incompatibilities Archives

Winsage

July 27, 2025

I’m not upgrading to Windows 11, but I’m not tolerating Linux either

The author has been using an HP Pavilion laptop for a decade, but its performance on Windows 11 has declined due to modern applications and web standards. The laptop's 4th-gen i5 processor struggles with current operating system demands, leading to slowdowns during simple tasks. Attempts to optimize Windows 11 provided only marginal improvements. The author considered switching to Chrome OS Flex for its lightweight nature but found its reliance on web applications and lack of support for certain software limiting. Linux was also considered but deemed too complicated and incompatible with essential Windows-native applications. Ultimately, the author decided to install Chrome OS using the Brunch Framework, which allowed the aging laptop to run more efficiently and support the Google Play Store, improving overall performance and user experience.

AppWizard

July 18, 2025

Android’s Linux Terminal arrives on the Galaxy Z Flip 7, but Z Fold 7 users are left out

Samsung's Galaxy Z Flip 7 is the first non-Pixel smartphone to support Google's Linux Terminal app, which allows users to run Linux programs within a virtual machine. This feature is not available on the Galaxy Z Fold 7. The Terminal app operates on a modified version of Debian within the Android Virtualization Framework (AVF), introduced with Android 13 and categorized as an Android 16 feature for Samsung devices. The app's availability is dependent on specific technical requirements related to the chipset; the Galaxy Z Flip 7 uses the Exynos 2500, which supports the necessary non-protected virtual machine, while the Galaxy S25 and Z Fold 7 use the Snapdragon 8 Elite, which is limited to secure virtual machines. Future updates from Qualcomm may address this limitation. The Terminal app currently does not support graphical applications, but there are indications that such features may be developed in the future.

Winsage

June 20, 2025

Windows 11 migration heats up… on desktops

Businesses are upgrading their desktop PCs in anticipation of the end of support for Windows 10, which is less than four months away. Recent data shows a 22 percent increase in desktop shipments to enterprise customers in Europe during April and May, with revenue rising by 17 percent. Desktops accounted for nearly 17 percent of total PC revenues in early Q2, the highest level in two years. Germany saw significant sales growth, leading to availability issues, while the UK and Poland also experienced increases in desktop sales. Despite this surge, Windows 10 still held a 53.9 percent share of the global desktop Windows market in May, compared to 43.22 percent for Windows 11, with some customers hesitant to adopt the new OS due to economic factors and hardware incompatibilities. Major PC manufacturers have noted a delayed refresh cycle, but signs of growth are emerging. Notebook sales have increased modestly, with unit sales up 2 percent and revenue up 7 percent, driven by AI-ready devices, though adoption is limited by application availability and higher prices. Desktops are crucial for businesses transitioning to Windows 11.

Winsage

May 21, 2025

Windows 11 Introduces Enhanced Administrator Protection to Strengthen Security Against Elevated Privilege Attacks

Microsoft has launched Administrator Protection for Windows 11, a feature designed to enhance cybersecurity by preventing privilege escalation attacks. This feature creates a security boundary around administrative operations, reducing the attack surface for cybercriminals. It introduces a hidden, system-managed local user account that generates isolated admin tokens, preventing user-level malware from compromising elevated processes. Administrator Protection eliminates auto-elevation functionality, requiring users to explicitly authorize administrative actions. It utilizes a System Managed Administrator Account (SMAA) that generates non-persistent admin tokens for specific tasks, which are discarded after use. The feature is currently available to Windows Insiders in the Canary channel and will expand to the Dev channel, with broader deployment expected in the 24H2 release. Compatibility challenges may arise in complex development environments, such as with Visual Studio.

Winsage

May 6, 2025

Microsoft: Windows 11 24H2 now ready to rollout to everyone

Microsoft has announced the rollout of the Windows 11 24H2 update, also known as the Windows 11 2024 Update, which is now available for all compatible PCs, except those with safeguard holds. The gradual rollout via Windows Update is nearing completion, and eligible users will see an option to download the update in their settings. Automatic updates will apply to Home and Pro editions of Windows 11 (versions 23H2, 22H2, and 21H2) not managed by IT departments. Upgrade blocks are in place for systems with incompatible hardware or software, including certain applications and drivers. Users can check compatibility using the PC Health Check app or Windows 11 specifications. The update introduces new features such as AI-powered capabilities, an energy saver, Wi-Fi 7 compatibility, Bluetooth LE audio support, HDR background support, natural language understanding in search, and a revamped Windows Recall feature. The rollout began in May 2024 for enterprise testing and transitioned to general availability in October. It will also be available to eligible PCs running Windows 10 22H2 in late January 2025, with a force-installation for unmanaged systems on Windows 11 22H2 and 23H2. Microsoft provides a guided walkthrough and support document for users during the upgrade process.

Winsage

April 15, 2025

Couldn’t install Windows 11 24H2 because of your wallpaper? Microsoft has finally lifted blocks on upgrades due to customization apps

Microsoft has resolved a compatibility issue affecting certain wallpaper customization applications on Windows 11, which encountered problems during the upgrade to version 24H2. Users experienced errors, glitches with wallpaper displays, disappearing desktop icons, and complications with virtual desktops. The resolution allows users to install the 24H2 update without these issues. The 24H2 update, built on a new platform called Germanium, introduced more bugs than previous updates, leading to significant disruptions for users.

Winsage

April 14, 2025

Windows 11 24H2: Update blocker due to wallpaper apps solved

Microsoft has addressed compatibility issues with wallpaper customization software in the Windows 11 24H2 update, lifting the update blockade on systems with known incompatibilities. Users experienced challenges such as wallpapers failing to display, disappearing desktop icons, loss of desktop preview functionality, problems with virtual desktops, and error messages from applications. The Safeguard ID for this blockade is 52754008, manageable through Windows Update for Business. Users may need to uninstall or update affected wallpaper apps to install version 24H2. The resolution timing will vary based on application updates. Additionally, Microsoft recently encountered similar issues with Senseshield protection software, leading to a reset of the update blockade for system stability.

Winsage

March 6, 2025

There’s finally a fix for an annoying Microsoft Store bug that’s older than Windows 11

Microsoft has announced four solutions to address the error code 0x80131500, known as the "Try that again" error, which has affected users for over six years. The solutions include: 1. Resetting the Microsoft Store app 2. Checking for updates 3. Running the Microsoft Store troubleshooter (for Windows 10 users) 4. Updating internet TLS settings to ensure TLS 1.2 and TLS 1.3 are enabled while disabling TLS 1.0 and TLS 1.1. The error was first discussed on the r/Windows10 subreddit, where users shared temporary fixes, including resetting the app and creating new local accounts. Microsoft’s recent guidelines aim to help both Windows 11 and Windows 10 users resolve this issue.

Winsage

February 27, 2025

10 bugs still haunt Windows 11 24H2 despite multiple patches

In October, Microsoft released the Windows 11 24H2 update, enhancing Copilot AI and improving File Explorer, performance, and stability. The update is available for Windows 11 versions 23H2 and 22H2 through Windows Update or Microsoft's Download Windows 11 page. However, the update has encountered multiple bugs, leading Microsoft to pause it for certain problematic PCs. Several patches have been released to address these issues, including initial fixes in late October, further resolutions in mid-November, and specific updates for USB device issues, conflicts with Ubisoft games, and an optional preview update in January. Ongoing issues include AutoCAD 2022 not opening, conflicts with Citrix components, Easy Anti-Cheat causing blue screens, driver incompatibilities leading to blue screens, internet connection problems, broken clipboard history, network sharing failures, printer setup issues on Copilot+ PCs, audio output glitches, and Outlook failing to launch with Google Workspace Sync. Microsoft has acknowledged these problems and is working on solutions while maintaining a Known Issues and Notifications page.

Winsage

December 23, 2024

New Windows 11 24H2 bug list: 12 reasons to avoid this update for now

On October 1, Microsoft released the 2024 update for Windows 11, named Windows 11 24H2, which includes an upgraded Copilot AI, a revamped File Explorer, and performance improvements. The update is available through the Windows Update screen or can be downloaded from Microsoft's website. However, the rollout has encountered several bugs, prompting Microsoft to temporarily halt the update for certain devices. Key issues reported include: 1. Conflicts with Ubisoft games, causing freezes or crashes. 2. Problems with the Auto HDR feature leading to incorrect color displays or unresponsive games. 3. Incompatibility with Easy Anti-Cheat software, resulting in blue screens for users with Intel's Alder Lake+ processors. 4. Blue screens due to driver incompatibilities, particularly with Intel's Smart Sound Technology and certain hardware configurations. 5. A bug causing the mouse pointer to disappear in Chromium-based applications. 6. Erratic internet connectivity issues, with some devices unable to obtain a valid IP address. 7. A time zone setting issue preventing users without administrative privileges from changing their time zone. 8. Problems with the clipboard history feature appearing empty despite copied items. 9. Network sharing issues where devices fail to appear in the network list. 10. Printer setup difficulties for users of Copilot+ PCs, particularly with HP, Canon, and Brother printers. 11. Audio output issues for users utilizing Dirac Audio technology. 12. Microsoft Outlook failing to launch for users relying on Google Workspace Sync. Microsoft has acknowledged these issues and is working on patches and solutions. Users are advised to delay upgrading to the 2024 version until these problems are resolved.