Newsletter Archives

• Roll back Windows 11 after more than 60 days

  Posted on December 27, 2021 at 02:45 CST by B. Livingston • Comment in the Forums

  ISSUE 18.50 • 2021-12-27

  PUBLIC DEFENDER

  

  By Brian Livingston

  I wrote “Win11 isn’t a must-have upgrade yet” in my October 18, 2021, AskWoody column. However, for true experimenters, I explained a single Registry line that enables you to install Win11 on what Microsoft calls “unsupported” CPU and TPM chips, in case you really need one of four new Win11 features.

  Since that time, it turns out you can fix one of Microsoft’s most restrictive new policies. To the frustration of many, Win11 can’t be rolled back to Win10 a mere ten days following an upgrade. Fortunately, you can end that limitation by using a couple of very simple steps.

  Read the full story in the AskWoody Plus Newsletter 18.50.0 (2021-12-27).
  This story also appears in the AskWoody Free Newsletter 18.50.F (2021-12-27).

  AskWoody FREE Newsletter, AskWoody Plus Newsletter, Public Defender AskWoody Plus Newsletter, Public Defender, Windows 10, Windows 10 rollback, Windows 11

• MS-DEFCON 2: Here comes 21H2

  Posted on November 4, 2021 at 02:45 CDT by Susan Bradley • Comment in the Forums

  ISSUE 18.42.1 • 2021-11-04 By Susan Bradley Microsoft is beginning to push 21H2, Microsoft’s least interesting feature release in the Windows 10 era. With new features that are interesting only to businesses, this feature release will serve only one purpose — that of providing you with lifecycle support for several years. So what’s in 21H2? Addition of WPA3 H2E standards support for enhanced Wi-Fi security In Windows Hello for Business, introduction of cloud trust, a new deployment method to support simplified, passwordless deployments and achieve a deploy-to-run state within a few minutes GPU compute support in the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) and Azure IoT Edge for Linux on Windows (EFLOW) deployments, for machine learning and other compute-intensive workflows In other words, not much that will excite most of us. I don’t recommend installing feature releases until several weeks (at least) after their release. I strongly recommend that you use either group policy or the registry key methods to keep yourself on 21H1 at this time. You can review your options to defer feature releases. Consumer and home users For consumer and home users, I recommend that you push off updates until right before Thanksgiving, no sooner than November 23. Click on Start, Settings, Update and Security, and click the Pause for 7 days button. if you want to pause for more than seven days, click the button more than once. Do remember my mantra. I always want to install updates — it’s just a matter of timing. Business users By now (hopefully), you have found a resolution to any printing problems that have been driving you insane over the last several months. If not, we can hope that the November updates will include more printing fixes. We already know that the preview updates released at the end of October helped to fix issues for some. Those patches will be included in the November update releases, because Windows 10 patches are always cumulative. References AskWoody Master Patch List Read the full story in the AskWoody Plus Alert 18.42.1 (2021-11-04).

  AskWoody Plus Alert, Patch Watch 21H2, AskWoody Plus Newsletter, MS-DEFCON, MS-DEFCON 2, Patch Lady Posts, Windows, Windows 10

• MS-DEFCON 2: October updates right around the corner

  Posted on October 8, 2021 at 02:45 CDT by Susan Bradley • Comment in the Forums

  ISSUE 18.38.1 • 2021-10-08 By Susan Bradley Enjoy the fall season — take a break from patching! With the October updates bearing down upon us, it’s time to take a break. Wrap up patching and updating from September, and prepare your PC to delay the upcoming patches. For those of you still on Windows 10 2004, this is an excellent time to upgrade to 21H1 and let it settle in. As for Windows 10 21H2, we still don’t have a definite date. Windows 10 will be fully supported until 2025, but it’s still unclear whether Microsoft will be switching to an annual feature-release schedule, as with Windows 11, or keeping the twice-per-year cadence we’ve had for the past five years. Consumer and home users Based on the information I have now, I will probably sound the all-clear for consumers to install this round of updates on or after October 26. Go into Start, Settings, Update and Security, and Advanced options. In the Pause Updates section, pick October 26 from the drop-down menu. If you’ve installed the September updates for Windows 10 2004, 20H2, or 21H1, including KB5005565, you can turn your print spooler service back on and use your printer normally — Microsoft has finally fixed its Print Nightmare bugs. It’s safe to turn it on and leave it on (we hope). Business users For businesses, I’ll urge you to unofficially shoot for deploying updates a week earlier on October 19. Every time I’ve tried to urge businesses to patch earlier than consumers, we’ve hit side effects and needed to wait for workarounds. This is also the time to be testing — but not deploying — Windows 11. Microsoft started releasing Windows 11 as it became Tuesday, October 5, in each time zone around the world. All the tools that help us control, patch, and deploy Windows 10 will also be used to control, patch, and deploy Windows 11. Microsoft is releasing much of its Windows 11 content and will be updating it as more information comes out. Tuesday marked the start of the 36-month servicing-support lifecycle for Enterprise and Education editions of Windows 11. The Home, Pro, Pro for Workstations, and Pro for Education editions of Windows 11 will receive 24 months of servicing support. But I see no need to rush into Windows 11 — it’s a time to watch for side effects and issues. References AskWoody Master Patch List Read the full story in the AskWoody Plus Alert 18.38.1 (2021-10-08).

  AskWoody Plus Alert, MS-DEFCON AskWoody Plus Alerts, MS-DEFCON, MS-DEFCON 2, Patch Lady Posts, Windows 10, Windows 11

• Should you activate Win10’s optional Application Guard?

  Posted on August 30, 2021 at 02:43 CDT by Fred Langa • Comment in the Forums

  LANGALIST

  

  By Fred Langa

  It’s disabled by default and comes with some serious gotchas … but it also can add an extra level of online security to Microsoft Office apps and to the Edge browser.

  Here’s how to tell whether Microsoft Defender Application Guard is available on your PC and how to enable it if you wish to give it a try.

  Plus: Sleuthing a user’s unusual Windows 7 to 10 activation issue!

  Read the full story in the AskWoody Plus Newsletter 18.33.0 (2021-08-30).

  AskWoody Plus Newsletter, LangaList Application Guard, AskWoody Plus Newsletter, LangaList, Windows 10

• It’s way too soon to panic about Windows 11

  Posted on August 9, 2021 at 02:44 CDT by Fred Langa • Comment in the Forums

  LANGALIST

  

  By Fred Langa

  Windows 11, aka Windows 21H2, is due out later this year but is already causing deep concern among many users.

  For some, it’s that their PCs failed the prerelease (and now withdrawn) Win11 hardware-compatibility checker. For others, it’s the knowledge that the stated prerelease hardware requirements would prevent their machines from being able to use the new OS.

  Read the full story in the AskWoody Plus Newsletter 18.30.0 (2021-08-09).

  AskWoody Plus Newsletter, LangaList AskWoody Plus Newsletter, LangaList, Windows 10, Windows 11

• Windows 11 says good-bye to these familiar features

  Posted on July 19, 2021 at 02:43 CDT by Lance Whitney • Comment in the Forums

  WINDOWS 11

  

  By Lance Whitney

  Windows 11 jettisons a bunch of items from Windows 10. But which losses will cause the most pain among loyal Windows users?

  To paraphrase a famous biblical quote, “Microsoft giveth, and Microsoft taketh away.” And that’s certainly true with Windows 11. With this new version of Windows, the folks in Redmond have added a range of features including a new visual design, a new Start menu, a widgets pane, and a revamped Microsoft Store, as well as upcoming integration with Microsoft Teams and support for Android apps.

  Read the full story in the AskWoody Plus Newsletter 18.27.0 (2021-07-19).

  AskWoody Plus Newsletter, Windows 11 AskWoody Plus Newsletter, Windows 10, Windows 11

• Window 10 Home vs. Pro: A real-life test drive

  Posted on July 19, 2021 at 02:42 CDT by Fred Langa • Comment in the Forums

  LANGALIST

  

  By Fred Langa

  An upgrade from Home to Pro edition costs around US$100, but is it really worth it?

  What does Pro edition offer that Home lacks? What does a Pro edition user give up in switching to Home? And, besides price and somewhat differing features, do the dissimilarities really matter in normal day-to-day Windows operation?

  Read the full story in the AskWoody Plus Newsletter 18.27.0 (2021-07-19).

  AskWoody Plus Newsletter, LangaList, Windows 10 AskWoody Plus Newsletter, LangaList, Windows 10, Windows Editions

• Microsoft account or local account – which one should you choose?

  Posted on June 28, 2021 at 02:41 CDT by Lance Whitney • Comment in the Forums

  MICROSOFT

  

  By Lance Whitney

  Which type of account should you use for your personal Windows 10 computer? That depends on your situation, though there are benefits and drawbacks to each.

  When you set up a Windows 10 PC for personal use, Microsoft makes you select which type of account you want to use to sign in. A Microsoft account will synchronize certain apps and settings across multiple devices and give you access to services beyond Windows. A local account provides an entryway solely to your current PC.

  Read the full story in the AskWoody Plus Newsletter 18.24.0 (2021-06-28).

  AskWoody Plus Newsletter, Microsoft AskWoody Plus Newsletter, local account, Microsoft Accounts, Windows 10

• How to set up and use a Microsoft account in Windows

  Posted on March 22, 2021 at 01:02 CDT by Lance Whitney • Comment in the Forums

  MICROSOFT ACCOUNTS

  

  By Lance Whitney

  A Microsoft account offers you a single sign-on method to log in to Windows on any computer.

  A Microsoft account is a quick and convenient way to use the same credentials to sign in to different Microsoft applications and services. This type of account can connect you to Office, Outlook, OneDrive, Skype, the Microsoft Store, and Xbox Live. A Microsoft account is required for you to access certain services such as Office on the Web and, more importantly for this series, OneDrive.

  Read the full story in the AskWoody Plus Newsletter 18.11.0 (2021-03-22).

  AskWoody Plus Newsletter, Microsoft 365, Windows 10 AskWoody Plus Newsletter, Microsoft 365, Microsoft Account, Windows 10

• Using Windows 10 Quick Assist in reverse

  Posted on March 8, 2021 at 01:08 CST by Will Fastie • Comment in the Forums

  ISSUE 18.9 • 2021-03-08

  

  QUICK TIP

  

  By Will Fastie

  Instead of helping someone with remote control, Quick Assist can be used as a demonstration tool.

  The simple difference between a screen-sharing tool (Skype, Zoom) and a remote-control tool such as Quick Assist is that the latter is one-way. Once the session is underway, the roles of the two systems involved cannot be swapped.

  Read the full story in the AskWoody Plus Newsletter 18.9.0 (2021-03-08).
  This story also appears in the AskWoody Free Newsletter 18.9.F (2021-03-08).

  AskWoody FREE Newsletter, AskWoody Plus Newsletter, Windows 10 AskWoody Plus Newsletter, Quick Tips, Windows 10

• Using OneDrive on your iPhone or iPad

  Posted on February 15, 2021 at 01:15 CST by Lance Whitney • Comment in the Forums

  ONEDRIVE

  Using OneDrive on your iPhone or iPad

  By Lance Whitney

  Using the OneDrive app on your Apple devices allows you to cross that great Apple/Microsoft divide.

  Microsoft OneDrive is a helpful tool for backing up and synchronizing your folders and files across your Windows computers. But it can also play a similar role on your mobile devices. With the OneDrive app for iOS/iPadOS, you can access, open, and share your online files. You can download files to your device to view them without being online. You can automatically upload photos and videos taken on your phone or tablet so they’re accessible from OneDrive. And you can even edit your files with the right mobile apps.

  Read the full story in AskWoody Plus Newsletter 18.6.0 (2021-02-15).

  AskWoody Plus Newsletter, Microsoft 365, Windows 10 AskWoody Plus Newsletter, OneDrive, Windows 10

• More on Win10’s Ransomware protection

  Posted on February 8, 2021 at 01:45 CST by Fred Langa • Comment in the Forums

  LANGALIST

  More on Win10’s Ransomware protection

  By Fred Langa

  Many subscribers tried enabling this optional security enhancement, only to discover it can be hard to get going!

  There are at least five reasons why Ransomware protection — and other Win10 security features — might not be available on your PC.

  Here’s what they are, and what you can do about them.

  Read the full story in AskWoody Plus Newsletter 18.5.0 (2021-02-08).

  AskWoody Plus Newsletter, LangaList AskWoody Plus Newsletter, LangaList, Ransomware, security, Windows 10
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