Newsletter Archives

• Windows 11 22H2 — one month left

  Posted on September 16, 2024 at 02:42 CDT by Susan Bradley • Comment in the Forums

  PATCH WATCH

  

  By Susan Bradley

  On October 8, 2024, Microsoft will release the last round of security updates for Windows 11 version 22H2.

  So right now, go to Settings | System | About to check your version of Windows 11. If your version is 22H2 and your edition is Home or Pro, security updates will cease less than a month from now.

  Here’s what Microsoft had to say about this via the Windows Admin portal.

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

  Patch Watch CVE-2024-38014, CVE-2024-38217, CVE-2024-38226, CVE-2024-43461, CVE-2024-43491, KB5041578, KB5041582, KB5043050, KB5043076, KB5043083, Newsletters, Office 2024, Patch Lady Posts, RDP, Remote Desktop Connection, Server 2016, Widgets, Windows 11 22H2, Windows Widgets

• Vendors force changes

  Posted on March 4, 2024 at 02:42 CST by Susan Bradley • Comment in the Forums

  PATCH WATCH

  

  By Susan Bradley

  Whether your operating system is Windows, Apple, Chromium, or even a variation of Linux, there comes a time when a vendor draws a line in the sand regarding support.

  How vendors handle this, and what you plan to do with that support mandate, depend on what sort of computer user you are.

  The loss of support can be obvious and overt, such as when a vendor bluntly tells you a device is no longer supported. Or it can be slow and silent, such as updates making a device slower over time. In both instances, you must decide what you plan to do. In addition, there are times when the vendor starts pushing you to upgrade to a new version, even when you may not be ready for it or do not wish to expend the effort and downtime to install the upgrade. Both Microsoft and Apple like to nudge you toward a newer version.

  Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (21.10.0, 2024-03-04).

  Patch Watch CVE 2023-36871, Fluent UI, KB5014754, Newsletters, Patch Lady Posts, Windows 11, Windows 11 22H2, Windows 11 23H2

• Making sense of Windows 11’s 2023 updates

  Posted on January 15, 2024 at 02:45 CST by Lance Whitney • Comment in the Forums

  

  ISSUE 21.03 • 2024-01-15

  WINDOWS 11

  

  By Lance Whitney • Comment about this article

  Not sure which features were added to Windows 11 last year?

  2023 was a busy year for Windows 11. Microsoft pushed out a series of updates to the OS, adding new features and revamping others. But because the update process was confusing and convoluted, you may not know exactly what changed throughout the year. To try to make sense of it all, I’ve compiled all the major 2023 updates and the most significant features, many of which you may not even know are now part of Windows 11.

  Here’s what you’ll ultimately find if you’ve installed all the major updates.

  Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (21.03.0, 2024-01-15).
  This story also appears in our public Newsletter.

  Windows 11 Moment Updates, Newsletters, Windows 11, Windows 11 22H2, Windows 11 23H2, Windows feature updates, Windows Update

• How to do a Windows 11 repair install

  Posted on December 4, 2023 at 02:45 CST by Susan Bradley • Comment in the Forums

  

  ISSUE 20.49 • 2023-12-04

  PATCH WATCH

  

  By Susan Bradley

  Most of us install updates every month with no issues whatsoever. But then there are times when updates don’t install.

  Sometimes updates fail for obvious reasons. I’ve seen cases where one update will inadvertently trigger a reboot while a second update is in the works. This is an easy fix — just ignore the reboot message and wait for the machine to kick a reboot later on in the day or evening.

  Other errors may point to corruption in the operating system.

  Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (20.49.0, 2023-12-04).
  This story also appears in our public Newsletter.

  Patch Watch Newsletters, Patch Lady Posts, Repair Install, Windows 11, Windows 11 22H2, Windows 11 23H2

• MS-DEFCON 4: Is Windows 11 really a disaster?

  Posted on September 26, 2023 at 02:45 CDT by Susan Bradley • Comment in the Forums

  

  ISSUE 20.39.1 • 2023-09-26

  

  By Susan Bradley

  Every month, I read headlines claiming that the latest patches for Windows 11 22H2 are causing major issues and impacting gazillions of users.

  Every month, I also note that the deployments of Windows 11 in my home and office are well behaved. Some of that is surely the result of my tender ministrations, such as using an alternate menu system. But for the rest, Windows 11 is not some sort of monster stomping through neighborhoods and ruining lives.

  I consider the current updates safe, so I’m lowering the MS-DEFCON level to 4.

  Anyone can read the full MS-DEFCON Alert (20.39.1, 2023-09-26).

  AskWoody Plus Alert, MS-DEFCON Alerts, Copilot, iOS 17, KB5002457, MS-DEFCON, MS-DEFCON 4, Patch Lady Posts, Windows 11, Windows 11 22H2, Windows 11 23H2, Windows Explorer

• MS-DEFCON 2: Batten down the hatches for August

  Posted on August 3, 2023 at 02:45 CDT by Susan Bradley • Comment in the Forums

  

  ISSUE 20.31.1 • 2023-08-03

  

  By Susan Bradley

  I’ve been tracking some side effects that Microsoft has yet to acknowledge.

  With Patch Tuesday just around the corner, it’s a good idea to put your favorite deferral solution in place. Some issues I’ve been following for several months are finally fixed in the August security updates, but we’re learning about this only through hints in preview releases.

  Set your phasers on stun: I’m raising the MS-DEFCON level to 2.

  Anyone can read the full MS-DEFCON Alert (20.31.1, 2023-08-03).

  AskWoody Plus Alert, MS-DEFCON Alerts, Browser Scams, CVE-2023-20593, CVE-2023-32019, MS-DEFCON, MS-DEFCON 2, Netlogon, Windows 11, Windows 11 22H2

• MS-DEFCON 4: Got 22H2?

  Posted on July 25, 2023 at 02:45 CDT by Susan Bradley • Comment in the Forums

  

  ISSUE 20.30.1 • 2023-07-25

  

  By Susan Bradley

  If you haven’t updated to Windows 10/11 22H2, now is a good time because I’m lowering the MS-DEFCON level to 4.

  This month’s updates have now settled down to the point that I don’t anticipate any issues for the vast majority of readers, nor have I seen any surprises in my testing on Windows 10 or Windows 11.

  22H2 is now my recommended version of Windows for both Windows 10 and Windows 11 for all editions and all types of users — with the single exception of gamers.

  Anyone can read the full MS-DEFCON Alert (20.30.1, 2023-07-25).

  AskWoody Plus Alert, MS-DEFCON Alerts, Gaming, MS-DEFCON, MS-DEFCON 4, Windows, Windows 10 22H2, Windows 11 22H2, Yahoo Mail

• MS-DEFCON 2: March Madness begins

  Posted on March 9, 2023 at 02:45 CST by Susan Bradley • Comment in the Forums

  

  ISSUE 20.10.1 • 2023-03-09

  

  By Susan Bradley

  Ready for Windows 11 dribbles?

  In addition to waiting for side effects of security patches to manifest themselves, sometimes you need to wait to see the impact of changes from the prior month’s preview updates. This month more than ever, you should to delay or defer to see the impact of the March changes for Windows 11 22H2.

  Accordingly, I am raising the MS-DEFCON level to 2.

  Anyone can read the full MS-DEFCON Alert (20.10.1, 2023-03-09).

  AskWoody Plus Alert, MS-DEFCON Alerts, MS-DEFCON, MS-DEFCON 2, Windows 11 22H2