Category Archives: MECM

How to identify core servers in SCCM

There is no easy way to detect core servers in SCCM by using the default inventory information. Here’s how to extend it to distinguish core and GUI servers. Microsoft recommendation to check remotely if a server is running the core setup is to use the ServerLevels registry hive in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Server [1]. On a GUI… Read More »

Reporting services role installation fails with msi error

I observed a strange behavior of the reporting services setup process. Below a scripted workaround for it. Symptoms:The setup of the reporting point role fails. Under Monitoring->System Status, you see that the installation reruns every hour with the same result. Components error message: Site Component Manager failed to install this component, because the Microsoft Installer… Read More »

Pocket Guide to Surface Driver Integration in Configuration Manager (SCCM)

Go to https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/surface/manage-surface-driver-and-firmware-updates and find the appropriate download link for your model. Create the folder that you want to place the drivers in, for example D:\Sources\Drivers\Win10\Microsoft\SurfaceLaptop5 Run the msiexec command to place the drivers in that folder:  msiexec /a SurfaceLaptop5_Win10_19044_22.102.17126.0.msi targetdir=D:\Sources\OSD\Win10\Driver\Microsoft\SurfaceLaptop5 Now go to the ConfigMg console, navigate to Software Library -> OSD and open… Read More »

Pocket Guide to Office 365 Monitoring in Microsoft Endpoint Manager (SCCM)

With the critical vulnerabilities in Word (CVE-2023-21716) and Outlook (CVE-2023-23397) the update status of Office 365 has come into focus. The easiest way to check the version status is to go to \Software Library\Overview\Office 365 Client Management in the console. The dashboard behaves a bit beastly but if you succeed to get it loading it… Read More »

Add x86 images after ADK update to 22621 (Windows 11 22H2)

With the ADK for Windows 22H2, Microsoft has dropped support for x86 images. When you try to add or update an x86 image in ConfigMgr you’ll get an error. The workaround is simple: Locate the PE image in the ADK installation folder (usually C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Kits\10\Assessment and Deployment Kit\Windows Preinstallation Environment), copy the amd64… Read More »