Registry Settings in Conditions

Use the Registry Setting condition to verify the existence of keys and values in the registry and the corresponding data stored in registry values. For instance, consider a case in which an application currently used on a small set of computers cannot run on Windows 8, and a Windows 8 deployment is in place to upgrade computers that currently are running Windows XP. Create a condition on the very first task in a sequence to check the registry for an entry for the incompatible application and to interrupt the deployment process for that computer if it is found.

To add a Registry Setting condition to a task sequence step

1. In the Configuration Manager console or in the Deployment Workbench, in the task sequence editor, edit task_sequence (where task sequence is the task sequence that deploys Windows 8).

2. Click the first task in the sequence, and then click the Options tab.

3. Click Add Condition, and then click Registry Setting.

4. In the Root key list, click HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE.

5. In the Key box, type SOFTWARE\WOODGROVE.

6. Click not exists for the condition. In this case, the task will run, and the sequence continue only if the key does not exist.

7. Optionally, the condition could check for the nonexistence of a value if the value name is typed in the Value name box.

8. If a condition other than exists/not exists was used, specify a value and value type.

9. Click OK.