taskbar functionality Archives

Winsage

December 28, 2024

8 classic Windows features you can bring back with free tools

Windows 11 has introduced a range of tools and solutions to help users restore familiar features from previous versions of Windows. 1. GadgetPack: Revives Gadgets from Windows Vista for Windows 10 and 11, modernizing them with new functionalities like clipboard history, battery meters, and multi-core CPU monitors. 2. Media Player Classic - Home Cinema (MPC-HC): An alternative to the classic Windows Media Player, offering robust support for modern file formats and additional features. 3. OpenShell: A tool that restores the classic Start menu experience, allowing customization to resemble styles from Windows 95, XP, or Vista. 4. ExplorerPatcher: Restores classic taskbar functionality, including resizing and moving options, and reverts File Explorer to earlier command bars and context menus. 5. Task Switcher Options: ExplorerPatcher also allows users to customize the task switcher to resemble earlier Windows versions, including simplified views. 6. WinAero Tweaker: Provides a theme that evokes the Aero style of Windows 7, enhancing the nostalgic aesthetic. 7. Windows Photo Viewer: Can be re-enabled through a registry tweak, allowing users to access the familiar image viewing experience without additional software.

Winsage

December 13, 2024

Vertical taskbars are back in Windows 11, but not from Microsoft

Stardock has released a beta version of Start11 that allows users to add a vertical taskbar to Windows 11, enabling placement on the left or right side of the screen and offering customization options for the Start menu. There has been significant interest in vertical taskbars, with over 55,000 views on a related Microsoft community post, but Microsoft has not officially supported this feature in Windows 11. Tali Roth, Microsoft's Head of Product, mentioned the complexities of repositioning the taskbar and indicated that the company prioritizes features that address broader user needs over catering to those who prefer vertical taskbars. Despite the technical feasibility, Microsoft has decided not to invest in this feature due to limited demand. Users are turning to third-party solutions like Start11 for vertical taskbar functionality.

Winsage

November 14, 2024

Noticed Windows 11 getting more buggy? Microsoft implements a load of bug fixes with new preview build, fighting some truly odd glitches

Microsoft is focused on addressing bugs in Windows 11, particularly following the 24H2 update, which has introduced various issues. The latest preview build, 27749 for the Canary channel, includes a new keyboard shortcut for the Narrator tool and enhancements to its functionality in the Outlook app. Notable glitches being resolved include an issue with Task Manager inaccurately reporting zero running processes, delays and black screens when switching applications via Alt-Tab, and interface-related problems in File Explorer and the taskbar. Fixes also address a crash in the Privacy panel of the Settings app and a volume control issue that increased audio levels unexpectedly. The prevalence of these bugs is hypothesized to be linked to the transition to a new underlying platform, Germanium.

Winsage

October 12, 2024

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4367 (Beta Channel)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4367 (KB5044373) has been released to the Beta Channel, introducing various changes and improvements. New features include the ability to share files directly with applications via the context menu in File Explorer or on the desktop. Fixes include resolving spacing issues in the Start menu's all apps list, addressing crashes in live captions, and correcting taskbar functionality for cycling through multiple windows of the same app. Insiders in the Beta Channel will receive updates based on Windows 11, version 23H2, through an enablement package, with features rolled out gradually using Control Feature Rollout technology. Features may evolve or be removed based on feedback, and localization issues may exist for features in development.

Winsage

October 2, 2024

Windows 11 24H2 now rolling out, here are the new features

Microsoft has unveiled Windows 11, version 24H2, also known as the Windows 11 2024 Update, which has been gradually rolling out since May. Initially available to enterprise customers in the Release Preview Channel, it became accessible on Copilot+ PCs by June. This update includes new foundational elements for AI experiences and resets the 24-month support cycle for Home and Pro editions. A non-security preview update from May 2024 is required for users on versions 22H2 and 23H2 to transition to version 24H2. Key features of the update include AI-powered capabilities, HDR background support, an improved Energy Saver, enhanced Bluetooth LE Audio support for hearing aids, Wi-Fi 7 compatibility, Sudo for Windows, integration of Rust into the Windows kernel, and improvements in voice clarity, taskbar functionality, File Explorer, and Settings. The new AI features will initially be exclusive to Copilot+ PCs and will be rolled out to a broader audience starting in November. The update also enhances Windows search with natural language comprehension, introduces super-resolution for low-resolution images, and adds generative fill/erase functions in Paint. The Click to Do feature aims to streamline workflows without transmitting data to Microsoft’s servers. The rollout will begin for eligible devices running versions 22H2 and 23H2, with users encouraged to check for updates in Settings. Devices deemed ineligible will be placed on a "safeguard hold" until issues are resolved. Version 24H2 is available through Windows Server Update Services, Windows Update for Business, and the Microsoft 365 admin center. Additionally, the Windows 11 Enterprise LTSC 2024 version is introduced for specialized environments, receiving five years of support, while the Windows 11 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2024 will receive ten years of support. Microsoft will also remove the Cortana, Tips, and WordPad applications as part of the update.

Winsage

August 14, 2024

Windows 11 finally fixes BitLocker BSODs while adding new features

The cumulative update for Windows 11, KB5041585, introduces essential fixes and new features, differing from the previous Windows 10 update, KB5041580. Key enhancements include a revamped Start menu allowing users to drag app icons from the Pinned section to the taskbar, improved taskbar functionality with shortcuts for selecting applications, and the removal of the “Not responding” dialog box when using the End task option. File Explorer has been updated to allow users to duplicate tabs and addresses various issues, including memory leaks and freezes. A significant fix resolves the BitLocker recovery error that caused Blue Screens of Death for some users. The update is typically installed automatically via Windows Update, but can also be downloaded manually from the Windows Update catalog.

Winsage

June 20, 2024

Microsoft admits recent Windows 10 updates messed up the taskbar for some users – but a fix is coming

Microsoft has acknowledged a bug in recent Windows 10 updates that can break taskbar functionality when right-clicking on a pinned app. The bug affects a small set of users and will be fixed in a future update for Windows 10 22H2.