eean

Yes, you would drive yourself mad trying to factor in everything! I mean, those solar cells sound great -but they use minerals that are in fairly short supply, so: would Coop have been better to send them out to Africa where they: a, would benefit from it and can't afford cleaner energy sources and b, would actually be in use all year round! Wikipedia says:

A huge proportion (I read somewhere) of a PC's total energy consumption is in the manufacturing. Although those Eco-Friendly RM pcs sound like a neat idea, they are such specification that you are going to end up replacing them much more quickly.

My favourite SIMS error message must be the one in the old DOS module. It went something along the lines of: Error 234232. Something has happened to cause SIMS to stop working. It probably isn't your fault but is caused by an error in our programmers' logic. Try restarting or calling your SIMS support team. Well... you can't beat honesty.

It's a great idea. I installed something similar when I was a student teacher about 6 years ago for a girl with sight problems. The LEA advisor thought it was magic. (Although they are easily pleased). You might find it useful for a whole range of issues - many children have eye tracking disorders, where they find it difficult looking up to the board then down to paper again.

Hmm.. That's odd. When I try to correct my error, it shows it in the editing screen but only shows SOME of the correction on the page. Here is the right version, hopefully. I seem to have made a mountain out of a molehill On Error Resume Next Set objSysInfo = CreateObject("ADSystemInfo") Set objNetwork = CreateObject("Wscript.Network") [color="Red"] ' I've just given the username a variable as you'll be using it later '(You called it fuser, I've called it strUserName. [/color] [color="RoyalBlue"]strUserName = objNetwork.UserName[/color] strUserPath = "LDAP://" & objSysInfo.UserName Set objUser = GetObject(strUserPath) For Each strGroup in objUser.MemberOf strGroupPath = "LDAP://" & strGroup Set objGroup = GetObject(strGroupPath) strGroupName = objGroup.CN Select Case strGroupName Case [color="Blue"]"Gaming"[/color] [color="Red"]'Edit your group name here[/color] objNetwork.MapNetworkDrive "G:", [color="blue"]"\\ServerName\Games\" & strUserName[/color] [color="Red"]'I think you won't need extra cases, but you can add them here if you want.[/color] [color="Silver"]Case "Domain Admins" objNetwork.MapNetworkDrive "Y:", "\\Server\Share"[/color] End Select Next

I think I understand you're question, so I'll butt in and reply. Yes, you can put that command in, but FN-Greatermanchester has called the "Wscript.Network" object objNetwork and you've called it WshNetwork. Also, you haven't defined fUser, so it won't know what the user name is. Try this: On Error Resume Next Set objSysInfo = CreateObject("ADSystemInfo") Set objNetwork = CreateObject("Wscript.Network") [color="Red"] ' I've just given the username a variable as you'll be using it later '(You called it fuser, I've called it strUserName. [/color] [color="RoyalBlue"]strUserName = objNetwork.UserName[/color] strUserPath = "LDAP://" & objSysInfo.UserName Set objUser = GetObject(strUserPath) For Each strGroup in objUser.MemberOf strGroupPath = "LDAP://" & strGroup Set objGroup = GetObject(strGroupPath) strGroupName = objGroup.CN Select Case strGroupName Case [color="Blue"]"Gaming"[/color] [color="Red"]'Edit your group name here[/color] objNetwork.MapNetworkDrive "G:", [color="blue"]"\\ServerName\Games\" & strUserName[/color] [color="Red"]'I think you won't need extra cases, but you can add them here if you want.[/color] [color="Silver"]Case "Domain Admins" objNetwork.MapNetworkDrive "Y:", "\\Server\Share"[/color] End Select Next

Thanks guys, you've just given me another program not to bother looking at... I'm researching this area too at the moment for primary (well it's report writing season at the moment, and it's a great way to waste time!) Every year I seach, and every year I fail! Why can't anyone write a decent report-writing program? I want one that is: Intuative, flexible, and easy to use. Has a rohbust synchronisation mechanisim (to allow transfer between school and home either via a transport file or directly with the server). I have a SQL server runnning on my machine and when I log off I get the option to synchronise a database... never tried it but it must be possible. Can cope with different teachers writing different parts of the reports for the same child. IF there are conflicts, it must be possible to make it cope (like windows does when 2 people edit the same file). I actually don't care about 1000s of ready-made statements, but I would like to be able to easily add my own. Jeez... if I wasn't such a rubbish (EDIT: and lazy) programmer I'd write my own!

I do like Sherston software and, where there is a choice, I'll tend to purchase from Sherston because it is very easy to make a MSI and all the programs follow the same procedure. All the files for the install are program's folder and no registry keys are used - therefore, you don't need to do any before/after snap shots. I install the program to c:\program files using the normal install. Then edit 'savepath' in Sherston.ini file to a folder on the network (which requires RW access). Then, I use WinInstall (but any MSI creator will do) and dump all the files from that folder into a MSI. You only need to give RW access to the saves folder. You can leave the rest as read only. Firstly, thanks for taking the time to post on here. Although, as I said above, making a MSI is easy, not everyone can do that - especially as you are aiming for the primary market. Making a generic MSI would be a good selling point (some companies are charging their customers £200 for a MSI. The more money schools pay to them, the less they have to buy stuff from you!) Keep the MSI as standard as possible - DON'T use Install Shield! Let users specify the program files folder, SavePath and DataPath in the setup. The reason why I suggest letting people specify the DataPath is that some schools still have computers with small hard drives. Letting them put the datapath on the server, for some computers, whilst keeping the executable on the local drive means that you can use the same shortcut school-wide and have the product running locally, where space allows. Set the Program Files folder, SavePath and Datapath to c:\program files\sherston\... by default and set the permissions on the save path if it is locally installed. If the DataPath IS on the server, then obviously the MSI shouldn't try to write there. Then, either, bundle something like Wise InstallTailor with the product so that people can easily make a MST, or just make the MSI read a ini file from it's source folder so people can set their own variables. Finally, make sure you send it out to every customer when they purchase a site licence - often the person installing isn't the person ordering. The person installing may only come every other Tuesday and it's a waste of time having to phone up and ask for the right disk. Thanks!

They send it to me occasionally - it's supposed to cost, I wouldn't pay for it but might give it a quick flick through. It generally gives quite obvious advice: "If your computer has broken try restarting it!".

Have you asked it to install the gallery? My guess it that this is causing the problem. In your transform file don't get it to install the gallery. You can then create a separate msi file with the reg fragment so it looks for the gallery on your server or installs the gallery locally. Do a search on here for Smart Notebook 10. There is a long thread about it.

I used compatabiltiy mode back in once-upon-a-time too for a program. IIRC If you save the reg keys from the hkey_current_user (I'm guessing it's the key above). Then edit the file in notepad, replacing hkey_current_user with hkey_local_machine then it works for all users. You're still going to have to run it from the local machine though.

Also, IIRC, this should be: MsgBox (0, "Time Is", "The time is: " [b]&[/b] $time)

Cool. We don't use it but I'm thinking the same concept might work with Living Library. Why they can't just let you specify the password in the URL I don't know!

Have you checked with your LEA. We have Advanced Skills Teachers who can come in and do training. These have the advanatage that they are actually teachers, who teach!

The most high tech way is to use something like a RADIUS server as suggested above. I have a relatively small-scale wireless network (8 aps, 50 computers) so I never bothered. I use WPA-PSK and share the key automatically using my home-made method. If you use Server 2003 you can simply define the settings in group policy. Obviously, the computers will have to plug into the wired network at some point or they won't be able to recieve them! Google for wireless group policy or see here The very low-tech method is to use the wireless network setup wizard on the control panel. This will give you a USB pen drive with a little program. Anyone can take the usb pen drive and it will set it up in 2 clicks. I use the pen-drive idea but I've managed to automate it and include it in my windows build process. It really depends on your context. What are you trying to achieve? PS. DWL-2100Aps are OK. We've been using them here for 4 years - although they do break after almsot exactly 4 years! We had hardly any trouble with them.

Probably not. The script doesn't do anything other than kick windows into running the wupdate software and monitors what the windows software does. I assume you've tried wuauclt /detectnow I sometimes (~10% of the time) have trouble with the script not running on new installs. The reason is that the wsus settings haven't applied properly because group policy hasn't refreshed correctly, even though I do gpupdate /force /boot as part of my build process. A running gpupdate a second time and reboot fixes it straight away, however. Next time you have a problem computer take a look in the registry at: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\ If the settings aren't there that may be the problem. Have you looked at c:\windows\windowsupdate.log That may give some clues too.

You could make the mst and just run it as a command, e.g: msiexec /i "e:\smartnotebook.msi" transfoms="mytransfom.mst" /qb+ I tried the above without the quotes and it didn't work. So I asked Smart and they said put quotes in even if there aren't any spaces (this is non-standard... typical smart!) I haven't actually tested it though because I use AD installs. The /qb+ switch at the end just means it will run straight through without asking questions. Use /qb- and it won't display a 'done' screen at the end.

Well.... I've got 15 laptops to install on Monday and an ICT suite to refurbish on Wednesday and 15 staff laptops to install the week after! If at all possible, I'd rather not have to this all once this week then haul them all back in the following month! The hour per machine saved by not waiting for WSUS to install 100 patches will be a bonus too. I am blissfully optimistic that it will all be OK! Ian sits and waits for his optimism to be dashed.

We got some HPs from Misco in the end. They have it here on Ebuyer for £236 HP Business Desktop PC dc5750 SFF X2 4400+ Athlon 64 2.3Ghz, 1GB PC2-5300 (DDR2-667), 160GB SATA 3.0Gb/s HDD, XP Pro, 3yr Onsite Warranty - Ebuyer They seem fairly solid (possibly the power button might be flimsy for some secondary schools – but OK for us). We got these in Jan so it might not be the 'best deal' now. (We actually paid more than that... so it's a good price!) Well worth phoning up Ebuyer and Misco and asking what they've got that's good - they have various manufacturer’s offers. They are both very competitive and will beat the other's quote, resulting in significant savings!

I forgot to say: I know you probably have already, but it is worth checking that you've got up to date drivers. Some of the intel ones are really rubbish - in fact on one model I've given up with the internal card because it keeps dropping connections and use PCMCIA cards instead.

Despite what teachers say (and I am one, so I know) generally the Children aren't the problem! If the teacher wants to cut down on printing, they can... it's really very simple: "If you press print without asking, you will sit in the naughty corner". Cheaper printing has made my life as a budget holder a lot less stressful!

We got the 6715b for £407 - cashback = £307. The spec seems exactly the same except it had 2GB of ram but just 1yr RTB (Although they would extend it for not too much money)... So the LEA price seems a bit steep to me. Anyway, they seem like solid machines. Only (small) problem could be the wireless on/off button is an attractive-to-press light. Not that obvious when off, and you can't put a blob of glue gun on it to prevent wireless from switching off. They are also very wide - we had to get the extra wide lapsafe and even then, I'm not sure there'd be room for external wireless cards if we wanted to upgrade to N.

I promise never to say anything bad about my network of unmanaged dlink APs! We have ALMOST no problem with wireless on them! We don't have wait for network on either - the only difference is it takes an extra restart to pick up the software. On the next restart, it will wait for the network anyway. Yes, I wouldn't try to install Office over the wireless connection on 15 laptops at once - but I've certainly done it on, 10. Yes, it takes ages, but I'm drinking tea!

Ebuyer have good account managers. Seem to be helpful on the small stuff as well as the big orders.

It seems hard to move the tables too. They have changed the floating tools to this cool little bar that can disappear except for one button - but you can ONLY have it on the left hand side of the screen and even when minimised it gets in the way of certain applications' buttons (e.g. abacus on Easyteach). Found my first bug - draw a square and colour it in - gradient fill is the default, but select ordinary fill and you get gradient again. As for the application setup utility - it just doesn't ativate the product! I told SMART but no reply! Here's my solution: Use the utility to make a .MST that set up all your settings - but don't enter the product key. Then, use wise install tailor (it used to be free to download) to make another .MST and enter the key this time. Install using active directory - specify smart's mst as the first transform and the wise one as the second. I've looked at the msts and I can't work out how they're different. But this has worked on all of our machines*. If anyone wants - I'll post them here. *Actually, on two out of 12 it failed