I will be doing a live 2 day VBScript class this fall in Las Vegas (Oct. 22 and 23). I’ll be covering ADSI, WMI, HTAs, WSF and more. This is a class for experienced VBScripters who want to take it to the next level. This is a hands on class with with labs and one…
Tag: Automation
WSH and VBScript Core: TFM is here
I thought I’d take a moment to let you know that my new book is finally available. WSH and VBScript Core: TFM (SAPIEN Press). This book is a complete reference to Windows Script Host and VBScript. My goal was to replace the official Microsoft documentation with something that a Windows administrator would actually fine useful….
PowerShell Mini-Conference
If you’ve got some free time in early November and want to get up to speed on PowerShell in the least amount of time, then come to Las Vegas. Don Jones (PoweShell MVP) and I will be running a 2 day PowerShell mini-conference. This will be an intense 2 days of hands-on PowerShell training. Bring…
Online Script Library Resources
If you’re like me, you prefer not to re-invent the wheel when working on a scripting solution. You’d prefer to find a script written by someone else that accomplishes the same task(s). You might be tempted to jump immediately to Google or Yahoo. Before you do, let me give you some other online resources you…
SAPIEN Scripting Makeover Contest
In case you missed it, or perhaps you’ve let it slide, you really need to take a look at the Scripting Makeover contest that SAPIEN Technologies is running. The contest winner gets over $20,000 in automation related products and services. Essentially, you submit your company or organization (there are some rules) and provide some adminisitrative…
Updated Logon Script Generator
Last fall I demonstrated an HTA I had developed to rapidly develop a user logon script with practically no scripting. You could map drives and printers based on group membership simply be selecting a group from a pre-populated drop down list. You could display a message to the user with information just as a summary…
Scripting Makeover Contest
SAPIEN Technologies is pulling out all the stops to put Windows automation at the top of everyone’s to do list. Or at least on the radar screen of the people watching the bottom line. They are running a Scripting Makeover Contest with very serious prizes. Here’s the official announcement which some of you may not…
Windows PowerShell: TFM Sample Scripts
If you have a copy of Windows PowerShell:TFM, you may want to get the sample scripts to test out. You can download a zip file of all the sample scripts from the book page at SAPIEN Press. Just scroll to the bottom of the page. You’ll also find a link to errata information. The book…
Password Reset Manager 1.3
My first Mr.Roboto column for Redmond Magazine is now online. In the article I talk about my free password reset tool, PWDMan. I demo’ed it at Techmentor last fall and it seemed pretty popular. I’ve made some improvements since then such as adding Printing and Exporting capabilities. I’ve also added a logging feature so you…
Revisit an old friend
I have a new blog at the SAPIEN blog that is a visit to an old friend, DosKey. Now, before you dismiss this as old-fashioned, take a moment to read the article and try it out. If you spend a lot of time at a command prompt, DosKey can make you more efficient. You can…
Tip Sheet Thoughts
As some of you may know, I’ve started writing the weekly Tip Sheet column for MCPMag.com. It’s a short column with just enough room to get a tip or suggestion out. There’s not nearly enough room to explain my reasoning for the tip so I thought I’d jot down some thoughts about my goals and…
Mr. Roboto is coming
I will be taking over the Mr. Roboto column for REDMOND Magazine. If you’ve seen the column, I don’t know if I’ll be wearing the shiny Borg suit that Don Jones used to wear. It chafes a little but nothing that a little oil won’t cure. If you haven’t read the column, its goal is…
Logon Script Generator 1.1
While testing some Techmentor demos with the Logon Script Generator, I found a few bugs. The tool allows you to use %username% in a file UNC (like \\file03\%username% and it substitutes the appropriate VBScript to get the username. What I didn’t take into account is if you wanted to have that be a hidden share…
Free tool for managing local admin passwords
I’ve put together an HTA-based tool that can be used to not only report on the age of local administrator password on remote systems, but also to change it. You can either report/change on one computer at a time or you can process a list of computers. The tool is free for you to use…
More free scripting tools
SAPIEN Technologies has released some free tools for scripters at http://www.primalscript.com/freetools/. One of them is the PowerShell help viewer I discussed a few posts back. This is great when you’re in PowerShell and can’t remember a cmdlet’s syntax. They also have a nifty WMI explorer. This tool lets you browse all WMI namespaces on your…