Fix missing bluetooth icon on task bar- windows 11

1. Press start key, 

2. type Settings 

3. click Bluetooth & devices 

4. click Devices 

5. click More Bluetooth Settings 

6. click Show the Bluetooth Icon in the 

allow windows update through windows firewall (windows 11)

1. open windows defender firewall

2. click outgoing rules

3. create new rule

    a. select custom

    b. click next button

    c. next to services click customize

    d. select 'apply to this service'

    e. select Windows update (wuauserv)

    f. click ok

    g. click next        

4. Protocols and ports 

    a. select protocol type: TCP

    b. select local port: specific ports

    c. enter: 49152-65535

    d. select remote port: specific ports

    e. enter: 443

    f. click next

5. Scope

a. find Remote IP address

b. select 'these UP addresses'

c. click add button 

d. click 'This IP address of subnet'

e. enter: 20.242.39.171

f. click ok button, 

        (Note this IP address connection was found by observing windows update, and resolves to Microsoft, Datacentre, Chicago. 52.252.180.154 was also noted but update seems to work with only 20.242.39.171, note IP addresses may change in future and these don't seem linked to URLs)

6. Action (General tab):

b. set allow the connection

        b. click next

7. Profile: (tab: Advanced)

a. untick Domain 

b. untick Private 

 (note your external facing connection should be set to public for minimal privileges)

8. Name: give the rule a name 'custom windows update'

    a. click finish

Now try: Setting->Windows update->Check for updates 

You can then toggle this new rule to enabled / disabled the outgoing Windows update connection as needed.

enable developer mode in excel

1. open File 
2. select Options 
3. select Customize Ribbon
4. under Main Tabs
5. select Developer check box.
6. select ok

restoring files from broken USB drive showing as raw partition

 a) If you can still see a raw partition on the usb drive
1. use TestDisk to recover the files

b) The drive is likely unfixable but TestDisk can also restore a partition from raw:
1. https://www.cgsecurity.org/testdisk_doc/repairing_filesystem.html

useful windows edge shortcuts

• ctrl+w close current tab
• ctrl+shift+t reopen last closed tab

windows 11, explorer. change right mouse menu back to default context menu

1. open regedit
2. goto HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\CLASSES\CLSID\
3. make key {86ca1aa0-34aa-4e8b-a509-50c905bae2a2}
4. inside that key make new key InprocServer32
5. double click default, leave blank, 
6. press ok to save it
7. restart windows

No display or USB with KVM

1. check cable connections
2. try with KVM directly powered not passive

Surface Pro 6 and VX4380 not getting 4k external resolution

1.  1. check Display resolution set to 4K
2. 2. check cable connections
3. 3. make sure the mini DP to displayport/hdmi supports 4K
4. 4. try HDMI port 2 on VX4380 for 4K, HDMI port 1 seemed to max FHD. (if using HDMI)
5. 5. try a different cable
6. 6. try eliminating KVM and surface breakout port (if used)

remove signin screen windows 10, 11

1. start
2. netplwiz
3. select the account to use
4. uncheck "Users must enter a username and password to use this computer" 
5. enter username and password of account login as
6. press ok 
7. press apply

windows 10, missing checkbox "Users must enter a username and password to use this computer" on User Accounts screen.

1.  open regedit
2. goto HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\PasswordLess\Device
3. double click: DevicePasswordLessBuildVersion 
4. change from 2 to 0
5. reopen User Accounts screen
6. see checkbox appears "Users must enter a username and password to use this computer" 

windows 11 install offline

1.  On screen : “Let's connect you to a network” 
2. press Shift + F10 
3. command prompt opens
4. type: oobe\BypassNRO
5. return
6. install restarts
7. on screen: “Let's connect you to a network” 
8. "I dont have internet" appears this time
9. press it. 

remove windows 11 lock screen

1.  Press Start
2. Type gpedit.msc
3. press Enter
4. Group Policy Editor opens
5. Click Computer Configuration
6. click Administrative Templates
7. click Control Panel
8. click Personalization.
9. Double-click 'Do not display the lock screen'
10. detailed settings opens
11. press enabled
12. Click OK
13. Restart