Windows Journal enters the last lap with KB 3161102

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I talked about Windows Journal a few weeks ago. KB 3170735 showed signs of putting Windows Journal out of its misery. Microsoft just released KB 31611
[See the full post at: Windows Journal enters the last lap with KB 3161102]

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I’m just wondering what would be the benefit of removing it this way rather than uninstalling it through windows features. Obviously with the latter you’d have to uninstall the whole tablet suite but surely nobody uses windows 7 in tablet mode? Anyway, i see the update in my optional list: unchecked, non-italicised.

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Not sure. It’s quite unusual for MS to release a KB that removes a feature.

I think they don’t want to yank it entirely because some people use Windows Journal format files…..

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So are you recommending that we install it?
Microsoft wants us to install it IMMEDIATELY.

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Removing the Journal the normal way has the downside of removing the Snipping Tool which is used by many or most Windows users. Why that useful tool is part of the tablet suite in Windows 7 remains a mystery and possible a design mistake.

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Haillllllll no. Give it a while to percolate.

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Weird enough, I uninstalled Tablet PC Components from Windows 7 and the Snipping Tool is still available. Design change brought by a previous update?

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Does it seem to be safe to install?

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Thank you for that piece of info, ch100! I use the Snipping Tool quite frequently, it’s probably the most useful accessory I’ve ever come across as part of Windows.

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Oh. Does it really? I didn’t think that would be part of a tablet tools suite but then microsoft dances to its own incomprehensible tune.

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Nope. Wait, wait, wait.

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I believe we are advised to wait, and my guess is twofold.

(1) Anything Windows Journal related is sketchy, at best.

(2) It could be a trap, for all we know.

Fortran, C++, R, Python, Java, Matlab, HTML, CSS, etc.... coding is fun!
A weatherman that can code

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I think I have old information. This was the case in Vista, no longer the case in Windows 7. So you can safely uninstall the Tablet Components if not needed.

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No fix offered for Vista. What’s up with that?

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Woody:

THANK YOU SO MUCH for the info you wrote on “Info World” today – July 28th re:”Windows Upgrade Stuck at 90%, What Are Your Options?”.

After 15 hours waiting for my Windows 10 to FINISH Downloading – I started to search for solutions.

THANKS for the WONDERFUL suggestion to bring the CPU to a Microsoft Store. Of course it meant waking my husband up from a nap (to carry it); finding a thumb drive; & scrambling to copy professional files.

IT WAS WORTH IT!!!!!!

(I Wwnted to send you and email, but we never installed Outlook 7 & NOW is NOT the time)
Still wanted to THANK YOU.

Usually my husband, former Programmer, is my source of info (except he doesn’t read manuals).

Have a Great Weekend!

Marjorie

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You bet – and let your friends know that there ARE alternatives.

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Not sure.

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Ah thank you. I think I’ll do that rather than install a potentially problematic update. Windows 7 in tablet mode… *shakes head in bafflement*

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It is safe to uninstall Tablet PC Components from Windows 7. The new patch will not even be offered if the Tablet PC Components are uninstalled.

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‘(except he doesn’t read manuals).’

That’s never good, especially when it comes to computers.

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I agree with T. I uninstalled the Tablet PC Components by disabling the feature…had to Google how to do it. This removed KB3161102 from my available Updates list. For those that asked about it, the Snipping Tool, which I’ve never used, is still available. I can now forget about this Update which is a good thing.

iPhone 13, 2019 iMac(SSD)

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I noticed that Paul and others recommend disabling the Tablet PC feature and I’m wondering if its best to accomplish this by unchecking this feature in “turn features on and off” in the control panel or if its best to open run and type services.msc and navigate to TabletInputService and disable it there.

And Is one method a better safe-guard against a potential intruder than the other?

Thanks in advance for your advise!

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The problem fixed by all of those patches is in the way JNT files are processed.

http://www.infoworld.com/article/3091875/microsoft-windows/four-new-windows-patches-to-avoid-kb-2952664-2976978-2977759-and-windows-journal-3170735.html

If you don’t open JNT files, you won’t have any of the problems. I don’t see any reason to disable the service. Just don’t open any JNTs.

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Thank You again CH100:

I disabled Tablet PC components, and KB3161102 and KB3170735 instantly disappeared from my hide section. For those wishing to acomplish this simple task,
1.click on start button botton left of your screen
2.click on control panel,then programs and features
3. click on turn windows features on or off,now uncheck the Tablet PC components box.
4. Click OK and you are done, restart computer
Herb K

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Thanks Woody for your consistently good advise. Since I’ve never used any JNT files I guess I don’t have do anything? Is that what you’re saying? That the only way that my system could be comprised by this particular vulnerability is by opening a JNT file?

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That’s right. If you avoid the temptation to click on JNT files, you shouldn’t have any problem.

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Woody, when you give more advice on whether or not to install this particular update, could you please take into account the fact that many users will never have heard of Windows Journal let alone have used it. We need to know in those circumstances whether it is something that can safely be ignored like most optional and unchecked updates or whether there is any specific security implication that makes such an installation worth risking, assuming that you end up recommending it as being safe to install.

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I’ll be sure to include it in my recommendations. For now, it’s an optional, non-recommended, non-security update – which puts it as low on the totem pole as you can get.

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Hi Woody – I’m a maths teacher who has used Microsoft journal files in teaching the subject virtually every lesson over the past 6 years, writing from my Wacom tablet – the best teaching resource I ever could have bought. Every file is placed on the school website for kids to access from home ( or anywhere!). I only got the message on my laptop this Tuesday that Microsoft are pulling the plug on Journal. I’m happy to switch across to One Note from now on, but am concerned about accessing all of my hundreds of saved journal files and posting them online for kids to use. Can I change them into One Note files at once. They’re all within one umbrella folder but in a myriad of sub-folders. Can you please tell me what to do?
Thanks!

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I’ve looked at the problem, and the best I can find is a way to convert Journal files to PDFs.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BUE_zAwIUpg

Let me know if you find a better solution!

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Hi – For what it is worth. I am also a math teacher and use journal a lot. Despite all its faults it is great for teaching math. Because I use the program daily I used the update to remove windows journal and downloaded the Windows Journal Application. It is working well for my purposes so far. Thank you for all your work it is appreciated. Jerry

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Fingers crossed. Keep us posted!

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Thanks Woody, but pdf’s often blanked out any writing which I had highlighted with the shader. Will I and my students still be able to view journal files? When is the plug being pulled? This is a major shock for my teaching!
Thanks,
Mick

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