Questions[autoit](server)

I have a AutoIt script that I need to start when a RemoteApp session is created.

The script waits for a window to appear and then extracts the text of a certain label and writes it to a file.

I already have this script and it works fine when I run it manually but if I set the script to start through a scheduled task on logon or by group policy it doesn't appear to have access to the windows that appear in the session.

It appears that the process doesn't have interactive access to the session but how would I go about starting it so that it does?

Here's the AutoIt script in question

Local $WindowName = "Infinity Cash Out"
Local $ClientName = EnvGet("CLIENTNAME")
Local $Filename = "S:\Pole\" & $ClientName & ".txt"

While(true)
    $hWnd = WinWait("[TITLE:Infinity Cash Out]")
    $sText = ControlGetText($hWnd, "", "[NAME:CurrTotal]")
    $sText = StringMid($sText, 1, StringInStr($sText, ".") + 2)
    $sText = "Total:" & @CRLF & $sText

    $file = FileOpen($Filename, 2)
    FileWrite($file, $sText)
    FileClose($file)

    WinWaitClose($hWnd)

    $file = FileOpen($Filename, 2)
    FileWrite($file, "")
    FileClose($file)
WEnd

Our problem:

The client, a normal user, has to be able to reset multiple passwords at once. Around 30 in one go. This would call for powershell or something along these lines, but for AD and Powershell one needs to be domain administrator.

My solution would be to make a service that runs on the AD server and take connections from a program. The service would then do the AD changes.

So far so good, I would just like to hear some other thoughts on this problem. Because I sure can't be the only one with it

I have to configure a bunch of computers with Windows XP and im trying to create a script with Autoit so make my work easier. The issue is the following:

I want to make certain extensions to open with a determinate software FOR ALL USERS in the system. (For example, open all .PSD files with XnView). I figure the best way to do this is to manipulate the register, but Im not sure how to do this task.

Can someone please how to achieve this goal?

Thanks a bunch

I want to run an AutoIt script every day at 1:00 AM on a Windows 2003 Server Standard Edition. Since this is a server, obviously there is rarely someone sitting there logged in at the console, so the procedure needs to account for this.

The AutoIt script in question launches and sends keypresses to a GUI app, so the process needs to include creating some sort of session for the user running the schedule task.

Is there a way to do this?

• I can't just use scheduled tasks run the AutoIt script when no one is logged in - if I do, it fails to launch at all.
• I thought that I might be able to create an RDP session and run the scheduled task as that user, inside that session, but I haven't found a way to create an RDP session without launching mstsc.exe -- which is itself a GUI app, and I have the same problem again.

What tools do you use and recommend for automating administration tasks for Windows-based computers?

Examples of such tasks include:

• Installing/upgrading software
• Standarizing application settings
• Remove blacklisted applications

A standardized disk image will be used to initially roll out a fully patched and configured Windows installation, so I'm looking specifically for tools and resources that will aid in administering the machines after they are deployed.

I know that some of this can be allowed or prevented using group policies deployed via Active Directory, and that many Microsoft products can be updated and managed through Windows Server Update Services (WSUS).

What do you use for other tasks? AutoIT scripting? PowerShell? Another scripting language? A 3rd party application? Or, is there a better approach to this ongoing task?