Windows Archives

Winsage

July 7, 2026

Windows 11 24H2 and 25H2 Issue Causes Black Screen, Start Menu Failure, and Taskbar Crashes

Microsoft has addressed critical user interface failures affecting Windows 11 versions 24H2 and 25H2 in enterprise environments, documented under update advisory KB5072911. These issues arise from cumulative updates released after July 2025, including KB5062553 and KB5065789, primarily impacting enterprise-managed systems and virtualized environments. Users may experience black screens, unresponsive Start menus, and taskbar failures following updates, particularly in non-persistent environments like Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI). Core components such as Explorer.exe and XAML-dependent applications may fail to initialize or crash due to a timing issue in the update process, where required application packages are not properly registered. Microsoft has released updates starting June 23, 2026, under KB5095093 to address these issues and recommends temporary workarounds for affected systems, including manual registration of missing packages and deploying logon scripts in non-persistent environments. Organizations are encouraged to install the latest updates and review their update procedures to prevent future disruptions.

Winsage

July 7, 2026

Microsoft announces new Cloud Rebuild recovery feature for Windows 11

Microsoft has introduced a new recovery solution for Windows 11 users called Cloud Rebuild, which allows for the reinstallation of the operating system directly from the cloud, restoring a PC to a clean state. This feature downloads the Windows OS and necessary device drivers, enabling recovery even when the OS is unbootable, unlike the existing Reset this PC option. However, Cloud Rebuild does not retain applications and files during the process. Currently, it is being rolled out in preview to Windows Insiders and is expected to be available to the general public in the coming months.

Winsage

July 7, 2026

Status Update 2: Windows 11 Field Guide 2026 Edition

The Windows 11 Field Guide has been significantly reduced from 103 MB and 990 pages to 73.9 MB and 839 pages, marking a notable achievement in its transformation. At its peak, the guide was over 300 MB and contained more than 1,150 pages. The reduction includes the removal of the Microsoft Edge section, which had about 100 pages of outdated content, replaced by a more concise chapter. The top-level table of contents has been restructured, and numerous chapters have been updated and consolidated, introducing new sections on Hardware, Security, Apps, Command Line Interfaces, Virtualization, XBOX and Videogames, and Help and Recovery. Additional work remains on consolidating chapters like Multitasking, Files, and Accounts. A monthly update schedule is planned to keep the guide current with new Microsoft features. Access to the guide is included for Thurrott Premium members, available in PDF and ePUB formats, with files currently hosted on Google Drive.

Winsage

July 7, 2026

Microsoft Teams just made it easier to shut down Copilot and other AI tools

Microsoft is introducing a feature in its Teams platform that allows licensed meeting organizers to disable AI functionalities such as Copilot, Facilitator, and meeting recap. This update will be available across all versions of Teams, including desktop, web, and mobile applications. The announcement was made through the Microsoft 365 Message Center.

Winsage

July 7, 2026

Windows 11 Pro Has Dropped to Just $10 Through July 19

Windows 11 Pro is available for .97 until July 19, reduced from its standard retail price of 9. This offer is suitable for PCs that meet Microsoft's hardware requirements for Windows 11. Users should verify compatibility with Microsoft's PC Health Check tool. The operating system includes features such as BitLocker, Hyper-V, Windows Sandbox, and Azure AD Support, along with productivity enhancements like Snap Layouts, Biometric Sign-in, DirectX 12 Ultimate, and Copilot Integration. The license is perpetual and tied to a single compatible PC, delivered digitally after purchase.

Winsage

July 7, 2026

Microsoft should be jealous of what this file explorer just shipped

The latest update to the Files application, version 4.2, introduces a Tree View feature that allows users to navigate folders and subfolders in an expandable hierarchy from the sidebar. Additional upgrades include the ability to split the view into multiple panes, reorganized context menus, a cleaner breadcrumb bar design, and various UI improvements such as quick access to compatible apps, always showing file extensions when renaming, and enhancements to media file metadata. Other notable highlights include proper font thumbnails in the Windows Fonts folder, automatic selection when creating a new archive, and the addition of a "Skip" button in the File In Use dialog.

Winsage

July 7, 2026

Announcing new builds for July 6 2026

New Windows 11 Insider Preview Builds have been released for both the Beta and Experimental channels. The latest updates are as follows: - Beta (26H1): Build 2820.2380 - Experimental (26H1): Build 28120.2387 - Experimental (Future Platforms): No new build available today. Notable new features include: 1. Cloud Recovery: A new recovery option called Cloud rebuild allows users to restore their Windows 11 PC to a known-good state through a complete OS reinstall, downloading the necessary files directly from Windows Update without the need for USB media. 2. Account Control: The Account Control flyout has been redesigned to include a subscription badge, making account status, benefits, and upgrade options easily identifiable.

Winsage

July 6, 2026

Microsoft just broke custom folder icons in Windows, and the reason is a bug from 2003

Microsoft has updated Windows to stop trusting untrusted desktop.ini files, a change aimed at addressing a long-standing security vulnerability that has existed since 2003. This decision affects the display of custom folder icons, as Windows will now ignore customization metadata from potentially unsafe sources. Users can still use custom folder icons if the desktop.ini file and icon resources come from trusted locations. A workaround allows users to manually create a desktop.ini file with the desired icon while following new security protocols.

Winsage

July 6, 2026

My plea to Xbox fans of the divested studios — put your money where your mouth is

The Xbox community is reacting to the announcement of a restructuring that will eliminate 3,200 roles within Xbox. CEO Asha Sharma has introduced a strategy to mitigate losses, with Compulsion Games and Double Fine operating independently, while Ninja Theory and Undead Labs will seek new publishing partners. No projects have been canceled, and no studios have closed. State of Decay 3 is no longer required to launch on Xbox Game Pass, which may also apply to future Ninja Theory projects. Undead Labs must decide whether to launch titles on Xbox Game Pass or independently. Players are encouraged to support studios by purchasing games at retail prices. State of Decay 3 is gaining popularity on the Steam Most Wishlisted games list, highlighting interest in mid-sized and experimental games. The success of these studios now depends on community support.

Winsage

July 6, 2026

Microsoft just confirmed that this Windows 11 bug is hoarding up to 500GB of your storage

Microsoft has acknowledged a storage issue related to the Capability Access Manager service in Windows 11, which can consume up to 500GB of SSD space due to a bug causing the log file, CapabilityAccessManager.db-wal, to inflate to gigabytes instead of a few megabytes. Users have reported file sizes reaching 200GB and even 513GB. The issue can be checked via Settings > Storage > System & reserved or by using a command in the Windows Command Prompt. Microsoft plans to address this in the June KB5095093 update, which will improve disk space usage for the log file, with updates expected to roll out starting July 14.