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VBS to do profile specific first run configs
Posted on 2011-03-04
I am looking to create a VB script to configure a few profile specific items within Windows XP, IE8 and Outlook. We have a shared computer that gets logged into by different users. The first time they log in, we set up their printer, go through the IE8 config popup and make sure that their Outlook mailbox is setup. I have already created the VBS needed to add a network printer and make it the default.
I need to add a way to disable the configuration popup that you see the first time you open IE8.
I also would like to have the software disable the pops that come when you first open Outlook 2007. The email profile gets created automatically but when it finishes, it asks about RSS feeds and the search feature along with another popup in the beginning. I would like to disable these popups also so that the user does not have to call us about the popups.
I would also like to have it change the power options to never for both being plugged in and on batteries. When I close the lid of my portable computer, i want it to "do nothing."
And last, I would like the Visual Effects to be set to "Adjust for best performance."
I wanted to put this all in a VBS that runs at startup. Can someone create this?
Option Explicit
Dim objNetwork, strUNCPrinter
Set objNetwork = CreateObject("WScript.Network")
objNetwork.AddWindowsPrinterConnection "\\printserver\printer"
strUNCPrinter = "\\printserver\printer"
Set objNetwork = CreateObject("WScript.Network")
objNetwork.AddWindowsPrinterConnection strUNCPrinter
objNetwork.SetDefaultPrinter strUNCPrinter
WScript.Quit
I need to add a way to disable the configuration popup that you see the first time you open IE8.
I also would like to have the software disable the pops that come when you first open Outlook 2007. The email profile gets created automatically but when it finishes, it asks about RSS feeds and the search feature along with another popup in the beginning. I would like to disable these popups also so that the user does not have to call us about the popups.
I would also like to have it change the power options to never for both being plugged in and on batteries. When I close the lid of my portable computer, i want it to "do nothing."
And last, I would like the Visual Effects to be set to "Adjust for best performance."
I wanted to put this all in a VBS that runs at startup. Can someone create this?
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4 Comments
Is this machine on a network that you can manage? A lot of these settings can be easily configured via group policy (disable first run pop ups and extra settings such as RSS feed, set power options, etc.).
If not, then you can look up the associated registry keys/settings and push those changes via vbs.
If not, then you can look up the associated registry keys/settings and push those changes via vbs.
Unfortunatly, I do not have access to group policy based on my position. I was hoping that I can run this on startup. or at least most of it.
Then registries would be the best way, assuming the machine account has access to modify the registry.
For the "first run" popups for IE, then you should be able to do the registry settings:
http://www.winhelponline.com/blog/disable-ie8-tour-welcome-screen-runonce-all-users/
As for Outlook, check this link for registry settings:
http://www.experts-exchange.com/Software/Office_Productivity/Office_Suites/MS_Office/Q_24107924.html
And try this for the best performance:
http://www.vistax64.com/vista-performance-maintenance/79983-want-change-vissual-effects-adjust-best-performance.html
Here's the registry key for it: (i think it should work for windows 7)
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software
0 = Let Windows choose what's best for my computer.
1 = Adjust for best appearance
2 = Adjust for best performance.
You can create an entire .REG file with the changes in it. Then just create a batch file that includes to command to run the REG file. If you need further assistance, let us know.
For the "first run" popups for IE, then you should be able to do the registry settings:
http://www.winhelponline.com/blog/disable-ie8-tour-welcome-screen-runonce-all-users/
As for Outlook, check this link for registry settings:
http://www.experts-exchange.com/Software/Office_Productivity/Office_Suites/MS_Office/Q_24107924.html
And try this for the best performance:
http://www.vistax64.com/vista-performance-maintenance/79983-want-change-vissual-effects-adjust-best-performance.html
Here's the registry key for it: (i think it should work for windows 7)
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software
0 = Let Windows choose what's best for my computer.
1 = Adjust for best appearance
2 = Adjust for best performance.
You can create an entire .REG file with the changes in it. Then just create a batch file that includes to command to run the REG file. If you need further assistance, let us know.
Thank you. All of that information was very useful.
I got the Printer, IE8 config & visual effects down.
The Outlook link you shared shows how to automatically add user name and initials when Word or Excel is first run. I will use this info but I actually needed a way to auto-create the mail profile. I have found RichProfile to do the job that I need. It will create the exchange mail profile in cache mode.
I also realized that by creating a new profile and setting up all of these profile settings will also work. After I setup the profile with the above configurations, I logged off and back on as admin, copied my profile folder to the "Default Users" folder which sets up most of the configurations that I need. Now I just run RichProfile and I am good.
When I need to remove profiles because of too many profiles building up, I use Delprof.exe mixed with a batch script to automatically delete profiles older then 15 days.
I got the Printer, IE8 config & visual effects down.
The Outlook link you shared shows how to automatically add user name and initials when Word or Excel is first run. I will use this info but I actually needed a way to auto-create the mail profile. I have found RichProfile to do the job that I need. It will create the exchange mail profile in cache mode.
I also realized that by creating a new profile and setting up all of these profile settings will also work. After I setup the profile with the above configurations, I logged off and back on as admin, copied my profile folder to the "Default Users" folder which sets up most of the configurations that I need. Now I just run RichProfile and I am good.
When I need to remove profiles because of too many profiles building up, I use Delprof.exe mixed with a batch script to automatically delete profiles older then 15 days.
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