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Windows

Windows is a symetric multiprocessing OS: all CPUs are equal, the Windows kernel can schedule a process to run on any program.
Mouse appearance
cmd.exe
DOS
PowerShell
registry
Remote Desktop Services
Services
swap_keys.c
Calling the Windows API from VBA
Windows development
Versions
File system
Keyboard shortcuts

Configuring Windows

Windows can be configured through different methods:
Generally, a control panel item is aimed for general users while an MMC snap-in is targeted at IT professionals.

TODO

WSUS Offline Update

Default user profile win-default-user-profile

The default user profile id duplicated when a new user account is created. A default user profile includes special folders such as My Documents and Desktop.
Apparently, at least part of the default user profile is stored under %SystemDrive%\Users\Default.

Freeing up disk space

cleanmgr.exe
%SystemDrive%\$Recycle.Bin
%LocalAppData%\Temp
%SystemRoot%\Installer
Downloaded files
Compressing old files
Temporary Internet files
Cached (offline) web pages
Temporary Windows files
Log Files (for example under %SystemRoot%\System32\LogFiles)
Old chkdsk files
Recent files
Catalog files (created by content indexer)
WinSXS

Licensing and activation

Two types of activation:
  • consumer level
  • volume licensing
Licensingdiag.exe
LicensingUI.exe
slmgr.vbs
slui.exe
changepk.exe
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\SoftwareProtectionPlatform\Activation
sppwinob.dll
%SYSTEMROOT%\System32\spp
The sppsvc service.
Windows product key
Possible license states are
  • Licensed
  • initial Grace Period
  • Additional Grace Period
  • Notification Period
  • Non-Genuine grace period
  • Unlicensed

See also

Windows Update
Chocolatey is the (or a?) package manager for Windows.

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