P2V Migration Beta 2 Refresh with Configuration Manager Intergration

I was only just talking about the P2V Migrator the other day while discussing SCCM and how it can help with Windows 7 rollouts/migrations by virtualising the users existing XP machine for use in XP Mode on the newly deployed Windows 7 OS.

Microsoft have just released a Beta refresh that now sees better SCCM intergration with tasks within the task sequencer.

Additional optimizations beyond Configuration Manager functionality included in this release are:

1. Better flexibility for backing-up and restoring VHD files using default file locations
2. Support for PCs using system and boot volumes
3. Globalization of scripts to handle varying regional and locale formats
4. General bug fixes and improved documentation

How to remove a management pack from Service Manager when the Data Access Service isn't running.

I had an issue the other week where after importing a custom management pack the System Center Data Access Service and the System Center Management Configuration services refused to stay started (they started and almost immediately stopped again).

The normal process to remove a management pack is to crack open PowerShell and use Remove-SCManagementPack
However, in this situation without those service started the powershell cmdlets just won't work.

So, after speaking to PSS, using SQL to remove them directly out of the DB was they way to go.

*Disclaimer*
I would NOT say this is a supported method, ONLY ever do this under advisory of Microsoft and DO NOT blame me if it destroys your Service Manager infrastructure.  This is in no way a replacement to having regular working backups.

1) Backup the ‘ServiceManager’ DB.
2) Find out the ManagementPackId of the loaded management packs by using the below SQL query:
select * from ManagementPack order by MPLastModified
3) Note the ID of the MP you need to remove.
4) Then execute the following –
                exec p_ManagementPackRemove ‘<GUID of MP>’
                go
5) Once it’s done, try to  restart the Service Manager related services (Data Access and Management Configuration).
6) If it starts successfully, try staring the console.

Troubleshooting the Service Manager Data Warehouse

Really useful blog post on the SCSM Engineering Team's blog:
http://blogs.msdn.com/b/scplat/archive/2010/06/07/troubleshooting-the-data-warehouse-an-overview.aspx

Service Manager Cumulative Update 3

No sooner have I finished patching consoles to CU2, CU3 arrives.....

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2390520/en-gb

Configuration Manager 2007 Superflows

These are always useful to have around when working with or implementing ConfigMgr.

Depending on the focus of the SuperFlow, you will find overview information, steps that include detailed information, procedures, sample log entries, best practices, real-world scenarios, troubleshooting information, security information, animations, and more.

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ff385001.aspx

Remove a computer from a collection after OSD completes

Found this useful blog post from Jörgen Nilsson on how to remove a client from a collection after the OSD Task Sequence completes, very handy in our environment where the technicians usually forget to remove the client and has ended with users re-imaging their device again, "because it was there and said click to run now"?!?!

http://ccmexec.com/?p=4

Office 2010 Deployments - Office Environment Assessment Tool

I'm currently gearing up to deploy Office 2010 in conjunction with Windows 7.

John Quirk has just blogged about this nice little tool that I've been meaning to find time to test so I thought I'd book mark it here to remind myself again to find time to look at it.

OEAT - http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?FamilyID=ea33f615-188d-464e-bc64-3ab06aa43961&displaylang=en

Technet Page - Application compatibility assessment and remediation guide for Office 2010
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ee819096.aspx