Registry Archives

Winsage

May 6, 2025

BitLocker is Locking Out Windows 11 Users; Here’s How to Recover and Prevent It

Microsoft's Windows 11 24H2 update enables BitLocker (Device Encryption) by default, encrypting the entire drive to protect user data. BitLocker is automatically activated during a clean installation when users sign in with a Microsoft account, and manufacturers will have it enabled by default on new PCs with this version. Microsoft has relaxed certain hardware requirements to increase accessibility. Users have reported being locked out of their PCs due to a lack of communication about BitLocker's activation process. The BitLocker recovery key can be found by signing into the Microsoft account linked to the PC at account.microsoft.com/devices/recoverykey. To disable BitLocker, Windows 11 Home users can go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Device Encryption, while Pro users can search for Manage BitLocker in the Start menu. To prevent automatic BitLocker encryption during installation, users can modify settings in the Registry Editor.

Winsage

May 2, 2025

Alarming update: Windows 11 may deprive users of all data

In the recent Windows 11 24H2 update, the bypassnro.cmd script was removed, leading to the automatic activation of BitLocker disk encryption for both corporate and home users. This change has raised concerns about data security, performance degradation, and the risk of irreversible data loss, particularly due to the lack of user notifications when BitLocker is activated. Users are advised to back up their encryption keys to prevent permanent loss of access to files. Microsoft has provided a guide for backing up and recovering BitLocker keys, and users can manually disable BitLocker through the registry or settings. Additionally, Huawei is considering moving away from Windows to its proprietary operating system.

Winsage

April 30, 2025

5 steps I took for a successful in-place upgrade of my 6-year-old PC from Windows 10 to 11

Windows 11 was released in October 2021. A user upgraded from Windows 10 22H2 to Windows 11 24H2 on a six-year-old HP Omen using an in-place upgrade. They backed up important files using OneDrive, Proton Drive, and a 4 TB external drive. The hardware was checked for compatibility with Windows 11 using Microsoft’s support page and the PC Health Check app. The user decluttered the system using Disk Cleanup and Revo Uninstaller. A system restore point was created for safety before the upgrade. The upgrade was initiated through Settings -> Update & Security -> Windows Update or the Windows 11 Installation Assistant, and it proceeded smoothly, allowing the user to keep files and applications.

Winsage

April 28, 2025

This PowerToys tool gave me unlimited power on Windows 11 and I almost fell in love

The Windows 11 Command Palette from PowerToys serves as a centralized command hub, allowing users to execute system commands, settings, and application launches through a unified search bar. Users can customize the palette by integrating third-party tools and adding their own commands. WinGet can be accessed from the interface to install software packages easily. However, there are issues with the Command Palette not launching consistently, requiring users to disable and re-enable it to fix the shortcut. Some preinstalled commands are deemed unhelpful, but users can disable them in the settings. Overall, the Command Palette enhances workflow efficiency by simplifying access to various tasks.

Winsage

April 24, 2025

6 first world Windows 11 problems I desperately want Microsoft to fix

Windows 11 creates local user directories using the first five letters of a user's email address instead of their actual name, which can be frustrating for users. The Taskbar thumbnail preview animations are lacking fluidity compared to previous Windows versions. Dark mode is inconsistent, with light mode interfaces appearing in various parts of the OS. Task View and Virtual Desktops animations can be choppy on systems without dedicated graphics cards. The transition between the Start menu and the Search pane feels abrupt and unrefined. Additionally, ads within Windows 11 lack personalization, leading to frustration for users who already subscribe to Microsoft services.

Winsage

April 23, 2025

How to show app labels in the Taskbar for Windows 11

Windows 11 allows users to enable or disable app labels in the Taskbar. To show app labels using the Settings app, users can navigate to Personalization > Taskbar > Taskbar behaviors and choose from three options: "Never" to always show labels, "When the taskbar is full" to show labels only when space is limited, or "Always" to hide labels. Alternatively, users can modify the Registry by navigating to HKEYCURRENTUSERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerAdvanced and adjusting the TaskbarGlomLevel DWORD value: set to 2 to always show labels, 1 to show labels when space allows, or 0 to hide labels.

Winsage

April 22, 2025

How to change the default screenshot folder in Windows 10 and 11

Windows 10 and 11 allow users to capture screenshots using the Snipping Tool or the PrintScreen button. By default, screenshots are saved to the C drive in the Pictures > Screenshots folder. Users can change the default screenshot folder through three methods: 1. Using the Snipping Tool: Open the Snipping Tool, click the three-dot icon, find "Automatically save original screenshots," click "Change," and select a new storage location. This does not affect screenshots taken with the Win + PrintScreen shortcut. 2. Using File Explorer: Navigate to the Pictures folder, right-click the Screenshot folder, select Properties, go to the Location tab, click Move, choose a new folder, and confirm moving existing screenshots. 3. Using the Registry Editor: Create a new folder for screenshots, open the Registry Editor, navigate to the specified path, locate or create the {B7BEDE81-DF94-4682-A7D8-57A52620B86F} value, and change its data to the new folder path. This method does not transfer existing screenshots. Additionally, the location for screen recordings cannot be changed, but the entire Videos user folder can be relocated using the same method as the second option.

Winsage

April 18, 2025

XYplorer is the best dual-pane file manager that I’ve used on Windows

XYplorer is a dual-pane file manager that enhances productivity with its intuitive interface and robust features, allowing simultaneous access to two folders for easier file management. It offers customization options, advanced search capabilities, file previews, batch renaming, and scripting automation. XYplorer is lightweight, providing faster performance and quicker search results compared to Windows File Explorer. It also has a portable version that can run from a flash drive without installation. XYplorer operates as trialware for 30 days, after which users can purchase a license.

Winsage

April 16, 2025

Windows 10: Update Makes Annoying Change That Windows 11 May Fix

A recent update to Windows 10, specifically KB5055518, has removed the digital clock from the Calendar Flyout, which previously displayed the current time including seconds. This change affects some users while others still have access to the old Calendar flyout. Users who relied on this feature for precise timekeeping may find it bothersome, as the taskbar does not show seconds without modifying Registry settings. Upgrading to Windows 11 is suggested as a potential remedy, especially since support for Windows 10 will end in October 2025, after which users will need to pay for additional support. Windows 11 preview builds include a feature to show time in the Notification Center, indicating Microsoft's awareness of the demand for time visibility.

Winsage

April 15, 2025

How to upgrade your ‘incompatible’ Windows 10 PC to Windows 11 now

On October 14, 2025, Microsoft will stop providing security updates for Windows 10 PCs unless users enroll in the Extended Security Updates program. Upgrading to Windows 11 on machines older than five years may result in an error message about CPU compatibility, as Microsoft will not change the requirement for a Trusted Platform Module (TPM) version 2.0. While automatic upgrades may be hindered, there are workarounds for most PCs designed for Windows 10. To upgrade, the computer must boot using UEFI, support Secure Boot, and have an enabled TPM (version 1.2 is acceptable). Users can check their system's BIOS mode and TPM status using the System Information utility and the Trusted Platform Module Management tool, respectively. If UEFI is not an option or if the PC lacks a TPM, an undocumented hack can be used to bypass compatibility checks. A new restriction with the Windows 11 version 24H2 update requires CPUs to support SSE4.2 and PopCnt instructions, making upgrades impossible for PCs built in 2008 or earlier. Most Intel CPUs from 2009 and AMD CPUs from 2013 should meet this requirement. Users can bypass CPU checks and accept any TPM version through a registry edit, which requires running the Setup program from the current Windows installation. The process involves creating a registry key and modifying its value. Alternatively, the Rufus utility can be used to create a bootable USB drive that circumvents compatibility checks, but it cannot bypass the restrictions for very old CPUs lacking support for SSE4.2 and PopCnt instructions.