Windows Admin Scripting Little Black Book, Second Edition

Intro......Page 2 Limitations of Scripting......Page 7 Using the Command Shell......Page 8 Shell Scripting Example......Page 9 Commands......Page 10 Macros......Page 11 Limitations of KiXtart......Page 12 CSCRIPT and WSCRIPT......Page 13 What in the World Is an API?......Page 14 Windows Script Host Example......Page 16 When to Use Windows Script Host......Page 17 Setting Up a New Hard Drive......Page 19 Imaging......Page 21 Creating Partitions with Microsoft FDISK......Page 25 Working with Free FDISK......Page 27 Scripting Disk Formats......Page 28 Creating Boot Disks......Page 29 Working with the BOOT.INI......Page 30 Scripting Drive Image Pro......Page 32 Scripting Norton Ghost......Page 33 Scripting Methods......Page 36 Windows and Wizards......Page 37 Microsoft Windows Installer......Page 40 Scripting a Silent .NET Framework Installation......Page 41 Scripting a Silent Windows Management Instrumentation Installation......Page 42 Scripting an Internet Explorer Download......Page 43 Scripting a Silent WinZip 8.1 SR-1 Installation......Page 44 Working with the Windows Installer......Page 45 A Word of Caution......Page 51 Manipulating the File System Using Shell Scripting......Page 52 Manipulating the File System Using KiXtart......Page 55 Manipulating the File System Using Windows Script Host......Page 60 Automation......Page 81 Automating Applications from the Command Line......Page 83 Automating Applications through an Application Object......Page 90 Automating Applications through Send-Keys......Page 102 Windows 2000/XP/2003 Registry Files......Page 105 The Registry Hierarchy......Page 106 REGEDIT vs. REGEDT32......Page 107 Registry Editing Safety Tips......Page 109 Backing Up and Restoring the Registry......Page 110 Modifying the Registry with Shell Scripting......Page 111 Modifying the Registry with KiXtart......Page 116 Modifying the Registry with Windows Script Host......Page 120 Common Locations......Page 126 Sharing......Page 127 NTFS Overview......Page 128 Interacting with the User......Page 130 Working with Shortcuts......Page 134 Controlling the Start Menu......Page 137 Managing Services from the Command Line......Page 139 Managing NTFS Encryption......Page 141 Managing Shares from the Command Line......Page 142 Calling System Events......Page 144 Administrative Shares......Page 147 Windows Management Instrumentation......Page 149 Working with the MMC......Page 152 Remote Management from the Command Line......Page 153 Remote Management through WMI......Page 157 Understanding Windows 2000 Networks......Page 173 Managing Computer Accounts from the Command Line......Page 177 Managing User Accounts from the Command Line......Page 179 Managing Groups from the Command Line......Page 182 Managing the Enterprise with ADSI......Page 184 Windows System Tools......Page 201 Gathering Information with Shell Scripting......Page 203 Gathering Information with KiXtart......Page 206 Gathering Information with WMI......Page 211 Security Configuration and Analysis Tool......Page 225 Important Security Practices......Page 227 Setting the Boot Timeout......Page 228 Removing POSIX and OS/2 Subsystems......Page 229 Removing Administrative Shares......Page 230 Locking Down Administrative Tools......Page 231 Running Commands under Different Security Contexts......Page 232 Using the SECEDIT Utility......Page 233 Using the NET ACCOUNTS Command......Page 236 Managing Security through ADSI......Page 237 Previous Security Scripts......Page 241 Inside The Event Log......Page 243 Understanding NetBIOS......Page 245 Using Logs with Shell Scripting......Page 246 Using Logs with KiXtart......Page 250 Using Logs with Windows Script Host......Page 253 Accessing the Event Log Using WMI......Page 255 Sending Alerts Using Shell Scripting......Page 258 Sending Alerts Using KiXtart......Page 259 Sending Alerts Using Windows Script Host......Page 261 Common Logon Script Tasks......Page 268 Windows Replication......Page 271 Creating Logon Scripts with Shell Scripting......Page 272 Creating Logon Scripts with KiXtart......Page 280 Creating Logon Scripts with Windows Script Host......Page 286 Backups under Windows 2000/XP/2003......Page 295 Scheduling Windows NT/2000 Tasks......Page 297 Managing NTBackup......Page 298 Consolidating BackUp Exec Logs......Page 302 Controlling ARCserve 2000 from the Command Line......Page 305 Scheduling Tasks with the AT Command......Page 306 Creating Tasks with WMI......Page 307 Listing Tasks in Internet Explorer Using WMI......Page 309 Deleting Tasks Using WMI......Page 311 The Dreaded Office Assistant......Page 312 Microsoft Agent......Page 313 Scripting the Microsoft Media Player......Page 315 Scripting RealOne......Page 318 Scripting the Office Assistant......Page 321 Scripting Microsoft Agent Using Windows Script Host......Page 322 System Restore......Page 329 MMC 2.0......Page 330 Working with Windows Product Activation......Page 331 Scripting the System Restore......Page 332 Scripting the MMC Using Windows Script Host......Page 335 WMI Improvements......Page 337 Quick Reference......Page 340 Windows Admin Scripting Little Black Book, 2nd Edition , shows Windows XP and 2003 users and administrators how to perform Windows management and administrative tasks using powerful scripts for just about every important task imaginable. It covers techniques for working with files, input/output, text files, and performing various network administrative tasks through scripting. It explains the concept and necessity of logon scripts, the backbone structure of a good logon script, and how to implement these scripts in an everyday environment to automate repetitive tasks such as inventory, file modifications, installations, and system updates. It also provides an in-depth look into the registry and registry editing tools including locating the important registry keys and values, and modifying them. The book features example scripts on every new topic covered to reinforce what the reader has just learned. Key scripting topics include manipulating the Windows XP file system, using powerful third-party scripting tools, creating scripts for installing service packs and new applications, automating applications from the command line, and performing Windows XP and 2003 administrative tasks. Everything is included in this book, and users can easily modify or combine the scripts to perform myriad tasks. A bonus introduction chapter is provided showing users how to select the best scripting language and how to get the most out of scripting resources.