So I've already been all over the Internet for password prompts before running an OSD TS, from both WinPE and Windows but so far, they all look pretty weak IMO. Simply running a VB and prompting for a PW isn't what I'm looking for but rather a nicer
GUI, like an HTA maybe with graphics. OK, so I create that part and it works, the issue I have now seems to be getting it all to work the way I expect, as there are several caveats it seems trying to chain the GUI along with a TS.
First, when I try and run the HTA from the first step
in the TS, it is not visible, no matter if launched directly by calling the HTA (in this case it never launches and just moves to the next TS step) or from a BAT file (in this case it does launch, but is not visible, you can confirm his with Task Manager).
Now I know I can run an HTA from WinPE, I use a nice menu system to pick the image OS, bit depth, Office version, etc when imaging from PE but this is an UPGRAGE from within Windows.
Second, when I try and run it as a package, called before the OSD TS by specifying it in the TS properties, it does run but there are 2 issues. First, it launches in the background,UNDER the "Software Center" window, so the user may not even see it running and second, it only downloads the password prompt package, not the entire TS as I want so it starts right away (and yes, I do have the deployment set to download
the full TS before running but this is a package called first, so it's treated as outside the TS), which means after you enter the password, you have to wait for the TS to download before it starts, could be a good 10 minute wait with nothing happening.
Now some of you will say "so what?" but to me this isn't really elegant and frankly leaves room for the user to just try and run it again or move on and assume it's broken or shot down. If I try and close "Software Center" so my HTA is
visible, then Software Center isn't there to show the download percentage and if I don't do something, the PW GUI is hidden behind it. I honestly am looking for a guru who's got this to work and work well, right now I am simply not pleased with the end
user experience and am trying to both make it idiot proof as well as look nice and professional... Ideas?
I'd prefer having it run in the TS if possible but I am not sure making it visible is an option when the TS is running in Windows, unlike WinPE...
Jack