system stability Archives

Winsage

December 4, 2025

Microsoft finds an unlikely ally — Linux developer defends Windows against BSoD jokes

Windows has traditionally held a dominant market share in operating systems, but Linux is gaining traction, particularly after Microsoft ended support for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025. Zorin OS, a Linux distribution, attracted around 780,000 former Windows users within a month of this announcement. Bazzite delivered a petabyte of ISO files in one month, indicating a growing interest among Windows 10 users in alternatives to Windows 11. Linus Torvalds highlighted that many blue screen errors in Windows are linked to hardware issues rather than software bugs and recommended using Error-Correcting Code (ECC) memory for better stability. Microsoft has changed its error reporting from the blue screen of death to a black screen to enhance security and prevent destabilizing updates. There are three types of Blue Screen of Death errors: the Windows 3.1 Ctrl+Alt+Del screen, the Windows 95 kernel error, and the Windows NT kernel error.

Winsage

November 23, 2025

Microsoft prevents crash screens from staying visible on signage

Microsoft has introduced a Digital Signage mode in Windows 11 that automatically suppresses system error screens, including the Blue Screen of Death (BSOD), after a fifteen-second display period. This feature aims to enhance user experience on public displays and is particularly useful for IT managers using Intune for device management. Additionally, Microsoft is previewing advanced text-generation tools for applications, including automated email summarization in Outlook and alternative text generation for images in Word, to improve productivity and accessibility.

Winsage

November 18, 2025

Microsoft Unveils Windows 11 Security, Resilience Features

Microsoft is enhancing the security framework of Windows through the Secure Future Initiative, focusing on trust, privacy, and enterprise controls. Key features include the introduction of Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) APIs for quantum-safe encryption, and an upgrade to BitLocker with hardware-accelerated support for improved disk encryption, set to roll out on new Windows 11 devices in Spring 2026. Microsoft is also integrating passkey manager support with Windows Hello, allowing users to choose from various passkey managers. Windows 11 employs App Control for Business to ensure only trusted applications run, while Microsoft Intune’s Managed Installer helps IT teams manage business applications. Additionally, Sysmon functionality will be integrated into Windows 11 and Windows Server 2025 for better threat detection. Microsoft is implementing Zero Trust DNS for encrypted name resolution and supporting Wi-Fi 7 for Enterprise with WPA3-Enterprise authentication. The Windows Resiliency Initiative (WRI) includes stricter driver standards, a shift in antivirus enforcement from kernel to user mode, and new safeguards like driver isolation and DMA remapping to enhance system stability.

Winsage

November 17, 2025

Microsoft’s New 25H2 Windows 11 Update Finally Fixed A Decades Old Bug

Windows 11 has received an update on October 28, 2025, to fix the "Update and shut down" bug that caused computers to restart instead of shutting down after updates. This fix is part of the optional KB5067036 update for Windows 11 25H2 Build 26200.7019 or Windows 11 24H2 Build 26100.7019. Users can manually install the patch through the "Check for updates" option in Windows Update settings, or it will be included in a mandatory update on November 11. The update also improves system stability by addressing various errors, including "Error 0x80070103" during driver installations, "Error 0x800f0983" during Windows Update, and issues with video and game display, large archive extraction, application responsiveness, and File Explorer freezing.

Winsage

October 30, 2025

Windows 11 KB5044384 Update Bugs Task Manager, Causes PC Slowdowns

Users are reporting performance issues with Windows 11 linked to the preview update KB5044384, which has caused the Task Manager to display misleading data regarding CPU, memory, and disk usage. This bug affects IT administrators in enterprise environments, leading to potential operational inefficiencies. In addition to Task Manager discrepancies, users have experienced visual glitches and application crashes. Microsoft is aware of the issue and is working on a patch. Users can mitigate the slowdown by restarting the Task Manager process or rolling back the update. The situation highlights the challenges of balancing rapid feature deployment with system stability in Windows 11's development.

Winsage

October 30, 2025

Windows event logs are still the most powerful diagnostic tool on your PC

Event Viewer is a built-in diagnostic tool in Windows that logs every event occurring on a PC, helping users troubleshoot performance issues. It categorizes logs into Application, System, Security, and Setup sections, allowing users to focus on relevant categories during troubleshooting. Events are classified as Critical, Error, Warning, and Information, with Critical events indicating potential sources of system crashes. Users can filter logs, research Event IDs, and utilize the Details section for deeper insights. Event Viewer can be paired with Reliability Monitor for a visual overview of system stability. Many third-party diagnostic tools also rely on data from Event Viewer, making it a valuable resource for addressing persistent errors.

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

October 28, 2025

Windows 11 is getting a new trick to make your PC more reliable – and Microsoft has fixed a security flaw in File Explorer

A new preview build of Windows 11 in the Dev channel introduces Proactive Memory Diagnostics, which prompts users to conduct quick memory scans after restarts to prevent system crashes, now supporting both AMD and Intel CPUs. Additionally, a security vulnerability in File Explorer has been addressed by disabling the preview pane for files downloaded from the internet in Windows 11 versions 24H2 and 25H2, a change that has received mixed reactions from users.

Winsage

October 17, 2025

Windows 11 24H2 and 25H2 Updates Break IIS Websites After Patch Tuesday

Microsoft has acknowledged that the Windows 11 24H2 and 25H2 updates are causing disruptions for IIS websites due to a conflict in the Windows HTTP stack driver (HTTP.sys), resulting in “ERRCONNECTIONRESET” errors for localhost loopbacks and IIS connections. The issue affects devices with updates released on or after September 29, including KB5066835 and KB5065789, impacting server-side applications reliant on HTTP.sys and leading to failed IIS websites or blank pages. The problem may vary based on internet connectivity, system timing, or update installation order. Microsoft is working on a permanent solution and has advised IT administrators to implement a known issue rollback (KIR) through Group Policy to restore stability. Additionally, Microsoft has lifted an upgrade block on Windows 11 24H2 devices that was due to a conflict with a third-party driver.

Winsage

October 12, 2025

Oreon 10 gets a timely update as Windows 10 reaches its end of life – download the alternative operating system now!

Windows 10 will reach its end of life on October 14, 2025, and users must decide whether to transition to Windows 11 or continue with an unsupported system. Oreon 10, a Linux distribution launched in December 2024, has released its Build 2510 update, which includes WINE 10.16 for running Windows programs and minor package upgrades for stability. Oreon 10 is designed to resemble Windows, making it easier for users to transition. It is built on AlmaLinux and will have mainstream support until August 20, 2030, with end of support on June 1, 2035. A successor, Oreon 11, is in development.