Microsoft will hold its annual technology Build event from May 24 to May 26, 2022. Registration is free; more information is available at the event FAQ page.
Category Archives: Windows
Apple Mac keyboard shortcuts
The Apple MacOS user guide has a complete list of Mac keyboard shortcuts. The online manual also has a conversion chart of Microsoft Windows terms and their Mac equivalents.
SystemRescue operating system for computer repairs
SystemRescue is a Linux operating system designed to repair Windows and Linux computers. It can be downloaded and started from a CD/DVD drive or USB drive. More information is available in the Quick Start guide and online documentation.
Find a Microsoft Windows product key
A valid Microsoft Windows product key is required to reinstall Windows if the hard drive has to be replaced.
This key can be found for some PCs with OEM Windows licenses by opening a Command Prompt (right-click and select “Run as Administrator”).
At the command prompt, type:
wmic path SoftwareLicensingService get OA3xOriginalProductKey
Microsoft releases Windows 11 SE operating system
Microsoft has released Windows 11 SE, a new operating system specifically optimized for low-cost computers for students and schools. More information about this new OS is available at the FAQ page.
Microsoft Office 2021 and Windows 11 available October 5th 2021
Microsoft is set to release the desktop version of Office 2021 as well as Windows 11 on October 5, 2021. The list of new features includes new Excel functions and support for OpenDocument format (ODF) 1.3 (file extensions .odt, .ods, and .odp).
A list of the differences between Microsoft 365 and Office 2021 may be found here.
Windows 365 Cloud PC now available from Microsoft
Microsoft released Windows 365, a cloud-based PC service that runs Windows 10 or Windows 11, on August 2, 2021. This new service is based on Azure Virtual Desktop. More information is available at these links:
- Windows 365 Home page
- Windows 365 FAQ (Frequently asked questions)
- Wndows 365 Pricing
- Windows 365 User Dashboard
- Microsoft 365 Admin Center
- Windows 365 Configuration
- Microsoft 365 Admin Center Documentation and Setup
- #Windows365
CISA announces Joint Cyber Defense Collaborative (JCDC) with tech companies
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) announced the standup of the Joint Cyber Defense Collaborative (JCDC). This will be a cyber defense collaboration with major technology companies such as Amazon, Google, Microsoft, Verizon, etc. More information is available at www.cisa.gov/jcdc.
PrintNightmare security issue resolved with latest Microsoft Windows update
PrintNightmare (CVE-2021-34527 and CVE-2021-36947) is a security vulnerability connected with the Print Spooler service in Windows 10 and Windows Server. This should be corrected by installing the currently available July 2021 Windows Update.
Microsoft announces upcoming release of Windows 11
Microsoft announced the upcoming release of Windows 11 on June 24, 2021. Windows 11 is set to be released on October 5, 2021.
Some of the changes include changes to the Microsoft Store and apps, as well as a new partnership with Amazon to bring their catalog of Android apps and games to Windows users.
Windows 11 will be available as an update to existing Windows 10 devices that meet its specifications. Windows 11 requires a Trusted Platform Module (TPM 2.0) chip. Minimum hardware and Processor requirements for Windows 11 and other versions are also available. These requirements apply to physical PCs and Virtual Machines (VMs). Users can run a PC Health Check app to see if their current PC is compatible to run Windows 11.
If Windows 11 is installed on devices that do not meet these requirements, security updates may not be available, and kernel mode crashes may occur more often.
Microsoft will end support for Windows 10 Home and Pro on October 14, 2025.
More information can be found at microsoft.com/en-us/windows/windows-11.