Archive - February 2010
 
 "All our knowledge has it orgins in our perceptions." - Leonardo da Vinci
 

 

 Index
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HP SSM Information
SysInternals BGInfo Dual Screen Limitation
Server 2008 Creating 1000 User Accounts
SurveyMonkey.com Data Collection

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Δ SSM
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What is SSM?


SSM (System Software Manager) is a free solution provided from HP that streamlines the mass deployment of system software updates.
 

SSM reduces the complexity of system software management by delivering the following capabilities:

 


1 Deploying system software updates (for drivers and BIOS, for example) from a centralized file store to multiple client PCs simultaneously and automatically.

 

2 Deploying customer-created update packages.


3 Enforcing BIOS configurations and passwords.


4 Logging the changes made to each computer.
 


SSM Options

 


1 Rebooting the client machine so that an update takes immediate effect or not reboot so the user can continue working.


2 Displaying a status bar so that the user can monitor progress.

3 Creates a summary report that can be uploaded to a centralized share for later analysis.

4 The SSM.exe can be deployed through scripts or other software management systems.

 

SSM Basic Usage

 


1 Download, Run the SSM SoftPaq to extract the SSM program and support files.


2 Create and share a directory that will be used as the file store.


3 Copy SSM.EXE and SSM.CAB to the file store.


4 Download product (desktop, laptop, etc) softpaqs.  
 Example file store: c:\SSMFS, or share: \\MyServer\SSMFS

  Place all SoftPaq files (unpacked) in the file store created in step 2

 

5 Run SSM in Admin mode to configure

 

6 On each client computer, run SSM in Update Mode by specifying the

 UNC path to the filestore on the command line:

 {\\MyServer\SSMFS\SSM.exe \\MyServer\SSMFS /Accept /Report}


7 View log of actions performed

 > View from Start/Run: %temp%\%computername%.htm.

 > Review for list of software applicable to the system, updates

   performed, and any errors



Basic Flow Diagram

ssm

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Δ SysInternals BGInfo Dual Screen Limitation
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 What is the BGInfo Dual Screen Limitation?


How many times have you walked up to a system in your office and needed to click through several diagnostic windows to remind yourself of important aspects of its configuration, such as its name, IP address, or operating system version? If you manage multiple computers, you probably need BGInfo. It automatically displays relevant information about a Windows computer on the desktop's background, such as the computer name, IP address, service pack version, and more. You can edit any field as well as the font and background colors, and can place it in your startup folder so that it runs every boot, or even configure it to display as the background for the logon screen. Because BGInfo simply writes a new desktop bitmap and exits, you don't have to worry about it consuming system resources or interfering with other applications.

So, BGInfo is that great little utility that displays basic computer info in a corner of your screen.
And, it is a great tool indeed! However, there are some limitations that could be a deal breaker for many Desktop Admins out there; BGInfo doesn't handle wallpaper so well when there are 2 or more monitors involved. This is how BGInfo works, it overlays the PC info over an existing user's wallpaper. Simple right? That works quite well if the user only has a single display. If the user has a dual display setup, you would think BGInfo would just overlay the info right over the wallpaper on both monitors. No such luck. It actually changes the orientation of the user's wallpaper and centers or streches the wallpaper across BOTH monitors. The result is not an aesthetically pleasing one, trust me. So how do use BGInfo and allow the wallpaper to stay in its original orientation? Well, that is much easier said than done.
So what you will see here is the BGInfo shortcut I have created, and what was required to achieve our objectives.

 BgInfo website

 
  Objective  Create BGInfo shortcut that acts as dual screen fix
 Must be transparent to the enduser
 Must use and keep the enduser's wallpaper
 Make sure the shortcut works on different video cards
 Make sure the shortcut works with different screen resolutions
 Make sure the shortcut works on different screen orientations

On error resume next
Set objShell = CreateObject("Wscript.Shell")
SystemName = "localhost"
set tmpObj = GetObject("winmgmts:{impersonationLevel=impersonate}!\\" & SystemName & "\root\cimv2").InstancesOf ("Win32_ComputerSystem")
for each tmpItem in tmpObj
MakeModel = trim(tmpItem.Manufacturer) & " " & trim(tmpItem.Model)
next
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
If MakeModel = "Hewlett-Packard HP Compaq dc7900 Small Form Factor" then
strReg1 = "regedit /s " & chr(34)&"C:\Program Files\BGInfo\schemes.reg"&chr(34)
objShell.Run strReg1,9, True
objShell.Run strReg2,9, True
WScript.Sleep 1000
end if
'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
Set tmpObj = Nothing: Set tmpItem = Nothing
If MakeModel = "Hewlett-Packard HP EliteBook 6930p" then
strCMD1 = chr(34)&"C:\Program Files\BGInfo\BGInfo_Fix.exe"&chr(34)&"toggle_onoff"
strCMD2 = chr(34)&"C:\Program Files\BGInfo\Bginfo.exe"&chr(34)&" "& chr(34)&"C:\Program Files\BGInfo\bginfo.bgi"&chr(34)&" "& "/timer:0 /nolicprompt /silent"

'strExtra = "CMD /C START C:\WINDOWS\ClonedProfile.lnk"'save an ATI Profile names ClonedProfile, located in the ATI Control Panel
'strTest = chr(34)&"C:\Program Files\ATI Technologies\ATI.ACE\Core-Static\CLI.exe"&chr(34)&" Start Load profilename="&chr(34)&"HH"&chr(34)
'strTest = chr(34)&"C:\Program Files\ATI Technologies\ATI.ACE\Core-Static\CLI.exe"&chr(34)&" Start Load profilename="&chr(34)&"HH2"&chr(34)
'strTest = chr(34)&"C:\Program Files\ATI Technologies\ATI.ACE\Core-Static\CLI.exe"&chr(34)&" Start Load profilename="&chr(34)&"HH3"&chr(34)

objShell.Run strCMD1,0, True
objShell.Run strCMD2,0, True
objShell.Run strCMD1,0, False'disable this if you enable the strExtra
 objShell.Run strExtra,0, False'enable this to run the ClonedProfile
Wscript.Quit
end if
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
If MakeModel = "Hewlett-Packard HP Compaq dc7900 Small Form Factor" then
const HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE = &H80000002
strComputer = "."
 
Set oReg=GetObject("winmgmts:{impersonationLevel=impersonate}!\\" &_
strComputer & "\root\default:StdRegProv")
 
strKeyPath = "SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\ialm\Device0"
strValueName = "Display1_DisplaySize"
oReg.GetBinaryValue HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE,strKeyPath,_
strValueName,strValue1
 
For i = lBound(strValue1) to uBound(strValue1)
'msgbox strValue1(i)
'strValue1 = strValue1
Next
Set oReg=GetObject("winmgmts:{impersonationLevel=impersonate}!\\" &_
strComputer & "\root\default:StdRegProv")
 
strKeyPath = "SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\ialm\Device0"
strValueName = "Display2_DisplaySize"
oReg.GetBinaryValue HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE,strKeyPath,_
strValueName,strValue2
 
For i = lBound(strValue2) to uBound(strValue2)
'msgbox strValue2(i)
'strValue2 = strValue2
Next

Set oReg=GetObject("winmgmts:{impersonationLevel=impersonate}!\\" &_
strComputer & "\root\default:StdRegProv")
 
strKeyPath = "SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\ialm\Device0"
strValueName = "Display1_UID1"
oReg.GetBinaryValue HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE,strKeyPath,_
strValueName,strValue3
 
For i = lBound(strValue3) to uBound(strValue3)
 'msgbox strValue3(i)
 'strValue2 = strValue3
Next
Set oReg=GetObject("winmgmts:{impersonationLevel=impersonate}!\\" &_
strComputer & "\root\default:StdRegProv")
 
strKeyPath = "SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\ialm\Device0"
strValueName = "Display2_UID1"
oReg.GetBinaryValue HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE,strKeyPath,_
strValueName,strValue4
 
For i = lBound(strValue4) to uBound(strValue4)
'msgbox strValue4(i)
 'strValue2 = strValue4
Next
'msgbox strValue3(1)
'msgbox strValue4(1)
if strValue1(0) = "160" then
strCMD1 = chr(34)&"C:\Windows\system32\igfxcfg.exe"&chr(34)&" /SchemeName:H_DISABLE"
else
strCMD1 = chr(34)&"C:\Windows\system32\igfxcfg.exe"&chr(34)&" /SchemeName:V_DISABLE"
End if

if strValue1(0) = "160" and strValue2(0) = "160" and strValue3(1) = "11" then
'msgbox "Display 1 and Display are Horizontal and Digital is primary"
strCMD3 = chr(34)&"C:\Windows\system32\igfxcfg.exe"&chr(34)&" /SchemeName:HH"
end if
if strValue1(0) = "160" and strValue2(0) = "160" and strValue3(1) = "1" then
'msgbox "Display 1 and Display are Horizontal and Monitor is primary"
strCMD3 = chr(34)&"C:\Windows\system32\igfxcfg.exe"&chr(34)&" /SchemeName:HH2"
end if


if strValue1(0) = "132" and strValue2(0) = "160" then
'msgbox "Display 1 is Vertical Display 2 is Horizontal"
strCMD3 = chr(34)&"C:\Windows\system32\igfxcfg.exe"&chr(34)&" /SchemeName:VH"
end if
if strValue1(0) = "160" and strValue2(0) = "132" then
'msgbox "Display 1 is Horizontal and Display 2 is Vertical"
strCMD3 = chr(34)&"C:\Windows\system32\igfxcfg.exe"&chr(34)&" /SchemeName:HV"
end if

   
if strValue1(0) = "132" and strValue2(0) = "132" and strValue3(1) = "11" then
 'msgbox "Display 1 and Display 2 are Vertical and Digital is primary"
 strCMD3 = chr(34)&"C:\Windows\system32\igfxcfg.exe"&chr(34)&" /SchemeName:VV"
end if
if strValue1(0) = "132" and strValue2(0) = "132" and strValue3(1) = "1" then
'msgbox "Display 1 and Display 2 are Vertical and Monitor is primary"
strCMD3 = chr(34)&"C:\Windows\system32\igfxcfg.exe"&chr(34)&" /SchemeName:VV2"
end if
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
strCMD2 = chr(34)&"C:\Program Files\BGInfo\Bginfo.exe"&chr(34)&" "& chr(34)&"C:\Program Files\BGInfo\bginfo.bgi"&chr(34)&" "& "/timer:0 /nolicprompt /silent"
objShell.Run strCMD1,0, True
WScript.Sleep 1000
objShell.Run strCMD2,0, True
WScript.Sleep 1000
objShell.Run strCMD3,0, True
Wscript.Quit
end if
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
If MakeModel = "Dell Inc. Latitude D610" then
strCMD1 = chr(34)&"C:\Program Files\BGInfo\BGInfo_Fix.exe"&chr(34)&"toggle_onoff"
strCMD2 = chr(34)&"C:\Program Files\BGInfo\Bginfo.exe"&chr(34)&" "& chr(34)&"C:\Program Files\BGInfo\bginfo.bgi"&chr(34)&" "& "/timer:0 /nolicprompt /silent"
objShell.Run strCMD1,0, True
objShell.Run strCMD2,0, True
objShell.Run strCMD1,0, True
Wscript.Quit
end if
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
If MakeModel = "Dell Inc. Latitude D620" then
strCMD1 = chr(34)&"C:\Program Files\BGInfo\BGInfo_Fix.exe"&chr(34)&"toggle_onoff"
strCMD2 = chr(34)&"C:\Program Files\BGInfo\Bginfo.exe"&chr(34)&" "& chr(34)&"C:\Program Files\BGInfo\bginfo.bgi"&chr(34)&" "& "/timer:0 /nolicprompt /silent"
objShell.Run strCMD1,0, True
objShell.Run strCMD2,0, True
objShell.Run strCMD1,0, True
Wscript.Quit
end if
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
If MakeModel = "Dell Inc. Latitude D630" then
strCMD1 = chr(34)&"C:\Program Files\BGInfo\BGInfo_Fix.exe"&chr(34)&"toggle_onoff"
strCMD2 = chr(34)&"C:\Program Files\BGInfo\Bginfo.exe"&chr(34)&" "& chr(34)&"C:\Program Files\BGInfo\bginfo.bgi"&chr(34)&" "& "/timer:0 /nolicprompt /silent"
objShell.Run strCMD1,0, True
objShell.Run strCMD2,0, True
objShell.Run strCMD1,0, True
Wscript.Quit
end if
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
If MakeModel = "Dell Inc. OptiPlex 745" then
'msgbox MakeModel
strCMD1 = chr(34)&"C:\Program Files\BGInfo\BGInfo_Fix.exe"&chr(34)&"toggle_onoff"
strCMD2 = chr(34)&"C:\Program Files\BGInfo\Bginfo.exe"&chr(34)&" /accepteula "& chr(34)&"C:\Program Files\BGInfo\bginfo.bgi"&chr(34)&" "& chr(34)&"/timer:0 /nolicprompt /silent /all"&chr(34)
objShell.Run strCMD1,0, True
objShell.Run strCMD2,0, True
objShell.Run strCMD1,0, True
Wscript.Quit
end if
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
If MakeModel = "Dell Inc. OptiPlex 755" then
'msgbox MakeModel
strCMD1 = chr(34)&"C:\Program Files\BGInfo\BGInfo_Fix.exe"&chr(34)&"toggle_onoff"
strCMD2 = chr(34)&"C:\Program Files\BGInfo\Bginfo.exe"&chr(34)&" /accepteula "& chr(34)&"C:\Program Files\BGInfo\bginfo.bgi"&chr(34)&" "& chr(34)&"/timer:0 /nolicprompt /silent /all"&chr(34)
objShell.Run strCMD1,0, True
objShell.Run strCMD2,0, True
objShell.Run strCMD1,0, True
Wscript.Quit
end if
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
If MakeModel <> "Hewlett-Packard HP Compaq dc7900 Small Form Factor" then
strCMD2 = chr(34)&"C:\Program Files\BGInfo\Bginfo.exe"&chr(34)&" "& chr(34)&"C:\Program Files\BGInfo\bginfo.bgi"&chr(34)&" "& "/timer:0 /nolicprompt /silent"
objShell.Run strCMD2,0, True
Wscript.Quit
end if

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Δ Server 2008 Create 1000 Accounts
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 How do you create 1000 test user accounts in Server 2008 AD?


 

 
  Objective Create 1000 Users Accounts in Server 2008
 

on error resume next

For i = 1 To 1000
 Set objRootDSE = GetObject("LDAP://rootDSE")
 Set objContainer = GetObject("LDAP://cn=Users," & objRootDSE.Get("defaultNamingContext"))
 Set objUser = objContainer.Create("User", "cn=User" & i)
 objUser.Put "sAMAccountName","User" & i
 objUser.SetPassword "welcome99"
 objUser.Put "givenName", "User"
 objUser.Put "initials", "U."
 objUser.Put "sn", i
 objUser.Put "displayName"&","&i&",User"
 objUser.Put "physicalDeliveryOfficeName", "Room 4358-"&i
 objUser.Put "telephoneNumber", "(800) 555-1234 ext."&i
 objUser.Put "mail", "User"&i&"@blackops.net"
 objUser.Put "wWWHomePage", "http://www.blackops.net"
 objUser.Put "description", "Description of User"&i
 
 objUser.Put "userPrincipalName", "User"&i&"@section1.blackops.net"
 objUser.Put "profilePath", "\\blackops\Profiles\"&"User"&i
 objUser.Put "scriptPath", "logon.bat"
 objUser.Put "homeDirectory", "\\blackops\HomeFolders\"&"User"&i
 objUser.Put "homeDrive", "X"
 
 objUser.IsAccountLocked = False
 objUser.Put "streetAddress", "Building 9" & vbCrLf & "BlackOps Tower"
 objUser.Put "l", "Secure Site"
 objUser.Put "st", "Unknown"
 objUser.Put "postalCode", "xxxxxx"
 objUser.Put "c", "US"
 objUser.Put "postOfficeBox", "2222"

 'objUser.Put "userWorkstations", "wks1,wks2,wks3"
 'objUser.AccountExpirationDate = "03/30/2003"

 objUser.SetInfo
Next

 

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Δ SurveyMonkey.com Data Collection
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 How do you collect hidden data from a survey?

 
  Objective Collect hidden data on a computer through survey monkey
 

On error resume next
Dim fso, tempfile, tfolder, tname, tfile, surveyLink
Dim IP_Address : IP_Address = GetIP()

Function GetIP()
 Dim ws : Set ws = CreateObject("WScript.Shell")
 Dim fso : Set fso = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
 Dim TmpFile : TmpFile = fso.GetSpecialFolder(2) & "/ip.txt"
 Dim ThisLine, IP
 If ws.Environment("SYSTEM")("OS") = "" Then
 ws.run "winipcfg /batch " & TmpFile, 0, True
 Else
 ws.run "%comspec% /c ipconfig > " & TmpFile, 0, True
 End If
 With fso.GetFile(TmpFile).OpenAsTextStream
 Do While NOT .AtEndOfStream
  ThisLine = .ReadLine
  If InStr(ThisLine, "Address") <> 0 Then IP = Mid(ThisLine, InStr(ThisLine, ":") + 2)
 Loop
 .Close
 End With
 'WinXP (NT? 2K?) leaves a carriage return at the end of line
 If IP <> "" Then
 If Asc(Right(IP, 1)) = 13 Then IP = Left(IP, Len(IP) - 1)
 End If
 GetIP = IP
 fso.GetFile(TmpFile).Delete
 Set fso = Nothing
 Set ws = Nothing
End Function


strComputer ="."
Set wmiService = GetObject("winmgmts:\\" & strComputer & "\root\CIMV2")
Set wmiResults = wmiService.ExecQuery("SELECT * FROM Win32_ComputerSystem")
For Each item In wmiResults
model = item.Model
Next

Set wmiService = GetObject("winmgmts:\\" & strComputer & "\root\CIMV2")
Set wmiResults = wmiService.ExecQuery("SELECT * FROM Win32_bios")
For Each item In wmiResults
sn = item.serialNumber
Next


surveyLink = " http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/XXXXXX?c=%computername%_%username%_"&model&"_"&sn&"_"&IP_Address


Set objShell = CreateObject("Wscript.Shell")
Set fso = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
Const TemporaryFolder = 2
Set tfolder = fso.GetSpecialFolder(TemporaryFolder)
tname = "surveymonkey.cmd"

Set tfile = tfolder.CreateTextFile(tname)
Set CreateTempFile = tfile
Set tempfile = CreateTempFile

tempfile.WriteLine ":MONITOR"
tempfile.WriteLine "TASKLIST /v /FI "&chr(34)&"WINDOWTITLE ne zzz"&chr(34)&" | find /i "&chr(34)&"SurveyMonkey.com - Powerful tool for"&chr(34) & " && TASKKILL /fi " & chr(34)&"WINDOWTITLE eq SurveyMonkey.com*"&chr(34)&" && Exit"
tempfile.WriteLine "goto MONITOR"
tempfile.Close

iexplore = Chr(34)&"C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe"&Chr(34)
objShell.Run iexplore & surveyLink,9,False
objShell.Run tfolder & "\" & tname, False

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..Systems Engineer

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