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Winsage

June 7, 2025

Windows Central Podcast: Is Windows in trouble?

This week’s episode of the Windows Central Podcast features hosts Daniel Rubino and Zac Bowden discussing the performance of Windows 11 on gaming handhelds and the challenges Microsoft faces due to setbacks with Windows Core OS and Windows CorePC. They also examine the latest designs of the Windows 11 Start menu and discuss the capabilities of Bing Video Creator, highlighting the impact of artificial intelligence on content creation.

Winsage

June 6, 2025

Best Windows apps this week

Microsoft has made significant updates for users in the European Union and European Economic Area, including the ability to uninstall the Microsoft Store while still receiving app updates, a reduction in notifications related to Edge, and increased control over web searches in Windows. This week features discounts on various applications, with some offers extending beyond a single week. Notable new or improved Windows apps include: - Fences 6.0: An updated desktop management tool that allows users to organize programs and links into customizable groups with new tab support. - Start Everywhere: An application launcher that complements the Windows Start Menu, enabling users to launch applications from any screen corner using mouse clicks, hotkeys, or active corners. - VeraCrypt 1.26: An open-source encryption software that allows users to encrypt their entire system, individual hard drives, or specific partitions, with new protective measures against screen recordings and captures.

Winsage

June 5, 2025

The First 5 Things To Do After Upgrading To Windows 11

Users are encouraged to transition from Windows 10 to Windows 11 as support for the former ends. The upgrade requires meeting minimum hardware requirements and can be initiated through Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update. The taskbar in Windows 11 is redesigned with a centered Start menu, but users can revert to a left-aligned layout by adjusting Taskbar settings. Customization options are limited, but third-party applications can offer more flexibility. The Start menu features only Pinned apps and Recommended files by default. Users can customize it by unpinning apps, adding new ones, grouping them into folders, and modifying layout and color through Settings. To free up space after upgrading, users can uninstall unnecessary applications via Settings > Apps and delete Windows 10 installation files by navigating to Settings > System > Storage > Temporary files. Disabling unnecessary startup services can enhance boot speed, which can be managed through Task Manager. Privacy settings should be reviewed post-upgrade, with options available under Settings > Privacy & security to adjust permissions and disable data sharing features.

Winsage

June 3, 2025

Microsoft Lets EU Users Uninstall Store, Disables Prompts to Use Edge

Microsoft is transforming its Windows 10 and Windows 11 platforms to comply with the European Union's Digital Markets Act (DMA), enhancing user autonomy for individuals in the European Economic Area (EEA). Beta testers in the EEA can now set a third-party browser as the default for more protocols and file types, including ftp, http, https, and various HTML-related formats. The default browser's icon will be pinned to the taskbar, and users can also set a default for handling PDF files. These updates are in the beta channel (Build 26120.4151) and will roll out to retail users by July. Microsoft Edge will not prompt users in Europe to set it as the default browser unless opened, and prompts to reinstall Edge will not appear if it is uninstalled, unless third-party PWAs are installed from the Microsoft Store. Additionally, users can see web search results from various search engines and can uninstall the Microsoft Store while still receiving updates for existing applications. These changes are exclusive to the EEA, with users in other regions remaining on traditional versions of the operating system.

Winsage

June 3, 2025

Windows 11 is getting some big upgrades to tackle dreaded boot failures – and help novices set up their new PC

Windows 11 has released a new preview build, 26200.5622, in the Dev channel, introducing several features aimed at improving user experience. Key additions include Quick Machine Recovery (QMR) for recovering from boot failures, a PC-to-PC migration feature for easier transitions to new devices, a new option in Phone Link to mirror Android phone screens from the Start menu, enhancements to the widgets board with a navigation bar, and a Click to Do feature for drafting text in Word using Copilot on Copilot+ PCs. These features are in early testing and may be included in the upcoming Windows 11 25H2 release.

Winsage

June 3, 2025

Microsoft will finally stop bugging Windows users about Edge — but only in Europe

Microsoft is enhancing user autonomy for Windows users in the European Economic Area (EEA) by allowing them to uninstall the Microsoft Store and remove prompts to set Microsoft Edge as the default browser. Users can now set alternative browsers like Chrome, Firefox, or Brave as their default, with these choices automatically pinned to the taskbar unless opted out. The updates extend browser functionality to additional formats such as "read," ftp, and .svg. These changes are being rolled out in the beta channel and are expected to be available on Windows 10 and Windows 11 by July. Applications installed through the Microsoft Store will continue to receive updates even if the Store is removed, and users can reinstall it at any time. Third-party apps will be integrated into Windows Search, and users can rearrange their preferred search providers. The Microsoft Bing app, Widgets Board, and Lock Screen will open web content using the user's default browser, with these changes anticipated to roll out in early June.

Winsage

June 1, 2025

A week of hell with my Windows 11 PC really makes me appreciate the simplicity of Google’s Chromebook laptops

The author's PC experienced significant issues while trying to run DOOM: The Dark Ages, primarily due to problems with NVIDIA RTX graphics drivers on a system equipped with an Intel Core i7-14700K and NVIDIA RTX 5080. The Windows 11 Start Menu became unresponsive, leading to a complete system failure despite attempts to roll back and update drivers. The author used a USB drive with a Linux installer as a temporary solution but continued to face crashes. Attempts to reinstall Windows were complicated by an incorrectly formatted USB stick, which needed to be exFAT. Ultimately, the author resolved the issues by wiping both SSDs and creating fresh partitions. The author also noted the complexity and bloat of Windows 11 compared to the simplicity of ChromeOS, which has become a reliable alternative for tasks and gaming.

Winsage

May 31, 2025

Windows 11 version 25H2: Everything you need to know about Microsoft’s next OS release

Microsoft is preparing for the release of Windows 11 version 25H2, expected later this year. The update will likely follow a "phased rollout" strategy, meaning it may not be immediately available to all users upon official release. Upgrading to version 25H2 will reset the support clock, providing longer security and bug fix support compared to version 24H2 or earlier. Version 25H2 will build on the same platform as version 24H2, likely delivered as a smaller enablement package or cumulative update, facilitating a quicker installation process. The current platform, known as Germanium, will support both versions 24H2 and 25H2, with ongoing improvements expected through 2025. Anticipated features for version 25H2 include a revamped Start menu with greater customization options and an AI-powered assistant in the Settings app.

Winsage

May 30, 2025

Updaing your Windows 10 PC? I found a Linux distro that can give it 5 to 10 more years of life

FunOS is a Linux distribution focused on stability, performance, and security, built on Ubuntu LTS. It features a lightweight architecture with Joe's Window Manager, resulting in an idle RAM usage of approximately 250 MB and an installer size of 1.8 GB. The installation process takes less than five minutes, and the desktop layout resembles traditional environments. FunOS lacks a graphical user interface for the package manager and does not include an app store, requiring users to manage software via the command line. Users can install Synaptic for easier software management. FunOS is designed for older Windows 10 machines, offering a practical solution for extending their lifespan without the bloat of heavier operating systems.

Winsage

May 29, 2025

Microsoft is ruining Windows customization

Customizing a Windows PC has become increasingly complex and frustrating due to several factors. Microsoft has introduced more locked-down UI elements with Windows 10 and 11, which complicates the customization process. Frequent and substantial updates alter UI elements and introduce new features, creating challenges for developers of customization tools to maintain compatibility. Microsoft has also removed certain legacy features that facilitated customization, limiting the capabilities of these applications. Additionally, some customization apps are labeled as malware, discouraging users from installing them and hindering the customization ecosystem. As a result, many users feel that the joy of customizing their Windows experience has diminished, as streamlined interfaces lack the flair and personality of earlier versions.