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Windows 10

Bad Win10 1903 Update

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There are reports around the web that the latest update for Win10 1903 is causing Cortana to have abnormally high CPU usage:
August 30, 2019—KB4512941 (OS Build 18362.329) is the update in question.
Solutions and “workarounds” include registry editing and deleting of files. IMHO this is utter folly. The solution is this:
1 – Uninstall KB4512941.
2 – Pause updates for a month or so.
(Settings > Windows Update > Advanced Options > Pause Updates > Pause until > max time)
3 – Wait for Microsoft to fix it.
If you’ve not installed KB4512941 yet then just do steps 2 & 3.
If you are using Windows 10 Home. I’ve repeatedly said to upgrade to Pro. IT IS CHEAP

Win10 1903 Stuff

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Win10 1903 Stuff
I rarely re-post Windows changes and known issues. Microsoft posts this and we’re all most of us are literate adults. As such you don’t need me or anyone else regurgitating this for you.
Windows 10 release information: has “Known issues and notifications” and “Resolved issues” of every Win10 version.

Features removed or planned for replacement starting with Windows 10, version 1903

How to get the Windows 10 May 2019 Update
Get the Windows 10 May 2019 Update

What’s new in Windows 10, version 1903 IT Pro content

Windows 10 and Windows Server 2019 update history

What’s new in recent Windows 10 updates

Windows lifecycle fact sheet – “The lifecycle begins when a product is released and ends when it’s no longer supported.”

Windows 10 and reserved storage
“Starting with the next major update we’re making a few changes to how Windows 10 manages disk space. Through reserved storage, some disk space will be set aside to be used by updates, apps, temporary files, and system caches. Our goal is to improve the day-to-day function of your PC by ensuring critical OS functions always have access to disk space. Without reserved storage, if a user almost fills up her or his storage, several Windows and application scenarios become unreliable.”

Improving the Windows 10 update experience with control, quality and transparency

Patch Tuesday

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Windows 7-10 updated.
This may or may not be the last update before the May 2018 feature update.

Windows 7
May 14, 2019—KB4499175 (Security-only update)
May 14, 2019—KB4499164 (Monthly Rollup)

Windows 8.1
May 14, 2019—KB4499165 (Security-only update)
May 14, 2019—KB4499151 (Monthly Rollup)

Windows 10
1809 – May 14, 2019—KB4494441 (OS Build 17763.503)
1803 – May 14, 2019—KB4499167 (OS Build 17134.765)
1709 – May 14, 2019—KB4499179 (OS Build 16299.1146)

Other Software:

Audacity 2.3.2
Download | Release Notes | Home Page

CCleaner 5.57
A whole lotta ‘meh’. I’d skip it.
Download (I use portable) | Release Announcement
See also: Blocking A Programs Internet Access Via The Windows Firewall

Adobe Reader Updated
Download en-US | All Downloads | Security Bulletin | Release Notes

Win10 1903, Are You Ready?

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Windows 10 May 2019 Update
Win10 1903 brings several changes, most of which the average user won’t care about. Two changes of note are supposed increased performance and improved control of Windows Update. The best breakdown I’ve seen to date is:
Neowin – The Windows 10 May 2019 Update is coming – here’s what’s new

Release Date
– “Official” date unknown at this time. “End of May” often quoted. Expect it somewhere between tomorrow and hell freezing over.
– ISOs are floating around now

Blocking 1903
– Easy way: Use O&O ShutUp10
See also: Windows Update section of the Tweak Guide.
(1903 will bring major changes to this.)

Preparing for 1903
– Update all your apps and drivers.
– Backup everything. Make a system image. I use the free Macrium Reflect. This is also a good time to backup everything else.
See also: Windows 10 Backup And Recovery Options

My Recommendation
– Put off installing 1903 at least one month.
– Better safe than sorry. Microsoft will, at some point, state that 1903 is “safe for business”. The October 2018 Update was declared safe on March 28th, 2019.

Tweaking Windows 10
It will be at least a month after release before the Win10 Tweak Guide is updated.

Patch Tuesday

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Updates available for all supported versions of Windows.
Office updates available too. (how to check for Office updates)

Win10 1809 – February 12, 2019—KB4487044 (OS Build 17763.316)
Win10 1803 – February 12, 2019—KB4487017 (OS Build 17134.590)
Win10 1709 – February 12, 2019—KB4486996 (OS Build 16299.967)

Windows 8.1 – February 12, 2019—KB4487028 (Security-only update)

Windows 7 – Windows 7 SP1 and Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 update history

Office 365 11231.20174 and other versions

Note from Microsoft:
February 11, 2019 12:45 PM PST
Windows Update customers were recently affected by a network infrastructure event caused by an external DNS service provider’s global outage. A software update to the external provider’s DNS servers resulted in the distribution of corrupted DNS records that affected connectivity to the Windows Update service. The DNS records were restored by January 30, 2019 (00:10 UTC), but downstream effects continued. We believe the issue to be fully mitigated because the majority of local Internet Service Providers (ISP) have refreshed their DNS servers and customer services have been restored. If you are still encountering download failures, please contact your local ISP.
While this was not an issue with Microsoft’s services, we take any service disruption for our customers seriously. We will work with partners to better understand this so we can provide higher quality service in the future even across diverse global network providers.