Windows 10 version 1903, or Windows 10 May 2019 Update, is officially "ready for broad deployment," with Microsoft now recommending commercial people to update their devices as soon as possible.

Marking a Windows 10 feature update as ready for broad deployment is a key milestone for each release because it pretty much means that enterprises can safely install it by themselves device fleets.

Despite the thorough testing that can take place before the debut of Windows 10 feature updates, also with the aid of Windows insiders, these often end up experiencing pretty much critical issues, a few of which are later addressed with cumulative updates shipped each month.

Due to the risk of bugs, all combined with the time needed to upgrade an entire fleet of Windows 10 devices to a new version of the operating system, many enterprises decide to simply wait for number of months after a feature update gets the go-ahead.

The "ready for broad deployment" tag virtually means that Microsoft has resolved the majority of bugs striking the operating-system, essentially telling businesses that they are able to now go to installing Windows 10 version 1903 on their devices.

"Windows 10, version 1903 (the May 2019 Update) is designated ready for broad deployment for all users via Windows Update," Microsoft says.

"As devices running the Home, Pro, and Pro for Workstation editions of Windows 10, version 1803 (the April 2018 Update) will reach end of service on November 12, 2019, we are broadly updating these units, as well as those running earlier versions of Windows 10 which are past end and services information, to keep these devices both supported and receiving monthly updates. If you're not offered the Windows 10, version 1903 feature update, please check below for known issues and safeguard holds that could affect your device."

Windows 10 version 1903 being marked as ready for broad deployment comes just in the proper time for Microsoft because of two different reasons.

As the company says in its announcement, November will witness the demise of Windows 10 version 1803, or Windows 10 April 2018 Update. Because Microsoft only props up two newest Windows 10 versions of Home, Pro, and Pro for Workstations SKUs, finalizing the rollout of the latest feature update is critical in order to allow all devices to upgrade.

Once Windows 10 version 1803 is pulled, users can upgrade to Windows 10 version 1809 (October 2018 Update) and Windows 10 version 1903 (May 2019 Update).

Furthermore, Microsoft will finalize the introduction of another feature update for Windows 10, currently known as 19H2 - this can be a mention of the its release date, because the update ought to be complete within the other half of 2019; based on Microsoft's typical schedule, this update is prepared in September and then pushed to devices beginning with October.

Just because a new feature update is simply nearby, Microsoft needs to complete the rollout of the previous stable release, and marking it as ready for broad deployment is one essential part of this direction. Not doing this would only result in more fragmentation within the Windows 10 ecosystem, which is certainly something which Microsoft doesn't need.

Despite being flagged as ready for broad deployment, Windows 10 May 2019 Update still isn't available for all devices. Microsoft has some upgrade blocks in place to avoid the update from being installed on devices where certain issues can be experienced, and until resolving these errors, the update wouldn't be provided on Windows Update.

Users who want to ignore these upgrade blocks can install Windows 10 version 1903 using the Media Creation Tool or even the dedicated ISOs that also allow for a clean install.

As well as the optional cumulative updates for Windows 10 that Microsoft released earlier today, the software giant also shipped new monthly rollup previews for both Windows 7 and Windows 8.1.

The new updates, which are also offered as optional via Windows Update so that as a manual download in the Microsoft Update Catalog, come with rather small changelogs, bringing just one and two changes, respectively.

To begin with, it's the Windows 7 monthly rollup preview which is labeled KB4516048.

This update includes just one fix that's aimed at software produced by Toshiba. According to the official changelog (which you'll find around the page linked above):

"Addresses an issue that may cause an error when opening or while using Toshiba Qosmio AV Center. You may also get an error in case Log associated with cryptnet.dll."

Windows 8.1 improvements

Second of all, Windows 8.1 devices are provided with monthly rollup preview KB4516041.

This time around, there's two changes, one of these concerns an insect hitting Ie. According to Microsoft, Internet Explorer 11 didn't launch on Windows 8.1 RT devices after installing update KB4516067, so this rollup is supposed to fix the error and restore the standard behavior on devices running this OS. However, given it's aimed at RT systems, there's an opportunity the amount of users influenced by this glitch is incredibly low.

And 2nd, the same update fixes a problem striking the LSASS service, as Microsoft explains:

"Addresses an element that may cause the neighborhood Security Authority Subsystem Service (LSASS) to prevent working with an "0xc0000005" error."

The improvements during these monthly rollup previews is going to be area of the stable updates shipped to users on October 8 included in the next Patch Tuesday cycle. At that time, the updates will be offered automatically through Windows Update.

Wish the desktop icons in Windows 10 were bigger so you could stop squinting their way or they'd be simpler to tap on a touch screen laptop? Or do you wish they were smaller therefore the shortcuts didn't take up as much space in your laptop's screen? Never fear, we have a list of short steps regarding how to change the icon size in Windows 10.

How you can Change the Size of Desktop Icons in Windows 10

1. Right-click on an empty space around the desktop.

2. Select View from the contextual menu.

3. Select either Large icons, Medium icons, or Small icons. The default is medium icons.

On my laptop with a native 1600 by 900 pixels display, the large option looks huge, the little dimensions are not big enough, and the medium size looks perfect (as Goldilocks would say). Your mileage might vary based on your screen's display resolution. Changing the size of the icons around the desktop doesn't modify the size the icons elsewhere in Windows 10, but there are methods you can change those too.

How to Alter the Size of the Taskbar Icons

If you wish to alter the size of the icons in your taskbar, there is a different setting for that, that will also change the size of text, apps, along with other items across Windows 10.

1. Right-click on an empty space on the desktop.

2. Select Display settings from the contextual menu.

3. Slowly move the slider under "Change how big text, apps, and other items" to 100%, 125%, 150%, or 175%.

4. Hit Apply at the end from the settings window. Windows might ask you to log out and log back in for a more consistent experience.

This will not only result in the icons within the taskbar a bit larger, but it will even make text bigger in apps like Microsoft Edge and Calendar, as well as in Windows 10 notification windows.

How to Change the Size Icons in File Explorer

If you want larger or smaller icons or thumbnails in particular folders, you are able to change those found on the fly in File Explorer.

Just head to your folder location and employ your mouse's scroll wheel to zoom in or out, effectively switching the vista between Windows 10's large icons, medium icons, small icons, list, details, tiles, and content views.

Although File Explorer will remember your last setting when you open this folder again, this can be a folder-specific setting, so you will need to adjust each folder you'll want different icon and text sizes for.

Microsoft announced something Linux users would have never dreamed of, the first Microsoft Linux Conference for his or her WSL (Windows Subsystem for Linux) implementation.

If you never heard of WSL, let us tell you that Windows Subsystem for Linux is a compatibility layer created by Microsoft to let you install GNU/Linux distributions and natively run Linux binaries on Windows 10 and Windows Server 2019 operating systems.

WSL 2, the most recent form of Windows Subsystem for Linux, was announced by Microsoft the 2009 summer and it introduces major additional features like an entirely new architecture that utilizes a genuine, in-house built Linux kernel, as well as full system call compatibility to operate more Linux apps.

"This kernel has been specially tuned for WSL 2. It has been optimized for size and performance to give an amazing Linux experience on Windows. We will service this Linux kernel through Windows updates, and that means you will get the latest security fixes and kernel improvements while not having to manage it yourself," said Microsoft.

Windows Subsystem for Linux Conference takes place March 10-11, 2020

Since Microsoft finally takes Linux seriously, the tech giant announced the first ever Microsoft Linux Conference for WSL (Windows Subsystem for Linux). Dubbed WSLconf, which means Windows Subsystem for Linux Conference, the big event will require place next year between March 10th and March 11th.

Based on Microsoft, the WSLconf event is going to be organized through the community with no registration fee is needed to attend it, though attendee space is going to be limited. The conference is going to be held on the Microsoft Redmond campus in Washington, america, in Building 20.

Throughout the two-day conference, you'll be able to attend presentations from the Ubuntu on WSL team at Canonical, the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) team at Microsoft, and also the creators of Pengwin, a Linux distro based on Debian GNU/Linux and optimized for WSL. More details about WSLconf are available around the official website.

Microsoft has confirmed today that it's working on a Linux version for its acclaimed Microsoft Teams universal communications platform.

Supported on some of the most popular desktop and mobile platforms, including Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android, Microsoft Teams provides a unified communications platform where teams can share a workspace where they are able to chat, share files, and use business apps.

More and more people are switching to Linux nowadays, and also, since Microsoft itself started integrating Linux into its latest Windows 10 operating system with the WSL (Windows Subsystem for Linux) project, in addition to develop new features for that Linux kernel, the company confirmed today it will release Microsoft Teams for Linux.

After it was rumoured that Microsoft might launch a Linux version of its Microsoft Teams communications platform, allowing Linux users to become listed on their Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android teammates, a company employee popularized Twitter to confirm that an official form of Microsoft Teams for Linux will quickly be available to download.

Ubuntu and Debian are officially supported

Microsoft not just confirmed that it's already focusing on a Linux version of Microsoft Teams, but it also set up a repository for some of the most popular GNU/Linux distributions, Ubuntu and Debian, which means that the installations will be made via a PPA repo that you users can certainly increase their systems.

It appears as though Microsoft Teams for Linux was possible due to the popular from users. A request a Linux client on the Microsoft Teams UserVoice feedback forum gathered more than 9,000 votes. However, pricier Microsoft Teams for Linux to be Open Source software, because the code will remain proprietary.

You can test out Microsoft Teams free of charge right now by going to the official website, where you can learn everything there is to know about Microsoft's unified communication platform for chat, video calling, file sharing, and much more. We'll let you know once the Linux client can be obtained for download, so stay tuned.

https://t.co/PB812lgmoF

Let's just the uservoice page was updated a few days ago. :)
?a Christopher Scott [MSFT] (@chscott_msft) September 9, 2019

Long-time Windows 10 users certainly know that installing cumulative updates is often a risky bet, and this is mostly because of the issues these updates end up causing.

During the beginning of Windows 10, these cumulative updates just didn't install and frequently pushed devices into a continuous loop where they were offered the patch just for the installation to finish unexpectedly after which be provided the update once again.

While these issues have apparently been resolved and the updates now install correctly, nowadays there are occasional releases that cause other problems around the Windows 10 devices where they're installed.

The latest cumulative update released by Microsoft is KB4512941 and is specifically targeted at Windows 10 version 1903, or Windows 10 May 2019 Update as it is officially.

This update comes with a welcome group of improvements, and it also resolves an issue breaking down Windows Sandbox, an issue that Microsoft acknowledged in May.

But simultaneously, it also causes high CPU usage around the devices where it's installed. Microsoft is yet to understand the issue, but a quick search on Google reveals there are plenty of users experiencing this behavior.

Initially, the easiest workaround would be to uninstall this cumulative update, but this obviously means you're going to miss all these latest improvements. There's another approach to fix our prime CPU usage, and I'm likely to detail it below.

The high CPU usage bug

First of all, let's see what's causing the high CPU usage.

After closer inspection, it appears as though to blame in this case is really a process called SearchUI.exe and which belongs to digital assistant Cortana. The operation is located at the following location:

C:\Windows\SystemApps\Microsoft.Windows.Cortana_cw5n1h2txyewy\SearchUI.exe

The procedure ought to be there even if you disabled Cortana, albeit I haven't received confirmation that top CPU usage is experienced on these units.

Because of this high CPU usage, devices where the update is installed end up hitting other problems, such as not being able to launch the beginning menu, so instead they simply display a large white box.

How to fix the bug

Fixing the bug is dependant on editing a registry key, albeit as you'll figure out in a couple of seconds, this might 't be your favorite bag.

The registry key is called BingSearchEnabled, and it's responsible for allowing and blocking search queries that you do in your device from being delivered to Bing. In other words, if you would like your searches to be performed locally and no Bing search engine results to become shown on the desktop, you most likely disabled this selection which registry key should be disabled.

The odd thing is that you need to enable this registry key (and thus let the feature to allow searches to become delivered to Bing) to be able to fix the problem. Deleting BingSearchEnabled helps too because the default behavior will be restored.

The bottom line is found at the next address within the Registry Editor (Start menu > regedit.exe):

Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Search

Once you reach this address, just double-click the aforementioned admission to change its value to 1 or delete it. Rebooting the unit should save your valuable settings and correct the high CPU usage, albeit remember that looking behavior is going to be restored to default as well.

We've reached out to Microsoft to inquire about more information about the bug and see if the company is already investigating it. The following batch of cumulative updates is expected in a few days once the software giant begins the rollout from the September 2019 Patch Tuesday fixes.

Windows 10 has a long good reputation for causing privacy concerns around the globe, and more recently, the Dutch data protection agency raised the alarm within the data collection process taking place after installing the OS.

Now the very same agency reached out to Microsoft's lead privacy regulator in Europe to require an intensive investigation of the number of concerns, after a report published earlier this year revealed that the software giant was yet to address the things they considered to be privacy issues.

Your research will be carried out by the Irish Data Protection Commission, or DPC, as well as in an argument for TechCrunch, the privacy watchdog confirmed an analysis of privacy controls in Windows 10 would be conducted.

"Since then the DPC has been liaising using the Dutch DPA to help this matter," a spokeswoman for that DPC was quoted as saying through the cited source. "The DPC has had preliminary engagement with Microsoft and, with the aid of the Dutch authority, we will shortly be engaging further with Microsoft to seek substantive responses around the concerns raised."

Non-diagnostic data collected

Microsoft explains inside a statement it has already worked with the Dutch watchdog on improving privacy in Windows 10, and this new investigation is only another opportunity to further refine the operating system in this regard.

"The Dutch data protection authority has previously brought data protection concerns to our attention, which related to the consumer versions of Windows 10, Windows 10 Home and Windows 10 Pro. We'll work with the Irish Data Protection Commission to discover any further questions or concerns it might have, and also to address any further questions and concerns as soon as possible," Microsoft says.

Meanwhile, the Dutch agency warns that Microsoft collects both diagnostic and non-diagnostic data in Windows 10, explaining the investigation carried out by the Irish watchdog should help determine whether the company processes more details of computer needs from users.

Simply because iPhones play better with MacBooks doesn't resulted in they can't work with Windows 10 laptops. Syncing your computer data requires a a bit more know-how on Windows 10 (instead of macOS' plug-and-play syncing, or how you can just drag and drop files with Android on Windows 10), but with a couple clicks along with a little patience, you'll have all the feaures up to date.

Copying to an iPhone

Syncing music, photos, movies and TV shows means getting confident with iTunes. If you're already using it, you're good to go. If you're not, you are able to download that here and import your music by visiting File > Add Folder to Library to maneuver your present music into iTunes. Once you're prepared to sync, adopt these measures.

1. Connect your iPhone for your laptop with a Lightning cable.

2. Click Continue when asked if the computer can have access towards the phone.

3. Click the phone icon in the top bar.

4. Click Sync.

This will sync the two devices. If it doesn't, visit the sidebar and let the Sync checkboxes under Music, Apps, Movies, Television shows and Photos and click on Sync again.

For the way much data you're syncing, this may take awhile. Get a drink or a snack and are available back later.

5. Look at your photos, music, apps and videos to confirm they arrived on the phone from Windows 10.

Copying From an apple iphone

This is when things get tricky. So that they can avoid piracy, syncing from an iPhone isn't as easy and sending data into it. Luckily, there are several workarounds.

Music and films: This prevents you stuck in Apple's wheelhouse. Though you can move non-iTunes media files to your phone out of your PC, you can't send them in the handset to the pc. However if you purchase media from iTunes in your iPhone, you can get it on your desktop through the cloud. So long as you maintain one Apple ID, you'll be able to download all your songs and films again from iTunes on your computer free of charge.

Photos: Import photos from an apple iphone to Windows 10.

Files: The cloud is your friend for syncing files. While I personally use Dropbox, you may also use iCloud.

It's ideal for users who like Apple's software, including Pages, Numbers and Keynote.

If you're a Dropbox user, you can use the iPhone app and desktop app to see files or photos on either device. If you're a Google user, you can use Sheets, Slides and Docs.

Windows 10's Tablet Mode provides a more touch-friendly experience by making all applications run at full screen (instead of in windows) and giving you a Start screen instead of a Start Menu. If you have a 2-in-1 device, Windows 10 asks you if you want to enter tablet mode any time you convert your notebook right into a slate.

However, if you want to switch between Tablet and Desktop modes manually, stick with Desktop mode even on a tablet or steer clear of the prompt and also have it change to tablet mode automatically, you can change the settings. And when you need to only use the on-screen keyboard, read this separate guide.

Configuring Tablet Mode involves three basic actions:

Go towards the Tablet Mode tab under Settings -> System.
Toggle the "make Windows more touch friendly" option on or off.
Select whether the device switches modes automatically, prompts you or never switches.

Step-by-Step Instructions with Screenshots

1. Click Settings on the Start Menu.

2. Select System.

3. Select Tablet mode within the left pane. A Tablet mode submenu appears.

4. Toggle "Make Windows more touch-friendly . . ." to on to enable Tablet mode. Toggle them back to go to desktop mode.

5. Select "Don't ask me and try to switch" from the "When this product automatically switches" menu if you would like Windows 10 to switch modes on your 2-in-1 without prompting you.

The Game Bar in Windows 10 remains fleshed by helping cover their new bits of functionality, and the latest introduction is really a way for folks to simply find other likeminded PC gamers they are able to enjoy multiplayer titles with internet.

The Game Bar is a compact overlay which provides easy access to a selection of features which now includes the aforementioned Looking for Group (commonly abbreviated to LFG) option, although it's still in beta at this time.

Which means only Game Bar testers can access it, and you can expect bugs since this is an earlier version: as Windows Central reports, for starters, a button scroll wheel doesn't operate in the LFG tab.

Doubtless there will be other teething issues, and indeed the range of games supported is rather slim right now, but we can expect so that it is considerably bolstered by the time this selection hits the discharge version of the Game Bar.

Numerous big-name titles are already supported, though, including Fortnite, Overwatch, Apex Legends, Destiny 2, League of Legends, and of course the kind of Minecraft and Sea of Thieves from Microsoft.

Power of parameters

The power within the LFG feature is based on being able to specify custom parameters for the kind of game you'd prefer to get involved in, so for instance, you are able to specify that 'trash talking' is fair game, or you might make a game session specifically for beginners in which you're willing to help newbies get a handle on things.

It's also possible to specify how many players you want for any particular session, and a proposed start time as well as other variables. Before anyone joins your group, you are able to talk to them and vet them, either via voice or text.

Obviously, some people might would rather have fun with a normal number of friends online, but people won't always be around, so even in this case, LFG can be a great way to obtain a pick-up group going for a session - particularly given all the parameters you are able to adapt to try to look for likeminded gamers. Not to mention you'll possibly make new friends?-

It's also pretty nifty to be able to obtain a premade party together instead of depend on in-game matchmaking that could land you with toxic teammates. A minimum of by doing this, you are able to vet them first, there are possible advantages too, for example potentially grabbing the experience point bonus for enjoying with friends in Apex Legends, for instance.