Articles related to Microsoft’s Windows Operating Systems
After watching some YouTube videos, I discovered that Microsoft keeps a log of your activities in a file called “ActivitiesCache.db”. I thought it was only for Windows 11, but I also found the file on all of my Windows 10 computers. The path to the […]
If you’ve recently upgraded to Windows 11, I strongly suggest checking which apps are set to auto-start with Windows. How To Check Startup Apps There are several options to view and manage startup apps in Windows 11: Right-click in the Taskbar and select “Task Manager”,
Recently I experienced an issue with my Windows 11 installation whereby an update was stuck in one of those interminable loops… install/undoing changes/retry/install/undoing changes, on and on. I tried all the usual fixes, including resetting Windows Update components, renaming the SoftwareDistribution and catroot2 folders, etc.,
Microsoft has added a new feature to Windows 11 that has the ability to automatically repair a non-booting system. This new feature is called “Quick machine recovery” (QMR) and, while it’s available in all Insider builds, I believe the general release is still in the
I’ve been fixing PCs for more than 20 years, from Windows XP to Windows 11, and I can barely remember when Recovery Mode has actually recovered anything. In fact, it’s worse now than it ever was and even more difficult to invoke. Remember when you
Microsoft has started rolling out the latest Windows 11 iteration, Windows 11 25H2. The rollout will be gradual/staggered, so if you don’t see a notification right away, you will eventually. Microsoft describes the latest update as an “enablement package”: Windows 11, version 25H2 will be
One of the most common user complaints about Windows 11 involves the changes to UI elements. One that annoys me is the new right-click context menu, which seems to go on forever and requires a second click to fully open it. In this article, I’ll
I usually set my desktops to power down the monitors after 15 minutes when my system is not in use, but the monitor hooked up to my Asus computer stopped powering down. You can get to these power settings by typing “power” in the search.
Microsoft has recently announced further steps to prevent users from signing in via a local account: Local-only commands removal: We are removing known mechanisms for creating a local account in the Windows Setup experience (OOBE). While these mechanisms were often used to bypass Microsoft account
Microsoft Insisting On Microsoft Account Sign-In Read More »
Windows 10 will reach End Of Life (EOL) on October 14, 2025. Microsoft is offering consumers a few methods for enabling Extended Security Updates (ESU). But first, you have to see a prompt in your Security and Updates window to enroll. To get there, do
Enabling Windows 10 Extended Security Updates (ESU) Read More »
Microsoft has agreed to provide Windows 10 users in the European Economic Area (EEA) with free extended security updates until 13th October 2026. Microsoft’s decision follows pressure from representatives of the Euroconsumers group, who pointed out that Microsoft’s plan to stop providing security updates as
Microsoft Provides Free Windows 10 ESU For Europe Read More »
I wrote about using a “Guermok Video Capture Card” (actually a USB) to record videos from my Android TV box to my computer. I had it for about six months, then it just stopped working. Windows initially recognized it as a “USB3 Video” device, but it
I had my old Gateway desktop decommissioned for a spell. I’m going to hook it up again and connect it to my network for backup purposes, similar to my own NAS. One problem arose: my computer desktop was too big to fit the TV screen.
Yet another sensationalist headline – e.g., Windows 10 usage share climbs while Windows 11’s falls – is doing the rounds, suggesting that Windows 11’s user base is shrinking with a corresponding increase in Windows 10 users. These headlines are predicated on numbers provided by StatCounter,
