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Questions tagged [windows]

Windows is the brand name for a series of operating systems from Microsoft. Current versions are Windows 10, Windows 11, Windows Server 2016, Windows Server 2019, and Windows Server 2022. Instead of tagging a post "Windows", try to use a tag for a specific version.

Introduction

Windows is a family of operating systems developed by Microsoft. Originally a graphical add-on for Microsoft DOS, Windows is currently the market leader for operating systems on the desktop.

Today there are several branches of Windows:

  • Windows for desktops, notebooks, and tablets
  • Windows Server, for servers
  • Windows IoT, for embedded devices such as point of sale, kiosks, and signage

Tag recommendations

If your question is version-specific, consider using a version-specific tag.

17405 questions
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What is Active Directory Domain Services and how does it work?

This is a Canonical Question about Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS). What is Active Directory? What does it do and how does it work? How is Active Directory organized: Forest, Child Domain, Tree, Site, or OU I find myself explaining some…
MDMarra
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What port should I open to allow remote desktop?

What port(s) should I open/NAT to allow me to use Remote Desktop?
Kjensen
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Is my password compromised because I forgot to hit Enter after ssh username?

I've just tried logging into a Fedora (release 13 Goddard) server using SSH (PuTTY, Windows). For some reason the Enter after typing my username didn't go through and I typed in my password and hit Enter again. I only realized my mistake when the…
Jonas Heidelberg
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8 answers

In Windows, using the command line, how do you check if a remote port is open?

What is a simple way in Windows to test if traffic gets through to a specific port on a remote machine?
Matt
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132
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7 answers

Does Windows have a built-in ZIP command for the command line?

Since Windows Explorer (since at least Windows XP) has some basic support for ZIP files, it seems like there should be a command-line equivalent, but I can't seem to find any sign of one. Does Windows (XP, Vista, 7, 8, 2003, 2008, 2013) ship with a…
Electrons_Ahoy
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14 answers

How do I force sync the time on Windows Workstation or Server?

What is the command to sync a Windows workstation or server to its configured time source?
Kyle Brandt
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127
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10 answers

Can you run Docker natively on the new Windows 10 (Ubuntu) bash userspace?

My understanding was that the primary limitation of running docker on other OSs was the Linux Network containers that made it possible. (Certainly for Macs). Recently Microsoft announced a beta of a Ubuntu linux user mode running natively on…
Hawkeye
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125
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4 answers

How to check if a port is blocked on a Windows machine?

On the Windows platform, what native options to I have to check if a port (3306, for example) on my local machine (as in localhost), is being blocked?
Boris Pavlović
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124
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7 answers

How does CTRL-ALT-DEL to log in make Windows more secure?

When logging into Windows, it says on that page that CTRL-ALT-DEL somehow makes Windows more secure. I have never been able to figure a mechanism where having to press some specific key combination before logging in makes the system more secure. I…
Eddie
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How do I create a symbolic link in Windows?

Windows Vista added the ability to create symbolic links to files and directories. How do I create a symbolic link and what are the current consumer and server versions of Windows that support it?
cowgod
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118
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14 answers

What's the reverse DNS command line utility?

What's the command to find the name of a computer given its IP address? I always forget what this command is, but I know it exists in Windows and I assume it exists on the *nix command-line.
Peter Turner
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114
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6 answers

Where can I find data stored by a Windows Service running as "Local System Account"?

I'm using a service which stores data on disk. The service is running as "local system account". Where is the stored data for that system user? I'm thinking about C:\Documents and Settings\Default User but I'm not sure about that. Can someone…
paulgreg
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113
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8 answers

Best practice: Should I always install a fresh OS for new employees?

I had an argument with a superior about this. Though at first glance the prior user of a laptop only did work in his own documents-folders, should I always install a new OS for the next user or is deleting the old profile enough? The software that…
ExNought
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113
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5 answers

What is this IP address: 169.254.169.254?

I have always noticed an IP something "169.254.x.x" in my routing table even when I am not connected to any network in my Windows operating system. In Linux, when I list my routing table. $ ip route show I get an entry like 169.254.0.0/16 dev eth0…
pradeepchhetri
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112
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How can I tell what version of IIS is installed?

I've got a box running Win2k3 and some directions from Microsoft KB about SSL certificates, for IIS 5.0 and 6.0. How can I tell which version of IIS is currently installed?
jldugger
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