Newsletter Archives

• Is it safe yet?

  Posted on May 4, 2020 at 01:05 CDT by Tracey Capen • Comment in the Forums

  PATCH WATCH

  By Susan Bradley

  Every month, Windows users have to ask the same question: “Is it safe to patch yet?”

  As is all too common, the issues and concerns I had at the beginning of this month are not the ones I have a few weeks later. Case in point: I thought for sure we’d have more screams of frustration when the recent Office updates started blocking Web information requested by Visual Basic apps.

  But no: I’m mostly tracking possible issues with the Windows 10 1909 update. It’s sort of similar to how we’re feeling these days about staying in or going out; I don’t think you’ll see any issues, but I also can’t guarantee you won’t. It’s confusing, I know.

  Read the full story in AskWoody Plus Newsletter 17.17.0 (2020-05-04).

  Patch Watch AskWoody Plus Newsletter, Visual Basic, Win7 ESU, Windows Updates

• Microsoft Office gets a drenching of updates

  Posted on April 20, 2020 at 01:10 CDT by Tracey Capen • Comment in the Forums

  PATCH WATCH

  By Susan Bradley

  COVID-19’s impact on patching doesn’t extend to Office releases.

  If April’s updates prove anything, it’s that Office is a prime target for malware attacks. This month, all supported versions of Microsoft’s productivity suite received a dozen or more security patches. And most of these fixes have a common purpose: breaking a specific risk to our networks — Office apps using Visual Basic scripts to pull information from the Internet. This change is good, for the most part, but it might cause line-of-business apps with sloppy coding to stop working.

  Read the full story in AskWoody Plus Newsletter 17.15.0 (2020-04-20).

  Patch Watch 0patch, AskWoody Plus Newsletter, COVID-19 scams, Win7 ESU, Windows Updates

• More help with Windows 7 extended support

  Posted on February 24, 2020 at 01:05 CST by Tracey Capen • Comment in the Forums

  WIN7 EXTENDED SUPPORT

  By Susan Bradley

  Windows 7 extended-security updates are easier to buy than to deploy. The entire process seems to be a work in progress.

  It’s been over a week since the February Win7 Extended Security Updates (ESU) patches were released … and I’m still helping people get these updates in place. In many cases, folks ran into problems through no fault or misstep of their own. For sure, Microsoft has not made keeping Windows 7 patched an easy process. Here are some of the things we’ve found:

  Read the full story in AskWoody Plus Newsletter 17.8.0 (2020-02-24).

  Windows 7 AskWoody Plus Newsletter, Win7 ESU, Win7 updates

• The trials and tribulations of Windows 7

  Posted on February 17, 2020 at 01:10 CST by Tracey Capen • Comment in the Forums

  PATCH WATCH

  By Susan Bradley

  We’re starting the Windows 7 extended-support era … with more than our fair share of confusion.

  Before I shed some light on making Extended Security Updates (ESUs) work, here’s a bit of good news for all Win7 users.

  You might recall that the final free Win7 updates (January’s) included a bug that broke the “Stretch” wallpaper setting. Some systems ended up with black backgrounds. The easy fix was to use another “Choose a fit” option. But if “Stretch” is important to you — or you’d just like your Win7 copy to be as bug-free as possible — Microsoft released KB 4539601 to fix the flaw. Currently, however, you must manually download and install the patch.

  The February launch of extended-support updates got off to a shaky start.

  Read the full story in AskWoody Plus Newsletter 17.7.0 (2020-02-17).

  Patch Watch AskWoody Plus Newsletter, Recalled patch, Win7 ESU, Windows updating

• Patch Lady – Windows 7 ESU last minute requirement

  Posted on February 11, 2020 at 22:35 CST by Susan Bradley • Comment in the Forums

  Microsoft has thrown a wrench into the last minute Windows 7 ESU updates.

  Now even though you’ve installed the ESU key and everything “was” ready to go, you now need KB4538483 to be MANUALLY installed in order to make Windows update show you updates for both any Windows 7 post ESU security updates *AS WELL AS* the Office updates.

  To get this manual update you have to go to the catalog site — http://www.catalog.update.microsoft.com/Search.aspx?q=KB4538483 And download either the 64 bit or 32 bit version of this update (depending on your computer version) before any security updates for February will show up when you go to Windows update.  (*)

  Note this is a late breaking change to the instructions and were NOT listed as a requirement until just today:  This procedure page just added this additional update requirement today:  https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/4522133/procedure-to-continue-receiving-security-updates

  To anyone who has purchased updates through any ESU program, as a shareholder of Microsoft I want to apologize for this really  not well done, not automatic process.  I personally will be calling several businesses that I assisted to obtain these extended security patches and will apologize for having to bother them to get their machines in a condition to get additional updates when I thought I already had them ready to go.

  Bottom line, my apologies to anyone who thought they were all set.  You are not.  You need http://www.catalog.update.microsoft.com/Search.aspx?q=KB4538483 to be able to get Windows 7 security updates in February.

  (*) For corporate patchers this update is available via WSUS but NOT available via windows update.

  If you need ANY help with these updates please reach out at https://www.askwoody.com/forums/forum/askwoody-support/windows/windows-7/

  Rant (and warning) in Computerworld Woody on Windows.

  Windows 7, Windows Patches/Security Patch Lady Posts, Win7 ESU

• How we automated the Win7 ESU-purchase process

  Posted on February 10, 2020 at 01:05 CST by Tracey Capen • Comment in the Forums

  SMALL BUSINESS

  By Amy Babinchak

  At Harbor Computer Services, we specialize in providing IT services to small businesses with between one and 100 computer users.

  An important part of those services is helping customers modernize their business processes by effectively using applications and tools provided with their Microsoft 365 subscription. Often, this entails automating repetitive office tasks — an approach we also apply in our own business. Here’s an example.

  Read the full story in AskWoody Plus Newsletter 17.6.0 (2020-02-10).

  Small Business Computing, Windows 7, Windows Patches/Security AskWoody Plus Newsletter, Cloud services, MS Forms, SharePoint, Win7 ESU

• Patch Lady – Windows 7 ESU lessons

  Posted on February 3, 2020 at 20:07 CST by Susan Bradley • Comment in the Forums

  Some lessons to be learned from the Windows 7 ESU upgrade….

  1. You have to have a valid Windows 7 pro(*) license.  No pirated keys allowed.
  2. If you have an unused Windows 7 pro key you can STILL do an Windows anytime upgrade from Home to Pro.  When you get to the screen in the Windows anytime upgrade, indicate that you have a key, enter in it and depending on the speed of your computer, it will upgrade to pro.  Be patient .. it says it takes 10 minutes or longer…. it can be HOURS depending on the speed of the computer.  Then activate the key in the system section and then you can add the 1 year add on to keep it patched.
  3. The free upgrade from 7 to 10 still works.  Is it legal?  I would say no.  But Microsoft is totally ignoring that and letting the machines activate.
  4. Can you still buy a Windows 7 license if you don’t have a new one?  Yes, but man it’s hard to ensure that you are buying it from a reputable place online.  Everything looks a bit scammy to me.  And certainly don’t buy it from an ebay vendor.  There are a few on Amazon that look okay and not too scammy, but be careful.  If it’s too good to be true or too cheap to be a proper license, it’s probably not one.
  5. A healthy Windows 7 machine should have no problem installing this key and activating it.  A not so healthy one… you may have to manually install missing updates and run the Windows update troubleshooter to get it to healthy condition.
  6. Finally remember that the offer is still open and doesn’t close.  If you are small business and need to keep even one machine on 7 for a key business need, you can continue to get updates next week by purchasing a license.

  (*) or Ultimate license.

  Details now in Computerworld Woody on Windows.

  Windows 7, Windows Patches/Security Patch Lady Posts, Win7 ESU

• Closing the book on Windows 7

  Posted on January 20, 2020 at 01:15 CST by Tracey Capen • Comment in the Forums

  

  WINDOWS 7

  By Susan Bradley

  We’ve finished the last chapter for the storied Windows 7 operating system — at least for almost all home users.

  With all the various notifications, can there be a Win7 user who doesn’t know that the last general patches were sent out this past Tuesday (January 14)? If so, it’s time to come out from under your rock.

  Read the full story in AskWoody Plus Newsletter 17.3.0 (2020-01-20).

  Windows 7 AskWoody Plus Newsletter, End of Life, Win7 ESU
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