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Microsoft has resolved a known issue that caused Outlook Desktop to unexpectedly prompt users to reopen previously closed windows.
 
"This problem has been addressed in Version 2309 Build 16827.20130. To install the update immediately, select File > Office Account > Update Options > Update Now," Microsoft says in an update to the original August support document acknowledging the bug.

The Microsoft 365 Roadmap website was pretty busy this week, especially on the Microsoft Team side of things. There were also some new Outlook and OneDrive additions to the roadmap over the last seven days.

Earlier this week, we looked at the launch of the first version of Microsoft Word in 1983. We mentioned that there were a number of conflicting dates for the actual launch of the program. Thankfully, that's not the case for the release of another major Microsoft software product, Excel.
 
All of the online resources we have seen including Microsoft's own history page, show that the first release of Microsoft Excel happened on September 30, 1985, or 38 years ago today.

When Mozilla launched the redesigned version of Firefox for Android in 2019 as a preview, it changed several key features of the browser. The classic Firefox for Android browser was not restricted when it came to the installation of extensions. While some extensions were not compatible, usually because they were designed with desktop operating systems in mind, many extensions could be installed.

In this episode of Microsoft Weekly, we look at the latest feature update for Windows 11, questionable File Explorer changes, no more Windows 11 activation with old keys, fresh Windows Insider builds, plenty of Surface updates, gaming news, and more.

Microsoft Copilot needs to hurry it along if I'm to actually use it.

Microsoft's new AI Copilot for Windows 11 is now rolling out, but it's still too slow to be something that people are actually going to want to use. I highlighted this issue when the Windows Copilot first launched in preview back in June; the AI model takes too long to process your commands or queries, to a point where it makes more sense to do the task or find the information yourself.

This week, the Windows 11 22H2 Moment 4 update went live under KB5030310 (build 22621.2361). As such, Microsoft has also released upgrades to improve the Windows out-of-the-box experience (OOBE) with new KB5030323 and KB5031274 updates.
 
The March OOBE update, for example, added a Shim to improve compatibility with Component Object Model (COM) objects. Meanwhile, the April OOBE update also addressed compatibility issues, but this time it was related to the registry.

In December 2022, we published a short PSA, reminding users they could still activate Windows 11 and 10 with valid Windows 7, 8, and 8.1 keys. This practice dates back to 2015 when Microsoft launched Windows 10 with a one-year free upgrade window. Besides letting Windows 7/8 users upgrade for free to Windows 10, Microsoft allowed activating its newest OS using keys from the previous releases.
 
Upgrade from Windows 7 and 8 to Windows is no longer possible, and it now seems that Microsoft is removing the loophole to prevent users from activating Windows 11 with old Windows license keys.

Four years since the launch of the Raspberry Pi 4, the Raspberry Pi 5 has arrived with a performance boost and house silicon that adds support for PCIe 2.0.

Despite doubts that the Raspberry Pi 5 would launch this year, the latest version of the microcomputer has arrived with some notable upgrades at a $60 starting price. Not only is it supposed to perform better than its predecessor, but it’s also the first Raspberry Pi to come with in-house silicon.

By Susan Bradley (AKA The Microsoft patch lady)
Every month, I read headlines claiming that the latest patches for Windows 11 22H2 are causing major issues and impacting gazillions of users.
Every month, I also note that the deployments of Windows 11 in my home and office are well behaved. Some of that is surely the result of my tender ministrations, such as using an alternate menu system. But for the rest, Windows 11 is not some sort of monster stomping through neighborhoods and ruining lives.

Back in July, Microsoft for the first time, publicly announced Windows 11 version 23H2. Alongside that, the company also clarified that the system requirements for the feature update will remain unchanged.
 
While many thought, including Neowin, that the recent September 26 feature update was 23H2, Microsoft clarified later that it had been planned for a different date. However, Microsoft did roll out a bunch of 23H2 features early with the Moment 4 update. In case you missed it, it has been live since last night.

The Patch Tuesday update, which is the monthly Windows security update, is known to often arrive with some issues or bugs. However, the latest one for September, KB5030211, had no known issues, and very few reported issues online or on the Feedback hub. Microsoft though has managed to ruin it as it has seemingly begun pushing the new Windows Backup app on Windows 10 Pro 22H2 and LTSC systems without the option to easily uninstall it.
 
The Patch Tuesday update brings this change unannounced as the release notes did not mention such a thing. The issue was brought to the attention by a Reddit user Esky013, who is presumably an IT administrator, on the Intune subreddit. They explained:
 
After applying the September CU for Windows 10 22H2 (KB5030211), there is a shiny new Start Menu shortcut for Windows Backup. It doesn't work in any of the environments we look after ("This feature is not supported by your organisation") due to policies applied, and we don't want or need it in the Start Menu. If it's not there it will save the questions from users, too.

Do more in less time with our pick of keyboard shortcuts.

Getting around Windows 11 is a lot easier if you know a keyboard shortcut or five. You can then speed through tasks and across apps without having to fumble around for the mouse and trackpad (or even take your eyes off the screen).
 
These are some of my favorites that I turn to again and again on a daily basis. From helping you go between apps more quickly to navigating your system, there should be at least something here for everyone.

Microsoft has been repeatedly caught showing unwanted ads in Windows 11, including in notifications, Bing, and Edge. This has been a growing concern for users for some time — so, of course, people want to disable ads in Windows 11 whatever it takes. 
 
You may recall that Microsoft tested ads on Windows 11’s Settings page in an insider build back in May. It wasn’t the one and only time: they once showed huge banner ads promoting Edge on Chrome‘s download site, and the list goes on. 

Every week we take a close look at the most pirated movies on torrent sites. What are pirates downloading? 'Blue Beetle' tops the chart, followed by 'Barbie'. ‘Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny' completes the top three.

The data for our weekly download chart is estimated by TorrentFreak, and is for informational and educational reference only.  

These torrent download statistics are only meant to provide further insight into the piracy trends.

All data are gathered from public resources.

The next Windows 11 feature update, unofficially called "Moment 4," will be available for the general public in the Stable Channel on September 26, 2023. However, you can install it now if waiting is not an option. This guide will show you how to install Windows 11 Moment 4 update now and after the September 26, 2023 release.

Not so long ago, X (formerly Twitter) user @NTDEV_ released tiny10 version 23H2, giving users a clean and lightweight Windows 10 modification. tiny11 23H2 followed suit shortly. Although there is no shame in using Windows 10, most users will upgrade to Windows 11, or whatever comes after it, sooner or later.
 
What if you want to try tiny11 but do not want to perform a clean install? The good news is that you can upgrade from tiny10 to tiny11 without losing your apps, settings, and files, even if your PC's hardware is not eligible to run Windows 11 officially. Here is how.

Fan-made concepts are always fun to look at not only because they often offer a drastically different version than what the official one is, but also because they show what the enthusiasts and fans of that product deeply desire to have.
 
This is why they are generally quite popular among readers and viewers as some of the User Interface (UI) and User Experience (UX) ideas presented in such concepts deeply resonate with people.

Update: Microsoft says the upcoming release is "an update to 22H2," not version 23H2. Original article below.
 
During its special event in New York, Microsoft announced the next feature update for its operating system. It will be available as a free update for all users on September 26, 2023.
 
The upcoming update will bring plenty of various changes and new features, with the biggest upgrade focusing on AI and the recently announced Copilot. Like the update itself, the Copilot will come out of its preview stage on September 26, 2023. Other AI-powered features include background removal in Paint (also layers, transparency and PNG support, and more), optical character recognition in Snipping Tool, background blur in the Photos app, and more.

Microsoft's Windows 11 operating system may show suggestions as popups regularly on the computer using the notification's system. Initially designed to give users tips and suggestions on improving workflows with Windows 11, the suggestions system has been turned almost entirely into an advertising system that promotes Microsoft services and products.
 
Suggested popups may advertise Microsoft 365 subscriptions to the user, suggest to link Android phones to the device, or set up a backup solution.
 
If these popups annoy you, you may tweak the system to disable them entirely. The following guide provides step-by-step instructions on disabling popup suggestions on devices running Microosft's Windows 11 operating system.

Microsoft plans to launch the fourth Moment update for Windows 11 next week as part of the month's optional updates for the operating system.
 
The Moment update includes a preview version of Windows Copilot, Microsoft's AI-powered helper, File Explorer changes and some other changes. You can check out our review of the most important features of the update here.

Mozilla plans to change the information that its open source Firefox web browser displays in the address bar. Once the change lands, Firefox won't display https:// in the browser's address bar anymore, but the http:// protocol. This switcheroo changes the display of the protocol in the browser as current versions of Firefox display https:// but not http://.

Every week we take a close look at the most pirated movies on torrent sites. What are pirates downloading? 'Barbie' tops the chart, followed by 'Retribution'. ‘Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny' completes the top three.
 
The data for our weekly download chart is estimated by TorrentFreak, and is for informational and educational reference only.
 
These torrent download statistics are only meant to provide further insight into the piracy trends. All data are gathered from public resources.

The next feature update for Windows 11 is just around the corner, and with it comes Windows Copilot. In this guide, we explain how you can turn off Windows Copilot entirely. Most guides out there focus on hiding the Windows Copilot icon on the taskbar, but that does not put the feature to rest entirely.

In this episode of Microsoft Weekly: lightweight Windows 11, Patch Tuesday updates, AI-powered features for inbox Windows apps, plenty of Surface updates, Xbox-branded credit cards, Surface leaks with eye-watering price tags, weird Windows shortcuts, and more.