Microsoft Support & Discussions
Free PC Help Forum microsoft products support and discussions. If you need help with Microsoft Windows, Windows Server software, Microsoft 365, Microsoft Azure or any other Microsoft product you can post here. If you want to discuss Microsoft and their line of products you can do that here also.
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CES 2017: MSI launches VR-ready gaming PCs
by Guest Mollie Ruiz-Hopper- 0 replies
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Brand-new VR-ready gaming laptops, gaming motherboards, ultimate gaming graphics cards equipped with TWIN FROZR VI, gaming desktop PCs and Gaming Gear peripherals will bring gamers all over the world the latest and greatest technologies. With Windows 10, these devices have your personal digital assistant, Cortana, built-in, are equipped with the Xbox app and Direct X12 and can take advantage of Xbox Play Anywhere. Let’s take a closer look at what MSI announced today: MSI gaming laptops with performance, resolution and multimedia Click to view slideshow. Thanks to the new the Intel 7th generation CPU and NVIDIA GeForce GTX1050 Ti & GTX1050 gaming graphics car…
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CES 2017: LG unveils new Gram laptops powered by Windows 10
by Guest Mollie Ruiz-Hopper- 0 replies
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With near edgeless touch screens to unlock experiences like Windows Ink and built in finger print readers to take advantage of Windows Hello, these new laptops are built to deliver superior portability in ultra-lightweight designs. Click to view slideshow. The newest LG Gram laptops come in three different screen sizes – the 13.3” and 14.0” models weigh in at a miniscule 940 grams and 970 grams, respectively (that’s around 2.1 pounds each), while the largest model only weighs 1,090 grams (only 2.4 pounds) despite its impressive 15.6” screen. The LG Gram screen is framed by super slim bezels to create a sophisticated, near-edgeless touchscreen that’s great for using…
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CES 2017: Toshiba debuts new Portégé X20W 2-in-1 convertible with Windows 10
by Guest Mollie Ruiz-Hopper- 0 replies
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Ahead of the 2017 Consumer Electronics Show, Toshiba announced the new Portégé X20W, a premium 2-in-1 convertible PC running Windows 10 Pro. The New Portégé X20W features a 360-degree, dual-action hinge that allows this device to easily transform from a powerful, performance-oriented notebook into a premium digital inking tablet by simply rotating the display. Measuring 15.4mm thin and weighing less than 2.5 pounds, the Portégé X20W has a battery life of up to 16 hours and is designed for mobile professionals, educators and students. The Portégé X20W is designed to take advantage of the best of Windows 10 and includes multi-directional microphones to support Cortana, a…
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CES 2017: Acer announces new PCs for gaming, immersive 4K entertainment and virtual reality
by Guest Mollie Ruiz-Hopper- 0 replies
- 48 views
Ahead of CES 2017, Acer announced an impressive new lineup of Windows 10 PCs focused on performance and entertainment. These new devices feature stunning 4K screens, optional Tobii eye tracking for a more immersive gaming experience and facial recognition cameras that unlock Windows Hello. The new devices Acer announced today include three new Aspire Series devices, comprised of two high performance laptops the Aspire V Nitro Black Edition and the Aspire VX 15, and one desktop the Aspire GX, as well as the highly-anticipated, curved-screen notebook, the Predator 21 X gaming laptop, shipping early this year! Here’s a closer look at what Acer announced: The Aspire …
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CES 2017: HP announces redesigned Sprout Pro, 4K PCs and curved gaming display
by Guest Mollie Ruiz-Hopper- 0 replies
- 50 views
Ahead of CES 2017, HP announced exciting new PC innovations built for Windows 10 that will change the way people interact with their PCs, including the next-generation Sprout Pro by HP that boasts a new sleek and streamlined design with new hardware and software such as Windows 10 Pro to power 3D experiences. In addition, HP’s latest updates to its premium portfolio celebrates ingenuity and power in beautifully crafted designs, while a new curved gaming display takes game play to the next level. These new devices will start to become available for pre-order as early as today. Here’s a closer look at what HP announced: The new Sprout Pro by HP powered by Windows 10…
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Ring in the New Year with the Forza Horizon 3 Rockstar Car Pack
by Guest Brian Ekberg- 0 replies
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The new year has arrived and Forza is celebrating 2017 in the best way we know – with amazing cars ready to hit the open roads in the Forza Horizon 3 Rockstar Car Pack! Whether you’re cruising the wine country of Yarra Valley or tackling the most extreme elevations of Blizzard Mountain, the Forza Horizon 3 Rockstar Car Pack features seven cars that will kick your year off to a high-speed start. This pack features everything from classic Japanese power to a Ford trophy truck that’s ready to conquer anything Australia can throw at it. Then there’s the awesome BMW i8, making it production car videogame debut here in Forza Horizon 3. And that’s just the start of this inc…
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CES 2017: Lenovo updates the ThinkPad X1 family and introduces new gaming PCs
by Guest Mollie Ruiz-Hopper- 0 replies
- 42 views
Each of these new devices was thoughtfully designed to meet your needs and habits, whether at home, in the office or on-the-go. These devices also take advantage of great Windows 10 features, including Windows Hello with built-in face recognition cameras and fingerprint readers, and touch screens that light up Windows Ink. Also, built into these new devices are noise-cancelling microphones to support Cortana*, your personal digital assistant. Here’s a closer look at what Lenovo announced today: A premium PC experience with the ThinkPad X1 family ThinkPad X1 Carbon The 2017 Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon available in a new Silver color The next generation…
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Windows 10 Tip: Enable “Hey Cortana” and teach Cortana to recognize your voice
by Guest Elana Pidgeon- 0 replies
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Today, we’re showing you how you can enable “Hey Cortana” so you can simply ask Cortana for whatever it is you need with your voice! “Hey Cortana” lets you interact with Cortana hands-free so you can master multitasking. You can even use “Hey Cortana” to interact with Cortana above your lock screen so you don’t even have to login to your computer to have Cortana help you out. Here’s how to enable “Hey Cortana:” To get started, click on the Search bar, then click on the Settings icon and find the button to enable Hey Cortana. Here are a couple things you can ask for when you say, “Hey Cortana:” Ask Cortana to set a reminder for a specific time Ask Cortana…
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Charter cable and internet customers in Tennessee who recently lost their homes to wildfire say the pay-TV giant, which recently merged with Time Warner Cable, is continuing to charge them for services that they can’t possibly access, and to return equipment that no longer exists. The Knoxville News Sentinel reports that it’s not just the burned-down homes that are racking up Charter bills; some homes that survived last month’s wildfire are being charged for cable and internet even though the company has yet to restore service. It makes sense that Charter might be behind on restoring TV and broadband to the area, after suffering significant damage to its network dur…
Last reply by allheart55 Cindy E, -
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This Week on Windows: tips, tricks & the best of Windows 10 for your new PC!
by Guest Elana Pidgeon- 0 replies
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If you got a new Windows 10 PC this holiday, we’re here to show you the latest features to keep you productive and having fun! Here are a few ways you can get started with Windows 10: Head over here to read more about the Get Started app Learn more about all the current features available on Windows 10. Set up Windows Hello on your PC Get the most out of Microsoft Edge and write on the web with Microsoft Edge. Learn how to search your PC and the web with Cortana. Read up on everything you need to know about getting started with Xbox Play Anywhere. Get started with Windows Ink Workspace. Check out our weekly tips for more on getting started with Windows 10 w…
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When you purchase a brand-new smartphone you don’t expect to wake up days later to a broken camera lens. Yet, that’s exactly what Consumerist reader Sean says happened to his new Samsung Galaxy S7, and he’s apparently not alone, as Samsung’s own forums are filled with similar stories. Sean tells Consumerist that he purchased a new S7 last week, only to wake up on Dec. 22 to find the camera glass had shattered despite being in a case and sitting untouched on his nightstand all night long. “The camera glass had shattered like a miniature bullet hole,” Sean recalls. When he contacted Samsung, Sean says the company refused to replace what he sees as a defect under t…
Last reply by allheart55 Cindy E, -
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Windows’ infamous Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) is turning a shade of green for Windows 10 testers soon. A leaked preview build of Windows 10 (build 14997) emerged on the internet earlier this week, and it includes a number of new features and changes. One of the biggest is a Green Screen of Death instead of the regular BSOD. Microsoft employee Matthijs Hoekstra teased the change on Twitter, and MSPoweruser reports that it was eventually discovered by Twitter user Chris123NT. It’s not clear why Microsoft has picked green over blue for its Windows 10 Insider builds, but Hoekstra confirms this new color scheme is only for preview participants. It’s likely that Microsoft wa…
Last reply by allheart55 Cindy E, -
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In August, Washington state sued Comcast, alleging that the cable giant had deceived hundreds of thousands of customers in the state about an add-on service intended to cover the cost of service calls. Comcast later sought to have the case dismissed, calling it a “profound mischaracterization” of the company’s business practices, but the court recently allowed the matter to move forward over Comcast’s objections. In a one-page ruling [PDF] issued just as everyone was heading out for the long weekend, a King County (WA) Superior Court judge denied Comcast’s motion to dismiss the lawsuit brought by Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson. “The court correctly rejecte…
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The issue of who can access information stored on your electronic devices has become increasingly controversial in the last year, with authorities obtaining search warrants to unlock smartphones for everyone in an office building, courts ruling that police can force smartphone users to give up their devices’ passcodes, and federal lawmakers trying to force weakened encryption on consumers. Now, police investigating a homicide are hoping to get a look under the hood of Amazon’s Echo speaker to see if its virtual “Alexa” assistant might have recorded evidence of a murder. CNET, citing The Information (subscription only), reports that police in Bentonville, AR, filed sear…
Last reply by allheart55 Cindy E, -
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Windows 10 Tip: Getting started with Windows 10
by Guest Elana Pidgeon- 0 replies
- 82 views
Windows 10 is packed full of features that will help you be more productive and have fun. With Windows 10, you have your very own digital personal assistant in Cortana, who you can count on to help you find things, complete tasks, set reminders and work across your devices more productively; a browser called Microsoft Edge that provides you with a web experience that’s faster and safer; Windows Hello, password-free sign-in that gives you the fastest, most secure way to unlock your Windows device, compatible apps and Microsoft Edge websites; the Windows Store, which gives you access to great content across apps, games, movies and music; and awesome gaming features with the…
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CounterStrike gamers looking for an advantage over their competition might be in for a surprise this Christmas, as there's a booby-trapped cheat tool going around that will overwrite their hard drive MBR (Master Boot Record) and prevent their computers from booting. Discovered by a Twitter user that goes by the name of @YoureMom696 and analyzed by @MalwreHunterTeam, this malicious package is spread around as the source code of a CounterStrike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) hacking application named ExternalCounterstrike. Below is the content of the ExternalCounterstrike archive [without the "fuck_mpgh.exe" file, which is downloaded at a later stage, more on this later]. …
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This Week on Windows: A look back at this year
by Guest Elana Pidgeon- 0 replies
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This Week on Windows, we’re taking a look at some of the biggest Windows news of the year, including the Windows 10 Anniversary Update and the things you can do with it, Xbox Play Anywhere, HoloLens and much more. This year was a big one for Windows 10, from game-changing updates to Windows Holographic. Let’s take a look at some of this year’s highlights: The launch of the Windows 10 Anniversary Update The Anniversary Update gave us several key features and brought us easy notetaking and screen sketching with the Windows Ink Workspace. It also improved the power and efficiency of Microsoft Edge and introduced us to extensions – the web add-ons designed to he…
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Countdown to the New Year with great deals in the Windows Store
by Guest Elana Pidgeon- 0 replies
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We’re counting down to the New Year with a brand-new collection in the Windows Store and today, we’re highlighting some of its awesome year-end deals you can enjoy on your Windows 10 PC.* GAMES Gears of War 4: Ultimate Edition – $30 off Until Dec. 28, purchase Gears of War 4: Ultimate Edition for just $69.99 (that’s $30 off the regular $99.99 price) and play the beginning of a new saga for one of the most acclaimed franchises in video game history. And there’s a bonus: when you purchase this title on your Windows 10 PC, you can also play on Xbox One with Xbox Play Anywhere. Forza Horizon 3: Ultimate Edition – $20 off Until Dec. 28, Forza Horizon 3: Ulti…
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If you are a CryptXXX Ransomware victim who didn't pay the ransom and instead decided to store their encrypted files and ransom notes for future fixes then you are in luck. Today, Kaspersky announced that they have updated their RannohDecryptor utility to decrypt CryptXXX encrypted files that have the .crypt, .cryp1, and .crypz extension. We have been monitoring CryptXXX since it was released in April 2016 and it has become one of the most widely reported ransomware families in our forums. Kaspersky has seen this as well, with their customers having been attacked by CryptXXX at least 80,000 times since April 2016. According to a press release by Kaspersky, more…
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Netgear updated its security advisory on Friday, detailing the list of devices that it had confirmed to be vulnerable, all of which now have either beta or production firmware fixes available for them to resolve the vulnerability. At the time of writing, here is the list of routers for which production firmware updates are available: R6400 R7000 R8000 And the following routers have beta firmware fixes available: R6250 R6700 R6900 R7100LG R7300DST R7900 D6220 D6400 In addition, Netgear has confirmed that its D700 model is not at risk of exploitation as first feared. Netgear says it will release production firmware fixes for remaining routers as…
Last reply by allheart55 Cindy E, -
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The records of more than one billion Yahoo users, secretly stolen from the site in 2013 but only brought to the world’s attention this month, have reportedly been sold on the computer underground. InfoArmor’s Andrew Komarov told the New York Times that his firm has uncovered that the valuable data has been sold to three buyers – “two known spammers and an entity that appeared more interested in espionage”, the paper reports – for about US $300,000 each. That means, if you are an affected Yahoo user, that personal information (including your backup email addresses, security questions & answers, and – potentially – passwords) are in the hands of criminals. At t…
Last reply by allheart55 Cindy E, -
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Halo Wars: Definitive Edition Early Access available now
by Guest Dan Ayoub- 0 replies
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It’s finally here – I’m thrilled to say early access to Halo Wars: Definitive Edition starts today for folks who pre-ordered the digital version of Halo Wars 2 Ultimate Edition! Having Halo Wars on PC has been something the community has asked for since the game launched so many years ago, and it’s surreal that it has finally happened with Halo Wars: Definitive Edition. Halo Wars: Definitive Edition is set to launch in February alongside Halo Wars 2 Ultimate Edition, but we thought it would be great to give everyone a chance to start playing now to sharpen their skills in preparation for the next game. The game you’ll get today is early access – it’s only available t…
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Get ready for the holidays with new collections in the Windows Store
by Guest Elana Pidgeon- 0 replies
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We’re excited to share that the Windows Store team has put together awesome collections of apps, movies, TV shows, games and more to help get you in the holiday spirit! MOVIES & TV All your favorite holiday hits are in the Movies & TV section of the Windows Store. From feel-good family favorites to non-traditional classics, our Holiday Movies & TV Guide is your go-to source for seasonal entertainment. Here’s a few of our favorites: Holiday Family Films Find plenty of yuletide cheer with perennial favorites like Elf, A Christmas Story, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation and Miracle on 34th Street. Holiday Animated Favorites Celebrate wit…
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Windows 10 Tip: How to edit holiday photos with the Microsoft Photos app
by Guest Elana Pidgeon- 0 replies
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We’ve showed you how to draw on your memories with the Photos app update – today, we’re going to show you all the ways you can use the app to edit your holiday photos! Editing your images has never been easier In the first version of the new Edit experience, we introduced a new simple way of enhancing and adjusting your pictures with new filters and smart sliders. Just launch Edit from the full screen viewer to get started. With the new editor, you can also easily crop, rotate and enhance your images. If you want to add a filter as well, go ahead and select one from the new set of beautiful-looking filters. We also added the possibility for you to further adju…
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Two security researchers published details this week about several security flaws that allow attackers to execute code on affected machines and take over devices. These security flaws affect Linux distros such as Fedora and Ubuntu, and two of these exploits are zero-days, meaning there's no patch to prevent attacks. Zero-days discovered affecting Fedora and Ubuntu The first to publish his research was Chris Evans, who disclosed the two zero-days affecting Gstreamer, an application responsible for indexing and generating thumbnails and previews for files in various Linux desktop environments. Evans says that an attacker can host a malicious audio file online th…
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