Windows
- www.pcworld.com Windows 11 starts forcing OneDrive backups without asking permission
Microsoft really, really wants you to back up files and folders to OneDrive.
- www.techradar.com Microsoft has gone too far: including a Game Pass ad in the Settings app ushers in a whole new age of ridiculous over-advertising
Ads in Windows 11 settings are coming next month
- www.bleepingcomputer.com Windows 10 KB5039299 update released with 10 changes or fixes
Microsoft has released the KB5039299 update for Windows 10 version 22H2 with up to ten bug fixes or changes, including a fix for "Open With" dialog boxes being shown when using apps.
- www.tomshardware.com Microsoft Account to local account conversion guide erased from official Windows 11 guide — instructions redacted earlier this week
Microsoft really, really wants you to use a Microsoft Account with your Windows 11 PC.
- 9to5google.com Windows 11 will bring your Android phone directly to the Start Menu
Microsoft is preparing support for using Phone Link from the Start Menu in Windows 11, but it's not available to everyone yet.
- blogs.windows.com Viewer and Import Enhancements for Microsoft Photos on Windows 11
Hello Windows Insiders, As part of our ongoing effort to improve your experience with the Microsoft Photos app on Windows 11, we have some exciting updates to share. We listened to your feedback and made some changes to the Viewer and Media Import f
- 9to5google.com MediaTek reportedly launching Snapdragon X Elite competitor for Windows in 2025
According to a new report, MediaTek will launch a Windows chip competitor to Qualcomm's Snapdragon X Elite sometime in 2025.
- www.forbes.com New Wi-Fi Takeover Attack—All Windows Users Warned To Update Now
Microsoft has released a critical security update for users of all supported Windows versions as a new Wi-Fi compromise requiring no authentication has been confirmed.
- www.theverge.com Microsoft’s all-knowing Recall AI feature is being delayed
Microsoft needs more time to test Recall’s security.
- www.neowin.net Microsoft fixes taskbar issues in Windows 11 KB5037959
Microsoft has confirmed that the recently detected taskbar issues in Windows 11's latest non-security updates (KB5037959) are now fixed using the Known Issue Rollback (KIR) technique.
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Windows 11 is getting a native profile picture editor
www.ghacks.net Windows 11 is getting a native profile picture editor - gHacks Tech NewsMicrosoft is working on integrating a new profile picture editor in the Windows 11 operating system. We take a first look at the feature.
- www.bleepingcomputer.com Microsoft announces first Windows 10 Beta build since 2021
Microsoft has reopened the Windows 10 beta channel and is asking Insiders to join or switch to receive a new beta build in the coming weeks.
- www.pcworld.com Microsoft blocks Windows 11 workaround that enabled local accounts
Many users use an e-mail trick to avoid creating a Microsoft account. This has now apparently been stopped by Microsoft.
- www.neowin.net Windows 10 reaches 70% market share as Windows 11 keeps declining
Statcounter reports that Windows 11 continues to lose its market share for the second month in a row. Windows 10, meanwhile, is gaining more users and is now back above the 70% mark.
- www.bleepingcomputer.com Windows 11 KB5036980 update goes live with Start Menu ads
Microsoft has enabled Start menu ads in the optional KB5036980 preview cumulative update for Windows 11 22H2 and 23H2.
- www.theverge.com Microsoft makes it easier to install Windows store apps from the web
Microsoft has a built a standalone installer for apps.
- www.theverge.com Microsoft starts testing ads in the Windows 11 Start menu
The first ads in the Windows 11 Start menu will look familiar.
- www.theverge.com Microsoft is trying to convince Windows 10 users to upgrade with full-screen prompts
Microsoft has 18 months to convince folks to upgrade.
- www.theverge.com Microsoft is confident Windows on Arm could finally beat Apple
Microsoft is gearing up for next-gen AI PCs.
- www.neowin.net Microsoft blocks even more customization apps in Windows 11 version 24H2
Microsoft appears to be blocking even more apps for customizing the user interface in Windows 11 24H2. Users noticed that ExplorerPatcher joined the recently blocked StartAllBack app.
- www.windowscentral.com Microsoft accidentally leaks internal tool that can enable hidden Windows 11 features
StagingTool can enable hidden and unannounced features in Windows 11 preview builds.
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Tools I use to make Windows 10 work for me
The first thing I use is Windows 10 decrapifier.
To use this, open up Powershell ISE as an administrator, and paste the script into a new editor window, then run it. It will automatically remove all the garbage Windows 10 installs by default. It works pretty well with Windows 11 as well.
https://community.spiceworks.com/scripts/show/4378-windows-10-decrapifier-18xx-19xx-2xxx
Next, O&O Shutup10
This tool shuts down a lot of the different telemetry stuff to keep windows 10 your own. It also works with Windows 11.
https://www.oo-software.com/en/shutup10
Finally, I like to install OpenShell, a start menu replacement for Windows 10. Right now it doesn't easily work on Windows 11, I use Start11 on windows 11. Openshell doesn't just replace the start menu with a windows 7 style start menu, it reimplements search so the search works much better and doesn't rely on windows search service.
https://github.com/Open-Shell/Open-Shell-Menu
Here's a bonus tip that only applies to Windows 11: If you use the open source tool rufus to create your installation media, you can tell rufus to create installation media that bypasses all the new TPM requirements. I have a computer capable of running windows 11, but I don't want to give them access to my TPM, I don't want secure boot, I don't want any of this stuff. I want to run my computer the way I want to, and this install media allows that. You lose some minor features here and there.
https://rufus.ie/en/
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Imbatch image processing
Handy tool for processing images I use on the odd occasion. Has a free for non commercial version. Cranked through around 4800 images the other day (simple resizing / compression but can do more)
- arstechnica.com The once-doomed MS Paint gets its first redesign in over a decade
Windows 10's version of Paint has been mostly unchanged since 2009.
- www.onmsft.com As Windows 10 hits its six-year anniversary all signs point to its Windows 7 fate
July 15, 2015, Microsoft released the RTM of Windows 10 and a postmodern ear of Windows operating system of productivity was under way.
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Trust in Software, an All Time Low
"Windows 10, which I liked as much as Windows 7 at the start, has slowly rotted on me, or just ground me down to where I find it reprehensible. Where every new notification, interruption, thing changing under my feet or update that bricks my entire computer, just pokes straight at the raw exposed nerve ending that used to be a thick skin."
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Windows 11 is Changing the Blue Screen of Death to Black - Niche Gamer
nichegamer.com Windows 11 is Changing the Blue Screen of Death to BlackNow that Microsoft announced Windows 11, tidbits for the new OS have been trickling out – like how Windows 11 is changing the blue screen of death to black.