Virtual Desktop Archives

Winsage

June 10, 2025

Microsoft Employee Working On SteamVR Driver To Revive Windows MR Headsets

A Microsoft employee is developing a native SteamVR driver called "Oasis" to revive Windows Mixed Reality (MR) headsets, which lost functionality after the Windows 11 24H2 update eliminated support for these devices. The previous runtime that allowed Windows MR headsets to interface with SteamVR is now obsolete. Matthieu Bucchianeri, a software developer with experience at Sony and SpaceX, is leading this project, which involves deep reverse-engineering. The Oasis driver is currently compatible with Nvidia GPUs, and Bucchianeri is in talks with AMD for potential compatibility. He plans to release the driver for free in the fall.

Winsage

June 2, 2025

Microsoft ships emergency patch to fix Windows 11 installation issues

Microsoft has addressed a significant issue affecting certain Windows 11 systems after the installation of the KB5058405 security update from May 2025. Users reported encountering 0xc0000098 recovery errors linked to ACPI.sys, indicating that the operating system could not be loaded. This problem primarily affects Windows 11 versions 22H2 and 23H2 in enterprise settings, particularly among Azure Virtual Machines, Azure Virtual Desktop, and on-premises virtual machines hosted on platforms like Citrix or Hyper-V. Microsoft has released the KB5062170 non-security out-of-band update to resolve the installation and boot problems, which can be manually installed from the Microsoft Update Catalog. For Azure customers facing difficulties after implementing the May 2025 update, Microsoft recommends using Azure Virtual Machine repair commands as a temporary workaround. Users of Windows Home or Pro editions in home environments are unlikely to encounter these issues.

Winsage

June 2, 2025

Microsoft Issues New Emergency Update For Windows Users

Microsoft has released an emergency out-of-band update, KB5062170, to address issues from the May 13, 2025 Windows security update (KB5058405), which failed to install on some Windows 11 devices, showing error code 0xc0000098. The new update fixes an issue with the ACPI.sys driver and is available via the Update Catalog. It primarily impacts enterprise environments, particularly virtual setups like Azure Virtual Machines and Azure Virtual Desktop, while home users are less affected. KB5062170 includes all enhancements from the May 2025 non-security preview update and supersedes prior updates, requiring a device restart after installation.

Winsage

May 31, 2025

Microsoft Warns Windows Users—Emergency Update Within Days

Microsoft is addressing issues with the May 13, 2025 Windows security update (KB5058405) that is failing to install on some Windows 11, version 22H2 and 23H2 devices. An out-of-band update is planned to be released shortly. A recovery error message indicating that “your PC/Device needs to be repaired” may appear, with the root cause identified as an ACPI.sys driver problem, potentially showing the error code: 0xc0000098. Most reports of this update failure have come from virtual environments, affecting enterprise users more than home users. Earlier in May, a similar emergency update was issued for Windows 10 users experiencing a BitLocker Recovery screen during the installation of a security update.

Winsage

May 30, 2025

Windows 11’s May security update is crashing PCs with code 0xc0000098

Microsoft rolled out update KB5058405 for Windows 11 23H2 to address critical security vulnerabilities, but users are reporting significant issues, including boot failures with error code 0xc0000098. This problem affects both Windows 11 23H2 and 22H2, primarily in virtual environments like Azure Virtual Machines and on-premises virtual machines hosted on Citrix or Hyper-V. Home users with Windows Home or Pro editions are less likely to experience this issue. The error indicates a missing or corrupted ACPI.sys file, which is essential for managing hardware resources and power states. Microsoft is currently investigating the issue and has not yet provided a resolution.

Winsage

May 30, 2025

Microsoft May Patch Tuesday fails on some Windows 11 VMs

Microsoft's recent Patch Tuesday update for Windows 11 has faced significant issues, particularly affecting users on versions 22H2 and 23H2. The installation of the May 13 update is failing on some machines, especially in virtual environments, leading to recovery mode entries and boot errors. Users are advised to avoid the update temporarily. The error message indicates a problem with the ACPI.sys file, which is crucial for managing hardware resources. Windows 11 Home and Pro users are likely unaffected, as virtual machines are typically used in enterprise settings. Microsoft has not provided the number of impacted users or a workaround beyond uninstalling the patches, but engineers are working on a resolution. This incident follows previous patching challenges faced by Microsoft this year, including an emergency update for Windows 10 and issues with Remote Desktop sessions in earlier updates.

Winsage

May 29, 2025

Microsoft Confirms New Update Failure For Windows Users

Microsoft is investigating issues with Windows 11 versions 22H2 and 23H2 related to the May 13, 2025 security update (KB5058405), which has caused installation failures. Users are encountering a recovery error stating, “Your PC/Device needs to be repaired,” linked to the ACPI.sys driver, with the error code 0xc0000098. This issue affects not only personal computers but also virtual environments, including Azure Virtual Machines and Citrix or Hyper-V hosted machines. Earlier, Microsoft addressed similar problems for Windows 10 users experiencing BitLocker Recovery screens during the installation of the same security update. Microsoft has released the KB5061977 out-of-band update for Windows 11 in response to these ongoing challenges.

Winsage

May 29, 2025

Microsoft: Windows 11 might fail to start after installing KB5058405

Microsoft has acknowledged that some Windows 11 systems may experience startup failures after installing the KB5058405 cumulative update, resulting in a 0xc0000098 recovery error related to ACPI.sys. This issue affects Windows 11 versions 22H2 and 23H2, particularly in enterprise settings like Azure Virtual Machines and on-premises virtual machines. Home users are less likely to encounter these problems. Microsoft is investigating the issue and will provide updates.

AppWizard

May 23, 2025

This hacking sim is like if Uplink was more of a puzzle game, and if you live for snooping through other people’s emails you’re going to be well-served

Cyber Warrior is a hacking simulation game developed by Dunke Games, where players assume the role of a cybersecurity professional for a fictional agency. The game features a modern gameplay style reminiscent of classic titles like Uplink, utilizing a VNC client. It includes a virtual desktop with a music player featuring hacker-themed tracks. Cyber Warrior is currently available on Steam with a 10% discount.

Winsage

May 15, 2025

Windows 10 is dying, hardware is pricey, and Citrix says VDI will save you

Citrix is promoting its virtualization platforms to address rising hardware costs and upcoming U.S. tariffs effective April 2025. Vice President Philipp Benkler suggested that organizations could extend the lifespan of existing hardware by using eLux, an operating system acquired from Unicon. As businesses face the end-of-life for Windows 10 and the transition to Windows 11, Citrix advocates for deploying centrally managed remote desktops from existing endpoints through its virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) platform. However, VDI implementation can face challenges such as "boot storms," which may lead to performance issues. Citrix recommends its NetScaler platform to manage these challenges without requiring additional hardware. While Citrix's approach aims to mitigate tariff-related costs, the company has increased its licensing prices, necessitating careful evaluation by organizations considering VDI. Security concerns also arise with NetScaler, as it is often targeted by cybercriminals, potentially introducing vulnerabilities. The effectiveness of Citrix's solution depends on each organization's IT landscape, budget, and ability to manage technical complexities.