Welcome to The Field Book for Windows Unplugged

Posted: May 10, 2015 in Announcements
Tags:

The purpose of this blog is to provide information (Technical, How-To, Help, Product Notices) about Microsoft operating systems and services with a focus on Windows 10, Windows Insider Program, Microsoft Accounts, Outlook.com, OneDrive, and Windows Essentials.

Additionally, my maintenance approach to many of these blog post is to update the article(post) with additional and new information whenever applicable to ensure a continuous improvement timeline which provides greater flexibility as a resource for end users(and of course myself) references.  All articles have a ‘Revision’ category with notes on changes/edits/content.

Enjoy!

….winston

Windows 10–Windows 10 20H2 Microcode Updates

Posted: November 11, 2020 in Windows 10
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Summary:  

Intel Processor(CPU) microcode update for Windows 10 Version 20H2 addressing multiple security vulnerabilities

Comments:

  • Windows 10 Version 20H2 Microcode Update were released on September 1 2020(KB4558130)
    • For specific details – see KB article – KB4589212
  • This Intel Microcode update for Windows 10 Version 20H2 address 7 security vulnerabilities
  • Windows 10 Version 20H2 Intel microcode updates with few exceptions are normally stand-alone updates and currently only available in the Microsoft Catalog.
    • A few Intel processors on devices running Windows 10 20H2(and 2004) will receive these updates via Windows Update.
      • To determine if the microcode update will be available in Windows Update for your CPU see the KB article and reference Footnote #2. CPU’s capable of updating microcode via Windows Update are shown in the KB article with a superscripted ‘2’ in the CPU code name field(first column) in the KB table of CPU’s
  • This Microcode update includes previous released microcode updates for applicable CPU’s
  • Applicable to Windows 10 20H2 and for the specific Intel CPU’s shown in the Knowledge Base article

How to Obtain:

W10_201109_Microcode

Additional information:

 

Revisions:

Nov 10 2020: Initial Draft

Nov 11 2020: Original Publish Date

Nov 14 2020: Added 3 more links in Additional Information Section

Windows 10 Update History–Version 20H2 (October 2020 Update)

Posted: November 2, 2020 in Windows 10
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Summary:  Microsoft web site for the latest and past released feature and security updates for Windows 10 Version 20H2 October 2020 Update

Comments:

  • Reference site for Windows 10 Version 20H2(October 2020 Update) Build updates
  • Contains updates for each  released KB(Knowledge Base) update by Build number.Subversion number
    • e.g. 19042.572 = Build number 19042 Subversion number 572 (Initial Release, October 20, 2020)
      • Subsequent updates will be deployed via Windows Update and only modify the ‘Subversion number’
  • Each KB contains(when applicable) a section describing:
    • Improvements and Fixes
    • Known issues
    • How to obtain the update (including Update Replacement and File Information)
      • Update Replacement identifies if the KB replaces or doesn’t replace a prior update
      • File Information is provided by linking to a downloadable *.csv file

Additional Information:

 

Revisions:

Oct 29 2020: Initial Draft Date

Nov 01 2020: Final Draft Date

Nov 02 2020: Original Publish Date

Nov 03 2020: Corrected typo(Subversion number extra character)

Nov 10 2020:  Fixed Link(Open in new window for Windows Update FAQ)

Windows 10 Version 20H2 October 2020 Update

Posted: October 21, 2020 in Windows 10
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Summary:

Microsoft releases Windows 10 Version 20H2 October 2020 Update

Comments:

  1. Microsoft released the latest major feature update(named 20H2 October 2020 Update, aka 2009 Update) for Windows 10 Version 2009 Build 19042.572 today(October 20, 2020)
  2. Windows 10 Version 20H2 is now available for devices running Windows 10 2004, 1909 and 1903 to mainstream consumers and business users that wish to manually install the feature update via Windows Update ‘Check for Updates’.  (Note: Not all devices may be deemed ready to install Windows 10 20H2 – MSFT is gradually throttling up the availability(staged deployment). Additionally, a safeguard may be in place for compatibility reasons to ensure a "good update experience")
  3. Windows 10 Version 20H2 is also available via The Windows 10 download site,  using the ‘Update Assistant – Update Now’ and the Windows 10 Media Creation Tool. (Notes:  See ‘Additional Information’ Section for link/pic; See Note in Comment #2 -‘safeguards in place for compatibility’)
  4. Windows 10 Version 20H2 will be deployed/rolled out automatically via Windows Update(not all capable devices will receive the feature update at the same time)
  5. Windows 10 Version 20H2 can update a Windows 10 device where the prior installed versions is Windows 10 Version 2004, 1909 or 1903

 

Additional Information:

 

 Revisions:

Oct 20 2020: Initial Draft Date

Oct 21 2020: Original Publish Date

Nov 01 2020: Added ‘What’s New for IT Pros’ and ‘How to Get’ in Additional Information Section

Nov 19 2020: Corrected text(duplicate words)

Windows 10–Window 10 Version 2004 Microcode Updates

Posted: September 2, 2020 in Windows 10
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Summary:  

Intel Processor(CPU) microcode update for Windows 10 Version 2004 addressing Data Sampling security vulnerabilities

Comments:

  • Windows 10 Version 2004 Microcode Update were released on September 1 2020(KB4558130)
    • For specific details – see KB article – KB4558130
  • This Intel Microcode update for Windows 10 Version 2004 address 4 security vulnerabilities
    • CVE-2019-11091 – Microarchitectural Data Sampling Uncacheable Memory (MDSUM)
    • CVE-2018-12126 – Microarchitectural Store Buffer Data Sampling (MSBDS)
    • CVE-2018-12127 – Microarchitectural Load Port Data Sampling (MLPDS)
    • CVE-2018-12130 – Microarchitectural Fill Buffer Data Sampling (MFBDS)
  • Windows 10 Version 2004 Intel microcode updates with few exceptions are stand-alone updates and currently only available in the Microsoft Catalog. A few Intel processors will receive these updates via Windows Update. To determine if the microcode update will be available in Windows Update for your CPU see the KB article and reference Footnote #2. CPU’s capable of updating microcode via Windows Update are shown in the KB article with a superscripted ‘2’ in the CPU code name field(first column) in the KB table of CPU’s
    • This Microcode update includes previous released microcode updates for applicable CPU’s
    • Applicable to Windows 10 2004 and for the specific Intel CPU’s shown in the Knowledge Base article

How to Obtain:

W10_200901_Microcode

Additional information:

Revisions:

Sept 01 2020: Initial Draft Date

Sept 02 2020: Original Publish Date

Sept 29 2020: Added Windows 10 Forums and Bleeping Computer reference articles under ‘Additional Information’

Edge Chromium – Multiple Profiles in Edge

Posted: August 7, 2020 in Edge Chromium
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Summary:

Edge Chromium supports and provides the ability to create multiple profiles

Comments:

  • Multiple profiles can be created in Microsoft’s Edge Chromium
  • Multiple profiles can be created for different operating conditions (examples are shown below)
      • Personal
      • Work
      • Other family members(using the same Windows logon account)
          • Each of the above profile types/example can be another Microsoft account(sign in with a different email address) or Local account(no sign in)
  • Multiple profiles allow end-users to operate in shared environment with separate browser settings, bookmarks, and extensions in each created profile
          • Each created profile data is independent from another profile’s data
          • Each created profile can have its own name and picture
  • Use of a Microsoft account in an additional profile allows that same profile the ability to sync the account’s profile configuration settings(e.g. Favorites, passwords, history, browser data) across all other devices one is signed in to Edge using that same Microsoft account
  • Edge Chromium provides the ability to:
      • Easily switch between profiles
      • Always open the last used profile
      • Pin an Edge Chromium profile to the Taskbar
      • Add more than one additional profiles
      • Remove profiles if no longer required

 

Additional Information:

 

Revisions:

Aug 04 2020: Initial Draft Date

Aug 07 2020: Original Publish Date

Windows 10–Resumption of Releasing Optional Non-Security Updates

Posted: July 6, 2020 in Windows 10
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Summary:

Microsoft to resume releasing optional non security updates in July 2020

Comments:

  • Microsoft will resume providing optional non-security updates in July 2020
      • Release of non-security updates was placed on hold in March 2020
  • Validated, production-quality optional non-security releases will be now called “Preview” releases
  • Preview releases will be offered only for Windows 10 and Windows Server, version 1809 and later
  • Preview releases provide the opportunity to test planned non-security updates that are scheduled for and included in the following month’s version specific cumulative update.
  • Preview releases are generally released in the 3rd week of the month(aka ‘C week’), unlike the monthly version specific cumulative update(operating system and security) which are released in the 2nd week(aka ‘B week’) of the month.

 

Additional Information:

 

Revisions:

July 02 2020: Initial Draft Date

July 06 2020: Original Publish Date

July 08 2020: Added comment clarifying 2nd and 3rd week nomenclature(B week, C week)

Windows 10 – Windows File Recovery App to Recover Lost Files on Windows 10

Posted: June 30, 2020 in Windows 10
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Summary:

Microsoft releases File Recovery App to Microsoft Store

Comments:

  •  Available in the Microsoft Store
  • Requires Windows 10 Verision2004(Build 19041)or later
  • Command line application
  • Applicable to Hard disk drives, Solid State Disks(limited by TRIM), USB Thumb drives, and SD memory cards
  • Supports NTFS, FAT, exFAT and ReFS file systems
  • Does not support recovery on cloud storage and network file shares
  • Recovers JPEG, PDF, PNG, MPEG, Office files, MP3 & MP4, ZIP files and more
  • Flexible recovery command supporting target filenames, keywords, file paths or extensions
  • Ease of Use – Functional app, moderate learning curve(Intermediate or Advanced User skill)
  • Note: From the User Guide
    • “If you want to increase your chances of recovering a file, minimize or avoid using your computer. In the Windows file system, the space used by a deleted file is marked as free space, which means the file data can still exist and be recovered. But any use of your computer can create files, which may over-write this free space at any time.”

Additional Information:

 

Revisions:

June 29 2020: Initial Draft Date

June 30 2020: Original Publish Date

July 02 2020: Added User Guide Note; Added – Ease of Use comment, Re-ordered comments line items

Windows 10 Update History–Version 2004 (May 2020 Update)

Posted: June 9, 2020 in Windows 10
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Summary:  Microsoft web site for the latest and past released feature and security updates for Windows 10 Version 2004 May 2020 Update

Comments:

  • Reference site for Windows 10 Version 2004(May 2020 Update) Build updates
  • Contains updates for each  released KB(Knowledge Base) update by Build number.Subversion number
    • e.g. 19041.264 = Build number 19041 Subversion number 264  (Initial Release, May 27, 2020)
      • Subsequent updates will be deployed via Windows Update and only modify the ‘Subversion number’
  • Each KB contains(when applicable) a section describing:
    • Improvements and Fixes
    • Known issues
    • How to obtain the update (including Update Replacement and File Information)
      • Update Replacement identifies if the KB replaces or doesn’t replace a prior update
      • File Information is provided by linking to a downloadable *.csv file

Additional Information:

Revisions:

Jun 6 2020: Initial Draft Date

Jun 9 2020: Original Publish Date

 

Windows 10 Version 2004 May 2020 Update

Posted: May 27, 2020 in Windows 10
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Summary:

Microsoft releases Windows 10 Version 2004 May 2020 Update

Comments:

  1. Microsoft released the latest major feature update(named May 2020 Update) for Windows 10 Version 2004 Build 19041.264 today(May 27, 2020)
  2. Windows 10 Version 2004 is now available for devices running Windows 10 1909 and 1903 to mainstream consumers and business users that wish to manually install the feature update via Windows Update ‘Check for Updates’.  (Note: Not all devices may be deemed ready to install Windows 10 2004 – MSFT is gradually throttling up the availability(staged deployment). Additionally, a safeguard may be in place for compatibility reasons to ensure a “good update experience”)
  3. Windows 10 Version 2004 is also available via The Windows 10 download site,  using the ‘Update Assistant – Update Now’ and the Windows 10 Media Creation Tool. (Notes:  See ‘Additional Information’ Section for link/pic; See Note in Comment #2 -‘safeguards in place for compatibility’)
  4. Windows 10 Version 2004 will be deployed/rolled out automatically via Windows Update(not all capable devices will receive the feature update at the same time)
  5. Windows 10 Version 2004 May 2020 Update can update a Windows 10 device where the prior installed versions is Windows 10 Version 1909 or 1903

 

Additional Information:

 

Revisions:

May 27 2020: Initial Draft

May 27 2020: Original Publish Date

Windows 10 – Revised End of Service Date for Windows 10 Version 1809

Posted: April 15, 2020 in Windows 10
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Summary:

Microsoft extends End of Service date for Windows 10 Version 1809

Comments:

  • Microsoft announced on April 14, 2020 that the ‘End-of-Service’ date for Windows 10 1809 has been extended to November 10, 2020 instead of expiring on May 12, 2020
  • The extension adds another six(6) months of support for receiving security updates
  • The extension applies to the following editions of Windows 10 1809
          • Home, Pro, Pro Education, and Pro for Workstations
  • Security updates will continue to be available through the same channels
        • Windows Update, Microsoft Catalog and Windows Server Update services
  • This End-of-Service revision also places a temporary pausing of Microsoft initiated feature upgrades from Windows 10 Version 1809 to a later Windows 10 Version(e.g. 1903, 1909)

 

Additional Information:

 

Revisions:

Apr 15 2020:  Initial Draft and Original  Publish Date

Apr 18 2020:  Added 2nd and 3rd items in the Additional Information section.

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