Newsletter Archives

• Last call for 1909

  Posted on May 3, 2021 at 01:00 CDT by Susan Bradley • Comment in the Forums

  PATCH WATCH

  

  By Susan Bradley

  All’s clear for updating. Plus, I bid farewell to the man who saved the Internet.

  As noted in my Alert last week, I’ve given the all-clear to install updates this month. The printing bugs have been squashed, and no other issues are apparent.

  If you have still not installed updates, review your deferral settings. If you’ve chosen to defer updates to a specific date, click on Start, Settings, Windows update. If updates are deferred, you will see a bold notice that updates are paused plus a Resume updates button. Clicking that button will clear any deferrals you have set.

  Read the full story in the AskWoody Plus Newsletter 18.16.0 (2021-05-03).

  AskWoody Plus Newsletter, Patch Watch AskWoody Plus Newsletter, Patch Lady Posts, Patch Watch, Win10 1909, Windows Update

• Is Microsoft messing with your Win10 Search box?

  Posted on February 3, 2020 at 10:46 CST by woody • Comment in the Forums

  

  Howard Goldberg has been discussing the change in his Win10 version 1909 Search bar text, from “Type here to search” (shown above) to “Start a web search.” Digging deeper, it appears that Microsoft is changing Windows Search box builds without telling anybody.

  It’s a strange, and very visible, intrusion — and, given the lack of official documentation, your observations may help us understand.

  Details in Computerworld Woody on Windows.

  Windows Patches/Security Search, Win10 1903, Win10 1909

• Win10 version 1909 File Explorer search box still buggy — but less so

  Posted on February 1, 2020 at 04:26 CST by woody • Comment in the Forums

  So you thought the latest “optional, non-security, C/D Week” patch for Win10 version 1909, KB 4532695, fixed the long-standing File Explorer Search bugs?

  Think again.

  As mentioned earlier, Rafael Rivera picked up more anomalies:

  • You can left or right click inside the File Explorer Search box. But if you want to right-click, you must first left-click.
  • It takes two clicks at times to reset the caret position
  • You can’t delete items in the “remembered” list

  Mayank Parmar, over on Windows Latest, has a GIF of the clicking caret bug. Here’s what he says:

  File Explorer’s unified search experience is still a mess and it looks like things won’t get better until Windows 10’s 20H1 update is out. Microsoft has yet to acknowledge the new problems with Explorer and there don’t appear to be any workarounds. If you have installed Windows 10 November 2019 Update, you have to accept the possibility of experiencing issues with File Explorer and Control Panel.

  A note from the peanut gallery: Microsoft never did acknowledge the problem, except to explain that they fixed “an issue that prevents File Explorer’s Search Bar from pasting clipboard content using the right mouse button (right-click)” and “an issue that prevents File Explorer’s Search Bar from receiving user input.”

  The Release Status Information page still stays exactly squat about the bug.

   

  Windows 10 Releases January 2020 Black Tuesday, Win10 1909

• The latest “optional, non-security, C/D Week” patch for Win10 1903 and 1909 is out

  Posted on January 28, 2020 at 12:23 CST by woody • Comment in the Forums

  According to the KB article:

  • Updates an issue that prevents File Explorer’s Quick access control from pasting clipboard content using the right mouse button (right-click). 
  • Updates an issue that prevents File Explorer’s Quick access control from receiving user input.

  Those are the infamous “who says that’s a bug? we haven’t confirmed any bug!” well-documented bugs in Win10 version 1909 File Explorer Search. As far as I know, the bugs don’t occur in 1903.

  It looks like we’re getting a new version of jscript9.dll, so it probably fixes the ADV200001/CVE-2020-0674 security hole. The Security Advisory ADV200001 page does not list this update. It was last updated a week ago.

  If you’re running Win10 1903 or 1909, you’ll only get KB 4532695 if you go into the Windows Update setting app and in Optional Updates available part, click Download and install now. It’s just now being rolled out, so your machine probably won’t show it for a few hours. (Mine don’t.)

  Of course, I don’t recommend that you manually install it. Let’s see where the fur flies.

  UPDATE: Windows uber guru Rafael Rivera has further details:

  • You can left or right click inside the File Explorer Search box. (Oooooooh! Aaaaaaaah!) But if you want to right-click, you must first left-click.
  • It takes two clicks at times to reset the caret position
  • You can’t delete items in the “remembered” list

  ANOTHER UPDATE: As of Wednesday morning, it still isn’t being offered on my production machines.

  Windows Patches/Security January 2020 Black Tuesday, Win10 1903, Win10 1909

• The “optional, non-security, D Week” cumulative update for Win10 1903 and 1909, KB 4532695, is working its way through the Insider Preview ring

  Posted on January 28, 2020 at 10:27 CST by woody • Comment in the Forums

  See Günter Born’s post.

  As expected, this one’s a combined Win10 1903 and 1909 cumulative update. But if you think both Win10 1903 and 1909 are going to get the same set of new bits, you’re being a bit naive.

  This one’s important to me because they may have (finally!) fixed the “who says that’s a bug? we haven’t confirmed any bug!” well-documented bug in Win10 version 1909 File Explorer Search. I don’t see any reports yet about that bug, and whether it’s been fixed or not.

  There’s one report on Tenforums that KB4532695 updates jscript9.dll, thus probably fixes the ADV200001/CVE-2020-0674 security hole.

  Patience.

  Windows Patches/Security Win10 1909

• Two major bugs continue to dog Win10 version 1909 — A mysterious persistent wake-up call, and the ubiquitous File Explorer Search bugs

  Posted on December 19, 2019 at 07:54 CST by woody • Comment in the Forums

  Microsoft said the 1909 upgrade would be easy — a “master switch” change to an already altered Win10 version 1903. It didn’t work out that way.

  I see two persistent bugs with Win10 version 1909:

  • An uncanny ability, on some machines, to wake itself up every day
  • The long-documented File Explorer Search bugs

  This, in addition to all the bugs you expect with changed versions — drivers, installation problems and the like.

  I think that “master switch” metaphor is yet another piece of Microsoft Marketing drivel.

  That said, I fervently hope that Microsoft will revert to one major upgrade a year.

  Details in Computerworld Woody on Windows.

  Windows 10 Releases File Explorer Search, wakeup, Win10 1909

• Parmar: A fix for the bug(s) in Win10 1909 File Explorer is on the way

  Posted on December 18, 2019 at 06:33 CST by woody • Comment in the Forums

  While there have been bugs and complaints about the latest version of Win10, version 1909, the one that keeps coming back revolves around Search in File Explorer.

  Mayank Parmar just posted an article for Windows Latest that boldly predicts Microsoft will fix the problem in January.

  In the changelog of Windows 10 20H1 Build 19013, Microsoft noted that it has resolved an issue where it is not possible to set focus to File Explorer’s search box… It’s worth pointing out that Build 19013 was shipped to testers a few weeks before the [Win10 1909] November 2019 Update release.

  The implication being that Microsoft knew about the bug(s), knew they were in Win10 1909, had two chances to fix it (in the November and December Patch Tuesday volleys), and simply didn’t.

  Tell me again how Windows patching is getting better…

  Windows Patches/Security Win10 1909

• Microsoft to start pushing Win10 1809 customers onto 1909

  Posted on December 6, 2019 at 04:57 CST by woody • Comment in the Forums

  Nevermind that Win10 1809 Home and Pro don’t officially hit end of service until May of next year…

  Microsoft just announced that it’s starting to push machines from Win10 1809 to version 1909.

  Current status as of December 5, 2019:

  Beginning today, we will slowly start the phased process to automatically initiate a feature update for devices running the October 2018 Update (Windows 10, version 1809) Home and Pro editions, keeping those devices supported and receiving the monthly updates that are critical to device security and ecosystem health. We are starting this rollout process several months in advance of the end of service date to provide adequate time for a smooth update process.

  I can understand a month, or maybe two. But five?

  No indication how the push will proceed. I guess you wake up one morning to find that your 1809 machine wants to reboot into 1909.

  As a service.

  Thx Bogdan Popa, Softpedia.

  Windows 10 Releases pushed upgrade, Win10 1809, Win10 1909

• The (sorta) quiet release of Win10 Version 1909

  Posted on December 2, 2019 at 01:00 CST by Tracey Capen • Comment in the Forums

  PATCH WATCH

  By Susan Bradley

  Microsoft’s latest update of Window 10 is rolling out with little fanfare — and few reports of major problems.

  As Woody notes in an AskWoody post, the migration to Version 1909 appears to be relatively painless — especially if you’re coming from Version 1903.

  That said, businesses will want to thoroughly test Win10 1909 — and prepare for upgrading to Version 1903, assuming you’re not already on it.

  Read the full story in AskWoody Plus Newsletter 16.44.0 (2019-12-02).

  Patch Watch AskWoody Plus Newsletter, Black Friday deals, November updates, Office updates, Win10 1909

• Should you upgrade or stick to the MS-DEFCON rating?

  Posted on November 26, 2019 at 09:32 CST by woody • Comment in the Forums

  I created a lot of confusion with my Computerworld post yesterday. In a nutshell, it goes through the pro’s and con’s of upgrading to versions 1809, 1903 and 1909 and, once you’ve chosen the version you want, gives detailed instructions on how to get there.

  To put this in perspective with the MS-DEFCON rating you see above…

  I published that article knowing that many of you in the US will be visiting with family and friends over the next few days. If you’re going to upgrade your Deranged Uncle Darth this year, many of you will want to get the dirty deed done while everybody else is watching football. (American football, of course – and I say that with apologies to my Sainted Aunt Martha.)

  I should’ve made clear that, if you’re concerned about bugs this month – of which there are a few, but not many – you should wait until the MS-DEFCON level goes down before you move from one version to another. (Note, in particular the fix for the Access bug hasn’t been completely rolled out.) But if you’re under some pressure to get things sorted out in the next week or so, it’s OK to upgrade now.

  Windows 10 Releases, Windows Patches/Security Win10 1803, Win10 1809, Win10 1903, Win10 1909

• Here’s how to control the upgrade from Win10 version 1803 or 1809

  Posted on November 25, 2019 at 12:54 CST by woody • Comment in the Forums

  Yes, you can choose which version you want to run — 1809, 1903, or 1909.

  There are direct methods from moving from 1803 to 1809, 1903 or 1909.

  And there are direct methods from moving from 1809 to 1903 or 1909. You do have control, with either Win10 Pro or Home.

  A discussion of options and upgrade details in Computerworld Woody on Windows.

  Windows 10 Releases Win10 1803, Win10 1809, Win10 1903, Win10 1909

• Known problems with Win10 version 1909

  Posted on November 24, 2019 at 05:45 CST by woody • Comment in the Forums

  With Win10 version 1909 now (… checks watch …) 12 days old, I figured it’d be a good time to come up with an Airing of Grievances for the latest version of the last version of Windows.

  Let me kick this off.

  Stutter in File Explorer search

  Mayank Parmar in Windows Latest says:

  Windows 10 November 2019 Update makes File Explorer’s search pane unresponsive. According to posts on Microsoft’s community forum, users have to wait for an abnormally large amount of time before the search box unfreeze and the cursor appears. We were able to reproduce this bug after several attempts.

  Thx, Divyanka

  Text in File Explorer search box very small

  jjblau reports:

  When I click in the search box in File Explorer the text is so small I cannot read it.  I had no problems in 1809.  The search works but you do not know if you spelled your search correctly until you see the results.

  Search box in File Explorer not responsive

  An anonymous commenter adds:

  Right-click on the explorer search box get nothing. Ctrl-V to paste into explorer search box is currently impossible, I can’t even access it to type.

  Problems installing 1909

  Let’s see. This is a day with a name that ends in “y,” so I guess we’re going to see Win10 upgrade installation problems. Mauro Huculak at Windows Central has an enormous compilation of upgrade problems and solutions:

  If you’re still running the October 2018 Update [that’s version 1809 to us normal folks – WL], April 2018 Update [version 1803], or an even older version, then the upgrade process will require full reinstallation. Therefore, increasing the chances of running into problems or stumble upon hardware and software compatibility issues.

  Moving from 1903 to 1909 should be easy — the 1909 update simply plugs in the Christmas tree lights that were already installed by 1903 — but there are reports of problems. For example, hotcore on TenForums says:

  Shortly after the reboot I see the Windows logo and the dots are circling, but after a short time the system hangs completely… I managed to solve the issue by creating the 1909 ISO with Media Creator and installing from that.

  What to do

  Nothing. There’s absolutely nothing in Win10 1909 that you need to have just yet. Let’s give it a few months and see what problems arise.

  For those of you still running Win10 1803 or 1809, I’ll have a detailed step-by-step analysis of your upgrade options — what to consider when upgrading, and how to thread the needle — coming this week in Computerworld.

  In the interim… have you heard of any Win10 1909 specific bugs?

  Windows 10 Releases Win10 1909
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