Tired of the bugs in Microsoft’s pushed patches? Here’s how to take control updating Windows 10.

Full, step-by-step instructions in Computerworld.

WARNING: We’re still at MS-DEFCON 2. It isn’t yet time to update Win10. But we’re close.

ANOTHER: To scroll through the slideshow, hover your mouse over the picture, then click the right-arrow that appears. I know, I know.

Another fallout from the wiped out Update History

Scott Williams has a detailed view of another Update History wipeout due to this month’s Win10 1607 cumulative update.

There is a new issue from the August 2017 updates that “clears” the update history on a computer that will trigger a full client scan again. This will also cause high load on your WSUS server, although for slightly different reasons, however the suggestions here and the coming updates will help to resolve the load issue from that problem as well.

If your Windows Update/WSUS servers are red-lining, it’s a good place to start.

Microsoft Excel vs Google Sheets

Preston Gralla puts them head-to-head and comes up with some startling (but not unexpected!) results. The write-up is “for business,” but the results are applicable to everyone.

I’ve started using Sheets whenever I can.

The usual non-security update previews are out, along with three non-security patches for Server 2008

More of the usual.

KB 4034670 – Preview of the non-security part of next month’s Win 7 Monthly Rollup

KB 4034663 – Preview of the non-security part of next month’s Win 8.1 Monthly Rollup

A whole bunch of previews of next month’s .NET patches. The original announcement, KB 4035038, has been pulled, but there’s a cached copy on Google. No idea why it was yanked. (Thanks, Susan.)

Oddly, three separate patches for Vista and Windows Server 2008: KB 4019276 (spoolsv.exe patch), KB 4036162 (WordPad crash), KB 4037616 (TLS 1.1 and 1.2 support in Server only). All optional non-security patches.

I don’t see anything interesting. Do you?

Where we stand with this month’s Windows and Office security patches

August has seen a relatively normal number of bugs in Windows and Office patches, some acknowledged by Microsoft, some not

Computerworld Woody on Windows

Note: There was a weird out of band Outlook 2016 patch last night. Still no word on whether it’s OK.

Another note: I’m getting email from people concerned about CVE-2017-8620, the Windows Search service remote code execution vulnerability described in this Microsoft Security Update. Check Point calls it “The Next WannaCry,” but there’s no evidence it’s been exploited. I think it’s overblown, but your opinion may vary. If you’re very concerned, install the latest Monthly rollup or — better — take Microsoft’s workaround advice and disable the WSearch service. And let me know if you see anything in the wild.

Odd out-of-band patch for Outlook 2016, KB 4011043

Microsoft released KB 4011043 last night. So far I haven’t seen it. The KB article says:

This update fixes the following issue:

Add-ins do not load because of the “Operation Failed” failure that occurs when the Microsoft Installer (.msi)-based edition of Outlook 2016 is connected to Microsoft Exchange Server 2013.

which seems like a mighty important error.

Anybody else see this? Any information?

Microsoft’s still trying to figure out Windows 10 support

Gregg Keizer nails it on Computerworld.

Here’s the 56-page report from Microsoft outlining how companies need to roll out Windows 10 updates.

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

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