deactivation Archives

Winsage

March 19, 2026

Windows 11 Pro Lifetime License Drops To $12.97

Windows 11 Pro is currently available for .97, which is a 93% discount from Microsoft's standard price of 9. The minimum system requirements for Windows 11 include a 1GHz or faster 64-bit CPU with at least two cores, 4GB of RAM, 64GB of storage, TPM 2.0, and UEFI with Secure Boot. Windows 10 is nearing its end of support, meaning it will no longer receive security updates, which poses risks for users. Windows 11 includes features like BitLocker, Remote Desktop, Group Policy management, and AI-assisted Copilot. Users upgrading from Windows 10 should back up their files and ensure drivers are current. Windows 11 offers performance enhancements for gaming, such as DirectStorage and Auto HDR. Keys priced low are often OEM or volume-license keys tied to a single machine and may not be transferable.

AppWizard

March 12, 2026

Meta rolls out new scam detection tools across Facebook, WhatsApp, and Messenger

Meta is introducing new scam-detection features across Facebook, WhatsApp, and Messenger to enhance user safety. Facebook will implement a warning system for suspicious friend requests, alerting users to accounts with few mutual friends or unusual locations. WhatsApp will provide alerts for suspicious device-linking attempts, informing users of the request's origin. Messenger will expand its scam detection system to more countries, analyzing conversations for scam patterns and providing warnings. Over the past year, Meta has removed over 159 million scam-related ads and deactivated millions of scam-related accounts.

Winsage

March 2, 2026

NTLM is going away: what Microsoft’s phaseout means for MSPs and IT teams

The migration from NTLM to Kerberos authentication is essential for improving security in Windows systems, but it faces challenges such as legacy systems and hardcoded authentication. Organizations must identify NTLM usage, conduct testing with NTLM disabled, and make necessary adjustments or upgrades to migrate successfully. Ongoing monitoring is crucial post-migration to prevent NTLM from re-entering the network. NTLM is associated with significant security vulnerabilities and has been exploited by various threat groups, making its elimination a priority for organizations despite potential hesitations to invest in the migration process. Transitioning to Kerberos is seen as a strategic security investment.

Winsage

February 18, 2026

Your Windows 11 Start Menu May Look A Little Different Soon

Windows 11's Start menu, which began rolling out in November 2025, features a larger design with a structured layout that includes a Pinned section for favorite apps, a Recommended section for Microsoft suggestions, and an All section for installed applications. The Phone Link integration allows access to smartphone content directly from the Start menu. Users can customize the layout by organizing apps by category or alphabetically. However, some users criticize the menu for occupying too much screen space, having fixed dimensions, and prioritizing Microsoft's content in the Recommended section, which complicates personalization. Feedback suggests a preference for a simpler, more straightforward Start menu similar to Windows 7.

Winsage

January 9, 2026

Is turning off Windows Security a bad idea in 2026? A PC expert’s bottom line

Windows Security is a comprehensive security suite for Windows users that monitors downloads, blocks threats, and quarantines malware. Users may need to disable it temporarily to install third-party software or games that are mistakenly flagged as threats. Permanent deactivation is typically for advanced users who may replace it with another security suite, but it increases vulnerability to online threats. To temporarily disable Windows Security, users can toggle off Real-time protection in the Windows Security app. For permanent deactivation, Windows 11 Pro users can use the Local Group Policy Editor, while Home users must edit the Registry. Creating a restore point before making changes is recommended for safety. Disabling Windows Security, even temporarily, should be done with caution to avoid increased risk of infections.

AppWizard

December 16, 2025

Facebook’s Messenger desktop apps for Windows, Mac no longer available

The desktop version of the Messenger app developed by Meta has been discontinued for both Windows and Mac users. Meta notified users 60 days prior to the app's shutdown, encouraging them to uninstall it as it would no longer be usable. The app became unavailable as of a recent Monday, redirecting users attempting to download it to the Messenger or Facebook websites. Users can still access Messenger through web browsers and mobile devices. Conversations will remain intact if users enabled secure storage and set up a PIN before the app's deactivation, allowing them to log into the web version. Users without Facebook accounts can still access Messenger.com.

Winsage

September 14, 2025

Millennium edition of Windows is 25 years old

On September 14, 2000, Microsoft released Windows ME, the last version of Windows to rely on MS-DOS. It was intended as a successor to Windows 95, 98, and 98 SE, offering discounted updates and compatibility with existing software. Windows ME obscured DOS, making it less accessible for users, and eliminated the ability to create bootable DOS copies from formatted floppy disks. It inherited system file protection from Windows 2000 to prevent "DLL hell," where application software replaced system libraries, causing other programs to fail. Windows ME aimed to bridge the gap between Windows 98 and Windows XP, but users faced compatibility issues with programs not designed for the new version. The control panel adopted a web-like appearance, and documentation transitioned to HTML format. Windows ME had minimal system requirements of a 150 MHz Pentium and 32 MB of RAM, and performance tests showed negligible differences compared to Windows 2000. Windows XP was released a year later, marking the end of DOS's relevance in Microsoft's operating systems.

Winsage

September 3, 2025

How to Disable Copilot in Windows 11 (Step-by-Step Guide)

Microsoft's Copilot feature in Windows 11 is an AI-driven assistant designed to enhance productivity by allowing users to ask questions, request document summaries, generate text, and conduct web searches through Bing AI. Users can disable Copilot for various reasons, including privacy concerns, performance optimization, user preference for a traditional desktop experience, and compliance requirements in corporate settings. To disable Copilot, users can follow different methods based on their Windows version: 1. Remove Copilot from Taskbar: - Open Settings from the Start menu. - Navigate to Personalization > Taskbar. - Toggle off Copilot (preview). 2. Disable Copilot via Group Policy (Windows 11 Pro & Enterprise): - Press Windows + R, type gpedit.msc, and hit Enter. - Navigate to User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Copilot. - Double-click on "Turn off Windows Copilot," select Enabled, and click Apply and OK. 3. Disable Copilot via Registry Editor (Windows 11 Home): - Press Windows + R, type regedit, and press Enter. - Navigate to HKEYCURRENTUSERSoftwarePoliciesMicrosoftWindowsWindowsCopilot. - Create the WindowsCopilot folder if absent, then create a new DWORD (32-bit) Value named "TurnOffWindowsCopilot" and set its value data to 1. - Restart the computer. Users may face challenges such as Copilot reappearing after updates or the shortcut still functioning. IT administrators can enforce Group Policy changes across all systems to ensure Copilot remains disabled. Disabling Copilot does not affect access to AI capabilities in other applications like Bing AI in Microsoft Edge.

AppWizard

July 14, 2025

How to disable Gemini AI on Android and keep control of your apps

Google is integrating its AI, Gemini, with Android systems, allowing access to applications like WhatsApp, Messages, and Phone, starting July 7, 2025. This integration may override existing privacy settings unless users disable Gemini. Users can restrict Gemini's access to apps through the Google Gemini app settings or uninstall it. If Gemini is not pre-installed, it will not be automatically installed on devices. Disabling Gemini maintains previous privacy settings, but conversations may still be reviewed by human reviewers for AI training, with data retention lasting up to three years. Users are advised to avoid sharing sensitive information in Gemini chats.

AppWizard

June 13, 2025

Cities: Skylines 2’s latest patch has introduced quays and piers after seeing players using makeshift substitutes: ‘We know how challenging they can be to build’

The latest patch for Cities: Skylines 2 introduces actual quays and piers, allowing for easier shoreline construction. The new quays can detect changes in elevation and come in three sizes: narrow (for pedestrians only), medium, and wide (for both pedestrians and vehicles). The Bridges and Ports expansion has been delayed to address cargo transportation issues in the base game. The patch includes various fixes: trucks will no longer visit the Cargo Harbour after deactivation, the number of taxis and visitors at small parks has been reduced, cargo ships will no longer overlap at deactivated Cargo Harbours, cargo amounts in the Cargo Train Route Selected Info Panel have been corrected, and an issue with trucks not deducting the correct resources has been resolved.