Breaking

Showing posts with label Windows 10. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Windows 10. Show all posts

Tuesday, June 14, 2022

6/14/2022 08:37:00 PM

Restrictive: Millions of Windows 10 clients are committing a senseless Internet Explorer error

Restrictive: Millions of Windows 10 clients are committing a senseless Internet Explorer error

Restrictive: Millions of Windows 10 clients are committing a senseless Internet Explorer error


Update Windows 10 now, and quit utilizing Internet Explorer, specialists say

An amazingly large number of Windows 10 clients are as yet gripping on to Internet Explorer, in spite of the matured browser(opens in new tab) done having support from Microsoft, new information recommends.

Figures from Lansweeper solely imparted to TechRadar Pro case almost half (47%) of Windows 10 gadgets should be refreshed because of as yet involving Internet Explorer as their program - comparable to a great many PCs in workplaces and different working environments all over the planet.

Microsoft will authoritatively end support for Internet Explorer 11(opens in new tab) quickly (June 15, 2022), meaning clients will currently have to refresh to Edge, the organization's really upheld program, or hazard potential cyberattack.

The figures don't simply cover a modest quantity of specialty clients, as Lansweeper evaluated in excess of 9,000,000 gadgets from 33,000 associations to gather its outcomes.

Microsoft has over and over cautioned organizations that Internet Explorer would be formally retired(opens in new tab) this year, yet not all organizations have been sufficiently proactive to think of an arrangement to change to another program yet.

Microsoft previously declared plans to resign support for Internet Explorer 11 across Windows 10 and Microsoft 365 back in August 2020, and from that point forward has been stepped by step stripping back administrations for the product.

The organization as of late suggested that organizations actually utilizing Internet Explorer set their own retirement date(opens in new tab) all things considered.

They ought to likewise guarantee that Internet Explorer mode, which expects to help heritage sites and applications inside Microsoft Edge until they can be ported over to the new programming, is set up in Edge to permit workers to get to Explorer-subordinate locales going ahead.

Anyway, it isn't simply unsupported program constructs that are causing issues, as Lansweeper likewise tracked down a gigantic sum (79%) of PCs reviewed were not in any event, running the most recent rendition of Windows 10, not to mention Windows 11.

The organization found Windows 10 Version 2004 was the most well-known form running on corporate gadgets, regardless of there being three resulting refreshes since its delivery in May 2020.

Clients ought to constantly ensure their gadgets are moved up to the most recent arrival of Windows, as the organization routinely incorporates security fixes and fixes for the most recent weaknesses.

"According to our viewpoint, it's anything but a total shock that main a fifth of the Windows 10 gadgets are on the most recent form, or that Internet Explorer EOL will influence so many," said Roel Decneut, Chief Strategy Officer at Lansweeper.

"There could be many purposes behind associations to defer updating, including being more moderate, having additional major problems to manage, or essentially having zero ability to see into the rendition of working frameworks they're running. Associations will require an outline of every gadget they own when Internet Explorer 11 helps at long last finishes. Without this information, they'll stay helpless."



Wednesday, August 25, 2021

8/25/2021 01:40:00 PM

Windows News: How to hide sensitive information on Windows 10 - inspect this step-by-step guide

Windows News: How to hide sensitive information on Windows 10 - inspect this step-by-step guide

Windows News: How to hide sensitive information on Windows 10 - inspect this step-by-step guide


These methods, alongside an encryption protocol, are often all you would like to stay important private files hidden and safe from any intruder's eyes.

It has become simpler to invade people's privacy as technology has advanced, particularly with digital data. Despite all of Microsoft's efforts to upgrade Windows 10, the company's main OS still contains elements of the old PC OS.

You can manage Windows 10 in unique and intriguing ways you'd haven't thought were possible, only by applying a couple of methods.

For example, you'll conceal a Windows 10 folder from File Explorer and make that folder and every one of the files it contains practically undeletable just by executing a particular combination of commands. That combination, alongside an encryption protocol, is often all you would like to stay important private files hidden and safe from any watchful eyes.

Here's the way to make a hidden, virtually undeletable folder in Windows 10

Users in Windows 10 are unable to utilize some protected data types as folder names. Microsoft has taken steps to plug the issues within the DOS instruction.

As a result, we'll need to believe in more traditional approaches to stay our sensitive files and data hidden within the system.

Creating and hiding folders is not any longer done using the instruction. Instead, we may do that with Windows File Explorer and therefore the Windows Graphical interface.

Step 1: Open Windows File Explorer and attend the folder or drive where you would like your hidden folder to be created. By right-clicking on a vacant space within the right-hand pane and selecting New Folder from the context menu, you'll create a replacement folder.
Step 2: From the context menu, right-click the newly formed folder and choose Properties. attend Attributes section at rock bottom of the screen, and tick the boxes labeled Read-Only and Hidden.
Step 3: Click the Apply button to use the attributes to all or any files and subfolders, then, click okay to finish the attribute modification.

These procedures also will make the files Read-only, meaning they can't be updated or rewritten without taking explicit efforts to reverse the settings.

Procedures for enabling access to the hidden folder and its contents are following:

Step 1: Open File Explorer and attend the View tab.
Step 2: Select Show/Hide Hidden Items from the menu and you will see a non-highlighted version of the folder.

Although a disguised folder name is not the best or efficient solution to hide sensitive data, it's better than doing nothing in the least. Security breaches to your hidden folder will demand deliberate and systematic action.



Friday, January 22, 2021

1/22/2021 01:00:00 PM

New Update: Windows 10X spotted running on a MacBook with an M1 chip and Lumia smartphone

New Update: Windows 10X spotted running on a MacBook with an M1 chip and Lumia smartphone

New Update: Windows 10X spotted running on a MacBook with an M1 chip and Lumia smartphone


Not to mention on Microsoft’s Surface Go

(Image credit: Future)

Windows 10X was recently leaked within the sort of what’s apparently a near-final build, and enterprising developers have already got that version of Microsoft’s lightweight OS running on a MacBook (with M1 chip) and a Lumia smartphone, also because of the Surface Go.

Windows 10X is that the inbound spin on Microsoft’s desktop OS which is extremely much a stripped-back and simplified version, with some major differences in terms of the interface and overall functionality – plus it’s also designed to run on devices with an ARM CPU (and not just Intel chips).

The leaked build was successfully run on an ARM-based MacBook M1 using QEMU virtualization by developer @imbushuo, and reportedly performs well on the Apple notebook. (This dev previously ran Windows 10X on an Intel-powered MacBook).


Lumia 950 XL

Furthermore, other developers, those that are a part of the LumiaWOA (Windows on ARM) project, have gotten Windows 10X running on a Lumia 950 XL phone, albeit with limitations (as Windows Latest, which spotted this, notes).


Also, as you would possibly guess, this wasn’t a very easy feat to realize.

Finally, an extra spotting of the Windows 10X leaked build witnessed it happily chugging away on one among Microsoft’s own Surface Go tablets. Apparently it runs ‘fine’ in terms of performance levels, but there are sticking points, most notably the shortage of Wi-Fi support.


The mentioned instructions are tweeted here if you would like to see them out.


Windows 10X makes tons of changes to the interface, as we mentioned at the outset, and turns the beginning menu into something that feels more like the launcher on Chromebooks. Indeed, this first incarnation of Microsoft’s OS, built for single-screen devices – the first intention was for 10X to get on dual-screen machines first – looks considerably like an attack on Chrome OS.

Of course, the simplification that Windows 10X majors in means the removal of what some would concede to be key aspects of a desktop OS, including the shortage of ability on the multitasking front, and not having the ability to run traditional Windows (Win32) apps – although support for the latter should arrive eventually (though maybe not any time soon).

App support will initially be limited to universal (UWP) and web apps, although apparently there's a reasonably slick implementation of the latter from what we’ve heard.




Wednesday, December 16, 2020

12/16/2020 05:10:00 PM

The next Windows 10 update will get obviate this divisive tab minimizing feature

Windows 10 update could prove unpopular among some users

The next Windows 10 update will get obviate this divisive tab minimizing feature


(Image credit: Softulka / Shutterstock)

As a part of an upcoming Windows 10 update, Microsoft will retire a divisive tab minimizing feature that first landed with Windows 7.

As indicated by the newest preview build, the corporate will soon disable ‘Shake to Minimize’ functionality in Windows 10, which allows users to attenuate all windows except one by selecting the specified tab and moving the mouse quickly back and forth.

While some users may mourn the loss of the feature, which is handy for clearing out a multitude of windows, others find it's triggered too easily by natural mouse movements and can be glad to ascertain the rear of it.

Windows 10 update

The Shake to attenuate feature in Windows 10 - also referred to as Aero Shake - isn't particularly well-publicized by Microsoft, albeit it's existed within the company’s operating systems since Windows 7.

Many users, then, were likely unaware of its existence and doubtless relied heavily on the Win + M keyboard shortcut or the minimize all option within the Windows 10 taskbar to perform an identical function.

There is currently no other Windows 10 feature, however, that permits the user to attenuate all windows with the exception of 1.

Although Microsoft might yet plan to give the feature a stay of execution, the change is currently set to require effect with subsequent Windows 10 feature update, which is predicted to land a while in spring next year.

In the meantime, users that want to disable the feature manually can do so via the Group Policy Editor or Windows Registry (although, as always, the registry should only be edited by advanced users).




Saturday, November 28, 2020

11/28/2020 03:44:00 PM

Windows: Run Windows on your Mac with this amazing deal from Parallels Desktop

Windows: Run Windows on your Mac with this amazing deal from Parallels Desktop

Windows: Run Windows on your Mac with this amazing deal from Parallels Desktop

Test multiple OSes during a virtual machine for Mac with Parallels Desktop 16’s Black Friday deal

(Ima
ge credit: Parallels)

When there are Windows programs that don’t accompany Mac versions, or if you would like to maneuver your data from Windows to Mac, Parallels Desktop has you covered. This Black Friday, they’re slashing 20% off of their regular price.

With this limited-time 20% off Black Friday deal, users can get Parallels Desktop’s full version for less than $79.99, or upgrade to full for less than $39.99, in order that they can start running Windows in as fast as six seconds. This offer lasts until December 3. 

Parallels Desktop Pro Edition: $99.99 $79.99 per annum at Parallels Desktop
The most popular Parallels Desktop version preferred by developers, testers, and power users from the world’s most trusted desktop virtualization software for 14 years and counting. VIEW DEAL

Get amazing features like more processing power, large VM file upload, network conditioner, visual studio plug-in, and virtualization support. It’s the highest choice for Mac users who want to run Windows. 

Parallels Desktop Pro Edition works with OS X, Windows 10, 8.1 and 7, Linux, Unix, and macOS servers. Users get seamless, easy to line up, and lightning-fast Windows to Mac transfers and switches. 

Why is that this an honest deal?

Run full-featured Windows applications alongside macOS apps, with no restarting required. Fast and straightforward setup automatically detects what users got to start so they’re up and running in minutes. Parallels Desktop 16 for Mac is made for speed, performance, and simple use to supply customers with the simplest Windows-on-Mac experience.



Saturday, November 14, 2020

11/14/2020 03:29:00 PM

Latest News: This tool allows you to run Windows 10 on the Apple M1 - here's how

Latest News: This tool allows you to run Windows 10 on the Apple M1 - here's how

Latest News: This tool allows you to run Windows 10 on the Apple M1 - here's how


Parallels Desktop for Mac is coming to the new MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, and Mac Mini

Parallels on Mac
(Image credit: Parallels)

Apple recently unveiled its new Arm-based M1 chip alongside a replacement MacBook Air, Macbook Pro, and Mac Mini and for business, users considering picking one up to use as a workstation, fortunately, there's how you'll run Windows 10 on the company's latest devices.

Just as enterprise users can now run Windows 10 on a Chromebook, Mac users can do so also even on the M1 chip by using Parallels' virtual machine software. 

The transition to the Apple M1 chip should go smoothly for many native Mac applications because of Rosetta technology and therefore the same is true for Parallels Access, Parallels Toolbox and Parallels Client software even before the company rebuilt all of those apps as universal binaries.

  • We've put together an inventory of the simplest video editing laptops
  • These are the simplest business laptops on the market
  • Also, inspect our roundup of the simplest video editing software

Virtual machines are an exception though which is why Parallels is actively developing a replacement version of Parallels Desktop for Mac which will run on the new Macbook Air, Macbook Pro, and Mac Mini which all feature Apple's M1 chip.

Preparing for Apple Silicon

Back at Apple's WWDC keynote this summer, the Cupertino-based company showed of a demo of a Parallels Desktop for Mac prototype running a Linux virtual machine flawlessly on Apple Silicon.

Since then though, Parallels has made tremendous progress further developing its remake of Parallels Desktop for Mac's running on the Apple M1 chip. the corporate switched Parallels Desktop to universal binary and also optimized its virtualization code.

SVP of engineering and support at Parallels, Nick Dobrovolskiy explained during a blog post that the corporate will still improve and optimize its virtual machine software for devices running Apple's M1 chip, saying:

“As our customers know, Parallels cares deeply about the standard of our software products and therefore the experiences they supply. With macOS Big Sur and new Mac with Apple M1 chip becoming available, we'll still do more extensive evaluations, both in our lab and together with your help via the upcoming Parallels Technical Preview Program.” 

Users curious about trying out the remake of Parallels Desktop for Mac can complete this type for an opportunity to participate in its technical preview.



Sunday, October 25, 2020

10/25/2020 05:57:00 PM

Windows 10 refuses to let some users reset their machines - `but there’s a fast fix

Windows 10 refuses to let some users reset their machines - `but there’s a fast fix

Windows 10 refuses to let some users reset their machines - `but there’s a fast fix


Microsoft details workaround for Windows 10 ‘Reset this PC’ error

(Image credit: Shutterstock)

Microsoft has published a fast workaround for a frustrating bug preventing some Windows 10 users from resetting their devices.

The ‘Reset this PC’ feature, located under the Recovery section in Settings, provides an easy way for Windows 10 users to return their machine to factory settings.

However, a bug has disabled the feature for select users running Windows 10 version 2004, who are instead being served the subsequent error message: “There was a drag when resetting your PC. No changes were made”.

Windows 10 'Reset this PC' fix

There are a variety of reasons someone might want to reset their PC to factory settings; it can help fix Windows 10 bugs, alleviate general slow down and prepare a tool that’s close to being inherited by another user.

When fully functional, the ‘Reset this PC’ feature allows Windows 10 users to get rid of all files from their device and reinstall the OS, or execute a partial restore while leaving files intact.

However, consistent with a Microsoft Support post, the Windows 10 2004 issue affecting “certain hardware configurations” is preventing users from performing either sort of restore.

Microsoft is yet to deploy a full fix for the difficulty but has begun an easy workaround that utilizes the Deployment Image Servicing Management (DISM) command to supply a short-term resolution.

Users that encounter the ‘Reset this PC’ error should follow these steps:

  1. Search for prompt via the beginning menu
  2. Right-click the appliance and choose Run as administrator
  3. Type within the following comment, then press enter: "dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth"
  4. Reboot the device and return to Reset this PC via Settings

When preparing to perform a restore, it’s important to make sure you hold an up-to-date backup - either within the cloud or on an external disk drive - so as to not lose any precious files.

It’s also worth noting that resetting your machine to factory settings also will reintroduce any bloatware that came pre-installed with the device when first purchased.



Thursday, September 24, 2020

9/24/2020 12:30:00 PM

Windows 10 October 2020 Update is being prepared for release

Update is officially named because it hits Release Preview

Windows 10 October 2020 Update is being prepared for release

(Image credit: Microsoft)

Windows 10’s next update has been christened the October 2020 Update, and will be out next month – in October, in fact – with the ultimate work now beginning on preparing for the discharge .

In a blog post, Microsoft officially named the 20H2 update and allow us to know that it's hit Release Preview – in other words, the testing stage where this is often now the ultimate version (theoretically there’s only a touch little bit of tweaking left, unless any major last-minute problems are stumbled upon).

  1. How to speed up Windows 10
  2. How to work smarter from home with Windows 10
  3. We solve 100 common Windows 10 problems

Brandon LeBlanc, senior program manager of the Windows Insider Program, observed: “We believe that Build 19042.508 is that the final build and still plan on continuing to enhance the general experience of the October 2020 Update on customers’ PCs as a part of our normal servicing cadence.”

Testers within the release preview channel will initially get the finalized update via Microsoft’s ‘seeker’ scheme, meaning they need to manually check for and prefer to download the update at now (in Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update). Microsoft further clarified that the update is beginning to roll out for those within the beta channel.

There is one major known issue highlighted by the blog post, namely that build 19042.508 suffers from a bug which breaks the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL). this is often the nasty ‘element not found’ error as previously reported to be a drag with cumulative update KB4571756 (which 19042.508 carries).

Microsoft has successfully resolved this issue and is now performing on implementing a fix which it promises are going to be included within the next servicing release for the preview version of the October 2020 Update.

Minor update

As you'll recall, the October 2020 Update is one among Microsoft’s more minor updates – rather just like the upgrade for the last half of 2019, except it applies a touch more work.

Those who have the previous May 2020 Update installed are going to be ready to get the new update as an easy enablement package – basically flicking a switch to show it on – whereas those that still haven’t moved to the May 2020 Update will get the October 2020 Update as a full download (in other words, a serious feature update which will be a hefty download and can take a while to apply).

The October 2020 Update does deliver a touch more within the way of changes than last year’s H2 update, as mentioned, which includes a replacement search for the beginning menu, and a far better way of working for Windows 10 tablet users.



Source URL

Wednesday, September 23, 2020

9/23/2020 06:30:00 AM

Windows 10 updates are pretty much useless

IT professionals claim Windows 10 updates rarely deliver value.



(Image credit: Shutterstock)

Most IT professionals find that Microsoft’s biannual Windows 10 updates are practically useless, consistent with the findings of a recent survey.

Conducted by Susan Bradley, network consultant and writer for Askwoody.com, the survey found that nearly 60% of administrators believe the updates are “rarely useful” at the best - this coming from the individuals responsible of Windows 10 upkeep for his or her organizations.

Of the five hundred respondents, alittle 20% minority said they think Windows 10 updates deliver a minimum of some value, while an extra 22% were simply indifferent to Microsoft’s efforts.

  1. We've built an inventory of the simplest business laptops immediately 
  2. Here's our choice of the simplest workstations on the market
  3. Check out our list of the simplest mobile workstations available

Windows 10 updates

Microsoft spends an excellent deal of your time and energy curating its twice-yearly Windows 10 updates, published in autumn and spring - the newest of which is Windows 10 version 2004.

Each of those Windows 10 builds receives support for 18 months after launch. At the top of this cycle, administrators must upgrade to the newest version so as to receive important patches - security-related and otherwise.

The regular updates are designed to deliver new features, fine tune the Windows 10 UI and bolster security, but it appears IT professionals think little of the improvements.

“It’s mostly bells, whistles and window-dressing. It looks like no fundamental problems are tackled,” said one respondent.

“Don’t have a clue why they think a number of the new features could be worth our time, or maybe theirs,” complained another.

Others said they thought the regular cycle actually works against Microsoft, pressuring the firm into releasing updates on schedule, regardless of their merits.

“Let’s consider more useful features, like an upgraded File Explorer, a Start Menu that always works and context-sensitive help, and fewer on, ‘it’s time to release a replacement feature update, whether it's any useful new features or not,” proposed another survey participant.

Microsoft can, however, take some solace within the fact Windows 10 updates appear to be occupation the proper direction. Data from an identical survey conducted by Bradley in 2018 showed that almost 70% of IT personnel were dismissive of the bi-annual feature updates at the time.

So, while IT professionals are marginally more receptive to Windows 10 updates than they were, the disparity between the opinion of administrators and therefore the esteem during which Microsoft holds its updates suggests a rethink is so as.


Friday, September 11, 2020

9/11/2020 06:06:00 PM

Windows 10 update could finally fix one among its most annoying features

Windows 10 update could finally fix one among its most annoying features

Windows 10 update could finally fix one among its most annoying features


Picking default apps go to urge easier

(Image credit: Shutterstock)

It looks sort of a new Windows 10 update will finally fix one among the foremost annoying features of the OS – the ‘Choose default apps’ menu.

You’re probably aware that certain file types got to be opened by certain apps. Windows 10 usually tries to work out which of the apps you've got installed is that the best candidate. 

Usually, it’s correct, but if it chooses the incorrect app – otherwise you have multiple apps that would open it and it doesn’t use your favorite – then you would like to select the default app yourself. Up so far, that’s been overly confusing and annoying.

  • We show you ways to hurry up Windows 10
  • Check out the simplest portable SSDs around
  • Windows 10 May 2020 Update problems: the way to fix them

Right now, the panel for choosing default apps may be a long list of confusing file types and protocols, each with its default app beside it. you would possibly need to scroll down through tons of file types to seek out what you’re trying to find. In short, it’s not very useful in the least.

A simple tweak

However, an upcoming Windows 10 update seems like it'll fix tons of those issues with a rather simple addition – an inquiry box.

This will allow you to simply find the file type or apps you’re trying to find, and which should make the entire process tons easier.

Microsoft promises this tweak will are available subsequent Windows 10 feature update, in order that might be Windows 10 20H2 Update, which is due later this year.

For anyone who has struggled with finding the proper apps to open files, this tiny fix could convince have big benefits.


Source URL

Saturday, July 25, 2020

7/25/2020 04:06:00 PM

New Update: Windows 10s next update could accompany bigger changes including a replacement Start menu

New Update: Windows 10s next update could accompany bigger changes including a replacement Start menu

New Update: Windows 10s next update could accompany bigger changes including a replacement Start menu

The start menu is now in testing for 20H2 update, which seemingly isn’t a minor upgrade

Windows 10’s next update thanks to land later this year (referred to as 20H2) was expected to be just a service pack-style upgrade, mirroring what happened within the last half of 2019 – but it seems that the update won’t just offer minor changes, but some bigger introductions.

This appears to be the case because Microsoft has just released a replacement preview version for Windows 10 (20H2) which carries the new Start menu that has previously been tested within the dev channel, among a variety of other more sizeable alterations to the OS.


  1. How to speed up Windows 10
  2. How to work smarter from home with Windows 10
  3. We solve 100 common Windows 10 problems.


Build 19042.421 has been deployed to beta channel testers and it comes with the more streamlined design for the beginning menu, which changes live tiles in order that they carry an equivalent background color (which matches whether Windows 10 is during light or dark theme), as against the patchwork of various colors which they currently are.

The idea may be a more uniform look overall, but those that are wanting a splash more within the way of colorfulness can apply an accent color if they want.

Microsoft explains: “This refined Start design looks great in both dark and lightweight theme, but if you’re trying to find a splash of color, first confirm to show on Windows dark theme then toggle ‘Show accent color on the subsequent surfaces’ for ‘Start, taskbar, and action center’ under Settings > Personalization > Color to elegantly apply your accent color to the beginning frame and tiles.”

Other changes in build 19042.421 include modifying the way Alt-Tabbing works in reference to Microsoft Edge. Essentially, this lets every single tab you've got open within the browser appear as a separate element when Alt-Tabbing through your running tasks.

That may be confusing or clunky if you've got an entire load of tabs open, mind, and you would possibly not just like the idea of this feature anyway – so Microsoft has made it easy to show off (or limit the number of Edge tabs which will be displayed when Alt-Tabbing).

Furthermore, websites in Microsoft Edge that you’ve pinned to the taskbar will now show all of the open tabs for that site across any active browser windows once you click them on the taskbar.

Note that to urge these Edge features, you’ll get to be running either the Canary or Dev build of the browser, on a minimum of version 83.0.475.0 for Alt-Tabbing, and 85.0.561.0 or higher for the development to pinned sites.

Taskbar tweak
There are various other changes also, as Microsoft lists in its blog post, and that they include tweaks for notifications and settings, also as personalizing the taskbar when first fixing Windows 10 (something we’ve also seen before). The latter means the taskbar is going to be populated with icons more relevant to you supported your Microsoft account (so if you’ve previously attached a smartphone, you’ll have the Your Phone app already on the taskbar).

It would seem, then, that subsequent update for Windows 10 goes to be quite a minor affair just like the November 2019 Update, although that said, the listed changes could also be all that Microsoft is planning.

Even so, the New Look for the beginning menu may be a pretty major alteration on an aesthetic level, and who knows, we could see further work being wiped out terms of honing the looks of the menu, as other rumored changes have surfaced in recent times.

Interestingly, Mary Jo Foley of ZDNet has apparently heard from a source that what could be happening here – and that we stress the word might – is that Windows 10 might not get an update for the primary half 2021, then these features which were scheduled for that upgrade are shunted forward to the 20H2 update.

Dropping one among the twice-yearly updates for Windows 10 certainly would be an enormous change, but at the instant, that’s just a theory supported an anonymous tip that we should always treat very cautiously. even as we would have liked to treat the strong rumors about Windows 10 (20H2) being only a minor service-pack style upgrade, which is seemingly not the case.

However, we can’t help but ponder whether that potential move from Microsoft may need something to try to to with other speculation that the software giant is aiming for spring 2021 for the primary commercial release of Windows 10X.




Source URL

Sunday, June 28, 2020

6/28/2020 01:30:00 AM

This is what Windows 10’s new Start menu will appear as if

This is what Windows 10’s new Start menu will appear as if


This is what Windows 10’s new Start menu will appear as if

Microsoft teases big changes

Microsoft has given us another glance of what its redesigned Windows 10 Start menu will appear as if – and it seems to be an enormous improvement.

While it’s not a radical overhaul, it's like Microsoft is functioning hard to make sure that the new Start menu blends in with the opposite aesthetic changes the corporate has delivered to its OS within the (almost) five years since Windows 10 was launched.

This means Live Tiles (yep, they seem to be sticking around for now) that have backgrounds that match your choice of sunshine or dark theme.


If Live Tiles are turned off by the user, they're going to now show new ‘Fluent Design’ icons with a translucent background, instead of the rather jarring solid blocks of color that Live Tiles currently show when turned off.

The result's rather pleasing, and it means the beginning menu as an entire doesn’t look so out of place with the remainder of your desktop.

Recent apps, which appear on the left of the beginning menu, have also been tweaked, and not have colored backgrounds – again, making it mesh better together with your desktop theme and colours .

When’s it coming?

The new Start menu is certainly an improvement in our eyes, and was shared by Microsoft 365 on Facebook.

However, there was no hint at when the new Start menu are going to be added to Windows 10, and Microsoft seems to be working hard thereon , and eager to catch on right.

As we mentioned earlier, this isn’t an enormous overhaul, but in some ways that’s an honest thing. The last time Microsoft radically changed the beginning menu, we ended up with Windows 8 and its unpopular ‘Metro’ Start Screen.




Source URL

Wednesday, June 17, 2020

6/17/2020 04:00:00 PM

Windows 10 May 2020 Update is now causing problems for Google Chrome users

Reports suggest gamers using Battle.net also are suffering from login issues

Windows 10 May 2020 Update is now causing problems for Google Chrome users

Windows 10 May 2020 Update is causing more problems, this point for those using the favored Chrome browser, who are being logged out of their account whenever they reboot their PC – and this is often reportedly happening with other software too, like Battle.net.

As Windows Latest spotted, there are multiple reports of this bug on Google’s own support forum (linked here: 1, 2, 3) and on Reddit, with anecdotal indications that this gremlin not only affects the Chrome browser, but also Battle.net, and possibly Edge.

So it seems that this is often a problem with Windows 10 and therefore the latest upgrade, instead of with Chrome. Browser cookies are apparently being deleted randomly, and users are being logged out of their account(s), and made to log back in repeatedly.

As one person observed: “I have an equivalent issue. Chrome, also Battle.net application sort of a previous poster mentioned. What’s going on? Every day once I start my computer I’m logged out of everything.”

Sync is additionally being errantly paused for Chrome, and another user has said that the login problem manifests with Microsoft Edge also sometimes (although a special complainant alleges that his Edge browser is ok, whereas Chrome most definitely isn’t).

Spanner within the works

So it appears to be a rather flaky bug, and indeed folks are reporting that it happens to them whenever they close Chrome, as against whenever they activate (or restart) their Windows 10 PC.

It would seem, then, that there’s a reasonably hefty spanner within the works somewhere, and hopefully, both Google and Microsoft are looking into this issue, and we’ll hear more about what’s happening, and maybe a possible solution, soon.

We’ve contacted Microsoft to ask if the corporate is conscious of or investigating the reported login disruptions, and can update this story if we hear back.




Source URL

Thursday, March 19, 2020

3/19/2020 07:45:00 PM

Windows Update: Windows 10 20H1 update will finally fix File Explorer

Windows Update: Windows 10 20H1 update will finally fix File Explorer

Windows Update: Windows 10 20H1 update will finally fix File Explorer

20H1 update will iron out numerous glitches also

The soon-to-be-released Windows 10 20H1 update looks set to finally fix Microsoft’s bug-prone File Explorer experience.

Windows 10 users have long been having issues with Microsoft’s integrated Search platform. This began with the discharge of the Windows 10 November 2020 Update, which promised a smoother, faster search experience and brought with it major File Explorer improvements, including a fanatical files preview UI that displays web-powered suggestions of files stored in OneDrive and previews of files stored locally.

However, the glitch-prone update also broke the search bar, disabled right-click and removed the choice to delete recent searches. Some users also complained that, after installing the November update, the File Explorer window freezes and becomes unresponsive.

"Sometimes search box is getting totally stuck," one user complained about the Microsoft Answers website. "In Windows Explorer, it isn't clickable in the least, neither right-click nor left click works, until you force restart windows explorer. That fixes it for a short time, until it gets stuck again…"

Fixing the matter

Although these issues haven’t been addressed in any of Microsoft’s recent updates, the company’s incoming Windows 10 20H1 update, which could launch in April, might finally fix the broken File Explorer experience.

As per Windows Latest, the update brings a variety of hotfixes to iron out the bugs plaguing File Explorer’s search bar. during a newly-released build of a subsequent major updates for Windows 10, Microsoft has also reinstated the power to delete the previous search leads to the Search bar – a standard complaint among Windows 10 users.

Beyond File Explorer updates, Microsoft’s first major Windows 10 update of 2020 also will give users more control over optional updates and convey with it an all-new Cortana experience with a text-based chat UI, the power to form your device password less, and therefore the choice to rename virtual desktops.

It will, naturally, also include a bunch of security updates, including a fix for a drag whereby ActiveX content fails to load and patches for the Microsoft Edge browser.

Although Microsoft is yet to announce a firm release date for the update, it’s expected to land within the primary fortnight of April.




source

Monday, June 3, 2019

6/03/2019 07:59:00 PM

New Update:Windows 10 users are careful – some default apps are showing scam adverts

These ads could trick you into a fraudulent purchase, or possibly worse


Windows 10 has been struck by a worrying problem in that some of its core (installed by default) apps are displaying fraudulent adverts which could potentially play all sorts of nasty tricks on the user.

As spotted by Ghacks and first highlighted on Microsoft’s German support site, a post has since appeared on the US Answers.com website clarifying the issue that affects apps including Microsoft News and Weather, and possibly other applications or indeed Microsoft services (MSN Money is also mentioned).


  • We show you how to defrag Windows 10
  • And how to install the Windows 10 May 2019 Update
  • This is the best antivirus software out there


These malicious banner adverts are being erroneously picked up by Microsoft’s ad servers and presented to the user. They contain some kind of bait to get the user to click them, either claiming that your PC is infected with viruses, or suggesting that you have won a lottery.

If clicked, they will take you to some malicious site which will seemingly try to sell you a ‘cure’ for the (non-existent) virus, drop malware on your machine (or perhaps both), or perform some other kind of nefarious activity.

A Microsoft moderator notes: “The fake virus warnings eventually direct to a download page for Reimage Repair, which is classified by Microsoft as the potentially unwanted application (PUA) but not detected as malware by Windows Defender at this time.

“A scan of the downloaded file at VirusTotal indicates nine different antivirus/antimalware programs detect it as malware and some may block the download or even the landing page for the download.”

Normally, these sorts of malicious ads should be policed and stripped out of Microsoft’s ad serving network, but evidently, these rogue banner ads are slipping through the net somehow.

Countermeasures such as Windows Defender SmartScreen should still block these, but as Microsoft notes, SmartScreen isn’t recognizing all the current malicious adverts out there, so is failing to defend against some of them.


The fake warning claiming that your PC is infected with viruses (Image credit: Microsoft)

Close and don’t click

The upshot is that if you use these core Microsoft apps and see any suspicious adverts, be careful not to click them. All you need to do is close the window offering the ad, and that should be the end of it, Microsoft advises.

It is possible for the more tech-savvy to block these ads at the DNS level, as Microsoft Support explains, “for example via a central ad blocker in the network like a Pinhole, you should block the following pages: * .adnxs.com / * .nuxues.com / * .vungle.com”.

Otherwise, the only thing to do is wait until Microsoft gets on the case and blocks the ad operators from running these banner adverts, which you would hope will happen sooner rather than later.

One of the major reasons to upgrade to Windows 10, of course, is that the newest OS is sold as being more secure than Windows 7/8.1, so glitches in the default operating system’s apps are a bit embarrassing for Microsoft to say the least.




READ MORE:

Tuesday, May 21, 2019

5/21/2019 04:33:00 PM

Windows 10 system restore bug will stop your PC from booting

But fortunately, there’s a way to rescue the situation


Windows 10 has a bug with system restore which happens to be a show-stopper that prevents your PC from even booting up, although fortunately there’s action you can take to get around this.

That said, we’d obviously recommend avoiding the problem in the first place if at all possible. So what is the issue exactly?

As highlighted by Bleeping Computer, it affects Windows 10 computers on which system protection is turned on, and a system restore point has been created, before installing one (or more) Windows 10 updates.


  • How to protect your devices against ZombieLoad
  • Everything you need to know about how to use Windows 10
  • This is what’s coming with the Windows 10 May 2019 Update


In this exact scenario, when your PC reboots and has finished installing the updates, if you then subsequently try to restore the system to the recently created point – maybe because you encountered a problem with one of the said updates – then you will run into the boot-stopping error.

Microsoft explains: “During the system restore process, Windows temporarily stages the restoration of files that are in use. It then saves the information in the registry. When the computer restarts, it completes the staged operation.

“In this situation, Windows restores the catalog files and stages the driver .sys files to be restored when the computer restarts. However, when the computer restarts, Windows loads the existing drivers before it restores the later versions of the drivers. Because the driver versions do not match the versions of the restored catalog files, the restart process stops.”

What you actually see is a ‘stop error (0xc000021a)’ and the system fails to get back to the desktop.

Recovery procedure

So how do you recover from this? After the failure to boot, reboot again, and you should be put into the Windows Recovery Environment (you may have to restart twice in a row, Microsoft notes).

Then, when you’re in the Recovery Environment, carry out the following steps:


  • Select Troubleshoot > Advanced options > More recovery options > Startup settings, and then select Restart now
  • In the list of startup settings, select Disable driver signature enforcement (Note: You may have to use the F7 key to select this setting)
  • Allow the startup process to continue. As Windows restarts, the system restores process should resume and finish.


All being well, you should now be out of the woods.

Microsoft further advises that you can safely carry out a system restore on an affected PC by implementing the restore from the aforementioned Windows Recovery Environment.

In this case, you need to click on the Start button, then go to Settings > Update & Security > Recovery. Look under Advanced options, and click Restart now.

This will fire up the Recovery Environment, from where you should select Troubleshoot > Advanced options > System Restore. Finally, you need to enter the recovery key shown on the screen, and then follow the subsequent instructions in the Restore Wizard.

We witnessed another Windows 10 glitch very recently, in the form of a cumulative update which caused a good deal of confusion by apparently installing itself twice.




READ MORE:

Thursday, May 16, 2019

5/16/2019 11:23:00 PM

New Update: Google kills Windows 10 on Chromebooks

Project Campfire extinguished


It appears that Google has dropped its plans to allow Windows 10 to be installed alongside Chrome OS on Chromebooks.

The plans – known internally as Project Campfire – would let Chromebook owners install Windows 10 so that they could switch between Microsoft’s operating system and Chrome OS – the default operating system made by Google that ships with Chromebooks. The feature was often referred to as Alt OS – in reference to the ability to install an alternative operating system.


  • What is a Google Chromebook?
  • These are the best Chromebooks of 2019
  • How to screenshot on a Chromebook


While that feature would have made Chromebooks even more versatile, an eagle-eyed member of Reddit spotted that a change to the Chromium Gerrit suggests that the Alt OS feature will be deprecated – which means it will not be worked on or added to Chrome OS.

Windowless

Although Google never officially announced the feature, there will be many people who will be disappointed that it has been dropped.

The ability to install Windows 10 would have made Chromebooks even more useful, as you'd be able to run programs that aren’t supported on Google’s limited Chrome OS software.

However, it’s not entirely surprising that this feature has been dropped. Part of the appeal of Chromebooks is that they are lightweight affordable laptops with excellent battery lives – which means they usually come with low-powered components.

Chrome OS is built from the ground up to run on hardware like that, but Windows 10 is a lot more resource intensive, so would likely struggle. There’s a good chance that on many Chromebooks, using Windows 10 would have been a sluggish and annoying ordeal.

However, Microsoft is working on Windows Lite, which is a version of its operating system that’s designed for low powered devices. It would have been the perfect fit for Chromebooks, but with the Alt, OS feature now dead, we may never see that happen.





READ MORE:
5/16/2019 05:16:00 PM

Windows 10 cumulative update causes confusion by apparently installing itself twice

Affects those running Windows 10 October 2018 Update



Some Windows 10 users have encountered a problem with Microsoft’s latest round of cumulative updates for the OS, specifically with KB4494441, which is an important update (more on that later) for those running the October 2018 Update.

The issue here, as highlighted by folks on Reddit, is that KB4494441 is installed, and then the update is installed again by Windows 10. Update history then indicates that there are two KB4494441 updates installed, the second of which has a number two in brackets at the end of it – KB4494441 (2).

While this doesn’t seem to make any odds and the update still works just fine, as reported by those experiencing the issue, it has unsurprisingly led to some confusion about exactly what’s going on with the double installation.


  • How to protect your devices against ZombieLoad
  • Here’s how to fix any October 2018 Update problems
  • This is what’s coming with the Windows 10 May 2019 Update


Microsoft hasn’t replied on Reddit or elsewhere with an official explanation that we’ve seen, but we did a little digging and noticed that the software giant has now provided further details on the Windows 10 Release Information page.

Multi-stage installation

Essentially, what’s happening is that the cumulative update is actually a multi-stage process that requires an initial installation, followed by a reboot, and a further installation (and another reboot).

This should just happen and be recorded as the installation of a single update, but there’s a bug which is causing Windows Update to report that KB4494441 has been installed twice, when in fact that isn’t the case.

There’s no harm in the glitch, save for the confusion it has caused – but it would have been nice if Microsoft had provided a clear official explanation with some visibility, rather than hiding it away in the middle of a convoluted Windows 10 info page.

As to the resolution of the problem, Microsoft comments: “No action is required on your part. The update installation may take longer and may require more than one restart, but will install successfully after all intermediate installation steps have completed.

“We are working on improving this update experience to ensure the Update history correctly reflects the installation of the latest cumulative update (LCU).”

In other words, a fix should be in the pipeline to ensure that Windows Update history simply reports this cumulative update as a single entity which has been installed.

We mentioned at the outset of this story that this is an important update, and that’s because it patches against what Microsoft describes as a “new subclass of speculative execution side-channel vulnerabilities” (like Meltdown and Spectre), and it also enables ‘Retooling’ by default.

The latter is a fix designed to improve performance of Spectre variant 2 mitigations, meaning that your PC (hopefully) won’t be slowed down as much by said mitigations. So there are both important security and potential performance boosts in this cumulative update.




READ MORE:

Friday, May 3, 2019

5/03/2019 08:04:00 PM

Windows 10’s Your Phone app gets even better with a number of handy new features

You also get the ability to right-click an image and save it straight to your PC


Microsoft has been busy adding more features to the Your Phone app, which hooks up your Android handset with your Windows 10 PC.

First off, a new option has been added when you right-click on photos in the app, namely the ability to save the image directly to your PC, a far more convenient method than, say, copying and pasting the picture across (the other existing right-click options are to copy, and to share the image).

This feature has been added to the release version of Your Phone, and another fresh piece of functionality has been introduced as well, although in this case, it’s only for testers.

And that is the addition of contact photos to the app, meaning that for those contacts on your phone who have an image associated with their profile, that photo will appear within Your Phone alongside their name.


  • These are the best photo editors for Android
  • Buy Windows 10: the cheapest prices in May 2019
  • Everything you need to know about how to use Windows 10


As mentioned, this is only available to Windows Insiders testing the app right now, and it began rolling out to these folks earlier this week. Hopefully, it won’t be long before it progresses to the full version of Your Phone, though.

Notifications across the nation

As we saw recently, Your Phone users also got the ability to see their phone’s notifications appear on the PC, a feature currently undergoing a staged rollout to those testing the app. And that followed the introduction of screen mirroring in testing, too.

Microsoft has certainly been working hard on Your Phone of late, and it’s slowly being built up from a pretty barebones affair to become something that will be of real value for those who have an Android phone and Windows 10 PC.

Microsoft is actively looking for suggestions and feedback from those interested in further honing the application.