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Manage

Learn to apply best practices and optimize your operations.

• LockHunter Reports Locked Windows Files

  The freeware utility LockHunter reports locked Windows files, and provides various ways to unlock or delete them. Exercise care when using the tool to avoid self-inflicted harm. Continue Reading

• MS Stops Insider Preview Issues Lists

  With the Fall Creators Update weeks away from public release, MS stops Insider Preview issues lists in its release notes. I hope this is only temporary. Continue Reading

• Office 32-bit versus 64-bit

  In exploring Office 32-bit versus 64-bit versions, it seems that "small is beautiful" applies, or perhaps better guarantees of backward compatibility prevail. Continue Reading

• MS Press Samples Autoruns Coverage

  In its August round-up blog post, MS Press samples Autoruns coverage in the free chapter from the Sysinternals Troubleshooting book. Good stuff! 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

• Great Win10 Date/Time Calendar Trick

  Once again, Ed Bott strikes gold as he explains a great Win10 Date/Time Calendar trick: fast, easy, and instantly available.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

• Numbering Decimal Versus Binary Bytes

  When it comes to numbering Decimal versus Binary bytes for disk sizes, what drive manufacturers claim to deliver is more than what shows up when a drive gets mounted.Continue Reading

• MVA Offers Free Win10 Security Course

  Thanks to the MS Learning email blast, I can report that MVA offers free Win10 security course. Over 2-1/2 hours of free video training, in fact.Continue Reading

• Using MS Search Effectively

  For many users the secret to using MS Search effectively comes from selectively indexing file contents as well as file properties. Here's how!Continue Reading

• How IT can address the cybersecurity skills gap

  Many organizations lack top-flight cybersecurity skills in the IT department, but with the right focus on the basics, they can still keep Windows 10 safe.Continue Reading

• How to create a near-perfect Windows 10 deployment

  Deploying Windows 10 successfully may seem like a daunting task. IT can make it happen by creating storage room, implementing tough security and knowing what to avoid.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

• Periodic Win10 Disk Cleanup Checklist

  I suggest numerous tools or utilities for inclusion in a periodic Win10 disk cleanup checklist, to keep trash and obsolete file at bay.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

• Win10 Volume Shadow Copies May Need Cleanup

  If you use the Vssadmin command line utility to inspect your drives, you'll see that Win10 Volume Shadow Copies may need cleanup!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

• Disk Cleanup Beats CCleaner Post-Win10-Upgrade

  A recent comparison shows that the built-in Disk Cleanup beats CCleaner post-Win10-upgrade: it's faster and it also does a deeper clean.Continue Reading

• DriveCleanup Clears Stale Win10 Storage Metadata

  Uwe Sieber's excellent tool DriveCleanup clears stale Win10 storage metadata, so Device Manager shows what's present on your PC, and no more.Continue Reading

• Win10 Virtual Disk Image Galleries

  A cool new feature in the latest Insider Preview suggests that Virtual Disk Image Galleries in Win10 will be coming in Creators Update 2.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

• Done Waiting for Win10 Version 1703

  After waiting 12 weeks for Windows Update to push an upgrade to one of my PCs, I decide I'm done waiting for Win10 Version 1703 and upgrade it myself.Continue Reading

• How can IT put PowerShell Integrated Scripting Environment to use?

  PowerShell ISE is a great tool for IT admins and developers of all degrees of experience. It can help them learn PowerShell and assist in script development.Continue Reading

• Registry Cleaner Pros & Cons

  Careful consideration of registry cleaner pros & cons argues that such tools should be used only sparingly. CCleaner and Little Registry Cleaner are safe and worth using.Continue Reading

• Win10 Build 16226 Adds GPU Task Manager Info

  In the Insider Preview program, Win10 Build 16226 adds GPU Task Manager info on the Performance tab therein.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

• Partition UEFI/GPT HDD Using Diskpart

  For some reason Windows Installer puts the WinRE partition at the head of its disk layout. We partition UEFI/GPT HDD using diskpart to put it at the end, where it belongs.Continue Reading

• How can you access Windows 10 advanced repair options?

  To resolve Windows 10 boot problems you can access a few repair options by entering the OS through the back door. Here's how to do it.Continue Reading

• VDI, mobility push IT infrastructure services to their limits

  VDI and enterprise mobility create a host of problems for IT to deal with, including delivering a quality user experience and incorporating monitoring tools.Continue Reading

• DMT Helps Manage Multiple Monitors

  The free Windows utility DMT helps manage multiple monitors easily and effectively, and lets users decide where and on which screen applications launch.Continue Reading

• TreeSize Shows Oft-Missing Win10 Disk Details

  A useful and informative disk utility named TreeSize shows oft-missing Win10 disk details. Check it out!Continue Reading

• Surface Pro Firmware Gets Previews Too

  When I saw my Surface Pro 3 got firmware updates a month ahead of general release I was puzzled. Then I remembered that PC is on the "Release Preview" update cycle.Continue Reading

• How to diagnose and resolve Windows 10 Wi-Fi connectivity problems

  Wi-Fi connectivity in Windows 10 is a persistent problem for IT. Use the network troubleshooter or reset the device configuration to solve this issue fast.Continue Reading

• Tip: Access HTML Files Using Edge

  Even though the File - Open menu entry is MIA, turns out there are plenty of ways to access HTML files using Edge in Windows 10.Continue Reading

• Bid $SysReset Goodbye in Win10

  Unlike other hidden system folders, it's easy to bid $SysReset goodbye in Windows 10. A simple right-click delete does the trick.Continue Reading

• KB4016871 Fixes Spurious Win10 DISM Issue

  An odd and interesting error with version identification for UUP caused problems, but KB4016871 Fixes Spurious Win10 DISM Issue.Continue Reading

• Manage Win10 Drivers Using DISM

  When I confirm that an upgrade indeed installs a whole new slate of device drivers, I decide to manage Win10 Drivers using DISM at the command line.Continue Reading

• The go-to Windows PowerShell guide

  Solidify a strong foundation with this PowerShell guide that includes tips on automating tasks, using WMI and CMI standards and handling security threats.Continue Reading

• Current MS Drivers Show Vista 2006 Date

  Turns out there's an excellent reason why current MS Drivers show Vista 2006 date. That's how MS avoids conflicts with mfgr or OEM drivers.Continue Reading

• Clean Up Old Wireless Profiles in Windows 10

  If you take a mobile PC on the road with you, be it laptop, notebook or tablet, it's a good idea to clean up old wireless profiles every now and then.Continue Reading

• End-user computing tech ROI comes in many different forms

  The business side of organizations is quick to look for monetary benefits when implementing a new technology. But end-user computing tools don't always rake in big bucks. Instead, EUC tech ROI comes from increased productivity among employees and ...Continue Reading

• Application layering frees up IT management

  App layering can take a lot of the burden of application management off IT admins by allowing them to layer apps on top of the operating system.Continue Reading

• Insider Preview Clean Install Confers Insights

  Working through the process step-by-step, I observe that a new Insider Preview clean install confers insights worth noting and sharing.Continue Reading

• How can you use Group Policy to tighten PowerShell security?

  PowerShell can unlock a lot of management capabilities for IT, but it is also a potential security gap. Put Group Policy to work to fill in the hole.Continue Reading

• Monitor Upgrade Saves on Money and Energy

  In switching out my 10-year-old monitors for this year's model(s), a monitor upgrade saves on money and energy, delivers more pixels and better USB.Continue Reading

• ThinkPads Going Strong 5 Years Later

  Starting from Windows 7 and minimum memory and storage, my two ThinkPads going strong 5 years later, including storage, memory, and USB 3.0 upgrades.Continue Reading

• Grabbing Win10 1703 ISO Files

  How might one go about grabbing Win10 1703 ISO files for installation or image repair? Let me count the ways...Continue Reading

• The state of workspace tools and where they're headed

  Enterprise IT can take a lesson from the Xbox One, which strives to bring home entertainment under one umbrella, by embracing the potential of digital workspaces.Continue Reading

• Handy Win10 Boot Controls

  Rebooting Windows 10 to access UEFI/BIOS or boot media can be tricky, and make handy Win10 Boot controls vital.Continue Reading

• Creators Update Delivers Easy Upgrade

  Based on my recent, repeated, and carefully observed recent exposure, Creators Update delivers easy upgrade experiences to those inclined to try it out via the Media Creation Tool.Continue Reading

• How can you whitelist apps and fight ransomware with Windows 10 AppLocker?

  With application whitelisting, admins can create a list of approved apps users can work with. This way, users cannot accidentally open an app containing ransomware.Continue Reading

• Swapping Out mSATA SSDs Needs Cool Tools

  In repurposing a PC for a family member, I learn that swapping out mSATA SSDs needs cool tools -- MiniTool Partition Wizard and Macrium Reflect.Continue Reading

• Get to know the unified endpoint management market

  There are so many devices and operating systems for IT admins to keep track of these days. They need one place to manage it all, and that's where unified endpoint management comes in.Continue Reading

• Create a Custom ISO for Windows 10 -- Part 6 of 6

  With the Creator's update coming in April, it's a great time to learn how to create a custom ISO for Windows 10 (Part 6 of 6).Continue Reading

• Create a Custom ISO for Windows 10 -- Part 5 of 6

  With the Creator's update coming in April, it's a great time to learn how to create a custom ISO for Windows 10 (Part 5 of 6).Continue Reading

• Create a Custom ISO for Windows 10 -- Part 4 of 6

  With the Creator's update coming in April, it's a great time to learn how to create a custom ISO for Windows 10 (Part 4 of 6).Continue Reading

• Create a Custom ISO for Windows 10 -- Part 3 of 6

  With the Creator's update coming in April, it's a great time to learn how to create a custom ISO for Windows 10 (Part 3 of 6).Continue Reading

• Create a Custom ISO for Windows 10 -- Part 2 of 6

  With the new Creator's Update coming in April, it's a great time to learn how to create a custom ISO for Windows 10.Continue Reading

• How the desktop administrator role is changing

  Desktop administrators have been IT department staples for decades, but their jobs and titles are evolving as endpoints move beyond Windows.Continue Reading

• Unified endpoint management tools strive for one-size-fits-all

  There are so many devices and operating systems for IT admins to keep track of these days. They need one place to manage it all, and that's where unified endpoint management comes in.Continue Reading

• Create a Custom ISO for Windows 10: Part 1 of 6

  Part 1 of a 6-part series that explains how to build a custom ISO for Windows 10 installation, including applications and themes.Continue Reading

• What options exist for organizations that don't upgrade to Windows 10?

  IT professionals and users can avoid Windows 10 by following best practices, such as disk space cleanup and up-to-date security, to maintain the life of an older operating system.Continue Reading

• Win10 Dynamic Lock Gets Cool Tool

  In Build 15031 Insider Preview got a feature to tie the OS to cellphone proximity. Now Win10 Dynamic Lock gets cool tool to make it work.Continue Reading

• Explore the wonderful world of Windows 10 browsers

  With the end of support for IE prior to version 11 and the rise of Microsoft Edge, the time is now for admins and users to learn about the Windows 10 browser landscape.Continue Reading

• Enable Disable Win10 Administrator Account

  Though it's hidden, Windows 10 still includes a built-in admin account . Here's how to enable disable Win10 Administrator account.Continue Reading

• Disconnect Drives Before Multi-Boot Install

  For the cleanest possible boot environment, remember to disconnect drives before multi-boot install of Windows OSes.Continue Reading

• Three basic Windows 10 security tips to keep in mind

  There is so much to keep in mind with Windows 10 security it's easy to overlook the essentials. Get back to basics and remember to keep an eye on updates, encryption and users.Continue Reading

• Windows Store for Business now open to ease app delivery

  The Windows Store for Business offers IT flexibility with Windows 10 application deployment, licensing and user management.Continue Reading

• EI.cfg and PID.txt Install Windows License Info

  When added to a standard Setup.exe environment for Windows, EI.cfg and PID.txt install Windows license info without requiring user input.Continue Reading

• Admin Tool: HeiDoc.net MS ISO Downloader

  From time to time Windows install (and other MS) ISOs come in handy for admins, but they can be hard to chase down. HeiDoc.net MS ISO Downloader covers that!Continue Reading

• Why you should back up Windows drivers and how to do it

  To make sure all the extra devices users attach to their Windows desktops work right, you must ensure that the device drivers function properly. DISM and DriverBackup can both help.Continue Reading

• Prepare for the final exam on Windows 10 hidden features

  With all the features in Windows 10 it's easy to lose track of a few. Test your knowledge of these overlooked features, including a virtualization-based security tool.Continue Reading

• ShowKeyPlus for Your Admin Toolbox

  When dealing with Windows license keys it is sometimes necessary to dig them out of hiding. ShowKeyPlus does this quite well, and it's free.Continue Reading

• Admin Toolbox: MiniTool Partition Wizard

  When it comes to managing Windows disk partitions, MiniTool Partition Wizard is hard to beat. Even the free version is quite capable.Continue Reading

• Give Windows 10 disk space a clean sweep

  There are multiple ways to keep Windows 10 running smoothly, such as clearing the clutter of old files and applications. A more efficient OS will help bring IT peace of mind.Continue Reading

• Free Win10 Upgrade Still Available

  Despite Microsoft's emphatic assertion that free upgrades from Windows 7 and 8.1 ended 7/27/16, free Win10 upgrade still available. Here's how...Continue Reading

• Windows 10 how-to guide

  It's important to know how to work with Windows 10, including what to do about taskbar clutter and how to change the default save location.Continue Reading

• Win10 Compact Saves Room

  In Win10 compact saves room on disk/SSD: use this command to reduce space needs by up to 5 GB on small tablet and notebook PCs.Continue Reading

• How can you use PowerShell to enable automated software deployment?

  The quest to keep up with constant changes to software is tough for IT admins, but they can make their lives easier by automating the deployment process using PowerShell.Continue Reading

• Handy PING Sweep Tool

  Network admins nearly always want to know who's on their networks. This handy PING sweep tool tells them in compact, readable form.Continue Reading

• Panoramic Desktop Themes for Win10

  Those with 2 monitors need panoramic themes to take full advantage of available screen real estate. These panoramic desktop themes work for Windows 10.Continue Reading

• Windows Hello for Business ditches password-only authentication

  Microsoft merged Windows Hello and Microsoft Passport to create Windows Hello for Business, which allows for two-factor authentication and enables single sign-on.Continue Reading

• Secondary Malware Scanners

  No matter how good your antimalware defenses are, a periodic secondary scan is prudent. Here's a look at an admin's arsenal of secondary malware scanners.Continue Reading

• Windows 10 user training minimizes post-upgrade headaches

  User training is an important part of moving to Windows 10. IT can do it themselves or turn to a host of video-based options.Continue Reading

• Win10 Drive Cloning 101

  For a variety of reasons ranging from drive migration to drive replacement, disk cloning lets you swap one disk for another without hiccups.Continue Reading

• Win-Raid Offers Updated USB 3.0/3.1 Win10 Drivers

  By default Microsoft supplies generic USB drivers in Win10. German website Win-Raid offers updated USB 3.0/3.1 Win10 drivers to replace them.Continue Reading

• UEFI positions the Surface Pro 4 2-in-1 as a PC replacement

  Many IT shops are considering 2-in-1s to replace PCs. With the addition of UEFI, Microsoft puts the Surface Pro 4 into that conversation.Continue Reading

• Should you stick with Windows 7 or migrate to Windows 10?

  Although upgrading operating systems is always tempting, migrating to Windows 10 may not be the best move for everyone.Continue Reading

• The Long Win10 Tail Carries a Nasty Barb

  Like any product with lots of users, Windows 10's population has a long tail. Parts of that long Win10 tail are barbed and stinging Microsoft at present.Continue Reading

• Experts predict the future of Windows 10 and the Creators Update

  Three experts share their thoughts on what's next for enterprise desktop admins in 2017, including what to expect from Windows 10 security.Continue Reading

• Admin Tools: Winaero Tweaker

  Sergey Tkachenko's Winaero Tweaker combines widgets to control Windows look, feel, and behavior. A handy tool for Windows admins and power users alike.Continue Reading

• Admin Toolbox: File Mgmt

  When it comes to managing Windows files, and the storage volumes that contain them, two free tools stand out: WinDirStat and TreeSize Free.Continue Reading

• Four ways to squeeze more juice into the Windows 7 lifecycle

  Windows 7 is not dead. There are many reasons IT keeps it around. To make the OS perform well, admins must modernize it and make sure all patches are up to date.Continue Reading

• Close Windows security gaps with third-party software patching

  Hackers target third-party software on Windows workstations because they know the patches are often out of date. Admins can bolster security by fixing these issues.Continue Reading

• Win10 Eyecandy Desktop Themes

  By default Windows shows background visuals through Personalization. There are lots of Win10 eyecandy desktop themes available to spiff up user displays.Continue Reading

• Take on Windows 10 Wi-Fi problems and address Wi-Fi Sense

  Windows 10 Wi-Fi connectivity is not as straightforward as it sounds. Microsoft moved the Wi-Fi settings and added security risks with Wi-Fi Sense. Plus, Wi-Fi often fails after an upgrade.Continue Reading

• How Microsoft's EMET fits into the Windows security arsenal

  Windows administrators can use Microsoft EMET to enhance security. The tool protects specific executable files or an entire network.Continue Reading

• How to create more Windows 10 disk space

  To make sure Windows 10 works at its peak level, IT must free up disk space with the Deployment Image Servicing and Management tool and more.Continue Reading