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Hello EDU Geeks, This is my first time posting on this blog and I hope my descriptions below would give you an idea on what I'm looking for... About our lab environment: I work at a school with over 200+ PC's that are being accessed by students 24/7. Each student access these PC's using their domain account. We use HP z820's, HP Z1, and HP Z440s all on Windows 10 EDU. These PC's are mainly used for Graphic Design such as 3D Modeling/Rendering and largely used for the Adobe CC Suite. What is needed: -An image with Windows 10 EDU that contains all software, plug-ins, add-ons, and apps used at our school. -Users would log-in using their Domain Account and upon log-off their profiles should delete to save space on the HDD. -Every user that logs-in, would have the same Desktop settings and content applied to (Mandatory Profile/Custom Profile). -The Mandatory Profile should be stored locally on the PC and not stored on our network (No roaming profiles). - What should be used to capture the image MDT or SCCM? What I have done so far: - I modified the Default User Profile with custom settings and policies so that when a student logs in, they all have the same desktop with the same shortcuts and applications. - I have deleted the Start Up Apps that Windows 10 installs using the "Remove-AppxProvisionedPackage cmdlet" in PowerShell (This was done to reduce log-on time). -I have set Group Policy to Delete Profiles over “X” amount of days but it does not seem To be efficient. If you guys can guide me in the right direction that would be greatly appreciated Thanks EDU GEEKS!

Who has the time to mess around every Patch Tuesday to review Microsoft's update releases? The most that I would really want out of WSUS is the ability to delay all updates by 2 weeks so when Microsoft releases a fatal upgrade wrecking millions of desktops, at least we won't get it until after the fallout and emergency revision is available. And it's not like WSUS is a very reliable release mechanism either. Does anyone recall the first release of Windows 7 SP1? The one that randomly killed large numbers of desktops? Windows 7 computer won’t start after installing Service Pack 1. - Microsoft Community I very nearly deployed that to an entire district overnight, but then thought eh, maybe I should wait. And then once the news hit about SP1 breaking machines, I was afraid to even attempt applying it. Ultimately I ended up deploying SP1 the old fashioned way, as a new image to each computer via WDS rather than risking using WSUS and breaking everything. So it became.... um..... why am I even bothering with WSUS? It just more make-work that doesn't really benefit me. And so WSUS went bye bye, and all machines in the domain are set to Automatic install all Windows and Microsoft updates. If Microsoft screws that up it's on their head, not mine.

Hi, Our fleet of 60 Fujitsu LifeBook Laptops used for pupils are around 6 years old and keyboards are failing left, right and centre. We recently upgraded the Server and upgraded everything to Windows 10 and since then moved to Teams for remote learning. The Laptops just aren't up to it anymore. I have asked out offsite IT support to stop Teams loading at startup as it's easier and quicker to use the Web version. I have spoken to the SLT on a a number of occasions suggesting that they need to start planning for a replacement but unless I start this off it is not going to happen. The SLT have suggested that we will continue to use MS Teams, but a number of year groups have migrated back to Smart Notebook and storing files on the Server!! I am now looking for upgrade ideas, the HT has and I am sure will mention ChromeBooks again and I will have to explain why this would mean a complete change in the way we currently operate and to do this properly would need a complete business review which no one would do. So what would be a cost effective upgrade to retain a Windows 10 Server / Client setup? Open to any other suggestions?

Hi All, I have 2 domain setup (Curriculum and Admin) and am just wondering if this is correct? If I go to 'DNS\Conditional Forwarders\Srv name\Properties\click 'Edit' on the server I can see the Ip address and Server FQDN but get a cross next to the ip address. The server with this IP address is not authoritative for the required zone. Is something wrong between 2 servers? Thanks Shoaib

Hi, I'm just wondering if anyone has figured out how to remove certain tiles from the start menu for all users such as the xbox tile and the other crap microsoft adds. I have tried removing them from the default profile and saving it not but no success as but as soon as a new user logs-in they come back straight away this is also the case for the powershell route. I don't know if anyone was found a GPO setting or anything that can be used. Just curious before we decide to roll it out on a few test machines. Thanks

Hi, I am trying to block the windows store, we are running win 10 education and unable to find the store following the steps below. Can someone point me in the right direction please? Thanks in advance 1. Tap on Windows Key and click on search bar. 2. Then type "Group Policy " without the quotes and click on it. 3. Expand Computer Configuration. 4. Then Expand Administrative Templates and expand Windows Components. 5. Then click on Store. 6. Double-click on Store Application. 7. Select Disabled and click on OK. 8. Then click on Apply.

So... I know this has been covered in numerous threads of different natures and I have read loads about profiles in Windows 10, but I cannot find a decent way of sorting for my school environment. Currently; Win 7 Students are mandatory Most Staff are Roaming some sedentary users are local profiles Everyone has redirected folders to home drives. Requirements; Win 10 1809 EDu Reliable login experience with own customisations As fast login times as possible Minimal files left on desktops (if possible) I have ruled out mandatory for Win 10 as I read this is not supported or recommended by many. Roaming profiles are an option for staff, but I fear that profile storage size will mean slow login times for them... Which brings me on to my recent trials of UE-V. I am trying UE-V with local profiles but keep hitting walls. If I login to one machine and make changes to the taskbar (as Microsoft Documentation states to do) I can login to another machine and the change stays.... Great....But if the local profile is deleted from one machine the whole thing becomes unsynced and a complete mess. Local copies of profiles are going to fill my desktops very quickly unless I clear them out, hence this test. What is the answer? Just local profiles with re-directed everything to a home drive? I am getting rather frustrated with Win10 and would welcome any advice. I need to get this ready for this Summer... time is ticking! Thanks in advance.

Hi all, I've been tasked with researching what the best version of Windows 10 to roll out across the school. I know that there is a lot of work that needs to be put into locking down Windows 10 so that student can't access settings and apps. What would be the best version of Windows 10 to use as a base install to work from? Cheers, Louis

Hi all, Can anybody please share their experiences with Windows 10 Start Menu management on Windows 10 Education 1803. We have configured the 'Start Layout' but having issues managing the visibility of Apps and items such as 'Administrative Tools' & 'Windows System' for limited users i.e. pupils. Can this be configured through GP? Does it have to be done pre image? Looking forward to your responses? Kind regards, Tech13

Every now and then one of our PCs will completely fail to apply any group policies. In the event viewer Windows\System log we get the following: When logging in the user doesn't get any mapped drives etc (we first noticed it when users reported SIMS didn't work). The machine then won't apply policies for any users until I do a gpupdate /sync and restart. What's odd is the gpt.ini link in the error message is clickable - and when I click it, the file opens, so there is obviously communication occurring. I can also ping both DCs and browse to NETLOGON and SYSVOL. We have the same Windows 10 image (1703 Education) on everywhere, and the issue has cropped up on a couple of different models of machine. It's not reliably happening on the same machines either.

I've added the "OR VERSION LIKE '6.4%" to the WMI but still get a false wmi filter on the GPO do I need to update the OperatingsystemSKU for education edition as well? current Filter Select * from Win32_OperatingSystem WHERE (ProductType = 3) OR ((Version LIKE '6.2%' OR Version LIKE '6.3%' OR VERSION LIKE '6.4%') AND (OperatingSystemSKU = 4 OR OperatingSystemSKU = 27 OR OperatingSystemSKU = 72 OR OperatingSystemSKU = 84)) OR (Version LIKE '6.1%' AND (OperatingSystemSKU = 4 OR OperatingSystemSKU = 27 OR OperatingSystemSKU = 70 OR OperatingSystemSKU = 1 OR OperatingSystemSKU = 28 OR OperatingSystemSKU = 71))

Hi I've blocked Apps using AppLocker - but I'd like to remove the links from Start Menu. Our machines use the local start menu on the PCs but I can't find where to remove those lovely Apps that are blocked. Can is this be done in Group Policy? You'd make my weekend! thanks J.

Afternoon All, Over the past year some of our staff have been using OneNote to send students work, at one point they were using the Office 2021 version but found that clunky so switched to the Built in Windows 10 App version, however lately they inform me that the distribution from their teacher PCs to the Students has been patchy, some kids get the workbook, some don't or some receive it way after the lesson is over, I have done some basic troubleshooting (reinstalling the app, re-imaging the pc etc) but its not helped, I have looked online and the consensus seems to be that distribution through the app is hit and miss in general, I just wanted to ask if this was anyone else's experience at all?Please let me know Cheers

We have been using Classic Shell for our start menu but want to move to the Windows Start menu. We have the XML working but does anyone have any pointers how to remove the unwanted apps ect that are added to the main menu itself, we want a clean list of only our own things.

Hi, I have started having an issue where when users log in they are unable to click the start menu. When they do they get a message saying 'A critial error has occured' and then are only presented with the option to log off. Someone suggested it may be a Windows update causing this but has anyone else had this issue? And suggestions on how to prevent this or fix it? The only soluntion I have found to work so far is to reimage the PC.

Hello Guys, I am thinking of in the summer holidays taking the site to Windows 10. All of our hardware supports Windows 10, including the UEFI boot as we purchase all our computers through Stone, and I was wondering who has already made the move from Windows 7 to Windows 10 Education on a CC4 network. For those that have, did you run into any issues and how did you get around them? I have created a couple of test Windows 10 machines, on the CC4 network and they seem to work fine. Tested the Adobe suites, Microsoft Office and the other bits of software that we use. Will look forward to the replies. Cheers James

A quick question for those still using RM CC4 (we aren't the only ones are we?) If you change the version of Windows, from Pro to Education or from 1909 to 20H1 say, how long does it take RMMC to update to display the new OS version? Does it happen automatically or do you have to trigger it in some way? I have raised the following with RM. "We are doing in place upgrades from Windows 10 Pro Education to Windows 10 Education on all of our CC4 PCs. How do we get the RMMC and the RM Banner to update the name of the OS? I have tried running 'Update Inventory' on PCs from RMMC, leaving the PCs switched on for 24 hours and rebooting them a few times but the OS doesn't seem to update in RMMC. If I sign in to the PC and check the Windows 10 system app, it has updated to say Windows 10 Education. It's just the RM components that don't seem to update" and they have only come back with suggestions about rebooting the server (which we have done) and reinstalling some RM server components (which we have not done). I have a feeling they are guessing and this isn't a problem with our installation of CC4 but a problem with CC4 itself and anything they suggest will just be wasting my time. I wonder if anyone else can confirm that they see the same issue when changing OS version? Since raising the ticket, I have discovered that sending a 'Core Update' to the PC will cause RMMC to update the OS fields, whether the PC needs a Core Update or not. If this is a known issue and that is the workaround, so be it but if other schools have this working properly then at least I know it's possible and I can pursue it further. Thanks. David.

Hi We've just had a new server installed and domain built from scratch. Since we've had everything up and running again we can't conect to any external (outgoing) remote desktops connections. We keep getting the folowing error: The computer name and domain for the remote computer is correct. We're with exa-networks for firewall and filtering and they're adamant it's not them. All internal remote connections are working well and we can remote in to the site via offsite/mobile internet. We can also make external (outgoing) remote conections using a domain device to and mobile internet. We've also tried using domain admin account to establish a remote access connection to offisite server with not luck. Any thoughts on which step in the process we've missed will be greatfully recieved. Thanks in advance.

I'm looking at UE-V at the mo. We're using Windows 10 1903 presently. I've got it working to a point, with the SettingPackages being created in the users home folder and it happily creates folders, etc and things like Fonts, Word wrap, etc in Notepad carry over. Settings in Word 2016 also copy over as well, but for some reason it's not copying over the list of Recent Documents in Office which is really the big thing I need this to do. I've got the default templates copied to a network share and they seem to register quite happily there. So, it appears to be working overall, but just not the Recent Documents. Interestingly, any documents saved to OneDrive from within an Office App do appear in the Recent Documents list, just nothing that has been saved to their home drives on the servers on-prem. What am I missing, do I need to edit the Office2016 Win32 Common template with something? Can't get Taskbar items to copy over as well, but I'm putting that down to our start menu .xml file which puts a File Explorer icon on the task bar but would like Teachers to be able to add their own stuff. TIA Pete