How to Use This Book

This book is divided into 16 chapters. Each chapter begins with a brief overview followed by a set of immediate solutions to help you automate your tasks .

Chapter 1: Introduction to Scripting

Chapter 1 provides an introduction to the three major scripting methods (shell scripting, KiXtart, and Windows Script Host) discussed throughout the book. This chapter teaches you about the basics, limitations, and appropriate times to use each scripting method.

Chapter 2: Scripting Workstation Setups

Chapter 2 covers how to automate hard disk setups and imaging. Immediate solutions include how to script partitioning, formatting, and boot disk creation. It also includes extensive information on how to script some of today's popular imaging utilities, such as PowerQuest Drive Image Pro and Norton Ghost.

Chapter 3: Scripting Installations and Updates

Chapter 3 covers how to automate installations and updates. Immediate solutions include how to script installations and updates using built-in switches, custom routines, and the Microsoft Windows Installer. It also includes information on how to use Autoit when other scripting methods simply won't work.

Chapter 4: File Management

Chapter 4 covers how to automate file manipulation and management. Immediate solutions include how to script file renaming, replication, deletion, appending, updating, searching, and attribute modifying. It also includes information on how to use shell scripting, KiXtart, and Windows Script Host.

Chapter 5: Automating Windows and Applications

Chapter 5 covers how to automate the operating system and its applications. Immediate solutions include how to script Windows operations and settings, such as Microsoft FTP uploads, defragging, hardware devices, and Control Panel applets. It also includes information on how to script applications, such as Norton Antivirus, Microsoft Office, Internet Explorer, and Diskeeper Lite.

Chapter 6: Inside the Registry

Chapter 6 covers how to automate changes to the registry. This chapter includes in-depth information about the birth and structure of the registry while clearing up common misconceptions. Immediate solutions include how to secure, back up, restore, modify, and search the registry. It also includes information on how to modify common Windows annoyances, for example, how to disable Dr. Watson or the Welcome screens.

Chapter 7: Local System Management

Chapter 7 covers how to control and automate local system changes. Immediate solutions include how to manage shortcuts, program groups, profiles, shares, services, permissions, and more through simple scripts. It also includes information on how to script common system events, such as logging off a user or rebooting a system.

Chapter 8: Remote System Management

Chapter 8 covers how to control and automate remote systems. Immediate solutions include how to manage processes, shares, services, permissions, and more through simple scripts. This chapter includes in-depth information and examples on how to use Windows Management Instrumentation. It also includes information on how to script common system events, such as shutting down or rebooting a system.

Chapter 9: Enterprise Management

Chapter 9 covers how to automate enterprise management. Immediate solutions include how to manage user, group , and computer accounts through simple scripts. This chapter includes in-depth information and examples on how to use Active Directory Service Interfaces. It also includes information on Windows 2000/2003 Enterprise networks.

Chapter 10: Managing Inventory

Chapter 10 covers how to gather inventory information without the use of expensive management systems. Immediate solutions include how to collect software and hardware information, such as battery, operating system, Network Interface Card (NIC), processor, printer, sound card, and memory information. It also includes information on how to generate inventory reports using utilities like MSD, WINMSD, MSINFO32, and SRVINFO.

Chapter 11: Security

Chapter 11 covers how to control and automate remote systems. Immediate solutions include how to manage system and domain security settings; create, apply, and export security templates; and run a security analysis through simple scripts. This chapter includes in-depth information about authentication protocols and common security practices. It also includes information on how to use utilities to run operations under the security context of another user, such as the RunAs utility.

Chapter 12: Logging and Alerting

Chapter 12 covers how to log system events and alert users when events occur. Immediate solutions include how to manage text logs and the event log through simple scripts. The chapter also includes information on how to script alerts to a single user, group, or user list through network alerts and email.

Chapter 13: Logon Scripts

Chapter 13 covers how to create and use logon scripts to standardize your environment. Immediate solutions include how to synchronize the system time, map drives and printers, display logon script progress, and more through simple shell, KiXtart, or WSH scripts. This chapter also includes in-depth information about the logon process and file replication services.

Chapter 14: Backups and Scheduling

Chapter 14 covers how to automate backups and scheduling tasks or scripts. Immediate solutions include how to script Windows backups, IIS metabase backups, and task scheduling. It also includes information on how to script third-party backup applications, such as Backup Exec and ARCserve.

Chapter 15: Fun with Multimedia

Chapter 15 covers how to play and control multimedia files using simple scripts. Immediate solutions include how to script the Microsoft Media Player and the RealPlayer G2. It also includes information on how to script the Microsoft Office Assistant and Microsoft Agent characters .

Chapter 16: Windows XP/2003 Only

Chapter 16 covers scripting techniques specifically designed for the new features of Windows XP/2003. It also includes information about Product Activation, system restores , and the MMC 2.0 automation object model.