ISOs Archives

Winsage

December 3, 2025

Windows 10’s demise fuels Linux hype again — but will Bazzite finally break the “forever up‑and‑comer” curse? There’s a chance.

Microsoft has discontinued support for Windows 10, leading to around 500 million PCs being eligible for an upgrade to Windows 11, though many users remain on the unsupported platform. Zorin OS has gained approximately 780,000 users migrating from Windows within a month of this decision. Bazzite, a Linux-based gaming distribution, surpassed one petabyte of ISO downloads in a month, serving around 150,000 ISOs and attracting 730,000 visitors. Bazzite offers better hardware compatibility and pre-installed drivers for NVIDIA and AMD GPUs, making it a strong alternative to SteamOS. The improved compatibility of Windows games on Linux, aided by Valve's Proton, is contributing to the trend of users exploring alternatives to Windows.

Winsage

October 10, 2025

Microsoft Warns 300 Million Windows Users: Do Not Use This Software

The deadline for Windows 10 users to transition to Windows 11 or secure extended security updates is October 14, affecting over 500 million users. Currently, there are 1.4 billion Windows users worldwide, with 630 million (45%) upgraded to Windows 11, 490 million (35%) still on Windows 10, and nearly 300 million (20%) using the unsupported Windows 7. This increase in Windows 7 usage poses security risks as it was retired in 2020 and does not receive updates. Microsoft warns against using unsupported versions of Windows due to the lack of security patches.

Winsage

October 7, 2025

Microsoft confirms Windows 11 to require Microsoft account, Internet during OOBE (tested)

Microsoft has announced the discontinuation of methods that allowed users to bypass the Microsoft account requirement during the Out-Of-Box Experience (OOBE) setup for Windows 11. This change was confirmed in a blog post on October 6. In recent tests with Windows 11 Build 26120.6772, users are now required to sign in with a Microsoft account during the OOBE setup, as traditional workarounds have become ineffective. Commands like oobebypassnro and start ms-cxh:localonly no longer work, and attempts to use older methods resulted in a loop back to the login prompt. Microsoft believes that a device is not fully configured without a Microsoft account, stating that using a local account may lead to a suboptimal setup. Users can create a local account after reaching the desktop, removing the need for the Microsoft account in future sessions. The updated requirements are expected to be included in future Windows 11 ISOs within the next two to three months.

Winsage

September 30, 2025

Windows 11 KB5065789 24H2 out with AI in Explorer, direct download links (.msu)

Windows 11 KB5065789 has started rolling out for version 24H2, introducing enhancements such as AI actions in File Explorer and the ability to reposition hardware indicators for volume and brightness. This update is available through Windows Update and as an offline installer (.msu). It is an optional update within the September 2025 update cycle and will not install automatically. Users can expect all features and fixes to be included in the upcoming Windows 11 October 2025 Patch Tuesday on October 7. The update includes: - Build Number: 26100.6725 - Size: 3932.4 MB for x64-based and 3726.2 MB for arm64-based - Installation process took approximately five minutes with a download size of around 1.5GB via Windows Update. New features in Windows 11 Build 26100.6725 include: 1. AI-related features in the Click to Do context menu on Copilot+ PCs. 2. AI Actions for images in File Explorer, including Visual Search with Bing. 3. The ability to reposition on-screen hardware indicators. 4. A revamped “Advanced Settings” page for managing File Explorer features. 5. Improved performance in File Explorer, particularly in loading context menus. Additional enhancements include modernized dialog boxes, improved AI search capabilities, new options for sharing pinned apps, support for Braille Viewer in Narrator, and expanded access to passkey managers. Features may not be immediately available after installation due to a gradual rollout, which could take one to three weeks. There is a known issue with certain legacy Digital TV applications experiencing problems with DRM-protected content, but popular streaming services remain unaffected.

Winsage

September 22, 2025

Windows 11 Version 25H2 ISOs and eKBs Are Available

The initial stable release of Windows 11 version 25H2 is imminent, with users able to access the full ISO and enablement package (eKB) for upgrading from version 24H2. The eKB upgrades systems from build 26100.6584 (Windows 11 24H2) to build 26200.6584 (version 25H2). This new build is ahead of the Release Preview ISO released by Microsoft about ten days prior. A preview update for version 25H2 is expected on Tuesday, aligning with the Week D schedule, and a stable release is anticipated on Patch Tuesday, October 14th.

Winsage

September 20, 2025

Here’s how I installed Windows 11 using a nano-sized 2.4GB ISO — final install weighed in at a mere 8.36GB, two-thirds the size of a normal Windows install, courtesy of Nano11 Builder

The author is transitioning to Windows 11 and is waiting to complete an IT request form. They are primarily a Linux and Raspberry Pi enthusiast but are interested in Windows 11 for video editing with DaVinci Resolve. The standard Microsoft Windows 11 ISO is 5,695,402KB (5.69GB), while the Tiny version is 10,865,098,752KB (10.1GB) and 59.1% smaller, and the Nano version is 8,984,236,032KB (8.36GB) and 66.2% smaller. The author used a VirtualBox virtual machine with 8GB of RAM and a Lenovo X220 for installations. The Nano and Tiny ISOs installed smoothly, while the full ISO faced issues despite meeting specifications. The Nano installation initially crashed at 75%, but after following a guide and reverting to an older setup process, it was successful. The author plans to submit the IT request form before October 14.

Winsage

September 12, 2025

Windows 11 25H2 ISOs released after delays — upgrade switches on some features, now available for insiders

Microsoft has released the ISO install media for Windows 11 version 25H2, available on the Windows Insider download page as of September 10. The update, Build 26200.5074, was delivered as an "enablement package" on August 29, allowing new features to be added over the existing 24H2 base. Windows 11 version 25H2, approximately 7 GB in size, includes enhancements for Enterprise and Education devices, such as the ability for administrators to uninstall certain Microsoft Store apps and the removal of legacy tools like PowerShell 2.0 and WMIC. Support for 25H2 will begin with its general availability, which is anticipated to be in October, while many devices are still transitioning to 24H2, which will receive updates for 24 months (or 36 months for Enterprise/Education).

Winsage

September 11, 2025

Microsoft releases official ISOs for Windows 11 version 25H2 after short delay — upgrade to the next release now

Microsoft has released the ISO media for Windows 11 version 25H2, indicating that the update will soon be generally available. Users can download the ISOs from the Windows Insider Program website, and they are considered production-ready for installation on non-Insider PCs. The release was postponed from an earlier planned date without specified reasons. Version 25H2 has been tested with Insiders since June and will soon be distributed via Windows Update. It does not introduce new features beyond version 24H2, as both versions share the same platform release and will receive updates together. However, version 25H2 resets the support timeline, offering 24 months of support for Home and Pro editions and 36 months for Enterprise and Education editions. The update will be delivered through an enablement package for version 24H2, requiring minimal time for download and installation. Users can download the ISO immediately by selecting the appropriate option from the dropdown menu on the Windows Insider Program website. The ISO can be used for in-place upgrades or to create bootable USB media for fresh installations. The link for the ISO will be valid for 24 hours.

Winsage

September 8, 2025

Microsoft begins preparing Windows 11 25H2 installation media ahead of public roll out

Windows 11 25H2 is expected to be a modest update with a broad rollout anticipated in October or late September, currently available in the Release Preview Channel. Microsoft has confirmed that ISO installation media files will be released soon, although their initial release was delayed. The ISOs for version 25H2 are expected to be substantial, similar to version 24H2, but users upgrading from 24H2 will have a seamless installation process of less than 5MB via Windows Update. The update uses an enablement package that requires a single restart to activate pre-existing features in version 24H2. Future cumulative updates will continue to introduce new features for both 24H2 and 25H2, with recent updates reduced in size by 40%. Users can access Windows 11 25H2 through the Release Preview Channel and will receive monthly cumulative updates after exiting the channel. The new Start menu and colorful battery icons will be available in version 25H2 and will also be rolled out to version 24H2 users over time.

Winsage

September 5, 2025

Do these 6 things instead of using a “light” Windows build

Windows 11 has been criticized for bloat and unnecessary features that can hinder performance. Users can improve their experience by uninstalling unused applications, disabling unnecessary startup apps, turning off Windows Search and other services, using debloating programs, or considering Atlas OS for a more extensive debloating solution. Alternatives like Linux distributions (e.g., Ubuntu, Linux Mint) are also available for those seeking less bloated operating systems.