News

May 08, 2015 08 May'15
With SP4 a'comin', please give us a clamshell keyboard dock

In the wake of recent MS conferences like Build 2015 and Ignite, the pundits and prognosticators seem surprisingly unanimous with two short-term predictions. First, Windows 10 seems bound for ...
May 06, 2015 06 May'15
With Windows 10, MS will offer an "Update for Business" service

One of the most interesting tidbits to emerge from the Ignite conference so far has been Microsoft's announcement of its "Windows Update for Business" service. Terry Myerson himself, Microsoft's ...
May 01, 2015 01 May'15
New Build, New Name, Lots of Win10 Action

Whoa! Has it really only been two days since the last time I posted? It seems like a lot more time has gone by than that, but perhaps that's because I've been pounding away at Win10 issues over ...
April 29, 2015 29 Apr'15
Venue 11 Pro Upgrade to 10061 Succeeds without ISOs

Just for grins, I decided to re-try the Windows Update download for Windows 10 Build 10061 on my Dell Venue 11 Pro 7130 yesterday afternoon. The last two times I'd tried, I'd not sat in front of ...
April 27, 2015 27 Apr'15
Windows 10 security features may force hardware upgrades

Windows 10 security features include hardware-based application whitelisting and facial recognition technology. What could go wrong?
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April 27, 2015 27 Apr'15
Win10: Not a "Free Upgrade" But a "Marketing and Promotional Activity"

Although Microsoft has itself described its upcoming plans to provide a no-cost copy of Windows 10 to Windows 7, Windows 8.1 and Windows Phone 8.1 devices to those who move up in the first year ...
April 24, 2015 24 Apr'15
Batting .500 with Win10 Build 10061

If something happens once, it's impossible to tell if it's an anomaly or an expected behavior. Let it happen even one more time though, and a suspicion of pattern or predictability can't help but ...
April 22, 2015 22 Apr'15
Internet Access Issues Aren't Always What They Seem

Last week, my wife told me the Internet was running slowly, so of course I checked the Ookla Speed Test page to see what was what. When speeds in the usual range manifested, I assumed the problem ...
April 20, 2015 20 Apr'15
What a Late-July Win10 GA Might Mean

Lots of sources on the Web are reporting on a comment that Lisa Siu, CEO of AMD, let slip during the Q&A portion of a recent earnings call last Friday, which I reproduce here in its entirety: ...
April 17, 2015 17 Apr'15
Win10 to Incorporate Biometrics Boost thru Windows Hello

Back in mid-March, Joe Belfiore (VP of the OS Group at MS) posted about a new biometric authentication technology to Blogging Windows. It's called "Windows Hello" and although it has yet to make ...
April 14, 2015 14 Apr'15
Windows 10 features Cortana, holograms, automatic updates

Microsoft has taken the wraps off some Windows 10 features, including holographic technology, automatic -- and free -- updates, and more Cortana integration.
April 13, 2015 13 Apr'15
System Refresh Leaves Interesting Items Undone

In experimenting with a full system recovery recently on my Microsoft Surface Pro 3, I've been trying various methods to get from a current bad system state to a current good one. But while a ...
April 10, 2015 10 Apr'15
Problematic SP3 Drivers Identified

Over the past two weeks, I've been engaged in a part-time exercise to rebuild my Surface Pro 3 from a clean re-install of Windows 8.1 Update 1. This has proved to be an interesting exercise for ...
April 08, 2015 08 Apr'15
Interesting Benefits of Click-to-Run Office Installation

I've just recently rebuilt my Surface Pro 3 installation, and am still recovering from that aftermath. Upon discovering a link to "Click-to-Run" installation for MS Office Professional 2013 on my ...
April 06, 2015 06 Apr'15
Fixing 2 Win10 Build 10049 Gotchas

I've got two test machines upon which I'm running the latest Win10 build, namely 10049. In getting those machines up and running, I've found myself subject to 2 inadvertent gotchas along the way. ...
April 03, 2015 03 Apr'15
USB 3.1 Type-C Comes Closer to Your Desktop

"Why," you may be thinking as you read the title of this blog post, "would I care about a high-speed interface on my desktop when it's most likely to show up first and foremost on notebooks and ...
April 01, 2015 01 Apr'15
XP Holding Steady While Win8.* Versions Close In

Gadzooks! Has it really been 32 months since Windows 8 was unleashed on the world? Indeed it has, and supplanted even, with Windows 8.1 in February of 2014. But only now are Windows 8 versions ...
March 30, 2015 30 Mar'15
Restoring Surface Pro 3 Poses Interesting Challenges

In the wake of last week's firmware updates for the Surface Pro 3, released outside the usual "Update/Patch Tuesday" timeframe, I decided to upgrade the drivers on that machine as well. I shouldn't ...
March 27, 2015 27 Mar'15
Latest Surface Pro 3 Firmware Update Leads to Learning

When I saw through the various news outlets that Microsoft had released an out-of-band Firmware update for the Surface Pro 3, I knew it was probably worth jumping onto sooner rather than later. ...
March 25, 2015 25 Mar'15
Getting to Win10 Build 10041, Slowly but Surely

Last week, build 10041 for Windows 10 hit the fast ring for early adopters. Yesterday, it hit the slow ring for all adopters. I was able to upgrade my Windows 10 desktop without any issues during ...
March 23, 2015 23 Mar'15
Is It Me, or Is It IE?

In reading about a new version of and model for web browsing in Windows 10, I often find myself nodding along and thinking "'Bout time!" Over the past two years, I've been making a steady move away ...
March 18, 2015 18 Mar'15
All Pirates Forgiven in Upcoming Free Windows 10 Upgrade

A Reuters story from the WinHEC conference in China has got the Windows press and blog environment abuzz enough that it's being widely re-reported in most such outlets. In the story, Terry ...
March 17, 2015 17 Mar'15
New OS Compression in Windows 10

Over at Thurrott.com this morning, I found a simply fascinating story about a new version of "OS compression" that's making its debut in Windows 10. The ultimate source for this info is a March 16 ...
March 16, 2015 16 Mar'15
Windows Key Shortcuts in Win10

Thanks to a recent article at MakeUseOf.com I came across this weekend, I've been wondering if there isn't some master repository of keyboard shortcuts for the latest and soon-to-be-greatest ...
March 06, 2015 06 Mar'15
Removing Phantom Printers from Client PCs

I went to print a phone card for my wife this morning, and wound up lost for a while in the "Hall of Mirrors" section of the Windows OS. In this case, I knew I needed to print to the Dell color ...
March 02, 2015 02 Mar'15
Driver Cleanup Remains a Solid Disk Space Reclamation Tactic

Back in 2011, I blogged here about a program named DriverStore Explorer. Aka RAPR, this is a CodePlex project that when run in administrative mode enables users to see all drivers in the Windows ...
February 27, 2015 27 Feb'15
OK, I'll Bite into Start10 ... Now What?

Anybody who's read this blog for any length of time has witnessed me repeatedly and enthusiastically recommending Stardock's great product, Start8, as a Windows start menu add-in/replacement for ...
February 25, 2015 25 Feb'15
Dastardly Driver Download Delivers Browser Hijack(s)

This weekend, I installed a HighPoint RocketU 1144C on my production PC, in search of solutions to a USB 3 drive access problem. There's a PLX PCIe 8609 DMA controller on that board, apparently ...
February 23, 2015 23 Feb'15
Interesting Win10 Driver Problem on Dell Venue 11 Pro 7130

By and large, I've got to give Dell credit for a winning solution in their 11" Venue Pro tablet with detachable keyboard. It's on par, features and power-wise with equivalent Surface Pro 3 models ...
February 20, 2015 20 Feb'15
Clean (Re)Install Benefits from Driver Backup Utility

In reading over an interesting article on Ars Technica this morning, I realized that many online sources (including the otherwise redoubtable Ars) that describe how to reinstall Windows to ...
February 18, 2015 18 Feb'15
Don't Forget About RecImgMgr

Slimware Utilities is the company behind RecImg Manager, a program that can capture and restore modern-format Windows images. This is the same kind of image that Windows 8 or 10 uses, when you ...
February 17, 2015 17 Feb'15
Windows 10 adoption will follow smaller, quicker updates

Enterprise adoption of Windows 10 isn't likely to follow the same pattern as for Windows 7, and that's a good thing, writes columnist Brian Madden.
February 13, 2015 13 Feb'15
Puzzling Intel Chipset Situation

I've been a big fan of the Intel Driver Update Utility for years, especially since the company published the standalone program version (v2.0) in mid-2014. With the introduction of the 10.x.x.x ...
February 11, 2015 11 Feb'15
KB 3001652 Goes Bad on Update Tuesday

Oho! Yesterday was "Update Tuesday," the second Tuesday of the month. Tuning into Windows Update just after lunch I noticed a big batch of updates (38 on Windows 8.1 systems with MS Office 2013 ...
February 09, 2015 09 Feb'15
Windows 8.* Slowly Overtaking XP, 7 Still on TOP

Every now and then, I have to check in over at NetMarketShare.com, to see what's happening with the distribution of desktop OSes that the company detects on the Internet. This morning, I couldn't ...
February 06, 2015 06 Feb'15
Win10 Gets Smart About Paging Files

In working on a Windows 10 story for SearchEnterpriseDesktop this week, I came to an interesting realization. In Windows 10, MS has finally broken with tradition when it comes to sizing the paging ...
February 04, 2015 04 Feb'15
Universal Office apps for Win10 Now Up

Drat! It was with interest and curiosity that I jumped up to the Windows Store (beta) a few minutes ago, hoping to download and install the latest so-called "Universal Office apps for Windows 10" ...
February 03, 2015 03 Feb'15
Next Win Server Release Breaks Lockstep with Win10

Amidst the TechNet blogs let loose last weekend, this interesting little item from the Server & Cloud Blog let it be known that, for the first time since the Windows Vista era, the next release ...
January 22, 2015 22 Jan'15
Subduing the Wily and Recalcitrant Windows.edb in Win8.1

I am a great fan of checking in on my disks from time to time, especially my system/boot disk, which goes by C: on my system. The last time I fired up WinDirStat on my production system, my eyes ...
January 19, 2015 19 Jan'15
TechNet Solution Guide Addresses WinDeployment Best Practices

From the "better late than never" school of information sharing, I just found an October 2014 TechNet Solution Guide that many Windows administrators are likely to find captivating. It's entitled ...
January 17, 2015 17 Jan'15
Seismic Shift in Windows Punditsphere

Huh? What's a "Punditsphere?" Glad you asked! It's the group of industry insiders, experts, gurus, and gadabouts that attach themselves to specific technology platforms, tools, and operating ...
January 14, 2015 14 Jan'15
Windows 7 Now Off Mainstream Support

OK folks, here's a transition point for you to note. As of today, January 14, Windows 7 is no longer on mainstream support at Microsoft. Going forward, it will get no new functionality, no new ...
January 12, 2015 12 Jan'15
Dell Venue 11 Pro Shows Promise of Broadwell Tablets

About two months ago, I purchased a Dell Venue 11 Pro model 7130, when I read that it featured a Broadwell "M" class CPU in a compact 11" format. By the time all was said and done I spent around ...
January 10, 2015 10 Jan'15
Update Tuesday: Evolving from Advance Notification to myBulletins

For the past year or so, Patch Tuesday has been remonikered Update Tuesday. In a blog post from the Microsoft Security Response Center on Thursday, January 8, Chris Betz discussed the topic of ...
January 05, 2015 05 Jan'15
CES Is On: Hope the Hype Hits!

Now that the holidays are behind us, and the New Year is unrolling before is, it's time for that annual technology extravaganza known as the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), still one of the ...
January 02, 2015 02 Jan'15
Yes, Virginia: Windows *DOES* Defrag SSDs (Sometimes)

Two persistent myths that attach to SSDs running under "modern" Windows OSes (version 7 and higher) are as follows: (a) defragging such disks is a bad idea (b) Windows doesn't defrag such disks by ...
July 22, 2014 22 Jul'14
Microsoft talks up services, mum on Windows strategy

Microsoft has acknowledged that users aren't just tied to desktop OSes, shifting its focus to Office 365 and DaaS rather than its Windows strategy.
April 01, 2014 01 Apr'14
Why was the Windows XP lifespan so long?

There are many reasons why the Windows XP lifespan lasted longer than those of most operating systems. Our columnist looks at three major reasons.
February 12, 2014 12 Feb'14
Microsoft's cloud initiative, streamlined transition gives hope

Microsoft's cloud transformation to a mobile and services company may be exciting, but can it retain its bread-and-butter enterprise IT customers?
February 12, 2014 12 Feb'14
Microsoft mobile, cloud strategy hold key to transforming its future

Microsoft is undergoing a transformation to focus on mobile and the cloud, but will the industry continue to stick with the software giant?
October 22, 2013 22 Oct'13
Mobile workstations deliver high-end computing power -- for a price

Mobile workstations from Dell, Toshiba and HP pack plenty of computing power and weigh less than their predecessors, but prices may limit adoption.
September 20, 2013 20 Sep'13
Ballmer confesses Microsoft mobile device missteps in final financial call

Departing CEO Steve Ballmer admits that Microsoft missed a huge opportunity to be competitive in the now lavishly successful mobile device market.
August 19, 2013 19 Aug'13
"Run as Administrator" Adds to WinDirStat File Visibility

I've written repeatedly about a great, free SourceForge utility called WinDirStat for this blog over the years. But just this morning, I learned something about the program I didn't know -- namely ...
July 29, 2013 29 Jul'13
Lines between tablets, notebooks and ultra-mobile PCs blur

How does a tablet differ from a notebook or an ultra-mobile PC? Here's how to determine which is which.
June 11, 2013 11 Jun'13
In mobile device era, Hewlett-Packard recommits to PCs at HP Discover

IT pros are encouraged by Hewlett Packard's new support services plan for PCs, but would like to see mobile devices from the company.
April 05, 2013 05 Apr'13
Is a subscription for Microsoft Office 365 ProPlus too much change?

To guarantee its revenue stream, Microsoft must convince businesses that subscribing to Microsoft Office 365 ProPlus is worth the monthly cost.
March 28, 2013 28 Mar'13
Microsoft hints at Windows Blue agenda, speeds Windows updates

Microsoft finally acknowledges Windows Blue, but is not forthcoming with details on the initiative's operating system updates.
May 27, 2012 27 May'12
Dealing with the "Bezel Issue" and Windows 8

Almost any of the touchscreens you might buy today (especially those offered at more reasonable prices) will have bezels around the edge. By definition, a bezel forms a raised edge around the ...
October 21, 2011 21 Oct'11
Turn off Random IPv6 Address Generation in Windows 7

If you read this blog regularly, you already know that a team of authors -- including Jeff Carrell (the lead), James Pyles, Tom Lancaster, Mark Mirrotto, and myself -- are reworking a college ...
September 19, 2011 19 Sep'11
The Real Secret Behind SLAT and Hyper-V for Windows 8

So now that I've been introduced to Second Level Address Translation (SLAT) as a requirement for Hyper-V on the upcoming release of Windows 8 (see my recent blog on this discovery at edtittel.com: ...
July 27, 2011 27 Jul'11
Auto-Update for KB2310138 Spreads Consternation for MSE Users

OK, so if you're running Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE) installed then you must figure out what to do with an update that Microsoft pushed yesterday in its increasingly typical "2nd Patch ...
March 22, 2011 22 Mar'11
Microsoft sweetens MDOP deal and releases Intune

Windows Intune, Microsoft's cloud-based desktop management console is ready, and an MDOP 2011 update is due this year which will be offered to a wider customer base.
October 19, 2010 19 Oct'10
Creating an IT admin's PowerShell toolbox

The PowerShell scripting tool in Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 should be the staple of any IT administrator's toolbox. Learn how it can help you.
June 22, 2010 22 Jun'10
"Please Wait" Can Mean "Wait Forever..."

According to MS KB Article 983551 (6/10/2010; Rev: 2.0) some computers running Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008 R2 can freeze at the "Please wait" display that precedes appearance of the desktop on ...
May 12, 2010 12 May'10
Beware the TDSS Rootkit Removal Tool!!!

In the latest (May 2010) issue of Virus Bulletin, I read Alisa Shevchencko's story "TDSS Infections - Quarterly Report" with some interest and a lively appreciation of the TDSS rootkit malware and ...
April 13, 2010 13 Apr'10
Google makes Docs more like Microsoft Office

Google Docs is getting better in some ways, but in other ways, Office still rules. Collaboration features remain strong, but Office 2010 is just around the corner.
February 21, 2010 21 Feb'10
Making SSDs Work on Windows 7

By now, everybody's aware of the speed and power consumption or battery life benefits that solid state drives (SSDs) can confer on desktop and notebook PCs, respectively — at least, for those ...
February 02, 2010 02 Feb'10
Enterprises hold onto Microsoft Office despite Google Apps option

Google Apps is making headway over Microsoft Office in startups and SMBs. But inside enterprises? Not so much.
September 14, 2009 14 Sep'09
Eight is too many characters for strong passwords

Passwords that are eight characters long are easily cracked. Learn how a seven-character complex password can provide better security, and passphrases can be stronger still.
April 28, 2009 28 Apr'09
Microsoft wraps Office SP2 with better doc support

Microsoft Office 2007 service pack 2, which is ready for download, supports an expansive list of document formats.
February 21, 2006 21 Feb'06
Learning Guide: End-user education

With changes occurring so frequently in the computer world, especially the world of computer security, it is difficult for anybody outside of the IT industry to keep up with all of the latest security information that they need. That's where the ...
August 03, 2005 03 Aug'05
Rootkit battle: Rootkit Revealer vs. Hacker Defender

Although rootkits have been threatening various platforms for years, only recently did a major battle develop between the rootkit creators and eradicators: Holy Father's Hacker Defender vs. Sysinternals' Rootkit Revealer. Microsoft's Kurt Dillard ...
May 08, 2005 08 May'05
What are user-mode vs. kernel-mode rootkits?

All modes of rootkits are difficult to detect, but one type is preferred by hackers over another. Read about different rootkits in this tip.
December 21, 2004 21 Dec'04
Definition of Microsoft patches

Find out what types of new code introductions are included in Microsoft patch management in this book excerpt from Chapter 1 of "The complete patch management book."
October 22, 2004 22 Oct'04
Close all unused ports

This excerpt from "The administrator shortcut guide to patch management" describes how to restrict traffic by only allowing it through certain firewall ports.

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