system errors Archives

Winsage

January 30, 2026

Windows 11 KB5074105 update fixes boot, sign-in, and activation issues

Microsoft has released the KB5074105 preview cumulative update for Windows 11, which includes 32 enhancements to improve user experience. This optional update allows administrators to test upcoming fixes and features before the next Patch Tuesday. It addresses issues such as Explorer.exe hanging during login with specific startup apps, system unresponsiveness during startup with Windows Boot Manager debugging enabled, iSCSI boot failures, and problems with Windows license migrations during upgrades. The update elevates Windows 11 25H2 and 24H2 devices to builds 26200.7705 and 26100.7705, respectively. Key highlights include enhanced Cross-Device Resume functionality, support for peripheral fingerprint sensors in Windows Hello Enhanced Sign-in Security, fixes for unresponsiveness when running Windows Terminal with elevated permissions, resolution of GPU-related system errors, and improvements to Windows Sandbox. Microsoft will also introduce distinct identifiers for Windows 11 and Windows Server 2025 updates starting with the January 2026 security update, and has simplified update titles for better accessibility.

Winsage

November 10, 2025

Windows 10 ESU enrollment doesn’t work for some users, leaving them vulnerable

Users are experiencing difficulties enrolling in the Windows 10 Extended Security Updates (ESU) program, with error messages indicating unsupported regions. Devices linked to work or school accounts are flagged as needing an organizational ESU license. A workaround involves downloading the Windows 10 ISO and performing an in-place upgrade to resolve enrollment issues.

Winsage

October 29, 2025

New Windows 11 feature aims to diagnose crashes — will check RAM after BSODs to look for problems

Microsoft is introducing a new memory diagnostic scan for Windows 11, which activates after a Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) incident. This feature is currently available to users in the dev channel through Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26220.6982 (KB5067109). After a BSOD, users will see a pop-up window that allows them to schedule a memory scan for the next reboot or skip it. The scan aims to address memory corruption issues that can cause system errors and will be selectively triggered for crashes likely related to memory problems.

Winsage

September 1, 2025

How to Turn Off Copilot: Complete Step-by-Step Guide for Windows, Microsoft 365, and Edge

Microsoft Copilot is an AI assistant integrated into Windows and Microsoft applications, designed to assist with tasks like text generation and document summarization. Users may want to disable it due to concerns about privacy, system performance, user control, and compliance in business environments. To disable Copilot in Windows: 1. Taskbar Settings: Right-click the taskbar, select Taskbar settings, scroll to Taskbar items, and toggle Copilot to Off. 2. Group Policy Editor (Pro/Enterprise): Press Windows + R, type gpedit.msc, navigate to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components, locate Copilot settings, double-click Turn off Copilot, select Enabled, and apply. 3. Registry Editor (Home Edition): Press Windows + R, type regedit, navigate to HKEYCURRENTUSERSoftwarePoliciesMicrosoftWindows, create a new key named Copilot, add a DWORD value named TurnOffCopilot set to 1, and restart. 4. Firewall Blocking: Open Windows Security, navigate to Firewall & Network Protection, create a New Outbound Rule to block Copilot services. 5. Task Manager: Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc, locate the Copilot process, right-click, and select End Task for a temporary solution. To disable Copilot in Microsoft 365 applications: - For Word, Excel, PowerPoint: Go to File > Options > Advanced, scroll to Copilot settings, and uncheck Enable Copilot. - For Outlook: Click File > Options > General, locate AI Features, and toggle Turn off Copilot. - For privacy settings: Open File > Account > Manage Settings and turn off Connected Experiences. To remove Copilot from Microsoft Edge: - Open Edge, navigate to Settings > Sidebar, toggle off Copilot, and disable additional AI features under Privacy & Services. To prevent Copilot from reinstalling after updates: - Pause updates in Windows Update, verify settings post-update, or use Group Policy or Intune for multiple devices. Disabling Copilot does not negatively impact system performance and can potentially improve speed by reducing memory and CPU usage. Businesses can enforce settings across multiple devices using Group Policy or Intune.

Winsage

August 23, 2025

Troubleshooting File System Errors on Windows 10/11 Drives

File system errors on Windows 10 and 11 can occur due to corrupted system files, faulty updates, bad sectors on the drive, malware infections, hardware issues, or application conflicts. Common error messages often include numeric codes indicating the type of problem. To fix these errors, users can follow several methods, starting with simpler solutions: 1. Restart the Computer: A simple restart can resolve temporary glitches. 2. Uninstall Problematic Windows Updates: If an error follows a recent update, uninstalling it may help. 3. Run DISM and SFC Commands: These commands repair the Windows system image and verify system files. 4. Run CHKDSK Command: This scans for bad sectors and repairs the file system structure. 5. Reset the Microsoft Store Cache: This clears the cache for Store-based apps without affecting installed apps. 6. Reinstall the Problematic Application: Uninstalling and reinstalling specific applications can resolve app-related errors. 7. Reset this PC: As a last resort, this option reinstalls Windows while allowing users to keep personal files or remove everything. Each method is arranged from least to most disruptive, allowing users to stop once the error is resolved.

Winsage

August 22, 2025

Windows Dark Mode finally gets dark dialog boxes

Microsoft's latest Preview build of Windows 11, version 26100.5061, has unified the dark theme by updating dialog boxes for file copying and deletion to match the dark aesthetic. However, some elements, such as buttons and certain dialogs in File Explorer, still reflect the older light theme. This update is being tested in Preview channels, with a broader rollout expected in the Windows 11 25H2 update in the latter half of 2025. Additionally, the upcoming July release will feature a redesigned black blue screen of death (BSOD), replacing the traditional blue background and sad smiley face with a black design that displays the relevant error code and driver name.

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 14, 2025

Windows 11 update changes critical warning that’s remained unchanged for 40 years

Microsoft has announced the retirement of the Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) after nearly forty years, transitioning to a new error screen called the Black Screen of Death. The new screen will feature a black background, replacing the blue, and will provide clearer error messages, such as "Your device ran into a problem and needs to restart." This change is part of a broader initiative to improve user experience during critical failures, including a significant reduction in reboot times to approximately two seconds. The redesign was influenced by the CrowdStrike outage and aims to enhance clarity and efficiency in troubleshooting. The rollout will begin with Windows Insiders and expand to millions of PCs globally.

Winsage

July 2, 2025

Windows changes forever – Microsoft removes the iconic Blue Screen of Death in Windows 11, marking the end of a technological era

Microsoft has announced the retirement of the Blue Screen of Death (BSOD), which will be replaced by a black screen in the upcoming Windows 11 update. This change is part of a shift in Microsoft's approach to system errors, aiming for a more modern and minimalist design. The new black screen is expected to enhance readability and simplify unexpected reboots, although it has sparked debate regarding the removal of the QR code for troubleshooting. The new interface is anticipated to debut in late 2025.

Winsage

June 27, 2025

No, Windows didn’t kill the Blue Screen of Death, it just got a makeover

Microsoft is set to introduce a new version of the Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) for Windows 11, changing its color from blue to black as part of an update aimed at enhancing user experience. The redesigned BSOD will feature a dark interface, display an error code, and identify the driver or file responsible for crashes. This update will roll out later this summer following testing with Windows 11 Insiders. The 24H2 release has improved crash dump collection, reducing downtime during restarts to about two seconds. The new BSOD will eliminate the QR code and frowning face, which are currently included. Additionally, a new feature called Quick Machine Recovery (QMR) will be introduced to address PC crashes and boot-up issues by automatically repairing malfunctioning devices through the Windows Recovery Environment. When a critical boot-up error occurs, the PC will connect to the network and send diagnostic data to Microsoft, which will then dispatch a specific fix via Windows Update. Both the new BSOD and QMR will launch later this summer for all Windows 11 24H2 devices, with QMR enabled by default for Windows 11 Home users and customizable options for IT administrators in Pro and Enterprise systems.