conversion tool Archives

Winsage

September 6, 2026

I gave Windows 11 an old-school makeover by restoring its classic icons

Users can customize icons in Windows 11 by following different methods depending on the type of icon. For folders and shortcuts, right-clicking the item and selecting Properties allows users to change icons easily. Taskbar items require pressing Shift while right-clicking the closed app. Desktop icons like "This PC" and the Recycle Bin can be modified through Settings > Personalization > Themes > Desktop icon settings. More complex changes, such as altering icons for file types or drives, involve editing the Windows registry. Windows retains a selection of classic icons within DLL files, including moricons.dll, pifmgr.dll, and netshell.dll. Users can also access the Windows Icon Archive project for a repository of icons from various Windows versions, though .png files need conversion to .ico format for use. Limitations include the inability to change icons for new folders automatically, modifications not reflecting in Quick Access for special folders, and restrictions on altering application icons. Programs like OpenShell can help modify taskbar and Start menu icons, but achieving a perfect replica of older versions is not possible.

Tech Optimizer

June 6, 2026

PostgreSQL vs SQL Server 2026: $0 vs $15K License

PostgreSQL has become the most utilized database for developers for two consecutive years as of 2026, while SQL Server has introduced native AI capabilities and vector search functionalities in its latest release. PostgreSQL is favored for new projects due to its permissive licensing, cross-platform operation, and extensive ecosystem of extensions, whereas SQL Server is preferred by organizations already using Microsoft products for its robust tooling and enterprise support. As of June 2026, SQL Server ranks third in the DB-Engines popularity ranking with a score of 698, while PostgreSQL ranks fourth with a score of 688. Developer adoption trends show that 49% of respondents in the Stack Overflow 2024 Developer Survey use PostgreSQL, compared to 27% for SQL Server. The latest stable version of PostgreSQL is 18.4, released on May 14, 2026, while SQL Server 2025 (version 17.x) became generally available on November 18, 2025. PostgreSQL is free under a permissive license, while SQL Server's Enterprise Edition can cost upwards of ,123 per two-core pack, with an eight-core minimum. PostgreSQL supports various operating systems, including Linux, Windows, macOS, and BSD, while SQL Server operates on Windows and Linux. PostgreSQL uses PL/pgSQL as its primary procedural language, allowing for multiple procedural languages, whereas SQL Server uses T-SQL. PostgreSQL's JSONB type offers rich indexing, while SQL Server added native JSON support in its 2025 release. Both databases are capable of handling high transaction volumes, but PostgreSQL excels in read-heavy scenarios due to its multi-version concurrency control, while SQL Server's columnstore indexes provide advantages for analytical workloads. PostgreSQL supports tables up to 32 TB, while SQL Server can handle a maximum database size of 524 PB. SQL Server's high availability technology includes Always On Availability Groups, while PostgreSQL offers built-in streaming and logical replication. The security features of both databases meet enterprise standards, with PostgreSQL providing a transparent patching process and SQL Server integrating with Microsoft tools. Real-world usage examples include Stack Overflow using SQL Server, while Instagram and Reddit utilize PostgreSQL. Developer sentiment increasingly favors PostgreSQL for new projects, emphasizing flexibility and open-source solutions. For new startups or greenfield projects, PostgreSQL is recommended due to its zero license cost and compatibility. Existing Microsoft enterprises are advised to stick with SQL Server for its integration benefits. Migration from SQL Server to PostgreSQL is becoming common, with a structured approach required for successful transitions.

Tech Optimizer

September 23, 2025

Migrate full-text search from SQL Server to Amazon Aurora PostgreSQL-compatible edition or Amazon RDS for PostgreSQL

In contemporary data management, efficient search and retrieval of information from large datasets is crucial. PostgreSQL, while primarily a structured data management system, offers robust tools for handling unstructured or semi-structured data through its built-in full-text search (FTS) capabilities and extensions like pg_trgm and pg_bigm. Traditional SQL queries using LIKE and ILIKE operators are effective for precise textual matching but may struggle with extensive unstructured text. Migrating full-text search from SQL Server to Amazon Aurora PostgreSQL-Compatible Edition requires adjustments to queries and schema structures, as the implementations differ. The AWS Schema Conversion Tool does not automatically convert full-text search code. SQL Server's FTS is designed for searching specific words or phrases within unstructured text, allowing rapid searching, ranking, and indexing. To enable FTS in SQL Server, one must enable it for the database, create a full-text catalog, and define a full-text index on relevant text columns. Migration to PostgreSQL involves using AWS SCT and AWS DMS. PostgreSQL supports various text searching methods, including exact search, pattern matching, regular expressions, and FTS, utilizing tsvector and tsquery data types. PostgreSQL's FTS allows for advanced querying capabilities, including ranking search results based on relevance using the ts_rank function. The ts_headline function can summarize documents based on search queries. Performance can be improved in PostgreSQL through the use of GIN indexes and stored generated columns. The pg_trgm extension enhances text search by leveraging trigrams, allowing for efficient similarity operations on text columns.

Winsage

April 21, 2025

How to keep using Windows 10 in a virtual machine after support ends

Microsoft will end support for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025. Users can run Windows 10 in a virtual machine (VM) to continue using it safely. The tool Disk2Vhd can convert a physical Windows 10 installation into a virtual hard drive (VHD or VHDX) for use in virtualization software like VirtualBox or Hyper-V. To use Disk2Vhd, download and extract it, launch the appropriate executable, select partitions for conversion, and choose between VHD and VHDX formats based on the virtualization software. After conversion, transfer the VHD file to the target computer and set up a new VM, integrating the backup file instead of creating a new virtual hard drive. Users can also reinstall Windows 10 in a VM using an installation medium and the Media Creation Tool to download the ISO file. When creating a VM, allocate at least 4GB of virtual memory and install necessary programs and guest extensions afterward. Creating a backup point after installation is recommended for stability.

AppWizard

March 14, 2025

Despite its history of taking action against GTA mods, a Rockstar-approved GTA 5 modding tool is on the way to “assist the modding community” in the wake of the recent PC upgrade

Rockstar Games has aligned the PC version of GTA 5 with current-generation consoles and announced that the Cfx.re modding team will release an official asset conversion tool for modders. This tool will help adapt assets from FiveM and GTA 5 Legacy to the new game version, as custom assets will not be natively compatible. The conversion tool will ensure compatibility for specific file types, including .ydd, .ydr, .yft, and .ytd files. This announcement marks a significant shift in Rockstar's approach to modding, moving towards support rather than restriction. Additionally, Rockstar is pursuing legal action against a website selling hacked GTA Online accounts.