system failures Archives

Winsage

December 23, 2025

Microsoft bets on AI to rewrite Windows after code it wrote broke the OS

Microsoft plans to eliminate all C and C++ code from its products by 2030, as announced by Galen Hunt on November 25, 2025. This decision follows significant malfunctions in Windows 11 that began in July 2025, affecting core components like the Start Menu and Taskbar. The company aims to achieve "1 engineer, 1 month, 1 million lines of code" through AI-assisted rewrites. A patch to address these issues is promised for December 2025. The initiative is part of Microsoft's Future of Scalable Software Engineering group, with a focus on leveraging AI to manage and modify code at scale. A Principal Software Engineer position has been opened, emphasizing expertise in Rust. Microsoft is investing heavily in AI infrastructure, with plans to allocate billions for datacenter construction in 2025.

Winsage

November 23, 2025

Windows: New “Digital Signage Mode” Ends Bluescreens

The new Digital Signage Mode introduced by Microsoft allows Windows to display system error messages, such as the Blue Screen of Death, for only 15 seconds before turning the screen black. This feature aims to prevent public visibility of technical errors on digital signage while still allowing support teams to address issues. The mode also applies to other disruptive Windows dialogs, but it is specifically designed for non-interactive public displays and does not extend to kiosks, which require direct user interaction. The mode can be enabled through the Windows Settings app or a registry key.

Winsage

November 19, 2025

Windows 11 gets new Cloud Rebuild, Point-in-Time Restore tools

Microsoft introduced two recovery features for Windows 11 at the Ignite developer conference: Cloud Rebuild and Point-in-Time Restore (PITR). PITR allows users to revert a Windows 11 system to a previous stable state in minutes by capturing comprehensive snapshots of the system, restoring the operating system, settings, and files. This feature will enter preview with an upcoming Windows 11 Insider preview build. Cloud Rebuild enables complete reinstallation of Windows 11 from the cloud for devices with persistent issues, using the Intune portal for selection of the Windows release and language. It employs Autopilot for zero-touch provisioning and streamlines user data restoration through OneDrive and Windows Backup for Organizations, reducing downtime significantly. Both features will be integrated into Microsoft Intune in the first half of 2026, allowing remote recovery actions and management of Windows Recovery Environment functionalities. Additionally, Microsoft is testing an updated version of Quick Machine Recovery (QMR), which helps resolve Windows boot failures without physical access. QMR engages the Windows Recovery Environment during boot failures, analyzes crash data, and allows Microsoft to implement remote fixes. The latest version improves the boot-repair process by conducting a single scan to resolve issues.

Winsage

November 7, 2025

Former Microsoft engineer explains why Windows ‘sucks’ now

Retired Microsoft engineer Dave Plummer proposes the introduction of a hardcore mode for Windows to eliminate unnecessary features aimed at less technical users. He emphasizes the need for a system-wide setting that makes the OS more deterministic and less chatty, advocating for centralized settings management to avoid users having to search extensively for configurations. Plummer calls for greater transparency in telemetry, suggesting that users should have clear documentation of data sent on their behalf and the ability to mute specific telemetry categories. He critiques the update process for causing unexpected changes and suggests implementing automatic rollbacks after health checks. Plummer expresses concern about Microsoft's focus on integrating AI capabilities into Windows, fearing it detracts from user education and turns the OS into a sales channel. He also criticizes Windows for recommending Edge after a user selects a different browser and for displaying sponsored applications in the Start Menu. Despite his criticisms, he acknowledges the strengths of Windows, including its kernel, storage stack, and the Windows Subsystem for Linux. Plummer's discontent stems from the additional features that detract from the user experience.

Winsage

October 27, 2025

6 exciting and niche OS projects that are quietly growing as users leave Windows

More individuals are dissatisfied with Windows due to updates, telemetry, and restrictive design choices, especially with the end of life for Windows 10 approaching. This has led to a subtle migration towards niche operating systems. Zorin OS is a user-friendly Linux distribution designed for newcomers, featuring a familiar interface that mimics Windows and macOS, and is powered by Ubuntu for stability. It includes Zorin Connect for synchronizing notifications and emphasizes security and privacy. Haiku is a lightweight operating system that serves as a successor to BeOS, focusing on speed and simplicity, built entirely from scratch for a snappy user experience. SerenityOS is an independent project created from the ground up, featuring a nostalgic aesthetic and a complete desktop environment, with a focus on usability and craftsmanship. Ultramarine Linux is a Fedora-based distribution that simplifies open-source software for users, offering multimedia codecs and multiple desktop environments for a comprehensive experience. Vanilla OS introduces a modern approach to Linux with immutability, protecting core system files and allowing independent application management to enhance stability. ReactOS aims to recreate the Windows experience using open-source code, focusing on compatibility with Windows applications and drivers while fostering a community around its development.

Winsage

October 22, 2025

Windows update breaks USB support in recovery mode

Microsoft's security update KB5066835, released on October 14, 2025, has rendered USB mice and keyboards inoperable within the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE). This issue affects users of Windows 11 24H2, 25H2, and Windows Server 2025. Bluetooth devices are also unsupported in WinRE due to its minimal driver set. Users can restore USB functionality by booting from a previously created USB recovery drive or by uninstalling the update if their system is still functioning. Microsoft has acknowledged the issue but has not provided a timeline for a fix.

Winsage

October 19, 2025

Microsoft confirms Windows 11 October 2025 Update breaks WinRE (Recovery) input

Microsoft has acknowledged a significant issue affecting the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) following the installation of the October 2025 cumulative update, KB5066835. This update has caused a bug that prevents mouse and keyboard functionality within WinRE, complicating the recovery process for users facing system failures. Users have reported being unable to interact with WinRE after installing the update, as USB devices do not function in this environment. Microsoft is investigating the issue and plans to release an out-of-band update to resolve the WinRE problems in upcoming Windows 11 versions. A workaround involves reverting the WinRE image (winre.wim) to a previous version by replacing it with a known-good version from an older Windows 11 ISO. Users can disable WinRE, back up the existing winre.wim file, delete it, and replace it with the older version to restore functionality.

Winsage

September 11, 2025

Windows 95 could’ve extended your laptop battery… but it didn’t

Microsoft's Windows 95 was released on August 24, 1995, and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) still uses it along with floppy disks for daily operations. Microsoft ended mainstream support for Windows 95 on December 31, 2000. The operating system lacked a power-saving feature for idle laptops because Microsoft intentionally excluded the HLT instruction due to concerns that it would cause many laptops to become unresponsive. Raymond Chen, a Microsoft engineer, noted that the risk of creating unusable systems was too high, leading to the decision to remove the HLT instruction as a precaution against widespread failures.

Winsage

September 8, 2025

When SSDs Vanishes: How Windows 11 Users Can Protect Data Security in a Crisis

Following the release of the Windows 11 update KB5063878 in August 2025, users have reported significant issues with SSD and HDD drives, particularly those using the Phison NAND controller, such as the Corsair Force MP600 and SanDisk Extreme Pro. Many drives are no longer recognized by Windows 11, especially when transferring files larger than 50GB, leading to partitions appearing as RAW and prompting users to format the drive, risking data loss. Microsoft is aware of the issue and is working on a fix, while some users have found temporary relief through rebooting. Data recovery solutions, such as the EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard, are recommended for recovering lost data from malfunctioning drives, including those encrypted with BitLocker. Users are advised to back up critical data before installing system updates to prevent unexpected data loss.

Winsage

August 18, 2025

Latest Windows update is borking storage drives for some users

Recent updates for Windows 11 and Windows 10 have caused significant stability issues linked to a bug in the Microsoft Defender update, making some solid-state drives (SSDs) and hard drives (HDDs) unreadable. The issue was first reported by a user on Twitter and affects drives that contain the Windows operating system, leading to potential system failures. The problem is particularly prevalent in the latest 24H2 versions of Windows 11 and several updates for Windows 10. It appears to be associated with certain drives using a specific NAND controller from Phison. The bug is triggered during heavy write sessions to NVMe SSDs and HDDs, especially when writing or backing up data exceeding 50 gigabytes. The range of affected drive models is unclear, and users are uncertain about potential solutions, including firmware updates.