Deploy Office 2013 with Group Policy – The Simple Way!
You would think that Microsoft would make deploying Office 2013 with Group Policy easy! Well, they don't - at least not in a traditional sense. To quote Microsoft, " the setup architecture for Office...
View ArticleHow to Uninstall Java with Group Policy Startup Scripts
Deploying Java can be a real pain! While using this Java Deployment Guide, we recently ran into an issue where an updated version of Java would not install through Group Policy. What we needed was an...
View ArticleThe Ultimate EXE Silent Switch Finder
Last Friday, we had our lunch and learn on software extraction. One awesome benefit of these events are the tricks and tools we introduce to each other. Focus 25 IT admins on a single topic and you'll...
View Article3 Great Tips for Real-World MSI Packaging
No matter the application, I’ve always had three issues with MSIs. First,editing the MSI is a pain. Orca makes this a little less painful but the tool is starting to show some age. Second, distributing...
View ArticleHow to Stop a MSI from Rebooting
I don't like it when technology tells me what to do. I like to ignore three things in particular: red lights, low fuel warnings, and that dang "You Must Reboot Now!" message after installing an...
View ArticleAdding File, Registry, and Shortcut Changes to Your Deployments
The more that we automate, the harder our problems become. Take application management as an example. We now deploy applications with SCCM or Group Policy. We configure first-run settings, user...
View ArticleDeploying OneDrive (SkyDrive) in the Enterprise Environment
OneDrive (the service formally known as SkyDrive) can be one of the greatest assets that a small/mid size organization has! With just a bit of setup and planning, any IT department can have hosted...
View ArticleBuilding an MSI from Scratch with Smart Packager
For years, I only used Before/After snapshot tools to automate my application installs. Those tools can only take you so far, especially when dealing with archaic installers and other software...
View ArticleTelepathic Group Policy Objects and WMI Awesomeness
What if Group Policy could read your mind? WMI Filters can make that possible. They can query your computers and apply GPOs if certain conditions exist. You can install software when a user connects a...
View ArticleDeploy Google Chrome for Work with Group Policy
Google Chrome for Work is a simple enterprise wide deployment of Google Chrome. The installation for Chrome is an MSI. It can be silently deployment with Group Policy Software Installation, SCCM, etc....
View ArticleAppLocker as Your Antivirus – How Whitelisting will Transform Your Security
A few years ago, we had a horrible conficker infection. The total infected count climbed to just under 1000 machines. We couldn't wipe machines faster than the malware could spread. Eventually, we took...
View ArticleA Shoutout to Reliability Monitor
Ever get calls about a computer acting up and everyone swears nothing has changed? Yeah, me too. Problems like this make me love the reliability monitor tool because I no longer have to trust the user...
View ArticleDeploying Java 8 101 – Or why is Java still around?
Java is like a toddler. When ignored, it demands attention. We all know that it is going to act out somehow. And it probably pooped itself - I'm not checking though. For us administrators, it becomes...
View ArticleConcurrent Remote Desktop for Windows 10 with RDPWrapper
Concurrent Remote Desktop for Windows 10 with RDPWrapper If you have never used concurrent remote desktop to support your Windows clients, this post is about to make your day! Concurrent remote desktop...
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