Windows Archives

AppWizard

May 19, 2026

Report: PlayStation won’t release its single player games on Windows PC or Steam anymore — putting pressure on Xbox as it considers bringing exclusives back

Sony Interactive Entertainment has decided to stop releasing its first-party single-player titles on PC, as communicated by PlayStation CEO Hermen Hulst. This marks a return to exclusivity for PS5 and future console systems. Previously, popular titles were released on PC months or years after their initial launch, but plans for upcoming titles like Ghost of Yotei have been scrapped. Analysts suggest this decision may be due to disappointing sales on Steam and concerns about diluting the appeal of PlayStation consoles. Sony may still explore developing multiplayer titles, but the success of games like Helldivers 2 on Xbox and PC raises questions about this strategy. The gaming community is considering the impact of Sony's retreat from PC releases on its market position, especially as Xbox expands its reach with first-party titles available on multiple platforms.

AppWizard

May 19, 2026

The Amazon Memorial Day Sale Takes $100 Off the Popular Asus ROG Xbox Ally Handheld, an Inexpensive and Portable Solution to PC Gaming

Handheld gaming devices have remained affordable despite rising prices for gaming laptops and PCs. The Asus ROG Xbox Ally handheld gaming PC is currently available for .99 at Amazon and Best Buy, matching its lowest recorded price during Black Friday. Released in October 2025, it features an AMD Ryzen Z2 A CPU, 16GB of LPDDR5 RAM, and a 512GB SSD. The device operates on Windows 11 but launches directly into the Xbox App, enhancing performance. The non-X model has a Ryzen Z2 A processor, offering performance comparable to the Steam Deck's APU, but does not match the capabilities of the higher-end Xbox Ally X model.

Winsage

May 18, 2026

Why Your Windows 11 PC Doesn’t Get AI Features

Several hundred million Windows 11 users are experiencing frustrations due to the absence of Microsoft features like Recall and Cocreator, which are only available on Copilot+ PCs. Microsoft has divided Windows 11 into two tiers, with the latest AI functionalities requiring specific hardware known as Copilot+ PC. To qualify, a device must have: - An NPU capable of at least 40 TOPS - A minimum of 16 GB of RAM (DDR5 or LPDDR5) - At least 256 GB of SSD storage - Windows 11 version 24H2 or newer - A processor from specific families: Qualcomm Snapdragon X series, Intel Core Ultra 200V (Lunar Lake), or AMD Ryzen AI 300 series Many PCs lack these features due to missing NPUs, insufficient TOPS ratings, unsupported processor generations, outdated Windows versions, rollout delays, or regional limits. Features locked behind Copilot+ include Recall, Click to Do, Cocreator in Paint, Windows Studio Effects, Live Captions with Translation, Improved Windows Search, and Auto Super Resolution. To check for Copilot+ compatibility, users can verify the presence of an NPU in Task Manager, ensure they have Windows 11 version 24H2 or newer, and confirm their processor against the approved list. While some workarounds exist to enable features on unsupported PCs, they are often unstable and not recommended for primary use. Most users may not need to upgrade their laptops unless they require on-device AI features or their current device is significantly outdated. The AI feature gap is not currently critical for most users, as many features are optional or not essential.

Winsage

May 18, 2026

Switcher 2026: Minimizing the Microsoft in Windows 11 ⭐

Many users of Windows 11 seek to minimize reliance on Microsoft products while still utilizing the operating system's capabilities. This can be achieved through a thoughtful configuration of the system. Two laptops, the Surface Laptop 7 (Windows 11 Pro) and the HP OmniBook 5 (Windows 11 Home), were reset using the "Reset this PC" feature for a clean setup. A local account can be created during the Out of Box Experience (OOBE) by bypassing the online requirement. After connecting to Wi-Fi, updates were installed, and account security was enhanced by adding a password, PIN, and facial recognition. For Windows 11 Pro users, BitLocker can be enabled for disk encryption, while Windows 11 Home users may need to upgrade to Pro for this feature. Unnecessary Microsoft applications, such as OneDrive, OneNote, and Microsoft 365, were uninstalled, and the Start menu was cleaned up. Preferred applications were installed using web-based methods and the Windows Package Manager (winget). A preferred web browser was set as the default, and measures were taken to prevent Microsoft Edge from launching unexpectedly. OneDrive was uninstalled in favor of an alternative cloud storage client, and File Explorer was configured to improve usability. The Copilot key was repurposed to avoid accidental activation, and optional diagnostic data transmission was disabled to enhance privacy. Additional configurations included removing unnecessary taskbar items and adjusting power settings for a more personalized experience.

Winsage

May 18, 2026

Windows CE Ported to Nintendo 64

Throaty Mumbo successfully ran Windows CE 2.11 on the Nintendo 64 by leveraging the shared architecture of both systems, which are based on the MIPS R4000 processor family. The project involved a month of reverse engineering, using Microsoft toolchains, custom hardware modifications, and debugging techniques. An EverDrive flash cartridge was used to load custom ROMs, and a USB connection facilitated uploads from a PC. Challenges included crashes with the initial EverDrive cartridge, which were resolved by upgrading to the EverDrive-64 X7. A custom kernel clone was created to troubleshoot issues with the stock Windows CE kernel, ultimately allowing the project to revert to the unmodified version. The Nintendo 64 controller was repurposed as a mouse, and standard Windows CE applications could be launched from the desktop. Comprehensive build details are available on GitHub.

Winsage

May 18, 2026

Windows boot partition runs out of space for Microsoft’s May security update

Microsoft has acknowledged a potential issue with its May 2026 security update, which may fail to install properly due to insufficient space in the EFI System Partition (ESP). If the available space in the ESP drops below 10 MB, users may encounter a 0x800f0922 error code, leading to installation failures during the reboot phase. This issue affects Windows 11 versions 25H2 and 24H2. Microsoft has proposed two solutions: a registry edit or a Known Issue Rollback (KIR), which has already propagated to consumer and non-managed business devices. The update addresses several critical Microsoft CVEs, although there have been no reports of active exploitation.

Winsage

May 18, 2026

Microsoft admits Windows users ‘experienced some challenges’ with the forced CoPilot key — now it’s finally doing something about it

Microsoft introduced a dedicated Copilot key with its Copilot+ PCs, marking a significant change in Windows keyboard design after three decades. Users have expressed dissatisfaction with the key, particularly those who rely on the Right Ctrl or Context menu keys for shortcuts and assistive technologies. Microsoft acknowledged these challenges and announced that a future Windows 11 update will allow users to remap the Copilot key to function as either the Context menu key or Right Ctrl key. While some PC manufacturers have provided their own remapping solutions, they often require additional steps. The timeline for the update is unspecified, but major updates typically occur in October or September.

Winsage

May 18, 2026

Old Windows Flaw Returns to Spotlight With MiniPlasma Exploit

Security researcher Chaotic Eclipse has introduced a Windows exploit called MiniPlasma, which may allow privilege escalation from standard user accounts to SYSTEM level access, even on patched versions of Windows. This exploit is linked to CVE-2020-17103, a flaw in the Windows Cloud Filter driver that was addressed by Microsoft in December 2020. Tests have reportedly demonstrated the exploit functioning on a patched Windows 11 Pro system, achieving SYSTEM access from a standard user account. The exploit involves an undocumented registry-key path within the .DEFAULT user hive, raising concerns about the effectiveness of the 2020 fix. There is a discrepancy between public and Canary builds of Windows 11, with the exploit working on the public build but not on the Canary build. Microsoft’s April 2026 Patch Tuesday updates included another entry related to the Windows Cloud Files Mini Filter Driver elevation-of-privilege issue. Defenders are advised to monitor the CVE-2020-17103 record for further clarification regarding the status of the original fix and the implications of the MiniPlasma exploit.

AppWizard

May 18, 2026

You think you’ve seen it all and then there’s a Wayland Compositor inside Minecraft on Linux

A developer named EVVIE has integrated a Linux Wayland Compositor with Minecraft, enabling users to display Linux desktop windows within the game. This integration allows for an immersive experience similar to using a virtual reality headset. In a demonstration, EVVIE played the rhythm game Osu! while navigating the Minecraft interface. The project is available on GitHub under the GPL license and requires Minecraft version 26.1.2, the Fabric mod loader, xkbcommon library version 1.11.0, and xkbcommon tools. Additionally, recent updates for Minecraft have introduced a friends list feature for the Java version.

Winsage

May 18, 2026

Microsoft confirms Windows 11 security update install issues

Microsoft has acknowledged a significant issue with the May 2026 Windows 11 security update, KB5089549, where users are encountering difficulties in installation, specifically the 0x800f0922 error code. This issue is primarily due to insufficient free space on the EFI System Partition (ESP), especially for devices with 10 MB or less available. The installation may fail during the reboot phase at around 35–36% completion, with users receiving notifications like "Something didn't go as planned. Undoing changes." Log entries may indicate insufficient ESP free space, such as "SpaceCheck: Insufficient free space" and "ServicingBootFiles failed. Error = 0x70." Microsoft recommends affected users utilize the Known Issue Rollback feature to reverse problematic updates and advises IT departments to install and configure the relevant Group Policy to address the issue.