Tip – Add PowerShell to Windows Key + X

There’s an old shortcut to quickly bring up the Command Prompt in Admin mode:

  • Right-click the Windows Logo (or hit Windows Key + X)
  • Left-click Command Prompt (Admin)

Command Prompt in the Win+X context menu

But did you know you can swap out Command Prompt in that menu and replace it with PowerShell?

  • Right-click the Taskbar
  • Left-click Properties
  • Left-click the Navigation tab
  • Check the box labeled “Replace Command Prompt with Windows PowerShell…
  • Click OK

Navigation bar properties

Now you’ll see PowerShell instead of Command Prompt:

PowerShell in the Win+X context menu

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Download – 426 New Azure and Cloud Visio Stencils

Title: Microsoft Azure, Cloud and Enterprise Symbol / Icon Set
Published: 12/18/2014 
Publisher: Microsoft Corporation
Version: 2.02
File name: CloudnEnterprise_Symbols_Public_v2.02.zip
Size: 4.2 MB
Download URL: Click here for download

DESCRIPTION

This package contains a set of symbols/icons to visually represent features of and systems that use Microsoft Azure and related technologies.

 

CLOUD – CnE_CloudV2.09.vss
(155 stencils)

CnE_CloudV2.09.vss

DEPRECATED – CnE_DeprecatedV2.vss
(19 stencils)

CnE_DeprecatedV2.vss

DRAWING – CnE_DrawingV2.vss
(36 stencils)

CnE_DrawingV2.vss

 

ENTERPRISE – CnE_EnterpriseV2.03.vss
(154 stencils)

CnE_EnterpriseV2.03.vss

 

GENERAL SYMBOLS – CnE_GeneralSymbolsV2.vss
(40 stencils)

CnE_GeneralSymbolsV2.vss

 

OTHER MICROSOFT PRODUCTS – CnE_OtherMicrosoftProdV2.vss
(22 stencils)

CnE_OtherMicrosoftProdV2.vss

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Download – Office 2016 IT Pro and Developer Preview

Today Microsoft announced the publicly-available preview of Office 2016.

The download is available by signing up for the Office 2016 Preview program on the Microsoft Connect site.

Note: You will need a Windows Live ID / Microsoft Account to sign up.

After logging into the Connect site you’ll fill out a self-nomination survey. Fill that out and then you’ll have access to the four files for the March 2015 preview:

  • Admin_OfficePreview.zip (2.27 MB)
  • Office 2016 Preview What’s Next.docx (687 KB)
  • Installation Guide for Office 2016 Preview – Business (External).docx (138 KB)
  • Known Issues for Preview – February Refresh – Business External.docx (24 KB)

Where’s the ISO?

There is no spoon.

The ZIP file contains a tiny Setup.exe file (2.42 MB) that leverages XML and BAT files to stream the installation bits to your PC in the background:

Office 2016 Preview setup screen

As you can see from the screenshot above, the bits are available in x86 ands x64 flavors.

Here are the new programs:

Office 2016 Preview

As you can also see, this *is* beta / preview level software.

Excel 2016 fail-o-rama

And if you click the Help button, the support site is *also* in beta:

Help site fail-o-rama

So – word to the wise, don’t install this in production.

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