Windows 10 Optional Out-of-Band Update For PDF Opening Issue

 

Microsoft released KB5004760, an optional out-of-band non-security update for Windows 10 Versions 21H1, 20H2, and 2004. 

As described in the KB Article:   

• Updates an issue that might prevent you from opening PDFs using Internet Explorer 11 or apps that use the 64-bit version of the WebBrowser control. Additionally, a PDF might render as just a gray background when using the Adobe Acrobat plug-in.

The purpose of the update is to fix the issue causing blue screens (BSOD) when printing to network printers with Type 3 printer drivers.  The issue showed up after installing the March 2021 cumulative updates.

Because the update is optional, it is not available via Windows update.  However, if you have been affected by this issue, the update can be downloaded manually from the Microsoft Update Catalog.

Windows 10 update history

Remember - "A day without laughter is a day wasted."
May the wind sing to you and the sun rise in your heart...

PC Health Check app for Windows 11 Update

With all of the excitement for Windows 11, many users have already run the PC Health Check app to find out if their current PC is eligible to upgrade to Windows 11. 

Although I was happy that my PC is eligible, when others ran the app, they received the following indication:

If you received the above notification, you may want to download a fresh copy of the PC Health Check app because it has already been updated.  In fact, according to Steve Dispensa, VP of PM, Microsoft Endpoint Manager and Windows Commercial on Twitter:

We've just released an updated PC Health Check app here: https://microsoft.com/en-us/windows/windows-11?OCID=pchc_windows_app_omc_win… Navigate lower down to the “Check for Compatibility” section and click “Download app” We still have more work to do, but this version shows more information about why a device is ineligible.

That aside, unfortunately, one of the primary reasons for PCs not meeting the system requirements is the processor.  The lists of supported processors is available at the following locations:

Supported AMD Processors
Supported Intel Processors
Supported Qualcomm Processors

Remember - "A day without laughter is a day wasted."
May the wind sing to you and the sun rise in your heart...

Windows 11 is What's Next for Windows!

It is official!  Windows 11 is the next version Microsoft operating system.  As Satya Nadella said in the "What's Next for Windows" event, "It's the beginning of a new generation".  Highlights of that new generation are described in the article on the Windows Experience Blog by Panos Panay, Chief Product Officer, Windows + Devices, "Introducing Windows 11".  You can also be certain that all the "tech bloggers" will be publishing numerous articles highlighting the new Windows 11.

A question that many home computer users have been wondering about since rumors of the new operating system started is whether the upgrade from Windows 10 will be free. We now know that Windows 11 will be available through a free upgrade for eligible Windows 10 PCs and on new PCs beginning this holiday and will continue into 2022. 

The minimum system requirements to run Windows 11 are as follows:

Minimum system requirements

Processor	1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster with 2 or more cores on acompatible 64-bit processor or System on a Chip (SoC)
Memory	4 GB RAM
Storage	64 GB or larger storage device
System firmware	UEFI, Secure Boot capable
TPM	Trusted Platform Module (TPM) version 2.0

Minimum system requirements

Graphics card	DirectX 12 compatible graphics / WDDM 2.x
Display	>9” with HD Resolution (720p)
Internet connection	Microsoft account and internet connectivity required for setup for Windows 11 Home

Minimum system requirements

Certain features require specific hardware, see detailed system requirements.

To determine if your current PC is eligible for the free upgrade to Windows 11, download the PC Health Check app. 

I happy that my PC meets the system requirements for Windows 11 and am looking forward to testing the new Windows Insider Builds for Windows 11 next week.

You can keep track of what's happening with Windows 11 at Inside Windows 11.

(Note  If you had a problem with the event streaming as I did during the event, you can watch a replay here.)

Remember - "A day without laughter is a day wasted."
May the wind sing to you and the sun rise in your heart...