policy Archives

Winsage

October 21, 2026

Windows Server 2025 gets support for quick machine recovery

Microsoft has introduced a Quick Machine Recovery (QMR) feature for IT administrators managing Windows Server 2025, enabling quick recovery from boot failures after the October 2026 security update without physical access to systems. When activated, QMR boots the system into the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) to troubleshoot issues, collecting crash data for remote assistance from Microsoft. Cloud remediation is disabled by default but can be enabled through Group Policy. Administrators can disable QMR by turning off 'Enable Cloud Remediation' and 'Enable Auto Remediation.' QMR was initially introduced in November 2024 as part of the Windows Resiliency Initiative and began testing in March 2025, with improvements made by November 2025.

Winsage

October 21, 2026

Windows Server 2025 Gets Support for Quick Machine Recovery

Windows Server 2025 introduced Quick Machine Recovery (QMR) in the October 2026 cumulative update to improve IT recovery processes during boot failures. QMR automates the detection of boot failures using the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) and can autonomously download and apply fixes via Windows Update. Organizations must manually enable QMR through Group Policy, as it is disabled by default. The feature enhances Windows Startup Repair with cloud-based remediation capabilities and requires a reliable network connection, supporting wired networks and WPA/WPA2 password-based Wi-Fi configurations.

Winsage

October 21, 2026

Windows 11 Auto-Recovery: Cloud Repair Off by Default on Corporate Devices, Forcing IT Departments to Weigh the Pros and Cons

Microsoft's Quick Machine Recovery feature, integrated into Windows 11, is disabled by default for enterprise-managed devices due to a significant incident in July 2024 when a faulty security update caused many devices to be unable to boot. The feature identifies devices that fail to boot multiple times and connects to Windows Update via the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) to search for fixes. It is available in Windows 11 version 24H2 (build 26100.4700) and later, with default settings varying based on device management status: disabled for Enterprise/Education editions and domain-joined Pro editions, and enabled for Home and unmanaged Pro editions. Administrators can configure options such as enabling/disabling cloud repair, automatic repair, and setting remediation check frequencies. A test mode is available for devices in the Windows Insider Program. Additionally, starting October 13, 2026, Microsoft will implement restrictions on external storage devices formatted with ReFS, which will be audited by default, with enforcement beginning in January 2027. Users will need to transition data from ReFS to supported formats by this date. A registry and Group Policy setting named "RefsRemovableDeviceMountPolicy" will allow customization of this restriction.

AppWizard

October 20, 2026

I played 20 cozy game demos in Steam Next Fest and these 5 made it onto my wishlist

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Winsage

October 20, 2026

Microsoft To Block ReFS-Formatted USB Drives And External Storage On Windows Starting January 2027

Starting in January 2027, Windows will block ReFS-formatted USB drives and external storage devices by default as part of a security initiative. This change will affect Windows 11, supported Windows 10 installations, and Windows Server. The rollout will occur in two phases: 1. On October 13, 2026, an initial security update will introduce auditing for affected ReFS volumes, allowing them to mount but recording them in the Event Viewer. 2. In January 2027, Windows will prevent affected ReFS volumes from mounting unless overridden by an administrator. This change will not erase the contents of affected drives, but users may lose access to their files. Microsoft has stated that this move aims to reduce exposure associated with unsupported storage configurations. Most users are unlikely to notice immediate effects, as common USB drives use FAT32, exFAT, or NTFS, which are not subject to this restriction. Users with ReFS-formatted external storage should consider transferring their files to a supported format before the deadline. Additionally, Microsoft has introduced a registry and Group Policy setting, RefsRemovableDeviceMountPolicy, to allow for configurable restrictions.

AppWizard

October 18, 2026

Google is linking your phone number to accounts you wanted to keep separate

Google has started automatically linking phone numbers to all Google accounts signed in on Android devices, including primary, secondary work, and alternate profiles. Users have reported receiving verification emails indicating their phone numbers have been verified without consent. This feature aims to improve services like account recovery and RCS messaging but raises privacy concerns, particularly regarding the separation of personal and professional accounts. Users can disable the automatic verification feature in their settings, but some have noted that it may revert to default without warning. Disabling the feature does not remove existing links; users must manually delete their phone numbers from accounts they wish to disassociate. Google has not clarified whether it will change this policy or the reasoning behind it.

Winsage

October 15, 2026

Microsoft: Recent Windows updates may trigger Remote Desktop failures

Microsoft has acknowledged an issue affecting non-admin users connecting to devices via Remote Desktop after recent Windows updates, specifically when the "Administrator protection" feature is enabled. This feature, introduced with the KB5067036 update for Windows 11 versions 24H2 and 25H2 in October 2025, restricts users to standard permissions and requires authentication through Windows Hello for certain actions. Users may encounter connection failures with error code 0xC000000D after applying the KB5124010 September 2026 non-security preview update on systems running Windows 11 versions 24H2, 25H2, 26H1, or 26H2. This issue primarily affects enterprise-managed remote devices configured as Remote Desktop hosts with Administrator protection enabled. Organizations using Windows security baselines have this feature enabled by default unless configured otherwise. A temporary workaround involves disabling Administrator protection, and IT administrators can reset the "User Account Control Type Of Admin Approval Mode" policy using Microsoft Intune or Group Policy. Similar issues have been addressed by Microsoft in the past, including a problem resolved in March 2025 and emergency updates issued last month for Remote Desktop Services failures on Windows Server devices.

AppWizard

October 15, 2026

After Valve was criticized, devs back Steam’s refund policy by creating a 2-hour game literally called Refund This Game: “We celebrate players’ right to refund”

Mateo Covic, a developer known for Paddle Paddle Paddle, expressed frustrations about Steam's two-hour refund window, sparking scrutiny of Valve's policy. In response, developers launched a game titled Refund This Game, a first-person platformer that challenges players to navigate Steam's refund policy. The game encourages players to complete it in under two hours to earn a refund. It is priced at a promotional rate and takes inspiration from the classic rage-inducing platformer Getting Over It. Co-developer dofhouse noted that the discussion around Steam's refund policy inspired the game. Additionally, Steam recently surpassed 43 million concurrent users, an all-time high, attributed to the popularity of titles like Wardogs and Deadlock.

AppWizard

October 15, 2026

‘My idea of a Netflix for games doesn’t work’: Garry’s Mod successor is getting ‘sweeping changes’

Facepunch Studios is implementing changes to its game creation platform, s&box, to improve user experience and address community concerns following criticism after its launch. Creator Garry Newman announced a shift towards a player-centric model, including a 'greenlight type system' for curating user-generated games and enhancing sandbox mode with more NPCs, vehicles, and customization options. The Play Fund pool will now require creators to apply for funding, aiming to improve the quality of games and discourage low-effort content. s&box will transition to a free-to-play model by the end of 2026, with rewards for existing purchasers. The character model "The Citizen" will be retired in favor of generic human avatars, although it will still be available in certain games.

Winsage

October 15, 2026

NVIDIA Freezes Windows 10 GeForce Drivers in October: RTX 40-Series Misses DLSS 5 Support

On October 14, 2026, NVIDIA will release the final GeForce Game Ready Driver for Windows 10, coinciding with the operating system's mainstream end of support. Starting in November 2026, all new Game Ready and Studio Driver releases will only support Windows 11. Approximately 23.56% of Steam gamers were still using Windows 10 as of June 2026. The last Game Ready driver for Windows 10 is version 617.42, released on October 6, 2026. NVIDIA will provide quarterly security updates for Windows 10 GeForce drivers until October 2029, but no new game support or enhancements will be available. Users with RTX 20, 30, 40, and 50 series cards will be affected by this transition, while older models like the GTX 900 and GTX 10 series have already reached their support limits. Windows 10 users will miss out on DLSS 5, which is exclusive to RTX 50-series hardware. Microsoft has extended the free consumer Extended Security Update (ESU) program for Windows 10 to October 12, 2027.