configurations Archives

Winsage

July 31, 2025

Popular tool for bypassing Windows 11 requirements check gets rebrand and new OOBE features

Windows 10 is nearing its end-of-life date, impacting many users who cannot upgrade to Windows 11 due to hardware requirements. A third-party tool called Flyby11 has been rebranded as Flyoobe, now at version 0.35, focusing on improving the out-of-the-box experience by debloating Windows and bypassing Windows 11's requirement checks. The new features in Flyoobe version 0.35 include: - An expanded Personalization page for independent theme mode switching. - Enhanced visual customization broadcasting for instant changes across the system. - An option on the Getting Started page for adding devices to a domain. - A revamped Windows Update page for clearer feedback on downloads and installations. - Refined navigation controls for a more intuitive interface. - Resolved issues related to custom display scaling. Flyoobe may trigger alerts from Microsoft Defender, which the developer claims are false detections. Users can download Flyoobe from its GitHub page, but should be cautious as modifying a Windows image carries risks.

Winsage

July 30, 2025

Secure Windows with Microsoft’s Security Compliance Toolkit

The Microsoft Security Compliance Toolkit is a suite of tools for administrators to assess Group Policy Objects (GPOs) against Microsoft's security baselines, helping to identify discrepancies and implement secure settings. It includes tools such as the Policy Analyzer, Local Group Policy Object (LGPO) utility, and Set Object Security application. Administrators can download the toolkit from Microsoft's website, which contains zip files for various security baseline packages. The Policy Analyzer compares GPOs with local security policies to identify inconsistencies, while the LGPO tool manages local security policies and allows for policy backup and verification. The Set Object Security tool applies security descriptors to objects like files and folders. For Windows Server, administrators should test security baselines in non-production environments before deployment. With Windows Server 2025, the OSConfig platform allows for direct application of security baselines through PowerShell, simplifying the update process and maintaining compliance.

Winsage

July 28, 2025

UpDownTool lets you move from Windows 11 to Windows 10 in just 5 clicks – without losing any data

A new application called UpDownTool allows users to revert from Windows 11 to Windows 10 without losing programs, files, drivers, or settings. Many users are dissatisfied with Windows 11 due to sluggish performance, a less intuitive interface, increased system requirements, and the removal of familiar features. Microsoft has limited options for downgrading, typically allowing a 10-day rollback period or requiring a clean install. UpDownTool simplifies the process by enabling users to transition to Windows 10 LTSC 2021 while preserving core data and configurations. Windows 10 LTSC 2021 is designed for long-term deployment and receives extended updates, with support for the IoT Enterprise LTSC 2021 edition lasting until January 2032. The LTSC edition does not include preinstalled applications like the Microsoft Store and Cortana, making it appealing for users seeking a minimalist experience. UpDownTool can also repair existing Windows 10 LTSC installations or convert other editions to LTSC. Users must be cautious of licensing implications, as LTSC licenses are typically not available through consumer channels. The downgrade process involves downloading the installer and executing a batch script, with the system booting into Windows 10 LTSC 2021 upon completion. Users are advised to back up important files before proceeding.

AppWizard

July 27, 2025

Wuchang: Fallen Feathers Just Released Another Patch to Fix PC Performance

Wuchang: Fallen Feathers received a Mostly Negative rating on Steam after its launch, despite initial positive reviews. The developer, Leenzee, released a significant patch (Update 1.3) on July 24th to address performance issues, which led to a shift towards more favorable reviews. A second patch (Patch 1.4) was released on July 26th, focusing on optimizing performance for various PC configurations. The game peaked at over 92,300 concurrent players in a 24-hour period, not including console players on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. The development team is working on future updates for further enhancements.

Winsage

July 23, 2025

6 PowerToys features I can’t believe don’t ship with Windows 11 by default

Microsoft's PowerToys suite includes several features that enhance productivity for Windows users, yet many of these tools have not been integrated into the Windows operating system. 1. Registry Preview: Allows users to view the contents of a registry file before importing it, enhancing safety and accessibility in modifying the Windows Registry. 2. Quick Accent: Simplifies the insertion of accented characters by displaying options when a user holds down a key, making it easier to type in multiple languages. 3. Find My Mouse: Dims the screen around the cursor to help users locate the mouse pointer more effectively than the basic highlighting feature in Windows. 4. Command Palette (or PowerToys Run): An efficient application launcher that allows for quick and reliable launching of applications, addressing a gap in Windows' functionality compared to other operating systems. 5. Peek: Enables users to quickly preview files without opening them, improving file management and accessibility. 6. FancyZones: A window management tool that allows for customizable window layouts, providing enhanced control over desktop environments. These features could significantly improve user experience if integrated into the core Windows operating system.

Winsage

July 23, 2025

4 reasons I switched from NixOS to Mint Linux as a Windows-to-Linux convert

Transitioning from Windows to Linux can be prompted by the end of support for Windows 10. The author chose Linux Mint after experimenting with various distributions, influenced by experiences with NixOS. Linux Mint features a Cinnamon desktop environment that resembles Windows, offering an intuitive interface with a customizable taskbar and easy navigation. It comes preloaded with essential applications like Firefox, VLC, and LibreOffice, and uses a straightforward APT package manager for software installation. Built on Ubuntu LTS, Mint provides robust driver support and GUI-based troubleshooting tools, making it more approachable than NixOS, which has a steeper learning curve and requires knowledge of the Nix language. The author prefers Mint for its user-friendly design and ease of use as they transition from Windows.

AppWizard

July 22, 2025

RoboCop: Rogue City – Unfinished Business PC Performance Analysis

NACON unveiled RoboCop: Rogue City – Unfinished Business for PC, utilizing Unreal Engine 5. The benchmarking process used an AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D processor, 32GB of DDR5 RAM at 6000MHz, and various graphics cards including AMD Radeon RX 6900XT, RX 7900XTX, RX 9070XT, and NVIDIA RTX 2080Ti, RTX 3080, RTX 4090, RTX 5080, and RTX 5090, on a Windows 10 64-bit environment with specific drivers. The game lacks a built-in benchmark tool, so testing was conducted in the police station area, a demanding segment early in the game. It features a range of graphics settings and supports advanced technologies like DLSS 4, AMD FSR 3.0, and Intel XeSS 2.0. At 1080p with Epic Settings, all tested GPUs exceeded 60FPS, with the RTX 2080Ti achieving over 65FPS. At 1440p with Epic Settings, the NVIDIA RTX 3080 is the minimum requirement for smooth gameplay, while the RX 6900XT did not reach 60FPS. The RTX 4090 and RTX 5090 maintained framerates above 60FPS at Native 4K with Epic Settings. Benchmarks indicate that Unfinished Business performs better than its predecessor, with the RTX 2080Ti in Rogue City dipping below 60FPS, while Unfinished Business consistently exceeds 65FPS. At 4K, the RTX 4090 struggled to maintain 60FPS in Rogue City, whereas Unfinished Business remained above 70FPS. Both games experience occasional stuttering during world traversal, and while Unfinished Business matches Rogue City in visual fidelity, it surpasses it in performance. The game employs Lumen for global illumination but has noticeable artifacts and subpar facial and lip-sync animations. Unfinished Business has a smaller environment compared to Rogue City, contributing to its enhanced performance, and offers support for DLSS, FSR, and XeSS for optimization.

Tech Optimizer

July 22, 2025

PostgreSQL services from hyperscalers raise downtime conerns

Recent research shows that 82 percent of PostgreSQL users are concerned about cloud region failures, with 21 percent experiencing such failures in the past year. In the first half of 2025, PostgreSQL gained over 13 points in database popularity rankings, becoming the fourth most popular database. A survey found that 91 percent of organizations using PostgreSQL expect no more than four minutes of downtime per month, with 24 percent aiming for less than 30 seconds. Microsoft Azure, AWS, and Google offer various PostgreSQL services, while alternatives like CockroachDB and YugabyteDB focus on reliability. PlanetScale recently launched a PostgreSQL service that is 100 percent compatible with open-source PostgreSQL. Convex is transitioning from AWS Aurora to PlanetScale for better performance. pgEdge offers a multi-master distributed database for high availability. AWS claims its Amazon Aurora DSQL is designed for up to 99.999 percent availability, while its Aurora for PostgreSQL guarantees 99.99 percent uptime.

Winsage

July 22, 2025

Microsoft adds telemetry to monitor Windows 11 sluggishness in latest beta, dev builds — logs reportedly only sent when users submit feedback

Microsoft has rolled out new telemetry features in the latest preview builds of Windows 11 to monitor system performance and address user concerns about responsiveness. This advanced telemetry will automatically detect performance issues and log them in the %systemRoot%TempDiagOutputDirWhesvc folder, facilitating user feedback through the Feedback Hub. The upcoming Windows 11 25H2 will include this feature, alongside a revamped resource management system aimed at improving responsiveness compared to Windows 10. However, users have reported ongoing performance challenges, including gaming issues and general sluggishness. Additionally, Microsoft claimed that Windows 11 is more than twice as fast as Windows 10, based on comparisons using different hardware configurations, which has drawn scrutiny.

Winsage

July 21, 2025

How to use Windows Update for Business with Group Policy

Windows administrators need to keep their systems updated for security and performance, with control over the timing and type of updates being crucial. There are three primary methods for managing Windows updates: 1. Per-client updates: Default for standalone clients, offering minimal control. 2. Windows Server Update Services (WSUS): Centralized management since 2005, allowing extensive control but requiring more administrative effort. 3. Windows Update for Business (WUfB): A cloud-based model providing greater control through tools like Group Policy and Mobile Device Management (MDM). WUfB offers several advantages, including policy-based management, granular control over deployments, and the elimination of on-premises WSUS servers. To implement WUfB, organizations must meet specific requirements, including using Windows 10/11 Pro, Enterprise, or Team editions, Azure AD joining, and having the necessary licenses such as Microsoft 365 Business Premium. Administrators can defer feature updates for up to 365 days and quality updates for up to 30 days using Group Policy. They can create servicing rings for managing update deployments, such as testing, pilot, and rollout rings. Configuration involves creating Group Policy Objects (GPOs) linked to the appropriate Organizational Units (OUs) and setting relevant policies. WUfB reporting is available through the Azure Portal, allowing administrators to monitor update statuses and troubleshoot devices.