crashing Archives

AppWizard

May 3, 2025

Minecraft runs on 8MB of VRAM using a 20-year-old GPU

The gaming community has revived underperforming hardware, successfully running Minecraft on a 20-year-old GPU, the 3D Phantom XP-2800, with only 8MB of VRAM. A video from Budget-Builds Official details this achievement using an antiquated desktop with Windows XP. Initially, Minecraft Alpha 1.2.6 faced OpenGL compatibility issues, which were resolved by using Microsoft-provided SiS drivers for the card, allowing it to display the game on a CRT monitor. After updates, the game ran, but attempts to run Minecraft 1.6.4 resulted in it loading at one frame per second before crashing. The team optimized performance by removing visual effects, lowering the resolution, and hosting the world server on a nearby laptop, along with using an 8x8 texture pack to stabilize the game.

Winsage

May 3, 2025

Janet Jackson’s ‘Rhythm Nation’ crashed some Windows laptops for years

Playing Janet Jackson's 1989 hit "Rhythm Nation" near certain laptops manufactured from 2005 onward can cause malfunctions, particularly affecting their hard drives. This issue was highlighted by Microsoft employee Raymond Chen, who noted that a major computer manufacturer had to create a custom audio filter to address specific sound frequencies that could disrupt 5,400 RPM hard drives. The problem was serious enough to be listed in the NIST National Vulnerability Database. The audio filter remained in use until at least the Windows 7 era, and there was a hardware vendor that sought an exception to a rule requiring users to disable all audio processing, citing potential physical damage to computers if the audio processing was disabled. Chen expressed uncertainty about whether this rule still exists today.

Winsage

May 1, 2025

Windows RDP has a major security problem, and Microsoft has refused to do anything about it

A security flaw in Windows RDP allows previously revoked credentials to remain functional after a password reset, enabling users to access their PCs with old passwords. Microsoft does not classify this issue as a bug, stating it is an intentional design to ensure at least one user account can always log in. This behavior is not flagged by Microsoft Defender, Azure, or Entra ID, and the company's documentation lacks clarity on the matter. Microsoft has been aware of this issue since at least August 2023 but has chosen not to modify the code, citing potential compatibility issues.

AppWizard

April 29, 2025

Devs lament Oblivion Remastered’s surprise release as Todd Howard eats their lunch: ‘I noticed a complete stop in game sales from about 2 pm onward on Oblivion day’

Launching a video game is complex and challenging, especially for indie developers competing against major titles like GTA 6. Bethesda's announcement of Oblivion Remastered negatively impacted smaller developers, as its release on April 22 coincided with the launch of indie games like Post Trauma and Starless Abyss, leading to visibility issues. Developers reported significant revenue drops; Brian Bucklew estimated a 10-20% decrease in daily revenue, while Francisco González experienced a complete halt in sales after Oblivion's launch. This pattern of major releases overshadowing smaller games has been observed previously, such as with Monster Hunter Wilds in March.

AppWizard

April 25, 2025

25 Years Later, This Cult-Classic Capcom JRPG Has Been Modernized For PC

Breath of Fire 4 has been re-released by GOG as a new PC port that is DRM-free and optimized for Windows 10 and 11. The game features both English and Japanese localizations and supports modern controllers, including the Sony DualSense. Enhancements include restored sound effects, new rendering options, and fixes for previous crashing issues. Originally launched for PlayStation in 2000, this is the second PC port, following the first in 2003. The game's story involves two isolated continental powers and the protagonist Ryu, who can transform into a dragon, as he seeks to stop an immortal emperor. GOG has also been expanding its game preservation program, which started in November 2024, and allows community voting on classic titles for revival.

Winsage

April 22, 2025

Tiny11’s creator squashed Windows 11 ARM onto an iPad Air M2, and it works better than you’d think

NTDev has successfully run Windows 11 Arm64 on the iPad Air M2 using a streamlined version called Tiny11, which has a smaller file size and fewer features. This was achieved with the UTM app and just-in-time (JIT) emulation, taking advantage of the iPad Air M2's ARM CPU. Although users may experience some lag, the ability to run Windows 11 on this device without crashing demonstrates innovative software solutions. This effort is part of a trend where enthusiasts explore unconventional methods to run Windows 11 on various devices.

Winsage

April 16, 2025

Microsoft warns of blue screen crashes caused by April updates

Microsoft has warned customers about potential system failures due to a blue screen error (secure kernel fatal error) following the installation of Windows updates since March, specifically the KB5055523 April cumulative update and the KB5053656 March preview update, affecting Windows 11, version 24H2. Users may experience crashes and a blue screen exception with the code 0x18B. Microsoft is working on a solution and has implemented a Known Issue Rollback (KIR) to reverse the problematic updates, which will automatically reach affected devices within 24 hours. Affected users are advised to restart their devices. For enterprise-managed devices, administrators must install the KIR Group Policy specific to their Windows version to resolve the issue, requiring a device restart. Further assistance is available on the Microsoft support website. Additionally, Microsoft has released emergency updates for local audit logon policies in Active Directory Group Policy and alerted administrators about potential inaccessibility of Windows Server 2025 domain controllers post-restart.

AppWizard

April 14, 2025

Is seeing ‘A Minecraft Movie’ worth it?

Jack Black attended the world premiere of "A Minecraft Movie" in London on March 30, 2025, with the film set to release on April 4, 2025. The live-action adaptation faced skepticism but found box office success, partly due to a viral TikTok trend. Black's performance as Steve and Jason Momoa's role as Garbage Man received praise, especially for their comedic chemistry. However, child actors Emma Myers and Sebastian Eugene Hansen were criticized for being underdeveloped characters. Danielle Brooks' role as the children's realtor was seen as an afterthought, with concerns about the portrayal of Black women in comedy. The film's plot centers around piglins attempting to plunge the overworld into eternal night, but it was described as predictable and lacking depth. The visual effects and overall aesthetic were deemed unappealing, and the film was criticized for not fully embracing the creativity of the "Minecraft" universe.

Winsage

April 10, 2025

Patch Tuesday leaves some users unable to login to Windows

A recent patch bundle released by Microsoft has caused login issues for some users of Windows Hello on Windows 11 and Server 2025, particularly those with System Guard Secure Launch or Dynamic Root of Trust for Measurement enabled. Affected users may need to reset their login PIN or biometric settings. The problematic patch is KB5055523, which addresses vulnerabilities including CVE-2025-29824, currently exploited by ransomware. Additionally, the March patch KB5053656 has been linked to various issues but also includes enhancements such as bug fixes and new features like Copilot+. Windows 10 users have now received a patch for the CVE-2025-29824 vulnerability.

Winsage

April 8, 2025

Windows 11 24H2 is crashing on many PCs due to conflict with security driver

The Windows 11 version 24H2 is causing system crashes for some users due to a conflict with a security driver named sprotect.sys, associated with SenseShield Technology. This issue leads to unresponsiveness and Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) errors, particularly affecting versions 1.0.2.372 and 1.0.3.48903 of the driver. Microsoft has suspended the Windows 11 2024 update for systems using this driver, preventing users from receiving updates or manually installing them. Users experiencing blue screens can either revert to the previous version of Windows 11 or uninstall the update. Microsoft is working with SenseShield to resolve the issue, and users are advised to check the Windows Update page for notifications regarding fixes. Since its launch, Windows 11 24H2 has encountered various bugs and compatibility issues, leading to the blocking of the update for many PCs.