Knowledge Base on Madhusudan Upadhyay — ICT Support Executive | Microsoft 365 & Endpoint Management

About Microsoft Word: Complete Guide

Fri, 09 May 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Microsoft Word is the world’s most widely used word processing application, part of the Microsoft 365 suite. This guide covers essential features, advanced techniques, and best practices for professional document creation.

Getting Started

Interface Overview

Ribbon - Tabbed command interface (Home, Insert, Design, Layout, References, Mailings, Review, View)
Quick Access Toolbar - Customizable shortcuts above/below ribbon
Status Bar - Word count, page number, view shortcuts, zoom slider
Backstage View (File tab) - Save, Print, Share, Options, Account

Document Basics

New Document: Ctrl+N
Open: Ctrl+O
Save: Ctrl+S
Save As: F12
Print: Ctrl+P

Core Editing Features

Text Formatting

Action	Shortcut
Bold	Ctrl+B
Italic	Ctrl+I
Underline	Ctrl+U
Font Dialog	Ctrl+D
Increase Font Size	Ctrl+]
Decrease Font Size	Ctrl+[
Clear Formatting	Ctrl+Space

Paragraph Formatting

Alignment: Ctrl+L (Left), Ctrl+E (Center), Ctrl+R (Right), Ctrl+J (Justify)
Line Spacing: Ctrl+1 (Single), Ctrl+2 (Double), Ctrl+5 (1.5)
Indentation: Ctrl+M (Increase), Ctrl+Shift+M (Decrease)
Hanging Indent: Ctrl+T

Styles - The Professional Way

Never use manual formatting for structure. Use Styles:

Bypass Microsoft Account Setup in Windows 11

Fri, 09 May 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Windows 11 pushes hard toward Microsoft accounts during setup. But plenty of us still need local accounts: for privacy, lab machines, or plain organizational policy. The start ms-cxh:localonly command gets you there. Below: what it does, how to use it step by step, and where it falls short.

Robocopy: Reliable File Copying Utility

Tue, 07 May 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Robocopy (Robust File Copy) is Microsoft’s command-line directory replication tool, built into Windows since Vista/Server 2008. It replaces xcopy with superior reliability, resume capability, and advanced features for enterprise file operations.

Why Robocopy?

Feature	xcopy	Robocopy
Resume on failure	❌	✅
Multi-threaded	❌	✅ (/MT)
Mirror directories	Limited	✅ (/MIR)
File attributes	Basic	Full preservation
Retry logic	None	Configurable
Logging	Minimal	Comprehensive
UNC/Long paths	Problematic	Native support
Bandwidth throttling	❌	✅ (/IPG)

Essential Syntax

robocopy <Source> <Destination> [<File>[ ...]] [<Options>]

Key concept: Robocopy works with directories, not individual files. Source and destination are folder paths.

The App Management on Windows 11

Sun, 07 Aug 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Windows 11 modernizes application management with a redesigned Settings interface, improved Microsoft Store, and the winget package manager for command-line automation.

Settings > Apps Interface

Installed Apps (Settings > Apps > Installed apps)

Sort by: Name, Date, Size
Filter by: Drive, All apps
Actions per app (three-dot menu):
- Move (if supported)
- Modify (repair/change)
- Uninstall
- Advanced options (terminate, repair, reset, permissions)

Default Apps (Settings > Apps > Default apps)

Set defaults by file type - .pdf, .jpg, .html, etc.
Set defaults by link type - mailto:, http:, ftp:
Choose defaults by app - Select app > see all associations

Startup Apps (Settings > Apps > Startup)

Toggle per-app startup behavior
Impact indicators: High/Medium/Low/None
Startup folder locations:
- User: shell:startup (%APPDATA%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup)
- All Users: shell:common startup (%ProgramData%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup)

Microsoft Store

Store App Management

Library - Owned apps, updates, downloads
Automatic updates - On by default (Settings > App updates)
Offline licenses - For enterprise/offline deployment

Store for Business/Education (Deprecated)

Replaced by Microsoft Intune for app deployment
Win32 app packaging - MSIX format for Store/Intune distribution

winget - Windows Package Manager

Installation

Built into Windows 11 (App Installer). Update via Store or:

SOPHOS XG Firewall SSLVPN Configuration

Fri, 05 Aug 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Sophos XG Firewall provides SSL VPN for secure remote access. This guide covers the complete configuration from user authentication to client deployment and access policies.

Prerequisites

Sophos XG Firewall (SFOS 18.0+)
Admin access to WebAdmin console
Valid SSL certificate (public CA or self-signed for testing)
User accounts/groups configured (local, AD, RADIUS, LDAP)
WAN interface with static IP or DDNS

Configuration Overview

┌─────────────┐ ┌──────────────┐ ┌─────────────┐
│ Remote │────▶│ Sophos XG │────▶│ Internal │
│ User │ SSL │ Firewall │ │ Resources │
│ (Client) │ VPN │ │ │ (LAN/DMZ) │
└─────────────┘ └──────────────┘ └─────────────┘

Step 1: Certificate Setup

Option A: Public CA Certificate (Recommended)

System > Certificates > Add Certificate
Type: External Certificate
Upload: Certificate + Private Key + Chain
Name: SSLVPN-Public-Cert

Option B: Self-Signed (Lab Only)

System > Certificates > Add Certificate
Type: Self-Signed
Subject: CN=vpn.yourdomain.com
SAN: DNS:vpn.yourdomain.com, IP:203.0.113.10
Usage: SSL VPN

Step 2: User/Group Configuration

Local Users

Authentication > Users > Add User
Name: jdoe
Password: Strong password
Groups: SSLVPN-Users

Active Directory Integration

Authentication > Servers > Add > Active Directory
Server IP: 192.168.1.10
Bind DN: CN=svc_sophos,OU=Service Accounts,DC=corp,DC=local
Base DN: OU=Users,DC=corp,DC=local
Test Connection

SSL VPN User Group

Authentication > Groups > Add Group
Name: SSLVPN-Users
Type: Authentication Group
Members: Add AD group VPN-Users or local users
OTP: Enable if using Sophos Authenticator

Step 3: SSL VPN Portal Configuration

General Settings

VPN > SSL VPN (Remote Access) > General

Creating Bootable USB Drive of Windows 11 on Any PC

Thu, 04 Aug 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Creating a Windows 11 bootable USB is straightforward with several methods available. This guide covers all approaches including the official tool, third-party utilities, and command-line methods.

Requirements

USB Drive: 8 GB minimum (16 GB recommended)
Windows 11 ISO or internet connection for Media Creation Tool
Target PC: Check compatibility (see bypass section for unsupported hardware)

Method 1: Media Creation Tool (Official, Easiest)

Steps

Download from Microsoft Windows 11 Download
Run MediaCreationToolW11.exe as Administrator
Accept license terms
Select “Create installation media for another PC”
Choose: Language, Edition (Windows 11), Architecture (64-bit)
Select “USB flash drive”
Choose your USB drive
Wait for download and creation (~10-30 min)

Advantages

Official Microsoft tool
Always latest version
Handles drivers automatically

Limitations

Requires internet
No customization options
TPM 2.0/Secure Boot enforced

Method 2: Rufus (Advanced, Recommended)

Download

Rufus - Portable, no installation required

Calculate the Number of Days in Excel

Wed, 03 Aug 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Excel provides multiple ways to calculate days between dates. This guide covers all methods from basic subtraction to advanced working day calculations.

Basic Date Math

Simple Subtraction

=End_Date - Start_Date

Example: =B2-A2 where A2=Start, B2=End

OneDrive for Business on Web - Part I: Getting Started

Tue, 02 Aug 2022 00:00:00 +0000

OneDrive for Business is Microsoft’s cloud storage solution integrated with Microsoft 365. This guide covers the web interface fundamentals for new users.

Accessing OneDrive for Business

Web Portal

Navigate to portal.office.com or onedrive.com
Sign in with your work/school account
Click OneDrive in the app launcher (waffle menu)

Direct URL

https://<tenant>-my.sharepoint.com/personal/<username>_<domain>_com/

Web Interface Overview

Section	Purpose
My files	Personal document library
Recent	Recently accessed files
Shared	Files shared with you / by you
Recycle bin	Deleted items (93-day retention)
Discover	AI-powered relevant content

Command Bar (Top)

Button	Action
New	Folder, Word/Excel/PowerPoint, Link
Upload	Files or Folder
Sync	Start OneDrive sync client
Automate	Power Automate flows
Sort/Filter	View options

File List (Main Area)

Name - Click to open online
Modified - Last edit timestamp
Modified by - Last editor
Size - File size
Sharing status - Private/Shared icons

Core Operations

Creating Files & Folders

New Folder:

OneDrive for Business on Web - Part II: Advanced Features

Tue, 02 Aug 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Building on the basics, this guide covers advanced OneDrive for Business features for power users and administrators.

Power Automate Integration

Accessing Automate

Select file/folder → Automate in command bar → Create a flow or See your flows

OneDrive on Web Part 4: Desktop Client and Sync

Tue, 02 Aug 2022 00:00:00 +0000

This article is part of a series.

Setting Up OneDrive On Your Windows Machine

How To Setup OneDrive On Windows OS?

Click Up Arrow in Notification Area (system tray)
Click OneDrive icon (cloud)
Click Sign In
Enter your email address (e.g., user@domain.com) → Enter
Enter password → Enter
Choose OneDrive folder location → Change Location → Select drive (e.g., D:\) → Next
Click Next through remaining screens
Click Finish

Your OneDrive is now ready.

OneDrive on Web Part 3: Permissions, Sharing, Storage

Mon, 01 Aug 2022 00:00:00 +0000

This article is part of a series.

How To Remove Permission From Shared File And Folder For All Shared Person?

Move your cursor to the file/folder to be shared
Click on Three dots (•••) and click Manage Access
Click Stop Sharing
Confirm by clicking Stop Sharing again

How To Remove Permission From Shared File And Folder? (Individual User)

Move your cursor to the file/folder
Click on Three dots (•••) and click Manage Access
Go to Links Giving Access section
Click on the user icon (just below “People you can specify can edit”)
Click Remove button (X)
Confirm Remove

How To Delete Files And Folder On OneDrive Web?

Select files/folders to delete
Click Delete (top of page) OR click Three dots → Delete
Confirm Delete

Note: Deleted items move to Recycle Bin, retained for 90 days only.

Motherboard Beep Codes - Complete Reference

Fri, 29 Jul 2022 00:00:00 +0000

When a computer fails to boot, the BIOS communicates errors through beep codes during POST (Power-On Self-Test). This reference covers major BIOS manufacturers.

Quick Reference Table

Beep Pattern	AMI BIOS	Award BIOS	Phoenix BIOS
1 short	System OK	System OK	System OK
2 short	Parity error	CMOS error	-
3 short	Base 64K memory failure	Keyboard error	-
4 short	System timer failure	-	-
5 short	Processor error	-	-
6 short	Keyboard controller error	-	-
7 short	Virtual mode error	-	-
8 short	Display memory error	Video error	-
9 short	ROM checksum error	-	-
10 short	CMOS shutdown register	-	-
11 short	Cache memory error	-	-
1 long, 2 short	-	Video error	Video error
1 long, 3 short	-	Video memory error	-
Continuous	Power/PSU	Memory	-
Continuous short	Power/PSU	-	-

AMI BIOS (Most Common)

Beeps	Meaning	Action
1 short	System OK	Normal boot
2 short	Parity Circuit Failure	Reseat/replace RAM
3 short	Base 64K Memory Failure	Reseat/replace first RAM bank
4 short	System Timer Failure	Motherboard issue
5 short	Processor Failure	Reseat CPU, check cooler
6 short	Keyboard Controller Error	Check keyboard/port
7 short	Virtual Mode Exception	CPU/Motherboard
8 short	Display Memory Error	Reseat GPU, check VRAM
9 short	ROM BIOS Checksum Error	BIOS corruption, reflash
10 short	CMOS Shutdown Register	Motherboard
11 short	Cache Memory Error	Disable cache in BIOS
1 long, 3 short	Conventional/Extended Memory	RAM issue
1 long, 8 short	Display/Retrace Test Failed	GPU/Video RAM
Continuous	Power Supply/PSU	Check PSU, cables
Continuous short	Power Supply	Check PSU

Award BIOS

Beeps	Meaning	Action
1 short	System OK	Normal boot
1 long, 2 short	Video Error	Reseat GPU, check monitor cable
1 long, 3 short	Video Memory Error	GPU VRAM failure
Continuous	Memory Error	Reseat/test RAM sticks
Continuous short	Power Supply	Check PSU
High-low pattern	CPU Overheating	Check cooler, thermal paste

Phoenix BIOS

Beeps	Meaning
1-1-3	CMOS read/write error
1-1-4	BIOS ROM checksum error
1-2-1	Programmable interval timer
1-2-2	DMA initialization error
1-2-3	DMA page register error
1-3-1	RAM refresh error
1-3-3	First 64K RAM error
1-3-4	First 64K RAM test error
1-4-1	Address line error
1-4-2	Parity error
2-1-1	First 64K RAM bit error
2-1-2	First 64K RAM parity error
2-2-3	Interrupt vector error
2-3-1	Keyboard controller error
2-3-2	Keyboard error
3-1-1	Slave DMA register error
3-1-2	Master DMA register error
3-1-3	Master interrupt mask register
3-2-4	Keyboard controller test error
3-3-1	Video memory error
3-3-2	Video controller error
3-4-1	Screen initialization error
3-4-2	Screen retrace test error
4-2-1	Timer tick error
4-2-2	Shutdown error
4-2-3	Gate A20 error
4-3-1	RAM test error
4-3-3	Interval timer 2 error
4-3-4	Time-of-day clock error
4-4-1	Serial port error
4-4-2	Parallel port error
4-4-3	Math coprocessor error

Note: Phoenix uses X-Y-Z pattern (e.g., 1-3-3 = 1 beep, pause, 3 beeps, pause, 3 beeps)

Linux System Configuration and Log Files

Thu, 28 Jul 2022 00:00:00 +0000

This article is part of a series.

Part 1: How to Create Bootable USB? Windows and Linux
Part 2: Introduction to Linux File Systems
Part 3: This Article

Introduction

You will find descriptions of the configuration files you need to set up the different features that make up Linux systems. The two major locations of configuration files are your home directory (where your personal configuration files are kept) and the /etc directory (which holds system-wide configuration files). Most important things for troubleshooting.

Introduction to Linux File Systems

Wed, 27 Jul 2022 00:00:00 +0000

This article is part of a series.

Part 1: How to Create Bootable USB? Windows and Linux
Part 2: This Article
Part 3: Linux System Configuration and Log Files

Linux File System Hierarchy (FHS)

/ (root)
├── /bin → Essential user binaries (ls, cp, mv)
├── /boot → Kernel, initramfs, GRUB
├── /dev → Device files (sda, tty, null)
├── /etc → System configuration files
├── /home → User home directories
├── /lib → Shared libraries for /bin, /sbin
├── /media → Mount points for removable media
├── /mnt → Temporary mount points
├── /opt → Optional/add-on software
├── /proc → Virtual filesystem (kernel info)
├── /root → Root user home directory
├── /run → Runtime variable data
├── /sbin → System binaries (fsck, reboot, ip)
├── /srv → Data for services (web, ftp)
├── /sys → Virtual filesystem (kernel devices)
├── /tmp → Temporary files (cleared on reboot)
├── /usr → User programs (read-only, shareable)
│ ├── /usr/bin → Non-essential binaries
│ ├── /usr/lib → Libraries for /usr/bin
│ ├── /usr/local → Locally compiled software
│ └── /usr/share → Architecture-independent data
└── /var → Variable data (logs, spool, cache)
 ├── /var/log → System logs
 ├── /var/spool → Print/mail queues
 └── /var/cache → Application caches

Common Linux File Systems

ext4 (Fourth Extended): Default for Most Distros

Feature	Details
Max file size	16 TB
Max volume size	1 EB
Journaling	Yes (metadata + optional data)
Backward compatible	ext2, ext3
Defragmentation	Online (`e4defrag`)
Best for	General purpose, SSDs, HDDs

# Create ext4
mkfs.ext4 /dev/sdX1

# Check/repair
fsck.ext4 -f /dev/sdX1

# Tune
tune2fs -l /dev/sdX1

XFS: High Performance, Large Files

Feature	Details
Max file size	8 EB
Max volume size	8 EB
Journaling	Yes (metadata only)
Parallel I/O	Excellent
Online grow	Yes (`xfs_growfs`)
Online shrink	❌ Not supported
Best for	Large storage, media, databases, RHEL default

# Create XFS
mkfs.xfs /dev/sdX1

# Grow (online, mounted)
xfs_growfs /mount/point

# Check
xfs_repair /dev/sdX1

Btrfs: Modern, Feature-Rich

Feature	Details
Max file size	16 EB
Max volume size	16 EB
Copy-on-Write	Yes
Snapshots	Native, instant
Compression	zstd, lzo, zlib
RAID	Native (0,1,10,5,6)
Self-healing	Checksums + redundant copies
Best for	Advanced users, snapshots, Fedora default

# Create Btrfs
mkfs.btrfs /dev/sdX1

# Snapshot (instant)
btrfs subvolume snapshot /source /snapshots/backup-$(date +%F)

# Compress
mount -o compress=zstd /dev/sdX1 /mnt

Other File Systems

FS	Use Case
FAT32	USB drives, cross-platform (max 4GB file)
exFAT	Large USB/SD cards, cross-platform
NTFS	Windows dual-boot (read/write via `ntfs-3g`)
ZFS	Enterprise, data integrity (separate kernel module)
JFS	Legacy, low CPU overhead
ReiserFS	Legacy, small files

Disk & Partition Management

View Disks

lsblk # Tree view
lsblk -f # With filesystem info
fdisk -l # Partition tables
parted -l # GPT/MBR details

Partitioning (fdisk/parted)

# MBR (legacy BIOS)
fdisk /dev/sdX

# GPT (UEFI)
parted /dev/sdX mklabel gpt
parted /dev/sdX mkpart primary ext4 1MiB 100%

Common Partition Schemes

Scheme	Boot Mode	Partitions
MBR	Legacy BIOS	Up to 4 primary (or 3 primary + extended)
GPT	UEFI	128+ partitions, >2TB disks

Typical Linux Layout (GPT/UEFI):

Online Mobile Registration in Nepal - Step by Step

Sat, 25 Jun 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Nepal’s Mobile Device Management System (MDMS) requires all mobile devices to be registered for legal use on Nepali networks. This guide walks you through the online registration process.

Prerequisites

IMEI number(s) - Dial *#06# on your phone
Passport/Citizenship - For verification
Email & Phone - For OTP and notifications
Payment method - For applicable fees

Step-by-Step Registration

1. Visit MDMS Portal

Go to: https://mdms.nta.gov.np

How to Connect .com.np Domain to Blogger

Fri, 24 Jun 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Nepal’s .com.np domain is free for Nepali citizens and organizations. This guide shows how to register and connect it to Google Blogger.

Prerequisites

Citizenship/Passport - Scanned copy
Email & Phone - For verification
Google Account - For Blogger
Domain Name Idea - Check availability

Step 1: Register .com.np Domain

1. Visit Register.com.np

Go to: https://register.com.np

How to Install Windows 10

Sun, 26 Jul 2020 00:00:00 +0000

Prerequisites

USB Drive: 8 GB minimum
Windows 10 ISO or internet for Media Creation Tool
Product Key (or install without for trial)
Backup important data first

Step 1: Create Bootable USB

Option A: Media Creation Tool (Official)

Download from Microsoft Windows 10 Download
Run MediaCreationTool.exe as Administrator
“Create installation media for another PC”
Select: Language, Edition (Windows 10), Architecture (64-bit)
Choose USB flash drive → Select drive → Next
Wait for download & creation (~10-30 min)

Option B: Rufus (Advanced)

Download Rufus
Select USB → Select Windows 10 ISO
Partition: GPT (UEFI) or MBR (Legacy)
File System: NTFS
Start

Step 2: Boot from USB

BIOS/UEFI Settings

Setting	Value
Boot Mode	UEFI (recommended) or Legacy/CSM
Secure Boot	Enabled (UEFI)
Boot Order	USB first
Fast Boot	Disabled

Boot Process

Insert USB → Restart PC
Press boot key (F12, F11, F8, Esc, Del - varies by manufacturer)
Select USB drive → Enter
Windows Setup loads → Next

Step 3: Installation

1. Language & Region

Language: English (United States)
Time format: English (United States)
Keyboard: US → Next

2. Install Now

Click Install now

3. Product Key

Enter key OR click “I don’t have a product key”
Select edition: Windows 10 Home or Pro → Next

4. License Terms

✅ I accept → Next

5. Installation Type

Custom: Install Windows only (advanced)

6. Drive Selection

Scenario	Action
Clean install (new SSD/HDD)	Select Unallocated Space → New → Apply → Creates System Reserved + Primary
Replace existing Windows	Select each partition → Delete → Unallocated Space → New
Dual boot	Select free space → New → Don’t touch other OS partitions

⚠️ Warning: Deleting partitions destroys data. Backup first!

Knowledge Base on Madhusudan Upadhyay — ICT Support Executive | Microsoft 365 & Endpoint Management

About Microsoft Word: Complete Guide

Getting Started

Interface Overview

Document Basics

Core Editing Features

Text Formatting

Paragraph Formatting

Styles - The Professional Way

Bypass Microsoft Account Setup in Windows 11

Robocopy: Reliable File Copying Utility

Why Robocopy?

Essential Syntax

The App Management on Windows 11

Settings > Apps Interface

Installed Apps (Settings > Apps > Installed apps)

Default Apps (Settings > Apps > Default apps)

Startup Apps (Settings > Apps > Startup)

Microsoft Store

Store App Management

Store for Business/Education (Deprecated)

winget - Windows Package Manager

Installation

SOPHOS XG Firewall SSLVPN Configuration

Prerequisites

Configuration Overview

Step 1: Certificate Setup

Option A: Public CA Certificate (Recommended)

Option B: Self-Signed (Lab Only)

Step 2: User/Group Configuration

Local Users

Active Directory Integration

SSL VPN User Group

Step 3: SSL VPN Portal Configuration

General Settings

Creating Bootable USB Drive of Windows 11 on Any PC

Requirements

Method 1: Media Creation Tool (Official, Easiest)

Steps

Advantages

Limitations

Method 2: Rufus (Advanced, Recommended)

Download

Calculate the Number of Days in Excel

Basic Date Math

Simple Subtraction

OneDrive for Business on Web - Part I: Getting Started

Accessing OneDrive for Business

Web Portal

Direct URL

Web Interface Overview

Navigation Pane (Left)

Command Bar (Top)

File List (Main Area)

Core Operations

Creating Files & Folders

OneDrive for Business on Web - Part II: Advanced Features

Power Automate Integration

Accessing Automate

OneDrive on Web Part 4: Desktop Client and Sync

Setting Up OneDrive On Your Windows Machine

How To Setup OneDrive On Windows OS?

OneDrive on Web Part 3: Permissions, Sharing, Storage

How To Remove Permission From Shared File And Folder For All Shared Person?

How To Remove Permission From Shared File And Folder? (Individual User)

How To Delete Files And Folder On OneDrive Web?

Motherboard Beep Codes - Complete Reference

Quick Reference Table

AMI BIOS (Most Common)

Award BIOS

Phoenix BIOS

Linux System Configuration and Log Files

Introduction

Introduction to Linux File Systems

Linux File System Hierarchy (FHS)

Common Linux File Systems

ext4 (Fourth Extended): Default for Most Distros

XFS: High Performance, Large Files

Btrfs: Modern, Feature-Rich

Other File Systems