Utilizing USB Task Sequence Media

[The Bronx Bull]

Does anyone here use USB Task Sequence media? Assuming you have a 'reboot' step within your task sequence, and aside from modifying the boot sequence, how do you prevent the PC from rebooting and booting from the USB stick straight back into the WinPE Task Sequence wizard, as opposed to continuing to the next step of the task sequence? It seems as though you would have to remove the USB media each time, whereas on a CD, it only boots to the media after you "press any key to boot to CD."

 

Anyone have a workaround for this? What is everyone else doing?

[Peter33]

Create a package with a vbscript or an exe file, which will change the BIOS boot order. Put the HD in first place. You can usually download these BIOS configuration tools from your manufacturers website.

In your task sequence run this program before the first reboot.

[The Bronx Bull]

Good thinking - except we're deploying a TS to multiple different hardware models among several different manufacturers - have you successfully integrated this into a "universal" application? I would surmise that there has to be some sort of hardware detection step.

[Peter33]

Yes, we are using a single task sequence for all hardware models. You just need to use the ability of task sequences to run WMI queries on the local system. Create a new group for every hardware model and query the win32_ComputerSystem class for the property "Model" ( select * from Win32_ComputerSystem Where model like "%MYMODEL%" ). Then place the relevant configuration program in the group.

This way you can also deploy hardware specific software packages to your machines, like power management tools for notebooks.

WMI is your best friend in SCCM