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Helldivers 2 on PC will now take up 85% less space thanks to reduced installation size
AppWizard
December 3, 2025

Helldivers 2 on PC will now take up 85% less space thanks to reduced installation size

Arrowhead Studios has reduced the installation size of the PC version of Helldivers 2 to 23GB, down from 154GB, by optimizing asset management with Nixxes. This reduction involved eliminating duplicated assets, which previously aimed to enhance loading times for players using mechanical hard drives. The studio confirmed that the majority of loading time is due to level generation rather than asset loading, and the differences in loading times between the new and old versions are minimal. A "slim version" is currently available for testing, with plans to make it the default version after confirming stability. The legacy version is expected to be discontinued next year.
Microsoft fixes the ESU blues for Windows 10 users
Winsage
July 12, 2025

Microsoft fixes the ESU blues for Windows 10 users

Microsoft has rolled out a fix for the Extended Security Updates (ESU) wizard for Windows 10 Insiders, addressing a glitch that caused the enrollment process to crash. The update is available in the Release Preview Channel and resolves an issue where the ESU enrollment wizard would close when users clicked "Enroll now." This tool is essential for maintaining security updates for Windows 10 after official support ends in October 2025. The Release Preview Channel for Windows 11 24H2 introduces a change, replacing the Blue Screen of Death with the Black Screen of Unexpected Restart as part of the Windows Resiliency Initiative. Corporate usage of Windows 11 has surpassed 50.6 percent, a 16.8 percent increase since early 2025, driven by upgrade campaigns and new hardware rollouts. Windows 10 will reach its end-of-life on October 14, 2025, and nearly half of all business devices are still running it. Kieren Jessop from Canalys noted that the surge in Windows 11 adoption is primarily driven by the U.S., and the transition to Windows 11 is expected to be lengthy, similar to the persistence of Windows 7 after its end in January 2020. He mentioned that the slow transition could help demand in the PC market, as older devices are replaced over time.
silver Android smartphone
Winsage
May 6, 2025

Expanding the Surface for Business Copilot+ PC portfolio

AI has evolved into a transformative force for organizations, increasing the demand for secure and high-performance AI-ready Windows 11 PCs. Microsoft has introduced Copilot+ PCs, including the new 12-inch Surface Pro and 13-inch Surface Laptop, both powered by the Snapdragon X Plus processor with an integrated neural processing unit (NPU) capable of 45 trillion operations per second. The 13-inch Surface Laptop offers up to 23 hours of video playback and 16 hours of web browsing, with performance enhancements of up to 50% faster speeds and double the battery life compared to its predecessor. It features an AI-enhanced 1080p front camera for video conferencing and a durable design. The 12-inch Surface Pro is the thinnest and lightest Copilot+ PC, providing 50% faster performance and up to 16 hours of local video playback. Both devices are designed as Secured-core PCs with advanced security features, including Windows Hello for Business and biometric authentication options. They support enhanced productivity through AI features in Windows 11 and Microsoft 365 Copilot, enabling faster file searches and improved team efficiency. Microsoft emphasizes sustainability with the use of recycled materials and energy-efficient designs. The new devices will be available starting July 22 in select markets.
The Last of Us Part 2 proves that 8 GB of VRAM can be enough, even at 4K with maximum settings, so why aren't more games using the same clever asset-streaming trick?
AppWizard
April 9, 2025

The Last of Us Part 2 proves that 8 GB of VRAM can be enough, even at 4K with maximum settings, so why aren’t more games using the same clever asset-streaming trick?

Sony's The Last of Us Part 1 faced significant issues upon its PC release, including bugs, instability, and excessive VRAM usage, leading to debates about the adequacy of 8 GB of VRAM. In contrast, The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered demonstrated improved VRAM management during testing, with an RTX 5080 averaging 11.36 GB of memory usage and an RTX 3060 Ti averaging 11.06 GB. The game effectively managed VRAM without overloading the GPU, unlike its predecessor. Additionally, TLOU2 exhibited high CPU utilization, indicating efficient parallel task management. This performance suggests that proper asset streaming can maintain stability even on lower VRAM configurations, highlighting the importance of effective asset management in future AAA titles.
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 gets a new patch to address ongoing stability issues — Microsoft suggests users install 1.1.9.0 patch, relocate Community Folder to mitigate long loading times
AppWizard
November 24, 2024

Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 gets a new patch to address ongoing stability issues — Microsoft suggests users install 1.1.9.0 patch, relocate Community Folder to mitigate long loading times

Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 has faced challenges due to its backend infrastructure, which was designed for 200,000 users, leading to server capacity issues. Microsoft released a patch to improve stability and advised users to relocate their Community Folder for better performance. The game features cloud-based asset management, allowing content streaming, which reduces download sizes but raises concerns about bandwidth and game preservation. The game's rating on Steam has fallen to "Mostly Negative" due to ongoing server problems. Microsoft has not provided a clear plan to address community concerns, and the reliance on cloud streaming poses challenges for users with limited data access.
Microsoft shares policy after upgrade debacle around Windows Server 2025
Winsage
November 11, 2024

Microsoft shares policy after upgrade debacle around Windows Server 2025

Microsoft clarified its update policies after an unintended push of Windows Server 2025 to systems running Windows Server 2019 and 2022. The upgrade was intended to be optional, but some third-party products may have triggered automatic updates. This issue is linked to a common update known as KB5044284, which was misclassified by certain patch management systems, leading to unexpected upgrades. A system administrator from Heimdal Security raised concerns about the misclassification, while Heimdal attributed the issue to Microsoft. However, some users argued that the fault lay with Heimdal. Microsoft did not assign a KB number to Windows Server 2025, identified by build 26100.1742. The incident has raised concerns among system administrators about the risks of unscheduled upgrades, which can disrupt services and create licensing issues. Windows Server 2025 has encountered several significant problems, including installation text errors, startup issues in iSCSI environments, and compatibility problems with high-thread CPUs.
Review: FixMeStick is an easy way to protect computers from malware
Tech Optimizer
October 21, 2024

Review: FixMeStick is an easy way to protect computers from malware

The FixMeStick is a plug-and-play antivirus tool designed to identify and eliminate infections that bypass standard antivirus software, reboot the system to remove infections, and function alongside existing antivirus solutions. It is simple to set up, requiring users to plug it into a USB port and follow clear instructions. The initial scan takes about five minutes, while a more comprehensive scan lasts approximately an hour. In testing, the FixMeStick identified a legitimate virus from an executable file associated with a PDF reader. Although there was no immediate performance improvement, it provides peace of mind and encourages regular use as a supplementary security measure. The FixMeStick features an intuitive interface but operates on a subscription model, which may not appeal to all users. It is recommended for those looking for an effective method to check for malware.
Installing PDQ Using Winget on Windows 11 or 10
Winsage
October 20, 2024

Installing PDQ Using Winget on Windows 11 or 10

PDQ Deploy and PDQ Inventory are enterprise-level IT solutions for software deployment and asset management, beneficial for IT administrators in large-scale environments. To install PDQ on Windows 10 or 11, users can utilize the Windows package manager, Winget, which requires administrative privileges. Steps for installation include: 1. Verify Winget installation by executing the command winget. 2. Search for PDQ packages using winget search PDQ. 3. Install PDQ Deploy with winget install PDQ.PDQDeploy. 4. Install PDQ Inventory with winget install PDQ.PDQInventory. 5. Confirm installation by running winget list PDQ. 6. Keep PDQ updated using PLACEHOLDERc41f1f0325 and PLACEHOLDER4c7c64418c. 7. Uninstall applications with PLACEHOLDERef3b3482e0 and PLACEHOLDER3f5d6ecf63.
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