Five things you need to know about Microsoft's looming Windows 10 Spring Creators Update

The Register ^ | Mar 22, 2018 | Shaun Nichols

[dayglored]

At some point next month, just in time for Spring, Microsoft will start to emit the Windows 10 Spring Creators Update to everyone's PC.

Avid Reg readers will be aware of what's forthcoming for the Redmond operating system. If you're just tuning in, well, see the aforementioned link, and strap in for these highlights. When the OS upgrade is released proper, we'll be on the scene with the full details. In the meantime, here's your need to know:

1. Microsoft reckons the operating system will take, on average, 30 minutes to install, which is much shorter than usual.

2. The OS will feature a thing called Timeline, which presents a summary of what you've been up to over the past 30 days, with on-screen links to apps and documents.

3. You can share files with physically nearby devices using a wireless feature called Nearby Share.

4. Shell and other bits and pieces of the desktop will look nicer. You may be forced to use Edge, though, but at least you can mute the browser's tabs.

5. The Photos app in Windows 10 will be updated to use the High Efficiency Image File Format, a change that promises to improve the quality and compression of pictures.

Exactly when this update – codenamed Red Stone 4, aka version 1803 – will land, and what's actually in it, is anyone's guess right now as Microsoft is being coy about the final change log. The software is largely expected to roll out from April 10, that being the month's Patch Tuesday.

Our advice? Hold off until the initial bugs are ironed out, and the exact feature list is cemented in. Alternatively, grab betas from the Windows Insider stream of updates and play with it to your heart's content. ®

[dayglored]

Okay, I’ll try it, thanks!

[RedWing9]

Tomguy,

I for one am glad for the updated UIs in Win 7 and beyond. I can’t really understand your struggle with the Ribbon or the Win10 GUI (I’ve adapted over the years - just my experience). Most likely, like Daniel1212 pointed out, there are options you could use to get past the struggle.

It also might point to your need to update your skills/knowledge, there are ways to do things, just differently. My biggest productivity enhancer when it comes to Windows commands is using the keyboard, knowing shortcuts. You’d be really surprised how much easier it is then searching context menus. Here’s a list of them to get you started... https://www.cio.com/article/2372332/infrastructure/keyboard-shortcuts—the-ribbon—microsoft-word-and-ie.html

[RedWing9]

then charging us monthly to use it.

Huh??? I use Win 10 Professional, paid just under 150 for the full version and have installed it twice, once after an upgrade of my hardware. I don't get charged monthly.

[Billthedrill]

Well, the boys and girls in Redmond do stay on top of what the user really wants. I can't wait for a brand new OS four times a year, and I love the massive disruption that brings to all my MS machines, the wasted time, the new potential security holes from apps I'll never use and resetting of my security settings to "help" me, the squandering of precious bandwidth, and the learning curve that takes me from a fairly informed user back to a beginner every three freakin' months. I love it. I love banging my thumb with a hammer too.

Come on guys. Thirty minutes of downtime minimum (assuming the upgrades work, which has had about a 50% success rate for me over the last three upgrades) per node, every three months? This is progress? Look, I love the Windows OS but fully half of my home machines are now Linux because I simply can't afford to keep it. Maddening.

[Henchster]

MS is already charging a monthly or annual rate for the “licensing” of MS Office. You can’t buy a permanent license. It is just a matter of time, like the next Windows “Critical” Update, before the O/S goes the same route.

[daniel1212]

Thanks. Then you have the Run command and (press Windows key and tap r key, let both go, then paste the following) Canonical names:

control.exe /name Microsoft.DateAndTime

control.exe /name Microsoft.DefaultPrograms

control.exe /name Microsoft.DevicesAndPrinters

control.exe /name Microsoft.Display

control.exe /name Microsoft.FolderOptions

control.exe /name Microsoft.IndexingOptions

control.exe /name Microsoft.InternetOptions

control.exe /name Microsoft.Mouse

control.exe /name Microsoft.Personalization

control.exe /name Power Options

control.exe /name Microsoft.ProgramsAndFeatures

control.exe /name Microsoft.Recovery

control.exe /name Microsoft.Sound

control.exe /name Microsoft.Taskbar

control.exe /name Microsoft.NotificationAreaIcons

control.exe /name Microsoft.UserAccounts

control.exe /name Microsoft.WindowsDefender

More: https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/ee330741%28v=vs.85%29.aspx

Plus these you can run:
dxdiag [system info]
devmgmt.msc [device manager]
diskmgmt.msc
eventvwr.msc
services.msc
powercfg.cpl

C:\Windows\System32\appwiz.cpl [Remove programs]
C:\Windows\System32\SndVol.exe
C:\Windows\System32\rstrui.exe [System Restore]
C:\Windows\System32\Sysdm.cpl [System Properites]
C:\Windows\System32\fodhelper.exe [Manage optional features like Cortana]

[RedWing9]

So in other words you misspoke...

[Henchster]

No, I didn’t. You must work for MS.

[RedWing9]

"It is totally safe, and a blessing for those of us that don’t want MS taking over our property and then charging us monthly to use it."

Right there, you said MS was going to charge you monthly for it if you didn't use this tool. They DO NOT currently have a monthly or annual price for the OS. Therefore, they CAN'T charge you monthly for it. You misspoke. Go ahead, deflect again.

[RedWing9]

"It is totally safe, and a blessing for those of us that don’t want MS taking over our property and then charging us monthly to use it."

Right there, you said MS was going to charge you monthly for it if you didn't use this tool. They DO NOT currently have a monthly or annual price for the OS. Therefore, they CAN'T charge you monthly for it. You misspoke. Go ahead, deflect again.

[RedWing9]

"It is totally safe, and a blessing for those of us that don’t want MS taking over our property and then charging us monthly to use it."

Right there, you said MS was going to charge you monthly for it if you didn't use this tool. They DO NOT currently have a monthly or annual price for the OS. Therefore, they CAN'T charge you monthly for it. You misspoke. Go ahead, deflect again.

[Henchster]

Keep propping up your employer, he’ll throw you another fish.

MS is already charging for Office, and their plan is to eventually start doing the same for the OS. If you don’t believe me, read these:

https://www.itassetmanagement.net/2015/06/02/microsofts-move-subscription-saas/

https://www.informationweek.com/software/operating-systems/windows-10-microsoft-attempts-a-saas-model/a/d-id/1321473

Now you can apologize for behaving like an ass over my original comment.