Core Isolation Archives

Winsage

July 2, 2025

I made 21 tweaks in Windows 11 to increase gaming performance

Windows 11 provides several adjustments to enhance gaming performance, including: 1. Enable Game Mode: Prioritizes gaming processes. 2. Disable Memory Integrity: Can improve performance during gaming. 3. Disable Virtual Machine Platform: Turns off virtualization for better performance. 4. Change Power Mode: Set to "High Performance" for maximum resource allocation. 5. Enable Auto HDR: Enhances visuals for HDR-capable displays. 6. Enable Automatic Super Resolution: Upscales games using AI for better frame rates and image quality. 7. Change Game Default GPU: Set a specific GPU for individual games. 8. Install Games on Secondary Drive: Improves loading times, especially with SSDs. 9. Optimization for Windowed Games: Reduces input latency for windowed mode games. 10. Change Refresh Rate: Adjust to the highest available for smoother gameplay. 11. Disable Apps at Startup: Frees up system resources by minimizing startup applications. 12. Free Up Storage Space: Enhances system speed and gaming performance. 13. Install System Updates: Resolves performance issues and improves compatibility. 14. Update Graphic Drivers: Ensures optimal performance in games. 15. Debloat Setup: Uninstall unnecessary applications to free up resources. 16. Enable GPU Scheduling: Reduces latency by offloading tasks from the CPU. 17. Use DirectStorage: Allows faster asset loading from NVMe SSDs. 18. Enable Variable Refresh Rate: Synchronizes refresh rate with frame rate to reduce screen tearing. 19. Change Settings in Games: Adjust in-game settings for optimal performance. 20. Reset Your Computer: Restores system to optimal performance if issues persist.

Winsage

June 25, 2025

10 ways to boost Windows security

Windows offers a feature to block annoying applications, which can enhance productivity. The BitLocker feature allows users to verify if their PC's storage is encrypted for data security. Users of outdated versions of Microsoft Office may not receive warnings about security updates, leaving their systems vulnerable. Core isolation settings provide additional security, but their availability depends on the hardware capabilities of each PC.

Tech Optimizer

May 17, 2025

Do You Really Need Antivirus on Windows 11? Probably Not—Here’s Why

Windows 11 has robust built-in security features that may reduce the need for third-party antivirus software. Windows Security now offers comprehensive protection, including real-time malware detection, firewall protection, SmartScreen alerts, hardware-level security, account monitoring, and system health reports. According to AV-TEST results from January and February 2025, Microsoft Defender Antivirus scored 6.0/6.0 in protection, performance, and usability, effectively stopping advanced malware and phishing attempts with minimal system resource usage. Users of Microsoft Edge benefit from SmartScreen filtering, while those using other browsers receive system notifications for network protection. Basic digital hygiene practices, such as avoiding suspicious downloads and keeping software updated, are crucial for security. Third-party antivirus solutions may offer additional features but can lead to performance issues and privacy concerns. For casual users who maintain their systems and practice safe browsing, Windows Security is generally sufficient, while those handling sensitive information or needing advanced features may consider premium antivirus options.

Winsage

May 17, 2025

Why Windows 10 PCs are locking up and crashing after May update

Microsoft will end update support for Windows 10 in October 2025, but new patches are still being released. The latest cumulative update, KB5058379, has caused issues for users, especially those with devices from Dell, Lenovo, and HP. Microsoft is aware of the problems and has not yet deployed a fix as of May 16, but has provided a temporary workaround. For users affected by the BitLocker bug, Microsoft Support recommends the following steps to regain access: 1. Disable Secure Boot in BIOS/Firmware settings. 2. If issues persist, disable all virtualization technologies in BIOS/Firmware settings. 3. Check the Microsoft Defender System Guard Firmware Protection Status via Registry Editor or GUI method. 4. If firmware protection settings are restricted by Group Policy, disable them using Group Policy Editor or Registry Editor. A system restart is required for these changes to take effect, and these workarounds should only be temporary until a patched update is released. Disabling certain BIOS settings may compromise system security.

Winsage

May 16, 2025

Microsoft released one of its final updates for Windows 10 — and it has broken things

Microsoft is winding down support for Windows 10 this October and has released update KB5058379, which has caused unexpected BitLocker recovery prompts for some users after a restart. This issue has been confirmed by Microsoft representatives on forums, although it is not mentioned in the update's release notes. The problem predominantly affects devices from manufacturers like Dell, HP, and Lenovo, and the specific cause is unclear. Microsoft has provided workarounds, including disabling Secure Boot and virtualization technologies, checking Microsoft Defender System Guard Firmware Protection status, and disabling firmware protection via Group Policy or Registry Editor.

Winsage

May 16, 2025

Windows 10 KB5058379 update triggering BitLocker Recovery after install

The Windows 10 KB5058379 cumulative update, released on May 13, 2025, has caused unexpected BitLocker recovery prompts for some users after installation and reboot. Reports indicate that affected devices, including those from Lenovo, Dell, and HP, automatically boot into the Windows Recovery Environment and display the BitLocker recovery screen. Users have experienced various issues, such as needing BitLocker keys to start up or devices refusing to start. A workaround involves disabling Intel Trusted Execution Technology (TXT) in the BIOS. Microsoft has not publicly acknowledged the issue but support representatives are aware and working on a resolution. Microsoft has provided steps to resolve the issue, including disabling Secure Boot and virtualization technologies, checking Microsoft Defender System Guard Firmware Protection status, and disabling firmware protection via Group Policy or Registry Editor.

Winsage

March 14, 2025

AMD’s Ryzen 9 9950X3D reportedly runs up to 20% faster on Windows 10

Recent tests by Tech YES City indicate that Windows 10 can outperform Windows 11 by up to 20% in certain gaming scenarios, particularly in Fortnite at 1080p resolution. This performance gap is attributed to Virtualization-Based Security (VBS), which, when enabled on Windows 11, can lead to a performance loss in CPU-intensive games. The performance difference diminishes at 4K resolution, where both operating systems perform similarly. Windows 10 also showed better performance in games like Counter-Strike 2, Baldur's Gate 3, and Kingdom Come Deliverance 2, although to a lesser extent. Users with high-performance CPUs like the Ryzen 9 9950X3D may benefit from staying with Windows 10 longer despite its impending end of support.

Winsage

October 9, 2024

10 Windows 11 security settings to keep your PC safe

Windows 11 includes several built-in security features designed to protect users from threats: - Microsoft Defender: A built-in antivirus program that provides real-time protection against threats and can perform various types of system scans. - Firewall & Network Protection: Monitors incoming and outgoing traffic to prevent unauthorized access, customizable for specific applications. - App & Browser Control: Utilizes SmartScreen to check URLs and downloads against a database of known threats, blocking harmful installations. - Core Isolation: Adds protection for sensitive processes using virtualization-based security features like Memory integrity. - Ransomware Protection: Shields files and folders from unauthorized access and provides recovery options through Controlled folder access. - BitLocker Encryption: An encryption tool available on Windows 11 Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions that secures hard disk data. - Secure Boot: A BIOS-level feature that ensures Windows boots only with trusted software, preventing boot process hijacking. - Dynamic Lock: Automatically locks the device when a paired Bluetooth-enabled device goes out of range. - Windows Hello: Allows biometric authentication for logging in using facial recognition, fingerprints, or a PIN. - User Account Control (UAC): Prompts for confirmation when actions requiring administrator-level permission are initiated, helping to prevent unauthorized changes.

Winsage

September 5, 2024

10 Windows security features that help protect your PC

- Microsoft Defender has evolved into a comprehensive security solution, providing firewall and antivirus protection. - Secure Boot ensures only trusted software can initiate during system startup, preventing malware from embedding itself in the operating system. - Reputation-based protection, including SmartScreen, prevents the installation of untrusted software and guards against phishing attacks. - Core isolation enhances the integrity of the operating system by isolating the kernel from potential threats using virtualization technology. - Smart App Control assesses and blocks untrustworthy applications based on various signals and user behavior. - Find my device allows users to track their devices' locations through their Microsoft account. - Windows Hello offers biometric authentication options such as PIN, fingerprint, or facial recognition for secure access. - Presence sensing automatically locks the computer when the user steps away, preventing unauthorized access. - Windows Sandbox creates a temporary virtual machine for safely testing unfamiliar applications, deleting all contents upon closure. - BitLocker provides data encryption for sensitive information, requiring a recovery key for access from other computers.

Winsage

August 5, 2024

PC gamers still prefer Windows 10 over Windows 11 | Digital Trends

In July 2024, Windows 11's user share on Steam decreased to approximately 45.81%, down 0.82% from the previous month, while Windows 10 increased to 50.16%, up 0.74%. Microsoft will stop providing support for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025. Despite Valve discontinuing support for Steam on Windows 7 and 8/8.1, 0.41% of Steam users are still on 64-bit Windows 7, and 0.08% on 64-bit Windows 8.1. The Linux user share is 2.08%, and macOS is at 1.37%. Nvidia's RTX 3060 leads the GPU market with a 5.71% share, followed by GTX 1650 at 3.88% and RTX 3060 Ti at 3.47%. Nvidia plans to discontinue the RTX 3060, with the RTX 4060 becoming the fifth-most-popular GPU.