Ethernet Archives

Winsage

July 8, 2026

Windows 11’s new Cloud Rebuild can fix your PC even when it won’t boot

Microsoft has introduced a new recovery feature for Windows 11 called Cloud Rebuild, aimed at simplifying the restoration of non-booting PCs without the need for physical recovery drives. Announced at the Ignite 2025 conference, it is available in the Windows 11 Insider Experimental Preview Build 26300.8772. Cloud Rebuild allows users to restore their PCs to a clean state by performing a full OS reinstall, downloading the necessary Windows image and drivers directly from Windows Update. This feature is designed for recovery scenarios and can be accessed even when the system is unresponsive. It may first attempt a Quick Machine Recovery, and if that fails, it will transition to a cloud-based reinstallation. To use Cloud Rebuild, users must navigate to Troubleshoot → Recovery and Uninstallation → Cloud Rebuild within the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE), and it will erase all existing files on the computer. Currently, it is primarily aimed at system administrators, and users of Windows 11 Home may consider upgrading to Windows 11 Pro to utilize its features.

Winsage

July 8, 2026

Lenovo’s stunning new Windows 11 all‑in‑one finally dethrones the Surface Studio with its bold Yoga AIO i Aura design

The Lenovo Yoga AiO i 32 Aura Edition features a unique upside-down V-shaped stand that supports the display and houses the computing hardware, creating a floating screen illusion. It has a 32-inch 4K OLED panel with a 165Hz refresh rate and a 99% DCI-P3 color rating, making it suitable for creative professionals. The device is powered by an Intel Core Ultra X7 358H processor and integrated Intel Arc B390 graphics, performing well in various tasks but lacking a dedicated GPU option for high-performance gaming. The built-in speaker system has been reported to produce a persistent hissing noise, affecting audio quality. The port selection is limited, with only a few USB ports and no Ethernet jack or SD card reader, which may require users to invest in additional adapters or peripherals.

Winsage

July 8, 2026

You can soon restore Windows 11 from scratch even if it can’t boot up

Microsoft is previewing a recovery tool called Cloud rebuild for Windows 11, allowing users to reinstall the operating system from scratch even if it is unresponsive. This feature provides a clean version of Windows, free from previous drivers and files, and automatically includes the latest updates. Unlike the existing "Reset this PC" feature, Cloud rebuild does not retain personal files, settings, or applications, necessitating independent restoration of these elements. Users can test Cloud rebuild with the latest Windows 11 insider build (Preview Build 26300.8772 or higher) by navigating to Settings > System > Recovery. The timeline for broader availability is uncertain and depends on testing feedback. Other recovery options include recovery drives, resets, Quick Machine Recovery, and a preview feature called Point-in-Time restore.

Winsage

July 7, 2026

Valve shares Windows drivers for Steam Machine and says an official dual-boot wizard will ship “once it’s complete”

Valve's Steam Machine combines console and PC gaming experiences, running on SteamOS but allowing users to install alternative operating systems like Windows. Valve has released official drivers for essential hardware components to support Windows installation, though they do not provide technical support for users who choose this option. Installing Windows requires wiping SteamOS, as dual-booting is not supported. Users can access the boot menu by powering off the device and restarting while pressing the Escape key. An internet connection via Ethernet is necessary during Windows setup, as Wi-Fi functionality will only be restored after installing the wireless drivers.

Winsage

July 7, 2026

New Windows 11 Cloud Recovery Restores PCs And Drivers Without A USB Drive

Microsoft is introducing a new feature called 'Cloud rebuild' in the latest Windows 11 Insider Preview builds, which allows users to reinstall the operating system directly from Microsoft's servers without the need for installation media. This feature bypasses local issues that may prevent a system from resetting itself, as it connects to Windows Update to download a fresh copy of the OS. Cloud rebuild also improves driver handling by fetching hardware-specific drivers during the reinstall process, ensuring the machine is online and ready to go. Users must enroll in the Insider program's Experimental channel to access this feature, which appears under the Troubleshoot menu when a PC fails to boot multiple times. A wired Ethernet connection works immediately, while Wi-Fi requires entering the network password. However, the feature has caveats, including the need for a working network driver in the recovery environment and compliance with Windows 11 hardware requirements. The Cloud rebuild process completely wipes the system disk, erasing all local files, applications, accounts, and settings, although data synced to OneDrive remains intact. Microsoft warns against shutting down the system during the rebuild process, as it could prevent Windows from booting.

Winsage

July 7, 2026

Valve shares Windows drivers for Steam Machine and says an official dual-boot wizard will ship “once it’s complete”

Valve's Steam Machine runs on SteamOS, allowing users to access their game libraries directly. It can also function as a standard PC, enabling the installation of alternative operating systems, including Windows. Valve has released official Windows drivers for essential hardware components like graphics processors, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and SD card readers, but does not provide technical support for Windows users. Installing Windows requires wiping SteamOS completely, and while dual-booting is possible, an official setup wizard is not yet available. Users must access the boot menu by powering down the device and pressing the Escape key during restart. An internet connection via Ethernet is necessary for the Windows setup process, as Wi-Fi will not work until drivers are installed.

Winsage

July 7, 2026

Valve shares Windows drivers for Steam Machine and says an official dual-boot wizard will ship “once it’s complete”

Valve has introduced the Steam Machine, which operates on SteamOS and offers a console-like experience while functioning as a traditional PC. Users can install Windows on the Steam Machine, as Valve has released official drivers for essential hardware components, including graphics processor, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and SD card reader. However, installing Windows requires wiping SteamOS, and Valve does not provide official technical support for Windows users. An official dual-boot setup wizard is planned for a future update of SteamOS. To install Windows, users must access the boot menu by powering off the Steam Machine and restarting it while pressing the Escape key. An internet connection is necessary during the setup process, and connecting via Ethernet is recommended.

Winsage

July 3, 2026

Intel’s major driver update for Windows 11 delivers performance boost, ships with Microsoft’s quality promise

Microsoft's Driver Quality Initiative (DQI) aims to enhance driver stability and predictability for Windows 11, with Intel recently releasing Bluetooth and Wi-Fi driver updates (version 24.50.0) that align with this initiative. The DQI, discussed at the Windows Hardware Engineering Conference (WinHEC) in May 2026, involves collaboration with major tech companies like Intel, AMD, and Qualcomm to improve driver reliability. Microsoft has mandated OEMs to follow strict security policies and adopt Microsoft-authored class drivers to reduce kernel interference and enhance performance and security. The initiative includes quality benchmarks focused on stability, functionality, performance, and reduced power impact. Intel is the first to adopt these changes, with AMD also committing to high-quality driver collaboration.

Winsage

June 30, 2026

Is SteamOS ready to replace Windows? I installed it so you don’t have to

The Steam Machine was announced with a starting price of 9 in the U.S. and £879 in the U.K. SteamOS is currently in beta and primarily supports the Steam Deck, Steam Machine, and Lenovo Legion Go S, with only about 19.13% of Steam users utilizing AMD GPUs compared to 72.42% using Nvidia. AMD provides broad support for Linux through open-source drivers, while Nvidia's proprietary drivers complicate SteamOS installation. Installing SteamOS requires a complete wipe of the NVMe SSD, and there is limited support documentation from Valve. Users have created guides to assist with installation, which involves adjusting BIOS settings and partitioning drives. Networking issues were encountered during installation, requiring command line updates and workarounds. SteamOS offers a console-like experience and a user-friendly interface for gaming, but it presents challenges for users who are not experienced with DIY setups.

AppWizard

June 23, 2026

The Steam Machine’s price has finally been revealed, and it’s not cheap

Valve has announced the pricing for its Steam Machine, with the entry-level 512GB model priced at ,049 without a controller. There are four configurations available: - 512GB model without a controller - ,049 / £879 - 512GB model with a Steam Controller - ,128 / £938 - 2TB model without a controller - ,349 / £1,149 - 2TB model with a Steam Controller - ,428 / £1,208 The pricing reflects recent market trends, including a 40% price increase for the Steam Deck. The specifications for the 512GB model include a semi-custom AMD Zen 4 CPU, semi-custom AMD RDNA3 GPU, 16GB DDR5 RAM, 512GB NVMe SSD, and support for Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3. Registration for interest in the Steam Machine is open until June 25th at 10 AM PT.