Windows 10
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How to preview and deploy Windows 10 and 11 updates
Microsoft’s ‘channels’ for Windows Insider Previews and new Windows releases are confusing for everybody. Here’s help choosing the best method of testing and updating Windows 10 and 11 for yourself or your business.
Cortana explained: The rocky past and promising future of Microsoft’s digital assistant
At first meant to compete with virtual assistants like Siri, Google Now, and Alexa, Cortana has been stripped of many functions and seemingly left to wither away. But its business-focused reboot may hold the key to long-term success.
12 classic but essential (and free!) utilities for Windows 10 and 11
Boost your computer’s performance, find anything on it, and perform other useful tricks with these free tools.
Research shows Windows updates can take six hours to complete
Devices running Windows 10 and 11 can take up to six hours to fully download and apply software updates, but most will update in under an hour, according to a new report from Microsoft.
The Windows 11 ‘push,’ revisited
Some users still complain that their PCs are being unexpectedly upgraded to Windows 11 without their consent. It’s hard to know exactly what’s going on, but there are ways to avoid the move.
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The basics of patching and repairing balky Windows PCs
When your Windows machine starts acting up, there are some simple ways to get things back on track.
16 ways to speed up Windows 10
If you want to optimize Windows 10, take a few minutes to try out these tips to speed up your PC and make it less prone to performance and system issues.
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How to keep your apps up to date in Windows 10 and 11
With dozens of applications installed on the typical Windows PC, keeping them all updated seems like a Herculean task. Automated tools can lighten the load considerably.
20 years after Gates’ call for trustworthy computing, we’re still not there
Then-Microsoft CEO Bill Gates spelled out what his company needed to do to build in better security two decades ago. And yet….
How to handle Windows 10 and 11 updates
You can significantly delay some Windows updates, temporarily pause others, control what time of day they’re installed, uninstall problematic updates, and more. Here’s how.
Patch Tuesday gets off to a busy start for January
For the first Patch Tuesday of 2022, Microsoft offered up fixes for 97 security issues, with six of them rated as critical.
Windows security in ’22 — you need more than just antivirus software
Antivirus software is useful, but sometimes can cause more trouble than it's worth. To be really secure, Windows users have to do more.
How to manually update Microsoft Defender
It’s imperative to keep Microsoft Defender up to date even when Windows Update isn’t working. Here are several methods to manually update Defender.
New Windows 11 device? Want to downgrade to 10? You've got options
If you wound up with a new Windows 11 laptop or desktop over the holidays, but want to run Windows 10 anyway, there are ways to make that happen.
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Patching isn't enough for December's Patch Tuesday
With 67 flaws addressed, six publicly-reported issues and one vulnerability already exploited, this month's updates pale in comparison to the challenges addressing the Log4j issue.
Microsoft cheat sheets: Dive into Windows and Office apps
These guides will help you find your way around several generations of Microsoft’s Office apps for Windows — and Windows itself.
After a rocky year for patching, a look ahead to ‘22
If 2021 was all about ongoing patch issues with Windows 10 — and the arrival of Windows 11 — 2022 might be the year those issues become at least manageable.
