Reset local admin password on multiple workstations

1. Download pspasswd.exe (More info)
2. Create computers.txt file and place it in the same folder as pspasswd.exe
3. In computers.txt list all computers you want to reset admin password. Each in a new line.
4. In command prompt run pspasswd.exe @computers.txt administrator NewAdminPassword

Make sure you have domain admin rights.
All files including a simple .bat script can be downloaded from here.

Useful Command Line Commands and Tools


repadmin /showreps servername - Domain Controller replication status.
repadmin /replsum - replication status of all the domain controllers in the forest.

dsquery user -stalepwd <NumDaysSinceLastPwdChange> - Users Whose Passwords Are About to Expire
dsquery user -inactive <NumWeeks> - Users Who Have Not Logged On Recently
dsquery computer domainroot -inactive <NumWeeks> - inactive computers in the current domain

dcdiag /s:server-name - Test DC status (replication etc)

rsop.msc - (Resultant Set of Policy) Shows Group Policy settings that have been applied on a local computer

Deploy Java using Group Policy

  1. Download the latest Java SE JRE offline installation file from Oracle. You need JRE (Java Runtime Environment) offline version (normally x86).
  2. Launch .exe but don't start installation.
  3. Navigate to:
    • Windows XP: C:\Documents and Settings\<username>\Application Data\Sun\Java\jrex.x.x
    • Windows 7, 8, 10: C:\Users\<username>\AppData\LocalLow\Sun\Java\jrex.x.x (Java 6, 7)
    • Windows 7, 8, 10: C:\Users\<username>\AppData\LocalLow\Oracle\Java\jrex.x.x (Java 8)
  4. Save .msi and .cab (if exists) files to a folder on your desktop.
  5. Cancel installation.
  6. Optional  Customize installation
    Open .msi file in Orca, Transform > New Transform. Scroll down to "Property" table and customize as required:
    [IEXPLORER] {1}     Selects the IE plugin (Doesn't exist in v8)
    [MOZILLA] {1}     Selects the Netscape/Mozilla Firefox plugin (Doesn't exist in v8)
    [SYSTRAY] {0}     Gets rid of the systray icon when Java is running. (Doesn't exist in v7 and later)
    To disable auto update:
    [JAVAUPDATE] {0}     Turns off part of the JavaUpdate
    [AUTOUPDATECHECK] {0}     Turns off part of the JavaUpdate
    [JU] {0}     Turns off part of the JavaUpdate (Doesn't exist in v8)
    Transform -> Generate Transform. Save the transformation .mst file to the same folder as msi and cab files.
  7. Deploy via Group Policy using advanced method and add generated transform file to the Modifications list.

Java 6.XX
Java 7.XX
Java 8.XX

Deploy Google Earth using Group Policy

Option 1 (with 7-ZIP)

  1. Go to Google Earth download website and click on "Customise your installation with advanced setup"
  2. Download latest version .exe file
  3. Extract .exe with 7-ZipPortable
  4. Copy following files and folders:
    LocalAppData
    program files
    1033.mst     (English language)
    Google Earth.msi
    Setup.ini
  5. Open Google Earth.msi with MS Orca msi editor
  6. View > Summary Information > Languages - delete everything except 1033 (English)
  7. Save changes
  8. Deploy using GP as any other .msi packet.

Option 2 (Without 7-ZIP)

  1. Go to Google Earth download website and click on "Customise your installation with advanced setup"
  2. Download latest version .exe file
  3. Run .exe installation file (do not proceed with installation).
  4. .msi and other installation files will be extracted to "C:\Documents and Settings\username\Local Settings\Temp\7ZipSfx.000" (on Windows XP)
    To find exact location you can use Filemon with "*.msi" filter before running .exe
  5. Copy following files and folders:
    LocalAppData
    program files
    1033.mst     (English language)
    Google Earth.msi
    Setup.ini
  6. Open Google Earth.msi with MS Orca msi editor
  7. View > Summary Information > Languages - delete everything except 1033 (English)
  8. Save changes
  9. Deploy using GP as any other .msi packet.

If in Step 1 for any reason you can't download advanced setup file (which is full Google Earth .exe):
Download standard "Google Updater".
When "Google Updater" runs it downloads Google Earth .exe file to "C:\Program Files\Google\Update\Download". Be aware that Google Updater may start installation automatically without any warnings.

Google Earth 5
Google Earth 6