New Clerk Computer Setup for 2022

I've recently been called as a Stake Technology Specialist We just got a new computer for one of our wards and started to follow the instruction page provided (https://tech.churchofjesuschrist.org/wi ... k_Computer). When the screens didn't match, we called the Global Support Line and were told those instructions are no longer valid. Are there updated instructions? They didn't say. Is the computer simply a glorified web browser for LCR? It came with no user accounts configured, and apparently, there is no longer a need to download anything from the church. I'm at a loss. I know how to do this stuff, but I don't know the "church" way to do it. Any advice or tips would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!
Mike

That's a heck of a note, they tell you the instructions are no longer valid but don't give you any updated instructions.

When I last set up a machine, it just stepped though the process. You might see the screens in passing, but it was largely automated.

MLS (at least for the US) is no longer functional, so you can ignore anything to do with that. Aside from a web browser and something like LibreOffice, there isn't much that needs to be done.

Thanks for the quick reply. I was a little surprised by the lack of information, too. We went ahead and set it up like any other Windows PC. I had the ward clerk create an "offline account" (No Microsoft Account) specifically for the ward and everything seems to be fine. I haven't been a ward clerk in years and had no idea that MLS was gone.

The clerk computers I've set up most recently no longer come with a custom image. It's a slightly more manual process now. First, I had to create an account on the computer when it first booted it up. Once the computer finished setting up that account, I copied the provisioning tool to the desktop and ran it. At that point, it started the automated scripts I was familiar with. That created the local unit account. Unfortunately, I cannot find the link to download the provisioning tool anymore. There are several references to it on a few wiki pages, but no links. (One even says "download the updated Windows 10/11 provisioning tool found here" but the link is now gone.)

mcallaghan wrote: Sun Nov 13, 2022 1:35 pm I had the ward clerk create an "offline account" (No Microsoft Account) specifically for the ward...

I just rolled a fresh copy of Windows 11 onto a notebook PC and was dismayed to discover that Microsoft has taken away the ability to create a local account on first setup. I was able to do so using a hack I found on the Internet, but that probably isn't the recommended way for a stake computer (LOL). Hopefully the church will continue to insist on Windows 10 for new clerk PC's, or come up with a new provisioning tool specific for Windows 11 that creates the local account(s) for you.

Previously the images came with an administrator account, and in that administrator account were tools like Palo Alto Global Protect for VPN services. It's my understanding the church also used to install some kind of inventory tool to keep track of these computers (IPs, serials, etc.). They also had some kind of remote connectivity that would push group policy, to ensure the system would remain compliant with their standards and policies, for example, any additional administrator accounts were removed so only church support could admin the machines. Furthermore, if a clerk changed the password and forgot it, which happens often in my Stake, I would contact support and they'd help me login to the admin account and change the user account password. With no image it would appear to me that the church has no way of remotely managing these computers anymore. I've found no additional information online of any new image, or any new guidance on how to set these up. I guess for now they'll get a generic Windows image, and I'll have to create an admin account to help reset passwords if needed. And with Windows pushing hard during setup for us to use a Microsoft account I'm not quite how to manage that. I'm hoping an offline user will work.

davidengel84 wrote: Tue Nov 15, 2022 10:08 am ...for example, any additional administrator accounts were removed so only church support could admin the machines.

This hasn't been my experience. All my stake PC's have a StakeAdmin account that I setup for the purposes you've outlined. It's not hard to do since the local unit's account is also an admin.

Mine were all removed, on 6 different machines, multiple times. When I contacted support about it (admittedly being a bit perplexed and frustrated by the situation) they said a group policy runs occasionally that removes these accounts. The local unit account, which is an admin account as you point out stays, and the church support account as well, but mine are gone usually within a few weeks of creating them. Having dug through forums here it sounds like these policies are not consistently applied through out the church for some reason. I guess I'm one of the unlucky ones that gets hit with it. I may try again though since it works for you. Maybe I was part of some PoC, or misconfiguration.

That being said, using the provisioning tool mentioned above "imaged" the computer as expected. I tried it today and I think I'm good to go. The new computer now has the Church Support account, which I suspect gives the church access as needed. And of course the temple background/theme seems to make it official. I appreciate the comments and the help.

THANK YOU to all who have commented. I am in the same boat, scrolling through old documentation and trying to figure out what the Church really wants us to do.

I just downloaded the tool from the church Wiki and am going to run it to see what happens, then report back.

davidengel84 wrote: Tue Nov 15, 2022 3:28 pm The new computer now has the Church Support account, which I suspect gives the church access as needed.

It does. When a ward gets locked out of their computer now, I instruct them to call the Global Services Department directly and ask them to say that the Church has removed the ability for the stake technology specialist to help with these matters.

Several ward clerks have reported back that they were successful using this approach. It also saves me many hours of travel time.

davidengel84 wrote: Tue Nov 15, 2022 3:28 pm Mine were all removed, on 6 different machines, multiple times. ... I guess I'm one of the unlucky ones that gets hit with it.

Possibly a "newer" aspect of the provisioning that I don't have. Either way, I'm typing this on a clerk PC using the StakeAdmin account that [gratefully] hasn't been removed.

Mikerowaved wrote: Wed Nov 16, 2022 7:20 pm Possibly a "newer" aspect of the provisioning that I don't have.

Actually, in our stake the Admin accounts disappear from the administrative computers that are left on during the week. They do not seem to disappear from computers that are turned on, used for a few hours, then turned off. I think it has to do with whether or not the powers that be are able to access the computer in the dark of the night.

In any event, I have not been restoring the accounts that have been removed. But I pity the poor GSD rep who is next to ask me why I have not taken care of something as the STS instead of having the ward clerk call. I will ask them to give me the password to the Church Support account so I will be able to do my calling. I suspect they will not be able to do that, and the call will be over.

I'm typing this on a clerk PC using the StakeAdmin account that [gratefully] hasn't been removed

I haven't done anything with Windows since Windows 7, so a lot of my knowledge may be outdated. The PC we just got for this ward looked like a fresh copy of Windows with no user accounts. There isn't likely to be a hidden StakeAdmin account, I presume. Did you add it yourself? That's not a bad idea. I don't mind the wards having a local admin account, but it would be nice to have a backup account in case they lock themselves out.

mcallaghan wrote: Thu Nov 17, 2022 6:33 am Did you add it yourself?

Yes. This allows the wards to set and keep their own login passwords without having to keep me in the loop as to what they are.

Recently, I came across the attached *updated* instructions on setting up a Clerk computer.

I hope you find them useful!