Urgent! Jan 2019 Windows 7 bricked by bad Microsoft update
Freeze Windows Updates for January, if you have Windows 7 ASAP!
Microsoft's killer Windows 7 patch: Breaks networking, bricks legit 'Not genuine' PCs.
https://www.zdnet.com/article/microsofts-killer-windows-7-patch-breaks-networking-bricks-legit-not-genuine-pcs/
Google mass outage
https://www.engadget.com/amp/2018/11/13/google-outage-rerouted-china-russia/
Another Windows 10 Zero Day Patch
ZDNet: Microsoft patches Windows zero-day used by multiple cyber-espionage groups.
https://www.zdnet.com/article/microsoft-patches-windows-zero-day-used-by-multiple-cyber-espionage-groups/
Google+ Service to Shutdown due to breach.
Ironically testing the Google+ Service Shutdown Story due to breach, by posting the link here. It works. No shutdown, yet. Supposedly Google will shut down Google+ for all public users and only enable it for Enterprise, Inter-Office purposes.
https://www.engadget.com/2018/10/08/google-shutting-down-google-plus/
Windows Update on Hold Pending File deletion bug fix
We previously warned you that the October 2018 update for Windows 10 was deleting people’s files, and now Microsoft has basically confirmed the issue by pulling the update for now.
Over on Microsoft’s support site, they’ve updated with a note saying they are pausing the update while they look into the issue more—and they say very clearly that if you have already downloaded the update, you should not install it for now.
We have paused the rollout of the Windows 10 October 2018 Update (version 1809)* for all users as we investigate isolated reports of users missing some files after updating.
If you have been affected by the file deletion bug, they also ask you to contact them to help sort out the issue, and to stop using the device until you do—which is interesting, and usually means the recovery option will include using a tool to recover deleted files—if you use your PC a lot, it can overwrite those files before they can be recovered.
If you have manually checked for updates and believe you have an issue with missing files after an update, please minimize your use of the affected device and contact us directly at +1-800-MICROSOFT, or find a local number in your area https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/4051701/global-customer-service-phone-numbers. Alternatively use a different device to contact us at https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/contactus/(link will vary according to country of origin).
This is a very unfortunate bug, and it’s unlikely that it affected a huge number of users, but with 700 million installs of Windows 10, Microsoft needs to be more careful with their updates because even a tiny percentage of users being affected can still be millions of people.
It’s also a good warning to always backupyour computer before doing anything major, including installing one of the Spring/Fall updates for Windows 10, which are always major updates with a ton of changes.
Windows 10 Update Warning - BACKUP EVERYTHING NOW!
The future releases of Windows 10 updates will require 32GB of free space, or your system may crash and become unrecoverable. Yes, that’s right. To further frustrate many Windows users and support staff, the updates for WIndows 10 are going to need a lot of space and time to execute successfully.
How do you check for adequate space? How do you create space? What the best way to backup? What cloud based solutions are best?
We will upload a free video that will answer all of these questions on Monday. Check back here for the link, or add yourself to our secured email list for this and any further urgent updates.