Tag: Windows

  • Windows 11 Installation

    Last Updated 26 August 2026

    The procedure for installing Windows is constantly changing and the current Windows 11 installation requires the PC to be connected to the Internet and a Microsoft Account. To install Windows 11 as standalone PC with a local account and also enable access to shared drives has become a quite complicated.

    Windows 11 Installation and Enabling Access to Shared Drives Overview

    The last version of Windows 11 that can be configured to access shared drives without having to enter usernames and passwords each time is version 22H2. Unfortunately version 22H2 has now reached end of life and cannot be updated to the latest version via Windows Update, so the procedure for getting Windows 11 up and running has become quite complicated.

    • If it’s a new PC with Windows 11 pre-intalled, set the PC up and connect it to the Internet
    • Power up the PC and follow the onscreen instructions to install Windows 11 ( Installation will require a Microsoft account )
    • Use Double Driver to create a backup of the PC’s device drivers and copy them to USB flashdrive
    • Use Rufus to create a Windows 11 22H2 local user installation flashdrive
    • Disconnect the PC from the Internet and do a clean install of Windows 11 22H2
    • Check for missing device drivers and if nessary install any missing drivers from the Double Driver backup
    • Use RegEdit to fix Shared Drive Access
    • Use Rufus to create a Windows 11 local user installation flashdrive using the latest version of Windows 11
    • Update the PC to the latest version of Windows 11
    • Check that Shared Drives is working

    Pre-Installed Windows 11 Installation


    This will will configure the hard drive and install Windows 11. Use Double Driver to create a backup of the device drivers.

    • Set the PC up and connect it to the Internet
    • Power the PC up and follow the onscreen instructions
    • Select – Set up for Personal Use
    • Select – Set up as new PC
    • Say ‘No’ to all of the offers and options which collect data
    • Windows installation will now complete
    • Run Windows Update
    • Run Dell Command Update to install Dell updates
    • Open Device Manager and check for missing drivers
    • Create a backup of the device drivers using Double Driver
    • Copy the device driver backup to a USB flash drive

    Windows 11 22H2 Local User Install

    • Use Rufus to create a local user Windows 11 22H2 installation USB flash drive
    • Disconnect the PC from the Internet (Disconnect the LAN cable)
    • Plug in the Windows 11 installation USB flash drive
    • Power up the PC and repeatedly press F12 to bring up the boot menu
    • Select the Windows 11 installation USB flash drive
    • Follow the onscreen instructions
    • Select Custom Install to keep nothing and overwrite the previous installation
    • Windows installation will now complete
    • Open Device Manager and check for missing drivers
    • If nessesay, install any missing drivers from the Double Driver backup

    Shared Drive Access – Registry Change

    • Open the Run command by Pressing windows + R
    • Enter regedit and press enter
    • Navigate to the following path:
      Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows
    • Expand the Windows Registry Key and look for the LanmanWorkstation registry key. If it’s not already there, you will need to create it
    • Right click on the Windows registry key
    • Choose New > Key and name the key as LanmanWorkstation
    • Click on the LanmanWorkstation registry key
    • From the right-hand window right click and choose New > DWORD 32 bit Value and name it AllowInsecureGuestAuth
    • Double click on the AllowInsecureGuestAuth DWORD and set the value to 1
    • Close Regedit
    • Restart the PC
    • Connect the PC to the network
    • Check that Shared Drive access is working

    Set Password to Never Expire

    • Press Win + R, type lusrmgr.msc, and hit Enter
    • Click on Users in the left-hand menu
    • Under the General tab, check the box that says Password never expires
    • Click Apply and then OK

    Update Windows 11 to the Latest Version

    • Download the ISO for the latest version of Windows 11
    • Use Rufus to create a local user Windows 11 installation USB flash drive
    • Plug in the Windows 11 installation USB flash drive
    • Open Explorer and click on the USB flash
    • Click on Setup to start the installation
    • Follow the onscreen instructions
    • Windows installation will now complete
    • Open Device Manager and check for missing drivers
    • If nessesay, install any missing drivers from the Double Driver backup
    • Check that Shared Drive access is still working

    Final Tasks
    Before installing user application software, check that all of the Windows 11 and Dell updates installed.

    Windows Updates

    • Settings -> Windows Updates -> Check for Updates
    • Reboot the PC if required
    • Repeat until no more updates are found

    Disk Clean-Up
    Run Disk Clean-Up to tidy up the hard drive and delete the old Windows installations

    • Open Run command by Pressing windows + R
    • Enter disk cleanup and press enter
    • Click on Clean-up system files
    • Select everything
    • Click Ok to delete old versions of Windows

  • Reinstall Windows 10 and Keep Your Personal Files, Apps, and Windows Settings

    Providing a PC is still bootable, and Windows 10 is up and running, you can reinstall Windows 10 from an ISO image file and keep your personal files, apps, and Windows settings. An ISO file, commonly known as ISO image, is an archive file that contains an identical copy or image of data found on an optical disc, such as a CD or DVD.

    Before starting the process, make sure that you have a good backup of all the personal files on the PC.

    Follow the steps below to reinstall Windows 10 using ISO image:

    • Download Microsoft’s media creation tool to create Windows 10 ISO file
      • Open a browser and go to: https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/software-download/windows10
      • Scroll down to ‘Create Windows 10 installation media’
      • Download and run the media creation tool
      • When asked What doi you want to do, select ‘Create installation media (USB flash drive, DVD or ISO file) for another PC’ and click next
      • The options for Language = English, Edition = Windows 10 and Architecture = 64-bit (x64) should be preselected for you
      • Deselect ‘Use the recommended settings for this PC’ and click next
      • ‘Choose which media to use’, select ISO file and click next
      • Choose where to create the ISO file, by default you will be offered the filename ‘Windows’ and Documents folder
      • The download process begins.
    • After downloading the newly-created ISO file, right-click on it and select “Mount” to continue
    • Double-click the Setup.exe file at the root directory
    • Choose the correct option when prompted to “Download and install updates.” Choose the option if your computer is connected to the internet. If not, select “Not right now.” Click “Next” to continue
    • Click on “Change what to keep” in the subsequent popup window
    • Choose the option to “Keep personal files, apps, and Windows settings”
    • Click “Next” to install Windows 10
    • At the end of the installation process , the PC will reboot and return to the Desktop

    The media creation tool will take around 10-15mins, the Windows 10 installation should take less than an hour.

  • Windows 10 – Block Update to Windows 11

    The automatic update from Windows 10 to Windows 11 can be blocked by changing some registry keys.

    Be careful while using the Registry Editor, if you change the wrong key, you can mess up your system.

    It is very important to keep your system updated, always check for updates on Windows Update.

    Now follow these instructions to block Windows 11 Update:

    • Right Click the Start Menu and select “Run”
    • Type regedit and press Enter
    • On the Registry editor window, go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate
      (You can copy and paste the address on the address bar)
      If you can’t find the Windows Update key, go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows, right click > New > Key , and name it WindowsUpdate
    • On the right side of the screen, right click > New > DWORD (32-bit) > and name it TargetReleaseVersion, double click it and set Value Data to 1
    • Again on the right side of the screen, right click > New > String Value > and name it ProductVersion , double click it and set Value Data to Windows 10
    • Again on the right side of the screen , right click > New > String Value > and name it TargetReleaseVersionInfo , double click it and set Value Data to 21h2

    A TargetedReleaseVersion is a group policy introduced with Windows 10 version 1803. If you specify a TargetReleaseVersion as the current Version, Windows 10 will remain on this release until it reaches the end of service. This would, hence blocking the Windows 11 update. The first command enables the policy, and the second specifies the target version.

  • Windows – Shortcut Keys

    Keyboard shortcuts are keys or combinations of keys that provide an alternative way to do something that you’d typically do with a mouse.

    Copy, paste, and other general keyboard shortcuts
    Windows logo key keyboard shortcuts
    Command Prompt keyboard shortcuts
    Dialog box keyboard shortcuts
    File Explorer keyboard shortcuts
    Virtual desktops keyboard shortcuts
    Taskbar keyboard shortcuts
    Settings keyboard shortcuts

  • Windows – Settings keyboard shortcuts

    Keyboard shortcuts are keys or combinations of keys that provide an alternative way to do something that you’d typically do with a mouse. More shortcut keys.

    Press this keyTo do this
    Windows logo key  + IOpen settings.
    BackspaceGo back to the settings home page.
    Type on any page with search boxSearch settings.

  • Windows – Taskbar keyboard shortcuts

    Keyboard shortcuts are keys or combinations of keys that provide an alternative way to do something that you’d typically do with a mouse. More shortcut keys.

    Press this keyTo do this
    Shift + click a taskbar buttonOpen an app or quickly open another instance of an app.
    Ctrl + Shift + click a taskbar buttonOpen an app as an administrator.
    Shift + right-click a taskbar buttonShow the window menu for the app.
    Shift + right-click a grouped taskbar buttonShow the window menu for the group.
    Ctrl + click a grouped taskbar buttonCycle through the windows of the group.

  • Windows – Virtual desktops keyboard shortcuts

    Keyboard shortcuts are keys or combinations of keys that provide an alternative way to do something that you’d typically do with a mouse. More shortcut keys.

    Press this keyTo do this
    Windows logo key  + TabOpen Task view.
    Windows logo key  + Ctrl + DAdd a virtual desktop.
    Windows logo key  + Ctrl + Right arrowSwitch between virtual desktops you’ve created on the right.
    Windows logo key  + Ctrl + Left arrowSwitch between virtual desktops you’ve created on the left.
    Windows logo key  + Ctrl + F4Close the virtual desktop you’re using.

  • Windows – File Explorer keyboard shortcuts

    Keyboard shortcuts are keys or combinations of keys that provide an alternative way to do something that you’d typically do with a mouse. More shortcut keys.

    Press this keyTo do this
    Alt + DSelect the address bar.
    Ctrl + ESelect the search box.
    Ctrl + FSelect the search box.
    Ctrl + NOpen a new window.
    Ctrl + WClose the active window.
    Ctrl + mouse scroll wheelChange the size and appearance of file and folder icons.
    Ctrl + Shift + EDisplay all folders above the selected folder.
    Ctrl + Shift + NCreate a new folder.
    Num Lock + asterisk (*)Display all subfolders under the selected folder.
    Num Lock + plus (+)Display the contents of the selected folder.
    Num Lock + minus (-)Collapse the selected folder.
    Alt + PDisplay the preview panel.
    Alt + EnterOpen the Properties dialog box for the selected item.
    Alt + Right arrowView the next folder.
    Alt + Up arrowView the folder that the folder was in.
    Alt + Left arrowView the previous folder.
    BackspaceView the previous folder.
    Right arrowDisplay the current selection (if it’s collapsed), or select the first subfolder.
    Left arrowCollapse the current selection (if it’s expanded), or select the folder that the folder was in.
    EndDisplay the bottom of the active window.
    HomeDisplay the top of the active window.
    F11Maximize or minimize the active window.

  • Windows – Command Prompt keyboard shortcuts

    Keyboard shortcuts are keys or combinations of keys that provide an alternative way to do something that you’d typically do with a mouse. More shortcut keys.

    Press this keyTo do this
    Ctrl + C (or Ctrl + Insert)Copy the selected text.
    Ctrl + V (or Shift + Insert)Paste the selected text.
    Ctrl + MEnter Mark mode.
    Alt + selection keyBegin selection in block mode.
    Arrow keysMove the cursor in the direction specified.
    Page upMove the cursor by one page up.
    Page downMove the cursor by one page down.
    Ctrl + Home (Mark mode)Move the cursor to the beginning of the buffer.
    Ctrl + End (Mark mode)Move the cursor to the end of the buffer.
    Ctrl + Up arrowMove up one line in the output history.
    Ctrl + Down arrowMove down one line in the output history.
    Ctrl + Home (History navigation)If the command line is empty, move the viewport to the top of the buffer. Otherwise, delete all the characters to the left of the cursor in the command line.
    Ctrl + End (History navigation)If the command line is empty, move the viewport to the command line. Otherwise, delete all the characters to the right of the cursor in the command line.

  • Windows – Dialog box keyboard shortcuts

    Keyboard shortcuts are keys or combinations of keys that provide an alternative way to do something that you’d typically do with a mouse. More shortcut keys.

    Press this keyTo do this
    F4Display the items in the active list.
    Ctrl + TabMove forward through tabs.
    Ctrl + Shift + TabMove back through tabs.
    Ctrl + number (number 1–9)Move to nth tab.
    TabMove forward through options.
    Shift + TabMove back through options.
    Alt + underlined letterPerform the command (or select the option) that is used with that letter.
    SpacebarSelect or clear the check box if the active option is a check box.
    BackspaceOpen a folder one level up if a folder is selected in the Save As or Open dialog box.
    Arrow keysSelect a button if the active option is a group of option buttons.