The relatively new VS Code technical terms chat participants, chat variables, and slash commands can be accessed with the prefixes @, #, and / in GitHub Copilot. This post explains the differences and gives usage examples.

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An AI PC is a new class of Windows 11 computers equipped with powerful NPUs, enabling advanced AI features like Recall and Live Captions to run directly on the device. Learn the different methods to check if your computer is a so-called Copilot+ PC.

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While GitHub Copilot prompt files are related to the instruction files I discussed in my previous post, they serve a different purpose. Prompt files are custom Markdown templates that allow you to automate coding tasks through custom AI-driven slash commands in GitHub Copilot for VS Code. Prompt templates are powerful, as they can utilize MCP server commands as tools. In this article, I will explain how to create prompt files and provide a simple usage example.

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Device Encryption is a Windows feature that automatically enables BitLocker-based encryption on the system drive and other fixed drives, protecting personal data from unauthorized access without requiring complex setup. It is especially valuable on Windows Home devices, where traditional BitLocker management features are unavailable.

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In Visual Studio Code version 1.100, Microsoft introduced GitHub Copilot instruction files, which mirror the Rules feature in AI IDEs like Cursor and Windsurf. Instructions allow you to guide the AI assistant’s behavior by providing specific, context-aware directives tailored to your coding standards and project requirements.

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Microsoft recently updated the administrative templates for the Office suite, introducing a significant number of new settings. Most of these are designed to control the interaction with the built-in AI features. In addition, the update includes several security-related policies for individual applications.

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Perplexity is an AI search engine that answers questions by combining real-time web results with conversational, natural language responses. Installing Perplexity's official MCP server on your Mac or Windows PC allows querying Perplexity from any AI model in VS Code GitHub Copilot. Enabling your AI to search the web for the latest updates is a must-have feature for scripting or working in the terminal.

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A structured approach that covers technical steps and strategic planning can streamline the migration of a file server to Windows Server 2025. This article explores two main migration strategies—keeping or changing the file server’s hostname—and demonstrates how to transfer shared folders and data using a custom PowerShell script. By following these methods, you can ensure a smooth transition to the latest server OS while minimizing user disruption and preserving file access settings.

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OpenAI Codex CLI is a new open-source command-line tool that integrates AI models into any terminal. It enables you to generate, edit, and execute code using natural language prompts. I tested Codex CLI on Windows and Mac and concluded that it is no match for advanced AI CLIs such as Warp, Cline, or Roo Code. Do not mix up Codex CLI with OpenAI's Codex model, which was discontinued in March 2023. Perhaps Sam Altman should seek advice from ChatGPT before naming future products.

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Several reasons exist for wanting to turn off BitLocker on an individual machine or across your network. In Windows 11, you can disable BitLocker using three methods: the GUI, PowerShell, or Group Policy.

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Hibernate is a power management function in Windows 11 that saves the current system state to the hard drive and shuts down the device. Disabling Windows Hibernate frees up disk space used by the hiberfil.sys file. You can disable it in the GUI or at the command prompt with PowerShell.

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Windows 11 and Windows Server include additional components and utilities that are not installed by default. Depending on the operating system and the source used for installing these features, Microsoft provides various GUI tools and PowerShell cmdlets. Unfortunately, the overall concept lacks consistency and often leads to confusion.

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Action1 is a cloud-based remote management and monitoring tool for patching, vulnerability management, and other device and software administration tasks. It offers one of the most liberal free licenses in the industry, providing 200 endpoints with no functionality limitations. It also includes a cloud-based management console for managing endpoints, eliminating the need for businesses to provision or maintain on-premises server infrastructure.

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Microsoft Copilot Vision is an AI feature in Microsoft Edge that allows Copilot to visually interpret and interact with the content on your screen, enabling real-time assistance and contextual responses as you browse the web. Additionally, it can summarize YouTube videos, providing concise recaps without watching the entire video. You can enter your questions by typing or speaking, and Copilot Vision will reply with voice and text.

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I compared six frontier AI models—DeepSeek V3, Anthropic Claude Sonnet 3.7, Google Gemini 2.5 Pro, Meta Llama 4 Maverick, OpenAI GPT 4o (GPT 4.1), and Mistral Large 2—in terms of their capabilities in interacting with MCP servers. Surprisingly, the performance in terms of accuracy, token usage, and API costs are quite different..

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Before upgrading to Windows Server 2025, check your existing Windows Server version to determine if an in-place upgrade is feasible. You can check the Windows version via the graphical user interface, Windows PowerShell, or the command prompt.

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Roo Code and Cline are popular AI-driven coding extensions for VS Code. Both assistants indicate whether they support Images, Computer Use, and Prompt Caching when selecting a model. In this post, I explain these model features and whether you need them when coding with AI assistance.

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For security purposes, it may be beneficial to restrict Active Directory account logins to regular working hours. These logon times can be configured using the calendar widget in Active Directory Users and Computers (ADUC). However, PowerShell provides a more efficient and flexible alternative, particularly because it offers reporting capabilities that the graphical interface does not.

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Quick Machine Recovery is a new Windows 11 2H24 feature that can restore Windows 11 devices that fail to boot. The new feature detects boot errors and automatically searches Microsoft’s continuously updated online database of known issues for solutions. IT admins can use Quick Machine Recovery to fix boot issues without requiring direct physical access to the machine.

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