Paul McNally

There is nothing worse than a frustrating Windows update error on your laptop, just as you need it to finish that important piece of work. Microsoft Update seems to thrive on causing these problems. Fortunately Which Laptop thrives on helping you fix them!

Some errors are easier than others and Error 0xc1900223 is be one of those, although it is a common one, especially after a new update lands.

The reason for this error is that the Microsoft servers are swamped at the time and can’t handle the requests.

Microsoft support tells us that the error “indicates that there was a problem downloading and installing the selected update. Windows Update will try again later and there is nothing you need to do at this time.

So leaving it a while to try again should hopefully sort things out or you can force the update.

Start by running the Troubleshooter by following the steps below

• Press the Win + I keys to open Settings.
• Click the Update & Security > Troubleshoot > Windows Update
• Click the “Run the troubleshooter“.
• This will run for some time saying “Detecting Problems“.
• At the end, “Troubleshooting has completed” window will open hopefully showing all issues are now fixed

Should that not solve the issue you can try restarting the Windows Update Service

• Press the Win key and type “services“.
• In the list click the “Services” App.
  This will open up the Services Window.There are two services related to Update
  1. Windows Update
  2. Windows Update Medic Service

The first service enables the detection, download, and installation of updates for Windows and other programs. If this service is disabled, users of this computer will not be able to use Windows Update or its automatic updating feature, and programs will not be able to use the Windows Update Agent (WUA) API.

The second service you need enables the remediation and protection of Windows Update components.

From here, try restarting those services. Reboot and by now your issue should be resolved.

Here at Which Laptop we will be looking a variety of Windows nasties and showing you how to fix them, or at very least, get past them.

Error 0x80080008

In the main, this error is tied to Windows update and prevents the Operating System carrying out its updating duties to keep you safe.

It is caused by third-party anti-virus software getting in the way of proceedings and disabling your software should resolve the issue, but also leave you unprotected from viral nasties. Not ideal.

Not all anti-virus programs cause the issue so if you have only just started seeing it, think back to when you last updated your virus software. Start by disabling your antivirus software to see if that allows you to download updates.  Now turn it back on to see if the problem returns.

You can also run some simple scans to rule out file corruption as a problem.

We will start with an SFC scan:

On your keyboard, press Windows Key+S.

Type “command prompt” (no quotes).

Right-click Command Prompt then select Run as Administrator.

Once Command Prompt is up, type “sfc/scannow” (no quotes), tand hit Enter.

Any corrupted files should now be fixed. Go and make a coffee and come back in ten minutes.

If you are still having issues, the next thing to try is a DISM scan. To do that follow these steps:

Launch Command Prompt as an administrator.

Run the following command:

DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth

The next thing to try if the error persists is to restart the various components of Windows that might be causing it.

Now right-click the Windows logo and select Command Prompt (Admin). Now you need to enter the following commands.

net stop wuauserv
net stop cryptSvc
net stop bits
net stop msiserver
ren C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old
ren C:\Windows\System32\catroot2 Catroot2.old
net start wuauserv
net start cryptSvc
net start bits
net start msiserver

Reboot

Manually downloading the update

This way should enable you to at least get the update, but the error may come back when the next update comes around.

You will need the KB number of the update you require – all Windows updates start with this. Have a look in the Windows Update section in your system and make a note of the number that is failing.

Now head to the Windows Update Catalog and search for the KB number you just wrote down.

Find the correct one for your Windows version and hit Download and it should all work fine.

If you are still having issues, leave a comment below and we will see what we can do to help.

The answer seems to be a resounding yes!

The Magic Keyboard was universally lauded in reviews a couple of week snack but it seems reviewers may not have been as in-depth as it would have been liked as now reports are surfacing of severe battery drains when the keyboard is attached, not only just when in use. Draining the batter by magic if you will.

We would expect a degree of drain and Apple certainly never made any noises about what we could expect, nor were they pressed on the matter at any point in time.

9to5 Mac believes the problem is most noticeable when both the keyboard and backlight are on – which kind of makes sense obviously, but less so understandable when the iPad is idle.

One report showed a battery drop from 11 hours normally to seven hours with the keyboard and case attached which is severe by any standard, Should connecting a keyboard cost you a third of your juice?? Surely not?

Some reports are suggesting that the backlight might be turning itself on without prompting, causing the unexpected drain.

There’s been no confirmation from Apple yet that they are even investigating but this is a pretty normal modus operandi for Cupertino and it could be we see an iOS patch sneak its way out if it deemed to be an issue.

Now it’s in the public domain though it is unlikely to just go away as the Magic keyboard is not cheap and has been touted as a way to laptopize your expensive tablet.

When Apple has had previous battery issues they have tended to be quickly resolved through software tweaks rather than hardware recalls, so if you have a Magic Keyboard it might just be worth riding it out for the next couple of weeks and if you are doing anything mission-critical, then disconnect the keyboard when you aren’t using it.

Hot on the heels of Dell’s refresh of their XPS series, their Alienware branded gear has also received a new lick of paint and had a new member introduced into the line-up at the same time.

The popular Alienware Area 51m and m15/m17 variants have both been updated and we can also now welcome the Alienware Aurora R11 desktop into the fold.

Revision 2 of the 51m (this is getting confusing already) comes with a Core i7-10700 but this can be boosted all the way up to a Core i9-10900K. Options exist to kit it out with up to 64GB of DDR4 RAM.

Base models start with a GTX 1660Ti GPU but you can, should you want, go all the way up to a GeForce RTX 2080 Super which should future-proof you for gaming for some considerable time to come.

Storage can be configured from single to dual to RAID0 setups depending on the size of your wallet and the whole thing is powered by a 90W battery.

Meanwhile, the m15 and m17 both get the upgrade to 10th gen Intel processors as well and can be upgraded to up to 32GB of RAM. The display panels on each have an up to 300Hz refresh rate but there is an option to go with an OLED UHD screen if you don’t mind the refresh rate dropping to 60Hz.

As we have come to expect the prices of this range aren’t for the faint of heart.

Available from 9 June, the Area 51m R2 is going to set you back (from) $3,049.99 while the m15 and m17 R3s hit stores next week (May 21st) and will cost (from) $1,499.99 and $1,549.99 respectively.

Lenovo has announced two brand new machines that are going to raise a few eyebrows as they are packing up to  Intel Core i7-10810U Hexa-core processors and NVIDIA Quadro graphics.

Starting with the 14” P14 and moving up to the 15.6” model the machines are squarely aimed at the “mobile workstation” market.

With options including PCIe NVMe solid-state storage and DDR4-3200 RAM, you can certainly spec out a decent level of purchase here. Couple this with support for a 4K display and this, for the price, could become a very attractive option to a lot of upgraders in the run to the end of the year.

Coming in at $1579 and $1599 both are due to hit the shelves before the end of the month, distribution permitting

Stand aside Apple, Dell is removing ports too!

Dell XPS models have been overdue a boost. The staple of the manufacturer’s line-up today sees a boost with a new 17” version and a new-look XPS 15 alongside it.

The 17” offering is clearly targetted at the new Macbook Pro 16, even so far as removing all the traditional legacy ports from the chassis to leave just a Thunderbolt 3 compatible USB-C connection.

Both models have four of these, two per side, and also include an SD card reader tipping a nod for this to be used in the field by photographers and action cam videographers.

In the box, Dell is helpfully including a USB-C to USB Type-A converter so your old DVD burner and other peripherals won’t need to be put out to pasture just yet.

The big changes here though are the displays, which are taller – now with a 16:10 ratio and you can choose between a standard HD screen or a 4K option with HDR.

Processor choices are strong too with 10th gen Comet lake H as the workhorse here with quad, six and eight-core variants available to choose from as Dell is intent on making the 17” the “most powerful XPS ever”.

It certainly can be if you are prepared to pay for all the bells and whistles.

Your GPU can go as far as an RTX 2060 discreet option and paired with up to 64GB of DDR4 Ram you could spec out a machine here that would cover all bases from video editing to gaming.

Both have built-in webcams operating at 720p which seems a bit disappointing, and may well have been a decision made before the current move to home-working that turned out to be irreversible.

We will be taking a look at both machines in closer detail shortly. The XPS  17 has no firm release date at this stage but will cost around $1600.

The XPS 15 is available now in the US and Canada.

Slim and light gaming Laptops now available with an i7-10875H.

Gaming specialist computer manufacturer Origin PC have just updated their high performance thin and light gaming laptops onto the newest generation of Intel CPUs, and are offering it with a variety of other spec bumps that make it an attractive package for anyone after a laptop for gaming on the go and want high-level performance.

The two models, the EVO15-S and the workstation variant the NT-15 are now getting their first major revision since 2018, and offer a nice performance improvement in the new configuration options.

The CPU has been updated to an Intel 10th Gen Core i7-10875H, offering improved performance and battery life compared to older chips. The GPUs now offered are 2000 series RTX cards from Nvidia, including the 2070 RTX, 2080 RTX, and the 2080 RTX Super. RAM options now go up to 64GB, and they offer it up with to 4TB hard drive space.

For display options, Origin offers the following:

“There are multiple display options available for the EVO15-S and NT-15, including a 240Hz 1080p display ideal for competitive multiplayer games. Additional screens can be connected to the laptops via HDMI, Mini DisplayPort, and a Thunderbolt 3 port.”

Origin PC has been around for a long time, starting back in 2009 as a splinter from Alienware following their acquisition by Dell. Now Origin PC is under the Corsair banner, but the brand is still synonymous with robust and powerful gaming PCs and laptops.

These machines don’t come cheap, and certainly, if gaming is not a big priority for you, you’ll likely look elsewhere, but for gamers who want a top-end gaming laptop at any cost, you may find these laptops worth considering.

Configure your own laptop on the Origin PC pages, EVO15-S & NT-15, starting at $1,949.

Will you be considering getting these refreshed models from Origin PC? Have you ever owned an Origin PC system before? Are there any other laptops out there that you’re waiting for a refresh on? Let us know in the comments.