Author Archives: Andrew Barnes

About Andrew Barnes

A Scripting and Deployment Specialist.

Windows 10: Deployment and management lab kit

Posted on November 22, 2016 by Andrew Barnes

I’m currently updating my Microsoft certifications with the exam 70-697 Configuring Windows Devices and have done a lot of hands on lab training recently. I’ve downloaded the whopping 30Gb Windows 10 deployment and management lab kit for my testlab and felt … Continue reading →

Posted in Certified Training, Deployment, MDT 2013, SCCM, Testlab, Windows 10 | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Windows 10: Unable to open PDF from file share in Microsoft Edge

Posted on August 22, 2016 by Andrew Barnes

I’ve been working on a Windows 10 1511 defect where the devices are unable to open some PDF files from a fully qualified domain name (FQDN) mapped drive such as a DFS using Microsoft Edge browser. Users receive this message … Continue reading →

Posted in Windows 10 | Tagged , | 5 Comments

PowerShell: Temporary Folders

Posted on June 27, 2016 by Andrew Barnes

I was looking through some old code and came across an alternate way to create a temporary folder using PowerShell(or .NET if you want to be picky). So, I needed to create a temporary folder and constructed this line of code. … Continue reading →

Posted in Scripting, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

PowerShell: Test-IsAdmin

Posted on July 19, 2015 by Andrew Barnes

Sometimes I only want a PowerShell function to run only if the user has local admin rights. This can be tested for by looking for the admin token. Here’s a function I use. I then call the function in my code using … Continue reading →

Posted in PowerShell | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Testlab: HP ProLiant MicroServer Gen8 G1610T

Posted on May 2, 2015 by Andrew Barnes

Once your training evolves to enterprise level, you’ll need enterprise level hardware to simulate real world test scenarios. Let’s face it, corporate IT training is usually restricted to a privileged few so if you want to get on, get your own … Continue reading →

Posted in Testlab | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

Managing DSC Resources in PowerShell Desired State Configuration (DSC)

Posted on April 16, 2015 by Andrew Barnes

PowerShell Desired State Configuration (DSC) Resources are an evolved type of function usually created by experienced PowerShell coders. Resources are at the very core of DSC and contain the code required to perform the actual configuration tasks in your deployments. My first post was … Continue reading →

Posted in Deployment, Desired State Configuration, DSC, PowerShell | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

PowerShell: Inside Desired State Configuration (DSC) – Get,Set and Test

Posted on April 15, 2015 by Andrew Barnes

Today, I’m going inside DSC to demonstrate DSC’s indempotance nature and also the Get, Set and Test functions. Continue reading →

Posted in Deployment, Desired State Configuration, DSC, PowerShell, Scripting | Tagged , | Leave a comment

PowerShell: Desired State Configuration – Getting started.

Posted on April 14, 2015 by Andrew Barnes

PowerShell DSC is really cool and the next big thing. This post will describe the feature in its most basic form and assume you’re new to the topic. Continue reading →

Posted in Desired State Configuration, PowerShell | Tagged , | 2 Comments

PowerShell: New-Password Function

Posted on April 12, 2015 by Andrew Barnes

OK, so I’ve been off the grid for a while now. But that doesn’t mean I’ve not been busy. Quite the opposite in fact. I’ve taken a year out from work on paternity with my baby Son. During this time, … Continue reading →

Posted in PowerShell | Tagged , , | 10 Comments

SCCM PowerShell: Connect to SCCM Function

Posted on September 9, 2014 by Andrew Barnes

    Today’s post is another time-saver function I wrote to connect to SCCM. Again, it is designed to eliminate the need to hard code the module path and/or the SCCM primary site. It allows me to just type Connect-SCCM to import the module … Continue reading →

Posted in MDT 2010, MDT 2012, MDT 2013, PowerShell | Tagged , , | 2 Comments