Network Computers No Longer Present in File Explorer on Windows 10 1803

Summary:

How to enable network computer appearance and access in File Explorer on Windows 10 Version 1803

Comments:

1. This blog article provides the work-around details(How To) to return the functionality of viewing networked devices/computers in Windows 10 Version 1803 File Explorer’s Navigation pane ‘Network’ folder option (Editor Note: Windows Insider Build 17133[released Mar 27, 2018] is listed as ‘Feature update for Windows 10, version 1803’, thus article also applicable to installed Insider Builds 17133 and later)
2. Changes made by Microsoft may prevent an end-users ability to view shared devices(computers) in File Explorer’s Navigation Pane ‘Network’ folder option.
3. The inability to view networked devices/computers in File Explorers Navigation Pane ‘Network’ option appears to be related to deprecation of the HomeGroup feature. While not all end-users have or had previously used the Homegroup preferring standard network sharing methods, the end result of HomeGroup removal and/or under-the-hood feature and/or security changes may still be one of the underlying causes.

How To:

The steps to re-enable the ability to view and access shared devices/computers are shown below and requires changing a Windows 10 1803 Services settings item called ‘Function Discovery Resource Publication’

1. Access the Windows 10 Run dialog box via the Start Menu/Windows System/Run option or by pressing the Win + R keys on the keyboard.   Note: One can skip Step 1 and 2 and proceed to Step 3 if accessing the Services settings via search(Cllick/Tap the Windows Start Menu icon and enter ‘Services’  then click or tap on Services(Dekstop app)
2. If using the Run dialog box – enter services.msc in the Run dialog box then press Return to load the Services dialog box window
3. Scroll down in the Services window and select and double click/tap on ‘Function Discovery Resource Publication’ item(aka FDResPub) to access the service’s properties
4. Change the ‘Startup type’ field entry from ‘Manual’ to ‘Automatic’
5. In the same properties dialog box ‘Service status’ section click on Start (to start the FDResPub service)
6. Once the status indicator shows ‘Running’ Click ‘OK’ to close the Properties dialog box, then close the Services window.

Revisions:

Mar 2, 2018: Initial Draft – Titled and written initially for Windows Insider Build 17112

Mar 8, 2018: Note added in ‘How To’ section Step 1, re-saved as 2nd Draft version

Mar 27, 2018:  Initial Publish Date; Added graphic in How To section

Mar 30, 2018: Retitled/Republished for Windows 10 Version 1803; Added Editor Note – Comments

How To Access the Windows Defender Classic User Interface

Summary:

How to access the Windows Defender Classic User Interface on Windows 10

Comments:

1. The Windows Defender Classic UI(UI) can still be accessed using a variety of different methods in Windows 10.
2. The same command line text content can be used for to access the Defender Classic UI via a Shortcut or Search or Run dialog box. 
3. Microsoft replaced the Windows Defender Classic UI in Windows 10 with a new Windows Universal App(UWA) version – Windows Defender Security Center.  The new UI first appeared in Windows 10 Creators Update(Version 1703, April 2017) and continues in the Fall Creators Update(Version 1709,November 2017)
4. The UWP app is the recommended method to access Windows 10 Defender and all the features(Threats, Definition Updates, Device Performance, and Health) included in the Windows Defender Security Center. For more information on each feature in the new UI please reference the Microsoft KB4013263 article => Protect my device with Windows Defender Security Center
5. Accessing the Windows Defender Classic UI may provide the desired familiarity(traditional style – Home, Update, and History tabs) for end-users upgrading to Windows 10(from Windows 7/8.1 and earlier versions of Windows 10) as they transition into use and comfort with the newer Windows 10 Defender Security Center UWA.

How To:

• Command line text for the Windows Defender Classic UI
  • C:\Program Files\Windows Defender\MSASCui.exe
• Accessing via a Shortcut,  Search, or  Run options
  • Shortcut
    • Create a new shortcut in the location of your choice then copy the above text(shown in bold, blue above) and paste the text as the command line for the shortcut, then when prompted name the shortcut(e.g. Windows Defender Classic UI). The shortcut can be pinned to the Start Menu, Task Bar or if enabled the Quick Launch Toolbar
    • Search
      • Click the  Search icon or Seach dialog on the Task Bar then copy the above text and paste into the search field. Press Return
    • Run
      • Copy the above text and paste into the Run dialog box entry field. Note:The Run command is located o  the Start Menu under the Windows System sub menu category.

Revisions:

May 21, 2017: Initial Draft and Publish Date

Oct 31, 2017: Added links and content to Windows Defender Security Center KB article

Feb. 02, 2017: Rewritten and Re-Publish Date(revised content for clarity based on feedback requests and comments from blog follower/readers). Editor Note: Thank you Sasha, Brian, & Elise!

Windows Insider Preview Builds – Calendar Year 2018 Releases

Summary:

Calendar Year 2018 Chronological History of Windows 10 Insider Preview Builds for PC Devices

Comments:

1. This blog article provides direct links for the 2018 Calendar Year Windows 10 Insider Preview Builds release notices(Announcements) on the Microsoft ‘Windows Blog’
2. Direct links are for the Windows 10 Insider Builds specifically for PC devices in the Fast Ring
3. Direct links are in reverse chronological order(newest first)
4. Links(when clicked) are configured to open in a new browser window
5. The purpose of this article is to make it easier to find the content information(e.g. What’s New; Improvements for Settings, Windows Shell, Input, Navigation, Apps etc; Fixes and Known Issues) about each released 2018 Windows 10 Insider Preview Build by helping to eliminate the need to navigate forward and/or back through the multiple pages(and other articles) hosted on the Windows Blog site

  ==>  Editor Note: Effective today, Feb. 27, 2018 all future applicable updates to this blog article’s topic can now be found on my ‘Windows Unplugged – Field Book’ blog article and accessible using the following link.

• https://windowsunplugged.blog/2018/01/11/windows-insider-preview-builds-calendar-year-2018-releases/

 

More Information:

• Feb 27 2018 Windows 10 Insider Preview Build 17110
• Feb 23 2018 Windows 10 Insider Preview Build 17107
• Feb 14 2018 Windows 10 Insider Preview Build 17101
• Feb  7 2018  Windows 10 Insider Preview Build 17093
• Jan 24 2018 Windows 10 Insider Preview Build 17083
• Jan 11 2018 Windows10  Insider Preview Build 17074

 

Revisions:

Jan 11 2018: Initial Draft and Publish Date

Feb 27 2018:  Added Editor Note in Comment section regarding future update to this article

OOBE Updates for Windows 10 1703 and 1607

Summary:

Microsoft Windows 10 December 2017 OOBE updates for Windows 10 Version 1703 and 1607 providing an option to upgrade to Windows 10 Version 1709

Comments:

1. What is OOBE -  Out-of-box experience (OOBE pronounced oo-bee) is the experience a consumer (or user) has when preparing to first use a new product. In relation to computing, this includes the setup process of installing and/or performing initial configuration of a piece of hardware or software on a computer.
2. Each December 2017 OOBE Update for Windows 10 versions 1703 and 1607 will be deployed automatically via Windows Update and offer the end-user the option to upgrade to the latest released Windows 10 Version 1709
3. The purpose of each applicable update is to improve the Windows 10 Version 1703 and 1607 out-of-box experience (OOBE) by offering end-users the option to update to the latest Windows 10 Version 1709 during the OOBE process(i.e. first use of Windows 10 on a new device). Note: This update applies only to the Windows 10 Version 1703 and 1607 OOBE process and will be available only when OOBE updates are installed.
4. The Knowledge Base article(dated Dec. 7th) for Windows 10 1703 is KB4054505  [1]
5. The Knowledge Base article(dated Dec. 7th) for Windows 10 1607 is KB4054507

More Information:

• Knowledge Base Articles
  • KB 4054505 (for Windows 10 1703) [1]
    •   https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/4054505/oobe-update-for-windows-10-version-1703-march-23-2018-kb4054505
  • KB 4054507 (for Wiindows 10 1607)
    • https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/4054507/oobe-update-for-windows-10-version-1607-december-7-2017-kb4054507
• Windows Updates during OOBE
  • Microsoft document explaining the automatic and required updates occurring during OOBE
    • https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/customize/desktop/windows-updates-during-oobe

Notes:

[1]  Microsoft has routinely updated KB 4054505 since Windows 10 Version 1703 is still in ‘Support’ phase under the ‘Windows-as-a-Service’ policy.  The latest update/revision for KB4054505 is March 2018.  (Editor Comment – Note added after feedback from blog follower; Thanks Rhonda )

 

Revisions:

Dec. 7, 2017: Initial Draft

Dec. 7, 2017: Initial Publish Date

Mar. 24, 2018: Added Note section and Note [1]

Default Progams – Accessing The Earlier Version User Interface Options

Summary: 

How to access the Default Programs User Interface options previously available prior to the release of the Windows 10 Fall Creators Update Version 1709

Comments:

1. Windows 10 1709 Fall Creators Update deprecated the old style previous version ‘Default Programs’ User Interface in favor of a streamlined and condensed option.  Windows 10 1709 Default Program available configuration options are now accessed via Windows 10 Settings/Apps/Default Apps
2. The old style pre-1709 User Interface(UI) is still accessible but with reduced functionality than previously available.
3. The most significant change is the inability to use the old style Default Programs UI to select a program and modify its related default file type extensions and protocols.
4. Accessing the old style UI can still be helpful by providing a familiar user interface for viewing an individual program’s quantity(number) of supported defaults and the respective supported defaults by file type extension and/or protocol 
5. The How-To section below provides the command line code for use in creating shortcuts. The same command line code can be entered in the Run command option accessible in the Windows 10 Start Menu

• How To:
  • Default Programs – Program selection option to view defaults by quantity and file type extension and/or protocol  (command line code shown immediately below) 
    • C:\Windows\System32\control.exe /name Microsoft.DefaultPrograms /page pageDefaultProgram
  • Default Programs – Set or Modify Default Program
    • C:\Windows\System32\ComputerDefaults.exe
  • Default Programs – File Type
    • C:\Windows\System32\control.exe /name Microsoft.DefaultPrograms /page pageFileAssoc

 

• Revisions:

November 1, 2017: Initial Draft Date

November 2, 2017: Initial Publish Date

November 14, 2017: Revised ‘Comments section – numbered items; added comment #4

 

Windows 10 Update History – Version 1709 (Fall Creators Update)

Summary:  Microsoft web site for the latest and past released feature and security updates for Windows 10 Version 1709 Creators Update

Comments:

• Reference site for Windows 10 Version 1709(Fall Creators Update) Build 16299 updates
  • https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/4018124
• Contains updates for each  released KB(Knowledge Base) update by Build number.Subversion number
  • e.g. 16299.19 = Build number 16299 Subversion number 19  (Initial Release, October 17, 2017)
    • Subsequent updates will be deployed via Windows Update and only modify the ‘Subversion number’
• Each KB contains(when applicable) a section describing:
  • Improvements and Fixes
  • Known issues
  • How to obtain the update (including Update Replacement and File Information)
    • Update Replacement identifies if the KB replaces or doesn’t replace a prior update
    • File Information is provided by linking to a downloadable *.csv file

 

 

• Additional Information:
  • Reference (Click on the link below to access the updates released for Windows 10) 
    • • • Windows 10 update history
  • Windows as a service – Overview
  • Windows 10 release information (blog article with link to historical Windows 10 release info)
  • Windows Update: FAQ
  • Progressing Windows as a service ((Note: Technical article intended for IT Pros)

 

 

Revisions:

October 18, 2017:  Initial Draft Date

October 19, 2017: Initial Publish Date

November 14, 2017: Added link for ‘Progressing Windows as a service’ in Additional Information section; Minor edit content and links

 

Windows 10–Fall Creators Update Available October 17th

Summary:  Microsoft makes Windows 10 Fall Creators Update available on October 17, 2017

 

Comments:

• Windows 10 Creators Update, the next version major release for Windows 10, is now available as of 10 P.M. PDT October 17, 2017
• Microsoft previously announced the Windows 10 Fall Creators Update would be rolled out in stages
• A variety of methods/options are available to obtain the Fall Creators Update. The primary consumer methods are noted below. Also see the ‘How-To’ section for specific information on each method.
  • • • • Media Creation Tool
        • Update Assistant
        • Windows 10 Windows Update (Manually check for updates)
• The above methods are primarily intended for early adopters interested in installing the Windows 10 Fall Creator’s update in advance of the scheduled staged rollout automatically via Windows Update

• • Note: Staged rollout = Deployed automatically via Windows Update. Not everyone will receive the new Windows 10 Fall Creator bits at the same time.   If past history is an indication of timing, a staged-rollout may last for months.

 

How To:

• Media Creation Tool – (Microsoft tool on the Windows 10 Software Download web page for creating Windows 10 USB/DVD media and optionally an ISO file for mounting or creating media)
  • Visit the Windows 10 Software Download web page, download and save the Media Creation Tool executable file(MediaCreationTool.exe), close all open applications, and Run the executable in Admin mode
  • https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10
• Update Assistant
  • Visit the Windows 10 Software Download web page and choose the ‘Update Now’ option
• Windows Update
  • Windows 10 – Settings/Update and Security/Windows Update/Check for Updates)

 

 

Additional Information:

• Windows 10 Media Creation Tool blog article
  • https://windowsunplugged.blog/2017/03/28/windows-10-media-creation-tool-creating-installation-media/
• Get Windows 10 Fall Creators Update
  • https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/4028685/windows-10-get-the-fall-creators-update
• What’s new in the Fall Creators Update
  • https://blogs.windows.com/windowsexperience/2017/10/17/whats-new-windows-10-fall-creators-update/#j2RdYg0likkLlhor.97

 

Revisions:

October 17, 2017:  Initial Draft Date

October 18, 2017:  Initial Publish Date

October 18, 2017:  Added ‘What’s New’ link in Additional Information section; final editing/correction