scripted install to put text on desktop

the_technocratthe_technocrat IC-MotY1Indy Icrontian
edited February 2007 in Science & Tech
So a while ago I was in a hospital (visiting) and I noticed the IT staff there has the machines set up to where on the lower-right corner of the desktop had all the contact info, something like this:
In the event of a computer issue, please contact
the IT Services department, x12345

Machine name: (machine name was here)
Logged on as: (Logon name was here)

I can do this very easily with a program called Samurize by having a script make a text file... basically like this:
@ECHO OFF
echo In the event of a computer issue, please contact > C:\message.txt
echo the IT Services department, x12345 >> C:\message.txt
echo. >> C:\message.txt
echo Machine name: %computername% >> C:\message.txt
echo Logged on as: %username% >> C:\message.txt

(You could do a lot more, like logon time, etc., but I'm keeping it simple)

And then installing samurize, and instructing it to boot at startup, and display C:\message.txt in the bottom-right of the screen. So in this effect, I can get what I want.

But I have 400 machines to install, and putting out a samurize.exe /? and a search on their site doesn't show any silent or unattended install options.

Does anyone know of some software (preferably free, of course) that can put text on the desktops of many machines, AND can be installed via script?

Maybe there's something out there that can watch me set up one instance of Samurize and replay the setup via script to the desktops?

I know I can push installs to the desktops with psexec or just assign a script via Group Policy, so that's not a problem. My issue is getting the install to be unattended on many machines. If I can get it to install by itself on one machine, I can do the entire LAN...

Thanks for any help!

Comments

  • QCHQCH Ancient Guru Chicago Area - USA Icrontian
    edited February 2007
    BGINFO from Sysinternals does a great job. I used THIS write up on how to automate the process.
  • the_technocratthe_technocrat IC-MotY1 Indy Icrontian
    edited February 2007
    QCH2002 wrote:
    BGINFO from Sysinternals does a great job. I used THIS write up on how to automate the process.

    you da man Q!
  • CycloniteCyclonite Tampa, Florida Icrontian
    edited February 2007
    I like this idea, and I apologize if I'm butting in, but what if I'd like to allow the user to continue using his/her own wallpaper, but display this information? Is there anything with that capability?
  • the_technocratthe_technocrat IC-MotY1 Indy Icrontian
    edited February 2007
    Cyclonite wrote:
    I like this idea, and I apologize if I'm butting in, but what if I'd like to allow the user to continue using his/her own wallpaper, but display this information? Is there anything with that capability?

    This program does what you're describing. The users can have their cowboy-hat wearing kittens, and the text box goes where you want it, with a transparent background.
  • CycloniteCyclonite Tampa, Florida Icrontian
    edited February 2007
    Oh! I skimmed it before asking the question, then got bombarded by phone-calls. It looked like it reset the background to a solid color. Sorry about that! Thanks. :)
  • the_technocratthe_technocrat IC-MotY1 Indy Icrontian
    edited February 2007
    Cyclonite wrote:
    Oh! I skimmed it before asking the question, then got bombarded by phone-calls. It looked like it reset the background to a solid color. Sorry about that! Thanks. :)

    I thought the same thing at first. It just takes whatever background you have, copies it as BGinfo.bmp, adds the words, saves it, and selects it as your wallpaper.
  • mtroxmtrox Minnesota
    edited February 2007
    the_technocrat wrote:
    cowboy-hat wearing kittens

    Laughing my --- off techno. ;D
  • the_technocratthe_technocrat IC-MotY1 Indy Icrontian
    edited February 2007
    mtrox wrote:
    Laughing my --- off techno. ;D

    heh, I love the internet.
Sign In or Register to comment.