Windows 10 version 200nineerrum…20H2 is here!

So…who can tell me which screenshot is real or fake?  Who know what the long term vision is for Microsoft when it comes to the naming conventions of their Windows 10 operating systems but what we do know is that the latest version of the flagship OS is ready for downloading and installation…that is of course, you’re feeling a bit daring at this moment.  Good luck and let us know how the install went… 🙂

Issues with MS Edge crashing

 

So I personally dealt with this issue for at least two weeks and didn’t have the slightest clue as to what could be causing Edge to crash randomly.  I checked everything I possibly could: checked the version number, uninstalled and reinstalled, tried different websites, even tried using in safe mode with networking!

And then I come across this post from Brad Sams…

If you have Google set as the default engine and try to type in the search bar, the browser may crash. The problem is related to “Search Suggestions” and when that API is called, the browser crashing instantly.

I am seeing it on my dev and release channel builds of the browser. If you have been experiencing this issue, you can navigate to edge://settings/search and turn off the feature as a workaround.

And low and behold…I always set Google as my default search engine no matter what browser I use so umm yeah…I guess I should be happy the problem was identified and fixed.

AIO Antivirus Removal Tool

One of my favorite freeware sites, OlderGeeks.com, has come across another great utility which can remove any brand of antivirus software that could possibly be installed on any PC.

Gone are the days of scouring the web or said antivirus company’s websites looking for a particular removal tool when you can just grab this all in one beauty here, save time, and get the job done effectively.  Just don’t forget to install the new A/V software that’s replacing the old one!

M365 > O365

You may remember my previous post here discussing how Microsoft was going to shift all relevant branding to Microsoft 365 as much as possible.

As this updated article from Gregg Keizer at Computerworld states:

For Microsoft, it’s a case of out with the old, in with the new.  For users, it’s a recipe for confusion.

Even though it may be a change that’s better in the long run, there will be growing pains as Microsoft’s “stakeholders” adjust to the strategy.

Check out the full article here for more details and examples of just how much things have changes in Microsoft’s Office 365…oh wait, I screwed up! lol…I meant to say Microsoft’s 365 ecosystem (sigh for the confusion).

Kill Bloatware in Windows 10

For those of you always looking for tools to help keep your Windows 10 PC squeaky clean, take a look at SharpApp.  Its goal is to simplify the process of removing unnecessary programs which in turn aim to make your PC more secure while hardening certain privacy settings.

As stated on SharpApp’s GitHub repository:

“SharpApp is a free and portable tool building upon a PowerShell engine and community powered script files for disabling telemetry functions in Windows 10, uninstalling preinstalled apps, installing software packages and automating Windows tasks with integrated PowerShell scripting.”

Lawrence Abrams at BleepingComputer.com has the full post here…Check it out and give SharpApp a try!

More useful apps for working from home

Just came across an article by Keith Shaw from Computerworld.com discussing all the video conferencing and screen sharing tools available to us during this time where almost all of Earth is working from home.

Some of them are well known while other lesser known ones may be worth giving a try…check out the article here and let me know which ones you’ve used or plan on using.

Free remote tools being offered amid Coronavirus

Just came across a useful post at Bleepingcomputer.com revealing how many companies are offering their remote support tools free for a limited time given how Coronavirus is gripping the world and is forcing the employees of many corporations and small businesses to have to work remotely.

Microsoft, Google, LogMeIn (my remote support tool), and Cisco are leading the way in offering their products.  Check out the full post here for more details and let me know if you plan on taking advantage of these resources!

The “new” Office App

For those mobile Office users, the news that Microsoft has developed an integrated app that saves space on your device in addition to providing the same or even more productivity has to be a welcomed development.

I’ve tested out the app for the past few days and must say that I’m impressed with its performance.  While it is a disappointment that it only includes Word, Excel, and PowerPoint (no integrated Outlook, OneNote, etc.) it is definitely a step in the right direction in that its performance is much improved in comparison to the traditional (and “clunky”) standalone mobile apps.

For more details about the new Office App, check out Gregg Keizer’s article on Computerworld.com here and let me know if you’ve taken the plunge and experimented with the app!

SCCM + Intune = Microsoft Endpoint Manager

One of the biggest announcement at Ignite 2019 is the merging of System Center Configuration Manager and Microsoft Intune into the newly named Microsoft Endpoint Manager.

This follows Microsoft’s continued goal of simplifying branding for its service / management tool offerings.  Upon reviewing the 1911 Technical Preview (TP), you can see the changes within the updated console…

One of the better detailed summaries on this change can be found here in an article written by Kurt Mackie for Redmondmag.com … I guess now I have some motivation for installing the latest TP if I want to get hands on with the new product!

Time Machine Backups for Windows OSs

While doing some casual browsing about all things tech, I came across a post discussing a software package that can pretty much be looked at as “System Restore” on steroids.  Enter RollBack Rx…it has also been dubbed as the Time Machine Backup-like solution for Windows.

Check out the details here and I’ll be sure to test out the software for myself!