Server Fault Stack Exchange
Server Fault Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [windows]

Windows is the brand name for a series of operating systems from Microsoft. Current versions are Windows 10, Windows 11, Windows Server 2016, Windows Server 2019, and Windows Server 2022. Instead of tagging a post "Windows", try to use a tag for a specific version.

Introduction

Windows is a family of operating systems developed by Microsoft. Originally a graphical add-on for Microsoft DOS, Windows is currently the market leader for operating systems on the desktop.

Today there are several branches of Windows:

  • Windows for desktops, notebooks, and tablets
  • Windows Server, for servers
  • Windows IoT, for embedded devices such as point of sale, kiosks, and signage

Tag recommendations

If your question is version-specific, consider using a version-specific tag.

17602 questions
214
votes
10 answers

How to refresh hosts file without rebooting

On Windows, how do you refresh the hosts file without rebooting?
kakridge
101
votes
11 answers

Windows server last reboot time

How can I find a Windows server's last reboot time, apart from 'net statistics server/workstation'?
Sakthi
53
votes
50 answers

Tools a Windows administrator cannot live without

As a Windows administrator, what tools do you feel you cannot live without?
user1695
52
votes
10 answers

How do I get the MD5 of a file on Windows?

I need to check the MD5 of a few files on Windows. Any recommendations on either a command line or an explorer-plugin utility?
Daniel C. Sobral
  • 5,823
35
votes
2 answers

Why does computer name change require a reboot in Windows?

I understand that changing the host name/computer name for a Windows based machine (Client or Server) requires a reboot. I realize that once a computer name is changed, a pending machine name is stored in the system registry and is applied on next…
Ameer Deen
  • 3,598
30
votes
14 answers

Why does "Loading your personal settings" take forever?

I have come across dozens of user installations of Windows (XP) where, after logging in, the system stays stuck on this screen for a very long time. What are the possible causes? How can I diagnose this? What solutions are there? Are there any…
Henry
  • 463
28
votes
11 answers

What is the best windows tool to capture HTTP traffic?

When you want to capture browser traffic or general windows HTTP traffic what tool do you use?
Omar Shahine
  • 3,749
27
votes
14 answers

Delete file containing invalid characters in windows

I have some files that contain colon character in the filename (eg. 1d67c0d23e859ed4a259749e4a720d9e:default-sink). When I try to remove them from command line with the command: c:\backup> del /F *.* I get "The system cannot find the file…
grom
  • 819
23
votes
2 answers

How much swap is being used on windows?

This seems like a simple question, but I can't find the answer, so maybe I'm the simple one. How can I tell how much of my swap space is being used on Windows Web Server 2008? On Windows Server Standard, it was right up front in Task Manager, but…
Chris Curvey
  • 369
22
votes
2 answers

Huge amount of Standby Memory in Resource Monitor

We have 16GB of memory in our server and I noticed that around 10GB is marked as "standby" memory in the Resource Monitor. Do I need to worry about the big amount of standby memory? Is there a way to control this amount? Is there a way to…
charles
  • 323
22
votes
11 answers

PuTTY alternative on Windows: better saved session organization

I've used PuTTY for years, but alas, my saved session list has grown to the point that the simple alphabetical list is a bit cumbersome. What I'd really like to see is a nested/hierarchical style of saved sessions so that I can say…
gravyface
  • 13,987
20
votes
6 answers

Creating an IT department?

Not sure if this is the best place to ask this, but I could really use some suggestions/advice. I was just hired at a small company (10 employees at corporate, plus about five off-site) that basically has no IT department. I was originally hired to…
Cat
20
votes
5 answers

How is Windows Server different from regular Windows?

I can run IIS on a normal installation, what is so different about windows server?
samoz
  • 2,043
19
votes
12 answers

Looking for a unique GUID to identify a Windows installation

Im looking for a unique GUID stored in the Windows registry that would help me identify a Windows installation or PC. The GUID must; Always exist Be unique to a particular Windows installation, i.e. no other computer would have the same ID Never…
user28967
  • 299
19
votes
13 answers

What are good tools to show disk usage (for Windows)?

I like to use TreeSize and WinDirStat. What else is out there, and why should I use it?
Nathan Bedford
  • 1,134
1
2 3
…
36 37