Windows compatibility Archives

Winsage

January 1, 2026

ReactOS Starts 2026 With Another “Major Step” Toward Windows NT6 Compatibility

The ReactOS project is celebrating its 30th anniversary and has made significant progress in compatibility with Windows NT 6.0. The team has synchronized their implementation of the Microsoft C Runtime library (MSVCRT) with Wine 10.0, resulting in a 30% reduction in API test failures and improved support for various applications. Approximately 7,574 out of 25,517 test failures have been addressed, leading to a 29.6% improvement in overall stability.

Winsage

October 27, 2025

6 exciting and niche OS projects that are quietly growing as users leave Windows

More individuals are dissatisfied with Windows due to updates, telemetry, and restrictive design choices, especially with the end of life for Windows 10 approaching. This has led to a subtle migration towards niche operating systems. Zorin OS is a user-friendly Linux distribution designed for newcomers, featuring a familiar interface that mimics Windows and macOS, and is powered by Ubuntu for stability. It includes Zorin Connect for synchronizing notifications and emphasizes security and privacy. Haiku is a lightweight operating system that serves as a successor to BeOS, focusing on speed and simplicity, built entirely from scratch for a snappy user experience. SerenityOS is an independent project created from the ground up, featuring a nostalgic aesthetic and a complete desktop environment, with a focus on usability and craftsmanship. Ultramarine Linux is a Fedora-based distribution that simplifies open-source software for users, offering multimedia codecs and multiple desktop environments for a comprehensive experience. Vanilla OS introduces a modern approach to Linux with immutability, protecting core system files and allowing independent application management to enhance stability. ReactOS aims to recreate the Windows experience using open-source code, focusing on compatibility with Windows applications and drivers while fostering a community around its development.

Winsage

September 24, 2025

Simple Ways to Find Out Your Windows Version

To determine the version of Windows your device is running, you can use several methods: 1. Settings Menu: - Open the Start menu. - Click on the gear icon for Settings. - Navigate to System, then select About to find your edition, version, and build number. 2. Run Dialog Box: - Press Win + R. - Type "winver" and press Enter to see a pop-up with your build number, edition, and version. 3. Command Prompt or PowerShell: - Right-click on Start and select either PowerShell or Command Prompt. - Type "systeminfo" and press Enter for a detailed system report. Understanding your Windows version, edition, and build number is important for software compatibility, security updates, and accessing new features. To verify if you are on the latest release, compare your Windows build number with Microsoft’s Release Health page. If your version is outdated, you can either install updates through Windows Update or consider a hardware upgrade if compatibility issues arise.

Winsage

September 8, 2025

Docker Wine is a weird way to containerize and run Windows programs on Linux

Switching to Linux can require time to configure and may lead to challenges due to the incompatibility with Windows applications, which are often designed specifically for Windows. Docker Wine is a Docker image that provides a pre-configured Wine setup, allowing Windows applications to run in a self-contained Linux environment. This method avoids conflicts by creating a new container for each application, which disappears after use, ensuring the host system remains unaffected. Docker Wine can run both GUI applications and command-line tools, using specific commands to initiate the container and mount necessary directories. Additionally, Winetricks can be used within Docker Wine to create a persistent Wine environment for applications that require specific components. Docker Wine is particularly useful for users who need to test multiple Windows applications with conflicting dependencies without affecting their primary Linux setup.

Winsage

July 28, 2025

Get a Microsoft 365 lifetime license instead of a subscription

Microsoft Office 2021 is available for .97, down from its regular price of 9. This offer includes a lifetime license for Microsoft Office Professional 2021, which features applications such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Access, Teams, and Publisher. The software is compatible with Windows, allows for a streamlined workflow, and provides instant download with a product key. There are no recurring costs associated with this purchase.

AppWizard

June 28, 2025

Gaming on Linux is better than ever — but it’s still bad

Linux has evolved significantly in the gaming sector, becoming a credible alternative to Microsoft for PC gaming, aided by tools like Proton and a dedicated community. However, challenges remain, such as compatibility issues and a lack of native Linux game versions. The introduction of DirectX by Microsoft solidified Windows as the primary gaming platform, creating a focus on Windows that disadvantages Linux. Proton allows many Windows games to run on Linux but does not create native versions, and essential software for graphics cards is often missing. Currently, Windows holds over a 95% share in the Steam hardware survey, while Linux accounts for only 2.69%. Despite progress, Linux still faces a long journey to become a mainstream gaming platform.

Winsage

December 9, 2024

The Countdown to Windows 10 End of Life: What IT Teams Need to Know

Microsoft will discontinue support for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025. Extended Security Updates (ESUs) will be available for a maximum of three years at approximately per device. Windows 10 is currently the most targeted among older Windows operating systems, facing high-severity vulnerabilities. Organizations should conduct an asset audit, evaluate ESUs, migrate critical systems to the cloud, and establish a decommission plan for legacy systems. Morphisec offers a lightweight security solution for legacy systems, utilizing Automated Moving Target Defense (AMTD) technology to protect against advanced threats without the need for updates or internet connectivity.

Winsage

December 5, 2024

WinRAR on Windows 11 gets faster, 7-Zip and NanaZip receive improvements too

WinRAR has released a beta update (version 7.10 Beta 2) that includes several enhancements and bug fixes. Key improvements include: - Accelerated response time for the Windows 11 context menu when right-clicking on multiple selected archives. - Increased compression speed due to the resolution of a performance bug. - Numerous dark mode improvements and fixes, with "Dark mode" options now referred to as "Color mode." - The "Export settings to file" command no longer triggers User Account Control prompts. - Command line mode now returns a "Bad archive" exit code 13 for non-RAR archives with a .rar file extension. - The "External viewer name" field now recognizes relative path specifications. Bug fixes include: - Compression speed improvements for specific data combinations in non-solid archives. - Resolved an infinite loop issue in console RAR on Windows 7. - Fixed an error preventing execution of files from archive subfolders. - Addressed a reset issue with WinRAR.ini contents when multiple archives were opened in the same window. 7-Zip has also updated to version 24.09, featuring increased default dictionary sizes for LZMA/LZMA2 compression and additional hash checksum calculations (SHA-512, SHA-384, SHA3-256, and MD5). NanaZip has addressed a Zstandard decompression vulnerability (CVE-2024-11477) and includes various updates and optimizations in its 5.0 Preview 0 release.

Winsage

November 11, 2024

The latest Steam version no longer works on Windows 7 and 8

Valve has released a significant update for the Steam client that introduces new features, including gameplay recording, but it is not compatible with Windows 7, 8, and 8.1. Users must upgrade to Windows 10 or a newer operating system to access the update. Steam will continue to function on older Windows versions, allowing users to access their libraries, but technical support will not be provided for these systems. Valve's decision aligns with Microsoft's end of support for these operating systems in January 2024. Approximately 0.28% of Windows users on Steam were still using Windows 7 as of October 2024. Users must purchase a new license or a new PC to upgrade, as free upgrades to Windows 10 are no longer available.

Winsage

October 11, 2024

Chromebooks’ Windows compatibility could be on the chopping block

Parallels for ChromeOS, a service allowing Chromebooks to run Windows applications, has not received significant updates in the past eighteen months, indicating a decline in interest from Google. The last major update was in mid-2022, aimed at improving performance for budget Intel and AMD chipsets. Google's acquisition of Cameyo suggests a strategic shift towards virtual Windows apps on ChromeOS, potentially sidelining Parallels. Users need high-performance Chromebooks to effectively use the virtual desktop feature, conflicting with the budget-friendly image of Chromebooks. Speculation exists that Google may announce the discontinuation of Parallels for ChromeOS before the end of the year, with indications that the service could be phased out entirely by then.