Tracking Laptop Usage in a 1:1 environment aka "Who stole the laptop?"

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Let me start this post by ensuring you that I am on a limited budget trying to effectively manage a 1:1.  I am sure there are paid alternatives, and possibly better free ones, that accomplishes this in other ways.  But it works!
Students lose laptops, forget where they put them, have them stolen, leave them on the bus for a 3rd grader to find (kept it for 2 weeks before his parents found it) and so forth.  They usually come crying to us a few days (sometimes weeks) later and don’t have a clue where it is.  How can we find it?
I have taken a tracking approach to simply let the laptop tell me where its is, who is using it, and what wifi it is on.  I do this through a logon batch script that simply sends a email to a tracking email account on each logon.  Yep, that is a lot of emails, but it is going to an account I only logon to when I need to find one.  I use gmail filters to put them in nice little folders by class, staff…
I use SendEmail (written by Brandon Zehm http://caspian.dotconf.net/)  This is in a folder on the C drive of my student laptops, and I added a logon script to execute logon.bat each logon.  I could do it on power on, timed, whenever.  Obviously task scheduler is used to execute the task as system.  All the information on how to use his code is in a text file in his download.
To make my batch file work simply replace:

  1. gmailsmtp@gmail.com with your gmail account it is coming from in SMTP
  2. gmpassword with the password for the account above.  Assuming GMAIL SMTP
  3. trackingemail@gmail.com with the email you want to be receiving these notices.
  4. @yourdomain.com with your actual domain.  It will then be sending the email from the user email address (in the from field.)

I am using netsh wlan show interface > c:\users\%username%\profile.txt to dump information to attach.  You could do ipconfig /all > profile.txt in the section for non-wifi users to try and find where it is plugged in as well.  I found this to not be very useful, but you might.
The end result.  If a student leaves his laptop lying around.  Someone else could pick it up and take it home.  But it will be of no use since they have no logon account on that laptop.  They would have to logon to it, at school, to accomplish that.  Then they are the last logon to the laptop.  I have had a student drive in at midnight, sit in the parking lot, and logon.  Yes, that has happened.  The point is that to make it usable, they have to logon.  And  I instantly know who did it.  If I am tracking a particular laptop I can have a gmail forwarded to me the instant it is used.
I have also had a student clean one all up and sell it to another student (like I didn’t have the motherboard serial numbers) and think I wouldn’t notice.  Is this worth the time?  It certainly is to the student that doesn’t want to pay for the lost laptop!


ECHO OFF
REM Who is logging on?
set str=%username%
REM What class is the user (for GMail filtering into folders)
set str=%str:~0,2%
REM Dump the current WIFI SSID information into a file
netsh wlan show interface > c:\users\%username%\profile.txt
REM Student account start with the grad year (last 2) and if this is true…it is a student
If %str% LSS 100 goto studentlogons
REM If a non-student account is logging on, it is an “other” logon.
:otherlogons
C:\sendmail\sendEmail.exe -f %username%@yourdomain.com -t trackingemail@gmail.com -u %username% just logged to %computername% -m %computername% was logged on by User:%username% at %time% on %date% -a c:\users\%username%\profile.txt -s smtp.gmail.com:587 -xu gmailsmtp@gmail.com -xp gmpassword -o tls=yes
REM  It sent, goto end
If %errorlevel% == 0 goto end
REM If the laptop is not on WIFI, it errors, so send it without WIFI SSID Info
C:\sendmail\sendEmail.exe -f %username%@yourdomain.com -t trackingemail@gmail.com -u %username% just logged to %computername% -m %computername% was logged on by User:%username% at %time% on %date% -s smtp.gmail.com:587 -xu gmailsmtp@gmail.com -xp gmpassword -o tls=yes
goto end
:studentlogons
C:\sendmail\sendEmail.exe -f %username%@yourdomain.com -t trackingemail@gmail.com -u %username% just logged to %computername% Class:%str% -m %computername% was logged on by User:%username% at %time% on %date% -a c:\users\%username%\profile.txt -s smtp.gmail.com:587 -xu gmailsmtp@gmail.com -xp gmpassword -o tls=yes
REM  It sent, goto end
If %errorlevel% == 0 goto end
REM If the laptop is not on WIFI, it errors, so send it without WIFI SSID Info
C:\sendmail\sendEmail.exe -f %username%@yourdomain.com -t trackingemail@gmail.com -u %username% just logged to %computername% Class:%str% -m %computername% was logged on by User:%username% at %time% on %date% -s smtp.gmail.com:587 -xu gmailsmtp@gmail.com -xp gmpassword -o tls=yes
goto end
:end]]>

AMD – A6-7400K Processor – Black

<![CDATA[AMD is a very well known company which has been selling products since 1969. AMD is a very trusted seller in which is well-known for selling products at very inexpensive prices. I needed to buy a CPU for a low cost therefore, I chose AMD specifically for a very inexpensive gaming PC. Although the Motherboards I already had, required an FM2+ socket type.
I chose the AMD – A6-7400K Processor – Black Series. It was very inexpensive costing only $58.99. Pass-mark rates this processor fairly decent for how low the cost is. Which for my needs it fit perfect for me.

  • Passmark CPU Mark: 2792
  • Passmark CPU Rank: 1132

This processor has a high processor speed although it had a couple flaws. First there was not much cache therefore it made the processor run overall slower. The 6-cores helps on certain things although it does not necessarily help me with gaming.
Specifications

  • Processor Speed:
    • 3.5 gigahertz
  • Memory Compatibility:
    • DDR3 1866
  • Cache Level:
    • L1 (96 KB 3-way and 2 x 16 KB 4-way),
    • L2 (1 Megabyte)
  • Processor Cores:
    • 6-cores

 
Overall this processor preforms well for the price. I would recommend this for other things, but it might not be the best processor for a gaming PC. AMD – A6-7400K Processor – Black Series is a reliable processor however.
https://www.bestbuy.com
http://www.amd.com/en
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819113370
https://www.passmark.com/
*This review is for a classroom project]]>

Intel CPU

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This is a review of an Intel Core i7 CPU that is compatible with any motherboard that supports a Land Grid Array (LGA) of 1151. This Intel Core i7 CPU is also a Kaby Lake version. This CPU is to be used for a faster gaming PC. This is an up to date model and it can be used for gaming purposes. While you could use this for lower end use like for home use, it is not the purpose that it is being reviewed for.
The Intel Core i7 CPU is manufactured by Intel. Intel is an American multinational corporation and technology company which focuses on the development of CPUs (central processing unit), also known as the brain of the computer. They are headquartered in Santa Clara, California. They started up  there corporation on July 18, 1968. They are widely considered a top two CPU manufacturer. (Intel Wikipedia)

Specifications:

  • CPU Clock Speed: 4.2 GHz
  • Max Memory: 2400 (DDR4)
  • Cache:
    • L1- 4 x 32KB (Instruction), 4 x 32KB (Data)
    • L2- 4×256 KB
    • L3- 8 MB
    • Socket type: LGA 1151
  • Number of Cores: Quad-Core
  • Number of Threads: 8
  • CPU Rating from Passmark: 12102

 

With these specifications it worked really good and really fast for my ASRock Fatal1ty Z170 Gaming K6 gaming motherboard. When I found those specifications fit my motherboard I matched it with passmark to make sure it had a good rating and it does of over twelve thousand. It was also only $289.99 on newegg.
Note: This review is for a classroom project.
References: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intel
https://www.play-asia.com/asrock-fatal1ty-z170-gaming-k6/13/709289
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819117726
https://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu.php?cpu=Intel+Core+i7-7700K+%40+4.20GHz&id=2874]]>

AMD RYZEN Threadripper 1900X Blog Review

<![CDATA[I recently was fortunate enough to get my hands on an AMD RYZEN Threadripper 1900X. This thing is a monster of a CPU, I mean just look at the case it comes in! Ranking very highly at the top of its class. This is definitely one of the best AMD CPUS’s up to date. It may cost $549.99, but you definitely get performance per dollar. This CPU is mainly for people who don’t have a low end budget for their PC.
This CPU is made for an sTR4 Socket. It also has 8 cores, and 16 threads. For the L1 Cache it has 768KB, for L2 it has 4MB, and for L3 it has 16MB. For Operating Frequency, it runs 3.8-4.0 GHz. The one down fall i found, which is not a big problem at all, would be the fact that it doesn’t come with a fan/cooling system for it, so that would be needed to buy desperately.
 

 

  • Socket Type: Socket sTR4
  • # of Cores: 8
  • # of Threads: 16
  • Cache: L1-768KB L2-4MB L3-16MB
  • Operating Frequency: 3.8 GHz
  • Max Turbo Frequency: 4.0 GHz

 
 
Overall, this CPU does more than get the job done. I have had no problems with this at all! I would 100% recommend this to anyone without a small budget because it is $549.99.

Note:  This review is part of a classroom project. 

References: New Egg Link CPU Benchmark

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AMD CPU

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Ryzen Threadripper 1900X

This is a review on AMD’s Ryzen Threadripper 1900X.  The Threadripper line up was meant for gamers and media development.  AMD’s Threadripper is a powerful series of processors, and the fastest for the price; set at only $549.99 (Newegg).
Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (AMD) is an American multinational semiconductor company based in Sunnyvale California, that develops computer processors and related technologies. AMD is the second-largest supplier and only significant rival to Intel in the market for x86-based microprocessors. (Wikipedia)
Specifications for the Ryzen Threadripper 1900X:

  • CPU Socket – sTR4
  • 8 Cores
    • 16 Threads
  • Clock Speed – 3.8 GHz
    • Max Overclock – 4.0 GHz
  • Cache –
    • L1 – 768 KB
    • L2 – 4 MB
    • L3 – 16 MB

In conclusion, the Ryzen Threadripper 1900X  is a power CPU for gaming and all around tasks. The 1900X is one of the fastest CPU’s for gaming, within the price range. All around AMD CPU’s are really powerful CPU’s for the price. Ryzen’s 1900X Passmark scores is 19,626 whilst the fastest Intel CPU at the same price only scores 14,592 (Passmark).
 
Other reviews on Ryzen’s 1900X:
TomsHardware: Threadripper CPUs for high-end desktops.
Tweak Town: A strong and fast processor
 
NOTE: This is part of a classroom project.
References:
https://www.tweaktown.com/articles/8326/amd-launches-ryzen-threadripper-1900x-cpu-more/index.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advanced_Micro_Devices
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/amd-ryzen-threadripper-1900x-cpu,5222.html
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819113457
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Intel Core i7-7700K- Intel's "Yawn"?

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Kaby Lake is the eighth Intel Core CPU. With its big 7700K it should do good right? Well it does, it’s better than the previous generation i7-6700K. With the i7-6700K rating 11,111 vs 12,097 i7-7700K on Passmark. The major change is an improved 14nm process that improves clock speeds and power characteristics because of the changes in the fin and silicon, and the second change involves updates to the video/multimedia block to support hardware decoding and encoding of 4K. So you can binge Netflix in 4K! Roughly one third of the CPU die is devoted to graphics and multimedia functions.
Even though the i7-7700K is better, its better by a little percent. 4.5GHz turbo compared to 4.2GHz turbo on the i7-6700K and 4.2 base vs. 4.0 base give the expected performance differential of five to seven percent. If you overclock both processors you’re looking at 4.7GHz against 5.0GHz! Is it worth a $20 difference? With this rate of difference you’ll be hearing crickets at the Intel booth.

  • Socket: LGA 1151
  • Clock Speed:  4.20 GHz – 4.50 GHz
  • Bus Speed: 8 GT/s DMI3
  • Cores: Quad Core
  • Cache: L2 – 4 x 256KB L3 – 8MB
  • Threads: 8

But don’t get me wrong, the i7-7700 Kaby Lake is a great processor but there’s just no effort by Intel. I mean, it has the highest clocked Intel CPU and 5.0GHz overclocks. Who doesn’t want that? If you can fork up $350 for a CPU that only has slight differences that you probably won’t notice in a PC you’ll still have peace in mind that you have one of the best Intel 4 core processor. If you want a good all around CPU for a decent price, this isn’t the best option. But if you have the money, then go right for it. You can go home and watch 4K Netflix with your $350 i7 box.
This is the best preforming Intel CPU in the i7 line. It’s just a little depressing that it’s a quad core. But if you are looking to buy this CPU you can’t really go wrong. A lot of people seem to like the $350 quad core, because it’s rocking a sweet 5 egg on Newegg.com.
Note:  This review is part of a classroom project.
Resources:

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AMD Ryzen 7 1800X Review

<![CDATA[Image result for ryzen 1800x

This is a review on the AMD Ryzen 7 1800X CPU manufactured by AMD (Advanced Micro Devices) and its capabilities for gaming computers and overall performance. AMD has been suffering for the past couple of decades trying to keep up with Intel since their first CPU was introduced in 1991. There is no doubt that Intel has released superior CPU’s compared to most of AMD’s, but now Intel has met their match. AMD has managed to dig themselves out of a hole with the new introduction of the Ryzen series that was made to combat the Skylake, and Kaby Lake Processors from Intel, and I have to say… it has done a very good job at it. The 1800X is the top of the line in the Ryzen series and its performance is amazing, for a much smaller price than most of Intel’s expensive, mediocre processors. Its the CPU that will destroy graphics, and not your game.

 
Image result for amd headquartersAMD was founded in 1969 and their headquarters is located in Sunnyvale California. They didn’t get into the CPU  business until 1991 with their AM386 processors. (Wikipedia) AMD has come along way with their architecture and their computing capabilities, but they have always been reasonable on prices which makes AMD perfect for budget worried PC fanatics. I found the 1800X on Toms Hardware and decided to test it myself. I was blown away by the performance of the chip giving the same; if not higher, frame rate and graphics quality. The new Zen architecture makes the Ryzen series exchange blows with Intels I-5s and I-7s. The 1800X can be found on Newegg for $499.99.
Ryzen 7 1800X Specs:Image result for ryzen 7 1800x
 

  • Socket :AM4
  • Operating Frequency: 3.6 GHz (4.0 GHz O.C)
  •  L3 Cache: 16 MB
  •  L2 Cache: 4MB
  • L1 Cache: 768KB
  • DDR4 Support
  • Unlocked Processor
  • Thermal Design Power 95W
  • # Cores: 8
  • # of Threads: 16

Ryzen Has really made a great comeback with the Ryzen Chips, and have made themselves a superpower to fear by Intel now. The Ryzen chips are cheaper than their Intel counterparts and even out performs them in a lot of areas. The Ryzen 1800X has overclocking capabilities, and its multiple cores allow for easy multitasking and multiple threading.  The Ryzen 1800X is the best price for its performance and is overall is great in any PC build. The Overall Benchmark of the 1800X on Passmark is 15421.  (the highest CPU Mark is 27428 and the lowest is 79).
Here are some reviews of the 1800X:
 

  • Toms Hardware: “Ryzen 7 does deliver”
  •  TechPowerUp: “It brings the company back to competitiveness against behemoth Intel”
  • TechRadar: ” absolutely decimating the competition when it comes to price versus performance.”

Note:  This review is part of a classroom project.
References:

  • https://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AMD/Ryzen_7_1800X/16.html
  • https://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu.php?cpu=AMD+Ryzen+7+1800X
  • https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819113430
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advanced_Micro_Devices
  • http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/amd-ryzen-7-1800x-cpu,4951.html
  • https://www.amd.com/en/products/cpu/amd-ryzen-7-1800x
  • http://www.techradar.com/reviews/amd-ryzen-7-1800x/3

 
 
 
 
 
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Core i7-7700K Kaby Lake 7th Generation Review

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Intel is one of the only two companies to sell processors, and they have a variety of choices to choose from. I am going be reviewing the Core i7-7700K Kaby Lake 7th generation central processing unit. The CPU costs $289.99 on Newegg. Overall, the processor is very effective and has a low margin for error.

Intel was founded in July 1968 by Robert Noyce and Gordon Moore. The Intel headquarters are located in Santa Clara, California.  Although Intel is most commonly known for processors, some of their other products include motherboard chip sets, flash memory, graphic chips, embedded processors, and network interface controllers (Wikipedia).
I think that Intel’s Core i7-7700K Kaby Lake is a highly impressive processor. The most advanced silicon makes the processor one of the best high-end choices. The CPU typically has higher overclocking abilities making it a great choice for gaming and the better performance.
Specifications:

  • CPU Clock Speed- 4.2 GHz
  • Socket Type- LGA 1151
  • Number of cores- quad-core
  • Cache- L1: 4 x 32 data, 4 x 32 instruction
    •                L2: 4 x 256 KB
    •                L3: 8 MB

 
On Passmark, the Core i7-7700K Kaby Lake has an overall rank of 12,101. It is the highest speed of similar CPU’s. According to Passmark the processor is third highest in value and highest in the Intel selection. The CPU has a low margin for error.
Overall, I would recommend the the Intel Core i7-7700K Kaby Lake processor to anyone looking for a fast, new CPU. It is very sufficient for gaming and any other activities you may want to preform on your computer. Although the processor is quite pricey, you do get a lot for your money.

Note: This review is part of a classroom project.

References:   
www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu_list.php
www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/homepage.html
www.newegg.com/Product/
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intel]]>

Intel Core i7-8700K Coffee Lake Review

<![CDATA[Intel Core i7-8700K Coffee Lake 6-Core 3.7 GHz (4.7 GHz Turbo) LGA 1151 (300 Series) 95W BX80684I78700K Desktop Processor Intel UHD Graphics 630
This is a review of the Intel Core i7-8700K Coffee Lake processor for gaming purpose and overall usage; it is $459.99 on Newegg. I initially found the i7-8700K processor on Tom’s Hardware when looking for the best gaming CPUs. I decided to go with Intel rather than AMD because I discovered that Intel created the x86 microprocessor that is in most computers today (Wikipedia).
Related image
Intel is an all-around technology company located into Santa Clara, California. There are two main companies that produce processors: AMD and Intel. It is a widely accepted fact that Intel produces the most efficient and high performance processors compared to their competitor, AMD. Although their costs are high, their performance level is unprecedented.
 
Specifications of the i7-8700K processor:The i7-8700K is expected to be released in October for around US$450. (Source: Intel)

  • Price: $459.99
  • Clock Speed: 3.7 GHz (Native), 4.7 GHz (Turbo Boost)
  • Cache (L1, L2, L3): around 13.9 MB
    • L1: 6 x 64KB
    • L2: 6 x 256KB
    • L3: 12MB
  • Numbers of processors: 6-cores
  • Number of threads: 12

In conclusion, if you’re looking to upgrade your CPU to greater gaming capabilities for a cheaper price than most high-end CPU’s, the i7-8700K is for you. The -8700K’s overclocking capabilities overtake AMD’s Ryzen Threadripper series, making it one of the best gaming CPU on the market right now. When overclocked the i7-8700K stays relatively cool, but you may experience problems when reaching clock speeds of up to 5.1 GHz; overall the CPU stayed relatively cool while operating normally. The verdict: the Intel Core i7-8700K is a great gaming CPU for an affordable price.

Here are other reviews for the i7-8700K:

  • Tom’s Hardware: Intel i7-8700K, a great gaming CPU.
  • TechRadar: rated the i7-8700K Coffee Lake the best CPU, beating AMD’s Ryzen Threadripper 1950X.
  • PassMark: Overall, it’s CPU Mark is 16261, giving the i7-8700K a high rating for it’s lower price compared to the higher ranked CPU’s that will break your wallet (the highest CPU Mark is 27428 and the lowest is 79).

Note:  This review is part of a classroom project.

References: https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2017/10/intel-coffee-lake-8700k-review/

                         https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/homepage.html

                         https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819117827

                         https://www.cpubenchmark.net/high_end_cpus.html

                         http://www.techradar.com/news/best-processors

                         http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/

                         https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intel]]>

AMD sTR4 Threadripper Series CPU – Review

<![CDATA[Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) is a semiconductor business that is famous for microprocessors. They were founded May 1, 1969 by many men. They have operations in 31 countries with over 50 locations (AMD). They also produce motherboard chip sets, graphic processors and more. The main headquarters is located in Sunnyvale, California but will be moving to Santa Clara through the year of 2018 (Weinstein).

The AMD Ryzen Threadripper Series CPU is more of a gaming processing unit and it more expensive than most. It is on newegg for $549.99.  As I was searching through newegg looking for the cheapest CPU for the ROG ZENITH EXTREME motherboard. The CPU for this motherboard is the only option. It is such a great CPU. Once I read more about it I thought to myself “I need this CPU for my motherboard.” The only downside to this CPU is the size of it. It is very large to meet all the computing needs. As you can see in the following photo it is much larger than the average CPU type.

I have been in the process of building my own motherboard for a month or so. It has taken some time to settle on the ASUS ROG ZENITH EXTREME. I got everything ordered about a week and a half ago and it finally got here two days ago!
Here are some specifications for the best CPU for this recommended motherboard.
Specifications:

  • Clock Speed – 3.8GHz
    • Turbo – 4.0 GHz
  • Socket – sTR4
  • Cache
    • L1 Cache – 768 KB
    • L2 Cache – 4 MB
    • L3 Cache – 16 MB
  • 8 Core
    • 16 Threads
  • Passmark – Ranking is 16,416

This CPU is clearly for gaming purposes, once I got it all hooked up and got everything running it booted it up. The graphics were so much better than my last PC/motherboard was. I noticed no lagging, and how much faster everything ran. I did not experience any problems. Overall I highly recommend this CPU! Remember I used it on the ROG ZENITH EXTREME motherboard. I had no problems at all, it ran fast, and the graphics were great and did not lag.

NOTE: This review is part of a classroom project.
References:
http://www.amd.com/en-us/who-we-are/contact/locations
https://www.bizjournals.com/sanjose/news/2016/08/19/amd-moving-headquarters-to-santa-clara-ending-47.html
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813119003&cm_re=rog_zenith_extreme-_-13-119-003-_-Product
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819113457&cm_re=str4_threadripper_series_cpu-_-19-113-457-_-Product
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