Four years ago, Microsoft did something unprecedented in the history of Windows development. By opening the Windows Insider program to all Windows enthusiasts, Microsoft was done with developing the desktop OS in secret, and users were finally given a platform to share their feedback about Windows with the company.
The Windows Insider program is celebrating its 4th anniversary today, and it’s a good time to look back at how the program evolved over the years. Last year, Microsoft announced that the program reached the 10 million members mark, while the new Windows Insider Program for Businesses hit 30K organizations milestone. We don’t hear much about the latter these days (same thing with the #Insiders4Good initiative), but the Windows Insider Program has always been mostly about new Windows 10 features that consumers should care about.
Today's the 4th anniversary of the #WindowsInsiders Program! Thank you everyone who's been here since the beginning, and everyone who's joined along the way. Your feedback has helped shape Windows into the OS it is today, and I can't wait for you to see more of 19H1 ???? pic.twitter.com/HrfYbZHthb
Last year, the opening of the Skip Ahead ring marked a new milestone in the history of the program. For the first time, Microsoft would give select Insiders access to the version of Windows 10 that is two releases away. This added a bit of complexity to the program, as did Microsoft’s decision to start shipping cumulative updates. As Microsoft explained at the time, most businesses are enrolled in the Slow ring, which is why Microsoft is now aiming for “beta quality software in the Slow ring, with alpha quality in the Fast ring.” However, that didn’t really change the low amount of new builds that Microsoft ships to Slow Ring Insiders.
One thing that didn’t change over the years is that you really need to join the Fast Ring (or the Skip Ahead ring) if you want to get access to the fun stuff. It’s pretty great to be able to play with experimental features before everyone else, though in some cases Microsoft eventually removes new features to continue working on them behind closed doors. This is what happened with Windows Sets earlier this year, though the functionality is expected to make a comeback at some point.
The Windows Insider program is certainly not perfect, and we know some of you don’t really dig the Ninja cat obsession and other private jokes, but Microsoft really deserves credit for trying to be more open with the Windows enthusiasts out there. The Windows Insider team is also very dedicated to interacting with Insiders on Twitter, Discord, or Microsoft’s Community website, and you’ll certainly learn a lot by joining the program. Doing so is as simple as opening the Windows 10 Settings app, selecting Update & Security and then going to Windows Insider Program.
As Microsoft and Qualcomm work on the next-generation of mobile computing with Always-Connected-PCs (ACPC’s), a key component will be the development of eSIM technology going forward.
Fortunately, Microsoft and the global leader in Augmented Identity, IDEMIA just announced a partnership that will help offer the convenience of eSIM technology to Windows 10 device users in the near future.
According to the Financial Post, “the partnership will see IDEMIA’s eSim Orchestration Hub used to integrate with mobile network operator (MNO) networks to easily and quickly support eSIM on Windows 10 Enterprise devices.”
“IDEMIA’s eSIM Orchestration Hub is an excellent solution for MNOs looking to support Windows Enterprise eSIM devices without having to undergo significant upgrades to their network. That’s why we partnered with the IDEMIA team to enable faster and easier adoption of eSIM technology in Enterprises worldwide,” said David Lemson, Director of Program Management for Windows IoT and Networking, Microsoft.
As with most things, Microsoft these days, IDEMIA’s eSIM Orchestration Hub is a cloud-hosted platform solution for the management of eSIM devices, which, in theory, should allow for a flexible end-to-end piece of software for IT Pros to manage that can be constantly be maintained.
As ABI Research predicts, Microsoft’s partnership with IDEMIA couldn’t come at a better time, with shipments of eSIM-enabled devices expected to from 224 million in 2018 to 700 million by 2022.
Dell has announced the launch of its new ultra-slim Windows 10 notebook, Dell Inspiron 15 7572, in India. The tailor-made Inspiron allows customers with an option to customize color, software, and services with an intent to offer a more personalized user experience.
The Inspiron 7572 sports a 15.6-inch InfinityEdge LED-Backlit display with a Full HD resolution (1920×1080) and IPS wide-viewing angle. It is powered by Intel 8th gen Corei5/Ci7 Quad Core CPUs with NVIDIA GeForce MX150 discrete graphics option with up to 4GB GDDR5 memory for additional graphics muscle to handle hardcore gaming titles.
It comes with a high-resolution Precision touchpad for more fluid panning as well as pinching and zooming.
The Dell Inspiron 7572 also packs in ‘Dell Cinema’ with CinemaStream and CinemaSound technology for a more spectacular cinematic experience. Of course, all Inspiron laptops feature SmartByte and Waves MaxxAudio Pro for a better video and audio experience.
Exclusively available to purchase on dell.co.in, the Dell Inspiron 7572 is available in silver and gold color options.
Welcome back to our Windows 10 news recap, where we go over the top stories of the past week in the world of Microsoft’s flagship operating system.
AdDuplex: Windows 10 April 2018 update inches closer to 90% usage share
AdDuplex has released its latest stats on the Windows 10 April 2018 update, noting that it is getting close to having 90% share of the Windows 10 market.
Microsoft: Commercial Windows 10 customers will see update sizes drop significantly with x64-only update option
Report: Microsoft shifts focus away from Office Mobile apps for Windows 10
Microsoft’s attempt at proving UWP’s worthiness, the suite of Office Mobile apps, is apparently coming to an end as a new report suggests Microsoft is moving its focus away from the Office Mobile apps on Windows 10. It will continue to focus on the iOS and Android apps, but the Windows 10 apps are now considered to be “legacy”.
Microsoft inches closer to its goal of 1 billion Windows 10 installs; hitting 700 million devices
Microsoft’s goal of stretching Windows 10 to 1 billion installs is getting closer, as the company reaches 700 million Windows 10 devices. The rate of new installs appears to have slowed significantly, with Microsoft rarely announcing any changes in the figures, and company executives reluctant to comment on them at times.
That’s it for this week. We’ll be back next week with more Windows 10 news!
The most famous football (soccer) simulation and the most lucrative EA project is finally here. FIFA 19 is out and it brings enhanced soccer experience to all players around the globe.
However, it’s hard to expect that the game of this scale comes out flawless and without initial issues.
There’s a fair number of bugs, especially on the Windows PC version, and we decided to enlist the major ones and provide applicable solutions.
If you’ve experienced any bugs on FIFA 2019, there’s a good chance you’ll find the way to solve it in the list below.
How to fix the most common FIFA 19 problems
Don’t have time to read the step-by-step tutorial? Watch this video guide and find out the solutions to fix FIFA 19 issues on Windows PC.
1. Can’t download FIFA 19
The first hurdle is the inability to download the game in the first place. Once purchased on Origin, users should be able to download the game immediately.
However, some of them get the purchase error, while the download process crashes for others. This isn’t an uncommon occurrence, so bear with us.
Here’s what you can try to address this:
Check the connection settings.
Restart the download.
Make sure you have enough storage space (50 GB).
Update the Origin client.
Log out and log in again into Origin.
Disable all bandwidth-hogging processes in the background.
Check your Region.
2. FIFA 19 won’t start
On the other hand, having the game installed but not being able to start it is even worse. Some users who successfully downloaded and installed the game weren’t able to run it as they were welcomed by an error.
There are a few things you should confirm before we consider reinstallation.
Follow these steps to troubleshoot the “Fifa 19 won’t start” error on Windows PC:
Make sure you meet the minimum system requirements:
OS: Windows 7/8.1/10 – 64-Bit
CPU: Intel Core i3-2100 @ 3.1GHz or AMD Phenom II X4 965 @ 3.4 GHz
RAM: 8 GB
HDD: At least 50 GB of free space
GPU: NVIDIA GTX 460 1GB or AMD Radeon R7 260
DirectX: DirectX 11 compatible (7 required for DirectX 11)
Input: Keyboard and mouse, dual analog controller
Network: Internet connection required to install and play.
Run the game in the compatibility mode for Windows 7.
Install the latest version of DirectX, VC++, and .NET Framework.
3. Lags and freezes in the FUT mode
FIFA 19 is certainly not an undemanding game. The redesigned looks require more than a capable PC to run the game in a seamless manner.
However, even if you have a gaming rig with a top-notch graphics card and enough RAM, you still need to check the associated software.
Without the proper supporting software, the in-game experience might suffer. Especially in online modes.
In order to address this, we suggest following these steps:
Make sure you have a stable connection. Use LAN cable instead of Wi-Fi.
Check the game files integrity.
Disable the bandwidth-related applications from working in the background.
Disable Origin In-Game for FIFA 19.
Reinstall the game.
More regarding driver updates, you should be aware that your GPU drivers can be updated easily and without much effort. With Outbyte Driver Updater, you have outdated or missing drivers resolved in a few simple steps.
4. My controller doesn’t work in FIFA 19
Playing sports simulations on anything other than a controller means hardship. However, using a controller on a Windows PC requires proper drivers and, for some controllers, even additional software.
On the other hand, FIFA 19 on its own has a few mishaps when it comes to controllers. There seems to be a bug that makes any controller (even Xbox controller) unrecognizable.
If that’s what’s bothering you, follow these steps to resolve it:
Delete your saved profile and re-establish it again.
Update controller’s drivers:
Make sure your controller is plugged in.
Right-click on the Start and open Device Manager.
Expand the “Sound, video, and game controllers” section.
Right-click on the controller and choose “Update driver” from the contextual menu.
5. Ultimate Team crashes to desktop
The FIFA Ultimate Team mode is the bread and butter of recent FIFA games. It’s by far the most popular and competitive mode in FIFA 19, as well.
However, some users reported sudden desktop crashes while playing the match. This, sadly, results in them automatically losing the game. This is a part of EA’s anti-cheat program which doesn’t work as supposed to.
Here’s how to resolve it:
Check the connection.
Don’t use Alt-Tab combination.
Disable Origin In-Game for FIFA 19.
Disable Game mode and disable all notifications.
Press Windows key + I to open Settings.
Choose Gaming.
Select Game Mode from the left pane.
Toggle Game Mode off.
Now, click on the Action Center and enable Focus Assist.
6. FIFA 19 black screen issues
The black screen almost always doesn’t stand for anything good. In this case, we’re probably looking at a driver issue. Thing is, even if you have the latest version of drivers for your graphics card, the GPU still might fail you.
That’s why, instead of turning to Windows Update for a driver update, we suggest navigating to the OEM’s official site and getting your drivers from there.
Since a few years ago, the internet connection is a must if you want to take full advantage of FIFA games. The same goes for FIFA 19. The permanent connection to EA servers is a necessity for more than a few modes.
However, there seems to be a network issue as some players are not able to connect to EA’s dedicated FIFA servers.
This can be resolved by following these steps:
Make sure EA servers are not temporary down. You can check the Server status, here.
Check connection settings (reset your router, use LAN instead of Wi-Fi if possible, reboot the PC).
Make sure Windows Firewall or an antivirus isn’t blocking the game.
8. FIFA 19 Champions Edition won’t unlock
The EA’s recent practice is to offer lots of pre-order content packages and, this year, users can choose between the Ultimate, Champions, and Standard editions of the game.
The Ultimate Edition is the most expensive one. However, some of the users who prepurchased Champions Edition weren’t able to unlock it. They run into an error during the actualization process.
This is a common bug but we assure you that the problem should be addressed by sending a ticket to EA’s support.
9. Can’t log into FIFA Ultimate Team Companion in WebApp
The FUT Companion WebApp allows you to track all important things concerning your Ultimate Team. Starting with the current squad and moving to advanced statistics.
However, some users weren’t able to log into FIFA Ultimate Team Companion for unknown reasons.
We suggest clearing your browser cache or using an alternative browser. In case you have a smartphone, you can get the Companion app on iOS and Android.
10. FIFA 19 match won’t start
If the loading after the initial Lineup tweaks takes forever, we suggest checking your network settings and running the Origin built-in tool to check the integrity of the files.
Of course, this is a common bug, so the eventual resolution is expected in future FIFA 19 updates.
Follow these steps to resolve the match-related issues in the FUT mode:
Disable background applications, notifications, and Game Mode.
Close the game and delete save files from Documents > FIFA 19 concerning MatchDay and Squads. Open the game and enable Live Form in the FUT mode. Finally, navigate to Main Menu > Customize > Edit teams and Update latest squads.
Check the game integrity with the Origin client.
With that, we can wrap this article for the time being. We’ll make sure to add additional issues and solutions as time passes.
In case you have something to add or take, make sure to do so in the comments section below.
Microsoft news recap is a weekly feature highlighting the top Microsoft news stories of the past week. Sit back, grab some coffee, and enjoy the read!
Microsoft will drop support for Skype Classic in November
Over the coming months, Microsoft will begin pushing users of Skype’s classic applications on desktop and mobile over to the new Skype experience, version 8. Support for Skype Classic will come to an end in November.
Microsoft to return to Orlando for Ignite 2019
As Ignite 2018 comes to an end, Microsoft has already announced that the next Ignite conference, in 2019, will be returning to Orlando, Florida. Instead of taking place in late September, it will instead take place in early November.
Volkswagen partners with Microsoft to build new “automotive cloud”
In another win for Microsoft’s Azure platform, the company has teamed up with Volkswagen to create the “Volkswagen Automotive Cloud” which will support Volkswagen’s future connected cars. Little detail is known, but it’s likely this will allow users to purchase services from within their cars, receive software updates, and more.
Microsoft adds Translator to Swiftkey Android app, works with 60 languages
We’ve all seen it. A new update for a piece of software gets released, you’re excited to get all the latest features and see some issues fixed, only to find out it’s going to take a while to download and, eventually, install. Knowing that some of the updates include bits that you don’t even need, but still take time for you to download, can be frustrating. Microsoft thinks it’s found a solution, at least for its commercial customers on Windows 10.
In a normal scenario, Microsoft releases a Windows 10 update as a single bundle that includes both x86 and x64 versions. This makes it simple for the update to be applied to all machines, catering to their specific requirements whereby x86 may be needed. However, many machines don’t need the x86 version, making this part of the update useless. A standard update is around 4.8GB, with the x86 portion taking up around 2.2GB of that.
From now, Microsoft will distribute an x64-only version to enterprise customers (via ZDNet). This brings a significant saving on the total download size, coming in at roughly 2.6GB, compared to the previous 4.8GB. Not only that, but it also reduces the total download size and the overall bandwidth usage, particularly where a customer has systems in multiple regions. Enterprise customers updating to Windows 10 versions 1703, 1709, and 1803, will be able to download the x64-only option, with 1809 coming along shortly when it releases.
To have access to the x64-only option, the customer must be using Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) or have a system connected to System Centre Configuration Manager. The updates are released as Electronic Software Distribution files through WSUS.
There is a downside to this new approach. The updates will only contain the original Release-to-Manufacturer (RTM) version of Windows 10. Cumulative updates that became available after RTM, Features on Demand and language packs are not included, so system administrators will need to install these separately afterward in order for their software to be completely up to date.
Joel Frauenheim from Microsoft said:
Customers who still need x86 feature updates will need to use the combined files originally published, which will continue to be available and do not have the ‘x64’ distinction.
Configuration Manager or other enterprise management solutions can pull the x86 files from that feature update download to deploy as they did before.
While a welcome change for saving bandwidth and improving download times, it can add an additional step to bring a system completely up to date. What do you think to Microsoft’s change in handling updates for Windows 10 x64 enterprise machines?
Some users have stated that This app can’t be activated when UAC is disabled error message pops up when they try to open images and other files with UWP apps.
Consequently, the users can’t open their images with the default Photos app in Windows 10. Does the same error message pop up when you open Windows apps? If so, check out the potential fixes below.
What do I do if UAC prevents app activation?
1. Turn On User Account Control
Press the Windows key + R, type useraccountcontrolsettings, and click OK.
Drag the bar from Never notify to Notify me only when applications try to make changes to my computer UAC (default) setting.
Press the OK button.
The error message states the app can’t be activated when UAC is disabled, which is a clear enough hint that the issue pertains to User Account Control settings. So turning User Account Control back on is the most probable fix for the error message.
2. Enable the User Account Control Group Policy Setting
Press the Windows key + R, type gpedit.msc, and click OK.
Navigate to the path below in the left pane: Computer Configuration > Windows Settings > Security Settings > Local Policies > Security Options
Click the User Account Control: Run all administrators in Admin Approval Mode setting to open the User Account Control policy window.
Then select the Enabled radio button.
Finally, click the Apply button, followed by OK.
3. Adjust the EnableLUA DWORD Value
Type regedit in the Run text box and click OK.
Then browse to the path below in the left pane: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System
Select the System key on the left of the window.
Double-click the EnableLUA DWORD in the right pane.
Set the Value data to 1, and click the OK button.
In some cases, the app can’t be activated because UAC is disabled option can be because the feature is deactivated in your Registry. You can fix this by changing the value, as shown above.
4. Reset the MS Store app
Click the Cortana button on the taskbar, type Powershell in the search box, and click Run as administrator under Windows PowerShell.
Next, type the command below and hit Enter: Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers -Name Microsoft.Services.Store* | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register “$($_.InstallLocation)AppXManifest.xml” -Verbose}
Resetting the MS Store app can often fix numerous app error messages, so that resolution is worth a shot when UWP apps don’t open.
5. Open Your Files With Alternative Desktop Software
This isn’t really a fix, but remember that you can still open images, and other file types, with software that aren’t UWP apps.
This app can’t be activated when UAC is disabled error message only pops up for UWP apps. So instead of trying to open images with Photos, open them with an alternative non-UWP software such as FastStone Image Viewer or Paint.NET.
So that’s how you can get the This app can’t be activated when UAC is disabled error fixed in Windows to kick-start apps.
Turning the UAC back on will usually fix the error message. In addition, resetting Windows to default settings with a factory reset, as covered in this post, might also reactivate your apps.
Feel free to let us know the solution that helped you fix this issue in the comments below.
The newest installment to the Fallout series, Fallout 76, is coming to Xbox One and Windows 10 on November 14, 2018. However, the big news is that Microsoft and Xbox released details on Fallout 76 B.E.T.A. (Break-It Early Test Application) that will be available to play starting October 23, 2018 on Xbox One. As noted in a post on Xbox Wire, Bethesda’s main goal is “to stress test and break the game.”
Bethesda added that servers for Fallout 76 B.E.T.A. will be online during “targeted timeframes, so we can get as many people possible playing at the same time.” The purpose of narrowing the servers for certain timeframes instead of 24 hours a day is to have the most players online and see how Fallout 76 servers react to being under full load and see what issues arise.
“On any given day the game might be up for anywhere from four to eight hours. Focusing as many players as we can into these windows is our prime objective. Then we’ll fix what we need to fix and do it again and again from the start of B.E.T.A. until a few days before launch. We’ll give you as much heads up as possible because we need you to log in during these times and play the game.
We’ll also keep you posted through our official @Fallout and @bethesdastudios on Twitter as well as the Bethesda.net forums and our Bethesda.net Status Page to learn when servers will be online. While the adventures you and your friends will experience will all be unique, you’ll start the same as everyone else: within the safe confines of Vault 76 on Reclamation Day. For the very first time, we’re excited to share how your journey will begin.”
Starting on October 23, 2018, those who pre-ordered Fallout 76 will be able to stream and broadcast their B.E.T.A. gameplay on Mixer, Twitch, and YouTube. Bethesda welcomes your feedback on Fallout 76 B.E.T.A. Bethesda wants to improve gameplay and the overall game experience in Fallout 76, to prepare the game for the official release on November 23, 2018.
Microsoft announced today that its ever more popular Ignite conference, which has just concluded, will be back in Orlando, Florida again next year. Next year, however, instead of late September, the conference will run from November 4th – 8th, and you can already pre-register for the event, which sold out again this year and boasted some 30,000 attendees.
Even if you didn’t get to attend this year’s event, you can register with a Tech Community account and watch all of this year’s sessions, including the Vision Keynote with Satya Nadella and the three technology keynotes, on IT and Azure, Microsoft Dynamics 365, and Microsoft 365.
This app is preventing shutdown error message appears when you try to shut down Windows while there are still third-party apps running.
You then see a screen that lists software apps you still need to close, and you can select the Cancel or Shut down anyway option. By selectingCancel, users can manually close the listed apps preventing shutdown. But why does the error appear? Let’s find out!
What does This app is preventing shutdown mean?
This app is preventing shutdown screen appears when applications with unsaved data are still open in Windows.
Word processors, spreadsheets, text editors, and image editing software will usually prompt you to save unsaved documents or images when you click the X button to close their windows.
Then you can select to save and close or close the application without saving anything. So you need to close all applications with unsaved data open in them before shutting down Windows.
How do I fix the This app is preventing shutdown error?
Modify the Registry
Tip
Before you proceed, make sure to create a restore point to be able to revert things in case the process goes wrong.
Next, right-click the Start button and select the Run accessory.
Enter regedit, and click the OK button.
Navigate the following path: Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop
Right-click an empty space on the right side, click New, and select String Value from the context menu.
Enter AutoEndTasks as the string value name.
Double-click AutoEndTasks, enter 1 under Value data, and then click OK to save the changes.
Close the Registry Editor window.
Finally, restart your desktop or laptop.
The new AutoEndTasks string value ensures all software closes automatically when you click Shut down. Thus, you’ll no longer need to close programs with unsaved data open in them before shutting down.
Also, when you find that This app is preventing shutdown has no name, the Registry method works well since the changes are applied across the PC.
Remember, however, that the This app is preventing shutdown warning message can also be a handy reminder that you have forgotten to save something. Even more, solving the issue of an app preventing shutdown in Windows is also possible thanks to the tips we’ve detailed in this guide.
On some laptops, a preinstalled touchpad utility called Elara can repeatedly trigger the This app is preventing shutdown message, so check our step by step guide to uninstall Elara if you suspect it is the cause.
Before you leave, do check some quick tips to decrease the boot time in Windows, and have the PC restart, shut down, and turn on quicker.
For any queries or to share other solutions with us, drop a comment below.
What do you do when Microsoft’s promises and reneges on a new software solution? You find some gifted developers who can provide you with an even better experience.
Enter, Stardock.
Back when Windows was going through an identity crisis with Windows 8, Stardock was there to offer users a software solution that made Windows 8 more like Windows 7 and thus a more familiar and welcoming tranistion for many. The company’s Start 8 software brought back the lauded Windows 7 Start Menu alongside Microsoft’s new Widnows 8 interface.
Well, the company is back offering users additional functionality with its Groupy software.
For a bit of reference, the Windows team teased a new tabbed experience that would come in some future update to Windows 10. The new tabbed functionality was called Sets and would allow users to group separate applications into a tabbed interface similar to an internet browser, helping to declutter desktops as well as organize tasks and workflows.
Unfortunately, the Windows team pulled back on that release in its Insider program and will presumably revisit development of it at some future date, but having tested it, I found that I quickly became addicted to the functionality.
Despite Microsoft selling productivity as a multi windowed experience with its titular product Windows over the past 30 years, I personally found that tabbing my workflow boosted my productivity.
Thankfuly, Stardock offers a similar and in most ways, a superior experience with Groupy.
I’ve been testing Groupy for the past few months and it’s become a necessity for me. Using Stardock’s software, I’m able to organize my workflow by ‘tabbing’ all of my open Office docs, Google properites such as Docs, AdWords, YouTube Studio, etc, as well as all of my UWP and PWA apps into neat sections.
As a bit of context, I’ve been testing Chromebook functionality, and as the OS prioritizes a tabbed experience, I can see the appeal of signal clear windows of productivity. The time of moving a mouse between windows becomes shorter, time searching for open windows is reduced and customization is increased, in my opinion. Opining on Microsoft’s Windows 10S experiement paired with Sets, the company could have a decent ChromeOS competitor from a workflow standpoint.
Other benefits of Groupy include:
Key Features
Drag and drop applications together to group them under a common tabbed interface
Organize multiple applications and documents together for convenient access
Group related tabs together for optimal workflow
Save groups of applications together for future usage
Manage tabs in quick and natural ways with the browser-like interface
Add new tabs to existing groups quickly and easily
Mouseover tabs to preview the window contents
Copy files between Explorer tabs. Drag files to the target tab, pause to switch, and then into the target window.
Automatically group instances of the same application together
It’s a bit premature to measure Groupy against the nascent development of Sets, but where Groupy excels over Sets is in its sheer performance. Apps don’t crash when paired, tabbed groups are kept in memory and can be pulled back up and reopened, thus saving me time and enabling to be more productive. Apps also keep their sizing when switching between windows. Another benefit is that Groupy’s presence spans Windows 7, 8.1 and Windows 10.
Perhaps, the best thing about Groupy is that it’s available, now. No waiting, no promises of soon or Insider testing. Users can head to Stardock’s website and either try it for 30-days for free or a one time purchase of $9.99 or $29.99 for a package that includes Object Desktop.
Once purchased, users can install the software on up to five devices (I believe).
My only objection about Groupy is the target window for tabbing applications is a bit large. Users may find themselves accidentally tabbing apps they may have only intended to snap to one of the four grid sections in Windows.
For Insider looking to regain Sets functionality or Windows users looking for more organizational resources, I recommend giving Groupy a try.
According to a report from the Economic Times Microsoft is looking to bring AR, VR, IR, and Machine Learning to the more than 22,000 students in Bengaluru, India (known also as Bangalore) as soon as this month.
In partnership with service regional service provider Tech Avant-Garde, Microsoft is initiating what it’s calling BBMP Roshini, which will provide state-of-the-art technology to the 40 primary and highschools in the BBMP in Bengaluru.
According to a press release, not only will schools be inudated with brand new technology solutions, but training for teachers will be part of the project that center around learning new skills and encourage community participation.
“The teachers will also be trained on the 21st Century skills (classroom of the future) and the parents will be involved in activites of the schools. Experts for the local community will be encouraged to get involved in experimental learning.”
Since this went into effect offically on September 26, 2018, organizers have already started prilimary canvassing activites that include gathering participating teacher and student numbers as well as how the program will impact established infrastructures.
Microsoft has already released three cumulative updates for Windows 10 versions 1803 and 1709, but there’s apparently an issue with the latest patches released on September 20. Indeed, the Redmond giant has just re-released the two updates because of a “missing solution,” and as result Windows 10 users who previously installed the builds 17134.319 or 16299.698 can now download the builds 17134.320 or 16299.699 (via Neowin).
To be clear, these two new builds have the same changelog as the one for the previous builds they’re replacing. Here’s the one for the build 17134.320 (KB4458469), which is rolling out to users running the April 2018 Update:
Addresses an issue that causes the prompt “You’ll need a new app to open” to appear. This occurs when reloading a website on a non-standard port by pressing Enter .
Addresses an issue that causes downloads to fail because Mark of the Web (MOTW) isn’t supported at the download location.
Addresses an issue that prevents the DefaultSearchProvider policy from working when the FirstRunPage policy is in use.
Addresses issue that causes the address bar to lose focus when a new tab is opened and the Allow web content on New Tab page policy is off.
Addresses an issue that prevents the Microsoft Edge Configure Password Manager policy from suppressing the Save password prompt when the policy is disabled.
Addresses an issue that causes downloads to WebDAV locations to fail.
Addresses an issue with the file previewer for .html, .mht, and email (MIME) attachments in Microsoft Outlook.
Addresses an issue that causes Internet Explorer security and certificate dialogs to display prompts in the background instead of the foreground in certain circumstances.
Addresses an issue that may cause the system to become unresponsive when applications call the EnableEUDC API.
Addresses an issue in multi-monitor scenarios that causes a spell checker context menu to appear on the wrong monitor. This issue occurs when the customer right-clicks a misspelled word in Internet Explorer.
Addresses an issue that occurs when entering Japanese characters in a remote desktop session (mstsc.exe).
Addresses an issue that occurs when using low-level mouse hooks with high integrity-level processes.
Addresses an issue that prevents custom keyboard layouts from working correctly.
Makes the visibility policy for the Settings Page available under User Configuration. The GPO is at the following path: User Configuration/Administrative Template/Control Panel/Settings Page Visibility
Addresses an issue that prevents some Bluetooth devices from pairing with Windows.
Addresses an issue in the Universal CRT that returns the expected output or a null character when calling _getch().
Addresses an issue in the Universal CRT that returns unexpected characters when calling the _findfirst() or _findnext() functions.
Addresses an issue in the Universal CRT that prevents some functions from accepting narrow input or producing proper output with certain ANSI Code Pages. This issue affects setargv.obj when using wildcard parsing and calls to get the current module name for debug windows. The issue also affects the following functions:
_chdir()
_exec()
_fullpath()
_loaddll
_popen()
_system()
_spawn() (and variants)
Addresses an issue with evaluating the compatibility status of the Windows ecosystem to help ensure application and device compatibility for all updates to Windows.
Addresses an issue with the diagnostic pipeline for devices enrolled in Windows Analytics when the CommercialID registry key, “HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\DataCollection” is present.
Addresses an issue that prevents the App-V client’s scheduled task from syncing if the Device Guard lockdown policy is enabled.
Addresses an issue that may cause the Local Security Authority Subsystem Service (LSASS) process to stop working when attempting to process a malformed security identifier (SID).
Addresses an issue that causes a delay in unlocking or signing in to a computer that was moved to a different network. For example, a delay occurs when moving from a corporate LAN or WLAN to a home LAN where domain controllers can’t be reached.
Addresses an issue on some laptops that prevents sign-out from completing. The issue occurs when a customer signs out and immediately closes the laptop. As a result, when the laptop is reopened, the device must be restarted.
Addresses an issue that occurs when enabling BitLocker from a local administrator account.
Addresses an issue on devices with fingerprint sensors that were upgraded from Windows 10, version 1709. After the upgrade, users can’t use the fingerprint sensor to log in.
Addresses an issue that causes some systems to take as much as 60 seconds longer to start. This occurs on systems that don’t have a smart card reader installed.
Addresses an issue that prevents customers from logging in to a Windows 10S device with a PIN after upgrading to Windows 10, version 1803. Customers see the error “Your PIN is no longer available due to a change to the security settings on this device.”
Addresses an issue that causes a Direct Access connection to fail when the client authentication certificate is stored in the TPM device.
Addresses an issue that causes the system to log negative events for drivers that are valid and should be trusted. The issue occurs when running Windows Defender Application Control (Device Guard) in audit mode.
Addresses an issue that causes a third-party VPN provider’s user interface to stop working after dynamically unloading Cryptui.dll.
Addresses an issue that causes logging on to a Remote Desktop Session Host Server to occasionally stop responding.
Addresses an issue that causes printing to an open or existing file to fail without displaying an error. This issue occurs when using Microsoft Print to PDF or XPS Document Writer.
Addresses an issue where a daily, repetitive task starts unexpectedly when the task is first created or starts when the task is updated.
Addresses an issue that prevents running subsequent actions when you create multiple actions in a task using Task Scheduler and the task is scheduled under the Stop the existing instance rule.
Addresses an issue with a task that has a repetition setting. The task fails to be scheduled and doesn’t start after disabling and re-enabling the task. The Next Run Time in Task Scheduler displays the correct time, but the task doesn’t start at that time.
Addresses an issue that prevents the debugging of minimized UWP applications.
Addresses an issue with Visual Studio UWP Deployments that displays the error “The operation could not be completed because an unexpected host ID was encountered”.
Addresses an issue that ignores the MM_DONT_ZERO_ALLOCATION flag. This issue leads to degraded performance, and, occasionally, error 0x139 appears.
Addresses an issue that causes NTLTEST, DCLOCATOR, or joining an Active Directory and SAMBA domain to fail when using the NetBIOS domain name. The error is “An Active Directory domain Controller (AD DC) for the domain %domain% could not be contacted”. This also addresses connection issues for applications that use mailslots to communicate.
Addresses an issue that occurs when using encrypted email. If the customer selects Cancel when first asked for a PIN, multiple PIN prompts appear before the prompt finally goes away.
Addresses an issue that prevents the Microsoft Help Viewer from rendering HTML content inside a Windows Help .chm file when the .chm file is stored on a network location.
Addresses an issue in which the lock screen shows a solid color instead of an image specified by a policy before a customer signs in for the first time.
Addresses an issue that causes Microsoft Edge to stop working when printing a PDF in a size 0 window.
Addresses an issue that causes Microsoft Edge to stop working and to close associated webpage tabs. This occurs when certain PDF documents have timing issues when loading.
Addresses an issue with a scheduled task that has an indefinite duration. The task starts immediately after it is created instead of starting at the time specified in the Triggers tab.
Addresses an issue where GetSystemTime() may sometimes return an invalid value after using SetSystemTime() immediately before.
Addresses an issue that occurs when using the “X509HintsNeeded” group policy to prepopulate the Username hint field. The Username hint field is unexpectedly empty when unlocking a machine after a successful logon. Username hint caching is expected to only work for lock and unlock scenarios and is not designed for logoff and logon scenarios.
Addresses an issue that fails to maintain the tile layout after upgrading to Windows 10, version 1803 from Windows 10, versions 1703 and 1607.
Addresses an issue that returns temporary values for the new Japanese Calendar Era.
Addresses an issue in which Background Apps settings the user configured are lost when the device restarts because of incorrect registry ACLs.
Addresses an issue that prevents Microsoft Centennial apps and some OS apps from displaying toast notifications.
Addresses an issue in which all Guest Virtual Machines running Unicast NLB fail to respond to NLB requests after the Virtual Machines restart.
Addresses an issue that prevents dual tunnel AlwaysOn VPN configurations that use trusted network detection from having both tunnels operational.
Next, here is the changelog for the build 16299.699 (KB4457136), now available for users still on the Fall Creators Update. Again, the release notes are identical to those for the build 16299.698:
Addresses an issue with the file previewer for .html, .mht, and email (MIME) attachments in Microsoft Outlook.
Addresses an issue that causes Internet Explorer security and certificate dialogs to display prompts in the background instead of the foreground in certain circumstances.
Addresses an issue that causes downloads to WebDAV locations to fail.
Addresses an issue that causes downloads to fail because Mark of the Web (MOTW) was not supported at the download location.
Addresses an issue that prevents Microsoft Narrator from accessing the contents of Windows Security dialogs displayed by a low integrity level process.
Addresses an issue that, in some cases, prevents installing encrypted .appx packages.
Addresses an issue that may cause the system to become unresponsive when applications call the EnableEUDC API.
Addresses an issue that occurs when entering Japanese characters in a remote desktop session (mstsc.exe).
Addresses an issue with evaluating the compatibility status of the Windows ecosystem to help ensure application and device compatibility for all updates to Windows.
Enables reading the CommercialId registry key written by Windows Analytics onboarding and adds it to the JSON of telemetry events. Additionally, there’s a different server URL (v10c.data instead of v10.data) when the CommercialId is set.
Addresses an issue that prevents the App-V client’s scheduled task from synching if the Device Guard lockdown policy is enabled.
Addresses an issue that causes login to fail when using a smart card to log in to a Remote Desktop Server. The error is “STATUS_LOGON_FAILURE”.
Addresses an issue that causes a delay in unlocking or signing in to a computer that was moved to a different network. For example, a delay occurs when moving from a corporate LAN or WLAN to a home LAN where domain controllers aren’t reachable.
Addresses an issue that occurs when using encrypted email. If the customer selects Cancel when first asked for a PIN, multiple PIN prompts appear before the prompt finally goes away.
Addresses an issue that causes a Direct Access connection to fail when the client authentication certificate is stored in the TPM device.
Addresses an issue on some laptops that prevents sign-out from completing. The issue occurs when a customer signs out and immediately closes the laptop. As a result, when the laptop is reopened, the device must be restarted.
Addresses an issue that causes the system to log negative events for drivers that are valid and should be trusted. The issue occurs when running Windows Defender Application Control (Device Guard) in audit mode.
Addresses an issue that may cause the Local Security Authority Subsystem Service (LSASS) process to stop working when attempting to process a malformed security identifier (SID).
Addresses an issue that causes logging on to a Remote Desktop Session Host Server to occasionally stop responding.
Addresses an issue that causes printing to an open or existing file to fail without displaying an error. This issue occurs when using Microsoft Print to PDF or XPS Document Writer.
Addresses an issue with scheduled tasks that don’t start at the time that they are configured to start on a specific day of the week.
Addresses an issue with a scheduled task that has an indefinite duration. The task starts immediately after it’s created instead of starting at the time specified in the Triggers tab.
Addresses an issue that prevents the running of subsequent actions in a task. This issue occurs when you create multiple actions in a task using Task Scheduler and the task is scheduled under the Stop the existing instance rule.
Addresses an issue with a task that has a repetition setting. The task fails to be scheduled and doesn’t start after disabling and re-enabling the task. The Next Run Time in Task Scheduler displays the correct time, but the task doesn’t start at that time.
Addresses an issue that may cause Service Control Manager (SCM) and Netlogon to stop working when one or more services are configured to run with domain credentials (service accounts).
Addresses an issue where a daily, repetitive task starts unexpectedly when the task is first created or starts when the task is updated.
Addresses an issue in which GetSystemTime() may sometimes return an invalid value after using SetSystemTime() immediately before.
Addresses an issue that occurs when using the “X509HintsNeeded” group policy to prepopulate the Username hint field. The Username hint field is unexpectedly empty when unlocking a machine after a successful logon. Username hint caching is expected to only work for lock and unlock scenarios and is not designed for logoff and logon scenarios.
Addresses an issue that fails to maintain the tile layout after upgrading to Windows 10, version 1709 from Windows 10, versions 1703 and 1607.
This is quite unusual for the company to re-release Windows 10 patches, but this month was pretty exceptional in terms of cumultative updates. Both Windows 10 versions 1803 and 1709 received three new builds this month (Patch Tuesday included), and Microsoft has to be careful about “Windows as a Service” potentially causing update fatigue for some users.
While many developers and IT Pros had their focus drawn to the avalanche of Microsoft news announced during Ignite 2018, across the hill Lenovo unveiled its litany of Data Center Group updates as well.
On-site at Microsoft’s Ignite 2018 conference, PC partner Lenovo took the opportunity to announce updates to its portfolio of hybrid cloud solutions that include:
Lenovo’s addition to the Microsoft Azure Cloud Solutions Provider Program
As of September 14, 2018, Lenovo became a reselling partner of Microsoft’s Azure services to US clients. The new move enables Lenovo to offer its customers a secondary acquisition model that does not require clients to own Lenovo hardware to be a part of Lenovo’s “as-a-Service” platform.
New ThinkAgile MX Certified Nodes to accelerate adoption of Microsoft Windows Server Software-Defined (WSSD) solutions
Lenovo is also looking to boost Windows Server Software-Defined (WSSD) adoption with its new ThinkAgile MX Certified Nodes. Now clients can choose an economically scalable solution for their software-defined storage and hyper-converged needs, alongside their use of Windows Server.
ThinkAgile MX Certified Nodes will be commercially available for worldwide distribution on November 2, 2018, according to Lenovo.
SQL Server
In preparation of end-of-service (EOS) for Windows Server 2008, Lenovo is working with Microsoft to create “go-to-market” solutions that should help clients migrate to new alternatives. While Lenovo didn’t have anything concrete to demo, they are actively participating with Microsoft on its Data Modernization roadshow to clients as well as having a TPC-E benchmark performance and price/performance world record for SQL Server 2017, in their back pocket. Whatever Lenovo comes up with should be more than advantageous for IT Pros to adopt next year.
Hardware Buy Back Program
Ever wonder where outdated Lenovo devices go besides to an unlucky intern? Apparently, back to Lenovo, and the company wants to entice more developers and IT Pros to upgrade their hardware by introducing a new Data Center Buy Back Program. Other details of the Cash Back program include Fair Market Value for competitor hardware. Lenovo’s Data Center Buy-Back Program will also include free shipping, ecological salvage and NAID-certified data sanitation for those concerned with the refurbishing process. ‘
With Lenovo’s hardware buyback program clients will receive cash back on eligible models and some will get additional cash back on the return of Microsoft Windows Server, SQL Server and CALs.
Support for Window’Can s Admin Center with Lenovo XClarity Software
Last but not least, Lenovo is set to provide clients with a management solution to an aging data center. Lenovo is working with Microsoft to modernize old and vulnerable data centers.
There is no word on when Clarity software will be generally as of right now.
The video only lasts for 12 seconds and pretty much consists of nothing but animated logos and flashes of light but it is rather cool nonetheless. Of more interest is the accompanying text in the tweet which reaffirms that the proper reveal of their new Xbox One mouse and keyboard will be shown in the November episode of Microsoft’s Inside Xbox video series.
????WAITING FOR SOMETHING EPIC?
Be sure to tune in to the November edition of #InsideXbox to find out what's on the horizon.
The latest episode of Inside Xbox seemed to suggest that Razer’s products could also be shown at the XO10 event in Mexico in November but it’s almost a guarantee that Inside Xbox will be covering the event as well so gamers will likely be able to see Razer’s Xbox keyboard and mouse both at the show and in the November episode.
Keyboard and mouse functionality will begin being tested over the next few weeks with a proper launch expected soon after. Will you use a keyboard and mouse on your Xbox One? Share your thoughts with the community in the comments below and then follow us on Pinterest for more Xbox content.
As part of the most recent updates, Microsoft has issued a fix that affects the problem with Office documents that hang when you save through a slow network on a domain-joined Windows 8.1 or Windows 8 computer. More details below.
If you have been encountering annoying problems that have to do with the freezing of your Office documents, then you should know that a potential fix has been rolled out.
Microsoft released an update to fix this issue
Update file KB 3001266 fixes the problem where Office documents freeze when saving through a slow network on a domain-joined computer in Windows 8.1 or Windows 8.
Here’s how the error occurs:
You have a domain that has the Dynamic Access Control feature enabled in the Active Directory Administrative Center.
You have a domain-joined computer that is running Windows 8.1, Windows Server 2012 R2, Windows 8, or Windows Server 2012.
A Microsoft Office document is located on a File Classification Infrastructure (FCI)-defined server.
You try to update and save the document through a slow network.
So, if the above happens, then your Microsoft Office document hangs for about one minute before it is saved.
Microsoft also says that while subsequent save operations during the next eight hours do not experience any delay, there will be a delay every eight hours.
There isn’t a hotfix available for download for this problem, so you just need to make sure that you have the November 2014 update rollup for Windows RT 8.1, Windows 8.1, Windows Server 2012 R2, as well as for Windows RT, Windows 8, or Windows Server 2012 running.
[UPDATE] Meanwhile, users have reported some more issues related to Office documents. Even with your system constantly updated, you might still encounter errors. Here are some helpful guides to fix them:
In the vein of crowdsourcing solutions for Windows 10, the Windows team just announced that it’s taking its community-driven approach to the people, so to speak.
A new Windows Insider Program app (WIP) is in the works as a PWA that’ll be left as an open-sourced project to encourage other developers to experiment more with PWA’s.
As reported by Windows Central, the announcement came via a late day session at Microsoft’s Ignite 2018 conference where the details were outlined as followed:
It’s a Progressive Web App.
Dark mode is the default theme.
It will be available on all devices due to its PWA design.
It is open-sourced so that other devs can learn from its design and
leveraging of PWA + Univeral Windows Platform (UWP).
While on the surface the Insider Hub PWA sounds progressive (pun intended), it’s a long overdue resource that mainly serves as a blog and press release content aggregator, as it stands now.
There is no mention of an integrated Feedback Hub where arguably most Insider engagement occurs.
This app has *nothing* to do Feedback Hub. So no. It's based off our Insider website and Feedback Hub.
As the dust settles on TellTale Games massive studio downsizing, gamers are now being informed on the status of previous partnerships and development plans for upcoming or scheduled releases.
Now it seems that TellTale has a parachute plan in place for its titular franchise, The Walking Dead; instead of severing development and hanging the property out to dry, the studio is looking for other studios to step in and finish its final season.
Despite the studios optimism there is a lot that needs to be sorted out before development continues as well as gamers acknowledging that the creative minds by the original content will have no part in this potential release.
As of now, gamers can at least enjoy The Walking Dead Season 4 across all platforms while negotiations take place for the future of the franchise.
The Xbox team has been dangling its new Avatar platform in front of users for a little over a year now.
Xbox Insiders have been toying with the new platform since June of this year, but it appears the developer team is ready to empower all Xbox One users with the new Avatar personalization features.
According to a new Xbox Insider YouTube episode, all Xbox One users can expect to officially see the new Avatar platform as soon as October 2018.
The new Avatar platform is being billed as more inclusive of character diversity with new creative designs, better animations and higher visual fidelity.
Now that there has been a date set for release, the next important question for the development team is, if and how they plan to port paid or exclusive content from the original Avatar platform to the new one.
Blue Screen of Death errors such as ACPI_BIOS_FATAL_ERROR can be caused by faulty hardware or software, and they can sometimes be hard to fix. This error can cause many problems, therefore it’s crucial that you know how to fix it on Windows 10.
BSoD errors are often caused by third-party applications, therefore if you installed or updated any applications before this error appeared, we advise you to find those applications and uninstall them.
We have to mention that antivirus programs and firewalls can often cause these types of errors to appear, therefore we advise you to remove your currently installed antivirus and check if that fixes the problem. Bear in mind that you’ll have to remove all third-party antivirus programs that you have installed since almost any antivirus can cause this problem to appear.
If uninstalling the antivirus didn’t fix the problem that’s because many programs, including antivirus, tend to leave certain files and registry entries after you uninstall them. Even these files can cause BSoD errors to appear, therefore it’s crucial that you use a dedicated removal tool to remove all files associated with your antivirus. Most antivirus companies have these tools for their software available for download, so be sure to download one.
Solution 2 – Update drivers and download the latest Windows 10 updates
In order for Windows 10 to recognize and use your hardware, you have to use appropriate drivers. If your drivers aren’t compatible with Windows 10, or if they are simply outdated or buggy, they might not work well with your PC, and you’ll encounter ACPI_BIOS_FATAL_ERROR Blue Screen of Death error.
These types of errors usually tell you which file is causing the crash, and with little research, you can easily find the driver that is causing this problem. To fix this error all you need to do is to visit your hardware manufacturer’s website and download the latest drivers for your device. If you cannot find which driver is causing this problem, you’ll have to update all drivers by using the same method.
Update drivers automatically
Searching for drivers on your own can be time-consuming. So, we advise you to use a tool that will do this for you automatically. Using an automatic driver updater will certainly save you from the hassle of searching for drivers manually, and it will always keep your system up to date with the latest drivers.
A third-party tool will help you update drivers automatically and prevent PC damage caused by installing the wrong driver versions.After several tests, our team concluded that this is the best-automatized solution.
Using expert software, you will manage all the PC drivers correctly and optimize the system using the latest drivers versions offered by Fortect Driver Updater.
In addition to downloading drivers, it’s just as important that you download the latest updates by using Windows Update. Windows 10 has certain issues with both hardware and software, and these issues can sometimes cause Blue Screen of Death errors to appear.
To prevent these types of errors from appearing it’s important that you keep Windows 10 up to date with latest updates. Many of these updates address hardware and software issues, but they also bring new features and security improvements, therefore if you wish to keep your PC safe and error-free, we strongly advise you to download the latest updates.
Solution 3 – Run the Hardware Troubleshooter
Now, let’s try with Windows 10’s built-in troubleshooters. The first troubleshooter we’re going to try is the ‘unified’ troubleshooter from the Settings page. You can use this troubleshooter to address all sorts of issues within the system. Including BSOD errors.
Here’s how to run Windows 10’s built-in troubleshooter:
Open the Settings app and go to Update & Security section.
Select Troubleshoot from the menu on the left.
Select BSOD from the right pane and click Run the troubleshooter.
Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the troubleshooter.
Solution 4 – Run the SFC scan
The next tool we’re going to try is the SFC scan. This is a command-line tool that scans your computer for potential problems and resolves them if possible. Additionally, it can also be helpful with the BSOD issues.
Here’s how to run the SFC scan in Windows 10:
Right-click on the Start Menu button, and open Command Prompt (Admin).
Enter the following line and press Enter:sfc/scannow
Wait until the process is done (it may take a while).
If the solution is found, it will automatically be applied.
Now, close the Command Prompt and restart your computer.
Solution 5 – Run DISM
We’ll walk you through both standard and the procedure that utilizes the installation media below:
Standard way
Right-click Start and open Command Prompt (Admin).
Paste the following command and press Enter:
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
Wait until the scan is finished.
Restart your computer and try updating again.
With the Windows installation media
Insert your Windows installation media.
Right-click the Start menu and, from the menu, choose the Command Prompt (Admin).
In the command line, type the following commands and press Enter after each:
Make sure to change an X value with the letter of the mounted drive with Windows 10 installation.
After the procedure is finished, restart your computer.
Solution 6 – Reset Windows 10
Windows 10 reset is similar to clean install, and if the ACPI_BIOS_FATAL_ERROR error is caused by third-party software, you should be able to fix it by resetting Windows 10. Bear in mind that resetting Windows 10 will delete all files and folders from your C partition, so we strongly advise you to back up your important files. After backing up your files, you should also create a bootable USB flash drive because you might need it to complete this process. To perform a Windows 10 reset, do the following:
Restart your computer few times during the boot in order to start Automatic Repair. Alternatively you can hold the Shift key on your keyboard and click the Restart button.
Choose Troubleshoot > Reset this PC > Remove everything. You might get asked to insert Windows 10 installation media, so be sure to do so.
Select Only the drive where Windows is installed > Just remove my files and click the Reset button.
Follow the instructions to complete the reset process.
After you complete Windows 10 reset, you’ll have a new installation without any third-party applications. If the error appears again, it means that the issue is most likely caused by your hardware.
Solution 7 – Check your battery/power supply
Sometimes errors such as ACPI_BIOS_FATAL_ERROR can be caused by your power supply, so you might want to check if it works properly. Several users reported that the cause for this error was their laptop battery, and after replacing the battery the issue was fixed. If you don’t own a laptop, we strongly suggest that you check your power supply unit.
Solution 8 – Check if your hardware is working properly
Almost any hardware component can cause this error, and if you recently installed any new hardware, we advise you to remove it or replace it and check if that fixes the error. If the problem still persists, it might be caused by faulty hardware, therefore we advise you to check all major components such as your motherboard, hard drive, graphic card, network adapter, etc.
ACPI_BIOS_FATAL_ERROR can cause all sorts of problems on your PC, but you can usually fix this error by checking and replacing your power supply unit. If that doesn’t work, feel free to try any other solution from this article.
Blue Screen of Death errors such as PAGE_FAULT_IN_FREED_SPECIAL_POOL are often caused by hardware issues, and they can be rather serious. Since these errors will restart your PC every time they appear, it’s crucial that you know how to fix these errors on Windows 10.
How to fix PAGE_FAULT_IN_FREED_SPECIAL_POOL BSoD error
Fix – PAGE_FAULT_IN_FREED_SPECIAL_POOL Windows 10 error
1. Update Windows 10 and your drivers
Many operating systems have certain issues with hardware and software, and Windows 10 is no exception. Usually some older hardware or software isn’t fully compatible with Windows 10, and that can cause a Blue Screen of Death error to appear and restart your PC. In order to avoid Blue Screen of Death errors it’s recommended that you use Windows Update frequently and download the latest patches. Microsoft is frequently releasing new patches, and many of these patches address both hardware and software issues, therefore if you’re having problems with BSoD errors be sure to update Windows 10.
In addition to downloading Windows updates it’s also important that you keep your drivers updated. Drivers are a key component that allows Windows 10 to recognize and utilize certain hardware, and if your driver is outdated or buggy you’ll encounter a PAGE_FAULT_IN_FREED_SPECIAL_POOL Blue Screen of Death error.
In order to fix this problem you’ll have to update all your drivers, so be sure to visit your hardware manufacturer’s website and download the latest drivers for your hardware. Many users reported that this issue was fixed after updating their chipset drivers, so be sure to update them first and then move to other major components.
Update drivers automatically
Searching for drivers on your own can be time-consuming. So, we advise you to use a tool that will do this for you automatically. Using an automatic driver updater will certainly save you from the hassle of searching for drivers manually, and it will always keep your system up to date with the latest drivers.
Advanced softwares will help you update drivers automatically and prevent PC damage caused by installing the wrong driver versions.After several tests, our team concluded that this is the best-automatized solution.
2. Run the Hardware Troubleshooter
Now, we’re going to turn to Windows 10’s own troubleshooting tools. The first tool we’re going to seek help from is the ‘unified’ troubleshooter. This tool can be used for dealing with various problems, including the BSOD issues.
Here’s how to run the BSOD troubleshooter in Windows 10:
Open the Settings app and go to Update & Security section.
Select Troubleshoot from the menu on the left.
Select BSOD from the right pane and click Run the troubleshooter.
Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the troubleshooter.
3. Run the SFC scan
The SFC scan is a command-line tool that basically scans your computer for potential errors, and resolves them if the solution is available. Among other errors that the SFC scan can help with are the BSOD issues.
Here’s how to run the SFC scan in Windows 10:
Right-click on the Start Menu button, and open Command Prompt (Admin).
Enter the following line and press Enter:sfc/scannow
Wait until the process is done (it may take a while).
If the solution is found, it will automatically be applied.
Now, close the Command Prompt and restart your computer.
4. Run DISM
And the third troubleshooter we’re going to use is DISM. Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) is a powerful tool that reloads the system image. So, it can also resolve potential BSOD errors.
We’ll walk you through both standard and the procedure that utilizes the installation media below:
Standard way
Right-click Start and open Command Prompt (Admin).
Paste the following command and press Enter:
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
Wait until the scan is finished.
Restart your computer and try updating again.
With the Windows installation media
Insert your Windows installation media.
Right-click the Start menu and, from the menu, choose the Command Prompt (Admin).
In the command line, type the following commands and press Enter after each:
Make sure to change an X value with the letter of the mounted drive with Windows 10 installation.
After the procedure is finished, restart your computer.
5. Remove problematic software
Blue Screen of Death errors can be caused by software, and in order to fix this problem you’ll have to find and remove the problematic software from your PC. Most common cause for BSoD errors is your antivirus, and if you want to fix this error you’ll have to remove all third-party antivirus programs that you have installed.
Bear in mind that antivirus programs tend to leave certain files and registry entries behind after you uninstall them, therefore you’ll need to use dedicated removal tool to remove any files associated with your antivirus program. Many antivirus companies have these tools available for download, so be sure that you download them. Users reported issues with Norton Antivirus, but bear in mind that almost any antivirus program can cause PAGE_FAULT_IN_FREED_SPECIAL_POOL error to appear.
Although antivirus is the often cause for these errors, you should know that almost any application can cause this error to appear. According to users, they had issues with Extreme Tune, and after removing it, the BSoDerror was fixed. It’s worth mentioning that some drivers can cause this issue to appear, and users reported that old printer drivers caused this error. If the driver is causing this issue, you can remove it by following these steps:
Press Windows Key + X to open Power User Menu and select Device Manager from the list.
When Device Manager opens find the problematic driver, right click it and choose Uninstall.
After removing the driver restart your PC.
When your PC restarts, Windows 10 will install the default driver. If the error doesn’t appear again, it means that the faulty driver was the problem. You can continue using the default driver or you can update it, but be sure not to install the same problematic version.
6. Remove overclock settings
By using overclocking software you can change the default settings of your hardware in order to get better performance. Overclocking is an advanced procedure and by overclocking your hardware you can cause permanent damage to your PC if you’re not careful. In addition to permanent damage, overclocking can cause PAGE_FAULT_IN_FREED_SPECIAL_POOL Blue Screen of Death error to appear, and in order to fix this problem you need to disable all overclock settings.
If the PAGE_FAULT_IN_FREED_SPECIAL_POOL error is caused by software, you can fix it by performing Windows 10 reset. You should know that this procedure is similar to clean install, therefore it’s necessary that you back up your files because this process will delete all files from your C partition. We have to mention that you might need a bootable USB flash drive with Windows 10 to complete this step, so be sure to create one by using Media Creation Tool. To perform Windows 10 reset do the following:
Restart your PC while it boots. Repeat this step few times until you start Automatic Repair.
Choose Troubleshoot > Reset this PC > Remove everything. You might get asked to insert Windows 10 installation media, so be ready to do that.
Choose Only the drive where Windows is installed > Just remove my files and click the Reset button.
Follow the steps and complete the reset procedure.
Once you finish Windows 10 reset, check if the problem is resolved. If the BSoD error appears again, it’s most likely that certain hardware component is causing this error.
8. Check your hardware
PAGE_FAULT_IN_FREED_SPECIAL_POOL can be caused by faulty hardware, most commonly RAM, so be sure to test your RAM modules one by one until you find the faulty one. According to users, the error was fixed after finding and replacing the faulty RAM module, but if your RAM is working properly check all other hardware components.
PAGE_FAULT_IN_FREED_SPECIAL_POOL Blue Screen of Death error can cause many problems, but we hope that our solutions helped you fix this error.
Microsoft has released an update to take care of the following problem – ‘folder’s view settings continuously changes between different folder types in Windows’. But later on, problems still persist with the folder’s view changes.
The issue that we’re discussing goes by the ‘codename’ of KB 3016305 and it is part of a bigger update roll-out, KB 3013769. The file has been released for quite a while, but only now have we decided to have a look at it. The official problem is described like this – ‘Folder’s view settings continuously changes between different folder types in Windows‘ and here’s how the symptom has been described:
This issue occurs because Windows 8.1, Windows RT 8.1, or Windows Server 2012 R2 uses the sniffing logic that sends the explorer.exe process into a refresh loop. Therefore, the folder type is refreshed based on the file types in the folder.
The fix applies to a good number of Windows versions, such as the following:
Windows Server 2012 R2 Datacenter, Windows Server 2012 R2 Standard, Windows Server 2012 R2 Essentials, Windows Server 2012 R2 Foundation
Windows 8.1 Enterprise
Windows 8.1 Pro
Windows 8.1
Windows RT 8.1
Folder settings keep changing on Windows PC
Folder settings keep changing – problem reported on Microsoft forum. Find below 3 solutions to fix this issue.
Annoying Folder View Type Automatic Change Problem in Windows – can be fixed with one of the solutions provided in this article.
Folder View and Icon Settings Keep Resetting – try running inbuilt Hardware and Devices troubleshooter to get the problem automatically detected and fixed.
Many times users report the problem has been solved without doing anything special. Just make sure you have set your Automatic Updates on and one of the new updates will fix the problem. You can also check for updates manually.
To access the Windows Update section, you can simply type “update” in the search box. This method works on all Windows versions. Then go to Windows Update, check for updates and install the available ones.
System File Checker (SFC) will scan your system for issues and prompt you with a message about what is causing the problem. Find out more about the SFC scan.
Follow these steps:
Open Command Prompt.
Select “Run as Administrator”.
Type “sfc /scannow” without quotes and hit Enter.
Now check for the issue.
If you get prompted with “windows resource protection found corrupted files but was unable to fix some of them”, you need to look into fixing corrupted files.
Last week, Telltale Games made the annoucement that it laid off most of its staff and revelation that left many wondering what would become of the IP the studio had in the cannon.
For the most part, Telltale informed the industry that its production of its next Walking Dead installment would be stillborn and marked as Canceled Incomplete, along with a long awaited sequel to Wolf Among Us.
Other properties that had been previously annoucned such as adaptaions of Minecraft and Stranger Things were also on the chopping block as the company released all but 25 employees, left to oversee the shuttering of the studio.
However, Polygon is reporting that Netflix would like to see the 25-employee skeleton crew finish up the Minecraft: Story Mode game for release on Netflix’s platform as an interactive narrative series as well as allowing The Stranger Things game to find a new home for development.
“They developed many great games in the past and left an indelible mark in the industry. Minecraft: Story Mode is still moving forward as planned. We are in the process of evaluating other options for bringing the Stranger Things universe to life in an interactive medium.”
Fortunately, for gamers, the Stranger Things game was offered as a licensed property to TellTale in similar fashion as the Walking Dead, which allows Netflix the opportunity to shop it around to other studios, now that Telltale is bowing out the gaming world.
Some customers have been experiencing issues when installing or playing GTA V due to a Windows User Account Name error. Rockstar has published some details on how to work around the issue, so we have decided to help you out in case you didn’t hear about this yet.
Apparently, there have been quite a lot of problems for the Windows users who wanted to install GTA 5 on their PCs. And Rockstar has listened to their complaints and tried to solve some of the issues. Here’s what many players have been complaining about:
I am having problems installing or playing GTAV PC. Issues include an error message saying “The Rockstar update service is unavailable (code 1)”, or the game hanging while trying to download the update. How can I fix this?
Following that, many users encountered the issue with different codes:
the rockstar update service is unavailable code 202
the rockstar update service is unavailable code 217
the rockstar update service is unavailable code 210
the rockstar update service is unavailable code 207
How to fix “The Rockstar Update Service is Unavailable”
A fellow user on Reddit confirms that he managed to quickly fix this issue by using a reliable VPN. Connecting to the servers might get blocked by some of your settings. Using a good VPN will get you connected easily.
Follow the steps from below to see what Rockstar is instructing us to do. However, you should know that if you created a new Windows account to play before the fix, you will be able to continue playing GTA V on your original Windows account.
Log in to the new account you created, and copy your game data to a folder that can be accessed from both user accounts:
Go to the “My DocumentsRockstar Games” and copy the “GTA V” folder.
Go to your root directory (e.g. C:) and paste the folder there.
Log out of the temporary account, and log back into your original Windows account.
Copy your game data into your original account:
Go to your root directory (e.g. C:) and copy the “GTA V” folder you posted earlier.
Go to the “My Documents” folder
If you already have a “Rockstar Games” folder:
Click into the “Rockstar Games” folder and paste the “GTA V” folder there.
If you do not have a “Rockstar Games” folder:
Create a new folder in this directory called “Rockstar Games” (without the quotes).
Paste the “GTA V” folder in this new directory.
Go ahead and read Rockstar’s post on this for the rest of the instructions. Sound off below by leaving your comment and let us know if you’re still experiencing problems.
The verdict is out, Forza Horizon 4 is the best Xbox exclusive this game for this console generation. With a 92 score on Metacritic, the open world racing game beat its critically-acclaimed predecessor Forza Horizon 3, and the stars now seems to be aligned for Forza Horizon 4 to become one of the best selling games during the holiday season. Check out our review of this great new game, it’s a winner!
But in the meantime, the Xbox team will be celebrating Forza Horizon 4’s upcoming release with a series of Mixer livestreams live from the Goodwood Estate in West Sussex, England.
Festivities will kick off at 6PM BST with developer Playground games, and the Xbox team promises to bring “some of the best drivers in the world bringing the franchise to life through a variety of action-packed showcase events.” You can check the full program in the tweet below, but after Microsoft teased “a few big surprises” last week, make sure not to miss the Inside Xbox special episode at 1:00 p.m. PT/4 p.m. ET.
Forza Horizon 4 will launch worldwide on October 2, though owners of the game’s Ultimate Edition will get early access starting Friday, September 28. As a reminder, Forza Horizon 4 will also be the first game in the series to be available on Xbox Games Pass on launch day, and that’s something that should push many Xbox One owners and Windows 10 gamers to check out Microsoft’s gaming subscription service.
For many years, Apple has often been lauded and criticized for its ability to steal ideas from its competitors. We’ve seen this with the graphical user interface back in the 80’s, or more recently with FaceID on the iPhone X. One thing is sure though, the Cupertino giant often proved that it can better execute on brilliant ideas that its competitors first came up with.
The last example is probably the new dark theme in macOS Mojave, which is now generally available for Mac users. As you may know, the dark theme option was one of the main features of Windows Phone 7, especially when coupled with AMOLED screens. Well, such screens are still a rarity in the PC world, but Windows 10 had a dark theme option from the beginning.
I’ve found that when you try the dark theme on Windows 10, it’s pretty hard to go back. Dark colours are definitely much easier on the eyes, especially during nighttime, and it’s really a refreshing change after so many years of UI stagnation on Windows. Well, after checking out the new dark theme on macOS Mojave, I’m afraid I can’t deny that it looks much more polished than the one in Windows 10.
Unlike Microsoft, which still uses a deep black colour in some places, Apple uses different shades of dark grey. I’ve taken a couple of screenshots to compare Windows and Mac apps side by side, and you can see below the macOS Finder next to the Windows 10 File Explorer. MacOS also had its “Fluent Design” update years ago, and the various transparency effects are really subtle.
Next, I’ll add a comparison of two core productivity apps, Outlook Mail and Apple Mail. The latter comes with a dark background for the reading pane, which I think is much better. While this not related to dark theme, information density is also much better on Apple Mail, and the giant buttons in Outlook Mail can’t hide that this an app optimized for phones and tablets.
Lastly, a quick look at Apple Photos and the Windows 10 Photos app. Again, Apple uses different shades of dark grey while the Windows 10 Photos app still uses a deep black colour. Again, Apple’s Photos app comes with sole light transparency effects on the left panel, which is a familiar design across Mac apps.
To be fair, Dark Theme on Windows 10 has been a work in progress since the beginning, and because all stock Windows 10 apps are now updated through the Store, Microsoft is free to try different design changes without having to update the full OS. However, this is a different story for other components like the Windows Shell, or legacy apps like File Explorer.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, as the adage says, but I’m really impressed by Apple’s ability to get dark theme right and consistent on the first try. The company had plenty of design missteps over the years, especially when Apple designers were still obsessed by skeuomorphism, but I now find it difficult to appreciate the dark theme on Windows 10. What has been seen cannot be unseen, and I now hope that Microsoft designers will take a deep look at macOS Mojave. Windows 10 is far from looking bad, but there’s still definitely some room for improvement.
Star Wars Battlefront II’s update for September is now live on all Xbox One consoles. This major update adds six new appearances for Clone Troopers based on the 91st Mobile Reconnaissance Corps and 104th “Wolf Pack” Battalion and also introduces a new squad system for an improved multiplayer experience between friends.
This update also changes the way online games connect to servers with adjustments to the ping sites system that will now search for nearby populated servers in addition to the user’s preferred one. Matchmaking has also been improved, a variety of bugs have been squashed, and several adjustments have been made to some heroes and troopers with the most notable change being the Heavy’s Ion Turret which no longer targets troopers.
Forza Horizon 4, the latest entry in the open-world racing game series is one of the most anticipated Microsoft games of the year, and it’s a winner. This time, British studio Playground Games decided to take things home and set this new episode in the British countryside, a refreshing change after the Australian landscapes of Forza Horizon 3.
As you may know, we get a new Forza game every year, and Forza Horizon 4 succeeds to Forza Motorsport 7 released back in October 2017. The two sub-series don’t really target the same audience: Forza Motorsports games are for hardcore racing fans interested in racing on real circuits, while Forza Horizon games are set in a fictional open world and feature a more arcade gameplay.
After spending close to 30 hours in Forza Horizon 4, I’ve realized that it’s an excellent game for casual gamers looking to have some fun with some of the maddest cars that ever hit the streets. The best thing about this game is that you don’t have to win every race to progress, and because there are so many things to do in this world, you probably won’t get bored any time soon.
Forza Horizon 4 brings many gameplay improvements over Forza Horizon 3, and the biggest ones are probably the introduction of dynamic seasons that will change every week, as well as a shared open world with servers that can host up to 72 players. The dynamic seasons are more than a simple cosmetic change as lakes will be frozen during winter, giving players access to new areas of the map. Every new season will also bring themed content, challenges and exclusive rewards.
Customize your cars and your avatar
At launch, the game will feature over 450 cars from more than 100 manufacturers, though it’s worth noting that Mitsubishi, Lexus and Toyota (except some racing/offroad trucks) vehicles will be absent from the game due to licensing issues. You can still customize your cars any way you want, including brand new drift suspension upgrades. You can even customize horn sounds, and Playground Games did some decent fan service with unlockable sounds from Halo and Sea of Thieves, and there even the Windows XP shutdown sound if you’re really old-school.
I also had fun customizing my driver avatar, especially when choosing the awkward dance moves that your character will be doing on loading screens and after winning races. Seeing your avatar dabbing or pulling some weird Hotline Bling’s dance moves in front of competitors is really special. One feature I also enjoyed is the short messages you can send to other players using the D-pad, and during my time in multiplayer games, I saw that many gamers use this for some gentle trolling (example: a “Bye” message) after kicking you off the road.
After spending some time exploring the open world, you’ll also discover a re-creation of the city of Edinburgh, which looks really charming when the sun goes down. Moreover, you’ll find that you can buy several properties from small cottages to very expensive castles, and choosing one of them as your home will unlock new items and gameplay perks. When you’re home, you’ll be able to customize your cars and driver avatar, and also access the Auction House to find new cars to buy or sell the ones you no longer want.
My Horizon Life
If you already played the free demo, launching the game for the first time will be a very familiar experience. You’ll have to go through the same opening sequence that lets you experience the four seasons in a couple of minutes, and then you’ll end up at the Horizon Festival during summer. What will follow is a 4 to 5 hours Prologue that will make you experience the four different seasons for a longer period of time, but you won’t be able to join the shared open-world and unlock all of the game’s multiplayer modes until you win the Yellow Wristband and qualify for the official Horizon Roster.
Once you’re done with the Prologue, you’ll be able to continue the multi-threaded “My Horizon Life” campaign, but seasons, time of day, and weather will be fully synchronized for everyone playing the game. My Horizon Life is the core campaign and includes different race types and challenges. Each thread has its own progression level and will let you earn different rewards (new race events, credits, clothing items, quick chat phrases, and more) as you progress. In addition to My Horizon Life, each new season (season changes will happen every Thursday at 14:30 UTC) will bring new seasonal championships, events and content. That’s a pretty smart way to keep players engaged every week, and you can also look at the #Forzathon hourly, daily, and weekly challenges for even more racing action. By popular request, a post-launch update will also introduce a Route Creator for creating and sharing your own custom race routes.
Overall, there’s really a lot to do in Forza Horizon 4, even for the Solo player. Everything you do in the game can let you gain Influence, which will be key to progress in the game. You earn Influence after completing any race, discovering new roads or smashing one of the hidden Influence boards that are hidden on the map. In addition to Influence, there is also a Skills points system to reward players doing awesome stunts and more. Skills can be used to purchase perks for your cars (every car in the game has a skill tree), which will unlock a permanent bonus for earning extra Skill score when doing certain actions, or extra Influence when you participate to select events.
Every new season will bring new limited-time events.
Performance
On a technical standpoint, Forza Horizon 4 is definitely a looker, even on a base Xbox One console. The game is locked to 30 FPS on the original Xbox One and Xbox One S, but Xbox One X owners will be able to choose between “Quality” with 4K graphics at 30FPS, or a “Performance” mode at 60FPS in 1080p. Anyway, the game runs great at 30FPS and I didn’t notice any slowdowns or hiccups while playing on an Xbox One S.
Multiplayer
While it’s entirely possible to play Forza Horizon 4 solo, I found that the shared open-world really pushes you to interact with other players. As an example, the #Forzathon Live events which will appear on the map every hour allow up to 12 players to cooperate on a series of objectives. Moreover, almost every Horizon Life race on the map allows you to play with other players, though you may have some trouble finding other players to join you if you’re not already part of a Convoy. Fortunately, though, the native integration of Xbox Live Clubs makes it much easier to form a Convoy.
Another new multiplayer feature in Forza Horizon 4 is the Team Adventure multiplayer mode, which is a lot of fun. There are three types of Team Adventure modes mixing different types of races (including a capture the flag mode), but every mode puts two teams of players against each other and the one ending the most points across different rounds will be the winner. It’s also possible to create your own Team adventure and customize seasons, weather and time of day, car types, the routes you want to appear, and much more. For the more competitive players, a Ranked Team adventure mode is also present and lets you earn exclusive rewards.
I had a lot of fun with Team Adventure mode, but I found that it’s not easy to leave it to go back to the shared open world. When I tried it, I was kept in a loop of new rounds and had no choice but quitting while a new race has just begun, which probably wasn’t really nice for my teammates. It remains a great addition to the series, but I wish the presentation was slightly better.
Music and Mixer
A quick word about the soundtrack: Forza Horizon 4 features over 100 tracks across several in-game radio stations (you can check the full list here), which is a bit less than the nearly 150 songs found in Forza Horizon 3. Moreover, Playground Games didn’t add Groove Music integration this time around, and that’s not really surprising since Microsoft discontinued Groove Music Pass last year. However, you’re still free to use any music app you want on the Xbox One to add some background music while you’re playing the game.
It’s also worth noting that Forza Horizon 4 is probably one of the first Microsoft Studios game to integrate Mixer so prominently. The game streaming service is one of the different threads in the My Horizon Life campaign, and you can earn in-game Influence by streaming your own game or by watching Forza Horizon 4 streams on Mixer. This has already led to the creation of many “Influence farms” on Mixer, with some players just streaming the game menu to earn influence. That was to be expected, and we hope Microsoft will address this as it would be a shame to see these Influence farms steal viewers from the most dedicated streamers on the platform.
The Winter season is really special and frozen lakes will give you access to new areas.
Microsoft’s best exclusive game of 2018
In the end, I have absolutely no doubt about Forza Horizon 4 being the best Microsoft exclusive game released this year, and one of the best racing games you can play on Xbox One and Windows 10. Even if you’re not a big racing fan, the game is really accessible and can appeal to everyone just because of its amazing open world and content variety. It’s just a game that feels great to play, especially with those rumbling triggers on the Xbox One controller which are really great for increasing immersion. The weekly season changes are also a good reason to launch the game every now and then, and this exactly where this whole “Games as a service” philosophy really shines.
In recent years, it has been hard to ignore the fact that Microsoft has an exclusive problem. This year alone, Sony’s Playstation 4 received critically-acclaimed exclusives like God of War and Spider-Man, and Xbox One exclusives like Sea of Thieves and State of Decay 2 really pale in comparison. In retrospect, the Forza series has probably replaced Halo or Gears of War franchises as Microsoft’s most popular and successful gaming IP. That’s all thanks to Turn 10 Studios and Playground Games’ ability to consistently release highly-polished experiences, and Microsoft acquiring Playground Games this year is really promising news for the future of Microsoft Studios.
Forza Horizon 4 will launch worldwide on October 2, and it will also be available on Xbox Games Pass on launch day. If you want to get early access on September 28, you’ll have to buy the game’s $99.99 Ultimate Edition which includes the Car Pass, the Best of Bond Car Pack, the VIP Membership and its exclusive rewards, as well as two game expansions when they become available. Just like its predecessor, the game also supports Xbox Play Anywhere and cross-play multiplayer between Xbox One and Windows 10. I’m optimistic about Forza Horizon 4 breaking new records for the franchise, and the game also seems to be exactly what Microsoft needs to push more gamers to subscribe to Xbox Games Pass during the holiday season.
As part of the November 2014 update rollup for Windows RT 8.1, Windows 8.1 , and Windows Server 2012 R2, Microsoft has issued a small, but a significant update for some Windows 8.1 users of the OneNote app. Here’s how the official fix sounds like. There has been recently reported an annoying problem by Windows 8.1 owners – a new page’s cannot be displayed in OneNote app in Windows 8.1 or Windows RT 8.1. Microsoft has rolled out a fix in the most recent Windows Update, so you need to perform the latest upgrade to benefit from it.
Here’s how the official problem has been ‘diagnosed’:
You run Microsoft OneNote app in Windows 8.1, Windows RT 8.1, or Windows Server 2012 R2.
You use a Microsoft account to sign in to the OneNote app.
You create a new page and enter some characters on the new page by using a Table Text Service (TTS) input method editor (IME).
There isn’t a hotfix available, so the single way to get rid of this problem is to update through Windows Update. The fix applies to the following operating systems:
Windows Server 2012 R2 Datacenter
Windows Server 2012 R2 Standard
Windows Server 2012 R2 Essentials
Windows Server 2012 R2 Foundation
Windows 8.1 Enterprise
Windows 8.1 Pro
Windows 8.1
Windows RT 8.1
[Updates] Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products. The issue has been resolved with the earliest Patch Tuesday for Windows 8.1. Users have installed the November 2014 update rollup for Windows RT 8.1, Windows 8.1, and Windows Server 2012 R2.
OneNote won’t open Windows 10 – Many users reported that OneNote won’t open at all on their PC. If this happens, you need to delete the settings file and see if that helps.
OneNote won’t sync – Syncing is an important part of OneNote since it allows you to view your notes on different devices. If OneNote cannot sync on your device, you might be able to fix the problem by resetting the application to default.
Full guide: How to fix common OneNote sync issues
OneNote error 0x803d0013 – This is one of many error codes that can appear while using OneNote. This problem can be caused by a corrupted user profile, and you can fix it by creating a new user profile in Windows.
OneNote keeps crashing, not responding – These are some of the problems that can appear with OneNote, but you should be able to fix most of them by using our guide below.
Office 2019, the new perpetual version of Office for Windows and Mac, is now available for customers who are not ready yet to move to Office 365. The new version introduces many features that have been previously released on Office 365, including improved inking on Windows 10, Learning Tools in Word, Focused Inbox in Outlook, and more.
Commercial volume license customers can get Office 2019 starting today, and consumers and other business users will get access to it in the next few weeks. Office 2019 for Mac only includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook, while the Windows version also comes with Publisher 2019, Access 2019, Project 2019, and Visio 2019. As a reminder, OneNote for Windows 10 is now the default OneNote app, but OneNote 2016 is still available as a standalone app and will be supported through 2025.
In addition to the Office 2019 news, Microsoft also announced today that will release Exchange Server 2019, Skype for Business Server 2019, SharePoint Server 2019, and Project Server 2019 in the coming weeks. Windows Server 2019 and Windows Server version 1809 will also be released in October, the company said today.
Today at Microsoft Ignite, the company announced an Azure version of “Windows Virtual Desktop,” calling it “best virtualized Windows and Office experience delivered on Azure.” With a cloud based virtual desktop, companies can ensure regulation compliance, securely managed data, and easy access for mobile and/or first-line workers.
Microsoft says it has developed Windows Virtual Desktop with “both IT and the user in mind,” and the new product delivers these benefits:
The only service to enable a multi-user Windows 10 experience, including compatibility with Microsoft Store and existing Windows line-of-business apps while delivering cost advantages previously only possible with server-based virtualization.
The best service to virtualize Office 365 ProPlus running in multi-user virtual scenarios. Microsoft Office is the most virtualized app used, and we are committed to deliver the best possible virtual experience. In the months ahead, we will have more to share on our investments in the Office 365 virtualized experience for the Windows Virtual Desktop service.
The only service to provide Windows 7 virtual desktop with free Extended Security Updates, giving you more options to support legacy apps while you transition to Windows 10.
The most scalable service to deploy and manage Windows virtual machines, using Azure for compute, storage, rich diagnostics, advanced networking, connection brokering, and gateway. You no longer need to host, install, configure, and manage these components yourself—so you can deploy and scale in minutes.
The most flexible service allowing you to virtualize both desktops and apps, meaning you can choose between providing your users the entire desktop experience or delivering only specific apps. When you deliver virtual apps to a Windows 10 endpoint, they are integrated seamlessly into the user experience.
Deeply integrated with the security and management of Microsoft 365. The Microsoft 365 conditional access, data loss prevention, and integrated management are natively built in—providing the most secure and simplest solution for protecting and managing all your apps and data.
Recognizing that companies will have specialized needs for a virtual desktop, Microsoft has built Windows Virtual Desktop as a platform, and customers will be able to extend it through partner services from the likes of Citrix, FSLogix and ThinPrint, and Cloud Solution Providers will be able to offer value added Desktops.
Windows Virtual Desktop will be available to Windows 10 Enterprise and Windows 10 Education customers by setting up or using an existing Azure subscription and paying only for the storage and compute consumption. A public preview will become available later this year, and you can register now to get more information and get your name on a list.
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella kicked off the company’s Ignite 2018 keynote with some major news this morning. Bringing the CEOs of Adobe and SAP on stage, Satya Nadella announced that the three companies had teamed up to create the Open Data Initiative, a new partnership aiming to give customers more control over their data.
The Open Data Initiative aims to help organizations create more value from important customer information that is often managed by third party providers. “The core focus of the Open Data Initiative is to eliminate data silos and enable a single view of the customer, helping companies to better govern their data and support privacy and security initiatives, Microsoft explained. “With the ability to better connect data across an organization, companies can more easily use AI and advanced analytics for real-time insights, “hydrate” business applications with critical data to make them more effective and deliver a new category of AI-powered services for customers.”
With the Open Data Initiative, Microsoft and its partners will enhance interoperability between Microsoft Dynamics 365, Adobe Experience Cloud and Adobe Experience Platform, and SAP C/4HANA and S/4HANA. This will be done through a common data model that will allow a large partner ecosystem to “unlock and harmonize siloed data to create new value,” Microsoft explained today.
Such a partnership would have been absolutely far-fetched a couple of years ago, but this is a necessary step for building the intelligent applications of tomorrow. “CEOs are breaking down the silos of the status quo so they can get all people inside their companies focused on serving people outside their companies,” said Bill McDermott, CEO of SAP.
Many Windows 10 users have started complaining that their Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme Music sound card isn’t working anymore. Let’s have a look at what they’re saying. If you are the owner of a Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme Music sound card and you plan to upgrade, I think you should read first this complaint coming from someone who has already installed it:
“I was able to use this card with creative win8.1/x64 drivers and the card and the associated creative software and drivers all worked flawlessly on the 2 previous versions of the tech build. after upgrading to the latest tech build 9926, I had no sound, yet looking at everything in the sound control panel, etc made it appear that I had sound (green level bar bouncing up and down when playing sound).
when I check the device manager, it shows Creative SB X-fi, and shows drivers by creative. I tried muting and unmuting it, that has worked in the past. no change. I uninstalled the card in the device manager and rebooted, letting it re-install. yay! sound!.. problem… I am set for 5.1 surround, yet all audio is coming out of only the front 3 channels all at the same time.
I try to open the creative control panel to check my mixing and surround settings, and I get the message “the audio device supported by this application is not detected”.. Again, when I check the device manager, it shows Creative SB X-fi, and shows drivers by creative. I try re-installing the drivers from creative. I lose sound again
if I uninstall the device, the drivers and delete everything and reboot, it shows up as an unknown multimedia device. only way to get the device to be recognized is to install the creative drivers, however I end up with no sound again. if I delete the device, but not the software or drivers and reboot and let it auto install, I get sound, but as stated as above, it’s not separating the channels, and I none of the creative software recognizes that I have the card installed. the creative auto update does detect it, but there are no updates available.”
I will keep following the original forum thread where the problem has first been reported and will let you know whether I hear a positive resolve on this. Meanwhile, if you happen to know a solution, as always, don’t hesitate and leave your comment below so that we could be able to help others, as well.
UPDATE: Since the initial writing of this article, we found some additional solutions that may help you fix this problem. We’ll list them below.
How to fix Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme problems
Update your Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme drivers for Windows 10
Creative released many driver updates for Windows 10 in order to make their sound cards compatible with the latest OS versions. Go to Creative’s official website and install the latest drivers for your card.
Run the Audio/ Hardware and Device troubleshooters
Windows 10 features a series of useful built-in troubleshooters that will help you fix various technical issues just by clicking in a simple ‘Run the troubleshooter’ button. So, you don’t need any troubleshooting experience in order to use these features. Simply go to Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot > run the two troubleshooters mentioned above.
Additional troubleshooting solutions
If the two quick solutions listed above didn’t help you fix this audio issue, here are some additional guides that you can use:
At Ignite 2018, Microsoft is making a number of Microsoft 365 announcements, including an “out with the old, in with the new” item involving Microsoft StaffHub. The first-line worker app that was in free preview before it became a part of some Office 365 F1, will be retired on October 1st, 2019, and replaced by two new apps, Home and Shifts, coming soon:
Home is a new mobile experience that allows firstline workers to see at a glance the most important and relevant info for their day. With Home, firstline workers can clock in and out of shifts/breaks, receive important notes for the day or shift, find out who is working during the shift and save time by easily reviewing information and schedule.
Shifts enables firstline managers to plan schedules in an employee self-service and integrated experience. They can create, update and distribute schedules for teams as well as broadcast open and unfilled shifts so that other employees can cover them. Finally, they can review and accept time off requests and swap shifts – all from mobile. For firstline employees, they can swap/offer shifts and request time off, right from their phones.
We’ll have more on Home and Shifts as they become available, and make sure to keep up with all the Microsoft Ignite 2018 news as it happens.
Today in Orlando at Ignite, Microsoft’s annual conference for IT Pros, as expected much of the focus wasn’t on Windows or Surface or Xbox, but on the new stars of a new generation, AI and Azure. Microsoft spent time talking about AI for humanitarian good, about security for a world rapidly being connected in ways we’ve never experienced, and about new tools and new updates to make it possible for developers and companies to utilize the power of Artificial Intelligence using Azure, SQL Server, and machine learning.
In many ways, the world is connecting up faster than we can control, and Microsoft is at least attempting to get a handle on what’s being unleashed. Introduced today at Ignite, the company built on its AI for Good initiative with AI for Humanitarian Action, a $40 million, five year program to promote use of AI to aid disaster response, the needs of children and refugees, and act on human rights abuses. It introduced enterprise-class security technology including Microsoft Authenticator for Azure AD, Secure Score, and Microsoft Threat Protection.
While not in the cross-hairs of the issues surrounding election fraud, Microsoft has been stepping up with its AccountGuard initiative, offering “state of the art cybersecurity protection at no extra cost to all candidates and campaign offices at the federal, state, and local lever, and other organizations critical to the democratic process.”
While engaged in the process of throttling AI and machine learning before it gets (too) out of control, Microsoft also unveiled a number of new products and technologies to accelerate the adoption and use of AI in the enterprise and in our daily lives. Microsoft introduced updates to Azure Machine Learning, announced a preview of SQL Server 2019 and Azure SQL DB hyper scale that, beginning October 1st, will offer auto-scaling up to 100TB per database. Available today, Azure SQL Database Managed Instance will allow organizations to migrate SQL Server workloads to the cloud with zero code changes. It announced the public preview of Azure Data Explorer, a “lightning fast indexing and querying service,” updates to Cosmos DB multi-master, and a preview of Azure Databricks Delta.
It was a big day for IoT news at Ignite, too, and Microsoft continues to move fast in building out Azure for the Internet of Things, and is making Azure IoT Central generally available and ready to “provision an IoT solution in less than a minute.” The company introduced Azure Digital Twins, a system for building “comprehensive digital models of any physical environment.” With Azure Digital Twins, developers can build virtual models (an elevator, a factory floor) and optimize and manage those assets more efficiently.
Microsoft is trying to keep IoT secure, too, introducing the broad availability of Azure Sphere development kits, and a public preview of Azure Data Box Edge, a physical appliance that sends data in and out of Azure.
For the Microsoft consumer enthusiast, it’s difficult to comprehend the importance of Azure, of big data, and the issues surrounding security and safety, but they will, and do already affect our daily lives with everything from online shopping to banking to traffic patterns to election security and even democracy itself. We’ll be talking more about Azure and data and how it affects us as consumers here at OnMSFT as Microsoft continues to push to become a leader in the transformation to a digital first world.
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To be fair, Dark Theme on Windows 10 has been a work in progress since the beginning, and because all stock Windows 10 apps are now updated through the Store, Microsoft is free to try different design changes without having to update the full OS. However, this is a different story for other components like the Windows Shell, or legacy apps like File Explorer.
