For prestaging to work in Windows Server 2008, you need to have WDS (Windows Deployment Services) installed. This is a role and can be installed from the Server Manager. Once WDS is installed, it makes a change to Active Directory Users and Computers. Before this change, when you create a computer name, it would not give you the option to set This is a managed computer. You would simply click OK and be done. After the change, you would enter the computers name and click Next. At this point you can provide the GUID for the new computer. You will find the GUID on the computer or on the shipping material. Now the computer is ready for installation utilizing WDS. The name will then be changed to what you set it to.
In the past, to run the GPResult command, you would need to either physically visit this client, have the user do it, or use and RDP connection. In all cases, this will disrupt the user. First, you need PowerShell remoting enabled on the target machine. You can do this via Group Policy . Open PowerShell and type this command. Invoke-Command –ScriptBlock {GPResult /r} –ComputerName <ComputerName> Replace <ComputerName> with the name of the target. Remember, the target needs to be online and accessible to you.
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