In this post, I describe how to stop the Windows Update service from automatically starting on Windows 11 even when the startup type has been set to Disabled: On a test PC, you may not want to run the Windows Update service which can consume CPU resource and decrease the performance of the PC.  Usually, disabling the Windows Update service stops it from running.  However, sometimes the service reenables itself and starts running. Resolution The service is reenabled and started by a Scheduled Task.  To stop this: 1. Open  Task Scheduler 2. Navigate to Microsoft > Windows > WindowsUpdate 3. Right click and Disable Scheduled Start Edit: I recently discovered that the Windows Update service can still re-enable itself despite doing the above e.g. the service status switches from Disabled to Manual when you open Windows Update settings.  To resolve this, there is a way to permanently disable Windows updates . Related Posts - Windows Modules Installer Worker...

In this post, I describe how to create a shortcut to all the control panel settings in Windows 11.  This trick also applies to Windows 10, 8 or 7 and has the rather elaborate name "GodMode". To create the shortcut, simply create a Folder in Windows Explorer and give it the name: GodMode.{ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C} The shortcut will automatically show a control panel icon: Open the shortcut to view all the control panel settings. You can right click a group heading and select Collapse all groups if required.

When you right click the Taskbar in Windows 11, Task Manager is no longer one of the options, the only option is Taskbar settings: This post describes another method to quickly access the Task Manager in Windows 11. Resolution Right click the start button instead of the taskbar to quickly access a shortcut to Task Manager: Alternatively, hover the mouse cursor over the Search icon on the Taskbar, you will see another shortcut to Task Manager: Related Posts -  This PC can't run Windows 11 - VMware Workstation -  Always permanently 'Show more options' right click menu - Windows 11

This post describes how to fix the error: Sysprep was not able to validate your Windows installation. Review the log file at %WINDIR%\System32\Sysprep\Panther\setupact.log for details. After resolving the issue, use Sysprep to validate your installation again. which can occur when you run the System Preparation Tool 3.14 on Windows 11. I've identified two potential causes for this error. Open the Panther folder in the Sysprep directory, copy the setupact.log file out of that directory to open it, then scroll to the bottom to see the error. Package Provisioning Error If the error is as follows: Error SYSPRP Failed to remove apps for the current user: 0x80073cf2. Cause Just above this, you can see a potential cause, in this case it's the Microsoft.OneDriveSync package: SYSPRP Package Microsoft.OneDriveSync_21196.921.7.0_neutral__8wekyb3d8bbwe was installed for a user, but not provisioned for all users. This package will not function properly in the sysprep image. Resolution I rem...

This post describes how you can always permanently 'Show more options' in the right click menu on Windows 11 rather than having to press it every time you right click. Resolution 1. Open regedit and go to: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\CLASSES\CLSID\ 2. Create a new Key named: {86ca1aa0-34aa-4e8b-a509-50c905bae2a2} 3. Within that Key, create another new Key named: InprocServer32 4. Within InprocServer32, double click (Default) then press OK to change the Value Data from (value not set) to blank: 5. Sign out then log back in 'Show more options' is now permanently removed from the right click menu and all options are always shown: Related Posts -  Windows 11 God Mode - shortcut to all control panel settings - Where has copy paste gone in the right click menu - Windows 11 -  This PC can't run Windows 11 - VMware Workstation

This post describes where to find copy and paste in the right click menu on Windows 11. Resolution The Copy button now appears at the top of the right click menu and looks like this: The Paste button also appears at the top of the right click menu: If the right click menu doesn't have those options at the top, even though you have right clicked the folder/file: Left click first, then right click again. This can occur due to a bug in Windows 11 whereby if your right click the empty space in the window before right clicking the folder/file, it still shows the same right click menu. Related Posts -  Always permanently 'Show more options' right click menu - Windows 11 -  This PC can't run Windows 11 - VMware Workstation

This post describes how to fix the error: This PC can't run Windows 11 This PC doesn't meet the minimum system requirements to install this version of Windows. For more information, visit https://aka.ms/WindowsSysReq This error can occur when installing Windows 11 on a virtual machine in VMware Workstation. Cause Windows 11 requires TPM as per the specification:  https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/windows-11-specifications Resolution There are two ways to resolve this issue, either bypass the TPM check or add TPM to the virtual machine : Bypass TPM Check To bypass the TPM check when doing a new, clean install of Windows 11: 1. Go back a step from the "This PC can't run Windows 11" message 2. Press Shift + F10 on the keyboard to open a Command Prompt 3. Type regedit to open the Registry Editor and go to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\Setup 4. Create a new Key named: LabConfig 5. Within 'LabConfig', create a new DWORD (32-bit) Value named: BypassTPMCheck A...