As of right now, Paint 3D is no longer available in the Microsoft Store, but it does not mean it is now lost media. In fact, you can still install Paint 3D if you are interested in giving this interesting piece of software another try. Although Paint 3D was conceived in the early days of Windows 10, it still works perfectly fine, even on the latest Windows 11 updates, such as version 24H2.

How to install Paint 3D on Windows 11 and 10?

Installing Paint 3D on Windows 10 and 11 is pretty simple. All you need is the appx file of the version you want. You can download a collection of recent Paint 3D versions using this link (this includes VCLibs packages) or this link (without packages, via @TheBobPony). Also, there is a separate collection of very old Paint 3D releases by @gus33000, which go all the way back to 2016.

1. Download the necessary files and extract them anywhere convenient.
2. Open the folder with the install files and find the appx file you want. For example, Microsoft.MSPaint_2024.2405.19017.0.AppxBundle. Tip: Click View > Show > File Extensions to show extension files. Alternatively, sort the folder by Type > APPX file.

   

3. Open the appx file and click "Install." You can also tick the "Launch when ready" option so that Windows will open Paint 3D once the process is done.

   

4. Enjoy some 3D in your Paint.

Finally, you can install Windows 10 from scratch using Microsoft's official ISO images. Each consumer installation still has Paint 3D pre-installed.

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The first set of features in this build are available to Insiders that have toggled on to get the latest updates as they are available (via Settings > Windows Update) and can be viewed below:

Changes and Improvements gradually being rolled out to the Dev Channel with toggle on*

[Input]

 

• We are beginning to roll out a change where we now hide the IME toolbar when apps are in full screen mode for those who have the IME toolbar enabled and type in Chinese or Japanese.

• We have temporarily disabled the new Gamepad keyboard layout for the on-screen keyboard in Windows 11 that began rolling out to Windows Insiders in the Dev Channel with Build 26120.2130 to address some issues. This feature will roll out again in a future flight.

The next set of fixes will roll out gradulally to Windows Insiders who have set their toggle to receive updates immediately.

Fixes gradually being rolled out to the Dev Channel with toggle on*

[Start menu]

 

• Fixed an issue impacting Start menu reliability.

• Fixed an issue causing some Insiders to see an unexpected amount of spacing between items in the Start menu apps list.

• Fixed an issue where ability to pin / unpin apps to and from Start menu was unexpectedly unavailable for some people.

   

[File Explorer]

 

• Fixed an issue which was causing the items in the navigation pane to become very spread out (with unexpected padding between each item) for some people.

• Fixed an underlying issue which was causing RAW images taken in portrait mode to unexpectedly display in landscape mode thumbnails.

   

[Taskbar]

 

• Made a change so you will now see a search box if the taskbar auto-hides when the setting for search on the taskbar is set to “Search box” (rather than an icon).

• Made a fix for WIN + not working in some cases in the latest flights.

• Fixed an issue where the X button to close an app window from the taskbar wasn’t working for some Insiders.

• Fixed an issue on secondary monitors for left aligned taskbar users, where the widgets text in the taskbar might overlap the date and time.

   

[Dev Drive]

 

• Fixed an underlying issue leading to Dev Drives potentially not being accessible within WSL after the latest flights.

   

[Other]

 

• Fixed an underlying issue which could potentially lead to not being able to join a domain.

• Fixed an underlying issue which could lead to DISM /StartComponentCleanup not working properly, getting stuck at 71% and showing error 6842.

• Fixed an underlying issue which was causing the Get-WindowsCapability command to get into a state sometimes where it would fail unexpectedly until rebooting your PC.

• Fixed an issue where rotation info about JPGs couldn’t be queried via APIs (for example, via PowerShell).

The following applies to everyone, regardless of how they have set the toggle to receive updates imediately or not.

Fixes for everyone in the Dev Channel

[General]

 

• Fixed an underlying issue leading to some games not launching in the previous flight.

   

[Task Manager]

 

• Fixed an issue causing Task Manager to show a 0 count for apps and processes.

   

[Network]

 

• Fixed an underlying issue impacting DHCP where unexpected duplicate options would fail lease acquisition, which could cause DHCP to not get an IP address, leading to Wi-Fi not working.

   

• Fixed an issue where DirectAccess wasn’t working and might stay stuck in a connecting state.

There's just one known issue, listed below.

Known issues

[Desktop]

 

• [NEW] We’re working on the fix for an issue where your desktop background may not show correctly sometimes with multiple monitors (showing big black areas).

As this is a lot to take in, below, Microsoft explains how the Dev build can differ for users.

Reminders for Windows Insiders in the Dev Channel

• Windows Insiders in the Dev Channel receive updates based on Windows 11, version 24H2 via an enablement package (Build 26120.xxxx).

• Updates delivered to the Dev Channel are in a format that offers a preview of enhancements to servicing technology on Windows 11, version 24H2. To learn more, see https://aka.ms/CheckpointCumulativeUpdates.

• Many features in the Dev Channel are rolled out using Control Feature Rollout technology, starting with a subset of Insiders and ramping up over time as we monitor feedback to see how they land before pushing them out to everyone in this channel.

• For Windows Insiders in the Dev Channel who want to be the first to get features gradually rolled out to you, you can turn ON the toggle to get the latest updates as they are available via Settings > Windows Update*. Over time, we will increase the rollouts of features to everyone with the toggle turned on. Should you keep this toggle off, new features will gradually be rolled out to your device over time once they are ready.

• Features and experiences included in these builds may never get released as we try out different concepts and get feedback. Features may change over time, be removed, or replaced and never get released beyond Windows Insiders. Some of these features and experiences could show up in future Windows releases when they’re ready.

• Some features in active development we preview with Windows Insiders may not be fully localized and localization will happen over time as features are finalized. As you see issues with localization in your language, please report those issues to us via Feedback Hub.

• Because the Dev and Beta Channels represent parallel development paths from our engineers, there may be cases where features and experiences show up in the Beta Channel first.

• Check out Flight Hub for a complete look at what build is in which Insider channel.

You can find the official blog post here on Microsoft's website.

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Here are the update highlights:

• Advanced Paste has new abilities: Image to text, and paste to file (text / png / html).
• In settings, we've adjusted the left navigation to group the utilities. As the number of utilities shipped with PowerToys keeps growing, we felt this was a needed adjustment. Thanks everyone for your feedback!
• Workspaces received many bug fixes, including the proper launching of many instances of the same application in the same workspace. Note, we are still actively looking at how to properly handle PWA detection.
• We've added a telemetry opt-in option in the Settings General tab. As it is off-by-default, we encourage users to turn it on as that helps direct our development efforts and their journeys. More information about the data we collect can be found in the PowerToys Data and Privacy documentation and what each event does.

And here is the rest of the changelog:

General

 

• Added a setting for telemetry opt-in (off by default, however, see above for why we encourage you to opt-in!) and user controls to view data.
• Improved exception logging by adding the type of Exception and InnerException. Thanks @davidegiacometti!

 

Advanced Paste

 

• Added new built-in actions: Image to text, and paste txt, png or html as a file.

 

Mouse Jump

 

• Refactored the common classes into a separate project. Thanks @mikeclayton!
• Brought back the telemetry events that were deleted across previous refactoring efforts.
• Mouse Without Borders
• Refactored the Logger common classes. Thanks @mikeclayton!

 

New+

 

• Fixed the telemetry event for when the modules is enabled or disabled. (This was a hotfix for 0.85)
• Fixed bug when creating folders or files that contain Unicode characters.
• Fixed bug when the name of a new folder collided with an already existing folder.
• Updated the New+ icons to the fluent style.

 

Peek

 

• Folder preview enumeration of size and number of files is now more responsive and faster.

 

PowerToys Run

 

• Handled a culture not found error when checking for right-to-left languages.
• Fixed the WebSearch plugin results title being trimmed in the UI.
• The Unit Converter plugin will now show more significant digits.
• Improved error handling when copying to the clipboard results in an error.

 

Quick Accent

 

• Added support for the Serbian Cyrillic character set.

 

Registry Preview

 

• Adopted the Monaco Editor as the UI text editor.

 

Settings

 

• Fixed a crash when trying to access a non-existing templates folder from the New+ page.
• Added a navigation tree to group utilities in the left navigation menu.
• Sorted the list of languages in the language selection combo box in the General tab.
• Fixed the state of the info bar about templates not being backed up to not close and react to the module's enabled state in the New+ page.
• Fixed a crash caused by a dangling thread.
• Clicking a notification about there being an update available should now correctly open the Settings application in the General tab.
• Fixed a UI freeze when trying to access the Diagnostic Data Viewer files.

 

Workspaces

 

• Fixed launching the incorrect workspace when launching many workspaces quickly through shortcuts.
• Fixed launching many instances of the same application in a workspace.
• Fixed a crash when a previously captured monitor ID no longer existed.
• Fixed an issue causing the wrong coordinates to be saved for minimized applications.
• Fixed an issue causing a crash when stress testing workspace launching.
• Fixed application launching when UAC is off and every application always runs elevated.

If you already use PowerToys, you can update it by heading to Settings > General and clicking the "Check for updates" button. Alternatively, get PowerToys 0.86 from the Microsoft Store or GitHub. With the next update, version 0.87, look out for two new modules: Sysinternals' Zoomit and File Actions Menu.

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Version 132.0.1 is now available for download, and its changelog contains only two bug fixes. One resolves intermitted playback bugs on certain websites with a "media playback was aborted due to a corruption problem or because the media used features your browser did not support" error.

The second fix patches a bug with the browser failing to retain its theme, with it flickering on startup or disappearing altogether. If you are experiencing any of those two bugs, Firefox 132.0.1 is here to save your day.

Here is the official changelog:

Version 132.0.1, first offered to Release channel users on November 4, 2024

 

• Fixed issues causing intermittent video playback problems on some sites. (Bug 1928484, Bug 1928798)
• Fixed an issue causing themes to reset to default after restarting Firefox, in particular when using the Firefox Color add-on. (Bug 1928082)

Besides two fixes, Firefox 132.0.1 does not contain any additional changes, security patches, enterprise-related improvements, or web-platform changes. You can check out the release notes for Firefox 132.0 in our dedicated article for reference.

You can download Firefox from the official website or the Microsoft Store. Existing installations can be updated by heading to Menu > Help > About Firefox.

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Paint 3D is deprecated and will be removed from the Microsoft Store on November 4, 2024. To view and edit 2D images, you can use Paint or Photos. For viewing 3D content, you can use 3D Viewer.

The Paint 3D app was first announced with high expectations as part of the Windows 10 Creators Update release. Despite having some innovative features for 3D creation, Paint 3D didn't catch much of consumers' attention.

After the initial release, Microsoft even had plans to replace the classic Paint app with the Paint 3D app. After receiving feedback from consumers that Paint 3D did not have all the features to replace the classic Paint app, Microsoft announced that both apps would coexist.

Along with Paint 3D, Microsoft also launched Remix 3D, a website for consumers to browse, distribute, and download 3D objects. Consumers could download 3D objects from the Remix 3D website inside the Paint 3D app and do further edits on them. In 2020, Microsoft discontinued the Remix 3D website and encouraged users to download their 3D creations.

Over the past few months, Microsoft has been regularly updating the classic Paint app with new improvements and features. Last month, Microsoft announced that the Paint app would be getting generative AI features such as Image Creator, Cocreator, and more.

Since today is November 4th, users who are still interested in the Paint 3D app should probably download the installer before Microsoft pulls it from the Microsoft Store. Existing installations of Paint 3D will continue to work. This marks the end of an era for Microsoft's foray into the 3D creation space with Paint 3D.

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The Xbox app on Windows 10 and 11 is the main conduit to the Microsoft Gaming ecosystem on PC, pulling together services like Xbox Game Pass, Xbox Cloud Gaming, and core PC games from the Microsoft Store into a single place. However, it's also been the subject of much criticism.

I feel like I've been bashing Microsoft's Xbox app for years at this point, although I have to give credit where it's due. Microsoft has stuck with the app and improved it immeasurably since its initial launch, deprecating the old Windows 8 Xbox app of yore. Inexplicably, though, some features that were present in the old Windows 8 app are still missing from the new Xbox app, which is as baffling as it is frustrating.

Recently, Microsoft updated the app again, revamping the home screen to give more prominence to titles that aren't part of PC Game Pass while giving it a bit of a speed boost. Microsoft has also shipped new features to boost its usability on PC handhelds like the ASUS ROG Ally. But, the glacial pace of updates has once again risen to the forefront of discussions given the massive success of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, which is, of course, in PC Game Pass. More new users than ever are flooding into the app and discovering that it's not exactly a premier experience.

With Xbox's focus going further afield than console more so than ever, it can't afford to continue offering sub-par experiences when it's facing competition from platforms that are entirely focused on a single modality. Microsoft is putting itself in danger of being a jack of all trades, master of none — and that's not ideal in a universe where people have more choice than ever over where to spend their money.

A variety of small annoyances and crucial missing features

If you've ever tried to set up Redshift on Linux before, you'll know it's not the most reliable software with the geolocation component frequently breaking depending on your Linux distribution of choice. By baking this feature direct into Cinnamon, it will make the experience much more reliable.

Another drawback of Redshift is that it is not integrated into Cinnamon's settings and it doesn't work on the new Wayland, which Linux Mint will transition to in the future.

For anyone not familiar, Night Light is a feature that reduce the blue light emitted by your display, usually after sunset. This allegedly helps you get to sleep at night as the blue light isn't tricking your brain into thinking it's daylight.

In other Mint news, an OEM called Framework is working with the Mint team so that its laptops have full compatibility with Linux Mint and the Cinnamon desktop. Apparently, these laptops also feature components and technologies the Mint team hasn't focused on supporting yet so it said this will "boost new areas of development for us."

The Mint team has not set out which release it plans to have Night Light available in just yet, the next update will be out around December, this release could bring the change or maybe it'll arrive later, it's all up in the air.

For those not familiar with Linux Mint, it's based on Ubuntu but designed to be even easier to use, especially for people coming from Windows. One of the notable aspects about it is that it's a conservative operating system as not many changes get made to the layout. This is good if you want to get work done and don't want to keep learning a new interface.

Source: Linux Mint

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Speaking of which, Neowin noticed that Microsoft, back in September, had also added several new Intel SKUs to the supported CPU list for Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC 2021. It includes Atom Amston Lake parts, Raptor Lake mobile, and Alder Lake N. The full list of new SKUs added is given below:

• Intel® Atom® x7203C
• Intel® Atom® x7211RE
• Intel® Atom® x7213RE
• Intel® Atom® x7405C
• Intel® Atom® x7433RE
• Intel® Atom® x7809C
• Intel® Atom® x7835RE
• Intel® Core™ 3 100HL
• Intel® Core™ 3 100U
• Intel® Core™ 3 100UL
• Intel® Core™ 5 120HL
• Intel® Core™ 5 120U
• Intel® Core™ 5 120UL
• Intel® Core™ 5 130HL
• Intel® Core™ 5 130UL
• Intel® Core™ 7 150HL
• Intel® Core™ 7 150U
• Intel® Core™ 7 150UL
• Intel® Core™ 7 160HL
• Intel® Core™ 7 160UL
• Intel® Core™ i3-1305U
• Intel® Core™ i3-13100

• Intel® Core™ i3-13100F

• Intel® Core™ i3-13100T

• Intel® Core™ i3-1320PRE

• Intel® Core™ i3-13300HRE

• Intel® Core™ i5-1335U

• Intel® Core™ i5-13400F

• Intel® Core™i5-1340P

• Intel® Core™ i5-13420H

• Intel® Core™ i5-13450HX

• Intel® Core™ i5-1345U

• Intel® Core™ i5-13500H

• Intel® Core™ i5-13500HX

• Intel® Core™ i5-13505H

• Intel® Core™ i5-1350P

• Intel® Core™ i5-1350PRE

• Intel® Core™ i5-13600H

• Intel® Core™ i5-13600HRE

• Intel® Core™ i5-13600HX

• Intel® Core™ i5-13600KF

• Intel® Core™ i7-1355U

• Intel® Core™ i7-1360P

• Intel® Core™ i7-1365U

• Intel® Core™ i7-1366URE

• Intel® Core™ i7-13620H

• Intel® Core™ i7-13650HX

• Intel® Core™ i7-13700

• Intel® Core™ i7-13700F

• Intel® Core™ i7-13700H

• Intel® Core™ i7-13700HX

• Intel® Core™ i7-13700K

• Intel® Core™ i7-13700KF

• Intel® Core™ i7-13700T

• Intel® Core™ i7-13705H

• Intel® Core™ i7-1370P

• Intel® Core™ i7-1370PRE

• Intel® Core™ i7-1375PRE

• Intel® Core™ i7-13800H

• Intel® Core™ i7-13800HRE

• Intel® Core™ i7-13850HX

• Intel® Core™ i9-13900F

• Intel® Core™ i9-13900H

• Intel® Core™ i9-13900HK

• Intel® Core™ i9-13900HX

• Intel® Core™ i9-13900KF

• Intel® Core™ i9-13900KS

• Intel® Core™ i9-13905H

• Intel® Core™ i9-13950HX

• Intel® Core™ i9-13980HX

• Intel® Processor N95

   

The tech giant debuted Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC 2021 on November 16, 2021 (based on Windows 10 version 21H2), and its mainstream support ends on Jan 12, 2027.

For those not very familiar with Windows enterprise editions, the Windows Long-Term Servicing Channel (LTSC), formerly called LTSB or Long Term Servicing Branch, is essentially a specialized version of Windows designed for environments needing stability and minimal changes, such as medical equipment and industrial systems. It receives only security updates and bug fixes, with feature updates every three years or so, and is serviced for around five years via mainstream support and for around 10 years via extended support.

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Over time, due to changes from Facebook and others, it lost social media integration. On Windows 10, the app offered integration with Skype alone. From 2021, the People app lost the ability to be launched directly (for example, through the Start Menu or search bar). Users were only able to launch it through the People icons in Mail, Calendar, and other apps. Since Microsoft is phasing out the native Mail and Calendar apps on Windows, it seems like the company is now working on a new People app.

The setup file for the new Microsoft People preview app was leaked online today. It weighs only around 2.6MB, which indicates that it is just a web app wrapper. When installed, the new People preview app is available for launch from the Start menu and can also be pinned to the Taskbar.

For now, the People app is not working with personal Microsoft accounts. But when you sign in using a supported commercial/education Microsoft account, it works as expected. You will have a list of contacts, be able to view individual contact cards, and the search feature will allow you to search for contacts. The People app experience is very similar to the People (contacts) experience available inside the new Outlook app for Windows.

The potential return of a dedicated People app could be good news for Windows 11 users who rely on contact management. It remains to be seen whether the leaked app is just an old executable that resurfaced or if Microsoft is really working on a new People app for Windows 11 users.

Image Credit: @EpicbP

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Here is the official changelog:

• Taskbar10: Win+X now works again on 226xx.4317+.
• Start10: Fixed an issue where the resource loader failed when the drive letter of the boot drive is other than C:.
• Start10: Fixed an issue where the Start menu crashes when summoning the context menu of an item that has jump list entries on builds 226xx.4391+ and 261xx.2130+.
• ep_taskbar: Fixed an issue where "Not responding" windows are not handled properly.
• ep_taskbar: Flashing taskbar items are now animated.
• ep_taskbar: Narrator now describes the "Show desktop" button.
• ep_taskbar: TrayUI class is now exported.
• Localization: Added translations for Portuguese (Brazil).

You can download ExplorerPatcher from its GitHub repository. Before you do, though, note that Windows Defender and other antivirus applications do not like Explorer Patcher. Downloading its executable will trigger Windows Defender and auto-delete the file. The developer says this false-positive behavior is not because the app is infected but rather because it "indicates Microsoft's hatred against this software."

In case you missed it, earlier this year, Microsoft started its war against ExplorerPatcher and other UI customization apps by blocking them on Windows 11 version 24H2. With developers finding ways to bypass those blocks, Microsoft is now allegedly flagging them as malware to discourage customers from using them (if the developer's claims are to be believed).

If you believe Valinet's statement, you can fix the false positive by adding the following to the exclusion list:

• C:\Program Files\ExplorerPatcher
• %APPDATA%\ExplorerPatcher
• C:\Windows\dxgi.dll
• C:\Windows\SystemApps\Microsoft.Windows.StartMenuExperienceHost_cw5n1h2txyewy
• C:\Windows\SystemApps\ShellExperienceHost_cw5n1h2txyewy

If you use Windows Defender, run the following PowerShell script:

Add-MpPreference -ExclusionPath "C:\Program Files\ExplorerPatcher" Add-MpPreference -ExclusionPath "$env:APPDATA\ExplorerPatcher" Add-MpPreference -ExclusionPath "C:\Windows\dxgi.dll" Add-MpPreference -ExclusionPath "C:\Windows\SystemApps\Microsoft.Windows.StartMenuExperienceHost_cw5n1h2txyewy" Add-MpPreference -ExclusionPath "C:\Windows\SystemApps\ShellExperienceHost_cw5n1h2txyewy"

More information about ExplorerPatcher and AV software can be found here.

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On Windows 11, it's just a matter of time until you start experiencing different types of problems, and in this guide, I will share with you the signs I usually look for to determine when it is time to reinstall the operating system to resolve common issues instead spending more time that you should try to fix them.

Usually, if you have had the same installation for a long time, the device will likely start developing problems due to daily use, installed apps, storage usage, custom configurations, malware, and more that can significantly slow down performance, affect the startup sequence, corrupt files, and create a number of system errors, including Blue Screen of Death.

Although you may be able to troubleshoot the problem, reinstalling the operating system is typically the best option to fix the most common issues. On Windows 11, you can perform this task in multiple ways, but the options in the "Recovery" settings are perhaps the easiest to use.

In this how-to guide, I will share the symptoms that will help you determine when it's time to reinstall Windows 11 and how to complete the process.

How to identify problems on Windows 11

If your computer is acting up, confirm these symptoms to determine if you must reinstall the operating system.

1. Significant performance drops

In a new support document, Microsoft confirmed that customers with certain Office versions and languages with an Input Method Editor might experience Outlook freezing when using the Ctrl + C shortcut. As of right now, the origin of the bug is unknown, and Microsoft is looking into the problem.

Fortunately, two workarounds should bring the email client back to life. One is to revert to a previous version of the Input Method Editor or revert Outlook to an earlier build.

Here is how to go back to the previous version of Microsoft IME:

1. In the search box on the taskbar, type Settings, and then either select it in the list of results or select Enter.
2. Type IME settings into the search box within Settings and select the IME settings that are appropriate to your language—for example Japanese IME Settings.
3. Select General.
4. Turn on Use previous version of Microsoft IME.

Here is how to revert Outlook to one of the earlier versions:

1. Open a Command Prompt in Administrator context.
2. Type or paste the two commands into the Command Prompt window and press Enter after each:

 

cd %programfiles%\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\ClickToRun

officec2rclient.exe /update user updatetoversion=16.0.17928.20156

 

For more information, please go to Update history for Microsoft 365 Apps.

You can learn more in the official support document (via BleepingComputer).

Last month, Microsoft confirmed a rather funny bug in Word, which would delete a locally stored file when attempting to save recent changes. Fortunately, Microsoft resolved the problem pretty quickly with a new version of Office apps. Hopefully, a fix for Outlook freezing when copying text will also be patched in no time.

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These include Xeon Scalable Processors (SP) from 2nd Gen all the way up to the 5th Gen as well as Xeon 6 SP, and Xeon E and D SKUs. A couple of modern Pentium chips have been included as well. Over on the AMD side EPYC 7002, 7003, 8004, 9004, 9005 series, and more CPUs are included:

The company also notes that the list of supported CPUs given in the table above is only a prerequisite for system certification and does not determine support. From time to time, the list will be updated to include newer releases:

NOTE: The list of supported processors above does not in itself determine Microsoft support for Windows Server. The listing is a prerequisite for system certification. Only systems based on the above approved processors can be certified for Windows Server. Unless otherwise noted, Microsoft will continue to evaluate the processor list for a given OS release and update the list as new appropriate processors are available in market.

Microsoft has been testing compatible hardware and software for certification since May this year, and later in September, it provided an important update on the testing.

You can find the full list of CPUs at the links below:

• 2nd Gen Intel® Xeon® Scalable Processors

• 3rd Gen Intel® Xeon® Scalable Processors

• 4th Gen Intel® Xeon® Scalable Processors

• 5th Gen Intel® Xeon® Scalable Processors

• Intel® Xeon® 6

• Intel® Xeon® D Processor 9 (17xx, 18xx, 21xx, 27xx, 28xx)

• Intel® Xeon® E Processor (23xx and 24xx)

• AMD EPYC 7xx2

• AMD EPYC 7xx3

• AMD EPYC 4xx4

• AMD EPYC 8xx4

• AMD EPYC 9xx4

• AMD EPYC 9xx5

   

You can find the support document here on Microsoft's official site.

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Windows 11 became the most popular operating system on Steam for the first time in September 2024. Next month, it lost a chunk of users, and it is now back to number one. Valve says Windows 11 currently holds 51.97%, with a monthly increase of 4.28 points. This is a new all-time high for Windows 11, which is also growing fast among regular consumers (according to Statcounter).

While there are still plenty of Windows 10 users on Steam, the aging OS lost 2.71 points in October 2024 and reached 45.95%. Finally, 64-bit Windows 7, the last Windows version to appear in Valve's reports, has 0.23% (-0.08 points) despite the lack of support from Valve and the constant fear that the platform will stop working on Windows 7 at any moment.

Overall, Windows holds 96.61% on Steam (-0.23 points). Linux is second with 2.0%, and macOS is third (1.39%), with the latest release, macOS Sequoia, being the most popular version.

As for hardware choices, the most popular part picks look like this: 16GB of RAM (46.75%), an Intel processor (65.62%) with six physical cores (32.52%), the Nvidia RTX 3060 graphics card (7.24%), and 8GB of video memory (35.11%). Also, 1080p remains the dominant resolution, with over 57% of Steam users playing on Full HD monitors.

You can learn more about Valve's latest Hardware & Software Survey results on the official page. Keep in mind that participation in the survey is optional and random, which means it is not 100% accurate. The goal of the survey is to create a platform-average picture to help developers decide what technologies to support and better optimize their products.

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Microsoft writes:

Windows Server 2025 is now generally available. It delivers security advancements and new hybrid cloud capabilities in a high performing, AI-capable platform. Windows Server 2025 is Microsoft’s latest Long-Term Servicing Channel (LTSC) release for Windows Server.

In terms of features and improvements, Microsoft claims enormous improvements to I/O throughput performance on Windows Server 2025. The company added more details about such storage improvements later in a separate post. Other improvements include those related to GPU virtualization in the form of GPU Partitioning or Multi-Instance GPU, VBS enclaves, and more.

Similar to Windows 11 24H2, Server 2025 will also receive updates in the form of checkpoint cumulatives, a new way to deliver the latest updates.

Alongside the release, Microsoft has confirmed three known issues. They include an English language-related bug during install, an issue with very high thread count CPUs (those with more than 256 threads/logical processors), and a 'boot device inaccessible' startup error in iSCSI (Internet Small Computer Systems Interface) environments.

In the case of the high core count issue, Microsoft says users can work around it simply by limiting the number of cores to 256 or below. You can learn more about them at the links below on Microsoft's official site:

• Some text might appear in English during the installation process
• Windows Server 2025 might not run as expected on devices with high core count
• Error 'boot device inaccessible' might appear in iSCSI environments

You can download a free 180-day trial for Windows Server 2025 from the Evaluation Center here on Microsoft's official site.

Along with Server 2025, System Center 2025 should also be available as previously confirmed by Microsoft. You can get it here from Microsoft's official site.

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Here is the official changelog:

The following update is available for Surface Go 4 devices running Windows 10, Version 22H2 or greater.

 

Improvements and fixes:

 

• Ensures seamless audio playback and recording and improves stability by preventing audio failures and drop out.
• Fixes a flickering or screen flashing issue when the device is connected to Surface Dock 2.
• Addresses security vulnerabilities, securing devices from potential threats.
• Improves the Wi-Fi connectivity experience by providing a faster response time.
• Resolves the issue that prevented Teams' mute/unmute icon to sync with the headset's microphone.

Here is the list of new drivers:

Here is extra information about the release:

Like other modern Surface devices, the Surface Go 4 has a six-year-long lifecycle, which will end on September 21, 2029.

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Important: Mind the potential risks of using third-party mods on your computer. Back up important data and never install apps from sources you do not trust or cannot verify what the app is doing.

You can make File Explorer display folder sizes by downloading a Windhawk mod. If you are unfamiliar with Windhawk, it is a repository of various Windows mods that can supercharge the stock experience with much-requested features. What makes Windhawk stand out is that you can check the source code of each mod, which significantly reduces the risk of downloading unwanted stuff. However, you should still back up important data since modifications might introduce instabilities.

If you want File Explorer to show folder sizes like in the screenshot above, do the following:

1. Go to the official Windhawk website and download the installer.
2. Install Windhawk, run it, and click "Explore."
3. Search for "Better file sizes in Explorer details."
4. Click Install.

   

With the mod installed, you can choose between three options for folder size display: turned off, turned on when holding the Shift key, and always turned on. Consider these options before enabling the mod since calculating folder sizes might be slow if you have many folders with tons of files inside.

To change how the mod works, open Windhawk, click "Details" next to the mod, switch to the Settings tab, and select the desired option from the "Calculate folder sizes" dropdown.

Of course, you can always opt for third-party File Managers that can display folder sizes (some may even do a much better job at calculating sizes). Still, if you want to keep things as stock as possible while having some extra convenience, nothing beats Winhawk and its new small mod until Microsoft makes that a native feature.

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The updated Windows Hello visuals can be seen on the Windows sign-in screen, in passkeys, in the Microsoft Store, and in other authentication flows.

Microsoft is also introducing a new Windows Hello credential user experience for passkeys. This new user experience for passkeys supports secure and quick authentication. Users can easily switch between authentication options and select passkeys/devices with ease. This updated experience will also be available for the new administrator protection feature coming to Windows 11, version 24H2 and above.

Here is the rest of the changelog:

[General]

 

• This update includes a small set of general improvements and fixes that improve the overall experience for Insiders running this build on their PCs.

 

[Input]

 

• We have temporarily disabled the new Gamepad keyboard layout for the on-screen keyboard in Windows 11 that began rolling out to Windows Insiders in the Beta Channel with Build 22635.4145 to address some issues. This feature will be roll out again in a future flight.
• Fixes gradually being rolled out to the Beta Channel with toggle on*

 

[Input]

 

• Fixed an underlying issue causing touch keyboard crashes and the IME candidate window to not appear for some Insiders in the previous flight.

The above changes are gradually being rolled out to Beta Channel Insiders with the toggle on. If you are a Windows Insider in the Beta Channel and want to get these features gradually rolled out to you, go to Settings > Windows Update on your PC and turn ON the toggle to get the latest updates as they are available.

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This week, Microsoft has finally officially confirmed that MDAG has been deprecated and removed in Windows 11 24H2 alongside the associated Windows Isolated app launcher APIs. Note, however, that this does not affect home users as such since the feature is mainly designed for enterprises.

On its official website that details the list of removed Windows features, Microsoft writes:

Microsoft Defender Application Guard, including the Windows Isolated App Launcher APIs, is deprecated for Microsoft Edge for Business and is no longer available starting with Windows 11, version 24H2.

For those not familiar with how Application Guard worked, utilizing the Windows Isolated app launcher APIs, Microsoft would compare a visited URL against a list of trusted websites. If such a URL was not found on the list, then Edge would launch it inside a secure, isolated VM container environment.

Alongside the list of removed features, Microsoft had also updated the removal of WDAG in the deprecation list:

[Update - October 2024]: Starting with Windows 11, version 24H2, Microsoft Defender Application Guard, including the Windows Isolated App Launcher APIs, is no longer available.

Microsoft feels the feature is no longer necessary for the latest Windows 11 version since newer security features are already present in its browser that protect against the likes of phishing, typosquatting, and data loss. The company writes:

The additional security features in Edge make it very secure without needing Application Guard. The growing list of security features includes:

 

• Defender SmartScreen for the anti-phishing and malware support and URL scanning and blocking.
• Enhanced security mode for protecting against memory-related vulnerabilities by disabling just-in-time JavaScript compilation (and other protections).
• Website typo protection for misspelled websites.
• Data Loss Prevention to identify, monitor, and automatically protect sensitive items.

In case you missed it, Microsoft has also removed WordPad in Windows 11 24H2.

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While the New Outlook for Windows app is obviously newer, a lot of users, including many Neowin readers, have expressed disappointment and annoyance about it as they feel Classic Outlook outclasses the New Outlook in terms of feature set, even as the latter is starting to get some much needed key features like better offline mode, personal non-MSA support, and more.

A Reddit user has discovered a way to disable, or rather bypass, the installation of the New Outlook for Windows app on PCs. It is relatively simple, too, and simply involves tricking the Microsoft Store and Windows into believing you are eventually going to install the application even though you don't intend to and just want to keep it hanging.

The Redditor Commercial_Use6316 explains how it works:

I wonder if this works for everyone, but I have successfully stopped the new Outlook from appearing whenever I restart my computer, for the past few days. I've tried to uninstall it a thousand times but yeah, now here's the solution.

 

1. uninstall that thing from your Settings>Apps>Installed apps
2. go to the Microsoft store and look for the new outlook
3. Install new outlook, yes, click the install button, and pause the installation immediately.
4. close the Microsoft store

 

that's it. hope this can help more people to get rid of it.

Hence, essentially, the trick involves keeping the Microsoft Store download manager in an infinite install loop simply by pausing the app's installation. However, like any bypass trick, this may not work forever, and Microsoft may soon patch this loop.

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The tech giant has informed that the "OWAEnabled" policy parameter will no longer be checked going forward and only the "OneWinNativeOutlookEnabled" will be checked for accessing mailboxes.

For those who are not familiar, a check on the OWAEnabled parameter implies that the Outlook Web App (OWA), which is the former name of Outlook for the Web, is enabled by default. Thus with the check gone, this will no longer be the case.

The rollout of this change starts in late January 2025 and Microsoft hopes to complete it by the middle of next month in February 2025. The message says:

We are changing how you enable or disable the new Microsoft Outlook for Windows and Microsoft Outlook for the web.

 

[When this will happen:]

 

General Availability (Worldwide, GCC): We will begin rolling out late January 2025 and expect to complete by mid-February 2025.

 

[How this will affect your organization:]

 

We’re changing the OWAEnabled parameter that enables or disables access to user mailboxes using Outlook for the web (formerly known as Outlook Web App or OWA) to block only Outlook for the web and to not affect the behavior of new Outlook for Windows.

 

You can manage new Outlook for Windows with the OneWinNativeOutlookEnabled policy.

 

You are receiving this message because our reporting indicates one or more users in your organization may be using the New Outlook for Windows.

 

Note: We will not change any existing value for the settings, but we will change which setting is checked to see if new Outlook for Windows is allowed to run on that computer. Before this rollout, both OWAEnabled and OneWinNativeOutlookEnabled policies are checked. After this rollout, we will remove the check for OWAEnabled so you can have the chance to enable new Outlook and still disable Outlook for the web if desired.

 

[What you need to do to prepare:]

 

This rollout will happen automatically by the specified date with no admin action required before the rollout. Review your current configuration to determine the impact for your organization. You may want to notify your admins about this change and update any relevant documentation.

 

After this change takes effect, please confirm the OneWinNativeOutlookEnabled policy state for each mailbox. The default value is Enabled.

You can find the post on the Microsoft 365 Admin Center under message ID MC922623 (via Modern Workspace Pro).

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According to the official release notes, users with Microsoft Edge version 130.0.2849.56 and older can encounter a renderer crash with the STATUS_BREAKPONG error message when browsing sites with certain accessibility features.

Here is the official changelog:

Improved reliability

 

• Fixed a renderer crash (STATUS_BREAKPOINT) that occurred when using some sites with web contents accessibility enabled.

 

Fixed various bugs and performance issues, improved reliability.

 

Stable channel security updates are listed here.

As for security fixes, Edge 130.0.2849.68 resolves two Chromium vulnerabilities:

• CVE-2024-10488: Use after free in WebRTC in Google Chrome prior to 130.0.6723.92 allowed a remote attacker to potentially exploit heap corruption via a crafted HTML page. (Chromium security severity: High)
• CVE-2024-10487: Out of bounds write in Dawn in Google Chrome prior to 130.0.6723.92 allowed a remote attacker to perform out-of-bounds memory access via a crafted HTML page. (Chromium security severity: Critical)

You can update Microsoft Edge to the latest version by heading to Menu > Help and Feedback > About Microsoft Edge. Alternatively, go to edge://settings/help and wait for the browser to download the latest update. Note that changes in this update do not apply to Microsoft Edge from the Extended Stable Release Channel.

In other Microsoft Edge news, the company recently released Edge 131 for testing in the Beta Channel. The Dev Channel, on the other hand, was promoted to version 132. Microsoft Edge 131 will be available for the general public on the week of November 14, 2024.

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According to the latest data from Statcounter, Windows 11 is getting more and more popular, with its adoption rate accelerating quite notably. In October 2024, Microsoft's now-three-year-old OS increased its market share by 2.13 points and reached 35.55%, another all-time high. For reference, one year ago, Windows 11 was at 26.17% with very small changes month-over-month and even losing user base at some point.

As Windows 11 grows, Windows 10 proportionally loses its market share. Now, the operating system is close to crossing the 60% mark for the first time since September 2019. Statcounter says about 60.95% of all Windows users run Windows 10.

You can compare the growth of Windows 10 with Windows 11 from their respective launch dates on the chart below:

Here is what the Windows market currently looks like:

1. Windows 10 - 60.95% (-1.8 points)
2. Windows 11 - 35.55% (+2.13 points)
3. Windows 7 - 2.62% (-0.22 points)
4. Windows 8.1 - 0.31% (-0.05 points)
5. Windows XP - 0.28% (-0.06 points)

As for the overall OS market, which also includes Android, iOS, macOS, and Linux, Windows is the second most popular operating system. It holds 26.83%, with a 0.13 points increase in October 2024.

1. Android - 44.62% (-0.54 points)
2. Windows - 26.83% (+0.13 points)
3. iOS - 18.49% (+0.37 points)
4. macOS - 5.67% (+0.06 points)
5. Unknown - 1.77% (+0.07 points)

Keep in mind that Statcounter's data is not 100% correct. More information about how the service gathers information is available in the official FAQ.

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WhatsApp was spotted testing a custom chat lists feature for its Android app back in August this year. The feature was tipped to allow users to create custom categories of chats, making it easier to sort conversations. Now, several months later, the WhatsApp custom lists feature is finally rolling out to everyone.

In an official blog, WhatsApp announced the custom lists feature, which lets users create a personalized chat list. Users can create a list for friends, family, or work and quickly hop onto the conversations by tapping on any one of the lists. This is an upgrade over the old chat filters, which only allowed basic sorting.

WhatsApp says, "With Lists, you can now filter your chats with custom categories of your choice. Whether that’s a list for family, work or your local neighborhood, Lists help you focus on the conversations that are most important, when you need them."

To create a WhatsApp custom list, the user needs to tap on the "+" icon in the filter bar above the chats, select the contacts or groups they wish to add, and a new custom list will be created. The newly created list will appear on top of chats, making it easy to access. The list can be edited by long-pressing it.

Similar to "Favorites" the custom lists feature lets users add individual contacts as well as groups to a list. The WhatsApp custom list feature is rolling out to all and since it is a gradual rollout, it will be available to everyone in the coming weeks. If you don't have the custom chat list option, then make sure that you have installed the latest version of the app from the Google Play Store.

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Windows is an open platform that enables all categories of applications to thrive. From individual developers to distributed projects, open-source initiatives and large companies, the vibrant developer community is building innovative, engaging and practical apps for Windows users around the world. And the best place for users to discover that content is through the Microsoft Store on Windows.

Here are this year's Microsoft Store Awards winners:

• AI Category - dJay Pro Algoriddim by Algoriddim
• Lifestyle Category - Diarium Jornal & Dairy by T. Parti
• Personal Finance Category - TradingView by TradingView, Inc.
• Business Category - Gamma by Gamma
• Education Category - Typing Land by higopage
• Productivity Category - Todoist: To-Do List & Planner by Doist Inc.
• Music Category - Apple Music by Apple Inc.
• Health & Fitness Category - F.lux by F.lux Software LLC
• Medical Category - Complete Anatomy 2024 by 3D4Medical
• Developer Tools Category - on-my posh by jandedobbeleer
• Social Category - Pinterest by Pinterest Inc.
• Creativity Category - Adobe Express by Adobe
• Game Category - Asphalt Legends Unite by Gameloft
• Rising Star Category (new to the Microsoft Store) - Endel Music: Focus, Sleep, Relax by Endel Sound

Each winner of the Microsoft Store Awards 2024 will receive exclusive badges on their Microsoft Store listings and free promotions on the Microsoft Store home page. In addition, Microsoft will hand out the Surface Pro 11 with a custom gradient finish.

For reference, you can check out the Microsoft Store Awards winners from 2023 here and 2022 here.

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