Monthly Archives: December 2021

• It’s nearly 2022

  Posted on December 31, 2021 at 17:40 CST by Susan Bradley • Comment in the Forums

  At least for me in my time zone, I have a few hours left. For those of you downunder you are already there.

  2021 has had it’s moments. I’m proud of this site and everyone who participates. We’re ending it on a bit of an odd note with the news that actress Betty White has passed away at nearly 100.  Geekdom had a great post the other day and I hope everyone takes the time to read it and contemplate what you’d like to add to his list.

  Again thank you all for helping us close 2021 and open up 2022. Here’s to the new year!

  To close a bit of YoYo Ma from his twitter account.

  Yo-Yo Ma on Twitter: “Wishing you all a happy 2022. https://t.co/AgX2JRP4Y9” / Twitter

  Click on the link above and enjoy his fabulous talent.

  Other

• MS-DEFCON 4: Closing out the year of patching

  Posted on December 28, 2021 at 02:45 CST by Susan Bradley • Comment in the Forums

  ISSUE 18.50.1 • 2021-12-28 By Susan Bradley The end of 2021 brings the final updates for Windows 10 2004. Meanwhile, most of us are planning not to install the new Windows 11. The December patching month has been relatively uneventful for Windows Home Edition users. The only major patching side effect I’ve seen came when an Office update prevented multiple users of Access from opening a database on the network. As noted in a Microsoft support page, the Microsoft 365 click-to-run versions listed below have been fixed. If you use Access, close and reopen Office to trigger it to download a new version. The fixed versions are: If you have Office 2016, the fix is in KB4484211. You must manually download the patch and install it. We’re still waiting on the fix for Office 2013. Consumer and home users Now is the time to upgrade Windows 10 2004 to 21H2. If you have not already been offered 21H2, I recommend a visit to the Windows 10 ISO page; click on the Update now button. Of course, be sure you have a backup of your computer first. Also, uninstall any VPN software you use — it’s a bit of overkill, but I have seen cases of VPN software interfering with the update process. Reinstall it after the upgrade is complete. If you have any side effects, please visit the forums so we can follow up on any lingering issues. The good news for Windows 10 is that it’s moving to a once-a-year feature-release cadence. Given that Microsoft will be focusing on Windows 11, I anticipate that Windows 10 updates will turn into a nice, boring release process for most of us. Business users Unless you are running Enterprise versions, I also recommend that businesses move to Windows 10 21H2. The version has been stable in my office. I always make sure that I have all workstations on the same version of Windows 10, to make my life easier. Many of us are still trying to chase down the patching we need to do for the Log4j2 vulnerability. It may take time to follow up with all the vendors in your clients’ networks, so be prepared to get updates from vendors as they discover what is and is not vulnerable. For example, I’ve found that my Ricoh printers are not vulnerable in my own network. Going through this listing takes time, and you’ll probably need to work together with each client. Don’t expect to know immediately what is vulnerable. Read the full story in the AskWoody Plus Alert 18.50.1 (2021-12-28).

  AskWoody Plus Alert, Patch Watch AskWoody Plus Alerts, Microsoft Access, Patch Lady Posts, Win10 2004

• Roll back Windows 11 after more than 60 days

  Posted on December 27, 2021 at 02:45 CST by B. Livingston • Comment in the Forums

  ISSUE 18.50 • 2021-12-27

  PUBLIC DEFENDER

  

  By Brian Livingston

  I wrote “Win11 isn’t a must-have upgrade yet” in my October 18, 2021, AskWoody column. However, for true experimenters, I explained a single Registry line that enables you to install Win11 on what Microsoft calls “unsupported” CPU and TPM chips, in case you really need one of four new Win11 features.

  Since that time, it turns out you can fix one of Microsoft’s most restrictive new policies. To the frustration of many, Win11 can’t be rolled back to Win10 a mere ten days following an upgrade. Fortunately, you can end that limitation by using a couple of very simple steps.

  Read the full story in the AskWoody Plus Newsletter 18.50.0 (2021-12-27).
  This story also appears in the AskWoody Free Newsletter 18.50.F (2021-12-27).

  AskWoody FREE Newsletter, AskWoody Plus Newsletter, Public Defender AskWoody Plus Newsletter, Public Defender, Windows 10, Windows 10 rollback, Windows 11

• Hard drives – still pretty S.M.A.R.T.

  Posted on December 27, 2021 at 02:44 CST by Ben Myers • Comment in the Forums

  HARDWARE

  

  By Ben Myers

  In my last article, Breaking and entering with Linux: What you see (AskWoody 2021-09-27), I said that there were issues with the S.M.A.R.T. system built into the firmware of both old-time spinning hard drives and solid-state drives (SSDs).

  S.M.A.R.T. (Self-Monitoring, Analysis, and Reporting Technology, hereinafter referred to simply as “SMART”) provides real-time recordkeeping about the health of your hard drive. It is all about system reliability, of which drives are a major element and a significant point of failure.

  Read the full story in the AskWoody Plus Newsletter 18.50.0 (2021-12-27).

  AskWoody Plus Newsletter, Hardware AskWoody Plus Newsletter, Hard-disk health, hardware, HDD diagnostics, SMART

• Reflecting on 2021

  Posted on December 27, 2021 at 02:43 CST by Will Fastie • Comment in the Forums

  EDITORIAL

  

  By Will Fastie

  We’re still alive.

  Don’t take that the wrong way. I’m not talking about the pandemic or my age. I’m talking about this venerable newsletter. Lest there be any doubt, I knew we’d make it this far. In fact, we have a future.

  I’d like to share some of my thoughts about this first year of AskWoody under its new management. As I mention these things, I’d like you to reflect on this year and let us know how you think we’re doing.

  Read the full story in the AskWoody Plus Newsletter 18.50.0 (2021-12-27).

  AskWoody Plus Newsletter, Editorial AskWoody Plus Newsletter, Editorial

• Staying safe this holiday season

  Posted on December 27, 2021 at 02:42 CST by Susan Bradley • Comment in the Forums

  PATCH WATCH

  

  By Susan Bradley

  This is the season of bright lights and holiday scams. Not a day goes by when I don’t receive notice that a credit card has an alert, a FedEx package has been delayed, or my bank account is overdrawn.

  I’ve seen bogus links to websites that want my credentials, that want to inject malware into my machine, that basically want to steal money from me. While most of the time these scams are very obvious, there are times when they make me stop and do additional checking — just to make sure that I’ve not been scammed. As we close the year, it’s a good time to remind ourselves of various tips and best practices to keep ourselves protected.

  Read the full story in the AskWoody Plus Newsletter 18.50.0 (2021-12-27).

  AskWoody Plus Newsletter, Patch Watch AskWoody Plus Newsletter, Patch Lady Posts, Patch Watch

• Tasks for the weekend – December 25, 2021

  Posted on December 25, 2021 at 19:41 CST by Susan Bradley • Comment in the Forums

  So what are my tasks for THIS weekend?  Well if you got a brand new geek device the first thing you should do is turn it on and update it. Because EVERYTHING you purchase these days needs an immediate firmware update.

  But if you didn’t get a new geek thing? My task for you is to turn off the technology and relax tonight. Take a stroll around your neighborhood and look at the Christmas lights. Drink a cup of egg nog or hot chocolate.  Wherever you are, whatever you do, have a wonderful day today and from all of us at Askwoody, thank you to all of you for supporting this endeavor!

  Everyone have a happy and safe Holiday season!

  (remember the newsletter comes out tomorrow!)

  Other Patch Lady Posts

• Twas the night before (tech edition)

  Posted on December 24, 2021 at 20:19 CST by Susan Bradley • Comment in the Forums

  With a hat tip to Kevin Moradi on the Churchmag site

  To you and yours, I hope everyone is having a wonderful holiday (and don’t forget to get up early to watch the Telescope take off!)

  

  Other Patch Lady Posts

• Zero day still unpatched

  Posted on December 23, 2021 at 21:54 CST by Susan Bradley • Comment in the Forums

  The month of December around Microsoft typically means that not only do we not get any “C” or “D” week updates, but many in Redmond go on vacation. As a result unless there is something really bad occurs, we won’t see patches.

  OPatch blogs about a patch that didn’t fully get fixed that still has a Oday.

  Now mind you in these kind of situations I think that “patching the human” is probably just as effective. Patching the human means you don’t click and you treat every attachment as suspect.

  At any time there is always risks from clicking. Act accordingly as we enter the final week of 2021.

  Windows Security Patch Lady Posts

• Final year for Windows 7 ESU

  Posted on December 23, 2021 at 21:45 CST by Susan Bradley • Comment in the Forums

  Ted and Amy from Harbor Computer reminded me that we are coming up to year 3 of the Windows 7 ESU program. As a reminder, every year the price tag of ESU’s keep going up.

  If you still need to patch and protect Windows 7 you have a couple of options, some official, some not official:

  Official way – especially if you are a business/consultant and need to be official is to reach out to Harbor computer services and purchase year 3 of the ESU (you can click here to once again sign up keeping in mind that unless you’ve already purchased year 1 and 2, you’d have to purchase years 1, 2 AND 3. So I see this final year of support for only those folks that have a business need.

  For the rest remember that oPatch is still providing support.

  Continuing with Extended Security Updates. Those who wanted to keep using Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008 R2 and purchased Extended Security Updates from Microsoft are now facing another doubling of the price for year 2022. For a fraction of this price, 0patch continues to provide critical security patches for these two Windows versions at least until 2023, and perhaps longer if there’s sufficient interest.

  As always Windows 7 is still tracked in the Askwoody forums.

   

  Windows 7 Patch Lady Posts

• We’re tracking the telescope this year!

  Posted on December 22, 2021 at 00:15 CST by Susan Bradley • Comment in the Forums

  Looks like rather than tracking Santa, we’ll be tracking the launch of the telescope on Christmas day.

  NASA Webb Telescope on Twitter: “Due to adverse weather conditions at Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana, the James Webb Space Telescope’s launch is postponed from Dec. 24 to no earlier than Dec. 25. A weather forecast will be issued tomorrow to confirm this date: https://t.co/JCxIuDuCgJ #UnfoldTheUniverse https://t.co/c6v2UK2ZuL” / Twitter

  The James Webb telescope launch was supposed to be on December 24 and now won’t go out until December 25th.

  Keep an eye out for launch!  Of course if you still want to track Santa, Norad will still be there to provide the details.

   

   

  Other Patch Lady Posts

• Freeware Spotlight — Free alternatives to Quicken

  Posted on December 20, 2021 at 02:45 CST by Deanna McElveen • Comment in the Forums

  ISSUE 18.49 • 2021-12-20

  BEST UTILITIES

  

  By Deanna McElveen

  Let’s be honest here. If your finances are tight or in a shambles, the last thing you need to deal with is figuring out how to pay for an expensive program to fix said finances.

  This week, I’m going to give you more bang for your buck by featuring four totally free alternatives to Intuit’s Quicken software. Try each of them until you find the one that’s right for you. It’s not as if you’ll need to sit on hold for an hour to get a refund if you don’t like one!

  Read the full story in the AskWoody Plus Newsletter 18.49.0 (2021-12-20).
  This story also appears in the AskWoody Free Newsletter 18.49.F (2021-12-20).

  AskWoody FREE Newsletter, AskWoody Plus Newsletter, Best Utilities, Freeware Spotlight Accounting Software, AskWoody Plus Newsletter, Deanna's Freeware Spotlight
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