Newsletter Archives

• June updates crash printing

  Posted on June 29, 2020 at 01:05 CDT by Tracey Capen • Comment in the Forums

  PATCH WATCH

  By Susan Bradley

  In a normal monthly Windows and Office patching cycle, I almost never roll out any optional updates that Microsoft releases between Patch Tuesdays.

  It’s hard to say what’s “normal” with Windows updating, but June is atypical even by the usual patching tribulations.

  Soon after the Patch Tuesday security updates dropped (on June 9), there were reports of printing failures. The problem hit close to home; after patching my systems, I could no longer print to any of my large multifunction Ricoh printers — a huge problem for my business. As a quick workaround, I updated the printer drivers from PCL5 to PCL6.

  Subsequently, Microsoft posted optional fixes on the MS Update Catalog for Windows 10, Win8.1, and Server 2012.

  Read the full story in AskWoody Plus Newsletter 17.25.0 (2020-06-29).

  Patch Watch AskWoody Plus Newsletter, Office updates, Patch failures, Patch Tuesday, Windows Updates

• Windows 10 2004 is slowly rolling off the assembly line

  Posted on June 15, 2020 at 01:05 CDT by Tracey Capen • Comment in the Forums

  PATCH WATCH

  By Susan Bradley

  The Win10 May Update is coming to a PC near you — sooner or later. Best to make it later.

  The other news for June is vulnerabilities — lots of them. On June 9, Microsoft started sending out updates with an astounding 129 security fixes ranging from remote-code-execution threats to privilege escalations.

  And yet the number of actual patches is virtually unchanged from previous months.

  Read the full story in AskWoody Plus Newsletter 17.23.0 (2020-06-15).

  Patch Watch AskWoody Plus Newsletter, Win10 2004, Win7 vulnerabilities, Windows Updates

• Windows 10 2004 has left the barn

  Posted on June 1, 2020 at 01:05 CDT by Tracey Capen • Comment in the Forums

  PATCH WATCH

  By Susan Bradley

  Microsoft’s latest “feature” update is being offered up. Here’s my immediate recommendation: Don’t install it!

  No newly released version of Windows has ever been problem-free, and Win10 2004 (aka May release) is no exception. For example, there are already reports of driver issues. As always, we need to give Microsoft time to iron out the wrinkles.

  Read the full story in AskWoody Plus Newsletter 17.21.0 (2020-06-01).

  Patch Watch AskWoody Plus Newsletter, Win10 2004, Win7 vulnerabilities, Windows Updates

• 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

• Controlling Windows update downloads

  Posted on May 4, 2020 at 01:00 CDT by Tracey Capen • Comment in the Forums

  WINDOWS 10

  By TB Capen

  Have you had a video stream suddenly start stuttering for no obvious reason — but you suspected it might be because Windows is downloading an update on one of your PCs?

  That’s relatively easy to test by simply shutting down all Windows devices. But it doesn’t automatically solve the problem: Windows update sucking up limited bandwidth.

  If you have a fast cable-based Internet connection to your home or office, this problem might never show its ugly head. But if you live in a rural area as I do, your only choice for Web access might be a relatively limited DSL service. (In my case, reliable connectivity is made worse by DSL running over old copper lines out on the street.)

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

  Windows 10 AskWoody Plus Newsletter, Limited bandwidth, metered connection, 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

• Microsoft agrees to clean up a small Win7 mess

  Posted on February 3, 2020 at 01:05 CST by Tracey Capen • Comment in the Forums

  PATCH WATCH

  By Susan Bradley

  The NSA might have rained on Windows 10’s patching parade in January, but most of the attention was focused on the demise of Windows 7.

  You’d think Microsoft would get the last batch of free Win7 updates right — but apparently not. January’s Patch Tuesday fixes broke Win7’s wallpaper. If you used the “Stretch” option for background slide shows, you ended up with just black! Microsoft’s initial response? The fix would be offered only to those who had purchased Win7 Extended Security Updates (ESU) keys.

  Read the full story in AskWoody Plus Newsletter 17.5.0 (2020-02-03).

  Patch Watch AskWoody Plus Newsletter, Chromium Edge, Win7 extended security updates, Windows Updates

• Here’s why we’re not patching Internet Explorer

  Posted on September 30, 2019 at 01:05 CDT by Tracey Capen • Comment in the Forums

  PATCH WATCH

  By Susan Bradley

  There’s no way to sugar-coat this: The current Windows updating situation is a disaster.

  No, I’m not talking about the usual round of side effects in the second–Patch Tuesday updates, the lack of overall patch quality, or the known issues that impact only a small set of Windows users but that we’re still forced to track.

  Read the full story in AskWoody Plus Newsletter 16.35.0 (2019-09-30).

  Patch Watch .NET Framework, AskWoody Plus Newsletter, Internet Explorer, Office updates, Patch problems, Windows Updates

• The patch waiting game — September edition

  Posted on September 16, 2019 at 01:05 CDT by Tracey Capen • Comment in the Forums

  PATCH WATCH

  By Susan Bradley

  For those of us in the northern hemisphere, September can be a time when days seem to be noticeably shorter — the daylight hours more precious.

  Time has value, too, when it comes to patching our systems. As regular Patch Watch readers know, we need some time for the monthly updates to sort themselves out. In the days following Patch Tuesday, some updates get reissued due to significant issues, while others need clarification.

  Read the full story in AskWoody Plus Newsletter 16.33.0 (2019-09-16).

  Patch Watch AskWoody Plus Newsletter, Cumulative Updates, NET, Office updates, Windows Updates

• August update warnings prove overblown

  Posted on August 19, 2019 at 01:05 CDT by Tracey Capen • Comment in the Forums

  PATCH WATCH

  By Susan Bradley

  Recent headlines might make you think we’re deep into a Windows-patching panic.

  The buzz centered on August’s Windows updates — specifically, more fixes for the ongoing Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) threat, aka BlueKeep. But the predictions of doom were, as usual, well off course.

  Read the full story in AskWoody Plus Newsletter 16.29.0 (2019-08-19).

  Patch Watch .NET Framework, AskWoody Plus Newsletter, Office updates, Update previews, Windows Updates

• Wrapping up July Windows and Office updates

  Posted on July 29, 2019 at 01:10 CDT by Tracey Capen • Comment in the Forums

  PATCH WATCH

  By Susan Bradley

  For those of us who live in the slightly toasty northern part of the world (and by toasty, I mean cooking!), it’s almost too hot to sit at a keyboard and deal with July’s patches. Almost.

  We humans might suffer in the hot weather, but it can be just as challenging to our digital devices, as noted in a related article. According to the report, Apple recommends keeping Macs and iPhones at operating temperatures under 95° F — but our Windows machines hate excessive heat, too.

  Read the full story in AskWoody Plus Newsletter 16.28.0 (2019-07-29).

  Patch Watch .NET Framework updates, AskWoody Plus Newsletter, Office updates, Windows Updates

• Are we ready for the new Windows 10 1903?

  Posted on June 17, 2019 at 02:10 CDT by Tracey Capen • Comment in the Forums

  A Microsoft tweet announced that the company is now offering Win10 Version 1903 — but only to those who specifically seek it.

  Opening Windows Update and selecting Check for updates should trigger the Version 1903 download. If you clicked the button but did not receive the update, you probably have some sort of blocking condition. You’ll just have to wait — and you should.

  Out today in AskWoody Plus Newsletter 16.22.0.

  Patch Watch, Windows News, Windows Patches/Security AskWoody Plus Newsletter, Office updates, Patch Watch, Win10 1903, Windows Updates
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