disable Archives

Winsage

July 26, 2025

6 power user Registry tweaks I use to make Windows more tolerable, and you should too

Windows 11 is praised for its refinement but has quirks. The Registry can enhance user experience, but incorrect modifications can cause instability, so backing up keys is essential. To disable automatic updates, navigate to ComputerHKEYLOCALMACHINESOFTWAREPoliciesMicrosoftWindows, create a key named WindowsUpdate, another key called AU, and a DWORD (32-bit) Value named NoAutoUpdate with a value of 1. Restart the PC to check for updates manually. To disable the Home page in Settings, go to ComputerHKEYLOCALMACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionPoliciesExplorer, create a String Value named SettingsPageVisibility with value data set to hide:home, and restart. To remove Bing results from Search, modify the Registry at ComputerHKEYCURRENTUSERSOFTWAREPoliciesMicrosoftWindows by creating a key named Explorer and a DWORD (32-bit) Value called DisableSearchBoxSuggestions with a value of 1. Restart the machine. To disable the lock screen, navigate to ComputerHKEYLOCALMACHINESOFTWAREPoliciesMicrosoftWindows, create a key named Personalization, and a DWORD (32-bit) Value called NoLockScreen with a value of 1. Restart for quicker sign-ins. To speed up shutdowns, adjust the WaitToKillServiceTimeout service in the Registry at ComputerHKEYLOCALMACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetControl by changing the WaitToKillService value from 5000 milliseconds to 3000 or 2000 milliseconds. To enable verbose mode, go to ComputerHKEYLOCALMACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionPoliciesSystem and create a DWORD (32-bit) Value named VerboseStatus with a value of 1.

Winsage

July 25, 2025

I have a lot of Windows PCs, and these are my 6 tips for managing multiple Windows PCs at home

To manage multiple Windows 11 PCs effectively, consider the following practices: 1. Use Windows Backup to back up settings and app lists to the cloud, simplifying device setup and restoration. A Microsoft account is required for this feature. 2. Disable OneDrive folder backups to avoid complications from limited free storage and syncing issues. 3. Utilize the Windows Package Manager (winget) to manage applications across devices by exporting and importing lists of installed apps. 4. Enable nearby sharing in the Settings app to transfer files between devices without internet reliance. 5. Use a software KVM, like Microsoft's Mouse Without Borders, to control multiple PCs with a single keyboard and mouse. 6. Implement a remote desktop tool, such as TeamViewer or AnyDesk, for remote access and control of other PCs.

AppWizard

July 25, 2025

Google faces new EU antitrust complaint over restrictions on removing pre-installed Android apps

A coalition of five digital rights and privacy organizations has filed a complaint against Google under the European Union’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), alleging that the company restricts user autonomy on Android devices by making it difficult to remove or disable pre-installed applications like Google Search, Chrome, and Maps. The complaint claims that Google, designated as a ‘gatekeeper’ under the DMA, fails to comply with legal obligations to allow users to uninstall default services easily. Users reportedly face hidden settings, complicated instructions, and misleading warnings when trying to disable Google apps, which the coalition argues are designed to keep users reliant on Google's services. The European Commission has received the complaint and will review it as part of its enforcement process for the DMA, which allows for fines up to 10% of a company's global annual revenue and mandates changes in business practices for compliance.

Winsage

July 25, 2025

Microsoft Windows AI Upgrade—2 Reasons To Change Your Browser

Microsoft is encouraging Windows users to switch from Google Chrome to its Edge browser by promoting its integration with Windows and highlighting AI-powered tools, productivity enhancements, and security features. A key feature in this campaign is Recall, which captures screenshots and indexes content for easy retrieval. Recall has faced privacy concerns, leading to improvements in its relaunch, including better redaction of sensitive information. Brave has responded by disabling Recall by default for its users and implementing measures to ensure its tabs are treated as private, preventing Recall from capturing their content. Currently, Brave holds just under 2% of the desktop browser market, while Chrome has nearly 70%.

Winsage

July 24, 2025

Microsoft trials redesigned Windows 11 Widgets Board with new Copilot Discover feed — AI curated stories right on your desktop

Microsoft is piloting a new widgets panel for Windows 11 called Copilot Discover, which replaces the traditional MSN feed with a personalized AI-curated experience. The updated design enhances speed, reduces lag, and presents stories in a less cluttered format with improved readability. A new Notifications button at the top of the feed provides essential updates, and users can customize these notifications. Microsoft is testing a feature that allows users to read stories directly within the widgets panel instead of being redirected to a browser. The layout separates widgets from the main feed, with a dedicated tab for widgets and a fixed weather widget on the main page. The widgets panel can no longer be viewed in full-screen mode and appears as a narrow slide-out feature. The Copilot Discover feed is currently in testing with a select group of users, with a broader rollout expected if feedback is positive.

AppWizard

July 24, 2025

Alphabet Hit with EU Antitrust Complaint Over Android App Restrictions

A coalition of six civil society organizations has filed an antitrust complaint against Alphabet in Europe, alleging violations of the European Union’s Digital Markets Act (DMA). The complaint claims that Alphabet has not complied with DMA requirements that mandate tech "gatekeepers" to allow users to easily uninstall pre-installed applications. The organizations involved include ARTICLE 19, European Digital Rights, Free Software Foundation Europe, Gesellschaft für Freiheitsrechte, Homo Digitalis, and Vrijschrift.org. They argue that Google's Android operating system makes it difficult for users to remove pre-installed apps and that Alphabet discourages users from disabling these applications. The complaint requests an investigation by the European Commission into Alphabet's potential breach of the DMA. Alphabet has dismissed the allegations, stating that uninstalling apps on Android is easy and that similar complaints have been rejected by other regulatory bodies. The European Commission is currently assessing the complaint.

AppWizard

July 23, 2025

WUCHANG: Fallen Feathers Benchmarks & PC Performance Analysis

505 Games has removed the review embargo for WUCHANG: Fallen Feathers, which is developed by Leenzee. The game supports NVIDIA DLSS 4 with Multi-Frame Generation but lacks compatibility with AMD FSR 3.0 and Intel XeSS. Benchmarking was conducted on a PC setup featuring an AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D and various graphics cards. At 1080p with Max Settings, the AMD RX 7900XTX was the minimum requirement for over 60FPS, while the NVIDIA RTX 3080 and AMD Radeon RX 6900XT struggled. At 1440p with Max Settings, only the NVIDIA RTX 4090 and RTX 5090 provided a smooth experience. No GPU achieved stable 60FPS at Native 4K with Max Settings, with the NVIDIA RTX 5090 averaging around 54FPS. The game has performance issues, particularly with frame rates dropping significantly during in-game events. Adjusting graphics settings had limited impact on performance, and visual quality suffered at lower settings. The game features impressive graphics with Lumen GI and high-resolution textures, despite some low-resolution textures and minor shadow pop-ins.

Winsage

July 23, 2025

Windows 11 KB5062660 24H2 out with features, direct download links for offline installer (.msu)

Windows 11 KB5062660 is an optional update for Windows 11 24H2, introducing features like Recall AI for users in Europe. The update is approximately one gigabyte in size and upgrades the operating system to Windows 11 Build 26100.4770. Users can access it through Windows Update or direct download links from the Microsoft Update Catalog. Recall AI allows users to save screen snapshots but raises privacy concerns, which can be managed through settings. The update also includes Quick Machine Recovery (QMR) for efficient system recovery, improvements in system stability, and various enhancements such as inline messages in the Snap bar, streamlined Windows Search settings, enhanced controller navigation, and fixes for issues in the Settings app and File Explorer.

Winsage

July 22, 2025

9 features I want Microsoft to add and improve in Windows 11

Windows 11 has received several feature updates, with version 25H2 upcoming, but it still lacks many user-requested features. Key issues include: 1. Users want more control over Windows Update, including the ability to disable automatic updates or schedule them flexibly. 2. There is a demand for the option to set up devices with a local account instead of being forced to use a Microsoft account. 3. Users miss the ability to resize the Taskbar, which is currently fixed in size. 4. The option to relocate the Taskbar to the top of the screen has been removed, and users want this flexibility restored. 5. A fully consistent dark mode across the operating system is desired, along with customizable live tiles. 6. Users would benefit from charging limit options for laptops to extend battery lifespan. 7. The settings page for File Explorer needs modernization to align with the Windows 11 aesthetic. 8. There is a call for a variant of Windows 11 that supports older PCs that do not meet current hardware requirements.

Winsage

July 22, 2025

Copilot+ PCs powered by Intel and AMD still trail behind Snapdragon counterparts — even with experimental features

Microsoft has introduced new Copilot+ experiences for AMD and Intel-powered PCs through recent Windows Insider Builds. The "describe image" action in Click to Do has been made available to these users starting with build 26200.5710, after previously being accessible only to Snapdragon X-powered devices. This feature provides detailed descriptions of images, charts, and graphs to enhance accessibility, particularly for blind and low-vision users. The Narrator tool has also been improved to generate rich descriptions of visual content. Users can activate this feature by pressing the Narrator key + Ctrl + D. Additionally, Microsoft is collecting logs to address performance issues and has updated the lock screen widget experience for Windows Insiders. A new section in Settings allows users to see which third-party applications have recently used generative AI models. There is a noted disparity in feature rollout between Snapdragon X and AMD/Intel-powered PCs, with Snapdragon devices receiving updates first.