time zone Archives

AppWizard

May 12, 2025

Doom: The Dark Ages launch times, release date, and advanced access period

John Doomguy, also known as The Doom Guy or The Doom Slayer, is featured in the upcoming game Doom: The Dark Ages. The game will have staggered launch times, with advanced access for pre-order customers starting on May 12 in the evening for the Western Hemisphere and on May 13 for Africa and Eurasia. Those who did not pre-order will be able to access the game on May 14 in North and South America. Unlock times by time zone for Doom: The Dark Ages are: - 5 pm PT, May 14 (Los Angeles) - 8 pm ET, May 14 (New York) - 7 pm CT, May 14 (Chicago) - 1 am BST, May 15 (London) - 2 am CEST, May 15 (Berlin) - 10 am AEST, May 15 (Sydney) - 12 pm NZST, May 15 (Auckland) Advanced access launch times by time zone are: - 5 pm PT, May 12 (Los Angeles) - 8 pm ET, May 12 (New York) - 7 pm CT, May 12 (Chicago) - 1 am BST, May 13 (London) - 2 am CEST, May 13 (Berlin) - 10 am AEST, May 13 (Sydney) - 12 pm NZST, May 13 (Auckland) Preloading for Doom: The Dark Ages is available for PC users, allowing both advance access and standard pre-order customers to prepare for the game’s launch.

Tech Optimizer

May 9, 2025

Does Antivirus Software Collect Your Data

Antivirus software collects various types of data to protect systems, including system details (operating system version, RAM, CPU type, computer name), network data (local and external IP addresses, DNS server, network name), user data (Windows username, time zone, language, general location), browsing history (if web protection features are enabled), and file-related information (file names, locations, hashes, and sometimes entire files). The AV-Comparatives report indicates that while some antivirus companies manage data responsibly (e.g., F-Secure, G Data, K7), others (e.g., Norton, Panda, McAfee) have been criticized for poor practices. Data sharing can enhance malware detection but poses privacy risks, as seen in AVG's past actions of selling user browsing history. Users can limit data collection by adjusting settings, reviewing installation agreements, avoiding free antivirus software, choosing privacy-conscious vendors (like F-Secure, ESET, G Data), and reading privacy policies. Despite concerns about data collection, antivirus software is essential for protection against cyber threats, and selecting a transparent provider can help safeguard privacy.

Winsage

April 9, 2025

Microsoft releases KB5055523 update to fix a glut of Windows 11 problems

Microsoft has released the KB5055523 update for Windows 11, which includes various fixes and enhancements. Key improvements include a fix for the Explorer context menu issue, increased reliability of ctfmon.exe, and resolution of a Kerberos authentication problem related to RC4 encryption. New features for Copilot+ PC users include an improved Windows Search with semantic indexing, natural language search for cloud-stored photos, enhanced communication capabilities with live captions and real-time translation, and support for real-time translation into Simplified Chinese on Snapdragon-powered devices. The update also addresses issues with machine password rotation in the Identity Update Manager, updates for Daylight Saving Time in Chile, and unexpected behavior in the PcaUiArmUpdate feature. KB5055523 will be automatically installed for users.

Winsage

March 28, 2025

How to easily create an unattended answer file for Windows 11

On Windows 11, an answer file named autounattend.xml can be created to streamline the installation process by bypassing setup steps. To create this file, users need to install the DISMTools application, which provides a wizard for generating the unattended file. The installation of DISMTools involves using Command Prompt to run the command: winget install CodingWondersSoftware.DISMTools.Preview. To create the unattended file, users launch DISMTools, navigate to the "Unattended answer file creator," and follow the wizard to configure settings such as system language, processor architecture, disk settings, product key, account settings, and network settings. The final step is saving the file as autounattend.xml. To integrate the answer file into Windows 11 installation media, users download the Media Creation Tool, select the USB flash drive option, and copy the autounattend.xml file to the USB drive. This prepares the USB for an unattended installation of Windows 11. The XML file may also appear as "unattend.xml" in other contexts.

AppWizard

March 13, 2025

Today’s Steam Spring Sale features my absolute favorite game of all time – here’s when the sale starts and all the key info

The Steam Spring Sale 2025 will feature discounts on a variety of games, including confirmed titles such as The Long Dark, Sifu, Ballionaire, Balatro, Witchfire, Helldivers 2, Escape Simulator, The Isle, Earth Defense Force 6, ATLYSS, Unrailed 2: Back on Track, Nine Sols, Outer Wilds, Airborne Empire, Animal Well, and Life Is Strange: Double Exposure. The event will conclude on Thursday, March 20 at 1 PM ET / 10 AM PT / 5 PM GMT. Steam typically has its largest sales during the Summer and Winter events.

Tech Optimizer

February 27, 2025

Upgrade strategies for Amazon Aurora PostgreSQL and Amazon RDS for PostgreSQL 12

Standard support for Amazon Aurora PostgreSQL-Compatible Edition and Amazon RDS for PostgreSQL version 12 will end on February 28, 2025. The final update for PostgreSQL 12, version 12.22, was released on November 21, 2024. PostgreSQL follows an annual major version release cycle, supporting each version for five years post-release. Upgrading to newer major versions requires careful planning and testing to ensure application compatibility. New features in higher PostgreSQL versions include performance improvements, enhanced security, and new functionalities. Aurora PostgreSQL now supports AWS Graviton4 instances, which provide up to 40% performance improvement over Graviton3 instances. Recommended upgrades include moving to PostgreSQL 16 or newer, with options for in-place upgrades, blue/green deployments, and out-of-place upgrades. Amazon RDS Extended Support allows continued operation on a major version beyond the standard support end date, available at an additional cost. Extended Support for Aurora PostgreSQL 12.x and Amazon RDS for PostgreSQL 12.x will incur charges starting March 1, 2025, and will cease upon upgrading.

Winsage

February 25, 2025

How to save your old computer when Windows 10 hits its end of life

Linux has evolved significantly and allows for running various Windows applications and games through open-source projects like Wine, Vulkan, and Proton. It consists of multiple distributions, including Arch, Debian, Fedora, Manjaro, Mint, Opensuse, Red Hat, and Ubuntu, which can overwhelm newcomers. Linux Mint is recommended for users transitioning from Windows due to its similar interface. To install Linux Mint, download the .iso file from the official website, create a bootable USB drive using Balena Etcher, and boot from the USB stick. The installation process involves selecting language, keyboard layout, formatting the disk, and creating a username and password. After installation, users can access the Mint desktop, use the Driver Manager for hardware drivers, manage software through the Software Manager, and update the system with the Update Manager. For gaming, users can install Steam from store.steampowered.com. For those seeking simplicity, Google’s Chrome OS is a Linux-based alternative that operates primarily through the Chrome browser.

AppWizard

February 19, 2025

Game Pass: What time does Avowed go live?

Avowed launches on February 18, 2024, at synchronized global times: 10am PT, 1pm ET, 6pm GMT, 7pm CET, 3am KST (Feb 19), 3am JST (Feb 19), 5am AEDT (Feb 19), and 7am NZDT (Feb 19). Early access for the Premium Edition started on February 13. The game will be available on Xbox Game Pass, but only for Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass subscribers at launch; it will not be accessible to Game Pass Core or Standard subscribers. Avowed can also be pre-ordered on platforms like Xbox Store, Steam, and Battle.net.

Winsage

February 8, 2025

Microsoft has finally fixed Date & Time bug in Windows 11

An optional update for Windows 11, released on January 28, addresses a bug that prevented non-admin users from modifying their time zone settings. This issue was acknowledged by Microsoft in November 2024, and the patch is identified as KB5050094. Admin users were not affected by this limitation. For those who do not wish to install the update, a workaround is available through the Control Panel or Windows Run to adjust the Date & Time settings. All users will receive the resolution automatically on February 11, 2025, during the February Patch Tuesday updates.

Winsage

February 7, 2025

Microsoft shares workaround for Windows security update issues

Microsoft has identified an issue affecting certain users of Windows 11, version 24H2, who cannot receive security updates when installed via CDs or USB flash drives with cumulative updates from October or November 2024. This issue specifically affects installations made between October 8 and November 12, 2024. Users receiving updates through Windows Update or using installation media with updates from December 2024 or later are not impacted. Microsoft advises affected users to reinstall Windows 11, version 24H2, using media with security updates from December 2024 or later. Additionally, the January 2025 optional updates will address another issue preventing non-admin users from modifying their time zone settings, with a temporary solution available through the Windows Control Panel until the fix is fully deployed.