Windows software Archives

Winsage

March 26, 2025

An open-source Windows alternative you’ve probably never heard of just got updated

ReactOS 0.4.15 is the largest release to date, focusing on compatibility, bug fixes, and improved system stability. It introduces new features such as registry mechanisms, enhanced security, and improvements to system tools. The release supports 64-bit x86 architecture and includes significant updates to the Plug and Play Manager, audio enhancements, and better memory management. Users can now boot from USB devices and utilize more third-party drivers. The update also features quality-of-life improvements in tools like Notepad and Paint, and a new visual style. Future upgrades are promised, including power management and UEFI support. ReactOS 0.4.15 is available for download, but it remains in alpha status.

Winsage

March 17, 2025

Save up to 65% on Microsoft Office & Windows Software

Brytesoft offers affordable Windows and Office product keys with a lifetime warranty on each purchase. The company has nearly 15 years of experience and a Trustpilot rating of 4.7 stars from over 6,200 reviews. Each transaction includes 24/7 technical support, a money-back guarantee, and instant delivery, along with detailed download and activation guides. For PCWorld readers, Brytesoft provides a 15% discount on the first purchase using the code PCWORLD15, applicable to all products. Windows 11 Pro is priced at .90, with bulk discounts available. Microsoft Office 2021 Professional Plus is offered at .99, with reduced rates for multiple licenses. Windows Server 2025 Standard is available for 9.99, and the Datacenter edition for ,499.99, with discounts applied. The Standard version supports activation for 16 cores and two virtual machines, while the Datacenter edition allows for unlimited virtual machines. Brytesoft also offers earlier versions of Windows Server dating back to 2016.

Winsage

March 14, 2025

5 reasons why Linux Mint is the best distro for Windows converts

Transitioning from Windows to Linux can be overwhelming due to concerns about software compatibility, gaming capabilities, and the learning curve. Recent advancements in Linux distributions, particularly Linux Mint, have made this shift more accessible. Linux Mint features a start menu for easy navigation, is built on Ubuntu with Debian foundations, and offers a graphical user interface for installing applications through an integrated software store. It is compatible with a wide range of hardware, requiring only 2 GB of RAM and 20 GB of disk space, making it suitable for older PCs. Gaming on Linux has improved significantly with Valve's Proton, allowing many Windows games to run smoothly on Linux, sometimes even better than on Windows.

Winsage

March 14, 2025

Epic Games is addressing one of Windows-on-Arm’s last big app compatibility gaps

Utilizing a Windows PC powered by an Arm-based Snapdragon processor has become more similar to traditional Intel or AMD systems due to developers optimizing applications for native performance and Microsoft's advancements in Windows' Prism technology. However, compatibility issues remain, particularly with online multiplayer games that rely on kernel-level anti-cheat software, as Prism cannot translate drivers and foundational Windows software. The small user base for Arm PCs has also discouraged some developers from creating compatible versions of their software. Epic Games plans to enhance support for Arm PCs by introducing its Easy Anti-Cheat software and official support for Fortnite later this year, which will also be available to developers through an Epic Online Services SDK release.

Winsage

March 8, 2025

Free Alternatives to Paid Windows Software

Windows operating systems often require third-party software for specialized tasks, with free alternatives available to replace paid options. 1. BleachBit is used for system cleaning as a free substitute for CCleaner Pro, effectively enhancing PC performance by removing unnecessary data without tampering with the Windows Registry. 2. Bulk Crap Uninstaller (BCUninstaller) is a free tool for uninstalling programs and bloatware, scanning for leftover files and simplifying the cleanup process with filtering options and color-coded listings. 3. Google Docs is preferred over Microsoft 365 for its user-friendly nature and free 15 GB storage per Gmail account, while LibreOffice is recommended as an alternative for standalone applications. 4. GIMP serves as a free substitute for Adobe Photoshop, offering essential graphic design tools without being resource-intensive. 5. Kdenlive is a free video editor that meets basic video editing needs and is compatible with lower-end PCs, providing a comprehensive suite of features and regular updates. 6. Audacity is used for audio editing, capable of handling both basic and professional tasks, with tools for noise elimination and vocal enhancement. 7. 7-Zip is a lightweight file compression and archiving tool that offers superior compression capabilities and password protection, operating unobtrusively in the background.

Winsage

February 14, 2025

Microsoft Supercharges AI to fix Windows software bugs

Microsoft is developing an AI system for Windows 11 to simplify the detection and resolution of software issues, as detailed in a patent document from February 2025. This AI will analyze error data to address problems, benefiting both developers and everyday users by suggesting or implementing fixes and generating comprehensive reports for complex issues. Additionally, Microsoft plans to enhance its Copilot feature on Windows 11 and 10, transforming it into a multi-user chat platform for collaborative problem-solving.

Winsage

December 17, 2024

If your Windows 10 PC can’t be upgraded, you have 5 options before time runs out

The end-of-support date for Windows 10 is October 14, 2025, after which users will not receive any updates, including security fixes. Microsoft will not extend support, and the final version, 22H2, will receive monthly security updates until that date. Users can choose to continue using Windows 10, buy new hardware, transition to a Linux distribution, pay for Extended Security Updates (ESUs), or attempt to upgrade incompatible hardware to Windows 11. ESUs are available at a cost, with pricing increasing over three years. There are methods to upgrade to Windows 11 on incompatible systems, including registry edits and using tools like Rufus.

Winsage

December 7, 2024

Microsoft Store expands to update all Win32 apps, but users remain skeptical

Microsoft is working to enhance the Windows App Store by allowing third-party publishers to manage updates for their Win32 applications directly through the Store. The Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27758 introduces support for Win32 applications, enabling users to manage and update these programs without leaving the Store. Users can access updates via the "Downloads" page, but must manually initiate the update process. This centralized update feature is exclusive to applications downloaded from the Microsoft Store, while traditional Win32 software remains unaffected. The update capability provides developers with a new distribution method while retaining control over updates. Additionally, the build addresses various bugs in Windows components, although some compatibility issues with Windows 11 24H2 persist.

Winsage

November 27, 2024

The Free Way to Run Windows on an Apple Silicon Mac

Apple no longer supports Boot Camp for running Windows on Silicon Macs, but alternatives exist. Microsoft recommends Windows 365 for remote access and Parallels Desktop for virtualization. UTM, an open-source application based on the QEMU emulator, allows users to create a virtual machine for running Windows alongside macOS. UTM supports both the Arm version of Windows, which runs efficiently on Apple Silicon, and emulation of the x86 version, though with potential performance drawbacks. UTM is not ideal for gaming due to the lack of GPU emulation. To set up Windows on a Mac using UTM, users need to download UTM from GitHub or the Mac App Store and obtain a copy of Windows 11. After downloading the Windows ISO, users create a new virtual machine in UTM, choosing to either virtualize or emulate the operating system. Users allocate memory and storage, select a shared folder, and then start the virtual machine to install Windows. After installation, drivers must be installed to enhance functionality, allowing for better display resolution and internet access.

Winsage

November 7, 2024

New Windows Build Brings AVX Support To Snapdragon X For Gaming And More

Recent evaluations of laptops with Qualcomm's Snapdragon X Elite processors have praised their performance and battery life, but issues arose with the high-end Snapdragon X Elite X1E-84-100 chip in the Samsung Galaxy Book4 Edge, where certain applications were found incompatible due to limitations in emulation capabilities. The Windows operating system uses an emulation layer called Prism to run x86-64 applications on Arm architecture, but it initially lacked support for essential SIMD instructions like AVX2 and AVX. Microsoft announced an update in Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27744 that enhances Prism by adding support for AVX, AVX2, and other instructions, allowing Snapdragon-based Windows machines to run x86 software requiring these instruction sets. However, only x64 applications will benefit from this update, leaving legacy 32-bit x86 applications unaffected. This is significant for gaming, as many recent titles utilize AVX for improved processing speeds, potentially increasing compatibility for previously unplayable games on Snapdragon devices. Despite these advancements, Microsoft has not addressed the potential performance implications of the emulation process. Initial observations suggest that while performance degradation from Prism emulation is less severe than expected, it still does not match that of native Arm applications. Qualcomm is tasked with improving Snapdragon X Elite gaming capabilities, facing challenges with Windows graphics drivers, particularly the Adreno graphics drivers, which may hinder its competitiveness against AMD and Intel in the Windows laptop market.