Newsletter Archives

• MS-DEFCON 4: Microsoft begins a strong push for 24H2

  Posted on January 28, 2025 at 02:45 CST by Susan Bradley • Comment in the Forums

  

  ISSUE 22.04.1 • 2025-01-28

  

  By Susan Bradley

  Last week, Microsoft announced that Windows 11 24H2 is now “broadly available.”

  This notice was contained in the Microsoft Learn post Windows 11, version 24H2 known issues and notifications.

  Except for my continuing recommendation not to install 24H2, I’m lowering the MS-DEFCON level to 4. There are some problems, but they are manageable. Go ahead and patch.

  Microsoft’s language in the Learn post was more direct than usual and included Windows 10 in the mix.

  Anyone can read the full MS-DEFCON Alert (22.04.1, 2025-01-28).

  AskWoody Plus Alert, MS-DEFCON Alerts, Fortinet, KB5049235, KB5049981, MS-DEFCON, MS-DEFCON 4, Networking, Patch Lady Posts, SQL Server, SQL Server 2019, Windows 10 22H2, Windows 11, Windows 11 24H2

• Let your PC start the new year right!

  Posted on January 6, 2025 at 00:15 CST by Ben Myers

  ---

  BEN’S WORKSHOP

  

  By Ben Myers

  Service your Windows PC thoroughly to get a big-time payoff in the coming year.

  First, ask the question “How healthy is my hardware?” before considering what to do with any software. This reflects best practice, and it is exactly what happens here when a computer shows up at my shop in need of attention.

  Messing around with the software on a computer with unhappy hardware can only worsen troubleshooting, analysis, and remediation. More importantly, it can change the content of a solid-state drive or hard drive in unpleasant ways.

  Along the way, I’ll provide some guidelines for selecting or upgrading a system for using Windows 11, or even Windows 10 during its final year of unqualified support.

  Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (22.01.0, 2025-01-06).

  Ben's Workshop Backups, Drive maintenance, Hardware, Networking, Newsletters, PC maintenance, Security, Software

• My printer is offline!

  Posted on September 23, 2024 at 02:44 CDT by Ben Myers • Comment in the Forums

  BEN’S WORKSHOP

  

  By Ben Myers

  How often have you wondered why and how a networked printer has gone offline?

  For more than a few years, I was confounded when I discovered that a client’s networked printer had gone offline. Usually, I would reinstall the printer drivers, and that would take care of it. Recently, a new client gave me a clear explanation of events leading to a printer’s going offline.

  This is a networking problem, so I need to explain some networking concepts, principles, and software for reference later on.

  Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (21.39.0, 2024-09-23).

  Ben's Workshop DHCP, Hardware, IPv4, IPv6, Networking, Newsletters, Printing, Routers, Web Services for Devices, WSD

• Home-networking primer

  Posted on August 12, 2024 at 02:43 CDT by Ed Tittel • Comment in the Forums

  NETWORKING

  

  By Ed Tittel

  Nearly 9 out of 10 American households and businesses can access gigabit-speed Internet service. Now’s the time to up your home-networking ante and make the most of what’s available.

  According to NCTA (the former National Cable & Telecommunications Association, now known at the Internet & Television Association), “most Americans have broadband at home.” Here’s a more interesting set of follow-on statistics.

  Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (21.33.0, 2024-08-12).

  Networking Cable, FIOS, Internet, Internet Speed, ISPs, Networking, Newsletters, Wi-Fi

• MWN and WNW — Take control of your wireless network

  Posted on March 25, 2024 at 02:42 CDT by Deanna McElveen • Comment in the Forums

  FREEWARE SPOTLIGHT

  

  By Deanna McElveen

  I know that most things I need for controlling my wireless network are right there in Windows. Well, most things. I don’t want to hunt them down.

  Over two decades, Microsoft has programmed us to click five times to get to any Windows setting. It’s trying to improve this in Windows 10/11, but we can’t be blamed if we rely on third-party freeware to get things done.

  Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (21.13.0, 2024-03-25).

  Freeware Spotlight Deanna's Freeware Spotlight, Network Management, Networking, Newsletters, Performance Monitor, Wireless Networks

• Let your PC start the new year right!

  Posted on January 1, 2024 at 02:44 CST by Ben Myers • Comment in the Forums

  

  ISSUE 21.01 • 2024-01-01

  BEN’S WORKSHOP

  

  By Ben Myers

  Taking the time now to service your Windows PC thoroughly can pay off big time in the coming year.

  Happy New Year! Whether you’re planning to move to Windows 11 or continue with Windows 10, here is what you can do to make sure that your PC starts the year right.

  Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (21.01.0, 2024-01-01).

  Ben's Workshop Backups, Drive maintenance, Hardware, Networking, Newsletters, PC maintenance, Security

• Keeping gadgets talking and secure

  Posted on November 27, 2023 at 02:43 CST by Susan Bradley • Comment in the Forums

  PRIVACY

  

  By Susan Bradley

  I admit to being a lover of gadgets, from streaming audio devices to IoT sprinkler systems to dog-minding cameras.

  I use all sorts of gadgets in my house. But when I do, I understand two things. First, I must choose the device carefully, read the entire end-user license agreement, and determine whether I will accept the risks.

  Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (20.48.0, 2023-11-27).

  Privacy EULA, Gadgets, Internet of Things, Networking, Newsletters, Passwords, Patch Lady Posts, Privacy

• The forums, and networking

  Posted on March 20, 2023 at 02:44 CDT by Will Fastie

  FROM THE FORUMS

  

  Last week, Will wrote a “From the forums” note titled How to participate in the forums. The response to that note was greater than expected, as you can see if you visit its associated forum topic.

  Your reaction in the forums has already spurred us to make a change.

  Will’s article about his encounter with Verizon also resulted in heavy forum activity. The comments were interesting and instructive.

  Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (20.12.0, 2023-03-20).
  This story also appears in our public Newsletter.

  From the Forums Forums, Networking, Newsletters
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