Anyone use in a work environment?

[deesloop]

I use this at home and it's great.
As domain admin, I'd like to use it at work on all the
company machines. However all users are non power user/non admins.
Just regular users, so much of what can be defragged is very limited.

Anyone help with running it so regular users can defrag?
Preferably just through thte screen saver!
I can use GP to set the screen saver.
Thanks a lot.

[isgdre]

Well, Here's what I know.

1) It does have a screen saver mode (I've never used it so I can't comment much on it). 
2) I myself have a few computers at home and I don't bother doing installs (updates).  I just have my standard environment stuff take care of it.
3) It's default mode should work for you basic desktop quite nicely.
4) I would wait for V4 if I was you.  The V3 but that causes the computers to not be able to shutdown (under some rare conditions) may be a bit of an issue.

[jeroen]

As domain admin, I'd like to use it at work on all the company machines.

Perhaps a tip, take a look at the free PsExec utility from Microsoft. With this utility you can run MyDefrag from your central server, you don't have to install it on each and every desktop. It will solve your permissions problem, and as a bonus it makes updating MyDefrag a lot easier (because there is only a single copy in the network).

[deesloop]

Not sure I understand?
I'm looking to set the default screen saver to your Defrag programme, but
surely in doing so that results in the machine only defragging what the user has write access to
eg None of the windows folders, none of the programmes folders - basically whats in their profile only?

I dont see how PSEXEC gets round that? My understanding is that it's for launching command remotely on
a machine. I just want this to work when the screen saver kicks in...

[jeroen]

I'm looking to set the default screen saver to your Defrag programme, but
surely in doing so that results in the machine only defragging what the user has write access to

Yes. The screensaver is not useful in your case, so you must run JkDefrag differently. For example as a scheduled task, or with a utility such as PsExec.

[Nauip]

 I'm the domain admin at my office and I use this as the default screensaver on all of our PCs. I had to give everyone admin access to their own PCs, but so far it hasn't been a big deal.

 I believe someone mentioned before that you could put it in c:\jkdefrag and give all authenticated users full access to this folder and it would work fine. I'm not sure, but I think this would require a small reghack to accomplish this.

[ashrond]

Upon finding out about this wonderful utility through lifehacker.com and trying it out for my self I was genuinely impressed. I too am a domain administrator and wanted mydefrag to fun as a screen saver under limited user accounts. I didn’t find allot of solutions that worked for me, so I came up with a work around.


first you will need to install
mydefrag and screen launcher (available at: http://www.xentrik.net/software/screen_launcher.html )

then point screen launcher at this batch file
________________________________________________________
@echo off

runas /env /savecred /user:station101\administrator "C:\WINDOWS\system32\MyDefragScreenSaver.scr /s"



exit
________________________________________________________

When the batch file screen saver runs for the first time it will prompt you to enter the local administrator password, which will be cached. however from this moment on my defrag will always run fine as a screen saver.

[jeroen]

Thanks for sharing your experience, I appreciate it. If I understand you correctly then this trick will allow the screensaver to run with administrator privileges, even though a regular user is logged in?

[pepoluan]

Thanks for sharing your experience, I appreciate it. If I understand you correctly then this trick will allow the screensaver to run with administrator privileges, even though a regular user is logged in?

I think so, based on my knowledge of the "runas" command.

I'm intrigued, however, on why must I use the "/env" switch.

[Henno]

We created a MSI for JKDefrag (and are planning to do the same for MyDefrag somewhere in the future) that installs a scheduled task that runs in the System context and starts if the system is idle for 10 minutes.
We distribute the MSI using SMS 2003.
It works like a charm...

Reg, Henno.

[jeroen]

(and are planning to do the same for MyDefrag somewhere in the future)

Please note that the MyDefrag license is different than the JkDefrag license. It is only allowed to redistribute the complete and unchanged MyDefrag installer. It is not allowed to grab a couple of files from MyDefrag and put them in your own installer.

Tip: see the installer's commandline options on the Download and install page to run it automatically.

[Henno]

(and are planning to do the same for MyDefrag somewhere in the future)

Please note that the MyDefrag license is different than the JkDefrag license. It is only allowed to redistribute the complete and unchanged MyDefrag installer. It is not allowed to grab a couple of files from MyDefrag and put them in your own installer.

Tip: see the installer's commandline options on the Download and install page to run it automatically.

Then we won't be using MyDefrag in the future, sorry you will miss 6000 installations....
We standarize on Windows Installer and repackage everything except Microsoft Office products.
The Innosetup is not good enough for us, script-based installers are not excepted in our environment (+1200 applications), it doesn't provide us with information what and how things are changed on the workstation.

Reg, Henno.

[jeroen]

sorry you will miss 6000 installations....

That's too bad, but MyDefrag is freeware so it's no skin of my nose.

[Henno]

To me it's a bit strange that you are not willing to find a solution (like creating a Windows installer package) for professionals who want to use it on their corporate/educational systems...
I understand that this costs time & effort, but you could go to Windows Installer instead of Innosetup and make MyDefrag usable for professional organisations that rely on software distributions systems.
At the moment it is targeted towards the home- private user, which is a shame because it is far better then just that...
Heck, if you need help in creating a Windows installer package, I can be of assistance.

Reg, Henno.

[jeroen]

So far you are the only one asking for a Windows installer package. I think Inno Setup is far more popular and used than Windows installer. It does everything I want, I am happy with it. The decision of your company not to use any software unless it comes as a Windows installer is a very strange and limiting decision. I am sorry, but at the moment I see no advantage (for me) in putting a lot of effort into switching to the Windows installer.