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Windows 11 finally gets a proper Start menu with this Quantum upgrade -- install it now
Winsage
April 3, 2025

Windows 11 finally gets a proper Start menu with this Quantum upgrade — install it now

Microsoft's Windows 11 features a centered Start menu and taskbar aimed at modernizing its aesthetic, but many users find it uninspiring. The Quantum Start Menu is a Windhawk theme designed to enhance the Windows 11 interface, providing a cleaner and more intuitive Start menu and taskbar. YouTuber Link Vegas has created a video guide for installing the Quantum Start Menu, which requires a theme package, Windhawk application, and configuration files.
Windows OS On A Pixel Watch! PHD Student Achieves The Impossible! News24 -
Winsage
April 2, 2025

Windows OS On A Pixel Watch! PHD Student Achieves The Impossible! News24 –

A PhD student named Gustave Monce, along with a small team, successfully ran the Windows operating system on a Pixel Watch through the WOA project. The process involved examining a rooted boot image, modifying the stock UEFI, altering the ACPI table, and patching various files to enable the watch to run Windows PE. Despite the extensive work, the project faced challenges due to the Pixel Watch's internal architecture, which was designed for its native OS. Additionally, old iPads can be repurposed as e-readers by downloading e-book reader applications or, for a more ambitious project, by booting them with a Raspberry Pi or another Linux-based operating system.
Powertoys 0.90: Command palette allows quick program start
Winsage
April 2, 2025

Powertoys 0.90: Command palette allows quick program start

Microsoft has released version 0.90.0 of Windows Powertoys, featuring the new "Command Palette" that allows users to quickly search for and launch applications by pressing the Windows key, Alt, and the space bar. The update also includes minor bug fixes, improvements to the color picker, and enhancements to the New+ function for creating predefined files and directories with variable support. Users can check for updates directly within Powertoys. The new installation packages for Powertoys 0.90.0 are available for download in both user and system-wide installations for x64 and ARM64.
Your 'unsupported' Windows 10 PC can still run Windows 11 in 2025
Winsage
April 2, 2025

Your ‘unsupported’ Windows 10 PC can still run Windows 11 in 2025

Microsoft will cease support for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025. Users considering upgrading to Windows 11 may face obstacles due to hardware requirements, including TPM 2.0 and specific CPU models. Workarounds exist for upgrading incompatible PCs. To check compatibility: - Determine if the PC uses UEFI or Legacy BIOS via System Information (msinfo32.exe). - Ensure BIOS Mode is UEFI. - Check TPM status using the TPM Management tool (tpm.msc). - Verify CPU compatibility; most Intel CPUs from 2009 or later and AMD CPUs from 2013 or later should meet the standards. Option 1: Registry Edit Method (for PCs with TPM 1.2+ and UEFI) 1. Open Registry Editor (regedit.exe) as an administrator. 2. Navigate to HKEYLOCALMACHINESYSTEMSetup; create MoSetup key if absent. 3. Create DWORD (32-bit) Value named AllowUpgradesWithUnsupportedTPMOrCPU, set value to 1, and restart. 4. Download Windows 11 ISO from aka.ms/DownloadWindows11. 5. Mount the ISO file and run Setup.exe. Option 2: Using Rufus (for PCs without TPM or UEFI) 1. Download Rufus version 4.6 or later and Windows 11 ISO. 2. Prepare a USB flash drive (16GB or larger). 3. Launch Rufus, select the USB drive, choose the Windows 11 ISO, and check the box to remove requirements for 4GB+ RAM, Secure Boot, and TPM 2.0. 4. Create the bootable drive and run Setup.exe from the USB drive. These methods are unofficial workarounds. Users may encounter compatibility warnings, and the registry method is preferred for its simplicity. Some very old systems, especially those with AMD processors lacking SSE4.2 support, may still be incompatible.
Call of Duty will finally let console players turn off crossplay to dodge PC cheaters, which is potentially terrible news for all the legit PC players
AppWizard
April 2, 2025

Call of Duty will finally let console players turn off crossplay to dodge PC cheaters, which is potentially terrible news for all the legit PC players

Activision will allow players to disable crossplay in regular unranked matches with the launch of Black Ops 6 Season 3 on April 2. Previously, crossplay limitations were only available in ranked modes. The new options will include enabling matchmaking with all platforms, with consoles only, or restricting to the current platform. This decision addresses concerns about cheating, which predominantly affects PC players, but 60% of reported cheaters are on console. Reactions to the change are mixed, with some players worried about potential impacts on queue times for PC gamers, while others suggest it may not significantly affect matchmaking. Some players also expressed a desire for more tailored matchmaking options.
Finally! Microsoft brings most Copilot+ AI features to AMD, Intel PCs
Winsage
April 2, 2025

Finally! Microsoft brings most Copilot+ AI features to AMD, Intel PCs

Microsoft has announced that all Copilot+ PCs, including those with AMD Ryzen AI 300 series and Intel Core Ultra 200V processors, will now have access to AI-driven features, previously limited to Snapdragon devices. Features available include Live Captions, Cocreator, Restyle Image, and Image Creator, though some functionalities, like photo resizing, remain exclusive to Snapdragon-powered PCs. The Voice Access feature is currently limited to Snapdragon devices, with plans for AMD and Intel compatibility later this year. Upcoming features will be available through the March 2025 Windows non-security preview update, following the November 2024 update, and will be rolled out gradually via Windows controlled feature rollout. Users can access updates by navigating to Settings > Windows Update.
Someone just booted Windows on a Pixel Watch, and it actually (kind of) works
Winsage
April 2, 2025

Someone just booted Windows on a Pixel Watch, and it actually (kind of) works

PhD student Gustave Monce has successfully run Windows for Arm on the Pixel Watch 3, utilizing its quad-core Snapdragon processor and 456×456 OLED display. He modified Qualcomm’s UEFI-based XBL bootloader to boot the Windows Preinstallation Environment (PE). Despite challenges from the release of Android 15, which disrupted his code-loading process, Monce adapted the stock kernel image to restore booting into Windows PE with limited functionality. He has achieved basic USB support for mass storage, highlighting the potential of modern mobile hardware.
Windows 10's "update" turns off seconds on the taskbar's Calendar flyout
Winsage
April 1, 2025

Windows 10’s “update” turns off seconds on the taskbar’s Calendar flyout

The upcoming Windows 10 update on April 8, 2025, will remove the display of seconds in the Calendar flyout. This change is part of the Windows 10 KB5053643 optional update, which is being rolled out but will not install automatically. The Calendar flyout will still appear when users click on the time and date in the taskbar, but it will no longer show seconds. Microsoft has previously cited performance concerns as the reason for excluding seconds from the graphical user interface. Support for Windows 10 is set to end on October 14, 2025.
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