Sofia Elizabella Wyciślik-Wilson

Microsoft warns that KB5003637 update for Windows 10 may prevent apps accessing event logs

Gold Microsoft sign

It is only a couple of days since Microsoft released KB5003637 update for Windows 10 on this month's Patch Tuesday. But the company has already issued a warning that after installing this particular update "apps accessing event logs on remote devices might be unable to connect".

The problem stems from apps that make use of legacy Event Logging APIs, and Microsoft says that the behavior is entirely expected. It also provides details of how to fix issues with accessing event logs.

Continue reading

Not interested in Windows 11's Sun Valley look? Give Windows 10 an old-fashioned makeover with RetroBar

RetroBar

While there is excitement building in many quarters about the impending announcement about Windows 11 (or whatever it ends up being called), Microsoft's updated operating system is not going to be of interest to everyone.

In fact, rather than looking to the future, many people prefer to look backwards. If you're feeling nostalgic and want a blast from the past, you can give Windows 10 something of an old-school makeover using RetroBar. This free and open-source utility lets you step back in time and give the taskbar the look of Windows 95, 98, Me, 2000 or XP.

Continue reading

Laplink launches PCmover Reconfigurator, a free tool for changing default Windows folder locations

Laplink PCmover Reconfigurator

It is very common for PCs to have two hard drives (often one SDD or NVMe storage, and one traditional mechanical drive) with the majority of these systems configured to have both Windows and the standard documents folders stored on the C: drive. Many users like the idea of moving Windows library folders such as Documents, Pictures and Videos to a different drive, but have no idea how to proceed.

This is precisely what PCmover Reconfigurator can help with. This is a free tool from Laplink that dramatically simplifies the process of making optimal usage of the storage devices you have.

Continue reading

Windows 10 users need to brace themselves for more irritating nags from Microsoft

Windows 10 laptop

Windows 10 users are not strangers to seeing annoying popups, ads and other irritants from Microsoft. The company has a long history of badgering people with nags about its services via pop-up messages and entries in the Start menu or taskbar. With an upcoming version of Edge, this is something that's set to continue.

In the latest dev build of Microsoft Edge, there is evidence that Microsoft is going to display a message to users inviting them to "make the web work for you". This is the company seeking permission from people to use their browsing histories and activities "to personalize Microsoft Edge and Microsoft services". In other words: telemetry.

Continue reading

Microsoft rebrands Windows Virtual Desktop as Azure Virtual Desktop

Microsoft headquarters

With remote working on the rise, cloud services and virtual desktop solutions have become increasingly important. This has been the case for Microsoft’s Windows Virtual Desktop since its public release about a year-and-a-half ago.

Originally targeted at enterprise users, Microsoft now has a broader vision for its cloud VDI platform. As such, Microsoft is adding new capabilities to the services, tweaking pricing, and rebranding it as Azure Virtual Desktop.

Continue reading

KB5003430 update is causing audio problems in Windows 10

Man crying while listening to music

People installing the KB5003430 update for Windows 10 are discovering that music files are becoming corrupted in certain circumstances.

The issue affects Windows 10 versions 2004 and 20H2, and it renders FLAC music files unplayable if metadata is edited. For anyone whose music collection has been borked, there is nothing that can be done to get back corrupted metadata (save restoring them from the backup you obviously have), but there is a workaround to prevent the problem from happening again, and it is possible to get mangled files playing once more.

Continue reading

Insiders miss out as Microsoft keeps its cards close to its chest in build up to Windows 11 announcements

Pause 11 button

Will it be Windows 11, Windows 365, WindowsOS or simply "Windows" that Microsoft reveals later this month as the successor to Windows 10? There's money being wagered on Windows 11, but we'll just have to hold out to see not only what the name is going to be, but also what the operating system has in terms of new features, tools and aesthetics.

Ordinarily jumping on the latest Insider builds of Windows gives a great way to see into the future. Eager users can try out preview builds ahead of the official update releases, but sadly this will not be the case ahead of the next major version of Windows.

Continue reading

FaceTime on Windows, FaceTime on Android: it's happening

FaceTime

At the WWDC 2021 keynote yesterday there was quite a lot to take in, with Apple revealing details of iOS 15 and macOS Monterey. But there were other big reveals too, including the news that using FaceTime will soon be possible on non-Apple platforms.

In what many will see as something of a surprise move, Apple announced that FaceTime is coming to web browsers. This means that it will be possible to FaceTime from Windows and FaceTime from Android. No specific mention was made of Linux, but with a browser-based version of FaceTime in the pipeline, there's no reason to think this won't be possible.

Continue reading

Microsoft will manually review all submissions to the Windows Package Manager (Winget) repository

Microsoft headquarters

Last week's official release of the final build of the Linux-style Windows Package Manager by Microsoft was met with great excitement from the community. But the company seems to have only belatedly spotted an issue with its Store alternative.

The problem is that the Windows Package Manager Manifest Creator tool makes it incredibly simple to submit new package to the repository. This has results in complaints that "people are submitting bad or duplicate manifests without checking if the app already exists or not"; Microsoft has come up with a vey hands-on solution.

Continue reading

KB5003214 update for Windows 10 is causing taskbar problems -- but there's a simple fix

Windows 10 laptop

If you have installed the recent KB5003214 update for Windows 10, you may well have noticed problems with icon in the taskbar. Microsoft released a preview version of this update last week, and many of the guineapigs who opted to install it have experienced issues.

KB5003214 is due for a full launch later this month on Patch Tuesday, but there are plenty of eager Windows 10 users who install preview updates as soon as they are available. One of the key aims of this update it to bring News and Interests to the taskbar, but there have been numerous reports of problems with taskbar icons

Continue reading

Microsoft releases the Linux-style Windows Package Manager v1.0 (Winget) as a Store alternative

Microsoft building logo

After months of testing and preview builds, Microsoft has finally released Windows Package Manager 1.0.

Also known as Winget, the utility serves as an alternative to the Microsoft Store, giving Windows 10 users a Linux-style package manager for finding, downloading and installing apps from software repositories.

Continue reading

Microsoft releases Windows Terminal 1.9 preview with new quake mode and more

Windows Terminal

This week is Windows Terminal's second birthday, and to celebrate Microsoft has released a new update that introduces a number of key changes and additions.

One of the biggest changes in Windows Terminal Preview 1.9 is the ability to set it as your default terminal emulator, but there are also changes to Settings -- which has an actual interface now rather than requiring JSON editing. On top of this, there is a new quake mode for easy Terminal access.

Continue reading

Microsoft releases preview version of KB5003212 update for Windows 10

Windows 10 logo on a beach

Microsoft has released a new update for Windows 10 version 1909, around a week-and-a-half after this edition of the operating system reached end of service.

KB5003212 is a preview version of a cumulative update that's currently available as an optional install ahead of a wider release. Although a non-security patch, this is still a key update that includes a number of important fixes.

Continue reading

Microsoft is finally ready to kill off Internet Explorer once and for all... for most people

Microsoft Edge on laptop and smartphone

Internet Explorer may be a stalwart of the world of web browsers, but it has also been an object of ridicule and derision for pretty much its entire life. Since the emergence of the Chromium-based Microsoft Edge, the writing has been on the wall for the browser just about everyone loves to hate, but IE has been lingering for longer than many people would have expected.

But now Microsoft is finally ready to pull the plug. Sort of. The company has announced that "the Internet Explorer 11 desktop application will be retired and go out of support on June 15, 2022, for certain versions of Windows 10". But what does this mean in practice, and will you be affected?

Continue reading

Microsoft no longer supports Windows 10 version 1809, but the lovely folk at 0patch do

Protected by 0patch

It's only a week since Microsoft stopped supporting some older versions of Windows 10 -- specifically the Home and Pro editions of Windows 10 versions 1803, 1809 and 1909 -- but it won't be long before the effects are felt.

While Windows 10 version 1809 reaching "end of servicing" means there will be no more official patches and updates from Microsoft, the operating system will not be left completely unsupported. For anyone unwilling or unable to upgrade to a more recent build of Windows 10, micro-patch service 0patch has stepped up to the plate to lend a hand.

Continue reading

© 1998-2024 BetaNews, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy - Cookie Policy.