Dwight wants to know if he should install the latest 2004 Windows 10 update or wait. Leo says that 2004 is like 1909 and 1903 before it: a FEATURE update. There's nothing in there you absolutely have to have. And since many people are complaining that many things get "broken" with 2004, it's perfectly OK to wait. But Leo also thinks it's largely safe to update if there are a few features you have to have.
Peter got a Windows 7 update to an EDGE browser this week. Didn't they stop developing Win7? Leo says that they have, and he'll notice that there were no security updates, which is even more vital. But Microsoft seems to have a vested interest in updating EDGE, rather than the security of the OS. But sometimes there are flaws in browsers which require an update, and that may be the case here. Leo recommends Peter update to Windows 10. It's free to do so.
Bill just updated to Windows 10 vs. 2004, and now it takes a long time to boot up. Leo says that it seems to be a known issue with this update. Microsoft has a terrible track record with sufficiently testing updates in beta before it's released. But it could be some software is challenging the system and slowing it down. You could run the system file checker or the online cleanup option to see if it helps. Also, look in your device manager to see if there's any yellow "!" or red "x". Something may have broken. Leo also recommends updating firmware and drivers.
Bill has a computer running Windows 10 and he wants to know how often he should update it? Leo says that there are patches done every month on the first Tuesday, so it's best to set updates to automatic. But if he won't really need that much, Leo recommends getting a Chromebook. It's far more secure. An iPad also. He can't do heavy things like video editing or gaming, but if that doesn't matter, it's far more secure. But keep the Windows machine updated. If he's running an older version of Windows, upgrade to Windows 10. If he's using Windows 10, update regularly.
Walter has two computers running Windows 10, but every time it upgrades, it forces him to reinstall his printers, even though he uses Google Cloud Print. Leo says that Google Cloud Print is going away because most printers now print wirelessly via WiFi. But they do recommend installing CUPS drivers. It's odd though that Windows breaks the connection to a wired printer when updated. Print directly via WiFi. It'll not only be easier to print, but it should also be easier to update. Look for a CUPS driver for your printer. That may be the easiest solution.
Lanny says that Windows 10 is not updating properly, and he can't update Adobe Creative Cloud until it works. Leo says to run the Windows installer and select REPAIR. There's a good chance that the caller is dealing with a corrupted update file. The System File Checker should solve that problem. There is also a reset routine within Windows (Windows Key + Recover) that can also address the issue. Worst case, backup your data and reinstall Windows. But that's a last resort.
Jim was updating Windows 10 when his network turned off suddenly. He turned it back on, and Windows turned it off again! What could be causing that to occur? Leo says that your computer can go to sleep when it's not being used, but your devices can fall asleep as well. Leo recommends looking into the driver properties and see if there's a sleep option that's been enabled. If it has, turn it off. Leo also recommends upgrading to an external wifi card for your computer.
Gary wants to know if he upgrades to Windows 10, will Microsoft Office still be on his computer? Leo says yes, it will, and you can upgrade Windows 10 for free. Google the Windows Media Creation Tool. You can then install on top of Windows 7, and nothing will change except the OS.
Jim updated to Windows 10 vs. 1903 and now he's lost sound support and can't record. Can he downgrade? Leo says he could, but not for long. Microsoft is going to force it on him sooner or later. There is a known issue with sound in gaming. Leo recommends updating to the subsequent updates after 1903. KB4515384 is a technote that talks about fixing sound issues in games, and Leo suspects it should solve Jim's problem.
Bruce can't get the latest Windows Update 1903 on his HP laptop. Microsoft says that this BIOS is too out of date and as such, it'll fail and roll back. Is there a way to block it so it won't keep doing it? The problem is, that Microsoft has stopped supporting 1803, which is where Bruce is stuck, and as such, he won't get security updates starting at the end of the year. That's a real concern. He tried putting it on a metered connection and that does stop it, but he's worried about security. He still wants the security updates.
