Troubleshooting: Tracking down what executed updates in Windows 10

“Why did I get an update installed on my Windows 10 machine?” At first blush, this sounds like an easy-peasy kinda question to answer. But in a managed enterprise, with multiple IT departments that might not always play nice together, this can be a prickly subject. Because the question really isn’t “Why did this update… Continue reading Troubleshooting: Tracking down what executed updates in Windows 10

Performance Series Part 1 – How to collect an ETW/Xperf trace to capture general performance issues

Applies to: Windows 7+, Windows Server 2008 R2+ Target audience: People I support primarily. Anyone who wants to perf like a pro? Step 1: Get the Windows Performance Toolkit, by way of the Windows Assessment and Deployment Kit. Since every iteration of the WPT happens to be distributed slightly differently than the previous version, I’ve included… Continue reading Performance Series Part 1 – How to collect an ETW/Xperf trace to capture general performance issues

How To: Collect ETL/WPT tracing diagnostics when you can never logon to the host.

First, guess who's back?! Me! I left Microsoft of my own accord last year. I came back. I wrote this about my experience, I hope you enjoy it. There and back again, an IT tale… Anyways, I was asked a few times recently, Dude, how do you collect an ETW trace for boot/logon if the… Continue reading How To: Collect ETL/WPT tracing diagnostics when you can never logon to the host.

Xperf for the layman, performance analysis unchained, Windows Assessment Toolkit revealed.

If you have been following along in performance land the last year or three, you’d hear about xperf and the WPT (Windows Performance Toolkit).  Mayhap you’ve had some time to practice and you know what you are doing.  Cool.  This tool might still interest you. If you, on the other hand, haven’t heard of these,… Continue reading Xperf for the layman, performance analysis unchained, Windows Assessment Toolkit revealed.

What does a good boot look like (aka, what should I be happy with)?

It’s a question I wasn’t prepared for in class last week, but one that made sense really.  For the IT Pro that doesn’t eat breath and sleep this stuff, what does a good or ‘fair’ trace look like? Something like this: What we are looking at here is a boot up that finishes before 45… Continue reading What does a good boot look like (aka, what should I be happy with)?

How to collect a trace for audio or video problems in Windows 7

Assume the following:  You have a Windows 7 host that you want to collect a trace from.  The user complains of audio issues, stuttering, latency, etc…or video frame rate is low.  Something annoying. Like my previous post, lets cover a few basic rules here as we get started: 1.  If host = Windows 7 AND… Continue reading How to collect a trace for audio or video problems in Windows 7

How to collect a good boot trace on Windows 7

Assume the following:  You have a Windows 7 host that you want to collect a trace from.  A good trace.  One that you know other people will be able to decipher as well as yourself.  Maybe I’ve asked you to collect a boot trace so I can look at it and pointed you to this… Continue reading How to collect a good boot trace on Windows 7

Welcome to the Windows Assessment Server from the Windows 8 ADK. Part 1 of X

Fa-La…It’s the magical mystery tour…..   Well, not really, but it is the Windows Assessment Server brought to us by the Windows 8 ADK!   Lets fire this bad boy up and play around with it. Step 0.  Prepare your environment. You need DHCP and DNS and a Server running 2008 R2 SP1 or Windows… Continue reading Welcome to the Windows Assessment Server from the Windows 8 ADK. Part 1 of X

Windows 8 ADK solves GPO Logon Delay questions, film at 11….

Symptoms:  Logons take forever and you’ve collected an xbootmgr/WPR/xperf123/xperfui trace.  What GPO can it be?  Easy!   Open Windows Performance Analyzer from the Windows 8 ADK: Open Said Offending Trace:   Expand…System Activity and then find the Generic Events, click and drag the windows so its under “Analysis” tab… AR me eyes!  Relax, its ok,… Continue reading Windows 8 ADK solves GPO Logon Delay questions, film at 11….

When an Exchange Server doesn’t Exchange…

“Well the high sheriff, told his deputy, won’t you go out and bring my Lazarus?” Why am I quoting the Po Lazarus tune, the opening song of “O Brother Where Art Thou?” when I’m supposed to be talking about the Exchange Server that doesn’t?  It’s the Chewbacca defense!  This Exchange Server is so hosed I… Continue reading When an Exchange Server doesn’t Exchange…

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