Deploying Mechanical 2008 using GPO's

[noozybkk]

Hi all,

Been away for a while. Finally crossed over to the dark side and got my MCSE.

Anyway, here's my dilema. I've got to deploy AutoCAD 2008 Mechanical & Vault to about 50 users on the network, so a GPO push is the way to go.

I have created my installation sharepoint on the server containing the deployment image and set the persmissions.

In Active Directory, I have created a security group containing all the computers onto which I wish to deploy.

I have created a Software Installation Group Policy in GPMC, set it to Assign and pointed it to the ...\adminimage\ACADM\acad.msi and ...\adminimage\ACADM\\acad-ACAD2008.mst files.

Now whenever I re-boot any of the machines in the security group, I get the "Installing Managed Software AutoCAD Mechanical 2008" message in the pre-authentication environment. This is exactly what I would expect.

However, once the machine boots and I log in, AutoCAD is not installed. In fact, nothing has happened. There are no AutoCAD directories anywhere on the machine.

Even if I go to Add/Remove Programs, and look in the Add section, the AutoCAD category exists but the list is empty.

Any suggestions on what to do gratefully received.

Thanks

[Mike.Perry]

Hi

Guess - do the computers you are installing to, have the correct .NET Framework version installed?

Have you looked at the Event Log for any clues?

Have a good one, Mike

[noozybkk]

Good guess..!

It was the .NET version. I had assumed that since it was on the disk, it would have been bundled into the deployment, which it wasn't.

I did a GPO push of .NET 2 then retried the AutoCAD push and it worked.

Thanks Mike

[noozybkk]

Ok chaps. Sorry to be a pain with this deployment issue, but here is my next problem.

Everything deploys across the network without a hitch, however once the end users launch AutoCAD they receive the following alert....



Now I'm pretty sure this has something to do with AutoCAD trying to write some registry keys in the HKCU section and it's failing since standard users don't have admin rights.

Anyone know of a solution or workaround?

AutoCAD launches successfully once OK is clicked, but the alert appears again next time it's launched.

[rkmcswain]

It was the .NET version. I had assumed that since it was on the disk, it would have been bundled into the deployment, which it wasn't.

If you use GPO to deploy the AutoCAD .MSI - you have to manually verify that the other components (.NET, Updated MSI, Flash, etc) are loaded. These apps are installed by the AutoCAD installer, but not when you push the MSI out by itself.