SCCM Client uninstallation - Manual method

It may occasionally be necessary to remove the System Center Configuration Manager client. We can uninstall an SCCM client on machine by running "ccmsetup.exe /uninstall". 

Some unusual times when the command line doesn’t work, here is a list of things to check and remove to manually clean-up all the traces of the client so as to try a fresh install. 

1. SMS Agent Host Service - (services.msc)
2. CCMSetup service - (services.msc)
3. \windows\ccm directory - (folder path)
4. \windows\ccmsetup directory - (folder path)
5. \windows\ccmcache directory - (folder path)
6. \windows\smscfg.ini - (file path)
7. \windows\sms*.mif - (file path..if present)
8. HKLM\software\Microsoft\ccm - (registry key)
9. HKLM\software\Microsoft\CCMSETUP - (registry key)
10. HKLM\software\Microsoft\SMS - (registry key)

Ref: http://blogs.technet.com/b/michaelgriswold/archive/2013/01/02/manual-removal-of-the-sccm-client.aspx

Run Command to open SCCM client 'Configuration Manager Properties'

I had always checked online to find a Run command to open the 'Configuration Manager Properties' window from a SCCM client machine's Control Panel. Most of the time i had to create a shortcut of the Configuration Manager Properties window on the desktop for easy access.

Recently i found a post by Chris Nackers who has successfully achieved in getting the command line (which i hope is not available from Microsoft site itself). Thanks Chris for sharing the info.

Start - Run - “control smscfgrc”

Update to the above post:

• This command works for SCCM 2007 and SCCM 2012 clients. I haven't checked on SMS2003. 
• And it works pretty fine on Windows 7/8/2003/2008/2012 as well as Server Core operating systems.

Ref.: http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/configmgrgeneral/thread/7b8b8e2a-0756-4be5-add0-a0a3f0808c7a/

Modifying CM 2007 service window cause unexpected delay in Updates deployment

A new Knowledge Base article (KB2850370) recently published for ConfigMgr 2007 talks about a rare issue that we may run into if we modify the properties of a maintenance window right after creating a new software update deployment.

Article Title: Modifying a Configuration Manager 2007 service window may cause an unexpected delay in a software update deployment
Article Link: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2850370  
Article ID: 2850370

The article says that the software update will still get deployed on the clients but may happen a little later than we might expect. This is by design in System Center Configuration Manager 2007.

SCCM 2012 Keyboard Shortcuts - Accessibility Features

This topic provides information about features in Microsoft System Center 2012 Configuration Manager that make the product more accessible for people with disabilities.

Accessibility Features of Configuration Manager
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/jj553406.aspx

For general information about Microsoft accessibility products and services, visit the Microsoft Accessibility website @ http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/p/?LinkId=9212

All about Branch Distribution Points on SCCM 2007

Recently I came across many issues related to "Branch Distribution Points" on SCCM 2007 and was on a search for more documentation on BDP. I hereby sharing my search results which might be beneficial for my future search as well for others.

• Carol Bailey on TechNet blog has documented some most valuable information about BDP: 

FAQs for Branch Distribution Points: 
http://blogs.technet.com/b/wemd_ua_-_sms_writing_team/archive/2008/07/27/faqs-for-branch-distribution-points.aspx

• TechNet Article by PaddyMaddy

DP VS Secondary Site VS BDP - In SCCM 2007 vs SCCM 2012
http://social.technet.microsoft.com/wiki/contents/articles/5292.dp-vs-secondary-site-vs-bdp-in-sccm-2007-vs-sccm-2012.aspx

• Carlos Santiago on TechNet blog has given additional information on Refreshing vs Updating a package on BDP: 

How do we refresh a package located on a Branch Distribution Point?

http://blogs.technet.com/b/carlossantiago/archive/2008/05/16/how-do-we-refresh-a-package-located-on-a-branch-distribution-point.aspx 

Other Useful TechNet articles about BDP:

Choose Between a Standard and Branch Distribution Point
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb932184.aspx 

About On-Demand Package Distribution
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb632582.aspx 

How to Prestage Packages on a Branch Distribution Point
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb681046.aspx 

SCCM Reporting - "SELECT permission was denied on the object"

Sharing you my experience on resolving the SELECT permission error while running a SCCM Web Report. 

Sometimes SCCM may throw an error while running a new report on Web Browser. The same report may work just fine on the SQL server reporting console, but not on web browser.

Detailed error on "Select permission" that appears on the Web browser:
The SELECT permission was denied on the object 'xxxxxxxxx', database 'SMS_ABC', schema 'dbo'.
Error Number: -2147217911
Source: Microsoft OLE DB Provider for SQL Server
Native Error: 229  

I then referred to some online articles for troubleshooting and solved the issue by adding the SELECT permissions for the SQL View on SQL server.

Added below the resolution snapshots for your reference:

Step 1 - SELECT permission error on SCCM Report

Step 2 - View properties - adding permission

Step 3 - Browse and add Database role "smsschm_user"

Step 4 - Choose Select permission for smsschm_user

Step 5 - Add "webreport_approle" and choose Select permission

Step 6 - SCCM Web Report works fine

System Center 2012 Configuration Manager Quizzes

Microsoft has published a new set of quizzes on May'12 for System Center 2012 Configuration Manager (like the one we already have for ConfigMgr 2007 @ http://quizapp.cloudapp.net/default.aspx?quiz=configmgr2007). There are 14 quizzes in the release on which each quiz asks ten questions and regardless of whether we answer correctly or incorrectly, provides the correct solution and links to the online documentation.

System Center 2012 Configuration Manager Quizzes @ 

http://quizapp.cloudapp.net/default.aspx?quiz=configmgr2012

Microsoft has also increased the difficulty level on these quizzes by adding new features, which include the following:

• Quizzes now have multiple choice questions in addition to questions with simple Yes or No answers 
• Many quizzes now have a larger pool of questions from which ten are randomly chosen (no more memorizing the order of answers!)

The order in which questions are presented is now randomized:

1. Application Management Quiz
2. Client Deployment and Assignment Quiz
3. Collections and Queries Quiz
4. Compliance Settings Quiz
5. Documentation Quiz
6. Endpoint Protection Quiz
7. Fundamentals Quiz
8. Inventory and Software Metering Quiz
9. Migration to System Center 2012 Configuration Manager Quiz
10. Operating System Deployment Quiz
11. Power Management Quiz
12. Remote Control Quiz
13. Site Administration Quiz
14. What’s New in Configuration Manager Quiz

The quiz application will run on Windows XP, Windows Vista or Windows 7 and will download the correct version of Silverlight if it is not installed.

Ref: http://quizapp.cloudapp.net/default.aspx?quiz=configmgr2012

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/jj126254.aspx

Package/Task Sequence - Created, Modified or Deleted

Last week I had created 3 Task Sequences on our SCCM 2007 Primary server and had also taken snapshots of them for documentation. Today when i logged in the SCCM server, the Task Sequences were found missing. Guess me or someone has mistakenly deleted it.

Question:
How to find details about a created, modified or deleted Packages or Task Sequences.??

Answer:

In the SCCM'07 Primary Server, under System Status, choose the built-in "Status Message Queries" option.

On the right-side pane click choose and run the "Packages Created, Modified, or Deleted" query.

This report will be useful to monitor Changes to Task Sequences or Packages.

"Status Message Queries" is a good feature that i rarely used. No doubt I'll make use of this good option here-after..
 

Reference link to all find list of all default ConfigMgr 2007 Status Message Queries:

http://myitforum.com/cs2/blogs/dhite/archive/2008/05/18/default-configmgr-2007-status-message-queries.aspx

Identify Discovery Methods in SCCM 2012

When you plan to use discovery in Configuration Manager, you must consider where to run each discovery method.

After Configuration Manager adds discovery data to a database, it is quickly shared between all sites in the hierarchy. Because there is no benefit to discovering the same information at multiple sites in your hierarchy, consider configuring a single instance of each discovery method that you use to run at a single site instead of running multiple instances of a single method at different sites. 

The following table identifies at which sites you can configure the different discovery methods:

Discovery method	Supported locations
Active Directory Forest Discovery	Central administration site Primary Site
Active Directory Group Discovery	Primary site
Active Directory System Discovery	Primary site
Active Directory User Discovery	Primary site
Heartbeat Discovery	Primary site
Network Discovery	Primary site Secondary site

Secondary sites cannot configure Heartbeat Discovery but can receive the Heartbeat DDR from a client.

When secondary sites run Network Discovery, or receive Heartbeat Discovery DDRs, they transfer the DDR by file-based replication to their parent primary site. This is because only primary sites and central administration sites can process discovery data records (DDRs)

Ref.: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/gg712308.aspx

Windows Blue - Good, Bad or Ugly ??

Windows Blue is the rumored up-coming operating system by Microsoft to succeed Windows 8. With Windows 8, Microsoft changed the release cycle of Windows (similar to the one Apple uses), so "Codename Blue" is supposedly already in development. 

Rumours found on-line indicate Windows Blue is to be a minor update to Windows 8 (possibly offered as a free upgrade). The relation between Windows Blue and Windows 9 is known, but it is possible that 9 will follow Blue as a major update. 

Windows "Blue" build 9220 - it is unclear whether this is Windows 8 post-RTM build or a very early build of Blue. 

I personally do not have much idea about the product as Microsoft has not officially announced about it as of now. Hence i listed down here few other sites which seems to have got some news for us.

Some Reference Links:

• http://www.windowsbleu.com/search/label/Windows%20Blue%20News
• http://www.neowin.net/news/analysts-windows-blue-will-hurt-the-enterprise
• http://www.zdnet.com/microsofts-windows-blue-may-have-just-hit-milestone-1-7000011514/
• http://www.techspot.com/news/51740-windows-blue-to-feature-ie11-bing-search-public-summer-preview.html

Ref.: http://www.betaarchive.com/wiki/index.php?title=Windows%3ABlue