scripts Archives

Winsage

July 29, 2026

Missed Windows 11 Secure Boot? Don’t panic, Microsoft is still pushing it in the coming months

Microsoft reassured Windows 11 and Windows 10 users that their PCs will continue to boot normally and receive updates even if they have not yet received the new Secure Boot 2023 certificates. The rollout of these certificates is expected to continue over the upcoming months. The initial Secure Boot certificate expired on June 24, 2026, and Microsoft has been replacing older 2011 certificates since 2024. The latest update, KB5101650, transitioned Windows 11 to OS builds 26200.8875 and 26100.8875 for versions 25H2 and 24H2, respectively. The 2023 certificates replace older certificates with modern cryptographic standards, allowing Microsoft to deliver DBX revocation updates without interruption. Devices using the 2011 KEK can only receive DBX updates signed with that key, which is no longer valid after June 24. Microsoft has been rolling out the 2023 certificates for the past two years, and many devices remained in a yellow or red status by the June deadline. To check Secure Boot status, users can navigate to Windows Security > Device Security. A green checkmark indicates successful application of the certificates, while yellow and red alerts indicate compatibility issues or firmware incompatibility. PCs that are older or operating in Legacy BIOS mode will not receive the updates. Windows 10 also receives Secure Boot updates, but enrollment in Extended Security Updates (ESU) is required.

Winsage

July 29, 2026

This forgotten Windows shortcut from the ’90s replaces your worst terminal habit

Pressing F7 in the Command Prompt displays a pop-up with a numbered list of recently executed commands, allowing users to select and execute commands quickly without retyping. This feature, introduced in MS-DOS 5.0 through DOSKEY.exe, has been integrated into Windows since the early 1990s. Users can navigate the command list with the Up and Down arrow keys and execute a command by pressing Enter. The command history is session-specific and is lost when the window is closed. The F7 feature provides a visual overview of commands, enhancing efficiency compared to repeatedly pressing the Up Arrow key. However, it does not retain command history between sessions or offer advanced features found in modern shells like PowerShell.

Winsage

July 26, 2026

I checked Reddit to see which Windows 11 features people truly find “life changing”, and the community had some surprising answers

Windows 11 includes several features that enhance productivity, many of which are underutilized by users: 1. Clipboard History: Activated with "WIN + V", it allows users to access a history of copied text and images, improving multitasking by enabling retrieval of multiple copied items. 2. Snipping Tool: Beyond screenshots, it includes screen recording, text extraction (OCR), basic image editing, and GIF creation, streamlining workflows by reducing the need for third-party applications. 3. End Task from Taskbar: Users can terminate unresponsive applications directly from the Taskbar, simplifying the process compared to using Task Manager. 4. Windows Sandbox: Provides a temporary Windows environment for testing untrusted software without risking the main system, available only on Windows 11 Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions. 5. Winget Command: The Windows Package Manager simplifies app installation and updates via command line, saving time compared to searching for applications online. 6. Snap Layouts: Activated with "Win + Z", it enhances window management by allowing users to arrange applications efficiently on larger monitors. 7. Windows Key + Shift + Arrow: This shortcut enables quick movement of windows between multiple monitors, improving productivity for users with dual or multiple displays. 8. Voice Typing: Activated with "Win + H", it allows dictation in nearly any text field, enhancing efficiency and accessibility. 9. Reliability Monitor: Accessible via "perfmon /rel", it presents system issues on a timeline, making troubleshooting easier and potentially preventing unnecessary reinstallation of Windows 11. 10. Advanced Display Settings: Users can check and adjust their monitor's refresh rate in Settings, ensuring optimal performance, as many monitors default to 60Hz even if they support higher rates.

Winsage

July 25, 2026

I dug through Reddit to find the ten Windows 11 features people find “life-changing, ” and the results were fascinating

Windows 11 includes several subtle features that enhance productivity, many of which users may overlook: 1. Clipboard history allows users to capture text from various sources without manual entry and integrates functionalities like screenshot capture, screen recording, and GIF creation. 2. The "End Task" option from the Taskbar enables users to terminate unresponsive applications quickly without using Task Manager. 3. Windows Sandbox creates a temporary Windows environment for testing untrusted software, available only in Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions. 4. Winget, the Windows Package Manager, simplifies app installations and updates via command line, streamlining the process of restoring software collections. 5. Snap Layouts facilitate efficient window management on larger monitors, accessible with the "Windows key + Z" shortcut. 6. The shortcut "Windows key + Shift + Arrow" allows users to move windows between multiple monitors easily. 7. Voice Typing, activated by Win + H, enables dictation in nearly any text field, improving task efficiency. 8. Reliability Monitor provides a timeline of system issues, aiding in troubleshooting without needing a full reinstallation. 9. Advanced Display settings can reveal and adjust monitor refresh rates, ensuring optimal performance. These features collectively enhance user experience and productivity in Windows 11.

AppWizard

July 24, 2026

MMO life sim Seed’s AI-powered avatars prove once again that nothing shatters immersion quicker than crappy chatbot dialogue

AI-powered non-playable characters (NPCs) in gaming have the potential for meaningful dialogue, but current implementations often fall short. In the MMO colony simulation Seed, players create seedlings that can interact using AI. Initial interactions can be engaging, as seen when a seedling humorously responds to questions about its appearance. However, as gameplay continues, conversations tend to become awkward and filled with unnecessary filler phrases, detracting from immersion. The AI struggles with maintaining coherent and engaging exchanges, although some personality traits do come through in dialogues. The tutorial robot offers helpful gameplay answers, but misunderstandings occur. Overall, while there are redeeming qualities, the quality of conversation remains a significant challenge.

AppWizard

July 24, 2026

The biggest indie “friendslop” game of 2026 appears to be delivering malware via Steam Workshop — How to protect your PC (and what to do next)

Certain custom maps linked to the game Meccha Chameleon may contain malicious scripts that can compromise players' PCs. An analysis by Feint revealed that these maps could include a Blueprint actor designed to execute automatically upon loading, which injects a batch file into the user's Documents folder. This batch file then attempts to run a PowerShell process to connect to an external server and download additional scripts. The behavior of these maps—writing or executing scripts outside their designated folder—indicates potential malware. Valve, the parent company of Steam, previously addressed similar issues with other software but warned that such incidents could happen again.

Tech Optimizer

July 21, 2026

I Built My Second ETL Pipeline. This Time, I Started Thinking Like a Data Engineer

The author transitioned from a data analyst role to a data engineer, creating a 12-month self-study roadmap focused on learning by building projects. The first project was a GitHub ETL pipeline, which evolved from a simple Python script to a more complex system using SQLite and GitHub Actions for automation. The author realized that the challenges of data engineering lay in system design and orchestration rather than just writing ETL logic. For the second project, the author built an automated RSS ingestion pipeline to explore engineering decisions in creating a reliable data pipeline. The project emphasized the importance of separating application responsibilities from orchestration tasks, leading to the use of Docker for consistent execution environments and Kestra for orchestration. The author validated each component of the project incrementally: first the Python ETL, then PostgreSQL, followed by Docker, and finally Kestra. This approach ensured that each layer functioned correctly before adding complexity. The final architecture included distinct responsibilities for each component: Python for data processing, PostgreSQL for data storage, Docker for execution, and Kestra for orchestration. The author learned that effective engineering involves considering system reliability, error handling, and observability, shifting the focus from merely writing code to designing entire systems. The experience transformed the author's mindset, emphasizing the importance of incremental building and the separation of execution and orchestration responsibilities.

Winsage

July 18, 2026

Windows 11 Secure Boot certificates have expired, and Microsoft says what to do next

Microsoft held its OEM Secure Boot Office Hours event on July 15, where engineers collaborated with OEM representatives from companies like Acer, Asus, Cisco, Dell, and HP. IT administrators were able to ask live questions about the Secure Boot 2023 rollout. The discussion thread became a detailed technical record, especially following the expiration of the first certificates three weeks prior. Concerns raised by IT admins included BitLocker recovery loops, stuck confidence ratings, and unhelpful Intune error codes. Key facts include: - Devices offline for long periods will still receive the 2023 certificates upon reconnecting to Windows Update. - Devices with existing 2023 certificates in firmware will switch to the new boot manager after the latest Windows patches are installed. - A new script, Detect-SecureBootCertUpdateStatus.ps1, is available in Windows for checking certificate status. - BIOS updates may reset a device’s confidence rating to unrated, which is normal and does not indicate certificate failure. - Admins should edit the AvailableUpdates registry key, not the AvailableUpdatesPolicy, which is managed by Intune and Group Policy. - A licensing bug affecting AvailableUpdatesPolicy on devices upgraded from Pro to Enterprise was resolved by Microsoft in 2026. - BitLocker recovery is not typically linked to the certificate update process but may relate to firmware or PCR issues. - Dell and HP provided guidance on which BIOS versions include the 2023 certificates for their newer models. - Older HP EliteBook 840 G5 units require a manual update package for the new certificates. - Eligible devices can still receive the 2023 certificates in the future, and Surface devices released from 2024 onward come pre-equipped with them. - Microsoft confirmed that devices running 2011 certificates will not lose the ability to receive the 2023 chain. - The Microsoft Corporation KEK CA 2011 and Microsoft UEFI CA 2011 certificates have expired, with the Microsoft Windows Production PCA 2011 set to expire on October 19, 2026.

AppWizard

July 17, 2026

Explore a snapshot of a massive million-by-million block Minecraft server

The 1,024,000² 2b2t World Download Project is a significant Minecraft archiving achievement, preserving approximately 13.7 TiB of compressed world data from the 2b2t server, including a million-by-million-block section of the Overworld, and smaller captures of the Nether and End dimensions. It is the largest available Minecraft world download, released via torrent. The project took over a year to develop, involving a team that utilized 28 bot accounts to collect data, resulting in four distinct captures of varying sizes. The project was led by a developer named crayne, with key contributors including Fuch, mahan, and Steve3. The code and documentation are available on GitHub, and the project incurred over ,000 in server rental costs. 2b2t, established in December 2010, is one of the oldest Minecraft servers, known for its unyielding map and challenging environment, having hosted over 1,000,000 players. The creators assert that no AI was used in the project and have licensed their work under CC0 for community accessibility.

AppWizard

July 17, 2026

PC Gamer Repurposes Old SSDs to Create a Steam Game Cartridge System

Jibril-sama, a Redditor, has transformed old 2.5" SSDs into a new gaming cartridge system, combining nostalgia with modern technology. The SSDs, acquired for approximately each, serve as the basis for this project, which involves minor software tweaks and custom printed labels. The setup allows games stored on the SSDs to auto-navigate to their Steam pages and can auto-start games. This approach offers a practical solution for PC gamers facing rising storage costs, utilizing spare drives while maintaining SATA III speeds. The configuration requires a systemd template and a udev rule to launch scripts from the SSDs.