-
Recently Browsing 0 members
No registered users viewing this page.
-
Similar Content
-
By indospot
Patch Tuesday: Here's what's new for Windows 7 and 8.1
by João Carrasqueira
Today is the second Tuesday of April, and with it, Microsoft is once again releasing new updates for all supported versions of Windows, including Windows 10, Windows 8.1, and Windows 7 - as long as you're a business paying for extended security updates.
As usual, there are two types of updates for both Windows 8.1 and Windows 7, as well as their server counterparts - a monthly rollup that's usually installed automatically and a security-only update that you have to install manually.
Starting with Windows 8.1, the monthly rollup update is KB5001382 and you can download it manually here. It includes the following changes:
There's nothing new in terms of known issues, but the one we've been saying for a while now is still here:
Symptom Workaround Certain operations, such as rename, that you perform on files or folders that are on a Cluster Shared Volume (CSV) may fail with the error, “STATUS_BAD_IMPERSONATION_LEVEL (0xC00000A5)”. This occurs when you perform the operation on a CSV owner node from a process that doesn’t have administrator privilege. Do one of the following:
Perform the operation from a process that has administrator privilege. Perform the operation from a node that doesn’t have CSV ownership. Microsoft is working on a resolution and will provide an update in an upcoming release.
As for the security-only update, that's labeled KB5001393 and you can download it manually here. It only includes the following:
It has the same known issue as the monthly rollup.
Moving on to Windows 7, the monthly rollup update is KB5001335 and you can download it manually here. It includes the following changes:
It has the same known issue as the updates above.
Finally, the security-only update for Windows 7 is KB5001392 and you can download it manually here. It also has the same known issue as the other updates, and includes these changes:
As a reminder, only select users are eligible to get updates for Windows 7, since it's no longer supported for the general public. Also, as mentioned at the start, the monthly rollup updates will generally install automatically over time, but you can install them manually if you prefer. The security-only updates can only be installed manually using the links above.
-
By indospot
Windows 10 version 21H1 is coming - here's what to expect
by João Carrasqueira
Spring is one of the two seasons of the year when Microsoft typically releases a new feature update for Windows 10, and that means we're due for another one soon. Microsoft has already been testing the next feature update - known as version 21H1 - for a while now, and it shouldn't be too long before it becomes publicly available. As such, it's time for yet another roundup of what's new in this update, but before we get into that, you may want to check out all the changes that have been made in previous Windows 10 updates:
Windows 10 May 2019 Update (version 1903) Windows 10 November 2019 Update (version 1909) Windows 10 May 2020 Update (version 2004) Windows 10 October 2020 Update (version 20H2) Moving to version 21H1, there's some background required here. For the past couple of years, Microsoft has released a major feature update in the spring (see versions 1903 and 2004) and a smaller update focused on refinements and smaller improvements in the fall (versions 1909 and 20H2). These updates are delivered through enablement packages, meaning the actual bits in the fall updates are the same as the spring update, but they have an enablement package that makes certain features light up. The spring and fall updates each year even receive the exact same cumulative updates every month.
This time, however, the spring update - version 21H1 - is yet another enablement package update, meaning it's only lighting up certain changes that are already hidden in version 2004 and 20H2. In fact, this is the smallest feature update Windows 10 has had, and it can hardly be considered a "feature update". It's only here to line up with Microsoft's usual timeframe for these updates. So what exactly is new?
Windows Hello
First off, there are improvements to Windows Hello so that if you have a device with a Windows Hello camera built-in but you plug in another Windows Hello-compatible camera, you can now set the external camera as the default for Windows Hello authentication. This could be useful, for example, if you buy a monitor that has a camera built into it.
Windows Defender Application Guard
This update also includes performance improvements to Windows Defender Application Guard (WDAG), including a fix for an issue where opening some Office documents could cause delays of over one minute. This would happen if the file was accessed through a Universal Naming Convention (UNC) path or Server Message Block (SMB) share link.
The performance of Robocopy has also been improved when copying files totalling more than 400MB in size. Finally, an issue where a WDAG container may use nearly 1GB of memory while idle was fixed.
Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI)
Finally, Microsoft has made some improvements to the Group Policy Service in Windows Management Instrumentation in order to accommodate remote work scenarios. Before, it may have taken some time for changes to user or computer groups to propagate, which meant the results of changes to group policies weren't shown when the administrator attempted to generate a report.
Yes, that's really all there is to this update, and you may have noticed that most of the changes have something to do with remote work. Microsoft says it isn't releasing a big feature update this spring because of COVID-19, and the updates it did make are meant to address the most pressing requests it heard from its customers.
But another reason there are no big features in this update is that Windows 10X was supposed to release this spring, and Microsoft was set to focus on it for now. Microsoft is said to be saving the big changes for the fall update, including a visual overhaul for Windows 10, codenamed Sun Valley. We've seen some of those visual changes show up in new builds for Windows Insiders recently, like new icons found in places like the Settings app, new icons in File Explorer, and a whole new experience for touch keyboards.
Some of the icons coming with version 21H2 later this year However, some recent reports have pointed to Windows 10X being delayed as well, and with Microsoft not having communicated anything about it, it's not completely clear what's going to happen with Windows 10 this year.
For now, Windows 10 version 21H1 should be releasing soon, and even if it doesn't bring much that's new, it should at least be safe to install considering it doesn't bring any big changes. Microsoft does say version 21H1 will remove the Edge Legacy browser from the operating system, but in reality, that's being removed from older versions of Windows 10 with a cumulative update in April, too.
Are you planning on installing Windows 10 version 21H1 as soon as it's available? Let us know in the comments.
-
By indospot
Intel-powered Surface Laptop 3 is getting new driver updates
by João Carrasqueira
Microsoft is starting March off with plenty of updates for its Surface devices. After both the first- and second-generation Surface Laptops, then the Surface Go and Laptop Go devices, it's now time for the Surface Laptop 3 to get its share of new drivers. Unlike the other devices, though, the Surface Laptop 3 has two major configuration options - those with Intel processors or those with AMD.
The updates rolling out today are for the Surface Laptop 3 models that have Intel CPUs. Those can be found in the 13.5-inch variant, as well inside the Surface Laptop 3 for Business, which comes in a 15-inch size too.
The list of updates is fairly lengthy and it shares many similarities with those for other devices in terms of the changes they bring. Improvements to audio performance, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and even Cortana's voice activation are in tow. Here's the full list:
Windows Update History Name Device Manager Name Update Intel Corporation - System - 10.24.0.4813 Intel(R) Smart Sound Technology (Intel(R) SST) Audio Controller - System devices Improves audio performance and battery life.
Intel Corporation - System - 10.24.4813.245 Intel(R) Smart Sound Technology (Intel(R) SST) OED - System devices Improves audio performance and battery life.
Intel - net - 22.20.0.6 Intel(R) WiFi 6 AX201 160MHz - Network adapters Improves Wi-Fi reliability and stability.
Intel - Bluetooth - 22.20.1.1 Intel(R) Wireless Bluetooth - Bluetooth Improves Bluetooth reliability and stability.
Realtek Semiconductor Corp. - SoftwareComponent - 11.0.6000.92 Realtek Hardware Support Application - Software components Improves audio performance and device stability.
Realtek Semiconductor Corp. - Extension - 6.1.0.9 Realtek Device Extension - Extn Improves integration between system services.
Realtek Semiconductor Corp. - Media - 6.0.9083.3 Realtek High Definition Audio (SST) - Sound, video, and game controllers Improves audio performance and device stability.
Intel Corporation - System - 1.0.1709.0 Detection Verification - System devices Improves Cortana voice activation scenarios.
Surface - Security - 7.2.2.0 Surface Trusted Platform Module 2.0 - Security devices Addresses security updates and improves system stability.
In order to get the updates - and stop us if you've heard this before - you'll need to be running Windows 10 version 1903 or newer. Version 1903 fell out of the support lifecycle back in December, so you should already be running a newer version anyway. Also, updates like this may roll out in phases, so not everyone will get them immediately.
-
By indospot
Surface Go and Laptop Go get new firmware updates
by João Carrasqueira
Hot on the heels of the first- and second-generation Surface Laptop getting an array of firmware and driver updates last week, Microsoft is also rolling out a handful of updates for the Surface Go, Go 2, and Laptop Go, its more affordable lineup of devices.
The lists of updates are fairly long for all three of the devices, but the Surface Go and Surface Go 2 share a few similarities in terms of the updates they're getting. Here's what you'll see on a Surface Go 2:
Windows Update History Name Device Manager Name Update Intel Corporation - Display - 27.20.100.8681 Intel(R) UHD Graphics 615 Improves graphics and system stability.
Intel Corporation - Extension - 27.20.100.8681 Intel(R) Graphics Driver - Extension Addresses security updates and improves system stability.
Intel - System - 2040.100.0.1029 Intel(R) Management Engine Interface - System devices Addresses security updates and improves system stability.
Intel – SoftwareComponent - 1.62.321.1 Intel(R) ICLS Client - Software devices Addresses security updates and improves system stability.
Intel - Extension - 1952.14.0.1470 Intel(R) Management Engine Interface - Extension Improves integration between system services.
Surface - System - 1.0.13.0 Surface Setting - System devices Resolves system orientation issue.
Surface - Firmware - 11.8.82.3838 Surface ME - Firmware
Addresses security updates and improves system stability.
Surface – Firmware – 1.0.1.4 Surface UEFI – Firmware Addresses security updates and improves system stability.
Do note that Microsoft's page appears to have some typos, such as saying "Intel(R) - Cooperation", instead of Intel Corporation. We've fixed those in the list above.
If you have a first-generation Surface Go, the first three updates above will still apply, but the remaining ones have some differences. Here's what you'll see instead:
Windows Update History Name Device Manager Name Update Intel - Extension - 1.62.321.1 Intel(R) ICLS Client - Extension Addresses security updates and improves system stability.
Intel – SoftwareComponent - 1952.14.0.1470 Intel(R) ICLS Client - Software devices Addresses security updates and improves system stability.
Surface – Firmware – 1.1.20.0 Surface UEFI – Firmware (LTE) Addresses security updates and improves system stability.
Surface – Firmware – 1.0.30.0
Surface UEFI – Firmware (WiFi) Addresses security updates and improves system stability.
Surface - Firmware - 11.8.82.3838 Surface ME - Firmware Addresses security updates and improves system stability.
The Surface Laptop Go has significantly different hardware from the other two devices, so the list of updates is also quite different. While some of the updates are also about overall stability, there are more specific ones like improvements to Wi-Fi and Bluetooth stability, audio performance, and battery life. Here's the full list:
Windows Update History Name Device Manager Name Update Intel Corporation - System - 10.24.0.4813 Intel(R) Smart Sound Technology (Intel(R) SST) OED - System devices Improves audio performance and battery life.
Intel Corporation - System - 10.24.4813.245 Intel(R) Smart Sound Technology (Intel(R) SST) OED - System devices Improves audio performance and battery life.
Realtek Semiconductor Corp. - Media - 6.0.9083.3 Realtek High Definition Audio(SST) - Sound, video, and game controllers Improves audio performance and device stability.
Realtek Semiconductor Corp. - SoftwareComponent - 11.0.6000.92 Realtek Hardware Support Application - Software components Improves audio performance and device stability.
Realtek Semiconductor Corp. - Extension - 6.1.0.9 Realtek Device Extension - Extn Improves integration between system services.
Surface - System - 29.30.139.0 Surface Integration - System devices Improves integration between system services.
Intel - net - 22.20.0.6 Intel(R) WiFi 6 AX201 160MHz - Network adapters Improves Wi-Fi reliability and stability.
Intel - Bluetooth - 22.20.1.1 Intel(R) Wireless Bluetooth - Bluetooth Improves Bluetooth reliability and stability.
There are no known issues noted in Microsoft's update list for any of the three devices, so it should be safe to go ahead. As per usual, you'll need to be running Windows 10 version 1903 or newer to get the updates, and that shouldn't be much of a problem since that version of Windows 10 is no longer supported and you should have a newer version by now.
As a reminder, these updates can roll out gradually, so you may not see them on your device right away. They should show up sooner rather than later, though.
-
By indospot
Surface Laptop 1 and 2 get new firmware and driver updates
by João Carrasqueira
It's time once again for a new batch of Surface firmware and driver updates from Microsoft. The company is rolling out a handful of new updates for both the first and second generations of the Surface Laptop, and as tends to be the case, the focus is on improving the overall stability of the system.
The list of updates is nearly identical for the two devices, though there are a couple of differences. For the first-generation Surface Laptop, you'll be seeing these updates:
Windows Update History Name Device Manager Name Update Intel Corporation – Display – 27.20.100.8682 Intel(R) HD Graphics – Display adapters Improves graphics and system stability.
Intel - Extension - 1952.14.0.1470 Intel(R) ICLS Client - Extension
Addresses security updates and improves system stability.
Intel – SoftwareComponent - 1.62.321.1 Intel(R) ICLS Client - Software devices Addresses security updates and improves system stability.
Intel - System - 2040.100.0.1029 Intel(R) Management Engine Interface - System devices Addresses security updates and improves system stability.
Surface - Firmware - 11.8.82.3838 Surface ME - Firmware
Addresses security updates and improves system stability.
If you have a Surface Laptop 2, the first update on that list is replaced by version 27.20.100.8681, but the update notes are the same. You also get an additional update:
Windows Update History Name Device Manager Name Update Intel Corporation – Extension – 27.20.100.8681 Intel® Display Graphics Adapter Driver - Extension Addresses security updates and improves system stability.
Neither device has any known issues noted by Microsoft after these updates. As per usual, you'll need to be running Windows 10 version 1903 or newer for the updates to show up, but you should already be doing that considering version 1903 has been unsupported since December. It's also worth noting that the updates may roll out gradually, so you may not get it right away.
-
Recommended Posts