performance issues Archives

Winsage

September 22, 2026

Microsoft Defender is causing slow VLC startups. Here’s the fix

Recent investigations have shown that a specific update to Microsoft Defender has caused performance issues for VLC Media Player, particularly a slowdown in startup times. Jean-Baptiste Kempf, a VideoLAN developer, attributed this sluggishness to a bug in the Microsoft Defender update, which quarantined VLC's plug-in cache. The problematic Defender signature update is version 1.455.50.0, linked to Windows Update KB5121003 released on August 11th. Users can reset the plug-in cache to improve performance by either reinstalling VLC or using the built-in functionality to regenerate the cache with vlc-cache-gen.exe. Alternatively, users can reset preferences and cache files by searching for "VLC" and selecting the reset option. Microsoft has not yet provided a fix for these issues, and users may need to set an exclusion in Microsoft Defender for VLC Media Player to prevent unnecessary scans, enhancing its performance.

Winsage

September 18, 2026

How to measure and shrink the Windows search index

The initial storage cost of the search index on a fresh installation of Windows 11 is minimal, only a few megabytes. When a sizable work folder is added, the index expands, but it does not revert to its original size after the folder is removed. The search index is stored in Windows.db for Windows 11 and Windows.edb for Windows 10. Windows 11 has two indexing modes: Classic (default) and Enhanced, with Classic indexing Documents, Pictures, Music folders, and the Desktop, while Enhanced scans the entire PC. The index includes file names and content, allowing keyword searches. Users can measure their index items through Settings without special permissions, while file size requires administrative access via PowerShell. An index under 30,000 items is acceptable for average users, while performance issues may arise beyond 400,000 items, with a technical ceiling of one million items. In an experiment, the index grew from 462 items and 6.71 MB to 3,466 items and 18.66 MB after adding 3,000 text files, but remained at 16.81 MB after deleting those files. To reclaim disk space, users can exclude specific folders from indexing and rebuild the index, which can significantly reduce its size while retaining the same number of items.

Winsage

September 17, 2026

Windows Search’s default indexing mode could be writing gigabytes to your SSD every day for a feature almost nobody uses

The search index on Windows 11 can contribute to storage bloat, with reported sizes varying significantly among users. The search index database, named Windows.db, is crucial for delivering quick search results and can grow dramatically, with some users experiencing sizes exceeding 200GB. A PowerShell script can be used to check the size of the Windows.db file. If the file size is unusually large, users can rebuild the search index through the Indexing Options in the Control Panel. Windows 11 has two indexing modes: Classic and Enhanced, which affect the size and number of indexed items. Classic mode indexes specific folders, while Enhanced mode indexes the entire PC. Excluding certain directories can help manage index size. Performance issues may arise on PCs with over 400,000 indexed items.

AppWizard

September 16, 2026

I didn’t expect this massive game to underline the PS5 Pro’s one weakness compared to PC

The Blood of Dawnwalker is developed by Rebel Wolves, a studio with seasoned developers who previously worked on The Witcher 3. The game was launched in early September and has received positive feedback, particularly from players using high-performance PCs, like the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti, due to potential performance issues on consoles. Players take on the role of Coen, a young man in a 14th-century valley ruled by a vampire warlord, the Vrakhir, who demands blood donations from villagers. Coen's journey begins when he discovers his family has been abducted and he has been transformed into a semi-vampire, allowing him to switch between human and Vrakhir forms, leading to a narrative filled with intrigue and conflict.

AppWizard

September 16, 2026

Denuvo Suing Prolific Pirate, But They Don’t Seem Worried At All

Denuvo has filed a lawsuit against an individual known as "voices38" for allegedly tampering with and bypassing its anti-piracy technology, which is used in various popular PC games. The lawsuit was initiated in the U.S. Northern District Court of California, claiming violations of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). Denuvo describes voices38 as a "computer hacker" who has cracked numerous games, including titles like Doom: The Dark Ages and Hogwarts Legacy. Voices38 responded casually on Reddit, indicating a lack of concern for the lawsuit. Denuvo's business model relies on selling DRM solutions, and while it cannot sue for copyright infringement, it claims to be harmed by voices38's activities. The lawsuit lists several games that voices38 has allegedly cracked and marks Denuvo's first legal action against a video game pirate in the U.S. The company is also attempting to uncover voices38's true identity and may file subpoenas to gather more information. Public sentiment appears to be against Denuvo, with criticism regarding its software's impact on legitimate users.

AppWizard

September 16, 2026

How to manually update Android Auto (and what it might mean if you can’t)

The Android Auto application is available on the Google Play Store and relies on smartphones for its features. It receives updates automatically, but users can manually check for updates if needed. Android 9.0 or higher is required for the latest updates. To force an update, users can reset the app by clearing its storage, which does not affect other apps. If issues persist, users can revert to the original version of Android Auto by uninstalling updates.

Winsage

September 15, 2026

Microsoft issues emergency Windows 11 update to fix its record-breaking patch

Microsoft has rolled out an emergency out-of-band update to address issues from its September Patch Tuesday update, which affected nearly 1,000 vulnerabilities and caused bugs in folder shares on Hyper-V-based Linux virtual machines, Remote Desktop Services sessions, and certain USB audio devices. The new update targets multiple versions of Windows 11 (26h1, 25H2, and 24H2) and also includes updates for Windows Server 2025, 2022, and LTSC versions of Windows 10 and Windows Server 2012 and 2012 R2. In 2023, Microsoft has increasingly issued out-of-band updates, including four in January, two in March, and one in July, to resolve various issues.

Tech Optimizer

September 15, 2026

Best Free Antivirus: 11 Steps, 18/18 Score [2026]

Microsoft Defender scored 17.5 out of 18 in the June 2026 evaluations by AV-Test, while Avast Free Antivirus and AVG AntiVirus Free both achieved a perfect score of 18 out of 18. Avira Internet Security scored 16.5. The evaluations assessed 16 consumer antivirus products based on protection, performance, and usability. Microsoft Defender is built into Windows 11 and is free, while Avast and AVG are true free offerings. AV-Test uses a scoring system where each category is scored out of 6.0, leading to a maximum total of 18.0. Users should ensure they have the latest versions of antivirus products and only run one real-time antivirus engine at a time. Common pitfalls include running two real-time engines and downloading from unofficial sources. For low-risk users, Microsoft Defender is sufficient, while those seeking higher protection may consider Avast or AVG.

AppWizard

September 14, 2026

Not Google Maps, Not Waze: Here Are 5 Navigation App Alternatives For Android Auto

Users are exploring alternatives to Google Maps for navigation solutions, focusing on data privacy and unique features. Several apps have emerged, particularly for Android Auto users, based on feedback from the Google Play Store and evaluations. TomTom offers a free navigation app compatible with Android Auto, featuring turn-by-turn navigation, real-time traffic updates, offline maps, and a focus on privacy. It has a rating of 4.3 out of 5. Sygic GPS Navigation includes turn-by-turn navigation, offline navigation, and live traffic alerts, but its full functionality requires a Premium+ subscription. It has a rating of 4.1 out of 5. OsmAnd provides extensive mapping capabilities with downloadable maps and turn-by-turn voice navigation, but Android Auto support requires a paid subscription. It has a rating of 4.5 out of 5. Calimoto is designed for motorcycle riders, offering scenic route navigation and offline maps, with a premium subscription needed for full features. It has a rating of 4.3 out of 5. MapQuest supports Android Auto and offers maps and navigation for the U.S. and Canada, with a rating of 4.6 out of 5, although it is still in beta and may have performance issues. The selection of these apps was based on their compatibility with Android Auto, user ratings of at least four out of five stars, and a combination of qualitative and quantitative data from user feedback.

Winsage

September 14, 2026

Windows 11 Update Finally Fixes A Classic Feature That Should Have Never Been Changed

Many users are transitioning from Windows 10 to Windows 11 but are facing issues, leading some to consider alternatives like Linux due to performance, privacy, and AI integration concerns. The right-click menu in Windows 11 has been criticized for being cluttered and slow. Microsoft is addressing these issues with an update to streamline the context menu, making it more organized and faster-loading. This redesigned menu is currently available to users of the Windows 11 Insider Experimental Preview Build 26340.9212, released on August 17, 2026, with broader availability expected in the upcoming Windows 11 version 26H2 or later updates. The new context menu will feature a lighter design with frequently used functions like Cut, Copy, and Rename at the top, and options will be simplified and reorganized. Users will also be able to customize their right-click menus through the Settings menu and revert to the traditional Windows 10 context menus if desired.