Windows Autopilot Collecting Hash and More
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Windows Autopilot Collecting Hash and More

PowerShell script that uses WMI to retrieve properties needed by the Microsoft Store for Business to support Windows AutoPilot deployment. https://www.powershellgallery.com/packages/Get-WindowsAutoPilotInfo/  Thank you  Michael Niehaus! For more  information see: Technet Blog Post Gathering Windows Autopilot hardware details from existing Devices Overview of Windows Autopilot | Microsoft Docs Deploy Windows 10 Enterprise for new devices with…

Microsoft Ignite 2018 EUC Related Announcements
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Microsoft Ignite 2018 EUC Related Announcements

From an end-user computing point of view, Microsoft Ignite 2018 did not disappoint this year.      Although Windows 10 was not the primary focus , deploying, managing and maintaining Windows devices using the entire Microsoft platform was definitely top of the billboard, and in particular  Microsoft 365. Many announcements were made around the Modern Workspace. …

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 365 Versions Comparison
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Microsoft 365 Versions Comparison

I wanted to write something  about a question I get often asked: What is the pricing and the differences between the different versions of Microsoft 365.   Microsoft has a variety of productivity and security management offerings that small to medium-sized and large enterprise customers may consider when upgrading their desktop and device infrastructure, each bringing…

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
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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…

Windows 10 Opportunity: 184M devices in 370 Working Days
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Windows 10 Opportunity: 184M devices in 370 Working Days

As of today, we sit at less than 18 calendar months from the end of Windows 7 Extended Support. A couple of weeks ago in the Microsoft Partner Conference in Vegas,   Microsoft provided some context to the opportunity ahead for partners by giving the numbers of installed Windows 7 devices around the world…   A summary of…

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…

Microsoft Extends Windows 10 v1511 EOS
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Microsoft Extends Windows 10 v1511 EOS

Late last night (Novermber 14),  Michael Niehaus posted a blog titled:  Progressing Windows as a Service  in which  informed the Windows 10 community that Microsoft will be extending the End of Support for Windows 10 v1511  until April 2018 (previously announced for Oct 1, 2017): To help some early enterprise adopters that are still finishing their transition…

InfoBits – Win10 news you can use October 2017
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InfoBits – Win10 news you can use October 2017

Every month, I try to to find a short list on Windows 10 related topics which would be of  interest to you and specially your customers.   Windows 10 represent a great opportunity to change the way customers deploy and manage devices, however it also represents a big challenge for many customer.  We continue to visit…

InfoBits – Win10 News You can use September 2017
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InfoBits – Win10 News You can use September 2017

Below you will find a short list on Windows 10 related topics which would be of  interest to your customers.   Windows 10 represent a great opportunity to change the way customers deploy and manage devices.  It also represents a big challenge for many customer. We can help them in this journey to Modern Device Management! …

Windows 10 version 1511 End of Support: : October 10, 2017
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Windows 10 version 1511 End of Support: : October 10, 2017

Windows 10 version 1511 will no longer receive security or quality updates after October 10, 2017. What this means? After October 10, 2017  Windows 10 version 1511 will no longer receive security or  quality updates! Why is this important?   Because many customer began to deploy Windows 10 and may have no plan to update these…

Windows 10 Resources List
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Windows 10 Resources List

I’ve been using these for a while, but posting here for as I am constantly updating them.  Hope these help! The Windows 10 from video sessions  I mentioned would be useful are (all from Microsoft Ignite 2016):  – Key Note by Brad Anderson:  The session name was:  “Protect & Manage Your Digital Transformation”                    (It is…

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

Tech Summit 2017:Latest Windows 10 Deployment Video
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Tech Summit 2017:Latest Windows 10 Deployment Video

If you have not seen the latest (January 27, 2017) Microsoft Tech Summit video from Michael Niehaus you are missing a lot ! Enhance Windows 10 deployment: What’s new with Windows 10 deployment? It is a wealth of information on current releases but also lots of insights on best practices as well! One particular item…