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Remote script for defrag

Hi,

I'm trying to create a script that I can deploy over the network that will run MS defrag at a scheduled time and then shut the system down. I have a mix of XP & Vista desktops all on x64.

I've got 3 scripts, first one to run the defrag(maint.bat), another to provide the shutdown facility and lastly the actual script the task will run (defrag.bat). Unfortunately, it doesn't quite work! Can anyone help out?

Here is what I have so far:

----------------------------------------------------------------
MAINT.BAT
cd\
c:
cd windows\system32
defrag c: -w -v
chkntfs c:

----------------------------------------------------------------
MAINT.INF
[version]
Signature= "$CHICAGO$"
AdvancedINF= 2.5,"advpack.dll"

; This is the install part.

[DefaultInstall]
RunPreSetupCommands=Tst.PreSetup
RunPostSetupCommands=Tst.PostSetup

[Tst.PreSetup]
c:\Users\ben.nias\Desktop\defrag\maint.bat

[Tst.PostSetup]
c:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\SHUTDOWN.EXE -s -t 0 -f

----------------------------------------------------------------
DEFRAG.BAT
c:\WINDOWS\System32\rundll32.exe advpack.dll,LaunchINFSectionEx
c:\Users\ben.nias\Desktop\defrag\maint.inf,DefaultInstall,,32

sirbounty

1) Does it run if you launch it manually?
2) What user is the task scheduled under? (If default SYSTEM, then you'll never see it run...)

bheroniphr

ASKER

Hi,

1) Sort of, it gets so far but pops up the inf in notepad as if there is a syntax error

2) Not tried yet,. |This is the easy bit so I'm actually just trying to get the script to run first.

Thanks

sirbounty

This is supposed to be a batch file?

MAINT.INF
[version]
Signature= "$CHICAGO$"
AdvancedINF= 2.5,"advpack.dll"

; This is the install part.

[DefaultInstall]
RunPreSetupCommands=Tst.PreSetup
RunPostSetupCommands=Tst.PostSetup

[Tst.PreSetup]
c:\Users\ben.nias\Desktop\defrag\maint.bat

[Tst.PostSetup]
c:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\SHUTDOWN.EXE -s -t 0 -f

Are you trying to create that file? This will actually build it for you...if that's what you're trying to do?

Set filename=%systemroot%\inf\Maint.inf
echo.MAINT.INF >%filename%
echo.[version]>>%filename%
echo.Signature= "$CHICAGO$">>%filename%
echo.AdvancedINF= 2.5,"advpack.dll">>%filename%
echo.>>%filename%
echo.; This is the install part.>>%filename%
echo.>>%filename%
echo.[DefaultInstall]>>%filename%
echo.RunPreSetupCommands=Tst.PreSetup>>%filename%
echo.RunPostSetupCommands=Tst.PostSetup>>%filename%
echo.>>%filename%
echo.[Tst.PreSetup]>>%filename%
echo.c:\Users\ben.nias\Desktop\defrag\maint.bat>>%filename%
echo.>>%filename%
echo.[Tst.PostSetup]>>%filename%
echo.c:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\SHUTDOWN.EXE -s -t 0 -f>>%filename%

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bheroniphr

ASKER

Hi Sirbounty,

No, it's an INF.

thanks,

Ben

sirbounty

where/how do you call it though?

You can try passing it through start:

start maint.inf

unless it's associated with notepad, it should launch the installer...

bheroniphr

ASKER

Hi Sirbounty,

Nope, calling it like that just makes notepad open with it.

I'm pretty sure it does that because that is the default behaviour for WIndows when an INF has an error in it.

Ben

sirbounty

what about using rundll32?

rundll32 %systemroot%\inf\maint.inf

bheroniphr

ASKER

Hi Sirbounty.

Nope, same thing.

Ben

sirbounty

Is there any reason you can't deviate from this process?
For instance, were I to deploy this to a number of remote targets, I would use this method (from a command line):

for /f %a in (c:\computers.txt) do schtasks /create /s %a /ru system /sc weekly /st 01:00:00 /tn DefragAndOff /tr "defrag c: -w -v & chkntfs c: & SHUTDOWN.EXE -s -t 0 -f"

bheroniphr

ASKER

Wow, that looks great!

No problem at all with using a different solution. Could you describe what the constituent parts of the command do? (I'd rather understand fully how it works)

Thanks!

Ben

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sirbounty

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Justin_W_Chandler

sirbounty, wouldn't you want to run chkdsk before defrag? :)

Justin_W_Chandler

i mean chkntfs

sirbounty

Yes, I was processing the code as outlined above, neglecting to double-check the order of operations...need more coffee...

bheroniphr

ASKER

Hi guys,

Getting on very well btw. Thanks so much for all your help so far!

I've modded the script to allow auto completion of the txt from AD. I've added all relevant depts to the list (just left 3 in the script for demo purposes)

This does work OK but have a few issues left.

1. MS defrag (as we all know) is naff. I'm just building an MSI of a excellent free defragger to do a network rollout.
2. How can I change the order of chkntfs / defrag? All systems will be having this run on C: and so require a restart. Will I need to make two separate sched tasks?
3. (Please don't laugh at this one) How can I clean up the very end of the script? I'm piping in a text file with the letter "y" in it to get round the overwrite query from each host present from second install onwards. There must be a better way!

Thanks,

Ben

@ECHO OFF
REM 		--- Automated Defrag Script ---
 
 
REM Deleting old HOSTNAME list
cd\
cd winnt\sysvol\sysvol\XXXX.com\scripts\defragger
del /f computers.txt
 
 
REM Pulling HOSTNAME variables from AD and writing to file
setlocal
set BaseOU=OU=clients,DC=XXXX,DC=com
dsquery computer OU=XXXX1,%BaseOU% > computers.txt
dsquery computer OU=XXXX2,%BaseOU% >> computers.txt
dsquery computer OU=XXXX3,%BaseOU% >> computers.txt
 
 
REM Creating tasks from HOSTNAME list
for /f "Tokens=2 Delims=cn=," %%a in (c:\WINNT\SYSVOL\sysvol\XXXX.com\scripts\Defragger\computers.txt) do schtasks /create /s %%a /ru system /sc weekly /D THU /st 02:00:00 /tn DefragAndOff /tr "defrag c: -w -v & chkntfs c: & SHUTDOWN.EXE -s -t 0 -f" < "yes.txt"

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sirbounty

Try this
Although I'm unsure what the issue is with the Y prompt - what's generating that?
You can typically pipe it in pre or post command:
i.e
echo y|do command

you mentioned overwriting hosts file? I don't see it (but still working on first cup of coffee)

@ECHO OFF
REM             --- Automated Defrag Script ---
 
 
REM Deleting old HOSTNAME list
cd\
cd winnt\sysvol\sysvol\XXXX.com\scripts\defragger
del /f computers.txt
 
 
REM Pulling HOSTNAME variables from AD and writing to file
setlocal
set BaseOU=OU=clients,DC=XXXX,DC=com
REM if the OU is really sequential, you could also use for /l ...
REM I would also specify the path for computers.txt, but I tend to be overly cautious, particularly in your del line above
for %%A in (XXXXX1 XXXXX2 XXXXX3) do dsquery computer OU=%%A, %BaseOU% >> computers.txt
 
 
REM Creating tasks from HOSTNAME list
for /f "Tokens=2 Delims=cn=," %%a in (c:\WINNT\SYSVOL\sysvol\XXXX.com\scripts\Defragger\computers.txt) do schtasks /create /s %%a /ru system /sc weekly /D THU /st 02:00:00 /tn DefragAndOff /tr "defrag c: -w -v & chkntfs c: & SHUTDOWN.EXE -s -t 0 -f" < "yes.txt"

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bheroniphr

ASKER

Hi,

Well, the computers.txt file (regenerated on each run) obviously causes the schtasks to try and generate a NEW task when one already exists on each client that has already had the script run against it. The "y" is to confirm overwrite of the task. I need it to run this way to ensure we include any new clients added to dept OU's.

So, is the syntax at the end of the script to be:
...SHUTDOWN.EXE -s -t 0 -f"
echo y
?

And no mention of overwriting the HOSTS file :-)

sirbounty

oh...just drop a /f (force) at the end...that'll replace it...

bheroniphr

ASKER

Nice and easy!

Looks great. Thanks for all your help!

Ben

mxrider_420

How do i do this without a domain account?