SCCM

Back to basics: Modifying registry for the CURRENT user coming from SYSTEM context

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Introduction

Back in the days, when I started out being a newbie in the software deployment world, I had no real grasp about the different contexts (USER vs. SYSTEM), and I found it to be a trivial task to combine the two.

Today I find it an obvious approach, and in this post, I will give a quick example of how to modify registry for the CURRENTLY logged on user, while delivering an installation in SYSTEM context.

Oftentimes the scenario is, that you need to deploy software which requires local SYSTEM permissions, and while doing so, you’d like to modify the registry for the CURRENTLY logged on user.

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Install Lenovo Drivers and BIOS directly from Lenovo’s Driver Catalog during OSD using Configuration Manager

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Introduction

This is something that I’ve wanted to do for a while; to always install the latest BIOS and drivers automatically during OSD.

Keeping BIOS and driver versions up to date, can be a tedious and time consuming task, and I wanted to take on a more cloud-like approach.

For that reason, I’ve spent some time on Lenovo Thin Installer as well as Lenovo System Update, but they didn’t quite live up to my expectations and need for flexibility.

Instead – and by coincident – I stumbled upon this awesome PowerShell module: jantari/LSUClient

It does exactly what Thin Installer and System Update offers, as well as giving you the flexibility of PowerShell. What’s not to like?

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Install the new Remote Desktop Connection Manager (RDCMan) with ConfigMgr and PowerShell

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Introduction

Another kickstarting blog post, getting into the swing of things again after a somewhat lacking period.

Now, RDCman has been revived and arrived last week in a new version 2.8.

For fun and giggles, I did a short PowerShell script which uninstalls the old version (2.7, registered with windows installer) and downloads the new version 2.8 directly from live.sysinternals.com.

This is a little something on the script itself and how to put that to use with ConfigMgr.

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Connect to your Configuration Manager environment with PowerShell ISE addons

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Introduction

A quick post, serving as a kickstarter for my blogging activities, here (almost) post the covid-19 situation.

Today’s topic is probably not something new for a lot of the amazing IT-pros, who’s already familiar with PowerShell ISE and the Configuration Manager PowerShell module.

Nonetheless, I figured this would be a great way to kickstart my blogging activities, while someone else hopefully will learn something new along the way.

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Windows 10 Toast Notification Script Update: Improved re-run behavior with ConfigMgr and allow running in SYSTEM context

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Introduction

A new version of the Windows 10 Toast Notification Script is here. The script is now being on version 2.2.0.

This version brings the option to run the script and thus display toast notifications coming from SYSTEM context.

A requirement has been so far, that the script is being run with the logged on user’s credentials. This is still recommended, but for scenarios where this is not possible, like running this with a task sequence (task sequences always run as local system), this new ability will give you the option to display toast notification for the logged on user, even if coming from local system context.

The work done here, with running the script under SYSTEM, is entirely done by Andrew. Thank you!

Also, with a built-in prevention of having multiple toast notifications being displayed in a row, the script is now also better at handling the re-run behavior in ConfigMgr. Having multiple toast notification displayed in a row, is something that can happen, if a device misses a deployment schedule. The nature of ConfigMgr is to catch up on the missed schedule, and this can lead to multiple toast notifications being displayed.

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Move away from Group Policy and set wallpaper and lock screen images with local source files and Microsoft Endpoint Manager Intune

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Introduction

This is something I currently just have done myself, in our own environment, and while it’s neither super technical nor advanced, then I figured it deserved some attention regardless.

I assume most hybrid (co-managed) environments still look towards Group Policy when doing this, because it’s easy and what we’ve always been doing. I’m regularly asked to change our desktop wallpaper and lock screen images, and when things needs to be done in a hurry, you usually stick to the easy solution.

This time though, I was stubborn and insisted on moving away from Group Policy and do it with Intune. The process made up this short blog post. 🙂

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Notify users when their device is running low on disk space using Toast Notifications and Configuration Manager

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Introduction

This is a specific need, that I just started having myself with my Windows Servicing process. I wanted to notify my users, if their devices are running low on disk space, prior to catching it with the precaching/readiness portion of my Windows as a Service process.

This is then done, with the hope of the users taking the required actions, before I spot the low disk space issues when precaching the Windows 10 upgrade, as this essentially will cause a failure.

So this post will give you the details on how to do that, using my Toast Notification Script and Configuration Manager. This can be achieved with Microsoft Intune as well, using the Proactive Remediations feature. My next blog post will cover that approach. 🙂

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Windows as a Service: Sharing my PreCache and In-Place Upgrade Task Sequences – 20H2 edition, part 2

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Introduction

Yes! It’s true. I’m still leveraging Task Sequences and Configuration Manager to upgrade Windows 10.

I’m also Co-managing my devices and deploy regular updates via Windows Update for Business. Just not feature updates. I fancy the full-control approach, taking the opportunity to update BIOS and drivers while at it. Everything works directly over the Internet via the Cloud Management Gateway. No hard requirements in being on-premises or on VPN.

I have previously shared my precache and in-place upgrade task sequences. A lot have happened since then, and I wanted to take the opportunity to share my updated approach in details.

I’m covering each and every step, just like I did in my previous blog posts. Some steps are exactly the same, but in order to fully supersede the old posts, I’m covering everything in details here.

Now, I can’t go over explaining my WaaS process without mentioning THE OSD experts Gary Blok, Mike Terrill. They are tirelessly sharing their approach as well. If you are looking for a WaaS solution on steroids, I suggest you head over to garytown.com and miketerrill.net for inspiration.

If you are looking for something less advanced, then you are at the right place. With that being said, some of the stuff I do, is done with inspiration from what Gary is sharing at garytown.com – just without the steroids. 😛

And yes! The task sequence will be available for download in the very end of the post!

Let’s get to it. 🙂

Part 1: Windows as a Service: Sharing my PreCache and In-Place Upgrade Task Sequences – 20H2 edition, part 1

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Windows as a Service: Sharing my PreCache and In-Place Upgrade Task Sequences – 20H2 edition, part 1

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Introduction

Yes! It’s true. I’m still leveraging Task Sequences and Configuration Manager to upgrade Windows 10.

I’m also Co-managing my devices and deploy regular updates via Windows Update for Business. Just not feature updates. I fancy the full-control approach, taking the opportunity to update BIOS and drivers while at it. Everything works directly over the Internet via the Cloud Management Gateway. No hard requirements in being on-premises or on VPN.

I have previously shared my precache and in-place upgrade task sequences. A lot have happened since then, and I wanted to take the opportunity to share my updated approach in details.

I’m covering each and every step, just like I did in my previous blog posts. Some steps are exactly the same, but in order to fully supersede the old posts, I’m covering everything in details here.

Now, I can’t go over explaining my WaaS process without mentioning THE OSD experts Gary Blok, Mike Terrill. They are tirelessly sharing their approach as well. If you are looking for a WaaS solution on steroids, I suggest you head over to garytown.com and miketerrill.net for inspiration.

If you are looking for something less advanced, then you are at the right place. With that being said, some of the stuff I do, is done with inspiration from what Gary is sharing at garytown.com – just without the steroids. 😛

And yes! The task sequence will be available for download in the very end of the post!

Let’s get to it. 🙂

Part 2: Windows as a Service: Sharing my PreCache and In-Place Upgrade Task Sequences – 20H2 edition, part 2

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Deploy RSAT (Remote Server Administration Tools) for Windows 10 v20H2 using ConfigMgr and PowerShell

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Introduction

This is becoming quite the tradition, and based on the count of views of my previous posts, a popular one indeed. 🙂

I’m a man of traditions, so I’m sticking true to that, and therefore updated my PowerShell script which will enable you to install RSAT for Windows 10 v20H2 automatically and unattended.

The script received some minor changes, and is now also capable of temporarily disabling WSUS, and re-enabling it again post installation.

Over the years and since I created the first script, I have received a lot of comments saying, that if a device is configured to use WSUS, installation of Features on Demand may fail if certain configuration is not in place. So this is another attempt to have the most success with the use of my script.

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