Microsoft Looking Into Start Menu Bug

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An investigation has been open by Microsoft to look into an issue with the Windows 10 Start Menu.

Several users claimed a critical error appears when they try to type anything in the Start Menu. The error states “Your Start Menu isn’t working. We’ll try to fix it the next time you sign in.” One Reddit user said, “Thought I would give KB4515384 a shot on a spare test computer (released today, yeah I’m brave). Now, when I type in something to the start menu to bring up a program, it does absolutely nothing.”

He then updated his issue with, “I uninstalled it and the problem went away.”

This particular bug doesn’t seem to be affecting everyone, but rest assured that Microsoft is looking into it and hoping to resolve the issue as quickly as possible.

For help with Windows 10 issues, call us at 1-800-620-5285.  Karls Technology is a nationwide computer service company with offices in many major cities. This blog post was brought to you from our staff at the Mesa Computer Repair Service, if you need computer repair in Mesa, AZ please call the local office at (480) 240-2950.

Windows 10 Update Turning Desktop Orange

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Microsoft’s Windows 10 KB4512941 update was causing CPU utilization to heighten. Now according to PCMag, several users have been saying that their desktop screen is turning an unusual orange (or red, some have said) tint.

One Microsoft user said, “My screen turns red when I capture a screenshot. How can I turn it off? I haven’t changed any settings; yesterday it was fine. I tried using different snipping tools, and the regular PrtSc button. All red. I have the night mode off, and everything else is regular.”

Microsoft hasn’t responded on social media just yet about this particular issue. But the Microsoft Community Board seems to be finding ways to fix the eye sore.

What’s causing it, and how can it be resolved?

There have been resolves around just uninstalling the new update. Others have accessed the services tab from the System Configuation and unchecked all Lenovo boxes, then restarting their computer. However, a Windows Independent Advisor says, “This is a direct result of an update to the Lenovo Application named Lenovo Vantage and the Eye Care mode feature. See the following Lenovo documentation for resolution.“

For inquiries with Windows 10 updates, call us at 1-800-620-5285.  Karls Technology is a nationwide computer service company with offices in many major cities. This blog post was brought to you from our staff at the Frisco Computer Repair Service, if you need computer repair in Frisco, TX please call or text the local office at (469) 299-9005.

High CPU Utilization with Windows 10

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Windows tweeted, “We will provide an update in an upcoming release.”

The elective Windows 10 update KB4512941 has a few issues occurring, including a high CPU usage. The update that was rolled out on August 30th has landed quite a few upset users, stating that there have been reports of high CPU utilization showing up in their Task Manager.

As of today, Microsoft has shared on Twitter their awareness of the issue connected to “SeachUI.EXE” and has gone the necessary steps to get the issue cleared up. Not everyone is experiencing this, but if you are, there is a way that you can resolve this issue. Thankfully, WindowsCentral shares two ways to fix it:

Open Settings.

Click on Update & Security.

Click on Windows Update.

Click the View update history option.

Click the Uninstall updates option.

Select the “Update for Microsoft Windows (KB4512941)” item.

Click the Uninstall button.

Click the Yes button.

Click the Restart Now button.

-KB4512941 removing update

The second one, using the Registry settings, is a riskier fix and may cause permanent damage if done incorrectly. And nobody wants that. It is highly encouraged to create a complete backup of your computer before beginning.

For help with Windows 10 issues, call us at 1-800-620-5285.  Karls Technology is a nationwide computer service company with offices in many major cities. This blog post was brought to you from our staff at the Mesa Computer Repair Service, if you need computer repair in Mesa, AZ please call the local office at (480) 240-2950.

Adobe Flash Getting the Boot from Edge

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Microsoft Edge is among the other browsers like Google Chrome and Mozilla that are getting rid of Adobe Flash.

Adobe announced a couple years ago that they were planning on removing the Flash software in December 2020. So this news definitely doesn’t come as a surprise.

Colleen Williams, the Senior Program Manager of Microsoft Edge wrote in a blog post on August 30th:

“In the next version of Microsoft Edge (built on Chromium), we will continue to retire Flash in the same timeframe as other Chromium based browsers. You can learn more of that timeline in this blog post. Flash will initially be disabled, and the user will need to re-enable Flash on a site-by-site basis; Flash will be completely removed from the browser towards the end of 2020. Group policies are available for enterprise admins and IT pros to change the Flash behavior prior to that date.”

Microsoft said that they will no longer update or change anything related to Adobe Flash functionality on the browser. You’ll receive permission request notifications at the top left corner of the browser.

If you are needing help with Microsoft issues, please give us a call at 1-800-620-5285.  Karls Technology is a nationwide computer service company with offices in many major cities.  This blog post is brought to you from our staff at the Plano Computer Repair Service, if you need computer repair in Plano, TX please call the local office at (469) 299-9005.

No www or http in Chrome Browser Desktop

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If you use Chrome on your desktop, you may not have noticed, but you are no longer seeing “www” or “http” in the address bar.

This change was initially made in 2018 with the Chrome 69 version. Google ended up bringing it back after backlash from websites that supported subdomains. However, if you have the Chrome 76 version, you will see them gone again. Google called the subdomains “trivial” and trusted that users wouldn’t essentially require the extra information.

To make URLs easier to read and understand, and to remove distractions from the registrable domain, we will hide URL components that are irrelevant to most Chrome users. We plan to hide “https” scheme and special-case subdomain “www” in Chrome omnibox on desktop and Android in M76.

-Emily Schechter, Google engineer
No https before karlstechnology.com

How to see the full URL

Although the links have been minimized, you can still see the full URL by clicking on the link twice. This will ultimately display it as its lengthy detail.

While this change is effective now, it’s likely that Android will be showing the same change soon enough. It’s also rumored that Google will also be getting rid of the lock icon (to show the website is secure) in the future.

For inquiries with computer issues, call us at 1-800-620-5285.  Karls Technology is a nationwide computer service company with offices in many major cities. This blog post was brought to you from our staff at the Frisco Computer Repair Service, if you need computer repair in Frisco, TX please call or text the local office at (469) 299-9005.

New Calculator Update on Windows

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Microsoft announced a handful of new updates coming to Windows in Build 18956 (20H1). Updates include new Network Status view that will also show you how much data is being utilized. Windows Insiders in the Fast ring can preview this build.

Note for Windows Insiders: The preview may carry bugs that can affect your device. To become part of the Windows Insiders Program and try out upcoming features before anyone else, sign up here!

Improvements are all over the place in 20H1, but one in particular is pretty simple, but neat to say the least. The Windows calculator is getting an update! Windows bloggers Dona Sarkar and Brandon LeBlanc wrote, “Over the next few days we’ll be starting to roll out a Calculator app update to Insiders in the Fast ring. This app is most notable because it adds the ability to put Calculator in an Always on Top mode!”

Once the update is available and downloaded to your device, you can click on the icon next to Standard mode switch it to Always on Top.

Source: blogs.windows.com

For help with Windows 10 issues, call us at 1-800-620-5285.  Karls Technology is a nationwide computer service company with offices in many major cities. This blog post was brought to you from our staff at the Mesa Computer Repair Service, if you need computer repair in Mesa, AZ please call the local office at (480) 240-2950.

Apple Contractors Fired After Listening in on Siri

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Last week, Apple released hundreds of contractors in Europe after it was revealed that they were listening in on conversations through Siri. It was announced by Apple earlier this month that they were suspending this particular program, even though it was initially used to collect data to improve their products. Contractors could hear (and possibly gather) personal and private information along with drug deals and explicit conversations.

Apple released a statement to the Guardian, saying that “A small portion of Siri requests are analysed to improve Siri and dictation. User requests are not associated with the user’s Apple ID. Siri responses are analysed in secure facilities and all reviewers are under the obligation to adhere to Apple’s strict confidentiality requirements.” 

Many of the contracted workers are frustrated at the little notice they were given. One worker explained that Apple had taken no responsibility in this ordeal and that hundreds of people are now laid off with no protection for its contractors. However, a handful of them are relieved by the release. The ethics of the program seemed questionable, but they were conflicted with how to discuss it.

This news comes as no surprise as Google and Microsoft contractors were also contracting jobs out with Cortana, Skype, and Kinect to listen in to improve their products as well.

If you are needing help with Apple issues, please give us a call at 1-800-620-5285.  Karls Technology is a nationwide computer service company with offices in many major cities.  This blog post is brought to you from our staff at the Plano Computer Repair Service, if you need computer repair in Plano, TX please call the local office at (469) 299-9005.

Windows PIN Revamped

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Windows Hello

There are a plethora of ways to log into your Windows operating system. This includes the Windows Hello Face, Fingerprint, and more. Windows Hello is a useful feature that “creates a data representation—not an image; it’s more like a graph—that is then encrypted before it’s stored on your device,” according to Windows Support.

They also add, “To help us keep things working properly, to help detect and prevent fraud, and to continue improving Windows Hello, we collect info about how people use Windows Hello.”

The recommended option, however, is the Windows Hello PIN, which only requires 4 digits. And sometimes, Microsoft users forget their PIN. Thankfully, Windows is always finding ways to streamline the features on devices. Windows Insiders can try this new feature out on the lock screen of their device.

Athima Chansanchai, a writer for the Windows Blog says that the Windows 10 Update now offers a “revamped Windows Hello PIN reset experience” by clicking on I forgot my PIN. You’ll then be prompted to sign in to your e-mail account to reset your PIN.

For help with Windows 10 issues, call us at 1-800-620-5285.  Karls Technology is a nationwide computer service company with offices in many major cities. This blog post was brought to you from our staff at the Mesa Computer Repair Service, if you need computer repair in Mesa, AZ please call the local office at (480) 240-2950.

Microsoft Contractors Can Listen in through Xbox

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This has apparently been going on for a while now. With voice commands on the Xbox, contractors from Microsoft have had the ability to listen in on Cortana voice exchanges.

Before, they were able to hear any voice commands to Kinect. Cortana, Microsoft’s voice assistant, was removed from Xbox back in July but Cortana could still be controlled on there via app on iOS or Android. It is also said that Skype calls are being monitored as well and the information is acquired by Motherboard.

Microsoft’s defense says that they’ve been open about using contractors to listen in on commands in order to accumulate information and improve their services.

“We’ve recently updated our privacy statement to add greater clarity that people sometimes review this data as part of the product improvement process. We always get customer permission before collecting voice data, we take steps to de-identify voice snippets being reviewed to protect people’s privacy, and we require that handling of this data be held to the highest privacy standards in the law. At the same time, we’re actively working on additional steps we can take to give customers more transparency and more control over how their data is used to improve products.”

-Microsoft Spokesman

This does raise the question that if they’re able to listen in through Cortana, do they have the ability to listen in through other Microsoft devices? Other companies, such as Apple and Google have done the same thing and have since withdrawn from recording audio through contractors.

If you are needing help with Microsoft issues, please give us a call at 1-800-620-5285.  Karls Technology is a nationwide computer service company with offices in many major cities.  This blog post is brought to you from our staff at the Plano Computer Repair Service, if you need computer repair in Plano, TX please call the local office at (469) 299-9005.

Microsoft Office 365 Phishing Scam Hitting Emails

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Scammers are at it again. If you open your inbox and notice a Windows 365 e-mails that appear rather genuine, be weary. Many hackers are quick to gain any kind of personal information from your Microsoft and Outlook accounts. They have the brand logos and everything! Companies in the medical field, financial, insurance and many more are being targeted.

According to Bleeping Computer, “The potential victims’ emails are checked against huge lists of validated email addresses before redirecting them to the phishing forms, which allows the crooks to scrape their targets’ company-branded tenant login pages containing custom backgrounds and banner logos, and have them “dynamically inserted into the phishing landing page.”

I checked in my old company e-mail, and though there were none in my inbox, there were a few scams in my Junk folder. And they legitimately looked like it was from Office 365. And yes, I do have an Office 365 account.

Often times, you can click on the sender (in this case, Administrators Team) to see the e-mail it was sent from. However, in my case, I was unable to click on it. Obviously, this particular e-mail being in my Junk folder was the first red flag. The second red flag was that I couldn’t see fully who had sent this.

This scam is still active and doesn’t appear to be stopping anytime soon. Pay attention to the senders’ e-mail address and do not click any links in your Junk folder e-mails. That’s all it takes to get your sensitive information compromised.

For inquiries with Microsoft issues, call us at 1-800-620-5285.  Karls Technology is a nationwide computer service company with offices in many major cities. This blog post was brought to you from our staff at the Frisco Computer Repair Service, if you need computer repair in Frisco, TX please call or text the local office at (469) 299-9005.