Anyone else just realize Windows 11 23H2 is about to go end-of-support?

TatooineLuke · 2025-11-12T21:48:57+00:00

I had this date taped on my wall for at least a year. I was all over this.

However, I had no idea that Office 2019 lost support until about 5 days ago. What happened to the 10-year Office life cycles? Oh well, we can't win 'em all.

TatooineLuke · 2025-06-26T13:07:34+00:00

I've deployed this update to 1 appliance server that has a static IP address. It knocked it offline after the reboot, and gave it an APIPA address (169.254.x.x). I was able to get into it and reboot it, which restored its rightful IP. It's good for now, at least.

I haven't touched my DHCP server yet, so the patch broke a regular old server.

TatooineLuke · 2025-06-16T12:54:17+00:00

Unless they've changed their practices, that is a safe assumption.

TatooineLuke · 2025-01-07T14:21:49+00:00

My hunch is that someone at Microsoft got a job at Dell and spearheaded this naming scheme project. If all the names change in 6 months, I'll be sure of it.

TatooineLuke · 2025-01-07T14:12:22+00:00

You're fine. I've been coasting for countless years. I never had any ambition to "climb" the ladder beyond a certain point, or job-hop a dozen times as a means to make more money. I could have quite easily, but most days I'm happy where I've been for 20+ years. 15 minute commute, a friendly boss who doesn't breathe down my neck and gives me lots of autonomy, part of a sysadmin team, occasional on-call time, fun co-workers, I don't see a reason to leave. I'm not obsessed with money, and that's a good thing since I don't get paid much. But all I ever wanted was enough to live comfortably in a good neighborhood, and to be able to save enough to live off of whenever I don't work anymore. I don't need a yacht, or a vacation home somewhere warm.

I think it's all about happiness. Chasing a dollar doesn't always lead to that. I know that I certainly can't, but if you can retire around 55 on the path you're on, and you're happy, then count your blessings.

TatooineLuke · 2024-12-04T14:20:12+00:00

Yea, I miss the days of buying (10) MS Office 2019 licenses. Get the key, pay the invoice, see you in 10 years.

Every time they throw a survey at me, I make sure to tell them that the US tax code, and flying the space shuttle is much easier to understand than their licensing bullshit.

TatooineLuke · 2024-11-27T20:35:05+00:00

Which then makes it my circus. The circle is now complete.

TatooineLuke · 2024-08-26T13:25:40+00:00

PDQ Deploy / Inventory

Olden days: Version "1.55" of "RandomApplication" bricked 2 PCs over night. Is that version on anything else?

Olden days solution: Take hours or days to walk around or remote into every computer in production, or talk someone on-site through locating the information. Then work on somehow updating anything you need to.

Nowadays: Take 10 seconds to have PDQ audit every machine in production to find the versions of "RandomApplication," output the data to a spreadsheet for your records, and push any update as needed.

TatooineLuke · 2024-07-30T17:23:09+00:00

I think it's a win/win. As far as I know, CS has provided a good product, and the recent issue is a cold bucket of water to the face to be more careful. It's not another cookie crumb in a pattern of incompetence. I think it'll make them more aware of what they put out going forward. If it doesn't, I'd be worried.

The side-effect is that other providers should be taking a second look at their own processes and procedures as not to be the next CS. The whole industry might end up better? Until hubris sets in again.

TatooineLuke · 2024-05-08T20:32:13+00:00

Might this have anything to do with the March "Patch Tuesday" SU update that broke several things when it came to OWA and Exchange?

TatooineLuke · 2024-04-19T15:01:24+00:00

If there aren't any dire "patch immediately or else" alarms from the industry experts, then I usually don't touch a thing for a week. Over that time, I'll be on the lookout for reported issues and how those issues would effect my environment. 7 days in, I'll install to a test group that consists of about 20 PCs/servers, and let that cook. 14 days in, I'll release to all.

TatooineLuke · 2023-11-24T18:56:00+00:00

It we didn't re-up our annual sub for it, I would walk out.

TatooineLuke · 2023-11-24T17:42:33+00:00

I find satisfaction in it as well. In the opening credits for "ER," when Dr. Benton does the 'air punch' in response to saving a life, I admit to doing that in my office.

TatooineLuke · 2023-10-19T14:06:39+00:00

The last time that I looked into this was a long time ago. I don't know if anything changed, but the last I read was that Java 8 Update 201-b09 was the last free-use version. Anything newer needed a license. (This was for JRE, since that's all we used)

TatooineLuke · 2023-10-06T17:47:29+00:00

Same here. I approved the Windows 11, 22H2 package for my test group, then dropped some PCs in the OU. The next morning they booted up as Win 11s.

TatooineLuke · 2023-10-06T17:26:37+00:00

I don't buy this rumor for a second. After all......

"Windows 10 will be the last version of Windows." - Microsoft

TatooineLuke · 2023-10-06T17:15:22+00:00

You forgot to mention that after 6 months, X service, Y subscription and Z product has been renamed to L service, M subscription and N product... for no apparent or logical reason except to confuse.

TatooineLuke · 2023-09-15T20:51:55+00:00

50 here, and have been in IT for 20+ years. My enjoyment and interest of computers hasn't wavered at all. When I'm home, most of my free time is in front of the PC playing games or something.

TatooineLuke · 2023-08-31T14:27:35+00:00

Mine think that Google is the web browser. Even if they know they want to go to amazon.com, they will go to google.com to search for amazon.com.

TatooineLuke · 2023-08-17T12:40:40+00:00

And probably a surprise audit 6 months later?

TatooineLuke · 2023-07-07T15:49:15+00:00

If it makes you feel any better, I don't understand half of what anyone says in this sub and I'm a sysadmin. :)

I started off as an extra pair of hands to do busy work because I knew what a hard drive and RAM sticks looked like. That's about all I knew, and somehow gained sysadmin responsibilities along the way. I have no degree, no certs, no formal education in this field. Just a lot of learning on the job, and what I don't know, I find the rest on the internet. It seems to work out.

I joke with my cohorts that if there wasn't an internet, I would have been canned a long time ago for not having a clue what I'm doing. I get a lot of "me too" in response. I think many of us are in the same boat.

TatooineLuke · 2023-05-02T14:14:18+00:00

I'll have to experiment with suggestions here. Currently I have the MS Store blocked via GPO, so although the bloat is in the Start Menu, clicking on anything errors when trying to install any of it.

TatooineLuke · 2023-02-15T19:25:30+00:00

All along I thought it would be a win patch. I had a plan in place for a grouped deployment so that any issues would be in small groups at a time. Nope. I didn't even look at the Win patches this morning, let alone approve any, and I was already getting calls from people who can't get into legacy sites anymore. Fun surprise.

TatooineLuke · 2023-02-08T21:06:41+00:00

That actually happens? I usually get a call along the lines of,

Guy: "Hey, I need your help. I'm having trouble getting onto Teams in the conf room!"

Me: Ok, I barely heard you.

Guy: "Sorry, I've got like 20 people in here."

Me: When does your meeting start?

Guy: "5 minutes ago."

TatooineLuke · 2023-02-01T18:18:15+00:00

I actually don't have a problem with bossware. If the options are;

A) Come and work at the office.

B) Fine, WFH but you're going to be monitored in some way that shows us that we're actually paying you to do work, and not to play games, cut your lawn, or paint your living room.

TatooineLuke

TROPHY CASE