Microsoft Pulls Security Update Breaking Down Windows 10

Microsoft has pulled a security update for Windows 10 because of issues caused on devices where it was installed. All Windows 10 versions may take a hit, and Microsoft says the update won’t be re-offered to users.

KB4524244 was published by Microsoft on Patch Tuesday to solve vulnerabilities in Windows 10 and other OS components. All Windows 10 versions received it, including version 1607, 1703, 1709, 1803, 1809, 1903 and 1909.

However, this update not only that fails to install on some devices, but also causes other issues, including breaking down the “Reset this PC” option on devices where it’s successfully installed.

“Using the “Reset this PC” feature, also called “Push Button Reset” or PBR, might fail. You might restart into recovery with “Choose an option” at the top of the screen with assorted options or you will restart to desktop and get the error ‘There was a problem resetting your PC,'” Microsoft explains, adding that some could also “encounter issues trying to install or after installing” this update.

Update already removed

While Microsoft has removed the update and devices can no longer install it, this decision doesn’t affect computers where the update has already been running, the organization explains. If no issues are experienced on your computer with KB4524244 installed, then you’re just good to go.

“This standalone security update continues to be removed due to a problem affecting a sub-set of devices. It won’t be re-offered from Windows Update, Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) or Microsoft Update Catalog. Note: Elimination of this standalone security update does not affect successful installation or any changes within every other February 11, 2020 security updates, including Latest Cumulative Update (LCU), Monthly Rollup or Security Only update,” Microsoft says.

However, users whose devices encounter various issues after installing this security update are recommended to get rid of it in the Update history screen in Windows Update.

Hack Allows Windows 7 to carry on Receiving Updates Despite End of Support

Windows 7 no more receives security updates as of January 14, so technically, users whose devices are still running this operating system have no other option than to upgrade to Windows 8.1 or Windows 10 to continue to receive patches.

In theory, this is also the road that lots of Windows 7 users adopt anyway, however, many stick to the 2009 operating-system simply because of its familiar desktop, as both Windows 8.1 and Windows 10 embrace a far more modern experience with an application store and a digital assistant.

Microsoft continues to release security updates for Windows 7 as part of the Extended Security Updates (ESU) program, that is available for companies with a fee – it’s thought that in the newbie after Windows 7 end-of-support, businesses be forced to pay $25 per each device still running Windows 7 and requiring security updates; the cost then doubles every year to $50 after which $100.

But while extended security updates are for sale to enterprises, they aren’t for home users, as Microsoft isn’t giving end users any option to continue running Windows 7 securely.

ESU for everyone

And yet, a bypass that’s now available online allows any Windows 7 device to obtain the security updates that Microsoft releases included in the ESU program, technically keeping them fully patched regardless of the January 14 end-of-support. The February Patch Tuesday would be a key milestone for this hack, so that as as it happens, it still works flawlessly, with all updates landing normally on devices where it was used.

In other words, the updates still show up on Windows Update normally, allowing users to patch the known vulnerabilities much like before the January 14 deadline.

It goes without saying that at some point in the near future Microsoft could easily block this hack, and it’s probably just a matter of time until it happens anyway. The following Patch Tuesday when Microsoft will release new security updates for Windows 7 takes place on March 10.

One More Linux Distro Attempts to Convince Windows Users to Make the Switch

With Windows 7 already discontinued, it type of makes sense for Linux operating systems to go after Microsoft users, and likewise to Canonical and many others, the Freespire developers also make an effort to convince some to help make the switch.

They has released Freespire 6.0 running the MATE desktop, with the KDE version not far off.

“This release is our FOSS solution, without any binary-only drivers or multimedia codecs included and strictly Libre applications. Freespire is released bi-annually and showcases the very best the open-source community has to offer. Our users enjoy a large number of different desktops – for this release we are releasing the MATE desktop first; KDE comes next, look out for this,” the Freespire devs explain.

The new version comes with MATE 1.20 and kernel version 5.3.0-28 and includes the Chromium web browser and Abiword.

Moving to Linux

The Freespire team says this new release is only the right choice for Windows user who are currently considering switching to Linux, particularly if they own computers that won’t run Windows 10 smoothly.

“With Windows 7 at the end of life, lots of people have PCs which may not be optimal for Windows 10; now’s a good time emigrate to 1 of the most recognized desktop Linux distributions, that is optimized for just these sorts of PCs,” they say.

Windows 7 officially reached no more support in January this season, and today Microsoft pushes for everybody to upgrade devices to Windows 10. As the system requirements of these two are nearly identical, Microsoft too recommends users to buy new systems for Windows 10, especially as certain features, like Windows Hello, require dedicated hardware.

As much as this point, however, stats reveal that a substantial number of those who previously used Windows 7 on their devices installed Windows 10 and not a Linux distro.

New AMD Radeon Pro Graphics Driver Available – Get Version 20.Q1 WHQL

AMD has made available a new version of its Radeon Pro Software for Enterprise, namely 20.Q1 WHQL (19.40.01.22), which fixes Radeon Pro Advanced settings crash events when AMD Eyefinity Pro Config Tool is launched.

Moreover, the current release also removes flickering seen when opening 2 stereo instances in full-screen mode simultaneously and, when compared to previous Radeon Pro Enterprise 19.Q4, this version includes support for AMD’s Radeon Pro W5500 and W5700 graphics cards.

However, realize that the 20.Q1 update may not install correctly with a few 5k displays, colors in Maya 2020 can be sometimes inaccurate, and display flickering may be observed when removing emulation from Virtual Connector.

In terms of compatibility, besides a supported GPU, take into account that your configuration should be managing a 64-bit variant of Windows 7 or Windows 10 os’s, a treadmill of Microsoft’s Windows Server 2016 or Windows Server 2019 platforms. You will find four files available, one for every OS.

Therefore, remove any previous version present on your computer, save and run the appropriate package for your computer, watch for all files required to be produced available, and follow all instructions displayed on the screen for a complete upgrade.

With this in mind, should you consider applying this release, download AMD Radeon Pro Enterprise Graphics Driver 20.Q1, do the installation and perform a reboot once finished. Also, return with us to remain “updated one minute ago.”

Finally, execute a reboot upon completion (manually, otherwise requested automatically), and check back with us as frequently as you possibly can to remain up to date using the latest releases.

Linux-Based Windows 12 Promises Flawless Updates, Readily available for Free

If Windows 10 isn’t necessarily to your liking, maybe you like Windows 12, a practical system that promises pretty much what Microsoft fails to get results, including flawless updates.

One redditor says they discovered Windows 10 Lite discs in a local computer fair and took a photograph of the ad that accompany the operating-system.

“No upgrading whenever [sic] you need to work. No upgrades that fail so you cannot upgrade and much more forcing you to definitely buy more Windows 10,” the ad reads. “No virus or ransomware Window 12 [sic] is immune from these nasties.”

While initially this might make some people think that Microsoft presented a brand new Windows version, this is really a Linux-based operating system that comes with a Windows 10 theme.

Geocities called, it wants its website back

The state website of Windows 12 appears to suggest it’s based on Linux Lite but customized with a Windows 10 wallpaper and featuring a flat icon pack.

The Windows 12 description posted about this official website, which through the was appears like it comes down right out the Geocities era, is funny, to say the least:

“All the issues from the poor operating-system are solved with Windows 12 Lite 4.8 an excellent operating-system. This desktop is way superior in each and every respect to Windows 10. This isn’t Microsoft it’s now Windows 12 Lite. It is also an alternative for Windows 10 you are able to dual boot with Windows 10 and you will have a much better operating-system this really is one of the worlds fastest and best,” the site reads.

The photo gallery on the page is mostly exactly the same screenshot with a different desktop background, by the design of products, it indeed appears to be a Windows 10 theme with flat icons.

I’m not sure what Microsoft thinks about this, but because of the name of the Linux operating-system, I’m confident it won’t hang in there for too long.

How to locate If Application or EXE is 32-bit or 64-bit (x86 or x64)

With a handful of simple tricks, you’ll find if an application or EXE file is 32-bit or 64-bit in Windows. Adopt these measures to determine how.

It might not be every day but there will be times when you should know if an application is 32-bit or 43-bit. Not just for installed applications however, you may also require the architectural information before installing or running an EXE file in your body. Since just about all modern computers are 64-bit systems, you can install both 32-bit (x86) and 64-bit (x64) applications inside it. Often times, this can cause confusion when determining whether an application in x86 or x64.

When there is an issue with the installed application or the installer (EXE or MSI file), knowing if a program is x86 or x64 might help you limit the troubleshooting issues. So, in this quick guide, let me show you the steps to locate if an application or exe file is 32-bit or 64-bit.

Find If Application is 32-bit or 64-bit After Installing It

When the application has already been installed, Windows provides a really quite simple way to determine whether it is x86 or x64. Just stick to the steps.

1. First, open the application for which you wish to find its architecture. Ensure that it stays running in the background. We want it in the coming steps.

2. Next, right-click around the Taskbar and select the “Task Manager” option. This course of action will open the Windows Task Manager. Alternatively, you can also look for the same in the start menu.

3. In the Task Manager, visit the “Details” tab. Here, see you if you have a column named “Platform”. If it’s available, skip this and step 4 and proceed from step five. If you don’t begin to see the column, right-click on any column heading and select the “Select Columns” option.

4. Now, find and select the “Platform” checkbox. Usually, it will likely be at the bottom from the list. Click the “Ok” button in order to save changes.

5. The above action will prove to add the woking platform column to the Task Manager’s Details tab. Now, find the application you opened in step 1 and see what it really says in the Platform column.

If it is a 32-bit application, the platform column can have “32-bit”. If it’s a 62-bit application, it’ll show show “64-bit”.

That’s it.

Before Installing (EXE file’s Architecture)

When the application is not yet installed, you’ll need a different way to find its architecture.

The easiest way to locate is from the developer’s website. Usually, this program architecture will always be listed nearby the download link. So, check out. If you cannot think it is on the developer website, then follow the alternative method shown below. It is not 100 % accurate but works in most cases.

1. First, find the exe file. Next, right-click onto it and choose the “Properties” option.

2. In the properties window, go to the “Compatability” tab. Here, select the “Run the program in compatibility mode for” checkbox.

3. Next, click on the drop-down menu. Within the drop-down menu, see if you can find Or windows 7 or earlier versions like Windows 95. If you see them, it’s highly probable that it is a 32-bit application.

If you notice Windows Vista and later versions like Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 10 then it is 64-bit.

That is it.

How to Add Keep the windows open Terminal Here Option to Right-click Menu

Alongside PowerShell, you can also add Windows Terminal to right-click menu. Follow these steps to add ‘Open Windows Terminal Here’ option.

Windows Terminal is what the users happen to be requesting years. A brand new terminal application that’s fully customizable all the while being powerful and flexible. Because of the new tabbed interface, you are able to open multiple consoles of different types at the same time and use them as needed. In fact, I’ve been utilizing it as my main console since it had been released.

When working with directories, it is very helpful to open the terminal for the reason that specific directory. This eliminates the need to manually open the terminal and then navigate to that particular folder using multiple cd commands. Unfortunately, by writing this, Windows Terminal has no such option. You’re stuck with that old “Open PowerShell window here” option. Thankfully, you can add your personal “Open Windows Terminal Here” choice to the right-click menu in just a few steps.

Without ado, stick to the below steps to include a wide open Windows Terminal here choice to the right-click context menu in Windows 10.

Add Open Windows Terminal Here Choice to Right-click Menu

1. First, we need to set the default directory in Windows Terminal. To do that, keep the windows open Terminal, click the drop-down button on the title bar and select “Settings”. Within the JSON file, add the below line for your default profile.

“startingDirectory”: “.”

If you’re curious, we’re adding this line because without it, whenever you open Windows Terminal from the right-click menu, it’ll open inside your home directory instead of in the current directory.

2. Now, right-click around the desktop and select “New → Text Document” to create a new text file. Name the written text file as “wt.reg”. This action converts the written text file in to the reg file.

3. Next, right-click around the newly created file and select “Edit”.

4. The above action will open the file in the default text editor. Here, copy the below code in it. Don’t forget to replace “<Username>” together with your actual Windows username. Save the file by pressing Ctrl + S or selecting “File → Save”.

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\Background\shell\wt]
@=”Open Windows Terminal here”

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\Background\shell\wt\command]
@=”C:\\Users\\<UserName>\\AppData\\Local\\Microsoft\\WindowsApps\\wt.exe”

5. Now, close the file and double-click on it. You’ll be prompted whether you need to merge the reg file. Click the “Yes” button and then the “Ok” button.

That’s it. In the future, if you Shift + Right-click in a directory or folder, you will see the new “Open Windows Terminal here” option in the right-click menu.

Choosing the option will keep the windows open Terminal for the reason that directory.

(Optional) Add Icon towards the Option

If you’re willing to go that step further, you can add just a little icon before the option in the right-click menu. Case eye candy and you can neglected if you’re not interested.

1. Download this official Windows Terminal icon.

2. After downloading, open the Run dialog box by pressing Win + R shortcut. In the blank field, copy the below path and press Enter.

%USERPROFILE%/AppData/Local/

3. In this folder, right-click and select “New → Folder” to create a new folder. Name the folder as “WTerminal”.

4. Now, copy the icon to the newly created folder.

5. Next, open the “Registry Editor” by searching for it in the start menu. In the Registry Editor, visit the following folder.

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\Background\shell\wt

6. Right-click on the right-panel and select the “New → String Value” option. Name the worth as “Icon”.

7. Double-click around the “Icon” value. In the value data field, copy the below path and click on the “Ok” button.

%USERPROFILE%/AppData/Local/WTerminal/terminal.ico

That’s it. Close the registry editor. In the future, you should also see the terminal icon next to the “Open Windows Terminal here” option.

This Manager with Fluent Design Is one thing Windows 10 Needs

Microsoft has further refined the Windows 10 Task Manager in the newest feature updates, but in relation to UI, very little is different, regardless of the OS itself slowly moving to some modern approach.

And while Task Manager is yet to get this visual treatment, the designers out there within the Windows community already realize how the app could be improved to align using the new direction that Windows 10 also embraced.

The concept that the thing is here envisions a Task Manager version that utilizes Fluent Design and a couple of new features, including a search box that allows users to look for running processes.

Looking box is without a doubt one of the features which should have been there in the beginning, and Microsoft must undoubtedly add it in a future update for that operating-system.

Not responding Photos app

Additionally, this Manager concept also proposes a clear indicator from the desktop where each app runs – if you are using multiple desktops, each process includes details in connection with this, as Task Manager displays global information for that active Windows instance.

The funny thing about this concept would be that the Photos app is displayed as Not responding, something that many Windows 10 adopters already got used to because of the high CPU usage of this application. Photos may be the default image viewer in Windows 10, and it comes with a rich feature lineup which includes photo and video editing capabilities. The app, however, is often among the top resource hogs on Windows.

Obviously, it’s important to keep in mind case an idea and there’s no guarantee Microsoft will make it happen. But such things as looking box in Task Manager is without a doubt something which Windows 10 really needs.

Microsoft Rolls Out January 2020 Firmware for Its Surface Laptop 3 – Update Now

Microsoft has made available the download links because of its January 2020 cumulative firmware and drivers pack directed at Surface Laptop 3 devices, which manages to improve system stability, light balance and contrast, audio performance, display brightness scenarios, and integration between system services.

However, bear in mind that there’s two installation packages available for download: one file suitable for configurations that include an AMD Processor, and the other suitable for Intel CPU systems.

When it comes to installation, save the downloadable file on your Surface unit, install all drivers included, and follow all instructions displayed on the screen for a complete and successful installation.

Still, don’t forget the packages are only suitable for Microsoft’s Windows 10 platform. Also, after applying the present release, it might be smart to reboot your tablet manually (otherwise requested automatically), to make sure all changes work properly.

However, if you choose the Windows Update Service, you’ll need to wait for the Surface unit to get this updated package. Through this particular service, all updates are supplied to customers in stages; thus, you might not receive it at this time.

With this thought, download Microsoft Surface Laptop 3 Firmware/Driver January 2020, do the installation, and check our website as frequently as possible, as we’ll help you stay posted when a newer update is available.

How to Connect AirPods to Windows 10 (In Easy steps)

If you have AirPods, you can connect them to your Windows 10 system and use them with it alongside your Apple products. Allow me to show the best way to get it done.

When compared with other wireless earbuds, AirPods are pretty simple to use and they’re way more portable due to their size and form factor. Generally, if you want to pair AirPods together with your iPhone or macOS, all you need to do is flip open the AirPods cap and tap or click a button. Apple achieves this using a special chip called W1 chipset which automatically does all the heavy lifting for you.

In contrast to your other Apple products, pairing AirPods with Windows 10 requires a couple more steps. That said, it is nothing hard. Stick to the below steps and you should have Windows 10 connected to AirPods in no time.

Note: For that below method to work, the body needs to have Bluetooth.

Steps to Connect AirPods to Windows 10

Since the AirPods also provide Bluetooth functionality included in it, we will make use of this feature to connect AirPods to Windows 10. Like I said before, it’s not going to be as seamless because it could be with Apple devices but it’s pretty easy.

1. First, flip open your AirPods case. Now, press and hold the pairing button before you see the white blinking light. Once the case light blinks, this means that it’s in pairing mode.

2. Now in Windows 10, open the PC Settings app by pressing the Win + I keyboard shortcut. Within the settings app, visit the “Devices → Bluetooth & other devices” page.

3. In this article, click the “Add Bluetooth or other devices” button appearing around the right page.

4. In the “Add a Device” menu, click on the “Bluetooth” option.

5. The above action will trigger the scanning process. When the scan is performed, you need to see your AirPods in the results list. From the list, select your AirPods.

If you don’t call at your AirPods in the Bluetooth devices list, make sure that your AirPods are still in pairing mode and try again.

That’s it. As soon as you select your AirPods, it will likely be combined with your Windows 10 system. Once the AirPods are connected, you can begin using it.

AirPods with Windows 10 – Wrap Up

From this point forward, your AirPods should automatically connect to Windows 10 with no manual intervention.

However, if you’ve connected to some other Bluetooth device then Windows might not automatically re-connect to AirPods in the next run. In those cases, you have to manually establish the connection. To do that, visit the “Bluetooth & other devices” page in the PC Settings app and select your AirPods underneath the “Audio” section.

That’s all. It is that easy for connecting AirPods to Windows 10.