alternative solutions Archives

Winsage

September 13, 2025

Ever wondered how small Windows 11 can get? Meet Nano11

Microsoft is set to officially discontinue Windows 10 on October 14, 2025, urging users to transition to Windows 11, which claims to be up to 2.3 times faster than its predecessor. Approximately 400 million users remain on Windows 10, but the upgrade may be complicated by stringent system requirements and design flaws. Alternatives like Tiny11 and Nano11 have emerged, with Tiny11 designed for older PCs and recently updated to support Windows 11 version 25H2 by removing pre-installed applications. Nano11, a more minimal version, reduces the OS footprint to less than 3 GB and supports any Windows SKU, but once installed, it cannot be modified or updated. Nano11 is primarily intended for testing, development, or embedded use in virtual machines.

Winsage

September 10, 2025

If Windows 12 looked like this, Microsoft could win us over

Windows 10 will reach its end-of-life on October 14, 2025, and many users are hesitant to upgrade to Windows 11 due to design flaws and high system requirements. Tiny11 is an alternative tool that creates a lightweight version of Windows 11 for older PCs, recently updated to support Windows 11 version 25H2. Microsoft is set to roll out Windows 11 version 25H2 from September to October without new features. Concept designer Abdi has created a concept video for "Brilliant Windows 12," which includes features like "Collectzone" for wallpaper collections, merged Control Panel and settings, Quick Interactive Settings, and enhanced customization options. Microsoft claims Windows 11 PCs are up to 2.3 times faster than Windows 10 PCs, but some users view the end of Windows 10 support as "programmed obsolescence." A public interest research group has petitioned against discontinuing Windows 10 support, fearing it could lead to a significant increase in discarded computers. HP and Dell report that half of current PCs still run Windows 10, raising security concerns. Microsoft expects to earn over a billion from its Extended Security Updates program after Windows 10's end-of-life.

Winsage

September 9, 2025

How to use your Windows 10 PC safely for one more year with this free trick

Microsoft concluded support for Windows 10 on October 14th, leaving users without security updates or patches. Many users are considering upgrading to a PC compatible with Windows 11, but not all machines meet the hardware requirements, particularly the need for a TPM 2.0 chip. To address user concerns, Microsoft introduced a one-year support extension. Users can secure this extension through two free methods: redeeming 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points or activating the Windows Backup feature. However, the backup option is linked to OneDrive's 5 GB free storage limit, and exceeding this limit incurs costs. Nearly half of all Windows users are still on Windows 10, making this extension a vital safety net that allows users more time to explore their options without immediate pressure to upgrade.

Winsage

August 22, 2025

IGEL benefits from seismic VMware and Windows 10 shifts

IGEL Technology, founded in 2001, initially specialized in thin clients but has shifted towards software solutions that protect endpoints with a read-only operating system, reducing the attack surface by up to 95 percent. Each endpoint operates statelessly, retaining no memory of past interactions, and is managed through a unified portal that integrates with various vendors like Zscaler and CrowdStrike. IGEL's solutions allow for the integration of endpoints in operational technology environments without introducing additional security vulnerabilities, effectively replacing EDR systems with over 120 integrations. The company aims to extend the lifespan of endpoints from 3-5 years to 6-8 years, providing significant cost savings and addressing the challenges posed by the transition from Windows 10 to Windows 11. IGEL's approach enhances security while offering flexibility in application delivery options, although it does not eliminate all cyber threats.

Winsage

August 13, 2025

Tested: Backup and Restore (Windows 7) has just two jobs, but manages only one

The Backup and Restore (Windows 7) feature is located in the Control Panel under System and Security and can be accessed more conveniently through a desktop shortcut. It uses Microsoft’s VHDX files for imaging, allowing users to mount and browse images in Windows Explorer. The backup configuration defaults to user folders and full system images of internal drives, with options to customize selections. Backups can be saved to an internal hard drive or a network location, but not to directly attached external media like USB drives. Users can include non-user folders by transforming them into user libraries. The tool creates VHDX images, but the restoration process requires a physical disc (CD or DVD) and lacks an option to create an ISO file. Users have reported mixed results with Windows Recovery Drive, with some experiencing failures. Backup and Restore (Windows 7) does not support incremental or differential backups and is limited to a single job configuration. It cannot restore to a smaller capacity drive than the original, and the Recovery Drive is tied to the specific PC it was created on. Due to these limitations, it is recommended to consider alternatives like EaseUS Todo Backup 2025 or Macrium Reflect 8 Free for disaster recovery. However, Backup and Restore (Windows 7) remains suitable for creating VHDX images for browsing and manual recovery within the Windows ecosystem.

Winsage

August 8, 2025

Windows 11’s new Start menu pop-ups are pushing users to pay for Microsoft 365

Microsoft has introduced a new feature in Windows 11 that includes persistent pop-ups in the Start menu, encouraging users to back up their data to the cloud via Microsoft 365. The pop-up contains a message advising users to back up their PC and directs them to Windows Backup, which uses OneDrive for storage. Users have expressed frustration over the inability to disable these pop-ups, as attempts to turn off notifications do not affect what Microsoft classifies as "required notifications."

AppWizard

August 6, 2025

‘Call of Duty: Black Ops 7’ will require TPM 2.0, Windows Secure Boot for Black Ops 7 — Activision testing Ricochet anti-cheat update in upcoming season

Activision has announced that PC players of Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 will need to enable Windows Secure Boot and use a system with Trusted Platform Module 2.0 (TPM 2.0) technology. This initiative will begin testing during Season 5 of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 and Call of Duty: Warzone, but enforcement will not be immediate. The Ricochet anti-cheat team will notify players who have not updated their systems to comply. Activision assures that the TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot processes will not access personal files and will not affect in-game performance. Two-factor authentication (2FA) is encouraged but not yet mandatory, and players using a free trial of Game Pass on PC will be restricted from accessing multiplayer ranked play. Electronic Arts' Battlefield 6 will also incorporate Secure Boot as part of its anti-cheat system, limiting players to Windows.

BetaBeacon

July 24, 2025

My search for a great Android emulator for my new Mac took me down a rabbit hole

The fact described in the text is that Mumuplayer is the first Android emulator for Macs fully optimized for M1-based computers, offering customization options and a smooth experience for basic Android games, but with limitations for more demanding games and apps.

Tech Optimizer

July 18, 2025

Redundant statistics slow down your Postgres? Try sampling in pg_stat_statements

pg_stat_statements is a PostgreSQL extension for monitoring query statistics, tracking execution counts, execution times, and row returns. It uses a hash table to store metrics for each query, identified by a key generated from four parameters: queryid, User OID, Database OID, and a toplevel flag. The extension can become a performance hindrance in high contention environments due to locking operations on the hash table. When numerous unique queries are executed, contention for the hash table can lead to significant performance drops. For example, with pg_stat_statements enabled, a system with 48 CPUs showed a TPS drop from 237,437 to 32,112 when executing unique queries. In contrast, with a high volume of similar queries on a 192 CPU machine, enabling pg_stat_statements resulted in a TPS of 484,338 compared to 1,015,425 with it disabled. Query sampling is introduced as a method to mitigate performance issues by recording metrics for only a fraction of executed queries. The pg_stat_statements.sample_rate parameter allows configuration of the proportion of queries tracked. However, sampling can lead to incomplete data and potential security risks if sensitive information is recorded in non-normalized form. Benchmark tests with varying sample_rate values showed that as the sample_rate decreased, TPS increased, and SpinDelay diminished. At a sample_rate of 1.0, TPS was lowest, while at 0.25 and below, SpinDelay effectively disappeared, indicating that sampling can significantly enhance performance under high contention conditions.

Winsage

July 17, 2025

Half of Windows PCs are still yet to upgrade to Windows 11 — and are running out of time, says study

Approximately 60% of enterprise PCs have upgraded to Windows 11, while 40% are still on Windows 10, which will reach its end of life on October 14. Windows 11 has become the most widely used version of Windows, with only 55% of finance industry PCs and 39% of government PCs upgraded. In North America, 57% of PCs have not transitioned to Windows 11, compared to 30% in Europe. Microsoft will offer an extended security updates program for commercial customers from October 2025 to October 2028 for devices not eligible for Windows 11, while consumers will receive one year of updates at a lower cost. After October 2026, consumers must upgrade to Windows 11 or find alternative solutions for security. Microsoft will discontinue new features for Office on Windows 10 starting next year.