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For the MDT category

Jan 18

How to apply Local Group Policy settings silently using the ImportRegPol.exe and Apply_LGPO_Delta.exe utilities.

By Brian GonzalezNo Comments

In many Organizations, the AD support team is separated from the team in charge of Imaging.  The AD team naturally is protective with their setup and fight any GPO setting that would result in more responsibility to their staff.  So that leaves us in some occasions having to turn to Local Group Policy to apply the settings we want.  I’ve recently come across some great tools provided by Microsoft (very quietly) for Government usage.  These tools allow you to basically back up your LGPO settings to a txt file and apply them on demand with a script silently.

MS link: http://blogs.technet.com/cfs-file.ashx/__key/communityserver-components-postattachments/00-03-05-16-48/LGPO_2D00_Utilities.zip
BackUp link: https://panaconsulting.egnyte.com/h-s/20120118/077e07ba18c74413

How to use:

  1. Apply desired settings on a Windows 7 test machine, using the gpedit.msc MMC snap-in.
  2. Run the “ImportRegPol.exe” with the /parseonly and /log to pull settings and save to a specified LOG file.
    User settings and machine settings need to be captured separately:
    LGPO User Settings
    Capture User Example
    ImportRegPol.exe /u  C:\Windows\System32\GroupPolicy\User\registry.pol /parseonly /log <PathToSettingsFile>.log
    LGPO Machine Settings
    Capture Machine Settings Example:
    ImportRegPol.exe /m  C:\Windows\System32\GroupPolicy\Machine\registry.pol /parseonly /log <PathToSettingsFile>.log
  3. Use the Apply_LGPO_Delta.exe utility to apply the settings silently.  On restart the settings will take effect.
    Apply_LGPO_Delta.exe <PathToSettingsFile>.log /log <PathToLogFile>.log
  4. This can easily be added to an SCCM or MDT Task Sequence and tied to logic to ensure the correct settings get pushed to the appropriate target systems/users.

Command Line help for LGPO Tools:

Apply_LGPO_Delta.exe inputfile0 [inputfile1 ...] [/log LogFile] [/error ErrorLogFile] [/boot]

inputfileN             One or more input files specifying the changes to make.  Input files must be security template files, or registry-based policy files using a custom file format described below.  Apply_LGPO_Delta automatically determines whether a file is a custom policy file or a security template.  Security templates can be created using the “Security Templates” MMC snap-in.

/log LogFile           Writes detailed results to a log file.  If this option is not specified, output is not logged nor displayed.

/error ErrorLogFile   Writes error information to a log file.  If this option is not specified, error information is displayed in a message box dialog.

/boot                  Reboots the computer when done.

 

ImportRegPol.exe –m|-u path\registry.pol [/parseOnly] [/log LogFile] [/error ErrorLogFile] [/boot]

-m path\registry.pol   [for Computer configuration] or

-u path\registry.pol   [for User configuration]

Path\registry.pol specifies the absolute or relative path to the input registry policy file (which does not need to be named “registry.pol”).

/parseOnly             Reads and validates the input file but does not make changes to local group policy.  In conjunction with the /log option, can be used to convert a registry policy file to an input file for Apply_LGPO_Delta.

/log LogFile           Writes detailed results to a log file.  If this option is not specified, output is not logged nor displayed.  The logged results for the registry policy settings can be used as input for Apply_LGPO_Delta.

/error ErrorLogFile   Writes error information to a log file.  If this option is not specified, error information is displayed in a message box dialog.

/boot                  Reboots the computer when done.

 

-Brian G

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Nov 18

Creating Simple and/or Smart Custom Wizard Panes (Prompts) for MDT using the Wizard Editor.

By Brian GonzalezNo Comments

Using the Wizard Editor is fairly self explanatory for adding simple wizard panes. In 90%+ deployment scenarios, a simple wizard pane including a couple of radio buttons suffice.

Here is a simple “Department Name” Wizard Pane, which include 2 radio buttons; “IT Department” and “Sales”. After the Wizard is answered, a “DepartmentName” variable is created and populated with either “ITDEPT” or “SALES” based on the wizard selection:

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<H1>Choose the User Department.</H1>
<table>
 <tr>
   <td><input type=radio name="DepartmentName"
   id="DTRadio1" checked value="SALES" accesskey=s language=vbscript />
   <label class=Larger for=DTRadio1 language=vbscript >
   <u class=larger>S</u>ales Department.</label></td>
 </tr>
 <tr></tr>
 <tr>
   <td><input type=radio name="DepartmentName"
   id="DTRadio2" value="ITDEPT" accesskey=u language=vbscript />
   <label class=Larger for=DTRadio2 language=vbscript >
   <u class=larger>I</u>T Department.</label></td>
 </tr>
</table>

Department Name Wizard

Now lets create a more advanced prompt for that 10% of times when radios are not enough. This prompt will ask for a string named “NewUserName”. It will verify that the string entered is 10 characters in length and only contains letters.

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<H1>Please enter the System's New UserName.</H1>
 <span style="width: 95%;">
 <span class="Larger"><u class=larger>U</u>ser Name:</span>
   <input type=text id="NewUserName" name=NewUserName maxlength=10
   size=10 language=vbscript onpropertychange=ValidateNewUserName
   AccessKey=U />
   <p>&nbsp;
     <label class=ErrMsg for=NewUserName>Answer is Required..</label>
     <label class=ErrMsg id=InvalidChar>Letters only!</label>
     <label class=ErrMsg id=TooShort>Answer must be 10 characters!</label>
   </p>
 </span>

Now you must add Functions to the “\Scripts\DeployWiz_Validation.vbs” script to support the Function call (ValidateNewUserName) which performs the string validation.

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'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
'  Validate NewUserName
'

Function ValidateNewUserName
 
	' Check Warnings
	ParseAllWarningLabels
 
	If Len( NewUserName.value ) < 10 then
		InvalidChar.style.display = "none"
		TooShort.style.display = "inline"
		ValidateNewUserName = false
		ButtonNext.disabled = true
	ElseIf IsValidNewUserName ( NewUserName.Value ) then
		ValidateNewUserName = true
		InvalidChar.style.display = "none"
		TooShort.style.display = "none"
	Else
		InvalidChar.style.display = "inline"
		TooShort.style.display = "none"
		ValidateNewUserName = false
		ButtonNext.disabled = true
	End if
 
End function
 
Function IsValidNewUserName( NewUserName )
 
	const IVNAME_TEST = "[a-z]{10}"
	Dim regEx, match, myMatches
 
	Set regEx = New RegExp
	regEx.Pattern = IVNAME_TEST
	regex.IgnoreCase = true
 
	Set myMatches = regEx.Execute( UCase(NewUserName) )
	If myMatches.Count > 0 Then
		IsValidNewUserName = true
	End If
End function

New User Name Wizard Pane

Only Letters Error

For building custom RegEx expressions, I suggest using RegExBuddy for Windows users and Kodos for Linux users.

-Brian G

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Nov 17

How to use VBScript in your MDT/SCCM CustomSettings.INI.

By Brian GonzalezNo Comments

The built-in CustomSettings.INI variables are very useful, but in some occassions they are simply not enough. For instance, the “Model” variable contains the FULL model number (ie. CF-19K4RAX2M). What if I want to create a section breakout for all CF-19 laptops? Here is a method I found to perform this task:
1. First you must tell your “ZTIGather..” script to look out for a new variable, which is ShortModel in my example. Add a line to the “<DeploymentShare>\Scripts\ZTIGather.XML” file, which is read by the ZTIGather.wsf prior to combing your CS.INI matching variables.

<property id=”ShortModel” type=”string” overwrite=”true” description=”Short Model Number” />

2. Next add the following lines to your CS.INI:

;Tells ZTIGather to look in the “RunFirst” section first,
; which will populate the ShortModel variable, which in
; turn be replaced when searching for the “ShortModel”
; section.
Priority=RunFirst, ShortModel, Default

[RunFirst]
;Example output will be CF-19 instead of CF-19K4RAX2M
ShortModel=# LEFT( oEnvironment.Item(“Model”),5 ) #

;Now I can add my CF-19 section
[CF-19]

Another very useful easy CS.INI code block I use to add VBScript and more intelligence to my CS.INI. Is a custom Variable, which contains a specialized formatted Date to my liking. I can use this variable wherever I like and whenever I like throughout my ENTIRE Deployment (TS included).
1. Just as I did before I add the variable to my “ZTIGather.XML” file to tell my ZTIGather.wsf to look out for the variable in my CS.INI.

<property id=”SpecialDate” type=”string” overwrite=”true” description=”Special Date Value” />

2. Then I populate it wherever I like in my CS.INI

SpecialDate=#DatePart("M",Now) & DatePart("D",Now) & DatePart("YYYY",Now)#

-Brian G

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Nov 07

Blogs, Forums and Sites Oh My…

By Brian GonzalezNo Comments

Here are all of the blogs, forums and pages I visit and subscribe to with Google Reader.  All very reputable sources,  I bolded the most active and strong writers:

Raphael: Your System Center Configuration Manager portal
http://wmug.co.uk/blogs/dotraphael/rss.aspx

AlexSemi’s Blog
http://blogs.msdn.com/b/alex_semi/rss.aspx

Ask the Core Team
http://blogs.technet.com/b/askcore/rss.aspx

Brian Jackson’s IT Blog
http://feeds.feedburner.com/brianleejackson

CCMEXEC.COM – System Center blog
http://ccmexec.com/?feed=rss2

[Deploy_Windows (TRUE)]
http://deploywindows.net/feed

Deployment Research – Johan Arwidmark
http://www.deploymentresearch.com/Blog/tabid/62/rssid/1/Default.aspx

Michael Niehaus’ Windows and Office deployment ramblings
http://blogs.technet.com/b/mniehaus/rss.aspx

Microsoft Deployment Toolkit Forum
http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en/mdt/threads?outputAs=rss

Mike’s Tech Head Blog
http://itbloggen.se/cs/blogs/micke/rss.aspx

myITforum.com – Microsoft Deployment
http://www.myitforum.com/absolutenm/rss.aspx?z=103

NetBootDisk.com News
http://www.netbootdisk.com/rss.php

System Center Ideas
http://systemcenterideas.com/feed/

The WMI guy aka Kim Oppalfens
http://myitforum.com/cs2/blogs/koppalfens/rss.aspx

The D-spot
http://www.the-d-spot.org/wordpress/feed/

The Deployment Guys
http://blogs.technet.com/deploymentguys/rss.xml

Windows Deployment
http://www.deployblog.se/?feed=rss2

Xtreme Deployment
http://deployment.xtremeconsulting.com/feed/

 

- Brian G

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Aug 26

Script to auto-accept the Windows 7 “Would you like to install this device software?” prompt

By Brian Gonzalez2 Comments

When an application install calls for a device installation in Windows 7 a prompt appears.  In some cases, the prompt can not be automatically accepted using silent install switches (ie. Netmotion install).  I created an AutoIt script to accept the prompt.

Windows 7 install device driver prompt

Script Download: http://tinyurl.com/installprompt

-Brian G

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