Friday, January 11, 2008

Download Pick: TSbackdrop

Our friends at CTRL-ALT-Del have a new utility called TSBackdrop that lets you display session information in a bitmap on the users desktop.
TSBackdrop is a command-line tool to automatically display relevant information about a Terminal Server or Citrix Session on the user's desktop background. Items such as the Client Computer Name, Client IP address, Username and the Server which the Client is logged on to, are all displayed in a neat little bitmap that is positioned in the middle of the user's desktop. This is particularly useful for helpdesk calls where the user can quickly provide the details of their session to the helpdesk operator.

Check it out along with their other utilities at:
http://www.ctrl-alt-del.com.au/CAD_TSUtils.htm

Direct download link is:
http://www.ctrl-alt-del.com.au/files/TSBackdrop.zip

Here is the readme file:
TSBackdrop is a command-line tool to automatically display relevant information about a Terminal Server or Citrix Session on the  user's desktop background. Items such as the Client Computer Name, Client IP address, Username and the Server which the Client is logged on to, are all displayed in a neat little bitmap that is positioned in the middle of the user's desktop. This is particularly useful for helpdesk calls where the user can quickly provide the details of their session to the helpdesk operator.  When placed in the Startup folder of a user's profile, or in a logon script specifically for Terminal Server or Citrix sessions, TSBackdrop simply writes a new desktop bitmap (TSBKDRP.BMP which is around 75 kb  in size) to the user's 'My Documents' or 'Personal Folder' and then sets it as the default wallpaper for that session. Each time the user logs on to a Terminal Server or Citrix Session, the information on the bitmap will be updated. The bitmap is purposely small is size to reduce impact on session screen refresh.  This utility is FREEWARE and was written by Warren Simondson of Ctrl-Alt-Del IT Consultancy, Australia. www.ctrl-alt-del.com.au  Thankyou to the WINDOWS SDK available from http://msdn.microsoft.com/downloads  Usage: TSBackdrop [/?]    /?                  -  This help information.  TSBackdrop will function on all versions of Terminal Server and Citrix platforms. It will not function on non-Terminal Server Operating Systems.  Please note: Windows 2003 Terminal Server versions and above disable the desktop wallpaper in Terminal Server sessions by default. Due to this setting TSBackdrop will not function as stated. To ensure TSBackdrop will  operate in these environments, please complete the following  modifications to each Terminal Server or Citrix Server. Administrative rights are required to complete these tasks:  WARNING: If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. CTRL-ALT-DEL IT CONSULTANCY cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.  Terminal Server: - Group Policy: Set the Group Policy for the Local Computer. Open Local   Group Policy on the Terminal Server and navigate to Computer   Configuration, Administrative Templates, Windows Components, Terminal   Services. Double-click the Enforce Removal of Remote Desktop Wallpaper   setting. Click Disabled, and then click OK.  - Registry: Start Registry Editor (Regedt32.exe) on the Terminal Server   and navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\   Terminal Server\WinStations\RDP-Tcp\UserOverride\Control Panel\   Desktop. Delete the entire key named 'Wallpaper'.  Citrix: (Use above settings and the following) - Registry: Start Registry Editor (Regedt32.exe) on the Terminal Server   and navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\   Terminal Server\WinStations\ICA-Tcp\UserOverride\Control Panel\   Desktop. Delete the entire key named 'Wallpaper'.  The freeware version is offered AS IS. Ctrl-Alt-Del IT Consultancy has made every effort possible to ensure that TSBackdrop is free of any bugs or errors, however in no way is TSBackdrop to be considered error or bug free. You assume all responsibility for any damages or lost data that may result from any errors or bugs in TSBackdrop.  IN NO EVENT WILL CTRL-ALT-DEL IT CONSULTANCY BE LIABLE TO YOU FOR ANY GENERAL, SPECIAL, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, INCIDENTAL OR OTHER DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF  THIS PRODUCT. 

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