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If you're unaware, the Media Creation Tool is a super-simple way to download a small program from Microsoft and bake it onto a USB drive that can then be used to install a copy of Windows on a PC. It's an excellent method for installing fresh and starting from scratch, especially if you need to do so for another computer, say, in aid of family tech support. The Media Creation Tool has been around in various flavors for years, and it's periodically updated as a separate piece of software… and the latest update has broken it for some users on Windows 10.
That's according to Microsoft itself, who filed it as a bug on October 10th (that's 11 days after the tool was updated). According to the official "Known Issues" page for Windows (spotted by Windows Latest), Windows 10 machines on the 22H2 release are seeing the tool "close unexpectedly, displaying no error message."
The fact that this was an update to the tool that immediately preceded the self-imposed deadline that Microsoft set for a Windows 11 upgrade is u
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When looking for the best VPN, you'll want to consider a few things: First and foremost, does it have a good privacy record; how are its average connection speeds; is it able to effectively and consistently unblock streaming services; and finally, does it have a large enough server network for your location needs? All of my curated picks below deliver these essentials and more.
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But if you haven't done anything about it yet, you probably should. Here's a quick summary of what you need to know and what to do about it.
Your options for Windows 10
You don't have to leave Windows 10 if you don't want to. Hundreds of millions of PCs (about half of them, in fact) won't stop working today just because of a specific date on the calendar. This is not a Y2K situation. Even Microsoft itself has backtracked on the ultimatum, offering regular users "free" ways to extend security support for another year, albeit with some distasteful strings attached.
(Many countries in Europe have
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However, experts—including former Microsoft employee David Plummer—recommend taking a further step: grab the Windows 10 ISO file before Microsoft removes it from the website.
What's a Windows 10 ISO file? And why do I need to download it?
An ISO file contains all the data, files, folders, and structures of a particular program. It's usually kept on hand for archiving purposes. It's essentially the digital equivalent of what you'd get if you bought a software CD, for example, Windows 10.
You can use the Windows 10 ISO file to completely reinstall Windows 10 if problems arise on your current system. If you burn the ISO file to a bootable CD or drive, you can use it at any time to run Windows.
If you think you'll ever want to run or install Windows 10 again, it's a good idea to download the Windows 10 ISO file ASAP. We don't know how much longer it'll be made available by Microsoft.
How to download the Windows 10 ISO file
There are two ways to obtain the Windows 10 ISO: either via Microsoft's download page or via the Media Creation Tool.
Metho
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Whether you're traveling internationally or just looking to change your cell provider, an eSIM is an easy way to add multiple lines to your phone.
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Sure, I love The Crown, Mindhunter, and Hacks, but true streaming gems tend to be few and far between. (Yes, I know, I need to stream Severance. I'll get to it!)
All too often, the latest prestige shows with those marquee stars and the terrific, glossy trailers turn out to be bloated bores, and they've all started to feel the same. Life is too short.
Worst of all, I was throwing away $20 or more every month on streaming services I wasn't really enjoying—and don't even get me started about the price hikes. Couldn't I put that cash to better use?
Time for a change
That's when the idea of switching to an over-the-air antenna began percolating. For the cost of roughly two months of Netflix, I could purchase and install a (small) backyard TV antenna that would beam dozens of free over-the-air channels to my television, for free.
And some of the free TV shows being broadcast right now are pretty enticing. Topping the list in our household was Abbott Elementary, a fast and funny sitcom that boasts snappy writing, characters you care about, and a svelte 22-minute running time, meaning no self-indulgent filler. Why pay for Abbott on Hulu when I could get it over-the-air for free?
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