issue Archives

Winsage

June 18, 2026

Microsoft fixes Windows Server 2016 security update failures

Microsoft resolved an installation issue affecting the June 2026 security updates (KB5094122) on Windows Server 2016 systems that had not previously installed the KB5087537 update, which was a prerequisite. Users had encountered 0x80070002 or FILENOTFOUND errors. Microsoft acknowledged the problem and confirmed that affected devices should no longer experience installation failures for the June 2026 update. Additionally, Microsoft fixed a similar issue with the May 2026 Windows 11 security update (KB5089549) that resulted in 0x800f0922 errors due to insufficient space on the EFI System Partition. They also warned users about potential installation issues with error codes 0x80073712 or 0x800f0993 on devices upgraded to Windows 11 24H2 or 25H2. Furthermore, Microsoft addressed a boot issue for Windows Server 2025 devices after the April 2026 update and a bug affecting installation failures for updates since May 2025 using the Windows Update Standalone Installer (WUSA). Lastly, they are investigating a separate issue preventing third-party applications from launching essential Office programs after the June 2026 updates.

Winsage

June 18, 2026

Microsoft once used its own brand of ‘Lego’ to optimize Windows

Former Microsoft engineer Dave Plummer reflected on software performance challenges during the '90s, specifically the limitations of machines with 12 MB of RAM. He discussed the Basic Block Tool (BBT), which optimized software binaries by reorganizing their structures to enhance execution speed. A typical binary contained around 10 MB of code, but only about 300 KB was necessary for startup. If this essential code was scattered, it led to performance degradation due to excessive page access. BBT defragmented binaries, grouping related code to streamline access and improve user experience, particularly for large products like Windows and Office. Modern tools like BOLT and HP's Dynamo continue to optimize binary layouts and runtime code, but Plummer cautioned about the risks of manipulating binaries. He noted that while computational power has increased, modern software faces similar performance challenges, with larger binaries and complex dependency graphs. He emphasized the importance of locality in software design, advising to keep hot data and code together to enhance performance.

Tech Optimizer

June 18, 2026

Snowflake Postgres Unifies Your Apps, Analytics and AI

Every enterprise operates in two realms: one for real-time applications that process orders and engage customers, and another for analytics platforms that extract insights and drive AI. Snowflake is introducing Snowflake Postgres to bridge these realms with two key features: 1. Data mirroring, which is an always-on replication feature between Postgres and Snowflake, set to enter public preview soon. 2. Postgres for data lakes, allowing synchronization with analytics using open formats like Iceberg, which will be generally available shortly. These features aim to simplify the connection between transactional and analytical data, reducing the need for complex ETL pipelines. Customer feedback indicates that transferring data between OLTP and OLAP databases is the most challenging infrastructure task, leading to costs and issues such as data inconsistencies and delayed decision-making. Snowflake Postgres offers a simplified integration method with low-latency data mirroring that automatically maintains target tables in Snowflake to reflect the current state of source tables in Postgres. This setup can be configured easily through various interfaces or a single SQL command.

AppWizard

June 18, 2026

Telegram vs Jio: Messaging app founder alleges cyberattack, Reliance responds

Pavel Durov, the founder of Telegram, has raised concerns about accessibility issues on his platform, attributing them to a technique called "BGP hijacking," which redirects internet traffic. He alleges that these disruptions affect users beyond India, including in the UAE, and suggests that Reliance Jio, an Indian telecom operator partly owned by Meta, may be involved in sabotaging access to Telegram. Reliance Jio has denied these allegations, stating they operate in accordance with global internet routing best practices. BGP hijacking occurs when a network falsely claims to be the preferred route, causing disruptions in internet traffic. There are indications that the network in question may be linked to Reliance Communications rather than Reliance Jio. The situation is complicated by a temporary block on Telegram in India due to the platform allegedly being used for leaking examination materials.

Winsage

June 18, 2026

Microsoft modernized almost everything in Windows 11, but this 90s feature quietly lives on

Screensavers were originally designed to prevent burn-in on CRT monitors in the 1980s and 1990s, but evolved into a form of personalization with options like 3D Text and flying toasters. By 2026, the necessity for screensavers has diminished due to modern displays' ability to avoid burn-in and Windows 11's power management features. Screensavers are now mostly used for personal photo slideshows or basic visuals, accessible through Settings > Personalization > Lock screen > Screen saver, with options including 3D Text, Bubbles, Mystify, Photos, and Ribbons. Microsoft has shifted focus to AI and performance improvements, leaving screensavers as a legacy feature that is not actively developed. There is potential for screensavers to be reimagined as a modern ambient mode that enhances the idle experience by displaying personal photos or useful information. Currently, Windows 11 lacks a cohesive system that integrates various idle features, leading to a static or blank display when users step away.

AppWizard

June 18, 2026

Android 17 users are running into some strange problems with Wi-Fi data in certain apps

Android 17 has been released for Pixel phone users, introducing new features like Bubbles. However, users of devices from the Pixel 7 to the Pixel 10 series are experiencing Wi-Fi connectivity issues, where apps are not utilizing the Wi-Fi connection and instead using mobile data. This problem predominantly affects Google apps, although some still work over Wi-Fi. Discussions suggest that enabling IPv6 support on home routers might resolve the issue, but attempts to replicate the problem by disabling IPv6 and mobile data were unsuccessful. The issue has raised concerns about the thoroughness of testing prior to the update's release.

Winsage

June 17, 2026

Windows update leaves third-party Office document launches in limbo

Microsoft's June Windows update has caused issues for users of third-party applications that use Object Linking and Embedding (OLE) automation to interact with Office applications, leading to failed document launches without error messages. Affected applications include CCH Engagement, Workpaper Manager, Dentrix, Softdent, and Zotero. Microsoft has suggested a workaround of opening documents directly, but has stated that the responsibility for these issues lies with third-party developers, asserting no warranty on their performance. Users unable to resolve issues by opening files directly must wait for a fix in a future update, and organizations can contact Microsoft support for assistance. This is the first issue Microsoft has publicly acknowledged in the recent patch, amid ongoing complaints about other functionalities like OneDrive and BitLocker.

AppWizard

June 17, 2026

Android Auto has suddenly lost its Facebook Messenger app

Users of Android Auto have reported that Facebook Messenger has disappeared from the platform, with the app icon no longer visible on car displays or the mobile launcher customization screen. This issue is associated with the latest version of Facebook Messenger, v565.0.0.43.88, and has occurred without prior notice. Meta, the parent company of Facebook, has not provided an official explanation for this change. While direct access to Messenger is unavailable, Android Auto still supports notifications from the app, though without the usual filtering features.

AppWizard

June 17, 2026

Google Might Have Finally Fixed Android Auto’s Worst Connection Issue

Issues with Android Auto related to device connections have been prevalent, particularly for Samsung Galaxy S26 series and Google Pixel devices, due to software glitches. Google released Play Services version v26.15 in April to address these problems, but it did not fully resolve them. The latest update, Google Play Services v26.22, began rolling out on June 8 and includes bug fixes for device connection issues. The changelog notes '[Auto] Bug fixes for Device Connections related services.' Users can check for this version in the Settings app under Google > All services > System Services. Version 26.23, which is also rolling out, includes performance enhancements and bug fixes for system management and diagnostics. Additionally, Android Auto has undergone a significant update in 2026, introducing support for Adobe Acrobat PDF Reader and four new features, including expanded widget support.

Winsage

June 17, 2026

Windows devs rerolled old code to save precious bytes

Veteran Microsoft engineer Raymond Chen shared a story about the development of an x86-32 emulator that utilized binary translation, significantly improving performance compared to traditional emulation methods. During the project, the team faced an issue where a function allocated 64 KB of memory but was optimized by a compiler into 65,536 instructions, leading to 256 kilobytes of code being used to initialize the data. In response to this inefficiency, the engineers modified the translator to replace the inefficient function with a more compact loop, highlighting their commitment to memory efficiency during a time when operating systems prioritized resource conservation.