Like a flu shot, I choose to get this out of the way as soon as possible if installing a stand-alone system not on a domain, just in case there are issues with activation I need time to resolve. In fact, you might say it can nag you quite a bit, especially as the 30-day deadline approaches. Like a cat at dinnertime, Windows is very good about notifying you when it needs to be activated. This is one of the best messages to come across on a Windows system: Some systems are behind firewalls and not provided access to the internet, or may use a centralized patch management solution such as SCCM, so in this case I'll trigger a rollout of all patches to this new system and complete the necessary cycle of reboots so it's fully up-to-date. Other hardware manufacturers offer similar options. Dell, for instance, has a great set of tools on their support website which can automatically detect which drivers your system needs then download and apply them for you. This is easier these days than the wild goose chases of the past since vendors are helping out. Microsoft does provide certain drivers via Windows Update, but I prefer to go straight to the source since those are likely the newest and most appropriate drivers. My next task is to install the latest drivers and Windows Updates for this system. Open Windows Explorer, click View, go to Options then click the View tab.Įverything is laid out and easily identifiable, facilitating system management. You can turn off the options to hide these files or extensions via these steps: Since the purpose of being a system administrator often involves working with these hidden files to resolve problems, it's essential to be able to find them (it's also frustrating to have to set them to be displayed when you're trying to solve an urgent problem).Īnother element I personally find annoying is when Windows doesn't show file extensions for known file types, since this can lead to confusion is this a Powershell script, text file, batch file or something else? Yes, the "Type" column lists a description of the file, but I'd rather see the extension for myself. By default, Windows hides certain files such as system files, subdirectories in user profile folders and other elements which would wreak havoc if accidentally deleted. I go against Microsoft's grain in a couple of areas. There are ways to reset administrator passwords - my favorite is to use Hiren's Boot CD to do so (in fact, the large number of possible ways to do this should reinforce why you should physically secure systems to keep them from falling in the wrong hands) but this can be complicated and time-consuming, and in some situations if your boot volume is encrypted you may be out of luck. Of course, they also then have to change all these passwords for security reasons, but that's a different tale. If I leave the company, they retain access to these passwords. They're all stored in a shared password safe called KeePass which my fellow admins and I rely on. I use different administrator passwords on different systems (after all, like dominoes falling, if one administrator password is compromised all systems become accessible). It's a small step, but I can't stress the importance of this enough. Windows 11: Tips on installation, security and more (free PDF).If you're not using a kanban board, you're not as productive as you could be.It's time to dump Chrome as your default browser on Android.Note: screenshots taken on a Windows Server 2012 R2 system, but the steps should be comparable for other recent versions of Windows. I'll also skip steps like manipulating the page file, defragmenting the operating system or installing a registry health check/cleaner since these are largely things of the past thanks to improvements in Windows. Obviously tasks like setting up the initial account, joining the domain and getting online are a no-brainer so I'll skip past these and assume the hypothetical system in question has just booted up and been logged in. Many will also apply to home computers, not just those used in a business environment. A few of my recommendations involve personal preferences - which of course will vary depending on the administrator involved - but in those cases I outline my reasoning behind these preferences. Some of these steps involve making my life easier so I can work more efficiently, and others involve reducing some pet peeves over which Microsoft and I butt heads. However, there are a few things I always make sure to check off when I set up a new Windows environment in a business environment. Built-in drivers, ready-for-use applications, and a standardized Start Menu mean less devils in the details. Whether you're installing a workstation or a server, the Windows operating system is designed to get you up and running as quickly as possible.
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