Michael Reinders

Windows Update errors are frustrating. I don’t want to use hyperbole, but I have suffered from Windows Update errors for decades. I remember when Windows ME created a slightly newer Windows Update UI/UX, and it was rough. Why Windows Update errors need a methodical troubleshooting approach The main concern is that the visible code rarely…

Diskpart is a powerful command-line utility in Windows that allows users to manage their hard drive, disks, partitions, and volumes with precision and control. This article covers key commands, syntax, and best practices to help you manage your storage devices effectively on any version of Windows. How to access Diskpart Diskpart is accessed from the…

Group Policy WMI Filtering is a powerful feature that allows administrators to apply Group Policy Objects (GPOs) and Group Policy preferences based on specific attributes of target computers, servers, and users. By leveraging Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) queries, IT professionals can create highly targeted and dynamic GPOs that respond to the unique needs of their…

In this post, I will demonstrate how to perform an in-place upgrade to Windows Server 2025 from one of your existing Windows Servers. Reminder: Microsoft fully supports in-place upgrades to Windows Server 2025 from Windows Server 2012 R2 and later versions. In this article, I’ll show you how to perform the upgrade from the command…

Active Directory groups are essential tools for managing and organizing users, computers, and other resources within a Windows domain. This article will provide an in-depth exploration of Active Directory (AD) groups, including their types, purposes, and best management practices. Whether you’re a seasoned IT professional or just beginning your journey with Active Directory, this guide…

This guide aims to help you understand how to navigate and use the Windows Local Group Policy Editor (LGPE) to enhance your Windows desktop environment’s security, performance, and usability. What is the Local Group Policy Editor? The Windows Local Group Policy Editor is a Microsoft Management Console (MMC) snap-in that allows you to manage and…

Hotpatching is a powerful feature in Windows Server 2025 that allows administrators to apply security updates and patches without requiring a system reboot, minimizing downtime and ensuring continuous operation. This article provides an overview of how to enable Windows Server 2025 Hotpatching. We’ll cover prerequisites, step-by-step instructions, best practices, and troubleshooting tips. What is Windows…

This week, Microsoft re-released the November 2024 Exchange Server security updates, now known as November 2024 SUv2. The first release didn’t go so well. The original updates, which went out on November 12, 2024, caused issues with data loss prevention (DLP) rules and transport rules, leading to disruptions in on-premises email flow. You can find…

Microsoft has been accused of using customer data from its Microsoft 365 applications, including Word and Excel, to train its AI models. The controversy arose from the “Connected Experiences” feature, enabled by default in Office apps and allows for Internet-based functionalities like document co-authoring. Critics argue that this feature could be used to scrape user…

Back in June 2024, Microsoft announced the new ‘Copilot+’ PC specification and device type. They also gave a demonstration of Windows Recall, a controversial new feature that takes periodic snapshots of your computer screen, capturing what you’re doing, so you can ‘go back in time’ and remember that website you were doing research on, or…

This week at the Ignite 2024, Microsoft announced many new features coming to the company’s web browser, Edge for Business. Because today’s work environment looks very different from just a few years ago, Microsoft continues to adapt to the new hybrid landscape and offer more security-focused features to keep your organization safe and protected. Cybersecurity…

At their Ignite 2024 tech conference this week, Microsoft announced a restructuring of sorts for Windows Server Management features and SKUs and brought them under Azure Arc. They are advertising the features as a ‘free add-on’ bundle for companies utilizing Windows Server Pay as you Go, or active Software Assurance (SA) agreements. This is why…