Newsletter Archives

• January’s patching cyclone

  Posted on January 16, 2023 at 02:42 CST by Susan Bradley • Comment in the Forums

  PATCH WATCH

  

  By Susan Bradley

  We’re a bit soggy and wet at the AskWoody Tech LLC Global Headquarters here in central California.

  We’ve had nearly a week of rain, and more is coming. I shouldn’t complain — severe drought has brought our state’s water supply down to historically low levels, so the water is needed and much appreciated. But when Microsoft rains down upon us at the same time, the total deluge is a bit much.

  For January, Microsoft fixed 98 security vulnerabilities, said goodbye (for the final time) to the much-beloved Windows 7, also said goodbye to the less used (but popular among its buffs) Windows 8.1, and actually released updates to Microsoft’s on-premises mail server, Exchange.

  Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (20.03.0, 2023-01-16).

  Patch Watch Exchange Server, Newsletters, Patch Lady Posts, Patch Watch, windows 7, Windows 8

• Is this the end of the road for Windows 7?

  Posted on April 11, 2022 at 02:41 CDT by Susan Bradley • Comment in the Forums

  ON SECURITY

  

  By Susan Bradley

  Vendors start to draw the line.

  Ahh, Windows 7. I remember when you first came out. I remember when people hated — truly hated — your User Account Control (UAC) system that required administrator approval any time they wanted to do something that had been perfectly normal in Windows XP. I remember that UAC was so annoying that Apple lampooned it (more like harpooned it) in several of its famous Mac-versus-PC TV ads.

  

  I went so far as having a cartoon made, urging people to “zip up” their UAC setting rather than disabling it, because I saw both users and administrators removing the UAC prompt entirely. But that represented a lowering of security for Windows 7. I thus urged people not to disable it, despite the annoyance. I told them to zip the slider all the way to the top. Remember the slider?

  Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (19.15.0, 2022-04-11).

  AskWoody Plus Newsletter, On Security AskWoody Plus Newsletter, Patch Lady Posts, security, Web Browsers, windows 7

• Seven Semper Fi: Three months to go; here’s what to do.

  Posted on October 21, 2019 at 01:15 CDT by Tracey Capen • Comment in the Forums

  

  WOODY’S WINDOWS WATCH

  By Woody Leonhard

  Time’s running out! Microsoft’s still scheduled to deliver its last Windows 7 security patches on January 14, 2020.

  If you plan to continue using your Win7 machines, there’s a variety of tasks you should tackle now to minimize the chances of getting thrown under the bit bus.

  Read the full story in AskWoody Plus Newsletter 16.38.0 (2019-10-21).

  Windows 7 AskWoody Plus Newsletter, End of Life, Migrating to Windows 10, Seven Semper Fi, windows 7

• Office 365 ProPlus to get support on Windows 7 after January 14, 2020

  Posted on October 7, 2019 at 17:25 CDT by joep517 • Comment in the Forums

  Microsoft has decided to give Office 365 ProPlus users running Windows 7 some grace time after Windows 7 goes out of support on January 14, 2020. Office 365 ProPlus users will continue to get security updates for Office 365 ProPlus until January 2023. According to Microsoft this is to transition to a “support operating system”.

  See [url=https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/deployoffice/windows-7-support]Windows 7 end of support and Office 365 ProPlus[/url] for details and more information.

  Microsoft News, Office News, Security Office 365, windows 7

• Considerations migrating from Win7 to Win10

  Posted on September 9, 2019 at 01:05 CDT by Tracey Capen • Comment in the Forums

  UPGRADING

  By Susan Bradley

  With time winding down on Windows 7 support, more than a few users of that venerable OS are looking for some upgrade clarity.

  Top-of-mind for many Win7 users is how painful it’ll be moving to Windows 10. Are in-place upgrades still legal? Does Microsoft care? Can I migrate to Win10 and keep my current setup? Is it free?

  Read the full story in AskWoody Plus Newsletter 16.32.0 (2019-09-09).

  Upgrading AskWoody Plus Newsletter, Group Policy Editor, Migrating, upgrading, windows 7

• Windows 7: Preparing for an uncertain future

  Posted on July 1, 2019 at 01:15 CDT by Tracey Capen • Comment in the Forums

  ON SECURITY

  By Susan Bradley

  By now every Win7 user should know that official support for the venerable OS ends next year.

  The final updates should go out on January 14, 2020 (more MS info) — at least they’ll end for those of us who don’t have deep corporate pockets to pay for extra patches.

  Read the full story in the AskWoody Plus Newsletter 16.24.0 (2019-07-01).

  On Security, Windows 7 AskWoody Plus Newsletter, safety, security, updates, windows 7

• Microsoft releases out-of-band fixes for Win7 and Win8.1 on 6/20

  Posted on June 21, 2019 at 06:27 CDT by PKCano • Comment in the Forums

  Microsoft has released out-of-band updates for Windows 7, and Windows 8.1, and IE11 to fix errors introduced by Patch Tuesday patches.

  Update for 7 SP1 and Server 2008 R2 SP1 KB 4508772

  This update for Windows 7 SP1 and Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 includes the quality improvements from KB4503269 (released June 11, 2019), in addition to these key changes:

  • Addresses an issue that may display the error, “MMC has detected an error in a snap-in and will unload it.” when you try to expand, view, or create Custom Views in Event Viewer. Additionally, the application may stop responding or close. You may also receive the same error when using Filter Current Log in the Action menu with built-in views or logs.

  Update for Windows 8.1 and Server 2012 R2 KB 4508773

  This update for Windows 8.1 and Windows Server 2012 R2 includes the quality improvements from KB4503290 (released June 11, 2019), in addition to these key changes:

  • Addresses an issue that may display the error, “MMC has detected an error in a snap-in and will unload it.” when you try to expand, view, or create Custom Views in Event Viewer. Additionally, the application may stop responding or close. You may also receive the same error when using Filter Current Log in the Action menu with built-in views or logs

  Cumulative Update for Internet Explorer 11 KB 4508646

  This update for Internet Explorer 11 includes the quality improvements from KB4503259, in addition to these key changes:

  • Addresses an issue that causes Internet Explorer 11 to stop working when it opens or interacts with Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) markers, including Power BI line charts with markers.

  Important: The improvements in this update are not included in the Monthly Rollups released June 11, 2019

  Please note: Like the Security Only Updates and the separate IE11 Cumulative Updates, these Patches are MS Catalog only downloads. They are not available through Windows Update.

  Windows Patches/Security IE11, June 2019 Black Tuesday, KB 4508646, KB 4508722, KB 4508773, windows 7, Windows 8.1

• Patch Lady – vendors start to shut the doors on Windows 7

  Posted on December 31, 2018 at 11:56 CST by Susan Bradley • Comment in the Forums

  CCH or Commerce Clearing House is one one of several major tax software vendors — they just sent me this email this morning …..

  CCH will discontinue support of Microsoft® Windows® 7 in our software products as of November 30, 2019. While we expect that many of our products will continue to function on the Windows® 7 operating system, CCH’s ability to sufficiently test products and diagnose software issues for customers using Windows® 7 will officially end November 30, 2019. For tax customers, this means that our first release of the 2019 tax software, scheduled for early December 2019, will not be officially supported on the Windows® 7 operating system, although it is likely to continue working for some period of time. In addition, customers using Windows® 7 who contact CCH Technical Support may be asked to upgrade their Microsoft® software if their issue cannot be reproduced with currently supported software, or if the problem is determined to be linked to the use of Windows® 7.

  Much like Windows® XP, the Windows® 7 operating system was very popular. However, Microsoft® has announced that they, too, will discontinue support for Windows® 7 as of January 14, 2020. Here is a link to their Windows 7 Lifecycle page. We are requesting that customers using Windows® 7 begin upgrading following the mid-April filing deadline so we can continue to provide the high level of support you expect from CCH. We are providing advanced notice in an effort to give our clients ample time to upgrade.

  Note: This notice regarding discontinued support for Windows® 7 will have no implications on the upcoming 2018 tax filing season. Additional reminders will be sent out post April 15, 2019.

  The countdown has started….

  Windows Patches/Security Patch Lady Posts, windows 7

• Thurrott: Microsoft posts downloadable disc images of Windows 7 and 8.1

  Posted on December 4, 2018 at 15:34 CST by woody • Comment in the Forums

  You need a valid 25-character product key to be able to download the ISO for Win7 or 8.1.

  Paul Thurrott on Thurrott.com.

  Another really dumb decision reversed.

  Windows News ISO, windows 7, Windows 8.1

• Solution for the error 0x8000FFF in Windows 7

  Posted on September 12, 2018 at 15:05 CDT by PKCano • Comment in the Forums

  Thanks to two reports from an anonymous poster and @Pradeep-Dixit here, there is a solution for the Error 0x8000FFF.

  It seems that an old Servicing Stack Update (or the lack of) is to blame for the error 0x8000FFF users have been experiencing with Windows 7 and the update this month. Servicing Stack KB 3177467 (September 2016) is a prerequisite for KB 4457144 2018-09 Security Quality Monthly Rollup for Win7. It must be installed prior to the September Rollup.

  This Servicing Stack Update KB 3177467 can be downloaded from the MS Update Catalog for 32-bit of 64-bit Windows 7.

  If you are not familiar with manual download/install from the Catalog, you can download the update by clicking on the 32-bit or 64-bit links above. Save the download to a known location. Close any open programs then double click on the downloaded file, agree to install, and reboot the computer when asked. After rebooting, you should be able to install the September Rollup. (Waiting for the DEFCON number to be 3 or above, of course.)

  This SSU also applies to Server 2008 R2

  Information  ComputerWorld Woody on Windows.

  Windows Patches/Security error 0x8000FFF, KB 3177467, KB 4457144, Server 2008 R2, windows 7

• Rumors of a new, updated Coffee Lake chipset for Win7

  Posted on August 10, 2018 at 09:25 CDT by woody • Comment in the Forums

  It isn’t like you’ll be able to install and update Win7 on a fancy new power-mad PC. But it’s looking more and more like Intel and Microsoft may come to a cease-fire long enough to slip in a new, more powerful version of the old Coffee Lake processor.

  Interesting, if it comes to pass – specifically for those who would like to run new-ish hardware with a stable operating system.

  Computerworld Woody on Windows.

  Windows News Coffee Lake, Intel, windows 7

• This month’s Win7 patches KB 4034664, KB 4034679 causing second-screen problems

  Posted on August 14, 2017 at 12:52 CDT by woody • Comment in the Forums

  I pointed to Günter Born’s expose on Saturday. Now we have a full description of the bug — and proof of concept code! — thanks to Christian “NineBerry” Schwartz and his Wolfsbeeren blog.

  Computerworld Woody on Windows

  Windows Patches/Security KB 4034664, KB 4034679, second screen, windows 7
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