IT

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1. Microsoft announces Office Online Server retirement
   Microsoft will discontinue support for Office Online Server on December 31, 2026, ending security updates and technical assistance for the on-premises solution that provides browser-based Office applications. Organizations are encouraged to migrate to Microsoft 365 or use supported desktop clients for SharePoint Server and Exchange Server Subscription Edition deployments.

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2. Windows 11 25H2 KB5066835 October Rollout: New features and critical bugs
   Microsoft's October 2025 Windows 11 update (KB5066835) delivers exciting new features alongside critical bugs causing widespread issues. The cumulative update brings AI-powered File Explorer shortcuts, a new "Edit" command-line text editor, and improved multi-monitor support to Windows 11 versions 25H2 and 24H2. However, users report severe problems, including a completely broken Windows Recovery Environment, File Explorer preview pane failures, and localhost connection issues affecting developers. Microsoft has acknowledged these critical bugs and released an emergency patch (KB5070773) to address the most serious WinRE issue. This guide will cover all the new features, known bugs, and solutions you need to know before installing KB5066835.

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3. OpenAI’s new web browser ChatGPT Atlas, a solid Perplexity Comet clone
   OpenAI entered the new web browser war with ChatGPT Atlas, a solid Perplexity Comet clone. However, OpenAI's web browser offers notable additional features worth copying, like memory, basic MCP support, a logged-in mode, and explicitly activating its Agent Mode.

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4. Download and import Windows 11 25H2 security baseline
   Microsoft released the security baseline for Windows 11 version 25H2 on September 30, 2025. The baseline introduces configuration changes focused on network security, attack surface reduction, and legacy protocol elimination. You can download and import a security baseline into Active Directory Group Policy.

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5. Disable OneDrive as the default save option in Microsoft Word with Group Policy
   Microsoft Word for Windows has implemented automatic cloud saving for new documents starting with version 2509 (Build 19221.20000). This change affects how users save documents, with all new files defaulting to OneDrive or SharePoint locations. Organizations can control this behavior through Group Policy and Microsoft Intune configurations.

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6. Windows Server 2025 WSUS blocks ESU updates
   Windows Server 2025 implements security hardening changes that block WSUS from distributing extended security updates (ESU) to end-of-life operating systems. The modifications affect Windows Server 2012 and 2012 R2 systems receiving ESU updates through WSUS, requiring administrators to implement workarounds or upgrade their infrastructure.

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7. Azure DevOps local MCP Server reaches general availability
   Microsoft has released the Azure DevOps local MCP Server as generally available, transitioning from public preview to production-ready status. The server enables AI assistants to access Azure DevOps data, including work items, pull requests, test plans, builds, and wikis. This allows IT professionals to automate DevOps workflows through natural language commands while maintaining data security within their local network.

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8. Install Linux Subsystem for Windows (WSL) on Windows Server 2025
   This article explains the differences between WSL 1 and WSL 2, how they compare to WSL on Windows Server 2022 and Windows Server 2025, and how to install WSL on Windows Server 2025 using the graphical user interface (GUI) or PowerShell.

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9. New in Microsoft Copilot: Third-party connectors, Office document export, OneDrive integration
   Microsoft announced new Copilot features for Windows and OneDrive during its third annual OneDrive digital event and a Windows Insider update. The updates introduce AI-powered file management in OneDrive, document creation and export capabilities for Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and connectors for third-party services, including Google products.

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10. AD replication error 8418: The replication operation failed because of a schema mismatch between the servers involved
    Active Directory domain controllers running Windows Server 2025 with the schema master FSMO role may create duplicate schema attribute values when performing Exchange Server schema extensions, causing replication failures across the entire forest. This issue triggers this error message: Error 8418: The replication operation failed because of a schema mismatch between the servers involved. The issue affects environments attempting to deploy Exchange Server cumulative updates or Exchange Server Subscription Edition. Microsoft has acknowledged this as a known issue in KB5065426.

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