Server 2025 Archives

Winsage

July 19, 2026

How to install apps on your Windows 11 PC with Windows Package Manager (winget)

Windows 11 users can download applications using the Windows Package Manager (winget) via the command line, bypassing traditional web browser navigation. Winget is integrated into Windows 11, modern Windows 10, and Windows Server 2025, simplifying application management. To use winget, users can open the Command Prompt, check for installation with "winget --version," search for applications with "winget search [app name]," and install them using "winget install [app name]." Users can also specify installation directories and utilize commands to list installed applications, show details about specific apps, and uninstall applications.

Winsage

July 19, 2026

Microsoft confirms WSUS service degradation impacting all versions of Windows

A significant issue has emerged with the Windows Server Update Service (WSUS), affecting all versions of Windows client and server. Microsoft acknowledged the service degradation that began before July 14, coinciding with the latest Patch Tuesday. This degradation has caused prolonged synchronization times and occasional timeouts during sync operations on WSUS servers, attributed to a buildup of publishing metadata. Microsoft is working on a resolution to improve performance and restore synchronization times. The affected platforms include various versions of Windows 11, Windows 10, and Windows Server from 2012 to 2025. An update is expected to be released shortly to address the issue.

Winsage

July 18, 2026

Windows Server 2022 reach end of mainstream support in 90 days

Windows Server 2022 will end its mainstream support on October 13, 2026, transitioning to an extended support phase that will last until October 14, 2031, during which security updates will be provided at no additional cost. Windows Server 2022 was released in September 2021 and is part of the Long-Term Servicing Channel (LTSC) with a decade of support. Microsoft recommends upgrading to Windows Server 2025, which became generally available in November 2024 and will have mainstream support until November 13, 2029, and extended support until November 14, 2034. A 180-day trial for Windows Server 2025 is available through the Microsoft Evaluation Center. Additionally, hotpatching for Windows Server 2022 will be extended until October 2027 for Datacenter: Azure Edition systems, and the free Windows 10 Extended Security Updates program has been extended by one year. Windows 10 Enterprise LTSB 2016 and Windows 11 24H2 will stop receiving updates three months after their end of support.

Winsage

July 17, 2026

July’s Patch Tuesday sees an end-of-support collision amidst a massive, record-setting patch wave

The Print Spooler flag monitors shared printers and reflects the queue status of print jobs. The win32k flags manage aspects of 32-bit application printing, including font rendering and window management, while GDI+ flags handle metafiles. Printer sharing from a print server allows clients to print in various sizes and formats, cancel jobs, and verify queue status. Printing from 32-bit applications accommodates diverse document types and ensures consistency across different outputs. Document exports maintain font and layout integrity, and EMF+ files can apply effects to large images. Storage and file systems focus on maintaining integrity through NTFS high-risk flags and File History, with a Windows Server 2025 bundle addressing boot processes and BitLocker. NTFS extended attributes are utilized for backup workflows, and unexpected shutdown simulations ensure volume recovery. File History allows for file backups with customizable options. On Server 2025, Secure Boot/BitLocker combinations can be initiated. The HID input flags manage various input devices, while the WinSock bundle includes drivers for Bluetooth and multicast. The NetAdapterCx driver requires extensive enable-disable cycles under Driver Verifier.

Winsage

July 16, 2026

Windows Netlogon Flaw CVE-2026-41089: CVSS 9.8 [2026]

CVE-2026-41089 is a critical vulnerability in the Windows Netlogon service, rated 9.8 on the CVSS scale, allowing unauthenticated attackers to execute arbitrary code with SYSTEM-level privileges on domain controllers. It affects all supported versions of Windows Server configured as domain controllers, from Windows Server 2012 R2 to the latest release. Microsoft addressed this vulnerability on May 12, 2026, during a broader update that included 138 fixes, but it went largely unnoticed until early June when active exploitation was confirmed. The vulnerability is characterized as a stack-based buffer overflow and is considered "wormable" due to its ability to self-propagate across systems without user intervention. Organizations are advised to patch all domain controllers and audit network access to mitigate exposure.

Winsage

July 12, 2026

Microsoft is killing 15 products in 2026, including Windows 11 24H2 and Office 2021

Microsoft will discontinue support for several products in 2026, including: 1. Windows 11 24H2 (Home and Pro) - End of servicing on October 13, 2026. 2. Office 2021 and Office LTSC 2021 - End of support on October 13, 2026. 3. Windows Server 2012 and 2012 R2 - Final ESU year ending on October 13, 2026. 4. SQL Server 2016 - Extended end of support on July 14, 2026. 5. SharePoint Server 2016 and 2019, Project Server 2016 and 2019 - Support ends on July 14, 2026. 6. Microsoft Publisher - Retired after October 2026. 7. Exchange Server 2016 and 2019, Skype for Business Server - Final ESU cutoff on October 31, 2026. 8. Windows 11 Enterprise and Education 23H2, .NET 8, .NET 9, PowerShell 7.4 - End of servicing on November 10, 2026. 9. Windows 10 2016 LTSB and IoT Enterprise LTSB 2016 - Extended support ends on October 13, 2026. 10. Windows 11 SE - Support ends on October 1, 2026. 11. Dynamics CRM 2016 and older versions - Lost support earlier in January 2026. 12. Microsoft Configuration Manager, version 2409 - End of support on June 6, 2026. 13. Visual Studio 2022 LTSC channels, versions 17.10 and 17.12 - End of support in January and July 2026, respectively. 14. InfoPath 2013, SharePoint Designer 2013 - End of support on July 14, 2026. 15. Azure service retirements - Occurring in late 2026. Organizations are advised to review their software landscape and plan for transitions to avoid disruptions.

Winsage

July 1, 2026

Microsoft fixes GIF functionality in the Windows Emoji Panel

Microsoft has restored GIF functionality in the Emoji Panel for Windows 11 users after the retirement of the Tenor GIF search engine's API, which caused disruptions starting June 30. The company has transitioned to GIPHY as the new GIF provider, implemented in the preview cumulative update KB5095093 released on June 23 for Windows 11 versions 24H2, 25H2, and 26H1. Users are advised to install the latest updates to restore GIF functionality. Microsoft is also working on a solution for users on Windows 11 23H2 and Windows Server 2025. The KB5095093 update includes the Point-in-Time Restore feature and addresses various bugs and known issues.

Winsage

June 29, 2026

Microsoft keeps Windows Server 2022 hotpatching alive into 2027

Microsoft has extended the availability of Windows Server 2022 hotpatching until 2027, specifically for the Windows Server 2022 Datacenter: Azure Edition. Mainstream support for Windows Server 2022 will end on October 13, 2026, while extended support will last until October 14, 2031. Hotpatching allows administrators to apply security updates without server downtime, although quarterly cumulative updates requiring a reboot will still occur. This feature is exclusive to Azure Edition users, with no similar support for on-premises users of Windows Server 2022. Additionally, hotpatch updates are being introduced for Windows 11 24H2 Enterprise clients and are now the default for Windows Autopatch.

Winsage

June 18, 2026

Microsoft fixes Windows Server 2016 security update failures

Microsoft resolved an installation issue affecting the June 2026 security updates (KB5094122) on Windows Server 2016 systems that had not previously installed the KB5087537 update, which was a prerequisite. Users had encountered 0x80070002 or FILENOTFOUND errors. Microsoft acknowledged the problem and confirmed that affected devices should no longer experience installation failures for the June 2026 update. Additionally, Microsoft fixed a similar issue with the May 2026 Windows 11 security update (KB5089549) that resulted in 0x800f0922 errors due to insufficient space on the EFI System Partition. They also warned users about potential installation issues with error codes 0x80073712 or 0x800f0993 on devices upgraded to Windows 11 24H2 or 25H2. Furthermore, Microsoft addressed a boot issue for Windows Server 2025 devices after the April 2026 update and a bug affecting installation failures for updates since May 2025 using the Windows Update Standalone Installer (WUSA). Lastly, they are investigating a separate issue preventing third-party applications from launching essential Office programs after the June 2026 updates.

Tech Optimizer

June 18, 2026

SQL Server may be too lucrative for Microsoft to ditch, but too legacy to love

Microsoft's Build event highlighted its new AI agent, Scout, while SQL Server received limited attention, raising concerns about its future following Rohan Kumar's departure. Arun Ulag now oversees SQL Server, but analysts note a shift in priorities with SQL Server seemingly less emphasized. The 2022 SQL Server release was viewed as more of a marketing effort than a response to customer needs. Despite the introduction of vector search in SQL Server 2025, competitors had already offered similar features. Microsoft is shifting towards open-source solutions and PostgreSQL, although it reassured users of its commitment to SQL Server. SQL Server, launched in 1989, remains popular, ranking behind Oracle and MySQL. The on-premises database market is lucrative, generating significant revenue, and SQL Server holds a substantial share. Microsoft is unlikely to abandon this profitable segment, aiming to transition users to Azure SQL and SQL database within Fabric. However, migration compatibility issues may arise. Microsoft is also investing in PostgreSQL offerings to compete in the cloud database market, which is evolving rapidly. AWS currently leads in cloud DBMS revenue, posing a challenge for Microsoft. Despite uncertainties, support for SQL Server 2025 is guaranteed until 2036.