Windows 11 Update Stuck: Fixed For Good
Windows 11 is one of the best versions of Windows in a long time. It comes with various powerful pictures; however, it comes with a few bugs as well. One of the problems that a lot of users face is their updates being stuck. The frustrating part is some updates reach as much as 99% and stay stuck. This article will look at a few ways you can resolve this issue.
Leave Your Computer
One of the ways to fix this problem is to leave your computer while the update is downloading. The updates usually get stuck due to interruptions in internet connectivity or power surges. Plug in your computer and leave it while the updates are downloading. It may happen faster and the update will not get stuck.
Windows Troubleshooter
If your trouble with updates is not resolved, you can try the update troubleshooter. To do this, go to settings and then click on update & security. Once there, click on troubleshoot and then additional troubleshooters. On the next window, you will see an option called windows update. Click on 'run this troubleshooter.' The troubleshooter will look for any issues and fix them. Once it is fixed, you will need to restart your computer and the update will download and install after that.
Software Distribution Folder
You can also go to 'C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution' and see if the update is still happening. This is the software distribution folder that stores temp files and has all the data needed for updates. Right-click inside this folder and then click on properties. Check the size of the folder to see if the size is increasing. If it is the same, you can follow the below steps:
Switch off your Windows update. To do this, type 'cmd' in the start menu, right-click and select 'run as administrator.' Type the command "net stop wuauserv" and "net stop bits" and this will stop the update.
You must then delete the update files in the distribution folder. Finally, you switch on the updates by running the command prompt again and typing "net start wuauserv" and "net start bits." This should resolve the Windows update issue.
Uninstall a Conexant Audio Device
Disabling Auto Driver Downloads
Uninstalling a Conexant audio device is straightforward and has worked for a few users. To do this, open your start menu and then your control panel. Under the control panel, click on 'system.' You then need to select advanced system settings and click on the hardware tab. Click on the device installation settings and choose 'No' as the answer to the question and then save the changes.
Uninstalling a Conexant Audio Device
You must then open the device manager and look for your audio device under the 'sound, video and game controllers.' Right-click on the device name and choose uninstall device. You will get a confirmation pop-up. Click on uninstall.
Restart your computer and go to your device manager again to see if the drivers are not installed. Run the Windows 11 update again and after it's done, re-enable the driver downloads once the update is done.
Don’t Get Frustrated Anymore
Stuck updates can get frustrating if you're not sure what's causing it. We hope these tips will help you get resolve stuck updates with Windows 11.
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“Microsoft is hyping Windows Copilot as an “everyday AI companion” that incorporates “the context and intelligence of the web” with work data and what users do on their PCs”
It would have been interesting to explain what this does but this already sounds scary for privacy. I don’t want a Microsoft black box AI analyzing everything I do on my PC to tell the web and come back with personalized ads.
“Is Microsoft returning to old shenanigans again? Releasing apps that users can’t remove from Windows is not exactly a user-friendly move.”
And it’s also very common on android. “Can’t remove the Youtube app, it’s a system app ! maybe root your device just to remove that crap ?”
After disabling Windows Scripting Host and the ability to run .vbs files, an annoying pop-up it’s appearing all the time. This is useless, why do they warn us that this feature is disabled?
Here it is:
“Windows Script Host access is disabled on this machine. Contact your administrator for details.”
I’ve been using ScriptDefender for ~20 years, pops up a warning when triggered so allows you to disable the intercept while an ‘allowed’ (usually an installer script ~ every 2-4 years!) script is run.
Not restricted to .VBS, I have .VBS,.VBE,.JS,.JSE,.HTA,.WSF,.WSH,.SHS,.SHB on intercept.
http://www.analogx.com/contents/download/System/sdefend/Freeware.htm
It’s a better way to not disable it, just associate the *.VBS files to be open in Notepad.
Oh my god, yes please do this so that people finally switch to Linux.
That would literally be the best thing for Linux since the steam deck.
Lol people would rather switch to Mac than Linux in many cases, Linux for desktop is hardly used for a reason, it’s not too fun and not too easy.
Since comments are appearing under the wrong articles, I should probably specify:
This is a reply to: https://www.ghacks.net/2023/10/05/a-consumer-subscription-version-of-windows-may-be-just-around-the-corner/
The author, Martin, asks us if we’d subscribe to Windows.
My answer is no.
Even though I’m low income and the computers I buy occasionally to replace the prior (Likely broken) one are low to mid-range models, or at least priced like them (I look for sales, obviously), it’s still a huge investment for me.
To be frank, I didn’t even like it way back on Windows 7 (It’s been the default behavior out of the box on every edition of Windows since then. I’m on Windows 11 now.) when an update first rolled out that declared every copy of Windows that hadn’t successfully phoned home and gotten back the right response from Microsoft’s service in the last however number of months (I think it’s 6), would black out your desktop wallpaper with an anti-piracy message and otherwise basically treat you like a pirate.
I like, conceptually, the idea that this machine I paid a lot of money for could still do something if unconnected to the Internet. Perhaps it could play MP3s, check with an off-line copy of Wikipedia (That’s a thing), play some games, have it’s word processing (Openoffice.org or another free suite) available, and so on and so forth. Many of us who live in financially precarious situations see an advantage in our machines not turning into bricks if one can’t pay one of a thousand subscriptions and bills.
Obviously, a monthly subscription would up the ante on that. I overlooked Microsoft’s switch to anti-piracy protections that could ensure innocent non-pirates who paid for their copies simply because they hadn’t connected to the Internet in however many months, simply because I never run into that limitation- my laptop would at least wind up connecting to hotspots in parking lots and the like often enough like not go 6 months without even if I didn’t have home Internet.
A subscription that must be paid month to month to keep the operating system going on a machine I paid what were for me big bucks for (Plus, potentially, interest on credit cards or whatever) or turn it into a brick if my payment is a day late is a non-starter with me.
Switching to Linux isn’t that easy for a non-technically minded person who nevertheless occasionally makes power user like demands on an OS. I tried dual booting in the 00s and had isuses. My conclusion was, for me personally to really try Linux as a daily driver, I’d need to buy a machine that was sold with Linux on it and provided updated drivers for it’s hardware, like System 76’s hardware. The problem is that those systems are so much more expensive than their Windows equivalents, especially if you compare the specs on the best Windows PC deals/sale prices to System 76 anytime.
But I feel like a monthly subscription fee for Windows would be crossing a line I wouldn’t want to cross. My first thought would be, hey, see what I can do with Linux, but if that wasn’t feasible, I’d see what I could do with old versions of Windows or whatever.
A monthly subscription to use my own computer off-line (and online) is not something I would laying down, and just pay. I’d do everything I could to avoid that charge.
This site has been abandoned. Where are those responsible for Ghacks? To date, the problems have not been resolved in the comments. I think the AI eliminated Martin and his employees. The site is now run by AI and the Illuminatti. Hahahaha
No.
I can just picture Satya sat at his desk scheming this.
1) Introduce Windows subscription service at a really low price.
2) Wait for critical mass to adopt it.
3) Remove ability to get Windows without a subscription.
4) Increase Windows subscription price year-on-year and add more ads.
5) [Rubs hands] I will be a trillionaire!
What will actually happen: people ditch Windows for MacOS.
It’s a shame Linux never became more organised in the 2000s to attract developers to port their business applications to Linux. Of course, if the future for the masses is streaming your computer, tablet and phone from a remote server (which although not for me, I can see it being the future long term for ordinary users), could Linux be ready for this major change this time and convince developers to write their software so it can run/stream on Linux servers…
No, I won’t subscribe. If you ask me, MS did nothing useful since Win 7 and Office 7 (which indirectly confirmed by total failure of all Metro-based interfaces).
I witnessed with my own eyes that since 2015 even some world-famous software development companies start to install LibreOffice as default option, unless customers, not the company itself, pays for MS Office (web or not). Wherever some tries to get the people on the hook on subscription, there are more people who don’t want to pay.
I never paid for MS Office. Why to pay for Windows?
With bloated interfaces, resource-hogging and piles of bloatware and the ads to add insult to injury, introduction of Windows subscription is going to finally start Great Mass Run to desktop Linux (like any Ubuntu-based distro).
What is office 7? You mean Office 2007?
I definitely agree, I use both Windows 7 and Office 2007, a beautiful combo that runs like a dream.
The problem is that Linux sucks so much, Microsoft has enjoyed amazing advantages due to Windows’s large user-base, most problems are documented well, solutions exist for nearly every issue – same cannot be said for Linux, unfortunately. I don’t mind using a little powershell or cmd in Windows because it’s few and far between, however it really gets old fast on Linux because of how much you need to use it.
There’s no reason Linux can’t be great, but I think there are too many projects focusing on too many things, so it’s a bit like trying to herd cats. I’ve spoken to serious Linux users and a bunch of them have the sentiment that: they’re happy Linux is not straightforward, it gatekeeps the normies out of things, and makes Linux “better” according to them.
Microsoft continues their struggle to force everybody to use dumb terminals so that they can, greedily, maximize their profits. They struggle to find benefits for such a system, when none actually exist and to the contrary, there is nothing but cons for the consumer.
No, I would never subscribe to a web service version of Windows. In fact at the point where this becomes the only available option (and trust me, it will), I will stop using Windows entirely. Microsoft is comprised of a group of individuals who are greedy fools. They deserve to go out of business entirely.
155 old non related comments just to be able to comment something is far away from my patience.
Following the logic presented in the article–“Microsoft “tricked” users and blocked the ability to remove Windows Backup,” which is truly a pathetic program for the needs of most users, then it follows that MS “tricked” users and blocked the ability to remove the Disk Cleanup tool, which is utter nonsense, when compared to most free, high quality [many open source] tools for cleaning out the clutter.
And one could go on and on about this and that part of the system that Windows 11 would be better off without, but it isn’t going to change anything.
BTW–My current annoyance is with Firefox and the silly password manager that continues offering to save a password regardless. Any way to eliminate it–like remove it?
@ VioletMoon,
Re: your ‘current annoyance’, open prefs and go to “Privacy and Security” –> “Logins and Passwords” and remove the checkmark from “Ask to save logins and passwords for websites”.
@TelV–Yes, that’s the problem; I use a third-party password manager which checks the box mentioned and leaves it ghosted, so I can’t uncheck it. That means Firefox reads my preferences as me wanting their password manager front and center.
The issue I mentioned, however, deals with Firefox showing the “Do You Want to Save” box on sites; even if I click “Never Save,” the silly box appears the next time I visit the same site. That’s the annoyance.
Thanks . . . other ideas [without breaking my third party manager]?
“A third party” manager that changes settings in another program against your wishes?
Your problem seems obvious.
All Windows Backup tools, from Win 7 onward, and System Restore points, as well, give a false sens of security. If something major goes wrong in the Registry, or an issue prevents booting even to Safe mode, those features are useless.
There are many free and commercial apps to make a full disk image, and to verify that image; it would have been simple for MS to include such a tool ion Windows. Volume Shadow Copy even allows backup of a mounted drive! It seems a glaring omission.
This is why I’m still using Windows 7 Pro
exactly!! and never a glitch or freeze or problem….ii come here to laugh. win7pro
Microsoft customers: Hey Microsoft, can you include PowerShell 7 in Windows by default, instead of PowerShell 5.1?
Microsoft: Sorry, it’s too difficult getting it approved as an inbox app.
Also Microsoft: Hey, we’ve included a crappy backup tool that no one wants as an inbox app.
In reponse to “https://www.ghacks.net/2023/10/03/microsoft-tricks-users-blocks-removal-of-the-windows-backup-app/”…
I removed it and no it was not “trivial”. But, it is possible.
I won’t use Windows Backup because that would mean I would have to login witth a Microsoft account in order to use OneDrive and I don’t want to do that!
P.S. The post above this one – also from me – was posted to a different subject on ghacks, but seems to have been carried over to this one as well for some unknown reason.
Ads, ads and more ads. Why am I not surprised.
I was intending to wipe Windows 11 off the machine I bought in November last year for that very reason, but it looks like that’s not a good idea anymore the reason being that in the Netherlands it’s mandatory to use a proprietary OS for online banking. Because all Linux distros are free software they don’t fall into that category.
I’m wondering if I can create a dual boot instead. But as I understand it Windows 11 Bitlocker forces Secure Boot to be enabled or it won’t boot and that causes problems with Linux distros.
Has anyone been successful configuring a dual boot with Linux on a Windows 11 Pro machine?
@TelV
I can do my banking (ABN bank) just fine here in the Netherlands with Linux Mint and a dedicated Firefox profile.
Shouldn’t have bought a brand new machine, especially one that comes with Windows 11 and TPM, these aren’t user friendly things. You are smart enough to be a ghacks reader and yet still act like a sheep when it comes to parting with your money
You can find any older laptop or desktop, and then put any Windows you want on it, if you need a proprietary windows you can easily go with 7,8,10 and tidy it up enough to your liking. Buy a used ex-office dell optiplex for £50 and it will serve your needs for years to come, you can use any number of registry tools to extract your full license key from your current installation, in MS eyes, Windows Home is windows home, should work on W10 even if it’s an 11 key, and even if not, keys are not expensive – hell, I can give you a valid one, we have decomissioned many desktops and scrapped them, and I kept the keys.
Using w11 = ignorance/stupidity tax, because you must have lots of one or the other to use Windows 11.
Huh? I cant find any info that says that Linux is not accepted in the Netherlands. Can you supply a link w.r.t. to your claim?
I find info that the browser must be updated to the last version.
Yet another reason I’m glad I migrated to a Mac.
I’d switch to Mac too if it weren’t for the fact that Macs are non-upgrade-able, save for some older models and the $7K Mac Pro.
Ghacks comments section is powered by Windows 11.
Paint is now bloated. Now you need a ms account to use its features. RIP!
I think that this site it’s hacked in some way due the abnormal issue of the old comments.
Copilot lmao. Wait till everyone figures out its just a crappy web wrapper attached to the side of your screen that steals all your information.
131 old comments to just post something. Incredible.
Change the comments pleade, do use other method or something, you are just destroying this site!
no one copilot for me ;(
what a mess these old comments, fix it please!!!
the KB5030211 update that installs that Windows Backup App even installs onto recent Windows 10 enterprise LTSC version as well:
https://www.neowin.net/news/kb5030211-was-almost-flawless-until-microsoft-force-installed-windows-backup-app-on-ltsc/
“The Patch Tuesday update, which is the monthly Windows security update, is known to often arrive with some issues or bugs. However, the latest one for September, KB5030211, had no known issues, and very few reported issues online or on the Feedback hub. Microsoft though has managed to ruin it as it has seemingly begun pushing the new Windows Backup app on Windows 10 Pro 22H2 and LTSC systems without the option to easily uninstall it.”
another blunder by Microsoft
I have avoided upgrading to Win 11 still, as there is nothing there that interests me.
IF it had, then I might:
– better focus control/ stealing management
– Windows Explorer could pin the “quick access” section to the top of the file explorer window when you open it, especially from another software that defaults to the last folder – that would be super helpful.
– less bloatware (as discussed here)
All the app is to backup to OneDrive which requires a Microsoft Account.
Not all organizations may use OneDrive
Microsoft should not force it on everyone
Windows’ Paint App is getting layer and transparency support
———-
They’ve made the paint app almost unrecognisable, transparency in paint is pretty insane, but I see no reason why Windows can’t have this feature in one of it’s built-in apps. I am just not sure it should be paint which gets this,
What I don’t understand is why they pick and choose which old programs to modify and “modernise” and which ones to replace entirely with ground-up new programs. The whole process is so inconsistent.
“While Paint is still far away from becoming a replacement for powerful image editors such as Paint.Net, GIMP or Adobe Photoshop” it seems very silly to try and make paint into something it is not, and never has been. It’s also funny putting programs like gimp alongside photoshop as if they’re anywhere near in the same class.
“the default web browser in Google Chrome to Microsoft Bing”
the default search engine
“The consensus on Virustotal, a Google-owned service, seems to be that BGAUpsell.EXE fills all criteria for potentially unwanted programs: it was not installed by the user, was not run by the user manually, and suggests to make changes to a core feature of a program it is not related to.”
Of course Google does even more malicious stuff but Virustotal will never flag Google’s software as such. Same for Microsoft’s malicious behavior that doesn’t hurt Google (and often imitates them in fact), they can show solidarity when it’s against the users.
In fact, all antivirus companies both tolerate corporate malware (and a fortiori “unwanted software”), and for most of them, actually include their own within their “antivirus” products. I don’t think that Virustotal being Google owned make a difference considering that it’s just using third-party antivirus. Except insofar as they would rain death and devastation on any antivirus company that would dare to flag the average Google spyware as malicious or even unwanted, and being removed from the Virustotal provider list would be the least of their worries.
What to expect from 23H2? More bloated garbage no one asked for.
@ Anonymous,
Yes, my sentiments exactly.
@ Martin,
Can this Co-pilot crap be disabled Martin?
Maybe the AI can be trained to kill off the Captain as well as the Co-pilot so that the whole load tower of crap comes crashing down. That would be fun.
I’ve only just updated to 22H2 and now that’s going to become a legacy installation and we’ll all be forced to upgrade to 23H2 under threat of not receiving security updates anymore no doubt.
I was planning to wipe Win11 off my machine completely and install Linux Mint, but yesterday I came across information that Mint doesn’t support the Wayland protocol which means apps can copy, log and inject data without user consent.
The world is falling apart I swear…
Windows 11’s Snipping Tool is getting a text recognition feature called Text Actions
Incredible!! It can take text that you could have copied by double clicking, and put it through OCR, and back into text! Using AI™ too! Because there is no better way to do that!
There is one micro-niche use for this, which is sites that block text selection/copying. But the fact that it uses AI and isn’t a local process is really embarrassing.
There’s a reason digital camera makers don’t try to cram photoshop into the camera, because the device you take the image with doesn’t need to be the same as the one you use for touch-up. Snipping tool doesn’t need to have this….
Because everything works better with AI!
Better for marketing.
The latest Windows 11 build is all about File Explorer (including performance):
When it comes to performance, I use Windows 7. Windows 11 is a disaster that should be discarded and rebuilt with Windows 7 as the foundation operating system.
Agreed!
The vision has strayed too much, and the visionaries and creatives who worked on that OS as well as Vista and 8 are long gone – no chance of a course correction now :(
“Now You: do you use File Explorer?”
Real question??
The best thing you can do to file explorer in Win10 is get the special registry fix to remove the ribbon, restoring it to the Windows 8 view.
That’s rich. Users looking for help to fix an issue and will be bombarded with f*cking ads instead.
I’ve had surprisingly good results running a few of their troubleshooters. Great results fixing “apps” that somehow for some reason stop working.
@martin
The answer to everything on you site lately is:
Some years ago I had a severe problem with Windows Update that didn’t allow me to update for almost six months, yes, a half of a year stuck in a massive update fiasco. After having done everything in my hands to solve it, and after go to every kind of computer shops, even having call by phone to MS help services with no success at all, I found somewhere this batch *.bat file that solved my W10 update problem in less than one minute (I hope that it will help someone someday, it’s a must have batch file; I think it’s available in some web sites also):
rem * EXECUTE AS ADMIN *
net stop bits
net stop wuauserv
net stop cryptsvc
net stop msiserver
rd /q /s %windir%\softwaredistribution.old
rd /q /s %windir%\system32\catroot2.old
ren %windir%\system32\catroot2 catroot2.old
ren %windir%\softwaredistribution softwaredistribution.old
del “%allusersprofile%\application data\microsoft\network\downloader\qmgr*.dat”
sc.exe sdset bits D:(A;CI;CCDCLCSWRPWPDTLOCRSDRCWDWO;;;SY)(A;;CCDCLCSWRPWPDTLOCRSDRCWDWO;;;BA)(A;;CCLCSWLOCRRC;;;IU)(A;;CCLCSWLOCRRC;;;SU)
sc.exe sdset wuauserv D:(A;;CCLCSWRPLORC;;;AU (A;;CCDCLCSWRPWPDTLOCRSDRCWDWO;;;BA)(A;;CCDCLCSWRPWPDTLOCRSDRCWDWO;;;SY)
cd /d %windir%\system32
regsvr32.exe /s atl.dll
regsvr32.exe /s urlmon.dll
regsvr32.exe /s mshtml.dll
regsvr32.exe /s jscript.dll
regsvr32.exe /s vbscript.dll
regsvr32.exe /s scrrun.dll
regsvr32.exe /s msxml3.dll
regsvr32.exe /s msxml6.dll
regsvr32.exe /s actxprxy.dll
regsvr32.exe /s softpub.dll
regsvr32.exe /s wintrust.dll
regsvr32.exe /s dssenh.dll
regsvr32.exe /s rsaenh.dll
regsvr32.exe /s cryptdlg.dll
regsvr32.exe /s oleaut32.dll
regsvr32.exe /s ole32.dll
regsvr32.exe /s shell32.dll
regsvr32.exe /s wuapi.dll
regsvr32.exe /s wups.dll
regsvr32.exe /s wups2.dll
netsh winsock reset
net start bits
net start wuauserv
net start cryptsvc
net start msiserver
rem * RESTART PC *
pause
This is typical of Microsoft these days. To add functionalitly to a printer users will have to login to the Microsoft store to obtain them. Since you can’t login to the store without a Microsoft a/c it’s another sneaky way to force users to use one or go without the added functionality.
I’m glad I never upgraded my Windows 8.1 machine since it still allows me a certain amount of freedom to do things my way.
Don’t understand why one would go to the MS Store for a printer driver; the latest drivers for any printer are typically on the manufacturer’s site–Brother, Canon, Epson, etc. A user can also find complete “packages” for the printer in use that include features galore.
@VioletMoon “features galore” is really not that great, just getting the driver file without it being packaged in some BS installer is getting harder on manufacturer sites.
@VioletMoon,
> Don’t understand why one would go to the MS Store for a printer driver;
I understood that @TelV maked exquisitely “sarcastic”.
I’m so tired of feature updates. Just leave me alone like how it was in Windows 7.
And here we go with another week of issues with the comments, oh come on! :
Comment on article title:
> Microsoft is removing WordPad from Windows – Martin Brinkmann (Sep 2, 2023)
https://www.ghacks.net/2023/09/02/microsoft-is-removing-wordpad-from-windows/
> Windows 11’s Notepad is getting an auto save feature – Ashwin (Sep 1, 2023)
https://www.ghacks.net/2023/09/01/windows-11s-notepad-is-getting-an-auto-save-feature/
In principle, I always use plain text, which is lightweight and has excellent security, so I always use “Notepad++” (I never use MS Notepad or Wordpad). However, it also uses “LibreOffice” as it may require word processor software (Even in that case, I create sentences with Notepad++ and process and finish with LibreOffice Writer).
In the past, I used to regular use MS-Office Professional, but after the EOL of version 2004, I switched to an open source software product. At first, I felt a little uncomfortable with it, but now I don’t feel the need for MS-Office at all.
Since its founding, Microsoft’s business strategy has been to monopolize the market (obliterate out rivals) through “Vendor lock-in” (proprietary software), and has consistently eliminated the existence of rivals through M&A (Mergers and Acquisitions).
Microsoft’s products (including Microsoft Apps) should be avoided as much as possible in order to prevent a monopoly that damages a healthy market.
Operating systems aside, Apps has a lot of great products and concepts ?FLOSS: Libre and Open Source Software) from third parties to mention.
We should support such third party products and developers.
As an aside,
notepad-plus-plus/notepad-plus-plus: Notepad++ official repository
https://github.com/notepad-plus-plus/notepad-plus-plus
Notepad++
https://notepad-plus-plus.org/
Help documentation on LibreOffice:
https://documentation.libreoffice.org/en/english-documentation/
Then who knows if wordpad will be truly gone or there will be a placeholder for write.exe and what will that do ? Attempt to start MS Word ?
Comments are weird misplaced in mostly all the articles and some of them are repeated! :[
I only used it when I needed to keep rich text formatting. No longer needed as I use LibreOffice.
I AM PRACTICALLY BLIND SO I TYPE IN UPPER CASE.
I USED TO USE WINDOWS OFFICE 2007 AS ALL I NEEDED AIS A SIMPLE NO-RILLS WORD PROCESSOR WITH BOLD, UNDERSLINE, TEXT SIZE, AND FONTS. BUT MICROSOFT DISABLED MUY PAID VERSION OF THIS SOFTWARE. I TRIED LIBRE BUT FOUND IT TOO COMPLICATED AND TOO MANY OPTIONS. CAN ANYONE RECOMMEND A SIMPLE WORD PROCESSOR SUCH HAS WORD 2007? MANY THANKS IN ADVANCE.
PATRICK
@ PANAMA PATRICK. WHAT JOHN G SAYS. GO TO THE HOMEPAGE OF SOFTMAKER.COM, TAB DOWNLOAD AND THEN OLD VERSIONS AND DOWNLOAD SOFTMAKER OFFICE 2021 FOR WINDOWS. THIS IS THE LAST FREE VERSION WITH TEXTMAKER INCLUDED. FULLY COMPATIBLE WITH WORD AND STILL GETS UPDATES ON MY COMPUTER. IT IS NOT OVERLY COMPLICATED.
@Panama patrikck,
FREEOFFICE OF SOFTMAKER IS PROPRIETARY SOFTWARE. THE FREE VERSION HAS LIMITED FUNCTIONALITY AND IS STAGNANT TO UPDATE. IN MY PERSONAL OPINION IT IS ONE OF THE “PRODUCTS TO AVOID”.
https://www.ghacks.net/windows-11-update-stuck-fixed-for-good/#comment-4573107
IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR AN ALTERNATIVE TO LIBREOFFICE, WHY NOT TRY “CRYPTPAD”?
GitHub – cryptpad/cryptpad at itsfoss.com
https://github.com/cryptpad/cryptpad?ref=itsfoss.com
Home page – CryptPad.fr
https://cryptpad.fr/
AS AN ASIDE,
HELP DOCUMENTATION ON LIBREOFFICE:
https://documentation.libreoffice.org/en/english-documentation/
BEST OPTION FOR YOU IS FREEOFFICE TEXTMAKER, STANDALONE FREE VERSION.
Once again, the comment system is seriously fucked up at Ghacks, and no one seems to care. We get old comments which are completely unrelated to the article.
Is Microsoft more or less fucked up than Ghacks ? That’s open to debate. Nixing Wordpad is an extremely stupid decision. I use it all the time. Forcing people to use Word just to open an rtf file, or write a short text with no frills, is ridiculous. Word is mostly a paid program now, and not a cheap one.
What is it with Microsoft constantly taking away things we need, and adding things we don’t want and do not use ? Is their mission statement now to annoy the hell out of users ?
Removing a free built-in rich text editor even a limited one like wordpad is just an attempt at a money grab to sell word / office. Libre office is what I will continue to use and recommend to everyone
I wonder if they’ll remove the core RichTextEdit component that is part of WordPad and can be used by other programs to create a .RTF editor, like Jarta.
Does the type of tomatoes affect the flavor of the sauce. Like the small green ones or the regular sized red ones. We need Open Sauce recipes.
I doubt it as many 3rd party apps still use richedit. I think it will be as easy as simply copying and running write.exe from last version of windows that had wordpad.
Still its a very bad move as avergage joe will fork out subcription $ for ms 365 just to open their RTF docs. Then its likely office will nag to convert them to .docx format.. sigh.
This will be off-topic,
Since ghacks.net was acquired by Softonic International S.A., it’s overflowing with clickbaited articles by vulgar authors (bloggers and advertising agencies authorized by Softonic International S.A.).
Therefore useful articles (by Martin Brinkmann, Mike Turcotte, Ashwin) are buried, which is extremely annoying.
I was so irritated by all the shameless articles that I couldn’t stand them anymore, so I took measures to prevent them from being displayed.
Added line to My filters in uBlock Origin:
ghacks.net##.hentry,.home-posts,.home-category-post:not(:has-text(/Martin Brinkmann|Mike Turcotte|Ashwin/))
Thank you Owl.
@Mike Turcotte has no recent articles for a very long time! :S
So, get yourself a decent RSS reader that has a filter.
I was using QuiteRSS to read ghacks but switched to RSS Guard after reading an article on ghacks.
Filters are not as simple at QuiteRSS but are not impossible for someone with low/moderate programming skills.
Some instructions: https://github.com/martinrotter/rssguard/blob/4.4.0/resources/docs/Documentation.md#fltr
My full filter for ghacks (purges everything except articles by Martin or Ashwin):
function filterMessage() { return MessageObject.Accept; }
var whitelist = [
‘Martin’, ‘Ashwin’
];
function filterMessage() {
if (whitelist.some(i => msg.author.indexOf(i) != -1)) {
return MessageObject.Accept;
} else {
return MessageObject.Purge;
}
}
@ Anonymous,
Much simpler just to Ctrl + F, type: “Martin” or “Ashwin” (without quotes) and then hit down arrow key.
But I guess some peeps like a complicated lifestyle (no offence intended). ;)
It’s refreshing and comfortable to only see articles by specific authors (by Martin Brinkmann, Mike Turcotte, and Ashwin) instead of being buried among low-quality articles by eliminating obtrusive articles.
Wow, welcome to 1999 Microsoft.
Windows 11 is horrible. Can we have Windows 7 back please?
@Aswhin–Your reasoning at the end of the article makes little sense.
“The popular text editor is getting an option to auto save documents.”
“The auto save feature is an optional one, meaning you can disable it from the app’s settings.”
“It’s a silly little thing, but I suppose when Notepad’s auto save feature arrives, I’ll have to use WordPad or a different text editor for this.”
Why would a user change his/her preferred method for working around a perceived issue when a new option, one that is entirely optional, decide to change the routine? Why not disable auto-save in Notepad and continue with the method? It sounds novel.
As for “unscheduled restarts,” after updates, most users are well-aware of the different methods for preventing such restarts. Pausing works for me; Quite Hours is another; Group Policy has a rule to enable: “No auto-restart with logged on users for scheduled automatic updates installations.”
Wondering what simplistic “optional feature” MS must offer that will make users abandon the OS altogether.
I think that private users shall have the legal possibility to aquire the Enterprise Version of the OS say while buying new HW or even later via IT shops. Since they are private users Microsoft shall also give away this legal upgrade for a few dollars more.
With the Enterprise Version and i bit of OS understanding/knowledge you can almost completely disable all the MS fun real IT pros do not want.
The current problems with comments is becoming ridiculous and very annoying. Thanks @Ashwin for the article, however commenting is starting to be almost a joke here. Please hire someone to fix this problem, it’s destroying the quality of the site. Thanks in advance! :]
Article name: In Windows 11, the line between the legitimate and adware becomes increasingly blurred
https://www.ghacks.net/2023/08/31/in-windows-11-the-line-between-legitimate-and-adware-becomes-increasingly-blurred/
Reading the “Comments” posted by subscribers,
I realize that (probably) many end users are interested in the functionality of application software, but they are ignorant and uninterested in the “business strategy of the vendor (company)” that develops and provides it.
Microsoft is a platform company that represents the capitalist society “America.”
In a capitalist society,
the “essence of a stock company” is the enterprise value (EV), and it is destined to thoroughly reduce the elements that impair the EV.
In short, Microsoft does not invest management capital in things that are not profitable or involve costs.
Actual power in a stock company is not held by the CEO (CEOs exist to hold accountable), but is held by the major shareholders.
Satya Nadella is not the culprit, but nothing more than the management principle of Microsoft as a platformer (Microsoft is focusing on proprietary software in order to monopolize the market with the method of “Vendor lock-in”).
No matter who becomes CEO, there management principles remain the same.
Democratic and user-friendly products cannot be created by commercial companies.
In short, the End-users are just being fooled by the technology and the plans are from a world of fantasy.
The essence of the problem is that the market will be dominated by such platformer (others will disappear), and this must be stopped (supporting alternatives such as Linux).
Incidentally, in a capitalist society, there is no end to “desire.”
No matter how much money you make, the investment psychology of wanting to make more money just heats up,
reducing employment (shifting to AI),
In the competition of how to get consumers to buy the product, “incorporate new functions, shorten the product cycle, and stimulate the desire to purchase”.
If platformer monopolize the market, we will be content with a relationship that is oppressed by an absolute ruler.
By the way,
the platform companies that dominate the market are “GAFMA: Google, Apple, Face book (Meta), Microsoft, and Amazon.”
Vendor lock-in – Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vendor_lock-in
For over two weeks now,
I’ve been seeing “Comments” posted by subscribers appearing in different, unrelated articles.
https://www.ghacks.net/windows-11-update-stuck-fixed-for-good/#comment-4572991
https://www.ghacks.net/windows-11-update-stuck-fixed-for-good/#comment-4572951
For the time being,
it would be better to specify the article name and URL at the beginning of the post.
I thought it was pretty black and white. If Microsoft, Google or Apple developed it, then it is malware. If it’s on any of the stores, it’s probably malware, as some legitimate software may sneak through unintentionally.
It’s been this way probably since Windows 8.
Have to agree with the sentiments expressed by others here.
Any and every time gHacks posts an article like this, I try to replicate the behavior on my computer. In this case, I searched for the offending .exe file [BGAUpsell.EXE] that doesn’t exist on my setup–maybe because temp files are regularly deleted. I use Google Chrome for a two hour session; I change the default search provider; I TRY to have MS “shove” some adware on my computer. Makes no difference; it doesn’t happen.
How so? One, have I installed software of some sort that stops the behavior; two, did I maybe make some easily found registry change or system setting change; three, perhaps it’s as simple as not using a MS account.
“The Verge” had more interesting comments: “Microsoft has even forced people into Edge after a Windows Update, and regularly presents a full-screen message to switch to Bing and Edge after updates.” Again, never happens to me, but I don’t use the Update Feature in Windows 11. I prefer WAU.
And . . .
“Microsoft has been using a variety of prompts for years now, with pop-ups appearing inside Chrome, on the Windows taskbar, and elsewhere.”
“For years now . . . ” Really? Years? All these years, and I have yet to see an advertisement by MS to use a MS product.
Something is super amiss for an elite group of users–probably really knowledgeable folks; with hope, the afflicted users will start looking and find a way to block/prohibit/avoid advertising behaviors they deem unacceptable.
Here, no issues.
In Windows 11, the line between the legitimate and adware becomes increasingly blurred:
This has been the case since Windows 10, and it has gotten worse with Windows 11. Except for the EU, what else is being done? Nothing!! Satya Nadella ruined Microsoft’s image. Microsoft software is now considered to be bloated web-based malware, junk, and spyware. Before I use another Microsoft product, I look for alternatives.
‘…Microsoft informed The Verge that it has paused the campaign to address unintended behavior”‘
Sure. Strange how Microsoft programmers keep “accidently” writing code that does unscrupulous things, getting it through the sign-off process and installed on end-user machines.
Until not long ago, I used to be all in on Microsoft, but in the last five years they’ve turned into a bunch of untrustworthy, unprofessional scumbags. Now I try to actively avoid anything from Microsoft, as this is how they treat their users now. Microsoft under Satya’s leadership sucks.
I am aware of the weird current issue with the comments, any explanation about that? :[
@John G. ,
> I am aware of the weird current issue with the comments, any explanation about that? :[
“Comments” are nothing more than a “bulletin board” for posting matters related to articles, so it would be useless to post “opinions about system troubles on ghacks.net” there.
In the olden days,
ghacks.net was “owned by Martin Brinkmann,”
but a few years ago,
Martin Brinkmann “sold it to SOFTONIC INTERNATIONAL S.A.”. so Martin has no authority over it.
Right now Martin (and Ashwin) are just contributors of articles to ghacks.net. So even if you appeal to Martin, he will be helpless.
And so are the other authors,
none of whom can deal with ghacks.net system troubles.
It is only possible for the current operator “Softonic”, so the best way is to contact Softonic directly.
FAQs – Softonic Corporate
https://hello.softonic.com/faqs/
Pc
And, most importantly, it’s useless to ask or expect “Softonic” to do what Martin did.
Each has their own intentions and positions.
Softonic acquired the internationally popular “ghacks.net” because it will contributes to Softonic’s revenue (Clickbait effect), and is naturally uninterested in Comments. So most likely “Softonic doesn’t look at articles and comments”.
It’s not that Softonic is an anomaly,
That is the reality of the “Capitalist society of desire”.
Concerning the confusion about “Associating Articles with Comments”
https://www.ghacks.net/windows-11-update-stuck-fixed-for-good/#comment-4572951
In my personal opinion,
From a perverse point of view, I feel that it is “Clickbait using a derivative method of Yellow journalism”.
Clickbait – Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clickbait
Yellow journalism – Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yellow_journalism
In other words,
in response to the current situation where the only articles subscribed to on ghacks.net are articles by Martin and Ashwin, and articles by other authors (teaser ad or advertising) are not being looked at,
Softonic is trying to “Purpose of guiding people to share or click other articles”.
Instead, I would like to believe that it is an unintended system problem, but Two weeks have passed and the current situation has not been rectified at all, so doubts are only growing.
The first time I saw this issue occur was the “all comments on Avast article were deleted” case.
So at that time, I felt that it was “intentional deliberate”.
In the first place, Softonic’s acquisition (M&A) was probably because they wanted to take control of “ghacks.net”, where candid and bitter comments are posted.
Perhaps Softonic received a large amount of funding from “Big Tech” and wanted to get rid of the presence (Martin’s ghacks.net) that was getting in the way of the “advertising business” centered on Big Tech.
As proof of that, I feel that Softonic-approved authors are mass production of inferior advertising articles related to Google, Microsoft, Meta, Twitter(X), Avast, and more.
Well, it seems that it was promised in the purchase agreement that Martin and Ashwin’s articles would be published, Comments on articles are still published, although there are anomalies in their association (however in Avast articles, etc., they are completely deleted and do not exist anywhere).
but I’m skeptical about future trends. (e.g. automatic deletion of comments after a certain period of time, etc.)
That said, Martin and Ashwin’s articles are invaluable, and Comments are invaluable as well. I can’t find a similar place or opportunity elsewhere, and I’m just happy that a place like this exists.
Although Martin and Ashwin are facing adversity, I hope that they will continue to publish articles based on their belief, relying on their existence of subscribers.
Subscribers had better archive their comments etc in case they get deleted.
Anything that pops up uncommanded like this is spam, no matter how many weasel words are used in the EULA. All MS is doing at this point is driving folks to other platforms, which is a good thing. This kind of “stuff” over the years is what has me using Linux Mint. Thank you, Billy Goats.
Posted on August 31, 2023 at 0810, Eastern Daylight Time from Mint Cinnamon, 20.3.
So does @basicuser’s comment,
In Windows 11, the line between legitimate and adware becomes increasingly blurred
https://www.ghacks.net/2023/08/31/in-windows-11-the-line-between-legitimate-and-adware-becomes-increasingly-blurred/
My only Windows PC I use still has Windows 10 on it. Otherwise I am using Apple Mac’s for most of my work these days. I was actually a fan of Edge browser at first but then Microsoft started throwing more and more features at it hoping to get more users. I think pretty much any PC user knows they could use Edge if they wanted to. If they have Chrome installed I think the user has already decided Edge isn’t their browser.
@John’s comment is for the article below:
In Windows 11, the line between legitimate and adware becomes increasingly blurred
https://www.ghacks.net/2023/08/31/in-windows-11-the-line-between-legitimate-and-adware-becomes-increasingly-blurred/
@Martin Brinkman
Why is it that we(at least me) see so many articles having 0 comments, but while opening up the article and scrolling down there are comments, like this one.
I noticed elsewhere other readers commented on comments from a totally different article being linked to wrong article, which I also have seen, but the “0 comments” is new for me, what’s going on?
@Anonymous,
These issues has been occurring frequently in many other articles, and lasting more than 2 weeks.
https://www.ghacks.net/windows-11-update-stuck-fixed-for-good/#comment-4572951
At the result of this case, it became clear that
“All rights to ghacks.net belong to SOFTONIC INTERNATIONAL S.A.” (in short, @Martin does not have administrator privileges).
Martin Brinkmann replied that “the parties involved (Softonic) are aware of this issue and are working to resolve it….
There is nothing more Martin Brinkmann can say then.
After that, it seems to be up to Softonic.
Unfortunately,
both @Martin and @Ashwin are “just contributors (of an article)” and are different from the Ghacks of old.
By the way, other authors appear to be bloggers and advertisers certified by SOFTONIC INTERNATIONAL S.A.
FAQs – Softonic Corporate
https://hello.softonic.com/faqs/
Hopefully someone can figure out how to give “In the European Economic Area (EEA)” to everyone outside of EU.
Comments are broken. :/
This user is in North America, and all links go to the default browser (Firefox). It is a matter of setting things up on Windows 11 properly.
Microsoft are lobbying in the US so nobody there would really raise a stink like that. If someone raises their voice and makes a similar suggestion to the EU they’re just going to pull their funding until they kick the person who was talking random shit about market monopolies.
Luckily it only affects to Intel CPUs. Something good for the AMD ones! :]
PS: comments are still randomly located or misplaced.
In response to “https://www.ghacks.net/2023/08/28/microsoft-publishes-mitigation-instructions-for-downfall-vulnerability-in-windows/”…
Here’s the list of affected intel CPU,
https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/developer/topic-technology/software-security-guidance/processors-affected-consolidated-product-cpu-model.html
Well, this is interesting. Acer has a utility to display the SNID and serial number of my laptop. After entering the relevant SNID and S/N on the Acer support site the result in both cases for “not found”.
I recall coming across this same problem once before when trying to update the BIOS. On that occasion, I phoned Acer and gave them the appropriate info, but they told me that my machine doesn’t exist even though their own software clearly provides details that it does (I’m using it right now in fact).
The shop I bought it from went out of business about six months after I bought it so no joy to be had there. Any suggestions anybody?
Digging a little deeper, the Acer community site is littered with questions in the same category as my own which just get ignored by the looks of it. Here’s an example: https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/27659/acer-website-doesnt-recognise-the-snid-or-serial-number-of-my-aspire-5733-series-laptop
So there doesn’t look to be much I can do about it other than to try the legal path perhaps.
Re: “Microsoft publishes mitigation instructions for Downfall vulnerability in Windows” posted on 2023 08 28 by Martin Brinkmann
Thanks for the article @Martin . Let’s hope that it gets and stays attached to this article and doesn’t disappear like my most recent one. It probably got reattached to a different article is my guess from the comments of the DB corruption.
Hope things can get fixed soon.
“Windows 11’s new Settings homepage is half promotion half pointless.”
Maybe Martin (et al.) has a “perceptual handicap.” First, any other site I visited with an article on the change (five and counting) praised the efforts of MS to make the Settings Home more meaningful/useful for the majority of users; second, I didn’t find the tiles that annoying–all the information is available on the current 22H2 version, albeit smaller, so I’m not sure what MS gained from the change; third, by using the Control Panel (yes, one can still place an icon on the Desktop and open the legacy Control Panel), I go directly to whatever. Not an issue!
Male menopause and dry menstruation are real phenomena for men, although they will refuse to admit it, even to their own female doctors–if they’re lucky enough to have a female doctor.
Another meaningless update instead of adding and correcting what truly important. I hope all of these morons at Microsoft get fired soon.
They won’t be fired. They all work for Apple. LOL.
In response to “https://www.ghacks.net/2023/08/25/windows-11s-new-settings-homepage-is-half-promotion-half-pointless/”
“We estimate we can sell up to 80% of an individual’s visual field before inducing seizures.”
Nolan Serrentos – Ready Player One
I just switched away from Windows altogether now using mostly Mac’s and one desktop with Ubuntu. Windows 10 was at the very least a step away from the god awful Windows 8 but Windows 11 is a release looking for a reason to exist other than promoting more Microsoft products.
Same thought here, W10 is still the best OS ever made by Microsoft. W11 is useless is you want to do hard work on it. If you only need to read emails and browse a lot you can even use ChromeOS that’s better by the way than any Windows. My sister bought one month ago a ChromeBook and she told me that now is unable to deal again with Windows, she is amazingly happy doing all their tasks and homework with zero problems at all. Absolutely zero problems. Nonsense W11.
Comments are completely broken on this site. Please fix this issue ASAP.
Looks like no one is interested in fixing the massive comments issue. Remember the good old days when Martin took such good care of the site?
Nothing good lasts forever. It was a good run, what other sites do you guys go to in order to keep current?
@John G.
I have noticed this comment problem for several days. It appears on all the articles I’ve read. Many or all comments seem to be completely unrelated to the articles.
It seems the comments database index is corrupted or some coding for what is displayed is buggy.
I’ve commented on another such ‘corrupted’ comments section today. I thought it might be something with my browser but it’s the same on Firefox, Brave and LibreWolf.
@Steve S., I agree, I hope that someone will fix this problem as soon as possible. :]
Something is broken with the articles and the comments, and also with the dates of them.
It’s revolutionary and bold and is a gateway to Microsoft’s increasing array of useful services.
windo$ is pointless, i give up. moved to linux, newfound joy.
You should be able to uninstall any application that you don’t use or want installed.
I have yet to use Windows stock app… nope can’t do it.
Just install CCleaner (for a while only, please don’t cry). After installed, seek the uninstalling feature of this software, and then you can uninstall mostly all the Windows crap you want to destroy forever. After that, you are able to uninstall CCleaner as well using the classic method. However I can sure you all that after a couple of weeks of intense use you won’t live without CCleaner (it has the most secure and stable driver updating tool of the market, and I has tested mostly all). :S
> Just install CCleaner
> you won’t live without CCleaner
“CCleaner” is an app that you should absolutely avoid.
It “spies on user data, sends it to remote servers, and sells it to third parties” since it was acquired by Avast.
Experienced users know that “Avast” related products are the worst spy apps (malware).
Above all, users must understand that the product is capable of scanning everything in your system and sending the data out under the guise of inspection.
A recommended alternative is BleachBit, a popular open source project developed and supported, but I prefer PrivaZer.
The PrivaZer program uses Microsoft’s “cleanmgr”. I’ve been using it for years and have never had a problem and it performs as expected.
However, both programs take a few hours, but considering reliability and safety, there are no other candidates.
For the uninstall function, we recommend the open source program “BCUninstaller”.
“WingetUI” is a good choice for app update management.
Anyway, “CCleaner” should be avoided.
owl, what do you mean “both programs take a few hours?”
@vanp,
> what do you mean “both programs take a few hours?”
The amount of time it takes to complete all cleanup tasks that can be performed using PrivaZer or BleachBit, depending on the user’s system environment and cleanup tasks (minutes to hours).
The example at PrivaZer,
The cleanup task is run by clicking “Scan in-depth”, but the time it takes to complete all of its various Categories.
Categories include:
#Pre-analysis
#Traces in MFT
#Traces in free space
#Traces in USN Journal
#Traces in $LogFile
#Internet browsing
#Cookies, Super/Evercookies
#Index.dat & WebCache
#Messengers
#Windows history
#Registry
#Indexing
#Memory
#Start, JumpLists, Quick Access
#System
#Copy, burning
#Downloaders
#Video, music software
#Photo, web software
#Other software
On my system (1.00 TB HDD, 249.03 GB free) it took about 3 hours at maximum in BOOST mode.
Cleanup tasks can be selected according to user needs (Scan specific traces, Delete without a trace, etc.).
I’m not using BleachBit right now, but it takes about 2 hours to clean up all the tasks available.
Privazer is very advanced and has a variety of functions, so first-time users should “be sure to learn the overview in the Video tutorials and deepen their understanding in the User’s Guide” before starting to use it.
Video tutorials
https://privazer.com/en/support.php#videotutorial
User’s Guide
https://privazer.com/en/support.php#videotutorial
Release notes
https://privazer.com/en/changelog.php
owl, thanks for your detailed response.
PrivaZer – MajorGeeks
https://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/privazer.html
Quoted from that article:
When you run PrivaZer the first time, you should take five minutes to do the step-by-step setup to decide what you want to be deleted. The first run will also take longer than the next time. Registry backups are created automatically and stored in a subdirectory.
You can choose from Basic or Advanced users to assist you in getting the most from PrivaZer. There are 12 steps for Basic users and 14 steps for Advanced users.
Postscript, regarding cleanup task required time in Privazer:
Privazer’s cleanup task (which cleans everything up, and also runs defragmentation) takes a few hours the first time, but after that it takes less and less time. These days it’s done in about an hour.
However,
Such an extensive cleanup task (which cleans everything up, and also runs defragmentation) is usually unnecessary (at most, after applying a major Windows OS update, and others).
Routinely,
“Scan specific traces” or “Delete without a trace” will suffice. In that case, it will be completed in a few seconds to a few minutes.
Agree, about ccleaner, use Privazer instead.
@owl, I had a big issue with one HP driver installed over and over with Windows Update, disturbing my system because the driver was corrupt and the computer didn’t work nice at all. The only way to solve it was through Ccleaner’s driver updating tool, that was able to install a newer version of the broken driver that Microsoft was installing everytime I turn on the computer. That’s the main reason about my good words for CCleaner. :S
@John G.,
> I had a big issue with one HP driver installed over and over with Windows Update, disturbing my system because the driver was corrupt and the computer didn’t work nice at all.
That’s a “software regression”.
https://www.ghacks.net/windows-11-update-stuck-fixed-for-good/#comment-4572355
Many of the “function updates” of Windows OS are the addition of new functions, so there is a high risk of software regression.
It may be tempting to “try out the latest features”, but be prepared defect or having problems for bugs.
If you want to avoid software regressions, block “feature updates”.
It’s impossible to block them with Windows settings, so It is possible if you use a third-party “simplewall” or WPD or O&O ShutUp10++.
However, you should not block security updates and keep automatic updates enabled.
simplewall: Simple tool to configure Windows Filtering Platform (WFP) which can configure network activity on your computer.
https://github.com/henrypp/simplewall
WPD | Privacy dashboard for Windows
https://wpd.app/
O&O ShutUp10++ – Free antispy tool for Windows 10 and 11
https://www.oo-software.com/en/shutup10
Avast’s product line, including CCleaner, is difficult to uninstall. On the surface, it looks like the uninstallation is complete, but actually leaves traces (embedding tags and advertising IDs) somewhere.
Therefore, when uninstalling, it is recommended to use “BCUninstaller” (which can wipe out everything including the registry) instead of using the “uninstall” function of the app.
Bulk Crap Uninstaller – Remove large amounts of unwanted applications
https://www.bcuninstaller.com/
If WindowsOS becomes strange due to software regression, it can be easily repaired with “Tweaking Repair Tool/Portable”.
they need to stop the forced update that cause a big mess they did not pay for our pc’s we did our pc’s and our pc’s is not microsoft to do what they want and so far all the updates do is cause big time mess’s
The problem with that is many users fail to manually update then blame Microsoft instead of themselves when they fall for phishing links, visit porno sites, etc and malware takes hold. Windows forcibly updating ensures those less capable of taking care of themselves are better protected. In other words, Microsoft are caught between a rock and a hard place and take a decision that errs towards protecting the vulnerable. I would do the same despite personal dislike of the lack of update control.
@Anonymous,
I agree with the whole sentence.
User ignorance, indifference, and unintentional are the biggest risk factors.
Users could be given choice: either allow us to update your system automatically (in bold red letters + explanation why this is crucial) or it is your responsibility to take care of updates. Besides, Microsoft said updating was being implemented to prevent fragmentation. This obviously failed. In fact, lots if users have their Windows stuck at various versions of Windows 10 and 11. Each failed massive update makes the Win World more fragmented. Correct me if I’m wrong.
Funny text about Win 11 “it comes with a few bugs as well”.
Man, do you know what it means “few”?
Every update creates new problems unknown before, am I wrong?
To be honest, with such absurd you’ve made my day :D
Windows 11 is one of the best versions of Windows in a long time.
Shaun, I love your sense of humor.
Haha. Good joke from Shaun. Since Windows version 7, Microsoft hasn’t released a superior operating system. Windows 8, 8.1, 10, and 11 are all terrible. Microsoft is absolutely awful at creating software.
8.1 was much more decent and better than 8,10 and 11 combined. It’s was extremely fast and well optimized for older systems, through its still have the unfitting start screen however.
Stop windows update service
Delete Download Folder in C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution
run cmd Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
run cmd sfc /scannow
reboot
shill alarm
Wow! That’s objective reporting. Windows 11 is the BEST version in a long time? Really?
Tone Deaf Shaun! Tone Deaf!
No worries! John G. will be along to thank you for the article.
I can’t even tell if that’s actually from me, or someone posting under my name :o
What is a January 2023 comment doing on an August 2023 article?
@ Seeprime,
I was thinking the same thing, but I noticed that comments dated August 17, 18 and 19 also appear. Those guys must be psychic since the article wasn’t published until today, August 30.
Similarly, comments quote somebody called “Shaun”, but Shaun didn’t even post in this article.
Maybe it’s Martin using ChatGPT or something similar and the bot has gone haywire.
@TelV,
> Maybe it’s Martin using ChatGPT or something similar and the bot has gone haywire.
It seems not.
Cases where articles and comments are not related have already occurred in a large number of articles for more than 10 days. and in addition, there are even cases where all comments have disappeared in articles related to Avast products.
I pointed it out to Martin Brinkmann when I discovered it, and his response (Thanks for letting us know, we are on it and will hopefully have a fix asap.) was vague.
https://www.ghacks.net/2023/08/07/get-protected-the-right-way-with-avast-free-antivirus/#comment-4571774
https://www.ghacks.net/2023/08/16/brave-browser-1-57-released-with-forget-by-default-mode-and-security-fixes/#comment-4572237
https://www.ghacks.net/2019/09/27/how-to-import-tabs-from-chrome-to-firefox-and-vice-versa/#comment-4572472
On the other hand, when @Mystique contacted Martin Brinkmann directly by e-mail,
https://www.ghacks.net/2020/01/02/how-to-disable-autoplay-videos-in-telegram-desktop/#comment-4572607
Martin Brinkmann reply, “All rights to ghacks.net belong to SOFTONIC INTERNATIONAL S.A. (@Martin does not have administrator privileges), and the parties involved (Softonic) are aware of this issue and are working to address it”.
Unfortunately,
both @Martin and @Ashwin are “just contributors (of an article)” and are different from the Ghacks of old.
Other authors appear to be bloggers and advertisers certified by SOFTONIC INTERNATIONAL S.A.
FAQs – Softonic Corporate
https://hello.softonic.com/faqs/
Article Title: Microsoft is removing WordPad from Windows
Article URL: https://www.ghacks.net/2023/09/02/microsoft-is-removing-wordpad-from-windows/
The proper quote is “I’m not involved any longer in the technical
development and maintenance of the site.” He is definitely still writing articles both here and elsewhere. He might have more of an attachment to this website though as it was his baby but SOFTONIC pretty much owns it now and handles the webmaster side of things.
Someone is working on the database problem but Martin has no idea when it will be fixed.
Article Title: Microsoft is removing WordPad from Windows
https://www.ghacks.net/2023/09/02/microsoft-is-removing-wordpad-from-windows/#comment-4573118
@Mystique,
I appreciate your sincere reply.
By the way, my comment is from “owl said on August 31, 2023 at 2:38 am”.
My post about this incident is a continuation from before and after that, so there is a change in speech before and after that.
The first post is from (August 16, 2023 at 11:37 pm) and intermittently follows the latest post (September 4, 2023 at 7:39 am).
https://www.ghacks.net/2023/08/31/in-windows-11-the-line-between-legitimate-and-adware-becomes-increasingly-blurred/#comment-4573117
During this time, the date and time have passed for more than half a month, but in the process, I looked back on ” Martin’s announcement when Ghacks sold to Softonic (October 2019)”.
Ghacks has a new owner, and that is good for everyone – gHacks Tech News
https://www.ghacks.net/2019/10/07/ghacks-has-a-new-owner-and-that-is-a-good-for-everyone/
Furthermore,
at the bottom of the ghacks.net homepage page,
The name and logo of Ghacks are copyrights or trademarks of SOFTONIC INTERNATIONAL S.A.
is clearly indicated.
Therefore,
I reread the “Legal Information” etc. from the link at the bottom of the homepage page.
https://hello.softonic.com/legal-information/
As a result,
can see that Martin’s ghacks.net has been completely acquired by “Softonic International S.A.”, and the authority has been transferred.
After the complete acquisition, Martin cannot interfere with ghacks.net, so only the performance obligations under the sales contract are secured to Martin. What is guaranteed is that “the article can be published as before”, but all site operations and management have been transferred to “Softonic”.
In short, Martin is just one of the contributors of the article, and is in an Outsider position who cannot interfere in the operation or management.
Such a Martin is limited in what he can say.
Based on the above considerations,
My current opinion is to agree with the following:
https://www.ghacks.net/2023/09/01/windows-11-browser-changes-reverted/#comment-4573112
@Anonymous,
> No longer sensible to say the system is broken.
Sadly not surprising, it is the type of thing that ‘bad apples’ would get up to.
My posting history (in chronological order)
https://www.ghacks.net/2023/08/16/brave-browser-1-57-released-with-forget-by-default-mode-and-security-fixes/#comment-4572237
https://www.ghacks.net/2023/08/16/brave-browser-1-57-released-with-forget-by-default-mode-and-security-fixes/#comment-4572332
https://www.ghacks.net/2023/08/16/brave-browser-1-57-released-with-forget-by-default-mode-and-security-fixes/#comment-4572364
https://www.ghacks.net/2023/08/16/brave-browser-1-57-released-with-forget-by-default-mode-and-security-fixes/#comment-4572399
https://www.ghacks.net/2019/09/27/how-to-import-tabs-from-chrome-to-firefox-and-vice-versa/#comment-4572472
https://www.ghacks.net/2023/08/28/these-tools-will-soon-be-removed-in-microsoft-edge-to-make-it-simpler/#comment-4572953
https://www.ghacks.net/windows-11-update-stuck-fixed-for-good/#comment-4572961
https://www.ghacks.net/windows-11-update-stuck-fixed-for-good/#comment-4572969
https://www.ghacks.net/windows-11-update-stuck-fixed-for-good/#comment-4572991
https://www.ghacks.net/windows-11-update-stuck-fixed-for-good/#comment-4572993
https://www.ghacks.net/windows-11-update-stuck-fixed-for-good/#comment-4572994
https://www.ghacks.net/2023/05/27/how-to-add-music-to-google-slides/#comment-4572995
https://www.ghacks.net/windows-11-update-stuck-fixed-for-good/#comment-4573032
https://www.ghacks.net/windows-11-update-stuck-fixed-for-good/#comment-4573033
https://www.ghacks.net/2023/09/01/windows-11-browser-changes-reverted/#comment-4573037
https://www.ghacks.net/2023/09/01/windows-11-browser-changes-reverted/#comment-4573112
https://www.ghacks.net/windows-11-update-stuck-fixed-for-good/#comment-4573117
@Mystique,
Postscript
My reply above has a lot of links, and the fact that the article and the comments are not related makes it very complicated, but my conclusions at this point are as follows:
latest post (September 4, 2023 at 7:39 am).
https://www.ghacks.net/2023/08/31/in-windows-11-the-line-between-legitimate-and-adware-becomes-increasingly-blurred/#comment-4573117
Article Title: Microsoft is removing WordPad from Windows
Article URL: https://www.ghacks.net/2023/09/02/microsoft-is-removing-wordpad-from-windows/
@Owl
I appreciate you following up everything I just wish there was a fix but I think we both know that something else is going on with the comments section too.
I know Martin also writes articles for BetaNews from time to time but nothing like this.
It’s a shame what is happening to the website really but when it was bought out we should have already started to perhaps mirror the website articles elsewhere with a comments section similar to this that does not require signing up. Granted it wouldn’t be the same but still this is kinda annoying.
Perhaps they’re “Related comments”, since they’re about as useful, relevant, and disruptive as the in-article “Read more” stuff?
Some years ago I had a severe problem with Windows Update that didn’t allow me to update for almost six months, yes, a half of a year stuck in a massive update fiasco. After having done everything in my hands to solve it, and after go to every kind of computer shops, even having call by phone to MS help services with no success at all, I found somewhere this batch *.bat file that solved my W10 update problem in less than one minute (I hope that it will help someone someday, it’s a must have batch file; I think it’s available in some web sites also):
rem * EXECUTE AS ADMIN *
net stop bits
net stop wuauserv
net stop cryptsvc
net stop msiserver
rd /q /s %windir%\softwaredistribution.old
rd /q /s %windir%\system32\catroot2.old
ren %windir%\system32\catroot2 catroot2.old
ren %windir%\softwaredistribution softwaredistribution.old
del “%allusersprofile%\application data\microsoft\network\downloader\qmgr*.dat”
sc.exe sdset bits D:(A;CI;CCDCLCSWRPWPDTLOCRSDRCWDWO;;;SY)(A;;CCDCLCSWRPWPDTLOCRSDRCWDWO;;;BA)(A;;CCLCSWLOCRRC;;;IU)(A;;CCLCSWLOCRRC;;;SU)
sc.exe sdset wuauserv D:(A;;CCLCSWRPLORC;;;AU (A;;CCDCLCSWRPWPDTLOCRSDRCWDWO;;;BA)(A;;CCDCLCSWRPWPDTLOCRSDRCWDWO;;;SY)
cd /d %windir%\system32
regsvr32.exe /s atl.dll
regsvr32.exe /s urlmon.dll
regsvr32.exe /s mshtml.dll
regsvr32.exe /s jscript.dll
regsvr32.exe /s vbscript.dll
regsvr32.exe /s scrrun.dll
regsvr32.exe /s msxml3.dll
regsvr32.exe /s msxml6.dll
regsvr32.exe /s actxprxy.dll
regsvr32.exe /s softpub.dll
regsvr32.exe /s wintrust.dll
regsvr32.exe /s dssenh.dll
regsvr32.exe /s rsaenh.dll
regsvr32.exe /s cryptdlg.dll
regsvr32.exe /s oleaut32.dll
regsvr32.exe /s ole32.dll
regsvr32.exe /s shell32.dll
regsvr32.exe /s wuapi.dll
regsvr32.exe /s wups.dll
regsvr32.exe /s wups2.dll
netsh winsock reset
net start bits
net start wuauserv
net start cryptsvc
net start msiserver
rem * RESTART PC *
pause
I had this update limbo issue as well. I found out it was because of changing my TCP Window Auto Tuning settings. Used to change it often to something else. But setting it back to normal fixed it.
Missing closing “)”:
.. wuauserv D:(A;;CCLCSWRPLORC;;;AU ..
.. wuauserv D:(A;;CCLCSWRPLORC;;;AU) ..
Why didn’t you just perform a clean install of Windows? Not only would it have corrected the issue,
but you would have been up to date with updates. 6 months without updates is crazy.
Re: “Microsoft publishes mitigation instructions for Downfall vulnerability in Windows” posted on 2023 08 28 by Martin Brinkmann
Re: John G.
> “Some years ago I had a severe problem with Windows Update that didn’t allow me to update for almost six months…”
Funny you should mention this. I’ve had a client have this happen multiple times and every workaround never worked. Finally two days ago my client wanted me to just get rid of Windows 11 and go to Linux. The ironic part is that my client is developmentally challenged but still wanted to move to Linux. Being tired of having Windows Update mess up the machine and wanted something that was a bit more stable.
Hoping this will be attached to the correct cited article and reply.
Fixing what your client has is the aim of technical support. Unless your client says, “I want Windows replaced by Linux”, you failed.
Yes, there a number of places one can find such scripts; the following sites provide the same scripts or variations on a theme:
https://windowsreport.com/windows-update-problems-fix-windows-update-reset-script/
https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/24742-reset-windows-update-windows-10-a.html
https://pastebin.com/RiGwhcgJ
The few times I’ve had issues with Windows 10/11, I’ve run the Tweaking Repair Tool/Portable with unsurpassed success; it worked so well in solving problems, I made a hefty donation to the developer:
https://www.tweaking.com/content/page/windows_repair_all_in_one.html
The other tip other users have gifted to me is to never use Windows Update–just turn it off–and use the WAU Manager; in Advanced Options, one can “force” downloading and installing” updates which triggers a script to “refresh” the process–works quite well for me:
https://www.carifred.com/wau_manager/
I think both tools are and script ideas have been mentioned by Martin in various articles at various times.
As a last resort, one can download the most current ISO from the Adguard site and complete a non-destructive re-install. It’s such a convenient option that if I suspect any type of corruption on my system, I will use it first. Makes for a that “new” installation feel. Be sure to delete the Windows.old folder at some point.
Make a system image before running any tool, script, or non-destructive re-install, yes?
I agree with @VioletMoon’s comment.
Windows Troubleshooter often fails to get useful information and useless (a waste of time). Instead, running “Tweaking Repair Tool/Portable” will solve the problem more easily.
However, since I experienced “software regression” several times in the automatic update of WindowsOS in the past, I blocked automatic updates for function updates other than security updates and made them manual updates.
I used “BelarcAdvisor” as a means for that, and sometimes used “Windows Update MiniTool” and “WSUS Offline Updates” as auxiliary functions.
In my experience, it works and is easy.
It’s much “better” than the method in the article.
Thanks @VioletMoon for the provided links! :]
Thanks, John. Another tool to throw in my Windows toolbox, if ever needed.
@MikeO, you’re welcome! :]