Tag Archives: windows 10

Windows 10 Creators Update

Microsoft Windows Client, ,

creators

Overview

2016 brought us the Anniversary Update to Windows 10. Now early 2017 brings us the Creators Update. This update targets the creative types, supposedly. I say this because adding 3D Paint to the existing Microsoft Paint application really seems to be the extent of that, and that is pretty lame.

When You Get It

I am testing the update for you here as a Microsoft Insider. You can download the update for yourself on or after April 11, 2017.

The Enhancement

Here is the full list of feature enhancements in this update:

  • Privacy Dashboard – this Web-based interface is now part of your Microsoft account screen online and permits you to control Privacy settings all from one location
  • Game Mode – places Windows into an operational mode that is optimized for games; found in an Xbox icon in settings
  • Paint 3D – a new built in painting app
  • Windows 10 Holographic Shell – this enables VR (particularly the HoloLens) to function with Windows 10 right out of the box
  • Windows Updates improvements – for example, Pro, Enterprise, and Education users can now delay updates for a time period; Home edition users are now the only test candidates! 🙂
  • Dynamic Lock – walk away from your PC and it can dynamically lock; this trick is done using Bluetooth to your phone
  • Cortana improvements – this feature gets smarter all the time of course, most noticeable in this update is the scheduling of monthly reminders; she can also help with Setup now, and will suggest things better as you type
  • E-books – the Windows Store is picking up an e-books section and the Edge Browser now serves as a Reader
  • Edge improvements – tab previews, set-aside tabs, and Microsoft Wallet all arrive in the browser
  • Start menu folders
  • New display settings – including a night mode
  • New Touchpad and Surface Dial settings 
  • Windows Defender improvements 
  • Bug fixes – (duh)

InformIT (Pearson Education)

Windows 10 Performance Metrics

Microsoft Windows Client, ,

Performance Monitor

We are all impressed by the Performance Monitor capabilities in Windows 10 – but come on – what should we really be monitoring in there? And what are acceptable values? This list is compiled from the excellent text Exam Ref 70-698 Installing and Configuring Windows 10. I of course included this information in my course at CBT Nuggets in the Nugget on Troubleshooting Windows 10 Performance.

  • LogicalDisk – % Free Space
    • Greater than 15%
  • PhysicalDisk – % Idle Time
    • Greater than 20%
  • PhysicalDisk – Avg. Disk Sec/Read
    • Less than 25 ms
  • PhysicalDisk – Avg. Disk Sec/Write
    • Less than 25 ms
  • PhysicalDisk – Avg. Disk Queue Length
    • Should not be larger than 2 times the number of physical disks
  • Memory – % Committed Bytes in Use
    • Less than 80%
  • Memory – Available Mbytes
    • Greater than 5% of total RAM
  • Processor – % Processor Time
    • Less than 85%
  • System – Processor Queue Length
    • Should be more than twice the number of CPUs
  • Network Interface – Output Queue Length
    • Less than 2