I always wonder if it’s just me being ‘bodoh’ or stupid. What did I miss? What didn’t I read right? Did I tap the wrong key? Usually, I cannot be absolutely certain of my innocence. But this time, I am pretty sure it wasn’t me. I know the familiar drill. If something goes wrong with a computer or an electronic device, its human error – me. Because devices only do what a human tells them to do. Oh really?

This is what Microsoft did recently. It pinned its web browser, Microsoft Edge, on my taskbar. Hey, I don’t want Microsoft Edge[1]. If I did, I would have pinned it myself. I want Google Chrome and that’s already on my easy access taskbar. I don’t want Microsoft Edge. I have used it before, and I don’t like it. I paid for my Microsoft office software. Therefore, I get to decide if I want to use Microsoft Edge or not. Not.

Yes, I am upset. Not only because Microsoft’s web browser tried to muscle in onto my taskbar, I also have to update my software when it instructs me to. All in the name of security, efficiency, etc., etc. I get it but … when I am in the middle of something, I ignore the instruction, don’t and/or forget to reschedule it. After a few deferments, it informs me it will be updating my software and for me not to turn off my computer[2]. Like it or not. Not.

That’s not all. In the last few months I’ve had intermittent messages from Microsoft to reset the password for my Microsoft account. The ominous message read as follows:

Microsoft account problem. We need to fix your Microsoft account (most likely your password changed). Select here to fix it in Shared Experiences settings.

My reaction, of course, was one of extreme dread. I dutifully changed my password. In less than two months, the same menacing message appeared again. This time, my reaction was still one of dread, but mixed with annoyance. I don’t take my passwords lightly. Resetting my password means time spent thinking of a new one. I mentioned the message I received to my husband. It was the same drill. “Was the message from Microsoft, the real Microsoft?” he asked. It was from the Microsoft Team – the real McCoy- as mentioned in its email. Yes, I know… it could be an email scam, phishing… I changed my password, yet again. Voila! All was magically well. Until…now. The same ominous message is popping up again.

Like I said, I was upset at how Microsoft Edge had pinned itself on my taskbar without my permission. So, I blocked its access to the Internet when McAfee, my security software, came up with BLOCK or ALLOW. Then, this ensued. First, Microsoft Edge took over my screen when I logged on to my computer the next morning. It has since quit my screen, and my taskbar but is still an icon on my desktop. Next, the alarming message from Microsoft flashed on my screen. I wondered aloud if this was happening to me again because I blocked the web browser or was it a genuine alert from Microsoft to inform me, just in case, someone had hacked my laptop?

I Googled. Honestly, I don’t know why I hadn’t Googled earlier. Sure enough there was a whole host of users who had received this same message. I felt relieved that I wasn’t alone. More importantly, it wasn’t me. I hadn’t done anything wrong. Thankfully, I learnt from these two websites what the Microsoft message was all about.

“If you get a notification that you have a “Microsoft account problem,” you don’t have a problem and you don’t have to fix anything. You haven’t been hacked and you don’t have a virus. Microsoft is testing your patience[3].”

Another explained, “There’s really nothing wrong. The message is being displayed because of a technical glitch in Windows 10 … The message supposedly signifies that your PC isn’t syncing correctly with your online Microsoft account because of a password change. It refers you to the “Shared Experiences” settings that use your Microsoft account to share data between your PC and other devices, such as a smartphone.” 

It added, “Note that you can get this erroneous warning even if you haven’t changed your Microsoft account password, don’t have any problems logging in to your account and don’t share PC data with other gadgets. One way to get rid of the error message is to turn off Shared Experiences, which stops Windows 10 from trying to sync itself with your Microsoft account[4].”

I feel comforted. At least, for now. And, I am ignoring the message.