Windows 10

[talah]

I spun up a server 2016 server a couple of weeks ago.

I'm not sure if it's updated or if it's not, but it's repeatedly trying to install GB optical character recognition and failing and it is spamming the absolute crap out of internet calls (from firewall logs - something like 5 times the amount of calls from every single other device on the network through our web filter) with no indication of why it would do that. I'm guessing it's by default online and I need to shut that down by GPO but it's super laggy too.

Thinking Server 2016 is the new Vista, but unfortunately Windows 10 is apparently going to become version/codename-specific so that we plebs can't convey to the regular person that "Windows 10 release xyz was a dog and it's Microsoft's fault".

Most regular users are okay with it due to what I'll call "Steam conditioning" but when you have like 100 business applications and a bunch of them get broken for your staff, by updates even through WSUS critical-only updates - you get an idea of Microsoft's business plan. Which is basically "fuck localised IT by making them walk the line between security updates and broken updates, and then immediately fix the problems for Office 365 customers".

Also did I mention that server 2016 is a pile of bandwidth-hogging lagging shit?

[talah]

KAPAP

Actually I'd heard (vaguely) that .NET is moving to a more universal platform model, either that or it's just that smarter people are finally abstracting the platform for use in different ways. I mean we have most (funtional, user) applications moving toward web, it's just be super-nice to be able extricate business systems from dependency on Microsoft. They do some things so well and others so badly (and the badder(?) things are generally those without an option to move away).

[talah]

I know we had a thread about Windows 10, but I couldn't find it on the top page and didn't feel like necroing it.

Are there any Microsoft certificate holders here? I'm currently interested in taking a course that would prep me for a basic certification in Windows 10. I've never gotten a MS certification. Ideally, it would be something focused on upgrading from 7 as that would be the environment I'd be using it in (upgrading existing systems, teaching end users changes to UI, etc). Any input would be appreciated.

Microsoft used to have these things called "Self-paced Training Kits" back in the day of Server 2003. They were physical books that you would buy and they covered the absolute crap out of exactly how to use and configure the operating system, notes on best practice and security considerations, incidental considerations and study notes. Since 2008 the training kits seem to be just "perform function x" and they don't really bring together the essence of what you'd need to know in configuring a system based on a server OS. I do own an Win7 Administration guide though (also published by MS Press) which was much better than what was available for Server 2008 at the time (not much was published about 2008 R2 - Which was the Win7 Equivalent - at the time it started become mainstream, as opposed to the 2008 & Vista equivalence).

I think most of the back-end stuff has now become most readily accessible through paid training but it's bloody expensive. Like a couple of grand for a 3-day course. You do get the training materials and the ability to do things in practice in a lab but depending on your instructor and the enthusiasm of your classmates it may or may not be the best way to go. I think there is also some free training available from Microsoft in a virtual lab context but can't for the life of me remember where I found that. It's official but just has some wierd URL.

I'd still recommend MS press books or the like. Some of the "official" stuff is just a bit not-so-useful in practice lately though so it might be worth googling what people think about it.
When I want to know about a tech I'll generally start by googling "MS Press" + (topic), take a look, and then jump on Amazon and search for books on (topic).
You can get most Microsoft books through (puke) Kindle.