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What does “Windows 10 end of support” mean? End of support signifies that Microsoft will cease providing monthly security updates, feature updates, and technical support for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025. The operating system will continue functioning on existing hardware, but devices will become increasingly vulnerable to security threats without regular patches.

What is SMBv1? Server Message Block version 1 (SMBv1) is a network file-sharing protocol developed in 1983. It enables file and printer sharing across Windows networks using specific TCP/IP ports. It was the primary file-sharing protocol for Windows systems until SMBv2 replaced it in 2007. Microsoft deprecated SMBv1 in 2014 in favor of SMBv2 and SMBv3, which provide better security, performance, and reliability. Why is SMBv1 still used?

Enablement package approach Windows 11 25H2 will be delivered as an enablement package (eKB), sharing the same servicing branch as version 24H2. This technical implementation significantly reduces installation complexity and download size. New features are included in monthly cumulative updates for version 24H2 in a disabled state, with the enablement package changing flags from disabled to enabled after a single restart. The shared servicing approach provides several technical advantages.

System requirements and prerequisites Windows Backup for Organizations can create backups on devices meeting these technical specifications: Operating Systems: Windows 10 version 22H2 build 19045.6216 or later, Windows 11 version 22H2 build 22621.5768 or later, Windows 11 version 23H2 build 22631.5768 or later, or Windows 11 version 24H2 build 26100.4946 or later Device Configuration: Microsoft Entra ID joined or Microsoft Entra hybrid joined devices Updates: August 2025 Windows security...

If you're interested in testing the Chinese DeepSeek R1 model, you may face challenges as their website is not accepting new registrations at the moment. They attribute this to a DDoS attack. You might consider downloading the open-source model and trying it on your own computer instead. Install on Windows I didn't attempt the 671 billion parameter version since it requires a multi-GPU setup. However, you can test several distilled versions with fewer parameters on a PC or Mac.

In a previous post about the new AI features in the Warp terminal, I suggested that AI interfaces would eventually replace the CLI and facilitate the automation of script generation. The Cline extension for Visual Studio Code is a significant step in this direction, allowing you to create scripts using natural language, execute them with AI support in the terminal, rely on AI to analyze shell output and respond to errors.

The significant technical changes in the Windows 11 Start menu become evident when attempting to deploy a standardized Start menu across multiple computers. The XML export method familiar from Windows 10 is no longer supported; instead, a JSON configuration must now be deployed via MDM. The issue of outdated Group Policy settings for managing the Start menu is not new. These settings have remained largely unchanged since Windows 8, despite numerous modifications to the Start menu over the years.

Since logging in with just a username and password is considered insecure, many major mail service providers are urging users to switch to more secure authentication methods. One widely recommended solution is Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA). App passwords for MFA When MFA is enabled for Gmail, older applications may have difficulty handling the second authentication factor, such as a One-Time Password (OTP). As a result, logging in with Outlook 2013 becomes impossible.

The summaries of the statements show mixed opinions on the AI Wall, with most AI researchers skeptical that the scaling hypothesis will hold in the near future. The list is certainly not exhaustive; these are just the ones I recall who recently shared their views on the scaling law and the AI Wall.

In early 2024, Microsoft unveiled its three-phase plan for migrating users to the new Outlook. As part of this transition, the new client is set to become the default, though users will still have the option to continue using the classic version for now. New Outlook drops POP3 and on-prem support The classic Outlook will remain supported until at least 2029, meaning there is no immediate need to migrate.