Uploaded September 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Twenty years in IT, a decade with PDQ, and a childhood MS-DOS mistake he never told his dad about — Peter Mulder brings all of it to this episode of PDQ Patch Notes.
Peter Mulder, an IT professional with 20 years of experience supporting a manufacturing organization, joins PDQ Patch Notes host Brock to discuss his on-premises Active Directory environment and how he uses PDQ to automate software deployment and device management.
Topics covered:
• How Peter got started in IT, from his father's first home computer to repairing a wrecked MS-DOS boot record
• Running an on-prem, Active Directory and Group Policy-only environment with no cloud or hybrid components
• Managing Android barcode scanners and rugged tablets through an MDM system for warehouse operations
• Using PDQ Deploy & Inventory's registry scanner to build custom vulnerability and firmware-update collections
• Automating silent software installs with AutoIt for applications that lack a native silent-install switch
• Free sysadmin tools recommended by Peter, including LANsweeper for network scanning and BlueScreenView for crash diagnostics
• Peter's take on Windows 11's start menu, WebView-based apps, and Microsoft's new WinUI framework
• How AI agents and PDQ Connect's MCP connector are changing automation and the future role of the sysadmin
#sysadmin #informationtechnology #PDQ #PDQDeploy #ITAutomation #manufacturingIT #activedirectory
In this episode, host Brock sits down with Tara and Peter Mulder to discuss the realities of working in information technology. Peter shares insights from his 20-year career, offering a unique perspective for those currently navigating the complexities of the field. Whether you are just starting out or looking to compare your own experiences, these system administrator interviews provide a grounded look at the daily grind.
We specifically look at what it takes to provide IT support within a manufacturing organization. Peter details the challenges and strategies he has developed over two decades in the industry. By hearing from a seasoned system administrator, you gain a better understanding of how different professional stages influence your approach to technical problem-solving.
Subscribe for weekly IT professional interviews and career advice.
4:37 The Accidental Boot Record Incident
7:51 Building PCs in the Modern Era
8:52 The Infamous Wi-Fi Switch Mystery
11:57 Confessions of IT Blunders
15:19 The Case for On-Prem Infrastructure
24:55 Mastering the Registry Scanner
50:34 The Future of AI in System Administration
Can't get enough PDQ? Subscribe and enable notifications!
• Join us on Discord!: discord.gg/pdq
• Our blog: pdq.com/blog
• PDQ Connect free trial: pdq.com/trial/connect
• The PowerShell Podcast: pdq.com/the-powershell-podcast
• Reddit: reddit.com/r/pdq
• X: @admarsenal
• Facebook: facebook.com/PDQlive
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/pdq.com
• Instagram: @pdqlife
• TikTok: @pdqlife
Twenty years in IT, a decade with PDQ, and a childhood MS-DOS mistake he never told his dad about — Peter Mulder brings all of it to this episode of PDQ Patch Notes.
Peter Mulder, an IT professional with 20 years of experience supporting a manufacturing organization, joins PDQ Patch Notes host Brock to discuss his on-premises Active Directory environment and how he uses PDQ to automate software deployment and device management.
Topics covered:
• How Peter got started in IT, from his father's first home computer to repairing a wrecked MS-DOS boot record
• Running an on-prem, Active Directory and Group Policy-only environment with no cloud or hybrid components
• Managing Android barcode scanners and rugged tablets through an MDM system for warehouse operations
• Using PDQ Deploy & Inventory's registry scanner to build custom vulnerability and firmware-update collections
• Automating silent software installs with AutoIt for applications that lack a native silent-install switch
• Free sysadmin tools recommended by Peter, including LANsweeper for network scanning and BlueScreenView for crash diagnostics
• Peter's take on Windows 11's start menu, WebView-based apps, and Microsoft's new WinUI framework
• How AI agents and PDQ Connect's MCP connector are changing automation and the future role of the sysadmin
#sysadmin #informationtechnology #PDQ #PDQDeploy #ITAutomation #manufacturingIT #activedirectory
In this episode, host Brock sits down with Tara and Peter Mulder to discuss the realities of working in information technology. Peter shares insights from his 20-year career, offering a unique perspective for those currently navigating the complexities of the field. Whether you are just starting out or looking to compare your own experiences, these system administrator interviews provide a grounded look at the daily grind.
We specifically look at what it takes to provide IT support within a manufacturing organization. Peter details the challenges and strategies he has developed over two decades in the industry. By hearing from a seasoned system administrator, you gain a better understanding of how different professional stages influence your approach to technical problem-solving.
Subscribe for weekly IT professional interviews and career advice.
4:37 The Accidental Boot Record Incident
7:51 Building PCs in the Modern Era
8:52 The Infamous Wi-Fi Switch Mystery
11:57 Confessions of IT Blunders
15:19 The Case for On-Prem Infrastructure
24:55 Mastering the Registry Scanner
50:34 The Future of AI in System Administration
Can't get enough PDQ? Subscribe and enable notifications!
• Join us on Discord!: discord.gg/pdq
• Our blog: pdq.com/blog
• PDQ Connect free trial: pdq.com/trial/connect
• The PowerShell Podcast: pdq.com/the-powershell-podcast
• Reddit: reddit.com/r/pdq
• X: @admarsenal
• Facebook: facebook.com/PDQlive
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/pdq.com
• Instagram: @pdqlife
• TikTok: @pdqlife
