virtual machine Archives

Winsage

April 2, 2025

5 reasons I stopped dual-booting Windows and Linux on my PC

The author currently uses Windows 11 on most devices due to the lack of Linux alternatives for certain creative applications. They previously engaged in dual-booting Linux and Windows but have shifted away from this practice due to time and data management concerns. Storage issues were a significant challenge, particularly with drive partitioning on laptops. The author finds virtual machines (VMs) and Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) to be more accessible and practical solutions for their needs. They also mention that Windows 11's Secure Boot complicates dual-boot setups and that Windows updates often overwrite the GRUB bootloader, risking data integrity. Additionally, using BitLocker with GRUB can lead to complications. Ultimately, the author prefers a single operating system per device for a simpler and more efficient experience.

Winsage

March 26, 2025

Auth bypass CVE-2025-22230 impacts VMware Windows Tools

Broadcom has addressed a critical authentication bypass vulnerability, CVE-2025-22230, affecting VMware Tools for Windows, rated with a CVSS score of 9.8. This vulnerability allows low-privileged local attackers to escalate their privileges within vulnerable VMs, potentially leading to unauthorized access. It affects VMware Tools versions 12.x.x and 11.x.x across Windows, Linux, and macOS platforms. VMware Tools version 12.5.1 has been released to fix this issue. Additionally, Broadcom issued updates for three zero-day vulnerabilities in VMware ESX products (CVE-2025-22224, CVE-2025-22225, CVE-2025-22226), which were confirmed to be actively exploited and represent a "VM Escape" scenario.

Winsage

March 26, 2025

Update VMware Tools for Windows NOW: High-Severity Flaw Lets Hackers Bypass Authentication

Broadcom has advised users of VMware Tools for Windows to update to the latest version due to a high-severity vulnerability (CVE-2025-22230) that is being exploited by cybercriminals. This vulnerability affects versions 11.x.x and 12.x.x and is classified as an "authentication bypass vulnerability," allowing a malicious actor with non-administrative privileges on a Windows guest to perform high-privilege operations within that VM. The flaw stems from inadequate access control mechanisms. The vulnerability has a CVSS score of 7.8 and does not require user interaction for exploitation. It was discovered by Sergey Bliznyuk of Positive Technologies. Broadcom has patched the vulnerability in version 12.5.1, and users are urged to update immediately, as no workarounds are available.

Winsage

March 25, 2025

5 Windows tools and apps you can’t find on other operating systems

Certain features remain exclusive to the Windows operating system, offering unique functionalities not available on Mac or Linux. Microsoft has developed tools like PowerToys, which includes nearly 20 utilities enhancing Windows functionality, and Windows Sandbox, providing a secure environment for testing applications. Windows Notepad serves as a basic note-taking and coding app with features like spellcheck and autocorrect. The Snipping Tool allows users to capture screenshots and extract text from images, while the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) enables seamless access to both Windows and Linux environments. These tools are designed to enhance productivity and provide significant advantages for Windows users.

BetaBeacon

March 23, 2025

Goodbye, Ridiculous Fishing: How Android’s 32-bit purge erased my favorite classic games

Google and high-end chipmakers decided to kill 32-bit support entirely in Android 14, leading to benefits such as freeing up system resources, better security, and improved performance. This change means that many 32-bit-only games, including classics like the Metal Slug series and King of Fighters franchise, can no longer be played on newer devices. Options to continue playing these games include using a phone with Android 13 or Xiaomi's flagship phones with a framework to run 32-bit apps, although the latter is limited to the Chinese market. Other suggestions include using a virtual machine running an older version of Android, but this may not work due to hardware limitations.

Winsage

March 20, 2025

Windows 11 File Explorer is about to get a speed boost

Microsoft has released Windows 11 Build 27818 for users in the Canary Channel, enhancing File Explorer's performance for extracting zip files. The update includes general improvements and fixes, such as displaying additional details about Pluton TPM chips in the Windows Security app. The suggested actions feature for copying phone numbers or future dates is being deprecated. A critical fix addresses a d3d9.dll crash affecting application launches. Other improvements include enhanced performance for unzipping files, fixes for File Explorer Home loading issues, taskbar app window preview corrections, resolution of a ctmon.exe crash impacting typing, fixes for Settings launch errors, graphics performance improvements, resolution of Visual Studio Code installation issues with Admin Protection, and fixes for Remote Desktop freezing issues. Additionally, a fix addresses application opening failures related to a virtual machine component error.

AppWizard

March 20, 2025

Google says its new Linux Terminal feature isn’t a replacement for Android’s desktop mode

Google has introduced a Linux Terminal app for Android, allowing users to run a Debian instance within a virtual machine. This app aims to integrate more Linux applications, tools, and games into the Android ecosystem, rather than providing an additional desktop environment. The Linux Terminal app features a text-based command line interface and does not include a graphical desktop environment by default, although users can install desktop environments like XFCE or GNOME. Google is enhancing the Android Virtualization Framework (AVF) to support this development, with plans for future updates to improve functionality, including tab support and GPU acceleration. Currently, launching Linux apps outside of the Terminal is limited, but Google envisions a future where Linux applications work seamlessly alongside native Android apps in desktop mode.

AppWizard

March 20, 2025

Linux on Android: Google clarifies the new Terminal app’s purpose

Google's new Linux Terminal app for Android, launched with the March 2025 Pixel Drop, allows users to create and manage a Debian virtual machine on their Pixel devices through a command-line interface. The app is designed to enhance the Android app ecosystem by enabling the use of Linux apps, tools, and games, rather than creating a new desktop environment. Users can control their Linux environment, including storage allocation and port forwarding. While users can install Linux desktop management systems like XFCE or GNOME, these will not be the default experience. Google is also preparing GPU acceleration for future releases. The development indicates a convergence between Android and ChromeOS, but both systems will retain their distinct functionalities, with Android focused on mobile use and ChromeOS optimized for desktop productivity.

Winsage

March 19, 2025

Leaked Windows 11 feature explains why your PC hardware struggles

Windows 11 is developing a new FAQ section in the Settings app that provides advice on optimizing system performance. This section, currently hidden and accessible via command line, includes guidance on whether a GPU is sufficient for high-end gaming, recommending a discrete graphics card with more than 4GB of RAM. It also states that 4-8GB of RAM is adequate for basic tasks like web browsing and document editing. Microsoft has not officially commented on this feature, and it remains unclear if it will be included in the next major update or only appear when hardware limitations are detected.

Winsage

March 18, 2025

Learn how the Windows Server 2025 editions differ

Microsoft is set to release Windows Server 2025 in November 2024, featuring several editions: Essentials, Standard, Datacenter, and Datacenter Azure. Windows Server Essentials is limited to servers with a single CPU and fewer than 10 cores and can only be obtained through hardware OEMs. The Standard edition allows Hyper-V licensing for up to two virtual machines, while the Datacenter edition has no such limits and offers more flexibility with disaster recovery features. The Datacenter Azure edition is optimized for the cloud and receives annual updates. The hardware requirements for Windows Server 2025 include a minimum 64-bit CPU at 1.4 GHz, support for various instructions, and the ability to accommodate up to 2,048 logical processors. The minimum memory requirement is 512 MB, with 2 GB recommended for optimal performance. Storage requirements suggest at least 64 GB for better performance, especially with Desktop Experience, and a Gigabit Ethernet adapter is necessary for networking. Several features have been deprecated in Windows Server 2025, including Computer Browser, Failover Clustering Cluster Sets, and NTLM, among others. Completely removed features include IIS 6 Management Console, NTLMv1, and Windows PowerShell 2.0 Engine. Organizations planning to migrate to Windows Server 2025 must ensure their hardware meets the minimum requirements and can perform an in-place upgrade if currently using Windows Server 2012 R2 or newer. Testing in a lab environment and backing up servers before migration are recommended steps.