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About a month ago, Microsoft closed the long-standing loophole that let customers activate Windows 10 and 11 using old Windows 7, 8, and 8.1 keys. In addition, the company blocked the free upgrade path, preventing those using pre-Windows 10 versions from updating to newer releases without paying Microsoft for a new license. It now seems that the change is throwing wrenches into systems that should not be affected.

Microsoft officially launched its Forms service for Windows 365 business users in 2018 and it was made available for personal users in 2019. However, the service, which lets users create polls, surveys and more, has been web-based for the most part, although it could also be accessed via Microsoft Teams and in Microsoft 365 office apps like PowerPoint.

This Reddit thread highlights the joy of switching TO Windows from Linux
I use Windows 11 every day, obviously. But I also use Linux and Chrome OS pretty much every day, too. I don't use macOS because as much as I've tried, I can't find anything to like about it. I do this in part to keep abreast of the competition, but also because I actually enjoy using these different platforms. 

Microsoft has released its Patch Tuesday update for Windows 11 23H2 and 22H2 (KB5032190). It's the same KB update for both versions of Windows but depending on which version you have, you'll land on a different Build number, either 22621.2715 or 22631.2715.

It's the second Tuesday of the month, which means it's Patch Tuesday time again. As such, today Microsoft is rolling out the monthly security update (also called "B release") for November 2023 on Windows Server 20H2, and Windows 10 for the latest supported versions, 20H2, 21H2, and 22H2. The new updates are being distributed under KB5032189, bumping up the builds to 19044.3693 and 19045.3693.

If you're looking for a File Explorer replacement, the Files app is what you need, and here's how to get started.

On Windows 11, if you're looking for an alternative to File Explorer, the Files is the app you want to use. Files (or Files App, as listed in the Microsoft Store) is an open-source file manager designed to be more modern and easier to use than the default manager built into the operating system.
 
In addition to the sleek design and intuitive interface, the Files app includes many of the same features as File Explorer, plus several powerful features to browse and manage files and folders on Windows 11. (The app also works on Windows 10.)

Admins will now get three additional years of Extended Security Updates (ESUs) for Windows Server 2012.

Microsoft released Windows 11 version 23H2 this week. And while the ISOs have been available since the announcement, the official Microsoft Media Creation Tool is still not able to download the update. When inquired about the matter, the company confirmed that it still needed "optimization" and would be ready next week.
 
Alongside the 2023 update, Microsoft also released dynamic updates to improve the Windows Recovery (WinRE), as well as the Setup files, speaking of which, the Out of Box Experience (OOBE) was updated as well, though it was for 22H2 only. Now, the company has released a couple of them to optimize for 23H2 as well.

It was yet another fairly quiet week for the Microsoft 365 roadmap, but there were still a few interesting new additions, especially for Microsoft Teams users.

On Friday, we took note of the 40th anniversary of the official reveal of Windows 1.0 by Microsoft on November 10, 1983 (although the actual launch of the OS wouldn't happen for another two years).
 
Over two years before that, in August 1981, Microsoft released the first version of its MS-DOS operating system. That version wasn't technically developed by the company; it bought the rights to a previously made OS, 86-DOS, from a programmer named Tim Paterson.
 
However, even before those two events, Microsoft sold its first computer operating system, which was officially announced on August 25, 1980. It was called Xenix and at the time, Microsoft had hoped it would be the standard OS for the personal computer market. In the end, that didn't happen.

In this episode of Microsoft Weekly, we look at irritating OneDrive updates (and subsequent damage control from Microsoft), Copilot coming to Windows 10, Office 2024 leaks, fresh Canary and Dev builds with interesting changes, plenty of app updates, 40 years of Windows, 20 years of Patch Tuesday, and weird-looking game controllers.

Google is rollingout the Chrome 2023 design refresh to more and more users. You may notice that the design is more colourful and that you can select different themes that range from "that's bold and mighty bright" to the classic white grayish look.
 
Chrome users who still don't see the new theme may enable the Google Chrome 2023 design refresh, if they want to, even in Chrome Stable.

The new Outlook for Windows application will replace Mail and Calendar, and also classic Outlook. Problem is, it may transfer third-party email logins to Microsoft and gives Microsoft full access to all emails, contacts and events.

The Mail app hits end-of-life in 2024, so try Wino instead.

Microsoft announced that they will discontinue the nostalgic and simple Mail, Calendar, and People applications at the end of 2024, with Outlook set to replace them for an out-of-the-box Windows 11 experience. Some of my colleagues don't appreciate the Mail & Calendar apps, as is obvious in that article. However, some like the ease of use and simplicity of just seeing your mail in one application and not having to deal with calendar notifications and everything else.

In a surprise move, Microsoft is reportedly planning to release a new standalone version of its Office suite in 2024. The new version, called Office 2024, is currently in development and is expected to be released in the third or fourth quarter of the year.

By Susan Bradley

Trick or treat? Microsoft released Windows 11 23H2 on Halloween.

On top of that, November’s Patch Tuesday is just around the corner, and Copilot will continue to dribble out — even on 22H2 — in the November security releases. Therefore, I’ve raised the MS-DEFCON level to 2.

Rufus is a small and free utility for creating bootable USB drives for installing various operating systems. Unlike Microsoft's Media Creation Tool (MCT) app, which supports only Windows 10 and 11, Rufus also works with Windows 7, 8.1, 10, 11, Linux, and other operating systems.
 
Besides better OS support, Rufus provides several quality-of-life improvements, especially for those wanting to install Windows 11. For starters, Rufus can bypass TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot requirements to create an install media compatible with older and officially unsupported hardware.

Every week we take a close look at the most pirated movies on torrent sites. What are pirates downloading? 'A Haunting in Venice' tops the chart, followed by 'Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One'. ‘Five Nights at Freddy's' completes the top three.
 
The data for our weekly download chart is estimated by TorrentFreak, and is for informational and educational reference only.
 
Downloading content without permission is copyright infringement. These torrent download statistics are only meant to provide further insight into piracy trends. All data are gathered from public resources.

At the end of September this year, Microsoft's in-house word processor and text editor Word celebrated its 40th birthday and we did a special feature looking back at its history, development, and evolution. Of course, Microsoft, too, did something similar to celebrate the app's birth anniversary. It also talked a bit about what users can expect in the future from the application.

Microsoft released Windows 11 version 23H2 this week. And while the ISOs have been available since the announcement, the official Microsoft Media Creation Tool is still not able to download the update. When inquired about the matter, the company confirmed that it still needed "optimization" and would be ready next week.
 
Alongside the 2023 update, Microsoft also released dynamic updates to improve the Windows Recovery (WinRE), as well as the Setup files. Speaking of which, the OOBE was updated as well.
 
Perhaps coincidentally if not actively planned for, popular third-party Windows customization and modding tool, Windhawk, received its latest update yesterday following the Windows 11 2023 update. The new version is a significant release as the application is no longer in beta.

The Files app, a popular third-party file explorer for Windows 10 and 11, received a major update under version 3.0. It is now available for download from the official website and the Microsoft Store, bringing customers a redesigned interface, modern copy-paste progress dialogs, Office documents preview, built-in commands, faster performance, new icons, and more.

Looking for the best uninstaller software for your Windows-based PC? If yes, this is the article for you. The built-in Microsoft tool often fails to remove programs properly, while decent third-party uninstallers can delete all traces of software. Still, they can be hard to find.
 
So, I decided to make things easier for you and compiled a list of the most efficient removal tools. I’ve tested 15 of the most recommended apps to see if they’re worth their salt. You can find out more about my research parameters and testing process below.

Microsoft released Edge 119 in the Stable Channel on November 3, 2023, bringing users several new features, such as Split Screen and sidebar app improvements. However, it also changes the Sidebar setting section: Microsoft quietly moved the toggle for turning the sidebar on or off, causing customers to think you can no longer disable it.

In this episode of Microsoft Weekly, we look at the release of Windows 11 version 23H2 with its bugs and quirks, deprecated features in Windows 10 and 11, new preview builds, changes in Surface firmware updates, Windows 11's growing market share, plenty of app updates, the end of the Windows Insider MVP program, and more.

Microsoft released Windows 11 version 23H2 this week. And while the ISOs have been available since the announcement, the official Microsoft Media Creation Tool is still not able to download the update. When inquired about the matter, the company confirmed that it still needed "optimization" and would be ready next week.