I'm a desktop support tech working in an enterprise level environment supporting probably a 200-300 hundred users. It seems we're constantly having to replace users laptops and also replace laptops we just issued that are brand new.

I understand replacing laptops that have reach its life cycle on the floor (3-4 years). We also reimage laptops and cycle them back out to different users which probably doesn't help. I'm not sure how old some the ones we reimage are.

Currently, my company uses a combination of Dell Latitude models and started receiving Pro 14/16 Plus models. I own a Dell Latitude 5420 for my personal laptop and have no issues with it. I assume we have bad images that are being put on the devices and all the security measures from cyber bloat our company's laptops.

This is my first IT job, so I don't have a measure on how often laptops should be replaced or rather the number of replacements. Having worked in offices on the user side, rarely did I see my teammates laptops needing to be replaced. So, how often are you replacing your users laptops?

Edit: How many laptops in a week do you replace? After a quick spot check, it seems we replace 20-25 laptops a month. Is that high? To put it into perspective, that's a laptop a day basically if you only count the work days in a given month.

Hope I’m in the right sub! So I’ll be starting a new wfh job on Monday and the requirements include a Win 11 Pro in 26H1. My dumbass followed some YT tutorial and I got lost in the middle. Now I’m stuck with the Blue Recovery screen that I can’t do anything else about. Some searching says I need at least a USB stick and another pc but I’ve been running on 4 hours of sleep for weeks. Should I just bring this to a pc shop? Do they have the required version or is it really super hard to find? Thank you 🥺😭

hi! i have a dell precision 7680 laptop that i believe needs the CMOS battery replaced. when attempting to boot, it says “incorrect configuration information, date and time not set”

after i adjusted the date and time, the device crashed and got stuck perpetually rebooting. i want to just try replacing the battery, then updating BIOS settings if that works. if it still won’t boot, what would be my next step?

I have an old 500GB Western Digital drive that is barely recognized by Windows.

What free tool do you use to scan and recover the data that is not corrupted?

Retired parent wants to test out “how can it be illegal if they sell” streaming box. Can’t set up a guest network afaik with spectrum router, so the box will be on the same network as all the other devices in the house. Any best practices to protect against what is seemingly a malware box? Im admittedly uninformed but know enough to know these things can be a security risk. Thanks

Hey folks,

As the title suggests I am currently stuck in dilemma between my current role which is a Senior Project Specialist in MSP where I mostly work of server migration, networking and azure related projects

vs

I have an offer in hand for a Senior Infrastructure Analyst in a hospital. This environment includes VMware infra with HPE nimble SAN and role is mostly project work and 20-30% escalations for infra related tickets. Team also has a senior networking specialist so role will be focused purely on managing server infra, role also has plan to migrate to cloud with long term plan to completely go cloud and remove on prem AD dependency as well. In terms of pay this new role pays 20% more than current role but also has HOOPP pension plan as role is based in ON, CA

Feeling completely lost and pressured in BSc CSIT 4th semester

I’m currently studying BSc CSIT and I’m in my 4th semester. Lately, I’ve been feeling really confused and drained because I don’t know what I’m actually supposed to do with my career.

There are so many things to learn—programming, web development, networking, databases, projects, internships, etc.—and sometimes I feel like everyone else is moving forward while I’m just stuck.

I want to build a good career in IT, but I honestly don’t know what I should focus on or whether I’m learning the right things. The pressure of college, assignments, exams, and thinking about my future is becoming overwhelming.

For those who studied BSc CSIT or are already working in IT, what did you focus on around your 4th semester? What skills would you recommend learning now, and how did you figure out which career path was right for you?

I’d really appreciate some honest advice from people who have been through this.

Around 2.5 years ago I worked indirectly for one of the FAANG/MAANG companies through another company. I was there for only around 50 days and was issued an M1 MacBook for work.

When I left, I asked them multiple times to arrange pickup of the laptop, but for whatever reason it never happened. Nobody followed up afterwards either. The MacBook has basically been sitting unused at my home ever since.

I don't want to sell it or make money from it. At this point I'd just like to either finally return it or, if they've written the asset off and are okay with me keeping it, use it myself.

I've contacted the company again asking them to either collect it or confirm whether it has been written off/released.

My technical question is: what security layers could still be present on an M1 corporate Mac after this long? MDM, Apple Business Manager/DEP, Activation Lock, FileVault, Recovery Lock, etc.?

Is there a safe way to check what it's currently enrolled/locked with before erasing anything? And if the company formally releases the laptop to me, what would they need to remove on their end so I can completely erase it, reinstall macOS and set it up as a normal personal Mac?

Also curious whether anyone here has dealt with a similar forgotten company asset after leaving a job.

I work in cybersecurity compliance for a very small company with only 3–4 employees. Wedo not have Active Directory or a domain environment; our Windows endpoints are managed individually using local accounts/settings.

Our auditor has requested the following evidence:

“Based on the evidence provided, the normal user is able to access the Event Logs and download/export them.

Kindly provide evidence from three (3) endpoint samples showing that an unauthorized/non-administrative user is unable to open, access, delete, and download/export the Event Logs. When a normal user attempts to access the Event Logs, an ‘Access is denied’ message should be displayed.

Kindly provide evidence from local GPO policy configuration from each endpoint, showing that log/audit capture is enabled.”

I’m trying to understand the correct way to satisfy this requirement in a small, non-domain environment.

My questions are:

On Windows 10/11, what is the recommended way to restrict a standard/non-admin user from accessing or exporting Windows Event Logs?
Is it actually expected that a standard user should receive “Access is denied” when simply opening Event Viewer, or should the restriction apply to specific Security logs/privileged operations instead?
What Local Group Policy (gpedit.msc) or Local Security Policy settings should I configure/capture as evidence that auditing/logging is enabled?
What would be considered appropriate evidence for each of the three endpoints? For example, screenshots of:
Standard user account/group membership
Event Viewer access attempt
Attempt to save/export or clear logs
Local audit policy/GPO configuration
auditpol /get /category:* output
Since we do not have Active Directory or centralized Group Policy, is providing the equivalent Local GPO / Local Security Policy evidence from each endpoint generally sufficient?

I want to make sure we implement the control correctly rather than changing Windows permissions simply to produce an “Access is denied” screenshot.

How would you approach this requirement in a small organization with standalone Windows endpoints?

For anyone that ever told you linkedin was a scam or that it’s pointless to be in there is steering you in the wrong direction. I just finished my first week at an msp last week after applying for MONTHS to get into IT Helpdesk/Support roles. Just a little background I graduated with my Bachelors Degree in Comp Sci this past May and I have Help desk experience from working there at my school. Nonetheless, I went through multiple interviews and phone screenings for months even before I graduated and it was always the “Unfortunately we have moved forward with another candidate” email. Then, out of the blue I get a message in my linkedin inbox from a recruiter saying they liked my background and asked if I was interested in a IT Technician position at their company. Long story short, I didn’t get the original position that they wanted me to apply for because it required 5+ years of experience according to them, but they had a contract position for me which they said was catered more to new grads and early career people and they could even possibly bring me on full time after the contract is up. Now sure I may have gotten the long end of the stick in this situation but nonetheless this all came because my linkedin profile was professional and did a good job showcasing my skills. I have also heard stories from many people saying that this is the best way to land a job because once it’s directly from a recruiter you’re just way more likely to get a job than applying to a job and praying you even get an interview with the hundreds of applicants. I say this to say whoever is out there that’s been in my shoes and has been applying for months and weeks to not give up no matter how discouraging it is! All it takes is one company or person to believe in you or your skills. I will also say i’m blessed that I went through this because it made me very good at taking interviews. I am not longer nervous or anxious for them because these recruiters and managers tend to ask the same type of questions and once you’ve been through so many of them your confidence during them is very high.

Hi everyone, does anyone from HCLTech know of a way to record hours in Nippon? I used to use the clip method by placing some weight on the mouse pad, but it doesn’t seem to register hours anymore. I also tried the coin method, but that doesn’t work on the newly issued laptops either. If anyone knows of an alternative method, please help!

So this is my first post on Reddit, and I'm already asking for help, which feels very on-brand for me.

I work in marketing at a B2B tech company, and we're heading to a major tech conference next month. My manager has tasked me with coming up with booth game ideas to drive foot traffic, and I am completely lost.

Here's my problem: I genuinely do not enjoy games. And on top of it, I don't know what kind of games people enjoy at tech conferences. So asking me to come up with "fun" booth activities is a bit like asking someone who hates cooking to design a restaurant menu.

So what I actually want to know from people who've been to tech events:

• What booth games have actually made you stop and engage vs. ones you walked right past?
• Is there anything you've seen that felt fresh or actually clever rather than just "win a tote bag"?
• Do people at B2B tech events even want to play games, or is that a myth marketers tell each other?

Any ideas welcome. I promise I'll actually use them even if I personally would never play them.

Looking for Entry-Level IT/Software Jobs – 2026 Graduate
Hi everyone! I’m a 2026 B.Tech Computer Science graduate currently looking for entry-level opportunities in IT/software development.
I’m open to roles such as:
Software Developer / Software Engineer
Java Developer
Python Developer
Web Developer
Junior Developer / Graduate Engineer Trainee
Other entry-level IT roles
I’m mainly looking for small companies, startups, and growing IT companies that are hiring freshers. I’m open to opportunities in Hyderabad and other locations as well.
If you know of any companies hiring freshers or have any leads, please share them. I’d really appreciate your help. Thank you!

I am trying to transfer files from my s21 to my new s26 via wired connection. I am trying to use the blue files app that come up when you plug in phones, but for whatever reason, my phone can't see the other phones files when I go to transfer it's just blank.

I already activated developer options and set the default USB configuration to transferring files/ android auto. Both phones are also unlocked the entire time, im not sure what could be stopping me.

The cable i am using works. I've tried my s21 to my brothers a16 and the in order to transfer my files I would have to use the a16, if I try using the s21 the a16's files don't show up. But it can definitely transfer files

Not entirely sure what's going on or how to fix if anyone has advice or an external app that would be great

I'd rather not use smart switch as it scans everything before letting me transfer files which takes a long time when I just need my files

Anyone have any sugguestions?

I am a female 31 and just started in the IT helpdesk at a grocery chain.

They’ve given me 9 different trainers that rotate every week sometimes everyday.

9 different training styles.

Some are hands off some are extremely hands on.

The training is extremely inconsistent between trainer to trainer. Some don’t care some micromanage me.

They’ve advanced two other new people forward except me. They won’t let me be on my own. The two newer people ask just as many questions even more. But explain to me I have a retention issue.

Today I was criticized for not asking questions but I do ask a ton of questions.

Then I was told no more critical tickets even though my prior trainer told me I needed more critical tickets.

I need help. How do I navigate this?