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Question
Thursday, September 5, 2019 2:34 PM
I'm trying to set up a computer for potential candidates to write some apps on. For security reasons I want these candidates will be running on predefined "guest" accounts with minimal access. That said, I'd like them to be able to use Visual Studio (at least the Community edition).
Unfortunately, usage of VS (even the community edition) requires one to sign-in with a Live account. This is problematic - these candidates might not have a Live ID (and it would be pretty silly to require them to set one up for an interview).
Is it possible to set the sing-in details using a PowerShell script, for example? I could set up a company account for use, but I'd need to "apply" it via a script in the background when a guest user logs in.
All replies (8)
Friday, September 6, 2019 6:32 AM
Hi Mateusz,
Welcome to the MSDN forum.
What’s your VS version? Please check this doc: Unlock Visual Studio
For the VS community 2019/2017/2015, it requires we sign in with the Microsoft account to unlock it after 30 trial days.
For the VS professional or enterprise version, you can unlock it using an online subscription or entering a product key.
No matter which way do you used to unlock VS, it will remember the unlock or sign in status when you open VS next time, which means we do not need to sign in VS every time.
After research, I cannot found the PowerShell script to sign in VS that meet your requirement, sorry for this inconveniences and thanks for your understanding.
Best regards,
Sara
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Friday, September 6, 2019 6:39 AM
Hi Mateusz,
Welcome to the MSDN forum.
What’s your VS version? Please check this doc: Unlock Visual Studio
For the VS community 2019/2017/2015, it requires we sign in with the Microsoft account to unlock it after 30 trial days.
For the VS professional or enterprise version, you can unlock it using an online subscription or entering a product key.
No matter which way do you used to unlock VS, it will remember the unlock or sign in status when you open VS next time, which means we do not need to sign in VS every time.
I know you can activate the "bigger" versions using a key, but we only have user-licences, so that's not an option. And while I'm sure VS will remember a sign-in for 30 days, that requires me to use the same Windows user, no? If I've got a volatile guest user-profile from the Shared PC setting, then won't this require the user to sing in on every log-in?
Friday, September 6, 2019 7:58 AM
Hi Mateusz,
Thanks for your update.
It do not requires we use the same Windows user to sign in with VS, we can use different Microsoft account (email/password) to login VS. You can login in Windows with the volatile guest account, sign in with the VS with the valid Microsoft account, then your candidates use this volatile guest account to login this computer, the VS should remember the previous account.
Best regards,
Sara
MSDN Community Support Please remember to click "Mark as Answer" the responses that resolved your issue, and to click "Unmark as Answer" if not. This can be beneficial to other community members reading this thread. If you have any compliments or complaints to MSDN Support, feel free to contact MSDNFSF@microsoft.com
Friday, September 6, 2019 8:33 AM
Hi Mateusz,
Thanks for your update.
It do not requires we use the same Windows user to sign in with VS, we can use different Microsoft account (email/password) to login VS. You can login in Windows with the volatile guest account, sign in with the VS with the valid Microsoft account, then your candidates use this volatile guest account to login this computer, the VS should remember the previous account.
You misunderstood me, I think. Sure - on a Guest account one can use a Live ID to sign into VS. That's obvious. My problem is that once the guest account signs out and another candidate signs in, they'll need to sign into VS again. And again... and again. For each candidate / guest sign-in. THIS is what I'd like to avoid.
We can't, realistically, require candidates to have a Live ID at the ready. And whilst the person handling the exam might sign in with their own account, this will be troublesome in the long, which is what I wanted to automate.
Monday, September 9, 2019 8:35 AM
Hi Mateusz,
Sorry for any misunderstanding.
Did you give different guest accounts to the candidates to sign in your computer?
I tried to search around and there is available command parameter to apply for the VS sign in.
Best regards,
Sara
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Monday, September 9, 2019 8:41 AM
Hi Mateusz,
Sorry for any misunderstanding.
Did you give different guest accounts to the candidates to sign in your computer?
I tried to search around and there is available command parameter to apply for the VS sign in.
I've set up a "SharedPC" policy on the test laptop (security reasons and to make sure people don't access potential "left-overs" from a previous candidate) which basically creates a brand new account each time a Guest logs in.
If there is a command available, care to share what it is? Or did you mistype and it was supposed to be "there is no available command"?
Monday, September 9, 2019 8:46 AM
Hi Mateusz,
You are right, now there is no such command :(
Please go to Help-Send Feedback-Provide a suggestion... to share this idea with the VS Product Team and share the link in here, I will help you vote it.
If you want us to help you report it, please feel free to let us know, thanks for your understanding.
Best regards,
Sara
MSDN Community Support Please remember to click "Mark as Answer" the responses that resolved your issue, and to click "Unmark as Answer" if not. This can be beneficial to other community members reading this thread. If you have any compliments or complaints to MSDN Support, feel free to contact MSDNFSF@microsoft.com
Monday, September 9, 2019 8:53 AM
Well, I've made a suggestion: https://developercommunity.visualstudio.com/idea/727538/ps-command-to-register-a-liveid-account-with-vs.html
But I, honestly, won't be holding my breath waiting for it to be implemented. My guess is there's a reason why MS wants people to sign-in (even to the community edition) and automating it is probably counter-productive that that reason.
I'll probably talk with my colleagues if something else can't be used for candidate testing...