Newsletter Archives

• Windows 11 screws up Print Screen — here’s how to fix it

  Posted on April 24, 2023 at 02:44 CDT by B. Livingston • Comment in the Forums

  PUBLIC DEFENDER

  

  By Brian Livingston

  The behavior of the reliable old Print Screen button on your keyboard, affectionately known as PrtScr or PrtScn, has been radically changed in a preview build of Windows 11, which is almost certain to become the version we will all eventually have to live with.

  Microsoft released to members of its Windows Insider program this month a new version of the OS. At this writing, it’s known as Preview Build 22624.1546 of Windows 11 22H2.

  If and when this is rolled out to all users in the world as an update, the Print Screen key by default will no longer place a copy of your screen onto the Clipboard. Instead, the key will launch a version of Redmond’s Snipping Tool, which has several new controls to learn.

  Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (20.17.0, 2023-04-24).

  Public Defender Newsletters, Print Screen, PrtScn, Snipping Tool, Windows 11

• Windows 11 erases Windows 10 digital-signature fix

  Posted on April 17, 2023 at 02:45 CDT by B. Livingston • Comment in the Forums

  

  ISSUE 20.16 • 2023-04-17

  PUBLIC DEFENDER

  

  By Brian Livingston

  A Registry tweak recommended by Microsoft to guard against malware in digitally signed files is wiped out in Windows 10 if you upgrade to Windows 11. As if that weren’t bad enough, at least one major software company has distributed to 600,000 customers worldwide a Trojan horse hidden in an executable file that’s certified by Microsoft’s very own digital signature.

  The fact that malware can be inserted into an executable file — without invalidating the file’s digital signature — casts doubt on the whole idea that you can trust digitally signed files.

  Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (20.16.0, 2023-04-17).
  This story also appears in our public Newsletter.

  Public Defender Digital signatures, Newsletters, Trojan, Windows 10, Windows 11

• How do you install and patch your new computer?

  Posted on April 10, 2023 at 02:41 CDT by Susan Bradley • Comment in the Forums

  PATCH WATCH

  

  By Susan Bradley

  I’m doing something vastly different this week.

  Right off the bat, you’ll notice that this article is a bit shorter than I usually write. That’s because it describes the actual writing task to which I’ve set myself. I’ve prepared two checklist documents about setting up a Windows PC, one for Windows 10 and one for Windows 11.

  Both of these documents are targeted at the ordinary consumer, the home user.

  Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (20.15.0, 2023-04-10).

  Patch Watch New PC setup, Newsletters, Patch Lady Posts, Win10 setup, Win11 setup, Windows 10, Windows 11

• MS-DEFCON 2: Prepare for April showers

  Posted on April 6, 2023 at 02:45 CDT by Susan Bradley • Comment in the Forums

  

  ISSUE 20.14.1 • 2023-04-06

  

  By Susan Bradley

  The next round of updates is coming soon and may be confusing.

  For one thing, it now appears that Windows 10 and Windows 11 updates will diverge. That is reason enough for me to raise the MS-DEFCON level to 2.

  Any confusion instantly causes me to recommend deferring updates.

  It does not appear that the forthcoming updates for Windows 10 will introduce any changes. They will include only security patches. Microsoft stated:

  After March 2023, there are no more optional, non-security preview releases for the supported editions of Windows 10, version 20H2 and Windows 10, version 21H2. Only monthly security update releases will continue for these versions.

  Anyone can read the full MS-DEFCON Alert (20.14.1, 2023-04-06).

  AskWoody Plus Alert, MS-DEFCON Alerts, Exchange Server, Microsoft Store, MS-DEFCON, MS-DEFCON 2, Patch Lady Posts, Snipping Tool, Windows, Windows 10, Windows 11

• MS-DEFCON 4: Win11 22H2 not ready for prime time

  Posted on March 28, 2023 at 02:45 CDT by Susan Bradley • Comment in the Forums

  

  ISSUE 20.13.1 • 2023-03-28

  

  By Susan Bradley

  March updates are ready. Windows 11 22H2, not so much.

  It’s time to install the updates for the March releases, and that’s why I’m lowering the MS-DEFCON level to 4. There are a few issues out there, but most appear to be plain old low-risk bugs — things that used to be caught in Microsoft’s beta testing. As usual, it seems we’re the beta testers.

  I have several Windows 11 22H2 deployments in active use. If you are not an advanced user, are relatively new to the Windows platform, or are really into rounded corners and having to click several times to build shortcuts on your desktop, you might be tempted to forgive Microsoft for some of these cosmetic bugs.

  Anyone can read the full MS-DEFCON Alert (20.13.1, 2023-03-28).

  AskWoody Plus Alert, MS-DEFCON Alerts, DCOM, Graphics Cards, Motherboards, MS-DEFCON, MS-DEFCON 4, Windows 10, Windows 11

• Who controls our tech?

  Posted on March 27, 2023 at 02:41 CDT by Susan Bradley • Comment in the Forums

  ON SECURITY

  

  By Susan Bradley

  The other day I spotted a USA Today article by Kim Komando about how to ensure Chinese tech wasn’t spying on you.

  She wrote: “Know that there are plenty of allegations that the companies below have government ties, but it’s up for debate how much the Chinese government is genuinely involved in operations. I’m sharing this to help you make more informed decisions on what you purchase and use daily.”

  I think her view is far too simplistic.

  Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (20.13.0, 2023-03-27).

  On Security China, Foxconn, Lenovo, Microsoft Telemetry, Newsletters, Packet sniffers, Patch Lady Posts, Windows 10, Windows 11

• Making Windows 11 on Arm less obnoxious

  Posted on March 20, 2023 at 02:45 CDT by Mary Branscombe • Comment in the Forums

  

  ISSUE 20.12 • 2023-03-20

  WINDOWS 11

  

  By Mary Branscombe

  If you’re running Windows on Arm, you really want to be running Windows 11 rather than Windows 10.

  Not only is it the only way to get Windows 11–specific features such as running Android apps or tabs in Notepad, but — crucially for Arm devices — it’s the only way to get 64-bit emulation or the native ARM64 .NET Framework. 64-bit emulation was previewed in an Insider build of Win10, but it shipped only in Win11.

  If you want to run apps such as the most recent version of Photoshop or Signal on your Arm PC, you need Windows 11 to do it. That’s annoying if you find the new Windows 11 user interface as frustrating as I do.

  Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (20.12.0, 2023-03-20).
  This story also appears in our public Newsletter.

  Windows 11 ARM, Newsletters, User Interface, Windows 11, Windows on ARM

• How to take screenshots in Windows 11

  Posted on February 20, 2023 at 02:43 CST by Lance Whitney • Comment in the Forums

  WINDOWS 11

  

  By Lance Whitney

  The ability to take a screenshot in Windows can come in handy, both for personal and professional reasons.

  Maybe you’re documenting a certain process. Perhaps you need to share an image of an error message. Or maybe you’re making certain changes in Windows and want to capture the before and after. I take screenshots to supply images for the articles I write.

  Whatever the reason, Windows 11 (and 10) provides several methods to take a screenshot of an app or window.

  Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (20.08.0, 2023-02-20).

  Windows 11 Newsletters, Screen capture, Snip & Sketch, Snipping Tool, Windows 10, Windows 11

• MS-DEFCON 2: .NET and Remote Desktop

  Posted on February 9, 2023 at 02:45 CST by Susan Bradley • Comment in the Forums

  

  ISSUE 20.06.1 • 2023-02-09

  

  By Susan Bradley

  Defer until the February updates are fully understood.

  Even though I don’t anticipate any specific problem with February’s updates, it’s always hard to know for sure. For that reason, the MS-DEFCON level is raised to 2. Don’t be surprised by a Microsoft update before you’re prepared to deal with it!

  Anyone can read the full MS-DEFCON Alert (20.06.1, 2023-02-09).

  AskWoody Plus Alert, MS-DEFCON .NET Framework, Alerts, MS-DEFCON, MS-DEFCON 2, Patch Lady Posts, Remote Desktop, Windows 11

• How to fix File Explorer folder views in Windows 10 and 11

  Posted on February 6, 2023 at 02:45 CST by B. Livingston • Comment in the Forums

  

  ISSUE 20.06 • 2023-02-06

  PUBLIC DEFENDER

  

  By Brian Livingston

  There’s a common complaint about the file manager in Windows 10 and 11. You change File Explorer’s “folder view” to show filenames, dates, file sizes, and so forth. You’ve got them exactly the way you want. You select View, Options and use the View tab to click “Apply to Folders.” Then File Explorer immediately forgets what you said and shows folders any damn way it wants.

  Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t. But the anguish from this problem arises so often that it’s a wonder Microsoft hasn’t fixed it by now.

  Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (20.06.0, 2023-02-06).
  This story also appears in our public Newsletter.

  Public Defender File Explorer, Newsletters, Windows, Windows 10, Windows 11

• How to choose and use the best PowerToys for Windows 10/11

  Posted on January 30, 2023 at 02:44 CST by Lance Whitney • Comment in the Forums

  WINDOWS

  

  By Lance Whitney

  Microsoft packs a lot of cool tools into its free PowerToys offering. Here are some of the best.

  Microsoft’s latest incarnation of PowerToys has been around for a few years. Geared for Windows 10 and 11, PowerToys aims to add more features and flexibility to Windows.

  But now there are more than 15 individual tools in PowerToys. How do you know which ones are worth trying? Let’s check out what I think are the best of the bunch.

  Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (20.05.0, 2023-01-30).

  Windows Newsletters, PowerToys, Windows, Windows 10, Windows 11

• When is the right time to buy a Windows 11 computer?

  Posted on January 23, 2023 at 02:41 CST by Susan Bradley • Comment in the Forums

  HARDWARE

  

  By Susan Bradley

  The other day, I retired the last Windows 7 computer in our office, the one that had been used by our office manager.

  She didn’t like change and rarely went online. She used the computer only for some key business applications. (She carried a flip phone.) In other words, this is a case in which I wanted to make the transition as smooth as possible.

  So I took an older Windows 10 computer that wasn’t eligible for Windows 11, put the Start10 application on it, installed the Office classic menu, and ported her preferred background image to the “new” PC. I put the icons on the desktop in exactly the same place. I did everything possible to make the new computer look and behave as much like the old one as I could. And I didn’t tell her the computer had changed.

  Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (20.04.0, 2023-01-23).

  Hardware hardware, Newsletters, Windows 10, Windows 11
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