restoration process Archives

AppWizard

April 26, 2026

With Silent Hill 2’s source code still MIA, a dedicated fan has decided to restore the game’s CGI renders: ‘Takayoshi’ Sato’s work was incredible for its time’

Bloober Team's 2024 remake of Silent Hill 2 has introduced significant changes, leading fans to desire a remastered version of the original game. However, Konami has reportedly lost the source code for the final version, making a remaster challenging. A user from the r/silenthill community, Rashmunchel, is upscaling the game's CGI art, restoring various assets including model renders and cutscene stills. They confirmed the use of a generative AI upscaler but emphasized the importance of manual editing to maintain the original aesthetic. Rashmunchel's project aims to preserve the legacy of Silent Hill 2 in the absence of official efforts.

AppWizard

April 25, 2026

With Silent Hill 2’s source code still MIA, a dedicated fan has decided to restore the game’s CGI renders: ‘Takayoshi’ Sato’s work was incredible for its time’

The remake of Silent Hill 2 by Bloober Team has sparked renewed interest in the classic game, but fans desire a remastered version of the original. However, Konami has lost the source code for the final version of Silent Hill 2, making a remaster challenging. A fan named Rashmunchel from the r/silenthill community is working on restoring the game's CGI artwork, originally created by Takayoshi Sato. This restoration includes model renders, in-game images, cutscene stills, and animation frames, with a focus on a close-up of protagonist James Sunderland. Rashmunchel used a generative AI upscaler to enhance the low-quality images but refined the results in Photoshop to maintain authenticity. This grassroots effort aims to preserve the legacy of Silent Hill 2 in the absence of an official remaster.

Winsage

April 18, 2026

RedSun: Windows 0day when Defender becomes the attacker

A vulnerability has been discovered in Windows Defender that allows standard users to exploit a logic error in the file remediation process, enabling code execution with elevated privileges without administrative access. This flaw, identified by security researcher Chaotic Eclipse, occurs because Windows Defender does not verify if the restoration location of flagged files has been altered through a junction point. The exploit, named RedSun, takes advantage of a missing validation in the MpSvc.dll file, allowing attackers to redirect file restoration to the C:WindowsSystem32 directory. RedSun operates by chaining together four legitimate Windows features: Opportunistic Locks (OPLOCKs), Cloud Files API, Volume Shadow Copy Service (VSS), and Junction Points. The execution of the exploit involves monitoring shadow copies, triggering Defender's detection, synchronizing OPLOCKs, and ultimately writing malicious binaries to the System32 directory. The root cause is the lack of reparse point validation in the restoration process, and currently, no patch or CVE has been assigned for this vulnerability. It affects Windows 10, Windows 11, and Windows Server 2019 and later, and organizations are advised to implement behavioral detection strategies until a fix is available.

Winsage

March 20, 2026

Microsoft publishes instructions on how to restore access to C: drive in Windows 11 on Samsung laptops

In March, users experienced issues accessing the C: drive on Samsung laptops, initially thought to be caused by an upcoming Windows 11 update. Microsoft clarified that the issue was due to Samsung's Galaxy Connect program. Both companies collaborated to resolve the problem, and Microsoft provided instructions for users to restore access, which typically takes around 15 minutes. Users should log in with an administrator account or contact Samsung support for help. The restoration process involves uninstalling the Samsung app, adjusting drive permissions, creating a restore file, and running it as an administrator. Microsoft's instructions do not require reinstalling Windows or deleting data, except for the Samsung applications. If issues persist, users are advised to contact Samsung technical support.

AppWizard

February 27, 2026

Realms vs Hosting for Smooth Multiplayer Minecraft Setup

Minecraft Realms is designed for minimal friction, serving as a "no admin" solution for gaming groups. Each Realm accommodates three persistent world slots, allowing friends to access the active world anytime, even when the owner is offline. Realms feature automatic backups to restore worlds and simplify undoing changes. They are ideal for groups that prefer convenience and a vanilla experience. In contrast, hosting provides greater control, enabling the use of plugins, modpacks, and performance tuning. Key considerations before choosing a server include server region, SSD storage, backup processes, upgrade options, and support quality. A checklist can help prevent troubleshooting issues later. Establishing a Minecraft Realms list can streamline decision-making for groups with varying preferences.

Tech Optimizer

November 11, 2025

Percona announces Percona Distribution for PostgreSQL to support open source databases

Percona has launched the Percona Distribution for PostgreSQL, based on version 11.5, aimed at enhancing support for open-source databases. This distribution supports both cloud and on-premises deployments and will be officially launched at Percona Live Europe from September 30 to October 2. Key features include: - pg_repack: Allows rebuilding of database objects without table locks. - pgaudit: Provides session and object audit logging for compliance. - pgBackRest: A backup tool that scales for large workloads and uses streaming compression. - Patroni: A high availability solution for production deployments. The distribution includes various extensions supported by the PostgreSQL Global Development Group and signifies a commitment to enterprise-level support for open-source database instances. Percona Monitoring and Management will now also support PostgreSQL.

AppWizard

October 24, 2025

This Hidden Android Setting Makes Managing Apps Easier And Quicker

Smartphones can become cluttered with seldom-used apps, affecting user experience. Android users can declutter by archiving apps, which can be done automatically through the Google Play Store or manually via the Settings menu. To enable automatic archiving, users should go to the Google Play Store, tap their profile icon, navigate to Settings, expand the General tab, and toggle on the Automatically archive apps option. This will archive infrequently used apps when storage is low. For manual archiving, users can open Settings, select Apps, choose the app to archive, and tap Archive. Archived apps appear grayed out and dimmed in the app drawer. To restore an archived app, users can tap it in the app drawer or go to Settings > Apps > [archived app] and select Restore. Users can opt out of automatic archiving for specific apps by going to Settings, selecting the app, and toggling off the Manage app if unused option.

Winsage

August 13, 2025

Tested: Backup and Restore (Windows 7) has just two jobs, but manages only one

The Backup and Restore (Windows 7) feature is located in the Control Panel under System and Security and can be accessed more conveniently through a desktop shortcut. It uses Microsoft’s VHDX files for imaging, allowing users to mount and browse images in Windows Explorer. The backup configuration defaults to user folders and full system images of internal drives, with options to customize selections. Backups can be saved to an internal hard drive or a network location, but not to directly attached external media like USB drives. Users can include non-user folders by transforming them into user libraries. The tool creates VHDX images, but the restoration process requires a physical disc (CD or DVD) and lacks an option to create an ISO file. Users have reported mixed results with Windows Recovery Drive, with some experiencing failures. Backup and Restore (Windows 7) does not support incremental or differential backups and is limited to a single job configuration. It cannot restore to a smaller capacity drive than the original, and the Recovery Drive is tied to the specific PC it was created on. Due to these limitations, it is recommended to consider alternatives like EaseUS Todo Backup 2025 or Macrium Reflect 8 Free for disaster recovery. However, Backup and Restore (Windows 7) remains suitable for creating VHDX images for browsing and manual recovery within the Windows ecosystem.

Tech Optimizer

July 25, 2025

I Lost My Production Database Overnight—Here’s the Tool I Built So You Don’t

A moment of fatigue led to a significant mishap in a production database, resulting in the loss of approximately 30% of revenue. This incident prompted the creation of an open-source PostgreSQL backup and monitoring tool called Postgresus, which is built using Go, gin, gorm, React, TypeScript, and PostgreSQL, and packaged in Docker. The tool allows for scheduled backups, storage in cloud options, and notifications about backup success or failure. It also alerts users if the database becomes unresponsive. The creator experienced a database corruption incident in 2023 while managing a pet project, which resulted in the overwriting of user emails and significant operational challenges. The initial version of the backup tool was developed in Java but later transitioned to Go for improved performance. The project aims to enhance PostgreSQL monitoring and expand notification channels and storage support. The creator has adopted safety rules for database management, including performing a SELECT before executing an UPDATE and conducting restoration drills every three months.

Winsage

June 6, 2025

Microsoft shares script to restore inetpub folder you shouldn’t delete

Microsoft has released a PowerShell script to help restore the C:Inetpub folder, which is crucial for addressing a high-severity privilege escalation vulnerability associated with Windows Process Activation. The folder's unexpected appearance after the April 2025 Windows security updates led some users to delete it, inadvertently exposing their systems to vulnerabilities. Microsoft emphasizes that the folder should not be deleted, as it is integral to the security framework, regardless of whether Internet Information Services (IIS) is active. The script allows administrators to recreate the folder with the correct permissions and access control settings.