Update 8/12/2015: I’ve determined that the problem is due to my attempts at creating a custom Windows.UI.Logon.pri file to display a logon screen background image. Neither the utility nor the PowerShell script referenced below create a Windows.UI.Logon.pri file that is acceptable to Windows. In the meantime, I’ve decided to just eliminate the “Hero” wallpaper in […]
Microsoft UE-V 2.1 causes Offline Files to transition to offline mode on startup
I recently worked with Microsoft to resolve a problem in our Windows 8.1 environment where Group Policy Preference Drive Mappings to shares on the DFS were failing when users logged in immediately after a computer restart. Through the use of procmon boot logging, we were able to identify that the ApplySettingsTemplateCatalog.exe process, which is part […]
Creating a operating system-based collection query rule for Windows 10 in SCCM 2012
This is just a quick post on creating a operating system-based collection query rule for Windows 10 in SCCM 2012. In preparation for the release of Windows 10, I have been working on an OSD task sequence that applies the Windows 10 Enterprise Insider Preview and creating collections in SCCM. There are a number of […]
Practical administration of Internet Explorer ActiveX controls using Group Policy
This article is intended for systems administrators who use Group Policy/Group Policy Preferences to manage computers in a domain environment. Among the many challenges faced by Windows desktop engineers, configuring Internet Explorer in a corporate environment to provide a good balance of security and convenience stands out as particularly difficult to get right. I cannot […]
Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5 fails to install on Windows 8.1 Enterprise with Update (x64)
Late in 2014, I ran into a problem installing Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5 on Windows 8.1 Enterprise with Update (x64) through an SCCM 2012 R2 Build and Capture task sequence. I was following Microsoft’s instructions at Installing the .NET Framework 3.5 on Windows 8 or 8.1 to first copy the sources\sxs directory from the Windows […]
Resolving “File not found” errors when opening OpenText eDOCS DM documents in Internet Explorer in a Citrix environment
A problem arises in Citrix when Internet Explorer (iexplore.exe) is specified as a launch method for a file type in OpenText eDOCS DM and the full path to the executable is not specified. For example, assume that Microsoft Visio Viewer 2010 or Visio Viewer 2013 is installed on a Citrix server and Internet Explorer is […]
Microsoft Security Update KB2984976, released on October 14, 2014, causes multiple restarts when applied during an SCCM Task Sequence
Microsoft Security Update for Windows 7 for x64-based Systems (KB2984976), titled RDP 8.0 update for restricted administration on Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008 R2 and released on October 14, 2014, as one of that month’s Patch Tuesday updates, appears to cause multiple restarts when applied during the Install Software Updates step within a System […]
Microsoft Security Update KB2965788, released on June 10, 2014, requires multiple restarts when applied during an SCCM Task Sequence
Microsoft Security Update for Windows 7 for x64-based Systems (KB2965788), which was released on June 10, 2014, as one of that month’s Patch Tuesday updates and titled MS14-030: Description of the security update for Remote Desktop Security Release for Windows: June 10, 2014, appears to cause multiple restarts when applied during the Install Software Updates […]
Microsoft .NET Framework 4.5.2 installation fails during SCCM OSD Task Sequence
I was running into a problem with the installation of Microsoft .NET Framework 4.5.2 during an SCCM 2012 SP1 build and capture Task Sequence, both in Windows 7 and Windows 8.1, wherein the installer was running but the log files were not being created. I was using the Application model in SCCM and executing the […]
How to paste into eBay’s password reset form
After the eBay database breach, all users are being asked to change their passwords. However, many people are rightfully complaining that the password reset form prevents them from pasting into the form fields, which makes it difficult to use long, complex passwords. Although, there has also been much criticism of eBay’s password length and complexity […]