Month: August 2009

Create collection with all Windows XP SP 1-2-3 systems

~ Vitalie Ciobanu

To create a collection with all Windows XP SP1 systems, use the query bellow:

select SMS_R_SYSTEM.ResourceID,SMS_R_SYSTEM.ResourceType,SMS_R_SYSTEM.Name,SMS_R_SYSTEM.SMSUniqueIdentifier,SMS_R_SYSTEM.ResourceDomainORWorkgroup,SMS_R_SYSTEM.Client from SMS_R_System inner join SMS_G_System_OPERATING_SYSTEM on SMS_G_System_OPERATING_SYSTEM.ResourceID = SMS_R_System.ResourceId where SMS_G_System_OPERATING_SYSTEM.Caption like "%Windows XP%" and SMS_G_System_OPERATING_SYSTEM.CSDVersion = "Service Pack 1"

Similarly, to create a collection with all Windows XP SP2 systems, just change the Service Pack version number:

select SMS_R_SYSTEM.ResourceID,SMS_R_SYSTEM.ResourceType,SMS_R_SYSTEM.Name,SMS_R_SYSTEM.SMSUniqueIdentifier,SMS_R_SYSTEM.ResourceDomainORWorkgroup,SMS_R_SYSTEM.Client from SMS_R_System inner join SMS_G_System_OPERATING_SYSTEM on SMS_G_System_OPERATING_SYSTEM.ResourceID = SMS_R_System.ResourceId where SMS_G_System_OPERATING_SYSTEM.Caption like "%Windows XP%" and SMS_G_System_OPERATING_SYSTEM.CSDVersion = "Service Pack 2"

And the same for all Windows XP SP3 systems:

select SMS_R_SYSTEM.ResourceID,SMS_R_SYSTEM.ResourceType,SMS_R_SYSTEM.Name,SMS_R_SYSTEM.SMSUniqueIdentifier,SMS_R_SYSTEM.ResourceDomainORWorkgroup,SMS_R_SYSTEM.Client from SMS_R_System inner join SMS_G_System_OPERATING_SYSTEM on SMS_G_System_OPERATING_SYSTEM.ResourceID = SMS_R_System.ResourceId where SMS_G_System_OPERATING_SYSTEM.Caption like "%Windows XP%" and SMS_G_System_OPERATING_SYSTEM.CSDVersion = "Service Pack 3"

During OSD, format first partition only

~ Vitalie Ciobanu

Our helpdesk asked me to make a task sequence that can be used on computers with more than one partition. In this case, I had to make sure that the operating system will install only on first partition and will not touch the data on other partitions.

To achieve this, I copied another TS and modified the following 2 steps:

  • removed any “Format and Partition Disk” step
  • in the “Apply Operating System Image” step, under “Select the location where you want to apply this operating system” made the following modifications:
    • Destination: Specific disk and partition
    • Disk: 0 (if all computers are installed on first hard disk)
    • Partition: 1 (if all computers have OS installed on first partition)

This way, when TS runs, it automatically wipes partition 1 from disk 0 and will not touch any other partition or disk.

Wiping volume C:\

Remote Server Admin Tools for Windows 7

~ Vitalie Ciobanu

Some time ago I used Admin Tools and RSAT for Vista and it saved my time from using remote desktop to log on to several servers. Now it is available (RTM, not RC or something…) for Windows 7 x86/x64.

Using RSAT for Win7, you can manage the following roles and features from Windows Server 2008 R2, 2008 and 2003:

After installing it, you can enable the roles and features you want to manage, by doing the following steps:

  1. Click Start, click Control Panel, and then click Programs.
  2. In the Programs and Features area, click Turn Windows features on or off.
  3. If you are prompted by User Account Control to enable the Windows Features dialog box to open, click Continue.
  4. In the Windows Features dialog box, expand Remote Server Administration Tools.
  5. Select the remote management tools that you want to install.
  6. Click OK.

Now you’ll find the tools in Administrative Tools menu.