boot-up Archives

Winsage

January 5, 2026

Windows 11 finishes an embarrassing last in speed test of six Windows generations — but there’s a big catch

A YouTuber named TrigrZolt conducted tests comparing six versions of Windows (XP, Vista, 7, 8.1, 10, and 11) using six Lenovo ThinkPad X220 notebooks with Intel Core i5-2520M CPUs, 8GB of RAM, and 256GB HDDs, which do not meet the minimum requirements for Windows 11. Windows 11 ranked last in several metrics, including boot-up speed, memory consumption, and battery life. It was slower than all other versions in opening applications, particularly Paint and File Explorer. However, it ranked fourth in storage efficiency and performed reasonably well in one web-page loading test. The testing conditions, including outdated hardware and the choice of benchmarking applications, may have skewed the results against Windows 11. Users expressed concerns about Windows 11 being bloated and criticized its performance issues.

Winsage

December 30, 2025

Microsoft’s change to Appxsvc may slow some Windows 11 PCs

Microsoft is modifying core system settings for Windows 11 versions 24H2 and 25H2 by enabling the AppX Deployment Service (Appxsvc) to launch automatically upon boot-up, transitioning from a manual trigger system. This change was confirmed in the December 2025 "Patch Tuesday" update (KB5072033) for both Windows 11 and Windows Server 2025. The Appxsvc will now remain active in the background from the moment the computer powers on, regardless of Microsoft Store access, to enhance system stability and minimize app installation failures or update glitches. Microsoft warns against manually reverting this setting, as it could lead to malfunctions in Store apps and essential services. Analysts suggest this move aligns with a strategy for updating Microsoft Store apps directly through Windows Update.

Tech Optimizer

December 7, 2025

How to find and remove viruses on your Windows PC – 12 free methods that I can attest to

Modern antivirus solutions have reduced PC infections, but risks persist as cybercriminals develop stealthy methods to infiltrate systems. Signs of infection include unfamiliar programs, missing files, slow performance, and disabled security settings. If infection is suspected, disconnect from the internet, boot into Safe Mode, and run a full system scan with Windows Security or Microsoft Defender. To enhance cybersecurity post-infection, users should clear temporary files, reset browser settings, uninstall suspicious applications, scan external drives, keep Windows updated, use strong passwords, and verify sources before engaging with links or attachments. Tools like VirusTotal can help scan files from unverified sources. If performance issues continue, a complete reinstallation of Windows 11 may be necessary, ensuring essential files are backed up first.

Winsage

November 19, 2025

Microsoft’s new recovery tools rebuild Windows when it glitches

Microsoft has announced two new tools for enhancing Windows PC recovery capabilities within organizations: point-in-time restore and cloud rebuild. Point-in-time restore allows users to revert their system to a previous state by taking snapshots of the Windows environment at various intervals, facilitating recovery from issues like update failures and driver conflicts. This feature will be available for testing by Windows insiders in an upcoming build. Cloud rebuild enables IT administrators to restore the operating system directly from the cloud, similar to the existing Reset feature. Administrators can select the Windows version and language through the Microsoft Intune portal, prompting the PC to download the necessary installation media. This tool resets Windows while allowing for the restoration of personal files, applications, and settings using OneDrive and Windows Backup for Organizations. Both tools are designed for businesses using Microsoft Intune and are expected to be integrated into Intune in the first half of 2026 as part of Microsoft's Windows Resiliency Initiative. Additionally, Microsoft is introducing Quick Machine Recovery (QMR) to address boot-up problems and enhance Windows driver resilience.

Tech Optimizer

November 13, 2025

12 ways to find viruses on your PC for free (and how to remove them)

In cybersecurity, modern viruses operate subtly, making them hard to detect while stealing data. Signs of infection include unfamiliar programs, missing files, erratic browser behavior, frequent error messages, and disabled security settings. If infected, disconnect from the internet, boot into Safe Mode, and run a full scan with Windows Security or trusted antivirus software. To protect your PC, delete temporary files, reset browser settings, uninstall suspicious apps, scan external drives, install updates, change passwords, and avoid suspicious links. For suspicious files, use VirusTotal to check for malware. If problems persist, a complete reinstallation of Windows 11 may be necessary after backing up important files.

Winsage

November 2, 2025

Windows Task Manager is fine, but this is the tool I actually use

Windows Task Manager has evolved to align with Windows 11's aesthetics while improving functionality, but some users find it frustrating when processes won't terminate. Process Explorer is an alternative that offers a clearer interface, real-time monitoring, and detailed statistics. It displays hardware graphs at the top and consolidates key metrics into a single view, including the total number of active processes. Users can hover over processes for quick information and access a comprehensive properties view by double-clicking. Process Explorer allows adding columns for process paths and related services, provides graphical views of resource usage, and enables the termination of stubborn processes. It also offers a refresh rate as low as 0.5 seconds and displays comprehensive graphical statistics since system boot-up. Additionally, it integrates with Virus Total to verify processes against a database, includes a tool for searching processes online, and features a lens tool for identifying process names. Process Explorer is considered a superior alternative for advanced users due to its rich features and security integration.

Winsage

October 26, 2025

Windows 95, With Just A Floppy Drive

Microsoft's Windows 95 has reached its 30th anniversary, marking its influence on software design and 32-bit computing. A project by Robert’s Retro is creating a full installation of Windows 95 using only a floppy drive, which challenges the original system requirements of a 386 processor, 4 megabytes of memory, and a hard drive. Robert uses a FlashPath device to allow a SmartMedia card to function as a 32-megabyte floppy disk. To install Windows 95, he employs methods such as using a compressed DriveSpace volume, creating a RAM drive, and booting from a conventional floppy disk before switching to the FlashPath. This project aims to run Windows 95 from RAM for improved speed and offers a complete installation rather than a minimalist version.

Winsage

August 27, 2025

WSL made using my Windows 11 PC so much easier, here’s how

The author has used both Windows and Linux for two decades, with Windows as the primary operating system and Linux for experimentation. The introduction of the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) has eliminated the need for dual-booting and virtual machines, allowing the author to use Linux apps and commands directly within Windows. WSL simplifies file sharing between Windows and Linux, making it easy to access documents and directories across both systems. The transition from WSL on Windows 10 to WSL2 on Windows 11 has further improved file management. WSL functions as a lightweight alternative to resource-heavy virtual machines, offering quick boot-up times and efficient performance. The author can install and run multiple WSL distributions, primarily using Ubuntu but also keeping an Arch installation for experimentation.

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 2, 2025

Microsoft has fixed the only Windows bug I’ve ever liked: the Vista startup sound ‘unexpectedly’ playing on Win 11 machines

Microsoft addressed a bug in the Canary channel of the Windows Insider program where the Windows Vista start-up sound was unexpectedly used instead of the Windows 11 boot sound. The company reverted to the standard Windows 11 boot sound and clarified the issue. The Vista boot-up sound, which is also associated with Windows 7, is considered nostalgic by many users. The latest update also fixed other issues, including audio playback interruptions when casting to a TV and crashes in the power and battery settings menu. Users can modify the registry to change startup sounds, allowing them to enjoy a unique 'tada' sound upon booting up their computers.