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The Linux Foundation, alongside Google, Microsoft, Meta, and Opera, have announced today the formation of the new Supporters of Chromium-Based Browsers. As the name suggests, this group has been formed for the support of open-source Chromium browsers so that they can continue to receive the necessary resources, be it financially, or in some other form. The initiative has been undertaken by the Linux Foundation in partnership with Google, and Microsoft, Meta, and Opera, have since joined it. In its press release, the Linux Foundation has explained what this consortium is about. It writes: In its blog post on the Chromium website, Google has explained why the Linux Foundation has been chosen to manage this as well as its thoughts about the whole thing as it cites millions of dollars in cost just for maintenance: Microsoft has also added its own thoughts and it mainly involves its aim to improve Edge while continuing its contributions to Chromium: Opera has also chimed in: Meta, so far, has not released a press release or a statement. What this means is that Chromium browsers are likely going to pick up even more steam, and this may not bode too well for Gecko engine based-Firefox, which is struggling hard against the Chromium juggernaut and especially Google with just ~6% desktop market share. Source Hope you enjoyed this news post. Thank you for appreciating my time and effort posting news every day for many years. News posts... 2023: 5,800+ | 2024: 5,700+ RIP Matrix | Farewell my friend

On January 14, 2025, Microsoft released the latest security updates for Windows 10 and 11. As usual, all updates come with a short list of known bugs, which sometimes gets new entries as users report their discoveries or Microsoft makes its own. This time, Microsoft acknowledged a bug in Windows 10, but the company says you should not worry about it. In the now-updated support document, Microsoft says those keeping an eye on the Windows Event Viewer might notice an error related to SgrmBroker.exe with the following code: "The System Guard Runtime Monitor Broker service terminated with the following error: %%3489660935." While it might look serious at first glance, there is indeed nothing to worry about. For one, Microsoft says the only way to detect the bug is to "monitor" the Event Viewer closely. Otherwise, you will not see any traces or signs of the problem, plus there should be no signs of performance, functionality, or security issues. Microsoft also provided some additional insights into the problem with SgrmBroker.exe (System Guard Runtime Monitor Broker Service): If the error in the Event Viewer still bugs you, you can fix it by turning off the System Guard Monitor Broker Service. Here is how to do it: Microsoft says a future update will fix the problem for good. More important bugs in the January 2025 security updates for Windows 10 and 11 include compatibility issues with certain Citrix software, which causes errors when attempting to install the latest Patch Tuesday update. You can learn more about it here. Source Hope you enjoyed this news post. Thank you for appreciating my time and effort posting news every day for many years. News posts... 2023: 5,800+ | 2024: 5,700+ RIP Matrix | Farewell my friend

This week, Microsoft made a major announcement related to the rollout of the New Outlook for Windows. The new app will automatically be installed on Windows 10 PCs very soon. Thankfully, though, for those who don't want it, Microsoft has also shared a way to deal with it using a PowerShell and Registry workaround. A popular third-party utility called Bloatynosy has integrated this ability via a plugin with its latest update. However, it is noteworthy that the software already could remove the New Outlook app previously. Also, WinGet app installations are supported now. There is also an ad for Flyby11 on its home page. Besides these functionality improvements, the UI has also seen an update with a new "enhanced" Dark Mode and navigation menu similar to Windows 11. The new version is also said to bring better performance overall. The full changelog is given below: You can download the latest version of BloatyNosy, 1.0.10, here on its official GitHub repo. As always, though, the best way to test out unofficial apps may be in a VM. Source Hope you enjoyed this news post. Thank you for appreciating my time and effort posting news every day for many years. News posts... 2023: 5,800+ | 2024: 5,700+ RIP Matrix | Farewell my friend

Mozilla has released the latest stable version of Firefox today, 134.0. If you recall, the beta 2 version of this update tried to sneak in a way to make itself the default browser. With this new stable release, Firefox has finally gained support for hardware-accelerated playback of HEVC (high efficiency video codec) or H.265 on Windows. For reference, Google Chrome received support for H.265 decoding back in 2022 back when Mozilla was pushing back against it. Another change is a refreshed New Tab layout (image below), as well as improvements to the browser's pop-up blocker as they should no longer be as overly aggressive. The full changelog is given below: Several security fixes have also landed with this new version. They are: CVE-2025-0244: Address bar spoofing using an invalid protocol scheme on Firefox for Android CVE-2025-0245: Lock screen setting bypass in Firefox Focus for Android CVE-2025-0246: Address bar spoofing using an invalid protocol scheme on Firefox for Android CVE-2025-0237: WebChannel APIs susceptible to confused deputy attack CVE-2025-0238: Use-after-free when breaking lines in text CVE-2025-0239: Alt-Svc ALPN validation failure when redirected CVE-2025-0240: Compartment mismatch when parsing JavaScript JSON module CVE-2025-0241: Memory corruption when using JavaScript Text Segmentation CVE-2025-0242: Memory safety bugs fixed in Firefox 134, Thunderbird 134, Firefox ESR 115.19, Firefox ESR 128.6, Thunderbird 115.19, and Thunderbird 128.6 CVE-2025-0243: Memory safety bugs fixed in Firefox 134, Thunderbird 134, Firefox ESR 128.6, and Thunderbird 128.6 CVE-2025-0247: Memory safety bugs fixed in Firefox 134 and Thunderbird 134 You can download the Firefox version 134.0 from the Neowin software stories page or from Mozilla's official site. Source Hope you enjoyed this news post. Thank you for appreciating my time and effort posting news every day for many years. News posts... 2023: 5,800+ | 2024: 5,700+ RIP Matrix | Farewell my friend

Ventoy is an open-source tool to create bootable USB drive for ISO/WIM/IMG/VHD(x)/EFI files. With ventoy, you don't need to format the disk over and over, you just need to copy the ISO/WIM/IMG/VHD(x)/EFI files to the USB drive and boot them directly. You can copy many files at a time and ventoy will give you a boot menu to select them. You can also browse ISO/WIM/IMG/VHD(x)/EFI files in local disks and boot them. x86 Legacy BIOS, IA32 UEFI, x86_64 UEFI, ARM64 UEFI and MIPS64EL UEFI are supported in the same way. Most types of OS supported (Windows/WinPE/Linux/ChromeOS/Unix/VMware/Xen...) Changes in 1.1.00: Update to latest Shim (Fix verifying shim SBAT data failed) (#2947) Support eweOS ISO (#3068) Fix the boot issue of SystemRescue 11.02+ (#2958) (#3058) Homepage Changelog Download Page Download Download | LiveCD Download | Linux Download | Portable

Oracle released new VirtualBox updates earlier today for branches 7.1 and 7.0. These are labelled maintenance releases under versions 7.1.6 and 7.0.24. The new update to the popular virtualization software fixes a blue screen of death (BSOD) issue related to Windows 11 24H2 guests, and a full-screen bug. In terms of OS support, the new version adds initial support for Linux 6.13, RHEL (Red Hat Enterprise Linux) 9.6, and Windows Server 2025. There are improvements related to Windows driver installations, NVMe, and more. The full changelogs are given below: You can download the latest VirtualBox from Neowin's software stories page or from the official website. Source Hope you enjoyed this news post. Thank you for appreciating my time and effort posting news every day for many years. News posts... 2023: 5,800+ | 2024: 5,700+ RIP Matrix | Farewell my friend

These are the most basic commands you have to know on Windows 11. Although Command Prompt has been around for a long time, even before Windows 11, many users still ignore it. While the operating system's modern graphical interface seamlessly handles virtually every task, Command Prompt offers unparalleled control, efficiency, and troubleshooting capabilities. Whether you're looking to navigate your file system faster, diagnose network issues, or perform administrative tasks efficiently, mastering the essential commands can save you time and effort. In this how-to guide, I'll highlight 20 essential commands to manage files, troubleshoot issues, and perform various system-level tasks on Windows 11. These commands will also work on Windows 10. Command Prompt essential commands for Windows 11 This list includes the most basic commands that any user should know. The list isn't arranged in any specific order. To use these commands, open Start and search for and launch the Windows Terminal and then launch a Command Prompt console (if applicable). 1. cd (Change Directory) The "cd" command, short for "change directory," is a fundamental command-line tool to move between different folders (directories) and switch between drives (like C:, D:, etc.). Usage: cd DIRECTORY-NAME Example: cd C:\Users\YourName – Moves to your account folder. (Image credit: Mauro Huculak) Replace "directory-name" with the name and path of the folder you want to navigate. Special cases: cd .. – Moves you one level "up" in the directory tree (to the parent folder). cd \ – Takes you to the root directory of the current drive (for example, C:\). cd / – (In some systems) Also takes you to the root directory. 2. dir (Directory) The "dir" command in the Command Prompt is a tool for viewing the contents of a directory (folder). Usage: dir – This command alone lists the contents of the current location. Example 1: dir /P – Lists the contents of the current directory, pausing after each screenful. Example 2: dir /AH – Lists all hidden files in the current directory. (Image credit: Mauro Huculak) Special cases: /P: Pauses the output after each screenful, allowing you to read it more easily. /W: Displays the output in a wide format, showing more files per line. /A: Displays files with specific attributes. For example, /A:D shows directories only, /A:H shows hidden files, /A:R shows read-only files, and /A:S displays system files. /O: Sorts the output by various criteria. For example, /O:N sorts by name (alphabetical), /O:D sorts by date/time, and /O:S sorts by size. /S: Displays a list of all files and subdirectories in the specified directory and all subdirectories below it. 3. mkdir (Make Directory) The "mkdir" command allows you to create new directories on a specific location. Usage: mkdir DIRECTORY-NAME Example 1: mkdir "My_Files" – This will create a new folder named "My Files" in the current directory. Emaple 2: mkdir "C:\Users\YourName\Documents\My_Projects" – This creates the "My_Projects" folder inside the "Documents" folder. (Image credit: Mauro Huculak) 4. rmdir (Remove Directory) The "rmdir" command allows you to delete empty directories. Usage: rmdir DIRCTORY-NAME Example 1: rmdir "My_Files" – This will delete the folder named "My_Files" if it is empty. Example 2: rd /s /q "My_Files" – This will delete the folder named "My_Files" and its content. (Image credit: Mauro Huculak) It's important to note that rmdir can only delete empty directories. If a directory contains any files or subfolders, the command will fail. If you want to delete a directory that is not empty, you'll need to use the rd /s /q command. However, be extremely cautious with this command, as it'll delete the directory and all its contents without prompting for confirmation. 5. copy The "copy" command allows you to copy files from one location to another. Usage: copy SOURCE/PATH DESTINATION/PATH Example 1: copy file1.txt C:\Backup – This will copy a file named "file1.txt" from the current directory to the "Backup" folder on the 😄 drive. Example 2: copy *.jpg C:\Backup – This will copy all files with the ".jpg" extension from the current directory to the "Backup" folder. Example 3: copy D:\My_Files\Report.docx C:\Users\YourName\Documents – This will copy the file from the source to the destination location. Example 4: copy file1.txt C:\Backup /Y – This will copy the file from the source, overwriting existing files in the destination. (Image credit: Mauro Huculak) 6. del (Delete) The "del" command allows you to delete files (not directories). Usage: del FILENAME Example 1: del file1.txt – This will delete the file named "my_file.txt" from the current directory. Example 2: del *.jpg – This will delete all files with the ".jpg" extension in the current directory. Example 3: del *.jpg /f – This can be used to force the deletion of read-only files. (Image credit: Mauro Huculak) It's important to note that once you delete a file, it is typically permanently removed, skipping the Recycle Bin. 7. ren (Rename) The "ren" command allows you to rename files or folders. Usage: ren OLD_FILENAME NEW_FILENAME Example 1: ren old_file.txt new_file.txt – This will rename the file "old_file.txt" to "new_file.txt". Example 2: ren "old_folder" "new_folder" – This will rename the folder "old_folder" to "new_folder." (Image credit: Mauro Huculak) 8. cls (Clear Screen) The "cls" command clears the screen contents, making the Command Prompt easier to read, especially after a long series of commands or output. Usage: cls (Image credit: Mauro Huculak) 9. ipconfig (Internet Protocol Configuration) The "ipconfig" command is a useful tool for understanding and managing your computer's network connections. It's an essential command for basic network troubleshooting and more advanced network configuration tasks. Usage: ipconfig (Image credit: Mauro Huculak) The command outputs essential network information, for example: IP Address: Your computer's unique identifier on the network. Subnet Mask: Defines the network segment your computer belongs to. Default Gateway: The address of your router (or modem). DNS Server: The address of the Domain Name System server that translates domain names (like google.com) into IP addresses. Alternative usage: Type ipconfig /all and press Enter to display a more detailed view, including: MAC Address (Physical Address): A unique hardware identifier for your network adapter. DHCP Server: If your IP address is assigned by a DHCP server, this shows the server's address. DNS Server addresses. Special cases: ipconfig /release: Releases the IP address configuration obtained from a DHCP server. ipconfig /renew: Requests a new IP address configuration from the DHCP server. ipconfig /flushdns: Clears the DNS resolver cache store on your computer when troubleshooting DNS name resolution problems. Usually, if you want to renew the network configuration, you would first run the ipconfig /release and then the ipconfig /renew command. 10. ping The "ping" command is a simple tool for quickly checking network connectivity and diagnosing basic network problems. The tool sends small data packets (called "echo requests") to a specified destination (an IP address or domain name) and displays the response (an "echo reply") from the destination. The time it takes for the packet to be sent, received, and responded to is known as "round-trip time" (RTT). Usually, you would use this tool to determine if a specific device or server is reachable on the network and troubleshoot other connectivity issues. Usage: ping DNSNAME-OR-IP Example: ping google.com or ping 8.8.8.8 (Google Public DNS server) (Image credit: Mauro Huculak) If the ping is completed successfully, the command will output the IP address of the destination, show the round-trip time for each packet, and indicate successful replies. If the command isn't completed successfully, the output will display as "Request timed out." 11. tracert (Trace Route) The "tracert" command (short for "traceroute") is a network diagnostic tool that maps the path data packets take to reach a specific destination on the internet. The tool sends a series of packets to the target destination, each with a "Time-to-Live" (TTL) value initially set to 1. As the packet travels through the network, each router it encounters reduces the TTL by 1. When the TTL reaches 0, the router discards the packet and sends an "ICMP Time Exceeded" message back to the source. By analyzing these responses, the "tracert" command determines the sequence of routers (or "hops") the packets pass through along the way. The command output provides a list of routers encountered along the path, showing their IP addresses and the round-trip time (RTT) for each packet to reach the router and return. Usage: tracert google.com (Image credit: Mauro Huculak) This command will trace the route to Google's servers, showing the routers involved in the connection. 12. shutdown The "shutdown" command allows you to control your computer's shutdown and restart behavior. Usage: shutdown /s: Shuts down the computer immediately. shutdown /s /t 60: Shuts down the computer after a 60-second delay. shutdown /r: Restarts the computer immediately. shutdown /r /t 30: Restarts the computer after a 30-second delay. shutdown /L: Logs off the current user. shutdown /a: Cancels a pending shutdown or restart. (Image credit: Mauro Huculak) 13. tasklist The "tasklist" command is a tool for viewing and managing the processes running on Windows 11. It provides a quick and easy way to get a snapshot of system activity, similar to Task Manager. Usage: tasklist: Shows all processes and details, such as process name, ID, session name, and memory usage. tasklist /V: The verbose option shows more details like priority, user account, and description. tasklist /M MODULE-NAME: Lists all processes currently using the specified module (for example, a DLL file) after changing "MODULE-NAME" in the command. tasklist /SVC: Displays services hosted in each process. tasklist /FI FILTER: Filters the output based on specific criteria (for example, image name, status) when you change "FILTER" in the command. (Image credit: Mauro Huculak) 14. taskkill The "taskkill" command allows you to stop running processes. Usually, you would use this command to resolve issues with unresponsive apps and regain control of your system. Usage: taskkill /IM PROCESS-NAME: Ends a specific process by its name. Exmaple: taskkill /IM notepad.exe taskkill /PID PROCESS-ID: Ends a specific process ID. Example: taskkill /PID 1237 taskkill /F: forcefully ends the Explorer process. Example: taskkill /F /IM explorer.exe (Image credit: Mauro Huculak) 15. chkdsk (Check Disk) The "chkdsk" command is a tool that scans the system for errors and bad sectors and tries to repair them. Usage: chkdsk /f: fixes errors on the drive. Example: chkdsk 😄 /f – Checks the "C:" drive for errors and attempts to fix them. chkdsk /r: Locates bad sectors and recovers readable information. Example: chkdsk 😄 /r – Checks the "C:" drive for errors, attempts to fix them, and locates bad sectors. chkdsk /x: Disconnects the drive before running the tool. Example: chkdsk 😄 – Checks the "C:" drive for errors but does not attempt to fix them. (Image credit: Mauro Huculak) Running the Check Disk command can take significant time, especially if you use the "/r" option. 16. sfc /scannow (System File Checker) The "sfc" ( System File Checker) command is a tool that scans for and repairs corrupted system files using the files already available in the local image for the operating system. Usually, you would use this command with . Usage: sfc /scannow (Image credit: Mauro Huculak) When you run the command, the tool scans all protected system files on your computer and compares them to a known good copy stored within the local image. If SFC finds any discrepancies, such as missing or corrupted files, it flags them as issues and attempts to replace them with the correct versions. 17. help The "help" command gives you resources for learning about other commands. Usage: help COMMAND-NAME Example 1: help dir – Shows information about the "dir" command, including its syntax, options, and usage. Example 2: help – Shows a list of commands available for use in Command Prompt. (Image credit: Mauro Huculak) 18. exit The "exit" command closes the current command window. You can also exit scripts and batch files running in Command Prompt. Usage: exit (Image credit: Mauro Huculak) 19. winget (Windows Package Manager) The "winget" command, in a nutshell, is a tool that streamlines the process of installing, updating, and managing apps. The Windows Package Manager is a tool with a lot of options, but there are a few that every user should know to perform basic operations. Usage: winget search APP-NAME Example: winget search firefox – Searches the Microsoft repositories and outputs the information of all the apps that match the query. winget install APP-NAME – Downloads and installs the specified application. Example: winget install "Mozilla Firefox" – Install the Mozilla Firefox browser on your computer. winget upgrade APP-NAME – Updates the installed app to the latest version. Example: winget upgrade "Mozilla Firefox" – Updates the Mozilla Firefox browser. winget uninstall APP-NAME – Removes the application from your computer. Example: winget uninstall "Mozilla Firefox" – Uninstalls the Mozilla Firefox browser. (Image credit: Mauro Huculak) 20. sudo (Superuser Do) The "sudo" (Superuser Do) command is a tool that allows you to run commands as an administrator from a Command Prompt window without elevation. If this tool sounds familiar, it is because it's similar to the Sudo command for Unix-based operating systems like Linux and macOS. However, the Sudo command on Windows 11 is not the same as the tool for Linux and macOS. Instead, the tool only includes limited functionalities to run elevated commands inline, with input disabled, or in a new window. Usage: sudo COMMAND Example: sudo del file.txt (Image credit: Mauro Huculak) This is a feature that comes disabled by default on Windows 11. If you want to enable it, you have to open Settings > System > For developers, turn on the "Enable sudo" toggle switch and choose the "Inline" option to run elevated commands within the same window as on Linux and macOS. Source Hope you enjoyed this news post. Thank you for appreciating my time and effort posting news every day for many years. News posts... 2023: 5,800+ | 2024: 5,700+ RIP Matrix | Farewell my friend

RAM prices are expected to get cheaper as the prices of DRAM and VRAM chips are expected to go down. The memory chipmakers aren’t going to be happy about it. About a month ago, Taiwan based DigiTimes (translated), via Tom’s Hardware reported that China’s leading DRAM chipmakers Changxin Memory (CXMT) and Fujian Jinhua are dumping cheap DRAM chips in the market. The DRAM market has 3 big names. South Korea based SK Hynix, Samsung and US based Micron. These three make the best memory chips in the world and have high market share. To counter that, the likes of CXMT has started selling DRAM chips at a 50% cheaper price than their South Korean counterparts. This especially applies to DDR4 RAM, causing an oversupply of it. CXMT reportedly produced 70,000 wafers per month in 2022. This year, that figure has increased to 200,000 wafers per month and it wants to increase it further to 300,000 wafers per month. By doing this, it wants to capture above 10% of world’s DRAM market share. All this is thanks to the active support of the Chinese government through its policies and subsidies, allowing DRAM makers to ignore profits for now and concentrate on dominating both local and international markets. Not only that, Chinese companies are trying to put their DRAM chips into RAM sticks made by Taiwanese companies and sell them to Indian markets to avoid public suspicion thanks to relatively bad recent geopolitical issues between both India and China in recent times. The result of this is that the prices of DDR4 RAM have fallen by almost 10% this quarter. Because of it, South Korean DRAM chipmakers are now moving their production from DDR4 RAM towards DDR5 and HBM3. HBM3 is used mostly in AI hardware and these Chinese DRAM makers don’t have that big an expertise on it. Not to forget, making DDR5 RAM isn’t easy either, thanks to the requirements of higher expertise and restricted tech. The long AI craze which ensured that RAM prices go up is now settling due to dumping on DRAM chips. Going forward, RAM prices are going to get even cheaper. DRAM Chips To Become Cheaper Due To Lack Of Demand DRAM RAM Prices In 4Q24 And 1Q25. Credit: TrendForce. Click To Enlarge. Taiwan based TrendForce (via Tom’s Hardware) reports that DRAM is likely to become even cheaper in first quarter next year, that is 1Q25. This is due to low consumer demand and increased production of Chinese DRAM makers, allowing it to flood the market with low-priced DDR4 chips. The PC DRAM market is going to see the biggest decrease in prices. The prices of DDR4 are expected to go down by 10-15% in 1Q25, whereas DDR5 will get cheaper by 5-10%. The server RAM market is expected to see a similar trend. Mobile DRAM chips, which already saw 13-18% decrease in LPDDR4X and 5-10% decrease in LPDDR5X of prices in 4Q24, is expected to further see a decrease in 1Q25. The prices of LPDDR4X are expected to get cheaper by 8-13%, while LPDDR5X is likely to be cheaper by 3-8%. It’s not DRAM alone which is expected to get cheaper. Even Graphics DRAM, that is VRAM, is expected to get cheaper. With current-gen GDDR6 expected to get cheaper by 8-13%, while next-gen GDDR7 likely to become cheaper by max 5%. But don’t expect graphics cards makers like Nvidia and AMD to give that benefit to the consumers. For two reasons. They (Nvidia) want to keep their high profit margins and two, they have likely signed a long time deal with VRAM makers. Means price decrease of graphics cards will only follow the usual trends, not anything unusual. The reason for all this is simple, lesser demand of computers, mobiles, notebooks and datacenters worldwide. This has ensured that the prices go down everywhere. Conclusion As always, if the prices of products go down, it’s consumers that benefit, not the companies. Something that most people ignore is that balance of both is important, not as the cost of each other. While it’s always the consumer which suffers due to the high costs of products, DRAM chips getting cheaper means that chipmakers aren’t going to like it. Take DDR4 RAM chips being dumped by China, for example. It has ensured that SK Hynix and Samsung reduce their production of DDR4 DRAM chips to maintain profitability. DRAM is not a simple chip, either. It requires advanced production capabilities. Also, a badly made RAM stick can make the whole computer work badly. Though that’s mostly in the case of overclocked RAM. But still, don’t expect a guarantee of high quality chips from Chinese DRAM makers. So while consumers are going to benefit with this for sure, let’s not forget quality. It’s not the RAM prices alone which is to be excited about. In the far future, we are likely to see DRAM chips being stacked on each other with 3D X-DRAM, allowing RAM sticks as large as 1TB. But in the near future, we might see an entirely new RAM form factor called CAMM2 coming to computers. Changing how RAM works in computers. Source Hope you enjoyed this news post. Thank you for appreciating my time and effort posting news every day for many years. 2023: Over 5,800 news posts | 2024 (till end of November): 5,298 news posts RIP Matrix | Farewell my friend