Newsletter Archives

• I installed Windows 11 24H2

  Posted on April 7, 2025 at 02:44 CDT by Will Fastie • Comment in the Forums

  WINDOWS 11

  

  By Will Fastie

  24H2 has been running on my laptop for some time so I can check things as required by my editorial duties. Last week, I decided that 24H2 needed to be under my fingers all the time, so I updated my daily driver, Obsidian.

  It went pretty well. I did break one of Susan’s rules; the result was at least a doubling of the time the update should have taken because I had to manually fix an unexpected problem.

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

  Windows 11 Drivers, File Explorer, Graphics Cards, Newsletters, Windows 11, Windows 11 24H2

• MS-DEFCON 2: Seven months and counting

  Posted on April 3, 2025 at 02:45 CDT by Susan Bradley • Comment in the Forums

  

  ISSUE 22.13.1 • 2025-04-03

  

  By Susan Bradley

  It’s time to put a pause on updates as I sort out developments from this coming Patch Tuesday.

  Therefore, I’m raising the MS-DEFCON level to 2.

  The security updates coming next week include all supported Windows platforms, including Windows 10. Seven months may seem like a lot, but time flies. Given that time is needed to prepare for the end of Windows 10 updates, it’s better to think that a mere three months are left.

  Anyone can read the full MS-DEFCON Alert (22.13.1, 2025-04-03).

  AskWoody Plus Alert, MS-DEFCON Alerts, KB5053643, KB5053656, LAPS, MS-DEFCON, MS-DEFCON 2, Patch Lady Posts, Windows 10, Windows 11 24H2

• What Windows 11 24H2 offers beyond bugs

  Posted on March 31, 2025 at 02:43 CDT by Lance Whitney • Comment in the Forums

  WINDOWS 11

  

  By Lance Whitney

  If you can get past the persistent glitches, the 2024 flavor of Windows 11 does have some interesting and helpful new features.

  I’d long resisted updating my main laptop to Windows 11 24H2. Though I’d been running this version on a couple of virtual machines, I didn’t want to put one of my core PCs through the ringer. And that’s because Windows 24H2 had been plagued by bugs almost since its official release last October.

  Most major Windows updates are beset with glitches here and there. Before an official rollout of a new version, Microsoft strives to find as many flaws as possible through internal reviews and beta testing. But with so many different Windows PCs and environments in the world, finding every single problem or conflict is difficult — if not impossible.

  Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (22.13.0, 2025-03-31).

  Windows 11 Camera, File Explorer, Newsletters, Sudo for Windows, Voice Clarity, Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi 7, Windows 11, Windows 11 24H2, Windows Narrator, Windows Spotlight

• Businesses in the crosshairs

  Posted on March 17, 2025 at 02:41 CDT by Susan Bradley • Comment in the Forums

  PATCH WATCH

  

  By Susan Bradley

  But first, a personal note.

  As you know by now, the founder of this site, Gregory Forrest “Woody” Leonhard, passed away unexpectedly on March 8, 2025.

  When Woody retired from freelance writing in 2020, he reached out to ask whether I wanted to take over the AskWoody.com site. He wanted to spend more time with his family and pursue other, personal interests. I didn’t hesitate for a second.

  Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (22.11.0, 2025-03-17).

  Patch Watch Apple, CVE-2025-24984, CVE-2025-24991, CVE-2025-24993, CVE-2025-26633, Internet Printing Protocol, iOS, IPP, Newsletters, Patch Lady Posts, Remote Code Execution, SQL Server 2019, USB Printers, Web Browsers, Windows 11 24H2

• Should all BIOS be updated?

  Posted on February 27, 2025 at 03:00 CST by Susan Bradley • Comment in the Forums

  This is a follow-up to my Patch Watch column on Monday. Should you update all computer systems and search out a new BIOS? In a word: No.

  If you are running Windows 10 on an older computer that will not support Windows 11 or you do not plan to upgrade to Windows 11, and your computer is running just fine, I see no reason to upgrade the BIOS.  My advice to seek out and upgrade your BIOS is only for those running Windows 11 23H2 who will be looking to go to 24H2 or are already there.

  Updating your BIOS isn’t quite as scary as it used to be, but when you have a functional system that you do not plan on upgrading, I don’t see a reason to. Do you?

  Windows Patches/Security Patch Lady Posts, Windows 10, Windows 11, Windows 11 24H2, Windows patches

• MS-DEFCON 4: Beware of clickbait

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

  

  ISSUE 22.08.1 • 2025-02-25

  

  By Susan Bradley

  Don’t be taken in by ‘The sky is falling!’ headlines.

  It’s been my experience that what is purported to be news is often based on a limited number of users, not everyone on the planet. Based on my own research and testing, I’m comfortable in lowering the MS-DEFCON level to 4.

  As a small case study, consider that Will Fastie and I each have several Windows 11 PCs. During the month, we compare and contrast the news with what we are seeing on our own equipment. For the most part, we don’t see the effects described by those headlines.

  Anyone can read the full MS-DEFCON Alert (22.08.1, 2025-02-25).

  AskWoody Plus Alert, MS-DEFCON Alerts, CVE-2025-21420, HP printer, KB5014754, KB5050021, MS-DEFCON, MS-DEFCON 4, Patch Lady Posts, USB Audio, Windows 11 24H2

• February — Same number of patches, fewer bugs

  Posted on February 17, 2025 at 02:43 CST by Susan Bradley • Comment in the Forums

  PATCH WATCH

  

  By Susan Bradley

  This month we have a more “normal” patch release of 57 vulnerabilities.

  Although that’s a “woo-hoo” for the security researchers, you and I will still see the same old security updates being offered. That is, we will see a Windows security update.

  What also hasn’t changed is my stance toward Windows 11 24H2. If you buy a computer with it, stay there. If you are already on it and see no issues, stay there. But if you haven’t yet installed the 24H2 feature release on your existing Windows 11 23H2 machine, I still recommend holding back, especially for businesses. For consumers, the risk is less — as long as you are not a gamer.

  Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (22.07.0, 2025-02-17).

  Patch Watch Apple updates, CVE-2025-21194, CVE-2025-21376, CVE-2025-21387, CVE-2025-21391, CVE-2025-24200, KB890830, Netlogon, Newsletters, Outlook (new), Patch Lady Posts, System Guard, Windows 11 24H2

• MS-DEFCON 1: Controlling features — 24H2 pushed hard

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

  

  ISSUE 22.05.1 • 2025-02-06

  

  By Susan Bradley

  If your machine is eligible for Windows 11 — meaning it ticks all the boxes for hardware compatibility — Windows 11 24H2 will download in preparation for installation, with no way to stop it.

  For right now, the only way to prevent this is to adjust Registry keys accordingly, and the simplest, fastest way to do so is with InControl.

  Although it’s time to pause until Patch Tuesday passes, the increased push by Microsoft for 24H2 is the key reason I’m raising the MS-DEFCON level to 1. Pay attention, and exercise caution.

  Anyone can read the full MS-DEFCON Alert (22.05.1, 2025-02-06).

  AskWoody Plus Alert, MS-DEFCON Alerts, Enablement Package, File sharing, KB5014754, KB5037754, KB5050081, NAS, Patch Lady Posts, System Recovery, Windows 11 24H2
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