by Jonathan Bennett | Aug 30, 2018 (Updated Sep 6, 2018)
Overview This post describes the ways that SCCM handles reboots for a Package & Program deployment. The behaviour depends on the Program configuration, deployment method, and return code. For example, a Package will perform differently when deployed in a Task...
by Jonathan Bennett | Aug 30, 2018 (Updated Aug 30, 2018)
Overview This post describes the return codes that SCCM understands for Package and Program deployments and shows which codes are classed success, reboot, or retry. The meaning of return codes for Packages and Programs is defined in the SCCM site control file. Codes...
by Jonathan Bennett | Aug 28, 2018 (Updated Aug 28, 2018)
Overview This post describes the firewall ports that need to be opened between an SCCM console and SCCM servers in order to use the Create Task Sequence Media wizard. I recently had to run the Create Task Sequence Media wizard from an SCCM console installed in a...
by Jonathan Bennett | Jul 4, 2018 (Updated Jul 5, 2018)
Overview This post shows how to create a single instance WinForm C# application using a Mutex. It also demonstrates how to send any object between instances with Named Pipes. While writing OSD Background I wanted an application that would only allow a single instance...
by Jonathan Bennett | Jun 20, 2018 (Updated Jun 20, 2018)
Overview This post shows how a script can detect if it is running from inside an SCCM Task Sequence in a way that avoids false positives. The Problem At times it’s useful for a script to detect if it is running from an SCCM Task Sequence so it can alter its...
by Jonathan Bennett | Jun 13, 2018 (Updated Jul 3, 2018)
Overview GImageX v2.2.0 has been released. GImageX is a freeware GUI for working with imaging WIM files providing an alternative to DISM. It can be used to capture, apply, mount, export, split and delete WIM files. GImageX is provided as a 32-bit and 64-bit native...
by Jonathan Bennett | Jul 12, 2015 (Updated Mar 6, 2018)
Overview The newest versions of the AutoIt scripting language now come with a bonus for PowerShell users. A set of native PowerShell Cmdlets! This allows you to add the unique features of AutoIt – window manipulation and keystroke simulation – to your...
by Jonathan Bennett | Jul 8, 2015 (Updated Mar 19, 2019)
Overview This post contains a WinPE version list including the WinPE version, the Windows version, and the numeric Windows version string that it was built from. It covers all versions of WinPE from the initial Windows XP versions to the latest Windows 10 versions....
by Jonathan Bennett | Feb 4, 2015 (Updated Jan 30, 2018)
Overview This post shows how to automate the numerous “first-run” dialogs that are shown when a user runs an Office 2013 or Office 365 application for the first time. With a standard local installation of Office 2013 this can be done in two ways. Firstly,...
by Jonathan Bennett | Oct 23, 2014 (Updated Jul 14, 2018)
Overview This post shows how to quickly get the current script directory using PowerShell, VBScript and Batch – the most commonly used scripting languages for Windows. The scripts I write usually read in other files or call other scripts. In order for these...
by Jonathan Bennett | Aug 23, 2014 (Updated Jul 4, 2018)
Overview This post shows how to detect UTF-8 and UTF-16 text and presents a fully functional C++ and C# library that can be used to help with the detection. I recently had to upgrade the text file handling feature of AutoIt to better handle text files where no byte...
by Jonathan Bennett | Jan 10, 2014 (Updated Jan 25, 2018)
Overview Recently I came across an issue with System Center Configuration Manager (ConfigMgr) 2012 where a large number of packages and applications had failed to be distributed to a new Distribution Point (DP). There were many thousands of packages in the environment...
by Jonathan Bennett | Jan 7, 2014 (Updated Jan 28, 2018)
Overview A common request when creating automated desktop builds or custom maintenance tools is the ability detect if the main system drive is an SSD disk or not. This information can be used to configure a system in a particular way. For example, to run (or not run)...
by Jonathan Bennett | Nov 21, 2013 (Updated Jan 28, 2018)
GImageX v2.1.0 has been released. GImageX is a graphical user interface for the ImageX tool from the Windows Assessment and Deployment Kit (Windows ADK). ImageX is used to capture and apply WIM images for Windows deployments. GImageX uses the supported Microsoft...
by Jonathan Bennett | Feb 8, 2013 (Updated Jan 29, 2018)
Overview This post will show how you can use an configure an AirPort Extreme for NAT only mode so that you can allow an additional DHCP server on your network to handle IP address allocation. The instructions are for the AirPort Extreme in the Time Capsule, but I...
by Jonathan Bennett | Nov 19, 2012 (Updated Jan 29, 2018)
Overview Not a usual scripting or deployment post this time – this is a website server rebuild diary. I wanted to make a quick post to document a server rebuild and to log the sort of work that goes into maintaining this and the www.autoitscript.com site. Even...
by Jonathan Bennett | Feb 2, 2012 (Updated Jan 29, 2018)
Overview Using USMT In System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM / ConfigMgr) when performing an Operating System Deployment (OSD) can be a bit of a chore. The built in Task Sequence actions available for capturing and restoring user state only allow you to perform a...
by Jonathan Bennett | Feb 1, 2012 (Updated Jan 29, 2018)
Overview In System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM / ConfigMgr) when performing an Operating System Deployment (OSD) there is usually some form of user data and settings migration. This is often performed using the Microsoft User State Migration Toolkit (USMT)....
by Jonathan Bennett | Jan 30, 2012 (Updated Jan 25, 2018)
Overview In System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM / ConfigMgr) something I’ve done a few times is to create a BitLocker partition for Windows 7 during an Operating System Deployment (OSD) Task Sequence. I’ve seen the method used here a few times...
by Jonathan Bennett | Jan 26, 2012 (Updated Jan 25, 2018)
Overview I just tried to update my ‘default’ installation of System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM / ConfigMgr) 2012 RC1 to RC2. I got a failure at the pre-req check stage stating that my SQL 2008 R2 database was using the wrong collation type and that... 