Category: Windows

The Bit Locker Shocker

I try to keep the updates weekly, so please excuse this SPECIAL UPDATE.  I could not wait until a week passed.   THIS IS A SPECIAL UPDATE for all clients  – but even if you use a Mac, you likely have a friend, co-worker, son, daughter, neighbor that uses a Windows computer.  I want you to forward this message on to that person.  Please.

The Bit Locker – Shocker

This may seem like a dramatic title, but it would be quite a shocker if you got locked out of your computer right?  

I do a pretty good job of breaking down complex topics simply for my clients……

1. There is encryption technology on both Macs and Windows PCs that can protect your files. 

2. Think of it this way — if you take your laptop to a coffee shop — and it is stolen, people are going to have a hard time reading your data IF IT IS ENCRYPTED.   There is simply a “switch” in the software that gets turned on to start the encryption.  On a Mac, it is called Fire Vault.  On Windows, it is called Bit Locker.

Clear so far….?

3. Now on  Mac — the process is pretty EXPLICIT.  When you set up a new Mac — it asks if you want to turn Fire Vault on.  Clear as day.  Usually when I set up new Macs for my clients — I opt in, especially with a laptop.

3b.  On a Windows computer, I always thought it was OPT IN.  It is off for everyone, but you have to hunt it out.  (I’m saying this as a Bit Locker user since 2014).  Further, thinning the heard  Bit Locker was only available on the Professional version of Windows, not the Home version.   Computers I order for my clients come with Windows Professional 90% of them.  When client’s buy the PC’s themselves — or buy from WalMart, Best Buy, etc…. it’s almost always the Home version.   Well well — starting in these latter days of Windows 10 and Windows 11 — SOME — Windows Home version machines actually have a stripped down version of Bit Locker.  (Side note:  Wouldn’t that be a cool religion?– Latter Days of Windows??  Perhaps I could be the Chief Overseer!!)    Just wanted to make one thing clear — this is not the first time you are hearing about this.  I did sound the alarm for my Windows clients only in October.   I am pulling the alarm harder now — because I want you to forward this message out to anyone you know who uses Windows.

The Friday the 13th – Scary Part!!!

4. The point is — it’s possible — that anyone with a Windows computer 5 years and newer — COULD — possibly have Bit Locker turned on, without knowing.   The user then does not know the KEY because they never knew Bit Locker was on.   The computer gets some kind of Update — and then they are prompted for the key.  Uh oh!!! Big trouble

5.  This problem seems to operate by arbitrary rules.  The first client I had it happen to had an HP Desktop.  The time was April 2023.  Fortunately, the Bit Locker system (which she wasn’t even aware was son) backed up the Key to her Microsoft account — as it should.  I was able to log on to her Microsoft account from my computer.  I typed in the Key and got her back into her computer.  No problem.  A Pain, but as expected.   In October — I had a client get locked out by Bit Locker.  She had a 2018 Dell Laptop that does not even qualify for Bit Locker.  Yet — it was turned on anyway.  No key was ever generated.  I had to erase her entire computer and restore files from backup.     Just last week, I was told by a client with a pretty high end Dell XPS laptop — that she was being asked for the Bit Locker key.  She never knowingly turned Bit Locker on.  A key was backed up to her Microsoft account.  The key seems to be wrong.  I will get my hands on this computer soon and report back.   Then just last night, I heard from an acquaintance in Spain.  He got a brand new, very powerful computer direct from the Dell warehouse overthere.  He did not turn Bit Locker on. Well well — one day later he got asked for his Bit Locker key.  He didn’t know it.   He returned the computer to Dell — said I’m done with you.

I don’t want anyone to lose faith in Windows here.  I have had my Thinkpad T480 laptop since Jan. 2020. I have used Bit Locker (knowingly) since Day 1. I know what my key is.  I have NEVER been asked to type it in.    I don’t think this is exclusively a Dell problem…but in  my little orbit the problems are stacking up 3 Dells and 1 HP. 

So What Do We Do About It?

6.  Everyone with a Windows Computer — should click their Start Menu, Go to Settings, and type the word Bit Locker (or Encryption).  Open that Setting please.   If there is an active Bit Locker key for your Windows computer — please save the file (back up) — and print it out. If you have at Home (not Professional) Version of Windows the only way to retrieve this key is to go to your Microsoft account in your web browser. https://account.microsoft.com/devices/recoverykey

Let’s stop this from affecting any more Windows computers!! Dell has given an official statement on this issue and I found it weak.  With every Windows computer I touch from now on, I am going to make sure the owner knows their bit locker key.  It would be better in my opinion to turn Bit Locker on and know the key — then to have a very nasty surprise.

Here is a little song that is right on point with this e-mail — Surprise Surprise!

Microsoft Breaking Office Promises?

Just want to make you aware of an issue today if you notice some funny business in Microsoft Office (ie. @Word, Excel, Power Point…)

Historically – versions of Microsoft Office were “valid” for 10 years from the date that version of Office was released (not when you bought it).   That rule still applied but a bifurcated reality emerged in 2013 when Microsoft began offering Office 365 subscriptions to consumers (now called Microsoft 365).   At $70 per year for individuals and $100 per year for families — this is a package i have bought into from day 1 and it is how most of my clients purchase Office.   However, there are still those who purchase the “standalone” versions of office which come out about every 2 to 3 years.   Some reason — well if I just need Word — why don’t I buy the standalone for $150 (includes Word, Excel, Power Point) and it will be good (on 1 computer) for 10 years.  That might make sense for those use cases although the subscription gets you 1 TB of One Drive space a powerful cloud based backup / storage option.

Office 2016 for Windows was released in October 2015 and was guaranteed for 10 years of updates and security fixes.  However, when Office 2019 rolled out in the fall of 2018 — Microsoft said it would only have a lifespan of 7 years (by contrast Mac standalone versions have always been valid for 5 years only)

So technically — both Office 2016 and Office 2019 for Windows have an end of life date on Oct 14, 2025 (same EOL as Windows 10 — hint hint).  However, as of October this year those versions of Office have been cut off from Microsoft cloud services including e-mail and One Drive.

Many are complaining that Microsoft is pulling the rug out from their customers who thought they were getting a full 10 or 7 years, respectively.   More and more software is becoming a subscription based proposition.   If you have a lot of files — I am a big proponent of One Drive — so the subscription seems worth it.   However — i think Microsoft should have kept their promise to customers of version 2016 and 2019.  Yes you can type a document until 10/2025 — but they won’t be FULLY FUNCTIONAL

FYI, Starting with Office 2021 standalone — the lifecycle ends after 5 years (same for Windows and Mac) — meaning Oct 2026. 

Windows 10 Reprieve – 11 And Edge Not That Bad

1.  Microsoft has recently affirmed that 10/14/25 is the EOL (end of life ) date for Windows 10.  By that time nearly all of you you will have a new computer or have updated your existing computer to Windows 11.   However…….(you knew there would be an option for people who just can’t let go or move on right?) ….. Microsoft is going to offer a Windows 10 Extended Update Program for consumers and businesses for up to 3 more years after Oct 2025.  Pricing has not been announced yet.  I am not recommending this as a default position but if you are steadfast / die hard on Win 10 (Win 10 4Ever) — this is for you.  Pricing has not been announced but my prediction is $75 to $200 per year.   Time will tell how close my prediction is…..

2)  I had a very successful Windows 11 upgrade experience with a client last week.  The computer in question was a Think Pad T490 laptop (you know how much I loved the Thinkpad — best of the best).   The entire process took exactly 1 hour.  Not bad.

3)  Finally — I had a client who was a member of the clergy today and I asked for a “pastoral dispensation” on Microsoft Edge.   You could also say broken clocks are wrong twice a day.   I worked with a client remotely today who needed to fill a PDF, sign it (drawing a signature) and send it to the recipient by email.  Our only option was to install new software and likely a paid program costing $30 to $80 (or a monthly fee).  BUT BUT —you know I am an objective guy because I remembered something….

For as bad of a browser as Edge is — it is the DEFAULT PDF viewer / reader in Windows 10 and 11.   To be quite honest — Edge is A-OK as a PDF program.  There are extra tools that are not available in Chrome (which simply lets you view PDFs).  Most importantly my client was able to draw a signature on the tax form (after lots of patient coaching from me).  

Living on the Edge — maybe not so bad.   Still use Chrome / Firefox for regular browsing in my opinion though.

Song of the Week   — No tune seems more appropriate than this Aerosmith jam from my teenage years.   “Living on the Edge”

Windows Only 9-16-23 Windows 11 Is Great

My current Windows computer is a Thinkpad T480 (technically a 2018 model) that I bought brand new in January 2020.  The price was truly unbelievable, sort of like the Thinkpad deal that some of you took advantage of about 6 weeks ago.    Having the 8th generation Intel Core i-Series processor — it just makes the cutoff for Windows 11.

I thought to myself — well if every new Windows computer I set up for clients is going to have Windows 11, then I should be on Windows 11 too now.   I think it was 3 weeks ago (Aug 25).  I decided to make that leap into the future.   On my 1 gig Fiber internet connection — the download only took 15 minutes.  I was then got a call for a surprise dinner.  I do not know how long the INSTALLING phase took but it may have been 1.5 hours.   When I returned to my computer, the finishing touches on the installation took 15 minutes

Nothing really changed.  Windows 11 has matured.  The Start Menu button can be put on the left side of the screen.  The Start Menu itself looks a little different but I have adjusted to it and not found the need for a replacement start app like Open Shell or Start 11 (which would be appropriate if you long for a Windows 7 style Start Menu).   If I could best describe Windows 11, it fees like a fresh haircut.  I know things are more modern under the hood — better and more stable code and likely more secure.  I just trust that it’s there but I don’t really care.   My browsers (Firefox, Vivaldi, Brave, Chrome, Edge) all work like they should.  No issues with Word and Excel. 

My biggest concern was Quick Books 2016 – which I will really try to move off of in the new year. I am not supposed to still be using this software.  It is technically obsolete and could stop working any time. However, it has continued to work for me.  A future update to Windows 11 could certainly break compatibility.  That is why I advise my clients not to use unsupported versions of Quick Books in Windows 11. 

Sunset Date:   You can continue to keep using Windows 10 on your current computer whether it is eligible or ineligible for Windows 11 until Oct 2025.

Upgrading to Windows 11 May Be An Absurd Process

Buying a brand new Windows 11 computer is fine.  In fact, I would have to go digging deep into old stock to find you a Win 10 computer at this point. So your new computer will have Windows 11, 9 times out of 10.  Just expect that some really old software or a 10 year old printer or perhaps some obsolete devices may not work.  This should NOT be a big news flash — this could be true for any new computer (even a new Mac). 

However, I’m less confident about Windows 10 to Windows 11 upgrades.  Some of them have gone perfectly fine with clients.  In fact nearly all have.  They should be completed in 2 hours or less.  Sooner than later, I am going to upgrade my primary computer (a Thinkpad T480 laptop) to 11 just to show you guys it’s A-OK.  

Just this week — my client with the HIGHEST SPEC Windows computer – with an Intel i9 11th generation processor, 16 or 32 GB of RAM (i forget actually) and a 2 TB NvME SSD hard drive — had a big problem upgrading to Windows 11.  It simply would not work. None of you have a PC built quite to these standards.  It is a beast of a machine.  It should have zipped through that Windows 11 update.   I had to pull the plug, with a total of about 4.5 hours into the process, and on the 2nd attempt.  The first attempt failed.  The 2nd attempt froze at 95%.  Bummer!!   This desktop passed ALL of Microsoft’s checks, saying it was fully compatible with Windows 11.   Generally speaking, all Windows computers 2018 vintage and newer are compatible. 

So we are locking in at Windows 10 version 22H2 – last version of Windows 10 ever (which will get security updates until Oct 2025.  A solution is TBD.   I have about 2 years and 1 month to figure it out.  A sure fire solution is a clean install of Windows 11 and copy the files back.  Oh boy, what a drag that could be.

But I could do it for you!!!   However, I would prefer to help you upgrade to Windows 11 the easy way.    Here is how we are going to handle it going forward.   If you are out of state, then we will just have to handle it in a virtual way.  However, if you are local as most of you are —- we are going to go with a HYBRID APPOINTMENT!!   

1. Virtually, we are going to run Microsoft’s “Health Check”.  If your PC is cleared for Windows 11 — I will start the process.   

2. You are then going to keep me informed by phone / text of the process.

3.  When your computer restarts and it is all done  – I will then come out to finish up in person

I am ready to help you upgrade in this format — as soon as you want to.

One more detail — for those of you who cannot upgrade to Windows 11 — no sweat.  You have a 2017 and older computer.   You will need to get a new computer by October 2025.  No rush.   Enjoy the Windows 10 experience while you can.  However, if you are an iCloud Photos user with your iPhone — you may want to upgrade to 11 sooner than later. 

Song of the Week

#1 song in the country — sung by an unsigned artist — Oliver Anthony.   It really speaks to me at this time.   I identify with the workers in hard hats a lot more than the West Hartford echo chamber.   Oliver turned down an $8 million dollar record contract.  Not selling out!!

“Rich Men North of Richmond”

Windows Users Don’t Get Tricked Into Microsoft Edge

As the weeks go on, I’m getting more upset with Microsoft.  It seems that even with me modifying the Edge browser on clients computers to Disabled prompts for “new features” (ie. Switching to Edge) the end user (you) is still being asked to switch to Edge with almost every Windows update.  This happens at least once a month.   This is the same trickery that Microsoft got sanctioned for in the late 1990s, after a major lawsuit.

I think it is disgusting behavior.   If you prefer to use the Chrome or Firefox browsers — you should be allowed to use them and NEVER — I MEAN NEVER — get prompted to switch to Edge.  On a Mac, once you change you default browser from Safari — Apple never suggests  you change it back.

I work with clients with all levels of mental acuity.  It is normal to lose some mental sharpness as you age.  Strokes can play a role even if more severe conditions are not in play.  Over the past few months I have had NUMEROUS clients get switched to Edge without knowing. I have included a screen shot for you.  If you are prompted to switch to Edge (and want to keep using some other browser — please make the selection like I did  IN THE PICTURE.

There are 3 ways  we can continue to approach this…….

1.  Just make Edge your default browser.  Technically speaking, it’s not a bad browser.  All Edge is — is Google Chrome underneath with a “Microsoft skin” on top.   Edge is also a good PDF reader and for better or worse set to be the default PDF reader in Windows (I’ll get to that in a moment).   However if you really prefer Chrome or Firefox — you should not feel force to use Edge.

2.  Set your Windows installation to a “metered connection” — this will block Microsoft Windows Updates.   A few of my clients do this already and then have me come out about every 3 months — do updates and then turn the metered connection back on — blocking updates again.   However  the METERED CONNECTION is not appropriate if you use Microsoft One Drive.  😦

3.  You can just keep declining the switch to Microsoft Edge when prompted.  The language is getting more and more tricky but will look something like the picture I have ATTACHED.

Finally I want to say that if you never intend for Edge to be your default browser you really shouldn’t let Edge be your default PDF viewer.    The free version of Adobe Reader is what most people go with.  However, for just a simple PDF viewer I prefer Sumatra PDF.   It is free and although it is named after an Indonesian island — it was created by a Polish developer.  I have been using it since 2009.  Here is the link to download and install it.   You will need to then make it your default PDF viewer in Windows. 

https://www.sumatrapdfreader.org/free-pdf-reader

This is going to continue to be a battle.  Let me know how I can help you win the war……..

Freedom From Data Loss

It’s so easy to lose files or even data within a file (such as everything you typed, gone — WOOSH).  I have talked about these topics before, but it never hurts to come at it from a new angle.    If you work with documents, spreadsheets or photos on your computer (I’m even calling iPad a computer for you iPad only users) — what is your backup system?   Are you able to verify that the backup system is actually working (Honor’s class question:  Is your backup system truly a backup or is more of a file synchronization system, posing as a backup? )There is nothing wrong with the file sync approach as your backup– it’s what most of my clients use (iCloud or One Drive).  Just be aware of the one flaw.   If you are using a Windows or Mac computer and your files and folders really matter to you — a physical backup to an external hard drive would be most appropriate IN ADDITION to whatever cloud based backup you have implemented. 

On the Mac — Time Machine has been the built in backup system since 2007.  It backs up  your computer initially and then it backs up CHANGES every hour.  My clients are regularly able to retrieve missing or deleted files by dialing back into the past through Time Machine.  It is not the best backup system on the planet but it is truly a “set it and forget it” (Thanks Ron) system. 

Within Windows, there is a built in backup program for key folders called File History.  It’s not quite as polished as the Mac’s Time Machine but it is not bad.  Here is a primer on File History (link).  Some of my Windows clients also use a more advanced backup application  Macrium Reflect, my personal favorite.  Despite the “Mac” in the name — it is Windows only backup software. 

Finally to make sure that you are truly free from data loss within a word processing document — I want you to know that Microsoft Word is only auto-saving your document these days if you save it in a Microsoft One Drive folder.  If you have a lot of files and folders — I think paying the $6 a month for Microsoft 365 which includes a TON of One Drive storage is a no brainer.   If you are a heavy Microsoft Office user on the Mac, you can also pay for a Microsoft subscription and get the same One Drive benefits.  Microsoft is being discriminatory here.   There is also a free version of One Drive that you can use with a stand alone purchase (non subscription) version of Office.  The free One Drive gives you 5 GB of space, likely good enough for a couple thousand text only documents.  Once you start throwing the pictures into One Drive, you will want the paid account. 

Using One Drive cloud storage is not a requirement for using Word however.  If you are not on board, you always have to remember to keep saving your document.   If you make a mistake you can easily lose it. 

If you have a Google account — creating documents in Google Drive / Google Docs is a brilliant option.  This platform is totally free and has a robust auto save function built in. 

One final word processing option that I do not want to discount is Apple’s Pages.  Pages is a mature alternative to Microsoft Word.  If you are mainly typing documents for yourself and only occasionally emailing them out to others – Pages is a fine choice.  Pages can be integrated with iCloud to Auto  Save your documents on the Mac or iPad.   Pages does use it’s own proprietary format. However, you can easily export and share a document as a PDF or Word-compatible file. 

Microsoft Edge Browser – Consumer Choice

Edge Updates

Microsoft’s browser in Windows 10 and 11 is called Edge.  It’s actually a great browser, built now off of Google Chrome (without all the Google services built in).  However — what I don’t like is Microsoft is REALLY DESPERATE to FORCE you to switch to Edge.  Do not switch default browser to Edge, unless you really want to use Edge.   Nothing wrong with Edge but — principle of it.   Keep using Firefox and Chrome if that is your intent.  If you are prompted to switch (which does happen about every 3 months), Say NO if that is your wish.  It’s really annoying that Microsoft does this.  There have been numerous instances where I get to a client’s computer.  And they say “My internet is not working”  or “I don’t have my passwords” or “my bookmarks are different.” This is all because they switched to Edge and they didn’t know it. 

A Windows 11 Hiccup

Microsoft pushed out an important update for Windows 11 called 22H2 Moment 2 on or around 3/14.  The best way to get Windows updates with Windows 10 or 11 is to just plug your computer in (or leave it plugged in for a desktop) and just let it go to sleep at night.  I really cringe when I find out clients are literally SHUTTING DOWN their computer 3, 4, 5 times a day.  No need and not optimal.   However, this recent update for Windows 11 has caused some super fast hard drives (like you would find in a lot of laptops and some high spec desktops) to slow down.   It’s not all computers in the world but enough that people are complaining.

The affected computers are still usable however.  In the recent history of Windows, there have been some bad or botched updates for Windows 7, Windows 8, and even Windows 10.  Usually Microsoft will push out a fix quickly.  That is why it is so important to let your computer be in that sleep mode when not using it so it will get the updates.  You may want to go to settings and check for Updates if you think you have not been getting updates lately or have me check at the next appointment.

You never have to be the first one to jump to a brand new version of Windows — like Windows 11 when it first comes out.  However, the monthly minor updates are all about security and quality fixes.  You should be getting them.

My March 2023 Thoughts On Windows 11

It’s getting better and I think the way it looks and feels today is the version that Microsoft should have come out with when it was released as an unfinished product (my words) in the Fall of 2021.  Boy was it brutal. At this point, Windows 11 feels mainstream to me.

Standard menu items like Google Chrome, the Edge browser, Word, Excel, Outlook, and Firefox work just fine. 

There is no rush to adopt Windows 11 however.  Microsoft will keep bugging Windows 10 users.  If you are a Windows 10 Pro user — there is some programming I can do to tone down the bugging. The absolute drop dead date for Windows 10 will be Oct 2025.  At that point if you have a pre 2018 computer (*with a couple exceptions) you will be buying or have bought a new computer.  If you have a 2018 and later computer (generally Intel 8th gen or equivalent processor) you will need to upgrade to Windows 11 by that date (or Windows 12 or whatever the next one is called). 

I just helped a business client upgrade to Windows 11 last week.  It was a very smooth process and everything seems to be working just fine.  We are mindful of the 10 day grace period to roll back to Windows 10 — just in case.

My greatest fear for anyone upgrading to Windows 11  is old software.   Outdated, unsupported, obsolete programs that ran perfectly in Windows 10 — may not run well or at all in Windows 11.  There is a chance they work just fine but you may want to ask yourself why you are hanging on to those old versions first.   A big potential hang up that comes to mind is older versions of Quick Books Pro (desktop).  The truth of the matter is that as of 2023, I believe any version of Quick Books desktop prior to 2020 is considered unsupported.  That is the reality check.  It may still work but it is susceptible to security attacks and also being partially / fully disabled by Windows updates in the future. I am saying this not to cast stones but as someone who also uses an older version of Quick Books.  The purchase price for Quick Books 2023 is $549 per year (no more one time purchases) and they even make this hard to get because Intuit / Quick Books whole objective here is to get you to subscribe to Quick Books Online — where a functional version will cost you about $55 / month, at a minimum.    Tying this back into the Windows 11 discussion — I am holding off on upgrading one of my computers to Windows 11 because of the Quick Books issue.  Eventually I will have to bite the bullet on a modern version of Quick Books, but I am trying to delay it as long as possible.  However, even with all of my cynicism — I do get Intuit’s point.  They are saying isn’t your bookkeeping worth at least $50 / month to you on average.  I’m sure when really pressed most business owners would say — of course.   There aren’t many good alternatives.

If you don’t have the issue of older software to worry about and you are sticking to the browsers and Microsoft Office — I don’t think Windows 11 is something to fear — especially with a new computer. 

Windows Users–Benefits Of Using One Drive

Though some of you are the exception — the easiest way to make sure you don’t lose files on your Windows — is to have One Drive for Desktop and Documents turned on so it backs up and synchronizes your files.    If you are not using One Drive for your files — maybe it’s time you start.  $6 per month — and it gets you Office 365 (and the latest Word, Excel, etc).  (If I already have you using Carbonite or BackBlaze — you are probably the exception to the rule but we can talk about this next time).  Saving a spreadsheet to One Drive that went missing today saved my client from catastrophic data loss.