News

January 10, 2017 10 Jan'17
MacBook Pro issues have bad timing, as Surface surges

Shortfalls of the new MacBook Pro are evident, as Apple pays more attention to other areas of its business. The lack of touchscreen is a drawback for users who want 2-in-1s.
January 06, 2017 06 Jan'17
CMD.exe NOT Going Away in Win10

Contrary to numerous reports, CMD.exe not going away in Windows 10. True, recent Insider Preview builds replace it with Powershell in many menus.
December 29, 2016 29 Dec'16
BSOD Meet GSOD!

Recently leaked Insider Preview Windows 10 build 14997 introduces lots of changes, among them a green screen of death. BSOD meet GSOD!
December 23, 2016 23 Dec'16
New VMware EUC lead: Shadow IT is the biggest cybersecurity threat

IT pros work to defend against breaches and hacks, but it's their own users that continue to be a threat. This issue could drive workspace adoption in 2017.
December 08, 2016 08 Dec'16
Wait, the Windows 10 Anniversary Update wasn't already enterprise-ready?

Microsoft's declaration in November that the latest version of Windows 10 is enterprise-ready created confusion in some businesses that had already been using it for months. After Microsoft ...
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December 07, 2016 07 Dec'16
UUP Starts Getting Real

Windows 10 Insider program principals recently announced a release hiatus to handle changes as UUP starts getting real, and defines future update formats.
December 02, 2016 02 Dec'16
Windows 10 Desktop Share November 2016

Data on Windows 10 Desktop Share November 2016 shows Windows 10 is muscling in on Windows 7. Reports differ widely on ongoing use of XP, though.
November 28, 2016 28 Nov'16
Build 14971 Drops Cmd.exe for PowerShell

Here's a bombshell from MS: Windows 10, Build 14971 drops Cmd.exe for PowerShell. What's up? Fortunately, batch files work in PowerShell so it's not so bad.
November 22, 2016 22 Nov'16
Built-in Windows 10 ads annoy IT pros

Advertisements are pretty unavoidable on your favorite websites and social media. Now users have to deal with them on Windows 10, too. On its lock screen, Windows 10 displays ads for apps, games ...
November 07, 2016 07 Nov'16
Win10 Marketshare Flat in Q316

Now that the free upgrade has ended, Win10 Marketshare Flat in Q316 sums up the current situation.
November 04, 2016 04 Nov'16
Unified Update Platform Reduces Update Complexity

The Windows 10 Unified Update Platform (UUP) is rolling out in Build 14959; it promises to download and install changes only on Win10 installs.
November 02, 2016 02 Nov'16
Woody Leonhard Blesses KB3197954

In the wake of the latest Win10 AU cumulate update, Woody Leonard blesses KB3197954 and gives the upgrade his seal of approval.
November 01, 2016 01 Nov'16
IT raises eyebrows, as changes to Windows OS updates get underway

The update model Microsoft uses for Windows 10 started last month on Windows 7 and 8.1. Some admins are concerned it takes control out of IT's hands and have noticed issues with the new model.
October 28, 2016 28 Oct'16
Cost, applications thwart Macs in business

Windows PCs continue to outpace Macs in business. Cost, application options and Apple's desktop and laptop strategy are all issues.
October 24, 2016 24 Oct'16
Factoring Out Xbox in Active User Count

When MS counts Windows 10 users, Xbox users are included. They recently published numbers that make factoring out xbox users easier.
October 21, 2016 21 Oct'16
Win10 AU Zooms Into Majority Status

Paul Thurrott reports that Win10 AU zooms into majority status, now running on 77 percent of Win10 desktops. He also concludes that AU issues are mostly solved, but I disagree.
October 20, 2016 20 Oct'16
VMware Workspace One Essentials knocks down suite pricing

A more affordable Workspace One bundle with less advanced management capabilities could appease IT pros who view workspace suites as too pricey.
October 14, 2016 14 Oct'16
New Windows 10 features aim to prevent productivity delays

In an update to the OS next year, Microsoft looks to stop Windows 10 from crashing, prevent restarts from automatic updates and provide more details in Task Manager.
October 13, 2016 13 Oct'16
MobileIron Bridge fills Windows 10 application deployment void

MobileIron Bridge, a new add-on service, expands IT's Windows 10 application deployment options. Admins can now deploy and manage legacy applications via enterprise mobility management.
October 06, 2016 06 Oct'16
Workspace suites 'take a load off' IT

Organizations that want to simplify device management and access are interested in workspace suites, such as VMware Workspace One.
September 28, 2016 28 Sep'16
Win10 Hits 400M Users as Adoptions Slow

It's been two months since the free upgrade program ended. Though the installation count of Win10 hits 400M users, adoption rates are slowing dramatically.
September 27, 2016 27 Sep'16
PC market decline forces devices to evolve

Despite the well-documented decline of the PC market, opportunities around 2-in-1s, niche markets and Windows 10 arise to keep businesses buying new computers.
September 26, 2016 26 Sep'16
Windows 10 Edge browser security gets a hand from virtualization

The upcoming Windows Defender Application Guard feature in Microsoft's Windows 10 Edge browser will help IT departments protect against malware from compromised websites.
September 26, 2016 26 Sep'16
MS Upgrade Analytics for Win10

Windows Upgrade Analytics for Win10 makes telemetry data available inside organizations to help them get a grip on in-house Win10 upgrades and deployments.
September 03, 2016 03 Sep'16
Windows Marketshare Jul-Aug 2016

Looking at Windows Marketshare Jul-Aug 2016, we see Windows 7 holding steady, 10 continuing upward, and other versions declining.
August 31, 2016 31 Aug'16
Windows 10 lifecycle management comes to VMware Workspace One

More in-depth capabilities for managing the Windows 10 lifecycle are coming to the new unified endpoint management feature in VMware's workspace suite.
August 24, 2016 24 Aug'16
Windows OS updates get simpler -- but there's a trade-off

Microsoft's new monthly rollups will make Windows OS updates less hectic. IT won't be able to pick and choose which updates and patches to deploy, however.
August 15, 2016 15 Aug'16
Windows 10 Anniversary Update leaves Pro customers hanging

Windows 10 Pro admins get an unwelcome surprise when they install the Anniversary Update; they lose out on the ability to block third-party applications.
August 12, 2016 12 Aug'16
TechNet Article: Win10 Deployment Tools Updated

As of August 11, 2016 MS has updated its TechNet Article: Win10 Deployment Tools with new information and coverage.
August 10, 2016 10 Aug'16
In Windows 10 Fix-Its MIA

For older Windows versions, MS offers online "fix-it" tools to address tricky issues. In Windows 10 Fix-Its MIA (missing in action) is the norm. Here's why.
August 01, 2016 01 Aug'16
Long NTFS Filenames in Anniversary Update

NTFS filenames have been limited to 260 characters in length, but a new Local Group Policy option in the Anniversary Update removes that restriction.
July 25, 2016 25 Jul'16
Win10 Slow-flow Anniversary Update

Microsoft fires off its next Windows 10 RTM in the form of a slow-flow Anniversary Update. It is staggered across the user base, so some will have to wait.
July 22, 2016 22 Jul'16
The Windows 10 SMB Story So Far...

Spiceworks tells the Windows 10 SMB story so far, with adoption rates and plans (or lack thereof) for companies not yet using Microsoft's latest desktop OS.
July 18, 2016 18 Jul'16
Windows 10 1B Milestone Recedes

Removing Windows Phones from adoption rates means MS must watch as the Windows 10 1B milestone recedes past its projected date in fiscal year 2018.
July 13, 2016 13 Jul'16
Win10 Business Subscriptions Coming

In Fall 2016, Microsoft plans to offer Win10 business subscriptions that include deployment, management and support for $7 per user per month. Wow!
July 08, 2016 08 Jul'16
New AGPM 40SP3 Supports Win10

Microsoft Advanced Group Policy Management or APGM 4.0SP3 supports Win10 means comprehensive change control and better management for GPOs.
July 01, 2016 01 Jul'16
Windows 10 Adoption Growth

Windows 10 adoption growth hits a new milestone of 350M, breaks 19% in desktop share, while Windows 7 share drops below 50%.
June 29, 2016 29 Jun'16
Windows 10 1608 Release?

A news item on Windows Insider indicates the Anniversary Release will drop on August 2. Does that mean the new release will be labeled Windows 10 1608?
June 23, 2016 23 Jun'16
Windows 10 compatibility site helps IT address app support

Microsoft's new Ready for Windows website aims to help businesses migrate to the new operating system by listing applications that are compatible with Windows 10.
June 13, 2016 13 Jun'16
Mind Blown -- MS Buys LinkedIn

MS Buys LinkedIn, with all kinds of synergies sought for. Overlaps in training, certification, and professional development are most interesting!
May 26, 2016 26 May'16
Windows 10 adoption on IT's docket for 2016

Attendees at Citrix Synergy 2016 share their plans for Windows 10 adoption this year.
May 25, 2016 25 May'16
Avoid Win10 Upgrade Tricks

MS has rigged Windows Update to incent, incite and perhaps even trick users into upgrading to Windows 10. Read about their known Win10 upgrade tricks!
May 19, 2016 19 May'16
Automation tools make Windows 10 migration easier

Companies conducting a large Windows 10 migration could use a tool that automates much of the heavy lifting when transferring users' content.
May 13, 2016 13 May'16
Old Hardware Makes USMC Hit Win10 Update Snag

The CIO for the US DoD has decreed that it would upgrade all service branches to Windows 10 by early 2017; the USMC has hit a Win10 update snag.
May 06, 2016 06 May'16
Free Win10 Upgrade Ends 7/29/2016

MS confirms that its free Win10 upgrade ends 7/29/2016 for Windows 7 and 8.1. Act soon to exercise it, and save an upgrade snapshot for later!
May 05, 2016 05 May'16
No Blocking Store Access in Win10Pro

Now that Build 1511 has reached CBB status, admins can no longer use group policy for blocking Store access in Windows 10 Pro. Deal with it!
April 27, 2016 27 Apr'16
US Govt Sites Show OS Use on Web

Analytics.usa.gov shows how user OSes break out for government websites, with interesting trends for OS use on web, especially Windows 10.
April 25, 2016 25 Apr'16
Driver Update Controls: Win10 14328

The next release of Windows 10 includes driver update controls via Group Policy, shown in a new item added to Insider Preview 14328.
April 18, 2016 18 Apr'16
Uninstall QuickTime for Windows NOW!

Apple quit providing security updates for QuickTime on Windows PCs. Discovery of 2 zero day exploits makes it time to uninstall QuickTime for Windows NOW.
April 15, 2016 15 Apr'16
Updating Win10 CBB

Right after Microsoft moved the build for the Current Business Branch (CBB) to 10586, they started updating Win10 CBB with a cumulative update.
April 13, 2016 13 Apr'16
Meet the Windows 10 Tech Bench

The Windows 10 Tech Bench provides resources, image files, and info for IT pros. It's a professional alternative to the Media Creation Tool.
April 12, 2016 12 Apr'16
Windows 10 upgrade offer spurs spike in adoption

More businesses plan to take advantage of Microsoft's free Windows 10 upgrade offer before it expires in July, but IT pros still have concerns about cost and privacy.
April 11, 2016 11 Apr'16
Win10 CBB Update 1 Is Here!

Microsoft has announced the first update to its Current Branch for Business release for Windows 10 (Win10 CBB Update 1).
April 08, 2016 08 Apr'16
Windows 10 Updates Internet PCs

By default Windows 10 can download updates from or share updates with nearby peer PCs on the Internet. Is it right that Windows 10 Updates Internet PCs?
April 04, 2016 04 Apr'16
Windows 10 market share hits number 2

Windows 10 marketshare finds the OS in the number slot, vis-à-vis the other desktop OSes. Win10 still has a long way to go to pass Windows 7.
March 28, 2016 28 Mar'16
Achieving Windows Sleep Protection

Even when Windows goes to sleep, certain events can wake it up. Here are tips to keep it sleeping when that's what's wanted.
March 14, 2016 14 Mar'16
Windows Sleep: Great When It Works

For years Windows sleep has been a troubled topic, beset with problems during wake-up. Recent firmware and OS updates have apparently fixed these issues.
March 07, 2016 07 Mar'16
Where Is Windows 10 Desktopshare?

The Windows 10 desktopshare continues to rise, while Windows 8 versions fall faster than XP. Go figure!
March 04, 2016 04 Mar'16
Free MS eBook: Deploying Windows 10

With release of the free eBook "Deploying Windows 10..." Microsoft Press describes how to use System Center Configuration Manager to handle this task.
March 02, 2016 02 Mar'16
Network Discovery Fixed in Win10 Update

Cumulative update KB 3140743 brings great reliability improvements to network discovery in Windows 10, along with numerous other OS features and functions.
February 19, 2016 19 Feb'16
US DoD Hurry-Up Windows 10 Deployment

The US Department of Defense mandates all arms to undertake Windows 10 deployment, to conclude by January 2016. 4 million devices will be involved.
February 17, 2016 17 Feb'16
"Hidden Cumulative Updates" in Windows 10

With 2 hidden cumulative updates for Windows 10 in the Microsoft Update Catalog that never made Windows Update, are they for testing or real updates?
February 12, 2016 12 Feb'16
Clean Win10 Install: Few Updates Needed

A recent bare-metal Windows 10 install on a new PC confirms that the cumulative update approach minimizes updates needed to achieve currency.
February 10, 2016 10 Feb'16
MS Starts Providing Update Details for Windows 10

After six months of little or no information about updates for Windows 10, MS has launched a Web page that provides useful details about changes included in Windows Update items, starting with ...
February 08, 2016 08 Feb'16
Windows 10 Desktop Share Passes XP

As Windows XP marketshare continues to drop, Windows 10 finally surpasses its desktop OS share, though Windows 7 remains firmly entrenched in first place.
February 03, 2016 03 Feb'16
Interesting OOB Windows 10 Update Poses Questions, Problems

A mysterious Windows Update that acts like a cumulative update increments the Windows 10 build number to 10586.79, but is not available through the usual channels and must be manually installed. So ...
February 01, 2016 01 Feb'16
Secunia PSI/CSI Engine Gets Right with Windows 10

A new revision to the Secunia Personal Software Inspector/Corporate Software Inspector lays some long-standing Windows 8 and Windows 10 errors to rest.
January 22, 2016 22 Jan'16
Surface Pro Power Cord Exchange Dead Simple

Upon learning about the power cord recall on certain Surface Pro tablet models, I jumped onto the Microsoft website to request a replacement, and found the process simple and straightforward to ...
January 20, 2016 20 Jan'16
Enterprises: Like It or Not, Here Comes Windows 10!

A recent blog post from Microsoft EVP Terry Myerson shows how the company is using both positive and negative inducements to get enterprise users to migrate to Windows 10. On the positive side: new ...
January 11, 2016 11 Jan'16
Say Goodbye to Windows 8.0?

Thanks to some fine print in its Windows 8.1 support lifecycle policy, Windows 8.0 users lose maintstream support from Microsoft starting on January 12, 2016.
January 08, 2016 08 Jan'16
Intune Service Update to Include Windows 10 Optimizations

An upcoming update to the Microsoft Intune service, now part of its Mobile Device Management toolset, will add support for native Windows 10 features, while also improving Android and iOS support.
January 07, 2016 07 Jan'16
IT getting 'aggressive' about Windows 10 adoption

Microsoft says more than three-quarters of its enterprise customers are already testing Windows 10, which is the most quickly adopted OS in company history.
January 06, 2016 06 Jan'16
Windows 10 in Use on Over 200 Million Devices

Despite a new, more accurate way to count Win10 instances, Microsoft report that over 200 million such instances are in active use as of early January 2016.
January 04, 2016 04 Jan'16
Top 10 Posts for 2015

Looking over the traffic to the blog for 2015, some interesting items pop out in the "Top 10" viewed items for that year.
December 21, 2015 21 Dec'15
Windows 10 undercuts 'tablet revolution'

As 2015 draws to a close, the staff of TechTarget's end-user computing sites took to Slack and held an hourlong chat about the year's biggest trends. Over the next few days, we'll bring you ...
December 18, 2015 18 Dec'15
Windows 10 Build 11082.1000 in Preview, 10586.36 in Production

Report from the trenches on the latest Windows 10 Technical Preview (11082.1000) and a new cumulative update for the Current Branch version numbered 10586.36.
December 16, 2015 16 Dec'15
Win10: Upgrade Now or Upgrade Tonight. Really?

Users who haven't used the GWX Control Panel to remove the "Get Windows 10" stuff from Windows 7 or 8.1 systems are now faced with an interesting choice when that runtime facility triggers in the ...
December 14, 2015 14 Dec'15
Get Win10 ISOs from TechBench

For some purposes the compressed electronic software download (esd) file format that MS uses for some Windows 10 installers won't do: a real Windows image (.wim) file is required. Here are several ...
December 11, 2015 11 Dec'15
Understanding WaaS (Windows 10 as a Service)

I'm currently on tap to develop a Webinar for Spiceworks that's sponsored by Microsoft on a number of Windows 10 topics (I'll add an update to the end of this post when I find out the broadcast ...
December 09, 2015 09 Dec'15
SCCM Rolls Up to Windows 10 1511 Release Level

For the first time ever, MS has updated System Center Configuration Manager for Windows 10, and has even adopted Windows 10 (1511) version numbering. Lots of interesting additions to the product ...
December 07, 2015 07 Dec'15
DISM Does Updates, Too!

Later last Friday (12/4), MS fired off KB3122947, labeled "Update for Windows 10 Version 1511 for x64-based Systems." At first, I thought nothing of it, after getting it installed on a handful of ...
December 04, 2015 04 Dec'15
Ouch! SFC and DISM may disagree in Build 10586.17

Normally, the system file checker (SFC) and the deployment image servicing and management (DISM) facilities in Windows march in lockstep: here, I find a case where DISM says the component store is ...
December 02, 2015 02 Dec'15
US Gov't Usage Data: Win10 Grabbing Marketshare from XP and 7

A recent set of data from the US Government's Digital Analytics Program (DAP), shows clearly what common sense says is inevitable: that Windows 10's share of desktop users comes mostly at the ...
November 30, 2015 30 Nov'15
Windows Administrivia: The Case of the Missing BIOS Access

As is often the case on a holiday weekend, I like to tinker with my PCs. This Thanksgiving weekend, I found myself wanting to access the BIOS on my production PC with its Gigabyte X77X-UD3H ...
November 27, 2015 27 Nov'15
As Win8.1 Closes in on XP, Win10 Jumps into the Marketshare Game

Every now and then, I like to check in on the Desktop Operating System Market Share pie chart over at NetMarketShare.com. This morning, I had to fiddle the parameters a bit to get the site to show ...
November 25, 2015 25 Nov'15
New Cumulative Update Restores Build 10586, Incremented to .14

Wow! It's been a whacky week in advance of Turkeyday, with Version 1511 (Build 10586) gone over the weekend, then back again late yesterday. MS even furnished an explanation, which I reproduce from ...
November 24, 2015 24 Nov'15
Media Creation Tool and MSDN Win10 Versions Diverge

There's been a whole lotta hoopla over the past few days about the sudden disappearance of Version 1511 (Build 10586) from the Media Creation Tool late Friday, 11/21. Of the many stories published ...
November 20, 2015 20 Nov'15
Cumulative Updates Increment Win10 Build Numbers: Implications?

On 11/18, later in the day, my Win10 systems picked up a new cumulative update: KB3118754. What made this update interesting was that it led to an increment in the Windows 10 Version number suffix, ...
November 18, 2015 18 Nov'15
Identifying Windows Images/Installers/ISO files

The more I dig into the DISM (Deployment Image Servicing and Management) command, the more "good stuff" I keep finding. Today's gem comes courtesy of Sergey Tkachenko, whose excellent WinAero.com ...
November 13, 2015 13 Nov'15
Build 10586/1511 Makes Its Debut: Lessons Learned

Early yesterday morning (11/12), some of my Build 10240 Windows 10 PCs began offering access to the 10586/1511 Build. Throughout the course of the day, I was slowly but surely able to get most of ...
November 11, 2015 11 Nov'15
Updates Galore on 11/10/15, but No Build 10586!

Looking at my update history on my Windows 10 production PC this morning, I see a whole slew of updates hit the wire yesterday for that OS, but so far there's no sign of a Threshold 2 release ...
November 09, 2015 09 Nov'15
Simple Versioning Numbers in Win10 Presage Deployment Changes

If you take a look at the Winver information from the latest Fast Ring build for Windows Insiders, aka Build 10586, you'll see some additional information in the second line of text therein, just ...
November 04, 2015 04 Nov'15
Another Worthwhile DISM Source "Trick"

In my continuing efforts to maintain the health and well-being of my Windows 10 installations, I've continued messing about with the built-in deployment image servicing and management tool ...
November 02, 2015 02 Nov'15
Gadgets Come Back to Win10 Build 10576

Goody, Goody: one of the things I liked least about Build 10565 in the Windows 10 lead-up to the Threshold 2 Build scheduled for later this month (November 2015) has apparently been fixed in Build ...
October 30, 2015 30 Oct'15
Are Win10 Installs Losing Momentum?

Between a couple of interesting stories reported at NeoWin.net and WinBeta.org recently, the rapid rise of Windows 10 installs appears to be slowing down from its initial explosive rate. Although ...
October 28, 2015 28 Oct'15
Dell promises to innovate on next-gen Windows 10 PCs

Like a captain on a sinking ship, Dell remains committed to the PC market, and looks to hardware innovations and Windows 10 as the bailing buckets.
October 28, 2015 28 Oct'15
Persistent Windows.old Folder Surrenders to Command Line Prompt

Among my various desktops, laptops, and tablets, I've got an 16-month-old Surface Pro 3 purchased in August 2014. In working with the boot/sys drive recently I noticed I still had a windows.old ...
October 26, 2015 26 Oct'15
Win10 Build 10565: Bitten by the Dread KB3105208

If there are some distinctions to which Window10 testers should not aspire to attain, I'd have to say falling prey to the boot/system failures now widely associated with the recent KB3105208 ...
October 23, 2015 23 Oct'15
Stop Win10 from Automatic Reboot After Updates

There has been plenty of heated discussion about the way MS has handled updates in Windows 10. Much of that discussion has centered around Windows 10's update push behavior, which forces updates on ...
October 22, 2015 22 Oct'15
Dell, Microsoft CEOs discuss Windows 10 PC strategies

The Microsoft-Dell partnership got competitive this year with Microsoft's first 2-in-1 device, but Dell's Windows 10 laptops differ in one important area.

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