TweakHound

Computer stuff...

Eric (a.k.a. TweakHound)

Lessons Learned

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This week Microsoft pulled the Windows 10 October 2018 Update because peoples personal files were being deleted. The Windows 10 April Update was delayed by almost 3 weeks due to a “blocking bug”. These are just 2 examples of Win10’s broken update model. With Win10, software quality is as bad as it has ever been. This despite the extensive Insider Program that was supposed to alleviate this problem. I’ve never been bitten by these updates and much of the advice I pass out on this site is designed to help you to not get bitten either. I will try and put that in a convenient list:

– Keep current system image backups.
I use Macrium Reflect Free. Other programs include Clonezilla (free) and Acronis True Image (not free).
I store recent copies on the same computer and older copies on an external hard drive.
You MUST create a boot disc or flash drive.
Use this before EVERY patch Tuesday and Feature Update.

– Keep current personal files backups (docs, pics, etc.).
I either use copy/paste or Microsoft’s free SyncToy.
I store them on an external hard drive, an old laptop hard drive, and burn to DVD.
I also store my music and pics on Google Drive.
I have a copy everything off site too.

– Separate your personal files from your OS (move your pics, docs, etc. folders).
Guides in every Tweak Guide.

– Delay Windows Updates. With Win10, consider skipping release altogether.
If you are using Windows 10 Home consider switching to Windows 10 Pro so that you can control your updates. You can by a legit key very cheap. Contact me if you cannot find one and I will point you in the right direction.
Security Updates for each release are provided for approximately 18 months so there is no rush to update to the latest release.
Win10’s changes and new features have come along at a pitifully slow rate. The only welcome change for me since Win10’s initial release is the Dark Theme.

– Advanced, Make a rescue flash drive.
Multiple tools to save yourself, friends, and family from disaster.

External Hard Drives at Amazon. Prices current as of 07OCT18

WD 4TB Black My Passport Portable External Hard Drive – USB 3.0
List Price: $159.99 – Price: $99.99 – You Save: $60.00 (38%)

Seagate Expansion 8TB Desktop External Hard Drive USB 3.0
Was: $149.99 Price: $139.00 You Save: $10.99 (7%)

Win10 1809 Pulled

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“We have paused the rollout of the Windows 10 October 2018 Update (version 1809) for all users as we investigate isolated reports of users missing some files after updating.

If you have checked for updates and believe you have an issue, please contact us directly at +1-800-MICROSOFT or find a local number in your area https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/4051701/global-customer-service-phone-numbers.

If you have access to a different PC, please contact us at https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/contactus/ (link will vary according to country of origin).

If you have manually downloaded the Windows 10 October 2018 Update installation media, please don’t install it and wait until new media is available.

We will provide an update when we resume rolling out the Windows 10 October 2018 Update to customers.”

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/4464619/windows-10-update-history
Thanks sr downs!

Thursday Random Stuff…

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Reports everywhere about Win10 1809 issues. That is why I advise to wait before updating and backup before you do.
AskWoody is keeping a running tally of all the issues.
Win10 version 1809 buglog – including troubling tales of lost user data

Nvidia Geforce Game Ready 416.16 WHQL Drivers
“Provides the optimal gaming experience with support for the Windows 10 October 2018 Update including the public release of DirectX Raytracing (DXR)”
Download | Release Notes

The Big Hack: How China Used a Tiny Chip to Infiltrate U.S. Companies
“The attack by Chinese spies reached almost 30 U.S. companies, including Amazon and Apple, by compromising America’s technology supply chain, according to extensive interviews with government and corporate sources.”
Another reason we need to manufacture this tech stuff here.

Wednesday Random Stuff…

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I’ve got Win10 1809 running on 3 machines. Although I have a few minor errors in the logs I’ve no issues yet.

Firefox 62.0.3
Download (all) | Download 32-bit EN-US | Download 64-bit EN-US
Release Notes
Thanks Scott!

Winaero Tweaker for Windows 10 version 1809
A few fixes and several new features
Download & Info

Intel Graphics Driver for Windows 10
Version: 25.20.100.6323 Date: 10/1/2018
Highlights
Windows 10 October 2018 Update Launch Driver
HDR for embedded laptop panels Launch Driver
Download

Stuff I bookmarked recently. Some off topic, some not:

‘Star Wars: The Last Jedi’ Negative Buzz Amplified by Russian Trolls, Study Finds
“finds evidence of deliberate, organized political influence measures disguised as fan arguments…Overall, 50.9% of those tweeting negatively [about the movie] was likely politically motivated or not even human”

How Likely Are You To Have a Deer Collision?
“West Virginia continues to top the list of states where an individual driver is most likely to run into a deer. Some good news for West Virginian’s though, this year while West Virginia continues to be No. 1 on the top 10 list, the likelihood of having an insurance claim involving a deer was 1 in 46 — down three points from last year.
Montana (one in 57 chance of a crash), Pennsylvania (one in 63 chance of a crash), and Wisconsin also remain at the top of list. Rounding out the top 10 states where drivers are most likely to collide with large animals like deer, elk, moose or caribou are Iowa, South Dakota, Minnesota, Michigan, Wyoming, and Mississippi. The months drivers are most likely to collide with a large animal in the U.S. are (in order) November, October, and December.”
Interactive map there too.

1-in-3 pass ‘US Citizenship test,’ just 19% for Americans 45 and younger
“Among the embarrassing errors uncovered in the survey of questions taken from the U.S. Citizenship Test and conducted by Lincoln Park Stragtegies:
72 percent of respondents either incorrectly identified or were unsure of which states were part of the 13 original states.
24 percent could correctly identify one thing Benjamin Franklin was famous for, with 37 percent believing he invented the lightbulb.
12 percent incorrectly thought WWII General Dwight Eisenhower led troops in the Civil War.
2 percent said the Cold War was caused by climate change.”
Perhaps it is time to require you pass this test before being allowed to vote?
Try for yourself. Took me less than 2 minutes.
USCIS – Civics Practice Test
Washington Times – US Citizenship Test – Could You Pass?
CNN – Can YOU pass the U.S. citizenship test? Take this quiz

Windows 10 1809 Is Out

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It took half a dozen “Check for updates” but it is showing up on Windows Update for me.
Windows 10 update history updated.
1809 Media Creation Tool is live.
Find out what’s new in Windows and Office in October

This post will be updated as news comes out.

Official Download Page: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10ISO

ISOs:
Links may change at any time.
EN-US, x64:
https://software-download.microsoft.com/sg/Win10_1809_English_x64.iso?t=817bbaae-0315-460c-9626-43568e7f8e70&e=1538574542&h=021093a58665ad333c036bd14185d24a
EN-US, INTERNATIONAL, x64
https://software-download.microsoft.com/pr/Win10_1809_EnglishInternational_x64.iso?t=7c769231-a5d3-4460-9791-5b84446e9399&e=1538575517&h=102cd82c393e07d2ddaf95dde30665b1

Other builds here: https://tb.rg-adguard.net/public.php

Monday Random Stuff…

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Win10 1809/October 2018 Update
“They” say it is coming out tomorrow.
“They” said 1803 would release on April 10, 2018. It was released on the 30th as I recall.
At any rate, you should to a full system image backup today.
I would also consider delaying the update. Every tech site out there has posted a how to. TweakGuide readers already have my advice.
IMHO the update is another “meh” update as the reward is negligible and the risk medium/high.
The only changes I see worth anything are a better Dark Theme and Windows HD Color settings adjustments.
Storage sense (which I don’t use) now has the option to do a disk cleanup. That reminds me…
As the above link stated, “The Disk Cleanup experience (“cleanmgr.exe”) is being deprecated.” Some sites took that and acted like the sky was falling. Either they have no command of the English language or they stopped reading right there. The very next sentence reads, “We’re retaining the Disk Cleanup tool for compatibility reasons.”
Relax, Disk Cleanup isn’t going anywhere.

Audacity 2.3.0
Audacity is an easy-to-use, multi-track audio editor and recorder for Windows, Mac OS X, GNU/Linux and other operating systems.
Download | Release Announcement

Stuff I bookmarked recently. Some off topic, some not:

NASA At 60: A Driving Force For Materials Science And Technology Innovation
“Today, NASA (the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, a federal agency of the United States of America) celebrates its 60th birthday. Founded on 29th July 1958, NASA first started operating on 1st October in the same year. Sixty years ago, the United States and what was then the Soviet Union were locked in a so-called ‘Space Race’; the competition between these two nations to become the first to escape Earth’s gravitational pull and prove the strength of their technology and innovation.”
Happy 60th NASA!

That sign telling you how fast you’re driving may be spying on you
“The next time you drive past one of those road signs with a digital readout showing how fast you’re going, don’t simply assume it’s there to remind you not to speed. It may actually be capturing your license plate data.”
I guarantee they have pics of me using a universal hand signal toward the camera. I also went by one going downhill my bicycle. Challenge accepted. 32 in a 25.
woohoosmiley

Jury Verdict Thrown Out in Led Zeppelin ‘Stairway to Heaven’ Lawsuit
“The ruling reopens the battle over whether Led Zeppelin borrowed from the 1968 song “Taurus” when it composed the classic rock anthem that appears on the 1971 release “Led Zeppelin IV.
Michael Skidmore, the trustee of the Randy Craig Wolfe Trust, sued the band in 2014, arguing that “Stairway to Heaven” ripped off elements of Wolfe’s composition. Wolfe, Spirit’s frontman, died in 1997. A jury ruled in favor of Led Zeppelin in 2016, finding that the two songs were not substantially similar.”
Google “taurus stairway to heaven comparison” if you want to compare. Lots of good videos out there.

Justin Verlander
Saturday we drove up to Baltimore to watch my homeboy Justin Verlander (aka “Kate’s husband“) pitch.
It is supposed to be a 3 hour drive but it was closer to 4. As anyone familiar with Northern Virginia & DC area knows, I95 is a freaking mess. Somehow I always seem to be headed opposite the open E-ZPass lanes.
We stopped at Faidley’s Seafood in Baltimore as we do whenever we are in B’more. Best crabcakes you’ll ever have.
The game was a success as JV pitched 6 scoreless innings and had 10 K’s. Opinion of the Houston sports press is he will pitch game 1 of the ALDS vs the Indians.
This was my first time seeing him in person in a uniform other than the Tigers. I still can’t get used to it.
(click on pic for full size)

The Weekend Is Here!

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Nvidia Geforce Game Ready 411.70 WHQL Drivers
“Provides the optimal gaming experience for Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, Forza Horizon 4, and FIFA 19”
Download | Release Notes

Stuff I bookmarked recently. Some off topic, some not:

Facebook Blog – Security Update
“On the afternoon of Tuesday, September 25, our engineering team discovered a security issue affecting almost 50 million accounts…Since we’ve only just started our investigation, we have yet to determine whether these accounts were misused or any information accessed. We also don’t know who’s behind these attacks or where they’re based.”

Yes Facebook is using your 2FA phone number to target you with ads
“Facebook has confirmed it does in fact use phone numbers that users provided it for security purposes to also target them with ads.”

That’s all I’ve got. Have a great weekend!