Microsoft Support & Discussions
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Have you ever noticed that all Windows built-in drivers have the same value in the last update field? Have you wondered why? If you read Windows update logs, it's pretty obvious that Microsoft updates its drivers, so why isn't that date changing? Well, Microsoft has now explained why this happens, and according to Microsoft software engineer Raymond Chen, this isn't an accident or bug, but intentional behavior, meant to allow users always to use the most appropriate driver. Only Microsoft drivers show this date To understand why this happens, you need to know that your computer runs using drivers that come built-in with your Windows OS, and drivers users install …
Last reply by starbuck, -
Dig into the free Windows Server 2016 virtual labs
by Guest Microsoft Windows Server- 0 replies
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We know every time we launch a new Windows Server version our customers get excited to try the new features. But while some folks love getting their hands dirty setting up new servers, storage, cables, etc., not everyone has a lot of time to do this. With the new virtual labs for Windows Server 2016, we made it a lot quicker and easier for you to get your hands dirty on the fun part! Today we’re announcing the availability of the new Windows Server 2016 virtual labs. These TechNet Virtual Labs provide a real-world environment along with guidance on how to try the new features. Here are the new lab scenarios you can try out: Implementing Breach Resistance Security i…
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While it took years for Netflix to finally decide to offer the option of downloading videos for offline viewing, it’s not like the company hadn’t thought about the concept. Now Netflix and others are being targeted by a patent troll who claims to have a patent over the basic idea of downloading video from the internet. The company doing the suing is called Blackbird Technologies, as Ars Technica reports. Blackbird doesn’t actually make, do, or sell anything of its own; instead, it simply buys up every patent it can and then sues anyone doing anything even halfway similar to one of them. In short, they are your absolute classic patent troll outfit. Last week, Blackbi…
Last reply by allheart55 Cindy E, -
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Netflix Login Generator will lock up your computer If you want to watch Netflix, get an account and stop downloading apps that promise you free access because you might end up paying a lot more than what a monthly plan is worth since one new app is laced with ransomware. According to a Kaspersky blog post, one new app called Netflix Login Generator promising free Netflix access has a malware strain attached. It’s called Netix, it encrypts users’ data and demands $100 in Bitcoins to unlock the files. So how does the app work? Well, first you download it, hoping you’d be able to use those leaked Netflix accounts to enjoy some movies for free. Once installed…
Last reply by starbuck, -
Windows Server 2016 sweepstakes
by Guest Microsoft Windows Server- 0 replies
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Calling all Windows Server users! Whether you’ve already upgraded to Windows Server 2016 or you’re still on Windows Server 2012 and want to try the newest version, we want to hear from you. Tell us about your experience with Windows Server 2016 and you’ll get the chance to win a Microsoft Surface Pro 4. Still on Windows Server 2012? That’s okay – we have a free virtual lab so you can give it a test drive. Then just write a review on Spiceworks, register for the sweepstakes, and you’re entered to win. For those who don’t know, Windows Server 2016 is the cloud-ready operating system built to support your current workloads and allow you to transition to the cloud. Azur…
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Microsoft Mechanics show features software-defined networking with Windows Server 2016
by Guest Microsoft Windows Server- 0 replies
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Take a coffee break and watch our new 10-minute video on software-defined networking with Windows Server 2016. Join Windows Server program manager Greg Cusanza as he demonstrates how you can use software-defined networking (SDN) to dynamically create, secure and connect your network to: Meet the evolving needs of your applications Speed deployment of workloads Contain security vulnerabilities from spreading across your networks All while reducing your overall infrastructure costs. Grab a cup of coffee and click here to check it out. Continue reading...
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Windows Hello supports a growing variety of secured companion devices
by Guest Anca Ventura and Anoosh- 0 replies
- 66 views
This past year was an exciting one: we saw even more great Windows 10 devices introduced to our customers that take advantage of the password-free security benefits of Windows Hello. Built in to Windows 10, Windows Hello takes away the hassle of remembering passwords and minimizes security risks for millions of Windows customers. With Windows Hello, you can simply and uniquely use your face, fingerprints, or a PIN to quickly and more securely sign-in to your Windows 10 device. Over the last year, one of our top priorities was to make this technology available on the widest variety of devices. Today, Windows Hello can be used on nearly every Windows 10 device in the wor…
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Announcing Intune for Education & new Windows 10 PCs for school starting at $189
by Guest Yusuf Mehdi- 0 replies
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We’ve been investing heavily over the last year in education software to drive a breakthrough in learning outcomes. We’ve developed technology like Windows Ink in Windows 10, which enables students to write on their device as naturally as a piece of paper, delivering up to 36 percent better test scores in math and science. Office 365 delivers productivity for the modern classroom with powerful intelligence features to help students become better writers, presenters and data analysts, while empowering students and teachers to create, edit, share and grade assignments with OneNote. With OneNote Learning Tools, students can de-clutter screen views to aid concentration, helpi…
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Introducing Windows Defender Security Center
by Guest Rob Lefferts- 0 replies
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Security threats are some of the leading concerns our customers have with technology today and that’s why we’ve built Windows 10 to be the most secure version of Windows ever. With comprehensive, built-in security features, Windows 10 provides protection from viruses and malware threats including ransomware, safer authentication with Windows Hello using your smile or fingerprint to login and ongoing security updates delivered monthly through Windows Update, to name a few. But you don’t need to be a security expert to help secure your device and understand the protections you have in place. In the Windows 10 Creators Update, we will introduce a new experience call…
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Windows 10 Tip: Three tips for on-the-go gaming with the Xbox app
by Guest Elana Pidgeon- 0 replies
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The Xbox app brings together your gaming world across Xbox One and Windows 10 devices; that includes your friends, your games, your achievements, your avatar, access the Xbox and Windows Stores, and more. You can easily stay connected to the Xbox Live community, view your Gamerscore leaderboard across devices, view your GameDVR clips, start Party chats, launch into cross-device multiplayer with games like “Forza Horizon 3” and “Killer Instinct,” and stream your favorite games from Xbox One to any Windows 10 PC in your home while using your Xbox Wireless controller and more. With a Windows 10 PC, you can easily game on-the-go and stay up to date with the Xbox Live commu…
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Play the Halo Wars 2 Blitz Multiplayer Beta on Xbox One and Windows 10 PC today
by Guest Mike Nelson- 0 replies
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Today, the Halo Wars 2 Blitz Multiplayer Beta officially launches on Windows 10 PC and Xbox One! The Blitz multiplayer beta is open to anyone on Windows 10 PC in the Windows Store and for Xbox Live Gold members on Xbox One, and runs from today until Jan. 30. Blitz offers a unique twist on Halo Wars 2 gameplay by replacing the traditional real-time strategy (RTS) aspects of resource collection, base building and tech tree planning with a streamlined way to build your armies and jump straight into the action. Unlike a traditional RTS match, your entire army and Leader Powers are selected and built before a Blitz match even begins. Players will select a Leader and bu…
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This Week on Windows: New Windows 10 preview, Microsoft Edge tips and Halo Wars 2
by Guest Elana Pidgeon- 0 replies
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This Week on Windows, we’re talking about your chance to play Halo Wars 2: Blitz Beta before it ships, all the ways you can easily customize your Start and New Tab pages in Microsoft Edge and the latest Windows 10 features coming to Windows Insiders. Head over here to check out the latest Windows Insider preview builds, or sign up for the Windows Insider Program here! Here’s what’s new in the Windows Store this week: Halo Wars 2: Blitz Beta Today, the Halo Wars 2 Blitz Multiplayer Beta officially launches on Windows 10 PC and Xbox One! The Blitz multiplayer beta is open to anyone on Windows 10 PC and for Xbox Live Gold members on Xbox One, and runs from today…
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After a drop in activity over Christmas, the most prolific ransomware of 2016 appears to be gearing up for 2017. It was never going to fizzle out; one of the most prolific forms of ransomware is back after what appears to have been a holiday break. Locky evolved to become the most notorious ransomware threat during 2016, even becoming the second most common malware threat by November. Locky ransomware campaigns dipped massively over Christmas, but cybersecurity researchers at Cisco Talos have noticed how attempts to deliver this form of ransomware are slowly beginning to rise again. The main driver behind Locky campaigns is the Necurs botnet, which prior to…
Last reply by starbuck, -
January 2017 security update release
by Guest MSRC Team- 0 replies
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Today we released security updates to provide additional protections against malicious attackers. As a best practice, we encourage customers to apply security updates as soon as they are released. More information about this month’s security updates and advisories can be found in the Security TechNet Library. MSRC team Continue reading...
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Announcing Windows 10 Insider Preview Build 15014 for PC and Mobile
by Guest Dona Sarkar- 0 replies
- 47 views
Hello Windows Insiders! Today we are excited to be releasing Windows 10 Insider Preview Build 15014 for PC and Mobile to Windows Insiders in the Fast ring. We have fixed a TON of issues that you all filed in the Feedback Hub from the past two flights, so thank you for helping make this product better for everyone. Please do read the notes below, there is a TON of information. What’s new in Build 15014 for PC & Mobile Purchase and read e-books in Windows 10 Creators Update (PC & Mobile): Windows Insiders in the U.S. can now purchase e-books directly from the Windows Store and read them in Microsoft Edge. After purchasing your e-books – you will fi…
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Why WSUS and SCCM managed clients are reaching out to Microsoft Online
by Guest Microsoft Windows Server- 0 replies
- 70 views
This post was authored by Shadab Rasheed, Technical Advisor, Windows Devices & Deployment Of late, several customers have reached out to my team asking why their Windows 10 1511 and 1607 clients, which are managed by WSUS or SCCM are going online to Microsoft update to download updates. Not only the are clients reaching out to external Microsoft URL, outside of the internal update endpoint, but they are downloading a significant amount of data from the Microsoft content delivery gateway. So, what’s exactly going on here? There are essentially two different behaviors that is being experienced here. It is important that we understand and identify them instea…
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Windows 10 Tip: Personalize your Start Page in Microsoft Edge
by Guest Elana Pidgeon- 0 replies
- 41 views
Did you know that you can customize your Start and New Tab pages in Microsoft Edge to show news and sites based on your preference, so you can quickly get to the content you want? Both pages give you access to the latest news across business, entertainment, finance and more. Plus, with weather updates, sports scores, recommendations for apps and much more, the Microsoft Edge Start and New Tab Page become your personal dashboard to help you kick-start your web journey every time. Here’s how to start personalizing your Start and New Tab pages: On the Start page, click the “Customize” icon on the top right, below the search bar and select the type of news you …
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This Week on Windows: CES recap, a midseason TV guide and more
by Guest Elana Pidgeon- 0 replies
- 58 views
This Week on Windows, we’re sharing a recap of CES 2017 and bringing you new apps and a midseason TV guide! Do you share your PC with friends or family? Check out how to set up multiple profiles with Windows Hello. Here’s what’s new in the Windows Store this week: Slack for Windows 10 Slack gives you a place to connect with the people and apps you work with every day, no matter where you are or what you do – and now it’s available to download for free in the Windows Store. No need to spend time digging through your inbox, searching for files, or toggling endlessly between different apps to find what you need. And with Live Tiles, you can see your latest not…
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Announcing Windows 10 Insider Preview Build 15007 for PC and Mobile
by Guest Dona Sarkar- 0 replies
- 92 views
Hello Windows Insiders! Today we are excited to be releasing Windows 10 Insider Preview Build 15007 for PC and Mobile to Windows Insiders in the Fast ring. What’s new in Build 15007 for PC & Mobile More Microsoft Edge Improvements: Sharing your tabs (PC): We’ve added the ability to share a set of tabs you’ve set aside. Just click the “Tabs you’ve set aside” button, and under the “…” menu select the option to “Share tabs” with many apps installed on your PC. Import data (PC): We’re making it even easier to bring your data over from another browser when you switch to Microsoft Edge. The new “Import from another browser” button in Settings allows you to b…
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Windows Hello supports a growing variety of secured companion devices
by Guest Anca Ventura and Anoosh- 0 replies
- 80 views
This past year was an exciting one: we saw even more great Windows 10 devices introduced to our customers that take advantage of the password-free security benefits of Windows Hello. Built in to Windows 10, Windows Hello takes away the hassle of remembering passwords and minimizes security risks for millions of Windows customers. With Windows Hello, you can simply and uniquely use your face, fingerprints, or a PIN to quickly and more securely sign-in to your Windows 10 device. Over the last year, one of our top priorities was to make this technology available on the widest variety of devices. Today, Windows Hello can be used on nearly every Windows 10 device in the wor…
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EMET 5.52 is the latest version of the Enhanced Mitigation Experience Toolkit (EMET) and is now available for download. EMET 5.52 is a minor update from EMET 5.51 to address the following: An issue with the EAF mitigation that causes some applications to hang on Windows 7 SP1. A fix to the MSI installer to allow in-place upgrade behavior.
Last reply by PCHF Staff, -
Halo Wars 2 Blitz Beta available Jan. 20
by Guest Dan Ayoub- 0 replies
- 51 views
Last June, we invited our fan community to jump in and get hands-on with a slice of Halo Wars 2 with our first multiplayer beta. We received a tremendous amount of valuable feedback on both the technical and gameplay side that has helped the team continue to refine and improve the overall Halo Wars 2 experience as we march towards launch on Feb. 21, 2017. I’m happy to announce one more opportunity to get hands-on with Halo Wars 2 and ask for your participation in one final large-scale multiplayer beta. This time around the focus will be exclusively on our brand-new, card-based game mode, Blitz, and it’ll be available on both Windows 10 PC and Xbox One beginning Jan. 20…
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Fake email notices from prosecutors infect victims with ransomware and personal data-stealing DiamondFox malware Unsuspecting internet users could find themselves on the receiving end of an unwanted belated Christmas present, malware that doesn't only encrypt their Windows PC and hold it to ransom, but also steals personal data and login credentials. Spotted by cybersecurity researchers in the first week of the year, the Merry Christmas ransomware - also known as Merry X-Mas - might initially appear to be a strange name for a January ransomware campaign. However, Orthodox Christians celebrate Christmas on January 7 - something which might point towards the inv…
Last reply by starbuck, -
MS17-002 - Critical: Security Update for Microsoft Office (3214291) - Version: 1.0
by Guest Microsoft Security- 0 replies
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Severity Rating: Critical Revision Note: V1.0 (January 10, 2017): Bulletin published Summary: This security update resolves a vulnerability in Microsoft Office. The vulnerability could allow remote code execution if a user opens a specially crafted Microsoft Office file. An attacker who successfully exploited the vulnerability could run arbitrary code in the context of the current user. Customers whose accounts are configured to have fewer user rights on the system could be less impacted than those who operate with administrative user rights. Continue reading...
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MS17-003 - Critical: Security Update for Adobe Flash Player (3214628) - Version: 1.0
by Guest Microsoft Security- 0 replies
- 49 views
Severity Rating: Critical Revision Note: V1.0 (January 10, 2017): Bulletin published. Summary: This security update resolves vulnerabilities in Adobe Flash Player when installed on all supported editions of Windows 8.1, Windows Server 2012, Windows Server 2012 R2, Windows RT 8.1, and Windows 10. Continue reading...