Explorer.exe Archives

Winsage

September 14, 2026

Microsoft confirms Windows 11’s update kills audio on some PCs, and the bugs keep piling up

Windows 11 update KB5124008, released on September 8, has caused significant audio issues for users, including failure of audio devices to initialize or produce sound, and problems with microphones and multichannel audio. The update is linked to Explorer.exe crashes, disruptions in File History backups, Remote Desktop difficulties, and GPU issues on certain AMD systems. Microsoft has acknowledged these problems and indicated that the audio issues primarily affect USB Audio Class 1.0 devices. Users may see error logs in Device Manager indicating "This device cannot start (Code 10)." A temporary workaround is to switch to a 2-channel mode, and wireless audio devices appear to be unaffected. Microsoft is working on a permanent solution.

Winsage

September 12, 2026

Microsoft admits Windows 11’s biggest September update is breaking multiple features, days after it warned users not to delay updates

Windows 11 KB5124008, released on September 8, has caused various issues, including disruptions to WSL-based applications and Remote Desktop sessions. Users have reported problems with File History backups and instability in Explorer.exe, leading to system and GPU crashes. Microsoft confirmed a bug affecting applications using HCS-managed Linux virtual machines, particularly Claude Cowork, which is experiencing connectivity issues. Remote Desktop Services (RDS) are malfunctioning, leading to connection failures and sign-in problems. Additionally, some users face black screens upon sign-in due to Explorer.exe crashes. Reports indicate that File History is not recognizing external backup drives, and serious GPU issues have been reported on AMD Radeon systems, including driver timeouts and system freezes.

Winsage

August 12, 2026

Microsoft says Windows 11 KB5101684 makes your PC more reliable, especially on devices with low amounts of system memory: PCs with 8GB RAM or less should feel more responsive

Microsoft rolled out updates for Windows 11, including versions 24H2, 25H2, and 26H1, which feature performance enhancements and reliability upgrades. The KB5101684 update improves the reliability of explorer.exe, speeds up access to Jump Lists and recent files, and streamlines file sharing and desktop switching via Task View. The Start menu and Taskbar will respond more quickly upon startup, and the resource intensity of the post-update process has been reduced, leading to improved immediate performance after installation. These upgrades benefit users regardless of their system's RAM capacity, with a focus on optimizing performance for systems with 8GB of RAM.

Winsage

July 30, 2026

Windows 11 KB5101684 update released with 42 changes and fixes

Microsoft has released the KB5101684 preview cumulative update for Windows 11 versions 24H2 and 25H2, which includes 42 bug fixes and various enhancements. This update is part of the optional non-security preview update schedule and does not include security updates. Users can install it via Settings > Windows Update > Check for Updates, with an option to choose installation. The update elevates Windows 11 24H2 to build 26100.8973 and Windows 11 25H2 to build 26200.8973. It addresses issues such as false invalid credential errors in File History backups, noncompliance in newly enrolled devices, and incorrect file markings on DFS mapped drives. New features include enhanced navigation in File Explorer, more accurate file size indicators, improved search results for app names, and new precision touchpad controls. Voice Isolation support for Voice Access is introduced, along with expanded Windows Hello Enhanced Sign-in Security for external fingerprint readers. Immediate features include enhancements to Secure Boot, app stability improvements, and fixes for MDM compliance issues. Additional features rolling out post-update involve better file size displays in File Explorer, enhanced app search, Voice Isolation for voice access, taskbar notification badge updates, new touchpad gesture controls, and reliability improvements for the Start menu and Windows sign-in screens. Microsoft reports no known issues with this update.

Winsage

July 7, 2026

Windows 11 24H2 and 25H2 Issue Causes Black Screen, Start Menu Failure, and Taskbar Crashes

Microsoft has addressed critical user interface failures affecting Windows 11 versions 24H2 and 25H2 in enterprise environments, documented under update advisory KB5072911. These issues arise from cumulative updates released after July 2025, including KB5062553 and KB5065789, primarily impacting enterprise-managed systems and virtualized environments. Users may experience black screens, unresponsive Start menus, and taskbar failures following updates, particularly in non-persistent environments like Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI). Core components such as Explorer.exe and XAML-dependent applications may fail to initialize or crash due to a timing issue in the update process, where required application packages are not properly registered. Microsoft has released updates starting June 23, 2026, under KB5095093 to address these issues and recommends temporary workarounds for affected systems, including manual registration of missing packages and deploying logon scripts in non-persistent environments. Organizations are encouraged to install the latest updates and review their update procedures to prevent future disruptions.

Winsage

July 6, 2026

How to quickly launch multiple apps with a single action in Windows 11

Windows includes a Task Scheduler for automating tasks and batch files for streamlining operations. Batch files, with a .bat extension, are plaintext scripts that execute a series of commands in sequence, useful for automating repetitive tasks. A common use is launching multiple applications simultaneously, such as Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft Teams, Google Chrome, Excel, and File Explorer, to enhance productivity. To create a batch file, users should identify the executable locations of the desired applications, create a text file named Launch Apps.bat, and input a specific script to launch the applications. The batch file can be executed by double-clicking it, and users can add echo commands for execution status or automate it with Task Scheduler. Some applications may require administrator privileges, and paths may need adjustments based on installation locations.

Winsage

June 2, 2026

PHANTOMPULSE RAT Uses UAC Bypass to Hijack Windows Systems

PHANTOMPULSE is a remote access trojan (RAT) used as a final payload in multi-stage attacks targeting Windows environments. It employs advanced post-exploitation techniques, including process injection, User Account Control (UAC) bypass, and a decentralized blockchain-based command-and-control (C2) mechanism. The malware utilizes three process injection techniques: module stomping, manual DLL mapping, and debug-driven execution. It avoids detection by using direct system calls instead of standard Windows APIs and incorporates a hardware breakpoint mechanism to disable security protections like AMSI and ETW. PHANTOMPULSE retrieves its C2 server address from Ethereum-based transaction data but has a vulnerability that allows defenders to hijack communication. It achieves persistence through scheduled tasks and supports self-healing capabilities. Privilege escalation is done using the "schuac" UAC bypass technique. The malware conducts system reconnaissance focusing on cryptocurrency wallets and messaging apps but does not directly steal credentials. It shows signs of AI-assisted development and shares tactics with DPRK-aligned threat groups, particularly in targeting cryptocurrency platforms.

Winsage

June 1, 2026

Microsoft confirms Windows 11 update is failing on some PCs, explains if you need a workaround

Microsoft has identified the root cause of installation issues related to the May 2026 update for Windows operating system and is rolling out a solution through an optional update, KB5089573. The May 12, 2026, Patch Tuesday update (KB5089549) introduced enhancements but many users faced installation failures due to error code “0x800f0922,” indicating insufficient space on the EFI System Partition (ESP). The ESP is critical for boot files and typically occupies around 256MB. Users can check ESP storage using a specific command. Low ESP space can lead to update failures, particularly when it drops below 10MB. Microsoft has rolled back problematic code and provided a fix in the optional update KB5089573, which resolves ESP space issues and ensures future updates will proceed smoothly. Users are encouraged to install this update or wait for the next scheduled Patch Tuesday update on June 9, 2026.

Winsage

May 31, 2026

Microsoft is killing every ancient Windows 11 dialog box with a modern rewrite, and file copy is already done

Microsoft is redesigning legacy dialog boxes in Windows 11, moving towards modern WinUI 3 interfaces. The company has begun implementing dark mode for some legacy dialogs, starting with file operation dialogs. A WinUI 3-based redesign of the Windows Run dialog is planned as an optional feature. March Rogers, Partner Director of Design at Microsoft, confirmed that a comprehensive redesign is underway, with the file copy dialog already completed and the common file dialog in progress. Users have expressed the need for more extensive updates to various legacy dialogs, and Microsoft is considering releasing these modern versions as optional features.

Winsage

May 26, 2026

Windows 11’s latest patch is both the problem and the fix

Microsoft's KB5089549 update for Windows 11 addresses taskbar freezing and blank desktop displays but has installation issues due to error code 0x800f0922. The update aims to improve performance related to the taskbar and explorer.exe, with expected enhancements by May 2026. Users report taskbar freezing occurring after login or during desktop interactions. The update also creates a new folder on the user's computer. For those who successfully install it, performance improvements are noted, particularly after logging in. The update targets reliability during log-in, taskbar menu interactions, and Quick Access in File Explorer, aiming to enhance overall performance during the initial boot phase.