driver compatibility Archives

AppWizard

March 2, 2025

Why Valve should make Half-Life 3 a SteamOS exclusive

Millions of gamers have access to SteamOS through Steam Deck devices, which may struggle with demanding titles like Half-Life 3 at peak settings. Valve's games typically perform well on lower-end systems. Recent leaks indicate that third-party manufacturers are preparing to launch desktops, laptops, and handhelds with SteamOS, and a more powerful "Steam Deck 2" may be in development. The Lenovo Legion Go S will be the first non-Valve hardware officially "Powered by SteamOS." There is speculation that a timed exclusivity for Half-Life 3 on SteamOS could attract players to the platform, while Valve might also consider offering a non-exclusive version as a pre-installed title with future SteamOS iterations. This situation presents Valve an opportunity to challenge Microsoft's dominance in the PC gaming OS market.

Winsage

October 31, 2024

Microsoft throws Windows 11 haters a lifeline – but a year more of Windows 10 support costs $30

Microsoft is introducing an Extended Security Update (ESU) program for Windows 10 users, allowing them to receive essential security updates until October 2026, as support for Windows 10 ends in October 2025. This is the first time the ESU program is available for individual consumers, previously reserved for enterprise and educational users. Enrollment for the program will be available closer to the end of support in 2025. The program focuses solely on delivering security patches without new features or technical support, and while existing bugs in Windows 10 will not be fixed, no new bugs will be introduced. Users have options to upgrade to Windows 11, use workarounds for installation, or explore Linux distributions, though each choice comes with its own challenges. The ESU program is a response to concerns about environmental sustainability, as the end of Windows 10 support could lead to millions of PCs being discarded, with reports suggesting up to 240 million PCs could end up in landfills.

Winsage

October 30, 2024

5 reasons I’m never upgrading to Windows 11

Over seven years have passed since the installation of Windows 10, which began with a gaming PC using AMD's Ryzen CPUs and a GTX 1050 Ti. Many users feel upgrading to Windows 11 is unnecessary due to a strong attachment to Windows 10. Windows 11 has been criticized for its pervasive ads, privacy issues, and the integration of Copilot+ features that have not significantly improved the user experience. Current Windows 11 users report dissatisfaction with unexpected functionality, compatibility issues, and frequent updates introducing new bugs. Complaints about driver compatibility and blue screens of death (BSOD) are common. The latest 24H2 update has also caused problems, prompting user frustrations. A brief experience with Windows 11 revealed issues like changes in the Start menu, missing context menu options, and the presence of bloatware. Concerns about future bugs, particularly related to specific WD SSDs, contribute to reluctance in upgrading. Users appreciate the familiarity and efficiency of Windows 10, with its intuitive Start menu, accessible settings, and absence of forced Microsoft account usage. As Windows 10's lifespan decreases, many users are cautious about navigating Windows 11, weighing risks against potential rewards.

Winsage

October 27, 2024

Colburn: How to pause the problematic Windows update

Concerns have arisen regarding the latest Windows update, particularly for Windows 10 and 11 users. The rollout of Windows 11's update version 24H2 is phased, and some users report issues such as the Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) and system freezes, often due to driver compatibility conflicts. Microsoft has automatic updates in place, which can complicate matters when problematic updates are released. Users can temporarily disable automatic updates by turning off the option in the 'Updates' menu. The update addresses critical security vulnerabilities, prompting the U.S. government to advise federal employees to implement mitigations or stop using affected devices. Older Windows versions (XP, 7, 8.1) no longer receive security patches, and users are advised to disconnect from the Internet until they can secure their data. Windows 10 users should consider upgrading to Windows 11 before support ends on October 14, 2025. If issues arise after installation, users should roll back the update promptly.

Winsage

October 25, 2024

Data Doctors: How to pause the problematic Windows update

Users of Windows 10 and 11 are experiencing issues with the recent rollout of Windows 11's latest update (24H2), including the "Blue Screen of Death" and system freezes, primarily due to driver compatibility problems. Microsoft is distributing this update in phases, so not all users will receive it at the same time. To prevent automatic installation of updates, users can temporarily disable the option to receive the latest updates in the Windows update settings. The update addresses critical security vulnerabilities, prompting the U.S. government to require federal employees to implement mitigations or discontinue use of affected devices. Users on older versions of Windows (XP, 7, 8.1) should disconnect from the internet, as no patches are available for them. Windows 10 users will face an "end of life" scenario in approximately one year (October 14, 2025), making an upgrade to Windows 11 advisable. If issues arise after installation, users should consider rolling back the update, while not all users may experience problems.

Winsage

October 19, 2024

Microsoft blocks Windows 11 24H2 update on PCs running this app – check if you’re affected

Microsoft has temporarily halted the rollout of the Windows 11 24H2 update for users of the Voicemeeter application due to a compatibility issue with a driver associated with Voicemeeter, which conflicts with the new Memory manager in Windows 11 24H2. This incompatibility can cause a Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) error when using the application. Users with Voicemeeter installed will not receive the update until further notice. VB-Audio Software is working on a fix, but the timeline for resolution is uncertain. Users can still upgrade to Windows 11 24H2 using the Windows 11 Installation Assistant or media creation tool, but Microsoft advises against this if Voicemeeter is in use, as it may lead to BSOD issues.

Winsage

October 17, 2024

8 reasons to avoid the latest Windows 11 update (hint: they’re all bugs)

Microsoft has released the 2024 update for Windows 11, known as Windows 11 24H2, which includes enhancements to Copilot AI, a refreshed File Explorer, and performance improvements. Users can access the update through Windows Update or Microsoft's Download Windows 11 page. However, the update has several bugs, including: 1. System File Checker Bug: The SFC tool shows false positives for corrupted files related to WebView2. 2. Cache File Deletion Glitch: An 8.63GB update cache is resistant to deletion, but can be removed using "Windows Update Cleanup" in Disk Cleanup. 3. Conflict with Easy Anti-Cheat: Users may experience blue screens with the Easy Anti-Cheat software, especially on Intel Alder Lake+ devices. 4. Blue Screens from Driver Compatibility: Compatibility issues with Intel Smart Sound Technology drivers and certain Western Digital SSDs can cause blue screens. 5. Disappearing Mouse Pointer: The mouse cursor may vanish in Chromium-based applications when interacting with text fields. 6. Internet Connection Issues: Users may face problems obtaining a valid IP address, despite seemingly functional Ethernet or Wi-Fi connections. 7. Fingerprint Sensor Glitch: Fingerprint sensors may become unresponsive after the update. 8. Broken Clipboard History: The clipboard history feature may appear empty despite items being copied. Microsoft has acknowledged these and other issues on its Known Issues and Notifications page. Users are advised to consider delaying the update due to these challenges.

AppWizard

September 25, 2024

Can my 14-year-old gaming PC, loaded with the one-time most powerful graphics card in the world, still deliver a good PC gaming experience in 2024?

The author discovered an old graphics card, the Sapphire ATI Radeon HD 5970 4GB, from 2009 and upgraded their retro gaming rig with an Intel Core i7 Extreme 975 processor and 16GB of Corsair DDR3 RAM. They overclocked the HD 5970 using MSI Afterburner and installed Windows 10. The HD 5970 lacks DirectX 12 compatibility, so the author selected compatible games from their library, including Doom, Kingdom Come: Deliverance, Prey, Deus Ex: Mankind Divided, Skyrim: Special Edition, Thief, and Crysis 3. The rig successfully ran Crysis 3 with good graphical fidelity, Doom at playable frame rates on low/medium settings, Kingdom Come: Deliverance smoothly at HD resolution, Prey at medium settings, Thief at reduced settings for smooth performance, Skyrim: Special Edition with optimizations, and Deus Ex: Mankind Divided at low settings. The experiment showcased the enduring capabilities of the ATI Radeon HD 5970 4GB in modern gaming.

Winsage

August 6, 2024

Nvidia driver update causes BSOD on older Windows PCs

Nvidia's latest graphics drivers (version 555 and beyond) cause Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) errors for users with older CPUs that lack the POPCNT instruction, particularly affecting Windows 10 users with processors like the Core 2 Duo E8400. This issue arises even when using supported Nvidia graphics cards such as the GTX 750 Ti and newer. The BSOD error message "System thread exception not handled" occurs when these drivers are installed on compatible Nvidia GPUs but unsupported processors, leading to system instability and potential data loss. Nvidia has ceased support for older CPUs without the POPCNT instruction set, limiting options for affected users. Open-source drivers exist for Linux users, but proprietary alternatives are lacking, and performance may be compromised with open-source options.