Hyper-V Virtual Machine Backup Utility - Update v4.4
· ☕ 1 min read
Download it from the Microsoft TechNet Gallery the PowerShell Gallery and GitHub. Today I’ve released a minor update to my Hyper-V Backup Utility. In version 4.4 I’ve added more feedback when the script is used interactively. Whether you are running Hyper-V on a Windows 10 desktop or a Windows Server 2016 cluster, this utility can be used to backup your virtual machines. My original post with the full documentation is available here.

Deploying Office 2019 or Office 365
· ☕ 4 min read
If you’re familiar with deploying Office 2016 or any previous version, then the first big change when looking into Office 2019 or Office 365 is that there is no longer an MSI installer. Office 2019/Office 365 is now only available as a ‘Click-to-Run’ installation, which means we’ll need to change how we package, deploy and update Office 2019 or Office 365. Links to sites used in this post: Download the Office Deployment Tool (ODT) from Microsoft here.

Windows 10 1903/1909 (19H1/19H2) Changes, Tips and Tricks
· ☕ 3 min read
Here’s a couple of helpful tips and tricks I’ve found from Windows 10 1909/1903 and previous versions. Let’s get into them! Search and Cortana Are Separated In 1903/1909 A good change IMO and my first impressions of the new search is that it’s back to being as good as Windows 7’s. The search bar on the Taskbar is now just search and has nothing to do with Cortana. By default the search bar is expanded on the Taskbar and Cortana is just an icon.

Removing Built-in Apps from Windows 10 1903
· ☕ 1 min read
I’ve updated my previous post on removing the built-in apps from Windows 10 to reflect the minor changes in the Windows 10 1903 May 2019 Update. You can find that post here, or under the Windows Deployment menu at the top of the page, and click on 1903 May 2019 Update (19H1). If you have any questions or comments, please leave them below. Thank you. -Mike

Deploying A Windows 10 1903 May 2019 Update (19H1) Reference Image with MDT
· ☕ 14 min read
Current Known Issue: With the Windows 10 1903 ADK on 64-bit, the Windows System Image Manager (WSIM) will fail to generate a catalogue. Microsoft has issued a fix which you can download here. The fix contains two updated files, ImageCat.exe and ImgMgr.exe which need to be copied to the location the ADK is installed. By default the location is: C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Kits\10\Assessment and Deployment Kit\Deployment Tools\WSIM. After installation you will still not be able to access the WSIM through MDT, but launching WSIM manually and then opening the install.

Building A Windows 10 1903 May 2019 Update (19H1) Reference Image with MDT
· ☕ 11 min read
Current Known Issue: With the Windows 10 1903 ADK on 64-bit, the Windows System Image Manager (WSIM) will fail to generate a catalogue. Microsoft has issued a fix which you can download here. The fix contains two updated files, ImageCat.exe and ImgMgr.exe which need to be copied to the location the ADK is installed. By default the location is: C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Kits\10\Assessment and Deployment Kit\Deployment Tools\WSIM. After installation you will still not be able to access the WSIM through MDT, but launching WSIM manually and then opening the install.

Automated WSUS Maintenance Utility - Update v1.7
· ☕ 1 min read
Download it from the Microsoft TechNet Gallery, PowerShell Gallery and GitHub. I’ve released a major update to my Automated WSUS Maintenance utility. If you are using a previous version, please update to this new one. Fixed in version 1.7: The script will now not run the clean-up process twice. The script will now report if the service isn’t running before starting. My original post with the full documentation is available here.

Network Device Status Monitor - Update v1.1
· ☕ 1 min read
Download it from GitHub, the Microsoft TechNet Gallery and the PowerShell Gallery. I’ve released a minor update to my Network Device Status Monitor utility. New in 1.1: Updated the style of the web page with a cleaner look. Added CSS animations for online devices. The CSS animations do not display when the utility is in ‘report’ mode. This is configured by omitting the -refresh switch, as I assume that this configuration is used to email the HTML report page rather than monitor continuously.

Windows Server Status Monitor - Update v1.6
· ☕ 1 min read
Download it from GitHub, the Microsoft TechNet Gallery and the PowerShell Gallery. I’ve released a minor update to my Windows Server Status Monitor utility. New in 1.6: Updated the style of the web page with a cleaner look. Added CSS animations for online devices. The CSS animations do not display when the utility is in ‘report’ mode. This is configured by omitting the -refresh switch, as I assume that this configuration is used to email the HTML report page rather than monitor continuously.

Microsoft Deployment Toolkit Updated
· ☕ 1 min read
Microsoft Deployment Toolkit has been updated to build 8456 and includes support for: Windows 10, version 1809 Windows Server 2019 Windows ADK for Windows 10, version 1809 Configuration Manager, version 1810 The full release notes are available from Microsoft here. If you have any questions or comments, please leave them below. -Mike

3D Maze Remix now available on itch.io
· ☕ 1 min read
I’ve made all builds of 3D Maze Remix v1.3 available to download on itch.io, you can find it here: https://mikegalvin.itch.io/3d-maze-remix Making version v1.3 available on the Microsoft Store has proved to be impossible due to changes in Microsoft’s terms and conditions, however for some reason these changes don’t mean that the original version I uploaded to the Microsoft has been taken off, I just can’t update it. Itch.io seems like a good place for the game to live from here on out.

3D Maze Remix - Update v1.3
· ☕ 1 min read
Update v1.3 Download from Itch.io This is a minor update to all versions of 3D Maze Remix. The changes can be seen below. V 1.3 Change Log Added disclaimer. If you have any questions or comments, please leave them below. -Mike

Windows 10 1809/Windows Server 2019 availability has been restored by Microsoft
· ☕ 1 min read
Microsoft has resumed the rollout of Windows 10 1809, Windows Server 2019 and Windows Server, version 1809. The ISO’s are now available to download from the Volume Licensing Service Center once again. Microsoft have posted about resuming the rollout and how they test and validate updates over on the Windows blog. There’s also a good post on the Windows IT Pro blog regarding the volume license availability of the new update.