Host Screen Resolution

Wayne Workman

@Jbob We do the ACT exam at my school district in the high schools. Resolution for the exam must be set to 800x600, it’s required by the testing software. It’s a pain to go set this manually in the labs, and un-set it when testing is over. I’d really appreciate it if the DisplayManager functionality could be worked back into 0.10.x.

Joe Schmitt

A powershell snapin would do what you want:

https://community.spiceworks.com/scripts/show/1854-change-screen-resolution-with-powershell

Simply deploy the the snapin to any computers you want in ACT mode. I’m not saying a definitive no to display manager yet, but as you can see there are simple ways to replicate what it did with snapins.

Sebastian Roth

@Wayne-Workman said in Host Screen Resolution:

We do the ACT exam at my school district in the high schools. Resolution for the exam must be set to 800x600, it’s required by the testing software.

Holy cow… that’s a requirement! Wouldn’t have expected to hear that and obviously didn’t know that this feature is widely in use. Hope you can get this solved via snapins.

Wayne Workman

@Sebastian-Roth From ACT’s web site:

The ACT is the leading US college admissions test, measuring what you learn in high school to determine your academic readiness for college.
http://www.act.org/content/act/en/products-and-services/the-act.html

The software is used in many colleges as an entry exam, as well as in high schools for seniors.

Tom S

I usually hate to throw out 3rd party software in this forum, but I too have software that requires certain screen resolutions. I use NirCmd with a simple batch file as a snapin job.

Download the app and add it to a share that can be accessed by a non user account. This would be everyone or domain computer (if on domain) permissions. Make sure that the file is marked read/execute by that group.

next simply create a batch file with:

@echo off
\\sharename\folder\nircmd.exe setdisplay 800 600 60

next create snapin and upload that new batch file and viola

Again not a solution but this how I do it

-T

networkguy

@Tom-S
Hi Tom. I tried that approach but it doesn’t seem to be working when run it as a snapin. When logged in as Administrator I run the exact same command (i just append the -updatereg in my case) and it does what is expected. Have you run into this behavior? I’m using Windows 7 64 bit and the latest nircmd.exe 64 bit.

Log file containing the error:

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------SnapinClient---------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 5/17/2016 9:30 AM Client-Info Client Version: 0.10.6
 5/17/2016 9:30 AM Client-Info Client OS:      Windows
 5/17/2016 9:30 AM Client-Info Server Version: 7613
 5/17/2016 9:30 AM Middleware::Response Success
 5/17/2016 9:30 AM SnapinClient Snapin Found:
 5/17/2016 9:30 AM SnapinClient     ID: 12
 5/17/2016 9:30 AM SnapinClient     RunWith: 
 5/17/2016 9:30 AM SnapinClient     RunWithArgs: 
 5/17/2016 9:30 AM SnapinClient     Name: vmware_800x600x16
 5/17/2016 9:30 AM SnapinClient     File: vmware_800x600x16.bat
 5/17/2016 9:30 AM SnapinClient     Created: 2016-05-17 09:27:58
 5/17/2016 9:30 AM SnapinClient     Args: 
 5/17/2016 9:30 AM SnapinClient     Action: 
 5/17/2016 9:30 AM Middleware::Communication Download: http://myfogserver/fog/service/snapins.file.php?mac=00:50:XX:XX:XX:XX||00:00:00:00:00:00:00:E0&taskid=12
 5/17/2016 9:30 AM SnapinClient C:\Program Files (x86)\FOG\tmp\vmware_800x600x16.bat
 5/17/2016 9:30 AM Bus {
  "self": true,
  "channel": "Notification",
  "data": "{\r\n  \"title\": \"Installing vmware_800x600x16\",\r\n  \"message\": \"Please do not shutdown until this is completed\",\r\n  \"subjectID\": \"snapin-vmware_800x600x16\"\r\n}"
}
 5/17/2016 9:30 AM Bus ERROR: Could not enter socket
 5/17/2016 9:30 AM Bus ERROR: Cannot load Counter Name data because an invalid index '' was read from the registry.
 5/17/2016 9:30 AM Bus Emmiting message on channel: Notification
 5/17/2016 9:30 AM SnapinClient Starting snapin...
 5/17/2016 9:30 AM SnapinClient Snapin finished
 5/17/2016 9:30 AM SnapinClient Return Code: -1
 5/17/2016 9:30 AM Bus {
  "self": true,
  "channel": "Notification",
  "data": "{\r\n  \"title\": \"vmware_800x600x16 Installed\",\r\n  \"message\": \"Installation has finished and is now ready for use\",\r\n  \"subjectID\": \"snapin-vmware_800x600x16\"\r\n}"
}
 5/17/2016 9:30 AM Bus ERROR: Could not enter socket
 5/17/2016 9:30 AM Bus ERROR: Cannot load Counter Name data because an invalid index '' was read from the registry.
 5/17/2016 9:30 AM Bus Emmiting message on channel: Notification
 5/17/2016 9:30 AM Middleware::Communication URL: http://myfogserver/fog/service/snapins.checkin.php?taskid=12&exitcode=-1&mac=00:50:XX:XX:XX:XX||00:00:00:00:00:00:00:E0&newService&json
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Joe Schmitt

Snapins run as SYSTEM so they behave differently. Have you tried the powershell command I linked to?

networkguy

@Jbob
Thank you for the suggestion Jbob but something is wonky. 'The system cannot find the file specified.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------SnapinClient---------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 5/17/2016 11:16 AM Client-Info Client Version: 0.10.6
 5/17/2016 11:16 AM Client-Info Client OS:      Windows
 5/17/2016 11:16 AM Client-Info Server Version: 7659
 5/17/2016 11:16 AM Middleware::Response Success
 5/17/2016 11:16 AM SnapinClient Snapin Found:
 5/17/2016 11:16 AM SnapinClient     ID: 15
 5/17/2016 11:16 AM SnapinClient     RunWith: powershell.exe -file
 5/17/2016 11:16 AM SnapinClient     RunWithArgs: 
 5/17/2016 11:16 AM SnapinClient     Name: Set-800x600
 5/17/2016 11:16 AM SnapinClient     File: Set-800x600.ps1
 5/17/2016 11:16 AM SnapinClient     Created: 2016-05-17 11:15:15
 5/17/2016 11:16 AM SnapinClient     Args: 
 5/17/2016 11:16 AM SnapinClient     Action: 
 5/17/2016 11:16 AM Middleware::Communication Download: http://myfogserver/fog/service/snapins.file.php?mac=00:50:XX:XX:XX:XX||00:00:00:00:00:00:00:E0&taskid=15
 5/17/2016 11:16 AM SnapinClient C:\Program Files (x86)\FOG\tmp\Set-800x600.ps1
 5/17/2016 11:16 AM Bus {
  "self": true,
  "channel": "Notification",
  "data": "{\r\n  \"title\": \"Installing Set-800x600\",\r\n  \"message\": \"Please do not shutdown until this is completed\",\r\n  \"subjectID\": \"snapin-Set-800x600\"\r\n}"
}
 5/17/2016 11:16 AM Bus ERROR: Could not enter socket
 5/17/2016 11:16 AM Bus ERROR: Cannot load Counter Name data because an invalid index '' was read from the registry.
 5/17/2016 11:16 AM Bus Emmiting message on channel: Notification
 5/17/2016 11:16 AM SnapinClient Starting snapin...
 5/17/2016 11:16 AM SnapinClient ERROR: Could not start snapin
 5/17/2016 11:16 AM SnapinClient ERROR: The system cannot find the file specified
 5/17/2016 11:16 AM Middleware::Communication URL: http://myfogserver/fog/service/snapins.checkin.php?taskid=15&exitcode=-1&mac=00:50:XX:XX:XX:XX||00:00:00:00:00:00:00:E0&newService&json
------------------------------------------------------------------------------```

Joe Schmitt

Runwith should just powershell.exe. Run with args should be -file (actually -NoProfile -File) would be safer.

networkguy

@Jbob
Well, still struggling. First off the file I downloaded to be sourced had strangely formatted double quotes so that prevented the file from being interpreted correctly. Fixed that easily with a quick find/replace.

Secondly, the share that I was running these from appear to not have the appropriate permissions and I had to add in the -ExecutionPolicy Bypass which I completely overlooked the ability to set those options with the GUI (very nice!).

What I ended up with was putting the file to be sourced in the ps1 that has the resolution I’m looking for and uploading that as a snapin. It runs perfectly fine when I manually download and run on the workstation but it is still giving me an error when running as a FOG snapin.

Powershell script [Set-800x600.ps1]:

Function Set-ScreenResolution { 
param ( 
[Parameter(Mandatory=$true, 
           Position = 0)] 
[int] 
$Width, 
[Parameter(Mandatory=$true, 
           Position = 1)] 
[int] 
$Height 
) 
$pinvokeCode = @" 
using System; 
using System.Runtime.InteropServices; 
namespace Resolution 
{ 
    [StructLayout(LayoutKind.Sequential)] 
    public struct DEVMODE1 
    { 
        [MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.ByValTStr, SizeConst = 32)] 
        public string dmDeviceName; 
        public short dmSpecVersion; 
        public short dmDriverVersion; 
        public short dmSize; 
        public short dmDriverExtra; 
        public int dmFields; 
        public short dmOrientation; 
        public short dmPaperSize; 
        public short dmPaperLength; 
        public short dmPaperWidth; 
        public short dmScale; 
        public short dmCopies; 
        public short dmDefaultSource; 
        public short dmPrintQuality; 
        public short dmColor; 
        public short dmDuplex; 
        public short dmYResolution; 
        public short dmTTOption; 
        public short dmCollate; 
        [MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.ByValTStr, SizeConst = 32)] 
        public string dmFormName; 
        public short dmLogPixels; 
        public short dmBitsPerPel; 
        public int dmPelsWidth; 
        public int dmPelsHeight; 
        public int dmDisplayFlags; 
        public int dmDisplayFrequency; 
        public int dmICMMethod; 
        public int dmICMIntent; 
        public int dmMediaType; 
        public int dmDitherType; 
        public int dmReserved1; 
        public int dmReserved2; 
        public int dmPanningWidth; 
        public int dmPanningHeight; 
    }; 
    class User_32 
    { 
        [DllImport("user32.dll")] 
        public static extern int EnumDisplaySettings(string deviceName, int modeNum, ref DEVMODE1 devMode); 
        [DllImport("user32.dll")] 
        public static extern int ChangeDisplaySettings(ref DEVMODE1 devMode, int flags); 
        public const int ENUM_CURRENT_SETTINGS = -1; 
        public const int CDS_UPDATEREGISTRY = 0x01; 
        public const int CDS_TEST = 0x02; 
        public const int DISP_CHANGE_SUCCESSFUL = 0; 
        public const int DISP_CHANGE_RESTART = 1; 
        public const int DISP_CHANGE_FAILED = -1; 
    } 
    public class PrmaryScreenResolution 
    { 
        static public string ChangeResolution(int width, int height) 
        { 
            DEVMODE1 dm = GetDevMode1(); 
            if (0 != User_32.EnumDisplaySettings(null, User_32.ENUM_CURRENT_SETTINGS, ref dm)) 
            { 
                dm.dmPelsWidth = width; 
                dm.dmPelsHeight = height; 
                int iRet = User_32.ChangeDisplaySettings(ref dm, User_32.CDS_TEST); 
                if (iRet == User_32.DISP_CHANGE_FAILED) 
                { 
                    return "Unable To Process Your Request. Sorry For This Inconvenience."; 
                } 
                else 
                { 
                    iRet = User_32.ChangeDisplaySettings(ref dm, User_32.CDS_UPDATEREGISTRY); 
                    switch (iRet) 
                    { 
                        case User_32.DISP_CHANGE_SUCCESSFUL: 
                            { 
                                return "Success"; 
                            } 
                        case User_32.DISP_CHANGE_RESTART: 
                            { 
                                return "You Need To Reboot For The Change To Happen.\n If You Feel Any Problem After Rebooting Your Machine\nThen Try To Change Resolution In Safe Mode."; 
                            } 
                        default: 
                            { 
                                return "Failed To Change The Resolution"; 
                            } 
                    } 
                } 
            } 
            else 
            { 
                return "Failed To Change The Resolution."; 
            } 
        } 
        private static DEVMODE1 GetDevMode1() 
        { 
            DEVMODE1 dm = new DEVMODE1(); 
            dm.dmDeviceName = new String(new char[32]); 
            dm.dmFormName = new String(new char[32]); 
            dm.dmSize = (short)Marshal.SizeOf(dm); 
            return dm; 
        } 
    } 
} 
"@ 
Add-Type $pinvokeCode -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue 
[Resolution.PrmaryScreenResolution]::ChangeResolution($width,$height) 
}

#Call Function Set-ScreenResolution & set resolution
#Example Set-ScreenResolution 1024 768 or Set-ScreenResolution 1280 1024

Set-ScreenResolution 800 600

Error in fog.log

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------SnapinClient---------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 5/17/2016 11:53 AM Client-Info Client Version: 0.10.6
 5/17/2016 11:53 AM Client-Info Client OS:      Windows
 5/17/2016 11:53 AM Client-Info Server Version: 7659
 5/17/2016 11:53 AM Middleware::Response Success
 5/17/2016 11:53 AM SnapinClient Snapin Found:
 5/17/2016 11:53 AM SnapinClient     ID: 20
 5/17/2016 11:53 AM SnapinClient     RunWith: powershell.exe
 5/17/2016 11:53 AM SnapinClient     RunWithArgs: -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -NoProfile -File
 5/17/2016 11:53 AM SnapinClient     Name: Set_Resolution_800x600
 5/17/2016 11:53 AM SnapinClient     File: Set-800x600.ps1
 5/17/2016 11:53 AM SnapinClient     Created: 2016-05-17 11:52:32
 5/17/2016 11:53 AM SnapinClient     Args: 
 5/17/2016 11:53 AM SnapinClient     Action: 
 5/17/2016 11:53 AM Middleware::Communication Download: http://myfogserver/fog/service/snapins.file.php?mac=00:50:XX:XX:XX:XX||00:00:00:00:00:00:00:E0&taskid=20
 5/17/2016 11:53 AM SnapinClient C:\Program Files (x86)\FOG\tmp\Set-800x600.ps1
 5/17/2016 11:53 AM Bus {
  "self": true,
  "channel": "Notification",
  "data": "{\r\n  \"title\": \"Installing Set_Resolution_800x600\",\r\n  \"message\": \"Please do not shutdown until this is completed\",\r\n  \"subjectID\": \"snapin-Set_Resolution_800x600\"\r\n}"
}
 5/17/2016 11:53 AM Bus ERROR: Could not enter socket
 5/17/2016 11:53 AM Bus ERROR: Cannot load Counter Name data because an invalid index '' was read from the registry.
 5/17/2016 11:53 AM Bus Emmiting message on channel: Notification
 5/17/2016 11:53 AM SnapinClient Starting snapin...
 5/17/2016 11:53 AM SnapinClient Snapin finished
 5/17/2016 11:53 AM SnapinClient Return Code: 0
 5/17/2016 11:53 AM Bus {
  "self": true,
  "channel": "Notification",
  "data": "{\r\n  \"title\": \"Set_Resolution_800x600 Installed\",\r\n  \"message\": \"Installation has finished and is now ready for use\",\r\n  \"subjectID\": \"snapin-Set_Resolution_800x600\"\r\n}"
}
 5/17/2016 11:53 AM Bus ERROR: Could not enter socket
 5/17/2016 11:53 AM Bus ERROR: Cannot load Counter Name data because an invalid index '' was read from the registry.
 5/17/2016 11:53 AM Bus Emmiting message on channel: Notification
 5/17/2016 11:53 AM Middleware::Communication URL: http://myfogserver/fog/service/snapins.checkin.php?taskid=20&exitcode=0&mac=00:50:XX:XX:XX:XX||00:00:00:00:00:00:00:E0&newService&json
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Junkhacker

you might try this modification to the arguments
Snapin Run With : powershell.exe
Snapin run with argument : -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -command "& ’
Snapin File : script.ps1
Snapin Args: ’ "
the -command "& '
and ’ "
are to wrap the .ps1 file in quotes

networkguy

@networkguy
Giving up on this. It seems that I need to be logged in as a user to make this work. When run through any of our scripting tools while the computer is at ctrl-alt-del just doesn’t seem to work.

ITCC

Please note that it’s been said that the DisplayManager has been built back into the client.

https://forums.fogproject.org/topic/8383/svn-5949-screenres-manager/8?loggedin

@Joe-Schmitt said in Host Screen Resolution:

@networkguy 0.10.0+ removed DisplayManager from the client. As @Sebastian-Roth pointed at, its a very “Windows only” thing and never received much use compared to how much effort went into maintaining it. @Tom-Elliott, perhaps we can add some kind of “warning” next to display manager stating it isn’t present in 0.10.0+ ?

Obviously if there is enough support for it, we can add back display manager, but we won’t be porting it to OSX or Linux.

Host Screen Resolution

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