Browse step-by-step how-to guides covering Windows, Windows Server, networking, and virtualization. These tutorials are designed for IT professionals, system administrators, and home lab users looking for practical solutions and clear instructions.
BitLocker is Windows’ built-in drive encryption tool that protects data on laptops and desktops from unauthorised access. This guide covers how to enable and manage BitLocker on Windows 10 and Windows 11 via the GUI, PowerShell and Group Policy for enterprise environments in 2026. Prerequisites Windows 10 Pro, Enterprise or Education — BitLocker is not … Read more
Free alternatives to Microsoft Office have improved dramatically in recent years. Whether you need a word processor, spreadsheet tool or presentation software, there are excellent free options that handle most Office file formats and are suitable for home users, students and small businesses. Here are the best free Microsoft Office alternatives in 2026. 1. LibreOffice … Read more
SCCM hardware inventory collects detailed information about hardware components across all managed devices — CPU, RAM, disk, graphics card, BIOS version and more. This guide covers how to extend the default hardware inventory with custom WMI classes and how to create custom inventory reports in 2026. Understanding SCCM Hardware Inventory SCCM hardware inventory uses WMI … Read more
Google Chrome can slow down over time due to too many extensions, excessive cached data, too many open tabs and background processes. This guide covers the most effective ways to speed up Google Chrome in 2026 — without reinstalling it. 1. Remove Unused Extensions Extensions are the biggest cause of Chrome slowdown. Each extension runs … Read more
Windows 11 has comprehensive parental controls built in through Microsoft Family Safety, allowing parents to manage screen time, set content filters, approve app purchases and track their child’s location. This guide covers how to set up parental controls in Windows 11 in 2026 — both the built-in Microsoft options and third-party alternatives. Set Up Microsoft … Read more
Windows Firewall with Advanced Security is a powerful built-in firewall that can be managed centrally across your entire organisation via Group Policy. This guide covers how to configure Windows Firewall rules via Group Policy in 2026 — including creating inbound and outbound rules, blocking applications and deploying rules to domain-joined machines. Open Windows Firewall Group … Read more
A Raspberry Pi makes an excellent low-cost, low-power network monitor that runs 24/7 without significantly affecting your electricity bill. Using free tools like Pi-hole, Nagios, Zabbix or ntopng, you can monitor network traffic, detect devices, track bandwidth usage and get alerts when services go down. This guide covers how to set up a Raspberry Pi … Read more
WSUS (Windows Server Update Services) allows IT administrators to manage and approve Windows updates centrally, controlling exactly which updates are deployed to which machines and when. This guide covers how to install and configure WSUS on Windows Server 2019 and 2022 in 2026. Prerequisites Step 1 — Install the WSUS Role Step 2 — Run … Read more
Using the same password across multiple sites is one of the biggest security risks you can take online. A password manager generates, stores and auto-fills strong unique passwords for every site — and the best ones are completely free. Here are the best free password managers in 2026, tested and ranked. 1. Bitwarden — Best … Read more
Stale computer accounts accumulate in every Active Directory environment over time — decommissioned PCs, laptops that have left the business and VMs that no longer exist. Cleaning them up improves security, reduces noise in reports and keeps your AD organised. This guide covers how to find and remove stale computer accounts using PowerShell in 2026. … Read more
Many older applications and Windows features require .NET Framework 3.5, which is not installed by default on Windows 10, Windows 11 and Windows Server. This guide covers how to install and enable .NET Framework 3.5 and 4 using PowerShell, DISM and SCCM in 2026. Check Which .NET Versions Are Installed Install .NET 3.5 Online (Internet … Read more
When SCCM deploys software updates or applications that require a reboot, it can force a restart at inconvenient times. This guide covers how to delay, cancel or suppress the SCCM client reboot using PowerShell in 2026. Check if a Reboot is Pending Cancel a Pending SCCM Reboot Clear Reboot on Multiple Machines Remotely Suppress Reboots … Read more