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Thread ID: 113319	2010-10-14 03:07:00	Remotely remove programs from PCs on domain, non-interactively?	Chilling_Silence (9)	Press F1

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
1144681	2010-10-14 03:07:00	Hi all, So far as part of a clean-up of software on the domain, we've been using VNC to login to a users workstation and Add / Remove programs. It's not bad, but it's not ideal. It means they're off their machine for XYZ amount of time while we operate, we've got to have them stop doing what they're doing and close everything down to log off... Is there a way to remotely administer and remove applications, mostly from XP machines, with a sprinkling of Windows 7? It's just we're now getting users watching us remotely and they ring us and say "Hey why are you removing that" "Because, it's not a standard piece of software" "But it's free?!" "But we don't care ..." Unfortunately is the stance we've had to take with some software. Any thoughts / comments / suggestions appreciated. Thanks Chill.	Chilling_Silence (9)
1144682	2010-10-14 03:45:00	If you use RDC they cant watch what you're up to. interesting community.spiceworks.com msforums.ph You will need to lock down the Workstations after, as they will just re-install. I would also print out a Computer Usage Policy, get them all to read & sign it(will need management approval) You need this to deal with employees who continue to treat the PC as a toy.	1101 (13337)
1144683	2010-10-14 04:37:00	print out a Computer Usage Policy, get them all to read & sign it(will need management approval) You need this to deal with employees who continue to treat the PC as a toy. Good Idea there. While doing the clean out, change the permissions so they can t install programs, only people with Full admin rights can. As for people watching --- Some places do it in OT when the users are not there. Several years ago we had 5 of us doing a few tasks on a Saturday - around 50 PC's needed changing / upgrading. Even got free KFC from the boss for lunch, dont know if that was a reward or punishment :lol:	wainuitech (129)
1144684	2010-10-14 04:38:00	Hi all, So far as part of a clean-up of software on the domain, we've been using VNC to login to a users workstation and Add / Remove programs. It's not bad, but it's not ideal. It means they're off their machine for XYZ amount of time while we operate, we've got to have them stop doing what they're doing and close everything down to log off... Is there a way to remotely administer and remove applications, mostly from XP machines, with a sprinkling of Windows 7? It's just we're now getting users watching us remotely and they ring us and say "Hey why are you removing that" "Because, it's not a standard piece of software" "But it's free?!" "But we don't care ..." Unfortunately is the stance we've had to take with some software. Any thoughts / comments / suggestions appreciated. Thanks Chill. You could use psexec tool from sysinternals to trigger a msiexec /x silent remote un-install AS LONG as the app was packaged as a MSI. It boils down to the Apps and there is some poorly written junk out there, some you can do a silent install or un-install others you cant. Some apps are profile specific and need the user logg off to complete etc. Common Corporate tools I have used include SMS,SCCM and Altiris, All are very powerful fleet managers. Also there is a few XP/Win7 hacks you can do to log on as a second user in a "separate session" leaving the user unaware you are on doing stuff, not sure about this solution in a business environment :P .	Battleneter2 (9361)
1144685	2010-10-14 04:49:00	workstations arent setup for multiple connection such as terminal services, so unless you use RDP and swipe the session, them yeah, they get to see AFIAK!	SolMiester (139)
1144686	2010-10-14 04:53:00	workstations arent setup for multiple connection such as terminal services, so unless you use RDP and swipe the session, them yeah, they get to see AFIAK! You can make modifications to any Windows XP or Windows7/Vista OS to allow multi session, out of the box definitely not.	Battleneter2 (9361)
1144687	2010-10-14 07:08:00	Windows vista/7 has powershell which can do anything (as far as I know), how to use it remotely and to install/uninstall apps is a mystery to me (never really looked in to it), but AFAIK it can be done.	Deimos (5715)
1144688	2010-10-14 09:53:00	ssh root@userbox aptitude purge badapp Oh...windows...bugger :)	fred_fish (15241)
1144689	2010-10-14 19:08:00	Haha yeah it'd be so much easier in Linux ... I wondered about configuring RDP so that it locks the screen and logs me in, though it'd be nice if they were able to continue working. This is all in preparation for removing a lot of administrative rights. Almost all staff have installed something on their machines (Myself included, but when you work in IT, you get to bend the IT rules a little ... like Chrome!), even though it's in the IT Policy everybody signs when they join the company saying they won't install apps. It's just easier not have to go over all that with a few hundred people again. A mass-email would help, but we've found mostly people *know* what's going on, they just want to vent :p	Chilling_Silence (9)
1144690	2010-10-14 19:15:00	Powershell is your friend, though if you don't have powershell 2.0 installed on the XP machines already, then the above-mentioned psexec is probably your best bet. If you do have psh though, you can just write a little script to grab the UninstallString from HKLM:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Un install for any apps you want to uninstall, and execute that string remotely. Some apps, though, may not support silent uninstalls, so it's going to vary a little depending on what specifically you're uninstalling.	inphinity (7274)
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