Windows Experience

Winsage
July 23, 2025
Microsoft has expanded its Surface Copilot+ PC portfolio with the introduction of the Surface Laptop 5G, a 13.8-inch device powered by Intel Core Ultra (Series 2) processors, set to ship on August 26. The new 13-inch Surface Laptop and 12-inch Surface Pro are available for immediate purchase. The Surface Laptop 5G features a Neural Processing Unit (NPU) capable of over 40 trillion operations per second, enhancing on-device intelligence and productivity. It includes an integrated 5G modem for continuous connectivity to Microsoft 365 Copilot and other cloud tools. The device has a dynamic antenna system with six antennas that adapt to surroundings, ensuring reliable connectivity and the ability to function as a mobile hotspot. It supports both NanoSIM and eSIM options and weighs under 3 pounds for portability. The device underwent rigorous real-world testing for performance and connectivity. IT departments can remotely manage the devices, and the Surface Management Portal offers centralized visibility into device health. The Surface Laptop 5G is part of a growing portfolio of Copilot+ PCs designed for modern business needs.
Winsage
July 22, 2025
Microsoft has introduced a suite of new features for Windows 11 and Copilot+ PCs, currently available in preview mode. Users can subscribe to a newsletter offering three time-saving tips every Friday and free copies of Paul Thurrott's Windows 11 and Windows 10 Field Guides. Key features include: - A new agent in Settings for natural language navigation, available for users with Snapdragon X-based Copilot+ PCs in English. - Click to Do (Preview) improvements for Copilot+ PCs, including actions like Practice in Reading Coach and scheduling Teams meetings. - Photo relight in Photos, providing professional lighting controls for Copilot+ PCs with Snapdragon X processors. - Sticker generator and Object select tools in Paint, exclusive to Copilot+ PCs. - Enhancements to the Snipping Tool, including a Perfect screenshot tool and Color picker, available to all Windows 11 users. - Copilot Vision, allowing interaction with screen content via the Copilot app and Microsoft Edge, now accessible in the U.S. - Edge Game Assist, a mini-web browser within the Game Bar for gaming assistance. - Quick machine recovery, reducing reboot wait time from 40 seconds to as little as 2 seconds on most Windows 11 version 24H2 PCs, with an updated Black Screen of Death. These updates are rolling out for Windows 11 versions 24H2 and 23H2, with some minor fixes for Windows 10 users.
Winsage
July 21, 2025
A YouTube creator on the MetraByte channel attempted to install seven layers of Windows operating systems nested within each other: Windows 95 inside Windows 98, followed by Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8.1, and finally, Windows 10, all encapsulated within Windows 11. The creator initially used Hyper-V but switched to VMware after encountering limitations, allowing for more extensive layering but resulting in significant performance declines as layers increased. For example, Windows 7 took 30 minutes to boot when nested within Windows 8, which was under Windows 10, all running on Windows 11. The attempt to install Windows 95 ultimately failed as Windows 98 struggled to boot. Performance metrics showed that deeper installation layers led to decreased performance, particularly evident while playing Minecraft Classic, where frame rates dropped by over 50% in Windows 10 and 8 compared to Windows 11.
Winsage
July 17, 2025
CrapFixer is a tool designed to improve the user experience on Windows 10 and 11 by addressing issues such as bloatware, intrusive ads, and unwanted data collection. It was originally launched seven years ago and has been significantly updated for Windows 11, featuring a modern Policy Editor. Users can download CrapFixer, analyze their system for recommendations, and implement changes with a click. The software allows users to revert changes easily and offers manual options for customization, such as hiding Copilot and disabling telemetry. Additionally, NAppClean.exe is available as a standalone tool for a more structured approach to applying tweaks. CrapFixer is currently at version 1.18.200 since its initial release in May.
Winsage
July 16, 2025
The Steam Deck, a handheld gaming PC by Valve that usually runs on a Linux-based system, has been successfully modified to run Windows 7 natively. This achievement has intrigued tech enthusiasts, although the integrated graphics of the Steam Deck lack the necessary drivers for Windows 7, which only work with Windows 10 and 11. Users like Bob Pony have previously installed Windows 8.1 on the device in 2022. Both Windows 7 and 8.1 lack official support from Microsoft, making their installation on the Steam Deck inadvisable. Despite the possibility of running Windows 11, many users prefer to stick with SteamOS, which has a dedicated following.
Winsage
July 16, 2025
Windows 11 has received mixed reactions from users, with some appreciating its design and features while others are frustrated by its promotion of Microsoft services like the Edge browser and Bing search. A user expressed dissatisfaction with the lengthy setup process that included prompts to purchase additional Microsoft services. To address this, they found MSEdgeRedirect, a free application that redirects web searches from the Windows 11 Start menu to any preferred browser and allows users to manage taskbar widgets. As of July 2025, MSEdgeRedirect is effective on both desktop and laptop systems, although users are concerned about its future due to potential disruptions from Microsoft updates.
Winsage
July 14, 2025
Microsoft will end support for Windows 10 in October, prompting users to upgrade to Windows 11 or buy new hardware. The Restart Project is advocating for a switch to Linux, offering a toolkit to help communities transition to open-source solutions instead of upgrading. They highlight that many computers running Windows 10 will not meet Windows 11's requirements, leaving users with unsupported devices. The project promotes an "End of 10" service for repair groups and suggests hosting "End of 10" parties for installing user-friendly Linux distributions like Linux Mint. Some Linux distributions are designed to resemble the Windows experience, making the transition easier for users.
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