Month: February 2020

New Windows 10 Build Available as Version 2004 RTM Shouldn’t Be Far Away

A new Windows 10 build has become available for users enrolled in the Fast ring of the Windows Insider program because the software giant keeps polishing the next feature update for the OS.

Windows 10 build 19569 doesn’t bring any additional features, but only bug fixes and additional improvements in front of the RTM expected sometime the following month.

This new build is really a preview from the 20H1 update, or version 2004, which according to Microsoft’s typical release calendar, should reach RTM in March after which be pushed to production devices in April or May. People acquainted with the matter said the work on this update was finalized in December, and Microsoft has become only attempting to further polish it before the official launch.

No additional features, obviously

Today’s build introduces a series of fixes (which are embedded in the changelog below), including for errors experienced with virtual machines. Microsoft explains:

“We resolved an issue where SCSI drivers weren’t being recognized with certain third-party virtual machines, which was causing c1900191 errors on these units. We’re continuing to investigate additional c1900191 errors on other devices.”

This build also corrects some Start menu reliability issues, as well as OneDrive glitches that caused high CPU usage on some devices.

As far as the known issues are concerned, one of these affects the brand new Microsoft Edge browser and accessibility.

“We understand Narrator and NVDA users that seek the latest release of Microsoft Edge based on Chromium can experience some difficulty when navigating and reading certain web content. Narrator, NVDA and also the Edge teams know about these issues. Users of legacy Microsoft Edge won’t be affected. NVAccess has released a NVDA 2019.3 that resolves the known problem with Edge,” Microsoft says.

The brand new build can be downloaded at this time by users within the Fast ring from Windows Update.

It’s Not only Microsoft: Apple Also Using Ancient Icons in the Operating System

Microsoft originates under fire several times lately for using ancient icons in Windows 10, some of them even dating back to the Windows 98 era, however it looks like this isn’t something that just the Redmond-based software giant does in an operating system.

Apple, for instance, sticks with similar default user profile images in macOS as with the versions launched a lot of years ago, something obviously unexpected given the operating system in general continues to be improved substantially.

Netflix engineering manager Maria Kazandjieva signaled this issue on Twitter, emphasizing that despite using a 2020 device, she’s still “trapped in some absurd old-school realm of flowers, birds, a lipstick kiss, and sports.”

Refreshing an operating system

While you may use your own profile picture in macOS, Apple indeed hasn’t updated the default account image set in its operating system for some time. This is either intentional, possibly so that they can keep your macOS legacy alive, or unintentional, in which case Apple simply forgot that this a part of its operating system needs a modern refresh as well.

Certainly, this isn’t a vital issue of macOS, but on the other hand, it does show that overhauling a whole operating-system from one system to a different isn’t an easy thing to do.

Microsoft, for example, continues to be in the process of refreshing the look of Windows 10, despite the OS launching in 2015. Parts of the company’s Fluent Design, which was announced many years ago, are still being rolled out to devices gradually, because the focus on the facelift advances.

The icons are something which requires a lot of work, and much more recently, Microsoft started shipping a refreshed icon pack – however, not every icons are getting a contemporary overhaul, only part of them, with the rest prone to follow within the coming weeks and months.

New Intel Wireless Bluetooth Driver Is Up for Grabs – Get Version 21.70.0 Now

Intel has made available a new Wireless version compatible with several of its adapters, namely version 21.70.0, which adds general functional and security optimizations, and fixes a Windows stop error (BSOD) seen when resuming from hibernation.

Moreover, producer makes sure that the Bluetooth device won’t appear as Unknown USB Device in the Device Manager during ongoing file transfer via Bluetooth, and removes an insect that prevented the sound recording from working whenever a certain headset was connected via Bluetooth.

As for the available files, Intel has provided two executables for end-users (home users and business customers) running Windows 10 platforms, one for each 32- and 64-bit architectures, and 3 archives for advanced IT administrators running exactly the same Windows 10 platforms.

So far as installation goes, the process is very simple: just save the appropriate package ideal for your system configuration and bit variant, run it, and follow all instructions displayed for a complete and successful upgrade.

In addition to that, once the installation has finished, it might be a good idea to execute a reboot to be able to allow all changes to take effect properly. If this task isn’t requested automatically, make sure to carry it out manually.

Considering all aforementioned aspects, download Intel Wireless Bluetooth Driver 21.70.0, stick to the one that is valid for computer configuration, put it on, and also check our web site to bear in mind whenever a newer version can be obtained.

How to Clear Icon Cache and Fix Black Background in Windows 10

From time to time, the Windows icon cache may become corrupt or broken. In those situations, the icon will turn black or shows black background behind the icons. In that case, clear icon cache in Windows. Here’s how.

Generally, Windows dynamically builds the icon cache when needed. Once the icons are made, they’re kept in a cache database folder. Next time you visit the same folder, Windows can just show the icons from the cache. Showing icons from cache is a lot faster than dynamically generating theme.

However, there will be instances when Windows shows a black icon or black background behind the particular icon. This occurs because either the icon cache database is broken or corrupt. The good thing is, you are able to clear and rebuild icon cache with a few simple steps.

So, without further ado, allow me to show you how it’s done.

Clear Icon Cache and Rebuild It

Though we are using big words like database, all you need to do is delete several cache files and Windows will automatically rebuild the icon cache whenever needed.

However, there’s one catch. Since icon cache files are actively utilized by the File Explorer, we cannot delete them from the File Explorer. Rather, we have to use a couple of commands. It’s pretty easy. Just follow the steps as is and you’ll be good.

1. First, open the start menu, look for “Command Prompt” and choose the “Run as Administrator” option. You can also choose the same option by right-clicking on the Command Prompt result.

2. In the Command Prompt window, make use of the below command to visit the folder in which the icon cache files are stored.

cd %homepath%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer

Related: Wondering what’s the %homepath% within the above command? This is an environment variable. Here are some useful Windows environment variables.

3. Because the File Explorer is actively while using icon cache files, we first need to stop File Explorer. To achieve that, make use of the below command. Don’t worry when your screen goes blank. It’s totally normal.

taskkill /f /im explorer.exe

4. After stopping File Explorer, we are able to safely delete the icon cache files. Execute the below command to do so.

del iconcache*

The above command is only going to delete the icon cache files. Once deleted, you will not see any message as long as there is no error.

5. Finally, restart explorer while using below command.

explorer.exe

Overall

That is all. It is that simple to clear icon cache in Windows 10 or other versions of Windows. As mentioned before, you don’t have to manually rebuild the cache. Windows will dynamically generally the cache when you initially go to a folder.

How to Take away the Botched Windows 10 Update KB4524244

Microsoft has recently pulled Windows 10 security update KB4524244 after the company discovered that in some cases, not just that it does not install, it causes other issues by breaking down certain options that come with the operating-system, such as the Reset this PC option.

This security update was published last month 11 as part of this month’s Patch Tuesday rollout and was aimed at all Windows 10 versions released so far, including those no longer getting updates for Home and Pro SKUs.

The Windows 10 versions that received the KB4524244 update are the following:

Windows 10 version 1607 (Anniversary Update)
Windows 10 version 1703 (Creators Update)
Windows 10 version 1709 (Fall Creators Update)
Windows 10 version 1803 (May 2018 Update)
Windows 10 version 1809 (October 2018 Update)
Windows 10 version 1903 (May 2019 Update)
Windows 10 version 1909 (November 2019 Update)

Microsoft says you will find technically a number of different issues that you can experience after installing this update, as it follows:

Installation failure
Unnamed post-installation errors
Reset this PC option divided

However, Microsoft says it pulled the update to prevent these problems from hitting more devices. Systems in which the update already installed correctly and no issues are experienced whatsoever don’t need to take it off. On the other hand, if update KB4524244 was installed from Windows Update and you are now encountering these errors or other glitches, removing it’s the only way to correct the behavior.

“To help a sub-set of affected devices, this standalone security update continues to be removed and won’t re-offered from Windows Update, Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) or Microsoft Update Catalog. Note This does not affect any other update, including Latest Cumulative Update (LCU), Monthly Rollup or Security Only update,” Microsoft says.

Removing KB4524244 isn’t a difficult move to make if you’re able to boot towards the desktop – should you can’t, you’d better allow Windows to undo changes after which boot to the old desktop; because the update is no longer available for download from Windows Update, it shouldn’t be provided again.

So what you need to do on Windows 10 is adopt these measures to uninstall KB4524244:

Windows 10 > Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update > Update History > View your update history > Uninstall updates

Search for KB4524244 in the listing of installed updates and then remove it. A reboot from the system will be required to save your changes – again, because the update is no longer offered on Windows Update, it shouldn’t reattempt to set up, so no further modifications are required on your side and everything ought to be normal again.

Additionally, you can also uninstall the update from the command line. To get this done, click the Start menu, type cmd.exe > Right-click Command Prompt > Run as administrator after which within the app type the following command:

wusa /uninstall /kb:KB4524244 /quiet

A reboot may also be required after running the command in order to save the changes to the system.

While Microsoft says it would no more re-release the update after it corrects the problems, the organization claims that the patched version would go reside in the approaching weeks. Most likely, Microsoft will wait until the next Patch Tuesday rollout to solve the issues – in March, Patch Tuesday happens on the 10th, so we’re still some 3 weeks away from the moment a full patch would land.

“We are working with an improved form of this update in coordination with our partners and can release it in a future update,” Microsoft says.

Three Windows 10X Features We Need in Windows 10

Windows 10X isn’t only a practical system that’s designed to power a brand new category of devices, but also the platform accountable for introducing a series of changes towards the modern Windows experienced pioneered by Windows 10.

Given it’s supposed to be utilized on dual-screen and foldable PCs, Windows 10X comes with several notable changes that should eventually make their way to full Windows 10 as well. And judging from sources acquainted with the matter, this is something which Microsoft is definitely considering right now.

The beginning menu

As we know already, Windows 10X features a redesigned Start menu that’s with different significantly simplified approach versus the sibling that’s currently available on Windows 10.

To begin with, there are no live tiles, which makes sense given that the reason for the Start menu is first of all to let you launch apps. Live tiles only result in the UI more cluttered, and on a device such as the Surface Neo, you really don’t want this to occur.

The new Start menu in Windows 10X displays the pinned app icons in a super-clean way. You can launch the Start menu in the auto-hiding taskbar at the bottom of the screen – this behavior, however, shouldn’t be moved to Windows 10, because the current implementation from the taskbar, along with a Start button to launch the beginning menu, will work better on the PC going forward.

However, the beginning menu overall looks cleaner and serves its purpose better in Windows 10X. Previously, sources with understanding of the matter said Microsoft was considering transitioning this Start menu to full Windows 10, but a choice in this regard hasn’t been made.

The centered taskbar

Since it’s based on Windows 10, Windows 10X also includes its own taskbar that is displayed separately on each screen. Which means you can launch the Start menu separately on both screens, as this approach enables you to open newly discovered apps on each display and run them alongside.

The taskbar icons, however, are centered in Windows 10X, unlike in Windows 10 where they’re aligned left. This is really an element that users have been drooling after for a long time – in Windows 10, you can align taskbar icons to the core screen using an app called FalconX.

Microsoft, however, should at least offer such functionality as an option, allowing users to choose how they want the taskbar to appear like. Sure, centered icons on the taskbar would make it look a lot more like the dock in macOS, but after your day if users like it by doing this, there’s absolutely no problem if Microsoft causes it to be happen.

The experience center

I’ve never been an enormous fan of the present action center in Windows 10, despite using it regularly, and so i would rather possess a more simplified approach that just displays the quick actions without eating a lot space on screen.

Much like the one out of Windows 10X, that is, because this the first is cleaner and perfectly aligns with the rest from the OS anyway. The action center here displays simplified buttons in a light theme (a dark theme will also be offered, and also the action center will adapt to this visual style).

The amount controls, are much cleaner in Windows 10X and overall feel much more modern, that is absolutely mandatory on the device having a dual-screen or foldable form factor.

Of course, given Windows 10X is still in development right now, many of these should get further refinements by the time this OS makes its way to the first production device.

You will find 99 Vulnerabilities in Microsoft Software

The February 2019 Microsoft Patch Tuesday brings patches for a total of 99 vulnerabilities in products produced by the software giant, including for 12 security flaws rated as critical.

No less than 7 from the 12 critical vulnerabilities affect browsers and scripting engines, while 2 concern the Remote Desktop Client. Businesses are recommended to prioritize the deployment of those patches first.

One particular highlight this month is the scripting engine memory corruption vulnerability in Ie. Tracked as CVE-2020-0674, this security flaw is already being actively exploited within the wild, with Microsoft warning that a successful attack could provide a cybercriminal full control of a compromised host.

“In a web-based attack scenario, an attacker could host an exclusively crafted website that is designed to exploit the vulnerability through Ie after which convince a person to view the website,” Microsoft says.

“An attacker could also embed an ActiveX control marked “safe for initialization” in an application or Microsoft Office document that hosts the IE rendering engine. The attacker may also make the most of compromised websites and websites that accept or host user-provided content or advertisements. These websites could contain specially crafted content that could exploit the vulnerability.”

Windows RCE vulnerability

Internet Explorer 9, 10, and 11 are all affected on Windows 7, Windows 8.1, and Windows 10, and users are suggested to deploy the patch as soon as possible.

Windows can also be affected by a remote code execution flaw that will offer an attacker with elevated permissions with an unpatched device.

The vulnerability is flagged having a critical severity rating, and Microsoft says Windows 7, 8.1, and 10 are exposed to such attacks. This bug, however, isn’t actively exploited, and Microsoft says exploitation is not as likely in this instance.

Windows 10 devices are getting all updates released this Patch Tuesday included in the cumulative updates shipped through Windows Update.

Why Microsoft’s Ads in Windows 10 Totally Make Sense

The debut of Microsoft’s new Edge browser for Windows 10 and macOS also represented a reboot of the software giant’s rather controversial campaign which brings what many describe as ads to the Windows desktop.

Back when Windows 10 was still being in the early days, Microsoft considered such tactics to advertise Edge browser, and sometimes banners, suggestions, and popups turned up whenever users tried to use a different browser or set a brand new default one on their own devices.

Since Microsoft includes a new browser, the organization obviously directs all its efforts towards convincing everyone allow it a try, which push features a similar approach that a lot of obviously hate.

Basically, Microsoft has turned to two different “suggestions” to help you give a attempt to Microsoft Edge.

First, it’s the content that turns up in the Start menu and which seems to be specifically targeted at Firefox users. “Still using Firefox? Microsoft Edge is here,” this so-called app suggestion displayed in the Start menu reads.

Then, it’s a banner within the search UI which seems to be triggered with a look for Internet Explorer. “The new Microsoft Edge is here. Same name, completely new browser,” the banner reads.

It’s understandable that lots of criticized Microsoft with this aggressive approach, and quite a lot of people claim the software giant shouldn’t be allowed to display ads within an operating-system that you simply already paid for.

While I’m not going to discuss the tos, the Windows like a Service concept, along with other details that essentially give Microsoft the right to do that, there’s another thing serving as living proof these ads aren’t necessarily a bad thing.

First and foremost, the beginning menu suggestion. As numerous have already emphasized, it is simple to block app recommendations in the Start menu, so if you’re bothered by this message, it doesn’t take lots of seconds to block it (and others) from showing up again. Microsoft has added a passionate option in this regard under Settings > Personalization > Start.

Maybe the wording from the message isn’t the very best one, that’s true, as Microsoft shouldn’t specifically target Chrome or Firefox users with its ads, but apart from that, making people aware that a new browser has been released through a feature that they let it run isn’t at all something evil.

Exactly the same for the banner displayed within the search UI. The Microsoft Edge “ad” only appears when users look for Internet Explorer, a browser that Microsoft still offers in Windows 10 for compatibility reasons but that the company recommends against using like a daily browser due to security concerns. Microsoft Edge includes several more complex security measures than Ie, so after your day, the banner displayed in the search UI could actually be a way to keep more users protected when browsing the net.

Certainly, intrusive ads will never be the easiest method to go when trying to market an item, but on the other hand, we need to admit that Microsoft’s approach isn’t necessarily pushy by any means. And what’s more, users may even block the suggestion within the Start menu from turning up, all within just a few seconds.

At the end of the day, the brand new Microsoft Edge is already a highly-praised browser, not just by Microsoft itself, but additionally by users who chose to give it a try. Of course, this doesn’t give Microsoft the authority to bombard you with ads, but at least the software giant promotes an application that’s worth your time and never something which nobody would use in the first place.

Someone Transformed Windows 10 into Windows 95, also it Looks Tearful

Windows 10 is a modern operating system in all regards, including in terms of looks, as it features a redesigned Start menu, a dark theme, the Fluent Design language, and several other cosmetic refinements.

However it goes without saying that does not everyone is a big fan of this makeover, and this is actually one of the reasons some of those who upgrade from Windows 7 to Windows 10 attempt to disable the current feature and produce back the familiar feel and look of the 2009 operating system.

This redditor, however, took things to a completely new level, replacing the Windows 10 interface using the one which debuted in Windows 95.

If you’re a fan of the classic theme of Windows, this is clearly an interesting idea, especially as there is third-party software available to help you do that with only several clicks.

Third-party software powering the Windows 98 look

Because the redditor explains, there still are some things that need further polishing to achieve the Windows 95 look.

“I know this wasn’t perfect there still things I can tweak however i still enjoy it, the theme ended using Windowsblinds and the SkinStudio, the sounds and most the icons were performed old windows disks I still have. I’ve done exactly the same thing with XP but to a more in-depth way and so i will probably continue to tweak this,” they are saying.

The 2TB SSD certainly isn’t something which goes back towards the Windows 98 era, but other than that, this tradition look gets pretty near to what we used a lot of years back.

Ought to be fact, Windows 10 itself still sports elements that are borrowed from Windows 98, including some system icons that users come across from time to time.

Free Upgrades from Windows 7 to Windows 10 Working in February 2020

Windows 7 is no longer supported, and Microsoft is now pushing for everybody to maneuver to Windows 10 to carry on receiving updates and devices secure.

Many home users, however, won’t upgrade to Windows 10 simply because they don’t wish to abandon the standard Windows experience and embrace the modern version, which includes features like Cortana, the Microsoft Store, and modern apps.

Others, however, decided to stick to Windows 7 simply because they don’t want to purchase Windows 10.

But because as it happens, the disposable upgrades that have been around for thus long continue to be possible in February 2020, and it’s all possible because of the Media Creation Tool.

In-place upgrades

Technically, this Microsoft app allows upgrading from Windows 7 to Windows 10 without losing apps and files, by the looks of products, it can perform the whole magic with no charge, so long as the best Windows 7 is used.

Microsoft originally allowed the disposable upgrades for just one year following the launch of Windows 10, so according to this schedule, the promo was designed to end in July 2016. The company, however, still allowed the free upgrades following this date, and today users confirm that migrating from Windows 7 to Windows 10 doesn’t cost anything with an in-place upgrade.

The Redmond-based software continues to be tight-lipped about this loophole for several years already, and it’s unlikely to patch it anytime soon. The organization most likely wants everyone on Windows 10, especially now that Windows 7 has reached the end of support, so letting them upgrade at no cost is considered as an important incentive.

Windows 7 no longer receives updates since January 14, 2020, and going forward, Windows 8.1 and Windows 10 are the 3 operating systems that continue to be supported by Microsoft.