Hey everyone! I work at a school where we have about 30 Windows desktop computers in one classroom, but they vary in model. The teacher uses six different AutoDesk programs on each computer, and since our users don't have admin rights, I'm the one who has to set up and update everything. It's really frustrating to have to visit every computer for updates, especially since they need admin access to install any updates. Sometimes this takes me all day! During the school year, I set up one computer for each model and use Clonezilla to reimage the others.
We do use Microsoft Intune, but only the management team has access to that. I'm looking for ways to simplify both the initial setup at the start of school and the ongoing updates so I don't have to spend so much time on this. Ideally, I'd love to minimize interactions with the teacher as much as possible. I'm not super tech-savvy with servers or classroom setups, so I'd appreciate any advice you might have!
3 Answers
Consider using PDQ Deploy! It’s a paid tool, but it handles updates and installations as admin without needing to enter a password each time. There’s also a free mode, which might be enough for your needs. You can check out the details on their site. It could save you tons of time!
Have a chat with your management about creating an administrative unit in Entra. This way, they can place the lab machines there and grant you control specifically for those computers without messing with others in the network.
You might want to look into WAPT in discovery mode. It’s designed for educational settings like yours and is free to use. It could really simplify managing those PCs!
True, PDQ Deploy does have a free version with some limitations. It could work well for your situation without the full-priced commitment!