Tag Archives: Windows 10

Find a Microsoft Windows product key

A valid Microsoft Windows product key is required to reinstall Windows if the hard drive has to be replaced.

This key can be found for some PCs with OEM Windows licenses by opening a Command Prompt (right-click and select “Run as Administrator”).

At the command prompt, type:

wmic path SoftwareLicensingService get OA3xOriginalProductKey

Microsoft recommends following these steps to fix Windows activation issues.

Microsoft announces release of Windows 11

Microsoft announced the release of Windows 11 on June 24, 2021.  Windows 11 is set to be released on October 5, 2021.

Some of the changes include changes to the Microsoft Store and apps, as well as a new partnership with Amazon to bring their catalog of Android apps and games to Windows users.

Windows 11 will be available as an update to existing Windows 10 devices that meet its specifications. Windows 11 requires a Trusted Platform Module (TPM 2.0) chipMinimum hardware and Processor requirements for Windows 11 and other versions are also available.  These requirements apply to physical PCs and Virtual Machines (VMs).  Users can run a  PC Health Check app to see if their current PC is compatible to run Windows 11.

If Windows 11 is installed on devices that do not meet these requirements, security updates may not be available, and kernel mode crashes may occur more often.

Microsoft will end support for Windows 10 Home and Pro on October 14, 2025.

More information can be found at microsoft.com/en-us/windows/windows-11.

Microsoft Edge browser becomes Chromium compatible

Microsoft now has made their Edge browser Chromium compatible with its latest release on January 15, 2020.  New Edge browser extensions are also available.

The new Microsoft Edge will replace Microsoft Edge Legacy with the Windows 10 Update on on April 13, 2021. Other changes include vertical tabs and new privacy settings.

Internet Explorer Mode in Microsoft Edge is available to view older websites that do not run as intended using modern web browsers.

Update: Internet Explorer 11 desktop application will be retired on June 15, 2022 for certain versions of Windows 10.  Internet Explorer 11 will be permanently disabled with an Edge browser update. More information on this is available at the FAQ page.

Adobe recommends uninstalling Flash Player

Adobe no longer supports Flash Player as of January 1, 2021, and recommends that all users immediately uninstall Flash Player to help protect their systems.  They stated that developers should move Flash Player content to newer platforms such as HTML5 in a prior post.

Microsoft Windows update KB4577586 will also permanently remove Flash Player.  This update will be installed automatically as part of regular Windows updates.