Escape from the clutches of OneDrive

MICROSOFT 365

By Peter Deegan

Saying that Microsoft pushes OneDrive on customers is putting it mildly.

It’s more like ramming OneDrive down the throats of customers by means of all those many direct and passive-aggressive tricks.

I’ll explain how OneDrive, as well as other cloud and email stores, is reorienting how we think about computer storage. I’ll discuss how Windows changes when OneDrive is enabled, and how to undo it. Finally, I’ll show how to get the best of both worlds by making a mixed — cloud and local — file-storage system.

Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (21.28.0, 2024-07-08).

Security information for an end-of-life operating system is lacking

ON SECURITY

By Susan Bradley

Lately, I’ve been working on painting the trim on my house.

We have old-fashioned caulked windows. To make sure that the caulk doesn’t crack with the weather, maintenance is required. That means painting.

I like doing it because it gets me off the computer and thinking of other things. Painting the house is great for appearances and — more importantly — protects it from weather and other damage.

Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (21.28.0, 2024-07-08).

How hot is too hot?

So last night at 1:30 a.m. we lost power in the house. You don’t realize how much “white noise” electronics make in your house until the power goes out. The power company indicated it would be about 2 hours before the power situation was resolved, but fortunately, we got the power back within 20 minutes.

I did dig out several battery operated fans I have as the house had residual a/c but the fans help to keep the air moving.

But it reminded me that we’re going to be HOT and equipment …. like transformers…. don’t like it.  Computers as well are not too keen to be in the extreme heat. If you accidentally put your iphone in the hot sun, it will shut itself down to save the phone.

If you are uncomfortable in the heat, so is your technology.

No longer do you have to have desktops and laptops in really cold rooms like they still do for datacenters. But you shouldn’t have them in a hot car or other really warm location.

What temperature related oddities have you experienced with your technology?

MS-DEFCON 2: Never install previews

By Susan Bradley

Microsoft regularly releases updates. Previews are betas.

In the first week of each month, Microsoft issues the non-security Office releases that PKCano documents in the AskWoody blog. In the second week of each month, Microsoft releases its main security patches. Finally, in the last week, Microsoft releases previews of the following month’s non-security fixes.

Previews do not go through the same rigorous testing as the security updates. (Credit where it is due: Microsoft does perform basic testing of its main security updates.) As a result, issues can occur. This is why I strongly recommend that you do not install preview updates when offered for Windows 11 23H2 and Windows 10 22H2. In addition, pause all updates now while I test, vet, and approve. This is the reason I’m raising the MS-DEFCON level to 2.

Anyone can read the full MS-DEFCON Alert (21.27.1, 2024-07-03).

July 2024 Office non-Security updates

Microsoft released NO non-security updates for Office on July 2, 2024.

Office 2016 reached  End of Mainstream Support on October 13, 2020. EOS for Office 2016 is October 14, 2025.

Updates are for the .msi version (perpetual). Office 365 and C2R are not included.

Security updates for all supported versions of Microsoft Office are released on the second Tuesday of the month (Patch Tuesday).

What has Microsoft done right?

EDITORIAL

By Will Fastie

We spend a lot of time here griping about Windows and, for that matter, all things Microsoft.

It’s not exactly our job to look for the bad stuff. It is our job to cast a critical eye on the matters we cover in the newsletter and to report and analyze as objectively as possible.

But it can’t be all bad. After all, if we decided not to embrace change, we’d be calling ourselves the AskWoody XP Newsletter.

Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (21.27.0, 2024-07-01).

You’ll be amazed to learn how Microsoft really makes dough

PUBLIC DEFENDER

By Brian Livingston

If you think the sale of Windows software is Microsoft’s primary source of revenue, you’re in for a big surprise when you see the way the Redmond corporate giant actually earns money.

As of the fiscal quarter ending March 31, 2024, more than 56% of the company’s revenue — easily a majority — is generated by Microsoft’s cloud services, including Azure Server, Office cloud services, and other online income streams.

Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (21.27.0, 2024-07-01).

Web-based Microsoft 365 is a win-win for all

BEN’S WORKSHOP

By Ben Myers

I never thought I would write a paean to a Microsoft product.

Whether I pound out an article like this one, respond to emails, prepare invoices for clients, or keep track of sets of information with spreadsheets, I am most productive at the tower computer right here — with its fast multi-core processor, lots of memory, a 27-inch monitor and, most importantly, the best-ever keyboard.

Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (21.27.0, 2024-07-01).