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Match “Account Unknown” Profiles to LocalPath/SID (ProfileList Registry) Windows stores the authoritative mapping between a user profile folder (C:\Users\…) and the profile SID in the registry under ProfileList. This method is ideal when the UI shows Account Unknown and you […]
Fix Win10 → Win11 Upgrade Failures (SetupDiag 0x000004E5: Duplicate User Profile SIDs) This procedure resolves in-place upgrade failures (often seen as 0x8024001e / 0x8007001f) caused by a corrupted Windows user profile where multiple SIDs map to a single profile folder. […]
Common SID-Related Security Vulnerabilities In Windows environments, Security Identifiers (SIDs) are the true “keys to the kingdom.” While usernames are for people, SIDs are what the operating system uses to grant access. Here are the primary ways they are exploited: […]
MSI B450M PRO-M2 Chipset Drivers: MSI vs AMD (Which to Install) Motherboard vendors often publish a “validated” chipset package that can lag behind AMD’s upstream release. If you’re choosing between MSI’s posted chipset driver and AMD’s newer official package, this […]
Windows 11: Auto-Download Updates, Notify to Install (No Surprise Restarts) If your PC rebooted after a security update, you’re seeing the downside of Windows Update’s multi-layer scheduling. This post provides two ready-to-run “policy bundles” (one for Windows 11 Home and […]
Windows 11: Automatically Download Updates (No Auto Install) Goal: Windows automatically downloads updates, but does not automatically install them. You’ll get a notification that updates are ready, and you choose when to install/restart. Important Reality Check (Windows 11 behavior) Windows […]
Prevent Automatic Windows Updates & Surprise Restarts (Windows 11/10) If your PC restarted after a security update, the fix is not just one setting. Windows has multiple “layers” that can download updates, install them, and schedule reboots. This guide walks […]
Windows 11 Pro: Remove Cloud Storage + “All the Way” Hardening (Local-Only Workstation) This guide disables OneDrive (policy + uninstall), removes Explorer remnants, moves profile folders back to local storage, minimizes telemetry (to the lowest supported on Pro), disables consumer/ads […]
Windows 11 Pro: Next-Level Hardening (Local-Only Workstation Mode) This guide locks Windows 11 Pro into a low-telemetry, cloud-isolated configuration suitable for professional workstations, labs, and security-conscious environments. Scope: Windows 11 Pro Audience: Sysadmins, engineers, power users Result: Minimal telemetry, no […]
Windows 11 Pro: Remove Cloud Storage (OneDrive) and Lock Down Cloud Features This procedure disables OneDrive via Group Policy (update-resilient), removes the client, cleans up File Explorer, and reduces Windows cloud hooks. Before You Start Applies to: Windows 11 Pro […]