Windows 10 first Insider Build was released Oct 1st, 2014

Wow it has been 3 years since the first Windows 10 insider build was released.  It seems so long ago, but also it seem so recent.

Amazing how much it has changed from build 9841 to build 17004.

Keep up the good work Microsoft…

Surface Pro 4 Pen stops working on Surface Book Insider 16362

I just upgraded from Windows Insider build 16353 to 16362 and the Surface Pro 4 Pen\Stylus is not registering when I click the screen.

*Update: This happened again after upgrading from 16362 to 17004

I checked the Device Manager | Human Interface Devices and found nothing that would indicate a problem.  I checked the Bluetooth devices and the Surface Pen showed up. 

The pen worked on another Surface device, so I knew the pen was working and had battery.

I tried to reboot and that did not resolve.

I tried to remove the Bluetooth device and re-add and that did not resolve.

I tired to remove the battery and that did not resolve.

I finally got it to work.

I opened up the Device Manager and went to Human Interface Devices.  I right clicked on the following drivers and uninstalled

-> Surface Pen Integration

-> Surface Pen Settings

I rebooted and the pen began to work.  I verified that those devices showed back up in Device Manager.

*this is not the Surface Pro 3 Stylus.  This is the pen that comes with the Surface Pro 4 or Surface Book.

Windows 10 Insider Builds

Updated: 10/1/2017

Windows 10 Insider Build Versions and Release Dates for PC’s.

BUILD 9841 | October 1st, 2014 (iso) [WED]

BUILD 9860 | October 22nd, 2014 [WED]

BUILD 9879 | November 12th, 2014 [WED]

BUILD 9926 | January 21st, 2015 [WED]

BUILD 10041 | March 18th, 2015 (iso) [WED]

BUILD 10049 | March 30th, 2015 [MON]

BUILD 10061 | April 22nd, 2015 [WED]

BUILD 10074 | April 29th, 2015 (iso) [WED]

BUILD 10122 | May 20th, 2015 [WED]

BUILD 10130 | May 29th, 2015 [FRI]

BUILD 10158 | June 29th, 2015 [MON]

BUILD 10159 | June 30th, 2015 [TUE]

BUILD 10162 | July 2nd, 2015 [THU]

BUILD 10166 | July 9th, 2015 [THU]

BUILD 10240 | July 15th, 2015 [RTM] [WED] – (*) Doesn’t count as an insider build release

BUILD 10240 | July 29th, 2015 [GA] [WED] – (*) Doesn’t count as an insider build release

BUILD 10525 | August 18th, 2015 [TUE]

BUILD 10532 | August 27th, 2015 [THU]

BUILD 10547 | September 18th, 2015 [FRI]

BUILD 10565 | October 12th, 2015 [MON]

BUILD 10576 | October 29th, 2015 [THU]

BUILD 10586 | November 5th, 2015 [THU | 10:00am]

BUILD 11082 | December 16th, 2015 [WED | 10:05am]

BUILD 11099 | January 13th, 2016 [WED | 10:03am]

BUILD 11102 | January 21th, 2016 [THU | 10:03am]

BUILD 14251 | January 27th, 2016 [WED | 10:02am]

BUILD 14257 | February 3rd, 2016 [WED | 4:01pm]

BUILD 14267 | February 18th, 2016 [THU | 10:06am]

BUILD 14271 | February 24th, 2016 [WED | 10:01am]

BUILD 14279 | March 4th, 2016 [FRI | 10:07am]

BUILD 14291 | March 17th, 2016 [THU | 4:05pm] | w/Edge Ext.

BUILD 14295 | March 25th, 2016 [FRI | 10:01am]

BUILD 14316 | April 6th, 2016 [WED | 10:02am]

BUILD 14328 | April 22nd, 2016 [FRI | 08:01am]

BUILD 14332 | April 26th, 2016 [TUE | 3:01pm]

BUILD 14342 | May 10th, 2016 [TUE | 6:00pm]

BUILD 14352 | May 26th, 2016 [THU | 3:30pm]

BUILD 14361 | June 8th, 2016 [WED | 10:00am] – Dona Sarkar’s First Build Rel.

BUILD 14366 | June 14th, 2016 [TUE | 3:20pm]

BUILD 14367 | June 16th, 2016 [THU | 7:15pm]

BUILD 14371 | June 22nd, 2016 [WED | 9:00am]

BUILD 14372 | June 23rd, 2016 [THU | 3:00pm]

BUILD 14376 | June 28th, 2016 [TUE | 3:00pm]

BUILD 14379 | June 30th, 2016 [THU | 3:00pm]

BUILD 14383 | July 7th, 2016 [THU | 10:00am]

BUILD 14385 | July 9th, 2016 [SAT | 3:00pm]

BUILD 14388 | July 12th, 2016 [TUE | 3:00pm]

BUILD 14390 | July 15th, 2016 [FRI | 10:00am]

BUILD 14393 | July 18th, 2016 [MON | 3:00pm] [RS1|RTM]

BUILD 14393 | August 2nd, 2016 [TUE | 10:00am] [RS1|GA] – (*) Doesn’t count as an insider build release

BUILD 14901 | August 11th, 2016 [THU | 3:32pm]

BUILD 14905 | August 17th, 2016 [WED | 10:00am]

BUILD 14915 | August 31st, 2016 [WED | 10:00am]

BUILD 14926 | September 14th, 2016 [WED | 10:00am]

BUILD 14931 | September 21st, 2016 [WED | 3:00pm]

BUILD 14936 | September 28th, 2016 [WED | 10:00am]

BUILD 14942 | October 7th, 2016 [FRI | 10:00am]

BUILD 14946 | October 13th, 2016 [THU | 10:00am]

BUILD 14951 | October 19th, 2016 [WED | 3:00pm]

BUILD 14955 | October 25th, 2016 [TUE | 10am]

BUILD 14959 | November 3rd, 2016 [THU | 10am]

BUILD 14965 | November 9th, 2016 [WED | 10am]

BUILD 14971 | November 17th, 2016 [THU | 10am]

BUILD 14986 | December 7th, 2016 [WED | 3pm]

BUILD 15002 | January 9th, 2017 [MON | 10am]

BUILD 15007 | January 12th, 2017 [THU | 3pm]

BUILD 15014 | January 19th, 2017 [THU | 3pm]

BUILD 15019 | January 27th, 2017 [FRI | 10am]

BUILD 15025 | February 1st, 2017 [WED | 12pm]

BUILD 15031 | February 9th, 2017 [THU | 3pm]

BUILD 15042 | February 24th, 2017 [FRI | 10am]

BUILD 15046 | February 28th, 2017 [TUE | 3pm]

BUILD 15048 | March 2nd, 2017 [FRI | 10am]

BUILD 15055 | March 10th, 2017 [FRI | 10am]

BUILD 15058 | March 14th, 2017 [TUE | 3pm]

BUILD 15060 | March 16th, 2017 [THU | 3pm]

BUILD 15061 | March 17th, 2017 [FRI | 10am]

BUILD 15063 | March 20th, 2017 [MON | 7pm] [RS2|RTM]

BUILD 15063 | April 11th, 2017 [TUE | 10am] [RS2|GA] – (*) Doesn’t count as an insider build release

BUILD 16170 | April 7th, 2017 [FRI | 10am] [RS3]

BUILD 16176 | April 14, 2017 [FRI | 10am]

BUILD 16179 | April 19, 2017 [WED | 10am]

BUILD 16184 | April 28, 2017 [FRI | 10am]

BUILD 16188 | May 4th, 2017 [THU | 10am]

BUILD 16193 | May 11th, 2017 [THU | 10am]

BUILD 16199 | May 17th, 2017 [WED | 10am]

BUILD 16215 | June 8th, 2017 [THU | 3pm]

BUILD 16226 | June 21st, 2017 [WED | 3pm]

BUILD 16232 | June 28th, 2017 [WED | 3pm]

BUILD 16237 | July 7th, 2017 [FRI | 10am]

BUILD 16241 | July 12th, 2017 [THU | 10am]

BUILD 16251 | July 26th, 2017 [WED | 10am]

BUILD 16257 | August 2nd, 2017 [WED | 3pm]

BUILD 16273 | August 23rd, 2017 [WED | 10am]

BUILD 16275 | August 25th, 2017 [FRI | 12pm]

BUILD 16278 | August 29th, 2017 [TUE | 2pm]

BUILD 16281 | September 1st, 2017 [FRI | 3pm]

BUILD 16288 | September 12th, 2017 [TUE | 3pm]

BUILD 16291 | September 19th, 2017 [TUE | 2pm]

BUILD 16294 | September 20th, 2017 [WED | 8pm]

BUILD 16296 | September 22nd, 2017 [FRI | 3pm]

BUILD 16299 | September 26th, 2017 [TUE | 2pm]

Windows 10 Nerd Math. What day of the week an Insider Build typically gets released.

DAY	#ofRel	PER%
MON	6	6.1%
TUE	14	14.1%
WED	33	33.3%
THU	26	26.3%
FRI	19	19.1%
SAT	1	1.0%
SUN	0	0

*Total of 99 Releases as of 9/26

Windows 10 Download Tool (iso) Error 0x800704DD – 0x90016

I was getting ready to use the Windows 10 Download Tool to create an ISO to upgrade my old HP Laptop (DV9543CL).  I downloaded the tool and ran.  However I kept getting the following error when tryting to use.

I rebooted several times.

I try to run with elevated permissions (run as Administrator).

Nothing was working.

I finally changed my user account permissions to local admin and that resolved.  Sigh…

New Surface 3 System Updates (2/4/2016)

On the heels of Microsofts big Janurary System Updates (1/19), which saw its largest number of system updates (15), Microsoft has released another set of updates. 

Updates 2/4/206

• Surface UEFI update (v1.51116.78.0) recalibrates touch panel.
• Surface Touch Controller Firmware update (v4.251.60.0) recalibrates touch panel.
• Surface Platform Power Driver update (v2.1.36.1) improves charging.

Surface Pro 4 Firmware and Driver Update (Nov 2015)

Surface Pro 4 Firmware and Driver Update for November 2015.  Release date is November 9th. 

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=49498

Details:

• No details as of yet on this update

This is the second update in less than a week.  There was an earlier update November 2nd.

Details:

• HD Graphics 520 driver update (v20.19.15.4308) addresses some display issues, including some scenarios that result in screen flickering.
• Display audio driver update (v8.20.0.659) supports compatibility with the updated graphics driver.
• Surface Embedded Controller Firmware update (v103.855.257.0) improves system stability.
• Surface Pen Settings driver update (v10.0.302.0) adds support for future functionality on Windows 10.

You can see main Surface Pro 4 Update page here.

Update Surface 3 Firmware and Drivers (Nov 2015)

Updated Surface 3 Firmware and Drivers for November 2015.

 

No current details on what it includes.  Download here.

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=49040

The new Surface Pro 4 and Surface Book Stylus

The new Surface Pro 4 and Surface Book Stylus that was just released.  I just got mine in the mail today.

The Stylus is also backward compatible with the Surface Pro 3 and the Surface 3, which is great news since this is what I am currently using.

New with this Stylus is a package of different tips.  The tips provide different friction on the glass.

TIPS
2H – Very Low Friction
H – Low Friction
HB – Medium Friction
B – High Friction

The default tip in the stylus is the HB version.

The new Surface Stylus is about 1/2” longer than the previous pen and in my opinion it seems to be more weight distributed.  Comparison of the SP3 and SP4 Stylus.

No buttons on the new Stylus.  There is a button bar on the flat side of the Stylus that now controls the right click feature.  I kind of like the flat surface of the Stylus for my finger.  It feels more ergonomic.

Be careful trying to remove the cap.  IT IS NOT A SCREW CAP like the previous version.  It is a guided notch.  It turns a quarter turn and pulls off.  I bet there will be a handful of calls to Microsoft support from people breaking them before they are ever used.  Ouch…

I actually read the user guide with this pen, after almost breaking mine.

Temporary Post Used For Theme Detection (8a7ea2cd-fb00-4a32-a2a1-700a87ad1209 – 3bfe001a-32de-4114-a6b4-4005b770f6d7)

This is a temporary post that was not deleted. Please delete this manually. (f01519af-f13e-46af-b844-281274bf7697 – 3bfe001a-32de-4114-a6b4-4005b770f6d7)

Dream Slate or Tablet (throw back)

This is a couple days after Microsoft big Windows 10 Device event.  With the announcement of the new Surface Pro 4 and the Surface book it got me to thinking about what I am using and what I want in a device.  I happened to look back to some notes that I had made back in April 2012 of the features that I was looking for for my dream slate\tablet device.  This was before the release of the first generation of the Surface Pro line (June 2012).  This was also after owning and using an assortment of underwhelming slates\tablets.  Well this was my list in OneNote.

Screen Size of around 10” (aspect ratio 3:2 not 16:9)

5 hours of battery

128GB SSD

i5 Core processer (x64)

(2) USB slots

Full SD Card or MicroSD

Detachable Keyboard

HDMI (Mini)

Pen Silo

Wacom Digitizer

MicroUSB Charging

 

Well it is 2015, what am I using now.  My main work machine is the Surface Pro 3 (i7/8GB/256GB) device running Windows 10.  I am running it through Surface Dock and running two Dell U2414H in a DaisyChain.  I absolutely love it.

Now, my home machine and my consumption device is a Surface 3 model.  I went with the 4GB/64GB model (LC5-00001) that comes with Windows 8.1 Professional.  This is really a great size memory and hard drive space as the majority of stuff that I have is up in OneDrive or DropBox.

The Surface 3 device almost checks off everyone of my previous wants.  I really love the size of this device.

This is going to be my dream tablet list for 2015.

Screen Size again at the 10” (same 3:2 aspect ratio)

Stylus that keeps advancing like the SP4 pen

128GB+ SSD

i5 core + (fanless)

(1) USB 3.1 or C

MicroUSB Charging

Detachable Keyboard base like the new Surface Book that contains additional juice (GPU/memory/HDD)

I’m over the Pen Silo want.

MicroSD Card

Mini-DisplayPort

10+ hours of battery life

 

There you go.  What is your favorite tablet?  What do you want in your dream tablet?