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SteveIT, Have you tried replicating your route using a ‘Gecko’ based browser such as firefox?

Windows - commercial by definition and now function...

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SteveIT

Further Info:
OoB (Out of Band) updates for Windows 10/ 11 and Windows Server 2016-2019 editions via the MS Catalog only, patches dated 04/11/25.

Catalog:
https://www.catalog.update.microsoft.com/Search.aspx?q=%222025-04%22

Support Ref:
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/april-11-2025-kb5058919-os-builds-22621-5192-and-22631-5192-out-of-band-349d28f6-cdb4-44c0-b2de-21153fd39652

Windows - commercial by definition and now function...

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PKCano

attribution removed – pertains to MSFT docs

Windows - commercial by definition and now function...

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EricB

ditto, Winaero Tweaker has been used here for many years with Win7, 8.1, 10 and now 11. Version 1.63 needs updating to reflect MSFT changes as its from July 2024.
Be careful using desktop-context-menu shortcuts with Winaero as explorer crashes with certain shortcuts after April 2025 CU

Windows - commercial by definition and now function...

Assuming you are on Win11 23H2:
Once you get to the screen where connection is required, press SHIFT+F10 and the Command Prompt will open.
Type:

OOBE\BYPASSNRO

and press the [ENTER] key.
The system should restart and the OoBE will show “I dont have an internet access” button further on in proceedings.

For Win11 24H2:
press SHIFT+F10 and the Command Prompt will open.
within cmd input:

start ms-cxh:localonly

followed by pressing [ENTER] key.

OR if a new device with W11:
Choose the “Work or school” option during the OOBE.

Windows - commercial by definition and now function...

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ctRanger

NOTE: Win8.1/ 2012 R2 patchers

April 2025 CU KB5055557:

Be aware of using desktop-context-menu tweaks causing an explorer crash when invoked after installing April 2025 CU.

One needs to disable 3rd party desktop-context-menu tweaks (right click of desktop) using the 3rd party tweak utility that created them.

FWIW as an example I’m using Winaero Tweaker v1.63 on the Win8.1/R2 Hybrid

Windows - commercial by definition and now function...

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abbodi86, rick41, satrow, PKCano

I just nuked the c:\inetpub folder as there was nothing in it on both W10 & 11
No ill effects, it’s just a placeholder during patching whether required or not.
Edit: Now MSFT informs NOT to delete it…many thanks for the late update MSFT

Windows - commercial by definition and now function...

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Speccy, jburk07, Fred, deuxbits

What Microsoft has fixed / closed off within April 2025 Cumulative Updates..
https://www.tenable.com/blog/microsofts-april-2025-patch-tuesday-addresses-121-cves-cve-2025-29824

Interesting long list of fixes for this month..so, with that, I’ve patched both W10 22H2 and W11 23H2 devices and have not witnessed any bugs for our home use. Although considering the possibilities, I chose to go now rather than wait and deal with collateral damage later (if affected)
W10 and W11 both exhibited a delay at 97% during update to display normality.
SFC/ DISM health all good here with systems.

Windows - commercial by definition and now function...

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Fred, jburk07

Rufus 4.7 released 2025-04-09

Available in various executable packages
Official download and changelog location:
https://rufus.ie/en/#

Version 4.7 (2025.04.09)
Add a mechanism to detect and download updated DBXs from the official UEFI repository
Add ztsd compression support for disk images
Add a new exclusion feature in the settings, to ignore disks with a specific GPT GUID
Improve detection for compressed VHD images that are too large to fit the target drive
Fix commandline hogger not being deleted when running Rufus from a different directory
Fix FAT filenames from embedded images being potentially truncated on image extraction
Fix a side-loading vulnerability [CVE-2025-26624] with cfgmgr32.dll (with thanks to @EmperialX)
Fix UI memory leaks (courtesy of @ozone10)
Fall back to user/system default locale when getting error description (courtesy of @Wack0)
Don’t run the commandline hogger on POSIX shells
Drop ARM 32-bit builds (Note that ARM 64-bit builds are NOT affected by this)
Update FreeDOS and Grub4DOS to latest

Windows - commercial by definition and now function...

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A1ex, Alex5723, n0ads

Unscheduled update to Firefox 137.0.1
8th April 2025

Mozilla Release Notes:
https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/137.0.1/releasenotes/

FTP Download link:
https://ftp.mozilla.org/pub/firefox/releases/137.0.1/

Check back later to view release notes..

Windows - commercial by definition and now function...

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Alex5723

At this moment in time, guesstimates are the unknown for sure..

You would need to post a screenshot description of the Dell BIOS update to establish whether it’s attributed to the device subsystem, operability or connected peripherals and/ or a security fix.
Is there a CVE number attributed to the bios/ firmware update?

Windows - commercial by definition and now function...

Mozilla Firefox scheduled updates are due arrive on Tuesday 1st April 2025.

Firefox 137.0

Mozilla Release Notes:
https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/137.0/releasenotes/

FTP Download link:
https://ftp.mozilla.org/pub/firefox/releases/137.0/

Firefox 128.9esr
Mozilla Release Notes:
https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/128.9.0/releasenotes/

FTP Download link:
https://ftp.mozilla.org/pub/firefox/releases/128.9.0esr/

Firefox ESR 115.22.0
Intended for Windows 7-8.1 and macOS 10.12-10.14

Mozilla Release Notes:
https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/115.22.0/releasenotes/

FTP Download link:
https://ftp.mozilla.org/pub/firefox/releases/115.22.0esr/

Windows - commercial by definition and now function...

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Alex5723

I’ve used the portable and mini-portable versions in place of MS notepad for years without issue for Win7, Win8.1, 10 and now W11.
Official Website:
https://notepad-plus-plus.org/downloads/v8.7.8/

I prefer the mini-portable version for Win7

Windows - commercial by definition and now function...

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Steve, Alex5723, dg1261

From a homeuser perspective with OS security aside..
Changes are a good thing if they actually improve stability, performance, ease of use, functionality, aesthetics whilst still providing quality.

Not really seen that for over a decade and tend to associate those ‘change’ successes in three previous Windows versions:
Win98SE, WinXP SP2 and Win7 SP1..nothing has come close since.
Windows has become a pane the glass since 2015 and I’m so glad (smug?) I took the initiative to self-educate on using and configuring linux. Now relaxing with alternative FOSS software to achieve what is needed with cross-Windows OS compatibility (after many trials of testing OS and Applications).
That contingency plan has worked here..each to their own and good luck, you’ll need it IMO

Windows - commercial by definition and now function...

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Cybertooth, Great Lake Bunyip, Charlie

For fresh device installations with a W10 activation token with or without W11 requirements, there’s nothing stopping 3rd party OS installation media creators including bypassnro registry files and bypassnro.cmd for pre-configuration into their process, which to me, equates to a much more hassle-free sensible option.

IOW, just look for those media creation utilities nearer the time when required, IF progress goes beyond ‘insider’ builds for Home Editions..

NOTE: Remember to create a W10 image prior to a 23H2 upgrade or a 24H2 regression

Windows - commercial by definition and now function...