Run a batch file or script after boot but before login?

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NickP - 30 Mar 2004 13:24 GMT

Hi All,

Does anyone know if there's a way of running a batch file or script after an
SBS2k box restarts & with a 5 minute delay but prior to the box being logged
on - i.e. I'd like to run a script after a server restarts unattended, but
after all services have started.

E.g. running <<adsutil STOP_SERVER W3SVC/1>> & then <<adsutil START_SERVER
W3SVC/1>> to get around the IIS OWA components not starting properly because
of fighting over ports with ISA.

Thanks!

NickP

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Dave Stoecker - 30 Mar 2004 16:43 GMT

Here is a thought...
Add a policy object to the Domain Controllers OU - if you have additional
DCs, filter the ACL on the policy object so only the SBS can apply it.
(Group Policy) > Computer Configuration . Windows Settings > Scripts
(startup)
Reference your script there. The 5 minute wait will need to be built in to
the script (you could use Sleep or Timeout utilities from the Resource Kit,
or some other method).

hth - DS

> Hi All,
>
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
>
> NickP

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IBC - 30 Mar 2004 17:52 GMT

I would think adding those lines to the login script would do it. I'm not a
scripting person since I know little about it, but I would think you could
tell the script to run a SECOND script that has a delay statement in it and
the stop/start command. I'm wondering if you put a wait command in the login
script if you would have to wait for it to finish before it allowed the
machine to finish logging in.

Actually, I suppose it can't be a log in script....If you aren't logging in
after a reboot it won't help. So some form of start up script then...like
Dave said.

If you get this worked out, I'd love to see the script (as would many others
I assume).

Thanks

> Here is a thought...
> Add a policy object to the Domain Controllers OU - if you have additional
[quoted text clipped - 24 lines]
> >
> > NickP

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Jeff Middleton [SBS-MVP] - 30 Mar 2004 18:05 GMT

I think that Dave's idea probably will work, but it can also be dependent
upon what exactly you want the script to do. For instance, certain kinds of
things can't be done without Explorer loaded, or without MSGINA launched, or
such.

There's also this Kb:
How to Run a Batch File Before Logging on to Your Computer
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;243486&Product=win2000

> Here is a thought...
> Add a policy object to the Domain Controllers OU - if you have additional
[quoted text clipped - 24 lines]
> >
> > NickP

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Dave Stoecker - 30 Mar 2004 19:09 GMT

That is a handy KB, and thanks for pointing out some possible limitations
when using startup scripts.

Another minor thought regarding the idea I suggested:

I just read some of the Resource Kit group policy documentation again, and
the default maximum wait for (all) script processing to complete before
displaying the logon screen is 10 minutes, so if there was a problem with
the script's execution that isn't handled in the script itself (say W3SVC
won't restart for some reason) it could prevent anyone from logging in to
the SBS until the wait time expired. Perhaps not a big issue, but just in
case,

The maximum wait time (in seconds) can be configured at this policy
location:
Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\System\Logon "maximum
wait time for group policy scripts"

DS

> I think that Dave's idea probably will work, but it can also be dependent
> upon what exactly you want the script to do. For instance, certain kinds of
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> There's also this Kb:
> How to Run a Batch File Before Logging on to Your Computer