Tech: Windows 10-what's happening - updates

Subject: RE: Tech: Windows 10-what's happening - updates
From: MaJoC the Filk
Date: 15 Feb 24 - 01:05 PM

> The company claims that it doesn't even need antivirus
> software!

This sort of nonsense is trotted out every time something viewed as sufficiently new comes along, and the scum malware writers haven't had it in their hands for long enough to break into it. Wait a wee while, and there'll be a botnet based exclusively on ChromeOS Flex systems. This actually happened with MacOS: *that* botnet was found to include several hundred Macs inside Apple's HQ. Yet people at work *still* persisted in believing the urban myth that "Apple kit doesn't get malware" .... after all, they (or their grant sponsors) had paid Serious Money for it.

New types of systems don't get the *same* infections as existing ones, but new ones, tailored to the quirks and bugs in the newness. There's two sorts of computer users: those who think they can't possibly get hit, and those who've found they already have.

Subject: RE: Tech: Windows 10-what's happening - updates
From: DaveRo
Date: 15 Feb 24 - 12:38 PM

Our Thinkpad L430 keeps keeps reminding me that it won't run Windows 11. So could I run ChromeOs Flex?

Yes! It's been Certified by Google!

And it will be supported by Google until ..... 2025.
Isn't that when Windows 10 support ends?

Subject: RE: Tech: Windows 10-what's happening - updates
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 15 Feb 24 - 11:31 AM

Here's a response from Google to the pending end (2025) of Windows 10:

Worried about the impending demise of Windows 10? Google wants you to give ChromeOS Flex a try
Hello, Mr. Frying Pan, meet Mr. Fire

Google has weighed in on the controversy surrounding Microsoft's plans to render millions of Windows 10 PCs obsolete in 2025 by urging users to pop on a copy of ChromeOS Flex instead.

Trumpeting the "11 Ways You Win with ChromeOS Flex" (we see what you did there), Naveen Viswanatha, head of product for ChromeOS, laid out how ChromeOS is an excellent option for Windows 10 users faced with a choice of either throwing away their devices, opting for an unsupported future, or giving Microsoft extra cash to keep the patch taps turned on for longer.

Viswanatha was quick to point out that hundreds of millions of Windows 10 devices are destined for landfills if Microsoft has its way. Indeed, pressure groups have urged Microsoft to rethink its plans but, so far, to no avail. October 2025 is when the free support ends.

Google's take is that, rather than junk that old hardware, users could load ChromeOS Flex on it. ChromeOS Flex is a ChromeOS distribution that can be installed on conventional hardware. We tried it in 2022, and... it did not go well.

In Google's world, ChromeOS Flex is "built with security as a first principle, not an afterthought." The company claims that it doesn't even need antivirus software!

Read the rest at the link. There are lots of hotlinks in the text to supporting articles.

Subject: RE: Tech: Windows 10-what's happening with rollout
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 27 Aug 23 - 11:20 AM

I have cleaned stray files from my desktop and am considering updating to Win11. But it's so much work to put files back into place and install all of my software. I have external drives for different types of files and one for a backup, and have in the past disconnected those before an OS upgrade to keep the computer from accidentally wiping the data. Reattaching them isn't always easy.

How have any of you managed this upgrade with external drives? Also - Microsoft has "Libraries" for file management and by pointing my Libraries to different drives mine always seem to end up with a couple of empty library links in the "Quick Access" area or "This PC" list.

Subject: RE: Tech: Windows 10-what's happening - updates
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 28 Aug 23 - 04:00 PM

Well I have updated to 11 some time ago with no apparent ill effects. I suppose that if you are worried about external drives it might be best to disconnect them while upgrading. There is not a lot of obvious (to me) difference between WIN 10 and WIN11

Subject: RE: Tech: Windows 10-what's happening - updates
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 28 Aug 23 - 11:55 PM

1000 days - left me in a serious, deep, tech hole.

Six weeks ago ... I was "given a mission."

In-put, our-put, hardware, OS, memory had ALL changed.

Lock-downs did a serious number on my mind ... I had no clue.

Sincerly,
Gargoyle

How I long for DOS 3.0

Subject: RE: Tech: Windows 10-what's happening - updates
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 28 Aug 23 - 11:55 PM

1000 days - left me in a serious, deep, tech hole.

Six weeks ago ... I was "given a mission."

In-put, our-put, hardware, OS, memory had ALL changed.

Lock-downs did a serious number on my mind ... I had no clue.

Sincerly,
Gargoyle

How I long for DOS 3.0

Subject: RE: Tech: Windows 10-what's happening - updates
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 28 Aug 23 - 04:00 PM

Well I have updated to 11 some time ago with no apparent ill effects. I suppose that if you are worried about external drives it might be best to disconnect them while upgrading. There is not a lot of obvious (to me) difference between WIN 10 and WIN11

Subject: RE: Tech: Windows 10-what's happening - updates
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 28 Aug 23 - 11:47 AM

Windows 10 Home and Pro

Windows 10 Home and Pro follows the Modern Lifecycle Policy.

This applies to the following editions: Home, Pro, Pro Education, Pro for Workstations

Important

Windows 10 will reach end of support on October 14, 2025. The current version, 22H2, will be the final version of Windows 10, and all editions will remain in support with monthly security update releases through that date. Existing LTSC releases will continue to receive updates beyond that date based on their specific lifecycles.

Subject: RE: Tech: Windows 10-what's happening with rollout
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 27 Aug 23 - 11:20 AM

I have cleaned stray files from my desktop and am considering updating to Win11. But it's so much work to put files back into place and install all of my software. I have external drives for different types of files and one for a backup, and have in the past disconnected those before an OS upgrade to keep the computer from accidentally wiping the data. Reattaching them isn't always easy.

How have any of you managed this upgrade with external drives? Also - Microsoft has "Libraries" for file management and by pointing my Libraries to different drives mine always seem to end up with a couple of empty library links in the "Quick Access" area or "This PC" list.

Subject: RE: Tech: Windows 10-what's happening with rollout
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 06 Jul 21 - 08:52 AM

Have any Lenovo or other PC owners had this message - "error1962 no operating system found, boot sequence will automatically repeat" ?

Subject: RE: Tech: Windows 10-what's happening with rollout
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 06 Jul 21 - 08:45 AM

And what's happening with the Windows 11 rollout and do we want it?

Subject: RE: Tech: Windows 10-what's happening with rollout
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 05 Jul 21 - 10:33 PM

Some topical adjacent Microsoft vs Amazon cloud storage stuff, for those whose curiosity extends this far: AWS vs Azure: Your Guide to Choosing the Best Cloud Provider in 2021

Subject: RE: Tech: Windows 10-what's happening with rollout
From: Nick
Date: 25 May 21 - 08:59 AM

I haven't used IE for years.

And don't have any need for Pro.

The fun people have.

I'm quite enjoying running Big Sur Mac on my Windows 10 Home machine as I was interesting in trying Logic Pro (and yes it works). It does enough for me.

Subject: RE: Tech: Windows 10-what's happening with rollout
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 25 May 21 - 08:38 AM

Windows 7 Enterprise enables upgrade to Windows 10 pro, in fact it took just 90 minutes to complete download/installations on a new SSD!

Subject: RE: Tech: Windows 10-what's happening with rollout
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 24 May 21 - 09:46 AM

A 12 min video from 2019..

.. probably still as relevant...


Why Did I Upgrade To Windows 10????

Subject: RE: Tech: Windows 10-what's happening with rollout
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 21 May 21 - 03:23 PM

And I always advise people to upgrade from the "home" version of any operating system to the pro version. It looks like there is an opportunity now to do that free:

How to upgrade from Windows 10 Home to Pro for free

You've got a new PC running Windows 10 Home. You want to upgrade to Windows 10 Pro. Here's how to get that upgrade for free. All you need is a Pro/Ultimate product key from an older version of Windows.

If you purchase a new PC with Windows 10 Home preinstalled, prepare to be annoyed. This down-market edition (maybe we should just call it Windows for Cheapskates) doesn't have the features you need for getting real work done: Remote Desktop server access, BitLocker disk encryption, group policy support, and control over when updates get installed, just for starters.

You could pay $99 for an upgrade, but before you reach for your wallet, consider a less expensive option.

Do you have an old product key from Windows 7 Pro, Windows 7 Ultimate, or Windows 8/8.1 Pro lying around? Those keys can be reused to enable an upgrade from Windows 10 Home to Windows 10 Pro, potentially saving you the upgrade fee. In fact, you can use a product key from any of these older Windows versions to perform a clean install or to upgrade to Pro.

It's worth rummaging through your garage, storeroom, or email archives to see if you can locate one of those old keys. Maybe you still have a key for one of the heavily discounted upgrades to Windows 8 Pro that Microsoft offered in the first few months after that product's ill-fated launch in 2012.

Or perhaps you have a shrink-wrapped retail copy of Windows 7 Professional or Ultimate, where the license associated with the product key is no longer in use.

Best of all, you only need to use the older product key one time. After you complete the upgrade from Windows 10 Home, the Windows 10 Pro digital license is attached to the specific hardware you just upgraded, allowing you to reinstall that edition of Windows on that hardware anytime, without the need for a product key.

This scenario worked during the early Windows 10 upgrade program, and after some testing and multiple reports from independent testers worldwide I can confirm that it still succeeds in 2021, more than five years later.

Microsoft first made this option available in Windows 10 version 1511. Since then, they have simplified the process dramatically.

I've been testing upgrade/activation scenarios on a wide variety of hardware over the years to see how things work. Here's the scoop.

UPGRADING A NEW PC FROM HOME TO PRO
Let's say you buy a new PC with Windows 10 Home installed by the OEM. Some vendors offer an upgrade option as part of the purchase, but many PCs sold in the retail channel are preloaded with Home edition.

This could also be the case if you took advantage of the free Windows 10 upgrade offer on a PC running a Home edition of Windows 7 or Windows 8.x.

In either case, the upgrade takes just a few minutes. Start at Settings > Update & Security > Activation, where you should see a screen that looks something like this:

Activation image with the cutline "The Pro upgrade accepts product keys from older business (Pro/Ultimate) versions of Windows."

If you don't have a Pro product key and you want to buy one, you can click Go To The Store and purchase the upgrade for $100. Easy.

But if you have a product key for Windows 10 Pro, Windows 7 Professional or Ultimate, or Windows 8/8.1 Pro, there's a less expensive option: Click the Change Product Key link and enter that 25-character key here.

Second activation illustration with the cutline "Enter a product key here and then follow the prompts."

After entering the product key, follow the prompts to perform the upgrade.

You'll see a succession of progress screens and your system will restart. After the upgrade completes, you should see a Success notification. Check the Activation screen again to confirm that you're now running Windows 10 Pro.

CLEAN REINSTALL
After you've successfully performed a Home-to-Pro upgrade, you can file that product key away. Your upgrade is now a digital license, attached to your unique hardware. If you perform a reinstallation of Windows, Microsoft's activation servers will recognize the hardware and activate Windows 10 automatically.

I have tested this scenario multiple times on hardware that originally shipped with Windows Home and was upgraded to Windows 10 Pro. After the upgrade was complete, I used a bootable USB flash drive containing Windows 10 setup files to reinstall a clean copy of Windows 10 Pro, skipping the option to enter a product key as part of setup, as shown below. When prompted, be sure to choose Windows 10 Pro as the edition to install.

Third illustration for activation with the cutline "If your PC already has a Pro license, don't enter a product key when reinstalling."

When setup was complete, I signed in and checked the activation status (Settings > Update & Security > Activation). The system was properly activated, because Microsoft's servers recognized the hardware and used the digital license.

CLEAN REINSTALL, WITH EDITION UPGRADE
The one gotcha in this series of scenarios comes when you have a system that includes digital licenses for both Windows 10 Home and Windows 10 Pro. In that scenario, you can inadvertently restore Windows 10 Home.

This happened recently when I used a recovery image to reinstall Windows 10 on a Surface Pro PC that had originally shipped with Windows 10 Home and had been upgraded to Windows 10 Pro. Not surprisingly, using the recovery image gave me an installation of Windows 10 Home.

If that happens to you, don't bother searching for the product key you used to upgrade. Instead, use Microsoft's generic product key to force the upgrade.

Go to Settings > Update & Security > Activation and click Change Product Key. Next, enter the default Windows 10 Pro product key:

VK7JG-NPHTM-C97JM-9MPGT-3V66T

Follow the prompts to upgrade from Home to Pro. Because your hardware already has a digital license for the Pro edition, it will activate automatically.

That generic product key isn't magical, of course. If your hardware doesn't already have a Pro license, you'll get an activation error and you'll need to supply a proper product key or pay for an upgrade.

Any questions?

I don't usually enter the entire text, but this one seems like something people will want to try in the future and the link might not be durable.

Subject: RE: Tech: Windows 10-what's happening with rollout
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 21 May 21 - 03:17 PM

Here's one I've been expecting for a while; since Microsoft has a robust version (and a Beta version) of MS Edge, they're finally killing of most of the support for Internet Explorer.

Microsoft is dropping support for IE on many versions of Windows 10 on June 15, 2022

Microsoft is taking another big step toward getting rid of Internet Explorer next year, but not every Windows variant still will be IE-free by 2022.

We've known seemingly forever that Microsoft someday intended to get rid of Internet Explorer. But it wasn't until today, May 19, that we got an actual date. IE will be removed from many, but not all, versions of Windows 10 on June 15, 2022.

The June 15, 2022 date for retirement of the IE11 desktop application is for most versions of Windows 10, but not all. The retirement does not affect "in-market" Windows 10 Long Term Servicing Channel (LTSC) or Server Internet Explorer 11 desktop apps, Microsoft officials said. It also doesn't affect the MSHTML ("Trident") rendering engine.

The replacement for IE on Windows 10, obviously, is the new Microsoft Chromium-based Edge. Edge has Internet Explorer (IE) Mode, designed to provide compatibility for legacy IE-based sites and apps.

Here's the fine print as to which versions of Windows are affected by this announcement: IE 11 will be retired for Windows 10 client SKUs (version 20H2 and later) and Windows 10 IoT (version 20H2 and later). Products not affected by this retirement include IE Mode in Edge; IE 11 desktop on Windows 8.1, Windows 7 (with Extended Security Updates), Windows 10 Server Semi-Annual Channel (all versions), Windows 10 IoT LTSC (all versions; Windows 10 Server LTSC (all versions) and Windows 10 client LTSC (all versions).

Microsoft's Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page on this says IE Mode will be supported on Windows Client, Server and IoT releases through at least 2029. Microsoft will give one year of notice before retiring the IE Mode experience, officials said.

Last year, Microsoft provided some guidance, but no definitive date, for IE11's retirement. At that time, officials said that after November 30, 2020, Microsoft Teams would no longer support IE11. And August 17, 2021, is the date when Microsoft 365, all up, no longer will support IE11.

After March 9, 2021, Microsoft no longer provided any security updates for the legacy Edge desktop app, officials said. They are calling this the "end of life" date for legacy Edge.

There are a number of linked passages in that text that I'm not adding here, so visit the link for more information.

I use Edge for a couple of dedicated tasks - when the main version opens it has about eight tabs to do with some work that I perform every day and gives me all of the sites I work on in relation to that. And I use the Beta version for a few personal things (no extra tabs, but the site keeps a list of regularly used sites I visit for quick access.)

Subject: RE: Tech: Windows 10-what's happening with rollout
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 19 Mar 21 - 04:27 PM

I deleted the unknown device then let Dell's diagnostic software look at the machine for missing software and updated the driver for this WiFi/Bluetooth card. Now the Windows Update has happened again and this time the Bluetooth appears to be okay.

It took a few days to realize that something was wrong as far as the computer, not just a case of defunct headphones, plus 24 hours of fussing with the computer to fix it. No dust disturbed in the process, several restarts and aside from a couple of hours lost in that one system restore, it's a good outcome.

Subject: RE: Tech: Windows 10-what's happening with rollout
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 19 Mar 21 - 12:34 PM

You're on the right path, Dave. There is now an "unknown device" in the device list, and I'm finding chatter at Dell about this. Before I reset BIOS to factory or open the case and remove the coin battery or do a selective system restore (I did that last night and it took a couple of hours, and didn't work) I've found this info at Dell:

Removing the Unknown USB Device and installing the latest version of bluetooth drivers helps resolve the issue.

Shutdown system. Unplug AC power cord and then press power button for 10 second.
Power on system and go to Device Manager.
In Device Manager window, check if bluetooth adapter is detected and installed correctly.
If the Qualcomm QCA61x4A has a yellow exclamation, scroll down, right-click Unknown USB Device (Device Descriptor Request Failed) and select Uninstall.
Browse to the Dell Drivers & downloads page:
Dell XPS 8930
Dell Alienware Aurora R8
Dell Alienware Aurora R9
Dell Alienware Aurora Ryzen Edition R10
Dell Alienware Aurora R11
Select the Operating System.
Under Category, select Network.
Locate the latest Qualcomm QCA61x4A/QCA9377 Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Driver.
Click Download and save the file to your computer.
Open File Explorer and browse to the location where the downloaded file is saved.
Double-click the Qualcomm QCA61x4A/QCA9377 Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Driver setup file and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation process.
Shutdown system. Unplug AC power cord and then press power button for 10 second. The power on system.

This is the least painful (versus moving stuff off my desk, moving my desk, opening the now dusty cover, etc.) to try first. The trick to using this method is that while I printed a copy to refer to while the computer is off, I also printed to PDF that I saved on my desktop so I can use the links as they appear in the article to find the exact drivers they point to.

The answer seems to be that somehow Windows knocked out the Bluetooth, this happened after last week's update, but I don't know what it did or how widespread (is this across different computer companies, or just at Dell?)

Subject: RE: Tech: Windows 10-what's happening with rollout
From: DaveRo
Date: 19 Mar 21 - 03:40 AM

Is it built-in or USB? Either way I'd probably look in the device manager to see if it can see the BT adapter, and if so reinstall its driver, preferably from the manufacturer's website - if you can find one. If it's up to date try an older one. It doesn't always work though; since I had to reinstall Win10 on my wife's laptop I can't get the trackpoint to work even with Lenovo's own drivers.

If it can't see the BT device at all it could be that it's been 'killed'. It's usually only laptops that have killswitches - often a function key that switches off all 'radios' - wifi and bluetooth, or either of them. (This is another thing that doesn't work on the Lenovo.) So when you've exhausted drivers investigate that. (Google 'rfkill windows' or similar.)

Subject: RE: Tech: Windows 10-what's happening with rollout
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 19 Mar 21 - 12:25 AM

I'm not sure if the update killed my Bluetooth, but a system restore didn't restore it. Now to figure out where the device lives and see about replacing it. Getting under the hood is something I'm willing to do, rather than take a computer to a shop and let someone else slog around in there.

Subject: RE: Tech: Windows 10-what's happening with rollout
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 18 Mar 21 - 08:23 PM

I've tried all of those approaches to pull up the icon to turn it on. It keeps telling me to turn it on but gives me no way to do it. I'm now running an update from Dell and after it restarts I'll see if it has been restored.

Subject: RE: Tech: Windows 10-what's happening with rollout
From: Joe Offer
Date: 18 Mar 21 - 07:51 PM

SRS, do you get anything if you type bluetooth in the search box on the bar at the bottom left corner of your screen?

Subject: RE: Tech: Windows 10-what's happening with rollout
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 18 Mar 21 - 07:44 PM

There was a big update a few days ago and it killed off my Bluetooth icon. I can't connect my headphones or any other devices because the icon is gone, not there to be turned on or off. None of the tips so far have given me a clue as to how to restore the icon. Any ideas?

Subject: RE: Tech: Windows 10-what's happening with rollout
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 19 Jan 21 - 05:13 PM

From Gizmodo: This New Windows 10 Bug Could Brick Your PC.

Don’t do it. Most people aren’t going to experiment with navigating to root Windows 10 folders, but just in case anyone might be digging around in the software guts of their PC, it’s best to stay away from inputting this file path into your browser: “xxxxxxxxxxxx\device\condrv\kernelconnect”. [I'm not inserting the code in this thread.] It will not only instantly crash your PC, but also give you the dreaded blue screen of death (BSOD), from which your PC might not be able to recover. Do not do it!

According to Tom’s Guide, the bug was recently discovered by Windows security researcher Jonas Lykkegaard, who’s been tweeting about the issue on-and-off since October 2020. Lykkegaard explained that when the above path is opened in Windows 10, regardless of if the user has administrative privileges or not, the system can’t properly check for errors when it tries to connect to the path, resulting in a BSOD crash.

Aside from developers, there isn’t much of a reason why an average Windows 10 user would want to dig around in the root folders, especially at the kernel level; the Windows kernel is a crucial program that allows the operating system to function, controlling everyday processes like running drivers, and starting and ending programs. . . .While Gizmodo hasn’t tested the link ourselves (out of an abundance of caution that it might kill one of our few test PCs), both Tom’s Guide and BleepingComputer have sacrificed a PC for the cause. The PC that Tom’s Guide used became stuck in an Automatic Repair boot loop. BleepingComputer didn’t say if its PC made it out alive, but it confirmed this bug is present on Windows 10 version 1709 and later.

The rest is at the link.

I've used both Tom's Guide and Bleeping Computer when solving computing and software issues. Bleeping Computer in particular has a lot of answers, but search before you ask a question.

Subject: RE: Tech: Windows 10-what's happening with rollout
From: Joe G
Date: 25 Oct 20 - 12:16 PM

I read somewhere that it may delete Program Files and Program data which is even more worrying! I don't know if this is a common problem but I'm not updating until I can be sure it has been ironed out! I haven't downloaded the earlier release yet either - my PC hasn't pushed it on me so I'll leave well alone!

Subject: RE: Tech: Windows 10-what's happening with rollout
From: GUEST,CJB666
Date: 25 Oct 20 - 08:34 AM

Don't use Edge. Does this update delete user files too - like last year?

Subject: RE: Tech: Windows 10-what's happening with rollout
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 23 Oct 20 - 02:17 PM

Windows 10: Best 3 new features, and how to use them

The Windows 10 October 2020 Update brings some new tricks for your browser, Start menu and more.

The Windows 10 ($145 at Amazon) October 2020 Update has finally arrived, and will be slowly rolling out to desktops, laptops and two-in-ones over the coming weeks. Once you've updated, you'll find a few important new features that will help you get the most out of your device. (Learn how to download the Windows 10 October 2020 Update here. If you still haven't upgraded from Windows 7 ($25 at Amazon), you may be able to use this trick to download Windows 10 free, too).

Upgrading as soon as the update is available to you will make your computing life easier and more secure. And at this point, as many of us are spending more time at home on our computers for work or play, every little thing that can make your experience better is a win in our book.

Here are three of the best new features in the Windows 10 October 2020 Update (also known as version 20H2), and how to use them.

1. Microsoft Edge browser brings privacy improvements

Windows 10 Version 20H2 is the first to come with the revamped Microsoft Edge browser installed by default. The browser is now built on Chromium, Google's open-source foundation for the Chrome browser, which makes it compatible with more websites than the old version was.

There are other benefits, too. The new Edge browser includes a privacy feature that tries to block sites that track you online -- similar to Mozilla's Firefox browser. And a feature called Collections lets you more easily gather information from different websites as you're doing research.

How to use the new Edge browser privacy settings: You'll use the new Edge browser in largely the same way you would any other browser. Navigate to the logo on your Taskbar or from the Start menu -- it appears as a circular crashing wave tinting blue, green and aqua, similar to the old blue Internet Explorer "e" icon.

To set up your privacy features, go to Settings > Privacy and services. You'll see three options for tracking prevention: basic (allows most trackers), balanced (blocks trackers from sites you haven't visited -- Microsoft recommends this one) and Strict (blocks a majority of trackers from all sites).

To check your privacy settings on the fly, when you're using the browser, click the lock icon to the left of the search bar. A box will appear letting you know if your connection is secure, with options to check the site certificate, cookies in use, and site permissions. You can also toggle on or off Tracking Prevention, and manage the setting for all sites you visit. If it's set to on, you'll see the number of trackers that the browser has blocked.

How to use the Edge browser Collections feature: Once you've navigated to a page you'd like to save, click the icon that looks like a "+" in a box, to the right of the search bar. This will open the Collections panel to the right of your screen. Click Start new collection, and rename it to whatever you'd like. You can click Add current page to save the webpage you're on. You can also click and drag an image from the page into the collection, as well as select and drag text, and add your own notes too. To export your collection to Word or Excel, click the three-dot share and more icon at the top of the collection.

2. Customize your new Start menu

The classic Windows Start menu gets a refresh in the October 2020 Update. The new version features a more streamlined design, and replaces the solid color backplates behind the logos in your apps list with partially transparent backgrounds, so the icons stand out more. The colors will also change depending on if you're running light or dark mode.

How to customize the new Start menu: If you want to add an accent color so your tiles match your desktop theme, you can go to Settings > Personalization > Color and enable the accent color on Start, taskbar and action center.

3. Open all of your tabs at once

With the update, you'll be able to open all of your tabs in Edge with a simple command, instead of just the active one in each browser window. This makes it easier to get a full view of every window you have open, instead of just one. You'll also be able to configure it to show only your last three or five tabs, or turn it off completely. However, it only works with the Edge browser, at least for now.

How to customize your tabs: To open all tabs in Edge at once, press Alt + Tab. To configure your tab settings or turn off the feature, go to Settings > System > Multitasking. You'll see a drop down menu with options for what Alt + Tab can do.

Want more? Check out our roundup of the best Windows 10 tips and tricks, and six simple security changes all Windows 10 users need to make.

Subject: RE: Tech: Windows 10-what's happening with rollout
From: DaveRo
Date: 21 Oct 20 - 03:33 AM

EBarnacle wrote: The really interesting thing about the new rollout is that it, and future updates, is supposed to be largely Linux based.

I was wondering whether that was where Windows was going up thread.

Last month Eric Raymond (an open source 'guru' - he wrote The Cathedral and the Bazaar) claimed in a widely-shared piece that Microsoft was "Switching To a Linux Kernel That Emulates Windows". I didn't see any articles that refuted that. Until the other day, when a Ubuntu guy disagreed. (But if not, why 'WSL'?)

Whichever - Windows seems to be moving to a Linux-style package manager with the release of 'winget', which is rip-off of the aptget package manager used in several Linux systems. So maybe restarting during system updates will one day become a bad memory for Windows users.

Subject: RE: Tech: Windows 10-what's happening with rollout
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 20 Oct 20 - 03:41 PM

NSA publishes list of top vulnerabilities currently targeted by Chinese hackers

NSA urges US public and private sector to apply patches or mitigations to prevent attacks.

The US National Security Agency has published today an in-depth report detailing the top 25 vulnerabilities that are currently being consistently scanned, targeted, and exploited by Chinese state-sponsored hacking groups.

All 25 security bugs are well known and have patches available from their vendors, ready to be installed.

Exploits for many vulnerabilities are also publicly available. Some have been exploited by more than just Chinese hackers, being also incorporated into the arsenal of ransomware gangs, low-level malware groups, and nation-state actors from other countries (i.e., Russia and Iran).

"Most of the vulnerabilities listed below can be exploited to gain initial access to victim networks using products that are directly accessible from the Internet and act as gateways to internal networks," the NSA said today.

And on a completely different note,

Ransomware gang donates part of ransom demands to charity organizations

The Darkside ransomware gang has donated $10K it received as part of ransom demands to Children International and The Water Project.

Robin Hood?

Subject: RE: Tech: Windows 10-what's happening with rollout
From: EBarnacle
Date: 23 Sep 20 - 02:00 PM

The really interesting thing about the new rollout is that it, and future updates, is supposed to be largely Linux based.

Subject: RE: Tech: Windows 10-what's happening with rollout
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 23 Sep 20 - 01:24 PM

I'll possible give that a miss for a few months!!

Subject: RE: Tech: Windows 10-what's happening with rollout
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 23 Sep 20 - 12:10 PM

It looks like there's another big update rollout in October, 2020.

This ZD Net page has links to a bunch of related topics.

This is the heading and subhead on the page:

Windows 10 20H2: New build brings this bunch of bug fixes for October 2020 Update

Microsoft releases a preview of Windows 10 20H2 that resolves a lot of issues for Windows 10 in the enterprise.

Sometimes they release versions for specific types of devices (servers versus personal computers, enterprise versus home use, etc.) so see if there's anything useful here for anyone interested.

Subject: RE: Tech: Windows 10-what's happening with rollout
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 30 Aug 20 - 05:37 PM

Guest at 05:34 pm was me, I forgot our old laptop was not logged in!

Subject: RE: Tech: Windows 10-what's happening with rollout
From: GUEST
Date: 30 Aug 20 - 05:34 PM

Found the solution to uninstalling Edge Chromium browser -

How to uninstall edge chromium when windows won't let you

Subject: RE: Tech: Windows 10-what's happening with rollout
From: Jos
Date: 13 Aug 20 - 07:58 AM

I have just been told of someone who found all their photographs had been deleted by a bug in the recent Windows 10 update. Has anyone else found this?

Subject: RE: Tech: Windows 10-what's happening with rollout
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 11 Aug 20 - 07:35 PM

I have 2004 but did the fix to retain Edge Legacy. Now here's a queer thing, I cloned my hard drive to an SSD using SATA to USB converter, which booted up OK but my external hard drives are not showing up in file explorer. However, after reconnecting my old hard drive everything is fine. So I did the clone again but this time with the SSD connected via SATA - will see tomorrow!!

Subject: RE: Tech: Windows 10-what's happening with rollout
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 11 Aug 20 - 06:50 PM

I've notice a slowdown also.

Subject: RE: Tech: Windows 10-what's happening with rollout
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 11 Aug 20 - 06:22 PM

Whatever they did a few days ago, it has slowed my Windows 10 right down! Other friends have said the same. One of them mentioned update no 2004 and managed to roll it back. Anyone else had similar problems? (UK- based.)

Subject: RE: Tech: Windows 10-what's happening with rollout
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 11 Aug 20 - 05:53 PM

I'm just cloning my hard drive to ssd, I'll have no interference from damned updates!!!

Subject: RE: Tech: Windows 10-what's happening with rollout
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 11 Aug 20 - 04:51 PM

Heads up! It's Patch Tuesday, and apparently there are a whole bunch of updates.

Microsoft August 2020 Patch Tuesday fixes 120 vulnerabilities, two zero-days

Microsoft says attackers have used a Windows zero-day to spoof file signatures and another RCE in the Internet Explorer scripting engine to execute code on users' devices.

Microsoft has started rolling out today the August 2020 Patch Tuesday security updates.

This month, the company has patched 120 vulnerabilities across 13 different products, from Edge to Windows, and from SQL Server to the .NET Framework.

Among the 120 vulnerabilities fixed this month, 17 bugs have received the highest severity rating of "Critical," and there are also two zero-days — vulnerabilities that have been exploited by hackers before Microsoft was able to provide today's patches.

Zero-day #1
The first of the two zero-days patched this month is a bug in the Windows operating system. Tracked as CVE-2020-1464, Microsoft says that an attacker can exploit this bug and have Windows incorrectly validate file signatures.

The OS maker says attackers can (ab)use this bug to "bypass security features and load improperly signed files."

As with all Microsoft security advisories, technical details about the bug and the real-world attacks have not been made public. Microsoft security team uses this approach to prevent other hackers from inferring how and where the vulnerability wors/resides, and prolong the time it takes for other exploits to appear in the wild.

Zero-day #2
As for the second zero-day, this one is tracked as CVE-2020-1380, and resides in the scripting engine that ships with Internet Explorer.

Microsoft said it received a report from antivirus maker Kaspersky that hackers had found a remote code execution (RCE) bug in the IE scripting engine and where abusing it in real-world attacks.

While the bug resides in the IE scripting engine, other native Microsoft apps are also impacted, such as the company's Office suite.

This is because Office apps use the IE scripting engine to embed and render web pages inside Office documents, a feature where the scripting engine plays a major role.

This means the bug can be exploited by luring users on malicious sites, or by sending them booby-trapped Office files.

The rest is at the link, and will be updated with more information when they get it.

Subject: RE: Tech: Windows 10-what's happening with rollout
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 08 Jul 20 - 04:39 PM

It's working for me.

Subject: RE: Tech: Windows 10-what's happening with rollout
From: DaveRo
Date: 08 Jul 20 - 03:18 AM

Careful: I think that article is old - from when you had to install Chromiun Edge yourself. One of the comments says it no longer works.

Subject: RE: Tech: Windows 10-what's happening with rollout
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 07 Jul 20 - 03:49 PM

Ah, best to do a system restore to before the recent update after first disabling WIndows Update, to stop it putting the latest update back!

Subject: RE: Tech: Windows 10-what's happening with rollout
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 07 Jul 20 - 03:46 PM

I was happily using Windows Edge (Legacy) until a Windows update last Saturday which left me with the hideous Edge Chromium, an abomination which cannot be deleted. Now I don't do cannot be deleted!!

Fortunately this link describes how to restore old Edge Legacy Browser

Subject: RE: Tech: Windows 10-what's happening with rollout
From: Nick
Date: 20 Jun 20 - 03:30 PM

You could vow never to finish a game and you would be ad free

Subject: RE: Tech: Windows 10-what's happening with rollout
From: EBarnacle
Date: 20 Jun 20 - 01:51 PM

Followup to June 19: Minesweeper now works almost as before the recent improvements. Now, it plays the same but as soon as you win, an ad page jumps up every time. This is differs from the other free games on line, where the ads only come up after several plays.

Subject: RE: Tech: Windows 10-what's happening with rollout
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 20 Jun 20 - 01:45 PM

There was something about that latest Windows update that is messing with programs that have to load and logon to accounts. My Quicken software seems to be dead in the water and Chrome is very slow to open or to offer results and open them. I don't know if this is tied to the reported story from ZDnet: Windows 10 2004 glitch: Microsoft admits bug breaks Storage Spaces, corrupts files

Subject: RE: Tech: Windows 10-what's happening with rollout
From: EBarnacle
Date: 19 Jun 20 - 10:47 AM

Yesterday I complained to the makers of Minesweeper that their add on the bottom of the screen was not removable and interfered with play. Apparently they had had other complaints, as they responded that they were correcting this and things would be back to normal in a few hours. Kinda nice when a corporation takes responsibility and follows up.