Windows 8.1 (like Windows 8) uses the Metro styled Start Screen. Programmatically adding to the screen has proved to be a real problem for organisations that have adopted for an early move to the new operating systems.
As workstations are built in controlled environments, Group Policy restrictions will tend to prevent elements of an Operating System build from occuring as expected.
A common problem with SCCM can be the long delays after OS deployment for a full compliment of applications to be installed.
Full Disk Backup – MDT 2012
Microsoft’s Deployment Toolkit continues to surprise me with what a flexible product it is. One area that can be enhanced is with a full machine backup.
The Desired Configuration Management within SCCM 2012 relies upon Operating System Expressions when constructing rules for software deployment. The Requirements tab of an Application "Deployment Type". When scripting the creation of SCCM Applications (either with Powershell of C#) the Operation System representations have to be written in a specific format to be valid.
I recently was on site in an organisation that needed the ability to remotely run commands against each of their deployed workstations. As the organisation didn't have a software deployment system, powershell remoting appeared to be the answer.
There is a problem however. Even though Group Policy allows Windows Remote Management to be enabled on remote machines, you'll find it doesn't actually work.
Over the years I have benefited greatly from the work shared by other techs via the web. I'd like the opportunity to share some of the utilities, notes and tools I've developed over the years in that spirit. Best Regards Laurie Rhodes, Melbourne Australia