Microsoft

A third-party tool can help users get round some of Microsoft's restrictions on upgrading to Windows 11. It won't remove Microsoft nagging, however. Although Windows 11 is a free upgrade for Windows 10 users, three main restrictions mean some people ... may not be able to get it. The first is a series of hardware minimum specifications, with even some relatively recent computer processors judged inadequate by Microsoft. The second is the need for a Trusted Protection Module (TPM), a hardware device aimed at boosting security. Many computers either don't have a TPM or have it disabled by default, ... (view more)

The next major update to Windows 11 should be going public in the not-too-distant future. The 22H2 update has reached its final testing stage. The name might suggest it's the second of the usual two main updates to Windows 11 released each year. In ... fact the pace of change has slowed so much that there was no Windows 11 22H1 release, and instead 22H2 is the only major update expected this year. The update has now reached the third and final "channel" of the Windows Insiders test program that lets people access updates early. The Dev channel is used for all prospective changes to Windows, ... (view more)

The most recent Windows 11 update has caused bugs so significant that some users may be better off uninstalling it, despite the security implications. It's a situation with some particularly embarrassing elements for Microsoft. The update has the ... code name KB5013943 and was released to the general public on May 10th. It's reported some users in Microsoft's test program who got the update early experienced problems, meaning it's a surprise the same bugs appear to still have been present in the general release. Compatibility Glitches The problem is with the .NET Framework. That's effectively a ... (view more)

Six months in, Windows 11 doesn't appear to be attracting a rush of new users. While claims that it's less popular than XP look a little shaky, the adoption rate appears to have slowed significantly. Only Microsoft knows exactly how many people are ... running various versions of Windows, but numerous independent studies attempt to estimate the figures. This usually involves extrapolating from a sample of users whose operating system is identifiable, for example when they visit a website or use a particular application. The most eye-catching recent estimate comes from a company called Lansweeper ... (view more)

Microsoft has gone ahead with plans to make it easier to change the browser in Windows 11. It means an end to a heavily criticized policy that made it more frustrating to use something other than Microsoft's own Edge browser. In recent versions of ... Windows, users could set a rival browser as the default option in Windows relatively easily. Once set, Windows would then use the chosen browser automatically for relevant tasks such as opening a link or a saved web page. In Windows 10, users could set a different browser for every type of file or connection type an app could use, for example .htm ... (view more)

Windows updates will soon be a little more environmentally friendly. Microsoft is making a change that isn't exactly world-changing, but won't involve any extra effort or inconvenience for users. The change is coming in Windows 11 version 22H2 (also ... called Sun Valley 2), which is the second of the two major updates to the system scheduled for this year. ("Major" is very much a comparative term at this point). Automated Windows Updates will now aim to use more renewable energy, which might seem a little confusing given the electricity a PC uses is the same no matter the source. ... (view more)

Microsoft has tested showing advertising in its File Explorer tool. It may be ads for Microsoft products only, though the hostile response could well dissuade the company from going further with the idea. One user shared a screenshot of File ... Explorer which included a bar at the top of the window (just above the list of files) reading "Write with confidence across documents, email, and the web with advanced writing suggestions from Microsoft Editor." (Source: bleepingcomputer.com ) It also had a "Learn More" link pointing to more details about Microsoft Editor. That's a ... (view more)

Microsoft is trying a new tool designed to block suspicious applications without frustrating users. Windows can decide itself whether running Smart App Control causes more trouble than its worth. The feature is being tested among users on the ... Windows 11 Dev Channel, meaning people who want the earliest possible access to potential new features, knowing there's a higher risk of bugs and problems. Smart App Control brings together several security tools already present in Windows Defender and turns them into an all-or-nothing measure. When Smart App Control blocks an application, it cannot run ... (view more)

Windows 11 will soon give users extra controls to stop applications hogging resources. The Task Manager change will help users balance performance and control. The new Efficiency Mode works in a similar way to power-saving mode on some PCs and ... mobile devices, though in this case the emphasis is on the processor. At the moment, users have several options for dealing with "greedy" applications but they all involve compromises. One option is to put the entire computer into a "Best Power Efficiency" option through the power mode settings. The problem is that this affects all ... (view more)

Details of the first major update to Windows 11 are coming to light through testing programs. It's mainly about adding features that were expected but missing from the original release, some of which will be more welcome than others. Despite the ... release of a new edition of Windows (rather than version 10 getting updated forever), Microsoft is sticking to its strategy of infrequent updates rather than constant tinkering. It's reportedly only going to add new features in bulk once a year, with the first such update expected this summer. We're now at the point where the earliest of those ... (view more)