Windows 10 · Talk About IT!

Wi-Fi only works when logged in

If you have a Wi-Fi network, and it doesn’t seem to connect unless you login, you need to change the profile. Symptom: Domain joined computer would not come online unless I logged in as a local user account (domain wasn’t available). Would work fine afterwards, but would disconnect as soon as I logged off. Resolution: The Wi-Fi network was set to only be a user profile. To change it: Open the Command Prompt or Powershell as an Administrator

bitlocker

BitLocker and Active Directory

Summary: We will use Bitlocker to secure device data, requiring a PIN or Password to boot into Windows or read the hard drive. This is aimed to be the definitive guide to getting started and managing BitLocker. Technical Details Bitlocker locks the key for decryption with multiple keys (“Protectors”). This can include TPM, TPM and PIN, Password, a USB key, and even certificates. You can have multiple ways to unlock the decryption key The keys appear transparent to the user, even during recovery The hard drive can be removed and put into another computer.

registry

Set default printer (without creating a printer) with Group Policy

I got disappointed after searching high and low on Google for how to use Group Policy in order to set a default printer. Almost every article I read assumed the reader had a print server available, or would deploy a local printer connection right from the Group Policy Management Console. Finally, I found the solution! In the environment that I support, we have “Printer Packages” by the manufacturer. These packages are essentially printer queues with default settings already entered for the Printer Preferences - you know, the items you CAN NOT change easily from a remote location, to many systems?

best practices

Files Preferences FAQ

Group Policy Files CSE allows SysAdmins to ensure file(s) exist on clients when logging into the domain. If you’ve never used it before, you can beat your head against the wall, so learn from my mistakes / tributions with setting this up.

SSID

Forcing Wireless Networks on clients

Do your employees complain they can’t connect to your network resources, only to find they are on a different Wireless network?

installation

Deploying Windows Monthly Updates (without WSUS)

In connection with another article about Deploying Windows Updates via the Command Line, I have come to notice that it is not the end-all we thought it once was. With the Roll-Up Updates for Windows 7, 8.1, and 10, I have found a better way to deploy updates.