If you're trying to script a restart function for users, you'll unfortunately find that shutdown.exe does not work for non-Administrators, nor does psshutdown. Shutdown.exe requires privileges for the shutdown process and psshutdown.exe requires privileges to add and start services. One of many ways around this problem is to create a visual basic script. This also offers the … [Read more...]
Scripting Windows Firewall Exceptions
Windows XP SP2 and beyond use Windows Firewall to prevent from outside attack. If you have a legitimate program that needs access you can add an exception to the computer for that program. You can do this through the Control Panel on each machine, the Group Policy for multiple machines (more info from Microsoft), or through a script for maximum flexibility. The scripting … [Read more...]
Advanced Batch Scripting
I'd like to share four utilities that can improve your batch (DOS) scripting by making them more user-friendly, more versatile, and more dynamic. With these tools, you'll gain a variety of abilities that allows you to do more with batch scripting and make your utilities more polished/enjoyable to the end users. The four utilities are: Sleep, BATtoEXE, CHP (Create Hidden … [Read more...]
Make Adobe Reader and Adobe Acrobat use “Print as Image” setting by default
For certain printers, certain PDF documents, and certain print setups, using the "Print as Image" setting in Adobe Acrobat and Adobe Reader is the only way to reliably get a print job to succeed. To get to this setting, you would go File -> 1. Print -> 2. Advanced (button) -> 3. Print as Image (checkbox) -> 4. Ok -> 5. Ok (PDF prints). This is a rather buried … [Read more...]
No Wireless Networks Detected After Reimaging
After using Symantec Ghost to re-image a laptop with Windows XP and a wireless card, for some reason, it will be unable to detect any wireless networks. The card is on and multiple wireless networks are available in the area (confirmed by another laptop of the exact same model that hasn't been re-imaged yet). This problem has reproduced itself on a Fujitsu and HP laptop with an … [Read more...]