Windows Server

It is that time of the month for Microsoft to roll out its update for the Windows Subsystem for Android on Windows 11. Back in July, we got a bumper release with new features, while August was more muted with general improvements. For September, Microsoft is going somewhere in the middle.

While there are no new features, the improvements to Windows Subsystem for Android are worth discussing. Specifically, Microsoft says startup times should now be better. It is unclear exactly what this will mean for users. Hopefully, Android apps will now be noticeably quicker to start.

Elsewhere, the company says it has fixed errors where some apps were not working because of “App Not Responding (ANR) bugs. Other improvements include smoother scrolling in apps and general usability improvements for the Settings app within Windows Subsystem for Android.

It is worth noting the update is currently in preview for the Windows Insider Program. You will need to be running Windows 11 to get Windows Subsystem for Android version 2208.40000.4.0. At the moment, the update is only available in Japan and the United States.

Full Changelog

• Reliability fixes for App Not Responding (ANR) errors
• Improvements to input compatibility shims
• Improvements to scrolling (smoothness) in apps
• Usability Improvements to the Windows Subsystem for Android Settings app
• Startup performance improvements
• Fixed crashes when copying and pasting extremely large content
• UX improvements for the game controls dialog
• Improvements to networking
• General graphics improvements
• Improvements for gamepad when using multiple apps
• Improved performance of uninstalling apps
• Fixed video playback issue for apps
• Updated to Chromium WebView 104
• Linux kernel security updates

If you are unfamiliar with WSA, it is the system that allows Windows 11 to support Android apps natively.

When Microsoft initially announced Windows 11 in June, one of the big announcements was support for Android apps, the company’s latest effort to address the App Gap. This is thanks to a collaboration between Microsoft and the Amazon App Store.

Tip of the day: Windows now has a package manager similar to Linux called “Winget”. In our tutorial, we show you how to install and use this new tool that allows the quick installation of apps via PowerShell or a GUI.

Microsoft is reportedly considering flighting Windows Server previews to customers in the same way it does normal Windows Insider builds. At the moment, the two sides of Windows have differing update strategies, even though they are on similar release patterns. Microsoft may be looking to change that.

When I say update pattern, I mean that both Windows consumer and Windows Server previews receive regular updates on the Insider program. However, Microsoft uses two distinct approaches in flighting updates to users.

Windows 10 and Windows 11 consumer builds arrive on channels for the Windows Insider Program through Windows Update. For Windows Server preview releases, Microsoft sends out ISO files to registered users.

However, a Tech Community post from Microsoft suggests the company may be looking to move Windows Server previews to the Windows consumer update model. The company posted a survey for Server admins to provide feedback on if they would prefer to receive previews through Windows Update instead of ISO files.

Potential Change

This means Microsoft is at least considering making this shift and is courting admin feedback. I guess if admins look at this option favorably, the company will look towards implementing it. However, Microsoft points out there are some caveats to taking the Windows Update approach:

• Windows Server update instances would need to be online and connected to the internet.
• Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) does not support flighting updates.

If Microsoft does change the way Server updates are provided, the company says it will still keep ISO files as an option. It will be interesting to see the result of the survey and how it will inform Microsoft’s decision moving forward.

Tip of the day: Do you know that Windows 11 / Windows 10 allows creating PDFs from basically any app with printing support? In our tutorial, we show you how this works via Microsoft Print to PDF and Bullzip PDF Printer to save a PDF from any app, even with advanced options like adjusted quality, multi-page printing, and password protection.

Source Winbuzzer

Microsoft is no longer rolling out January 2022 Patch Tuesday updates to Windows Server. The company has taken the decision to pull the cumulative updates following critical bugs the patches were causing.

Users were reporting bugs causing domain controllers to reboot, ReFS colume to go missing, and functionality issues in Hyper-V. During this month’s January 2022 Patch Tuesday, Windows Server go the following updates:

KB5009624 for Windows Server 2012 R2, KB5009557 for Windows Server 2019, and KB5009555 for Windows Server 2022. All of these releases have now been removed.

Microsoft’s January 2022 Patch Tuesday has just passed, but one flaw has slipped through the net. A new zero-day vulnerability affecting all supported versions of Windows known as “RemotePotato0” did not get a fix. In fact, Microsoft is refusing to patch the issue. In response, third-parties have released multiple fixes for the issue.

SentinelOne researchers first discovered RemotePotato0 and informed Microsoft about the vulnerability back in April 2021. While Microsoft confirmed the flaw as a zero-day, the company has not released a fix. In fact, Microsoft has not even given the bug a CVE ID, almost like the company is completely ignoring it.

RemotePotato0 uses NTLM relays to attack Windows. Threat actors can exploit the vulnerability to start RPC/DCOM calls. Relaying NTLM authentication to their own protocols, an attacker could give themselves escalated privileges on a domain.

0patch has now released an unofficial patch for the bug. Co-founder Mitja Kolsek explains how the flaw works:

“It allows a logged-in low-privileged attacker to launch one of several special-purpose applications in the session of any other user who is also currently logged in to the same computer, and make that application send said user’s NTLM hash to an IP address chosen by the attacker. Intercepting an NTLM hash from a domain administrator, the attacker can craft their own request for the domain controller pretending to be that administrator and perform some administrative action such as adding themselves to the Domain Administrators group.”

Microsoft Refusal

Microsoft’s unwillingness to patch the vulnerabilitiy is a mystery, but it could be because NTLM (NT LAN Manager) is an authentication protocol for Windows that is now old. Microsoft has replaced the protocol with Kerberos some time ago.

Even so, NTLM is still widely used on Windows servers. Microsoft’s refusal does seem to be because NTLM is obsolete. In fact, the company says users should just configure their Windows servers to block NTLM relays.

It’s a strange choice because RemotePotato0 is dangerous because it does not require a user to interact to initiate an attack. Luckily, 0patch is on hand with the unofficial fix.

Tip of the day: Do you often experience PC freezes or crashs with Blue Screens of Death (BSOD)? Then you should use Windows Memory Diagnostic to test your computers RAM for any problems that might be caused from damaged memory modules. It is a tool built which can be launched at startup to run various memory checks.

Source Winbuzzer

Microsoft is sending out a major update for its mixed reality platform. With the release of Windows HoloGraphic version 21H2, Microsoft’s HoloLens 2 MR headset will get some interesting new abilities.

As the 21H2 number shows, this is still Windows HoloGraphic based on Windows 10. Microsoft has not yet said when the mixed reality platform will move to Windows 11.

Looking at the new features, Microsoft has a few new tools landing with Windows HoloGraphic version 21H2. First up is Moving Platform Mode, which adds new locations for tracking with dynamic motion. Available in preview, Microsoft says will expand the update soon.

This new update also adds more options for IT admins who use HoloLens. Specifically, they can now block public apps, meaning users cannot install such apps. Thanks to a new policy, users can now choose apps that are available from their own company through the Microsoft Store for Business.

More Changes

With Windows HoloGraphic 21H2, Microsoft is also adding PFX certificate support alongside notifications for diagnostics notifications. Elsewhere, Microsoft is changing restarting, allowing to schedule updates.

Finally, Microsoft has also made general improvements to the platform, such as advanced diagnostic logs on HoloLens. Windows HoloGraphic 21H2 is available to HoloLens 2 customers now. Users and admins can get it by navigating to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update > Check for Updates.

Back in May, Microsoft launched Windows HoloGraphic 21H1. Windows Holographic 21H1 adds a Power menu to the Start Menu of Windows 10. Users can access the new menu via the profile icon. Here options include shutting down the headset, sing out, and restart the HoloLens 2.

Tip of the day: Whether you’re planning an upgrade, tuning CPU timings, or just curious, it’s handy to know information about your RAM. In our tutorial, we show you how to check RAM speed, type, and size using several built-in Windows 10 tools.

Source Winbuzzer

Microsoft wants to provide wider tools alongside the lock icon to give users of Microsoft Edge more knowledge of website security. Specifically, the company is developing a solution that shows more details about a site in the information in a pop up.

Security is important, especially when browsing online. Many users are at risk from attack, so understanding if a website you visit is safe or not. A lock icon is a solid first step, showing that the site uses HTTPS and security tools like SSL encryption. However, it is no guarantee that the site is overall safe or not trying to scam you.

Moving forward, the pop up will show wider information about a site you are visiting, with details from Wikipedia. Ok, Wikipedia is hardly the final word in legitimate information, but the details should give users a solid knowledge of a site’s security.

However, it is easy for someone not associated with the website to edit a Wikipedia entry. There is some concern that the website may not agree with their depiction on Wikipedia. In other words, the information Microsoft presents may be incorrect or simply made up.

More Details

Microsoft has baked in a toggle to Microsoft Edge Dev and Edge Canary in testing. However, it is currently only available to select testers. As well as information from Wikipedia, the pop-up also shows social media pages associated with the site.

Also in Microsoft Edge Canary, the company is working on an “underside panel” that highlights the more important information from the site.

Tip of the day: With many reachable wireless access points popping up and disappearing again, the available networks list can become quite annoying. If needed you can use the allowed and blocked filter list of Windows 10 to block certain WiFi networks or all unknown WiFi networks.

Source Winbuzzer

When Windows 11 launches on October 5, it will come with plenty of new features. Among them is Microsoft Start, a tool that is launching today and is also available for iOS and Android. Microsoft Start is a dedicated news feed that is personalized to the specific user, similar to the MSN feed in Microsoft News.

In fact, Start is a rebranding of these tools, effectively replacing Microsoft News and becoming available in the Microsoft Start menu. It will also be available in the Windows 11 widgets service. We have already seen the news and weather ticker as a widget on Windows 10.

More importantly, Microsoft Start is also replacing Microsoft News on mobile devices. In terms of how the service functions, not much will change. Sure, Microsoft Start gets the new UI design language from Windows 11, but it is still the same service at its core.

Publishing

It hosts over 1,000 news publishers and Microsoft taps into its AI and machine learning tech to present personalized news items to users. Microsoft has made a big deal of how its news platform is better than others at avoiding fake news. In fact, the company points to a unique publishing model that removes fake news entirely.

For example, using human checkers as well as AI, although Microsoft did lay off dozens of workers from its editorial team last year. With that in mind, it is unclear how much of a role editors play moving forward or whether Microsoft Start relies entirely on AI.

As well as the Windows 11 integration and mobile apps, a web portal (MicrosoftStart.com) is also available on modern web browsers. You can check out Microsoft Start on your browser now, or on iOS and Android.

Tip of the day: When Windows 10 runs into serious problems, it’s not rare to run into startup problems. Corrupted Windows files, incorrect system configuration, driver failure, or registry tweaks can all cause this issue.

Using Windows 10 startup repair can fix boot issues caused by the most prevalent issues. Though it may seem that all is lost when you run into startup problems, it’s important to try a Windows 10 boot repair so you can at least narrow down the source of the issue. If it doesn’t work, you may have to reinstall the OS or test your hardware.

Source Winbuzzer

When Windows 11 was announced back in June, Microsoft said it was a free upgrade for Windows 10 users… with some caveats. Specifically, it quickly became clear it would only be available for laptops with Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 2.0 or higher chips. Microsoft is now doubling down on this demand and saying unsupported PCs risk being cut off.

There was thought to be a loophole in Microsoft’s TPM 2.0 demand. While the restriction means automatic updates to Windows 11 are not possible, it was through users could still manually install the platform via an ISO file.

However, speaking to The Verge, Microsoft now says that is not the case. The company now says it could withhold Windows 11 updates for users who take advantage of this technicality. Furthermore, Microsoft points out if may also withhold security and driver updates.

I am skeptical about the last threat. It is very unlikely Microsoft will not roll out security patches platform-wide just to ensure stability across the ecosystem. However, not being able to receive feature updates seems a more credible threat.

Moving Forward

Still, if you are going to the length of installing Windows 11 via an ISO, you could just do the same again for feature updates. Sure, it would be mildly annoying to have to re-install the whole OS again, but a workable solution.

It is clear Microsoft is being a little mean to users with older PCs in an effort to boost sales of new hardware, whether its Surface devices or OEM laptops. It will be interesting to see how this plays out once Windows 11 launches.

Will most of those people fulfil Microsoft’s wish and make PC sales trend upwards for the next year or two? Or are all those people locked out of the Windows 11 experience going to find loopholes or simply sit on Windows 10, which Microsoft is supporting until 2025?

Tip of the day: Tired of Windows 10’s default notification and other system sounds? In our tutorial we show you how to change windows sounds or turn off system sounds entirely.

Source Winbuzzer

Problem

Normally you can just create a new scope on your new DHCP server, but if you have a lot of reservations that you don’t want to have to recreate (for printers network devices etc), then it’s a better option to migrate/copy the scope to the new server.

Solution

1. Copy all the DHCP settings to a text file with the following command;

netsh dhcp server export C:\dhcp.txt all

2. Stop and disable the DHCP Server service on the OLD DHCP server.

3. Move the text file to the NEW server, and import the settings with the following command;

(netsh dhcp server import c:\dhcp.txt all)

Source Petenetlive

Microsoft Whiteboard is coming to more apps to expand the app’s new goal. In June, Microsoft revealed Whiteboard was getting an overhaul. Specifically, the focus was on bringing workers together on project, with Microsoft describing the app as the “visual collaboration workspace” for Microsoft 365.

Now that the new Whiteboard app is rolling out on the web and Microsoft Teams, the focus is on bringing it to more native applications on Windows 10, iOS, and Surface Hub. The new tools are also coming to the Android preview, thanks to Microsoft Whiteboard making its debut on the platform in March.

Teams and web users are already using Whiteboard with the following new features:

• “Sticky note colors: 10 colorful sticky note shades to choose from.
• Note grids – insert a grid of sticky notes in one of 12 available colors to help in workshops and ideation sessions.
• View objects created in native apps – Objects such as lists & templates inserted on native apps can be viewed on web and Teams as well.
• Ink pen colors: 15 new ink pen color options with a range of thicknesses to help visualize your content and bring your text to life.
• Highlighter colors: – 15 new highlighter color options enable users to emphasize content on the board.
• Ink shape recognition: – draw shapes with ink and then watch them straighten automatically.
• Improved mouse inking: – create smoother ink lines, making your strokes easier and cleaner when drawing with a mouse or trackpad.
• Read only mode for education accounts: – as a meeting facilitator or an educator, determine when and how students participate and collaborate by enabling or disabling their editing capabilities.”

More Features Coming

As the new Whiteboard heads for iOS, Surface Hub and Windows 10, Microsoft has plans for more features. The company points to a new UI for the app, laser pointer support, object alignment, collaborative cursors, customizable templates, and more. According to the company, these tools should drop during September.

Tip of the day:

Whether you’re planning an upgrade, tuning CPU timings, or just curious, it’s handy to know information about your RAM. In our tutorial, we show you how to check RAM speed, type, and size using several built-in Windows 10 tools.

Source Winbuzzer