Month: October 2019

Microsoft Offers Workaround for Windows 10 Cumulative Update KB4515384 OOBE Bug

KB4515384 is among the buggiest Windows 10 cumulative updates in a long time, and this week, Microsoft mitigated another issue hitting devices where it’s installed.

The company acknowledged the From Box Experience, also referred to as OOBE, may be hit with a bug preventing users to create local accounts when using certain languages. The software giant says the following:

“When setting up a new Windows device using the Out of Box Experience (OOBE), you may be unable to create a local user when using Input Method Editor (IME). This issue might affect you if you are using the IME for Chinese, Japanese, or Korean languages.”

Unsurprisingly, the issue has no effect on users who create Microsoft Accounts or set up Windows 10 with one during OOBE.

Workaround already available

While on Windows 10 version 1903 cumulative update KB4515384 is the one to blame, the issue actually exists on several Windows 10 versions that received an update on September 10, including the following:
Windows 10 version 1903
Windows 10 version 1809
Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC 2019
Windows 10 version 1803
Windows 10 version 1709
Windows Server version 1903
Windows Server version 1809
Windows Server 2019
Windows Server version 1803
Windows Server version 1709

Microsoft says it’s currently focusing on a fix, and this is going live in late November, which means it won’t be published on November 12 once the company ships new cumulative updates included in the monthly Patch Tuesday cycle.

Meanwhile, users can deal with this by changing the word what during OOBE, setting a local account, and then changing to whatever language they need. Microsoft says this is actually the only workaround that exists right now, also it should do the secret for everyone hitting this issue until the company comes up with a full fix.

Microsoft’s Windows 10 Action Center Fix Stops working the experience Center

Microsoft has recently resolved the Action Center transparency bug in Windows 10, but because it turns out, this fix actually causes a different Action Center issue that once seen can’t be unseen.

Earlier this year, Windows 10 was hit by a transparency issue that caused the acrylic effect to load following the launching animation from the Action Center was complete, meaning the whole process was easily noticeable every time the experience Center was clicked.

Windows 10 build 19002 finally resolved this problem, restoring the normal behavior of the Action Center and fixing the transparency and the acrylic effect loading glitch ahead of the public launch of the 20H1 feature update next year.

New fix, new bug

But because redddit user Leopeva64-2 notes inside a new post, the transparency fix might have caused a misalignment issue in the latest preview build.

Based on his findings, the width from the quick action tiles hasn’t been adjusted, meaning they’re no more aligned using the “Clear all notifications” text that you could see in the Action Center.

A GIF comparing the experience Center settings in Windows 10 build 19002 and 18999 shows this indeed seems to be the situation, albeit the fix could also get down to the experience Center itself lowering the overall width when being expanded.

Windows 10 20H1 is due in the spring of 2020, but there’s additionally a chance that the fix is backported to Windows 10 19H2 and released to any or all production devices within the coming weeks.

However, because of the transparency fix results in other glitches, there’s a chance Microsoft waits for any full patch before rolling it to everyone, so I’m guessing a future cumulative update has more chances to restore the correct behavior of the Action Center in production builds of Windows 10.

How you can Disable the Windows 10 Password Prompt on Wake from Sleep

You leave behind your computer for some minutes so when you return it’s gone to sleep to save power. You wake up and you need to enter passwords again. That’s annoying, particularly if you are waking your computer all day long as you close and open its lid when you walk around your home or office.

Fortunately, you can disable password prompts on wake-from-sleep in Windows 10, without disabling password prompts at startup. So, when you turn your computer on also it boots up, you will need to enter your password but or else you won’t.

It almost is obvious that, if you change this setting, anyone can access your computer if they wake it up from sleep. However, if you’re confident that strangers can’t grab your laptop, the benefit may outweigh the risk. Here’s how you can disable passwords on wake in Windows 10.

1. Navigate to the Settings menu. You will get there by clicking the gear icon on the Start menu.

2. Select Accounts

3. Click Sign-in Options within the left pane.

4. Select Never from Require sign-in recption menus.

Three Things You Need to understand about Windows 10 Version 1803’s Terminal

Microsoft isn’t only on the point of introduce a new Windows 10 feature update but additionally to retire a classic one, with both moments likely projected to take place on November 12.

To begin with, Microsoft will debut Windows 10 November 2019 Update, also referred to as version 1909 or 19H2, in the coming weeks. Microsoft has already confirmed that the final build is prepared, and right now, the company’s only further polishing it with cumulative updates occasionally released to Windows insiders in the Release Preview ring.

But at the same time, Microsoft can also be paving the way in which for the demise of Windows 10 April 2018 Update, or version 1803, which will be retired on November 12.

The next Patch Tuesday would be the last for version 1803, based on Microsoft’s release schedule. And because so many devices still run this version at this time, listed here are the three most significant things that you should know about the November 12 milestone.

Only Home and Pro SKUs will be retired

Microsoft is only going to discontinue the Home and Pro SKUs of Windows 10 version 1803, using the Enterprise and Education editions to be serviced for one more year.

So while Windows 10 version 1803 Home and Pro (and Pro for Workstations) goes dark on November 12 this year, devices running Enterprise and Education versions will receive updates until November 10, 2020.

This doesn’t necessarily mean that you should proceed to one of these simple two editions to continue getting updates, when you are recommended to upgrade the unit to the latest Windows 10 feature update.

Right now, this latest update is Windows 10 version 1903, but because I said earlier, Microsoft will even debut version 1909 in a couple weeks.

Update notifications are really the

Although some users complain of forced upgrades from Windows 10 version 1803 to Windows 10 version 1903, there’s a chance this occurs only on unusual occasions.

However, Microsoft does display upgrade notifications on devices running Windows 10 version 1803. These notifications are powered by the Update Assistant and emphasize that you are not running the latest version of Windows 10.

Microsoft acknowledged this behavior in a tech support document and explains the next:

“If you’re currently running Windows 10 version 1507, version 1511, version 1607, version 1703, version 1709, or version 1803, you will probably get a notification that states that your device must have the latest security updates installed and then offers to update your device.”

There’s no reason not to upgrade

There’s really not good reason to not upgrade to a newer Windows 10 version, as compatibility issues shouldn’t be considered a concern.

Previously, nearly all users decided to stick to Windows 10 version 1803 mostly because its successor, Windows 10 October 2019 Update, turned out to be rather buggy, with several critical issues discovered by people who installed it. The most important bug even triggered the removal of the update for over a month after Microsoft discovered that the upgrade can lead to removing user files kept in libraries on some devices.

Windows 10 version 1903, however, proves to be much more reliable, and also the quantity of bugs within this released continues to be reduced substantially.

Moreover, given that the upcoming November 2019 Update is much more of a service pack and not an element update per se, it comes with much more refinements underneath the hood, thus further enhance performance and reliability.

Of course, the upgrade to a newer Windows 10 version is totally free of charge as long as you’re already running Windows 10 in your device.

Microsoft Allegedly Forcing the Upgrade to Windows 10 Version 1903 on Some PCs

Windows 10 version 1803 is projected to reach no more support in just 30 days, and based on a brand new report, Microsoft might once more turn to tricky tactics to upgrade devices towards the latest Windows 10 release.

Devices running Windows 10 version 1803 already see an end-of-support notification in Windows Update, but despite this warning, Windows 10 version 1903, or Windows 10 May 2019 Update, shouldn’t be automatically downloaded and installed anyway.

But according to a study published by Woody Leonhard on CW, this really is what’s happening despite users repeatedly denying the upgrade.

Forced upgrades?

The report cites one user whose device wound up running Windows 10 version 1903 following the update was pushed by the Update Assistant, despite the prompt to upgrade was closed a minimum of once or twice.

“Yet later I had been remoting to another machine to backup an Oracle VBox VMDK (virtual drive) and forgot about UpdateAssistant. After i checked back on the Desktop it had been too late – the Upgrade was underway. I believe KB4023814 was accountable for UpdateAssistant running amok,” the user explains according to the linked source.

Forced upgrades shouldn’t at all happen on devices running Windows 10 version 1803, not really with the end of support date coming. Based on Microsoft’s lifecycle calendar, Windows 10 version 1803 is projected to become retired for Home and Pro SKUs on November 12, after which only Enterprise and Education SKUs could be supported.

Meanwhile, Microsoft gets prepared to unveil a brand new Windows 10 feature update, and also the rumored date can also be November 12, the same day when Windows 10 version 1803 is going to be retired.

Codenamed Windows 10 November 2019 Update, this release is currently available for Windows insiders in the Fast ring, and Microsoft says the stable build was already finalized.

How you can Delete a Locked File in Windows 10

When you run right into a locked folder in Windows 10, the system won’t permit you to do anything with it — open it up, delete it, or move it — with no password. For folders that you didn’t lock, finding the password often isn’t a choice. You can’t open these folders, however, you can delete them — despite the fact that an easy right-click “Delete” won’t work, nor will the delete button.

It ought to be noted, however, that deleting these files could ruin your system if you’re not sure why they’re there in the first place. Proceed with caution.

1. Locate the folder you intend to delete. I don’t have any locked folders I’m willing to delete, so let’s create an unlocked folder — and refer to it as SkypeHost.exe (a duplicate of an actual locked file) — with regard to the tutorial. It works exactly the same, however, you can simply as easily remove this folder with the delete button.

2. Download Process Explorer from Microsoft’s website, and press OK around the pop-up window.

3. Double click processexp64 to extract the file.

4. Choose Extract All.

5. Click Open.

6. Double click the procexp64 application to open the applying.

7. Select Run.

8. Browse the terms and press the Agree button.

9. In the Process Explorer window, choose File > Show Details for All Processes.

10. Permit the app to make changes by pressing the Yes button.

11. Go the the Find menu at the top and choose Find Handle or DLL.

12. Enter in the file name striking Search.

13. Right click the process in the bottom from the Process Explorer screen and select Close Handle. If there are multiple processes right here, you’ll need to repeat this step to close these.

14. Delete the file as you would normally.

Microsoft Fixes Windows Defender Transparency Bug in Latest Windows 10 Build

The newest Windows 10 20H1 preview build introduces a brand new transparency bug fix following the company previously resolved a similar problem hitting the Action Center.

This new fix, however, is specifically aimed at Windows Defender, as quite a few users experienced a weird behavior with icons featuring fully black backgrounds with no transparency whatsoever.

As you can tell within the screenshot here, that we took on Windows 10 build 18995, additionally a preview of Windows 10 20H1, all menu icons in Windows Defender have a dark background once they were designed to feature full transparency.

Microsoft didn’t acknowledge this issue in the known issues section of the previous Windows 10 20H1 preview builds and didn’t mention the fix within the release notes of the latest build for Fast ring insiders.

Fix included in latest preview build

As reddit user Leopeva64-2 notes, the fix is available in Windows 10 build 19008, but Microsoft hasn’t said just one word about it. I can make sure things are now looking and dealing correctly in the latest update for insiders in the Fast ring, using the expected behavior now available.

Windows 10 20H1 continues to be in testing stage, and Microsoft is projected to finalize it early in the year of 2020, most likely in March. Based on the typical release schedule, the debut happen in April or May as version 2003.

Bugs like these are something to be expected given we’re still within the development phase from the update, even when Microsoft never acknowledges them. The good thing is that fixes arrive rather fast every time, so hopefully a smoother experience would be provided once the 20H1 feature update reaches the RTM stage.

You can download the most recent Windows 10 20H1 preview build by signing up for the short ring from the Windows Insider program today.

Microsoft’s Browser Are now able to Sync Open Tabs Between Devices

The most recent build of Microsoft Edge within the Dev channel introduces a brand new option to allow the syncing of open tabs between devices.

In other words, the important tabs within an instance of Microsoft Edge may be easily delivered to another device in which the browser is installed to seamlessly switch from one computer to a different. Once this selection is enabled, you are able to check out the history section in the Microsoft Edge menu to see the tabs imported from other devices.

Worth noting, however, would be that the feature doesn’t yet offer the mobile form of Microsoft Edge browser, but I’m guessing it’s just a matter of time until the Android sibling gets similar functionality.

Edge stable “leaked”

Additionally, Microsoft Edge Dev build 79.0.308.1 also brings back PDF annotation, while also introducing support for implementing pens to move and resize windows.

There are other smaller refinements too, including a small tag that’s displayed within the tooltip when you’re running Microsoft Edge in InPrivate or Guest mode and you however the icon in the taskbar. There’s also more links to documentation in F12 Dev Tools, along with the ability to edit the names of items in Collections.

As almost every other build, this week’s update has a large amount of fixes, including for crashes that occurred when signing in to the browser.

The 2009 week, the download links for the stable form of Microsoft Edge went live on Microsoft’s servers, and many believe that we’re getting nearer to the moment the software giant releases its browser for production devices.

While the official announcement in connection with this is not yet available, recent leaks have indicated that the Chromium-based Microsoft Edge turn into the brand new default in the Windows 10 20H1 feature update, which based on the company’s release calendar is project to launch in the spring of 2020.

Does Windows 10 Really should Get Rid of Windows 95 Era Icons?

Microsoft happens to be in the process of refreshing the whole icon occur Windows 10, even though the company doesn’t appear to be in a hurry to bring them to production devices, new versions are occasionally discovered.

More recently, Microsoft started work on Fluent Design-based icons for additional apps that come pre-loaded in Windows 10, like Calendar, Weather, yet others, especially since the organization will introduce a brand-new OS specifically aimed foldable and dual-screen devices.

The program would be to launch Windows 10X having a modern set of icons in the beginning, so by the time this new OS version has got the green light, the refresh should already be complete.

But simultaneously, you will find loads of other icons in Windows 10 that might require a facelift, and they aren’t necessarily utilized by apps. They belong to file formats and other components of Windows, and lots of seem to be dated from the Windows 95 era.

Within the last couple of months, I’ve heard plenty of users requesting Microsoft to refresh the entire icon pack in Windows 10 with Fluent Design elements.

Indeed, Fluent Design has become at the core of all things in Windows 10, and many of the visual facelifts happening lately are based on this language. At some level, it makes total sense, especially because using one design language for everything, including not only apps but additionally icons and others, can help attain the higher level of consistency that software designers are aiming for.

But while new icons would make Windows 10 overall feel more modern, legacy icons should be there for one reason alone: backward compatibility.

Windows 10 is an operating-system for everybody, and despite to be the latest and greatest in terms of Microsoft operating systems, it’s also the platform that may run apps built for nearly all its predecessors.

Quite simply, for those who have an app that was developed for Windows XP, there’s a very good chance it runs flawlessly on Windows 10 too. And this doesn’t stop here, as some companies run Windows 95-era apps on Windows 10 devices with zero compatibility issues.

Windows 7 is living proof based on how advanced Windows 10’s backward compatibility is really. Based on Microsoft, 99% of the apps developed for Windows 7 should operate on Windows 10 with zero modifications, and for enterprises, this is something that’s extremely valuable.

These icons are thus here to assist ensure backward compatibility and lend users a hand using their day-to-day activities which involve these old apps.

Initially, Microsoft should just stick to a mix forwards and backwards: modern icons that would perfectly fit the company’s newly discovered apps and elements that are part of the new-generation push, in addition to legacy icons for older apps dating in the Windows 95 era.

At some level, this is what’s happening right now in Windows 10, but users keep with Microsoft to restyle the older icons as well.

The next major feature update for Windows 10 may be the 20H1 release, which according to the typical calendar, is due in the spring of 2020. The existing preview builds available for insiders are not equipped with substantial changes in terms of icon design, so it remains to be seen if Microsoft wants to eliminate the old icons or otherwise.

For what it’s worth, enterprises are most likely all right using the existing sets of icons, and given Microsoft’s increased concentrate on this side from the market, I wouldn’t be surprised when the old icons would just stay there for considerably longer than we anticipated.

Microsoft Finally Fixes Transparency Bug in Windows 10 After So Many Months

It took too many months to do this, but it’s probably better late than never: Microsoft has resolved a bug in Windows 10 that caused the acrylic effect in the Action Center to load following the opening animation finishes.

In other words, clicking the Action Center, its interface launches in the right side from the screen, and only then the acrylic effect is applied, resulting in a rather unrefined experienced overall.

The very first time I complained about this problem was in May 2019 after i wrote that both Action Center and also the Start menu were impacted by the very same issue.

A GIF which i posted within the article linked above shows the bug happening within the Start menu, using the acrylic effect loading after the opening animation finishes.

The problem was just experienced in Windows 10 version 1903, but there’s an opportunity it existed in older feature updates too.

Only available in Windows 10 20H1 for the time being

In the release notes of Windows 10 build 19002 for Fast ring insiders, the company explains that the fix is now available.

‘We fixed an issue resulting the acrylic effect within the Action Center only appearing following the Action Center opening animation had finished,’ the firm explains within the changelog.

The only problem is that this fix is currently available only for users within the Insider program and running preview builds of the Windows 10 feature update due in the spring of 2020. Microsoft has previously backported some improvements to earlier Windows 10 versions, so hopefully this is what happens when it comes to this fix as well.

The company is projected to produce a new feature update for Windows 10 next month. However, the so-called Windows 10 November 2019 Update does not include this fix at this time, albeit Microsoft continues to have lots of time to look after this when the public rollout begins.