Windows 11 Compatibility for Businesses
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Windows 11 Compatibility for Businesses

As a first step in your jorney to Windows 11, you’ll need to know which of your current devices meet the Windows 11 hardware requirements. Most devices purchased in the last 18-24 months will be compatible with Windows 11. Verify that your device meets or exceeds Windows 11 requirements to ensure it’s compatible. Microsoft released the PC…

Windows 365 Cloud PC
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Windows 365 Cloud PC

On June 24, 2021 Microsoft announced WIndows 11. Last week during their Partner conference, Ignite, Microsoft announced Windows 365. It will be launched on August 2, 2021. Securely stream your Windows experience—including your personalized apps, content, and settings—from the Microsoft cloud to any device with your Windows 365 Cloud PC. Windows 365 is a cloud…

Windows 11 is here
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Windows 11 is here

Update 7/10/2021 Minimum hardware requirements further explained – A challenge for many! To run Windows 11, devices must have an Intel Core processor from at least 2017, or AMD Zen 2 processors from 2019 onward. Video of installation on a Hyper-V virtual Machine (my own test) Microsoft releases second public review – with ONLY minor…

Windows Autopilot Deployment Workflows
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Windows Autopilot Deployment Workflows

Two posters that clearly describe the Windows Autopilot process based on New Device and Existing Device scenarios. Full versions can be found at: Window Autopilot Process (New Devices) Windows Autopilot Process ( Exsiting devices with SCCM) I am very happy to see these published by Microsoft! .,]]Thank you Autopilot team! They were much needed.

Windows Activation Evolution
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Windows Activation Evolution

As organizations deploy Windows 10 Pro and Windows 10 Enterprise with Modern Device Management the processes for activating Windows 10 are changing, and new options are available. Most of us are familiar with the traditional product key registration for Windows devices.   For businesses (large and small) the common activation scenarios for activation have included: OEM…

Gathering Existing Devices Windows Autopilot Device IDs
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Gathering Existing Devices Windows Autopilot Device IDs

Update 8/1/2020: Microsoft has updated their official blog post a number of times since this post to include automated ways from Intune and ConfigManager. We have published a number of posts about what Windows Autopilot is and how to setup and test. Now that so many organizations have taken note of Modern Device Management advantages…

Updating Windows 10 Edition with Autopilot / Intune
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Updating Windows 10 Edition with Autopilot / Intune

As opposed to previous versions of the Microsoft Operating System, where each edition came as a separate ISO, there is only one package for the latest Windows 10 OS that can be “unlocked” when activated to have the edition you need.      (there are some restrictions/requirements based on licensing) One of the most common…

Windows Autopilot White Glove Details Announced..
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Windows Autopilot White Glove Details Announced..

What is Windows Autopilot white glove? The new Windows Autopilot white glove process, which lets IT technicians, partners, and even OEMs pre-provision devices before they are delivered to the user. Using this process, all device configuration tasks, including apps (machine-targeted or user-targeted), certificates, and policies, can be completed in advance, making it so that when…

Semi-Annual Channel(SAC) Targeted release will be retired
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Semi-Annual Channel(SAC) Targeted release will be retired

Yep – you heard correctly! No more Semi-Annual Channel Targeted (aka CB) or  Semi-Annual Channel Broad (aka CBB) releases! Although this is not a new topic (John Wilcox gave us a heads up back in May 2018)    the Semi-Annual Channel(SAC) Targeted release (formerly known as CB or Current Branch) will be fully retired after…

Windows 10 Migration: It’s All About the Apps
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Windows 10 Migration: It’s All About the Apps

Great article by my colleague at Dell EMC,  Colin Sainsbury     on   Application Testing and Management  in a Windows 10 world.   Preparing applications for migration is a multi-faceted challenge and with the introduction of Windows as a Service, it needs to be revisited for each Windows 10 version upgrade. The stages required to complete one…

Microsoft Managed Desktop Service
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Microsoft Managed Desktop Service

Today Microsoft officially announced a new service:    Microsoft Managed Desktop or MMD. Although it was known Microsoft was working on this,  no official word or announcement has been published until now. We believe that MMD will be an option that allows organizations to fundamentally shift how they think about and manage their IT. Through MMD,…

Windows 7 Extended Support Update Packages Pricing
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Windows 7 Extended Support Update Packages Pricing

Just a few of days ago (Sep 6, 2018)  Microsoft announced Windows 7 Extended Support Upgrade (ESU) where businesses can now pay to extend Windows 7 Security Updates Beyond January 14, 2020.  (See summary of announcement here ) Although pricing was not revealed,    the blog post announcement,  authored by Jared Spataro, Corporate Vice President for…

Microsoft announcement: WaaS and Windows 7

Microsoft announcement: WaaS and Windows 7

There was a very significant announcement that was made public today. Summary of announcement: Longer Windows 10 servicing for enterprises and educational institutions moving from 18 month cycle to  a 30 month cycle. (per version) Windows 7 Extended Security Updates:  Microsoft will offer paid Windows 7 Extended Security Updates (ESU) through January 2023. Not sure…

InfoBits – Windows 10 News You Can use Aug 2018
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InfoBits – Windows 10 News You Can use Aug 2018

onth – or so, I try to  find a short list on Windows 10 related topics which would be of  interest to you and specially your customers.     Please feel free to share below items with your peers and customers! Windows 10 represent a great opportunity to change the way customers deploy and manage devices, however…

Microsoft Platform: Workspace Transformation

Microsoft Platform: Workspace Transformation

Workspace transformation is gaining  lot of momentum at the moment.   At its core,  it is about letting users access data and applications securely anywhere anytime.   Enabling users to quickly provision their devices is only part of the story.   Request applications so they can quickly securely access the  data without the large bureaucracy associated with IT…

Microsoft Platform: Workspace Transformation
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Microsoft Platform: Workspace Transformation

Workspace transformation is gaining  lot of momentum at the moment.   At its core,  it is about letting users access data and applications securely anywhere anytime.   Enabling users to quickly provision their devices is only part of the story.   Request applications so they can quickly securely access the  data without the large bureaucracy associated with IT…

Windows 10 and Application Modernization: MSIX Format
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Windows 10 and Application Modernization: MSIX Format

Lots of change in the EUC space these days! — The reason for this blog is a specific question I received : Customer is looking for application modernization services.  They would like their .exe apps converted to be able to work in the Windows Store for Business as a part of their AutoPilot/Intune project. Short…

Getting to Windows 10: Take the Blue Pill or the Red Pill
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Getting to Windows 10: Take the Blue Pill or the Red Pill

I always start my Windows 10 conversations with the statement: There are two parts to any Windows 10 project: Getting to Windows 10. Maintaining Windows 10 This article is all about “Getting to Windows 10”. All of us have been to customers that have not yet officially started their Windows 10 projects or they are…

InfoBits: Windows 10 News You can Use June 2018
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InfoBits: Windows 10 News You can Use June 2018

Windows 7  End of Extended Support date: January 14, 2020 :      Days Remaining to migrate your PC fleet:     Total Calendar Days: 569 / Business Days: <395 Call to Action:  Ask your customers: How are you doing with your Windows 10 adoption ? Will you be fully migrated by the end of 2019? Effectively it is less than 18…

Windows 10 Generic Image / No Bloatware
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Windows 10 Generic Image / No Bloatware

With the popularity of Modern Device Provisioning using  Windows Autopilot or AirWatch, using a “Generic Image”  (Microsoft OS without OEM added-value software added) as the baseline OS is a very common practice. I have been asked multiple times if a generic image (ISO from Microsoft) contains any bloatware.  – The short answer is NO.   It…

Application Compatibility Testing with Windows 10 and Windows-as-a-Service

Application Compatibility Testing with Windows 10 and Windows-as-a-Service

Summary:  Microsoft’s Windows 10 new delivery and update cycles will drive significant change in the current enterprise application compatibility testing and verification operational processes.   These processes will need to be done on an ongoing basis as opposed to being done prior to large OS migration projects. Enterprises will need to quickly adjust to this new…

The Value Proposition of a Platform: Microsoft Win10/Office365/EM+S
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The Value Proposition of a Platform: Microsoft Win10/Office365/EM+S

[ Update 20161004: I encourage you to watch Brad Anderson’s keynote session at Microsoft Ignite 2016 – Simply IMPRESSIVE!  ] As I have written before,  technology management has made an incredible shift over the past few years (maybe the last 3-5 years).    Infrastructure as a Service, Platform as a Service are now the common conversations in most…

Windows 10 Timelines..

Windows 10 Timelines..

AS a follow-up to my Windows 7 End of Mainstream Support posting,   several questions came in regarding the Windows 10 availability dates… ( This is based  on multiple publicly  available news stories and sources.. ) Regarding Windows 10 availability: September 2014 — Windows Technical Preview (WTP) for laptops and desktops Microsoft’s Windows Insider Program opened…