Windows refers to the Microsoft operating system, which plays a crucial role in organisational environments by providing a stable platform for software applications and development tools. Its significance lies in its ability to facilitate seamless installation, configuration, and troubleshooting, ensuring that teams can maintain productivity without significant downtime. By enabling consistent updates and security patches, Windows supports a secure and efficient working environment, which is essential for agile and DevOps practices.
The predictability and sustainability of value delivery are enhanced through Windows, as it allows teams to standardise their development environments, reducing variability and complexity. This consistency fosters collaboration among cross-functional teams, as everyone operates within the same framework, minimising integration issues. Furthermore, the ability to automate deployment and configuration processes on Windows systems aligns with continuous delivery principles, enabling rapid iterations and feedback loops.
Windows also supports various tools and applications that are integral to agile methodologies, such as Azure DevOps and other collaboration platforms. This integration empowers teams to leverage the full potential of their workflows, ensuring that they can respond swiftly to changing requirements and market conditions. By providing a reliable foundation for software development and operational practices, Windows contributes to the long-term resilience and adaptability of organisations in a fast-paced digital landscape.
The strongest work on Windows — ranked by substance, not recency. How this is ranked
Deploying Windows OS Directly to Production: Then vs Now
Explains how Windows OS updates shifted from infrequent, risky releases to safe, staged rollouts using ring-based deployment and real-time …
Create a Build vNext build definition
Step-by-step guide to creating a Build vNext build definition in Visual Studio Online, covering task setup, options, triggers, variables, …
Installing TFS 2012 with Lab Management 2012
Step-by-step guide to installing and configuring TFS 2012 with Lab Management, including SQL Server, SCVMM integration, troubleshooting, and …
Upgrading from TFS 2008 and WSS v3.0 with SfTSv2 to TFS 2010 and SF 2010 with SfTSv3
Step-by-step guide to upgrading TFS 2008 and WSS v3.0 with SfTSv2 to TFS 2010 and SharePoint 2010, including process template migration and …
Access denied for orchestration plan on Build
Explains how to resolve TFS build errors caused by missing write permissions for the Project Collection Build Service on orchestration …
Use corporate identities with existing VSO accounts
Learn how to enable seamless single sign-on for Visual Studio Online by integrating corporate identities via Active Directory and Azure, …
SSRS vs SCVMM - The Kerberos token dispute
Explains Kerberos authentication issues when SSRS and SCVMM run on the same server with different service accounts, causing SPN conflicts …
TF200035 Sync error for identity with TFS 2010
Details troubleshooting a TF200035 sync error in TFS 2010, covering Active Directory issues, machine account permissions, domain …
TFS 2012 Update 1 - TF255430: the database was partially upgraded during a failed upgrade
Explains how to resolve Team Foundation Server 2012 upgrade failures caused by partial database upgrades, SQL connectivity issues, and …
Create a Build vNext build definition
Step-by-step guide to creating a Build vNext build definition in Visual Studio Online, covering task setup, options, triggers, variables, …
Installing TFS 2012 with Lab Management 2012
Step-by-step guide to installing and configuring TFS 2012 with Lab Management, including SQL Server, SCVMM integration, troubleshooting, and …
Upgrading from TFS 2008 and WSS v3.0 with SfTSv2 to TFS 2010 and SF 2010 with SfTSv3
Step-by-step guide to upgrading TFS 2008 and WSS v3.0 with SfTSv2 to TFS 2010 and SharePoint 2010, including process template migration and …
Mapping your Windows Special Folders to OneDrive for Business - Ultimate Backup
Learn how to sync Windows special folders like Documents and Desktop to OneDrive for Business, ensuring automatic cloud backup and easy …
Moving OneDrive for Business files to a different drive
Step-by-step guide to moving OneDrive for Business files to a different drive in Windows without re-downloading, freeing up space and …
Access denied for orchestration plan on Build
Explains how to resolve TFS build errors caused by missing write permissions for the Project Collection Build Service on orchestration …
Install TFS 2015 today
Step-by-step guide to installing and configuring TFS 2015, including system requirements, installation options, and setup of SQL Server and …
Unable to load task handler PowerShell for task VSBuild
Explains how to resolve the "Unable to load task handler PowerShell for task VSBuild" error in TFS vNext builds, covering PowerShell …
Could not load file or assembly while configuring Build vNext Agent
Explains how to resolve a "Could not load file or assembly" error when configuring Build vNext Agent on Windows Server 2012 R2 with Visual …
A Step-by-Step Guide to Installing TFS 2013 on Windows Server 2012 R2
Learn how to install Team Foundation Server 2013 on Windows Server 2012 R2, covering VM setup, system requirements, domain joining, SQL …
Mastering TFS Installation on a Single Server: A Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners
Learn how to install and configure Team Foundation Server (TFS) on a single server, including SQL Server setup, TFS installation, and …
Mastering Domain Controller Migration: A Step-by-Step Guide to Seamless Active Directory Transfers
Learn how to safely migrate Active Directory roles to a new domain controller, including setup, role transfer, and decommissioning the old …
95 resources, newest first
Deploying Windows OS Directly to Production: Then vs Now
Explains how Windows OS updates shifted from infrequent, risky releases to safe, staged rollouts using ring-based deployment and real-time …
Mapping your Windows Special Folders to OneDrive for Business - Ultimate Backup
Learn how to sync Windows special folders like Documents and Desktop to OneDrive for Business, ensuring automatic cloud backup and easy …
Moving OneDrive for Business files to a different drive
Step-by-step guide to moving OneDrive for Business files to a different drive in Windows without re-downloading, freeing up space and …
Access denied for orchestration plan on Build
Explains how to resolve TFS build errors caused by missing write permissions for the Project Collection Build Service on orchestration …
Install TFS 2015 today
Step-by-step guide to installing and configuring TFS 2015, including system requirements, installation options, and setup of SQL Server and …
Unable to load task handler PowerShell for task VSBuild
Explains how to resolve the "Unable to load task handler PowerShell for task VSBuild" error in TFS vNext builds, covering PowerShell …
Create a Build vNext build definition
Step-by-step guide to creating a Build vNext build definition in Visual Studio Online, covering task setup, options, triggers, variables, …
Could not load file or assembly while configuring Build vNext Agent
Explains how to resolve a "Could not load file or assembly" error when configuring Build vNext Agent on Windows Server 2012 R2 with Visual …
Configure a Build vNext Agent
Learn how to set up a Build vNext Agent for Visual Studio Online or TFS 2015, including prerequisites, VM setup, agent configuration, and …
Join a machine to your azure hosted domain controller
Learn how to connect a machine to an Azure-hosted domain controller by configuring virtual networks, DNS settings, and joining the domain …
Microsoft Surface 3 unable to boot from USB
Explains how to resolve Microsoft Surface 3 boot issues by renaming the USB drive to "BOOTME", a required but undocumented step for …
Configuring a DC in Azure for AAD integrated Release Management
Step-by-step guide to setting up a Domain Controller in Azure for Active Directory integration, including VM creation, configuration, and …
Installing Visual Studio 2015 side by side with 2013 on Windows 10
Step-by-step guide to installing Visual Studio 2015 alongside 2013 on Windows 10, including tips for avoiding common errors and ensuring …
Use corporate identities with existing VSO accounts
Learn how to enable seamless single sign-on for Visual Studio Online by integrating corporate identities via Active Directory and Azure, …
Agility and Windows 10: Upgrading my Surface Pro 2
A first-hand account of upgrading a Surface Pro 2 to Windows 10 Technical Preview, exploring Microsoft’s shift to agile development and …
Install of TFS 2013.3 with SharePoint 2013 on Windows Server 2012 R2 Update 1
Step-by-step guide to installing TFS 2013.3 with SharePoint 2013 on Windows Server 2012 R2, covering prerequisites, configuration, …
Be a kid again and upgrade to Windows Phone 8.1 Developer Preview
Guide to upgrading to Windows Phone 8.1 Developer Preview, including key features, app recommendations, update steps, and known issues for …
Should I upgrade to TFS 2013 Update 2?
Covers new features and upgrade steps for Team Foundation Server 2013 Update 2, including improvements in backlog, test, release, and …
Upgrade your server to Windows Server 2012 R2 Update 1
Step-by-step guide to manually installing Windows Server 2012 R2 Update 1, including required update order, restart tips, and post-update …
Move your Active Directory domain to another server
Learn how to transfer an Active Directory domain to a new server, including moving FSMO roles and the Global Catalogue, to ensure domain …
Mastering Domain Controller Migration: A Step-by-Step Guide to Seamless Active Directory Transfers
Learn how to safely migrate Active Directory roles to a new domain controller, including setup, role transfer, and decommissioning the old …
Mastering TFS Installation on a Single Server: A Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners
Learn how to install and configure Team Foundation Server (TFS) on a single server, including SQL Server setup, TFS installation, and …
A Step-by-Step Guide to Installing TFS 2013 on Windows Server 2012 R2
Learn how to install Team Foundation Server 2013 on Windows Server 2012 R2, covering VM setup, system requirements, domain joining, SQL …
Review Part 3: Two Months with Intel Haswell Harris Beach SDS Ultrabook
Hands-on update after two months using the Intel Haswell Harris Beach SDS Ultrabook, focusing on Windows 8.1 driver fixes, battery life, and …
Issue [ TFS 2013 ] TF255466 A previous update or installation requires a restart
Explains how to resolve the persistent TF255466 error when installing TFS 2013 after SQL Server 2012 SP1, caused by pending reboots and …
Unable to install Visual Studio 2013 RC on Windows 8.1 Preview
Explains why Visual Studio 2013 RC and Team Foundation Server 2013 RC cannot be installed on Windows 8.1 Preview due to .NET version issues, …
Upgrading from the TFS 2013 Preview to TFS 2013 RC
Step-by-step guide to upgrading from TFS 2013 Preview to TFS 2013 RC, covering prerequisites, trial upgrades, installation, configuration, …
Review Part 2: Developing with Intel Haswell Harris Beach SDS Ultrabook
Covers hands-on development with the Intel Haswell Harris Beach SDS Ultrabook, including Windows 8/8.1 compatibility, sensor demos, …
Issue [ TFS 2013 ] You need elevated privileges to install InRelease
Learn how to resolve InRelease 3 installation failures on Team Foundation Server 2013 by running the installer with elevated privileges via …
Windows 8.1 Preview Issue - The update is not applicable to your computer
Explains how to fix the "The update is not applicable to your computer" error when installing Windows 8.1 Preview, including region settings …
Upgrading to Team Foundation Server 2013
Step-by-step guide to upgrading to Team Foundation Server 2013, including backup, installation, configuration, validation, and estimated …
TFS 2012.3 Issue - Scheduled Backups gives a TF400998 when reconfigured
After migrating TFS 2012/2013 servers, Scheduled Backups may fail with TF400998 errors due to outdated server references. Disabling and …
Remote Execute PowerShell against each Windows 8 VM
Explains how to automate running PowerShell scripts on each Windows 8 VM in Hyper-V, including starting VMs, handling credentials, and …
TFS2012.2 - Issue: Object not set to instance of object with TF400898, TF53010 & TF30065
Explains causes and solutions for "Object reference not set to an instance of an object" errors (TF400898, TF53010, TF30065) in TFS 2012.2, …
Lab Management Issue: Enable File and Printer Sharing for Lab Management Standard Environments
Learn how to resolve connectivity issues in Visual Studio Lab Management by enabling File and Printer Sharing on Windows 8 and Windows …
Windows 8 Issue: Unable to connect to the internet with Hyper-V domain joined guest running on WiFi
Fixes internet connectivity issues for Hyper-V domain-joined guests on Windows 8 WiFi by configuring all features in the Network Bridge …
Windows Server 2012 Core for dummies
Step-by-step guide to setting up and managing Windows Server 2012 Core using command-line tools, covering remote access, updates, …
Upgrading to Team Foundation Server 2012 Update 1 in production – DONE
Step-by-step guide to upgrading Team Foundation Server 2012 to Update 1, including prerequisites, backup, disk space, configuration, …
TFS 2012 Update 1 - TF255430: the database was partially upgraded during a failed upgrade
Explains how to resolve Team Foundation Server 2012 upgrade failures caused by partial database upgrades, SQL connectivity issues, and …
TFS 2012 - Issue: Stuck builds in Team Foundation Build with no build number
Explains how to resolve stuck builds in TFS 2012 where no build number is assigned, caused by IIS multiple site bindings, with steps to fix …
Upgrading Windows 7 to Windows 8 remotely over Team Viewer for parents in another country
Step-by-step guide to upgrading a remote Windows 7 PC to Windows 8 using TeamViewer, including tips for handling compatibility, reboots, and …
TFS 2012 Issue: TF255507: The security identifier (SID) for the following SQL Server login conflicts
Explains how to resolve the TF255507 SID conflict error in TFS 2012 caused by server renaming, including SQL commands to fix login issues in …
Install SharePoint 2013 on Windows Server 2012 without a domain
Step-by-step guide to installing SharePoint 2013 on Windows Server 2012 without a domain, including prerequisites, configuration, …
Woops I installed Windows 8 instead of Windows 8 Pro!
Explains how to identify if you installed Windows 8 instead of Windows 8 Pro, the missing features, and how to upgrade to Pro without …
Windows 8 Issue: Local network is detected as public
Explains why Windows 8 may label Hyper-V virtual networks as public, causing connectivity issues, and provides steps to manually set them as …
Office 2013 Issue: There is not enough free memory to run this program in Outlook 2013
Explains causes and solutions for the "not enough free memory" error in Outlook 2013, including disabling shared folder downloads and …
Office 2013 Issue: Installing Office 2013 breaks Visual Studio 2012
Installing Office 2013 on a system with Visual Studio 2012 RC can cause C++ runtime errors. Apply the July 2012 update to resolve …
Installing TFS 2012 with Lab Management 2012
Step-by-step guide to installing and configuring TFS 2012 with Lab Management, including SQL Server, SCVMM integration, troubleshooting, and …
Installing Eclipse on Windows 8 and connecting to TFS 2012
Step-by-step guide to installing Eclipse and the Java Development Kit on Windows 8, then connecting Eclipse to Team Foundation Server (TFS) …
Installing Visual Studio 2010 on Windows 8
Step-by-step guide to installing Visual Studio 2010 on Windows 8 using a virtual machine, including tips for compatibility, performance, and …