Category: Microsoft

How to Audit Microsoft Defender Antivirus Exclusions with PowerShell and Identify Their Source 1

How to Audit Microsoft Defender Antivirus Exclusions with PowerShell and Identify Their Source

Microsoft Defender Antivirus is a cornerstone of endpoint protection, but exclusions—whether for performance, compatibility, or policy reasons—can introduce risk if not properly managed. As IT admins, we need visibility not just into what exclusions exist, but where they originate: local policy, Group Policy (GPO), Microsoft Endpoint Manager (Intune), or Configuration Manager (SCCM). In this post,
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Manually Installing a Monthly Windows Update on Windows Server

Manually Installing a Monthly Windows Update on Windows Server

Overview In some cases, Windows Updates may fail to install via Windows Update or SCCM Software Center. This document provides a step-by-step guide to manually installing a monthly cumulative update (CU) by extracting and installing the relevant CAB files using DISM (Deployment Image Servicing and Management Tool). Prerequisites Step 1: Download the Windows Update Package
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How to Fix Windows Update Errors

How to Fix Windows Update Errors (Step-by-Step Guide)

Common Windows Update Errors Solution 1: Run the Windows Update Troubleshooter Solution 2: Clear Windows Update Cache Solution 3: Use the System File Checker (SFC) and DISM Commands Open Command Prompt as Administrator and run the following commands: If the issue persists, run these commands: Solution 4: Reset Windows Update Components Run the following commands
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How to Reinstall .NET Framework on Windows Server 2022

How to Reinstall .NET Framework on Windows Server 2022

If you’ve accidentally removed the .NET Framework feature from your Windows Server 2022 and need to reinstall it, follow these steps to get it back up and running. Step 1: Download the Installation Media Step 2: Install .NET Framework Using DISM Step 3: Verify Installation Step 4: Install .NET Framework 4.0 (If Required) If you
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How to Reset Windows Update Group Policy Settings 2

How to Reset Windows Update Group Policy Settings

If you’re transitioning away from Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) or need to troubleshoot Windows Update issues, resetting the Windows Update Group Policy Object (GPO) settings can be essential. Often, corruption in registry permissions can prevent expected changes from taking effect. This guide will walk you through the process of resetting these settings by removing
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Transfer FSMO roles to a new Server

Transfer FSMO roles to a new Server

In this post, we’re continuing our series of YouTube video guides. We recently came across a detailed and well-made guide that explains exactly how to transfer FSMO (Flexible Single Master Operations) roles to a new server. This process is essential for maintaining your Active Directory setup and ensuring smooth server management. We’ve found this guide
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How to Extend Virtual Hard Drive with a Recovery Partition in the Way 3

How to Extend Virtual Hard Drive with a Recovery Partition in the Way

When trying to extend virtual hard drive, you might encounter an issue where the recovery partition is situated between the main partition and the unallocated space. Below is an example of this happening: This guide walks you through the process of safely removing the recovery partition, extending the main partition, and optionally recreating the recovery
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PowerShell Script to Browse and Export Active Directory Security Groups

PowerShell Script to Browse and Export Active Directory Security Groups

Managing Active Directory (AD) security groups is a core task for administrators. This PowerShell script provides a user-friendly way to browse AD security groups, display additional options, and export group details to a file. Before using the script, make sure you have the necessary prerequisites in place. Prerequisites To successfully run this script, ensure the
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Export Active Directory User Information to CSV Using PowerShell

Export Active Directory User Information to CSV Using PowerShell

Introduction For administrators working with Active Directory, exporting user information to a CSV file can be a powerful way to gather and analyze data. Using PowerShell, you can perform an LDAP search to retrieve details such as usernames, email addresses, last logon times, and more. Here’s a PowerShell script that defines a search filter, specifies
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Use Microsoft Word Shortcut Keys

Essential Microsoft Word Shortcut Keys for Speed and Efficiency

Introduction Mastering Microsoft Word’s keyboard shortcuts can save you tons of time and make your workflow smoother. Here’s a comprehensive list of the most useful shortcut keys for quickly performing actions in Word. From simple text formatting to navigation and font adjustments, these shortcuts will help you work faster and more efficiently. MS Word Shortcut
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