Windows 10 update woes cont'd, Apple's update woes, Amazon Echo Dot

Arrrrgghhhh!  Microsoft, you killing me.

Sorry for the delayed response to my last post about upgrading my desktop to the latest version of Windows 10, Fall Creator's update, version 1709.  If you remember from my last post, after upgrading my PC I was presented with a black screen and flashing cursor with no available solution.  My only recourse after exhaustive searching for a solution was to restore my system to the previous version of Windows 10, version 1703.

Microsoft acknowledged the issue and released a couple of more updates that supposedly addressed the issue so last week I attempted to upgrade my system again.  This time was a complete disaster.  After the upgrade I once again was greeted with black screen and cursor.  Failing to resolve the issue  I tried to revert back to the previous version of Window 10 with no success.  I received a message stating that Windows encountered a problem and was unable to restore my previous version.

Great, right?  My only choices were to perform a recovery keeping my files and documents or recovery losing all my files.  Either way I was going to lose all my programs and settings.  Fortunately all my data/files are on a network drive and were safe.  I pulled the hard drive from my Core i7 desktop and connected it to a Core i5 desktop in hopes of it working there but the same black screen with cursor appeared on the new hardware.

Not wanting to be stuck with a machine that could not be upgraded, I downloaded the latest version Windows 10, Fall Creator's update, v1709, created a  USB boot installation drive and performed a fresh install of  Windows 10 successfully.

Windows 10 will notify you when the Fall Creators Update is available for your device. When the update is ready, you'll be asked to pick a time to install it if you're not ready.  To protect your data be sure to maintain a backup of your critical files in the event that something goes wrong.

If you are uncertain if the upgrade has occurred on PC yet, to check which version you are on please visit the following link,

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/4028685/windows-10-get-the-fall-creators-update

If your computer has already been upgraded your version should be;

The issue with Windows machines is that there are so many available programs and options that no 2 machines are ever alike.  I'm sure there was some program or device driver or some combination of the two that was causing my black screen problem since I was able to successfully perform a clean install on the same hardware.

a bright note in all this, I discovered a free screen snapshot utility, Snip.  It works great and it's free.  Get it at; https://mix.office.com/snip


and don't gloat Apple users...

Apple's had a shockingly bad week of software problems

In the past week a massive security vulnerability was discovered in the latest macOS upgrade.  Anyone with access, either direct or remote could bypass administrator authentication and login without a password.

To make matters worse Apple then released a patch, followed by another upgrade which broke the patch and reintroduced the vulnerability.

https://news.google.com/news/search/section/q/apple%20problems/apple%20problems?hl=en&ned=us

Amazon's Echo Dot and my week with Alexa.

On a good note I purchased an Echo Dot during the Thanksgiving sales and I must say I am very impressed by it.  I interfaced it with my smartphone and in addition to providing me weather, music and news I use it as a speaker phone to place calls.  It is so easy, "Alexa", call so and so and she places the call, the audio is very good.  I tell Alexa to pair with my BlueTooth devices and she accomplishes this with ease.  I am just beginning to explore how Alexa can assist me in automating my house and will try to post updates as I explore the Dot's capability.

I purchased the Dot, regular price $49.95 for $29.95 on sale during the holidays.

https://www.amazon.com/b/?ie=UTF8&node=9818047011&ref_=fs_ods_fs_aucc_cp

This push into home automation is being spear headed by Amazon with Goggle Home trying to play catch up.  Apple is also trying to move into this market but has missed the important holiday season with the release of their HomePod not schedule until 2018.  Of course in true Apple tradition it is priced at $349, much higher than Amazon Echo or Google Home.

https://www.cnet.com/products/apple-homepod/preview/


support your local blogger, buy a computer!  Happy Holidays!

Windows 10 Fall Creators Update Woes

Windows as a Service

Microsoft has made available to all Windows 10 users the latest version named Fall Creators Update through the new modern servicing technology referred to as Windows as a service.

My experience with the update is to beware.  Thus far I have one client who encountered the stuttering issue, i.e. using LogMeIn remote service to access the computer, within a minute reaction to keyboard or mouse input would slow to minutes before finally crashing the computer.  If remote access wasn't used she would find her computer unresponsive each morning and would have to turn it off and back on to use.

This past weekend I upgraded both my notebook and desktop to the latest version with mixed results.  Each computer is based on Intel Core i7 processors and Intel Graphics.  The notebook upgraded without a hitch, however the desktop would boot and upon logging in I was presented with a black screen and a flashing cursor.  I spend approximately 4 hours researching the issue which was widely reported by other users and I tried everything from Safe Mode, Registry fixes to a new video card but the results were the same.  I finally had to revert back to the previous version of Windows that worked.  I ended up doing the same for the client who was having issues as well.

On Tuesday 11/14/17 Microsoft released new updates to address over 50 Security Vulnerabilities and address a number of problems, hopefully it addressed those we have encountered.

Microsoft Patches Over 50 Security Vulnerabilities Today – Windows 10 Builds 16299.64 and 15063.728 Start Rolling Out

https://wccftech.com/microsoft-patches-50-security-windows-10/

In the above article they are still calling it Patch Tuesday which I thought they were doing away with but apparently Microsoft still finds it the best way to correct their blunders (BTW, the black screen bug affected more than Microsoft Surface notebooks).

Microsoft has released cumulative updates to Windows 10 Creators Update (Version 1703), Windows 10 November Update (Version 1511), and Windows 10 Anniversary Update (Version 1609). The update brings fixes to the black screen bug on Microsoft Surface laptops, among other problems. Here’s what’s fixed in today’s cumulative updates. 

https://wccftech.com/microsoft-cumulative-updates-windows-10/

Should you upgrade or not?

Roll the dice, if you have no deadlines pressing and the time to troubleshoot a failed upgrade then yes, try it.  I feel it is always best to be on the latest, greatest, and with today's security threats most secured version.  However if now is not the time, consider the following.

Whether you get the upgrade or not is no longer an option for the average user.  On Windows 10, you no longer have control over how to receive updates as before, they are mandatory.  In the case of my client and myself, we received a message that informed us that the update would be applied upon the next restart of the computer.

It is possible to delay updates for up to 35 days maximum if you wish.  I am going to show you how to do that.

(BTW, there is a way to retake control and prevent the OS from downloading and installing updates automatically using the Local Group Policy Editor or the Registry, however I'd rather you not do that on your own!)

To delay the update for 35 days

1. click on Start button and then select settings button, (gear symbol)

2.  Select Update & Security

3.  When the Windows Update windows opens, select Advanced options,

4.  Within the Advanced options window, click on the Pause Updates button to turn it on.

This will buy you 35 days after which you must install all available updates before you will be allowed to pause updates again.

Hopefully within 35 days, any issues arising from the latest update will have been addressed and fixed.

My Next Update will be...

As stated before, with all the security threats that exist online it is best to have the latest patched, secured system available.  I plan to attempt to apply the latest updates that became available Tuesday, 11/14/17  sometime this coming weekend.  I will post the results of the upgrade next week.  Until then good luck, happy computing and buy a computer!