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  1. hellowalkman
    Microsoft: We are working on KB5034441/KB5034440 "0x80070643 - ERROR_INSTALL_FAILURE" fix by Sayan Sen Microsoft released the first Windows 10 and 11 Patch Tuesday updates of 2024, last week, with the January updates KB5034122 and KB5034123 respectively. The updates are meant to address security issues within Windows. The one for 11 also fixes the recent Wi-Fi troubles that led to networks not connecting or the Wi-Fi icon not showing. In a separate article, the company has also detailed a fix for a WinRE (Windows Recovery Environment) security vulnerability that can lead to BitLocker encryption bypass. The issue is being tracked under ID "CVE-2024-20666". Microsoft said that the security flaw could allow attackers to bypass BitLocker encryption if they are able to get physical access to an unpatched PC. However, this is not one of those WinRE updates that is seamlessly installing on PCs. Users report that the update is failing to install with the error message "0x80070643 - ERROR_INSTALL_FAILURE" which indicates insufficient WinRE partition size. The solution is to resize the partition manually. You can do so by following this dedicated guide here. Neowin forum supervisor / mod and ESET's Distinguished Researcher Aryeh Goretsky (X account) also experienced the issue which they were able to fix by increasing the recovery partition. Goretsky writes: Hello, I can confirm that the KB5034441 hotfix failed on a Windows 10 VM with a Windows Recovery partition that was 511MB in size. I decided to increase it to 1024MB in size, just in case more space was needed in the future. The hotfix installed normally afterwards. Regards, Aryeh Goretsky Microsoft of course has been aware of this problem almost from the start which is why it has been recommending the manual resize workaround as soon as it published the WinRE updates. Yesterday, on its Windows health dashboard, the company has added the issue and notes that a fix is coming via a future update. Microsoft says: Devices attempting to install the January 2024 Windows Recovery Environment update ( KB5034441/KB5034440) might display an error related to the size of the Recovery Environment's partition. Resulting from this error, the following message might be displayed. "0x80070643 - ERROR_INSTALL_FAILURE" Workaround: It might be necessary to increase the size of the WinRE partition in order to avoid this issue and complete the installation. Note that 250 megabytes of free space is required in the recovery partition. Guidance to change the WinRE partition size can be found in KB5028997: Instructions to manually resize your partition to install the WinRE update. Next steps: We are working on a resolution and will provide an update in an upcoming release. Aside from this BitLocker encryption vulnerability, Microsoft has recently updated its Microsoft Printer Metadata Troubleshooter Tool to patch against a Remote Code Execution (RCE) security flaw.
  2. hellowalkman
    Microsoft issues KB5034440, KB5034441 Windows updates for BitLocker Secure Boot flaw by Sayan Sen Update: Microsoft has confirmed a true fix is coming so users don't have to manually work around the problem. Microsoft released the first Windows 10 and 11 Patch Tuesday updates of 2024 earlier yesterday with the January updates KB5034122 and KB5034123 respectively. The updates are meant to address security issues within Windows. The one for 11 also fixes the recent Wi-Fi troubles that led to networks not connecting or the Wi-Fi icon not showing. In a separate article, the company has also detailed another security fix for a BitLocker Secure Boot bypass vulnerability that is being tracked under ID "CVE-2024-20666". Microsoft says that the security flaw could allow attackers to bypass BitLocker encryption if they are able to get physical access to an unpatched PC. The issue has been addressed by KB5034441 (on Windows 10) and KB5034440 (on Windows 11) which is a WinRE (Windows Recovery Environment) update. Microsoft in its bulletins explains: KB5034440: Windows Recovery Environment update for Windows 11, version 21H2: January 9, 2024 Summary This update addresses a security vulnerability that could allow attackers to bypass BitLocker encryption by using Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE). ... KB5034441: Windows Recovery Environment update for Windows 10, version 21H2 and 22H2: January 9, 2024 Summary This update addresses a security vulnerability that could allow attackers to bypass BitLocker encryption by using Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE). You cannot manually download this update from the Microsoft Update Catalog website as it will automatically be downloaded whilst you are connected to the internet alongside the Patch Tuesday update. The patch is being rolled out to both Windows 10 versions, 22H2 and 21H2. Alongside this, Microsoft has also cautioned about inadequate space on the recovery partition which can lead to a "0x80070643 - ERROR_INSTALL_FAILURE" error message. It writes: Some computers might not have a recovery partition that is large enough to complete this update. Because of this, the update for WinRE might fail. In this case, you will receive the following error message: Windows Recovery Environment servicing failed. (CBS_E_INSUFFICIENT_DISK_SPACE) Known issue Because of an issue in the error code handling routine, you might receive the following error message instead of the expected error message when there is insufficient disk space: 0x80070643 - ERROR_INSTALL_FAILURE You can fix this issue by allocating an additional 250 MB of storage space to the recovery partition. Details on how to do that can be found in this dedicated article. Aside from this, the company has also addressed an RCE vulnerability for the recently released Printer metadata fixer tool.
  3. TarasBuria
    Microsoft is working on new lock screen features for Windows 10 by Taras Buria The first Windows 11 preview build in 2024 introduced a new weather widget for the operating system's lock screen with richer visuals and the ability to open more weather data from the lock screen (in Microsoft Edge, of course, not the stock Weather app). In a somewhat surprising move, Microsoft decided to port the new widget from Windows 11 to Windows 10. Microsoft announced the new weather widget for Windows 10 in the latest Release Preview update for the outgoing operating system. The company said that the richer weather experience on the lock screen would arrive on Windows 10 in the "coming weeks." You may remember that Microsoft said it no longer plans to release new feature updates for Windows 10. However, the Windows division recently experienced a notable management shift. As a result of that change, Microsoft is adjusting its efforts to port more new capabilities from Windows 11 to Windows 10, which still has an enormous install base with more than one billion monthly active devices. Copilot is probably the most notable feature Windows 10 borrowed from its successor, and the new Weather experience that serves as a gateway to MSN and Microsoft Edge (it really should launch the Weather app instead) shows that Microsoft wants to use those hundreds of millions Windows 10 users to boost its services. Moreover, according to Windows Central, Microsoft plans to resurrect the Beta Channel of the Windows Insider program for Windows 10 to let users test new features before they come to the general public. As of right now, the only channel available to Windows 10 users is Release Preview. Despite all those changes, Windows 10 is still on track to reach its end of life in October 2025. Those unwilling to migrate to Windows 11 (and whatever Microsoft plans to ship later this year) will be able to pay Microsoft for extended security updates.
  4. hellowalkman
    Copilot rebels rejoice: Microsoft says new key won't be part of Windows device certification by Sayan Sen The tech sphere is abuzz at the moment with Artificial Intelligence (AI) and all that it can do. Microsoft of course is no exception to that as it hasn't taken its foot off the gas when it comes to AI integration in its various products and services including Windows. Microsoft's AI products are generally under the banner name of Copilot, and the company has been trying very hard to build up the hype in order to convince the industry and people why it is such a great thing to have. Back in November, Microsoft published a blog post explaining how users really needed to have Copilot even though they may not have wanted it. This was only a month after Microsoft's CEO Satya Nadella expressed how they felt about Copilot, and even likened it to the second coming of the Windows Start button in terms of its potential revolutionary impact. Taking inspiration from its own idea perhaps, Microsoft, this CES, introduced the new Copilot button on keyboards that will launch Copilot, similar to the Windows key that launches the Start menu. This key, the company says, will be on new laptops and desktop keyboards starting this January; the tech giant is clearly trying to replicate the success of the Start button with this move, while also stimulating new hardware sales for manufacturers who will have to bring to market a keyboard with the new key. In a statement to Dr. Windows, Microsoft has elaborated on the position of the key. The company said: The placement of the Copilot key varies depending on the manufacturer, but generally it is on the right side of the space bar opposite the WIN key. In some cases the key replaces the right CTRL key, on some larger keyboards there is space for both the right CTRL key and the Copilot key, and in other cases the Copilot key is combined with the “Menu” key (the Menu key is accessed secondary with the Fn key + Copilot key). And if you are one of the naysayers of this key, there is some good news for you too as the article further notes that the Copilot key is apparently not mandatory and hence won't be part of Windows device certification, at least not for the moment. Hence, if you don't want the Copilot key taking up any real estate space on your keyboard, you will still have the option to choose not to, although, on laptops and notebooks, this choice will likely become very limited as they are prebuilt and you will have to balance features and performance aspects of the device as well.
  5. John Callaham
    Windows 10 version 22H2 Release Preview build 19045.3992 (KB5034203) is now available by John Callaham Microsoft has dropped the Windows 10 version 22H2 build 19045.3992 under KB5034203 for members of the Windows Insider Program in the Release Preview channel. It includes two small new features and a number of bug fixes. Here is the changelog: New! This update adds a feature for eye control system settings. You can back up these settings from the former device while you set up a new device. Then those settings will install automatically on the new device so you can use them when you reach the desktop. New! The coming weeks will bring a richer weather experience to your lock screen. This includes dynamic, interactive weather updates. So, as you hover over the weather on your lock screen, you will see more information. When you tap or click on the weather card and sign in, Microsoft Edge opens with the full forecast in MSN weather. If you already use Weather in Settings > Personalization > lock screen > Lock screen status, there is nothing for you to do. Also, this new experience will be on by default if Lock screen status is set to “None.” Like today, lock screen status will be available when you lock your screen no matter which personalization option you select (Windows spotlight, Picture, or Slideshow). This update addresses an issue that affects an Internet Explorer shortcut. After you use a policy to remove it, the shortcut reappears. This update addresses an issue that affects Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI). A caching issue occurs. The issue causes CurrentTimeZone to change to the wrong value. This update addresses an issue that affects XPath queries on FileHash and other binary fields. It stops them from matching values in event records. This update addresses a known issue that affects BitLocker data-only encryption. A mobile device management (MDM) service, such as Microsoft Intune, might not get the right data. This update addresses an issue that affects some single-function printers. They might install as a scanner. This update addresses an issue that affects the Code Integrity Module (ci.dll). This issue stops your device from responding. This update includes quarterly changes to the Windows Kernel Vulnerable Driver Blocklist file, DriverSiPolicy.p7b. It adds to the list of drivers that are at risk for Bring Your Own Vulnerable Driver (BYOVD) attacks. This update affects Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) Secure Boot systems. It adds a renewed signing certificate to the Secure Boot DB variable. You can now opt for this change. This update addresses an issue that stops you from reconnecting to an existing Remote Desktop session. Instead, you get a new one. This update addresses an issue that occurs when you change the keyboard language. The change fails to apply to RemoteApps in some scenarios. This update addresses an issue that affects Windows Local Administrator Password Solution (LAPS) Post Authentication Actions (PAA). The actions occur at restart instead of at the end of the grace period. This update addresses an issue that affects Active Directory. Bind requests to IPv6 addresses fail. This occurs when the requestor is not joined to a domain. This update addresses an issue that affects the LocalUsersAndGroups CSP. It stops processing group memberships if it cannot find a group. This update addresses an issue that affects deleted cloud files. When a cloud provider vetoes a deletion request, the files might still be removed. This update addresses an issue that affects MSIX applications. They do not open, and, in some cases, they make the host unresponsive. This occurs when they use MSIX App Attach with a CimFS image. This update addresses an issue that affects Group Policy Folder Redirection in a multi-forest deployment. The issue stops you from choosing a group account from the target domain. Because of this, you cannot apply advanced folder redirection settings to that domain. This issue occurs when the target domain has a one-way trust with the domain of the admin user. This issue affects all Enhanced Security Admin Environment (ESAE), Hardened Forests (HF) or Privileged Access Management (PAM) deployments. You can check out the full blog post here.
  6. hellowalkman
    Microsoft confirms its Windows' HP Smart auto-install bugfix is vulnerable to code execution by Sayan Sen Towards the end of last month, users online started complaining about how their system was automatically installing HP's Smart app for printers, even when there was no printer on their PC. As the issue was fairly widespread, soon after Microsoft acknowledged it too, confirming that almost all versions of Windows were affected. Since it is HP's app that was being installed, the initial impression from many people would likely be that somehow the company may be responsible for this bug. However, after further investigation, Microsoft confirmed that such was not the case and the problem was not due to any update on HP's end. A week and a half later, Microsoft issued a fix for the problem in the form of a tool that would resolve the metadata issues that were apparently behind the problem. Microsoft stated that running the utility would restore the correct printer metadata (names, icons, and more), remove the incorrect HP LaserJet M101-M106 printer, and uninstall the HP Smart app (if incorrect metadata is present). Microsoft explains in its words the purpose of the tool: This tool is intended to help users and administrators address the known issue: Printer names and icons might be changed and HP Smart app automatically installs(See Related Links for more information on this issue) This tool will review your printer information. It will restore any previously downloaded model information and icons and will remove “HP LaserJet M101-M106” model information, icons, and application associations from printers that do not match this name and model. This tool will uninstall the HP Smart application if incorrect metadata was found, there are no HP printers or HP printer drivers installed, and the application was installed after Nov 25th, 2023. An updated version of the tool has now been quietly uploaded by Microsoft. You can download the updated version of the troubleshooter from the Microsoft Download Center: x86 systems: PrintMetadataTroubleshooterX86.exe x64 systems: PrintMetadataTroubleshooterX64.exe ARM32 systems: PrintMetadataTroubleshooterArm32.exe ARM64 systems: PrintMetadataTroubleshooterArm64.exe In the next part, Microsoft explains how the tool works. Users who run this troubleshooter tool will need to do it using an elevated Command Prompt: How to use this tool When it is run by enterprise administrators, correcting printers for all users and sessions on a system requires running the tool as the Local System account. Tools such as PsExec or Windows Task Scheduler can run commands as Local System. When it is run by users managing their own printers, this tool must be run using administrative credentials. The following are recommended steps to execute the file and confirm it worked: Click Start, type cmd, right-click Command Prompt, and then select Run as Administrator. In the opened command prompt, type cd /d “[path_to_downloaded_tool]” and then press Enter. Type the name of the file appropriate for your device from the list below (for instance PrintMetadataTroubleshooterX86.exe) and then press Enter. The tool will return the message Troubleshooter completed successfully on devices where incorrect printer information was found/fixed. Or, it will return the message Troubleshooter not applicable since metadata package not found on devices that are not affected. You may find more details on the official support page under KB5034510. Update: A couple of days ago, we published this story as Microsoft had updated its Printer Metadata Troubleshooter Tool. The update was published on January 5, 2024. However, the changelog indicating what changed was not put up until later (January 9), when the company pushed its first Windows 10 and 11 Patch Tuesday updates of 2024 under KB5034122 and KB5034123 respectively. According to Microsoft, the tool was updated to address a remote code execution (RCE) vulnerability that has been tracked under ID "CVE-2024-21325." The full changelog is given below: January 9, 2024 Added information about this tool addressing CVE-2024-21325 Updated the file lists More details may be available on the official support page under KB5034510.
  7. TarasBuria
    Microsoft brings its Dev Home app to Windows 10 users with version 0.9 by Taras Buria Microsoft has released a new version of the Dev Home app, a special tool made to make life easier for developers using Windows. The app has been a Windows 11-exclusive feature since its debut at the Build 2023 conference, but now Windows 10 users can also access it. The main highlight of the Dev Home 0.9 release is Windows 10 support. However, there is also one accessibility fix that ensures screen readers properly announce a navigation pane opening or closing. Also, Dev Home should now properly open your browser to allow signing into your GitHub profile. Out today, Dev Home now works on Windows 10 with version 0.9! https://t.co/FVCPbtqKzJ — Kayla Cinnamon ☕ (@cinnamon_msft) January 10, 2024 You can download the Dev Home app from its official repository on GitHub. It is available for free for all users of any Windows 11 and now Windows 10 editions. For those unfamiliar, the Dev Home app is a sort of control panel for developer-related tasks, downloading apps, packages, or repositories, connecting various developer accounts, and monitoring your PC hardware. You can also use the program to set up a Dev Drive, a specialized partition optimized for app development. Even those with little to no development knowledge can make good use of the Dev Home app. It contains hardware monitoring widgets, allowing you to track CPU, GPU, RAM, and network performance on the Widgets board. And with Microsoft finally letting you turn off news in Windows Widgets, many users may want to start using that area. Check out our guide to learn how to get CPU, GPU, RAM, and network monitoring widgets in Windows 11. Besides adding Windows 10 support, Microsoft is working on additional Settings for the Dev Home app. The company wants to give users and developers more control over their computers in the so-called "Advanced Windows Settings" section. You can learn more about the Dev Home app and its capabilities in the official documentation.
  8. TarasBuria
    Intel releases new Wi-Fi and Bluetooth drivers with BSOD and 'no Wi-Fi network found' fixes by Taras Buria Intel has released new Wi-Fi and Bluetooth drivers for Windows 10 and 11 to resolve several network-related issues, such as blue screens of death at heavy network loads, the "No Wi-Fi networks found" message when connecting to Miracast devices, and several other bugs. What is new in Intel PROSet/Wireless Wi-Fi Software 23.20.0? Here is the official changelog: Issue description Operating System Blue screen observed when passing HT traffic at heavy load. Windows 11 On some systems, Windows System Event ID 5002 and 5010 might occur after resuming from standby/hibernation/restart mode. Windows 10 and Windows 11 The Wi-Fi list might show "No Wi-Fi networks found" when connecting/disconnecting Miracast with a Bluetooth LE headset connected. Windows 10 and Windows 11 This software release version 23.20.0 has been updated to include functional and security updates. There may be other minor issues addressed, which will impact performance, stability, or vendor-specific functionality not listed above. Users should updated to the latest version. Windows 10 and Windows 11 You can download Intel Wi-Fi driver 23.20.0 from the official website. Release notes are available here (PDF). What is new in Intel Wireless Bluetooth Driver 23.10.0? Here is the official changelog: Intel® Wireless Bluetooth® 23.10.0 driver has been updated to include functional updates. Users should update to the latest version. You can download Intel Wireless Bluetooth Driver 23.10.0 from the official website. Click here (PDF) to check out full release notes. Intel's latest Wi-Fi and Bluetooth drivers are available for systems with the following network adapters: Intel Wireless Adapter Wi-Fi Driver Version Bluetooth Driver Version Intel Wi-Fi 7 BE202 Windows 10 64-bit only Windows 11 64-bit only 23.20.0.4 Windows 10 64-bit only Windows 11 664-bit only 23.10.0.2 Intel Wi-Fi 7 BE200 Intel Wi-Fi 6E AX411 (Gig+) Intel Wi-Fi 6E AX211 (Gig+) Intel Wi-Fi 6E AX210 (Gig+) Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX203 Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX201 Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX200 Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX101 Intel Wireless-AC 9560 Intel Wireless-AC 9461/ 9462 Intel Wireless-AC 9260 Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 3168 Windows 10 64-bit Windows 11 64-bit 19.51.50.2 Windows 10 32-bit 19.51.40.1 Windows 10 64-bit Windows 11 64-bit 20.100.10.11 Windows 10 32-bit 20.100.9.8 Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 3165 Intel Wireless 7265 Family To update your Intel Wi-Fi and Bluetooth drivers, download the latest versions from the official website and run the executables.
  9. hellowalkman
    Windows 10 January 2024 Patch Tuesday (KB5034122) out — here's what's new and what broke by Sayan Sen 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 January 2024 on Windows Server 20H2, and Windows 10 for the latest supported versions, 20H2, 21H2, and 22H2. The new updates are being distributed under KB5034122, bumping up the builds to 19044.3930 and 19045.3930. You can find standalone links to download the new update on the Microsoft Update Catalog at this link here. The major highlight of the release as usual is security updates for Windows 10. Highlights This update addresses security issues for your Windows operating system. After a couple of weeks without any, known issues are back: Known issues in this update Symptom Workaround Using the FixedDrivesEncryptionType or SystemDrivesEncryptionType policy settings in the BitLocker configuration service provider (CSP) node in mobile device management (MDM) apps might incorrectly show a 65000 error in the "Require Device Encryption" setting for some devices in your environment. Affected environments are those with the “Enforce drive encryption type on operating system drives” or "Enforce drive encryption on fixed drives" policies set to enabled and selecting either "full encryption" or "used space only". Microsoft Intune is affected by this issue but third-party MDMs might also pe affected. Important This issue is a reporting issue only and does not affect drive encryption or the reporting of other issues on the device, including other BitLocker issues. To mitigate this issue in Microsoft Intune, you can set the “Enforce drive encryption type on operating system drives” or "Enforce drive encryption on fixed drives" policies to not configured. We are working on a resolution and will provide an update in an upcoming release. Windows devices using more than one (1) monitor might experience issues with desktop icons moving unexpectedly between monitors or other icon alignment issues when attempting to use Copilot in Windows (in preview). To prevent users from encountering this issue, Copilot in Windows (in preview) might not be available on devices that have been used or are currently being used in a multimonitor configuration. We are working on a resolution and will provide an update in an upcoming release. Copilot in Windows (in preview) is not currently supported when your taskbar is located vertically on the right or left of your screen. To access Copilot in Windows, make sure your taskbar is positioned horizontally on the top or bottom of your screen. We are working on a resolution and will provide an update in an upcoming release. Some of the older Windows 10 versions have also received updates today which have been listed below with their respective release notes (KB) linked as well as links to download them at Microsoft's Update Catalog: Version KB Build Download Support 1809 KB5034127 17763.5329 Update Catalog Long-Term Servicing Channel (LTSC) 1607 KB5034119 14393.6529 Update Catalog 1507 KB5034134 10240.20402 Update Catalog It is noteworthy here that Windows 10 20H2 and Windows 10 1909 reached the end of servicing. Some editions of 21H2 have also reached the end of servicing.
  10. TarasBuria
    Files 3.1 is out with smart archives, better drag and drop, tray icon and more by Taras Buria Files, a popular third-party File Explorer alternative, has received a new feature update. Version 3.1 is now rolling out to all users via the Microsoft Store, bringing a few improvements and new features. The update is not as big as the recently released version 3.0, but it still packs a few notable and user-requested changes. What is new in Files 3.1 System Tray Icon. The Files app now has a tray icon indicating it is running in the background. In addition, the icon works as a shortcut to the documentation and the option to exit the app. Open Minimized. Version 3.1 lets you launch the Files app on startup in a minimized state. To do so, toggle on "Open Files on Windows Startup" and "Keep Files running in the background." Smart archive extract. The app can now automatically pick the best mode for extracting your archives. Files will unpack an archive with a single file into the current folder. Archives with multiple objects inside will be extracted into a new folder. You can use Smart Extract with the Ctrl + Shift + E shortcut or from the context menu. Improved sorting. You can now set the app to prioritize files on top of folders when sorting items. Drag and drop to open in a new tab. Files 3.1 lets you drag a folder on the title bar (tab strip) to open it in a new tab. You can even drag multiple folders to open each in a separate tab. Here is the rest of the changelog: Added a prompt when trying to apply tags on non NTFS drives Improved the animation when expanding/collapsing sidebar sections Increased the number of suggestion in the search dropdown to 10 items Opening libraries in the columns view will treat them as root Added a 2gb splitting option when compressing files Added support for displaying recently entered paths Added an option to group items by day Added support for hiding compression options from the context menu Added an out-of-proc WinRT server for long-running background tasks Fixed an issue where third party licenses weren’t displayed Fixed crash that could occur when manipulating invalid images Fixed issue where options in the conflicts dialog would sometimes change when scrolling Fixed crash that could occur when failing to connect to GitHub Fixed the date in the file name when pasting clipboard content Fixed an issue where the selection would sometimes get reset in the rename text box Fixed an issue where resizing the window would reload the preview pane Fixed crash when navigating up in the column layout Fixed issue where “Reopen closed tab” was always disabled when right-clicking on tabs Fixed crash that could occur when trying to open Git settings Fixed issue where text was cut off in Tags flyout Fixed issue where the column headers weren’t always “sticky” Fixed issue where it wouldn’t work to open Files if a previous instance crashed Fixed exception that would sometimes occur when sharing items Fixed NullReferenceException when renaming files Fixed NullReferenceException in ColumnShellPage.NavigateToPath Fixed issue where batch files were opened as system Fixed the taskbar behavior in full screen mode Fixed COMException when removing focus from the path bar You can download Files 3.1 from the Microsoft Store ($8.99). The app is also available on GitHub.
  11. TarasBuria
    Microsoft to end Windows Mixed Reality support on November 1, 2026 by Taras Buria In December 2023, Microsoft quietly revealed that Windows Mixed Reality is no longer in development. However, feature deprecation means the component may remain available for some time, and that is the case with Microsoft's failed VR platform. The company published new details about Windows Mixed Reality, detailing its end of support for consumers and commercial users. According to the official documentation, Windows Mixed Reality will reach its end of life on November 1, 2026, for consumer Windows editions (Home and Pro) and on November 1, 2027, for commercial Windows editions. That means Microsoft will continue shipping updates, security patches, and fixes, alongside providing technical support. Windows Mixed Reality will also remain available for download despite its deprecation. Microsoft says customers can continue using their Windows Mixed Reality headsets even after November 2026 and 2027. The end of support does not mean Microsoft will brick unsupported devices or prevent customers from using them with compatible software and games. However, that will be possible only on Windows versions that support and include Windows Mixed Reality (you will need to download WMR before Microsoft pulls it after the end of support). Upgrading to a newer version without Windows Mixed Reality will render those VR headsets incompatible. It is also worth noting that the deprecation of Windows Mixed Reality and its upcoming end of support do not affect the company's augmented reality headset, HoloLens. Microsoft said it remains committed to HoloLens developments and its enterprise customers. In 2023, Microsoft deprecated a lot of Windows components and features, such as Windows Mixed Reality, Microsoft Defender Application Guard for Edge and Office, Steps Recorder, WordPad (Microsoft really does not want you to use it), Cortana, MSDT, and more. We recently published a comprehensive list of Windows features deprecated in 2023, so be sure to check it out. Some of them may affect you directly.
  12. TarasBuria
    PowerToys' upcoming tool will help you use PowerShell by Taras Buria Microsoft is getting ready to ship a new update for PowerToys, everyone's favorite set of utilities for Windows 10 and 11. Version 0.77 should introduce a new tool called "Command Not Found," and, according to developers, it will help you use PowerShell by suggesting packages to install upon detecting missing components. Command Not Found. A PowerShell module that detects an error thrown by a command and suggests a relevant WinGet package to install, if available. PowerToys Command Not Found can help you use PowerShell in Windows 10 and 11. It will alert you about a missing component and suggest installing it using winget. For example, executing the "code" command will result in PowerShell offering you the option to install Visual Studio Code if the latter is not available. Unlike other utilities, Command Not Found will be turned off by default. Enabling it will also require installing PowerShell 7.4. Final touches on a new PowerToy, Command Not Found. We are ironing out the install process now to get everything properly wired up for you all. It is off by default as it requires PowerShell 7.4 pic.twitter.com/o3N5tesLCL — Clint Rutkas (@ClintRutkas) January 3, 2024 Additional changes in the upcoming PowerToys update should include the ability to change language, support for more mathematical symbols for Quick Accent (a tool that lets you quickly input accented symbols), better UI for Color Picker, and a few small changes, such as a spinning cog when clicking the general option button. Microsoft is also working on improving the Keyboard Manager, a module for customizing shortcuts and remapping keys. A future update will let you bring URLs and apps to various shortcuts to speed up opening websites or applications. You can download PowerToys for free from the Microsoft Store or GitHub. Alternatively, launch Windows Terminal and type winget install powertoys. Developers and enthusiasts can track the project's development and contribute to it on GitHub. Update 4/1: We removed the incorrect mention of the ability to detect typos in commands.
  13. TarasBuria
    PowerToys will soon get a redesigned Keyboard Manager with new features by Taras Buria Microsoft is working on new features and a fresh coat of paint for Keyboard Manager, a PowerToys utility that lets you re-assign global and per-app keyboard shortcuts. An upcoming update will bring improved visuals and new capabilities, such as launching apps, opening links, and more. Keyboard Manager in the current PowerToys release lets you remap keys and shortcuts in specific apps (or system-wide) or create shortcuts for quick text input. For example, you can create a shortcut to paste a text snippet you frequently use. Microsoft understands that Keyboard Manager has the potential to become a much more capable tool for power users, so it is working on adding extra features (via Deskmodder). You will be able to launch apps using custom shortcuts and specify additional options, such as app arguments and launch state (minimized or maximized). In addition, PowerToys will let you create shortcuts for websites, so you can launch Neowin or another page in the default browser using your keyboard. Finally, the update will introduce much more convenient and modern-looking user interfaces. Here is an early look at the upcoming Keyboard Manager rework in PowerToys: There is no information on when Microsoft plans to ship the update to the general public. The company released version 0.76.2 in December 2023, adding the ability to map shortcuts to text, a reworked and modernized PowerToys Run, new File Explorer add-ons, and plenty of other fixes. You can check out the complete changelog here. PowerToys is an open-source app for Windows 10 and 11. You can download it for free from the Microsoft Store, the official GitHub repository, or winget. Developers and enthusiasts with the necessary skills can contribute to the project's development by suggesting new features, fixes, and other improvements. More information about PowerToys, its tools, and its capabilities is available in the official documentation.
  14. TarasBuria
    Valve: Windows 11's market share on Steam decreased in December 2023 by Taras Buria The results of the December 2023 Steam Hardware and Software Survey are now available, showing what kinds of PC hardware and software customers use to access the platform and play games. It also indicates how popular Windows 11 is among the gaming audience. As a reminder, participation in the survey is optional, and the survey aims to provide developers with a platform-average picture and help determine how to improve Steam. 96.40% of all Steam users run Windows on their devices. 53.45% of that number is Windows 10, which is still the most popular operating system for work and entertainment. In December 2023, Windows 10 lost a small 0.16% of its market share. Windows 11 is getting very close to its predecessor. After crossing the 42% mark in November 2023, the operating system drew back a little, losing 0.09% of users. In total, according to Valve, 41.95% of Windows computers connected to Steam run Windows 11. Older Windows versions also went down slightly, except for a mysterious "Windows 2019 64-bit" with its 0.06%. Windows 10 64-bit: 53.45% (-0.08) Windows 11: 41.95% (-0.09) Windows 7 64-bit: 0.68% (-0.01) Windows 8.1 64-bit: 0.15% (-0.01%) Windows 2019 64-bit: 0.06% (+0.06) Now to the hardware side of the report. Here are the most popular PC components on Steam: Steam Hardware Survey - December 2023 Processors Intel AMD Microsoft 66.29% (+0.21) 33.66% (-0.22) 0.05% (+0.01) CPU Cores 6 cores 4 cores 8 cores 32.11% (+0.23) 22.82% (-0.18) 20.43% (-0.12) Memory 16GB 32GB 8GB 48.53% (-1.35) 24.02% (+1.25) 14.10% (+0.07) GPU Models NVIDIA RTX 3060 NVIDIA GTX 1650 NVIDIA GTX 1060 5.13% (+0.24) 4.54% (-0.07) 3.76% (-0.44) Video Memory 8GB 6GB 12GB 31.67% (+0.44) 15.76% (-0.57) 15.23% (+0.92) Display Resolution 1920 x 1080 2560 x 1440 1366 x 768 59.58% (-0.51) 16.39% (+0.42) 4.23% (+0.13) You can find more information on the official Steam website.
  15. hellowalkman
    Unofficial app conjures Windows Bob's spirit despite Microsoft wanting you to forget it by Sayan Sen We recently took a stroll down the Windows memory lane where we published a Look Back article on Microsoft Bob. If you are wondering, we publish a weekly "Look back" column where we look at various past Microsoft Windows features among other things. The idea behind Bob was simple, to make the Windows 3.1 user interface (UI) more intuitive, in order to make the user experience (UX) more user-friendly. This was in the mid-90s, right before Windows 95 landed, when home PCs were still not a commonplace sight in most houses and Microsoft believed something like this would be cool, and at the same time, useful too. However, almost as soon as it was conceived, it was killed off, in just 10 months time, and became one of the first on the list of Windows applications killed by Microsoft. You can learn more about Bob in the Look back article if you want a refresher. Fast forward to 2024, a new third-party app dubbed "MSBob" seeks to continue on the path where Bob left off, albeit for the modern Windows, as the developer believes that the Windows UI and UX "inconsistency persists" even today in 2023-24 despite nearly three decades of Windows development. Here's the dev explaining in their own words why they felt Microsoft Bob needed an unofficial revival on Windows 11: Who still remembers Microsoft Bob? Behind it was software designed to make the operating system Windows 3.1 more intuitive and user-friendly. Even then, Microsoft recognized the need for an enhanced user experience, acknowledging the less-than-friendly nature of the existing Windows version. This inconsistency persists today. While the XP search's little Bob with the dog may no longer be part of the Windows scene, and Comic Sans font (believed to have been designed for Bob) endures, the inconsistent UI still permeates many areas of Windows 11. In a nutshell, Bob wasn't well-received back then, and Windows 11 remains a matter of taste. Personally, I appreciate it, and perhaps, with the revamped MSBob, I can elevate and simplify your experience a bit. MSBob UI The developer notes that MSBob utilizes Chromium-based Microsoft Edge WebView2 to embed JavaScript, HTML, and CSS into the app. It's the first public release and a lot of it is still work-in-progress (WIP). The developer notes that the source code is available on GitHub where the utility can be downloaded as well, though do make sure to proceed with some caution as it is an unofficial app. In terms of compatibility, the utility is designed to run on Windows 11 and may not work perfectly on Windows 10.
  16. TarasBuria
    Statcounter: No notable Windows 11 growth in December 2023 despite version 23H2 release by Taras Buria The December 2023 report from Statcounter shows that despite the recent release of Windows 11 version 23H2, the operating system's market share remains relatively unchanged. Statcounter claims that roughly every fourth Windows PC connected to the internet runs Windows 11. In December 2023, Windows 11 lost a small fraction of its user base. According to Statcounter, it went down from 26.63% to 26.54% With Windows 10 scheduled to reach its end of life in less than two years from now, customers are slowly migrating from the aging operating system. However, hundreds of millions of customers are still perfectly fine using Windows 10. It holds approximately 67.46% of all Windows users, a 0.56 points decrease compared with November 2023. Windows 11 and its higher-than-expected hardware requirements created a notable market segmentation. And with the next-generation Windows coming later this year, Microsoft has a tough decision to make: call it Windows 12 and help its partners' market departments sell more devices or prevent further segmentation by sticking to the current brand. According to the recent report, the company has yet to make up its mind. As for older, now-dead Windows versions, they still have a fair share of users. Windows 7 is at 3.34%, Windows 8.1 is at 1.66%, and 0.64% still enjoy Windows XP, the operating system Microsoft quit supporting a decade ago. Windows 10 will join their ranks in October 2025, but Microsoft will let users get two extra years of paid extended security updates. Interestingly, regular consumers can also join the Extended Security Program. We do not know how much Microsoft plans to charge for that, but the end of Windows 10 support and its paid updates might become a big problem regardless of price. You can find more information about the latest data from Statcounter on its official website. Click here to learn how the service gathers the data for its report.
  17. hellowalkman
    Unofficial app reminds not to give up on your non-Windows 11-ready PC, also suggests Linux by Sayan Sen There is a major concern about the huge dump of electronic waste (e-waste) that is going to happen soon as Windows 10 support draws to a close. Market research firm Canalys estimates that around 240 million PCs could go to landfills after October 2025 when the OS reaches the end of support (EOS). There is also an online petition on Pirg going on regarding it. While Microsoft has continued reminding users on Windows 10 about Windows 11, those that do not meet the system requirements will remain on 10 and thus will no longer be serviced. A third-party application now seeks to remind users how such a system can still be useful. Things like adding an SSD, which is at least three to five times faster than an HDD, is going to make a system instantly snappy. Much like Neowin recommended, the utility also suggests such users could perhaps try switching to Linux, to see how it is on the other side. Even Microsoft wants you to have a go. The dev explains why they made it: This started as a fun application to inform some colleagues that they shouldn't throw away their Windows PC. A fresh install can be sufficient and often even work wonders. If you add a little boost here and there in the form of an SSD, the PC might not need to be discarded at all. Currently, some are already dealing with the end-of-life of Windows 10 in October 2025 and the question of how much electronic waste will be generated. The utility is dubbed "WhatsPC" and it is available on GitHub. The source code is yet to be published though, and hence it is advised not to install it, yet. The dev adds that the app is based on Chromium/WebView2 (for the front end) and C# (for the backend), and aims to present information about a PC in a simplified way. WhatsPC UI Here's what it tells about my system which is running Windows 10 22H2: (This is for informational purposes only) If WhatsPC app can't help you with your decision to throw away your PC, consider the following. - Consider using your computer as a small file server. - Keep your computer as a backup. - Consider installing a lightweight OS like Linux Lite. - Explore the option of selling or giving away your computer. [..] Your computer meets the recommended specifications. It should continue to perform well. Your hardware is compatible with Linux. You may consider trying a Linux distribution for improved performance. In case you are wondering, I have Ryzen 5700G (Zen 3), a 6800 XT, and an A520 AM4 motherboard running 2x 16GB DDR4-3600 CL16 memory. My system is Windows 11-ready as it also has TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot enabled. However, the app does not specifically say anything about it at the moment as to whether my system is eligible for an upgrade to Windows 11. Perhaps future versions will add the information in. Update: The source code is now live.
  18. TarasBuria
    Every Windows 10 and 11 feature Microsoft deprecated in 2023 by Taras Buria Feature deprecation is nothing new in the Microsoft world. Every now and then, the company stops developing parts of its operating system due to various reasons. In 2022, Microsoft deprecated only two services just to ditch a massive list of components in 2023. Keeping track of everything might be challenging if you do not follow Windows development closely, so here is a recap of every feature Microsoft deprecated in Windows 10 and 11 in 2023. What is feature deprecation in Windows? As a reminder, feature deprecation does not mean feature removal. When Microsoft deprecates a Windows component, it no longer receives updates and new capabilities. Usually, deprecated features remain available and continue working for a while, eventually becoming optional components or leaving the operating system for good. Table of contents: Universal Windows Platform (UWP) Apps for ARM32 Microsoft Support Diagnostic Tool (MSDT) Cortana for Windows TLS 1.0 and 1.1 AllJoyn WordPad VBScript Timeline for Microsoft Entra accounts Remote Mailslots WebDAV Computer Browser Tips App Steps Recorder (psr.exe) Microsoft Defender Application Guard for Office Windows Speech Recognition Legacy console mode Microsoft Defender Application Guard for Edge Windows Mixed Reality Deprecated features in Windows in 2023 Universal Windows Platform (UWP) Apps for ARM32 | Deprecated in January 2023 Future Windows 11 updates, including the next-gen Windows client, will remove support for 32-bit Universal Windows Platform apps on ARM. If you are a Windows developer, Microsoft urges you to update your project to ARM64. Microsoft Support Diagnostic Tool | Deprecated in January 2023 MSDT is the engine for the legacy troubleshooters in Windows. Microsoft plans to retire MSDT in 2025, moving troubleshooters to the Get Help platform. Half of the built-in troubleshooters have already been redirected there. Cortana app for Windows | Deprecated in June 2023 The original assistant for Windows 10 and 11 is dead. As a gesture of goodwill, Microsoft allowed users to uninstall the app in the latest Windows 11 updates. Right-click Cortana in the All Apps list and select "Uninstall." TLS 1.0 and 1.1 | Deprecated in August 2023 The original Transport Layer Security protocols are extremely outdated, and they create unnecessary security risks for Windows users. However, TLS 1.0 and 1.1 are still available as optional features for organizations that rely on them. This change does not affect regular users. AllJoyn | Deprecated in August 2023 AllJoyn was an open-source IoT protocol for things like turning lights on or off, getting temperature information, etc. WordPad | Deprecated in September 2023 The built-in WYSIWYG text editor for Windows is no longer in development. It is still available for use in the latest Windows 11 updates, but Microsoft plans to remove it in future releases. If you need an alternative for doc and rtf documents, Microsoft recommends Word or Word Online. Here is a quick look at the history of WordPad. VBScript | Deprecated in October 2023 Microsoft's active scripting language for Windows will soon be removed from Windows. However, Microsoft will let developers install VBScript as a feature-on-demand to prepare for its removal. Timeline for Microsoft Entra Accounts | Deprecated in October 2023 Microsoft ditched Windows Timeline for Windows 10 for personal accounts in 2021, a few months before launching Windows 11, where Timeline is not available at all. However, cross-device syncing of Microsoft Entra is still available on Windows 10. Microsoft will drop it in January 2024. Remote Mailslots | Deprecated in November 2023 This old and unreliable mail protocol, first introduced in MS-DOS, is now turned off by default. Webclient (WebDAV) Service | Deprecated in November 2023 This HTTP extension no longer runs by default in modern Windows versions. Computer Browser | Deprecated in November 2023 Do not confuse this with Edge or Chrome. Computer Browser is an old and unsafe device location protocol. Microsoft turned it off alongside SMB1 in Windows 10. Tips App | Deprecated in November 2023 For some reason, Microsoft decided to deprecate and remove this app. However, it will continue receiving new content for the latest Windows 11 features until Microsoft removes it from the operating system. Steps Recorder (psr.exe) | Deprecated in November 2023 This old troubleshooting utility you can use to show your grandma how to get things done in Windows will soon be removed. Although it is still available in Windows 10 and 11, Microsoft suggests moving to apps like Snipping Tool, Xbox Game Bar, and Microsoft Clipchamp, even though none can replace all the features available in the old Steps Recorder. Microsoft Defender Application Guard for Office | Deprecated in November 2023 MDAG for Office and its related APIs are deprecated, so Microsoft recommends organizations shift to Microsoft Defender for Endpoint. Do not worry if that explains nothing to you—regular consumers are not affected (they do not even have access to MDAG). Windows Speech Recognition | Deprecated in December 2023 First introduced in Windows Vista, the old Windows Speech Recognition app is no longer in development. Windows 11 users can replace it with the new Voice Access feature in Windows 11 version 22H2 and newer. However, the latter has a very limited set of supported languages. Legacy Console Mode | Deprecated in December 2023 This feature allowed running old console apps in modern Command Prompt versions. Despite deprecation, Microsoft will keep LCM as an optional feature for those needing it. Microsoft Defender Application Guard for Edge | Deprecated in December 2023 Like MDAG for Office, MDAG for Edge is now deprecated alongside its related APIs. Microsoft has a special whitepaper with more information about securing Microsoft Edge in business environments. Again, MDAG for Edge is not available for regular users. Windows Mixed Reality | Deprecated in December 2023 This is a big one. WMR was introduced alongside Windows 10, and it was Microsoft's big push into VR and an attempt to standardize VR helmets and make them affordable. It did not take off, so Microsoft decided to pull the plug after more than eight years. Mixed Reality Portal and Windows Mixed Reality for SteamVR will soon be removed from future Windows releases. Total: 18 features deprecated. You can learn more about them in the official documentation.
  19. hellowalkman
    WingetUI gets support for Widgets to easily update/install packages, PowerShell Gallery too by Sayan Sen WingetUI, which is a third-party GUI utility tool for managing CLI package managers like Winget, Scoop, Chocloatey, npm, among others, received its latest update yesterday. The new update, version 2.2.0, improves the ease of usage and convenience as it now supports WingetUI Widgets which makes it easier to install available package updates. Other usability improvements include saved details regarding installation of packages, reworked export with YAML and JSON format support, and more. The new release also adds support for PowerShell Gallery. As the name suggests, the PowerShell Gallery or PSGallery is a repository that contains scripts, modules, and Desired State Configuration (DSC) resources. You can find the full changelog for WingetUI version 2.2.0 below: WingetUI 2.2.0 changelog: WingetUI does now support PowerShell Gallery, the 7th Package Manager. Added Support for WingetUI Widgets, a set of widgets for the Windows Widgets pane that will ease installing available package updates. Installation options will be saved for each package, so they do not need to be reapplied on each install/update Exporting packages has been reworked: Installation options will be saved next to the package list. Ignored updates and skipped versions will also be exported Package lists can now be exported in YAML or JSON formats. WingetUI can now backup your installed packages automatically. Chocolatey and PowerShell do now support multiple sources. Winget and Scoop sources mechanisms have been improved. Add Romanian as a supported language Added the ability to uninstall, then update packages Added the ability to reinstall packages from the Installed Packages tab WingetUI source code is more modular, partially detaching the interface from the Package Engine. This will allow for further interface improvements. Integrity checker is now more powerful and reaches more WingetUI files. Ignored packages and skipped versions will be now stored on human-readable, JSON files. Minor improvements on the sharing interface Prerelease packages can now be installed with a simple toggle from the details tab. Install location can be customized for Winget packages. Improvements to the Interface API (Widgets and Share) A new WebView Wrapper has been added in order to show Release Notes and Help articles Save cached files under AppData\Local\WingetUI instead of under .wingetui Improvements in operation logs General interface improvements Better handling for when .NET Framework is not installed Improvements in the Settings Tab Tons of other under-the-hood improvements and fixes What's changed Several improvements to Spanish translation. by @uKER in #1488 Improvements by @panther7 in #1468 Add [CustomMessages] in Inno Setup and icon by @mapi68 in #1478 Account for cases where the user has a PowerShell profile by @Carterpersall in #1506 Fixed search translation strings on multiline by @panther7 in #1517 Fix for Accent Color Change Theme bug by @raghavdhingra24 in #1524 Add widgets API by @marticliment in #1572 Fix Steam and Uplay by @ppvnf in #1590 Add custom WebView2 wrapper to show help articles by @marticliment in #1588 Digitally sign DLL files by @marticliment in #1591 Change ignore file format to json by @FrecksterGIT in #1500 Improve Import/Export capabilities by @marticliment in #1592 Universal manager-source handling interface by @marticliment in #1619 Readme: Make install through Winget command more specific by @tomasz1986 in #1634 Structure WingetUI as a module by @marticliment in #1633 Add Powershell Gallery support by @marticliment in #1639 To download the latest WingetUI, head over to Neowin's software story page or visit the utility's GitHub page.
  20. hellowalkman
    Windows 11/10 get unofficial backup app if you don't like Microsoft's, works offline too by Sayan Sen Towards the middle of the year in May, Microsoft released a Backup app for testing on a Windows 11 Dev Insider channel. The company later expanded its functionality in a future build such that it was able to support more scenarios. Although it was initially planned for as a Windows 11 feature, Microsoft released it to Windows 10 as well in August. This was not the first or the last time the tech giant expanded a Windows 11 feature to Windows 10 as something similar happened to Copilot, as well as a Group Policy for deploying optional updates. While the backup app on Windows 10 has generally been a welcome addition, it did cause some inconvenience to IT and sysadmins when Microsoft pushed it onto enterprise and managed systems. The tech giant later acknowledged the inconvenience and promised a future Windows update that altered this behavior. Still, if you don't like the official Windows backup app, there is a new third-party option available in preview. Dubbed "Appcopier," this utility allows the local/offline backing up and restoring Windows 11 preferences and settings; and it could work with Windows 10 too, although the developer does not guarantee that. However, the app is said to be fairly lightweight in the way it works and users are told to expect super-fast backups, at least initially. You can see the UI of Appcopier in the image above. The dev says: It allows you to back up and restore your most important Windows 11 preferences and settings offline and locally. The app mimics the new backup app of Windows 11 - which is part of the Windows 11 2023 Update (23H2) - but without the obligation of the cloud. How does Appcopier works? Quite simple! Only registry entries and/or associated folders and files of the respective area are exported. This process is very quick and lightweight, akin to the weight of a fly. So don't be surprised if the first backups fly through in the nanosecond range. You can try the app by downloading it from GitHub, though keep in mind that this is an unofficial, third-party software.
  21. zikalify
    240 million PCs could end up in landfills when Windows 10 support ends by Paul Hill Canalys estimates that 240 million PCs could go to landfills after October 2025 when Microsoft ends free support for Windows 10. Microsoft will provide paid support until October 2028 but it’s likely that upgrading will be cheaper. When Microsoft released Windows 11, it did so with a requirement for computers to have TPM 2.0 support for added security but many pre-Windows 11 computers don’t support this so cannot upgrade to Windows 11. With the requirement to obtain new hardware, the analyst firm Canalys has estimated that as many as 240 million PCs will be thrown away - even if they otherwise work perfectly fine. This is not a great revelation for Microsoft’s green credentials. If your computer doesn’t support TPM 2.0, there are a few things you can do to help minimize the landfill issue. The first option is to switch to Linux Mint, Ubuntu, or some other Linux distribution. Linux works very well out of the box on most computers and it isn’t too difficult to write the ISO image to a USB and install it on your PC, the process should take around 30 minutes. With much of our computing being done online, the lack of Windows software for Linux is not too much of an issue now. If you absolutely need to use Windows and plan to landfill your old computer then take out anything that can be removed such as hard drives and memory (on laptops). Hard drives can be placed in external hard drive cases available on sites like Amazon, giving you a new external hard drive, and the RAM can be used with other devices to add more memory if they need it. You could also sell these parts. If you are planning to buy a new PC, have a look at Neowin’s deals page to get big discounts on PCs and other products, this helps to keep Neowin free of charge for readers. Source: Reuters
  22. hellowalkman
    Microsoft is killing Windows Mixed Reality, a major Windows 10 headlining feature by Sayan Sen Back in January 2015, when Microsoft first unveiled Windows 10 at its "Windows 10: The Next Chapter" event, the company also revealed its Microsoft HoloLens augmented reality (AR) / mixed reality (MR) headset. Despite having no idea about its specs, Neowin was quite impressed by what we saw after having a hands-on experience with the headset. Microsoft had big ambitions with MR, and in a way, it is sort of similar to how the company is now pumped for Copilot on the next-gen Windows, so much so that Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella feels like it's just as immense and significant as the Start button itself. At the time, the HoloLens and its accompanying platform framework was called the "Windows Holographic," though in 2017, this was renamed to "Windows Mixed Reality." Although it may be a bit difficult to relate to it now, Microsoft was not too wrong in its outlook as VR and AR seemed like the next big thing at that time. It was only natural for the tech giant to get on the train as it did not want to be left behind since almost everyone else was doing it too. It is fair to say though that the industry as a whole, including Microsoft, probably overestimated the potential of MR and as such, the company was not able to grow the business beyond a few niche markets here and there. Perhaps it could be a reason why Microsoft has now announced that it is deprecating the Windows Mixed Reality platform. On a webpage outlining the deprecated Windows client features, Microsoft has added a section for Windows Mixed Reality, where it notes that it's killing off Windows Mixed Reality alongside the Mixed Reality Portal app as well as Windows MR for SteamVR and Steam VR beta. It writes: Windows Mixed Reality is deprecated and will be removed in a future release of Windows. This deprecation includes the Mixed Reality Portal app, and Windows Mixed Reality for SteamVR and Steam VR Beta. In case you want a quick recap about the Windows Mixed Reality platform, you can read this article Neowin's John Callaham recently did in their "Look back" column.
  23. TarasBuria
    Microsoft deprecates Microsoft Defender Application Guard for Edge by Taras Buria Microsoft seems to be on a roll of deprecating various features across Windows and other products. It has already deprecated more than ten features since September, and there is one more to join the list. This time, it is Microsoft Defender Application Guard for Edge (shortly MDAG). It is worth noting right off the bat that Microsoft Defender Application Guard for Edge will not affect regular customers and their home computers running Edge (those have other things to complain about). MDAG for Edge is a special security feature designed for Microsoft Edge for Business, not home users. Application Guard uses hardware isolation to ensure untrusted websites open in a contained environment and without access to corporate networks and their data. IT Admins can define lists of trusted websites and environments, with everything else considered untrusted and potentially unsafe. Clicking such a link opens a new window with a notification that Application Guard launched the website in a safe environment. You can learn more about MDAG for Edge here. From the official documentation: Microsoft Defender Application Guard, including the Windows Isolated App Launcher APIs, will be deprecated for Microsoft Edge for Business and will no longer be updated. Please download the Microsoft Edge for Business Security Whitepaper to learn more about Edge for Business security capabilities. Of course, MDAG for Edge deprecation does not mean that the company is willing to leave its customers unprotected. The feature is still available, plus Microsoft has plenty of other security measures for its browser. You can learn more about them in the Microsoft Edge for Business Security Whitepaper (PDF). As a reminder, Microsoft also deprecated Microsoft Defender Application Guard for Office. In late November, the company published the notification, letting users know that MDAG for Office is no longer in development. Other deprecated features include the legacy console mode, the old Speech Recognition app, Steps Recorder, and more.
  24. TarasBuria
    Microsoft Store gets improved algorithms for Windows Insiders by Taras Buria Microsoft recently released an update for the Microsoft Store app on Windows 10 and 11 to resolve issues with the Library section not showing some of your apps and games. Now, the company has another Microsoft Store update, this time for Windows Insiders. As announced by Rudy Huyn (@RudyHuyn on X), Principal Architect at Microsoft, the latest update changes how the discoverability algorithms work. The Microsoft Store app now hides apps and games you have already installed, focusing on something new for your device. Therefore, you will not see WhatsApp on the "Top free apps" page if you are already using it. Exciting Holiday Update: The #MicrosoftStore now prioritizes discovering new applications and games by deprioritizing those you already installed on your device. This feature in beta version is currently available to #Windows #Insiders. pic.twitter.com/WR8Kzqr3G1 — Rudy Huyn (@RudyHuyn) December 18, 2023 The latest Microsoft Store app is by no means groundbreaking, but it is a nice addition nonetheless, especially for those regularly venturing into the store to find something new for their Windows computer. You can update the store app by doing the following: Launch the Microsoft Store and click the Library button in the lower left corner. Click "Check for Updates." Click "Update" next to the Microsoft Store app (it should start downloading the latest release automatically). The program will restart itself to apply updates. Alternatively, you can just continue using your computer as is—the Microsoft Store will update itself in the background automatically when it feels like doing so. There is no information on when the latest preview update for the Microsoft Store will make it to the Stable Channel. Usually, Microsoft ships app updates pretty quickly, so it should not take too long for the company to push the updated store app to the general public.
  25. TarasBuria
    KB5034510 Microsoft Printer Metadata Troubleshooter tool fixes the recent printer bug by Taras Buria Microsoft finally has a fix for the recently discovered printer bug. Systems affected by the problem were installing the HP Smart app without permission (even if paired with printers from other manufacturers), renaming existing printers to LaserJet M101-M106, changing icons, and showing the "No tasks are available for this page" error when clicking on a printer. To mitigate the issue, Microsoft published KB5034510 with the Microsoft Printer Metadata Troubleshooter Tool. It can help users and IT admins fix the bug and get rid of the symptoms described above. Microsoft says running the utility will restore the correct printer metadata (names, icons, and more), remove the incorrect HP LaserJet M101-M106 printer, and uninstall the HP Smart app (if incorrect metadata is present). You can download the troubleshooter from the Microsoft Download Center: x86 systems: PrintMetadataTroubleshooterX86.exe x64 systems: PrintMetadataTroubleshooterX64.exe ARM32 systems: PrintMetadataTroubleshooterArm32.exe ARM64 systems: PrintMetadataTroubleshooterArm64.exe If your system is affected, download the file matching your architecture and execute it as Administrator. Microsoft recommends running the troubleshooter using the elevated Command Prompt: Click Start, type cmd, right-click Command Prompt, and then select Run as Administrator. In the opened command prompt, type cd /d “[path_to_downloaded_tool]” and then press Enter. Type the name of the file appropriate for your device from the list below (for instance PrintMetadataTroubleshooterX86.exe) and then press Enter. Affected systems will return the "Troubleshooter completed successfully" message. Microsoft says a user-initiated troubleshooter in the Windows Settings app will be available in the coming weeks.