updates
Outlook And The Never-Ending Password Prompt
This is a frustrating story of a poorly-defined bug with no solution. Feel free to look away if this doesn’t apply to you.
Starting a month ago, Outlook began prompting a few of my clients for passwords. It has been prompting them a lot. At its worst, Outlook password prompts are popping up every ten or fifteen minutes. […] continued
Read moreThe Fast And The Slow Of Windows 10 Updates
A few months ago, Microsoft announced that there will be two major updates for Windows 10 every year, in March and September. These are the big updates that bring Exciting New Features™, in addition to the regular monthly or more-than-monthly security updates. Microsoft said it is committed to making the update process “predictable.” So you know we can count on it! […] continued
Read moreWhat’s The Matter With Office?
The programs in Microsoft’s Office suite should be as solid as a rock. Lately that phrase doesn’t seem to mean what it used to mean.
The core Office programs are mature. They’re downright elderly. Microsoft Word and Excel are more than thirty years old. The Outlook program for Windows is 20 years old. […] continued
Read moreWhat To Look For In The Next Major Windows 10 Update
Microsoft will release the next major update for Windows 10 – version 1703, nicknamed “Creators Update” – starting April 11. There’s something important that I want you to watch.
It’s not anything new in Windows 10. Nothing important is updated or changed by the April version 1703 update. It’s a collection of fit and finish improvements, nothing more. […] continued
Read moreWhat To Do When Outlook 2016 Is Stuck On “Processing”
Let me tell you about an infuriating bug. It is pointless and stupid and represents Microsoft carelessness at its worst. It has existed for at least six months. It only affects a few people, but those people have no good way to discover how to fix it. I can find no pattern to explain when it appears. […] continued
Read moreStart10 Is Your Friend – Install It And Keep It Up To Date
If your Windows 10 computer displays an update notice for a new version of Start10, go ahead and install it. It’s safe.
This is your Windows 10 Start menu with Start10.
Start10 is a five dollar program from Stardock Software that replaces the Windows 10 Start menu with a start menu that looks exactly like Windows 7. […] continued
Read moreHappy Holidays From Bruceb Consulting!
My goodness. Pause for a deep breath.
By every measure that truly matters – personal, family, friends, relationships, community – 2016 was a glorious year for me. I sincerely hope you are the same – happy, healthy, rooted, and all your dreams coming true for you and loved ones.
Breathe deeply because by almost every other measure, 2016 was quite an unpleasant piece of work and 2017 will be worse. […] continued
Read moreWhy Windows 10 Won’t Connect To The Internet (Another Day, Another Microsoft Update Disaster)
If your computer won’t connect to the Internet, you might have run into a new Windows bug. It’s got all the classic symptoms of Microsoft bugs.
• It’s affecting a large number of people but we don’t know how many. Microsoft has posted an extraordinary banner on its support pages, which suggests it might be a widespread problem. […] continued
Read moreSecurity Tip: Replace, Upgrade And Secure Your Router
Pity the poor forgotten router. You have one in your house or your business. It’s your closest approach to the Internet. The router is the first line of defense that you trust to keep your computers safe. If they do their job, routers do not call attention to themselves and they’re easily overlooked, but they’re crucial to your Internet connection and your security. […] continued
Read moreWindows 10 Tip: Reclaim Disk Space With New Storage Tools
Everybody wants more storage space on their hard drive. One of the deeply buried improvements in Windows 10 Anniversary Update is an easy way to reclaim space used by temporary files and old updates.
The Anniversary Update is the major Windows 10 upgrade announced this summer, then delayed for several months. […] continued
Read moreThe Windows 10 Anniversary Update Update
Microsoft just keeps on making friends with its updates.
Anniversary Update is a major refresh of Windows 10 with new features, changes and improvements throughout the entire OS, and lots of bug fixes. All the details are here. The new features are just the teensiest bit underwhelming but there was reason to hope that the process was continuing to make Windows 10 a stable long-term platform. […] continued
Read moreMicrosoft May Not Recover From Losing Our Trust
Our relationship with technology is built on trust.
Self-inflicted errors are causing Microsoft to lose our trust.
A series of bugs has emerged in updates to Windows 10. Chances are none of them have affected you directly. But the indirect effect is longer lasting and arguably more damaging: each one chips away at your belief that Microsoft should be trusted as your technology provider. […] continued
Read moreUpdates From Microsoft Spiral Out Of Control
Microsoft has had a bad month. In this article I’ll tell you about some of the problems with recent updates from Microsoft. In the next article, I’ll take a broader look at the long-term corrosive effects of a breakdown in Microsoft’s internal controls for approving updates.
Let me start, though, with a word of caution. […] continued
Read moreWhat You Need To Know About Windows 10 Anniversary Update
Microsoft released the Anniversary Update for Windows 10 on Tuesday. Your Windows 10 computers will be automatically updated. Eventually.
Here’s what you need to know.
• What is the Anniversary Update?
• When will you get the Anniversary Update?
• What’s new in the Anniversary Update?
• Are there any snarky examples of things that look stupid? […] continued
Read moreThe Pain Of Windows 10 Updates
Windows 10 updates are driving me crazy. Well, so are lots of things, but the update process has become a persistent annoyance. Let me gripe about my experiences a bit, then I’ll give you a suggestion that might ease the pain.
Microsoft changed the update process in Windows 10. System updates (including drivers) are now mandatory for anyone running Windows 10. […] continued
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