seconds Archives

Winsage

July 31, 2025

9 new features that arrived on the Windows 11 Insider Program during the second half of July 2025

During July 2025, Microsoft released seven preview builds for Windows 11, including updates from version branches 24H2 and 25H2, and builds 27913, 27909, and 27902 in the Canary Channel, with build 27902's ISO file available for download. Key enhancements included: 1. Click to Do improvements allowing image descriptions on AMD and Intel devices, previously exclusive to Qualcomm Snapdragon. 2. Windows Narrator now generates detailed descriptions of images, charts, and graphs for Intel and AMD processors. 3. A new "Recent activity" feature in the Privacy & security section lets users monitor third-party app access to AI functionalities. 4. AI agent functionality is being gradually introduced in the Settings app, starting with the August 2025 Security Update. 5. The Second Chance Out-of-Box Experience page has consolidated recommendations into a single interface. 6. Windows Search is testing a grid view for image search results. 7. The Notification Center now supports a fly-out from secondary monitors, displaying a full clock. 8. Task Manager has reintroduced a view showing processor usage metrics across various pages, with an option to revert to legacy metrics.

Winsage

July 30, 2025

Microsoft claims Windows 11 24H2 is the most reliable Windows version ever

Microsoft's Windows 11 24H2 is now recognized as the most reliable version of Windows, with a 24% reduction in unexpected restarts compared to Windows 10 22H2. The update includes improvements in crash dump collection, reducing recovery time from 40 seconds to two seconds. A new feature in Windows 11 automatically detects boot issues and applies fixes without user intervention, enabled by default in Windows 11 Home. The crash page has been redesigned for a more user-friendly interface. Support for Windows 10 will end on October 14, 2025, prompting users to consider upgrading to Windows 11 for enhanced performance and security.

Winsage

July 30, 2025

Microsoft says the Blue Screen of Death was “a source of anxiety and frustration,” which is why they changed it

Microsoft has redesigned the Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) in the latest Windows 11 update, version 24H2 (KB5062660), replacing the traditional blue screen with a black restart screen that features a clearer message and removes the sad face and QR code. The time spent on the restart screen after a crash has been reduced from an average of 40 seconds to just 2 seconds. Additionally, unexpected restarts in Windows 11 have decreased by 24% compared to Windows 10, contributing to a more stable and reliable user experience.

Winsage

July 29, 2025

Microsoft is finally addressing my biggest issue with the Taskbar and multi-monitor support on Windows 11

Microsoft is testing a new feature in Windows 11 preview builds that allows users to access the notification center and calendar flyout on secondary displays. Previously, users could only interact with the system tray on their primary monitor. This enhancement aims to improve the multi-monitor experience by enabling users to see their calendar and a larger clock on any monitor. The feature is being rolled out to Windows Insiders in the Dev and Beta Channels, with general availability expected soon. Other recent updates include improvements in energy saver functionality, a revamped BSOD screen, and a customizable Start menu.

Winsage

July 29, 2025

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.5722 (Beta Channel)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.5722 (KB5062669) is being released to the Beta Channel for Windows Insiders on Windows 11, version 24H2. A new agent for AMD and Intel®-powered Copilot+ PCs is introduced, allowing users to articulate their needs for settings adjustments, with AI providing tailored recommendations. A refreshed SCOOBE screen is being rolled out for reviewing recommended settings. A new tutorial for Click to Do is introduced, guiding users on efficient task completion. Enhancements are made to the speed of applying enterprise pins to the taskbar, and a new grid view is added to the search results in the Windows Search box. Updates to the lock screen widget configuration UI and Notification Center functionality for secondary monitors are also included. Task Manager now uses standard metrics for CPU utilization across all pages, with a new optional CPU Utility column. Various fixes address issues with the taskbar, login and lock screens, File Explorer, Start menu, input methods, and Settings. Known issues include potential rollbacks during installation and crashes with live captions and Xbox controllers.

Winsage

July 29, 2025

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26200.5722 (Dev Channel)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26200.5722 (KB5062669) has been released to the Dev Channel, introducing new features, improvements, and fixes. Key updates include a new agent in Settings for AMD and Intel®-powered Copilot+ PCs that helps users modify settings through AI-driven recommendations. A refreshed SCOOBE screen for reviewing recommended settings is being rolled out, along with a new tutorial for Click to Do that guides users on completing tasks efficiently. The update optimizes the speed of applying enterprise pins to the taskbar, introduces a grid view in search results, and enhances the lock screen widget configuration. Notification Center functionality has been extended to secondary monitors, and Task Manager now includes an optional CPU utility column. Various fixes have been implemented across the taskbar, login and lock screens, File Explorer, Start Menu, input methods, and Settings. Known issues include potential rollback errors during installation and problems with live captions and Xbox controllers.

Winsage

July 28, 2025

I ditched most of the Windows start-up chaos and sped up my boot times without any third-party tools, here’s how

As computers age, performance often declines due to the accumulation of installed applications, saved files, and the number of startup tasks running in the background, particularly in Windows 11. New programs frequently set up tasks that launch at startup, leading to longer boot times and increased resource consumption. Users can manage these startup tasks using Task Manager, which allows them to view and disable unnecessary programs that run automatically upon login. Disabling these tasks does not delete applications but prevents them from launching automatically, improving startup efficiency. Additionally, Task Scheduler can be used to identify and manage tasks that may still launch at login. Managing startup tasks can lead to significant performance improvements, such as reducing boot time from approximately 25 seconds to just 31 seconds for a fully loaded desktop.

Winsage

July 28, 2025

Microsoft confirms Windows 11 24H2 stability issues, affecting games, tests performance fixes

Microsoft has acknowledged stability issues with Windows 11 24H2, particularly after mandatory cumulative updates, leading to problems such as the Blue Screen of Death, installation errors (0x800f0922, 0x80070002, 0x80070306, 0x800f0991), unexpected reboots during gaming, taskbar freezes, misleading Windows Firewall Event 2042 warnings, and cursor lag during gaming sessions. Following updates in May 2025, users reported performance declines, including FPS drops in games like Fortnite and CS:GO, attributed to recent cumulative updates rather than GeForce drivers. Microsoft identified the root cause of these issues in update KB5062660, released on July 22, which addresses specific stability problems and introduces new features. A fix for these stability issues is expected in the August 2025 Patch Tuesday update on August 12, 2025, but KB5062660 is optional and requires manual download.

AppWizard

July 27, 2025

GeForce NOW on Samsung TV: The Easiest Way to Play PC Games Without a Console or PC

Cloud gaming allows users to play games on various devices without the need for expensive gaming PCs or graphics cards. It streams high-quality video from powerful data center computers, providing smooth gameplay as long as the internet connection is stable. The Samsung Gaming Hub, exclusive to Samsung TVs, features a user-friendly interface and includes the GeForce Now app, which utilizes Nvidia GPUs for enhanced graphics and performance. Users can access the GeForce Now app without downloading or installing anything, and they can create or log into an Nvidia account directly on their TV. GeForce Now offers free and paid membership options, with the free tier allowing access to free-to-play titles, while paid memberships provide additional features like 4K resolution and extended session times. Users can link their game libraries from platforms like Steam, Epic, and Origin securely through QR codes. The app is compatible with most game controllers, and performance may vary based on the TV’s resolution and internet speed. Players can start new save files or continue existing ones with synced statistics across platforms.

Winsage

July 26, 2025

6 power user Registry tweaks I use to make Windows more tolerable, and you should too

Windows 11 is praised for its refinement but has quirks. The Registry can enhance user experience, but incorrect modifications can cause instability, so backing up keys is essential. To disable automatic updates, navigate to ComputerHKEYLOCALMACHINESOFTWAREPoliciesMicrosoftWindows, create a key named WindowsUpdate, another key called AU, and a DWORD (32-bit) Value named NoAutoUpdate with a value of 1. Restart the PC to check for updates manually. To disable the Home page in Settings, go to ComputerHKEYLOCALMACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionPoliciesExplorer, create a String Value named SettingsPageVisibility with value data set to hide:home, and restart. To remove Bing results from Search, modify the Registry at ComputerHKEYCURRENTUSERSOFTWAREPoliciesMicrosoftWindows by creating a key named Explorer and a DWORD (32-bit) Value called DisableSearchBoxSuggestions with a value of 1. Restart the machine. To disable the lock screen, navigate to ComputerHKEYLOCALMACHINESOFTWAREPoliciesMicrosoftWindows, create a key named Personalization, and a DWORD (32-bit) Value called NoLockScreen with a value of 1. Restart for quicker sign-ins. To speed up shutdowns, adjust the WaitToKillServiceTimeout service in the Registry at ComputerHKEYLOCALMACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetControl by changing the WaitToKillService value from 5000 milliseconds to 3000 or 2000 milliseconds. To enable verbose mode, go to ComputerHKEYLOCALMACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionPoliciesSystem and create a DWORD (32-bit) Value named VerboseStatus with a value of 1.