USB Archives

Winsage

April 10, 2025

Don’t pay more for Windows Pro’s advanced features. Use these free tools instead

The Windows Home and Pro editions differ primarily in several key features relevant to personal users: - Bitlocker Encryption: Exclusive to the Pro edition, it secures drives, but Windows 11 Home includes device encryption requiring a Microsoft account. - Hyper-V: Available only in Pro, but alternatives like VirtualBox can be used in Home. - Remote Desktop: Pro allows full remote access, while Home offers limited support; third-party tools can provide alternatives. - Group Policies: Primarily for corporate use in Pro, but local group policies can be activated in Home with alternative tools available. Windows 11 24H2 Home includes a new device encryption feature requiring a Microsoft account. Veracrypt is a free alternative for encryption, allowing for encrypted containers and compatibility across multiple operating systems. Upgrading from Windows 11 Home to Pro requires a new product key. VirtualBox offers a free option for creating virtual machines. For remote access, tools like Rustdesk can be used without needing the Pro edition's capabilities.

Winsage

April 9, 2025

4 reasons I use virtual hard disks in Windows, and you should too

Creating virtual hard disks (VHD or VHDX) in Windows 11 23H2 and later is straightforward through the Settings app. Users can create a VHD by navigating to Settings -> System -> Storage -> Advanced storage settings -> Disks and volumes, where they can choose to create a VHD or Dev Drive. The VHD format supports up to 2040GB, while VHDX supports up to 64TB and offers resilience during power failures. VHDX can be encrypted with BitLocker for password protection. Virtual disks can be shared over a network, enhancing efficiency by eliminating the need for physical media. They are cost-effective compared to physical drives, reducing hardware costs and potential points of failure. The Hyper-V hypervisor provides a versatile platform for these virtual drives, which offer portability, flexibility, ease of sharing, efficient backups, and robust security, though they may have slower performance than SSDs and limited native boot support for Windows.

Winsage

April 7, 2025

I set out to see if the Razer Blade 16’s redesign, AMD, and RTX 50-series put the laptop back on top

The Razer Blade 16 (2025) starts at a price of ,999.99 and features an AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 processor, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti graphics, 32GB of RAM, and 1TB of SSD storage. The fully upgraded version costs ,899.99 and includes a Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 processor, RTX 5090 graphics, 64GB of RAM, and 4TB of SSD storage. The laptop is approximately 21-32% thinner and 13% lighter than its predecessor, with a CNC-milled unibody aluminum chassis. It has a 16-inch OLED display with QHD+ resolution and a 240Hz refresh rate. The Blade 16 features five USB ports, an HDMI 2.1 port, and a full-sized SD card slot. Battery life is limited, draining significantly in one hour of standard usage, and performance throttling occurs when unplugged. The keyboard has been redesigned for deeper key travel, while the touchpad has issues with palm rejection. It includes a FHD webcam, dual-array microphones, and a six-speaker system with THX Spatial Audio, along with Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 connectivity.

Winsage

April 7, 2025

Windows 365 Link Cloud PC now available for $349.99

Microsoft has launched the Windows 365 Link, its first cloud PC, available for purchase in the U.S. at a price of .99. The device features an Intel N250 processor, 8GB of LPDDR5 RAM, and 64GB of UFS storage. Connectivity options include Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, USB-A 3.2 Gen1, USB-A 3.2 Gen2, USB-C 3.2, Ethernet, HDMI 2.0, and DisplayPort 1.4. It measures 120 x 120 x 30mm. The device requires a stable internet connection for optimal performance, and its hardware specifications may not meet the demands of intensive tasks. In comparison, Apple's Mac Mini, priced at 9, features an M2 chip, 8GB of unified memory, and 256GB of SSD storage. Microsoft claims that Windows 365 and Azure Virtual Desktop can save employees 6 to 12 minutes daily and organizations between .1M and .2M over three years through BYOPC programs. The Windows 365 Link is aimed at businesses integrated into the Microsoft ecosystem, offering a cost-effective solution for cloud-managed workstations.

Winsage

April 6, 2025

5 best dual-pane file managers for Windows power users

The default Windows File Explorer lacks multi-pane support, making file management cumbersome for users who frequently transfer files between folders or manage multiple drives. Dual-pane or multi-pane third-party file managers offer solutions by allowing users to view and manage multiple folders side by side within a single window. Total Commander is a veteran dual-pane file manager with built-in FTP support, fast file transfers, and comprehensive archive handling. Directory Opus is a premium file management solution with a dual-pane layout, tabbed navigation, and features like batch file operations and scripting capabilities. FreeCommander XE is a free dual-pane file manager that offers essential features such as tabbed browsing and folder synchronization. XYplorer is a portable dual-pane file manager designed for speed, featuring tabbed browsing and powerful search functions. Q-Dir, or Quad-Directory Explorer, allows for up to four panes in a single window and supports drag-and-drop functionality and color filters.

Winsage

April 5, 2025

Introducing Windows on arm. And by arm, we mean wrist

Gustave Monce, a PhD student from Bordeaux, is working on a project to run Windows on the Google Pixel Watch 3, referred to as "Windows on ARM." Initially announced on April Fools' Day, Monce clarified that the project is serious and involves UEFI on the Pixel Watch 3 with the capability to boot Windows and Linux. He has previously developed DuoWOA, enabling Windows 11 to run on Microsoft's Surface Duo, and is also working on LumiaWOA for the Nokia Lumia 950 and 950XL. The smartwatch project utilizes an Arm64 build of Windows PE, allowing the Pixel Watch 3 to boot a WinPE image via UEFI, though the final installation steps remain undocumented. Monce describes the project as real and goofy, acknowledging its current limitations while inviting others to explore the code.

Winsage

April 4, 2025

Vole punts pricey plastic brick for cloudy PCs

Microsoft has introduced the Windows 365 Link, a compact device priced at £349, designed to connect users to Windows Cloud PCs hosted on Azure. Weighing 418 grams, it features HDMI, USB-C, three USB-A ports, Ethernet, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi. The device is only compatible with organizations using Windows 365 (Enterprise, Frontline, or Business), Intune, and Microsoft Entra ID, excluding government users. It promises high-performance video playback and conferencing, particularly with Teams, but functions primarily as a cloud dongle aimed at simplifying IT administration and enhancing security. The Link connects to Windows 365 in seconds and is available through select resellers like Ricoh UK and Insight Enterprises in the U.S.

Winsage

April 4, 2025

Gone all in on Windows 365? Microsoft has a box for you

Microsoft's Windows 365 Link is a compact device priced at £349, designed to connect users to a Windows 365 Cloud PC hosted in the Azure cloud. It measures 120 mm x 120 mm x 30 mm and weighs 418 grams. The device features an HDMI port, a USB-C port, three USB-A ports, an Ethernet socket, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi support, but lacks local storage. It is aimed at organizational use for employees utilizing Windows 365 with Microsoft Intune and Microsoft Entra ID, supporting Windows 365 Enterprise, Frontline, and Business editions, while excluding Windows 365 Government. The device is marketed towards desk-based or frontline workers in shared workspaces and is available through select resellers like Ricoh UK and Insight Enterprises in the US.

Winsage

April 3, 2025

6 features worth enabling God Mode in Windows 11 for

God Mode in Windows grants access to over 200 settings and functionalities, many of which are typically hidden. Users can pin the God Mode folder to the Start menu or Quick Access in File Explorer for easy access. Key features include: - BitLocker: A disk encryption tool that protects data on drives using AES encryption, accessible via password, PIN, or Windows Hello. - Network Management: Simplifies access to network settings for connecting, checking status, and troubleshooting connectivity issues. - Power Management: Allows quick adjustments to power plans, battery settings, and actions for closing the laptop lid or pressing power buttons. - Accessibility: Offers extensive settings for users with disabilities, including tools like Narrator and Magnifier. - File Type Options: Enables users to manage file type associations and visibility of files and folders. - Windows Tools: Centralizes access to built-in maintenance tools like Disk Cleanup and Task Scheduler. God Mode enhances the user experience by providing a more efficient way to navigate system features compared to the traditional Control Panel.

Winsage

April 2, 2025

Your ‘unsupported’ Windows 10 PC can still run Windows 11 in 2025

Microsoft will cease support for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025. Users considering upgrading to Windows 11 may face obstacles due to hardware requirements, including TPM 2.0 and specific CPU models. Workarounds exist for upgrading incompatible PCs. To check compatibility: - Determine if the PC uses UEFI or Legacy BIOS via System Information (msinfo32.exe). - Ensure BIOS Mode is UEFI. - Check TPM status using the TPM Management tool (tpm.msc). - Verify CPU compatibility; most Intel CPUs from 2009 or later and AMD CPUs from 2013 or later should meet the standards. Option 1: Registry Edit Method (for PCs with TPM 1.2+ and UEFI) 1. Open Registry Editor (regedit.exe) as an administrator. 2. Navigate to HKEYLOCALMACHINESYSTEMSetup; create MoSetup key if absent. 3. Create DWORD (32-bit) Value named AllowUpgradesWithUnsupportedTPMOrCPU, set value to 1, and restart. 4. Download Windows 11 ISO from aka.ms/DownloadWindows11. 5. Mount the ISO file and run Setup.exe. Option 2: Using Rufus (for PCs without TPM or UEFI) 1. Download Rufus version 4.6 or later and Windows 11 ISO. 2. Prepare a USB flash drive (16GB or larger). 3. Launch Rufus, select the USB drive, choose the Windows 11 ISO, and check the box to remove requirements for 4GB+ RAM, Secure Boot, and TPM 2.0. 4. Create the bootable drive and run Setup.exe from the USB drive. These methods are unofficial workarounds. Users may encounter compatibility warnings, and the registry method is preferred for its simplicity. Some very old systems, especially those with AMD processors lacking SSE4.2 support, may still be incompatible.