Recent Discussions
How to configure Windows Sandbox
With the latest release of Windows 10 (1903), Microsoft introduced a new feature called Windows Sandbox. Windows Sandbox is based on Hyper-V technology and allows you to spin up an isolated, temporary, desktop environment where you can run untrusted software. In this blog post, I will show you how you can set up and configure Windows Sandbox in Windows 10. I will also cover who you can do an advanced configuration of your Windows Sandbox using Windows Sandbox config files. The sandbox is great for demos, troubleshooting or if you are dealing with malware. If you close the sandbox, all the software with all its files and state are permanently deleted. It is a Windows 10 virtual machines, with the advantage that it is built into Windows 10, so it leverages the existing OS, which gives you faster startup, less footprint, better efficiency, and easier handling, without losing security. Blog Link: https://www.thomasmaurer.ch/2019/05/how-to-configure-windows-sandbox/
Why Windows Server 2008/2008R2 EOL is closer than you think
“I love deadlines. I love the whooshing noise they make as they go by” - Douglas Adams. Author, Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy It’s not just people that are excellent procrastinators. Organizations are excellent procrastinators as well. When a deadline exists with another year in its date, it’s easy to convince yourself that dealing with it is not particularly urgent. Even though Microsoft was shouting from the rooftop for years about the end of support for Windows Server 2003, many organizations didn’t really start doing anything about moving their fleet of computer off the operating system until the deadline was right on top of them. When it came to getting people to migrate off Windows Server 2003, attrition by hardware failure seemed to be more effective in getting recalcitrant organizations off Windows Server 2003 than planned migration did. And even though Microsoft has made it abundantly clear that the end of support for Windows Server 2008 and 2008 R2 is rapidly approaching, there appears to be a similar lack of urgency felt by many organizations about transitioning away from the operating system. The Windows Server 2008 / 2008 R2 EOL deadline is closer than you think. It’s closer than you think for the following reasons: Although you can make a ballpark estimate on how long it will take to migrate all your workloads away from Windows Server 2008 or 2008 R2, you don’t really know how long it will take to migrate a specific workload until you’ve actually migrated it. Any ballpark estimate that you make, unless you’ve performed a large number of migrations, is going to be a guess. This is because unexpected things happen and that it’s hard to come up with a reliable estimate about the amount of time needed to deal with unforeseen issues. Although it’s possible that you might migrate workloads more quickly than you estimated you would, the reality is that it’s more likely that your estimates are wildly optimistic Windows Server 2008/2008 R2 EOL is 14 th of January 2020. While you can get an extension if you migrate to Azure of having that date pushed out by 2 years, just remember that migrating to Azure may involve as much planning, resources, and effort as migrating to Windows Server 2016 or Windows Server 2019 would.
How to handle meetings organized by deleted users?
Hi Community, there is that nearly-all-time known limitation that Exchange / Exchange Online can't change the organizer of a meeting. That is really driving me mad in real life...imagine a team assistant leaving the company after having that up meeting series for the whole team / company including meeting room reservations etc... How are you handling this limit in your real-life? Best, M.
Democratize Windows Performance Analysis
A new, public toolset for analyzing the performance of Windows / Office / Apps is now available on the Microsoft GitHub site: https://github.com/Microsoft/MSO-Scripts Based on tools used by MS Office teams to promote broad use of Event Tracing for Windows (ETW), it's now available to facilitate performance analysis by IT Pros, etc. We're looking for help to BETA test and review documentation. Can you help? The toolset consists of highly customizable PowerShell scripts & XML configs to drive WPR/WPA, plus a custom plug-in for network analysis. https://github.com/Microsoft/MSO-Scripts/wiki covers a wide variety of topics: CPU/Thread activity Network connections File and Disk I/O Windows Handles: Kernel, User, GDI Memory Usage: Heap, RAM, Working Set, Reference Set, ... Office-specific logging Symbol Resolution Custom Tracing CPU Counters, etc. There's also a growing YouTube channel: https://youtube.com/@WindowsPerformanceDeepDive https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Ko0qaG18bI (video) Suggestions? Reports? Thank you in advance...Windows Server Headless install?
Just wondering if folks have a lot of experience or interest in a Headless Windows Server 2019 Core install. I've been working with setting one up for the last little while and I've compiled a bunch of resources that I've needed along the way to help with the configuration.From pushing server cages nuts to pushing code
Thank you for listening to my talk today, I really appreciate the support and feedback. Below are some resources that might be able to assist you in your Azure journey or explain a bit more about the topics that I covered. Resources, Tutorial, Videos & What's New - https://aka.ms/Try4Free/ - https://azure.microsoft.com/updates/?WT.mc_id=modinfra-9870-salean - https://www.microsoft.com/events/training-days/?WT.mc_id=modinfra-9870-salean - https://github.blog/2020-07-28-announcing-the-github-public-roadmap/ - Getting Started with Git - Keeping your local GitHub Repo in Sync - Contribute to Microsoft Docs - Use GitHub Actions to Deploy a Azure Virtual Machine Learning Resources - https://docs.microsoft.com/learn/paths/azure-fundamentals/?WT.mc_id=modinfra-9870-salean - https://docs.microsoft.com/learn/certifications/browse/?products=azure&WT.mc_id=modinfra-9870-salean - https://www.pluralsight.com/paths/microsoft-ignite-2019-azure-fundamentals Presentations - https://youtu.be/N9nLf8IdIIE Contact Information Let's stay in touch! - Connect on Twitter https://twitter.com/Techielass - Connect on LinkedIn https://in.linkedin.com/in/sazlean - Watch my training videos https://www.youtube.com/techielassVIDEO: Mastering Azure using Cloud Shell, PowerShell and Bash!
I recorded my presentation and made it available for everyone. The presentation is a live demo and summary of my blog post “Mastering Azure with Cloud Shell“, which gives you an overview about the Cloud Shell and some of the advanced stuff you can do. In the session you learn: Overview about Cloud Shell Azure PowerShell and Bash experience Persistent Storage using Azure Files Azure Drive Third party tools Editors Visual Studio Code integration Using Git as Source Control Remote manage Azure virtual machines Integration of Cloud Shell in Microsoft Docs, Microsoft Learn and more Cloud Shell in the Azure Mobile App and more. I hope you enjoy watching it and let me know what you think in the comments.
Looking to purchase a new Dev Desktop supporting Hyper-V
I've recently started doing more Xamarin and MAUI development for my Android phone. I understand the desktops supporting hyper-v are best (the emulators run much faster). I'm wanting to spend anywhere between $500 and $1000. My challenge is knowing which computers support hyper-v before I purchase it. It's easy to check an existing system for hyper-v support, but what can I do to determine before I buy it?Detection of AI-generated plagiarism: mission initiated
Picture this: you are a teacher eagerly checking your inbox, awaiting your students’ homework assignments with anticipation. You’ve assigned a project that you believe will push your students to their limits and unlock their full potential. But as the first submissions start rolling in, you can feel something isn’t quite right. As you begin to grade the assignments, you’re struck by a stark realisation — a number of them are eerily similar, but with unique phrasing and writing styles. It’s not simple cut-and-paste plagiarism but rather the work of advanced AI tools, like ChatGPT, that are able to mimic writing styles and generate undetectable original content. Will you be able to spot the difference and outwit the AI? Think of artificial intelligence as a tidal wave crashing onto the shores of education. Its arrival has transformed the way we learn, including the way students cheat on homework and assignments. For teachers, it’s like trying to navigate a treacherous ocean — they must find new and creative ways to test their students’ knowledge in a world where technology has made cheating a slippery eel. The challenge is real and the stakes are high. Can we rise to the challenge and chart a course towards an honest and fair education system? As American writer Mark Twain famously said, “Education is the path from cocky ignorance to miserable uncertainty.” In the age of AI-assisted cheating, this path is fraught with obstacles. The use of AI to cheat on assignments and online exams undermines the very foundation of education. If grades can be easily manipulated with technology, they cease to be a true measure of a student’s knowledge and understanding. This is a slippery slope that can lead to the devaluation of degrees and the overall purpose of education. In short, AI-assisted cheating threatens to turn the path of growth and enlightenment into a road of “miserable uncertainty.” As the world searches for high-tech solutions to tackle the problem of AI-assisted cheating, sometimes a quick answer is right in front of us. The viva exam is a tried and true method that has stood the test of time. It is a simple yet powerful tool that provides a comprehensive evaluation of a student’s abilities, giving you a window into their true potential. As educators, we hold the power to shape the future of our students and the education system at large. By prioritising the use of viva exams, we can help foster a culture of academic excellence and instil a strong sense of integrity in our students. The investment of time and effort is more than worth it, as we set our students on the path to success and help ensure the validity and credibility of grades. In the words of British author Sir Ken Robinson, “If you had told teachers in the 1960s that every child would have their own computer, they would have thought you were crazy.” But now, teachers would be dubbed absurd if they thought that students could stay strangers to AI tools. So, instead of turning a blind eye to AI, I decided to embrace it in my classroom. I taught my students the ins and outs of AI-powered chatbots, inspiring even the most reluctant learners to dive in and discover new ways to learn. However, with this newfound excitement came the issue of AI-assisted cheating. To tackle this, I included marks for viva exams with every home assignment. This gave me a more well-rounded understanding of my students’ abilities, and helped me cultivate a culture of academic excellence and integrity. By embracing AI and incorporating viva exams, I was able to turn a potential problem into a unique opportunity for growth and learning. Think of the fight against AI-assisted cheating like a battle between Sherlock Holmes and Professor James Moriarty, trying to outsmart each other. Meanwhile, educators are like Dr John Watson, working alongside Holmes, to provide support in solving a crime. So, let’s channel our inner Dr Watson and work together with policymakers to find traditional and innovative solutions to this problem, and ensure academic integrity in the classroom.ChatGPT sets record for fastest-growing user base
ChatGPT, the popular chatbot from OpenAI, is estimated to have reached 100 million monthly active users in January, just two months after launch, making it the fastest-growing consumer application in history, according to a UBS study on Wednesday. The report, citing data from analytics firm Similarweb, said an average of about 13 million unique visitors had used ChatGPT per day in January, more than double the levels of December. "In the 20 years following the internet space, we cannot recall a faster ramp in a consumer internet app," UBS analysts wrote in the note. It took TikTok about nine months after its global launch to reach 100 million users and Instagram 2-1/2 years, according to data from Sensor Tower. ChatGPT can generate articles, essays, jokes and even poetry in response to prompts. OpenAI, a private company backed by Microsoft Corp, made it available to the public for free in late November. On Thursday, OpenAI announced a $20 monthly subscription, initially for users in the United States only. It would provide a more stable and faster service as well as the opportunity to try new features first, the company said. Analysts believe the viral launch of ChatGPT will give OpenAI a first-mover advantage against other AI companies. The growing usage, while imposing substantial computing cost on OpenAI, has also provided valuable feedback to help train the chatbot's responses. The company said the subscription revenue would help cover the computing cost. Availability of the tool has raised questions about facilitation of academic dishonesty and misinformation. Last month, Microsoft announced another multi-billion-dollar investment in OpenAI in the form of cash and provision of cloud computing.ChatGPT — Let’s chat with Artificial Intelligence Assistant
ChatGPT is a one of text based digital intelligence assistant developed by OpenAI which is trained to optimize language models for dialog through artificial intelligence. Why they named as GPT instead of ChatBOT : GPT stands for Generative Pre-Trained Transformer, it means they programmed to work together with AI and the capable of understanding natural human language and generating impressively detailed information like a human being reply. GPT captured the human language and convert it to computer language, again decoder decodes the computer language and dividing it to several sequences. Each sequence predicts the probable through trained AI mechanism which is trained on a massive dataset. Also, this AI trained to reward in several process, Rewards algorithm is designed to learns through trial and error to maximize the rewards. Let’s Start with ChatGPT : To start with ChatGPT visit https://openai.com/ (https://openai.com) and https://chat.openai.com/chat Before you start talking with ChatGPT, you must create a login using your email address or Google SSO. When you login to the ChatGPT you will be able to see the examples, Capabilities and Limitations of ChatGPT AI Here I am getting a sample text to ask sorry from my girlfriend, Let’s do that Click on New Thread and Type what you need to interact with Awesome! here we go with the results I got, Here I am going to try a translation with ChatGPT, I have translated the below sentence from English to Sinhala Sentence: I Love you Let’s check ChatGPT have enough knowledge on computer programing language, Will try to create a C# console line application to display Hellow World. See What I have asked What ChatGPT have provided Awesome results, like a lecturer or developer replies. Hope everyone immediately starts exploring with ChatGPT AI and help them to develop more with your requirements. Happy Chat !!Announcing General Availability of PIM Enabled Azure Lighthouse Delegations
I am excited to share today’s general availability announcement of PIM Enabled Azure Lighthouse Delegations. With Azure Lighthouse, service providers can deliver managed services using comprehensive and robust tooling built into the Azure platform. The addition of PIM enabled delegations takes Azure Lighthouse’s granular access to the next level, by assigning service providers the exact level of access needed, per resource, for the exact amount of time needed to complete a task. This has been a top ask from customers, and we’re thrilled to deliver this powerful capability to our customers! Learn more in the announcement here: Azure Lighthouse PIM Enabled Delegations - Microsoft Community Hub.Make Splash Screen for C# Windows Applications
What is Splash Screen? A splash screen usually appears while a application or program launching, it normally contains the logo of the company or sometimes some helpful information about the development. It can be an animation or image or logo or etc. You can see lot of mobile application developers has done it but it's not common in Windows desktop applications. Making the splash screen is not a big deal if you are familiar with C# application development. Here I ll show you the steps of creating it. As usual idle is Visual Studio 2019 Create new Project - C# Windows Form Application Give a friendly name for your project and Create Once done add a new form to your project where we are going to add our splash screen logo or image Once done, I am adding a progress bar and image to the screen, also change the following in the form properties Auto Size Windows Screen - False Control Box - False Windows Startup Location - Center In the progress bar properties change the style to Marquee Marquee animation speed to - 50 Now we have finished the designing of the splash screen form, will continue to add the screen in the startup of the project and debug now Go to the main screen form coding cs file Here I have used the following System libraries which available in .NET 4.0 on wards using System.Threading; using System.Threading.Tasks; Now in the public start the Splash screen form by calling like this method, public void StartForm() { Application.Run(new SplashScreen()); } In the Main screen Initialize the component thread function for the splash screen form like this Thread t = new Thread(new ThreadStart(StartForm)); t.Start(); Thread.Sleep(5000); InitializeComponent(); t.Abort(); Total coding will be as following using System; using System.Collections.Generic; using System.ComponentModel; using System.Data; using System.Drawing; using System.Linq; using System.Text; using System.Threading; using System.Threading.Tasks; using System.Windows.Forms; namespace Splash_Screen_nTest { public partial class MainScreen : Form { public MainScreen() { Thread t = new Thread(new ThreadStart(StartForm)); t.Start(); Thread.Sleep(5000); InitializeComponent(); t.Abort(); } public void StartForm() { Application.Run(new SplashScreen()); } private void MainScreen_Load(object sender, EventArgs e) { } } } Once u debugged the application it will run as expected Source code can be downloaded from here - https://github.com/Gohulan/C-_Splash_Screen Happy Coding !!How to restrict network access to Azure Key Vault
Coming on the heels of the https://youtu.be/T0zpfInK7Kw I did, in this week's episode of #KnowOps I help answer the question on how to lock down Internet access to your Azure Key Vault through the use of network restrictions via firewall and VNet security controls. Keep the vile and villainy away from your secrets with network restrictions that you should be applying on most of your Azure resources. Enjoy! https://youtu.be/zTU3a_X40PUIgnite 2019 videos on YouTube
Microsoft has now commenced uploading Ignite videos to YouTube which is my preferred viewing platform. I continue on building an index of all these links on GitHub: https://github.com/directorcia/general/blob/master/ignite2019.txt that I will update as I uncover new links. I also have indexes from previous Ignite's if that is of benefit? https://github.com/directorcia/general/blob/master/ignite2017.txt https://github.com/directorcia/general/blob/master/ignite2018.txt Remember, these are not a complete index, only what I have found. if you find links I haven't got or errors, let me know.
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