Newsletter Archives

• Using Office apps with non-Microsoft cloud services

  Posted on April 7, 2025 at 02:45 CDT by Peter Deegan • Comment in the Forums

  

  ISSUE 22.14 • 2025-04-07

  MICROSOFT 365

  

  By Peter Deegan

  OneDrive and SharePoint aren’t the only cloud storage options available. There are others that will work inside modern Office apps, some with far superior security and privacy capabilities.

  Anyone who has read my past articles will know that I’m no convert to Microsoft’s “everything in the cloud” zeal. Cloud storage has uses for some documents and situations but not necessarily for everything, despite Microsoft insistence.

  Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (22.14.0, 2025-04-07).
  This story also appears in our public Newsletter.

  Microsoft 365 Box, Dropbox, Newsletters, Office, OneDrive, ProtonDrive, SharePoint

• MS-DEFCON 4: Mixed bag for March

  Posted on March 25, 2025 at 02:45 CDT by Susan Bradley • Comment in the Forums

  

  ISSUE 22.12.1 • 2025-03-25

  

  By Susan Bradley

  Although CISA has given businesses who follow its guidance until early April to install updates released in March, I’m urging you to do so now.

  Accordingly, I’m lowering the MS-DEFCON level to 4. You can find CISA’s deadlines in its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog.

  Note that my recommendations for businesses include some possible exceptions.

  Anyone can read the full MS-DEFCON Alert (22.12.1, 2025-03-25).

  AskWoody Plus Alert, MS-DEFCON Alerts, Chrome, Edge, Microsoft marketing, MS-DEFCON, MS-DEFCON 4, NVIDIA, OneDrive, Patch Lady Posts, RDP, Remote Desktop Connection, Windows 10 22H2, Windows Update

• Revisiting Windows 11’s File Explorer

  Posted on March 24, 2025 at 02:43 CDT by Will Fastie • Comment in the Forums

  WINDOWS 11

  

  By Will Fastie

  Have there been any recent improvements?

  In a word, no. The new File Explorer is not getting any love and continues to suffer from major problems.

  This is highlighted by my ongoing study of macOS. I will eventually write about the two world views of file management, comparing Microsoft’s File Explorer with Apple’s Finder.

  Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (22.12.0, 2025-03-24).

  Windows 11 File Explorer, Newsletters, OneDrive, Performance, Software Quality, User Interface

• MS-DEFCON 2: March Madness is upon us

  Posted on March 6, 2025 at 02:45 CST by Susan Bradley • Comment in the Forums

  

  ISSUE 22.09.1 • 2025-03-03

  

  By Susan Bradley

  As usual, I recommend caution just before Microsoft’s Patch Tuesday and thus have raised the MS-DEFCON level to 2.

  Let others (aka me) take the slings and arrows. There’s simply no way that those interested in headlines just as clickbait can assess the implications of any Patch Tuesday in just a few hours. I do some testing on my assorted PCs, follow other experts closely, separate fact from fiction, and aggregate what I learn into a Patch Watch column you can trust.

  And so, relax and use your favorite method to forestall updates.

  Anyone can read the full MS-DEFCON Alert (22.09.1, 2025-03-06).

  AskWoody Plus Alert, MS-DEFCON Alerts, AutoCAD, Daylight Saving Time, KB5052077, KB5052093, MS-DEFCON, MS-DEFCON 2, OneDrive, Patch Lady Posts, Windows Updates

• What is OneDrive Personal Vault, and should you use it?

  Posted on September 16, 2024 at 02:43 CDT by Lance Whitney • Comment in the Forums

  ONEDRIVE

  

  By Lance Whitney

  Personal Vault offers an extra layer of security for sensitive or confidential files stored in OneDrive. Here’s why and how I use it.

  I use Microsoft’s OneDrive. I know some people find fault with it, partly because it doesn’t always work properly and partly because it requires an intrusive Microsoft account. But as someone who has to juggle multiple computers and mobile devices, I rely on OneDrive not just for backing up my files but also for syncing them across all my devices.

  Because my documents, photos, and other important files are housed in OneDrive, I need a way to secure them from unwanted access.

  Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (21.38.0, 2024-09-16).

  OneDrive Newsletters, OneDrive, Personal Vault, Privacy, Security, Windows 10, Windows 11

• Escape from the clutches of OneDrive

  Posted on July 8, 2024 at 02:43 CDT by Peter Deegan • Comment in the Forums

  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).

  Microsoft 365 Autosave, Local Storage, Newsletters, OneDrive, OneDrive Settings, Sync and Backup, Windows Libraries

• Windows Live Photo Gallery

  Posted on June 24, 2024 at 02:43 CDT by Mary Branscombe

  SOFTWARE

  

  By Mary Branscombe

  It’s tempting to remember older software as being better and more reliable than newer tools, with their constant redesigns and updates. Do the Live Essentials tools still hold up?

  Microsoft keeps resetting its photo-editing tools. Every new version seems to drop useful features and become less reliable.

  Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (21.26.0, 2024-06-24).

  Software Facial recognition, Newsletters, OneDrive, Photos App, Photos Legacy, Windows Live Essentials, Windows Live Photo Gallery

• OneDrive and File Explorer

  Posted on June 17, 2024 at 02:45 CDT by Will Fastie • Comment in the Forums

  

  ISSUE 21.25 • 2024-06-17

  WINDOWS 11

  

  By Will Fastie

  Things are not going so well for Windows 11’s new File Explorer.

  But it might be OneDrive’s fault.

  In fact, it’s not really possible to discuss File Explorer without including OneDrive, and vice versa. They are inextricably linked now, a probable source of many problems with synchronization. And there may be a deeper problem, buried somewhere in Windows 11, that is the source of a strange behavior described below.

  Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (21.25.0, 2024-06-17).
  This story also appears in our public Newsletter.

  Windows 11 File Explorer, Newsletters, OneDrive, OneDrive Settings, Privacy, Synchronization, User Profile
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