Windows computers Archives

Winsage

July 24, 2025

Windows 11 officially kills the Blue Screen of Death in latest update

Microsoft has replaced the Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) with a Black Screen of Death in Windows 11 update KB5062660, which is available for manual installation. The update is part of the optional cumulative updates for Windows 11 version 24H2 and will upgrade the system to Build 26100.4770. The new BSOD features a black background, omits the sad emoticon and QR code, and displays for about two seconds. The update also introduces enhancements for AI-capable PCs, the Recall feature for selective blocking of applications and websites in the EU, and the Quick Machine Recovery feature for faster system recovery.

Winsage

July 24, 2025

Goodbye, blue screen of death. I won’t miss you

Microsoft has announced the retirement of the "blue screen of death," a long-standing error screen in Windows, as part of its Windows Resiliency Initiative. This change marks the end of an era that has lasted over three decades. The blue screen will be replaced by a black restart screen that displays a simplified message: “Your device ran into a problem and needs to restart,” along with a code for technical details and a progress indicator. The frequency of critical errors has decreased in recent years, partly due to better internet connectivity and software updates.

Winsage

July 14, 2025

Microsoft’s extra year of free Windows 10 security updates feels like a last-minute snooze button — while groups like “The Restart Project” still want to help users

Microsoft will officially cease support for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025. Users are expressing dissatisfaction with Windows 11 due to its stringent system requirements and design flaws. The Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) has launched a petition against Microsoft's decision, warning it could lead to significant electronic waste and contradicts Microsoft's sustainability goals. Microsoft plans to extend security updates for Windows 10, but users must sync their settings with a Microsoft Account to receive them. Approximately 400 million Windows 10 PCs may not be able to upgrade to Windows 11. The Restart Project highlights that nearly half of all Windows computers still run on Windows 10 and is advocating for repair and the use of free and open-source operating systems. They have developed an 'End of Windows 10' toolkit for community repair groups. The Restart Project has called for stronger durability and repairability rules, economic changes to discourage disposable products, and increased efforts for reuse and repair of electronic waste. Windows 11 has surpassed Windows 10 in market share, with reports indicating 50.88% for Windows 11 compared to 46.2% for Windows 10. Microsoft claims that Windows 11 PCs are significantly faster than Windows 10 PCs, although this has been met with skepticism.

BetaBeacon

June 28, 2025

Lilbits: Microsoft is replacing the Blue Screen of Death with a Black one, extensions are coming to Chrome for Android (kind of), and an NES emulator that lets you play classic games in 3D

Most Windows computers have become less crash-prone over the years, but Microsoft still displays a "Blue Screen of Death" when crashes occur. Microsoft is planning to update the crash screen by changing the background from blue to black and providing more useful information to help users understand why their PC stopped working.

Winsage

June 27, 2025

Windows Blue screen of death axed after 40 years, but BSOD still remains — will be replaced by new black Windows 11 ‘unexpected restart screen’

Microsoft has introduced a new black variant of the "blue screen of death" (BSOD) for Windows, which will provide essential information like stop codes and fault system drivers. This update is part of the "Windows Resiliency Initiative" aimed at improving product robustness. The sad emoticon face will be retired, and the new BSOD is scheduled for release in Windows 11 later this summer, featuring a user interface update and a Quick Machine Recovery (QMR) feature. Other upcoming features include Connected Cache, Universal Print, Hotpatch Update, and Windows 365 Reserve. Users on older Windows 10 systems will still see the traditional BSOD with the frowning face emoji.

Winsage

June 26, 2025

Windows is finally kicking the Blue Screen of Death to the curb

The Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) will be retired in an upcoming update to Windows 11, to be released later this summer. It will be replaced by a Black Screen of Death, which will display a straightforward black screen with a brief message indicating the need for a restart, along with additional information such as the stop code and the system driver responsible for the crash. This change aims to improve clarity and streamline the troubleshooting process for IT administrators. Additionally, Microsoft will introduce the Quick Machine Recovery feature to assist in restoring machines that fail to boot.

Winsage

June 21, 2025

Microsoft’s Family Safety Feature Is Blocking Chrome: Here’s the Workaround

Microsoft's Family Safety feature is inadvertently blocking access to Google's Chrome browser on Windows computers. This issue was reported on June 3, when a user experienced crashes while using Chrome despite attempts to restart and reinstall the browser. The Family Safety feature is designed to help parents manage children's screen time and monitor online activities. Workarounds include unblocking Chrome through the Family Safety app or renaming the Chrome executable file to bypass the block. Microsoft has not yet issued a statement regarding the issue.

Winsage

June 16, 2025

Microsoft is trying a new way to get you to ditch Windows 10

Windows 10 will be retired on October 14, 2025, after which it will no longer receive software and security updates. Currently, 53.2 percent of Windows computers worldwide run on Windows 10, while 43.2 percent use Windows 11. Users can upgrade to Windows 11 for free or by purchasing a new PC, but many older machines may not meet the minimum system requirements. Microsoft has reached out to Windows 10 users via email to remind them of the end of support and has introduced a new feature in Windows Backup to help transfer data to a new PC. This feature, labeled “Transfer information to a new PC,” is expected to be rolled out across all Windows 10 builds. Microsoft has also announced that Microsoft 365 apps will continue to receive security updates for an additional three years after the retirement date.

Winsage

June 3, 2025

Any Mac users working with Parallels Pro can now get Windows 11 Pro for less than $15

Microsoft is phasing out Windows 10, prompting users to consider upgrading to Windows 11. Mac users can currently purchase Windows 11 Pro for .97, a significant discount from its regular price of 9. Windows 11 Pro includes enhancements like a streamlined interface, Snap Layouts, multiple desktops, Windows Sandbox, biometric login support, TPM 2.0, Smart App Control, and an AI-powered Copilot assistant. This offer is available for a limited time, and no coupon is required.

Winsage

May 22, 2025

Samsung’s Galaxy apps now work on non-Galaxy Windows computers

Samsung has expanded the availability of its applications, previously exclusive to Galaxy laptops, to non-Galaxy Windows devices. Users can now download apps such as Galaxy Notes, Gallery, and Cloud from the Microsoft Store. Some applications require a Samsung Account for full functionality, and Galaxy Notes has been optimized for Galaxy Books, which may affect performance on other devices. The available applications include Galaxy Notes, Cloud, Gallery, Screen Recorder, Galaxy Buds, Bixby, Samsung Studio, and Phone.