The Deployment Guys

Helping to deploy your world automagically...

Deploying legacy Windows with Configuration Manager 1702 and Windows ADK 1703

I built some machines to test upgrading from legacy Windows (7 & 8.1) to Windows 10 CB 1073.  I...

Date: 06/03/2017

Security implications of upgrading to Windows 10

Windows 10 has new security features that protect the system from malicious code being inserted in...

Date: 08/01/2016

Windows 10 Start Layout Customization

This Windows 10 Start Layout Customization guide provides detailed guidance on how organizations can...

Date: 03/07/2016

Script to Make ServiceUI.exe Easier to Use for OSD Custom User Interfaces

Since Configuration Manager task sequences usually run as the System account, the task sequence...

Date: 07/06/2015

Dynamically Setting Variables as Over-writable during Gather

During the MDT Gather process, almost all properties (variables) are treated as “first writer...

Date: 07/02/2015

Writing Data to the MDT Database During Gather

MDT allow you to query the MDT Database during a Gather step using database sections in...

Date: 07/01/2015

Loading Scripts that Have VBScript Classes or that Don’t Have a UserExit Function as User Exit Scripts – Script Update

In a previous post I provided a script that allows loading scripts that have VBScript Classes or...

Date: 06/30/2015

Reducing Windows Deployment time using Power Management

The following post was contributed by Benjamin Rampe a Senior PFE working for Microsoft. While...

Date: 03/26/2015

Excluding Known Multi-Reboot Updates during a ZTI Deployment

The following post was contributed by Cliff Jones a Consultant working for Microsoft Consulting...

Date: 03/10/2015

Configuring Regional and Language Settings Online in an MDT Task Sequence – Script Update

A few years ago I authored a post about this topic. You can find it here. I recently had an...

Date: 02/27/2015

Setting SMSDP When MDT Doesn’t Set It For You

Although you won’t find it mentioned in the MDT documentation, in an OSD task sequence the MDT...

Date: 08/01/2014

Pre-Flight Checks – SMART Check

While writing my last entry titled Pre-Flight Checks – Wireless Connectivity, I figured I...

Date: 05/01/2014

Pre-Flight Checks – AC Power Check

While writing my last entry titled Pre-Flight Checks – Wireless Connectivity, I figured I would go...

Date: 05/01/2014

Pre-Flight Checks – Wireless Connectivity

As many of you know, MDT offers a series of ‘pre-flight’ checks you can run at the beginning of a...

Date: 05/01/2014

New PowerShell Scripting Tools Released

Microsoft Customer Services & Support (CSS) with assistance from the PowerShell team and the...

Date: 05/01/2014

USMT: Architecture-Independent Rules for Migrating 32-bit Applications

Update 2014-04-16: I forgot to include that fact that a locationModify rule is required when using...

Date: 04/14/2014

Removing Windows 8.1 Built-in Applications

Last year I published a PowerShell script that is designed to remove the built-in Windows 8...

Date: 10/21/2013

Deprecation of the OSVersion Property and What to Do About It

The OSVersion variable is populated with a short string representing the version of the operating...

Date: 10/02/2013

Loading Scripts that Have VBScript Classes or that Don’t Have a UserExit Function as User Exit Scripts

Most readers of this blog should be familiar with MDT User Exit scripts, as many of the posts...

Date: 09/13/2013

Remapping Variables in MDT Database Queries

There are occasions where the variables I needed to use to query or retrieve data from the database...

Date: 08/12/2013

Enterprise Management of ActiveX Controls using ActiveX Installer Service

The ActiveX Installer Service (AXIS) is a Windows technology that enables the installation of...

Date: 06/16/2013

Signing Windows 8 applications using an Internal PKI

So – your development cycles have been completed and now you are ready to deploy the much...

Date: 06/14/2013

Update – Removing Built-in Applications from Windows 8

In October last year I published a script that is designed to remove the built-in Windows 8...

Date: 06/07/2013

Automatically Populate the PATCH Property for the ConfigMgr Client Installation – Script Update

Last October I posted an update to the script to automatically set the PATCH property used by...

Date: 06/04/2013

PXE Deployment with Surface Pro

PXE support has been added to Surface Pro as part of the May firmware update.  This means that...

Date: 05/16/2013

Deploying Drivers and Firmware to Surface Pro

Important Update - December 9th 2014 - Please do not use the methods outlined in this post to update...

Date: 05/16/2013

Supporting Windows 8 Mail App in the Enterprise

In a recent project we faced an interesting problems using the Windows 8 Mail App. Windows 8 include...

Date: 05/14/2013

Windows 8 – Supporting proxy services with Static Configurations, Web Hosted PAC files and Domain Policy Configured Proxy

Many companies have started using Windows 8 and have noticed with some of the new features there are...

Date: 05/08/2013

USMT Restore Status Notification HTA in Full Operating System

In my previous blog entry, I explained my customer’s need for stand-alone USMT Capture and USMT...

Date: 04/09/2013

USMT Capture Status Notification HTA in Full Operating System

    Recently, I had a customer that wanted separate, stand-alone USMT Capture and USMT...

Date: 04/09/2013

Create Windows-To-Go drives in a simple Factory mode

Windows To Go is a feature in Windows 8 Enterprise that allows Windows 8 Enterprise to boot and run...

Date: 02/27/2013

Printer Remapping in Windows 7 Deployments

One of the challenges that I frequently come across is the shift from 32-bit operating system...

Date: 02/12/2013

Windows 8 BitLocker Deployment and PowerShell

With Windows 7 deployments, BitLocker installation for Operating System and data volumes has...

Date: 01/17/2013

Windows 8 – Customizing the Default Lock Screen

Have you tried to change the default wallpaper on the Windows 8 lock screen? Now I live in Seattle...

Date: 12/11/2012

Windows 8: Automating the installation of .NET Framework 3.5 with MDT

  [Correction – November 14th 2012] I have been informed that the new built in roles and...

Date: 11/13/2012

Removing Built-in Applications from Windows 8

Update - This script will not work with Windows 8.1 a script for Windows 8.1 can be found here -...

Date: 10/25/2012

Windows 8 Start Screen Customization with MDT

If you are creating a Windows 8 image then you most likely want to customize the Start Screen layout...

Date: 10/25/2012

Automatically Populate the PATCH Property for the ConfigMgr Client Installation - Updated for ConfigMgr 2012

Update 2013-06-12: The newest version of this script can be found here. Two years ago I posted a...

Date: 10/11/2012

Finish Actions for Configuration Manager OSD

MDT 2010 introduced a new feature called Finish Actions.  This allowed you to set the variable...

Date: 07/06/2012

Run command line as domain user – Incorrect Function Error

When deploying Windows clients using Configuration Manager 2007 and MDT 2010 Update 1, there is...

Date: 04/24/2012

Microsoft Consulting Services (MCS) UK is Hiring

MCS UK are looking for a technical consultant to specialise in client deployment (Windows 7 and...

Date: 03/22/2012

Approval request notification for Systems Center 2012 Configuration Manager

My favorite feature in Systems Center 2012 Configuration Manager (Configuration Manager) is without...

Date: 03/21/2012

Using MBAM to start BitLocker Encryption in a Task Sequence

The script has been updated to abort if the TPM is not Active and to create Endorsement Key Pair if...

Date: 02/20/2012

Expiring Outdated Stand-Alone Media

  In my previous post ‘How to Limit or Restrict the Use of Bootable Media Devices for OS...

Date: 02/15/2012

Internet Explorer 6 Migration Roadshow events - UK

Microsoft is working with a number of compatibility partners to host Internet Explorer 6 Migration...

Date: 02/08/2012

Dynamically Installing ‘Computer Specific’ Applications Using Configuration Manager with MDT

  There is a little known component of the MDT database that, when used with Configuration...

Date: 02/02/2012

Finding All References to MDT Variables in a Deployment Share: VariableDocumentor v1.0

MDT is very flexible in the ability to define and use variables inline and in different locations....

Date: 01/20/2012

Windows 7 Deployment Options for Small and Midsize Businesses

Happy new year to everyone! It looks like I am making the first blog post here for 2012 :-) To get...

Date: 01/12/2012

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