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Adds title, description, type, domain, and tags frontmatter to every doc for improved KB semantic search. The description field is prepended to every search chunk, and domain/type/tags enable filtered queries. Type values: context, guide, runbook, reference, troubleshooting Domain values match directory structure (networking, docker, etc.) Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.6 <noreply@anthropic.com> |
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| README.md | ||
| windows-reboot-monitor.ps1 | ||
| windows-reboot-task-shutdown.xml | ||
| windows-reboot-task-startup.xml | ||
| windows-setup-instructions.md | ||
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| Windows Desktop Monitoring System | Overview of Windows reboot and system event monitoring with Discord notifications. Covers PowerShell scripts, Task Scheduler integration, event log analysis, and notification types for startup/shutdown/crash detection. | reference | monitoring |
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Windows Desktop Monitoring System
A comprehensive solution for monitoring Windows machine reboots and system events with Discord notifications.
Overview
This system monitors Windows desktop/workstation machines for:
- System startups (normal and unexpected)
- System shutdowns (planned and unplanned)
- Reboot reasons (Windows Updates, power outages, user-initiated)
- System uptime and boot statistics
Files
Core Components
windows-reboot-monitor.ps1- Main PowerShell monitoring scriptwindows-reboot-task-startup.xml- Task Scheduler configuration for startup monitoringwindows-reboot-task-shutdown.xml- Task Scheduler configuration for shutdown monitoringwindows-setup-instructions.md- Complete installation and configuration guide
Features
Notification Types
- 🟢 Normal Startup - System booted normally after planned shutdown
- 🔴 Unexpected Restart - System recovered from power loss, crash, or forced reboot
- 🟡 Planned Shutdown - System is shutting down gracefully
Information Captured
- Computer name and timestamp
- Boot/shutdown reasons (Windows Update, power issues, user actions)
- System uptime duration
- Boot counter for tracking restart frequency
- Event log analysis for root cause determination
Technical Details
- PowerShell Script: Robust error handling and logging
- Task Scheduler Integration: Runs automatically on system events
- Discord Webhooks: Rich embedded notifications with color coding
- Event Log Monitoring: Analyzes Windows System logs for detailed context
- Configuration Management: Persistent storage of settings and statistics
Use Cases
Primary Scenarios
- Power Outage Detection - Immediate alerts when systems restart unexpectedly
- Windows Update Monitoring - Track when systems reboot for updates
- System Health Tracking - Monitor restart frequency and patterns
- Remote System Awareness - Know when remote machines come online/offline
Advanced Features
- Reason Classification - Distinguishes between planned and unplanned reboots
- Uptime Tracking - Reports system availability metrics
- Historical Logging - Maintains local logs for troubleshooting
- Configuration Persistence - Settings survive reboots and updates
Installation Requirements
Prerequisites
- Windows 10/11 or Windows Server
- PowerShell 5.1 or later
- Administrator privileges for Task Scheduler setup
- Network connectivity to Discord
- Discord webhook URL
Dependencies
- Windows Event Log service
- Task Scheduler service
- PowerShell execution policy allowing script execution
Security Considerations
- Scripts run with SYSTEM privileges for reliable event monitoring
- Webhook URLs stored as environment variables (not in scripts)
- No sensitive system information transmitted in notifications
- Local logging for audit trail
- Execution policy restrictions honored
Integration Points
Discord Integration
- Rich embedded messages with color-coded alerts
- Structured data format for easy parsing
- Error handling for network failures
- Retry logic for temporary connectivity issues
Windows System Integration
- Event Log monitoring (IDs 1074, 6008, boot events)
- Task Scheduler automation
- WMI queries for system information
- Registry access for configuration persistence
Troubleshooting
Common issues and solutions documented in setup instructions:
- PowerShell execution policy problems
- Network connectivity issues
- Task Scheduler permission errors
- Discord webhook validation failures
Monitoring Capabilities
Event Detection
- Startup Events: Boot completion, login ready state
- Shutdown Events: Planned shutdown initiation
- Crash Recovery: Unexpected shutdown detection
- Update Reboots: Windows Update initiated restarts
Data Collection
- System Metrics: Uptime, boot time, restart counts
- Event Correlation: Links shutdown/startup events
- Reason Analysis: Determines root cause of reboots
- Trend Tracking: Historical restart patterns
Deployment Strategy
- Single Machine: Direct installation following setup guide
- Multiple Machines: Script deployment via Group Policy or management tools
- Enterprise: Integration with existing monitoring infrastructure
- Home Lab: Centralized Discord channel for all systems
This monitoring system provides reliable Windows desktop/workstation oversight with minimal resource impact and maximum visibility into system events.