storage issues Archives

AppWizard

December 14, 2025

4 Android Apps You Should Remove Immediately to Boost Speed & Free Storage

Android users often face storage issues that can lead to decreased performance. Tech experts recommend considering the removal of the following apps to free up space and improve speed: 1. Facebook: Known for being a significant storage hog due to its background activity, including refreshing data, caching videos, and tracking location, which can accumulate several gigabytes of cached content. 2. Bloatware (Preinstalled Apps): These unnecessary apps can slow down devices and strain battery life and processor speed, consuming more resources than they save. 3. TikTok: This app aggressively caches video content and runs multiple background processes, which can quickly consume storage and increase memory pressure, especially on older devices. 4. Free VPNs: While providing secure internet access, free VPNs can create additional background processes and may sell browsing data, negatively impacting device performance if not used regularly.

Winsage

November 24, 2025

How to get free Windows 10 security patches on your PC – from now to October 2026

Windows updates will roll out automatically on November 11. Official support for Windows 10 has ended, meaning PCs with default settings will no longer receive monthly security updates. Microsoft has introduced Extended Security Updates (ESU) for Windows 10, allowing users to receive security updates until October 2026. Any personal Windows 10 PC running version 22H2 can access free ESU subscriptions, excluding Enterprise and Education editions. Enrollment requires a Microsoft account and is available for up to 10 PCs. In Europe, customers in the EEA qualify for free ESU subscriptions without needing a Microsoft account. Enterprise customers will incur higher costs for commercial ESU subscriptions. Users must ensure they meet eligibility requirements to see the ESU offer.

Winsage

September 19, 2025

Get free Windows 10 security updates through October 2026: 2 ways

The end-of-support date for Windows 10 is approaching, leading Microsoft to offer new options for free enrollment in the Extended Security Updates (ESU) program. Users can bypass the fee for a one-year ESU subscription by using Microsoft's cloud-based Windows Backup or the Bing search engine for a short period. The free ESU subscription is available to personal computers running Windows 10, version 22H2, with the latest updates installed, but excludes enterprise and education editions, devices on an Active Directory domain, and those managed by Mobile Device Management software. Enrollment requires signing in with an administrator account linked to a Microsoft account and is currently limited to select markets. Users can initiate enrollment through the Settings menu under Windows Update, but those without backup experience may face additional steps. The Windows Backup method may lead to storage issues if users exceed the 5GB OneDrive limit, while redeeming 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points is another option, contingent on having enough points. Users are advised to check their eligibility and can enroll after October 15, as security updates will still be available through regular channels.

Winsage

September 7, 2025

New report blames Phison’s pre-release firmware for SSD failures — not Microsoft’s August patch for Windows

The unexpected failures of solid-state drives (SSDs) have been linked to pre-release engineering firmware on certain SSDs, particularly after Microsoft's August security patch for Windows 11. Testing by the PCDIY! group indicated that crashes were primarily affecting drives with this pre-release firmware. Users reported SSDs disappearing after intensive file transfers, with some systems failing to recover after a reboot. Phison stated it could not replicate the failures after extensive testing and suggested thermal issues might be involved, recommending heatsinks to mitigate overheating. Microsoft denied any connection between its August update and the SSD failures, concluding there was no evidence of a flaw introduced by the update. Users with official production firmware are unlikely to face issues. It is advised to update SSD firmware and back up important data as a precaution.

Winsage

September 1, 2025

Here’s how I protect my PC from buggy Windows updates

Microsoft's Windows 11 enforces monthly system updates to address security vulnerabilities, enhance performance, and introduce new features. The August 2025 Security Update (KB5063878) caused storage issues for users on Windows 11 version 24H2, leading to unresponsive SSDs and HDDs when writing large amounts of data. In response, Microsoft released an out-of-band update for versions 23H2 and 22H2 to fix a critical bug affecting reset and recovery features. Phison reported that they could not replicate the issues after extensive testing, and Microsoft is gathering customer feedback to determine if a genuine fault exists. Users should be prepared for potential complications from updates, as similar disruptions occur almost annually. To protect against problematic updates, users are advised to enable System Restore, which allows reverting to a previous operational state; enable Quick Machine Recovery for expedited restoration from boot failures; uninstall problematic updates if accessible; disable automatic updates temporarily or permanently; and create full computer backups regularly. It is also recommended to delay updates for at least two weeks unless critical vulnerabilities are addressed and to postpone restarts after updates to allow time for backups and precautions.