Martin Zugec

Of course. WMIC is just simplified access to WMI classes using MSXML. So if your WMIC commands dont work, you should try using direct access (e.g. wmic path win32_process etc.). If you got problem directly with WMI, you need to recompile your mof repository. I will post you solution, if you will include details about your problem

Which OS?

Your syntax will work - just add to the next row :next E.g. FOR %%i IN (C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z) DO IF EXIST %%i:\whatever.txt SET CDROM=%%i: && goto SkipDetection :SkipDetection

Big difference will be between xbox 2 and ps3 in universality - Microsoft is planning to make xbox 2 more similar to today xbox + XBMC then to "only" gaming console...

The question is - WMI or WMIC?

It is common these days to create partnerships with spyware vendors, I must say I am quite scared about this. For example Spybot got "partnership" with Hotbar... BTW about entries in spybot, it dont need to mean anything - for example I after removing ASEP point keep the spyware files - most spyware check before installing and if it found its files, it will skip installations. So if you found something on your computer after cleaning it (with anything, spybot, msas etc.), dont blame your antispyware product

It is not possible because security reasons... This was quite often trick for creating false links, look at this link: http://www.microsoft.com:updates@myevilsite.com That was the reason why microsoft remove this functionality (it was before SP2 with one hotfix)

2Neil: In case you dont have permission, you cant shutdown pcs - ask your administrator a.) to give you permission to shutdown computers through GP b.) to run script for you using secondary logon, e.g. using scheduled tasks

My solution: In unattend.txt I got ComputerName=**COMPNAME** Before starting installation, I search&replace this value with anything I want (e.g. from command parameter, look in file for MAC&PCName data etc.)

Feedback please I tried it few times and it worked (show it on one presentation and received tons of thank email), so hope so it will help you, too... BTW for debugging WU problems - what can you see in you windows update log?

2N3xu5: Look at my blog (martinzugec.blogdrive.com), I posted to script to solve SP2 WU problems... BTW are you sure it is a problem? Oneless talked about it - isnt it just queuing job to bits queue? Simple way to find out - did the hotfixes installed or not?

About migrating setttings, have a look at free tool from Microsoft - USMT (User State Migration Tool), it is really great and powerfull... Maybe creating GUI for common users would be good idea (so it will create inf files automatically)

Specially Textpad and extensions for unattended installations from Jerry Honeycutt

I am using Crimson Editor, great tool (but it will probably be over featured for you)

But I still think it is best for you to use subinacl command to deny access for your users - they wont be able to switch it back, because there is no gui for this (except using policy scanning, which is quite hard for common user)

BTW Include switch /failfast:on - it will ping computer before trying to connect, e.g. it will be much faster if there is lot of computers offline

Every command can read from text file First syntax is for /f "usebackq" %%i IN (`type computers.txt`) DO wmic /node:%%i service where name="test" get state second (wmic native) is wmic /node:@computers.txt service where name="test" get state

BTW if you want to shut down remote machine, you MUST have permission to do so! Try simple command wmic /node:name_of_remote_pc os where cdname="name_of_remote_pc" call shutdown If this command wont work for you, you dont have rights and there is no application that will help you (so you must speak with your administrator). If it will work for you, I will create small script, that will shutdown all your pcs

Neil, you dont need to install psshutdown, you can run it remotely. Easiest way to accomplish your task is to create small batch for Win32_OperatingSystem, I can help you if you need... It will solve your problem with autoshutdown... About WOL - it is not job for network specialist Only if you are talking about ip helper. Go and have a look at my blog, I posted about WOL pevious month...

You are not using the command with right syntax: robocopy c:\a c:\b to copy files robocopy /s c:\a c:\b to copy files + directories

Or create script with subinacl to change their access rights to this services... I dont believe there is end user that will be able to change this settings.

For more complex copying command use robocopy from resource kit - it is really great tool! Microsoft released tools in this order (Easy_to_use ---> more robust) Copy - xcopy - robocopy

Wmic /node:name_of_pc1,name_of_pc2 /failfast:on service etc... What I wanted to say is it will be not running on workstations, but on your administrators PC. And use it with reporting to html form...

rikgale: It is extremely usefull - it is variable containing path to running script, the main difference between %cd% is, that it is also working if you run script from UNC path...

You could create quite simple WMI script... Or (in your case) if you are not familiar with scripting use wmic ...