We have talked about what software every PC should have... but today we are going to talk about what software you should NEVER install... EVER!

NEVER install these programs on your PC... EVER!!!

Here is the changelog:

• New! This update starts the rolls out of account-related notifications for Microsoft accounts in Settings > Home. A Microsoft account connects Windows to your Microsoft apps. The account also backs up all your data and helps you to manage your subscriptions. You can also add extra security steps to keep you from being locked out of your account. This feature displays notifications across the Start menu and Settings. You can manage your Settings notifications in Settings > Privacy & security > General.
• This update addresses an issue that affects app licensing. Because of this, Copilot in Windows (in preview) does not work as you expect.
• This update addresses an issue that occurs when your device resumes from Modern Standby. You might get the stop error, “0x9f DRIVER_POWER_STATE_FAILURE.”
• This update addresses a race condition that might stop a machine from starting up. This occurs when you set up a bootloader to start up multiple OSes.
• This update affects media allocations. It improves their memory granularity for some hardware setups. This lowers overcommitment. Also, performance is more efficient.
• This update addresses an issue that affects an accelerator backing store management path. A memory leak occurs that affects some devices.
• This update makes Country and Operator Settings Asset (COSA) profiles up to date for some mobile operators.
• This update addresses an issue that affects the container networking Address Resolution Protocol (ARP). It returns the wrong Virtual Subnet ID (VSID) for external ports.
• This update affects hypervisor-protected code integrity (HVCI). It accepts drivers that are now compatible.
• This update includes quarterly changes to the Windows Kernel Vulnerable Driver Blocklist file, DriverSiPolicy.p7b. It adds to the list of drivers that are at risk for Bring Your Own Vulnerable Driver (BYOVD) attacks.
• This update addresses an issue that affects Protected Process Light (PPL) protections. You can bypass them.
• This update addresses an issue that affects some wireless earbuds. Bluetooth connections are not stable. This occurs on devices that have firmware from April 2023 and later.
• This update addresses an issue that affects the Distributed Transaction Coordinator (DTC). A memory leak occurs when it retrieves mappings.
• This update addresses an issue that affects Windows Local Administrator Password Solution (LAPS). Its Post Authentication Actions (PAA) do not occur at the end of the grace period. Instead, they occur at restart.
• This update makes some changes to Windows Search. It is now more reliable, and it is easier to find an app after you install it. This update also gives you a personalized app search experience.

You can check out the full blog post here.

Source

However, those who don't want to fiddle around with an unofficial app and would much rather prefer safely tweaking with the Registry instead are in for a treat. Windows enthusiast and X (formerly Twitter) user Bob Pony has shared the way to do this. The same user recently shared a one-click trick to bypass the Windows 11 system requirements check on LTSC.

Switching the Edition using the Registry Editor involves changing the value of the subkey EditionID to "Core." On a system that is already running Windows 11/10 Pro, the value of EditionID is set to "Professional."

The CurrentVersion Registry key address is given below:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion

Again, tweaking the Registry must be done safely and it's best to create a backup before proceeding with the Registry Editor (regedit) in case something goes wrong.

While we are on the topic of Registry tweaks, Microsoft, last week, published its official mitigation enabler for Spectre variant 2 security vulnerability that is rearing its head up again. If you have an Intel 6th Gen (Skylake) and newer CPU, you can find those details here.

Source

A similar experiment was done by a YouTuber MattKC but on a much grander scale where he embarked on a mission to resurrect “thousands of apps” for Windows 95, which was released 28 years ago. This was managed mainly with the help of .NET Framework, but this was also the first part of the challenge.

In case you may not know, .NET had not debuted until Windows 98 came around and hence it was not compatible with 95. So the first big part of the experiment was to backport .NET to make it work with Windows 95.

In this regard, KernelEx, an open-source compatibility layer for running modern apps on Windows 98, did not help much. Another problem was missing DLL files though even after porting all the necessary DLLs using a dumping tool, .NET did not work.

After further digging, it was found that a legacy Windows driver named “ndphlpr” was the culprit as it turned out to be a required component for .NET which was causing it to crash, even though it was seemingly obsolete in Windows 98. There was also no way in sight to bypass this driver either.

This was when the YouTuber resorted to using the WinDbg tool to help "debug" the issue with .NET Framework, and at long last, the troubleshooting paid off as a code snippet related to a missing Windows API for certain click functions was discovered.

F2 0F 10 44 24 08 F2 05 2C CO

As easy as we made it sound here, it was anything but, as WinDbg did not exist at that time which meant several compatibility issues had to be overcome.

Decoding revealed that the issue was apparently caused by the absence of “NotifyWinEvent” in the user32.dll library, and this was further complicated by SSE2 obfuscating an instruction within the code. Regardless, MattKC tried patching the SSE2 out of it though this still did not resolve the issue.

Finally, though the YouTuber manually crafted a method to display the error messages in a visible window, allowing him to fix all the remaining DLL compatibility quirks. His persistence paid off, revealing the hidden secrets of legacy code and proving that even decades-old systems could be pushed beyond their limits; a fairly impressive accomplishment indeed.

This article summaries very briefly what was achieved and the full video linked above is well worth the watch.

Source

What you need to know

• Google Chrome has a new feature that lets you preview your webcam and microphone before granting a website permission to access the devices.
• Many sites, such as Microsoft Teams and Zoom, already have this functionality, it's not available on all websites that ask for permission to access a camera or microphone.
• To enable the preview, you have to change the setting for a flag within Chrome.

Google Chrome has a new feature that brings some handy functionality seen in Microsoft Teams and Zoom to any website that asks to access a webcam or microphone. The "Camera and Mic Preview" feature, as its name suggests, allows you to preview your camera and microphone through the Chrome browser. To use the feature, you have to enable an experimental flag within Chrome.

Many sites, such as Teams, Zoom, and Google Meet, already have camera and microphone previews, but there are sites that ask to access a microphone or camera without providing previews. The new option within Chrome lets you swap between different input devices and ensure your camera is framed correctly. There's also an audio indicator to show if your microphone is working.

The change was spotted by Windows Latest. You don't need to run a Canary or Dev version of Chrome to use the Camera and Mic Preview feature. It does seem to be a requirement to have Chrome version 123. Anyone interested in previewing their camera feed within Chrome can do so now. You just need to enable the feature now by following these steps:

1. Navigate to chrome://flags#camera-mic-preview
2. Toggle the setting from "Default" to "Enabled."

Alternatively, you can go to chrome://flags and search for camera and find the feature labeled "Camera and Mic Preview."

Microsoft Edge needs to copy this

Microsoft Edge should copy Chrome's latest experimental feature that lets you preview your camera and microphone.

(Image credit: Future)

I tested the option briefly by using Microsoft Teams and a few other websites. While some sites already have camera preview functionality, it's nice to have the feature built into a browser. Every once in a while, you may end up on a site that doesn't have its own preview feature and you'll want to double check that your feed is good before you join a meeting or start streaming. Options like this are always good and generally don't interfere with similar functionality built into Teams or other sites.

I hope Microsoft Edge adds this feature soon. At the moment Edge just shows you the option to allow or block a site from using your camera. Chrome's new feature lets you see your camera, swap cameras, and check audio levels to ensure your microphone works.

It seems there are still some bugs to work on within the Chrome feature. For example, the feature shows the option to toggle between different cameras, but that feature was hit and miss during my testing. Considering Chrome requires you to enable a flag to use the new Camera and Mic Preview feature, it's understandable there are a few issues.

Considering Microsoft Edge is built on Chromium, Microsoft could add the Camera and Mic Preview feature easily. The original source of the information about the option comes from Chromium Gerrit posts.

Source

In a blog post, Microsoft stated:

After this end date, Microsoft will no longer provide security fixes, bug fixes, or technical support. Using products after end of support leaves your organization vulnerable to potential security threats, productivity losses, and compliance issues.

The blog post listed the many Office 2016 and 2019 apps this new EOS date will affect, along with the server products;

• Access 2016
• Access 2019
• Excel 2016
• Excel 2019
• OneNote 2016
• Outlook 2016
• Outlook 2019
• PowerPoint 2016
• PowerPoint 2019
• Project 2016
• Project 2019
• Publisher 2016
• Publisher 2019
• Skype for Business 2016
• Skype for Business 2019
• Visio 2016
• Visio 2019
• Word 2016
• Word 2019
• Exchange Server 2016
• Exchange Server 2019
• Skype for Business Server 2015
• Skype for Business Server 2019

Microsoft is recommending that organizations who have these apps installed instead sign up for a Microsoft 365 E3 cloud-based subscription. If those groups still need to keep their PCs disconnected from the internet and are not yet ready to switch to Microsoft 365, the company does offer the Office Long-Term Servicing Channel (LTSC) solution. However, the EOS date for Office LTSC 2021 is October 13, 2026, so customers get just under a year of additional support beyond Office 2016 and 2019.

Microsoft has already announced plans to retire the Publisher app completely and will remove it from Microsoft 365 subscriptions in October 2026.

The company has revealed it plans to release a preview of Office LTSC 2024 for businesses and organizations sometime later in April. It plans to offer five years of support for the stand-alone Office 2024 apps. A consumer version will launch sometime later in the fall of 2024.

Source

Besides ads on the Start menu, the latest Windows 11 Beta build contains a new Settings section called "Linked devices." According to Microsoft and the official release notes, it is a place to manage PCs and Xbox consoles. If Microsoft had not abandoned Windows Phone, there would probably be smartphones, too.

We are introducing a new Linked devices page under Settings > Accounts that allows you to manage PCs and Xbox consoles that you are signed in to with your Microsoft account. This settings page will only show on the Home and Pro editions of Windows 11 and if you’re signed into Windows with your Microsoft account.

After getting to build 22635.3495, you can find the new Settings section by heading to Settings > Accounts > Linked devices. The page will show all devices with your Microsoft Account, including additional information, such as serial number, OS version, RAM, processor, Windows build number, etc.

There are also additional links that let you remove a device from your Microsoft Account, link a new one, check the warranty, get support, see BitLocker information, etc. Sadly, none of those features works within the Settings app, which means clicking any of them launches your default browser and the account.microsoft.com website.

The new "Linked devices" page is rolling out to all insiders in the Beta Channel with build 22635.3495. If, for some reason, you do not have it after the upgrade, use the ViVeTool app and the vivetool /enable /id:47448915,48546544 command (credit goes to PhantomOfEarth on X) to turn it on.

Microsoft does not say when the new Setting page will make it to the Stable Channel. Still, considering that Microsoft introduced it in the Beta Channel first, you can safely guess it will not take much time before we see it in production.

Source

182+ views, 0 likes 😞

Later this month, Excel is scheduled to get two new Copilot-powered features. One deals with making complete formula columns.

Users can ask Copilot to generate multiple formula columns suggestions at once, from a single prompt, such as "split the name into first name and last name.

The other listing, again for rollout in April, says Copilot will be able to be used in Exel to "utilize complex formulas such as XLOOKUP and SUMIF to create formula columns bringing together data from multiple tables."

New Copilot features are also coming to Word sometime in May. One listing on the roadmap states Copilot can start creating a document by using up to three Word or PowerPoint files:

In "Draft with Copilot," select Reference a file and choose up to three files that Copilot should use when creating the new document. Or, in "Compose," type "/" and the name of the file you'd like to use. You can only use files you have permission to access in your organization's SharePoint or OneDrive.

Another Copilot feature coming to Word in May involves the use of weblinks:

Users can copy and paste a link of a supported file into the Draft with Copilot UI as a reference instead of searching for it in the file reference menu.

Finally, the roadmap lists a feature that will let users "browse OneDrive and SharePoint folders to find files for grounding prompts in Copilot" in April.

Microsoft Teams will add a new chat feature sometime in June:

Organizers, co-organizers, and presenters can chat privately in a separate chat from attendees. This chat is available to access before, during, and after the event.

In May, Teams will add features that will let organizers of webinars and also organizers of town halls "to block the sending of attendee emails from Microsoft Teams."

That's our look back at the Microsoft 365 Roadmap this week. We will be back next week to see what's been added to the site in the next seven days.

Source

Microsoft released 149 updates in this month’s Patch Tuesday release, though there were no reports of public disclosures or other zero-days for the Microsoft ecosystem (Windows, Office, .NET). This update is very large, complex and will require some testing time, especially for the OLE, ODBC and SQL focused updates and their impact on complex applications. 

Microsoft also moved to make it easier to understand security-related CVE entries much easier by adopting the new CWE vulnerability reporting standard. The team at Application Readiness has provided this infographic detailing the risks associated with the April updates. 

Known issues 

Each month, Microsoft publishes a list of known issues that relate to the operating system and platforms included in the latest update cycle, including these two reported minor issues:

• After you install KB5034203 or later updates, some Windows devices that use the DHCP Option 235 to discover Microsoft Connected Cache (MCC) nodes in their network might be unable to use those nodes. Microsoft is actively working on this issue, and so we should expect an update soon.

• Some users of Windows Server 2008 will see messages that say, “Failure to configure Windows updates. Reverting Changes. Do not turn off your computer,” when attempting to update legacy devices. This may be a result of an improperly configured ESU configuration. Microsoft has recently updated its guidelines on acquiring and configuring ESU keys, which may help those still struggling.

Major revisions 

This month, Microsoft published these revisions to past updates:

• CVE-2022-0001: Branch History Injection. Reason for revision: Corrected one or more links in the FAQ. This is an informational change only. No further action required.

• CVE-2023-24932: Secure Boot Security Feature Bypass Vulnerability: Updated FAQs to include information on how to be protected from this vulnerability for customers running Windows 11 23H2 or Windows Server 2022, 23H2 Edition. No further action required.

• CVE-2013-3900: WinVerifyTrust Signature Validation Vulnerability.

Microsoft has updated the FAQ documentation to inform customers that EnableCertPaddingCheck is data type REG_SZ (a string value) and not data type dword. When you specify ‘EnableCertPaddingCheck” as in “DataItemName1″=”DataType1:DataValue1” do not include the date type value or colon. This will mitigate the impact of this vulnerability.

There was a significant update to the Kerberos security system within Windows, too, with a change to an existing patch (CVE-2024-21427). Microsoft has removed all supported versions of Windows 11 as they are no longer affected by the vulnerability. (Looks like another reason to upgrade to the latest Windows desktop.)

Mitigations and workarounds

Microsoft released the following vulnerability-related mitigation:

• CVE-2024-26232: Microsoft Message Queuing (MSMQ) Remote Code Execution Vulnerability. Microsoft helpfully notes that the MSMQ feature is rarely needed and can be disabled, reducing exposure to this vulnerability. Yep.

Each month, the Readiness team analyzes the latest updates and provides detailed, actionable testing guidance; the recommendations are based on a large application portfolio and detailed analysis of the patches and their potential impact on Windows and apps.

For this release cycle, we \ grouped the critical updates and required testing efforts into functional area including:

File management

• Test scenarios involving tar.exe or the native support of archives in Windows.

• Test end-to-end scenarios involving File Management Tasks and Storage Reports Management.

Crypto (local security mechanisms)

• Test scenarios that utilize Crypto APIs. Please pay special attention to any operation that relies on CryptDecodeObject or CryptDecodeObjectEx. 

• Test your cryptographic operations and key generation, particularly in VTL1 environments.

• Test out variations of replications on different types and sizes of files and folders. 

Networking (DHCP and DNS)

• Test functional scenarios where Client DUID is a required parameter. 

• Send Message with VendorOption of DomainName. 

• Check whether the client UID is provided to the RPC API.

• Test DNS virtual instance and zone management scenarios.

Remote desktop and connections

• Test out point-to-point connections and RRAS servers using the MPRAPI protocols. 

• Test your VPN connections with a connect/disconnect, delete and repeat test cycle.

Automated testing will help with these scenarios (especially a testing platform that offers a “delta” for comparison between builds). However, for your line-of-business apps getting the application owner (doing UAT) to test and approve the results is absolutely essential. 

There have been a large number (24 of this month’s total of 164) of updates to Microsoft SQL components in Windows and to how OLE operates with other Windows features. Applications that require these kinds of “cooperative” interactions are generally complex line-of-business applications. Trouble-shooting these update scenarios requires specialist application expertise and can be very time consuming. 

To prevent downtime, expensive faults and potentially damaging compliance issues, we fully recommend an audit of your application portfolio, identifying SQLOLE, OLEDB, and ODBC dependencies with an assessment and testing plan before general deployment of this month’s patches.

Windows lifecycle update 

This section contains important changes to servicing (and most security updates) to Windows desktop and server platforms.

• Windows 10 21H2 (E) ends in June 2024.

• Microsoft .NET 7.0.18 (support ends this month).

• Microsoft Visual Studio (2022 – 17.4 LTSC) support ends this month.

• PowerShell 7.3 main support ends May 8, 2024.

Each month, we break down the update cycle into product families (as defined by Microsoft) with the following basic groupings: 

• Browsers (Microsoft IE and Edge);

• Microsoft Windows (both desktop and server);

• Microsoft Office;

• Microsoft SQL Server (not Exchange Server);

• Microsoft Development platforms (ASP.NET Core, .NET Core and Chakra Core);

• Adobe (if you get this far).

Browsers

Microsoft released just five updates to its Chromium-based browser, all rated important. Note that the next release for this browser platform is the week of April 18. Chromium releases are now out of sync with Microsoft Patch Tuesday updates. Add these updates to your standard patch release schedule. 

Windows

For this (mammoth) release to the Windows platform, the following broad areas have been updated.

• Windows RAS, ICS, RRAS.

• Windows Message Queuing.

• Windows Cryptographic Services, BitLocker, Kerberos and LSASS.

• Windows Distributed File System (DFS).

• Windows DHCP Server.

• Microsoft WDAC OLE DB provider for SQL.

• Windows Telephony Server.

This month we do not see any reports of publicly reported vulnerabilities or exploits in the wild and if you are on a modern platform (Windows 10/11) all these reported security vulnerabilities are difficult to exploit. Please add this update to your standard Windows release schedule. 

Microsoft Office

Microsoft released only two patches (CVE-2024-26251 and CVE-2024-26257) for the Microsoft Office suite affecting Excel and SharePoint. Both updates are rated important by Microsoft and should be included in your standard Office update schedule.

Microsoft SQL Server (not Exchange Server)

In place (and instead) of Microsoft Exchange Server, we have a special guest this month: Microsoft SQL Server. Microsoft released 38 patches for its database platform, making it one of the largest, most complex and technically challenging updates in memory. 

The important thing to note here is that these updates affect how OLE (object linking and embedding), ODBC and SQL Server operate. As a critical middle layer for most business applications, this update will require significant attention from your in-house development, testing and deployment teams. It is not just a big update. It’s the multiplicative, interdependent nature of multiple cooperating systems that are being updated. Really, really. 

Microsoft development platforms 

Microsoft released 11 updates to the development platform, with 10 focused on Microsoft SQL ODBC issues within Microsoft Visual Studio and the other update impacting Microsoft .NET (CVE-2024-21409). This month’s .NET vulnerability has remote in the name, but it requires a local account (and permissions) and so can be added to your standard developer release schedule. The other 10 affecting SQL and ODBC? Your in-house development team will have to have an in-depth look at these updates. It could be really messy, so take your time.

Adobe Reader (if you get this far) 

No Adobe updates from Microsoft this month. And (lucky us) there are no other updates to third-party tools or platforms included in this update cycle.

Source

Young felt that for the hardware he sported, Windows just did not seem fast enough, and he labeled the performance of the Start menu "comically bad," suggesting that the current state of the OS seemed to be on the unfinished side.

His sentiment was echoed by several on the social media platform, and many of our Neowin forum members felt the same too. Others found it hard to believe that a $1600 PC was being bogged down by the OS, suggesting the issue may be elsewhere.

Following Young's criticism, former Microsoft User Experience (UX) head Jensen Harris has now spoken against the company. Harris, like Young, took to Twitter and expressed, in a sarcastic tone, his disappointment and disapproval of the new ads system Microsoft is testing in the Windows 11 Start menu.

Harris' tweet was a direct response to a line in The Verge's report about the news, which remarked that "Microsoft has been experimenting with ads inside Windows for more than 10 years."

Harris' response is suggestive that he is not quite happy with the way things are currently going at the company since he left a decade ago. Therefore it's a double whammy for Microsoft as it has gotten reprimanded over its current Windows UI and UX decisions.

Before it went for Insider testing, we knew something like this was coming from previous build changes, and soon enough, it was publicly announced in build 22635.3495.

Interestingly, Microsoft is also currently contemplating adding a dedicated Taskbar menu button dubbed "Recommended" just for advertisements, and more such changes are likely to lead to performance issues unless the tech giant manages to better optimize the underlying code.

Source

Interestingly, Microsoft probably took notice of these user troubles, and then the KB5035942 update was later re-released to user PCs. It was assumed that perhaps Microsoft might have fixed some of the bugs plaguing users.

With the latest Windows 11 Patch Tuesday for April 2024, KB5036893, Microsoft has now rolled out the Moment 5 update to everyone. However, as is often the case, users are now reporting post-installation issues with this.

The reports come from various forums online, including Microsoft's own Community and Reddit, among other places. While buggy optional updates are one thing, Patch Tuesdays are major releases as they are supposed to address security vulnerabilities and hence users find themselves far more annoyed when a Patch Tuesday has some breaking bugs.

Users report they are unable to uninstall Edge from their PCs even though they are from Europe. In case you haven't been following, Microsoft made it possible to uninstall Edge and the Bing web search due to the E.U. DMA compliance changes.

The user Alex-Row from Reddit writes:

After this update (I'm from Europe) now in Microsoft Edge app comes out to uninstall, click unistall but then takes me to applications menu but doesnt let me uninstall it, the option is blank ":\" and also in applications copilot now appears here (dont let unistall either) but apparently it is nowhere (neither in taskbar options nor in group policies).

 

Bing search also appears in applications but let me uninstall it.

Another user writes:

I keep getting "Install error - 0x800705b9" no matter how many times I retry. I tried manually installing the update through the Microsoft catalog and I tried doing a repair install using a Windows 11 .iso file and both give me "Windows installation failed" error messages.

Yet another user Flo-TPG notes multiple issues with the update related to PC performance, VPNs and TPM, Outlook 365:

KB5036893 Windows 11 April 2024 renders HP Dragonfly G1 unsuasble slow:

 

Since the latest update, two HP Dragonfly G1 users reported issues:

 

• machine is horrible slow:
  • lsass.exe high cpu
  • lsass.exe causes excessive disk writes:
• VPNs with TPM backed certificates won't work anymore:
  • A certificate could not be found that can be used with this Extensible Authentication Protocol.
• Outlook 365 doesn't start with "Something went wrong. [1001]"
  • Error Tag: 86q85 Error Code: -2146892987
  • Cannot start Microsoft Outlook. Cannot open the Outlook window. The set of folders cannot be opened. The file C:\Users\USERNAME\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Outlook\USERNAME@DOMAIN.com.ost cannot be accessed. You must connect to Microsoft Exchange at least once before you can use your Outlook data file (ost).

The slowdown issue does not seem like a few isolated cases as hrundig, a Microsoft community forum member, also noted a slowdown bug. They write:

KB5036893 update issues

 

Files and folders on the desktop stopped opening after clicking. They open eventually but after a long delay of 5 minutes!

 

After that, everything goes back to normal.

Moving on from 11, users on Windows 10 with the latest March 2024 Patch Tuesday update KB5036892 also report installation failures with the error code "0x8007000d." Chuck Zmudzinski from the Microsoft community forum writes:

I update successfully with automatic updates every month, usually with no problem. But this month, the cumulative update KB5036892 will not install. This is the message I get:

 

Some update files are missing or have problems. We'll try to download the update again later. Error code: (0x8007000d)

 

I tried the following to fix it:

 

• Ran the Windows Update Troubleshooter
• Tried the standalone installer using the download from the Microsoft Update Catalog for KB5036892
• Ran sfc /scannow and verified there are no integrity problems in system files
• Ran the Shawn Brink WuReset2.0.bat script available on answers.microsoft.com

 

After each fix listed above, I rebooted and ran Windows Update or the standalone installer again, but I always get the same error message listed above, with error code 0x8007000d.

The query has been upvoted by 15 people at the time of writing.

Source

(176+ views, 0 likes)

According to Microsoft, ads will be shown in the Windows 11 Start menu to beta users who have installed the latest Windows 11 Insider Preview build and reside in the US. Furthermore, the company clarified that ads won't show up on commercial devices (devices managed by organizations).

Microsoft shows "Pinned" apps above a series of "Recommendations." Notably, the recommendations usually contain recently used files or apps and also show apps that you have installed recently. Now with the new change, the "Recommendations" section now includes recommended apps from the Microsoft Store in the form of ads.

It is not clear whether or not the app developers are paying to show their ads in the Windows 11 Start menu. Microsoft, on the other hand, does get its cut for apps distributed through its Store.

Thankfully, one great news is that you can disable ads in the Windows 11 Start menu pretty easily. Simply follow the below steps:

1. Press the Win + I keys on your keyboard to open the Settings app.
2. Select Personalization from the left pane.
3. Scroll down and click on Start.
4. Toggle off Show recommendations for tips, app promotions, and more option.

Reportedly, Microsoft seems to be confused about whether or not it should add a dedicated Windows 11 button for ads and promotions. It did introduce the Settings menu toggle that lets you turn on/off new apps, tips, ads, shortcuts, and more, under the recommended section, which was later tweaked to include "app promotions" as well.

This is not the first time Microsoft has shown ads inside Windows. In 2022, Microsoft started showing ads in File Explorer of the Windows 11 Insider build before disabling ads in beta versions of Windows 11, stating that it was an unintentional move.

Also, a former Microsoft engineer Andy Young also pointed out the slow performance of the Windows 11 Start menu on a $1600 Intel Core i9 PC with 128 GB system memory. He termed the performance "comically bad" and one of the purported reasons behind it could likely be the additional code for ads and promotions of Windows 11 shows via the recommended section.

Now, it remains to be seen if it is the same case with the latest test of showing ads in the Windows 11 Start menu and whether Microsoft will be forced to remove ads on shipping versions of Windows 11.

Source

After updating Edge Canary to version 125.0.2520.0, you may notice a big blue Copilot banner at the top of each settings section (via Leopeva64 on X). Microsoft uses it to advertise "Copilot for more efficient Settings" and its ability to do different things, such as grouping tabs, clearing history, switching to vertical tabs, etc. There is also an "Ask Copilot" button, which just launches Microsoft's new AI as if there are not enough Copilot buttons across Edge and Windows.

For well-experienced users, the new Copilot banner could feel irritating and intrusive. Also, such customers will find it easier to adjust settings manually rather than opening Copilot, typing a request, and waiting for it to execute. Inexperienced users or newcomers to Edge, on the other hand, may find the new ad actually useful and helpful in terms of learning about the browser's capabilities. However, clicking one of those examples does not execute the selected command—you still need to type it into the Copilot UI.

As usual, it is a double-edged sword, and the feature will surely rough some feathers in light of the constant increase of various banners across Microsoft products. The Start menu ads in the latest Windows 11 Beta build are one such example.

Microsoft is testing the new Copilot ad among a limited set of Edge Canary users. If you do not have it yet, try enabling it with the --enable-feature command:

1. Update Microsoft Edge Canary to version 125.0.2520.0.
2. Turn off Startup Boost in Edge Canary if enabled.
3. Right-click its shortcut on the desktop and select Properties.
4. Click the target box and type --enable-feature=msEdgeSettingsCopilotV2. If you want to get rid of the banner, use the --disable-feature command.
5. Save the changes and launch the browser with the modified shortcut.
6. Click Menu > Settings and behold the big blue banner.

What do you think about the new Copilot ad in Microsoft Edge?

Source

What is new in Microsoft Edge 123.0.2420.97?

The official changelog for Microsoft Edge version 123.0.2420.97 includes the following:

Version 123.0.2420.97: April 12, 2024

 

Microsoft has released the latest Microsoft Edge Stable Channel (Version 123.0.2420.97) which incorporates the latest Security Updates of the Chromium project. For more information, see the Security Update Guide.

 

• Fixed various bugs and performance issues, improved reliability.

 

Improved reliability

 

• Fixed a browser crash which was related to Microsoft Edge Sync.

Security patches in version 123.0.2420.97 include three fixes for Chromium vulnerabilities of high severity:

• Chromium: CVE-2024-3515 Use after free in Dawn: Use after free in Dawn in Google Chrome prior to 123.0.6312.122 allowed a remote attacker to potentially exploit heap corruption via a crafted HTML page. (Chromium security severity: High)

• Chromium: CVE-2024-3516 Heap buffer overflow in ANGLE: Heap buffer overflow in ANGLE in Google Chrome prior to 123.0.6312.122 allowed a remote attacker to potentially exploit heap corruption via a crafted HTML page. (Chromium security severity: High)

• Chromium: CVE-2024-3157 Out of bounds write in Compositing: Out of bounds memory access in Compositing in Google Chrome prior to 123.0.6312.122 allowed a remote attacker who had compromised the GPU process to potentially perform a sandbox escape via specific UI gestures. (Chromium security severity: High)

   

To update Microsoft Edge to the latest version, go to Settings > Help & Feedback > About Microsoft Edge. Alternatively, type edge://settings/help in the address bar. The browser will check for available updates and install them automatically.

In case you missed it, earlier this month, Microsoft released another security update with three patches for Chromium vulnerabilities and two for Edge-specific security holes.

Source

What is new in Microsoft Edge Dev 125.0.2506.0?

Here is the official changelog:

Added Features:

 

• Introduced a new shopping toolbar feature.

 

Improved Reliability:

 

• Fixed a browser crash on android.
• Resolved a browser crash that occurred when launching the shopping app in a browser window instead of Copilot.
• Fixed an issue where browser crashes when clicking the ‘Retry’ button without network on the error page of desktop.

 

Changed Behavior:

 

• Resolved an issue where the browser menu and all menu dialogs were not accessible using voice control.
• Resolved an issue where keyboard focus navigated to the blank spaces in the all menu and browser menu dialog.
• Resolved an issue to display a menu list after the user clicks the IE mode address bar button.
• Resolved an issue where, in InPrivate mode, clicking on the settings for dark reader or Global Speed would result in being blocked.
• Resolved a problem where the button’s theme was not consistent after using the search button.
• Resolved an issue where hovering over a URL should display the full URL.
• Fixed an issue where the Extension Hub was displaying as a large popup instead of a full page.
• Resolved an issue that caused the FRE customize button in guest mode to redirect to an incorrect page.
• Resolved a problem where saving screenshots in a selected profile would cause an unintended switch to the primary profile.
• Fixed an issue where the screenshot flyout would appear partially when positioned at the far left of a maximized browser window.
• Resolved a problem that prevented screenshots from being uploaded to OCV feedback.
• Android: Resolved an issue where the new Translator UI was overriding the Copilot toolbar in landscape mode on android.
• iOS: Resolved a problem where the bottom bar on the “Coupons found!” page remained white in dark mode on iOS.

You can install Microsoft Edge Dev on a computer with Windows 10, Windows 11, macOS, and Linux, The channel is also available on Android. Version 125 will be available in the Stable Channel on the week of May 16, 2024.

Source

The problem with the Intel SST driver affects computers with 11th-generation Intel processors. Your system should be running two specific driver versions to get flagged: 10.29.0.5152 or 10.30.0.5152. One way to bypass the problem was to update the driver to a more recent version (10.30.00.5714 or 10.29.00.5714 and newer).

To clarify, we are dealing with an "external" block, which means third-party companies should fix their software or hardware so that Microsoft can lift a particular upgrade block. Such blocks usually require updating an app or driver, which is exactly the case with the Intel SST driver.

Interestingly, Microsoft suggested a workaround right after publishing the first details about the problem in November 2021. Until now, users had to update the problematic driver manually by heading to their device manufacturer's website and downloading a newer driver. Now, however, the fixed drivers are available via Windows Update, which is why Microsoft changed the status from "Mitigated" to "Resolved":

For most users, updated drivers can be installed via Windows update by checking for Windows updates on your device. This is the preferred method of installing these and other drivers.

 

If your device still encounters this safeguard hold 48 hours after updating your drivers, it's possible drivers for this Audio Controller haven't been developed for your specific device hardware configuration. In this case, you will need to contact your device manufacturer (OEM) for more information on the necessary drivers. Microsoft works to make the latest compatible drivers available under Windows Update whenever developers have released them.

Note that your PC might still take up to 48 hours before the upgrade block lifts, assuming there are no other compatibility issues, which you can check in the official documentation.

Source

Surface Pro 10 for Business Graphite Light:

Surface Pro 10 for Business Graphite Dark:

Surface Pro 10 for Business Platinum Light:

Surface Pro 10 for Business Platinum Dark:

For those who missed the announcement, the Surface Pro 10 for Business is, as the name implies, Microsoft's latest Windows 11 tablet tailored for commercial consumers' needs. Despite retaining the design of its predecessor, the Surface Pro 9, it features a few notable changes, such as an anti-reflective coating on the display, a built-in NFC reader, a QHD webcam with a wider field of view, optional 5G connectivity, a keyboard with a Copilot key, Intel's latest processors, etc.

You can check how the Surface Pro 10 for Business, which was revealed alongside the Surface Laptop 6 for Business, compares to its predecessors, the Surface Pro 9 and the Surface Pro 7 Plus, in our dedicated Specs Appeal article.

Microsoft will host a special event next month, during which we expect consumer versions of the Surface Pro 10 and Surface Laptop 6. Both computers will be powered by ARM processors, offering buyers better energy efficiency and, allegedly, even more performance than Apple's M3-powered MacBook Air. You can also expect some decent performance in games.

Other hardware changes should include OLED displays, rounded displays, haptic trackpads, and more. The event is scheduled for May 20, so the wait is almost over. Hopefully, Microsoft will ship the Surface Pro 10 and Surface Laptop 6 with some sweet new wallpapers.

Thank you, technosarusrex, for providing the wallpapers!

Source

The news comes from Microsoft's Brandon LeBlanc on his own X (formerly Twitter) account just after Microsoft released a new Windows 11 Insider build today for the Beta channel members, As usual when the company skips a week for Insider builds, there was no specific reason given by LeBlanc today about why the Canary and Dev channels are not getting new Windows 11 updates.

The Beta Channel 2635.3495 build that was released today had a few interesting new developments. The most interesting one is that some, but not all, Beta Channel users will try out a new feature that will place recommendations for apps (i. e. "ads") in the Windows 11 Start menu. It also includes some changes to the Windows Spotlight feature, a new "Linked devices" section in Settings, and a new option to let Copilot be used as an undocked app, including a way to resize it and move it on the screen.

Microsoft did drop a Release Preview version for Windows 11 users earlier this week. The build was mostly bug fixes but did have some improvements to the Widgets icons on the taskbar. Of course, Microsoft also released new and official Windows 11 and Windows 10 builds for all users this week as part of the monthly Patch Tuesday updates. The Windows 11 Patch Tuesday update was also the final and official push of the new features in the Moment 5 update for all users of that OS.

Source

What you need to know

• Windows 11 Insider builds recently started having Copilot launch automatically when booting up a PC.
• Microsoft began testing this functionality earlier this year before pausing it temporarily.
• Copilot will open automatically on wide screen PCs and the feature can be disabled through the Settings app.
• Microsoft's push to get Copilot in front of people has caused frustration for many users.

Windows Insiders started seeing a strange behavior on their PCs this week. Recently, some computers running Insider builds of Windows 11 saw Copilot open automatically when launching the operating system. Microsoft began testing the functionality earlier this year among Insiders but paused it temporarily, so some were surprised to see it pop up again.

Microsoft is eager to get people to try Copilot. The tech giant has rolled out several ways to summon the AI tools and is testing others. In addition to shortcuts like Windows + C, Copilot can also live within the Taskbar. Future PCs will feature a dedicated Copilot button as well. Microsoft is currently testing the option to open Copilot by hovering over its icon and swiping from the right of the screen opening the AI tool, despite that behavior currently being a way to open the notifications tray.

Having Copilot open automatically on wide screen PCs is one more way that Microsoft can put the tool in front of the face of users. Microsoft's Brandon LeBlanc mentioned that the behavior might be a bug, though it's not clear if that refers to the general functionality of Copilot opening automatically or the re-enabling of the feature among Insiders right now.

Where it began

Copilot now opens automatically when launching Windows if you're running certain Insider builds of the operating system.

(Image credit: Windows Central)

Copilot opening automatically is not new to Windows Insiders, but it had been disabled temporarily. Microsoft began testing the behavior earlier this year but paused it until recently. The company is now re-enabling it for Insiders, as noted by Microsoft's Brandon LeBlanc.

"After temporarily disabling this experience to fix an issue, we are trying out opening Copilot automatically when Windows starts on widescreen devices again with some Windows Insiders in the Canary and Dev Channels," reads a Windows Insider blog post.

"This can be managed via Settings > Personalization > Copilot. Note that this is rolling out so not all Insiders in the Canary or Dev Channels will see this right away. We’re trying this experience out on devices that have minimum diagonal screen size of 27” and pixel width of 1920 pixels and limited to primary display screens in multi-monitor scenarios. As a reminder, we regularly try out different experiences with Windows Insiders that may not ever ship, and others could show up in future Windows releases when they’re ready."

The post specifying the width of screens affected by the feature is handy, since Microsoft did not make it clear how wide a screen would have to be to have Copilot open automatically when it first announced the functionality.

Grieving the death of the desktop

Microsoft's push for Copilot and inclusion of ads across Windows 11 is upsetting.

(Image credit: Windows Central | Jez Corden)

I want to be clear that Copilot opening on widescreen PCs automatically is not by itself enough to push me over the edge. But Microsoft's systemic push to convert the Windows 11 desktop into a monetization path and a way to push Microsoft services has driven me through denial, anger, bargaining, and sadness. I suppose to a certain extent, I have also reached a point of acceptance because I don't think Microsoft will stop doing what it's doing.

When Microsoft first started rolling out ads for OneDrive in the Start menu or prompts to use certain services, I figured it wasn't a big deal. I didn't like the ads, as I called them, but it wasn't the end of the world. A large portion of our readers and my colleagues didn't consider the prompts ads, so I denied it was a big deal.

Then, Microsoft got pushier. On top of pinning ads to the Start menu on Windows 11, the tech giant began testing ads within the Recommended section of the Start menu. There's a very real possibility that Windows 11 users will see a clean install of Windows 11 show pinned ads on the top of the Start menu, Recommended ads in the bottom, and other prompts to sign up for paid services throughout Windows.

For the sake of brevity, I'll just say there are several other angering decisions made by Microsoft related to the Windows desktop, including replacing a notification gesture with Copilot and showing full screen ads for Windows 11 on Windows 10 (even to ineligible PCs).

These infuriating decisions have led some to bargain with Microsoft. "If there were a way to pay a reasonable amount to have ads removed, I’d be thrilled," said user timwhite in our comment section. I've caught myself thinking the same thing, though I wonder how much money Microsoft would lose removing ads from consumer versions of Windows. I suspect the company would have to charge more than users would be willing to pay to have an ad-free version of Windows to make as much money as an ad-laden one.

After covering so many disappointing stories about Windows 11 lately, I honestly just felt sad when I saw another cross my news desk this morning. It's also saddening that Microsoft seems to not care about the frustration it's causing.

I think I have a while before fully accepting what Windows has become, a monetization path for Microsoft and a billboard for its services.

Source

Initially, the developer of the app, Belim, had simply added AI to the end of its name: BloatyNosy, to make it BloatyNosyAI. This was later renamed to Winpilot, which makes it a lot easier to figure out the app's purpose as it is inspired by Copilot.

Speaking of which, users can remove Copilot very easily using a simple prompt inside Winpilot. So if you trust your Windows PC with third-party software, you can give it a go. In a later update, Clippy was added to the utility to appeal to the nostalgics.

With the latest update, multiple improvements have been made to the Assistant. The dev notes that there is a "deeper integration of Clippy" now, aside from several bug fixes, including fixes regarding Clippy's speech balloon, suggestions and more.

There are several other fixes and improvements too. The full changelog is given below:

Winpilot 3.5.0

Changelog

 

This was meant to be primarily a hotfix, addressing a critical bug that could prevent the offering of Assisted/AI features on some systems. However, the build was already ready, so we're jumping straight to version 3.5

 

• Winpilot now takes no autonomous actions and leaves nothing to chance. Especially, the debloater "Decrapify" will now only assist, and the bloatware database will be "statically/community" maintained.
• UI has been significantly refreshed under the current codename Stargate. You can either use the step-by-step assistant or switch between plugins via the "Pilot" button.
• Deeper integration of Clippy into Winpilot, which now observes every step and reports status.
• The Copilotless plugin has been integrated into CoTweaker. You can now directly search for, disable, or re-enable Microsoft Copilot/AI features from there.
• The Debloating Plugin "Decrapify" now offers a bulletin board declaring "Bloatware for deletion" as recommended. These include numerous inbox apps from Microsoft and all other sponsored and pre-installed apps from various OEMs.
• Numerous bug fixes #178 #160 #181 #183 #184 #186 Thanks @LyndonGingerich

If you want to try Winpilot (BloatyNosyAI) you can download the app by visiting its GitHub page. As always, do bear in mind that this is a third-party utility.

Source

Here is the changelog;

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

 

[Start menu]

 

Building on top of recent improvements like grouping recently installed apps and showing your frequently used apps, we are now trying out recommendations to help you discover great apps from the Microsoft Store under Recommended on the Start menu. This will appear only for Windows Insiders in the Beta Channel in the U.S. and will not apply to commercial devices (devices managed by organizations). This can be turned off by going to Settings > Personalization > Start and turning off the toggle for “Show recommendations for tips, app promotions, and more”. As a reminder, we regularly try out new experiences and concepts that may never get released with Windows Insiders to get feedback. Should you see this experience on the Start menu, let us know what you think. We are beginning to roll this out to a small set of Insiders in the Beta Channel at first.

 

Example of a recommended app on the Start menu highlighted in a red box.

 

[Desktop Spotlight]

 

We are beginning to try out some adjustments for Windows Spotlight experience on the desktop to make it easier for Spotlight users to engage with this feature to change images, like or not like an image etc. In addition, these changes will make the Spotlight icon behave like other desktop icons. There will be several different treatments these adjustments that Insiders will notice.

 

With Treatment 1, if a user right-clicks on the Windows Spotlight icon it will launch

Spotlight experience in full screen mode, while double clicking will open the landing

page for the image on desktop.

 

With Treatment 2, if a user right-clicks on the Windows Spotlight icon it will launch

the Spotlight experience without any change to the desktop set up, while double

clicking launches the Spotlight experience in full screen mode.

 

[Settings]

 

We are introducing a new Linked devices page under Settings > Accounts that allows you to manage PCs and Xbox consoles that you are signed in to with your Microsoft account. This settings page will only show on the Home and Pro editions of Windows 11 and if you’re signed into Windows with your Microsoft account.

 

New linked devices page under Accounts settings highlighted in a red box.

 

Changes and Improvements gradually being rolled out to everyone in the Beta Channel

 

[Copilot in Windows]

 

We are beginning to roll out an updated Copilot in Windows experience that adds the ability to switch between the existing “docked” behavior that attaches Copilot to the side of your desktop, and a new mode where it acts like a normal application window which you can resize and move around your screen. As part of this change, we’re also introducing some under-the-hood improvements as well. This experience is beginning to roll out to Windows Insiders in BOTH the Dev and Beta Channels. As always, please report any issues you experience to us via Feedback Hub.

 

Copilot in Windows undocked and shown next to Notepad like a normal application window.

 

Known issues

 

[General]

 

• We are investigating an issue where Internet Information Services (IIS) and Windows Communication Foundation (WCF) may not work after installing this update.

 

[Copilot in Windows]

 

• Windows Insiders in the Beta Channel who have the updated Copilot in Windows experience that introduces the ability for Copilot to act like a normal application window may see the following known issues:
• [NEW] Voice access does not work reliably with the updated Copilot in Windows experience that introduces the ability for Copilot to act like a normal application.
• [NEW] Using Windows Ink to write in Copilot will not work with the updated Copilot in Windows experience.

 

[Widgets]

 

• Windows Insiders in the Beta Channel who have the new position for the Widgets entry-point on left-aligned taskbars may see the following known issues:
• Swipe invocation for Widgets may not work if taskbar is center-aligned instead of left-aligned.
• Unpinning Widgets from the taskbar may not work if taskbar is center-aligned instead of left-aligned.
• The Widgets board is incorrectly positioned when Copilot is in side-by-side mode.
• Turning on/off Widgets in taskbar settings may refresh the taskbar.

You can check out the full blog post here.

Source

This shift, which was likely encouraged by the higher ups at Microsoft, changed how Microsoft perceives Windows. In particular, about increasingly using the operating system as a driver for ads and revenue.  What's wrong with that you might say. Microsoft has every right to change the operating system in any way it pleases.

I'd like to point out that these intrusions are more often than not a nuisance. Some cannot be hidden or removed permanently, others may pop up in the worst possible moment. In other words, this trend may impact your productivity.

It would go too far to list all of Microsoft's recent transgressions, but to name a few: user session menu ads, Get Help app with ads, Copilot showing third-party ads, lock screen ads, or the use of diagnostic data for ads. There are plenty of examples not mentioned here.

More ads and promotions are on their way

image source: PhantomOfEarth

Microsoft is constantly testing changes and some of them may introduce new ads or promotions. Eagle-eyed Windows connoisseur PhantomOfEarth discovered that Microsoft is working on improving the usefulness of the Recommended section of the Start Menu. How? By adding promotions for apps of course!

I'm not a huge fan of the recommended section and always wondered why Microsoft has not added an option to hide it entirely. This may be the answer: to get eyes on ads. Users who turn the section off cannot see ads or promotions in the Start Menu, and that would be a shame.

Microsoft adjusted the preference that powers this functionality to highlight that it may also show app promotions. You find it under Personalization > Start > Show recommendations for tips, app promotions, and more.

You may remember that this is not Microsoft's first attempt at introducing ads to the recommended section. Some time ago, Microsoft launched website recommendations in development builds, but it removed these before launch in stable versions thankfully.

This, however, is not the only place where you may soon see ads on Windows 11. Albacore's latest deep dive found information about a new taskbar button Microsoft is working on. This button is called "Recommended". While it is currently unclear what kind of recommendations it might show, it would not come as a total surprise if these recommendations might also include ads for apps or services.

Closing Words

Granted, these features have been found in development builds of Windows 11 and not stable versions. There is a chance that the features get removed during development. There is, however, a good chance that you will see promotions in one form or another in the Start Menu or taskbar very soon.

What is your take on this? Do you mind the increase in ads in Windows?

Source

This update includes the following features and improvements:

 

• [ADDED] New! This update improves the Widgets icons on the taskbar. They are no longer pixelated or fuzzy. This update also starts the rollout of a larger set of animated icons.
• This update adds a new mobile device management (MDM) policy called “AllowScreenRecorder.” It affects the Snipping Tool. IT admins can use this policy to turn off screen recording in the app.
• This update adds support for Arm64 .msi files using a Group Policy Object (GPO). You can now use the Group Policy Management Console (GPMC) to add Arm64 .msi files. You can also use a GPO to install these files on Arm64 machines.
• This update addresses an issue that affects the netstat -c command. It fails to perform effective port exhaustion troubleshooting.
• This update addresses an issue that affects a low latency network. The speed of data on the network degrades significantly. This occurs when you turn on timestamps for a Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) connection.
• This update addresses a race condition that might stop a machine from starting up. This occurs when you set up a bootloader to start up multiple OSes.
• This update addresses an issue that affects an accelerator backing store management path. A memory leak occurs that affects some devices.
• This update affects media allocations. It improves their memory granularity for some hardware setups. This lowers overcommitment. Also, performance is more efficient.
• This update affects Windows Subsystem for Linux 2 (WSL2). Intermittent name resolution fails in a split DNS setup.
• This update affects the touch keyboard. It makes the Japanese 106 keyboard layout appear as expected when you sign in.
• This update addresses an issue that affects universal printers. The system creates duplicate print queues for them.
• This update makes Country and Operator Settings Asset (COSA) profiles up to date for some mobile operators.
• This update addresses an issue that affects the container networking Address Resolution Protocol (ARP). It returns the wrong Virtual Subnet ID (VSID) for external ports.
• This update addresses a memory allocation issue in the Host Networking Service (HNS). The issue causes high memory consumption. It also affects service and pod deployment and scaling.
• This update addresses an issue that occurs when you elevate from a normal user to an Administrator to run an application. When you use a PIN to sign in, the app will not run.
• This update affects hypervisor-protected code integrity (HVCI). It accepts drivers that are now compatible.
• This update includes quarterly changes to the Windows Kernel Vulnerable Driver Blocklist file, DriverSiPolicy.p7b. It adds to the list of drivers that are at risk for Bring Your Own Vulnerable Driver (BYOVD) attacks.
• This update addresses an issue that affects Protected Process Light (PPL) protections. You can bypass them.
• This update addresses an issue that affects Bluetooth Advanced Audio Distribution Profile (A2DP) hardware offload. A stop error occurs on PCs that support it.
• This update addresses an issue that affects Settings. It stops responding when you dismiss a flyout menu.
• This update addresses an issue that affects the Distributed Transaction Coordinator (DTC). A memory leak occurs when it retrieves mappings.
• This update addresses an issue that affects Windows Local Administrator Password Solution (LAPS). Its Post Authentication Actions (PAA) do not occur at the end of the grace period. Instead, they occur at restart.
• This update addresses an issue that affects the Resilient File System (ReFS). A high load might make the system unresponsive. Also, signing in might be slow.

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

Source

Ironically, there is no escape from Microsoft's latest ad, even for those using PCs that technically do not support Windows 11. It seems that the new banner is specifically designed and targeted for Windows 10 customers who cannot upgrade due to Windows 11's steep hardware requirements. It thanks Windows 10 users for their loyalty and suggests learning more about the end of Windows 10 support and the benefits of Windows 11.

A new journey with Windows

 

We want to thank you for your loyalty as a Windows 10 customer. As end of support for Windows 10 approaches, we're here to support you on your PC journey.

 

Your PC is not eligible to upgrade to Windows 11, but it will continue to receive Windows 10 fixes and security updates until support ends on October 14, 2025.

 

Typically, there is no apparent decline button: you can either postpone the ad or click "Learn more."

Still, it is worth noting that Microsoft should warn Windows 10 users about the upcoming end of support, considering the operating system's massive market share. It is just a bit odd to see Microsoft starting the campaign this early and without a single word about the ability to pay for the Extended Security Program, which, this time, also applies to regular consumers, not just commercial users.

With that said, Microsoft has yet to announce the ESU policies for home users, so we will most likely see a few more iterations of this banner. The approach itself is not new—Microsoft used the same tactic with Windows 7 before it reached the end of mainstream support in early 2020.

Source

What you need to know

• Microsoft Build will run from May 21-23 and showcase several new AI features in the works.
• Among those features is "Advanced Paste with Local AI" for PowerToys.
• Microsoft has not detailed what the feature will do, but a page dedicated to the session is now online.

PowerToys is a handy collection of utilities on Windows. The app will soon feature another tool, though we don't know exactly what is on the way. What we do know is that Microsoft will discuss the new feature at Build 2024, which runs from March 21-23 in Seattle, Washington.

"Learn how PowerToys leverages AI through the use of AI backed APIs and on device ML models to power the new Advanced Paste feature," reads the session's description. The title of the session is "PowerToys Advanced Paste with Local AI." 

Clint Rutkas, lead for developer experience on Windows teased the new feature a bit more on X. "PowerToys will introduce a new feature at Build. [Craig Loewen] and [Nikola Metulev] will be chatting about the [feature,] what it does and the thought process behind it.

That doesn't give us much more regarding what the feature does or how local AI will advance pasting. But the team that works on the feature seems excited about Advanced Paste.

Metulev will also speak at a session titled "Use AI for "real things" in your Windows Apps" at Build 2024.

"Why should you care about AI? Learn about what kind of problems AI can solve across the full spectrum of AI - all through demos, demos, demos," reads the session's description.

"From what tech is out there and what real life problems can it solve in real apps, consideration around privacy, performance, responsible AI and more. All for the audience of an everyday Windows developer."

Build 2024 will focus heavily on AI and the tech that makes artificial intelligence more useful on personal computers. 

What else to expect at Build 2024

Microsoft is expected to unveil the Surface Pro 10 in May and then discuss the AI capabilities of the device at Build 2024.

(Image credit: Future)

In many ways 2024 is the year of AI. When it comes to computing, it could also be the year of Windows 11 on Arm. So unsurprisingly, both of those categories will receive heavy focus at Build 2024. The first batch of Build sessions we discussed after the schedule came out were "Introducing the Next Generation of Windows on Arm" and "Designing for a brand new Windows AI feature."

Similarly to the new PowerToys feature, Microsoft did not detail the brand new feature it teased or confirm details about the next generation of Windows on Arm. But unlike the new PowerToys feature, we have a good idea of what Microsoft will announce in relation to AI PCs and the specific new feature mentioned.

There's a good chance that the new feature Microsoft will announce is "AI Explorer," which is an "advanced Copilot," according to our Senior Editor Zac Bowden. AI Explorer will let you search for any moment from your computer by using natural language. For example, you could ask the tool to find a list of restaurants a specific person likes, and then AI Explorer would find the conversation.

"Today, we're showcasing brand-new features that allow users deeper interaction with their digital lives on Windows through advance AI features," says Microsoft in its page about the brand new feature. "Come discover how your apps can integrate with these experiences and increase user engagement and satisfaction."

Microsoft is also expected to discuss the next generation of Windows on Arm. The tech giant has a special Windows and Surface event the day before Build, so there's a good chance Microsoft will talk about those devices during its developer-focused event.

With Qualcomm's Snapdragon X Elite processor on the way and the Surface Pro 10 and Surface Laptop 6 expected soon, there's a lot of excitement around Windows 11 on Arm. Windows 11 version 24H2 will ship to new Arm PCs first before rolling out to other devices later this year.

Source