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MS-DEFCON 2:
Patch reliability is unclear. Unless you have an immediate, pressing need to install a specific patch, don't do it.
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Any suggestions for our new FAQ?
Home › Forums › AskWoody blog › Any suggestions for our new FAQ?
Tagged: FAQ
- This topic has 33 replies, 13 voices, and was last updated 1 year, 4 months ago.
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September 10, 2019 at 7:44 am #1946445
woody
ManagerSeveral of you have, uh, gently reminded me that the Welcome! page on this site has become rather dated. It was written specifically to help Windows S
[See the full post at: Any suggestions for our new FAQ?] -
September 10, 2019 at 9:44 am #1946611
geekdom
AskWoody PlusKeep this from Welcome page, but tighten it and make applicable depending on whether or not a member (patch list):
General layout
The blog is the part you see running down the left side of the site — it concentrates on tech news.The Lounge (bulletin board) takes over much of the right side. There are different Forums for major areas of concern — Windows 10, for example, or Browsers or Mac. Within each Forum is a bunch of Topics, each corresponding to a question or answer. Within each Topic lie Replies, which are the messages people post back and forth.
To follow along with the latest news, read the left side of the page. To ask (or answer!) questions, start on the right.
Up at the top you’ll see my warnings about the current state of Windows and Office patches — the MS-DEFCON number and recommendations for installing or holding on the latest patches. If you’re interested in more detail, and want to take on all the tech stuff, check out Susan Bradley’s Master Patch List. Follow those instructions and you’ll have far fewer Winthings go bump in the night.
INCLUDE or NOT?
Make your questions count
If you are asking for assistance in this forum, here are a few suggestions that may help those who are providing assistance:- Make sure your topic is in the right place.
- Provide your operating system and version.
- Write a complete description of the problem.
- Include complete error messages.
- Present remedies attempted and the results.
Italics are my comments.
Beta Work {Got backup and coffee}
offline▸ Win10Pro 2004.19041.572 x64 i3-3220 RAM8GB HDD Firefox83.0b3 WindowsDefender TRV=1909 WuMgr
offline▸ Win10Pro 20H2.19042.685 x86 Atom N270 RAM2GB HDD WindowsDefender WuMgr GuineaPigVariant
online▸ Win10Pro 2004.19041.746 x64 i5-9400 RAM16GB HDD Firefox85.0 WindowsDefender TRV=2004 WuMgr-
September 10, 2019 at 10:44 am #1946747
woody
ManagerThe first half of that I tried to cover with this:
Why the hokey old-fashioned site?
A friend of mine, who passed away many years ago, created it. We’ll update it one of these days. In the meantime, up at the top you see my current recommendation for installing patches, using the MS-DEFCON system. On the left side of the main page, you see tech news; on the right, you see pointers into the Lounge — the question-and-answer part of AskWoody.com. To follow along with the latest news, read the left side of the page. To ask (or answer!) questions, start on the right.
I just added a section on Susan’s Patch Watch.
Extended the “post” section to include the tips.
Keep ’em comin’!
1 user thanked author for this post.
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September 10, 2019 at 10:44 am #1946748
satrow
AskWoody MVPEnd every paragraph with Contact Details for those who can’t find, or won’t look for it, as
https://www.askwoody.com/faq/ < (newly edited and the subject of this very Topic )
don’t appear to be enough?2 users thanked author for this post.
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September 10, 2019 at 11:12 am #1946800
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September 10, 2019 at 11:59 am #1946852
geekdom
AskWoody Plus– The posting editor is on a 15-minute egg-timer.
– There are no deletes.
– Some instructions for toolbar, visual, text, attachments are needed.Perhaps a link to a usage topic that covers the above information?
Look, ma, I’m bold.
Beta Work {Got backup and coffee}
offline▸ Win10Pro 2004.19041.572 x64 i3-3220 RAM8GB HDD Firefox83.0b3 WindowsDefender TRV=1909 WuMgr
offline▸ Win10Pro 20H2.19042.685 x86 Atom N270 RAM2GB HDD WindowsDefender WuMgr GuineaPigVariant
online▸ Win10Pro 2004.19041.746 x64 i5-9400 RAM16GB HDD Firefox85.0 WindowsDefender TRV=2004 WuMgr-
This reply was modified 1 year, 4 months ago by
geekdom.
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September 10, 2019 at 1:53 pm #1947092
woody
Manager-
September 10, 2019 at 2:09 pm #1947114
geekdom
AskWoody PlusOther than here, I don’t use WordPress and I don’t know what’s available in the documentation. From the way I see things working, I think certain switches can be set to enable certain features and whoever owns the site where WordPress is installed can set the features.
Edited to add: I’ve also fumbled around quite a bit while trying to play beat the clock and implement some of the old stuff in new ways… such as link.
Beta Work {Got backup and coffee}
offline▸ Win10Pro 2004.19041.572 x64 i3-3220 RAM8GB HDD Firefox83.0b3 WindowsDefender TRV=1909 WuMgr
offline▸ Win10Pro 20H2.19042.685 x86 Atom N270 RAM2GB HDD WindowsDefender WuMgr GuineaPigVariant
online▸ Win10Pro 2004.19041.746 x64 i5-9400 RAM16GB HDD Firefox85.0 WindowsDefender TRV=2004 WuMgr-
This reply was modified 1 year, 4 months ago by
geekdom.
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September 10, 2019 at 4:33 pm #1947243
woody
Manager-
September 10, 2019 at 4:59 pm #1947291
geekdom
AskWoody PlusHere’s the unedited link to a post:
Here’s the link to the post as I would like it to appear:
https://www.askwoody.com/forums/topic/any-suggestions-for-our-new-faq/#post-1946611Unless you know to go to Visual, select the link, select the chain symbol in the bar, and select apply, you get the top link.
Beta Work {Got backup and coffee}
offline▸ Win10Pro 2004.19041.572 x64 i3-3220 RAM8GB HDD Firefox83.0b3 WindowsDefender TRV=1909 WuMgr
offline▸ Win10Pro 20H2.19042.685 x86 Atom N270 RAM2GB HDD WindowsDefender WuMgr GuineaPigVariant
online▸ Win10Pro 2004.19041.746 x64 i5-9400 RAM16GB HDD Firefox85.0 WindowsDefender TRV=2004 WuMgr -
September 10, 2019 at 5:44 pm #1947333
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September 11, 2019 at 10:16 am #1948228
geekdom
AskWoody PlusNo, I’m referring to “link” under the WordPress editor. It works a bit differently than in the past.
Good old copy-and-paste to a particular post — removes the post information:
Highlight text, select link in toolbar — keeps the post information:
https://www.askwoody.com/forums/topic/any-suggestions-for-our-new-faq/#post-1947699Beta Work {Got backup and coffee}
offline▸ Win10Pro 2004.19041.572 x64 i3-3220 RAM8GB HDD Firefox83.0b3 WindowsDefender TRV=1909 WuMgr
offline▸ Win10Pro 20H2.19042.685 x86 Atom N270 RAM2GB HDD WindowsDefender WuMgr GuineaPigVariant
online▸ Win10Pro 2004.19041.746 x64 i5-9400 RAM16GB HDD Firefox85.0 WindowsDefender TRV=2004 WuMgr-
This reply was modified 1 year, 4 months ago by
geekdom.
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This reply was modified 1 year, 4 months ago by
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September 11, 2019 at 10:52 am #1948268
geekdom
AskWoody Pluslink?
We had several people who became quite proficient in using the editor on this site. (Yes, there are options that I can set – but I’ve opted for very few bells and whistles, to lower our attack surface.)
Rather unfortunate I used the word link in two different ways:
— Topic link to WordPress usage explanation.
— How to create a link under the WordPress editor.Beta Work {Got backup and coffee}
offline▸ Win10Pro 2004.19041.572 x64 i3-3220 RAM8GB HDD Firefox83.0b3 WindowsDefender TRV=1909 WuMgr
offline▸ Win10Pro 20H2.19042.685 x86 Atom N270 RAM2GB HDD WindowsDefender WuMgr GuineaPigVariant
online▸ Win10Pro 2004.19041.746 x64 i5-9400 RAM16GB HDD Firefox85.0 WindowsDefender TRV=2004 WuMgr
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This reply was modified 1 year, 4 months ago by
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September 10, 2019 at 3:44 pm #1947207
tonyl
AskWoody LoungerHere’s one.
Not saying it’s the best, but it’s a start.Re the draft FAQs, you might consider making the questions clickable links, leading to the answers. As it stands (and I’m trying to think as a first-time visitor would), it’s rather a lot of info all in one go. And you could get more stuff on the page.
I don’t know if that’s too much work, as I realise you’ve said you’re going to be modernising the site some time in the future.
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September 10, 2019 at 4:30 pm #1947241
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September 11, 2019 at 10:35 am #1948247
geekdom
AskWoody PlusBeta Work {Got backup and coffee}
offline▸ Win10Pro 2004.19041.572 x64 i3-3220 RAM8GB HDD Firefox83.0b3 WindowsDefender TRV=1909 WuMgr
offline▸ Win10Pro 20H2.19042.685 x86 Atom N270 RAM2GB HDD WindowsDefender WuMgr GuineaPigVariant
online▸ Win10Pro 2004.19041.746 x64 i5-9400 RAM16GB HDD Firefox85.0 WindowsDefender TRV=2004 WuMgr-
This reply was modified 1 year, 4 months ago by
geekdom.
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This reply was modified 1 year, 4 months ago by
geekdom.
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This reply was modified 1 year, 4 months ago by
geekdom.
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This reply was modified 1 year, 4 months ago by
geekdom.
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September 10, 2019 at 12:44 pm #1946965
Matthew
AskWoody PlusOn the one hand, I know Woody likes using “slang” words. On the other hand, he wants these FAQs to be “relatively easy for non-English-speakers” to use. So perhaps these FAQs should skip terms like “salty” and “hokey” and “gigabucks.” Once the visitor decides they’re willing to come back again and again, then they can get used to Woody’s terminology.
P.S. What’s up with everything turning to a bold font?
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This reply was modified 1 year, 4 months ago by
Matthew.
1 user thanked author for this post.
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This reply was modified 1 year, 4 months ago by
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September 10, 2019 at 3:58 pm #1947214
Steve S.
AskWoody PlusRe: MS-DEFCON system
Over the years, I’ve seen occasional confusion about how it works for different OSes: Win7, Win8.1, Win10.
It might be helpful to state (in the FAQ and in the MS-DEFCON tab) that the DEFCON system is not delineated by OS version and that AskWoody doesn’t raise the DEFCON rating unless and until all OSes pass Woody’s sniff test and all are more or less ready for patching. (Even if, for example, Win 8.1 patches are problem-free, but Win 10 patches are not.)
The Master Patch List by Susan, seems a better reference in that regard – for those so inclined to patch earlier.
Win7 Pro x64(Group B), Win10 Pro x64 1909, Win10 Home 1909, Linux Mint + a cat with 'tortitude'.
1 user thanked author for this post.
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September 10, 2019 at 4:33 pm #1947244
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September 10, 2019 at 5:17 pm #1947282
anonymous
GuestMaybe it’s me who has a color perception problem I don’t see any blue ribbons on Avatars. I see gold with a blue cross.
How do I preview what I write before posting.
Lose the phrase ‘Good question’. It is not needed.
The question ‘Should I update or not’ does not specify that you are talking about Windows. It might be talking about updating from a free account to subscription.
Add ‘How do I get email update to questions’ – explain different levels of subscription and how to manage them via your account. Start that you can’t get email advice without subscribing (obvious but spell it out as another reason to subscribe).
1 user thanked author for this post.
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September 10, 2019 at 5:36 pm #1947340
SueW
AskWoody PlusUnder the Question “How do I post a question (or answer)?” you might want to include how to “Search the Lounge” box as a subtle (or not) way to encourage folks to use that first before posting their question.
Win 7 SP1 Home Premium 64-bit; Office 2010; Group B (SaS); Former 'Tech Weenie'1 user thanked author for this post.
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September 10, 2019 at 11:20 pm #1947699
Nibbled To Death By Ducks
AskWoody PlusThe first half of that I tried to cover with this:
Why the hokey old-fashioned site?
A friend of mine, who passed away many years ago, created it. We’ll update it one of these days. In the meantime, up at the top you see my current recommendation for installing patches, using the MS-DEFCON system. On the left side of the main page, you see tech news; on the right, you see pointers into the Lounge — the question-and-answer part of AskWoody.com. To follow along with the latest news, read the left side of the page. To ask (or answer!) questions, start on the right.
I just added a section on Susan’s Patch Watch.
Extended the “post” section to include the tips.
Keep ’em comin’!
“Hokey and old Fashioned,” eh?
What a “Ween of Blathers!” (Scottish-look it up.) Bananas!
How about “Conservative”, “Universally Accessible,” “Low Attack Surface” and “CPU/user efficient and friendly?”
Honestly, when HTML 5 first came out of a thoroughly industry-whipped W3C, I was running into sites that sucked 90% of my CPU on the index page, and was intended to make two guys in a rented broom closet with a high-speed connection look like The Next Big Thing. “Now Hiring!!”
Two months later, the “company” folded, and all 5 employees were let go.
Moral: When building a website, if deciding whether to ram the throttle to the firewall or ride just below cruising speed, do the latter. “Them’s that knows don’t have to bleat and holler.”
Win7 Pro SP1 64-bit ESU, Dell Latitude E6330, Intel CORE i5 "Ivy Bridge", Group "Patch List", Multiple Air-Gapped backup drives in different locations, "Don't auto-check for updates-Full Manual Mode." Linux Mint Greenhorn
--
"A committee is the only known form of life that can have least four legs and no brain."-Robert Heinlein
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September 11, 2019 at 10:21 am #1948234
geekdom
AskWoody PlusYup, something that works is preferable to bells-and-whistles.
Beta Work {Got backup and coffee}
offline▸ Win10Pro 2004.19041.572 x64 i3-3220 RAM8GB HDD Firefox83.0b3 WindowsDefender TRV=1909 WuMgr
offline▸ Win10Pro 20H2.19042.685 x86 Atom N270 RAM2GB HDD WindowsDefender WuMgr GuineaPigVariant
online▸ Win10Pro 2004.19041.746 x64 i5-9400 RAM16GB HDD Firefox85.0 WindowsDefender TRV=2004 WuMgr
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September 11, 2019 at 9:43 am #1948201
carpintero
AskWoody Lounger<hr />
Can I ask just a general question?
Because the volume of “general” is unmanageable, it is best to post in a topical AskWoody forum.
Look at the Forums list (the tab at the top), or search the Lounge using the box on the right, or with Google using site:askwoody.com.<hr />
Why the old-fashioned site?
A friend of mine, who passed away many years ago, created it. We’ll update it one of these days.
In the meantime, upSite Layout
At the top you see my current recommendation for installing patches, using the MS-DEFCON system. On the left side of the main page, you see tech news; on the right, you see pointers into the Lounge — the question-and-answer part of AskWoody.com. To follow along with the latest news, read the left side of the page. To ask or answer questions, start on the right.
<hr />
1 user thanked author for this post.
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September 12, 2019 at 10:33 am #1949486
anonymous
GuestYou should expand on the answer to What information do you keep? a bit more. “The bare minimum necessary to keep the site running” isn’t too reassuring to many users (what constitutes as “bare minimum”? for Google it would be keeping your IP address indefinitely and assigning you a tracking ID). Perhaps try to sum up the gist of the privacy policy in a non-legalese sounding way (e.g. “We automatically keep things like your IP address, browser info, operating system, and the date and time you accessed the site. We only use this to see how many people visit our site and from where, and we will never use it to track or identify you. We will only keep other information if you want us to keep it, and we will keep it for as long as you want us to.”).
Edit: HTML removal
1 user thanked author for this post.
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September 15, 2019 at 8:43 am #1951994
geekdom
AskWoody PlusBeta Work {Got backup and coffee}
offline▸ Win10Pro 2004.19041.572 x64 i3-3220 RAM8GB HDD Firefox83.0b3 WindowsDefender TRV=1909 WuMgr
offline▸ Win10Pro 20H2.19042.685 x86 Atom N270 RAM2GB HDD WindowsDefender WuMgr GuineaPigVariant
online▸ Win10Pro 2004.19041.746 x64 i5-9400 RAM16GB HDD Firefox85.0 WindowsDefender TRV=2004 WuMgrAttachments:
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1 user thanked author for this post.
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September 15, 2019 at 1:36 pm #1952142
wavy
AskWoody Plus-
September 15, 2019 at 1:58 pm #1952156
Kirsty
ManagerBy “visual mode” are you referring to the Visual text editor box, for posting into the fora her at AskWoody? Your recent topic Visual Tab gave some of the reasons some people choose to use the Visual tab, in favor of the Text tab. It’s a matter of personal preference and need.
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