Perhaps you have installed a Windows 10 Update, but the computer failed to restart normally. You attempted to use System Restore but your Restore Point did not work.

To recover from a failed restart and roll back the restore process:
1.Boot the computer into the Windows Recovery Environment by restarting and holding down the Shift key. The environment should be loaded automatically after several failed restarts.
2.In the Windows Recovery Environment, select Troubleshoot > Advanced options > System Restore, and then select Undo System Restore.

For additional information on troubleshooting System Restore after a Windows 10 Update please see:
https://forums.lenovo.com/t5/Windows-10-Knowledge-Base/How-to-Recover-From-A-Failed-Windows-10-Restart-and-Roll-Back/ta-p/4477689

—————————————–
Source:
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/4503117/system-restore-on-windows-10-fails-after-you-ins

Lenovo Advocates are often called on to do testing and reviews for products. Recently one of these packages from Lenovo arrived on my doorstep.

This time it was a product from the ThinkPad family. ThinkPads are popular with business professionals because of their sleek, often referred to as “sexy”, design, power, mobility, durability, and many features including a Kensington lock slot.

There are options available at order, but the following were included in the ThinkPad that I received for review:

Operating System: Windows 10 Pro v. 1809 (build 17763-437)

[Update 6/19/2019: The X395 received Windows 10 Feature Update 1903. Updating went smoothly and quickly. Everything continues to run well. I am loving all the new features included in 1903. ]

Drive:

542.77 Gigabytes Usable HD Capacity

484.92 Gigabyte HD Free Space

Memory:

14250 Megabytes Usable installed Memory

(Slot ‘DIMM o’ has 8192 MB/ Slot ‘DIMM o’ has 8192 MB)

Display:

The model that I tested has a 13” Full HD IPS touchscreen. Pen not included.

AMD Radecon Vega 10 Graphics (Display Adapter)

1920×1080 (monitor)

Quite a bit of my hours on the X395 were spent creating designs for a watch face business. My graphics application performed well by displaying clear colors. Not an OLED display, but this one was adequate for the current project. Thumbs up for the processor because there was no lag as I worked on multi-layered multiple images at the same time.

Keyboard:

The X395 sports Lenovo’s classic spill resistant ThinkPad design with trackpad and red TrackPoint. Key travel is smooth – typical of the ThinkPad line. The LED backlit keyboard seems to be standard on the X395. It has always been something that I appreciate, and on a ThinkPad keyboard that is the best of all worlds.

Ports and Slots on the X395 Review Unit:

USB 3.1 (Gen 1)

USB 3.1 (Gen 2) (Always on)

2 x USB-C 3.1 Gen 2 (Power Delivery, DisplayPort, Data transfer)**

Ethernet port via RJ45 Extension Adapter. The adapter is sold separately.

MicroSD card reader

Headphone / mic combo

AMD versions include newer HDMI v2.0 ports versus v1.4 on the Intel SKUs.

The AMD versions do not have Thunderbolt 3 ports or QHD panel options.

Docking Option:

Existing mechanical side docking stations sold separately for the T490 or X390 series will be compatible with these new AMD SKUs and will support self-leveling at different angles. It was a pleasant surprise to find that the ThinkPad Pro side docking station that I’ve been using on a T480s is compatible with the X395 review unit.

Battery:

According to Lenovo, these new AMD models offer up to four additional hours of battery time on a charge compared to past models. Depending settings, usage, and other variables the X395 is predicted to deliver up to 14.5 hours of battery life. Rapid Charge technology using a 65W AC adapter provides 80% capacity in an hour. Due to time constraints, I did not have a chance to check on battery life accurately, but will edit this as soon as I am able to test that.

Audio/Microphone:

Sound Card:

AMD Hi Def

Realtek Hi Def

Playback:

Realtek Audio

Microphone/Recording:

Realtek Audio dual noise-cancelling microphones offer 360-degree reception for use with conferencing.

Multimedia:

Dolby Audio™ Premium

Privacy and Security:

In addition to facial recognition and the fingerprint reader that has been around for a few years, The X395 has a ThinkShutter webcam cover. This was my first experience with a component that I had only heard about and read about until now. I was looking for something to slide across the camera, and almost missed the slider that now is flush with the edge of the bezel. The new X395 will also optionally offer an ePrivacy filter called the ThinkPad PrivacyGuard for shielding the display from over-the-shoulder viewers nearby. According to Lenovo this privacy feature, along with an early warning Privacy Alert, will be available for X395 in a month or so.

Lenovo mentions:

“…unique to the 2nd Gen Ryzen PRO Processors, AMD Memory Guard (transparent secure memory encryption (TSME)) helps provide protection against cold boot attacks, if an attacker has physical access to the system. AMD Memory Guard provides OS and application-independent DRAM encryption, performing real-time encryption/decryption of system RAM….“

Weight:

When it comes to mobility weight is always a factor. The X395 weighs in at 2.83lb / 1.28kg. That translates into being a convenient sidekick for any business traveler.

Conclusion:

In all, in spite of having to wait for this ThinkPad’s new screen privacy features, from the weight to the enhanced privacy and battery life, I feel that the X395 will serve home users, businesses, and most importantly, business travelers well.

Read more here: https://www.lenovo.com/us/en/laptops/thinkpad/thinkpad-x/X395/p/22TP2TXX395

As of Windows 10 v.1809, for the regular end-user it is now recommended to wait until Windows Updates are offered so that the updates are stable.

“Patch Tuesday” or Update Tuesday updates are published on the second Tuesday of each month. They are known as the “B” release .  They are the regular monthly releases that include both new security fixes and previously released security and non-security fixes. These updates have been fully tested and are expected to be stable.

Optional non-security  validated, production-quality “C” and “D” updates are released at Week 3 and 4 each month. They are for commercial and advanced users for testing fixes to be included in the next Tuesday update. Advanced users can obtain the “C” and “D” releases by navigating to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and clicking the “Check for updates” box.

Bottom line: If you use “Check for Updates” you may be offered “C” or “D” updates. Unless you are an advanced user and are interested in testing, wait for the regular “Patch Tuesday” or do it during Week 2 for “B” fixes.

Additional Information:

https://blogs.windows.com/windowsexperience/2018/12/10/windows-monthly-security-and-quality-updates-…

Windows 10’s feature update 1809 was rolled out on October 2 but was stopped on October 6th after some major problems. It was re-released on November 13 and is being sent to Windows 10 users in phases, so it might be some time before you see it arrive on your computer. It is the company’s sixth feature update since Windows 10 was released in 2015.

Here is a look at the most notable new features can expect to be seen for improving user experience:

Clipboard History and Cloud Sync
The new Clipboard can keep multiple clips, store clips permanently, let you preview clips and choose which ones to paste into a document, and share clips across Windows 10 devices.
*To enable this feature: Go to Settings > System > Clipboard and toggle on both Clipboard history and Sync across devices.
*To copy to the Clipboard highlight what you want to copy and press Ctrl + C, or use an application’s menu, such as Insert > Copy in Office applications. Another way would be right-clicking an image on the web and selecting Copy Image from the menu that appears.
* To view Clipboard history, hit Windows key + V.
* To clean off the Clipboard, clips can be deleted individually or deleted all at once.
Dark Mode for File Explorer
With 1809 users will get a more unified dark color scheme throughout the OS when you opt to turn it on. Enabling it can be done by going to Settings > Personalization > Colors and select Dark under the Choose your default app mode section.

Edge Improvements
Edge includes a new sidebar Options menu for organizing Favorites, Reading list, and History. There are also improvements to Edge’s built-in PDF Reader and several other performance improvements. Edge users will now be able to stop autoplay videos, music, and other media.

Enlarged Text Option
1809 users will have an easier way to make things larger by simply going to Settings > Ease of Access > Display. Use the slider to adjust the size of the text, and hit Apply

Screen Snip Tool Change
The favorite Screen Snipping Tool will be improved and will now be called Snip & Sketch to combine the Snipping tool with Windows Ink Workspace into a modern experience. That will enable users to take a screenshot and immediately edit and annotate in order to share the shot within the same interface.

Search Menu Improvement
1809 will include recent documents, tasks, quick answers from the web, and more. The user interface (UI) is also wider and allows easier access to info and other items.
Storage Sense Is Smarter
Storage Sense automatically cleans your hard disk to free up disk space. In the Windows 10 October 2018 Update Storage Sense works with OneDrive Files On-Demand to clean out files that you don’t use on your local PC. In order to use Storage Sense go to Settings > System > Storage and move the slider in the Storage Sense section to On > Click “Change how we free up space automatically”. Scroll to the “Locally available cloud content” section. In the OneDrive section, select the time period for how long you would like the cloud files to remain on your computer before you want them deleted ( Never, 1 day, 14 days, 30 days or 60 days).

Your Phone App Feature
For Android owners after linking a phone to Windows 10, they will be able to share web links and sync texts and photos between their phone and computer. Pictures will automatically sync when the phone and PC are connected. Fewer features are available to iPhone users because of Apple’s platform restrictions. While Android users will benefit most, iPhone owners can send links from the Edge iOS app to open on Edge on their PC. Phone owners will see a shortcut to this app on their desktop.

Additional Resources:

Born’s Tech and Windows World

CNET

Computer World

In October 2018 Windows Update servers will begin delivering Windows 10 version 1809 to current installations of Windows 10 that have been running for at least 30 days. Each time there is a feature update, Microsoft adds and/or removes other features.

As of this writing, here are some of the removals slated for 1809:
1. Disk Cleanup Tool
The Storage Sense feature that came with the recent Windows 10 v. 1803 works almost the same as the familiar Disk Cleanup Tool. However, the feature is currently turned off by default. To enable and configure Storage Sense from Settings options:
Click Settings > System > “Change how we free up space automatically”. This will open the Storage Sense settings on your PC. Simply turn it on so that it will be ready to use.

2. Snipping Tool
The Snipping Tool, a favorite of many, has been replaced by the Screen Sketch Tool which includes support for freehand screenshots as well. There will be a shortcut in the action center for this.

3. Business Scanning or Distributed Scan Management (DSM)
There are no devices which now support this technology. This was a function of Windows Server 2008 R2 were devices which could scan, where integrated into the document workflow of an organization.

4. Font Smoothing setting in unattend.xml
The mention of FontSmoothing in the unattend.xml file will be ignored. It is not necessary because Windows 10 now uses ClearType. Previously, this was used to specify whether font smoothing is enabled, and which type.

5. Hologram app
The Hologram app is used to view the 3D paintings created using Paint3D. Windows 10 uses the Mixed Reality Viewer instead.

6. Trusted Platform Module (TPM) management console
Microsoft has moved their Device and Security to Windows Defender. The information which was previously available through TPM console, can now be seen in the Device security page in the Windows Defender Security Center.

7. limpet.exe
This tool was used to access TPM for Azure connectivity. It will be open source now so that other developers can meet the needs of users who may want it.

8. Phone Companion
All the features that were available with the Phone Companion App will be available in a new Phone Page App.

9. Future updates for Windows Embedded Standard 8 and Windows Embedded 8 Standard
The WEDU update server will stop pushing new updates. Therefore, updates for Windows 8 Embedded version, will need to be manually downloaded from the Microsoft Update Catalog. 

Microsoft has also stopped developing Companion device dynamic lock APIS and OneSync service because their functionality is now available in other Windows 10 components.

If you have feedback about the proposed changes, you can use the Windows 10 Feedback Hub.

Additional Information:
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/deployment/planning/windows-10-1809-removed-features
https://www.zdnet.com/article/windows-10-spring-creators-update-act-fast-to-delay-this-big-upgrade/

This review is for the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 5 that I received for my participation in the Lenovo Insiders Program. I have not had an X1 in a few years so I was anxious to become re-acquainted. The model that I received is ThinkPad traditional black. Silver is also available from Lenovo Sales.

In comparison with my other ThinkPads, the X1 Carbon is the thinnest and lightest one that I own at only 2.49 lbs.

  
In the short time that I’ve used it, as I’ve traveled around the state with it this model has been extremely portable and comfortable.

Tech Specs Available from Lenovo Sales 

Processor
* Up to 7th Generation Intel® Core™ i7-7600U Processor (4MB Cache, up to 3.90GHz) (*This unit has Intel Core i7-7600U CPU @ 2.80GHz)
Operating System
Windows 10 Home
Windows 10 Pro
Display
14.0″ WQHD (2560 x 1440) IPS Anti-Glare Non-Touch
*14.0″ FHD (1920 x 1080) IPS Anti-Glare Non-Touch
(*This unit is 1920 x 1080)
For increased screen detail, Lenovo recommends upgrading to a WQHD display
Graphics
Intel® HD Graphics 620
Camera
HD 720p
Memory
*Up to 16GB LPDDR3 1866 MHz
(* This unit has 8.00GB Dual-Channel DDR3 @ 930MHz (14-17-17-40)
Storage
*Up to 1TB SSD PCIe OPAL2.0
(* This unit has 238GB THNSF5256GPUK TOSHIBA)
Battery
*Up to 15.5 hours
* Based on testing with MobileMark 2014. Battery life varies significantly with settings, usage, & other factors.
Audio
Dolby® Audio™ Premium
Security
dTPM 2.0
Touch fingerprint reader
I/O (Input / Output) Ports
2 Intel® Thunderbolt™ 3
2 USB 3.0
HDMI
Native RJ45
MicroSD
MicroSIM
Connectivity
WWAN: Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ X7 LTE-A
WLAN: Intel® Dual-Band Wireless-AC(2×2) 8265
Bluetooth®
Bluetooth® 4.1
Bluetooth® 4.1 vPro
Dimensions (W x D x H)
12.7″ x 8.5″ x 0.6″ / 323.5 x 217.1 x 15.95 (mm)
Weight
Starting at 2.49 lbs (1.13 kg)
Colors
Black
Silver

Yes, those are military specs because the X1 Carbon is designed for businesses. Could I stand on the X1C? Probably, but I’m not going to try it because I don’t believe in abusing anything that Lenovo sends me. I’ll leave that up to the pros whose job it is to put laptops through rigorous testing.

One plus that I appreciate is the backlit keyboard. Even though my desk at home is by a window, as dusk settles in I very often find myself so focused on what I’m doing that I need the backlighting to get me to a stopping point in a project so I can get up and turn on a light in the room.

As mentioned above, this unit’s display is 1920 x 1080 . My personal preference would be a better resolution. I do quite a bit of artwork as a designer of smartwatch faces, so I need a bright display with clarity and details. I am wishing that the resolution on this X1C could be a bit better. It serves the purpose, but if I were going to order an X1C, I would opt for an upgraded display. Having said that, I feel that the many pros outweigh the cons on this one, so I would not hesitate to recommend it to others. Whether for business or for the home consumer, the X1 Carbon Generation 5 definitely deserves a thumbs up.

Disclosure: Lenovo sent me this product as part of the Lenovo INsiders program and did not provide additional compensation. All opinions are my own.