Group Policy Links

Shows the reg keys and data values associated with policies

http://gpsearch.azurewebsites.net

Group Policy Survival Guide
http://social.technet.microsoft.com/wiki/contents/articles/4715.group-policy-survival-guide.aspx


Common (annoying) Polices

DisableRegistryTools
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System
https://gpsearch.azurewebsites.net/#4756

Also see

https://admx.help

OneDrive for Business not syncing files

Had a really annoying time recently trying to get OneDrive for Business (ODFB) running on a Windows 8.1 PC with OneDrive (personal) running.

Any new empty folders would be synced but files either on the  PC or already in the cloud would fail.  A red cross appeared and viewing the sync problems would completely unhelpfully display Credentials Needed.

After scanning forums on the issue I tried the below in various order and numerous times.

• Changing the time zone on the ODFB settings to match the client
• Deleting C:\Users\username\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Office\Spw and C:\Users\username\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Office\15.0\OfficeFileCache
  Followed by
• Killing groove.exe msouc.exe msosync.exe
• Getting rid of all the Generic User Credentials for the logged in user.
• Signing out the Office 2013 apps from the Office 365 account.
• Rebooting.

Nothing worked so I shut down and went to bed.  A day later I booted the machine up and was shocked to see ODFB working and OneDrive with an error and not synced!

It turned out that somehow (probably due to my messing around above) the local machine account in Windows 8.1 had lost its association with the personal microsoft account which is used to supply the built in OneDrive with credentials.  I simply reassociated the local machine account with the peronal microsoft account and OneDrive was then operating.  Both were working at the same time.

So I don't know exactly how I fixed it but I did eventually.

Clone to your hearts content. Your VM SIDs can be the same.

I was bought up believing machine SIDs must be different or the world would end one day.  No one new why or when but it obviously would.  If all your machines have the same SID it is just asking for trouble right?  Well no.  It turns out it is actually not a problem at all.  But don't take my word for it.  This chap really knows what he's talking about.

I've posted this item because I've read it before but I always fret about cloning things for no good reason.

http://blogs.technet.com/b/markrussinovich/archive/2009/11/03/3291024.aspx

WMI Code Creator and Tools

Code Creator
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=8572

Tools - this link has now been removed.  I think it is time to take copies for the blog......
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=24045

Windows Versions

Windows NT variants 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_NT#Releases


All Windows versions
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_Microsoft_Windows_versions


Windows N versions do not contain Media Player. It can be installed after the OS installation but it is not present as as a defult component. (In compliance with the European Commission Decision - goes back to XP. Seehttp://support.microsoft.com/kb/886540).

Windows K has neither Media Player nor Windows Messenger. (In compliance with the Korean Fair Trade Commission order).

Main Windows release dates
24-Aug-95 Windows 95
24-Aug-96 Windows NT 4.0
25-Jun-98 Windows 98
05-May-99 Windows 98 SE
17-Feb-00 Windows 2000
14-Sep-00 Windows ME
25-Oct-01 Windows XP
31-Oct-02 Windows XP Media Center Edition
28 March 2003[2] Windows XP 64-Bit Edition (v2003)
24-Apr-03 Windows Server 2003
25-Apr-05 Windows XP Professional x64 Edition
06-Dec-05 Windows Server 2003 R2
30-Nov-06 Windows Vista for Business use
30-Jan-07 Windows Vista for Home use; released in fifty countries
27-Feb-08 Windows Server 2008
22-Oct-09 Windows 7
22-Oct-09 Windows Server 2008 R2
04-Sep-12 Windows Server 2012
26-Oct-12 Windows 8
18-Oct-13 Windows 8.1
18-Oct-13 Windows Server 2012 R2
29-Jul-15         Windows 10
27-Sep-16 Windows Server 2016

General Scripting Resources

Scripting Clinic
https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms974598.aspx

Inspiration 9.2 IE on App-V 5.0

Inspiration 9.2 IE Appears straightforward but there are various considerations.
The setup program calls .\Net Support\Workstation support.exe which installs an application specific PDF printer object called Inspiration 9 PDF Driver which is derived from a NovaPDF 7 install.  The Inspiration software has an Export to PDF File item in the file menu which directly uses the specific printer object.  If the printer object is not present the attempts to use Export to PDF File produce a message: "The Inspiration PDF export driver is not installed. Please reinstall Inspiration before trying this operation."
Inspiration can print to other PDF printer objects in the normal way.

.\Net Support\Workstation support.exe also prompts the user to go and install QuickTime in order to "use Inspiration's multimedia capabilities" ooooo multimedia.

To deal with the QuickTime issue.  Download the  QuickTimeInstaller.exe and copy out the AppleApplicationSupport.msi and QuickTime.msi ready to run during the sequencing.

Training Videos on the help menu will not work if the RSTP protocol is blocked.

Appsense can be used to disable the (File) Export to PDF File, (Help) Register Online and Get QuickTime menu items.

Application settings are managed in files in the roaming profile.  Appsense personalisation can handle these if required. {CSIDL_APPDATA}\Inspiration Software\Inspiration IE\9.2

Sequencing

•  When you do the sequencing run let .\Net Support\Workstation support.exe run and create the printer object before you start sequencing.  
• The start the sequencing install and install the two apple MSIs
• Run the Inspiration 9 IE Installer.exe use defaults and skip the obvious bits re QuickTime and the printer
• Install the App to the strange default C:\ProgramData\Inspiration 9 IE
• Enter the Licensing Name, Organiastion and Serial Number
• Click the Do Not Register
• Close the app.

Delete the quicktime and any other unwanted applications in the shortcuts and FTA tab before saving.  The QuickTime functionality for inspiration is left intact and videos can be inserted and played back as required.