Certain language packs not working as they are supposed to

The first of the two issues, which Microsoft has confirmed relates to languages that use multibyte characters. These types of characters are distinct for they are composed of sequences of one or more bytes. Examples of languages that have multibyte characters are Korean, Japanese, and Chinese. According to the blog post confirming the issues, the operations required to convert these types of characters may not function properly. It says:

“When typing in languages that use multibyte character sets - such as Japanese, Korean, and Chinese - operations to convert characters might not function correctly. Text conversion occurs when a series of characters is transformed into different characters by means of user selection. This commonly involves additional Prediction candidate and Conversion candidate windows, which appear near the cursor position while typing.

Symptoms observed can include:

1. ?An incorrect range of characters is automatically selected for conversion, resulting in the conversion candidate window displaying unexpected options.
2. The cursor might move to an unexpected position, resulting in the selection of the wrong sequence of characters for conversion. This can cause symptom 1.”

This problem is affecting all Windows 11 users who have updated to version 22H2, with Microsoft saying that it is working on a resolution and will update users when it has one.

Provisioning packages may fail to install some apps correctly

Provisioning packages for Windows are containers for administrators to put a host of configuration settings and apps into so that they can quickly and efficiently configure end-user devices without having to install a new image.

Unfortunately, however, the time and effort-saving process may be disrupted for a while for users who have updated to Windows 11 version 2H22. The update has caused the provisioning packages to fail when installing some apps, with the announcement saying:

“Affected apps require elevated privileges to install (must be installed as administrator) and might not have sufficient privileges during provisioning to install. Provisioning packages are .PPKG files which are used to help configure new devices for use on business or school networks.”

At the moment, Microsoft can only say that it is working on a solution for the problem, with the only available workaround being to install any required apps that failed to install manually after the provisioning is complete.

Windows 11 update brings certain translation issues and other problems

Digging out the most recent versions of the shell32.dll.mui and propsys.dll.mui file revealed a new feature in the Folder Options window. The privacy section on the General tab contains a new checkbox called "Show recommended content." @PhantomOfEarth reports spotting related velocity features (IDs you can enable using the ViveTool app), but they are force-disabled in the latest Windows 11 Dev build.

As of now, there is no extra information about this feature, so how it will work is anybody's guess. It might show files and folders, or Microsoft could use it as another way to push ads. The company is no stranger to showing banners in File Explorer (remember OneDrive ads?), and the new option could continue that. Fortunately, users will have the opportunity (allegedly) to disable recommended content in File Explorer. Finally, we do not know whether Microsoft plans to announce it in future Windows 11 preview updates.

The idea of Windows 11 recommending random files whenever you open File Explorer sounds odd, so we cannot wait for Microsoft to announce and explain the feature.

In case you missed it, Microsoft recently backtracked one of the worst Start menu changes. Microsoft considered implementing website ads recommendations in the Start menu but later decided to ditch the idea. Windows 11 build 25272 removed websites, leaving only recommended files and apps in the Start menu.

What do you think about seeing file recommendations in File Explorer? Do you think it is a good idea? Let us know in the comments.

Windows 11 might soon start recommending content in File Explorer

It is noteworthy that not all Ryzen 7600X CPUs may be affected. The bug is apparently only present on those 7600X chips that have their cores across two CCDs (core chiplet dies) as the AGESA update is seemingly disabling one of the core chiplets.

Delidded Ryzen CPU showing two core chiplet (CCDs) and one I/O die

It is believed that the System Management Unit (SMU) version 84.79.204 is the buggy one and a new SMU 84.79.210 should fix the issue.

It is not clear at the moment if other dual-CCD Ryzen chips are also affected. In case it does, it will include the Ryzen 9 7950X, 7900X, and at least some Ryzen 7700X units as well.

Users who have installed this update are advised to roll back to a previous firmware release. You can download the BIOS from their corresponding motherboard's "support" section. Motherboard makers have also started pulling the AGESA 1.0.0.4 update from their websites which is good to see.

In order to check your motherboard model, run "msinfo32" inside Windows Search or Run and note the motherboard model (BaseBoard Product).

Latest AMD AGESA bios leads to massive performance loss, boot fails on Ryzen 7000

Microsoft apparently is not happy with third-party apps accessing its servers, so it frequently places various blocks. The developer behind Rufus and Fido is not giving up, and they always find a way to bypass Microsoft's countermeasures. Fido 1.39 is now available, letting users once again download Windows ISO files.

The latest Fido release is available on GitHub, delivering a fix for the following error:

Error: We are unable to complete your request at this time. Some users, entities and locations are banned from using this service. For this reason, leveraging anonymous or location hiding technologies when connecting to this service is not generally allowed. If you believe that you encountered this problem in error, please try again. If the problem persists you may contact "Microsoft Support – Contact Us" page for assistance. Refer to message code 715-123130.

Rufus automatically updates the built-in Fido script, so users should do nothing to restore the ability to download Windows ISO files within the app. If you use Fido separately from Rufus, download version 1.39 from the project's repository on GitHub.

You can download Rufus from the official website and Microsoft Store. Those unfamiliar with the app and its capabilities can check out our guide showing how to create a Windows 11 bootable USB using Rufus.

Rufus gets updated Fido script to fix broken Windows ISO downloads

Upgrade vs Clean Install

An upgrade is switching from an old operating system to the latest one. During an upgrade, all files, programs, and settings are retained. On the other hand, a clean install wipes the drive clean and installs Windows 11 from scratch.

Why Choose an Upgrade?

An upgrade is simple because of the Windows 11 installation assistant. You do not lose any files and do not need to format your hard drive as well. You can even revert to the previous OS version if something goes wrong with the upgrade. The only disadvantage of an upgrade is Windows 11 tries and retains all files. This means useless and unused files are also left behind. This results in clutter and the new OS does not run as smoothly.

Why Choose a Clean Install?

A clean install allows you to install everything from scratch. You even get a clean registry. It eliminates all incompatible programs and helps resolve any issues or errors. The only disadvantage is you need to back up your files before installing Windows 11.

Which One Should You Choose?

Now that you know the difference between an upgrade and a clean install, you can make the right choice. Decide where your priorities lie and what's more important to you and choose accordingly.

Windows 11 Upgrade vs Clean Install: Here’s the Difference

Lively Wallpaper

This amazing app gives you a huge selection of wallpapers. This includes GIFs, videos, and even web pages. You can use animated backgrounds with this app and enhance your desktop look. You can even customize things such as the overlay colour, brightness, zoom, speed, and many more aspects.

This is an open-source app and has good display quality that is ideal for your display resolution. You can even pause the wallpaper when you're working, away from your desk, or playing games. It uses minimal PC resources and is completely ad-free.

BeWidgets

BeWidgets is perfect for customizing your Windows 11 PC. You can do so using pictures, shortcuts, weather info, finances, and current date and time.

The developers of this app are continually adding new features and widgets so you can control other things such as media, emails, and even RSS feeds.

You get to choose from a wide widget range. The interface is easy and the app is optimized for desktops of all sizes.

ElevenClock

ElevenClock is the app for you if you want to customize the clock on your Windows 11 taskbar. At the moment, everyone has the same look for their clock. The time with the date mentioned below it. With this app, you can now customize the fonts, backgrounds, and colours. This app even supports the customization of the clock on a second monitor.

This is a lightweight app and comes with many customization options. The custom clock starts automatically and it even works with smaller taskbars.

RoundedTB

RoundedTB allows you to change the appearance and look of your Windows 11 taskbar. You can add rounded corners, margins, and custom segments. You can access this app in your system tray and divide your taskbar into custom segments as per your preference. You can enter margins to separate the segments, so it's easy to differentiate.

The best part of this app is you can use it without modifying any system files. It is user-friendly and comes with various advanced options to customize your taskbar.

Start11

Start11 is another amazing appto customize your Windows 11 start menu. You can even choose from the classic start menu layouts of Windows 7 & 8. Some of the additional features include custom icon spacing, changing the colour of the taskbar, changing the position of the taskbar, adding shortcut links, and editing the transparency.

This app also gives you the option to group or ungroup windows so your experience is better. It has a clean interface and does not have any ads.

Customizing Your Windows 11 Desktop Made Easy

These are some of the most amazing apps to help customize your Windows 11 experience. You can download any of these to enhance your Windows desktop and give it a different look.

5+ Best Windows 11 Wallpaper Apps to Customize Your PC

Still, it is not all that grim. In this article, I want to mention five neat features (in no particular order) Windows 11 received in 2022. They are not earth-shattering by any means. After all, I do not think Windows 11 (and even Windows 10) lacks something major. Still, smaller features and changes make the operating system more productive, accessible, and enjoyable.

Note: I will not praise Microsoft for restoring the features it took away during the Windows 10 to 11 transition period. No one should credit the software giant for removing and restoring with much fanfare the option to launch Task Manager with a right-click on the taskbar. Also, you will not find tabbed File Explorer here because it sucks, which is a topic for another rant-filled article.

Finally, the following list is purely subjective—feel free to disagree with me and mention your favorite changes Microsoft introduced in 2022.

Changing the volume with a wheel on hover

I love changes that allow doing things with fewer clicks. Windows 11 allows adjusting the volume with a scroll wheel when hovering the cursor over the volume indicator. There is no longer a need to open the Quick Settings menu (Microsoft still does not allow decoupling volume from the network and battery indicators), which makes me, a person way too easy to distract, a little happier.

Here I should also note that the Twinkle Tray app I mentioned in my recent "Top 11 apps for Windows 11 users" articles offers the same feature for managing brightness.

And yes, speaking of volume, nothing beats the redesigned volume/brightness flyouts. They are second to none.

Improved Snap Layouts

Snap Layouts on itself is a great feature that takes window management on Windows to another level. It is particularly handy on touchscreen devices, where dragging and arranging windows is slightly less convenient. In 2022, Microsoft made using Snap Layouts with a keyboard easier. You can press Win + Z and use numbers to arrange apps in the desired layouts quickly.

Again, fewer clicks and faster performance result in better productivity, especially if your hands are tied to a keyboard.

Taskbar Upgrades

Although Windows 11's taskbar has room for improvement, in 2022, it got a few neat mention-worthy upgrades. The notification area has received a fresh coat of paint with modern tooltips, fancy animations, and the option to remove the overflow menu altogether (an excellent customization tool if you like minimalism).

Also, Windows 11 now features a new tablet-optimized variant that collapses the taskbar into a smartphone-like status bar with only the necessary indicators and the clock, giving you more space for apps and their content.

Note: Taskbar upgrades are available in the stable version of Windows 11, but they currently require enabling using the Vivetool app as described in our dedicated guide.

Focus mode

Focus mode lets you set a timer to focus on a task. Windows 11 silences notifications during focus sessions and delivers them in a summary once your timer is over. Focus mode is one of those underrated and less apparent features every Windows 11 should use.

Besides Focus mode, Windows 11 now offers a separate Do not disturb mode with flexible rules and personalization. However, Focus mode is sometimes a better option because it lets you remove all distractions for a specified period with just two clicks. A true productivity-boosting feature.

Major accessibility improvements

Although I do not need accessibility features for my daily PC use, I want to mention three major features Microsoft added to Windows 11 in 2022:

• System-wide live captions that work with any sound source on your computer.
• Voice access lets you control a computer with your voice, similar (to some extent) to how you use it with a mouse.
• Improved Narrator with natural voices that sound less robotic.

It is great to see Microsoft making its operating system easier to use for people with physical limitations, and I want the company to continue doing so since you cannot have enough accessibility features in such a complex product.

Those are the five cool features Microsoft added to Windows 11 in 2022. 2023 and the three feature updates it allegedly should bring to Windows 11 will deliver even more. Be sure to check out our recent "5 neat features coming soon to Windows 11" and its counterpart describing not-so-great changes.

Here are five cool features Microsoft added to Windows 11 in 2022

I won’t lie. My increased appetite was not the sole reason for buying a Mac. I was kind of getting bored with my Surface Laptop 2 and Windows, which led me to look elsewhere. So, I purchased the base model of the Mac Mini. I was hoping that after trying the macOS, I would fall in love with computers all over again. And after using it for about five months, I can say that my expectations have been fulfilled, but not the way I would’ve thought.

I label myself as a casual user, like most people. I use it to write articles for Neowin, watch movies, listen to music when bored, and browse the web. This is all pretty basic stuff, which is why I felt switching to macOS wouldn’t make much difference to me, but to my surprise, it did make a whole lot of difference.

After switching my Mac on, the first thing I did was play with the Dock for a bit because I love the Magnification effect on mouse hover so much. But little did I know, I would end up not liking it that much. Leaving aside how aesthetically appealing it is, it lacks one basic functionality: app thumbnail preview.

When you hover over the app icon in Taskbar, you get a tiny preview of each of the active windows, helping you decide which window you want to open. App thumbnail preview is much more than that. For example, when I listen to Spotify, I am so used to using the play, pause, forward, and backward buttons from that tiny thumbnail preview. It is so convenient that way versus how macOS does it. On a Mac, bringing those basic control options (that too in the form of a list view) will require you to right-click on the app icon, which should be the case when you want to do more than something as simplistic as changing the current song that is playing. However, the missing app thumbnail preview was never a deal breaker for me. I was more into wanting to explore how a Mac could improve my workflow and overall productivity.

Speaking of productivity, Copy and Paste functionality is something I use extensively daily. But I always underestimated how big of a positive role it played in my daily workflow until I started working on my Mac Mini. Apple made me appreciate how well my Surface Laptop 2, or any Windows 10 or 11-powered PC for that matter, manages copy and paste. The Clipboard history in Windows 10 and 11 is the place where you can find all your copied text, HTML, and images that are less than 4 MB in size. You can paste these copied items anywhere you want. Windows saves them in the Clipboard until you turn off your PC. In macOS Ventura or any previous version of the OS, you can only see the most recent text you have copied. Despite being exorbitantly priced, it is a shame that a Mac does not offer a decent first-party clipboard management tool.

When I was considering buying a Mac, I was skeptical about whether windows management could be any better than what we have in the form of “Snap Layouts” in Windows 11. I was optimistic that my Mac Mini would offer me some surprise. On the contrary, the overall windows management experience on macOS left me disappointed. My Mac Mini is connected to a 27-inch 4K LG monitor, and the purpose of buying the monitor was to get more screen real estate, which, in turn, would help in multitasking. macOS Ventura does not allow you to use more than two apps at the same time. I tried some third-party applications, but the experience was not even close to what Windows 11 offers.

Unlike copy-and-paste functionalities, I never underestimated how the free flow of information between devices can help users be more productive. Before buying the Mac Mini, my Galaxy S21 was connected to Surface Laptop 2 via Microsoft’s “Phone Link.” You do not need a Samsung phone for it; any Android phone can work together with Windows 11 or 10, provided your phone is running a supported version of Android. However, it’s better to have a premium Galaxy phone to get the most out of “Phone Link.”

While macOS and iPhone work great together, too, I strongly feel Apple should also make necessary compromises to let Microsoft bring the “Phone Link” experience to the Apple ecosystem. Just like how the world is embracing the idea of a common charger for all mobile devices, seamless sharing of information between devices should be platform agnostic.

I do not have nasty habits of cursing products because they can not perform certain functions the way I would like. There is an audience for everything. I am sure there are people who are equally or more dissatisfied after switching to Windows from Mac. For some people, macOS hits the right cord, but I am not part of that clique because the aforementioned features are absolutely a must for me. However, macOS did one thing for me: I now love Windows more than ever despite all its flaws!

I wanted to love macOS for a change, but I now appreciate Windows even more

Maybe you want to save an image or a video clip from the web through your browser because it’ll make a great wallpaper or you want to include it in a video you’re making. In most cases (especially when it comes to pictures) you can simply right-click on the file and choose “save image as,” or something similar.

But sometimes that doesn’t work, or not well enough. What if there’s no save option on the right-click menu? What if you want to quickly save dozens of images from a single website? What if you’re trying to save an animated video as a GIF, or you keep downloading one of those .webp files no one wants?

That’s where third-party browser extensions can come in handy, add-ons that will dig deeper into a page's HTML code to pluck out the image or the video clip you’re after and automate the process for you.

Image Downloader Continued

Open Image Downloader Continued (Chrome/Edge) and you’ll get a neatly organized grid of all the images on the current web page: You can see the format and the dimensions of each picture, save them to a disk, and even filter and order them based on their size. The add-on couldn’t be any simpler to use, and it’s one of the best for downloading images.

Download All Images

Download All Images (Chrome/Edge) works slightly differently from Image Downloader Continued. It might be able to grab some images when Image Downloader Continued can’t, and vice versa. Click on the extension button when you’re on a site, and every image on the page will be wrapped into a zip archive so you just have to choose where to save it.

Video Downloader Ultimate

If you’re struggling to save a video from a website—whether it’s embedded in the page or included in a social media post—Video Downloader Ultimate (Chrome/Edge) can lend a hand. With a single click, you’ll see a list of all the videos included in the website that you’re currently viewing, and you can then either get their URLs or save them locally.

Twitter Video Downloader

Sometimes you need a specific tool for a website, which is where Twitter Video Downloader (Chrome/Edge) comes in: It grabs clips posted to the social network with minimal fuss and embeds itself neatly in the page so it almost looks like a native feature. Just click the download icon next to a tweet with a video in it to save the file.

GIFs can be particularly difficult to extract. Some sites publish them as GIFs, others use the mp4 format, and others convert them again. Regardless of the format, Base Image Downloader (Chrome/Edge) excels at grabbing virtually anything GIF-related (and supports most other image formats). The extension brings up a gallery of image thumbnails, and you can save them all at once or one at a time.

Screen Recorder And Editor

If other tools don’t work, you can try using a screen recording tool instead. Screen Recorder And Editor (Chrome/Edge) is one of the best, in my experience, offering you a wealth of options for recording the active tab or the entire desktop, and it includes editing features.

Save Page WE

Another option for grabbing elements en masse from a website is to save the entire page, which Save Page WE (Chrome/Edge) does rather well. It’s simple to use and supports keyboard shortcuts. Depending on the site you’re working with, you can opt to save images from a page to a disk, and in some cases this works for audio and video files as well.

Download All Images

While Download All Images (Firefox) has the same name as another extension above, it’s not the same utility—and this one works with Mozilla’s browser. This add-on offers a host of options, enabling you to filter downloads by image size, image type, and even image URL (so you don’t accidentally download ads or other linked content), and there’s plenty of flexibility when it comes to how the grabbed pictures are saved.

DownThemAll

The neatly named DownThemAll (Firefox) can grab absolutely everything from a website, including images, videos, and audio clips. It’s by no means a blunt instrument and comes with plenty of options for choosing what to save and where to save it. This is one of those extensions you will quickly find essential.

SingleFile

Another extension for saving web pages in their entirety, SingleFile (Firefox) is one of the best and most efficient at the job. It’ll download all of the HTML, text, and images on a particular website, and it integrates very neatly into the Firefox interface. If you’re struggling to grab images with other extensions, this one might be the solution.

10 Browser Add-Ons to Make Downloading Videos Easy

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Recently, Nvidia touted its WHQL-signed display driver release frequency showing how much better its release cycle was compared to Intel and AMD. The Green Team boasted not only more frequent WHQL drivers but also a higher number of games supported.

And now, Nvidia may be taking this driver development gulf to the next level. According to a new report by CapFrameX, the company is purportedly working on integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into its display driver optimization process. Rumor has it that the first such drivers will allegedly be released this year in Q1 itself, and it could bring up to 30% improvement with an average of about 10% gains.

The report is unconfirmed at the moment however it is not totally unlikely either. AI has been at the forefront of Nvidia's recent innovations and the technology in general has been getting more mainstream gradually. Hence, if true, Nvidia could jump significantly ahead of Intel and AMD, at least not until the latter come up with their own similar solutions.

On the somewhat related topic of optimization, there is good news for AMD Ryzen users as the company recently confirmed further Windows 11 optimization, at least for its new Ryzen 7000X3D chips.

Nvidia could now leave Intel and AMD completely in the dust with AI-optimized drivers

OBS Studio 29.0 has been undergoing testing since at least November 23 when the Beta builds became available for testing. Before getting the final release, OBS Studio went through three Beta releases so many issues should have been addressed over the last several weeks.

The full release notes are as follows:

Features

• Added support for the AMD AV1 Encoder for the RX7000 series GPUs on Windows [AMD/Jim]
• Added support for the Intel AV1 Encoder for Arc GPUs on Windows [Intel/Jim]
  • Note: CQP is available but not fully supported
• Added support for the Intel HEVC Encoder on Windows [yuriy-chumak/rcdrone/Jim]
• Added an upward compressor filter [pkv]
• Added a 3-band equalizer filter [Jim]
• Added support for native HEVC and ProRes encoders on macOS, including P010 and HDR [Developer-Ecosystem-Engineering/PatTheMav/gxalpha]
• Added support for macOS Desk View [Developer-Ecosystem-Engineering]
• Added update channels for opting into receiving beta/release-candidate builds to Windows [Rodney]
  • Work is still underway to get everything ready on the server side, updating via the built-in updater may not be available until later in the OBS 30.0 beta-testing period
• Websockets updated to 5.1.0, which has a number of bug fixes, UI improvements, and new stream reconnect events. [tt2468]

Tweaks and Improvements

• The Replay Buffer's memory limit is now set to 75% of installed system RAM rather than fixed to 8GB [Rodney]
• Added media key support in Linux [kkartaltepe]
• Various improvements to NVIDIA Video and Audio filters, including a Mask Refresh slider and support for temporal processing, which provides better quality masking [pkv]
• Improved Display Capture screen naming & saving on Windows; indexes should now match regardless of Mode, and reconnected displays should show the correct monitor [jpark37]
  • Note: This does mean existing Display Capture sources will be blank until manually configured, to avoid showing the wrong display
• Added support for encryption and authentication for SRT and RIST outputs [pkv]
• Disabled ScreenCaptureKit Display & App capture on macOS 12 due to various issues; users should either update to macOS 13 or use the existing Screen Capture source [PatTheMav]
• Removed the automatic numbering on Multiview labels [Warchamp7]
• Added the ability to mute individual browser docks [WizardCM]
• Added the ability to right click and 'Inspect' individual browser docks [WizardCM]
• Changed the default Simple Output NVENC preset to P5 for better compatibility & performance [RytoEX]
• Added support for higher refresh rates in the Video Capture Device source on Windows [WizardCM/EposVox]
• Added the Apple VT Hardware encoder to the Auto Configuration Wizard [gxalpha]
• Improved FFmpeg VA-API enablement by directly using Libva to check device capabilities [tytan652]
• Various minor UX/accessibility tweaks in the UI [Warchamp7/cg2121]
• Raised the speed at which dynamic bitrate recovers after a drop [Jim]
• Audio should now be automatically captured for most capture card brands using the Video Capture Device source on Windows [WizardCM/EposVox]
• Added a slide counter to the Source Toolbar when an Image Slide Show is selected [cg2121]

Bug Fixes

• Fixed issues with async filters (such as Delay) not rendering correctly [jpark37]
• Various performance improvements to Decklink preview output [jpark37]
• Fixed an issue where source Projector windows wouldn't close when a source was deleted [cg2121]
• Fixed an issue where cursors would disappear or display incorrectly on screen captures on Windows [caesay]
• Fixed issues with CQP rate control for SVT and AOM AV1 encoders [flaeri]
• Fixed an issue with CQP rate control for AMD HEVC and H264 [flaeri]
• Fixed Virtual Camera not working with Webex and GoToMeeting [Jim]
• Fixed capturing UHD/4K YUV on the AJA Kona HDMI [paulh-aja]
• Fixed a bug where slideshow sources wouldn't remove cleared files when removing missing files [gxalpha]
• Fixed slideshow counter on the source context toolbar showing "1/0" when empty, now shows "-/-" instead [cg2121]
• Fixed chroma location for VAAPI [jpark37]
• Fixed a case where macOS' VideoToolBox HEVC encoder would be parsed as AVC [jpark37]
• Allow SRT streams to disconnect after timeout [pkv]
• Fixed colour space being incorrect for some video devices running in MJPEG video format on Windows [jpark37]
• Fixed monitor names in the Fullscreen Projector & Multiview menus on Windows [WizardCM]

To begin using OBS Studio 29.0, just head over to the OBS Project website and download the correct version for your operating system.

OBS Studio 29.0 launches with AV1 Encoder support on these AMD and Intel GPUs

However, Microsoft has since discovered another issue associated with provisioning, which is leading to app install failures. As a result, the company says elevated privileges may be required. It notes:

Using provisioning packages on Windows 11, version 22H2 (also called Windows 11 2022 Update) might not install all expected apps. Affected apps require elevated privileges to install (must be installed as administrator) and might not have sufficient privileges during provisioning to install. Provisioning packages are .PPKG files which are used to help configure new devices for use on business or school networks. For more information on provisioning packages, please see Provisioning packages for Windows. Note: Provisioning Windows devices using Windows Autopilot is not affected by this issue.

Microsoft says it is working on a permanent fix and will release it in a future update. In the meantime, it has provided a workaround:

Workaround: Any required apps which did not install can be installed after provisioning is complete.

The company once again has reminded affected users about installing the KB5020044 update. The update also fixed gaming-related issues.

Microsoft fixes Windows 11 22H2 broken OOBE but app installs are now failing

While Microsoft is rolling out the upgrade for all eligible systems, you can get your upgrade done right away with this media tool. Here's how you can use the tool.

Compatibility

Before installing Windows 11, you should check if your computer meets the minimum requirements. If you're not sure how to do that, you need the PC health check tool from Microsoft.

To do this, scroll to the bottom of the page and download the app. Once you open the app, you can click the 'check now' button. The app will tell you if the computer is compatible. If it isn't, you will be told what the problem is.

Media Creation Tool

After you've checked your PC compatibility, it's time to download Windows 11. You have three options to do this - use the installation media, create an ISO file, or use the installation assistant. Click on 'create Windows 11 installation media' and then click on download.

You must then choose your media type. You can choose between a USB drive or an ISO file. Once you select the media, accept the terms and hit next. Make sure your USB drive is connected to the computer. The download tool will create an installation media. Once done, click on finish.

If you want it on DVD, you choose the appropriate radio box and choose which folder you want it saved in. Change the name of the file to what you want and click save. Once done, you will also be given the option of writing the ISO data on a DVD.

Installing Windows 11

Now you must insert the drive (USB or DVD) in the computer you want to upgrade. Open the drive and double-click the setup.exe file. Follow the on-screen prompts and click install. Once done, your PC will restart and your Windows 11 will be ready to use.

Time To Upgrade

Now that you know how to upgrade to Windows 11, don't wait for the free upgrade from Microsoft. Follow the steps above and create your very own media creation tool for Windows 11.

How To Use the Windows 11 Media Creation Tool?

What Is the Tablet Mode?

The tablet mode first came into existence when Windows 10 was launched. If you're still using Windows 10, you can enable it by going to settings, then system, and then toggle tablet mode on. This feature allows you to use your device as a tablet.

When the Windows 10 tablet mode is activated, all programs are maximized. You can even use your device's touchscreen to operate it rather than a keyboard.
While the tablet mode is not available on laptops and desktops in Windows 11, you can use it on touchscreen devices.

Using Tablet Mode in Windows 11

Windows 11 does not have the option of switching the tablet mode on or off. This feature is automatically enabled on all touchscreen devices. If you have a 2-in-1 device, you can enable tablet mode by detaching your keyboard.

Switching Off Tablet Mode in Windows 11

While there is no sure way to switch off the tablet mode in Windows 11, the best way is to reattach the keyboard, and the tablet mode should be disabled. However, if the device is still stuck in tablet mode, you can try a few things.

• Check the keyboard connection and see if it is reconnected properly.
• Try rotating the screen to get your device back to its original mode.
• Restarting your Windows 11 device can also disable the tablet mode.

You can also perform a system restore to get your device back to its original position.

Complete Solutions - Vertical or Horizontal

Enabling and disabling the tablet mode in Windows 11 is extremely straightforward. As you can see, it can be done in a few simple steps. If these steps don't work, you can try contacting Microsoft's customer care.

How to Enable Tablet Mode in Windows 11?

Brave Browser supports the feature under the name Night Mode. It is hidden behind an experimental flag on desktop versions of the web browser, and available in the appearance section of the mobile version of Brave Browser for Android.

The name hints at the mode's main purpose: to improve the display of web content when it is dark. Some computer users prefer to display darker colours all the time.

Enabling Night Mode in Brave is a straightforward process. Brave Browser users on Android need to go to Settings > Appearance, and toggle the Enable "Night Mode" (Experimental) feature on the page that opens. A restart of the browser is required.

On desktop versions of Brave, it is necessary to flip an experimental flag instead. For that, load brave://flags/#enable-force-dark in the browser's address bar and change the state of the flag from Default to Enabled. Adventurous users may play around with the different inversion techniques to find the one that is best suited for them. A restart is required to apply the change.

Brave browser applies the dark mode on all sites visited in the web browser after the restart. Users may undo the change by setting the flag to Default on desktop, and to off on the mobile version of Brave.

The browser applies the changes to web content only. Interface colours do not change while the mode is active. The colours of images displayed in articles on webpages are not inverted by default.

Note that Brave Browser supports light and dark modes. These can be applied in the Settings to paint the interface in dark or light colours.

On desktop, Brave users load brave://settings/appearance and set the Brave colours preference to dark or light to make the change. Mobile users need to open Settings > Appearance > Theme to switch between light and dark modes. The default mode is always "system default" in both cases.

Now You: does your favorite browser support light and dark modes for web content or the interface? Which do you prefer?

How to enable Brave Browser's Night Mode for any website

Windows 8.1 users may continue using it, but the system's security issues will no longer be fixed by Microsoft or anyone else. Browsers and other programs will stop getting updates, and some websites will refuse to work as new technologies are no longer supported by the browsers.

Windows 7, which receives the last ESU patches on Tuesday as well, looks to be in a similar situation on first glance. Microsoft won't release updates for it anymore, even though there is still demand for that. Many programs won't receive updates anymore and the situation looks identical to the one that Windows 8.1 users face.

There is a difference, however. 0Patch, known for keeping operating systems and programs alive beyond official support ranges, announced that it will support Windows 7 with at least two additional years of critical security updates. Additionally, it announced this week that it will also support Microsoft Edge on Windows 7 until at least January 2025.

With the security side of things taken care of, Windows 7 is the better option going forward for users and organizations who do not want to upgrade to Windows 10 or can't, for whatever reason. The extended security updates come at a cost, as 0Patch is charging around $25 per year and device for the privilege. Microsoft charged the same amount in the first year of ESU, but doubled the price for the second and third year.

Windows 7 users may still run into compatibility issues that prevent certain programs from running. While some software companies announced end of support already, e.g., Google with its Chrome browser, it is still uncertain for how longer others will support their programs on Windows 7 and also 8.1. Still, it seems likely that some programs will stop working. This would be a major problem in some cases. Gamers, for example, may rely on platforms such as Steam. If Valve, the company behind Steam, decides to end support for Windows 7, it could mean that Steam can't be run anymore on Windows 7 or 8.1.

All things considered, Windows 7 users are still in a better position, provided that they subscribe to 0Patch's offer to receive critical security updates for the next 2 years at least.

Now You: What would you do in that case?

While Windows 7 has a fighting chance, it is game over for Windows 8.1

How to make Windows 11 look like Windows 10

Windows 10 has a very specific aesthetic. While Windows 11 has opted for a more fluid, dynamic design language, there's a remarkable feeling of strength and reliability in the Windows 10 design language. The tips listed below aim to help you bring that feeling of strength and reliability into your Windows 11 space, and it’s easier than you think. 

Related: Windows 11 usage share continues to rise slowly

Step 1: Change your background

Your PC’s background has a relatively large effect on the overall aesthetic of your system. For instance, before I had a Windows 11 PC, I simply downloaded the stock Windows 11 background onto my PC and it felt like I was using a newer system. All you need to do is download a stock Windows 10 background from your favorite wallpaper repository and set it as your background. 

Some would say changing your background should be the last step, but as the background you choose determines the overall theme and feel of your PC, we’d suggest doing it first. 

Step 2: Move your taskbar

Next, you’ll want to move your taskbar. The Windows 11 taskbar is located centrally at the bottom of the screen, whereas that of Windows 10 filled up from the left-hand side. All you need to do is head to your Settings app by hitting the Windows key + i, and then clicking on Personalization. 

From here, find the item that says Taskbar and then head to Taskbar alignment. Here, you’ll be able to align the taskbar to the left so that it resembles Windows 10 more. 

Step 3: Switch out your file explorer

The next step is to change to the classic file explorer. Hit the Windows button + R to open the Run utility. Next, type regedit into the search box and click OK. When you see the UAC prompt, hit Yes. 

You’re now in the registry editor. From here you need to head to the address bar and type in the following string: 

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Shell Extensions

Once you’ve done that, you’ll see an item called Shell extensions. Click on it. Next, hit New, and then select Key from the drop-down menu. Rename the new key Blocked. 

When you’ve done this, right click on the right-hand side of the interface and hover your cursor over New. Now, choose String Value and name it the following:

{e2bf9676-5f8f-435c-97eb-11607a5bedf7}

The last step is to simply restart your PC and the changes should take effect. If you ever want to roll back to the new file explorer, you just need to delete the Blocked key. 

Step 4: Reclaim the old context menu

You’ll need to head back into the registry editor for this one. Once in, paste the following path into the address bar:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\CLSID

Hit enter, and then right click where you see CLSID. Hover your cursor over New, and choose Key, and name it the following:

{86ca1aa0-34aa-4e8b-a509-50c905bae2a2}

Next, you’ll want to right-click on the key you just created, hit New, hit Key again, and then name it the following:

InprocServer32

Once you’ve done that, double click on Default. You’ll find that option right below the new InprocServer32 key. Next, ensure that the field right below Value data is empty, and then hit OK. the last step is to restart your PC and wait for the change to take effect. 

Step 5: Go back to the old Start menu

Head back into the registry editor and paste the following string into the address bar:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced\

Hit Enter, and then right click on the right-hand side of the interface. Hover your cursor over New, and select DWORD (32-bit) Value, and name it the following:

Start_ShowClassicMode

Next, you’ll want to double-click on the entry you created and then type 1 into the Value data box. Click OK to save what you’ve done. You’ll need to restart your PC again before you see any change. 

Step 6: Remove annoying taskbar icons

You won’t need to head back into the registry editor for this one. All you need to do is head to Settings and click on Personalization. Once there, Click on Taskbar and then simply turn off all the taskbar item toggles. That’s it!

Step 7: Use an additional app

Even if you follow all the steps set out above, you still might not be able to achieve the desired effect. If Microsoft wanted you to go back to Windows 10, they never would have made Windows 11’s UI so different. Therefore, simply using the tools that Microsoft provides isn’t going to be enough. Therefore, if you want your PC to look as much like Windows 10 as possible, you should consider using third-party apps to get the job done. A really good app to try is StartIsBack. 

Windows 10 lives again

Even though the aging OS has three years at most, within which it will still be usable and safe, it seems that the energy of Windows 10 is set to endure far longer. With our handy tips above, you can have your Windows 11 OS looking and behaving like Windows 10 in no time!

7 easy ways to make Windows 11 look like Windows 10

The operating systems Windows 7 and 8.1 run out of support in January 2023. Similarly, Windows Server 2012 will run out of support in October 2023. The death of an operating system goes hand in hand with end of support for programs usually.

Google and Microsoft announced already that their browsers won't receive any security updates after the final January 2023 update. Edge, for example, will stop working on the out-of-support Windows versions when Edge 110 is released in February 2023.

Tip: Load edge://settings/help in the Edge address bar to display the current version of the web browser. You may also select Menu > Help & Support > About Microsoft Edge to open the page manually. The version that is installed is displayed underneath the title on the page.

0Patch announced earlier that it plans to deliver security updates for Windows 7 and Windows Server 2012 for at least 2 years after end of support. Now comes the pledge to support Microsoft Edge 109, the last version of the browser, until January 2025. Both services may be extended, depending on demand.

Security patches for Microsoft Edge will be provided for Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 R2 and Windows Server 2012 / 2012 R2. The patches require a commercial account, either Pro or Enterprise. Pro accounts are available for about $25 per year and device.

0Patch instructs customers to update Microsoft Edge to the latest version available for the device, and to keep the update functionality enabled. Microsoft may release emergency updates for the browser even if it is out of support. The company has done so in the past for other products and it may do so again.

All it takes then is to make sure that 0Patch Agent is running on the device and that it is linked to a Pro or Enterprise account. 0Patch focuses on critical security updates.

Closing Words

Microsoft Edge may not be the most desirable web browser for many, judging by its market share, but users may want to weight that against the fact that most web browsers won't receive any update after January 2023 on the retired Windows systems.

Running an out of date version of a browser may result in some services becoming unavailable. It depends largely on the service, but those that check the browser version or use technology that is not supported by Edge 109 may not work properly or at all after the browser has been updated to version 110 and beyond.

Now You: do you run one of the mentioned operating systems? What will you do and use after January 2023? (via Günter Born)

0Patch: security updates for Microsoft Edge on unsupported Windows versions until 2025

Before we start

Before we get into the actual guide, it would be pertinent to mention that there are two different types of updates for Windows 11; builds and cumulative updates. Builds are the big boys; the major updates that furnish your PC with everything from appearance alterations to shiny new features. These are essentially new versions of the Windows 11 OS. Cumulative updates, on the other hand, are smaller updates delivered to patch any vulnerabilities and patches in the Windows 11 OS. Luckily, you can remove both of these types of updates from your system. 

Related: How to downgrade your Windows 11 PC to Windows 10

How uninstall a Windows 11 update

Now that we’ve covered the basics, we can proceed with the guide. This is a really easy process and it’s quite quick to perform. 

How to install a cumulative update on Windows 11

Step 1: Settings

First, you’ll want to head into the Settings app on your PC. You can do this either by hitting the Windows button + i, or by heading into the Start Menu and hitting Settings. 

Step 2: Windows update

Next, you’ll want to scroll down to the bottom of your Settings interface where you see Windows Update. Click on this option. 

Step 3: Update history

Clicking on Windows Update will reveal additional options. The next one you want to click on is Update history. Scrolling to the bottom of the Update history panel will get you to the Uninstall updates button. Click it. 

Step 4: Uninstall

Now, you’ll see a list of updates that you can uninstall. Simply select an update by clicking on it, and then hitting the Uninstall button at the top of the interface. Windows 11 will ask you to confirm your selection. 

How to uninstall builds on Windows 11

Step 1: Settings

You’ll need to had back into Settings for this. Once there, click on System, and then head to Recovery. 

Step 2: Recovery

In the Recovery panel, scroll down to Advanced startup and click Restart now. It’s always best to save any work you have in progress before you restart your PC. 

Step 3: Restart

When your PC reboots, you’ll see Choose an Option on the screen. From here, you’ll want to head to Troubleshoot, and then Advanced options, and, lastly, Uninstall updates. Here, you’ll need to click on Uninstall latest feature update. Now, simply hit Uninstall feature update and the most recently installed Windows 11 build will be removed from your PC. 

Before we go

Before we head into the next exciting article, there’s something you need to know about Windows 11 builds. You can only uninstall builds that have been installed in the last 10 days. If you wait longer than 10 days, you’ll need to reinstall a fresh copy of Windows 11; you won’t be able to roll back the build. You could also initiate a full system backup.

How to uninstall a Windows 11 update

Here is what Microsoft has said about the change in Windows 11 build 25272:

We are removing the suggestion action for searching copied text in Microsoft Edge and showing recommend common websites on the Recommended section in Start – both of which began rolling out with Build 25247. Thanks to all the Insiders who gave us feedback on these two experiences. As a reminder, features and experiences we try out in the Dev Channel may get removed and never released beyond the Dev Channel as we incubate new ideas and get feedback from Insiders.

It is interesting to see Microsoft removing the ability to search highlighted text in Edge, especially considering that Windows 11 lets you modify it to work with other browsers. Microsoft might bring the feature back in future updates or remove it for good due to negative feedback, low usage among insiders, or other factors. Whatever the motivation behind the decision, most users will be happy to see Microsoft making the Start menu arguably less annoying.

Microsoft backtracks one of the worst Start menu changes in Windows 11

Editing the Registry

One way of moving your taskbar is by editing the registry yourself. Before you move ahead with editing the registry, you should know that it is a powerful tool and can cause serious damage to your system if you don't know what you're doing. Open the registry editor. This can be done by clicking the start menu button and typing 'regedit.' In the search results, you will see the registry editor. Click on it. When it opens, type the below address in the address bar and press enter.

Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\StuckRects3

Once loaded, you need to navigate to StuckRects3 and then double-click on settings. This will open the edit binary value window and you will see a table with different values. Now comes the tricky part. Find the second row from the top and then count five columns from the left. You will see a default value of '3' in this field. Place your cursor just ahead of the 3 and press backspace once and change the value to '1.'

Press ok and then restart windows explorer. This can be done by opening the task manager (CTRL+SHIFT+ESC) and then clicking more details. Once there, select the processes tab and look for windows explorer. Right-click on it and press restart. This will move your taskbar to the top of the screen. If you change your mind, follow the above-mentioned steps again and change the value back to '3.'

Modify the Look of Your Screen...with Caution

Now that you know how to edit the registry and make changes, make sure you do it only if necessary. You shouldn't play around with the registry and this can cause a lot of system issues.

How To Move the Taskbar to the Top or Side on Windows 11?

According to WABetaInfo, in the latest 2.23.1.26 version of WhatsApp beta, the company is working on allowing users the option to access conversations on different Android devices without the hassle of backing up chat history on Google Drive. The feature will be accessible by going to WhatsApp Settings > Chats and then choosing the "Chat transfer to Android" option.

To transfer data, users would need to download WhatsApp on the device they wish to share chats to and scan the QR available by opening WhatsApp on the other device. One important thing to note, however, is that while the capability provides a faster way of migrating conversations between devices without updating chat records, it does not replace the significance of backing up chats. Users are still recommended to back up chats regularly to Google Drive to protect their conversations in case they experience issues with their phones.

The feature is in the making and is currently not accessible to Beta testers either. Furthermore, WhatsApp is yet to disclose the launch date for this feature.

Source and images: WABetaInfo

WhatsApp is working on a chat transfer option without the need to update backups on Drive

The release notes reveal that Microsoft removed the recommended websites feature in the Start Menu.

"We are removing the suggestion action for searching copied text in Microsoft Edge and showing recommend common websites on the Recommended section in Start – both of which began rolling out with Build 25247."

Microsoft started showing website recommendations in an earlier build in the Dev channel. The company received criticism for this, as it seemed to introduce another advertising possibility to the operating system.

Patrick's article on annoying Windows 11 Dev channel features that should get dropped included website recommendations.

Arguments leveled against the feature included the following points:

• Recommended focused on recently opened files and installed apps previously for the most part. Website recommendations would take away space from these user-specific recommendations.
• Listing websites under recommended could pave the way for adding more advertisement to the Start Menu of the operating system.

The feature has been removed by Microsoft in this week's Dev Channel Insider build for Windows 11. It seems unlikely that it is going to make a return in a future build.

Edge and Bing Search Suggested Actions is also gone

The very same build of Windows 11 removes another feature that testers found annoying for the most part. A new suggested action feature that pushes Microsoft Edge whenever text was copied on the operating system.

Windows 11 would display a prompt to run a search for the text on Bing using Microsoft Edge; this happened even if another default browser was set on the system already.

Windows 11 users had to disable the Suggested Actions feature in its entirety to disable the prompts.

Closing Words

Windows 11 Developer builds are designed for testing. Some features that Microsoft tests won't make it into the Stable versions of the operating system, and that is sometimes a good thing.

In this case, Microsoft made the right decision to remove the two features again. They offered little of use, as the features were designed more to Microsoft's benefit than the user's.

Now You: what is your take on the features and the removal?

Windows 11: Microsoft removes Website Recommendations and another annoying feature

Microsoft said that affected users would receive an app error or an error from SQL Server, such as "The EMS System encountered a problem" with "Message: [Microsoft][ODBC SQL Server Driver] Protocol error in TDS Stream" or "Message: [Microsoft][ODBC SQL Server Driver]Unknown token received from SQL Server".

Today, Microsoft has finally released a workaround for the issue, though the delay is sort of understandable as it was the holiday season in the U.S. and many other parts of the world. The company writes:

Workaround: To mitigate this issue, you can do one of the following:

• If your app is already using or able to use Data Source Name (DSN) to select ODBC connections, install Microsoft ODBC Driver 17 for SQL Server and select it for use with your app using DSN. Note: We recommend the latest version of Microsoft ODBC Driver 17 for SQL Server, as it is more compatible with apps currently using the legacy Microsoft ODBC SQL Server Driver (sqlsrv32.dll) than Microsoft ODBC Driver 18 for SQL Server.
• If your app is unable to use DSN, the app will need to be modified to allow for DSN or to use a newer ODBC driver than Microsoft ODBC SQL Server Driver (sqlsrv32.dll).

The Redmond company says that it is working on a permanent fix for the issue.

Microsoft finally provides workaround for Windows apps broken by buggy SQL Server driver

At the moment it is not clear why Microsoft added the new icon and option since it is basically doing the same thing that "Pictures" does. However, it is possible that there are more changes in store for later.

To enable the Gallery in the new build 25272, follow the steps below:

Caution: Unannounced features are often raw, unstable, or borderline unusable. Back up important data before using the ViveTool app and enabling hidden options. Remember that using stable Windows 11 is the best way to ensure your system remains as bug-free as possible.

Download ViveTool from GitHub and unpack the files somewhere convenient.

1. Press Win + X and select Terminal (Admin).
2. Switch Windows Terminal to Command Prompt profile by pressing Ctrl + Shift + 2 or clicking the arrow-down button at the top of the window.

    

   
3. Navigate to the folder containing the extracted files using the CD command. For example, if you have extracted ViveTool to C:\Vive, type CD C:\Vive.
4. Type vivetool /enable /id:41040327 and press Enter.
5. (For PowerShell try: .\vivetool /enable /id:41040327)
6. Restart your computer.

If you change your mind and want to go back, repeat the steps above and replace enable with disable in the commands on steps 4 / 5.

New Windows 11 feature "Gallery" has been spotted in latest Dev build