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Windows 11 Is Hiding A 'God Mode' Folder That Most Enthusiasts Would Love
Winsage
June 16, 2026

Windows 11 Is Hiding A ‘God Mode’ Folder That Most Enthusiasts Would Love

Windows 11 features a "God Mode" folder, which serves as a centralized hub for accessing a wide range of Windows settings and utility tools that are typically scattered across the Control Panel. This feature is not officially designated by Microsoft but is popular among power users for its extensive access to settings. To create the God Mode folder, users must manually create a new folder on their Desktop and rename it to .{ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C}, which will transform the folder icon into the Control Panel icon. Inside the folder, settings are organized into collapsible sections, and a search bar allows for quick navigation. Users can double-click options to access specific settings, and while the folder cannot be pinned to the Start menu or taskbar, it can be accessed from the Desktop and frequently used settings can be dragged to the Desktop for convenience.
When Windows 7 Arrived in Japan, It Came Printed on Toilet Paper
Winsage
June 14, 2026

When Windows 7 Arrived in Japan, It Came Printed on Toilet Paper

On October 22, 2009, Japan launched Windows 7, accompanied by a unique promotional item: a roll of toilet paper featuring Windows 7 branding and details about its enhancements. This marketing strategy was similar to the previous promotion for Windows Vista Service Pack 1. The toilet paper included messages about Windows 7's speed, security, and compatibility improvements, with sections detailing faster startup times, enhanced memory management, a streamlined user interface, and security features like the Action Center and BitLocker To Go. Networking capabilities were improved with HomeGroup, and Windows Media Center expanded its functionality. The design of the promotional toilet paper allowed users to revisit key points easily, and some versions mimicked Windows software boxes. This initiative was driven by local retailers, reflecting Japan's trend of quirky promotions in the electronics retail sector.
Using Windows 11 On An LGA 775 PC With AGP Videocard
Winsage
June 6, 2026

Using Windows 11 On An LGA 775 PC With AGP Videocard

The Core 2 Quad Q6600 Intel CPU is being reimagined to run Windows 11 by tech enthusiast Omores. The project aims to create a multi-boot environment with various Windows operating systems, including Windows 98 and DOS, using the Q6600 CPU, which operates at 2.4 GHz, and 3 GB of DDR1 RAM. The system is built on an Asrock 865PE mainboard from 2003 and utilizes a Radeon HD 4650 graphics card, the highest-performing AGP GPU from 2009. Omores has found a workaround for Windows 11's lack of AGP support by using the Intel AGP440.sys driver from Windows 10. Windows 11 is compatible with the WDDM driver model, allowing installation of Catalyst drivers from 2012. However, Windows 11's 24H2 version requires SSE4.2 instructions, which the Q6600 does not support, limiting the setup to Windows 11 version 23H2, with only the Education and Enterprise editions receiving security updates. Benchmarks indicate that Windows 7 performs better on this hardware.
COSMIC Desktop's Frosted Glass Is Giving Windows Aero Vibes
Winsage
June 2, 2026

COSMIC Desktop’s Frosted Glass Is Giving Windows Aero Vibes

The COSMIC desktop environment, built on Rust and Wayland, is introducing a "Frosted Glass" appearance reminiscent of Windows Aero. System76 CEO Carl Richell announced that the feature is nearing completion and aims to balance aesthetics and functionality, allowing users to adjust the effect's prominence or disable it. Development screenshots have been shared, and the Frosted Glass effect will be integrated into the COSMIC compositor and libcosmic toolkit, with an expected release in the near future.
Download It Now! Steam Offers Two Free PC Games For A Highly Limited Time
AppWizard
June 1, 2026

Download It Now! Steam Offers Two Free PC Games For A Highly Limited Time

Valve has launched a limited-time promotional event on Steam, offering two free games: IQ Under Construction and Moonrise Fall. IQ Under Construction is a cooperative climbing game requiring teamwork and communication, with a redemption window of six hours from the announcement. Minimum system specifications include a 3.2 GHz Dual-Core CPU, 4 GB of RAM, Intel HD Graphics, DirectX 11, and 2 GB of available storage on Windows 10. Moonrise Fall is an atmospheric exploration and puzzle adventure about a boy lost in a supernatural forest after a car accident. The redemption window for this game closes on June 2. Minimum hardware requirements are a 64-bit compatible Intel Dual-Core CPU, 4 GB of RAM, a DX9-compatible graphics card, and 600 MB of storage on Windows Vista or newer.
Microsoft aims to speed Windows with 'leap forward' in WinUI 3 perf
Winsage
May 13, 2026

Microsoft aims to speed Windows with ‘leap forward’ in WinUI 3 perf

Microsoft has announced a 25 percent improvement in the performance of WinUI 3, specifically in File Explorer components. There has been a 41 percent reduction in memory allocations and a 45 percent decrease in function calls. Some optimizations may involve breaking changes, which will initially be optional for developers. The enhancements are intended to become the default in future iterations of WinUI and the Windows App SDK. Despite these improvements, developers have expressed concerns about WinUI 3's performance, noting it is slower than WPF and UWP. The reliance on WinRT interop for component actions is seen as a significant factor hindering speed. Additionally, there are historical tensions regarding the adoption of Microsoft's frameworks within the Windows and Office teams, leading to skepticism about their reliability.
Linux gains more critical Windows apps ... 3D Movie Maker and Space Cadet Pinball
Winsage
May 13, 2026

Linux gains more critical Windows apps … 3D Movie Maker and Space Cadet Pinball

Several notable Windows applications, including Space Cadet Pinball and Microsoft 3D Movie Maker, have been successfully ported to Linux. Space Cadet Pinball, originally part of the Microsoft Plus Pack for Windows 95, has been decompiled and rebuilt, now available across 14 platforms, including Linux, thanks to Muzychenko Andrey. The source code for Microsoft 3D Movie Maker was released by Microsoft, and a new fork has been developed by Mark Cave-Ayland and Ben Stone, enabling it to run on Linux. Their project also includes bug fixes, 64-bit compatibility, and builds for ARM64 Windows, with plans for a Raspberry Pi version.
6 months after Windows 10 was put to pasture, over a quarter of Steam users are still on the dying OS
Winsage
May 4, 2026

6 months after Windows 10 was put to pasture, over a quarter of Steam users are still on the dying OS

Windows holds a 93.47% share of users on Steam, but only 67.74% have upgraded to Windows 11 nearly five years after its launch, with 25.53% still using Windows 10. The adoption of Windows 11 has been hindered by the TPM 2.0 requirement and high hardware costs. Linux's share of Steam users decreased from 5% to 4.52%. Governments, including France, are considering alternatives to Windows.
Hate the Windows 11 Taskbar? Here’s the ultimate way to bring back a classic look from Windows 95 to Windows Vista
Winsage
April 22, 2026

Hate the Windows 11 Taskbar? Here’s the ultimate way to bring back a classic look from Windows 95 to Windows Vista

Windows 11 has received criticism for its restrictive Taskbar, with users wanting the ability to reposition it to the top of the screen. RetroBar is a free application that restores functionalities from earlier Windows versions, allowing users to customize the Taskbar's position and appearance, including nostalgic themes from Windows XP, Longhorn, and Vista. RetroBar supports custom designs, is compatible with multi-monitor setups, and can be easily installed from GitHub. Users can revert to the standard Windows 11 Taskbar with a simple exit command. The application offers various themes and can be set to launch at startup. RetroBar's code is available on GitHub, including a native ARM64 build for Snapdragon devices.
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