Tag Archives: updates

Some Windows 10 Updates Are Optional

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Microsoft is constantly busy keeping their Windows 10 operating system up to date with the latest and greatest features. Many of these updates include a handful of security features and improvements, necessary to protect your personal information. However, some of their updates are optional.

Optional updates can be quite handy to acquire for the best kind of experience. However, they’re not always needed for the vitality of your computer. And while they sometimes improve the software, they can also lead to detrimental issues.

Last year, a Windows 10 update released with optional drivers updates. However, according to Tech Radar, these updates had been, “pushed to certain devices that are not registered with Microsoft’s Windows Insider Program.” In fact, they’re outdated.

If installed, these updated have the potential of affecting the functionality of the computer’s hardware. So if you are questioning whether or not you should be installing any optional updates, reach out to your local computer repair service for the best advice.

If you have any operating system update issues, or have any questions, 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 by our staff at the Lakewood Computer Repair Service. If you need computer repair in Lakewood, CO please call or text the local office at (720) 441-6460.

Benefits of Keeping your Computer Up to Date

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Whether you have Windows, Apple, or any other kind of operating system, it’s extremely important to keep your computer up to date. There are a handful of benefits that safely secures any and all parts of it. Here are just a few of them:

Malware

Hackers are constantly on the move, doing anything possible to intrude in on personal computers to steal as much information as possible. Updates quickly add more protection to any personal information, such as passwords and banking credentials, to avoid any kind of viruses or malware.

Two-factor authentication is highly encouraged to keep PC’s safe. Microsoft Docs shared a statement for an upcoming update, saying, “Windows Defender System Guard enables an even higher level of System Management Mode (SMM) Firmware Protection that goes beyond checking the OS memory and secrets to additional resources like registers and IO.

With this improvement, the OS can detect a higher level of SMM compliance, enabling devices to be even more hardened against SMM exploits and vulnerabilities. This feature is forward-looking and currently requires new hardware available soon.”

Quick Fixes

Often times, smaller updates include a handful of fixes due to an improper update that could lead to issues like the blue screen of death. The Windows Community forum shares hundreds of issue inquiries that also adds simple fixes to alleviate flaws in the system.

Improvements

Software companies are always working on ways to improve users’ experience on their operating systems. These improvements lead to new features and updates to older applications. It helps to modernize the computer world on a constant basis.

Cortana has currently been updated to enhance experience, and it’s tightly secured so you have to log in to use it.

For inquiries with PC 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.

Top Reason to Update Your Apps

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Updates to apps and operating systems can be inconvenient at times. Patches, optional updates, and significant updates are all available. But to keep up with modern technology and user feedback, updates are necessary.

Updating your apps should be a top priority. The biggest reason is this:

Updating your operating system, browser, and other software on your PC or mobile device reduces the risk of cybersecurity threats. Leaving them unpatched might result in serious issues, such as hackers gaining access to confidential information or spreading viruses.

While some malware is harmless, others can do significant damage. That is something that no one wants to handle. To avoid difficulties, keep all of your programs and operating systems up to date.

Get the most recent versions of the apps by updating them. If you have a lot of apps on your device that you don’t use anymore, it’s a good idea to delete them.

For help with any application 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 by our staff at the Denver Computer Repair Service, if you need computer repair in Denver, CO please call or text the local office at (720) 441-6460.

Check PC for Windows 11 Compatibility

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Many PCs are allowed to download and install the brand new Windows 11 operating system. However, some are not.

If your computer lacks the necessary hardware, it will be supported either partially or not at all. Microsoft’s stance on Windows 11 requirements remains unchanged. They stated the new operating system will only be available for compatible devices. How can you tell if your computer can upgrade? Here’s how:

Go to the Microsoft Website

If you head over to the Microsoft website and scroll down close to the bottom of the page, you’ll find “Check for compatibility”. From there, they give you the option of downloading what’s called the PC health check app.

By clicking on “Check now”, this application will scan your computer to see if it meets the qualifications. If it does, the update will show up in Updates under the Settings app.

  1. Click the Start menu
  2. Type in Windows Update
  3. Click on Check for updates

Some users may see the result (shown above). You will still be allowed Windows 10 updates. And remember, the Windows 10 OS end-of-service doesn’t end until 2025.

If you are needing help with computer 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 by our staff at the Houston Computer Repair Service. If you need computer repair in Houston, TX please call the local office at (281) 860-2550.

What Are Optional Windows Updates?

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And are the optional updates necessary?

To keep the Windows 10 operating system working properly, Microsoft releases automatic updates. These updates include bug fixes, security enhancements, and upgraded features.

Optional updates are found in the System Settings, under Windows Updates. These aren’t automatically implemented into the operating system. This is due to the lack of necessity of keeping the OS running smoothly. 

“If you have a specific problem, one of these drivers might help. Otherwise, automatic updates will keep your drivers up to date.”

While these kinds of updates are voluntary, they do have a purpose. How-To Geek states, ” These fix stability issues and other problems in Windows. Some of these may be optional hardware driver updates. You have the choice of whether or not to install these—it’s up to you.”

Patch Tuesday completes a once-a-month update, arriving on the second Tuesday. These patches pertain to a large amount of bug fixes all rolled into one “cumulative” update.

So do you have to download and install these optional updates? No. However, if you are experiencing computer issues, it wouldn’t hurt to check out the list of options available.

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.

Uninstalling Updates

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Microsoft has provided a number of troublesome updates to its users since the COVID-19 pandemic started. For example one update of May 2020 (Windows 10 KB4556799) caused a slew of issues, including the Blue Screen of Death and the reversion of settings to normal. 

It’s difficult to say how many users were affected by this issue last year. If you have dealt with similar problems, the only thing you can do is uninstall the program. Here’s how to do that:

  1. Go to Start Menu
  2. Settings
  3. Update & Security
  4. Under Check for updates, click on View update history
  5. Click on Uninstall updates

This will open a window with all of the changes listed in chronological order, with the most recent at the top. Then, right-click on the update that needs to be uninstalled and select uninstall.

If you need to uninstall specific KB (Knowledge Base) number updates, using the Search Installed Updates box in the top right corner of the control panel window is a simple and easy way to do so.

For inquiries, 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.