Roaming Computing System (Windows Edition) 3.1
Workstation Installation Instructions

Contents

1.0 Tools For The Job

TWEAK version 0.9.0 beta 6 or later from thegoldenear.org/tweak/

2.0 Partitioning

Partition Role Type Size for general workstations (GB) Size for workstations with Adobe CS (GB)
C: Windows and programs primary 7
(4GB for Windows (Windows XP; update backups; hibernation); 3GB for Programs (enough space for an unexpected single Adobe application))		 10
(3GB for Adobe CS2 Premium)
D: Temp primary 5
(too difficult to anticipate roaming DVD writing temp space; 5GB at least allows writing a single layer DVD)		 10
(Adobe CS wants 5GB)
E: Local home primary 1
(backup space to use in the event of server failure, set larger if stand-alone workstation)		 All remaining
(Adobe say you shouldn't work on files over the network)

3.0 Windows

Installation

Approximate time: 1 hour (apart from manual driver installation)

Boot the workstation with a Roaming Computing System Windows XP Installation CD respective to the workstation's type of Windows product key (volume, retail, or upgrade(?) licence) to install Windows, a recent Service Pack and device drivers. You should only be prompted to enter the Windows Product Key, name and organisation name, computer name and domain name, after which you'll be prompted for username and password to join the domain [note: currently the winadmin account doesn't work for this authentication, you need to use the root account instead].

If you haven't used nLite to pre-install any drivers not usually available with Windows you'll need to get them from Microsoft Update and/or the device manufacturer.

Update

If you're using Autopatcher to update windows

If you're not using Autopatcher / nLite to update Windows:

Configuration

Register the machine with the Primary Domain Controller.

Windows Configuration: TWEAK: A →

Driver Configuration: TWEAK: F → which ever is appropriate for this workstation.

Allow any authenticated users to change the time so that time can be set from the server when Restricted Users logon:
Control Panel → Administrative Tools → Local Security Policy → Local Policies → User Rights Assignment → Change the system time (double-click) →

If this is Windows XP, set the Windows Firewall to

4.0 Software (Applications and Utilities, Drivers and Runtime Environments, Sundry)

Installation

Software deployed automatically using WPKG

Run WPKG manually:

Addendum
Thunderbird MySpell Dictionary

Our WPKG setup fails trying to copy the .aff file. Install it manually by creating C:\Mozilla Thunderbird\components\myspell\en-GB and copying from there from the WPKG package directory myspell\en-GB.aff and en-GB.dic.

Lightning

Our WPKG setup fails checking if it's installed. re-run wpkg-start.bat and it finds it.

Adobe Reader

We haven't yet packaged this new version 8.0. Install it manually. Change the installation directory to %PROGRAMFILES%\Adobe\Acrobat\ (it additionally creates \Reader\)

Security Updates

Update Internet applications that require manual updating and that offer minor updates that only fix secrity issues and don't change functionality, thus won't affect the user profile.

Mozilla Firefox

Help → Check for Updates...

Mozilla Thunderbird

Help → Check for Updates...

Adobe Flash Player?

Software Deployed Manually

Major Proprietary Applications

Major proprietary applications that are likely to only be required on particular workstations, and few at that, are best installed manually from CD/DVD. We have a separate guide to installation and configuration of various major proprietary applications. We leave their All Users shorcuts where they are rather than manage them per-user.

Interim Roaming Computing System (Windows Edition) 3.2 Updates
OpenOffice 2.3.0

Manually install OpenOffice 2.3.0. It doesn't pick up the directory it's already installed in so choose 'Custom' installation option and change the installation directory from C:\Program Files\OpenOffice.org 2.3\ to C:\Program Files\OpenOffice\.

UltraVNC

Install UltraVNC manually

Make the following choices for parts to install:

Choose only the following options during installation (deselect the other options):

Reboot to make sure the UltraVNC service starts OK.

Configuration

Applications and Utilities

Core RCS Applications
7-Zip

to do: create TWEAK file type associations

Adobe Reader

TWEAK: B → A → L

Enigmail

TWEAK: B → T → E

F-Prot

Enter organisation-specific subscription key: Updates → Subscription → Status → Subscription information → New subscription key

Firefox

TWEAK: B → FF →

Flash Player

TWEAK: B → FP → A

Irfanview

TWEAK: B → I → A

Notepad++

TODO: File type associations

Picasa

Disable media detector: TWEAK: B → 2 → G

Thunderbird

TWEAK: B → T →

UltraVNC

Start → Programs → UltraVnc → Run server as application. Right-click on the system tray shortcut → Admin Properties →

If you have the Windows Firewall in Windows XP turned on you will have to configure it to allow UltraVNC to work. It seems either UltraVNC will create a setting for it that is turned off, which you should turn on; or when you first run UltraVNC the Windows Firewall will display a dialog asking if you want to allow UltraVNC; or you will have to add the UltraVNC program manually through Control Panel → Windows Firewall.

Major Proprietary Applications

For major proprietary applications that are likely to only be required on particular workstations, see our separate guide to installation and configuration of various major proprietary applications.

Drivers and Runtime Environments
If You Print Through a Print Server - PostScript printer driver for Windows

See our list of recommended settings for the CUPS driver for Windows.

If You Print Direct - Specific Windows Printer Driver

Use a PostScript printer driver if you have a PostScript printer. Configure to print lower quality by default; black and white rather than colour; duplex if the printer supports it.

MyODBC connector

?

Sun Java JRE

TWEAK: B → J → B

Sundry

Fonts

You may have fonts particular to the organisation to install.

5.0 Windows (More)

Configuration