Blog Archives

• MS-DEFCON 2: Make sure Windows automatic update is temporarily turned off

  Posted on August 12th, 2019 at 10:21 woody Comment on the AskWoody Lounge

  Traditionally, August is a slow month, with lots of ‘Softies on vacation, and an unusually large share of beginner’s mistakes.

  It’s time to check your braces and suspenders, and get Auto Update paused or turned off.

  Details in Computerworld Woody on Windows.

  Windows Patches/Security August 2019 Black Tuesday, MS-DEFCON 2

• We’re still at MS-DEFCON 2

  Posted on July 29th, 2019 at 06:09 woody Comment on the AskWoody Lounge

  Susan Bradley’s recommendations are out for the July Windows and Office patches. In the latest AskWoody Plus Newsletter, she gives almost all of them a green light. You can see the detailed recommendations in her latest Master Patch List.

  I just wanted to post a reminder that Susan’s Master Patch List is directed at people who are down in the patching trenches. If you’re looking for detailed advice on installing individual patches, that’s the place to look.

  Most of you, though, aren’t under the gun to get patches installed immediately – you can take a longer view and wait until the dust has settled a bit. For those of you who aren’t worried about safeguarding corporate secrets or political shenanigans, there’s no need to rush – no pressing need to install any of the July patches just yet.

  For most folks, now’s a good time to do nothing. Let’s sit back and see what else might unfold.

  When the coast is clear, I’ll change the MS-DEFCON rating. For now, sit tight.

  Windows Patches/Security July 2019 Black Tuesday, MS-DEFCON 2

• MS-DEFCON 2: Patch Tuesday beckons, make sure Auto Update is turned off

  Posted on July 8th, 2019 at 03:50 woody Comment on the AskWoody Lounge

  Tomorrow’s Patch Tuesday and you probably know what that means – it’s a good time to get Windows Automatic Update turned off.

  This month we have some fun ‘n games because those of you on Win10 version 1903 may witness a disappearing section in Update Options. But never fear. There are workarounds. (More like yelling at the Microsoft kids to get off the lawn, but nevermind.)

  One thing you should ponder: If Win10 1909 is going to be a Service Pack (with a different name) and it’s being distributed as a cumulative update (again, you have to wonder which bug fixes MS is holding back to beef up the 1909 cumulative update), how does that effect the “feature update deferral” setting. Will 1909 be a new “version” in the classic sense – thus allowing a feature update deferral? Or will it be a cumulative update – thus being put off by the “quality update deferral” setting? Will MS continue to release cumulative updates for 1903 after it’s delivered 1909? (There are parallels to Win7 and Win8, but I doubt that anybody’s thought about that.)

  I think it’s great that we’re finally getting some relief from the insane two-versions-a-year pace. But has anybody thought through how this is, you know, actually going to work?

  Anyway, details in Computerworld. Woody on Windows.

  Windows Patches/Security July 2019 Black Tuesday, MS-DEFCON 2

• MS-DEFCON 2: Make sure Windows Update is de-fanged. Patch Tuesday’s tomorrow.

  Posted on June 10th, 2019 at 03:13 woody Comment on the AskWoody Lounge

  It’s been an interesting month in Patch City. First the WinXP/Vista/Win7 emergency patch (yes, you need to install the latest patches for all of them), and then the release of Win10 version 1903, which only appears to be going out to suckers, er, seekers. There’s one born every minute.

  I have a full rundown of what to do and how to do it — with special new instructions for those of you running Win10 1903 — in Computerworld Woody on Windows.

  Windows Patches/Security June 2019 Black Tuesday, MS-DEFCON 2

• MS-DEFCON 2: Keep the May 2019 patches off your machine for now

  Posted on May 13th, 2019 at 07:43 woody Comment on the AskWoody Lounge

  Tomorrow’s Patch Tuesday and, if it’s like other Patch Tuesdays for the past year or two, it’ll be accompanied by howls of pain.

  Don’t be an unpaid beta tester. Get Windows Update locked down.

  We’re at MS-DEFCON 2: Patch reliability is unclear. Unless you have an immediate, pressing need to install a specific patch, don’t do it.

  Full details in Computerworld.

  Windows Patches/Security May 2019 Black Tuesday, MS-DEFCON 2

• MS-DEFCON 2: Patching conflicts with Sophos and Avast are getting better, but Avira’s a no-show. Don’t patch.

  Posted on April 16th, 2019 at 07:33 woody Comment on the AskWoody Lounge

  It’s still much too early to install the April patches.

  Details in Computerworld Woody on Windows.

  I’m moving us down to MS-DEFCON 2: Patch reliability is unclear. Unless you have an immediate, pressing need to install a specific patch, don’t do it.

  Windows Patches/Security April 2019 Black Tuesday, MS-DEFCON 2

• MS-DEFCON 2: Get your machine braced for the Windows and Office patches due tomorrow

  Posted on April 8th, 2019 at 11:52 woody Comment on the AskWoody Lounge

  It’s that time again.

  With a little luck, we’ll have more options by the time the May or June Patch Tuesdays come around, but for now it’s the same-old same-old.

  Details in Computerworld Woody on Windows.

  Windows Patches/Security April 2019 Black Tuesday, MS-DEFCON 2

• MS-DEFCON 2: Make sure your machine’s set to block automatic updates

  Posted on March 11th, 2019 at 05:16 woody Comment on the AskWoody Lounge

  With Patch Tuesday coming tomorrow, there are all sorts of threatening scenarios at work.

  Worst case: Microsoft declares that Win10 version 1903 is ready for distribution. We used to call that “Currrent Branch” and then “Semi-Annual Channel.” Now, I’m not sure what it’s called. Perhaps RTM? I still like the term “Guinea Pig edition.”

  Anyway, now’s the time to make sure you’ve gummed up the automatic update works. Full instructions in Computerworld Woody on Windows.

  Windows Patches/Security March 2019 Black Tuesday, MS-DEFCON 2
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