Wayne Williams

The Windows Registry is obviously a critical component of the Windows operating system, serving as a hierarchical database that stores low-level settings for the OS and applications. It contains configurations for system hardware, installed software, user preferences, and the OS itself.

You can add new functionality to Windows and change how existing features work by creating new registry keys or altering existing ones, typically changing their binary values from 0 to 1 or vice versa. But have you ever wondered what would happen to Windows if -- in a moment of madness -- you set every registry key to 0? Basically setting them to ‘disabled’ or ‘off'?

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Four months ago, we reported that Microsoft was testing adding long overdue features like spell checking and autocorrect to its Notepad app. You may have been wondering when, or indeed if, this functionality was ever going to come non-Insiders, but the updated Notepad is now quietly rolling out to all users and you likely already have it installed.

Notepad has been a popular tool since its arrival in 1983, acting as a simple, free alternative to the likes of Word, and these new capabilities will be a welcome addition for its fans, especially after Microsoft took the controversial decision to kill off the more capable WordPad recently.

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Identity is paramount for every architecture design, making it crucial for enterprise and solutions architects to understand the benefits and pitfalls of implementing identity patterns.

However, information on cloud identity patterns is generally scattered across different sources and rarely approached from an architect’s perspective, and this is what Cloud Identity Patterns and Strategies aims to solve, empowering solutions architects to take an active part in implementing identity solutions.

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In Practical Artificial Intelligence Programming with Python: From Zero to Hero, veteran educator and photophysicist Dr. Perry Xiao delivers a thorough introduction to one of the most exciting areas of computer science in modern history.

The book demystifies artificial intelligence and teaches readers its fundamentals from scratch in simple and plain language and with illustrative code examples.

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There are lots of ways that you can speed up Windows without performing pricey hardware upgrades, including disabling running processes and features. Windows comes with a handy, lesser-known feature which can boost your system performance by killing off annoying resource hogs you didn’t even know were running.

If you install a lot of software, you’re probably aware that many apps will automatically set themselves to run at login. This may be useful to you, but equally it could be a pain, and consume system resources without your permission, or even your knowledge. You can check to see what’s running using task manager, but there’s a way of being alerted automatically without having to lift a finger.

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October 2025 marks a significant turning point for many Windows users. As Windows 10 receives its last free security updates from Microsoft, the only "free" way to keep Windows secure will be to take the plunge and upgrade to Windows 11. Despite Microsoft's best efforts, many users either don’t want to -- or can’t -- do this. Issues range from a preference for the familiar Windows 10 interface to the more serious matter of hardware incompatibility.

Canalys estimates that 240 million computers worldwide don’t meet Windows 11’s hardware requirements, lacking TPM 2.0, a supported CPU, 4GB RAM, UEFI firmware with Secure Boot capability, or a supported GPU. Leaving a Windows 10 computer unpatched after October 2025 will likely open it up to critical vulnerabilities within the first month, but there are solutions available to keep Windows 10 running securely after end-of-life arrives.

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Unleash the power of cloud computing with Multi-Cloud Handbook for Developers, your guide to mastering the nuances of cloud-native and multi-cloud, covering practical strategies for design, development, and management.

Explore the essential concepts, challenges, and methodologies critical for navigating the complex landscape of modern cloud computing. Using core architectural and design principles (such as microservices and 12-factor architecture) and advanced strategies (such as distributed application design patterns, domain-driven design (DDD), and API-first strategies), you’ll learn how to build portable and efficient apps across various cloud platforms.

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Fresh out of college and with just a year of self-study behind him, Cory Althoff was offered a dream first job as a software engineer for a well-known tech company, but he quickly found himself overwhelmed by the amount of things he needed to know, but hadn’t learned yet. This experience combined with his personal journey learning to program inspired his widely praised guide, The Self-Taught Programmer.

Now Cory's back with another guide for the self-taught community of learners focusing on the foundations of computer science.

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Mastering Linux Administration helps you harness the power of Linux in modern data center management, leveraging its unparalleled versatility for efficiently managing your workloads in on-premises and cloud environments.

In this second edition, you’ll find updates on the latest advancements in Linux administration. Starting with Linux installation on on-premises systems, this book helps you master the Linux command line, files, packages, and filesystems.

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In AI-Driven Project Management: Harnessing the Power of Artificial Intelligence and ChatGPT to Achieve Peak Productivity and Success, veteran IT and project management advisor Kristian Bainey delivers an insightful collection of strategies for automating the administration and management of projects.

In the book, the author focuses on four key areas where project leaders can achieve improved results with AI's data-centric capabilities: minimizing surprises, minimizing bias, increasing standards, and accelerating decision making.

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Stepping into the role of a Cybersecurity Architect (CSA) is no mean feat, as it requires both upskilling and a fundamental shift in the way you view cybersecurity altogether.

Cybersecurity Architect’s Handbook is an all-encompassing guide, introducing the essential skills for aspiring CSAs, outlining a path for cybersecurity engineers and newcomers to evolve into architects, and sharing best practices to enhance the skills of existing CSAs.

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Learn the art of writing effective AI prompts and break into an exciting new career field.

Writing AI Prompts For Dummies, is a comprehensive guide that will teach you how to confidently write effective AI prompts so you can unlock the full power of generative AI.  Whether it's text, images, or even videos and music you're aiming to create, this book provides the foundational knowledge and practical strategies needed to produce impressive results.

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Microsoft is busy introducing AI functionality across Windows 11. That's great, but a lot of users would prefer to see an operating system that’s more user-friendly and lets you customize it as you see fit.

The tech giant has a history of not necessarily following expected naming conventions -- whatever happened to Windows 9? -- so this look at an OS that’s Windows 13, not Windows 12, perhaps shouldn’t seem too outlandish.

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For those who need the show as well as the tell, Teach Yourself VISUALLY Microsoft 365 is the visual walkthrough to Microsoft’s latest suite of office products that will get you up-to-speed faster than any other resource on the market.

This book offers image- and screenshot-rich tutorials alongside step-by-step instructions so you can see what you need to do to make the most of Microsoft 365.

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At its WWDC yesterday, Apple unveiled its first major foray into modern artificial intelligence, or "Apple Intelligence" as it prefers to call it.

The company may have been slow to adopt the technology, but it’s now going all-in. Apple Intelligence will be baked into the upcoming iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sequoia, offering new writing tools for rewriting, proofreading, and summarizing text across apps, Genmoji for personalized emojis, and a significantly improved Siri.

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