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• Win10 WSUS Gets Smaller Downloads

  Thanks to limiting update downloads to 64-bit only for commercial users of WSUS and SCCM, Win10 WSUS gets smaller downloads (as much as 40% smaller). Continue Reading

• Get to know the Windows upgrade paths for different OSes

  When organizations upgrade to Windows 10, they must understand the Windows XP, Windows 7 and Windows 8 upgrade paths, potential pitfalls and best practices. Continue Reading

• Logoff Disconnected Win10 Users Via Command Line

  Saw an interesting question raised on TenForums.com this morning. The thread was entitled “Log off all but current user.” On a PC where multiple users share the same machine, but don’t always log ... Continue Reading

• Getting KB4458469 Installed When Windows Update Offer Absent

  Getting KB4458469 installed when Windows Update offer absent requires manual update. A quick download from the Microsoft Update Catalog, and all is well. Continue Reading

• Preserving Cleanmgr.exe for Future Use

  Preserving Cleanmgr.exe for future use in Win10 is easy, as long as you know which files to grab and how to arrange them. Here are those details. Continue Reading

• Windows 10 updates options to ease the process

  Windows 10 update issues are commonplace in the enterprise, but IT isn't helpless to deal with them. Group Policy and other tools can help IT regain control over updates.Continue Reading

• 8GadgetPack Remains Viable and Valuable

  Despite resting on technology introduced in Vista, and officially deprecated in Windows 7, 8GadgetPack remains viable and valuable today. Check it out!Continue Reading

• Bye-Bye Disk Cleanup?

  When MS says the program is being deprecated, does that mean bye-bye Disk Cleanup? Storage Sense is upping capabilities in Version 1809, but it's too soon to say if Disk Cleanup will disappear.Continue Reading

• Handling Intel Management Engine Exploits . . . or Not!

  Handling Intel Management Engine exploits can throw up some interesting and challenging obstacles, as I learn in attempting to deal with Intel advisory Intel-SA-00141. I may have a fix, but I'm ...Continue Reading

• A Win10 Post-Upgrade Checklist

  With a well-crafted Win10 Post-Upgrade checklist, you can streamline the process of cleaning up and tweaking a new Windows 10 desktop once the upgrade is complete. Here's a good start!Continue Reading

• GPT vs MBR Disks

  The distinction between GPT vs MBR disks in Windows 10 can be important for boot-up, and also determine the maximum number of partitions and disk sizes allowed.Continue Reading

• Finding Another Path to Reliability Monitor

  When Start10 throws an unexpected launch error at me, I'm off, finding another path to Reliability Monitor. Turns out that "perfmon /rel" does the trick!Continue Reading

• PS Get-HotFix Cmdlet Checks Update Status

  For those who want to know if a Windows update or upgrade is present or absent, the PS Get-HotFix Cmdlet checks update status. Here's how to use it.Continue Reading

• KB 4093836 Summarizes August 2018 Spectre Microcode Updates

  KB 4093836 summarizes August 2018 Spectre Microcode Updates, and points to patches for Windows 10 1803, 1709, 1703, 1607 and the long-term servicing versions.Continue Reading

• Windows Defender Blocks PUAs

  Windows Defender offers numerous advanced security capabilities. Among them, Windows Defender Blocks PUAs (potentially unwanted applications). Here's how to put it to work!Continue Reading

• Win10 Registry Includes AllowExperimentation Key

  If it comes as a surprise that Win10 Registry includes AllowExperimentation key that's enabled by default, take cheer from an easy fix to disable it explicitly.Continue Reading

• Add Recovery Partition to Win10 Boot Menu

  When recovery entry fails on my Lenovo T520, I re-learn how to add recovery partition to Win10 Boot Menu. Easily done thanks to EasyBCD and MTPW.Continue Reading

• Manual Download Works When WU Finds Nothing

  After TenForums news alerts me to a new firmware update for my Surface Pro 3, a manual download works when WU finds nothing. The real secret is knowing where to look.Continue Reading

• 7 features for managing Windows 10 updates and upgrades

  Managing updates and upgrades in Windows 10 is tough. Fortunately, Microsoft includes seven features in the OS, including SetupDiag, that IT pros can use to simplify both processes.Continue Reading

• Establish help desk best practices to improve the system

  To run a successful help desk, IT must prioritize help desk tickets and establish expectations for admins and users, as well as reduce the number of time-wasting tickets.Continue Reading

• Fixing Win10 Upgrade Stuck on Restart Issues

  When it comes to fixing Win10 Upgrade stuck on Restart, there are several techniques that can put things back to rights. I usually start with WUMT then move onto a full-blown WU reset maneuver. One ...Continue Reading

• Prepare for Windows 7 end of life before time runs out

  The end-of-extended-support date for Windows 7 is a short 18 months from now: Jan. 14, 2020. Make sure you're ready and have considered Windows 10 as well as other options.Continue Reading

• Clean Install Fixes Long-Standing Win10 Restart Issue

  A clean install fixes long-standing Win10 Restart issue and thereby vindicates conventional wisdom that occasional or periodic clean Windows installs serve as a kind of OS maintenance technique or ...Continue Reading

• PS Cmdlet Turns Win10 Networks Private

  Because GUI access to the control can sometimes be problematic (or MIA), it's a good thing that PS Cmdlet turns Win10 networks Private. That cmdlet is named Set-NetConnectionProfile.Continue Reading

• DISM Export-Image Grabs Selected Image Installer

  When I observe that a multi-image ISO file results in an installer for Windows 10 Home, I learn that DISM Export-Image grabs selected image installer for Pro instead. This lets me update my ...Continue Reading

• Win10 Migration Survey Reveals 2018 Challenges

  Jeremy Moskowitz's recent Win10 migration survey reveals 2018 challenges facing organizations of all kinds, based on 500-plus responses from 30 countries (80% US-based).Continue Reading

• Are you prepared to manage PC lifecycles?

  IT can face many challenges when it comes to PC management, including faulty hardware and management complications. Find out if you're ready to face them with this quiz.Continue Reading

• Productivity Hurdles Emphasize Office PC Setup Benefits

  Working on the road for just over a week, I realize that productivity hurdles emphasize office PC setup benefits. With a little thought, ingenuity and money, though, most of these hurdles can be ...Continue Reading

• MS Smartens Update Downloads

  By downloading updates from smallest to largest in size in that order, and downloading updates in pairs, MS smartens Update downloads. Now, if I could only figure out what determines update ...Continue Reading

• How can IT turn off Windows 10 automatic updates?

  In some cases, IT pros should disable Windows 10 updates to gain control over the process. They can use methods such as editing group policies and setting a metered connection.Continue Reading

• The Occasional Resurgence of Windows.old

  When it comes to post-upgrade cleanup in Windows 10, an occasional resurgence of Windows.old seems to pop up from time to time. Here's another one found and fixed!Continue Reading

• MS Win7 Cert Exams Expire July 31

  When S Win7 Cert Exams expire July 31 they signal that today's reigning Windows version is nearing the end of its lifecycle. With 900-plus million devices still running Win7, lots of change is at hand.Continue Reading

• DISM Cleans Up After Windows Update

  Because DISM cleans up after Windows Update adds new items to Win10, it's a good idea to use its AnalyzeComponentStore and CleanupComponentStore directives from time to time. Here's how!Continue Reading

• Strange Display Behavior Gets Workarounds

  Strange display behavior gets workarounds in Windows 10: right-click the taskbar entry, Alt+Space to restore the original window, or force-change then restore screen resolution. Very interesting!Continue Reading

• Take the Windows 10 migration tools pop quiz

  Microsoft offers a host of tools IT pros can use to make the move to Windows 10 a little easier. See how well you know your options with this quiz.Continue Reading

• WUMT Resolves Update Woes Yet Again

  When one of my laptops balks at completing the update check for a current cumulative update, WUMT resolves update woes yet again for Windows 10.Continue Reading

• Win10 Hyper-V VMs Benefit from More VRAM

  Depending on the workload and applications in use Win10 Hyper-V VMs benefit from more VRAM (virtual RAM), easily allocated using the Hyper-V manager.Continue Reading

• UWP Win10 Sticky Notes Backup

  Making a UWP Win10 Sticky Notes backup translates into finding and copying the file named plum.sqlite to a safe place. Easy-peasy!Continue Reading

• Grab New DriverStore Explorer from GitHub

  Whether you're a first-time user or are running an older version, please take the time to grab new DriverStore Explorer from GitHub. It's worth using!Continue Reading

• AI Drives Win10 Update Access

  AI drives Win10 Update access, and uses telemetry and feedback data to target updates PCs likely to have a positive experience. Over time, MS extends updates to more PCs as the likelihood of ...Continue Reading

• Sysprep Audit Mode Alternate Key Sequence

  When the default Ctrl+Shift+F3 won't do it, try the Sysprep Audit Mode alternate key sequence instead: Ctrl+Fn+Shift+F3. Works for me!Continue Reading

• Discover three key exploit protection features in Windows 10

  To defend against memory-based attacks, Microsoft introduced three key features to Windows Defender Exploit Guard, including Address Space Layout Randomization.Continue Reading

• Ctrl+Winkey+C Toggles Win10 Display to Grayscale Mode

  For some people, learning that Ctrl+Winkey+C toggles Win10 display to grayscale mode comes as an unpleasant surprise. Fortunately, it's easy to reverse.Continue Reading

• How well do you know your Windows 10 update options?

  Microsoft offers three Windows 10 servicing channels, a host of tools for managing updates and different update types. See if you can sort it all out with this Windows 10 update quiz.Continue Reading

• How do the Windows 10 servicing channels work?

  IT can use the servicing channels for Windows 10 to assign different deployment cadences to different devices and defer updates where necessary.Continue Reading

• NirSoft NetBScanner Offers Win10 LAN Insights

  After the 1803 upgrade monkey with LAN visibility for some nodes, NirSoft NetBScanner offers Win10 LAN insights to help get things running again. Good stuff!Continue Reading

• How to create an effective PC lifecycle policy

  For IT to master enterprise PC management, it must weigh the productivity needs of its organization and employees against the costs of purchasing new PCs.Continue Reading

• Set Win10 RS5 Rollback Retention Interval

  I don't normally write much about the Insider Preview builds for this blog post. Practicing Enterprise admins have enough on their hands keeping up with current branch versions of the OS. But when ...Continue Reading

• Two Win10 Setup.exes Offer Differing Capabilities

  If you build conventional Win10 installation media, you'll find two Win10 Setup.exes offer differing capabilities. One is good to upgrades or repair an existing Win10 install, the other for ...Continue Reading

• Tread carefully with modern Windows application management

  With the Windows winds changing, IT pros must consider whether it's time to transition from SCCM to modern management via the cloud.Continue Reading

• Use Windows Analytics to better support Windows 10 desktops

  With the help of Windows Analytics, IT can improve its Windows 10 desktop support with tools such as Device Health, which monitors desktop performance and identifies underperforming devices.Continue Reading

• Win10 NetBIOS Names Get Weirder

  When I say Win10 NetBIOS names get weirder I mean two things: they are indeed case sensitive, and sometimes the actual defined case-correct name string won't resolve properly.Continue Reading

• Win10 1803 Gets New Bluetooth Version

  Amidst a raft of other changes, enhancements and additons, Win10 1803 gets new Bluetooth version that leaves some users in the lurch, functionality-wise.Continue Reading

• Win10 DCOM 10016 Errors Are Mostly Benign

  Finally! A Microsoft Support note explicitly confirms what I've long suspected: Win10 DCOM 10016 errors are mostly benign. They occur by deliberate design, in fact.Continue Reading

• Bring Back Basic Win10 1803 Networking

  The demise of HomeGroup makes it necessary to bring back basic Win10 1803 networking for Workgroup based Windows networks. Here's how!Continue Reading

• MS Publishes Big Free Command Line Reference

  Last Friday, my partner in crime at Win10.Guru, Kari Finn, sent me a link to a very interesting document. It comes from the Microsoft Download Center and shows up with very little descriptive ...Continue Reading

• Win10 1803 Sometimes Creates Phantom Recovery Drive

  Thanks to a minor but annoying error, Win10 1803 sometimes creates phantom Recovery Drive during the upgrade process. Here are two easy fixes to make it go away.Continue Reading

• Tune Into PortableApps.com

  If you tune into PortableApps.com and use their platform, you'll find a great way to take tools, utilities and applications with you onto any PC. Great stuff!Continue Reading

• Conquer the end-user productivity balancing act

  Keeping users productive is one of the most critical jobs IT pros have. But there are some hurdles to jump, including understanding the risks with collaboration tools.Continue Reading

• Finding Windows Defender Security About Info

  It turns out that finding Windows Defender Security About info is a little convoluted, but checking its Settings will point you in the right direction.Continue Reading

• Are you prepared for a Windows 10 transition?

  When IT executes a transition to Windows 10, it must understand all the potential pitfalls inherent in an OS migration. Quiz yourself to see if you are ready for this challenge.Continue Reading

• Four Windows 10 built-in security features to know

  IT needs an effective plan to maximize security for Windows 10 and get the most out of its built-in features.Continue Reading

• Maximize PC lifespans with effective PC lifecycle management

  Effectively managing PC lifecycles can lead to significant cost savings via prudent distribution of high-performance hardware and purchasing new devices only when it is critical.Continue Reading

• Intel Excludes Older CPUs from Spectre Updates

  Intel excludes older CPUs from Spectre updates. I summarize the charts to identify newly-added microcode updates, and CPUs for which updates will not be available.Continue Reading

• Support for Macs in the enterprise: Three factors to consider

  There's no way around it: Many users just love Apple products. IT pros that want to support Macs in the workplace must take into account several considerations.Continue Reading

• KB4089848 Poses Widely Reported Win10 Problems

  With oodles and scads of users reporting issues, KB4089848 poses widely reported Win10 problems that occur often enough and with severity sufficient to make it advisable to block this update outright.Continue Reading

• Script Out Your Win10 Build History Using PowerShell

  A nifty pair of carefully crafted commands let you script out your Win10 build history using PowerShell for each PC you run it on.Continue Reading

• Reducing Win10 Upgrade Offline Time

  MS says a key goal in improving feature upgrades is reducing Win10 upgrade offline time. Personally, I find their current list of upgrade/install steps more informative.Continue Reading

• Understanding NTUser.dat in Windows 10

  Understanding NTUser.dat in Windows 10 means knowing that those files capture user profile settings and preferences, and are best left alone and untouched for proper OS operation.Continue Reading

• How does Microsoft Near Share for browser file sharing work?

  Microsoft Edge, Windows 10's default browser, includes a file-sharing tool called Near Share, which is helpful, if not truly groundbreaking.Continue Reading

• Check Current Win10 for In-place Upgrade Repair

  If you carefully check current Win10 for in-place upgrade repair, you'll be able to choose and download the proper ISO to attempt such repairs every time, without fail.Continue Reading

• MS Offers New Spectre Updates

  As MS offers new Spectre updates through the Microsoft Update Catalog, I realize that it's going to be a long slog to get those vulnerabilities patches on all my PCs.Continue Reading

• MS Foils Coin Mining Compelling Telemetry Case

  Through clever and effective use of telemetry data, AI and machine learning, MS foils coin mining in a big way in Russia, Turkey and Ukraine.Continue Reading

• How to take advantage of SCCM and Intune co-management

  IT can combine Microsoft Intune and System Center Configuration Manager to manage users' mobile devices, as well as any legacy systems in its network.Continue Reading

• Day 1: Global Microsoft MVP Summit

  During Day 1: Global Microsoft MVP Summit I learn that proper feedback is the real reason why Microsoft operates the Insider program, and provide tips on how to provide quality feedback on Windows.Continue Reading

• MS Offers Spectre Meltdown Updates Via Catalog

  Is is because OEM are taking too long to pony up that MS offers Spectre Meltdown updates via catalog downloads? I don't know, but I'm glad somebody's doing something!Continue Reading

• Firmware Update Proceeds at Glacial Pace

  Given that the Spectre and Meltdown vulnerabilities created such a furor, one can only observe that the attendant firmware update Proceeds at glacial pace.Continue Reading

• Win7 Still Activates Win10 2/27/18

  After skipping key entry on a clean Windows 10 install, I learn that Win7 Still Validates Win10 for activation. Woo hoo: my sister's HP Pavilion Dv6 is back in action.Continue Reading

• How to establish Windows 10 security baselines

  IT should consider following Microsoft's Windows 10 security recommendations in the Security Compliance Toolkit to better protect the operating system.Continue Reading

• Can IT make the transition to Windows 10 smooth for users?

  IT can take a few steps to make the move to Windows 10 easier on users, including considering an in-place upgrade and holding off on any other major changes.Continue Reading

• Three PC lifecycle management options IT should consider

  IT pros can use PCs and laptops until they stop working, or they can set up a lifecycle management plan that retires them after a certain period of time.Continue Reading

• Skip Product Key When Sysprepping Win10

  To skip Product Key when Sysprepping Win10, you must supply a generic product key instead. Here's a list of same to use.Continue Reading

• Intel Now Advises Against Installing Spectre Patches!

  Because of widely-reported issues with reboots and system stability, Intel now advises against installing Spectre patches!Continue Reading

• OneDrive File Attributes Uncovered

  A careful look at help information leads to new OneDrive File attributes uncovered, and a better understanding of how OnDemand files work.Continue Reading

• MDT PS Wizard Covers MS Deployment Toolkit Wizards

  Damien Van Robaeys excellent MDT PS Wizard covers MS Deployment Toolkit wizards within the pleasing GUI of a single, comprehensive scripted environment. Great stuff!Continue Reading

• Win10 PC Brick-Avoidance Techniques

  When updating BIOSes or firmware, or upgrading Windows 10, it's wise to practice Win10 PC brick-avoidance techniques.Continue Reading

• Undoing 7Zip ISO Association

  Undoing 7Zip ISO association means right-clicking, choosing "Open with", selecting File Explorer, and checking the "Always use" box.Continue Reading

• How to use Sysprep to install a custom Windows 10 image

  Walk through the process of adding custom software, apps and assets to your Windows 10 image in audit mode.Continue Reading

• Win10 Full Flash Update

  Full Flash Update's FFUTOOL.exe works with DISM to apply Windows images to target drives (and PCs) faster and more reliably than either WIM or VHD.Continue Reading

• Five Windows 10 security tips to know

  It is vital that IT understand the top Windows 10 security tips to protect corporate data and users from lurking cyber threats.Continue Reading

• Add Precision Touchpad Drivers Anywhere

  With the right technique, you can add Precision Touchpad drivers anywhere on any device with a Synaptics or Elan touchpad.Continue Reading

• Win10 PowerShell Chkdsk Alternative

  For most command-line program's there's a PowerShell alternative. The Win10 PowerShell Chkdsk alternative is named Repair-Volume.Continue Reading

• Set up a virtual hard disk and perform a Windows 10 dual boot

  Dual booting Windows 10 can come in handy in a variety of ways. The process requires that IT knows how to build a virtual hard disk and install Windows 10 on it.Continue Reading

• Add Custom Drivers to WinRE

  If your Windows runtime needs drivers added, you'll also want to add Custom Drivers to WinRE so your recovery environment works, too.Continue Reading

• How to navigate the Windows ADK download process

  The Windows ADK can help ensure Windows 10 compatibility for apps, software and hardware. There are six key steps to the installation process.Continue Reading

• Fsutil Cleans Up Excess Old Transactions

  NTFS Fsutil cleans up excess old transactions. You can also use it to show you how much disk space transaction info and logs consume.Continue Reading

• 12 Windows 10 GPO settings IT must know

  Group Policy Objects in Windows 10 are powerful. IT can use them to turn off the Windows Store app, reshape the Start menu, change how users log in and more.Continue Reading

• How to use the Windows Assessment and Deployment Kit for Windows 10

  It's important for IT admins to know everything is going to work before they deploy Windows 10 desktops. They can use the tools in the Windows ADK to do just that and more.Continue Reading

• DISKPART Script Fixes Default Win10 Disk Layout

  In the third and final element of this 3-part series, we show how a DISKPART script fixes default Win10 disk layout issues.Continue Reading

• Exploring Win10 Clean Install Default Disk Layout

  Let's go Exploring Win10 clean install default disk layout to understand why it poses upgrade issues, and how to do it right the first time.Continue Reading