documents Archives

Winsage

September 26, 2026

Microsoft just rethought its entire AI strategy: What the new Copilot means for Windows & your everyday workflows

Microsoft is evolving its offerings in artificial intelligence, particularly with updates announced at its Copilot event, which signify a shift towards a more integrated Microsoft 365 experience. The latest version of Copilot aims to create a cohesive workspace that connects documents, conversations, data, and tasks, making AI more accessible for everyday users and enterprise customers. CEO Satya Nadella emphasized the importance of keeping humans "in the flow of work" and creating systems that learn continuously. Key features include Autopilot, a digital teammate that manages tasks across Microsoft Teams, Outlook, and other applications, allowing users to focus on strategic initiatives. At the core of these advancements is Microsoft IQ, a unified intelligence layer that connects data and workflows throughout the Microsoft ecosystem. Microsoft is also introducing a plugin registry for custom integrations and implementing FinOps for AI to optimize spending. Regular consumers can access these features based on their M365 Premium or Pro subscriptions, with further developments expected at Microsoft Ignite in November.

Winsage

September 26, 2026

Windows finally let me rip Bing out of my desktop. The speed boost is undeniable

Windows 11 users previously experienced a dual-search environment where local and web results were mixed, often leading to cluttered searches. Many resorted to registry edits to disable web results, but these workarounds were not fully effective. The search interface was complicated by irrelevant web links, making it difficult to find local files. With the introduction of version 26H2, Microsoft added a toggle in Settings that allows users to manage web searches independently, improving the search experience by prioritizing local files. This feature began rolling out after the September 2026 Patch Tuesday update. Disabling web results streamlines the search panel but removes the Copilot entry and may not be immediately available to all users.

Winsage

September 26, 2026

Is Windows 11 good enough yet?

A viewer on The Full Nerd asked if perceptions of Windows 11 might change after five years. The author, who initially embraced Windows 11 but became disillusioned due to ads and performance issues, has recently had a positive experience with the Dell XPS 13 laptop. Despite having only 8GB of RAM, the laptop performs well with multitasking, maintaining responsiveness even with multiple applications open. However, the Task Manager shows that memory usage starts at 6GB even when idle, indicating that Windows 11 consumes significant resources. The author speculates that ongoing critiques may have led to optimizations in software from companies like Google and Microsoft.

Winsage

September 25, 2026

Confused? Your Windows 10 PC still works, but the clock is running out

A customer visited a service center with a functional Dell laptop running Windows 10, which lost mainstream support from Microsoft in October 2022. While the laptop still operates, Microsoft no longer patches security vulnerabilities for Windows 10 unless specific actions are taken. Users have three options: 1. Upgrade to Windows 11 for free if the PC meets requirements, which can be checked with the "PC Health Check" app. 2. Purchase a new or refurbished PC, especially if the current device is six or seven years old. 3. Enroll in extended security updates through methods such as syncing with a Microsoft account, redeeming rewards points, or paying a fee, valid until October 2027. There has been an increase in scams related to Windows 10, with fraudulent popups and calls misleading users about their operating system's status. Microsoft will not contact users unexpectedly regarding expired systems. Users should check their PC's eligibility for Windows 11 using the "PC Health Check" app and seek professional help if needed.

Winsage

September 24, 2026

Microsoft’s new AI‑powered Ink Canvas aims to reinvent how Surface users write, sketch, and create — debuts alongside refreshed smaller Surface Pro and Surface Laptop

Microsoft has introduced updates to its Surface lineup, including the Surface Pro 12-inch (2nd Edition), Surface Laptop 13-inch (2nd Edition), and a new Surface Mouse, all powered by Snapdragon X2 Plus processors. Additionally, Microsoft launched Microsoft Ink Canvas, a pen-first workspace that integrates handwriting, sketches, annotations, and AI functionalities. This follows an update to the Ink Workspace in Windows 11, which allows users to pin applications for easier access to inking experiences. The integration of AI with inking capabilities is part of a broader trend in the tech industry.

Winsage

September 24, 2026

How to Use Point-in-Time Restore in Windows 11

The Point-in-Time Restore feature in Windows 11 allows users to revert their system to a previous state, but it may result in the loss of recently created files. This feature captures the system's state, including Windows system files, installed applications, and local settings. Restore points are generated automatically every 24 hours, but users can create them manually. However, restoring can erase new documents, recently installed applications, and any settings changes made since the last restore point. Files stored in OneDrive remain unaffected. To verify Point-in-Time Restore settings, users must access the Settings application, select System, and then Recovery. Restore points are retained for up to 72 hours and may be deleted sooner if storage is limited. Windows 11 version 26H2 enables this feature by default for devices with an OS volume of at least 200 GB. Before restoring, users should back up recent work to an external drive. To initiate the restore, access the Windows Recovery Environment, select Troubleshoot, and then Point-in-Time Restore. If files are lost after a restore, 4DDiG Data Recovery Software can help recover deleted files. It scans local drives for files deleted during a rollback or accidental deletion. A robust recovery plan should include using Point-in-Time Restore, OneDrive for daily file protection, and separate backups before significant system changes.

Winsage

September 23, 2026

DOC IN A BOX: Confused? Your Windows 10 PC still works, but the clock is running out

A customer brought in a functional Dell laptop running Windows 10, which lost mainstream support from Microsoft in October 2025. Although the laptop still operates, Microsoft has stopped patching security vulnerabilities unless users take specific actions. Users have three options: upgrade to Windows 11 if their PC meets requirements, purchase a new or refurbished PC, or enroll in extended security updates available until October 2027. There is also a warning about potential scams related to Windows 10's support status. Users can check their PC's eligibility for Windows 11 using the "PC Health Check" app from Microsoft.

AppWizard

September 23, 2026

Google Rolls Out Googlebook: A New Era for Android Laptops

On September 22, 2026, Google introduced the Googlebook, a laptop built on a shared Android foundation, designed to combine the convenience of mobile devices with the power of traditional laptops. Collaborating with manufacturers like HP, Dell, Lenovo, Acer, and Asus, the Googlebook features high-resolution OLED touchscreens, precise trackpads, dedicated keyboards, and boasts a 14-hour battery life. It operates on either Intel’s Core Ultra Series 3 processors or Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X chips, with initial shipping in the U.S. set for October 4, 2026, followed by launches in the UK, France, and Australia on October 5. The Googlebook can run Android applications natively, enhancing multi-tasking capabilities, and developers are encouraged to optimize their apps for the device using Google's Adaptive Development framework. Google plans to provide a decade of software updates for the Googlebook operating system.

Winsage

September 21, 2026

Microsoft: September updates break File History backup feature

Microsoft has issued a caution regarding the File History backup feature in Windows, indicating potential functionality issues on certain systems after installing the September 2026 security updates. Users may experience application crashes related to FileHistory.exe and KERNELBASE.dll, and may be unable to create or update backups. Misleading messages such as “Reconnect your drive” may appear, and the “Last Backup” timestamp may fail to update. Affected Windows versions include Windows 10 21H2 or later, Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC 2016/2019, and Windows 11 23H2 and later. Microsoft has acknowledged ongoing issues related to the September 2026 updates and is working on solutions.

Winsage

September 18, 2026

How to measure and shrink the Windows search index

The initial storage cost of the search index on a fresh installation of Windows 11 is minimal, only a few megabytes. When a sizable work folder is added, the index expands, but it does not revert to its original size after the folder is removed. The search index is stored in Windows.db for Windows 11 and Windows.edb for Windows 10. Windows 11 has two indexing modes: Classic (default) and Enhanced, with Classic indexing Documents, Pictures, Music folders, and the Desktop, while Enhanced scans the entire PC. The index includes file names and content, allowing keyword searches. Users can measure their index items through Settings without special permissions, while file size requires administrative access via PowerShell. An index under 30,000 items is acceptable for average users, while performance issues may arise beyond 400,000 items, with a technical ceiling of one million items. In an experiment, the index grew from 462 items and 6.71 MB to 3,466 items and 18.66 MB after adding 3,000 text files, but remained at 16.81 MB after deleting those files. To reclaim disk space, users can exclude specific folders from indexing and rebuild the index, which can significantly reduce its size while retaining the same number of items.