New Windows laptops arriving full of preinstalled trialware, OEM utilities, games and marketing apps is still one of the fastest ways to turn a promising new machine into a sluggish, cluttered experience — and the cure is simple in concept: remove what you don’t need, stop what you don’t want...
Windows 11’s Reserved Storage can feel like a hidden tax on small SSDs: useful for smooth updates, but frustrating when every gigabyte counts — and there are safe, supported ways to temporarily turn it off, reclaim space, and put it back when you’re done.
Background
Reserved Storage is an...
Automatically Map Network Drives at Login with Stored Credentials (Task Scheduler + PowerShell)
Difficulty: Intermediate | Time Required: 20 minutes
Introduction
Mapping network drives automatically at login is a common need for sysadmins and power users. This tutorial shows a secure, repeatable...
If you launch the same commands every time you open a PowerShell session, a properly crafted PowerShell profile will save time, reduce repetitive errors, and make your shell feel tailored to the way you work.
Background / Overview
PowerShell’s profile is nothing more than a PowerShell script...
Microsoft’s May 13, 2025 hotpatch for Windows PowerShell, released as KB5061096, is a narrowly scoped security update aimed at reducing immediate exposure for hotpatch‑eligible systems while preserving uptime for high‑availability deployments; it applies only to devices enrolled in Microsoft’s...
CISA’s release of a Malware Analysis Report (MAR) detailing a Malicious Listener discovered on compromised Ivanti Endpoint Manager Mobile (EPMM) systems should reset priorities for every IT team that runs on-premises mobile device management (MDM). The analysis dissects two sets of malware...
Windows Server 2019 ships with Remote Desktop (RDP) capability turned off by default for safety; enabling it is simple but needs care. This feature piece walks through three reliable methods to enable Remote Desktop on Windows Server 2019 — PowerShell, Server Manager GUI, and the System...
Enable Controlled Folder Access & Whitelist Apps to Protect Against Ransomware (Win10/11)
Difficulty: Intermediate | Time Required: 15 minutes
Introduction
Ransomware encrypts or locks your files and demands payment to restore them. Controlled Folder Access (CFA) is a built‑in Windows Defender...
add protected folder
block history
controlled folder access
enterprise cfa management
get-mppreference
group policy cfa
microsoft defender
powershell
protected folders
ransomware protection
real-time protection
set-mppreference
whitelist apps
windows 10 cfa
windows 11 cfa
windows security
Microsoft is preparing to push the Microsoft 365 Copilot app onto a huge swath of Windows PCs this fall, automatically installing a centralized Copilot entry point on devices that already have Microsoft 365 desktop apps — a change that promises easier discovery of AI features but also raises...
app locker
applocker
auto install
copilot
copilot app
data governance
deployment
eea
enterprise it
fall 2025
group policy
it admin
microsoft 365
microsoft 365 copilot
powershellpowershell removal
privacy
tenant opt-out
Windows’ built‑in protection is usually a silent, helpful bodyguard — but when Microsoft Defender (Windows Security) quarantines or removes a file you know is safe, it can suddenly become a workflow blocker. This guide explains why Defender removes files, how to safely prevent automatic...
endpoint security
enterprise it
exclusions
false positives
file exclusion
folder exclusion
malware protection
mpcmdrun
powershell
process exclusion
protection history
quarantine
recycle bin
restore quarantined files
signed binaries
storage sense
tamper protection
virus total
windows defender
windows security
Windows 10 gives you more ways than ever to inspect the hardware and software under the hood — from the quick, user-friendly Settings > About panel to deep, exportable inventories created by System Information (msinfo32), dxdiag, PowerShell, and classic command-line tools — and knowing which...
On a busy Windows 10 PC, a quick look at the right place can answer almost every question about what’s under the hood — from CPU and RAM to firmware, GPU details, and even driver versions — and Windows 10 gives you several built-in ways to reveal that information. This guide walks through every...
Windows 11 gives you more than one way to open the Settings app — and knowing the right method for the moment can save minutes or avert a full restart when you’re troubleshooting. The platform exposes the app everywhere: Start, Taskbar, Quick Settings, File Explorer, Run and command-line tools...
accessibility
automation
command prompt
deep linking
enterprise
file explorer
it pros
keyboard shortcuts
ms-settings
powershell
quick settings
run dialog
settings app
start menu
task manager
taskbar
troubleshooting
uri schemes
windows 11
windows+i
Starting in early October and finishing around mid‑November 2025, Microsoft will quietly push the Microsoft 365 Copilot app to many Windows PCs that already have Microsoft 365 desktop apps installed — downloading and installing the app in the background, adding an icon to the Start menu, and...
How to associate (and manage) devices for the Movies & TV (Films & TV) app on Windows
A practical, forum-ready guide for WindowsForum.com — what the official docs say, what changed recently, and step‑by‑step workflows and troubleshooting to keep your movie library working across your PCs and...
account management
appx
device association
dism
download devices
films & tv
five device limit
microsoft account
microsoft store
movies & tv
movies anywhere
offline viewing
powershell
sfc
uwp
windows
windows troubleshooting
windowsapps
xbox
zunevideo
Microsoft’s official guidance for the Movies & TV app clarifies how device association works, how to view the devices tied to your account, and how to remove a device when you reach capacity — but it also reveals practical limits and policy quirks that every Windows user who buys or downloads...
account management
appx
cross service sync
device association
digital rights
dism
download devices
download limit
drm
films & tv
five device limit
five devices
license management
microsoft account
microsoft store
microsoft support
movies & tv
movies and tv
movies and tv app
movies anywhere
offline downloads
offline viewing
powershell
removal cadence
sfc
store closure
troubleshooting
uwp
windows
windows troubleshooting
windowsapps
xbox
zunevideo
Microsoft will begin installing the Microsoft 365 Copilot app automatically on Windows devices that already have the Microsoft 365 desktop apps, a background rollout that starts this fall and is expected to reach completion by mid‑November — but it won’t happen for devices in the European...
admin center
admin controls
ai in productivity
applocker
auto-install
autoinstall
automatic installation
automation
background install
background installation
copilot
copilot app
copilot app rollout
copilot rollout
data governance
data privacy
data residency
deployment
device configuration
device management
eea
eea carve-out
eea exclusion
end user
endpoint management
enterprise it
enterprise rollout
european economic area
fall 2025
fall 2025 rollout
gdpr
group policy
helpdesk
helpdesk planning
integrated apps
intune
it admin
it administration
it governance
licensing
licensing gating
microsoft 365
microsoft 365 apps admin center
microsoft 365 copilot
microsoft learn
modern app settings
office apps
onboarding discovery
opt out
opt-out
policy controls
powershellpowershell uninstall
privacy
privacy compliance
privacy telemetry
productivity tools
registry
regulatory compliance
remote provisioning
rollout
security
security and compliance
srp
start menu
telemetry
tenant opt-out
turnoffwindowscopilot
user adoption
user experience
user training
windows
windows 10 11
windows 10/11
windows copilot
windows deployment
windows management
windows update
Create Custom Power Plans & Use powercfg to Improve Battery Life and Performance (Win10/11)
Difficulty: Intermediate | Time Required: 20 minutes
This guide walks you through creating tailored power plans and using the built-in powercfg command-line tool to tune battery life and performance on...
advanced power settings
battery life
battery report
command line
control panel
display timeout
energy report
hibernate timeout
pci express power management
plan export
plan import
power options
power plans
powercfg
powershell
processor state
sleep timeout
windows 10
windows 11
wireless power saving
Microsoft has released KB5066360, a targeted hotpatch for Windows PowerShell that addresses PowerShell Direct (PSDirect) connectivity failures and a narrow host‑to‑guest exposure introduced by the September 2025 security/hotpatch cycle; the package updates PowerShell assemblies to OS Build...
Microsoft has released KB5066360, a targeted hotpatch for Windows PowerShell that corrects an interoperability and security regression affecting PowerShell Direct (PSDirect) when host and guest virtual machines are unevenly patched; the update is a no-restart hotpatch for eligible systems and...