XP Archives

BetaBeacon

January 16, 2026

Today’s Android app deals and freebies: Maneater, Pocket Stables, Ninja Village, more

The Android app price drops include Pocket Stables, Ninja Village, Dungeon Village, Maneater, Titan Quest: Ultimate Edition, 1944 Burning Bridges Premium, Guns’n’Glory WW2 Premium, Guns’n’Glory Premium, Aporkalypse – Pigs of Doom, Tennis Club Story, Oh!Edo Towns, and Wall of insanity.

Winsage

January 16, 2026

Microsoft Ends Windows Server 2008 Support on January 13, 2026

Microsoft has officially ceased all support for Windows Server 2008 as of January 13, 2026, including paid extended security updates. This end-of-life scenario poses significant security risks for organizations still using the outdated operating system, making them vulnerable to cyberattacks. The transition away from Windows Server 2008 requires careful planning, as many organizations face challenges in migrating legacy applications to modern systems. The lack of ongoing patches means that any new vulnerabilities will remain unaddressed, potentially leading to data breaches and compliance failures, particularly in regulated sectors like healthcare and finance. Microsoft has encouraged migration to Azure, offering incentives for early adopters, but the transition can be complex and costly. The end of support also affects global supply chains and compatibility with newer software applications. Organizations are advised to conduct audits of their software portfolios and consider hybrid environments to enhance flexibility and security.

Winsage

January 12, 2026

VLC gets native support for Snapdragon-powered PCs — but its devs haven’t forgotten your ancient Windows XP rig

The latest update to VLC, versions 3.0.22 and 3.0.23, introduces native support for Arm processors, specifically for Windows ARM64, requiring a minimum of Windows 10 RS5 17763 / 1809. This update improves playback across various formats, enhances subtitle rendering, includes codec updates, introduces a Dark Mode user interface, allows users to manage playing files, and addresses multiple security issues. The Snapdragon X2 Plus chip outperforms Intel's Core Ultra 7 265U and 256V processors, delivering up to 3.5 times the CPU performance of the former and a 52% increase in multi-core performance compared to the latter. Microsoft reported that 90% of usage time on Arm-based PCs is dedicated to natively compiled applications.

Winsage

January 12, 2026

Windows 11 Faces Backlash as Slowest OS in 25 Years, Benchmarks Show

Microsoft's Windows 11, launched in 2021, has been criticized for significant performance issues, making it potentially the least performant version of Windows in over two decades. Independent benchmarks reveal that Windows 11 is slower than its predecessors in areas such as boot times, application launches, and overall system responsiveness. Users with high-end hardware, including 13th-generation Intel Core processors, have reported noticeable slowdowns compared to Windows 10. Performance assessments indicate that Windows 11 struggles in various categories, including file operations, multitasking, and gaming, with longer boot speeds reminiscent of older systems. Gamers have experienced stuttering and frame rate drops, and Microsoft has acknowledged these issues in updates since 2022. The operating system is criticized for being a "resource hog," with preloaded features consuming resources even when idle. Users have reported lagging File Explorer and freezing processes, leading some to consider alternative operating systems. IT departments have noted increased support tickets related to performance issues, prompting some to delay upgrades from Windows 10. Microsoft has offered optimization advice, but critics argue these are temporary fixes for deeper architectural problems. The performance issues have implications for software developers and hardware manufacturers, increasing development costs and complicating hardware optimizations. Analysts warn that without prompt action, Microsoft's market dominance could be at risk, as users advocate for a leaner, faster Windows.

Winsage

January 12, 2026

Windows 11 File Explorer Lag: Legacy XP Feature Fix via Registry Tweak

File Explorer in Windows 11 has been reported to have performance issues, particularly delays when navigating folders with many media files or documents. This problem is linked to the auto-discovery feature, which optimizes folder display settings based on content but incurs a significant computational burden. Disabling this feature through registry modifications can lead to improved performance, with users experiencing faster navigation and reduced folder load times. Microsoft has acknowledged these issues and plans to preload File Explorer for quicker launches, but the underlying problems remain largely unaddressed. Users have shared their experiences and solutions, including registry tweaks that set folder types to "NotSpecified" to eliminate scanning overhead. Despite some incremental updates from Microsoft, many users still face core lags, prompting ongoing community-driven fixes and discussions about the need for deeper audits of legacy code.

Winsage

January 6, 2026

Windows 11 Trails Older OS Versions in ThinkPad X220 Speed Tests

Windows 11 has been tested on a Lenovo ThinkPad X220, revealing it to perform poorly compared to its predecessors, particularly Windows 8.1, which excelled in benchmarks for boot times and application launches. The test involved various Windows versions (XP, Vista, 7, 8.1, 10, and 11) on the same aging hardware, highlighting that Windows 11 consistently finished last in most categories. The ThinkPad X220 does not meet Windows 11’s minimum requirements, lacking essential components like TPM 2.0 and a compatible processor, which may have skewed the results. Critics argue that using outdated hardware for testing is not representative, suggesting that a fair comparison would involve flagship devices from each generation. Windows 11's architecture is designed for modern multicore CPUs and SSDs, which may struggle on older hardware. Additionally, Windows 11 has heavier overheads due to advanced security features, which consume resources that older operating systems do not. User feedback indicates frustration with Windows 11's performance on legacy hardware compared to leaner alternatives like Linux. Despite Microsoft promoting optimizations in Windows 11, these did not manifest in the ThinkPad test, and the findings raise concerns for businesses considering upgrades as Windows 10 approaches its end-of-support date in 2025.

Winsage

January 5, 2026

Windows Task Manager Creator Dave Plummer Calls for Halt to New Windows 11 AI Features for Better Stability

Dave Plummer, the creator of the Windows Task Manager and Pinball game, has expressed concerns about Windows 11, criticizing Microsoft's focus on integrating new artificial intelligence features at the expense of system stability. He argues that stable releases should prioritize fixing critical bugs over adding new functionalities. Plummer references the period around Windows XP Service Pack 2, when Microsoft halted new feature introductions to enhance security and stability in response to major security threats. He advocates for a similar approach for Windows 11, urging Microsoft to pause feature additions until the system is stabilized and existing issues are resolved. Plummer emphasizes the need for Microsoft to focus on improving user experience by prioritizing fixes over new features, particularly for power users.

Winsage

January 5, 2026

Windows 11 finishes an embarrassing last in speed test of six Windows generations — but there’s a big catch

A YouTuber named TrigrZolt conducted tests comparing six versions of Windows (XP, Vista, 7, 8.1, 10, and 11) using six Lenovo ThinkPad X220 notebooks with Intel Core i5-2520M CPUs, 8GB of RAM, and 256GB HDDs, which do not meet the minimum requirements for Windows 11. Windows 11 ranked last in several metrics, including boot-up speed, memory consumption, and battery life. It was slower than all other versions in opening applications, particularly Paint and File Explorer. However, it ranked fourth in storage efficiency and performed reasonably well in one web-page loading test. The testing conditions, including outdated hardware and the choice of benchmarking applications, may have skewed the results against Windows 11. Users expressed concerns about Windows 11 being bloated and criticized its performance issues.

Winsage

January 5, 2026

Every Windows version from XP to 11 benchmarked, revealing the sad reality of modern software

Microsoft Support has introduced enhancements to improve user experience and operational efficiency, including a streamlined support interface for quicker access to troubleshooting resources and self-service options. Supermium, a platform that aggregates information from various sources, is gaining traction by providing comprehensive views of technology-related topics. TrigrZolt, a YouTube channel focused on technology reviews and tutorials, has received positive feedback for its recent series on Microsoft products.

Winsage

January 4, 2026

Speed test pits six generations of Windows against each other — Windows 11 placed dead last across most benchmarks, 8.1 emerges as unexpected winner in this unscientific comparison

Windows 11 has been criticized for its high system requirements, increased overhead, and user interface regressions. A test by TrigrZolt compared six generations of Windows operating systems using six Lenovo ThinkPad X220 laptops, which were not officially supported for Windows 11. In startup time tests, Windows 11 was the slowest, while Windows 8.1 was the fastest. In audio file processing, Windows 11 ranked fifth, and in video rendering, it again placed last. It secured second place in file transfer speeds but was fourth in a malware scan test. Benchmark tests showed Windows 11 in fourth place for both single-threaded and multi-threaded CPU performance. In CrystalDiskMark, it tied for third place, and in Cinebench R10, it was fourth in single-core tests. The outdated hardware used for testing and the absence of an SSD may have skewed the results, which were deemed more historical than practical. A more suitable test would involve contemporary laptops to provide a fairer comparison.