Windows

The Easiest Guide to Installing and Managing the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL)

by

The Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) is a powerful addition to Windows 10 and Windows 11. It allows you to run a full Linux distribution without the hassle of a traditional VM setup. For a lot of development tasks, it’s (almost) as good as running on bare metal.

There are two versions of WSL, there’s WSL 1 which is the classic mode most people are used to, and WSL 2 which offers a host of advancements but is more in line with traditional virtualization without the same shortcomings (it leverages Hyper-V and a full Linux kernel).… Read the rest

Fixing Common Patching Issues on Windows 10 (Server 2016, 2019, etc.)

by

Windows patching tends to be synonymous with disaster when measured at scale. If you work in IT, you’ve seen what happens when a patch isn’t thoroughly tested before deployment. You might push your schedule back a week or two to audit patches, or you might use a small test environment, but even with all of these measures, Windows 10 (and server derivatives) tends to have more than its fair share of patches which break things and have unintended side effects.… Read the rest

Best Scripting Languages for Windows Automation

by

Windows has multiple options for scripting languages, but some are better suited than others for widespread administration. This article looks to cover the most accessible options as well as their specific use cases and any caveats. I am focusing on what can be used in order to administer Windows machines, ideally remotely via an RMM tool or other remote access. This article will cover what languages are most widely available as well as the pros and cons of each.… Read the rest

Fixing Common Windows Update and Patch Issues

by

One thing I get asked about a lot in my job is how to fix some of the more common Windows patching issues. The vast majority of Windows patching issues can be resolved relatively easily with just a few steps. This article covers the most common steps which are mostly nondestructive (unless the OS is entirely hosed at least). This article looks to cover the process which I have found fixes a good number of issues consistently as well as detailing a few further steps if this doesn’t work.… Read the rest

Using DISM and SFC to Fix Windows Issues

by

DISM and SFC are both tools built into modern Windows systems which can be used to fix a large number of issues. This article is only going to cover some of the basics for DISM, so keep that in mind. The features we are going to cover with DISM are only included on Windows 8 and newer. SFC has been around forever pretty much, but still remains useful for newer Windows builds because of the constant upgrades it has received.… Read the rest