Windows

Windows 8.1 Uptake Will Be Slow for Enterprise

Opinion: Windows 8.1 was officially released on the 18th October 2013. Many people had their hands on it a few weeks earlier, due to Microsoft releasing the RTM version to Technet and MSDN subscribers. People have been waiting for this release, especially with the mixed press around Windows 8. Windows 8.1 seems to address a lot (but not all) of the general complaints out there in consumer land, but for Enterprise it’s a different story.

Windows 8.1 fixes several key complaints – The start button is back to try and lessen the blow in changing how stuff works for users, the Windows App Store now supports a proxy using NTLM Authentication (yes, TMG/ISA!) and many other benefits.

The big show stopper is going to be Internet Explorer. This is one of the main reasons XP has lasted so long in the Enterprise space, when so many companies were stuck with IE6 and couldn’t jump to Vista (OK, nobody really wanted to for other reasons too) as Vista came with IE7 and couldn’t be downgraded. Windows 7 had the same issue, out of the box you get IE8. All it takes is one key Enterprise application that doesn’t support anything above IE6, and you’re stuck on XP until that issue goes away. Now maybe the application works on something newer, but if you run into any issues your huge support dollars are useless, as you’re now running it in an unsupported way.

IE6 finally started to die off and everyone’s now been jumping to Windows 7. The Windows 7 jump forced IE8 onto everyone, and most Enterprise applications touted IE8 as the new standard browser they supported. All was well for a while, and in the meantime IE9 and IE10 were released.

Software developers have been getting better at this overall, and usually IE10 will now be a supported browser. IE10 had been coming since April 2011 and was released September/October 2012 for Windows Server 2012/Windows 8 respectively, and then Windows 7 February 2013. That’s a long window for software developers to start getting on board and supporting it.

Often for support, a product upgrade is required. This can set back a company a reasonable amount, depending how complicated, costly and time consuming the upgrade is – and how other projects are affected.

Windows 8 was brand new when IE10 came out, but Enterprise generally held off due to the major UI change for users, waiting for Windows 8.1 to fix it.

Jump forward to June 2013, and IE11 is first released as a developer preview. Only 3 months from that, and it’s now bundled in with Windows 8.1 and Windows Server 2012 R2. This is an incredibly small window in comparison to IE10, so hardly any developer will support this for quite some time (many are still catching up to IE10).

So where does this leave the SOE for an Enterprise? Stuck on Windows 7. They don’t want to jump to Windows 8 because 8.1 fixes so much, but they can’t jump to 8.1 either because hardly any Enterprise applications will support the default IE11.

Why not just use another browser? Firstly, you need to use one that all the software developers support, and then you’ll run into similar issues around version support and control. Just because Google Chrome does lots of little updates doesn’t make it more stable, you don’t know which next update could potentially break a function, and again you’re stuck with no support by running a version higher than what’s officially recognised.

Why not just use a different software developer? Enterprise applications are often aimed at particular industries, and often there’s a single leader. That generally means you have to start losing functionality, spend huge dollars and time to move away from the product you’ve used, get all your staff retrained and so on. From someone up top, this just seems like a waste of money if you’ve got something that works now.

So, what’s the real solution here? Hopefully competition will play a factor where more versatile software developers can make great products and beat the slower moving ones, but that often takes a long time to occur (the speed of a glacier comes to mind). Solutions like Citrix XenApp or Microsoft App-V for deploying a sandboxed browser to run the app virtually/hosted is a decent workaround, but adds extra complexity.

I think out of necessity, existing software developers will start to adapt faster. Microsoft’s model is moving towards yearly updates for all their products, and that will keep getting shorter and quicker to keep up with the newer players to the industry. Customers will start making this sort of support as high up on the list of demands, rather than asking and accepting what they’re given.

Windows 7 will still be seen as the new XP for a while, but we shouldn’t see such a huge % of Windows 7 PCs out there when it’s life span comes to an end (2020 if you were wondering).

It is still a long way off, but compared to where we are now versus several years ago, we’re doing a lot better. Windows 8.1 will get there, but not until all the legacy apps support IE11.

Update 04/11/2013 – Interesting writeup from Michael Stum, from his website ‘Not Rocket Science’ called “Google Chrome is not usable in a corporate Windows environment” http://stum.de/2013/11/01/chrome-is-not-usable-in-corporate-windows/ – thanks @nickstugr for the link!

SCCM 2012 SP1 – Antimalware Policies Issue

Hi,
I’ve just completed upgrading my System Center 2012 environment to Service Pack 1, and seem to have run into a bug. Any existing Antimalware Policy (under Assets and Compliance > Endpoint Protection > Antimalware Policies) can’t be modified. When you try to modify them, you get an error saying “Unhandled exception has occured in your application. If you click Continue, the application will ignore this error and attempt to continue. If you click Quit, the application will close immediately. The SMS provider reported an error.”

endpoint
There is then a large amount of unexciting details which I’ll put at the end of this post in case anyone searches for this issue. I can’t see anything of value in it, since it’s a “Generic failure”.

The best I can offer is a workaround. I couldn’t copy the existing policies as nothing happened when I tried. Newly created policies work fine, but rather than re-creating the existing ones, it will let you export each one to an XML file, then re-import it back in. Once that’s done, then just deploy the policy to the same collection as the old one, and finally delete the old broken policy. Hopefully you don’t have too many to do! If anyone comes up with a proper fix feel free to share.

As a side note, it looks like Microsoft missed removing the ‘Beta’ part of this setup message in the RTM version. It had me worried for a moment that I’d just installed the beta!

sccm

See the end of this message for details on invoking 
 just-in-time (JIT) debugging instead of this dialog box.
************** Exception Text **************
 Microsoft.ConfigurationManagement.ManagementProvider.WqlQueryEngine.WqlQueryException: The SMS Provider reported an error. ---> System.Management.ManagementException: Generic failure 
    at System.Management.ManagementException.ThrowWithExtendedInfo(ManagementStatus errorCode)
    at System.Management.ManagementObject.Put(PutOptions options)
    at Microsoft.ConfigurationManagement.ManagementProvider.WqlQueryEngine.WqlResultObject.Put(ReportProgress progressReport)
    --- End of inner exception stack trace ---
    at Microsoft.ConfigurationManagement.ManagementProvider.WqlQueryEngine.WqlResultObject.Put(ReportProgress progressReport)
    at Microsoft.ConfigurationManagement.ManagementProvider.WqlQueryEngine.WqlResultObject.Put()
    at Microsoft.ConfigurationManagement.AdminConsole.ClientAgentSettings.HomePageControl.SaveCustomizedSettingObject(List`1 settingObjects)
    at Microsoft.ConfigurationManagement.AdminConsole.ClientAgentSettings.HomePageControl.ApplyChanges(Control& errorControl, Boolean& showError)
    at Microsoft.ConfigurationManagement.AdminConsole.SmsPageControl.OnApplyChanges()
    at Microsoft.ConfigurationManagement.AdminConsole.SccmPageControlDialog.Put()
    at Microsoft.ConfigurationManagement.AdminConsole.SccmPageControlDialog.OnOk()
    at Microsoft.ConfigurationManagement.AdminConsole.SccmPageControlDialog.buttonOK_Click(Object sender, EventArgs e)
    at System.Windows.Forms.Control.OnClick(EventArgs e)
    at System.Windows.Forms.Button.OnClick(EventArgs e)
    at System.Windows.Forms.Button.OnMouseUp(MouseEventArgs mevent)
    at System.Windows.Forms.Control.WmMouseUp(Message& m, MouseButtons button, Int32 clicks)
    at System.Windows.Forms.Control.WndProc(Message& m)
    at System.Windows.Forms.ButtonBase.WndProc(Message& m)
    at System.Windows.Forms.Button.WndProc(Message& m)
    at System.Windows.Forms.Control.ControlNativeWindow.OnMessage(Message& m)
    at System.Windows.Forms.Control.ControlNativeWindow.WndProc(Message& m)
    at System.Windows.Forms.NativeWindow.Callback(IntPtr hWnd, Int32 msg, IntPtr wparam, IntPtr lparam)
************** Loaded Assemblies **************
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 ----------------------------------------
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 ----------------------------------------
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 ----------------------------------------
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 ----------------------------------------
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 ----------------------------------------
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 ----------------------------------------
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 ----------------------------------------
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 ----------------------------------------
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 ----------------------------------------
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 ----------------------------------------
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 ----------------------------------------
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 ----------------------------------------
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 ----------------------------------------
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 ----------------------------------------
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 ----------------------------------------
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 ----------------------------------------
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 ----------------------------------------
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 ----------------------------------------
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 ----------------------------------------
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 ----------------------------------------
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 ----------------------------------------
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 ----------------------------------------
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 ----------------------------------------
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 ----------------------------------------
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 ----------------------------------------
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 ----------------------------------------
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 ----------------------------------------
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 ----------------------------------------
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 ----------------------------------------
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 AdminUI.FirewallPolicy
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     Assembly Version: 5.0.0.0
     Win32 Version: 5.0.7804.1000
     CodeBase: file:///C:/Program%20Files%20(x86)/Microsoft%20Configuration%20Manager/AdminConsole/bin/AdminUI.Driver.DLL
 ----------------------------------------
 AdminUI.DriverPackage
     Assembly Version: 5.0.0.0
     Win32 Version: 5.0.7804.1000
     CodeBase: file:///C:/Program%20Files%20(x86)/Microsoft%20Configuration%20Manager/AdminConsole/bin/AdminUI.DriverPackage.DLL
 ----------------------------------------
 AdminUI.Subscriptions
     Assembly Version: 5.0.0.0
     Win32 Version: 5.0.7804.1000
     CodeBase: file:///C:/Program%20Files%20(x86)/Microsoft%20Configuration%20Manager/AdminConsole/bin/AdminUI.Subscriptions.DLL
 ----------------------------------------
 AdminUI.Queries
     Assembly Version: 5.0.0.0
     Win32 Version: 5.0.7804.1000
     CodeBase: file:///C:/Program%20Files%20(x86)/Microsoft%20Configuration%20Manager/AdminConsole/bin/AdminUI.Queries.DLL
 ----------------------------------------
 AdminUI.SrsReporting
     Assembly Version: 5.0.0.0
     Win32 Version: 5.0.7804.1000
     CodeBase: file:///C:/Program%20Files%20(x86)/Microsoft%20Configuration%20Manager/AdminConsole/bin/AdminUI.SrsReporting.DLL
 ----------------------------------------
 AdminUI.SiteHierarchyVisualization
     Assembly Version: 5.0.0.0
     Win32 Version: 5.0.7804.1000
     CodeBase: file:///C:/Program%20Files%20(x86)/Microsoft%20Configuration%20Manager/AdminConsole/bin/AdminUI.SiteHierarchyVisualization.DLL
 ----------------------------------------
 AdminUI.SystemStatus
     Assembly Version: 5.0.0.0
     Win32 Version: 5.0.7804.1000
     CodeBase: file:///C:/Program%20Files%20(x86)/Microsoft%20Configuration%20Manager/AdminConsole/bin/AdminUI.SystemStatus.DLL
 ----------------------------------------
 AdminUI.ClientOperation
     Assembly Version: 5.0.0.0
     Win32 Version: 5.0.7804.1000
     CodeBase: file:///C:/Program%20Files%20(x86)/Microsoft%20Configuration%20Manager/AdminConsole/bin/AdminUI.ClientOperation.DLL
 ----------------------------------------
 AdminUI.ClientHealth
     Assembly Version: 5.0.0.0
     Win32 Version: 5.0.7804.1000
     CodeBase: file:///C:/Program%20Files%20(x86)/Microsoft%20Configuration%20Manager/AdminConsole/bin/AdminUI.ClientHealth.DLL
 ----------------------------------------
 AdminUI.ContentMonitoring
     Assembly Version: 5.0.0.0
     Win32 Version: 5.0.7804.1000
     CodeBase: file:///C:/Program%20Files%20(x86)/Microsoft%20Configuration%20Manager/AdminConsole/bin/AdminUI.ContentMonitoring.DLL
 ----------------------------------------
 AdminUI.AntiMalware
     Assembly Version: 5.0.0.0
     Win32 Version: 5.0.7804.1000
     CodeBase: file:///C:/Program%20Files%20(x86)/Microsoft%20Configuration%20Manager/AdminConsole/bin/AdminUI.AntiMalware.DLL
 ----------------------------------------
 AdminUI.CloudServiceRoles
     Assembly Version: 5.0.0.0
     Win32 Version: 5.0.7804.1000
     CodeBase: file:///C:/Program%20Files%20(x86)/Microsoft%20Configuration%20Manager/AdminConsole/bin/AdminUI.CloudServiceRoles.DLL
 ----------------------------------------
 AdminUI.SiteHierarchy
     Assembly Version: 5.0.0.0
     Win32 Version: 5.0.7804.1000
     CodeBase: file:///C:/Program%20Files%20(x86)/Microsoft%20Configuration%20Manager/AdminConsole/bin/AdminUI.SiteHierarchy.DLL
 ----------------------------------------
 AdminUI.SiteBoundaries
     Assembly Version: 5.0.0.0
     Win32 Version: 5.0.7804.1000
     CodeBase: file:///C:/Program%20Files%20(x86)/Microsoft%20Configuration%20Manager/AdminConsole/bin/AdminUI.SiteBoundaries.DLL
 ----------------------------------------
 AdminUI.ExchangeConnector
     Assembly Version: 5.0.0.0
     Win32 Version: 5.0.7804.1000
     CodeBase: file:///C:/Program%20Files%20(x86)/Microsoft%20Configuration%20Manager/AdminConsole/bin/AdminUI.ExchangeConnector.DLL
 ----------------------------------------
 AdminUI.Addresses
     Assembly Version: 5.0.0.0
     Win32 Version: 5.0.7804.1000
     CodeBase: file:///C:/Program%20Files%20(x86)/Microsoft%20Configuration%20Manager/AdminConsole/bin/AdminUI.Addresses.DLL
 ----------------------------------------
 AdminUI.ActiveDirectory
     Assembly Version: 5.0.0.0
     Win32 Version: 5.0.7804.1000
     CodeBase: file:///C:/Program%20Files%20(x86)/Microsoft%20Configuration%20Manager/AdminConsole/bin/AdminUI.ActiveDirectory.DLL
 ----------------------------------------
 AdminUI.AzureServices
     Assembly Version: 5.0.0.0
     Win32 Version: 5.0.7804.1000
     CodeBase: file:///C:/Program%20Files%20(x86)/Microsoft%20Configuration%20Manager/AdminConsole/bin/AdminUI.AzureServices.DLL
 ----------------------------------------
 AdminUI.RbacUser
     Assembly Version: 5.0.0.0
     Win32 Version: 5.0.7804.1000
     CodeBase: file:///C:/Program%20Files%20(x86)/Microsoft%20Configuration%20Manager/AdminConsole/bin/AdminUI.RbacUser.DLL
 ----------------------------------------
 AdminUI.RbacRole
     Assembly Version: 5.0.0.0
     Win32 Version: 5.0.7804.1000
     CodeBase: file:///C:/Program%20Files%20(x86)/Microsoft%20Configuration%20Manager/AdminConsole/bin/AdminUI.RbacRole.DLL
 ----------------------------------------
 AdminUI.RbacCategory
     Assembly Version: 5.0.0.0
     Win32 Version: 5.0.7804.1000
     CodeBase: file:///C:/Program%20Files%20(x86)/Microsoft%20Configuration%20Manager/AdminConsole/bin/AdminUI.RbacCategory.DLL
 ----------------------------------------
 AdminUI.Package
     Assembly Version: 5.0.0.0
     Win32 Version: 5.0.7804.1000
     CodeBase: file:///C:/Program%20Files%20(x86)/Microsoft%20Configuration%20Manager/AdminConsole/bin/AdminUI.Package.DLL
 ----------------------------------------
 AdminUI.Certificate
     Assembly Version: 5.0.0.0
     Win32 Version: 5.0.7804.1000
     CodeBase: file:///C:/Program%20Files%20(x86)/Microsoft%20Configuration%20Manager/AdminConsole/bin/AdminUI.Certificate.DLL
 ----------------------------------------
 AdminUI.SiteSystems
     Assembly Version: 5.0.0.0
     Win32 Version: 5.0.7804.1000
     CodeBase: file:///C:/Program%20Files%20(x86)/Microsoft%20Configuration%20Manager/AdminConsole/bin/AdminUI.SiteSystems.DLL
 ----------------------------------------
 AdminUI.HomePageView
     Assembly Version: 5.0.0.0
     Win32 Version: 5.0.7804.1000
     CodeBase: file:///C:/Program%20Files%20(x86)/Microsoft%20Configuration%20Manager/AdminConsole/bin/AdminUI.HomePageView.DLL
 ----------------------------------------
 Microsoft.EnterpriseManagement.UI.WpfViews.resources
     Assembly Version: 7.1.1000.0
     Win32 Version: 7.1.3825.0
     CodeBase: file:///C:/Program%20Files%20(x86)/Microsoft%20Configuration%20Manager/AdminConsole/bin/en/Microsoft.EnterpriseManagement.UI.WpfViews.resources.DLL
 ----------------------------------------
 AdminUI.ViewCommon
     Assembly Version: 5.0.0.0
     Win32 Version: 5.0.7804.1000
     CodeBase: file:///C:/Program%20Files%20(x86)/Microsoft%20Configuration%20Manager/AdminConsole/bin/AdminUI.ViewCommon.DLL
 ----------------------------------------
 rjyt54o0
     Assembly Version: 5.0.0.0
     Win32 Version: 4.0.30319.296 built by: RTMGDR
     CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/Microsoft.Net/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System/v4.0_4.0.0.0__b77a5c561934e089/System.dll
 ----------------------------------------
 AdminUI.AICustomizeCatalog
     Assembly Version: 5.0.0.0
     Win32 Version: 5.0.7804.1000
     CodeBase: file:///C:/Program%20Files%20(x86)/Microsoft%20Configuration%20Manager/AdminConsole/bin/AdminUI.AICustomizeCatalog.DLL
 ----------------------------------------
 AdminUI.AISoftwareProducts
     Assembly Version: 5.0.0.0
     Win32 Version: 5.0.7804.1000
     CodeBase: file:///C:/Program%20Files%20(x86)/Microsoft%20Configuration%20Manager/AdminConsole/bin/AdminUI.AISoftwareProducts.DLL
 ----------------------------------------
 AdminUI.ConsoleView
     Assembly Version: 5.0.0.0
     Win32 Version: 5.0.7804.1000
     CodeBase: file:///C:/Program%20Files%20(x86)/Microsoft%20Configuration%20Manager/AdminConsole/bin/AdminUI.ConsoleView.DLL
 ----------------------------------------
 AdminUI.External.Controls
     Assembly Version: 5.0.0.0
     Win32 Version: 5.0.7804.1000
     CodeBase: file:///C:/Program%20Files%20(x86)/Microsoft%20Configuration%20Manager/AdminConsole/bin/AdminUI.External.Controls.DLL
 ----------------------------------------
 kfizsrmn
     Assembly Version: 5.0.0.0
     Win32 Version: 4.0.30319.296 built by: RTMGDR
     CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/Microsoft.Net/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System/v4.0_4.0.0.0__b77a5c561934e089/System.dll
 ----------------------------------------
 System.Data
     Assembly Version: 4.0.0.0
     Win32 Version: 4.0.30319.237 (RTMGDR.030319-2300)
     CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/Microsoft.Net/assembly/GAC_32/System.Data/v4.0_4.0.0.0__b77a5c561934e089/System.Data.dll
 ----------------------------------------
 System.Numerics
     Assembly Version: 4.0.0.0
     Win32 Version: 4.0.30319.1 built by: RTMRel
     CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/Microsoft.Net/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System.Numerics/v4.0_4.0.0.0__b77a5c561934e089/System.Numerics.dll
 ----------------------------------------
 AdminUI.DetailPanel
     Assembly Version: 5.0.0.0
     Win32 Version: 5.0.7804.1000
     CodeBase: file:///C:/Program%20Files%20(x86)/Microsoft%20Configuration%20Manager/AdminConsole/bin/AdminUI.DetailPanel.DLL
 ----------------------------------------
 Accessibility
     Assembly Version: 4.0.0.0
     Win32 Version: 4.0.30319.1 built by: RTMRel
     CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/Microsoft.Net/assembly/GAC_MSIL/Accessibility/v4.0_4.0.0.0__b03f5f7f11d50a3a/Accessibility.dll
 ----------------------------------------
 AdminUI.DialogFoundation
     Assembly Version: 5.0.0.0
     Win32 Version: 5.0.7804.1000
     CodeBase: file:///C:/Program%20Files%20(x86)/Microsoft%20Configuration%20Manager/AdminConsole/bin/AdminUI.DialogFoundation.DLL
 ----------------------------------------
 Microsoft.ConfigurationManagement.DialogFramework
     Assembly Version: 5.0.0.0
     Win32 Version: 5.0.7804.1000
     CodeBase: file:///C:/Program%20Files%20(x86)/Microsoft%20Configuration%20Manager/AdminConsole/bin/Microsoft.ConfigurationManagement.DialogFramework.DLL
 ----------------------------------------
 a4b4t5qz
     Assembly Version: 5.0.0.0
     Win32 Version: 4.0.30319.296 built by: RTMGDR
     CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/Microsoft.Net/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System/v4.0_4.0.0.0__b77a5c561934e089/System.dll
 ----------------------------------------
 oruwugjd
     Assembly Version: 5.0.0.0
     Win32 Version: 4.0.30319.296 built by: RTMGDR
     CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/Microsoft.Net/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System/v4.0_4.0.0.0__b77a5c561934e089/System.dll
 ----------------------------------------
 ynd34e1y
     Assembly Version: 5.0.0.0
     Win32 Version: 4.0.30319.296 built by: RTMGDR
     CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/Microsoft.Net/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System/v4.0_4.0.0.0__b77a5c561934e089/System.dll
 ----------------------------------------
 AdminUI.Common
     Assembly Version: 5.0.0.0
     Win32 Version: 5.0.7804.1000
     CodeBase: file:///C:/Program%20Files%20(x86)/Microsoft%20Configuration%20Manager/AdminConsole/bin/AdminUI.Common.DLL
 ----------------------------------------
************** JIT Debugging **************
 To enable just-in-time (JIT) debugging, the .config file for this
 application or computer (machine.config) must have the
 jitDebugging value set in the system.windows.forms section.
 The application must also be compiled with debugging
 enabled.
For example:
<configuration>
     <system.windows.forms jitDebugging="true" />
 </configuration>
When JIT debugging is enabled, any unhandled exception
 will be sent to the JIT debugger registered on the computer
 rather than be handled by this dialog box.

Safe Mode from Windows To Go USB

Hi,
I’ve been having an issue where my Windows To Go USB (running Windows 8 of course) logs onto a black screen. Since I can’t do anything apart from wave the cursor. Want to get into Safe Mode? It’s not obvious on how to do this, so here’s how to get there:

You should have BitLocker enabled, so at startup it willl say “Bitlocker – Enter the password to unlock this drive”. Below this, you have two options. “Press Enter to continue” and “Press Esc for BitLocker Recovery’.
Both don’t sound helpful, but press Esc. From the BitLocker Recovery screen, you get another option down the bottom that says ‘Press Esc for more recovery options”.
Doing this gets you to a third screen that says ‘Recovery – There are no more BitLocker recovery options on your PC”.
From here, there is a final option of “Press F8 for Startup Settings”. Pressing F8 takes you back to the BitLocker password entry screen, but this time after entering your password you’ll finally see all the Startup Settings, including Safe Mode.

Windows 8 – Easy Admin Access

Hi,
One of the difficulties I’ve had with using Windows 8 is getting access to stuff. Stuff I’m used to accessing easily, like being able to edit a text file under C:\Program Files\. In Windows 8, on a non-domain connected PC and using a Windows Account, you can’t do this. Even if you’re an Administrator, and you’ve turned off User Access Control (UAC):

This gets frustrating very quickly. I was really baffled by this behaviour – why am I, as a local administrator on Windows 8 using a Windows Account, getting ‘Access Denied’ when trying to edit a text file under a Program Files folder??

I posted onto the Microsoft Technet forums here: http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/w8itprogeneral/thread/af7cfb87-769f-4789-b6ac-1894cc9ea581/ where I was advised that this was by design. The upside, was that I was told about a handy little feature on how to run anything as administrator easily. ‘Create New Task’ has a great little tickbox that says ‘Create this task with administrative privilidges’. I’m not sure why this is called ‘Create New Task’ as it looks exactly the same as the ‘Run’ window, even with the same text. To get this, open Task Manager and go to File > Create New Task.

You can run anything here just as you would from the ‘Run’ window, including ‘explorer’ which will bring up Windows Explorer, but with PROPER full Administrator access, finally allowing me to edit that text file I was going on about earlier.

Hopefully once you know this, you’ll also be less frustrated like me!

SCCM 2012 Unknown Computers

Hi,
While getting OSD (Operating System Deployment) working in SCCM 2012 I came across two little things.

First, I want to be able to specify the computer name as part of the deployment. Windows-noob has a great article on this, available here:
http://www.windows-noob.com/forums/index.php?/topic/5542-how-can-i-easily-prompt-for-a-computer-name-in-configuration-manager-2012/

It’s just specifying the variable OSDComputerName needs to be set for your Unknown Computers collection, which will work as long as you have your OSD task sequence advertised there too.

The second thing, which was more of an issue, was that my PC wasn’t detecting my PXE server after the first time, even though the OSD Task Sequence bombed out.

After reading this Microsoft TechNet thread: http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/configmanagerosd/thread/b4c4ff5e-8e9b-41fd-a4ee-f21d7daccaaf/ I did a search for ‘Unknown’ in my devices, where 2 items popped up. In the properties I checked the MAC address, and sure enough one of the entries matched my PC.

In SCCM 2007 it didn’t quite work this way, generally if it bombed out there would be no record and you could continually PXE boot as many times as you liked. In 2012, as soon as you get to the list of available task sequences, the ‘Unknown Computer’ record is created.

A bit annoying, but there you have it.