Random thoughts of a System Center Admin...

ConfigMgr and Intune on UserVoice

June 13, 2015 / Chris Chisholm / 0 Comments

Microsoft Gives ConfigMgr and Intune Customers a Voice – on UserVoice

http://myitforum.com/myitforumwp/2015/06/11/microsoft-gives-configmgr-and-intune-customers-a-voice-on-uservoice/

Links from the Top 10 ConfigMgr 2012 issues session at SCU2015

February 5, 2015 / Chris Chisholm / 0 Comments

Here is Deployment Researches page of Links from SCU2015

http://www.deploymentresearch.com/Research/tabid/62/EntryId/225/Links-from-the-Top-10-ConfigMgr-2012-issues-session-at-SCU2015.aspx

Change the Maximum File Size of Management Information Files (MIF) in SCCM 2012

December 4, 2014 / Chris Chisholm / 0 Comments

Ran into an issue where I was seeing the following message in my Status Messages for a Configuration Manager 2012 Site.

Inventory Data Loader failed to process the file C:\Program Files\Microsoft Configuration Manager\inboxes\auth\dataldr.box\Process\H23G5WPJ.MIF because it is larger than the defined maximum allowable size of 5000000.

Solution: Increase the maximum allowable size, which is defined in the registry key HKLM\Software\Microsoft\SMS\Components\SMS_INVENTORY_DATA_LOADER\Max MIF Size (the default is 5 MB), and wait for Inventory Data Loader to retry the operation.

After some Google-Fu I came across this Blog that explains how to fix it step by step.

http://be.enhansoft.com/post/2013/12/10/Change-the-Maximum-File-Size-of-Management-Information-Files-(MIF)-in-SCCM-2012.aspx

Canadian IT Pro Connection

November 28, 2014 / Chris Chisholm / 0 Comments

Ran across a site full of good information from fellow Canadian IT Pros…

http://blogs.technet.com/b/canitpro/

AutoIT – Modify COM Port Properties

November 27, 2014 / Chris Chisholm / 0 Comments

Once again, I am working on a Project where I needed to update COM Ports on Legacy Devices. After searching google for about an hour with no solution in sight, I decided to try AutoIT as it has rescued me before.

This script will launch Device Manager, search for the Device that you want to modify go through all the actions to make the change then apply it.

I used control handles so even if the dialog isn’t forefront it will still work.

; ==========================================================================
;
; AutoIt3 Source File -- Created with SAPIEN Technologies PrimalScript 2014
;
; NAME: ConfigurePorts.au3
;
; AUTHOR: Chisholm, Chris - Blue World Enterprises Inc..
; DATE  : 11/20/2014
;
; COMMENT: Installs the Serial Ports to Specific COM Ports
;
; ==========================================================================
#include <MsgBoxConstants.au3>
#include <GuiTreeView.au3>
#include <GuiTab.au3>
#include <GuiComboBox.au3>
#include <GuiButton.au3>

OpenDeviceMgr()
OpenToPorts()
ModifyCTIPort()
CloseDeviceMgr()
Exit

Func OpenDeviceMgr()

	Global $iPID = Run("mmc.exe devmgmt.msc")
	WinWait("[TITLE:Device Manager; CLASS:MMCMainFrame]")
	WinActivate("[TITLE:Device Manager; CLASS:MMCMainFrame]")
	Send("{TAB}")

EndFunc

Func OpenToPorts()

	Global $hTreeView = ControlGetHandle("[TITLE:Device Manager; CLASS:MMCMainFrame]", '', "SysTreeView321")
	$hControl=_GUICtrlTreeView_FindItem ($hTreeView, "Ports (COM & LPT)")
	_GUICtrlTreeView_Expand( $hTreeView, $hControl )

EndFunc

Func ModifyCTIPort()

	$hControl=_GUICtrlTreeView_FindItem ($hTreeView, "CTI PCI Express UART Serial Port 1", True )
	_GUICtrlTreeView_SelectItem ( $hTreeView, $hControl)
	SetProperties(_GUICtrlTreeView_GetText ($hTreeView, $hControl),"COM7")

	$hControl=_GUICtrlTreeView_FindItem ($hTreeView, "CTI PCI Express UART Serial Port 2", True )
	_GUICtrlTreeView_SelectItem ( $hTreeView, $hControl)
	SetProperties(_GUICtrlTreeView_GetText ($hTreeView, $hControl),"COM8")

EndFunc

Func SetProperties($ControlText, $ComPort)
	Local $hComboBox
	Local $hButton
	Local $hTabView

	$ControlName="[TITLE:" & $ControlText & " Properties]"

	Send("!a")
	Send("r")

	WinWait ($ControlName)

	$hTabView = ControlGetHandle($ControlName, '', "SysTabControl321")
	$TabLocation=_GUICtrlTab_FindTab ( $hTabView, "Port Settings")
	_GUICtrlTab_SetCurFocus($hTabView,$TabLocation)
	$hButton = ControlGetHandle($ControlName, '', "Button2")
	ControlClick($ControlName,"",$hButton)

	WinWait ("[TITLE:Advanced Settings]")

	$hComboBox = ControlGetHandle("[TITLE:Advanced Settings]", '', "ComboBox1")
	;msgbox($MB_SYSTEMMODAL,"ReturnCode",$hComboBox)
	_GUICtrlComboBox_SelectString($hComboBox, $ComPort)
	$hButton = ControlGetHandle("[TITLE:Advanced Settings]", '', "Button1")
	_GUICtrlButton_Click($hButton)

	$hButton = ControlGetHandle($ControlName, '', "Button4")
	ControlClick($ControlName,"",$hButton)


EndFunc


Func CloseDeviceMgr()

	ProcessClose($iPID)

EndFunc

; ==========================================================================

;

; AutoIt3 Source File -- Created with SAPIEN Technologies PrimalScript 2014

;

; NAME: ConfigurePorts.au3

;

; AUTHOR: Chisholm, Chris - Blue World Enterprises Inc..

; DATE : 11/20/2014

;

; COMMENT: Installs the Serial Ports to Specific COM Ports

;

; ==========================================================================

#include <MsgBoxConstants.au3>

#include <GuiTreeView.au3>

#include <GuiTab.au3>

#include <GuiComboBox.au3>

#include <GuiButton.au3>

OpenDeviceMgr()

OpenToPorts()

ModifyCTIPort()

CloseDeviceMgr()

Exit

Func OpenDeviceMgr()

Global $iPID = Run("mmc.exe devmgmt.msc")

WinWait("[TITLE:Device Manager; CLASS:MMCMainFrame]")

WinActivate("[TITLE:Device Manager; CLASS:MMCMainFrame]")

Send("{TAB}")

EndFunc

Func OpenToPorts()

Global $hTreeView = ControlGetHandle("[TITLE:Device Manager; CLASS:MMCMainFrame]", '', "SysTreeView321")

$hControl=_GUICtrlTreeView_FindItem ($hTreeView, "Ports (COM & LPT)")

_GUICtrlTreeView_Expand( $hTreeView, $hControl )

EndFunc

Func ModifyCTIPort()

$hControl=_GUICtrlTreeView_FindItem ($hTreeView, "CTI PCI Express UART Serial Port 1", True )

_GUICtrlTreeView_SelectItem ( $hTreeView, $hControl)

SetProperties(_GUICtrlTreeView_GetText ($hTreeView, $hControl),"COM7")

$hControl=_GUICtrlTreeView_FindItem ($hTreeView, "CTI PCI Express UART Serial Port 2", True )

_GUICtrlTreeView_SelectItem ( $hTreeView, $hControl)

SetProperties(_GUICtrlTreeView_GetText ($hTreeView, $hControl),"COM8")

EndFunc

Func SetProperties($ControlText, $ComPort)

Local $hComboBox

Local $hButton

Local $hTabView

$ControlName="[TITLE:" & $ControlText & " Properties]"

Send("!a")

Send("r")

WinWait ($ControlName)

$hTabView = ControlGetHandle($ControlName, '', "SysTabControl321")

$TabLocation=_GUICtrlTab_FindTab ( $hTabView, "Port Settings")

_GUICtrlTab_SetCurFocus($hTabView,$TabLocation)

$hButton = ControlGetHandle($ControlName, '', "Button2")

ControlClick($ControlName,"",$hButton)

WinWait ("[TITLE:Advanced Settings]")

$hComboBox = ControlGetHandle("[TITLE:Advanced Settings]", '', "ComboBox1")

;msgbox($MB_SYSTEMMODAL,"ReturnCode",$hComboBox)

_GUICtrlComboBox_SelectString($hComboBox, $ComPort)

$hButton = ControlGetHandle("[TITLE:Advanced Settings]", '', "Button1")

_GUICtrlButton_Click($hButton)

$hButton = ControlGetHandle($ControlName, '', "Button4")

ControlClick($ControlName,"",$hButton)

EndFunc

Func CloseDeviceMgr()

ProcessClose($iPID)

EndFunc

Using AutoIT to Install Null Modems

November 21, 2014 / Chris Chisholm / 0 Comments

I was on a Project where I needed to install Virtual Null Modems, since these weren’t physical devices PnP detection wouldn’t work…

I ended up writing this AutoIT Script to use the Add Hardware Wizard.

You are welcome to modify this script to suit your needs to install / configure Hardware. I’m really starting to like AutoIT

; = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
;
; AutoIt3 Source File -- Created with SAPIEN Technologies PrimalScript 2014
;
; NAME: InstallNullModem.au3
;
; AUTHOR: Chisholm, Chris - Blue World Enterprises Inc.
; DATE : 11/20/2014
;
; COMMENT: Installs the Null Modem Hardware using Add Hardware Wizard
;
; = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
#include <MsgBoxConstants.au3>
#include <GuiButton.au3>
#include <GuiEdit.au3>
#include <GuiListBox.au3>
#include <GuiListView.au3>


Global $WindowTitle
Global $WindowText
Global $hListView
Global $hButton
Global $hEdit
Global $hListBox

;This script is used to install the Generic Null Modems

Global $arrCOMPorts[2] = ["COM7", "COM8"] ;Define the ComPorts to install Null Modems on

AddNullModems($arrCOMPorts)
Exit

Func AddNullModems($COMPorts)

 Local $intIndex

 Run("Hdwwiz.exe")

 $WindowTitle = "[TITLE:Add Hardware]"

 $WindowText = "Welcome to the Add Hardware Wizard"
 WinWait($WindowTitle,$WindowText)
 $hButton = ControlGetHandle($WindowTitle, $WindowText, "Button2") ;Get Control Handle for Next Button
 ControlClick($WindowTitle, $WindowText, $hButton) ;Click the Button

 $WindowText = "Install the hardware that I &manually select from a list (Advanced)"
 WinWait($WindowTitle,$WindowText)
 $hButton = ControlGetHandle($WindowTitle, $WindowText, "Button2") ;Get Control Handle for Install Hardware Manually Radio Button
 ControlClick($WindowTitle, $WindowText, $hButton) ;Click the Button

 $hButton = ControlGetHandle($WindowTitle, $WindowText, "Button4") ;Get Control Handle for Next Button
 ControlClick($WindowTitle, $WindowText, $hButton) ;Click the Button

 $WindowText = "If you do not see the hardware category you want, click Show All Devices."
 WinWait($WindowTitle,$WindowText)

 $hListView = ControlGetHandle($WindowTitle, $WindowText, "SysListView321") ;Get Control Handle for List View
 $hControl = _GUICtrlListView_FindText($hListView,"Modems") ;Get Index for Modems Item in List View
 _GUICtrlListView_SetItemSelected($hListView, $hControl) ;Set List View to Modems Item

 $hButton = ControlGetHandle($WindowTitle, $WindowText, "Button4") ;Get Control Handle for Next Button
 ControlClick($WindowTitle, $WindowText, $hButton) ;Click the Button

 $WindowText = "Windows will now try to detect your modem."
 WinWait($WindowTitle,$WindowText)

 $hButton = ControlGetHandle($WindowTitle, $WindowText, "Button1") ;Get Control Handle for "Don't Detect my Modem CheckBox
 ControlClick($WindowTitle, $WindowText, $hButton) ;Click the CheckBox

 $hButton = ControlGetHandle($WindowTitle, $WindowText, "Button5") ;Get Control Handle for Next Button
 ControlClick($WindowTitle, $WindowText, $hButton) ;Click the Button

 $WindowText = "Select the manufacturer and model of your modem."
 WinWait($WindowTitle,$WindowText)
 $hButton = ControlGetHandle($WindowTitle, $WindowText, "Button3") ;Get Control Handle for Have Disk Button
 ControlClick($WindowTitle, $WindowText, $hButton) ;Click the Button

 WinWait("[TITLE:Install From Disk]","Insert the manufacturer's installation disk")
 $hEdit = ControlGetHandle("[TITLE:Install From Disk]", "Insert the manufacturer's installation disk", "Edit1") ;Get Control Handle for Path Edit Box
 _GUICtrlEdit_SetSel($hEdit, 0, -1 ) ;Select all the Text in the Control
 _GUICtrlEdit_ReplaceSel($hEdit, @ScriptDir)

 $hButton = ControlGetHandle("[TITLE:Install From Disk]", "Insert the manufacturer's installation disk", "Button1") ;Get Control Handle for OK Button
 ControlClick($WindowTitle, $WindowText, $hButton) ;Click the Button

 $WindowText = "Select the manufacturer and model of your modem."
 WinWait($WindowTitle,$WindowText)

 $hListView = ControlGetHandle($WindowTitle, $WindowText, "SysListView322") ;Get Control Handle for List View
 $hControl = _GUICtrlListView_FindText($hListView,"Generic NULL Modem (Mark Crossley v2)") ;Get Index for Null Modem Item in List View
 _GUICtrlListView_SetItemSelected($hListView, $hControl) ;Set List View to Null Modem

 $hButton = ControlGetHandle($WindowTitle, $WindowText, "Button8") ;Get Control Handle for Next Button
 ControlClick($WindowTitle, $WindowText, $hButton) ;Click the Button

 $WindowText = "On which ports do you want to install it?"
 WinWait($WindowTitle,$WindowText)

 $hButton = ControlGetHandle($WindowTitle, $WindowText, "Button2") ;Get Control Handle for Selected Ports Selection
 ControlClick($WindowTitle, $WindowText, $hButton) ;Click the Button

 $hListBox = ControlGetHandle($WindowTitle, $WindowText, "ListBox1") ;Get Control Handle for ListBox

 For $intIndex = 0 to UBound ($COMPorts) - 1
 Local $intPortIndex = _GUICtrlListBox_FindInText($hListBox, $COMPorts[$intIndex]) ;Find ComPort in List
 If $intPortIndex <> -1 Then
 _GUICtrlListBox_SetSel ($hListBox, $intPortIndex)
 EndIf
 Next

 $hButton = ControlGetHandle($WindowTitle, $WindowText, "Button10") ;Get Control Handle for Next Button
 ControlClick($WindowTitle, $WindowText, $hButton) ;Click the Button

 $WindowText = "Your modem has been set up successfully."
 WinWait($WindowTitle,$WindowText)

 $hButton = ControlGetHandle($WindowTitle, $WindowText, "Button11") ;Get Control Handle for Finish Button
 ControlClick($WindowTitle, $WindowText, $hButton) ;Click the Button

EndFunc

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; = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

;

; AutoIt3 Source File -- Created with SAPIEN Technologies PrimalScript 2014

;

; NAME: InstallNullModem.au3

;

; AUTHOR: Chisholm, Chris - Blue World Enterprises Inc.

; DATE : 11/20/2014

;

; COMMENT: Installs the Null Modem Hardware using Add Hardware Wizard

;

; = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

#include <MsgBoxConstants.au3>

#include <GuiButton.au3>

#include <GuiEdit.au3>

#include <GuiListBox.au3>

#include <GuiListView.au3>

Global $WindowTitle

Global $WindowText

Global $hListView

Global $hButton

Global $hEdit

Global $hListBox

;This script is used to install the Generic Null Modems

Global $arrCOMPorts[2] = ["COM7", "COM8"] ;Define the ComPorts to install Null Modems on

AddNullModems($arrCOMPorts)

Exit

Func AddNullModems($COMPorts)

Local $intIndex

Run("Hdwwiz.exe")

$WindowTitle = "[TITLE:Add Hardware]"

$WindowText = "Welcome to the Add Hardware Wizard"

WinWait($WindowTitle,$WindowText)

$hButton = ControlGetHandle($WindowTitle, $WindowText, "Button2") ;Get Control Handle for Next Button

ControlClick($WindowTitle, $WindowText, $hButton) ;Click the Button

$WindowText = "Install the hardware that I &manually select from a list (Advanced)"

WinWait($WindowTitle,$WindowText)

$hButton = ControlGetHandle($WindowTitle, $WindowText, "Button2") ;Get Control Handle for Install Hardware Manually Radio Button

ControlClick($WindowTitle, $WindowText, $hButton) ;Click the Button

$hButton = ControlGetHandle($WindowTitle, $WindowText, "Button4") ;Get Control Handle for Next Button

ControlClick($WindowTitle, $WindowText, $hButton) ;Click the Button

$WindowText = "If you do not see the hardware category you want, click Show All Devices."

WinWait($WindowTitle,$WindowText)

$hListView = ControlGetHandle($WindowTitle, $WindowText, "SysListView321") ;Get Control Handle for List View

$hControl = _GUICtrlListView_FindText($hListView,"Modems") ;Get Index for Modems Item in List View

_GUICtrlListView_SetItemSelected($hListView, $hControl) ;Set List View to Modems Item

$hButton = ControlGetHandle($WindowTitle, $WindowText, "Button4") ;Get Control Handle for Next Button

ControlClick($WindowTitle, $WindowText, $hButton) ;Click the Button

$WindowText = "Windows will now try to detect your modem."

WinWait($WindowTitle,$WindowText)

$hButton = ControlGetHandle($WindowTitle, $WindowText, "Button1") ;Get Control Handle for "Don't Detect my Modem CheckBox

ControlClick($WindowTitle, $WindowText, $hButton) ;Click the CheckBox

$hButton = ControlGetHandle($WindowTitle, $WindowText, "Button5") ;Get Control Handle for Next Button

ControlClick($WindowTitle, $WindowText, $hButton) ;Click the Button

$WindowText = "Select the manufacturer and model of your modem."

WinWait($WindowTitle,$WindowText)

$hButton = ControlGetHandle($WindowTitle, $WindowText, "Button3") ;Get Control Handle for Have Disk Button

ControlClick($WindowTitle, $WindowText, $hButton) ;Click the Button

WinWait("[TITLE:Install From Disk]","Insert the manufacturer's installation disk")

$hEdit = ControlGetHandle("[TITLE:Install From Disk]", "Insert the manufacturer's installation disk", "Edit1") ;Get Control Handle for Path Edit Box

_GUICtrlEdit_SetSel($hEdit, 0, -1 ) ;Select all the Text in the Control

_GUICtrlEdit_ReplaceSel($hEdit, @ScriptDir)

$hButton = ControlGetHandle("[TITLE:Install From Disk]", "Insert the manufacturer's installation disk", "Button1") ;Get Control Handle for OK Button

ControlClick($WindowTitle, $WindowText, $hButton) ;Click the Button

$WindowText = "Select the manufacturer and model of your modem."

WinWait($WindowTitle,$WindowText)

$hListView = ControlGetHandle($WindowTitle, $WindowText, "SysListView322") ;Get Control Handle for List View

$hControl = _GUICtrlListView_FindText($hListView,"Generic NULL Modem (Mark Crossley v2)") ;Get Index for Null Modem Item in List View

_GUICtrlListView_SetItemSelected($hListView, $hControl) ;Set List View to Null Modem

$hButton = ControlGetHandle($WindowTitle, $WindowText, "Button8") ;Get Control Handle for Next Button

ControlClick($WindowTitle, $WindowText, $hButton) ;Click the Button

$WindowText = "On which ports do you want to install it?"

WinWait($WindowTitle,$WindowText)

$hButton = ControlGetHandle($WindowTitle, $WindowText, "Button2") ;Get Control Handle for Selected Ports Selection

ControlClick($WindowTitle, $WindowText, $hButton) ;Click the Button

$hListBox = ControlGetHandle($WindowTitle, $WindowText, "ListBox1") ;Get Control Handle for ListBox

For $intIndex = 0 to UBound ($COMPorts) - 1

Local $intPortIndex = _GUICtrlListBox_FindInText($hListBox, $COMPorts[$intIndex]) ;Find ComPort in List

If $intPortIndex <> -1 Then

_GUICtrlListBox_SetSel ($hListBox, $intPortIndex)

EndIf

$hButton = ControlGetHandle($WindowTitle, $WindowText, "Button10") ;Get Control Handle for Next Button

ControlClick($WindowTitle, $WindowText, $hButton) ;Click the Button

$WindowText = "Your modem has been set up successfully."

WinWait($WindowTitle,$WindowText)

$hButton = ControlGetHandle($WindowTitle, $WindowText, "Button11") ;Get Control Handle for Finish Button

ControlClick($WindowTitle, $WindowText, $hButton) ;Click the Button

EndFunc

Add WinPE RAM Disk to Windows 7 Boot Menu

November 20, 2014 / Chris Chisholm / 0 Comments

http://r2cc.blogspot.ca/2010/06/adding-winpe-boot-to-windows-7-boot.html

Windows Firewall and Port Settings for Client Computers in Configuration Manager 2012

September 11, 2014 / Chris Chisholm / 0 Comments

Here is a quick link regarding Firewall ports used by SCCM 2012

http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=391457

Get rid of all junk before Sysprep and Capture when creating a reference image in MDT

August 28, 2014 / Chris Chisholm / 0 Comments

Here is a Post from Mikael Nystrom on streamlining a Windows Reference Image

http://deploymentbunny.com/2014/06/05/nice-to-know-get-rid-of-all-junk-before-sysprep-and-capture-when-creating-a-reference-image-in-mdt/

Deploying Surface Pro 3 Pen and OneNote Tips

July 23, 2014 / Chris Chisholm / 0 Comments

Here is some information regarding deploying Surface Pro 3 devices…

http://blogs.technet.com/b/askcore/archive/2014/07/15/deploying-surface-pro-3-pen-and-onenote-tips.aspx