Category: General

The Failures of Board manufacturers and Windows 11

Paul

Motherboards Diversity / SML.20120917.164110.IP3

Motherboard BIOS

Don’t try to understand the system but rather see it as a broke system and try to fix it. When Windows 11 came out, you can bet everyone who was wanted the next version of Windows wanted it so they can test it out.  The real problem is Windows 11 made every one get into their BIOS and figure out what needed to be turned on.  Motherboard manufacturers each have their own way of creating the BIOS settings.   They like to call it something you might not know about or even want to try to understand.   Just like enabling TMP can be hard to find since Intel and AMD uses different wording such as PTT (Intel Platform Trusted Technology) for Intel and fTPM (Firmware Trusted Platform Module)  for AMD.  Even this can be frustrating for even the most seasoned IT guy.   There is so many Mother Manufacturers out there, from MSI to ASRock. according to Wikipedia there is at least 7 to 15 different manufacturers of Motherboards.   So each one will make the Bios Menu’s just a little bit different.  It can be quite hard to figure out where you might need to go to enable something or disable something in bios.

The Failure of all parts

It isn’t every time I see Microsoft releases a new OS that I wonder just how much the consumer will suffer from the new systems requirements.    Most of the time the requirements were not that big of a deal but with Windows 11, we now need to enable TPM and Secure boot for systems that may or may not have the requirements to run Windows 11.   This to me just seem an arbitrary requirement because we’ve seen people run Windows 11 on a system that doesn’t  have  a TPM.   Microsoft says this is for security but I can’t see this being for consumers.  I’ve talked about how Windows 11 will fail, and I still think this will happen eventually once people see If Windows is worth upgrading.

The PrintNightmare

With the recent Windows updates the last few weeks has caused more pain for Microsoft.   Since most people who are having problem probably have to buy new printers and those old printers are probably going to the waste side.   Even manufacturers aren’t going to update their drivers for old printers.  Microsoft likes the idea that people will need to buy new printers and maybe even new systems for that Windows 11 OS.   They make their money by people upgrading their systems and getting a new Windows 11 key or even a new system by Dell, or some other OEM.   Every computer technician is having to work harder for people who might want to install Windows 11.  Even then the process of install Windows 11 is not something that can be done very quickly depending on how big the HDD you are going to be converting.

What is to come?

Some people are not going to install Windows and maybe will wait to see what Microsoft does.  We’ve already seen a comparison from Windows 8 to Windows 10 and you know how well Windows 8 didn’t work out well.   Some are probably going to install another OS that won’t require people to have some stringent requirements like Microsoft.   Are you going to Install Windows 11 or are you waiting like I am because you don’t want to worry about all the security requirements to install Windows 11?   I’d like to hear your ideas about Windows 11 and or what your will do in 2025 if they still require all these things.

Is it worth upgrading to Windows 11?

Paul

Windows 11

Windows 11 is now Available

Microsoft releases Windows 11 last week and people all around have had their opinions from it’s good to not so much like I have said.   It just isn’t worth it right now to upgrade.   You have to worry about encryption of the HDD to having a TPM installed on your system.   All these requirements doesn’t mean it is any safer than before.   I know that Microsoft is preaching how this will help increase security in their OS.   I personally think it is just a lot of hot air, any security that they might think will help, will eventually have some hacker or virus get around.   It is a good idea for the short term but maybe no in the long term.    We’ve seen blogs talk about how it isn’t worth it and others where Microsoft talked about all these things that will come along but have yet not even seen anything on Windows 11.

Upgrade Woes

Even if you wanted to upgrade, you still have to go through a lot of system preparation for you to even upgrade to Windows 11.   You’ll need to enable TPM if you have it and also you will then need to make sure you have UEFI enabled.   This also makes you to turn your hard drive partition from MBR into a GPT to be able to use Windows 11.   This a lot of system just to use Windows 11.   I am hopeful that Microsoft will release a good tool to help you with this issue because I am sure most systems don’t even have GPT being used in Windows 10.   Microsoft has said in the past that you can avoid some of this if you install Windows 11 on a new system because you don’t have to encrypt your hard drive or use TPM.   So downloading Windows 11 might work for some of you but I am little hesitant due to Microsoft saying that may not support them in the future but I don’t see this being the issue because of the security risks involve.

Should you upgrade

This has been the question for most people around the world.   I’ve seen people wonder if they should upgrade.   I say probably not right now, due it being so new.   There are still problems and nothing is that compelling to install Windows 11 unless Microsoft brings on something so compelling that you will want Windows 11.   If they supported DDR5 and helped make the system faster, I am sure it would be something that might compel people to upgrade to Windows 11.   I am sticking with Windows 10 ]until I have to consider upgrading or installing a Linux Distro.   I am going to say just wait and see what happens in the near future.   Only you can really know for sure if you should upgrade.   Are you going to upgrade or are you going to wait?  Why Not leave a comment and tell me what your thoughts are about Windows 11.

How to prepare for the retaking of the Core 1 and Core 2 tests for A+ Certifications 220-1001 and 220-1002

Paul

Exam

Don’t Give up!

IF you have anything to look forward to is that once you complete this test you are closer to getting that job that you want.  I’ve already talked about people failing one or both of the cores for A+ Certifications.   It is bound to happen because we didn’t do something right in the test or we just wasn’t as prepared as we thought we would be.  There is no shame in failing a test, the good news is that we still have time to take it before we have to start over.   According to Certblaster Website the certification for this version will retire on Jan 15, 2022.   That is important information for those who might have passed at least one of the test whether it is core 1 or core 2.   You still have time to pass the ones that you failed at.

How do we get ready for the retake?

This is something I have thought about after failing the first time around and I thought long and hard.  I tried to problem solve how I could know what I needed to study for the retaking of the test.  Here’s what I’ve found out.  I am going to share with you what I have learned and maybe it will help other’s out along the way.

  • Use the score report that you got after taking the test.   At the bottom of the first page it tells you want you missed.  Go back and try to find tests that resemble the ones you missed.  You can use many Different sites such as Examcram to take those practice exam tests or even ExamCompass which is a free site.   Some of them cost money but you can easily find practice exams all over the internet for CompTIA A+ Certifications.
  • Buy Extra CompTIA Books — This is something I did, I went to Barnes and Nobles and bought a CompTIA  A+ Certification Passport.   I am not sure how this will help me but it does after all gives me another perspective that I might gain some insight into the test.
  • Ask yourself what were the more difficult questions that I failed at — This might help to prepare next time around but It doesn’t hurt to be ready for those types of questions because it’ll help with any questions that might be similar in the next test.
  • Give yourself Study Time — This seems to be the best way to pass it the next time around.   Before the test go back and try to do practices exams and read about a week before you are due to take the test and don’t try to cram it in the last minute.   Give yourself enough time to read and try to remember questions that were the hardest.   If you can keep reading and trying to take those practice exams.  You might just well pass the next time around.
  • Get Plenty of sleep the night before — Go to bed early and try to get as much sleep as you can before the test.   Eat a good breakfast that will keep you from feeling hungry while taking the test.  This is something that might help.

Last of the advice

Try to figure out the best time for you to take the test.  If you are a morning person take it in the morning, if you are an evening person take it in the afternoon if you can.   Remember that this test is for you and no one else.   You can take it any day that is the most convenient for you.  Try to avoid distractions to do the test.   Like me, I might not be doing a lot of blogging next week but I will at least do some.    It seemed to work on my Core 2 test which I passed.   These are just what worked for me and I hope they will help you with you retaking the test.  I’ve heard from others who failed one or both of the cores, so I know it’s not just me who failed.   People just seem to have a hard time with getting the certifications.   Do you have any recommendations for others?  Why not leave a comment and tell people how you passed your tests?   Was there something that I missed that you think is important?  Why not leave a comment.

What’s been happening lately for me and Why I didn’t blog last week.

Paul
Picture By Pixabay

A Long Week

Last week I took off from writing due to taking my Core 2 A+ certification. I still have to retake my Core 1 (Passing is 675) but I did pass core 2 last Friday(Yea me!).  I passed Core 2 by 47 points. (Passing is 700 points)   Which If they would add those two scores up and used that for a passing or failing of A+ certification,  I’d have my A+ but no I still have to take Core 1 again and pass that one.  Anyway, the story of this is simple, don’t stop taking those test because you failed the first one.  The Next test you might pass with flying colors.

Start of new Week

As you can see, We had a really busy start off my week.  I found a pattern in Tickets that customers were submitting last week and started to look for the reason why.   The simple reason is that Microsoft screwed up the old printer drivers due to the PrintNightmare Zero-Day.   Along with that, I was told my job has ended and I wasn’t needed anymore.  I personally think this was due to me not passing both tests and they didn’t want to worry about it down the road.  It however isn’t a big deal anyways because it gives me more time to work on getting that Core 1 test done and studying even more to pass it.

Future Plans

This one still in the air and I’m sure I will find a job as a help desk technician or something similar.  It’s not that I didn’t try to pass but it is just rotten luck.  I am sure I’ll find a company who will want my unique skills and want to see me succeed.  I am so ready to start my new career but it can still be difficult to get that first job to get the experience.  Let me hear your experiences with getting that first job.  Did it work out or did you have a difficult time like me getting your foot in the door to get the experience?

 

Windows Update in September causes printing issues in IT Support

Paul

Support Key

Print Nightmare Patch

Microsoft released an update for Windows (KB5005565 , KB5005566, and  KB5005652) that is causing quite some problems with Printers and networking.   There have been reports that I’ve seen of this affecting business and all around.   I’ve seen this in my Job also, Drivers not installing and Windows updates not installing because the drivers isn’t being able to be installed.   Paper sizes and even POS printers not printing due to the Printer spooler being patched by Microsoft.   Bleeping Computers even says that it broke the point to a network printer and is causing issues with people being able to print on the network.

Significant problems

Even I’ve seen the problems that came along with the new update.   The real problem is how to protect the business who need to use their network for business purposes.   What are some ways to do it and keep the business safe?  These are all the questions that need to be answered but as of yet no one knows what the really way to patch the problem associated with the Print Spooler and Print Network.

IT admins have said as much as uninstalling the update resolves most if not all the printer issues they’ve seen the last week or two but that isn’t really suggested by Microsoft due to the Print Nightmare issues and ransomware issues that might arise from it.   All I know is IT admins are left on the side of the road as to how to fix the issue without the patch or if there will be a hotfix now the road to fix the September update.  Either way there isn’t much we can do but wait and see.

Possible ways to Mitigate this issue:

Change your Group Policy Object (GPO) in Active Directory on the target computers on the network to “RestrictDriverInstallationToAdministrators = 0” but than again we are just opening up that hole that Microsoft is trying to close.

Registry add:

reg add “HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows NT\Printers\PointAndPrint” /v RestrictDriverInstallationToAdministrators /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f

Again this will only bypass what Microsoft is trying to close with the vulnerability in Windows point and print issue on the network.   You should be able to start printing after you reboot.   This however isn’t suggested by me or anyone who is looking to keep the printer from being used in a ransomware attack.

Installing V4 drivers instead of V3 Drivers will solve this issue also but some  vendors don’t even have V4 drivers available to install as of yet.  Until they make those drivers available, there isn’t really much we can do about it or even suggest to the business that are having difficulty with the printing issue at hand.

Resources: