When there is a one OSD for all type’s of computers in the network and you want specific software deployed only on laptops, here is the howto

What’s the differences between a laptop and a desktop? Correct, the battery. So the simplest way to achieve our goal is to check if there is a battery present in the system.

Open the OSD Task Sequence and add the required step.

This how-to shows how to create a report in System Center Configuration Manager with computer information like serial number etc.

Open the Management Console. Navigate to Reporting. Right click on Reports and select New –> Report.
Give it a name. Select the category under which the report will be displayed. (eg Hardware – General) Click on: Edit SQL Statement.
Paste the Statement(displayed and the bottom of this blog post.) in the SQL Statement box. Remove the default statement.
Run the report and it will display al kind off useful stuff. Like the Serial Number.

By default, the Configuration Manager 2007 site server role component installation files are installed on the first available NTFS formatted disk drive with the most available free disk space. However, some files are not installed in the default installation folder. For example, files are installed in the following folders:

• The SMS_CCM folder (if the management point site system role is enabled on the computer);
• The Inetpub\wwwroot\SMSComponent and Inetpub\wwwroot\SMSReporting_sitecode folders (if the reporting point role is enabled on the computer);
• The %Windir%\System32 folder.

Configuration Manager 2007 will not install site role component files on a drive that contains a file named no_sms_on_drive.sms. Instead, site role components will be installed on a different NTFS formatted disk drive that does not contain the no_sms_on_drive.sms file.

The no_sms_on_drive.sms file prevents site system role component installation, on a drive with this file present, for all site systems that are installed by site component manager. If site role installation files are already present on the drive before placing the no_sms_on_drive.sms file on the drive, the installation files are not moved.

Within SCCM there is a functionality to remote control desktops. Because all the desktops and laptops have a SCCM client installed, it’s the logical way to use this feature. So no extra third party software must be installed/deployed.

On the site server the are two files named: rc.exe and rdpencom.dll Copy these two file to the servicedesk desktops so they can access them. (for Windows 2000 clients use remote.exe)

Open the SCCM Management Console and navigate to: Client Agents. Right click on: Remote Tools Client Agent select: Properties.

Add the Servicedesk User Group in the security tab.

And your done. When the rc.exe is started. Click: File –> Connect. Give the computer name to remote control, wait for acceptance and happy shadowing.

Q: Howto arrange remote control for the servidesk with the SCCM tools?

A: Copy rc.exe and rdpencom.dll from Site server to servicedesk, give servicedesk group rights to permit remote control.

During an OSD task sequence, I want the option to select if certain software is installed. This can be done by third party software solutions (like OSD++) but with ‘variables’ it’s possible direct in SCCM.

In this example I’m using the Windows XP Task Sequence which is advertised to the All Unknown Computers Collection and I want to choose to install AutoCAD 2010.

Right click on the collection and choose: Modify Collection Settings.

Go to tab: Collection Variables click on the new variable icon. Give the variable a name like: Install_AutoCAD_2010 and leave the value empty.

Edit the Task Sequence and go to the step where AutoCAD 2010 is being installed. Open tab: Options. Add a condition like the screenshot below.

When running the Task Sequence you are presented a screen where you set the variable. Set it to 1 to install AutoCAD.

Q: Howto filter software during OSD Task Sequence?

A: Create a variable to the collection and add it as a condition in the Task Sequence.

When creating a task sequence to deploy an operating system. It’s possible to ask for a computername when running the task sequence on a unknown computer, for instance a new computer.

Advertise (‘NO’ mandatory assignment) the task sequence to the collection: All Unknown Computers.
  
Click on thumbnails for larger image.

Right click on the collection: All Unknown Computers and select: Modify Collection Settings.

Go to tab: Collection Variables click on the new variable icon. Give the variable the name: OSDcomputerName and leave the value empty.

When booting the task sequence, on a new computer (or remove the computer first in sccm) the following screens will appear:

When the following screen appears, double click on the variable and give the right computername for the new computer.

 
The task sequence will install the new computer with the new given computername.