McGarrah Technical Blog

Windows Sandbox for Safe Testing

5 min read

I’ve been doing more experimental stuff on my Windows 11 laptops lately - testing sketchy PowerShell scripts, trying out random software, and generally doing things that could completely wreck my system. While I have disk images for recovery, that’s a nuclear option that would cost me a day or two of rebuilding.

Turns out Windows has had a built-in solution for this exact problem: Windows Sandbox. It’s basically a lightweight, disposable VM that resets itself every time you close it. Perfect for testing things without the paranoia.

Start the Windows screensaver with a Shortcut

1 min read

After my Windows 11 upgrade, I have a need for a quick way to start my screensaver but not lock my computer. So the Windows-L (lock) is not a desired options for this use-case. I want to quickly get back to my screen without logging back in.

I remember an old Windows NT tool and built-in MacOS feature called “Hot Corners” that let me do this by shoving my cursor to a corner of the screen. But I don’t want to load another tool for this. I’m using Power Toys “Mouse without Border” to link up a couple machines with virtual KVMs so the hot corners isn’t an option because of that.

So how do I solve this?

Windows 11 Upgrade Challenges on ThinkPad T480

3 min read

Upgrading to Windows 11 on my ThinkPad T480 laptops turned into a performance nightmare with some unexpected solutions.

New Features: Copy Buttons, Comments, Tags, and More!

2 min read

I’m happy to announce a batch of new features that enhance the functionality and user experience of this blog. These improvements make the content more interactive, organized, and user-friendly. Hopefully, you like the changes.

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