Microsoft Weekly: Serious bug cripples Windows 11 drive C and details about the next Xbox

A serious Windows 11 bug cripples PCs, Microsoft shares details about the next Xbox, and other stories in this week's Microsoft Weekly recap.

A big Windows 11 bug is hitting Samsung users hard, details about the next-generation Xbox, fresh Windows 11 builds with new features, reviews, gaming news, and more in the latest episode of our Microsoft Weekly news recap.

Quick links:

1. Windows 10 and 11
2. Windows Insider Program
3. Updates are available
4. Reviews are in
5. Gaming news

Windows 11 and Windows 10

Here, we talk about everything happening around Microsoft's latest operating system in the Stable channel and preview builds: new features, removed features, controversies, bugs, interesting findings, and more. And, of course, you may find a word or two about older versions.

This week, Microsoft released the March 2026 Patch Tuesday update roundup for Windows 11 and Windows 10. Those on Windows 11 version 25H2 and 24H2 got KB5079473, which packs security updates and new features, including Emoji 16.0, new camera controls, File Explorer improvements, RSAT support for Windows on ARM, and more. For Windows 10 users, Microsoft released KB5078885. No new features in there, since Microsoft ended mainstream Windows 10 support five months ago.

Speaking of new Windows 11 features, a highly-requested taskbar update is delayed. In 2025, Microsoft promised to bring back agenda view in the calendar flyout, but the initial implementation was received to a universal hate. As such, Microsoft removed it, and it is now delayed because the company wants to make it right. The good news about the taskbar is that Microsoft is bringing back the ability to remove tiles in quick action tiles so that you can have only the ones that you need the most.

Those with Samsung laptops running Windows 11 versions 24H2 and 25H2 are not having a good time right now. Microsoft acknowledged a new issue where users get locked out of the system drive after the February 2026 Patch Tuesday updates. Windows 11 does not allow opening the drive, plus affected PCs exhibit other serious issues, including app launch failures, problems with executing common tasks, failures to elevate privileges, and more. Microsoft is investigating the situation, but there are currently no workarounds. There are reports of other issues as well.

While Microsoft investigates problems with drive C on Samsung laptops, the company pushed an emergency update for a critical network flaw on Windows 11 25H2 and 24H2. Also, Microsoft released new Defender updates and a fresh version of official Windows 11 ISO files, now available through the Media Creation Tool app.

If you want a one-click solution for tweaking and customizing Windows 11, you should try Sophia Script. This powerful open-source script lets you apply over 150 Windows tweaks on any system, including what some consider debloating. Unlike people who try to debloat Windows 11 with AI, this script uses officially documented methods, not AI slop.

Did you know that Windows 11 now has a built-in network speed test? The bad news is that it's just a dumb link to Bing.com.

Windows Insider Program

Here is what Microsoft released for Windows Insiders this week:

Updates are available

This section covers software, firmware, and other notable updates (released and coming soon) delivering new features, security fixes, improvements, patches, and more from Microsoft and third parties.

Word, PowerPoint, and Excel for the web are getting a new way to share files. This week, Microsoft announced a new "Publish to web" feature that allows sharing a file in read-only mode using a link, with all version history, notes, comments, and other internal information removed. Microsoft says "Publish to web" also eliminates accidental data leaks where confidential or sensitive information leaves the company unnoticed in a note, comment, or a previous version that the sender forgot to clean. When using the new feature, the receiving side gets only the finalized, polished, read-only document.

Speaking of Office apps for the web, Microsoft is fixing their UI with a new search bar in the header, making it much more useful than the previous version, which only contained a dummy image. The updated UI is currently rolling out for commercial customers of Microsoft 365.

Outlook for Windows, another app from Microsoft's Office suite, is getting a feature that improves offline use. Soon, users will be able to attach files in offline mode and send emails as soon as internet connectivity is restored. The feature was supposed to arrive in February, but Microsoft delayed it to April-May 2026.

Finally, check out Usama Jawad's editorial about why AI features in Microsoft 365 are pointless cost-wise and why no one should bother signing up for them.

On the browser side, we have Firefox 148.0.2, a new minor update for the browser that addresses several bugs with Firefox Home, rich text editors, YouTube autoplay, video quality regression on PCs with NVIDIA GPUs, and more. By the way, as it turned out, Mozilla is not done with Firefox on Windows 7. The company decided to give Firefox 115 ESR six additional months of support. Now its end of support is scheduled for August 2026.

Also, Microsoft released Edge 146 with changes to the browser's password manager, important fixes on Windows 11, UI improvements, and more.

Here are other updates and releases you may find interesting:

• Microsoft released Visual Studio Code 1.111 and switched to a weekly release schedule

• Microsoft is enabling some Windows updates by default for several PCs

• Live transcriptions with translations are coming to Microsoft Teams Rooms on Android

• PowerToys is getting a major update for PowerToys Runner

• Microsoft introduces Copilot Health to analyze your health data from wearable devices

• Microsoft is bringing more AI features to SharePoint and Teams

• Copilot Notebooks get a big redesign in the latest update

• Microsoft 365 Copilot Wave 3 announced: New agentic features for Word, Excel, and Outlook

• Microsoft debuts $99/month "E7" tier for Microsoft 365 Enterprise

   

Here are the latest drivers and firmware updates released this week:

• NVIDIA 595.79 WHQL Game Ready driver with optimizations for Crimson Desert and Death Stranding 2. The driver also includes fixes for several other games and a bug breaking GPU overclocking (it was recently fixed with a hotfix update).
• AMD 8.02.18.557 Chipset Driver. The update only includes bug fixes.

Reviews are in

Here is the hardware and software we reviewed this week

Neowin had plenty of reviews published this week. Steven Parker reviewed the GEEKOM A5 Pro 2026 Edition mini PC, highlighting its tiny footprint, good all-metal case, and solid display output. His second review features the GMKtec NucBox K15, a power-efficient mini PC with good cooling, DDR5 memory, and HDMI 2.1 ports. It was followed by the GMKtec AD-GP1, an external GPU dock with OCUlink and USB4.

Moving from mini PCs, we have a review of the Cuktech 15 Air, a compact power bank with silicon-carbon battery and GaN components, a hands-on review of the GameSir G7 PRO ZZZ, and a review of Monster Hunter Stories 3.

On the gaming side

Learn about upcoming game releases, Xbox rumors, new hardware, software updates, freebies, deals, discounts, and more.

At GDC, Microsoft announced new details about Project Helix, its next-generation Xbox that will be able to play not just console games, but PC games as well. Microsoft said that the console will be powered by an SoC from AMD, and it will feature massive improvements in ray tracing performance, plus tech like AMD FSR, Neural Rendering, ML upscaling, and more. Unfortunately, we are still pretty far away from consumer-ready products, as Microsoft only plans to reveal "alpha versions of the hardware" for developers somewhere in 2027.

Big gaming news does not end there. Next month, Microsoft will release the new Xbox mode for all Windows 11 PC form factors. Microsoft's take on Steam Big Picture aims to give users "a clean, distraction-free interface, while still giving them the flexibility to seamlessly switch back to the Windows desktop at any time." In addition to that, Microsoft is expanding Advanced Shader Delivery to all game developers to improve performance in games.

Minecraft fans should mark March 21 in their calendars, as Mojang announced the next Minecraft Live, its regular event where the studio plans to detail the upcoming "Tiny Takeover" content update. Additionally, Mojang promised to unveil some "Secret Stuff" outside the upcoming game drop, so tune in for the event on March 21 at 10 AM PT.

NVIDIA GeForce NOW is getting some big updates for VR gaming. Also, NVIDIA is adding GOG support, new games, and more.

Finally, check out this week's Weekend PC Deals article with a fresh giveaway from the Epic Games Store, new bundles from Humble Bundle, and a lot of discounts on various games across other storefronts.

Source

Hope you enjoyed this news post. Feedback welcome.

Posted Sunday 15 March 2026 at 12:02 pm AEST (my time).

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