restarting

Winsage
February 22, 2025
To access the advanced startup options in Windows, navigate to Settings > System > Recovery > Restart now, or it may appear after repeated boot failures. System Restore allows users to revert their PC to a previous state to undo recent changes, accessible from the advanced startup options by selecting Troubleshoot > Advanced options > System restore. Windows enables users to create a system image, an exact replica of their hard drive, which can be restored from the advanced startup options by selecting Troubleshoot > Advanced options > See more recovery options > System Image Recovery. Users can roll back recent system updates through the advanced startup options by selecting Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Uninstall updates. Safe Mode, accessible via the advanced startup options by selecting Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup settings, helps troubleshoot driver issues by loading Windows with only essential drivers. Users can access BIOS settings through the advanced startup options by navigating to Troubleshoot > Advanced options > UEFI Firmware settings. The advanced startup options allow for testing unsigned drivers by selecting Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup settings and pressing 7 after restarting, though this is rarely needed.
AppWizard
February 18, 2025
The gaming community has been discussing Avowed, the latest title from Obsidian Entertainment, which has shown mixed performance metrics on PC. A workaround to improve performance involves launching the game, enabling ray tracing, restarting, then disabling ray tracing and restarting again. Testing was done on a Core i5 13600K gaming PC with 32 GB of DDR5-6400 RAM and a Radeon RX 7800 XT graphics card at 1440p resolution. Adjusting graphics settings, particularly switching from the Epic preset to Medium Global Illumination (GI), resulted in a 24% increase in average frame rates and a 16% improvement in 1% lows. Lowering draw distance and shadow quality from Epic to High achieved an average frame rate of 72 fps and a 1% low of 40 fps, compared to 48 fps and 34 fps on the Epic preset. Caution is advised when tweaking settings, as significant disparities between average frame rates and 1% lows can affect fluidity, and gameplay may feel disjointed if the average frame rate exceeds 60 fps by a large margin.
Winsage
February 16, 2025
Windows is a dominant operating system known for its affordability and software compatibility, but users often face performance issues. To enhance performance on Windows 11, users can: 1. Restart the device weekly and ensure it is up-to-date to resolve bugs and improve security. 2. Disable unnecessary startup applications via Settings > Apps > Startup or Task Manager. 3. Use Task Manager to monitor and terminate resource-hungry applications. 4. Uninstall unnecessary pre-installed software using tools like Revo Uninstaller or Geek Uninstaller. 5. Upgrade hardware by installing an SSD or adding RAM for better performance. 6. Regularly scan for malware using Windows Security to maintain system health. 7. Adjust power settings to "Best Performance" under Settings > System > Power & battery > Power Mode. 8. Free up disk space using built-in tools like Storage Sense or by manually deleting old files. 9. Disable unnecessary visual effects via Settings > Accessibility > Visual Effects or Control Panel. 10. Pause OneDrive or other cloud storage services to reduce resource consumption during intensive tasks. 11. Disable File Explorer search indexing if frequent searches are not needed. 12. Use the system restore feature to revert to a previous state if performance issues persist.
Winsage
February 14, 2025
The wushowhide tool can be used to block the Windows 11 24H2 update by selecting "Hide updates" and choosing the 24H2 version. Users can also prevent the update by stopping update-related services via Command Prompt, deleting files in the Software Distribution folder, and restarting the services. To block the update using the Group Policy Editor, users can set the target version to 23H2. For Home edition users without Group Policy Editor, registry modifications can be made by creating specific string and DWORD values under HKEYLOCALMACHINESoftwarePoliciesMicrosoftWindows. Support for Windows 11 23H2 will retire in November 2025, so users should be prepared to update in the future.
Winsage
December 27, 2024
When File Explorer on Windows 10 or 11 has issues like freezing, it can often be resolved by restarting it. There are several methods to restart File Explorer: 1. From Task Manager: Press Win+Shift+Esc, go to the Processes tab, right-click Windows Explorer, and select Restart. 2. Kill explorer.exe and run a new instance: Open Task Manager, right-click Windows Explorer, choose End task, then click Run new task, type explorer.exe, and hit OK. 3. From the command line: Use PowerShell or Command Prompt as an administrator and execute the commands: - taskkill /f /im explorer.exe - start explorer.exe 4. Create a Batch File: Write the following in Notepad:

   taskkill /f /IM explorer.exe
   start explorer.exe
   exit
   
Save it with a .bat extension for quick access. These methods help restore access to files and folders when File Explorer is unresponsive.
AppWizard
December 26, 2024
The Minecraft Minepal mod introduces an AI-driven non-player character (NPC) that interacts with players in a lifelike manner, powered by ChatGPT. It supports 55 languages and is compatible with Windows, Mac, and Linux, available for free and supporting up to Minecraft version 1.20.4. The NPC can engage in voice chat, assist in constructing structures, accompany players, gather and craft blocks, perform tasks like cooking and repairing, and can be customized in appearance and personality. Installation involves downloading the standalone Minepal application, entering the Minecraft username, specifying the host, selecting the Java version, and launching Minecraft to introduce the NPC into the game.
AppWizard
December 23, 2024
GSC GameWorld has released Patch 1.1.3 for the PC version of STALKER 2, approximately 7.4GB in size, primarily serving as a hotfix. The patch introduces a temporary workaround to prevent crashes during shader compilation by allowing players to skip the shaders warm-up phase. It also resolves several ACCESS VIOLATION ERROR crashes and fixes an issue where controls could be lost after shooting, reloading, and examining artifacts. Additionally, it addresses the inability to save invert axis options after restarting the game. User save files can now be backed up at “C:Users%username%AppDataLocalStalker2SavedBackup.” The update is compatible with various mods that enhance gameplay mechanics. Steam will automatically download this update when users launch the client.
Winsage
December 19, 2024
Windows 11 users may experience a decline in performance due to resource-heavy applications, unoptimized settings, or malware. Restarting the computer can refresh RAM and system connections. To improve performance, users should: 1. Download the latest updates: Check for updates in the Windows Update section of Settings and install any pending updates. Users can also look for optional driver updates and revert to previous versions if performance declines after an update. 2. Disable apps on startup: Manage startup applications through the Task Manager by disabling unnecessary ones, which can improve boot time and performance. Pausing OneDrive syncing may also help. 3. Deactivate unused features: Evaluate and disable unused features, such as notifications and Transparency Effects, to free up system resources. 4. Remove malware: Install a reliable antivirus program for protection against malware. Windows Security provides basic protection, but alternatives like Bitdefender Total Security and AVG Antivirus offer more comprehensive security options.
Winsage
December 12, 2024
Microsoft has updated Windows 11 to version 24H2 with the KB5048667 update, removing a compatibility block for USB scanners using the eSCL scan protocol. This change allows affected systems to install the update more smoothly. The update also modifies the date format on the taskbar, includes critical security fixes, and introduces several new features such as: - Rebranding of "Tailored Experiences" to "Personalized offers." - A shortened date and time format in the system tray, with an option to revert to the traditional format. - Access to jump lists for pinned apps in the Start menu. - Customizable touchscreen edge gestures. - Hiding of the IME toolbar in full-screen mode for Chinese or Japanese typing. - Sharing content directly to Android devices from File Explorer. - New placeholder messages in Dynamic Lighting Settings when no compatible device is connected. - Enhancements to speech-to-text and text-to-speech functionalities. - New functions in Narrator scan mode for improved accessibility. The update can be accessed via Windows Update or downloaded from the Microsoft Update Catalog.
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