Tag Archives: Windows 10

Tracking Down AzureAD Device Sign-Ins

I recently needed to track down who had recently used a device bound to AzureAD. We don’t tend to make use of the Primary User field, since our devices tend to be handed out in bulk to large groups of people at once, rather than one-at-a-time. This meant I had to track down who was using which device in a more roundabout method.

To accomplish this, you’ll need to use both Microsoft Graph and Microsoft Endpoint Manager.

Lookup the Device ID

First you’ll need Azure’s device ID for the computer.

Go to https://endpoint.microsoft.com

Click Devices on the left then Windows Devices.

Search for the device you are looking for.

Click on it

In the address bar of the browser, the last part of the URL will be the device ID. Select and copy it.

Query Device Sign-In Information

Now that you have the Device ID, you can lookup the login history using Microsoft Graph.

Go to https://developer.microsoft.com/en-us/graph/graph-explorer

Make sure to sign into graph, or you’ll only see the sample data.

Query type: GET

Version: beta

URL: https://graph.microsoft.com/beta/deviceManagement/managedDevices/[device ID here]

Click Run Query

You’ll only see the first several lines, which probably won’t show the logged on users.

Click the Expand button

Scroll down to where it says usersLoggedOn then select and copy the ID inside of the quotes.

Go back to Endpoint Manager

Click Users on the left.

Paste the user ID into the search field. This should tell you the name of the user who logged into that device. If there were multiple people recently signed in, they’ll all be in the usersLoggedOn array.

Fixing the Windows 10 Photos App

I recently upgraded a whole bunch of Windows 10 desktops to build 1903. There were almost no issues, but I found a that more than a few had trouble with the Windows Photos app afterwards.

Here’s the collective wisdom I’ve found on how to fix it:

The Windows 10 Photos app is installed per user, so make to sure to log into the computer as the user having the problem.

First, remove the broken Photos app:

Open PowerShell (not as administrator)

Get-AppxPackage Microsoft.Windows.Photos | Remove-AppxPackage

Once it’s gone, you can re-install it from the Microsoft Store:

Open the Microsoft Store app

Search for Microsoft Photos

Click on the app, then click Get

If asked to sign in, you can click “No Thanks”

Click “Install”

After 15-30 seconds, Photos will begin to download.

That should do it!

Mysterious Blue Box

I was helping someone set up their brand new (and stunningly beautiful) Dell XPS 15. When, lo and behold, a mysterious blue box appeared every time I moved a Window.

Mysterious Blue BoxI Binged, and Binged, and Binged, but could not come up with what this was.

Finally, as I watched a coworker drag a window, I noticed a program briefly appear as the window as being dragged, then close itself once I stopped.

It turns out the XPS 15 came with a program called “Dell PremierColor” which has an ancillary function of making it “easier” to snap windows.

To disable this, first open the Dell PremierColor app (yes, PremierColor is one word…)

Dell PremierColor 1Once it’s open, click the Advanced button

Dell PremierColor 2On the left click Display Splitter

Dell PremierColor 3Uncheck the box next to “Display Splitter on”

Dell PremierColor 4The change will take effect immediately. Now close Dell PremierColor and the mysterious blue box should be gone!

Dell PremierColor 5-Adam

ATI Radeon Mobility X1400 on Windows 10

I’m getting an old Dell Inspiron E1505 upgraded to Windows 10.

Most things are going well, but there are definitely some driver difficulties, the 1st of which are the graphics.

This comes via GreenReaper on the Microsoft forums, but I wanted to replicate it here just in case the post goes away: http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_10-win_upgrade/no-windows-10-driver-for-amd-radeon-x1400/9e0afae5-e571-483d-b0e0-841ae6ae20c1?auth=1

(If you trust me, you can skip this whole part and simply download the  zipped Windows 10 Radeon X1400 Win 10 driver)

First, download the driver from the Microsoft Update catalog:
http://catalog.update.microsoft.com/v7/site/ScopedViewInline.aspx?updateid=82e1e91f-cfcf-42e2-86f8-e273b826bb36

If the link fails, search http://catalog.update.microsoft.com
For: ATI Technologies Inc. – Display – ATI Mobility Radeon X1400

Open the downloaded cab file, and copy the contents to a new folder.
Create *another* new folder within that folder called: B_72960
Copy all of the files into that folder as well (or it will error)

Reboot into Safe Mode
Click Start->Power
Hold down the Shift key and click Reboot
Click Troubleshoot->Advanced Options->Startup Settings->RebootChoose “Safe Mode” on reboot

When you’ve booted into safe mode, open Windows Explorer

Right click “This PC” and click “Manage”
Click Device Manager
Click the arrow next to “Display Adapters”
Right Click “Basic Display Adapter” (or whatever it says)
Click Update Driver Software
Click Browser my computer for driver software
Choose the folder with the downloaded driver
After the installation, reboot.

Then voi la! Enjoy your accelerated graphics and the beauty of Windows 10! 🙂

Windows 10 High CPU Usage Fix

I noticed recently that Windows 10 was using a high amount of CPU.

Checking Task Manager, could see this was coming from Runtime Broker.exe

A bit of Binging around and I found this solution posted in the Microsoft forums.

Click Start->Settings

Click “System”

runtimebrokerfix1Click “Notification & actions”

runtimebrokerfix2Finally turn off “Show me tips about Windows”

runtimebrokerfix3Runtime Broker should immediately go back to normal.

I’m sure Microsoft will patch this soon, but this should get you by until then.

UPDATE 2016-03-21:

I haven’t had this problem since this post, but it did crop up again in Insider Preview Build 14291.rs1_release.160314-2254.

Repeating these steps, toggling the “Show me tips about Windows” on the off again seems to have fixed it.

I am, however, also seeing high WMI Provider Host cpu usage. It’s constant around 5% on 3 virtual CPUs.

Windows 10 Live ID with Custom Username

[Updated with instructions for latest Preview iso]

I finally got around to installing the Windows 10 Technical Preview. Loving the speed, Cortana, and new Start Menu! Though I am hoping those icons get some tweaking before release.

I did the really slick “sign in with Windows Live Account” thing, but didn’t like the “adamd” username it gave me.

You will be asked “Who owns this PC?”

If you want to choose your own username, but still have the Windows Live coolness, answer :

“My organization.”

Then “Join a domain.”

You won’t have to join a domain, but you will now be able to create a local account 🙂

Once you’ve signed in

Click Start and choose Store (beta)

start-storeClick the portrait icon

store-manEnter the password you used when you created your initial account during setup

passwordSign in with your Windows Live ID

sign-in-to-windows-liveClick Switch

switchAnd voilà! All the handy-dandy fun of using a Windows Live ID with a profile path you’ve come to know and love.