Windows 10

Windows 10 is the latest operating system available from Microsoft. This category of posts is related to Windows 10 Device Management perspective.

Windows 10X is a new version of the Windows 10 operating system initially designed for dual-screen devices. Mainly for Microsoft’s upcoming Surface Neo. I think eventually this operating system Windows 10X shall be available for Surface Laptops and other surface devices. Yes, Windows 10X is the future Windows for all the Windows supported hardware (New Hardware).

Free Tool to Backup and Restore Windows 10

I have explained how to Install Veeam Agent for Windows, How to Create Recovery Media for Windows 10, and How to install Veeam Agent license in the previous post. I would recommend reading that post to get more details about the product.  In this post, you will see how to take backup of Windows 10 machine and How to Restore Windows 10 Backup.

Define What Data to Backup and Configure the Backup Job

Before you configure backup Windows 10 job, you should decide the following:

  1. Windows 10 Backup Scope – Entire Computer Image, Specific Windows 10 Volume (C drive, D Drive, etc.), or Specific Folder  (Restore Windows 10 Backup)
  2. Windows 10 Backup Destination – Where you want to store Windows 10 created backup 
  3. Windows 10 Backup Schedule – How often you want to take backup of Windows 10 device

What is the Windows 10 Backup Destination Location

Windows 10 backups created with Veeam Agent for Microsoft Windows free tool. Installation of Windows 10 free backup tool is explained in the previous post here. The Windows 10 backup can be saved to one of the following locations:

  1. Removable storage device
  2. Local computer drive
  3. Network shared folder
  4. Backup repository managed by a Veeam backup server
  5. Cloud repository managed by a Veeam Cloud Connect service provider
  6. Microsoft OneDrive (Recommended option in my point of view)

You can backup Windows 10 device to Microsoft OneDrive, and that is best and recommended option for me.  You cannot save the backup of entire Window s10 computer on the local computer disk.  Veeam Agent for Microsoft Windows does not back up data to which symbolic links are targeted. Restore Windows 10 Backup options are explained in the below section.

Types of Windows 10 Backup Options with Veeam Agent for Windows

In this section, you will explore the types of Windows 10 backup options. As I explained in the above video, I have used an entire computer image option to take Windows 10 backup.

  1. Volume-Level Backup
  2. File-Level Backup (Slowest)
  3. System State Data Backup (Fastest)

The entire Windows 10 image backup will back up your entire computer image for a fast recovery on any level. Deleted, temporary and Windows 10 page files are automatically excluded from the image to reduce the backup size. Restore Windows 10 Backup options are explained in the below section.

Launch Configure Veeam Agent for Windows Backup Wizard

In this section, you will see how to configure a Windows 10 backup task. The following steps will help you to launch a Veeam agent for Windows:

  1. From the main menu, select All Programs > Veeam > Configure Backup
  2. Or use the Microsoft Windows search to find the Configure Backup option on your Windows 10 computer

I would recommend completing the Veeam backup configuration wizard as I explained the above video.  Select the check mark “Run the job when I click finish” to start the Windows 10 backup process. The restore Windows 10 Backup options are explained in the below section.

Processes Involved in Windows 10 Backup Process – Veeam Agent Microsoft Windows

Veeam agent home page will provide you with the process of the Windows 10 backup process. The backup or restore point creation took 2:40 hours to backup 980 GB SSD Windows 10 device.  Veeam agent for Windows created 480 GB backup.  The Windows 10 restore points are created on external hard disk.

The following processes are completed during the Windows 10 backup task:

  1. Initializing
  2. Preparing for backup
  3. Creating VSS snapshot
  4. Calculating digests
  5. Getting a list of local users
  6. EFI system partition (disk 0) (260.0 MB) 260.0 MB read at 247 MB/s
  7. Local Disk (C:) (952.6 GB) 30.6 GB read at 94 MB/s
  8. Local Disk (C:) (952.6 GB) 730.6 GB read at 82 MB/s
  9. Windows RE tools (disk 0) (860.0 MB) 860.0 MB read at 125 MB/s
  10. Saving GuestMembers.xml
  11. Finalizing
  12. Truncating transaction logs
  13. Truncating SQL server transaction logs
  14. Processing finished at 24-11-2018 19:29:45 

Restore Windows 10 Backup options – Veeam Agent for Microsoft Windows

The restore Windows 10 Backup options are explained in this section. Once you finish the backup task for Windows 10 device, you can restore files or volumes from restore points. When you stored the backup in the external hard disk, ensure that the hard disk with a valid backup of your Windows 10 machine is connected and accessible.

The following steps will help you restore files as I shown in the above video:

  1. In Windows 10 Explorer, browse to the backup target and find a VBK or VBM file in the backup chain.
    Double-click the VBK or VBM file
  2. In the displayed window, select a restore point from which you want to restore the file
  3. Click Open
  4. Veeam Agent for Microsoft Windows will display the backup file content in the Veeam Backup browser
  5. Locate the file you want to restore, right-click it and select Restore >
  6. Select Overwrite or keep the option
  7. The file will be restored to its original location on your Windows 10 device

Resources:

Veeam Agent for Windows Restore Process – https://helpcenter.veeam.com/docs/agentforwindows/userguide/howto_restore_files.html?

Veeam Agent for Windows Backup Configuration Process –  https://helpcenter.veeam.com/docs/agentforwindows/userguide/backup_job_create.html?

Tool to Create Windows 10 1809 Recovery Media

In this post, I’m going to introduce you to a tool which can be used to safeguard your Windows 10 devices. Have you seen boot failure issues with Windows 10 and server devices? You can use this tool to boot the Windows 10 and server 2016 devices from pre-created recovery media and recover the data. Windows 10 Recovery media can be created a tool called Veeam agent for Microsoft Windows.

Why is Windows 10 Recovery Media Important?

The Windows 10 recovery media or image can be helpful if one of the following errors occur:

  1. The Windows 10 on the computer fails to start or boot
  2. The Windows 10 computer is blocked with malware, and you cannot get access to your data
  3. When you want to perform a bare-metal restore from the backup on the computer without the  Windows 10 and other software installed
  4. When you want to restore the Windows 10 system volume of the computer

Veeam Agent for Microsoft Windows

You can create Windows 10 recovery media using Veeam agent for Windows.  In case of a disaster, you can start the Windows 10 OS from the Veeam Recovery Media and use Veeam Agent for Microsoft Windows and standard Microsoft Windows tools to diagnose and fix problems.

This tool can be used for creating recovery media for the following Windows operating systems:

  1. Windows 7 SP1
  2. Windows 8.x
  3. Windows 10
  4. Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1
  5. Windows Server 2012
  6. Windows Server 2012 R2
  7. Windows Server 2016

In this video post, I installed Veeam agent for Windows in Windows 10 1809 machine and created a recovery media.

Download Veeam Agent for Microsoft Windows?

Download the free version of Veeam agent for Microsoft Windows and use it for desktop and laptops. Also, there is an option for you to try the trial version of FULL Veeam agent for Microsoft Windows for 30 days.

  1. Free Veeam Agent for Windows Desktop and Laptops (Windows 10)
  2. Thirty (30) Days trail Veeam Agent for Windows Workstations & Servers

Download the Free version of Veeam agent for Windows 10 backup and recovery from the following link:

https://www.veeam.com/windows-backup-download.html

Install Veaam Agent for Microsoft Windows

Install Veeam backup and recovery agent for Windows 10. You can use this agent to create Windows 10 recovery media. The installation process is straightforward, and the installer itself install the other dependant required software. List of prerequisite software are:

  1. .NET Framework 4.5.2
  2. SQL Server 2012 Express LocalDB Edition
  3. SQL Server 2012 Management Objects
  4. SQL Server System CLR Types

As you can see in the above video, the installation is straightforward. Veeam agent for Windows V2.2 is compatible with Windows 10 1809 version.

Create Windows 10 Recovery Media – Veeam Agent for Windows

As I mentioned above, Veeam Agent for Windows can be used to create recovery media for server and desktop operating systems like Server 2012, 2016, etc. In this video post, I’m going to explain how to create recovery media for Windows 10 1809.

I used the four (4) GB USB drive to create the recovery media for Windows 10 1809 machine. You can create a recovery image on different kinds of media:

  1. Removable storage devices such as USB drives or SD cards
  2. CD/DVD/BD
  3. ISO images on local or external computer drives

How to Launch – Veeam Agent for Windows to Create Recovery Media?

Once you install Veeam agent for Microsoft Windows, you can launch “Create Recovery Media” shortcut from Windows 10 Start Menu – Veeam folder.

Drivers required to run hardware and devices on your Windows 10 computer will be added to recovery media. Also, network and wireless network drivers will be added to the media. There is an option to add additional drivers from a network folder into Windows 10 recovery media using Veeam Agent for Microsoft Windows.

Default Folder Path – C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Veeam\Tools

Windows 10 Recovery Media

Steps – Windows 10 Recovery Media – Veeam Agent for Windows

The following are the high-level steps involved in the creation of Windows 10 recovery media using Veeam agent for Microsoft Windows. As I mentioned above, I used four GB USB drive to create the recovery media.

Note – The all the data in the USB media will be erased while creating the recovery media.

  1. Mounting Recovery Environment Image
  2. Copying Veeam Recovery Environment Files
  3. Adding the .NET Framework
  4. Adding Wireless networking support files
  5. Adding System Drivers
  6. Adding Internet Browser
  7. Copying Boot Files
  8. Unmounting Recovery Image
  9. Preparing USB Disk
  10. Copying Data to USB Disk
  11. Recovery Media Has Been Created

How to Boot Windows 10 device with USB Recovery Media

Plug in the Windows 10 recovery media created with Veeam agent for Microsoft Windows and the select the option to boot the Windows device from USB media.

There are several options given in the Veeam Recovery Media for Windows 10. I have explained most of them in details in the above video tutorial.

Resource

Veeam Agent https://www.veeam.com/veeam_agent_windows_2_2_release_notes_rn.pdf

PWA Windows Desktop And Mobile Experience – https://howtomanagedevices.com/pwa-windows-desktop/

PWA Windows Desktop and Mobile Experience

PWA is Progressive Web Application.  https://howtomanagedevices.com is my new blog and this blog is PWA enabled website. This blog is more for video blogs than text content. In this video post, you will see PWA Windows Desktop video experience. I will also cover PWA iOS and Android Mobile experience.

Google announced Desktop progressive web apps support for Chrome 70 or later. Once your website is PWA enabled, it (web site) can be ‘installed’ on the user’s device much like native apps. They’re fast.

PWA Windows Desktop apps provide more integrated, reliable experience because they launched in the same way as other apps, and run in an app window, without an address bar or tabs.

Advantages – PWA Windows Desktop

  • Fast
  • Integrated
  • Reliable
  • Engaging

PWA for Windows Devices

In this section, you will see how to install app (PWA) on Windows 10 desktop using Chrome 70 or later. PWA Windows Desktop experience is exaplained also in the video tutorial above.

  • Update your Chrome version to 70 or later on Windows 10 device
  • Launch (Re Launch) Chrome
  • Open https://howtomanagedevices.com or anyother PWA enabled website
  • Click options button as you can in the below picture
  • Click on Install “How to Manage Devices” button. How To Manage Devices is the name which I provided for this website.
  • Click on Install button from Install App popup
  • Launch the Desktop or Start menu shortcut to launch the PWA Windows Desktop app for HowToManageDevices blog
PWA Windows Desktop and Mobile Experience 3
Click on Install How To Manage Devices option
PWA Windows Desktop and Mobile Experience 4
Click on Install Button from Install App popup 
PWA Windows Desktop and Mobile Experience 5
Here is the PWA Windows Desktop Experience

PWA for iOS Devices

The following are the steps which we need to follow to get PWA iOS experience for you. The PWA Windows Desktop experience is different from this iOS experience. You can use Safari (default browser) on your iOS device.

  • Launch Safari
  • Go to https://howtomanagedevices.com (any website which is PWA enabled)
  • Click on Share button
  • Click on Add to Home Screen button
  • Click on ADD button
  • Click on App button  (HTMD) created on your iOS home screen
PWA Windows Desktop
Click on SHARE button from Safari Browser
PWA Windows Desktop and Mobile Experience 6
Click on Add to Home Screen Button
PWA Windows Desktop and Mobile Experience 7
Click on Add button to add PWA app to home page
PWA Windows Desktop and Mobile Experience 8
Click on the How To Manage Devices (HTMD) Icon
PWA Windows Desktop
PWA Windows Desktop and Mobile Experience 17

PWA Android Experience

PWA Android Experience is better than iOS and PWA Windows experience of obvious reasons.  The following are the steps which we need to follow to get PWA iOS experience for you. I have a video which explains PWA Windows Desktop experience.

  • Launch Chrome browser
  • Launch the PWA enabled website
  • Click options button from chrome browser
  • Click on Add to Home Screen option
  • Click on Add button from the popup
  • Click OK on the next pop screen
  • Click on PWA app (HTMD) icon from home screen
PWA Windows Desktop
Click on Add to Home Screen option
PWA Windows Desktop
Click on ADD button from popup
PWA Windows Desktop
Click on OK button
PWA Windows Desktop
Launch PWA (HTMD) icon from Home Screen

Resources

Who helped me to design PWA enabled blog ? https://kloudboy.com/

Delete Azure AD Devices – AAD Device Management

Azure Active Directory is an identity solution from Microsoft. But Azure AD helps to perform device management actions also. Most organizations use Intune to manage AAD devices. In this video, you will learn how to delete Azure AD Devices.

The Devices registed to Azure AD are visible in Azure portal. You can login to Azure portal with Azure AD admin privileges to delete devices from there. You can also delete Azure AD devices if you have Intune Administrator access.

How to Get Devices into Azure AD Management?

You have two options to get a device under the Azure AD Management.

  • 1.Registering – iOS, Android, and Windows
  • 2.Joining – Windows

In bith the above scenarios Azure AD devices can be managed by MDM Solution like Intune. Registering a device to Azure AD enables you to manage a device’s identity. When a device is registered, Azure AD device registration provides the device with an identity that is used to authenticate the device when a user signs-in to Azure AD. You can use the identity to enable or disable a device. You can also Delete Azure AD devices and remove their identities from AAD.

Delete Azure AD Devices

How To Disable an Azure AD Devices

  • Login to Azure Portal with required permissions
  • Go to Azure Active Directory blade in Azure portal
  • Select All Devices option
  • Search the devices with Device Name or You can search with User Name
  • Select one device and click on Disable button as shown in the above video

How To Delete Azure AD Devices

  • Login to Azure Portal with required permissions
  • Go to Azure Active Directoty blade in Azure portal
  • Select All Devices option
  • Search the devices with Device Name or You can search with User Name
  • Select one device and click on DELETE button as shown in the above video

Resource

Learn How to Delete or Disable Devices from Azure Active Directory

What is device management in Azure Active Directory?