Microsoft Windows operating system Archives

Winsage

September 19, 2025

Firm predicts wildly optimistic view of 2025 PC gaming, then an exodus

A firm has forecasted a 3.9 percent decline in consumer PC sales in the U.S. for 2025, resulting in approximately 25.284 million units sold, with a rebound of 5.4 percent expected in 2026, bringing sales to around 26.651 million units. IDC predicts flat sales in the U.S. but a 6.5 percent increase in the global PC market. Retail sales in August increased by 0.6 percent. The transition from Windows 10 to Windows 11 requires CPU upgrades for over 100 million gamers, leading to unique challenges. Intel's market share in PC graphics has reportedly dropped to nearly zero. JPR projects a 13 percent decrease in entry-level PC gaming over the next five years, with over 10 million people leaving the PC platform entirely, while some gamers are migrating to consoles and mobile devices for better value.

Winsage

September 19, 2025

PC gaming hardware market skyrockets

The global market for PC-based gaming hardware is projected to reach .5 billion by 2025, marking a 35% increase. This market includes desktops, notebooks, DIY setups, and various peripherals. A significant challenge for gamers is the need for a forced hardware migration, requiring CPU upgrades for over 100 million gamers, which may also necessitate motherboard and RAM upgrades. Dr. Jon Peddie forecasts a 13% decline in entry-level PC gaming over the next five years, potentially resulting in over 10 million individuals leaving the PC platform, although many are upgrading to midrange and high-end hardware. Jon Peddie Research offers a comprehensive PC Gaming Hardware Market Models and Consulting Package, which is valuable for industry stakeholders, providing insights for product launches and market analysis. The latest edition of JPR’s PC Gaming Hardware Market Study includes market size data, segment breakdowns, and forecasts, covering 31 countries.

Winsage

September 19, 2025

Windows 11 responsible as PC gaming hardware sales surge by 35%, research concludes

Recent surveys from Steam indicate that the percentage of users still on Windows 10 has decreased from nearly half in February to 35% today, coinciding with the end of support for Windows 10 on October 14. Jon Peddie Research (JPR) reports a 35% growth in the PC gaming hardware market in 2025, reaching a valuation of .4 billion, driven by consumers upgrading their hardware for Windows 11. Many gamers are purchasing new prebuilt systems due to the need for CPU, motherboard, and RAM upgrades. The DIY gaming community is also building new computers instead of retrofitting existing setups. JPR anticipates a 13% decline in entry-level PC gaming over the next five years. While Windows 10 will still function, the lack of technical support and updates makes upgrading advisable, especially for those with older hardware. Additionally, there has been an increase in Steam users exploring Linux alternatives, with Valve's SteamOS being the leading Linux-based operating system on the platform.

Winsage

September 19, 2025

End of Windows 10 support might mean a sizeable shrink in the entry-level PC gaming market according to new research

The global PC gaming hardware market is expected to grow by 35% in 2025, reaching .5 billion, according to Jon Peddie Research (JPR). However, a projected reduction of about 13% in the entry-level PC gamer population is anticipated, equating to over 10 million individuals potentially leaving the PC platform. The end of support for Windows 10 will require over 100 million gamers to upgrade their CPUs, motherboards, and likely RAM to transition to Windows 11. Many gamers are choosing to purchase new prebuilt systems instead of upgrading existing setups. Upgrading to Windows 11 is not strictly necessary, as some modifications can bypass the TPM requirement. JPR forecasts a significant decline in gaming on entry-level systems as users are compelled to invest in midrange and high-end hardware.

Winsage

June 11, 2025

Microsoft Windows Secure Boot Bypass Confirmed

The second Tuesday of each month is when Microsoft releases monthly security updates for Windows. A significant zero-day vulnerability, CVE-2025-3052, has been identified, affecting all Windows users and allowing a Secure Boot bypass. This vulnerability could compromise system integrity by enabling malware to infiltrate Windows PCs and servers. CVE-2025-3052 is classified as a memory corruption issue within a module signed with Microsoft’s third-party UEFI certificate and can execute unsigned code during the boot process, potentially allowing attackers to install bootkits.

Winsage

May 19, 2025

Goodbye Obsolete Tech—This USB Drive Instantly Revives Old Computers—Perfect for the Post-Windows 10 Era

Computers have a finite lifespan, and companies like Microsoft withdraw support for older devices to focus on newer models, a practice known as planned obsolescence. Microsoft is discontinuing support for the Windows 10 operating system, which means users will no longer receive security updates or technical assistance. Google has developed ChromeOS Flex, an operating system that can be installed on older Windows 10 devices, providing essential security features and updates. ChromeOS Flex offers rapid boot times and automatic updates and is compatible with a range of hardware from major manufacturers. Users must verify their device against an approved list and meet specific installation requirements, including having a 64-bit processor, at least 4 GB of RAM, and 16 GB of storage. An empty USB drive of at least 8 GB is needed to create the bootable installer for the installation process.

Winsage

September 5, 2024

Critical remote code execution vulnerability discovered in Microsoft Windows Wi-Fi drivers

A critical remote code execution (RCE) vulnerability, designated as CVE-2024-30078, has been identified in the Wi-Fi drivers of various Microsoft Windows versions, affecting over 1.6 billion active devices globally. This vulnerability is present in Windows 10, Windows 11, and several Windows Server versions, specifically within the Dot11Translate80211ToEthernetNdisPacket() function of the native Wi-Fi driver (nwifi.sys). It has been actively exploited in regions like the United States, China, and parts of Europe, posing risks to industries reliant on Wi-Fi networks and Windows infrastructure. The vulnerability allows attackers to send specially crafted network packets to gain unauthorized access without requiring advanced techniques or user interaction. The root cause is a flaw in the Link Layer Control (LLC) component of the network stack related to packet length management when using Virtual LAN (VLAN), leading to potential out-of-bounds reads and arbitrary code execution. Successful exploitation can result in malware installation, lateral movement within networks, botnet recruitment, and data exfiltration. Microsoft released a security patch in June 2024 to address this vulnerability. Recommended mitigation strategies include timely patch application, implementing WPA3, using strong passwords, network segmentation, deploying intrusion detection and prevention systems, conducting regular security audits, user education on cybersecurity best practices, and adopting a zero-trust security model.

Winsage

August 27, 2024

AMD Ryzen 9000 “Zen 5” & Ryzen 7000 “Zen 4” CPUs Manage To Bag Double-Digit Performance Gains With Windows 11 “24H2” Update

AMD's Ryzen 9000 "Zen 5" and Ryzen 7000 "Zen 4" CPUs have seen performance enhancements following the Windows 11 24H2 update. Initial performance issues were attributed to inadequate optimization in Windows, particularly regarding branch prediction. AMD's internal testing indicates an average performance uplift of about 9% at 1080p for the Ryzen 9000 series compared to the Ryzen 7000 series. Benchmarks from Hardware Unboxed show double-digit performance gains for the Ryzen 9000 CPUs in various gaming titles. However, performance differences between the Ryzen 7 9700X and Ryzen 7 7700X post-update were minimal. The Windows 11 24H2 update also provides a performance boost for existing Intel SKUs.

Winsage

July 22, 2024

The worst IT catastrophe ever hit less than 1% of all Microsoft Windows devices

A faulty software update from CrowdStrike Holdings Inc. caused a major IT outage affecting 8.5 million devices worldwide that rely on the Microsoft Windows operating system.

Winsage

July 19, 2024

Global tech outage disrupts Colorado Springs Airport, Colorado DMV, law enforcement operations

A global technology outage caused by an update bug in the Microsoft Windows Operating system has impacted operations at the Colorado Springs Municipal Court, the Colorado Springs Police Department, the Colorado Department of Motor Vehicles, and several flights at the Colorado Springs Airport. The issue is not believed to be a security incident or cybersecurity attack.