Microsoft

Winsage
October 18, 2026
Microsoft Windows Production PCA 2011, the certificate for signing the Windows boot loader, will expire on October 19, 2026. This follows the earlier expiration of two other 2011 certificates in June 2026. PCs without the new certificates will still boot and receive standard updates but will miss out on new security enhancements for the early boot process. The new certificates from 2023 are replacing the 2011 certificates. The KEK certificate, essential for authorizing updates to signature databases, and the Microsoft UEFI CA 2011, which signs third-party boot loaders, will also be replaced by new certificates. Users can check their Secure Boot status through the System Information tool or Windows Security. Microsoft is gradually rolling out the new Secure Boot certificates through Windows Update, and users are advised not to disable Secure Boot to avoid complications. Dell will not issue BIOS updates for platforms that reached their end of service life before January 1, 2026. The transition to Secure Boot has faced challenges for older PCs, and developers are advised against pinning Secure Boot certificates in their applications. Multiple restarts may be required for full integration of the new certificates.
AppWizard
October 17, 2026
Microsoft is enhancing the gaming experience on Windows 11 with a revamped Xbox app that features a sleek interface similar to the Xbox Series X/S. Early testers report significant performance improvements, with faster navigation and overall better functionality. Microsoft is also optimizing Windows 11 to reduce the impact of background services, which is expected to increase frame rates during gaming. These enhancements are part of the upcoming 26H2 update, with further refinements planned. Users of the portable console, Xbox Ally, have also provided positive feedback on these updates.
Winsage
October 17, 2026
Windows 11 has introduced an "accelerated app launch" feature, initially benefiting Microsoft Edge. This feature allows Windows to open Edge more quickly by routing requests directly to the existing instance of the app instead of starting a new temporary process. The update, KB5127936, was rolled out to Windows Insiders on October 16, 2026, and is part of updates for Windows 11 25H2 and 26H2. The enhancement primarily improves the launch speed of Edge when it is already running in the background, particularly benefiting warm launches. Testing showed that Edge launched faster when other applications were active post-update. Microsoft aims to extend this feature to other single-instance applications, but it requires developers to meet specific prerequisites and request access to certain APIs. The accelerated launch feature is expected to be available as an optional update around November 10, 2026.
Winsage
October 17, 2026
On October 13, 2026, Microsoft released security updates for Windows Server that unintentionally affected Microsoft Exchange Server, causing significant disruptions approximately 24 hours after installation. Users reported issues such as database services failing, resulting in unresponsive email and Outlook Web Access access. Microsoft acknowledged the problem and is investigating it. The updates targeted supported Windows Server and Microsoft Exchange versions 2016, 2019, and SE. By October 15, reports of severe issues, including the inability to connect to the server and halted email delivery, emerged. The error message associated with the disruption is "MapiExceptionMdbOffline: Unable to make connection to the server. (hr=0x80004005, ec=1142)." Despite these issues, the Exchange Admin Center still showed databases as connected and mounted. Unofficial workarounds, including a registry edit and a PowerShell script, have been suggested to mitigate the problems.
Winsage
October 17, 2026
Mikhail Parakhin, the former head of Windows and Bing at Microsoft, criticized the Windows 11 taskbar as "unusable," particularly after the 26H2 update, which did not restore the ability to auto-hide the taskbar when positioned at the top or sides. He expressed disappointment over the lack of features he advocated for, such as a movable taskbar with auto-hide functionality, which he believes is optimal for productivity. The September 2026 Patch Tuesday update allowed users to move and resize the taskbar, but auto-hide is still not available for non-bottom placements. Users must navigate through Windows Settings to adjust the taskbar, unlike the drag-and-drop feature in Windows 10. Additionally, the right-click menu in Windows 11 is limited compared to Windows 10, lacking options to lock or unlock the taskbar. Parakhin, now the CTO at Shopify, continues to use Windows for work and has noted that users may have to wait months for Windows 11 to fully integrate functionalities from Windows 10.
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