GPO Inheritance on it and add 1 or 2 Group Policies at a time and then do a gpupdate /force on a computer in that OU and see if the problem occurs. Keep doing that until you work out which Group Policy it is. When you've found out which GPO it is you need to look at those settings and then go down the route of making a copy of the GPO and remove settings from it until the problem goes away.

Our Teachers like Impero, it's cheap and cheerful and easy to use and it does what you've asked for.

They're actually only closing 10 more stores as all the other stores closed in 2023.

But that's my experience, the one I've mentioned take more IT things than any company! I'll unsubscribe from the thread and let you guys continue with companies that dont take EU/USA IEC power cables which is just bizarre and let people continue to pay to get them replaced. I hope your WEEE experience becomes more positive.

Put it in one of Enviro Electronics bins and when it's full they take it! They take smartboards and any other IWB, you just let them know so they can make room on the van. Pickup is very quick as they just roll off the empty bin and roll on the full one in it's place, they then tip it out and find the kit with serial numbers on and scan them in so you get a certificate in their online portal to download the waste certificate etc. They are an IT WEEE recycling company only so will take IT cables etc. but not any domestic appliances like a toaster or microwave etc. Get in touch with them and you'll have a large bin delivered before you know it!

Here are some of the things we have put in the large bin on wheels they have provided us: Laptops, desktops, monitors, interactive whiteboards, projectors, any kind of power cable/lead, laptop adapters, network switches, mobile phones, HDMI leads, VGA leads, power leads, ethernet cables, phono leads, audio amplifier, speakers, laptop batteries, mice, keyboards, USB dongles, A/V adapters, USB cables, hard disk drives, floppy disk drives, LTO backup tapes, servers, RAM, optical disk drives, printers, ipads, android tablets, eReaders, scanners, toners, ink cartridges, DVI cables, display port cables, network cards, fax cards (threw one of those the other week), old KVM, USB webcam, remote controls, headphones, microphones, motherboards, CPU... You can get an official list of items (just in case some of the things I've mentioned we've put in there in the past are no longer taken) from their website and they respond to emails prompttly. You also get all the paperwork you need such as data destruction certificate if they find any storage devices like hard disk drives or backup tapes. Not sure if they take 'normal' batteries like AA or AAA etc. but we have a free box (with free collection) from VALPAK that we put all of those in. Enviro Electronics come highly recommended.

I only work in IT Services so we only have IT/AV equipment to deal with, we dont install or support the use of toasters, kettles, vending machines, fridges, freezers or microwaves etc. they are all nothing to do with IT/AV.

In that case it should be https://enviroelectronics.co.uk/it-disposal-schools/ all the way!

I've seen it before at a school we supported for a while and they had older hardware they had just installed Windows 11 on and it was an old GPO that was causing the issue - can't recall the exact setting though. It may also be that a BIOS update is required.

All I can think of is to put one of the computers in ADUC in to an OU with GPO inheritance blocked so no group policies are running and then do a gpupdate /force on the computer, reboot and see if the issue occurs then?

The only way I know of on how to control a TV on your network is via a Smart Mobile Phone on the same network, you download the App from the App Store and then Pair the App with your TV (it normally scans the network for devices and a code comes up on the TV if it finds it) and then you can change the volume, channel, move the pointer if it has one or power off the TV.

You can't force a WEEE recycling company to take the cables just like you can't force them to take a Fridge or Dishwasher your school/academy has - they're all covered by the WEEE Directive but just because you choose to recycle computer laptops or desktops doesn't mean you can take all things covered by the WEEE directive. PRM Green Tech and Enviro Electronic are two companies that will take all your IT WEEE from cables to monitors but they both have a minimum amount you need to have before they will do a collection. When we used to use PRM Green Tech (great fee mugs from the drivers) we had to have a minimum of 10 items from a list and then they would take all our cables and old toners (but they wouldnt take cables and toners on their own) whereas Enviro Electronic give you either a cage or a industrial size wheeled bin (at no cost to you) and when they are full of anything IT you can arrange a collection. I definately wouldnt be using a WEEE company that doesn't like cables or toners etc.

What RAID card is it? Normally they're LSI chips on them so you could look for the drivers/utilities/software/tools for that.

It's on their website. Just Google their company and take a look if you really want to know.

Did you have to type that key in then as that's a bit unusual to have to do that these days (just asking out of curiosity)?

At a guess I'd say it becomes 'required' when a manager says they want it. We all have branded polo shirts and fleeces as the manager requires us to wear it for example.

According to Google and all the companies selling branded clothing, branding a uniform makes it tax exempt it only becomes a 'fringe benefit' if there is no branding on it.

Surely if it has your School Logo on then it's a Uniform - no logo, then it's just a coat! HR are not normally the Finance department so your business manager or bursar etc. is the person to speak to.

We use Edulink to communicate with parents, everything from newsletteres to what homework their child has! All in one app to make it easy for them.

On modern computers the key should be stored in the BIOS so it gets activated at the point of being on the internet during or after installation of the OS. Keys haven't been on stickers on the case for a while now. If in doubt, swap out the storage device for something else and install Windows and then check to confirm it's registered/activated.

Do it yourself for free using this website: https://bios-pw.org/

I got one off of Amazon a few years back and has been very useful when we've put a padlock on something like a HP MicroServer and misslaid the key! Easier to do than you'd think and the Lock Picking Lawyer on YouTube has lots of videos on how to do it...