Windows 10 Tip #1 Cleaning the Clutter

Over time, the temporary folders in Windows become cluttered and other areas of the computer. To make them speed up, older versions of Windows had an easy-to-find Disk Cleanup feature that would clear this clutter up, empty your recycle bin, and more.

This tool can still be accessed if you are running a small business or have a lot of data going back and forth, adding or removing, etc., regularly. Hit the Start button, and type Disk Cleanup. Then all you have to do is perform the cleanup and defragment of your hard drive as normal. It is highly suggested that if you run with SSD drives or defragment your computer fully (at least once a week), you do it at the end of the office day or have your IT team do it after hours.

Windows 10 Tip #2 Special Start Menu

You’ll see another Windows 10 tip in the left-hand corner, the special start menu.

Windows, of course, has a start menu when you hit the “Start” button on your keyboard, but many users don’t know that there are many things they can still access using a special start menu by pressing the letter X with the Windows key. It gives you an enhanced but slimline version of the Start menu that lets you access Apps and Features, Disk Management tools (including disk cleanup), Device Manager, Task Manager, PowerShell, and more.

Windows 10 Tip #3 Taskbar Hotkeys

These are not the shortcuts we are looking for, but if you hold down the Windows key and hit a number, you’ll be able to open up your taskbar programs, which is a pretty cool Windows 10 tip.

Aside from Alt+Tab, one of an IT professional’s best friends, you can also access different apps and windows on the taskbar according to the number they’re pulled up in. If you hold the Windows key and type the number of the window’s location on the taskbar, you can switch to it instantly. For example, if your browser is the fourth window on the taskbar, you’ll hold Windows & hit the number 4.

You can see all your open programs in one place by holding down the alt and tab keys simultaneously.

Windows 10 Tip #4 Shake it Down

If you have many different windows open, which is pretty standard in the workplace, you may need to do something such as access the desktop quickly or minimize multiple windows at once. To do this, you must click the top Status bar in your Windows app and then shake your mouse back and forth quickly. This will minimize all of that program’s windows so you can do what you must in other areas.

You can always restore the windows later by doing it again. However, you must have this setting enabled via the Windows Settings ->Multitasking area or the Group Policy Editor (something for the IT Pros out there).

Windows 10 Tip #5 The Powerful God Mode

Learning how to get into your computer’s God Mode folder is an invaluable Windows 10 tip.

This is something that many IT and managed service providers know about, but it is something they are keener on using compared to regular users. You can create a shortcut with every single setting for Windows in one convenient folder – including control panel shortcuts and more advanced features. To do this, you have to create a folder (you cannot create a shortcut to this anymore like you could with older versions of Windows) and name the folder: GodMode.{ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C}

Once you do this and hit enter, the icon will change to a new symbol, and when you open it, you need to be extremely careful. You can jack up your computer if you don’t know what you’re doing in this advanced control panel.

Windows 10 Tip #6 Boot Your Systems Faster

If you follow this Windows 10 tip, you’ll be able to boot up your system faster.

One of the best options that you can find is the task manager’s Startup tab. It allows you to enable or disable startup items (not services) that slow down your bootup and loading process. If you want the most out of this, you can always open the Windows Run command prompt (using the Start Menu we mentioned), then type MSConfig into the box, and then hit enter. This will pull up advanced configurations. You probably want these settings at the least:

Normal startup

Boot Tab->Timeout 8 seconds

Services Tab -> Check to Hide All Microsoft Services
Turn off Any Program services that aren’t system or Antivirus (Google, Adobe Acrobat, etc.)

Hit OK, or Apply-> OK, then restart your computer to see how much faster Windows loads. Do note that if you have an Antivirus causing slower computer speeds (this is common), you may not see much difference.

What Other Windows 10 Tips Can I Get?

If you have a good managed service provider or VoIP service team member that’s a true professional in everything IT, then all you have to do is ask if there’s a shortcut that you can use. Numerous tools can be used to speed up productivity. We highly recommend using them, such as if you’re a writer who needs to operate quickly with word processing or have many windows up for processing data. Just ask, and they’ll let you know!

What Were They Trying to Accomplish?

Microsoft has been working hard to improve its security for users, but they may have rolled out this Outlook update a tad prematurely.

In recent months, Microsoft has been trying to figure out a way to defend and update their apps to protect against hijacking attempts through the Microsoft Office and Windows exploits. It ended up affecting Office365 as well, though. These exploits allowed people to try to connect to others through Office exploits. Where they could secretly drop files and other backdoors onto other people’s devices (yes, the hackers are getting smart – you can read our blog post about it from a previous date).

Are There Workarounds or Fixes for the Outlook Update?

You’re in luck because there is a fix for the botched Outlook update! Please do so at your own risk, and if you need any assistance, don’t hesitate to message your IT provider or us.

After the error, Microsoft immediately posted a workaround on Twitter as they investigated the problem. They told people that they could open a command prompt as Administrator and then go to:

Cd “\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\ClickToRun”

Then type:

office2rclient.exe /update user updatetoversion=16.01287.20470

This would roll back people’s Outlook to the previous version. Did this fix the problem? Somewhat. Most people still had to wait for Microsoft to release their fix for the Windows Update. However, there are a few ways that you can fix the problem aside from the information mentioned above as well.

Uninstall Your Updates

Uninstalling an update, especially the latest Outlook update, should be relatively simple and can be done with a few mouse clicks.

This method is a long workaround, but it indeed fixes the problem much better. First, you have to uninstall your updates. You may be able to uninstall one of the updates that caused this, but not the System security update. Windows won’t let you uninstall it because it’s “necessary for your computer and cannot be uninstalled,” unfortunately. So, what do you do?

Once you uninstall any updates from the July Outlook update you received, you need to reinstall your Outlook (or your whole Office program). If you still have your Office application, you can reinstall it, but this won’t fix the problem completely. Many users still had issues with things crashing and emails not working right.

System Restore (gasp!) is Your Friend.

In the case of the botched Outlook update, restoring your system may be your best bet. Let’s hope you backed up your files recently?

Most users could accomplish removing the update by doing a full system restore to the day of the Outlook update. You have to take the time to let Windows do its thing. Once that’s done and your system restore is complete, you can begin the progress of stopping Microsoft in its tracks.

1. Postpone Windows Updates as long as you can.
2. If your Outlook is fixed, there may still be plugin issues (more on that in a minute).
3. You may have issues with other Office programs and their integration. At worst, you may have to do a Microsoft Office online repair again (or a full repair, which takes a lot longer).

Plugin Issues Related to the Fix

One of the biggest known problems that people faced after the Outlook update and after fixing their Outlook was antivirus plugins (and some other plugins). One such issue is that people started noticing that when they sent emails with attachments through Outlook, the email messages would send, but the attachments wouldn’t go through for some reason on the message. So, what now?

The only way to fix this temporarily until Microsoft rolls out a successful new Outlook update is to try uninstalling and reinstalling your antivirus email plugin. Otherwise, you’ll have to disable it in Outlook.

What Gives?

So, Microsoft has released yet another update that is destroying people’s computers. What else is new? What can you do? Well, if you run a business, it may be hard for you to go into every single computer’s settings and fix the problem yourself. That’s when having an excellent support team of IT professionals can help so that you can get back to your regular days at work!

They’ve released versions allowing companies to use the Cloud-based VoIP or a dedicated PBX server, Linux, and even Windows to host 3CX software. However, each version comes with its bugs and problems. Therefore, knowing that you’re well prepared to tackle them in certain situations or avoid the issue overall by having the right OS is essential.

Everything’s in the Cloud These Days

3CX offers secure Cloud-based solutions for businesses of all sizes.

In recent years, your software solutions, customer support, and even your VoIP are not strangers to “the Cloud.” Of course, there’s no such thing as one dedicated cloud for everything,  but 3CX knows that many users want to have this option to use valuable tools and save hardware and software space in their place of business.

There are good and bad things about having cloud hosting in any shape or form, though – and most of it comes with data security. You don’t have control of a cloud-based server’s data – they do. However, if you’re not worried about it (since most of these servers are super secure), you can go for it and have your VoIP provider set you up.

Dedicated PBX Servers

Some businesses run their 3CX software on a dedicated VoIP server to achieve maximum performance.

These servers may have Windows Server or even Linux as their base kernel, but they’re more or less running the dedicated 3CX software as a micro-operating system of its own in many cases. These are a trendy choice among numerous companies because the VoIP servers and software are hosted on a dedicated machine that shares and are usually throttled up to get the best of the network’s bandwidth. Separate devices can often be put onto their network if you’re worried about sharing bandwidth, so your local internal networks don’t suffer in terms of speed.

Windows

3CX software in itself has world-class security features to keep you safe. But if you’re running it on Windows, you may encounter a hiccup now and then.

The 3CX software for Windows is made differently than that in a PBX system. You get a program that uses your system’s hardware and then, ultimately, through a router. The most significant benefit is that it can be run on a Windows system, one of the most popular operating systems in the world. Even more remarkable is that 3CX software can be run on a virtual server, which means additional security.

This call center uses 3CX software to route all their calls in a slick and easy-to-use interface.

However, the biggest downside is that Windows has a ton of security issues itself. Sometimes, Windows Updates installed frequently can restart your system and naturally can cause problems with entire computers. You get a free version for small businesses or slightly more substantial companies. You can get the Small business version of the Pro version, a paid edition that can be upgradeable and have many features. You can handle multiple calls at once, utilize Microsoft Exchange for your company, and even have automatic handset customization. You also get a web portal that allows individual users to set their Yealink phone settings for themselves.

Linux Versions

One thing Linux has going for it when it comes to 3CX software is it’s free.

One of the most significant benefits is the higher security that many people are comfortable with hosting 3CX on a Linux server. For starters, upgrading your system to a server with Linux is extremely easy (all you have to do is install “<Linux BUILD NAME>-server,” and your system upgrades to the server edition for free) compared to Windows. While Windows has server capabilities, to get the most professional services, you have to pay for them. Who doesn’t love free stuff? We certainly know that we like free software and open operating systems!

The Verdict

It all depends on your entire company’s needs regarding what kind of system you want to use your 3CX software on. If you look into it, every single version has its benefits, and your external managed service technician will be able to install it and set it up for you. With 3CX being one of the nation’s leaders of VoIP, it’s no wonder they would release it for availability on literally any machine!

Sophos wrote a blog post a while back that their top researcher found an exploit in Google Chrome in which a hacker can change the way that everything flows inside of it, then run malicious code in the background, and this eliminates the “Are You Sure” dialog that Google normally checks for when someone tries to connect to it. On top of this, many people are at risk of more vulnerabilities than this.

The Vulnerabilities

Having someone get into your computers for businesses and government computers is extremely serious – and thoroughly possible. Fortunately, we’ve got a killer security suite that can help keep this from happening and stop hackers in their tracks. Of course, you can also install the new update, which can help ease some of them, but the fact remains that numerous users have reported events where someone could hack into them. Some of the vulnerabilities that April’s Chrome update instills are:

• Hackers can create a buffer overflow in the Media component of Chrome.
• They can make use of features and vulnerabilities in the WebAudio component in Chrome’s browsers as well. (on two accounts)

Does This Happen on All Chrome Devices?

Fortunately, with Android and ChromeOS, you’re safe. These exploits only affect Chrome installed onto Windows, Mac, and Linux machines. The downside to this is that your business more than likely doesn’t rely on ChromeOS (as very few businesses do these days anyway), so you are at risk. This can cause numerous problems with your server systems and even employee data.

How Can I Update Chrome?

According to Google, updating the latest installation version (81.0.04044.113 or higher) has been patched from Google’s installation website. Most automatic Chrome updates are fixed with this version, so you don’t have to do much. What’s important is that you have a good defense against malware attacks, browser hijacks, and more. They happen very frequently to the best of us, and by using our impressive antivirus suite, you can get the most protection that can halt the attackers before they get completely through.

Performing a Chrome update is quite easy and only takes a minute or two.

1. Take your mouse and head to the top right corner of your window right below the “X,” and you’ll see three vertical dots, click them.
2. Scroll down to “Help,” and move your cursor to the left and highlight “About Google Chrome,” and click it.
3. Google will then start the Chrome update.
4. After you’re finished with your Chrome update, give yourself a pat on the back for a job well done.

What We Think

It’s nothing new for browsers to have security holes – it happens all of the time. What’s important is that you nip them in the rear end as quickly as possible. This will help you in the long run and can cause a very much lower loss of data. Data breaches are nothing new, but they can be stopped. Hiring a high-quality managed service provider can significantly help your company and ensure that you get the best possible security service that you can get without having to pay the extra expenses that are commonly associated with hiring an internal IT team. If you haven’t done so, please install your Chrome update as soon as you can.

Not cool! After a Windows Update, users get the blue screen of death and receive the error that they have an Inaccessible Boot Device, forcing them to panic. Don’t worry; we’ll tell you some things that can fix it later, but we’ll also show what some users have tried (and supposedly fixed).

What’s the Deal, Microsoft?

In the past two years, Windows 10 first had problems with its Media Creator Update after version 1809. This caused a lot of issues with applications like Microsoft Office, and they decided to, later on, force a Windows Update to the new version more recently. The problem is that Windows is pushing these version updates because they are trying to fix too many issues at one time, but all-in-all, they are creating other problems in the process.

So what’s the deal, Microsoft? We thought we were going to see the end of Windows 10 and the release of the next and final “Windows” operating system in the works, but no… instead, we’re stuck receiving version updates that are worse than service packs were for Windows XP and Windows 8.1.

How Can You Fix This Inaccessible Boot Device Error?

Ugh! The latest Windows Update has done a number on a lot of computers. I am having an Inaccessible Boot Device being one of them.

Note: Please do not do any of these things until you have entirely read (and took notes) everything in this article. Sometimes the answer is much easier than the advanced methods. If you’re an advanced user or an IT professional, then feel free to do some of these amazing tricks that may work. If you are not one of the above users, DO NOT attempt to fix this on your own, and please message us for assistance. Failure to do so could result in a loss of data or worse!

Remove recently installed packages.

There is a way to revert to a previous Windows Update by uninstalling the current Windows Update.

You can fix this Windows Update to try and log in with an advanced startup. While they’ll tell you to open Settings -> Update and Security -> Recovery -> Advanced Startup -> Restart Now, you are probably not even able to log into your system with a boot device error. Therefore, you need an alternative way to boot up the Recovery mode.

From your blue screen of death (BSOD), you can hold the Shift key and power your computer off manually (press and hold power for 10 seconds). Keep that shift key pressed, and then boot up your PC until you see the Recovery menu. Then you can choose alternative startup methods and restart from there.

If you can remove recently installed packages, you may try Safe Mode in the list of options that the boot menu gives you. Otherwise, you’ll have to be trickier than that or boot to the command prompt. Then you can use the dism /image:c:\/Get-Packages to show updates (from the C: drive in the command prompt) and dism.exe /image:c:\/remove-package/[package name]

Remove “Update Pending” Packages.

By deleting any pending Windows Updates, your computer will run smoother, but it’s not recommended.

Windows likes to hold pending packages. If you can get into the boot mode for the command prompt, you can use a registry key to remove pending packages. We don’t recommend this.

Update Device Drivers

Okay, so this is what people say that works for them, and in some cases, it may be right. Certain hard drive, BIOS drivers, display adapters, and IDE ATA/SATA drivers

Scan Your Disk for Corrupted Hard Drive

Okay, so you can scan your disk to see if it’s corrupted, but come on, this happened AFTER a Windows Update. Either way, if you can get into the command prompt (which some people can do with this error) from the recovery options, you can run chkdsk /f /f and hit enter. This will check your disk. If you can’t boot Windows, you can use chkdsk /r C: and hit enter.

If All Else Fails – Refresh or Reinstall (Clean Re-install) Windows 10

Other than calling a professional, if none of those options work, people have been literally refreshing their PCs (not losing their data and only their programs) or wiping their systems entirely and reinstalling Windows 10… Not cool! We highly encourage that this should ONLY be the last resort.

Does this Work?

If you backup your computer regularly, you can go to system restore and go back in time to a better Windows Update.

There’s a nifty little tool; although it has been the culprit of withholding viruses harder to get rid of at times, it has proven to be effective in many cases – we’re talking about System restore people. With these updates, you’re not often going to get into your advanced Safe Mode or even the precious command prompt.

Therefore, System Restore is your best friend. You may lose a program or two in the process, but it will automatically fix this and return it to the last date you choose. Choose a time closest to but before the Windows Update. Do the hurry up and wait for mode yourself, and then once it’s done, you should be able to log into Windows.

Once you have logged into your system again, IMMEDIATELY open the Task Manager (CTRL+ALT+DELETE -> Task Manager, or you can use Right-Click on the Taskbar and select Task Manager from there). Do keep in mind if you’re not the IT guy for your company, you may need them to do this (many companies hide these from employee user accounts). Either way, once that pulls up, click Services, and stop Windows Update (also known as wauserv under the name). Then to be safe, fix that MBR (master boot record) to ensure that it’s pure again. This is done by running an administrator command prompt and typing:

1. Bootrec /fixMbr
2. Bootrec /fixBoot
3. Bootrec /ScanOS
4. Bootrec /RebuildBcd

Close the command prompt and reboot.

Our Final Thoughts

We’re going to have to deal with these problems for a while, but while it may be time-consuming, we shouldn’t have to make things harder than they are. Therefore, aside from avoiding v1903 at all costs, if possible, users can try to ensure that they continuously pause Windows Updates and then manually download and install a single Windows Update you may need from Microsoft’s website.

However, there was one significant benefit that many gamers and developers were able to do, and that was being able to take control of their computers fully. They could turn off things like Windows Defender completely, as well as disabling many Windows System features that gave them more power and optimized their networks. Then Windows 1903 came along, and there were humongous problems. Let’s see what you lost the ability to do.

Disabling Windows Defender & Antivirus Software

Some gamers think disabling Windows Defender, and their antivirus is a good idea. The Windows 1903 update would say otherwise.

Of course, we don’t recommend disabling any antivirus by any means. Still, many gamers and developers would disable Microsoft’s Windows Defender altogether, whether it be registry keys, services, or even group policies. Some corporate IT professionals did this as well, so they could have full control, which allowed them to work remotely on company computers and more.

If you update to Windows 1903, you are going to lose the ability to do this. Sure, you can temporarily disable antivirus protection on Windows Defender. Still, you don’t get to have full control of Defender like you used to (If you enable Group Policy Editor, you can’t even disable it that way). The other downside is that if you install a secondary antivirus, you can’t close out of it when you need to if it starts slowing down your PC, and you have to uninstall it completely.

Duplicate Services

After the Windows 1903 update, many users started receiving push notifications like this.

Many users complain about a new service popping up and makes them believe they have a virus. You’ll often see things like the Windows Push Notification User Service (many people disable this to optimize their PCs for gaming), followed by a bunch of numbers.

Disabling this service does nothing, and later on, you get the same service, followed by another group of numbers. This is because Windows has its service called the Unistore Service that belongs to the Windows Store, and they can’t be disabled or even changed in the Windows registry anymore. And what happens if you disable these? Specific applications won’t work anymore. What’s worse, Microsoft forces you to use the original Unistore Service, which loads the “runaway services” or you can’t use your computer.

Supposedly, you can disable the Auto-Update feature in the Windows Store, but some users complain that it doesn’t stop the issue. Other users state that they were able to set the registry keys to disable the problem, but with the new Windows 1903, other users aren’t allowed by Windows Defender (which you also can’t turn off) to disable these. If you do, upon restarting, these features are sometimes re-enabled.

Windows 1903 Re-Installs Bloatware

It was the Windows 1903 update to reinstall Bloatware on millions of computers.

Aside from all of the numerous services that become re-enabled by the Windows 1903 Update (and then forced you to use them as we mentioned above), you also get to have all of the Bloatware, which is unnecessary software, games, and more. Not only that, but many people who are avid users of Microsoft Office 2013 and 2016 (the most widely used versions of Microsoft Office to date) gets broken, and Microsoft flags them as unregistered. Rolling back the update can fix this, however.

Even More CPU Problems

When people update to Windows 1903, there have been numerous people that have had a lot of issues with the new “Start Menu” program that installs, as well as other issues. There are multiple CPU spikes that some users have reported takes their entire 100% of CPU usage, and it causes system hangs, and more. Not only that, but numerous programs are much slower because of all of the new system services that are running with high usage.

Think Your Graphics are Safe?

Ah, the critical component that makes a gamer and developer’s is the graphics card. With the Windows 1903 update, numerous forced updates are required because of a ton of security loopholes that are created when you upgrade. Not only this, but users regularly have been reporting that NVidia crashes when using programs like Spotify, games, and even many Facebook games.

So How do I Fix It?

If you’re a gamer and want to get full control of your computer again, you can go back to your previous version of Windows. The only way to do this is to go into your computer’s Update & Security > Recovery settings and Go back to the last version of Windows 10 and click the Get Started button to go back to the Windows 10 you were used to having administrative rights to.

As far as having the proper IT managed solutions afterward and antivirus software, you can send a message to your quality service provider to help keep your systems secure using the right software and IT solutions.

What is Microsoft Credge?

We should clarify that Credge is not the official name for Microsoft’s new Chromium-based browser. Edge will still be called Edge to the delight of IT professionals and tech journalists alike. Sticking with the same naming convention will make life very difficult for support professionals.

Microsoft looks at its naming conventions from the normal end-user point-of-view, though. Most consumers and end-users don’t know the technical differences between WebKit, Blink, Triton, Safari, Chrome, or Edge. They see the brand names. They know what each browser looks like and what features they have. Typically, they don’t understand why one website might work better on one browser than another, though. After all, to most people, the web is the web. Microsoft doesn’t want to muddy the waters from a branding perspective. They want people to use and love Edge.

Microsoft Credge looks super slick, and it is simple to download and install.

The Credge naming convention was popularized by a well-known Microsoft tech journalist named Mary Jo Folley. She coined the term during a podcast that she regularly co-hosts Windows Weekly. Since Mary Jo coined the term Credge, it’s become a popular unofficial code name for the Chromium-based Edge browser, much to Microsoft’s chagrin.

Microsoft Credge is expected to deploy with Windows 10 during the 19h2 release. That release is coming within the next few months. When 19H2 releases, the new Chromium Edge-based browser will be the standard web browser for Windows 10 going forward. At this time, Triton will also officially become decommissioned.

How Does Microsoft Credge Work?

Microsoft is well underway in developing Credge. They have a preview version available now. Anybody can download and install this preview version and test this new browser. Many have reported that despite it not being feature complete, Credge is a very stable and good browser as it stands.

Credge lets you choose from 3 styles for the tab page that let you customize your experience.

Microsoft has not forked the Chromium project to develop its rendering engine as Google did with WebKit to make Blink. Instead, Microsoft is a good steward of the open-source community. They are using the stock Chromium engine with their brand of ‘Chrome’ over top of it. Edge will continue to look like Edge. It will just use Google’s blink engine under the hood.

Much like the way Chromium doesn’t contain the extra Google bits, like account sync, Edge won’t either. Instead, Edge will be tied to Microsoft’s accounts and services. This functionality will be built on top of Chromium the same way Google makes Chrome on top of Chromium.

Benefits

Microsoft’s moving to Chromium benefits both Microsoft and Google. Microsoft is also bringing its development experience to the Chromium project. Anyone that uses Chromium will benefit from Microsoft’s code changes. They have already submitted numerous bug fixes and new features back into the Chromium project. Not to worry, these changes will eventually make their way into Chrome as Google updates it.

Credge promises to keep your information private, safe, and secure with enhanced security protocols.

We also expect that Microsoft will bring its twenty-plus years of accessibility experience to Chromium and thus Chrome. Google Chrome has notoriously been lacking quality accessibility features. Microsoft has the experience to bring these features into the Chromium engine.

Speed is of the utmost importance, especially for businesses. Credge will provide faster speeds, increased performance, less lag time, and it is optimized for Windows 10.

What Will This Mean For Businesses?

Many businesses struggle to support multiple browsers in their IT environments. Chrome can traditionally be much more challenging to deploy and configure through WDS and group policy. Because of this, many businesses have taken a hard stance against using Chrome unless it is needed.

Credge is making Internet Explorer even more obsolete than it already was when referring to businesses.

Likewise, many businesses still have web applications that are based on the now obsolete Internet Explorer browser. These businesses are struggling to build new web applications that don’t depend on that discontinued browser. Continuing to use Internet Explorer has posed security risks as well as inconveniences to end-users. These inconveniences have been a long-time struggle.

As it’s been stated above, deploying a web browser like Chrome can be difficult. Likewise, Edge has faced a lot of pushback from both end-users and IT professionals alike. Switching Edge over to a Chromium-based browser will make life a lot easier for both Microsoft and the IT support crowd.

What Can We Expect?

Businesses will now have a more natural way to deploy and manage a modern browser that won’t cause issues rendering websites that employees need to access. Likewise, companies will have a stable product that they can develop new internal applications against. Developers won’t have to worry about building against a browser that will eventually be deprecated or is incompatible.

Microsoft’s Credge could be a game-changer for businesses. Through ease of use and streamlined design, managing your business online has never been easier.

For web-based businesses, removing Triton will make developing products far easier. That means that, for the most part, developers will only have to worry about building against Blink and Gecko (Firefox’s engine). There may be a few edge cases where Safari issues will need to be managed, but since Blink is a fork of WebKit (Safari’s engine), most things developed against Chrome will work well on Safari too.

For more Credge info or learn about new tech that will help your business check out the rest of our blog!

Should I Accept the 1903 update?

As a Windows user, you don’t have much choice and will need to install the 1903 update.

Taking the Windows 1903 update is very important. If a PC doesn’t have the latest updates installed, it may not receive security and vulnerability patches later. This is true for any version of the Windows Operating System. Microsoft only supports their OSs for a limited amount of time.

The support cycle changed dramatically with Windows 10, though. Windows XP had a very long and extended life cycle. Windows 7 will be labeled as end-of-life in January of next year. Both operating systems had a support life cycle that lasted for more than ten years. The support life cycle for Windows 10 is managed per major update version, though.

Most Windows 10 users are currently on version 1803. This update was released in April of 2018. Because of the shortened support life cycle for Windows 10 versions, update 1803 will be considered end-of-service in November of 2019 for all Windows 10 Home and Pro users.

Issues With the Windows 1903 Update

After the 1803 update becomes end-of-service, Windows 10 users won’t receive any more updates. They will be stuck on Windows version 1803 until they upgrade their computers.

The Windows 1903 update has been causing issues for some people, though. It’s been reported that the update has been causing boot loops and driver issues. Microsoft has claimed that only a small percentage of users have experienced these problems, but enough people have complained that many users are holding off updating their PCs.

That leaves us at a Catch-22. The next major Microsoft Windows update won’t be released until next year. For those that hope to update to the fall update later in 2019, it may not be released quickly enough. Computers won’t take new updates unless Microsoft whitelist that PC’s configuration to receive it. People can re-install Windows to force that new update, but that isn’t a great option. There’s nothing to say that the final release of the 2nd 2019 update (19H2) will be released by November 19th when the Windows 1803 update stops receiving support. Microsoft has had issues making both of its last two updates available on time.

What options do I have?

You have three options when choosing to install the Windows 1903 update. Restart Now, Pick a Time, or Snooze.

Windows users don’t have many options. Home and Pro users can’t deny Windows updates. Both can delay updates for a short period, but updates can only be postponed for a few days at best. Enterprise users can delay Windows updates for a much more extended period, but even these folks still have to take the Windows updates at some point.

Microsoft has been very bullish about pushing two major updates per year since the release of Windows 10. This update cycle has caused a lot of grief for Windows users, though. Most notably, Windows was restarting PCs to apply updates while using their PCs after Windows 10 was first released. This caused a significant uproar with Windows 10 users because they were losing unsaved work and time.

Microsoft has been attempting to resolve these issues. They’ve started letting people schedule their updates. They’ve also created new update mechanisms to patch the OS as much as possible before requiring the PC to restart. This has shortened the amount of time for a PC to be down while applying updates.

Still, Microsoft realizes that they need to improve this process further. There have been rumors that Microsoft will adopt a major-minor release cycle in the future. This means that only one update released every year will include new features, while the second update only applies patches and security fixes. It’s important to note that the regular series of ‘Patch Tuesday’ updates won’t be affected by these changes.

If you work from home, you may be able to get by and get rid of Windows altogether. But if you are a Windows user, you’ll need to install the 1903 update.

So, that doesn’t leave Windows users with many options. Systems Administrators can adjust their update cycles around users. This can still be difficult for SOHO businesses, though they might not need enterprise versions of Windows. Non-business users of the Windows OS don’t have many options. They will be required to apply updates, and the Windows OS will install the 1903 update itself at some point. It’s not recommended not to take updates either as that will leave a PC system insecure.

Another option is to ditch Windows altogether unless a business or user needs Windows explicitly for an application. With many applications migrating to the web, many SOHO businesses may find that ChromeOS or Linux will fit their needs. It’s possible now of days to use a PC without needing to install any apps on it. Most business functions can be performed in a web browser. This also includes using the Microsoft Office Suite as well. Moving to a new OS will require a lot of planning and migrating, though. This process changeover could heavily impact the workflow of a lot of businesses.

For more information about the Windows 1903 update or schedule an onsite strategy session, please send us a message or call us at 480-493-5999.