The Microsoft Patch Lady

Opinion

The .NET patch failure that wasn’t

This month’s patch updates from Microsoft have caused few problems, and though there were some issues related to .NET, even those have been scattered.

Opinion

For February, a 'bumpy' Patch Tuesday ride

A few issues have already cropped up with this month's collection of patches from Microsoft. So, for now, pause updates if you can.

How-To

Ahead of Patch Tuesday, a cautionary tale

As always, the second Tuesday of the month is a big day for Microsoft updates and patches. But even for versions of Windows 10 the company says are business-ready, issues can crop up.

Opinion

Decoding Microsoft Defender’s hidden settings

Though many Windows 10 users opt for third-party antivirus protection, those who use Microsoft Defender may not be getting all of the protection they could. Here’s how to check your settings and what to change.

Opinion

For Microsoft’s January patches, no all-clear (yet)

In particular, KB4535680 could cause headaches for users running HyperV servers with hosted virtual machines.

Opinion

The first Patch Tuesday of '21; time to delay updates

Though most users should be ok with the latest round of patches from Microsoft, it's still prudent to delay installing them for a bit to make sure there are no problems.

News Analysis

SolarWinds, Solorigate, and what it means for Windows updates

The recent SolarWinds attack raised serious questions about how safe companies (and government agencies) are when OS or software updates roll out. Since Microsoft was also hit, it’s important to understand what happened.

Opinion

The end-of-the-year patching all-clear

As 2020 slips away and '21 comes into view, it's time to get Microsoft's latest patches installed, and maybe do a little DIY upgrades on your hardware.

Opinion

The patching conundrum: When is good enough good enough?

Patches and updates are designed to fix problems, not cause them. But sometimes a few users still get bitten. When that happens, what do you do — avoid, delay or dive in anyway?

Opinion

2020: A look back at patching and the pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic changed so many things in the tech world, not the least of which was Microsoft's patching processes. Here's a look at a few highlights to keep in mind as we head toward 2021.

Opinion

December Patch Tuesday round-up: Winding down for the year

The final Patch Tuesday for 2020 has come and gone, though Microsoft likely isn't quite finished with updates and fixes for the year. Here's where we stand now.

Opinion

On the future of Windows 10’s feature releases

Microsoft’s twice-yearly feature updates arrive every six months — whether users want them or not. The company needs to do something to make this upgrade process less disruptive and avoid patch fatigue.

Opinion

It's December patch prep time

Microsoft's Patch Tuesday is coming up. Time to get your hardware ready and delay updates until any issues are worked out.

Opinion

A pre-Thanksgiving all-clear to install patches

As the US gets ready for Thanksgiving, Windows 10 users can be thankful for one thing: you can go ahead and install Microsoft’s November updates on laptops, desktops and workstations.

Opinion

Deciphering (and understanding) Microsoft’s patch management options

The pandemic this year forced admins to scramble to keep their Windows systems up and running (and properly patched) at a distance. So it's important to understand what options are available and which work best in different situations....

Opinion

The November Patch Tuesday aftermath

There were a few surprises in this month's updates released on Tuesday, including Office 2010 updates, some Intel Microcode updates you can probably skip and fixes for Outlook memory issues.