Newsletter Archives
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Patch testing isn’t easy
PATCH WATCH
By Susan Bradley
No matter who the vendor is, bugs occur.
By the time you read this, Apple will have already re-released its rapid security patches for iOS, iPadOS (16.5.1), and MacOS Ventura (13.4.1). The patches dealt with side effects impacting Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Zoom, and various other websites.
The bug release fixed a WebKit vulnerability that was being exploited in the wild. If you don’t use Safari as your default browser, or if you don’t use the impacted apps, I hope you just did the “sit tight and wait for a re-release” thing.
Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (20.29.0, 2023-07-17).
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Firmware and drivers
PATCH WATCH
By Susan Bradley
Why are drivers and firmware so important?
Once upon a time, you would set up a computer and any display adapter driver or firmware would be automatically installed to match the hardware. More than likely, you would not install new drivers for a long, long time.
But now with both Windows 10 and 11, I annually review drivers and firmware as the Windows feature releases come out. I go through certain steps and processes to rule out issues that might have been triggered by out-of-date drivers, especially if I’ve encountered side effects that I can’t otherwise explain.
Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (20.14.0, 2023-04-03).
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Does an old personal computer become useless?
ISSUE 19.46 • 2022-11-14 HARDWARE
By Ben Myers
Come take a ride in my souped-up DeLorean for an adventure in the days before Windows.
You see an old computer and ask, “Why hasn’t it been scrapped?” But don’t look at just the PC — look at what it does within some total system. That’s what this story is about.
The ride takes many twists and turns on the path to where we are today. Progress over the last 20-plus years is hard to believe.
Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (19.46.0, 2022-11-14).
This story also appears in our public Newsletter. -
Check the health of your systems
ISSUE 19.36 • 2022-09-05 ON SECURITY
By Susan Bradley
It’s time to ensure your computer is sound, the operating system is healthy, and your system is backed up.
Why? Because a feature release is right around the corner: 22H2 for both Windows 10 and Windows 11 is due shortly. It’s not that I recommend that you move to those versions, at least not right away. But if you do decide to move ahead, it’s critical to be sure to do so safely, with your ability to retreat secured.
Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (19.36.0, 2022-09-05).
This story also appears in our public Newsletter. -
Watch out for non-MS Surface Pro 7 (and Surface Laptop 3?) drivers
.@surface Pro 7 (&maybe Intel Surface Laptop 3) is using customized Intel WiFi drivers. Installing the generic Intel wifi driver is not blocked, but it does not fix wifi issues AND once installed, may cause other issues including inability to go back to Surface customized driver.
— Barb Bowman 🌷 (@barbbowman) October 27, 2019
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Microsoft confirms – and pulls – botched WPD driver
If you checked the box to install the Optional driver update, rolling back isn’t too difficult.
If you’re using Windows 10, you may well be shafted. Welcome to my world.
InfoWorld Woody on Windows
UPDATE: Günter Born has published more details about Microsoft’s proposed solutions. Take particular note of the “Method 2 Part 2” discussion, which I mention briefly in the InfoWorld article.