Windows 11

Microsoft is backtracking on its plans to block non-security optional updates for Windows 11 version 22H2 beyond February 2024. The company has quietly extended the deadline for delivering these updates to both consumers and enterprise customers. Essentially, Microsoft releases optional Windows updates during the fourth week of each month. These updates are non-critical for system…

Microsoft has started pushing Windows 11 version 23H2 to users who are still running older versions of Windows 11. The company announced on the Windows release health dashboard that it will automatically update all eligible devices to Windows 11 version 23H2. Microsoft announced the general availability of Windows 11 version 23H2 in October last year….

Icacls is a Windows command-line utility that IT admins can use to change access control lists on files and folders. One of the most common tasks that an IT Pro or system administrator performs is modifying permission on a file server. Using the icacls command is a very efficient way to do that, and we’ll…

Microsoft has announced notable enhancements for its Windows Autopatch service. The biggest change in this release is the ability for commercial customers to use their existing update rings with Windows Autopatch. Microsoft has introduced a new feature that enables organizations to import their existing Intune Update rings for Windows 10 or later into Windows Autopatch…

Microsoft released yesterday the February 2024 Patch Tuesday updates for Windows 11 and Windows 10. As usual, the company addressed several vulnerabilities across a wide range of its products, including two zero-day flaws that are actively being exploited by attackers. In addition to the zero-day vulnerabilities, Microsoft advises administrators to patch critical flaws in the…

On this episode of First Ring Daily, Brad Sams and Paul Thurrott discuss Microsoft making Copilot on Windows open in an expanded window, and how the built-in version of the AI assistant still needs some work.

Microsoft’s new PC Manager app is now available for all users on Windows 10 and Windows 11 devices. The app has been available in public beta in select regions since 2022, allowing users to free up system resources and address performance issues on their Windows PCs. Microsoft developed PC Manager as an alternative to CCleaner…

Environment variables are essential for accessing command line tools and controlling program execution in operating systems. In Windows, PowerShell provides a convenient way to manage and access environment variables. You can set the environment path, edit existing paths, and handle the user profile on your computer. In this step-by-step guide, we’ll explore what environment variables…

In this episode of First Ring Daily, Brad Sams and Paul Thurrott discuss the future of Windows 10 and what really matters for Microsoft: Will the company want to push Windows users to Windows 12, or is it more important for Microsoft to get them on board with AI?

Microsoft has released yesterday the January 2024 Patch Tuesday updates for Windows 11 and Windows 10 devices. This month’s Patch Tuesday includes fixes for 49 security vulnerabilities in Windows, Microsoft Office, Azure, SQL Server, and more. Microsoft also announced the end of mainstream support for Exchange Server 2019 on January 9. However, it will continue…