Newsletter Archives

• MS-DEFCON 2: Windows 10 22H2 expected this month

  Posted on October 6, 2022 at 02:45 CDT by Susan Bradley • Comment in the Forums

  

  ISSUE 19.40.1 • 2022-10-06

  

  By Susan Bradley

  We originally had the impression that Windows 10 and 11 updates would appear simultaneously, but — for this time at least — it looks like Windows 10 22H2 will be here in October, a month after Windows 11 2022 (22H2).

  As with Windows 11 2022, I am not expecting a major release. As per my usual recommendation, don’t accept the Windows 10 22H2 update right away. Instead, defer it until I’ve had a chance to test and review. That advice also comes with an elevation of the MS-DEFCON level to 2.

  Anyone can read the full MS-DEFCON Alert (19.40.1, 2022-10-06).

  AskWoody Plus Alert, MS-DEFCON AskWoody Alert, AskWoody Plus Newsletter, MS-DEFCON, MS-DEFCON 2, Patch Lady Posts, Windows 10, Windows 11

• MS-DEFCON 4: A well-behaved September

  Posted on September 27, 2022 at 02:45 CDT by Susan Bradley • Comment in the Forums

  

  ISSUE 19.39.1 • 2022-09-27

  

  By Susan Bradley

  September updates have few side effects.

  It’s always nice when the monthly update process is calm, with no storms. But due to a few snags, the best I can do is lower the MS-DEFCON level to 4.

  These side effects are limited to issues seen in businesses; we ordinary, consumer mortals are not much affected.

  Anyone can read the full MS-DEFCON Alert (19.39.1, 2022-09-27).

  AskWoody Plus Alert, MS-DEFCON AskWoody Alert, AskWoody Plus Newsletter, MS-DEFCON, MS-DEFCON 4, Patch Lady Posts

• Windows 11 2H22 released, mostly

  Posted on September 26, 2022 at 02:45 CDT by Will Fastie • Comment in the Forums

  

  ISSUE 19.39 • 2022-09-26

  MICROSOFT NEWS

  

  By Will Fastie

  Well, it wasn’t really 2H22. It was 2022.

  The entire news cycle about Windows 11, starting with its announcement over 18 months ago, has been different. Maybe weird is a better descriptor.

  The announcement wasn’t an event; nothing was live. There wasn’t even a video from Panos Panay, who was simply noted as the author of a blog post. The surprise twist in all this, especially from the perspective of someone in the press, was that the announcement was not accompanied by a press release in Microsoft’s usual location. Instead, it was given its own microsite. The release was not mentioned on Microsoft’s home page and was noted only on the Windows page with an eyebrow link at the very top.

  Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (19.39.0, 2022-09-26).
  This story also appears in our public Newsletter.

  Microsoft News AskWoody Plus Newsletter, Microsoft News, Newsletters, Windows 11

• MS-DEFCON 2: Will September updates behave?

  Posted on September 8, 2022 at 02:45 CDT by Susan Bradley • Comment in the Forums

  

  ISSUE 19.36.1 • 2022-09-08

  

  By Susan Bradley

  Microsoft patches need to go back to school, too.

  Summer vacation is over, which means it’s time for youngsters to return to school. After several years of computer-based, pandemic-induced remote learning, it’s back to the classrooms. Meanwhile, Microsoft is getting ready to roll out the 22H2 releases of Windows 10 and Windows 11.

  I’m hoping that the engineers at Microsoft have had enough vacation, rest, and other downtime to ensure that September’s releases are nice, calm, and — well — boring. Unfortunately, August updates haven’t been quite so boring, and that’s not encouraging. Caution is my watchword, so I’m raising the MS-DEFCON level to 2.

  Anyone can read the full MS-DEFCON Alert (19.36.1, 2022-09-08).

  AskWoody Plus Alert, MS-DEFCON AskWoody Plus Newsletter, BitLocker, Patch Lady Posts, Windows

• MS-DEFCON 4: July updates make some hot and bothered

  Posted on July 26, 2022 at 02:45 CDT by Susan Bradley • Comment in the Forums

  

  ISSUE 19.30.1 • 2022-07-26

  

  By Susan Bradley

  Access bugs ruin a quiet July, but we can still lower MS-DEFCON to 4.

  To any reader of this alert who is sweltering in a heat wave, my sincere condolences. I can slightly relate, as I’m having the normal July heat wave in my neck of the woods.

  The big difference is that my area of the country is used to this weather. Thus I’m inside an air-conditioned home, remotely accessing office workstations and servers to perform the monthly maintenance tasks while some of you are … well … just really hot and really uncomfortable. Fortunately for us, this month’s Windows and Office updates were mostly well behaved.

  Anyone can read the full MS-DEFCON Alert (19.30.1, 2022-07-25).

  AskWoody Plus Alert, MS-DEFCON AskWoody Plus Alerts, AskWoody Plus Newsletter, MS-DEFCON, MS-DEFCON 4, Patch Lady Posts, Print Spooler

• MS-DEFCON 4: A mixed bag for May

  Posted on May 24, 2022 at 02:45 CDT by Susan Bradley • Comment in the Forums

  

  ISSUE 19.21.1 • 2022-05-24

  

  By Susan Bradley

  Good news! Most consumer and home users should be just fine after installing this month’s updates.

  I’m not seeing any major, trending issues with patches for the bulk of users, so I’m lowering the MS-DEFCON level to 4.

  But there’s a “but”: I’m still seeing some corner-case oddities and just can’t quite put my finger on the root cause. For example, reader Ray G reports:

  … after the updates are installed, I still have a black screen and have to wait for about 5 minutes for the desktop to appear.

  Anyone can read the full MS-DEFCON Alert (19.21.1, 2022-05-24).

  AskWoody Plus Alert, MS-DEFCON AskWoody Alert, AskWoody Plus Newsletter, MS-DEFCON, MS-DEFCON 4, Patch Lady Posts

• MS-DEFCON 2: 2004 is out of support

  Posted on May 5, 2022 at 02:45 CDT by Susan Bradley • Comment in the Forums

  

  ISSUE 19.18.1 • 2022-05-05

  

  By Susan Bradley

  Check your Windows version, then update accordingly.

  I regularly come across PCs that are running old, out-of-support versions of Windows because they aren’t on the Web long enough to be “serviced” by Windows Update. For example, there are two Surface laptops in my office that are used by people on cellular connections. As a result of sporadic use, they never get a feature update.

  Just the other day, I realized they were running Windows 10 2004 and thus no longer were getting security updates, a serious matter.

  Anyone can read the full MS-DEFCON Alert (19.18.1, 2022-05-05).

  AskWoody Plus Alert AskWoody Plus Alerts, AskWoody Plus Newsletter, MS-DEFCON, MS-DEFCON 2, Patch Lady Posts

• MS-DEFCON 4: March madness? Mostly quiet

  Posted on March 22, 2022 at 02:45 CDT by Susan Bradley • Comment in the Forums

  

  ISSUE 19.12.1 • 2022-03-22

  

  By Susan Bradley

  For the majority of computer users, it’s time to get the updates rolled out.

  I’m tracking some issues this month, but not so many as for a typical March. Thus I’m lowering the MS-DEFCON level to 4.

  An unusual occurrence is a problem with a Windows 8.1 update.

  Anyone can read the full AskWoody Plus Alert 19.12.1 (2022-03-22).

  AskWoody Plus Alert, MS-DEFCON AskWoody Alert, AskWoody Plus Newsletter, MS-DEFCON, MS-DEFCON 4
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