boot process Archives

Winsage

August 15, 2025

Windows 10 update KB5063709 prepares support extension until October 2026

Official mainstream support for Windows 10 will end on October 14, 2025. Users without the Extended Security Updates (ESU) program will not receive security updates after this date, while those enrolled in the ESU can receive critical updates until October 13, 2026. The KB5063709 update introduces an "Enroll now" button in the Windows Update section, allowing users to register for the ESU program. This update also fixes issues with the ESU logon wizard crashing and includes enhancements such as core file system optimizations, input method adjustments, secure boot improvements, and updates for mobile profile settings. KB5063709 upgrades Windows 10, version 22H2, to build number 19045.6216 and version 21H2 to build number 19044.6216. Users can register for the ESU program through a Microsoft account, Microsoft Rewards points, or a one-time fee, and those with local accounts must create a Microsoft account to enroll.

Winsage

August 15, 2025

Windows 11’s new “Quick machine recovery” replaces Startup Repair, and it’s a game-changer

Over a year after the CrowdStrike incident, which exposed vulnerabilities in recovery processes, Microsoft announced the Windows Resiliency initiative in 2024, introducing Quick Machine Recovery in Windows 11. Quick Machine Recovery allows the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) to connect to the internet to download fixes from Microsoft’s servers when boot issues occur, potentially reducing recovery times significantly. This feature is enabled by default on Windows 11 Home editions and can be customized by Pro users. Quick Machine Recovery aims to facilitate faster resolutions during major outages, thereby minimizing downtime for critical services.

Winsage

August 14, 2025

6 settings I turn off on every new Windows computer for a smoother, more efficient experience

Microsoft's Windows 11 often does not meet the diverse needs of its users due to its one-size-fits-all default settings. Here are six adjustments that can improve the user experience: 1. The Recall feature, available only on Copilot+ PCs, allows for system snapshots but poses security risks; opting out during setup is advisable. 2. The default display timeout is set to 3–5 minutes; adjusting it to 15 minutes for display and 20–30 minutes for sleep can enhance productivity. 3. Many applications launch automatically at startup, which can slow down boot times; disabling unnecessary start-up programs can improve performance. 4. Modifying or disabling search indexing can enhance system responsiveness for users who do not frequently use the search function. 5. Curating notification settings can reduce distractions from the numerous system notifications in Windows 11. 6. Uninstalling OneDrive can simplify file management by avoiding complications from syncing desktop shortcuts across devices.

AppWizard

August 13, 2025

BIOS shock: getting past Battlefield 6’s anti-cheat error was the faffiest thing a PC game has ever required of me

PC gaming enthusiasts faced technical challenges accessing the Battlefield 6 beta due to a security error indicating that "Secure Boot is not enabled." Secure Boot is a feature in Windows 10 and 11 that ensures only safe software loads during startup, but enabling it requires navigating the BIOS menu, which can be complex and risky. EA's guidance on enabling Secure Boot led to further complications, including issues with disk partition compatibility that required converting from MBR to GPT. Additionally, EA's anti-cheat software, Javelin, necessitates Secure Boot for enhanced security against cheating, a trend also seen in other gaming companies' anti-cheat systems. EA reported blocking over 330,000 cheat attempts during the beta weekend, though concerns about the effectiveness of these measures remain.

AppWizard

August 11, 2025

Battlefield 6 Open Beta on PC: How to turn on secure boot in multiplayer shooter game; follow the steps to enter warfare

EA's Dice studio has released the first public beta version of Battlefield 6, with the full game set for release on October 10, 2025. The beta will last two weekends, with the first open beta running until August 11, 2025, and the second weekend starting on August 14, 2025, and ending on August 16. Players may need to enable Secure Boot to play, as it enhances security during the PC boot process. Secure Boot is essential for Windows 10 and Windows 11, ensuring only trusted software loads at startup. Battlefield 6 requires Secure Boot to enhance defenses against cheating using the EA Javelin Anticheat system. To check if Secure Boot is enabled, players can access System Information and look for the BIOS Mode and Secure Boot State. To enable Secure Boot, players must access the BIOS, which varies by motherboard brand, typically using keys like F2, F10, F12, or Delete during startup. For Windows 11 users, they can enter the BIOS through the Windows Recovery Environment.

AppWizard

August 7, 2025

Battlefield 6 Open Beta Forces PC Gamers to Mess About With Their BIOS to Enable Secure Boot — and Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 Is Next

Battlefield 6 requires players to enable Secure Boot on PC to access the Open Beta. EA has published a user guide to assist players in enabling Secure Boot, which involves accessing the BIOS and ensuring that TPM 2.0 is activated and the Windows disk is formatted as GPT. This requirement may be challenging for less experienced PC gamers. Activision has also announced that Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 will mandate Secure Boot for PC players. The shift towards requiring TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot is aimed at enhancing game security and combating cheating in competitive multiplayer games.

Winsage

July 28, 2025

I ditched most of the Windows start-up chaos and sped up my boot times without any third-party tools, here’s how

As computers age, performance often declines due to the accumulation of installed applications, saved files, and the number of startup tasks running in the background, particularly in Windows 11. New programs frequently set up tasks that launch at startup, leading to longer boot times and increased resource consumption. Users can manage these startup tasks using Task Manager, which allows them to view and disable unnecessary programs that run automatically upon login. Disabling these tasks does not delete applications but prevents them from launching automatically, improving startup efficiency. Additionally, Task Scheduler can be used to identify and manage tasks that may still launch at login. Managing startup tasks can lead to significant performance improvements, such as reducing boot time from approximately 25 seconds to just 31 seconds for a fully loaded desktop.

Winsage

June 17, 2025

Windows 11’s emergency June update causes even more bugs and chaos

Microsoft released update KB5060842 on Patch Tuesday, followed by an out-of-band update KB5063060 to address issues with the first update, particularly an incompatibility affecting games using Easy Anti-Cheat. However, KB5063060 has caused new complications, with users reporting error codes 0x800f0922, 0x80070002, 0x80070306, and 0x800f0991 during installation, as well as installation freezes and boot failures. Users who installed KB5063060 are experiencing performance issues, graphical glitches, game crashes, a corrupted taskbar, and some devices not recognizing Bluetooth devices. Microsoft has not yet addressed these concerns, and users can uninstall KB5063060 to revert to KB5060842.

Winsage

June 12, 2025

UEFI BIOS flaws: SecureBoot bypass and firmware replacement possible

Recent findings have identified two vulnerabilities in various UEFI BIOS versions from multiple manufacturers, compromising the SecureBoot mechanism. These vulnerabilities allow attackers to bypass SecureBoot protections and replace firmware, particularly in Insyde BIOSes. The issues stem from unprotected NVRAM variables, specifically the "IhisiParamBuffer," which can be manipulated to execute unsigned UEFI binaries. Affected UEFI applications include "DTBios" and "BiosFlashShell" from DTResearch, with a CVSS score of 8.2. Microsoft has added 14 new hashes to its DBX database to mitigate these risks. Additionally, a vulnerability in the Insyde H2O UEFI firmware app allows attackers to infiltrate digital certificates due to the insecure handling of the "SecureFlashCertData" variable, which is incorrectly treated as trusted memory. This flaw, known as "Hydroph0bia," has a CVSS score of 7.8 and enables unauthorized execution of firmware certified with manipulated certificates. Manufacturers are urged to provide firmware updates to address these vulnerabilities, as inconsistent support for locking UEFI variables raises security concerns.

Winsage

June 11, 2025

Microsoft Windows Secure Boot Bypass Confirmed

The second Tuesday of each month is when Microsoft releases monthly security updates for Windows. A significant zero-day vulnerability, CVE-2025-3052, has been identified, affecting all Windows users and allowing a Secure Boot bypass. This vulnerability could compromise system integrity by enabling malware to infiltrate Windows PCs and servers. CVE-2025-3052 is classified as a memory corruption issue within a module signed with Microsoft’s third-party UEFI certificate and can execute unsigned code during the boot process, potentially allowing attackers to install bootkits.