Copilot is here, sort of

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ISSUE 20.42 • 2023-10-16 PATCH WATCH By Susan Bradley The October security updates include Copilot. As I have alerted you before, if you have Windows
[See the full post at: Copilot is here, sort of]

Susan Bradley Patch Lady/Prudent patcher

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abbodi86, Kirsty, oldfry, fisher75, DLivesInTexas, lmacri

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Susan Bradley wrote:

The October security updates include Copilot.

Never fear — you can disable this “feature.” I didn’t say remove or block, but rather disable.

Why should Copilot be feared or disabled?

You can choose not to use it and easily switch off its icon on the taskbar.

Susan Bradley wrote:

… Microsoft Backup application that works only with a consumer-based Microsoft account, … a means for IT pros to uninstall the app is forthcoming. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that the solution will be usable on home machines. We will see.

Why uninstall Windows Backup from a home machine? It’s not useless.

Susan Bradley wrote:

“Outlook (new).” … The good news is you can Registry key it away.

What’s wrong with new Outlook for home users? It’s free!:

The new Outlook for Windows is for everyone. Now everyone with Windows gets the best of Outlook built into Windows for free. No subscription needed.

Why use the new Outlook for Windows

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Noel Carboni, Barry

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It has bugs to start with and security implications from pulling in outside sources.

The backup isn’t a backup and is a migration tool. It’s totally useless in a business setting.

Until such time as all com add ins have web comparable outlook should not be shoved out.

This isn’t the Microsoft insider newsletter- this is how to have a stable and working system, b. I write with a business boring mentality.

Susan Bradley Patch Lady/Prudent patcher

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Noel Carboni, steeviebops, Mark, Kirsty, oldfry, Casey S, WSbobby-p, cyberSAR, PKCano

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https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/new-back-up-app-causing-delay-to-logging-off/db3691b9-e508-4236-819f-67048b6c47c8

“When trying to turn off I get a screen that says (to the effect of) ‘Closing One App’ and lists ‘\Microsoft\Windows\Applistbackup\BackupNonMaintenance’ as the offending app/service.”

Seeing the same thing on a few machines, Win 10 Pro, the last couple weeks. Backup never opened, configured, nor is one drive used. All local accounts.

Never Say Never

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Kirsty

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I’m not convinced that error is connected to Windows Backup, especially as the new app requires a Microsoft Account.

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I look forward to learning about the security implications of allowing Windows Copilot to remain enabled. Improved features now available for home users like a migration tool and a free Outlook to replace Windows Mail will not affect stability.

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Already I’ve seen changes in what Copilot for windows offers up so they are already realizing that changes need to be made. Initially it had links to external websites and then the ‘more info’ links changed.   Copilot is basically bing chat brought into an app on the desktop.  Already we’ve seen issues:  https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/bing-chat-responses-infiltrated-by-ads-pushing-malware/

As far as backup , it clearly is not a backup.  It cannot restore. It also is not a fully fledged migration tool (see my article on that) as it doesn’t migrate apps that were not deployed via the Microsoft Store.

Re Outlook, given that it doesn’t yet have all of the features of the thing it’s trying to ultimately replace, yes it does impact stability.

Again, I write about stability, not bleeding edge.

Susan Bradley Patch Lady/Prudent patcher

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Mark, Kirsty, oldfry

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I’m not seeing any ads in Copilot (but do in Bing Chat for the same questions).

New Outlook has many more features than the Mail app it’s currently replacing.

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Microsoft has conveniently converted the Mail and Calendar app to Outlook, too.  Here’s my post about it

https://www.askwoody.com/forums/topic/microsoft-backup-triggers-help-desk-calls-and-confusion/#post-2590849

Let the confusion begin.

Casey

PS.  Just ran into “New” Teams Thursday evening when installing it on a workstation.

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Personally I want nothing to do with AI and want nothing to do with Co-Pilot.

I have a brand new computer and the Outlook (new) is in my menu.  I am going to do that Registry fix Susan suggested.

 

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steeviebops, Mark

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Windows 10’s latest update issue isn’t a bug but a feature – to test your patience

https://www.theregister.com/2023/10/16/microsoft_rolls_back_windows_10/

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Per Microsoft, you need to login with you Microsoft account to wee or use it.  I don not use my Microsoft account so I do not see Copilot.

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That’s good news! Couple this with the other perceived downsides of a Microsoft account and I feel all the better about always finding the way to set up with a local account.

-Noel

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cyberSAR

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Susan’s post (“Copilot is here, sort of”) says:

“Never fear — you can disable this “feature.” I didn’t say remove or block, but rather disable.”

Does this mean Win 22H2 users can safely choose to decline to take action while MS “dribbles out” Copilot, and later (when?) disable it?

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Noel Carboni

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Safely? It’s not dangerous (especially if you don’t use it).

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Neil Krum

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Windows Backup settings and preferences catalog
https://support.microsoft.com/help/5031715

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b

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Hundreds of settings; very useful when migrating to a new computer.

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b wrote:

Hundreds of settings; very useful when migrating to a new computer.

I’ve migrated a few times over the last couple of decades; it’s a two-step process using Image For Windows:

Create drive image
Restore drive image

This method works when migrating from one Windows version to the same Windows version on different hardware, and easily accommodates drives of different sizes or types (HDD to SSD).  No settings to worry with, nothing left behind.  The installation from which I am posting this reply was Windows 7 Ultimate thirteen years ago and has traversed four complete hardware upgrades using the above method.

In my experience, it doesn’t get any simpler, more convenient and reliable than that, the upgrade vs clean-install argument notwithstanding.

Always create a fresh drive image before making system changes/Windows updates; you may need to start over!

We were all once "Average Users". We all have our own reasons for doing the things that we do with our systems, we don't need anyone's approval, and we don't all have to do the same things.

Computer Specs

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Back up your Windows PC
https://support.microsoft.com/help/5029967

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I’m good to go for a couple of years yet since Microsoft has produced literally nothing in Win 11 that I find compelling (though TBH I do kind of like rounded corners vs. square, but that alone is just not enough to want to upgrade). The non-collapsable ribbon in Explorer alone is enough to offset easier to find Window borders (admittedly, I did find a hack that still works to return Explorer to the Win 10 implementation, but still…)

-Noel

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bbearren wrote:

No settings to worry with, nothing left behind.

Using this method you are left with thousand Redundant registry entries, tens of Redundant drivers.. Windows OS doesn’t remove those.

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Alex5723 wrote:

Using this method you are left with thousand Redundant registry entries, tens of Redundant drivers.

For one thing, thousand redundant registry entries have absolutely no effect on efficiency/performance, and it’s more like sixty or so (I’ve checked).  Same with redundant drivers; no effect on efficiency/performance.

The registry uses a binary search, not a Windows Search type of search, and it doesn’t visit dead ends at all.

Always create a fresh drive image before making system changes/Windows updates; you may need to start over!

We were all once "Average Users". We all have our own reasons for doing the things that we do with our systems, we don't need anyone's approval, and we don't all have to do the same things.

Computer Specs

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Alex5723

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I see the KB5031455 which is in preview state, has a “preview of copilot, yet is not 23h2

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/october-26-2023-kb5031455-os-build-22621-2506-preview-6513c5ec-c5a2-4aaf-97f5-44c13d29e0d4

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