10 client problems you should solve with FastTrack

Are you having the exact same problems as everyone else?

This top 10 list is a compilation of examples from various documentation pages to give you a shortcut to quickly solving some of the most common user problems.

Learn how to throw in a few lines in your logon script to handle laptop backups, update your Active Directory with laptop owner information, handle VPN share mappings, stamp new office documents with correct names and much much more.

Click the "Show me" link for more information on a suggested solution to each problem.

Top 10 problems to solve

Problem 1: My users do not have a backup of local documents on their laptops

Backing up local documents require just one script line using the SyncDir command, which can also be used to back up users' PST files. The command could be triggered in a logon script or through an on-demand user desktop shortcut. Show me

Problem 2: Unable to find out who owns which computer

Simply issue the command UploadInventory in your logon script and this information is automatically available in your SkyBox web. Alternatively it can be collected and stored in the Active Directory or in log files. Show me

Problem 3: Users need shares and printers based groups or location

Connecting shares and printers based on ip addresses or users' or computers' memberships of groups or organizational unit can be achieved with a few script lines in the logon script. Show me

Problem 4: Need hardware inventory for clients

Data like physical memory, available disk space, installation date and so forth are available on your personal inventory web by simply issuing the UploadInventory command in your logon script - or you can log the information to XML files. Show me

Problem 5: Users do not have their drive mappings when logging on to VPN

SmartDock will allow you to execute a script, when the client computer establishes a VPN connection, regardless of type of VPN software. Show me

Problem 6: Obsolete user and computer accounts are not always deleted

Run the example script to get a list of obsolete user and computer accounts in your Active Directory. Show me

Problem 7: Need to remove illegal file types from client computers

Insert a single script line in the logon script to remove undesired file types like music and movies. Show me

Problem 8: Users' passwords expire and lock their accounts - notification needed

Some users almost never perform a logon and thus never get the password expiry notification, resulting in locked out accounts. Compile the script to setup a daily email notification to users who have a pending password change. Show me

Problem 9: Need to run an MSI package to upgrade software on all client computers

Run a query at the logon script to check if the client has the upgraded software package. Show me

Problem 10: User names are wrong in Office documents - need to set the Office 2003/2007/2010 user name

Insert a few set-it-and-forget-it lines in the logon script to overrule the Microsoft Office user name with the Active Directory information. Show me


Rating: 5 out of 5

"Use this as a replacement for VBScript and PowerShell"

"It's easy to include attractive GUI elements in FastTrack scripts, beyond the basic dialog boxes and text input that VBScript offers ... Another powerful feature is the ability to distribute scripts as Windows Installer (.msi) or standard .exe files. Although interesting in its own right, this ability results in a much more intriguing capability: to repackage -- or wrap -- software installers as .msi files without using snapshots. If you've ever created an .msi installer file from before-and-after system snapshots, for use with a software distribution system such as Group Policy or SCCM, then you know how hit-and-miss the results can be."

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Rating: 8 out of 10

"Faster than the rest"

"We found the FastTrack syntax to be more transparent and easier to learn than Microsoft's PowerShell – the editor in particular provided good support in this regard. the Script Editor offers a large number of options from the command set through to simple output of graphical elements, which cannot be achieved at all with PowerShell or other solutions or only with a significantly greater level of effort."

"Anyone wanting to tackle the many hurdles in everyday admin and especially anyone for whom logon scripts and client automation is a priority will benefit from the variety of functions offered by FastTrack."

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