Microsoft's KB5014019 update for Windows 11 is breaking antivirus tools
Trend Micro has issued a warning about the preview of the KB5014019 update for Windows 11, released by Microsoft a few days ago.
The security firm says that it is aware of a compatibility issue between the update and "the User Mode Hooking (UMH) component of several Trend Micro endpoint solutions". The problems affect both Windows 11 and Windows Server 2022.
Microsoft confirms Windows 11 Sun Valley 2 RTM build number and hints at release date
Windows 11 users have been eagerly awaiting the release of the first feature update for the operating system. Due for release later this year, we already know quite a lot about the Sun Valley 2 update, but information posted in Microsoft's Hardware Certification portal reveals more.
We already knew that Sun Valley 2 is due for release in the second half of the year -- hence the fact it is also known as Windows 11 version 22H2. But posts relating to the Windows Hardware Compatibility Program not only reveal the build number of the RTM version, but also gives us a better idea of when we can expect Sun Valley to be released.
Microsoft is making it easier to manage your software licenses in Windows 11
Having already introduced a new subscription management feature to the Accounts section of Settings, Microsoft is taking things further with the release of Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 25126.
The latest build has just been launched on the Dev Channel, and it sees the roll out of new account settings page improvements as well as numerous fixes. The change in Settings means that it is easier to see details of all supported Office perpetual products linked to your account, in addition to Microsoft 365 subscriptions
Microsoft releases preview of KB5014019 update for Windows 11 bringing new features and fixes
For Windows 11 users who like to live on the edge, Microsoft has released a preview version of the KB5014019 update that will be made available to a wider audience when Patch Tuesday next rolls around.
This is an optional, non-security update, that not only addresses a number of problems that have emerged in the operating system, but also introduces Windows spotlight on the desktop which Microsoft says "brings the world to your desktop with new background pictures". There are also tweaks to Widgets, and improvements to the Family Safety verification experience.
The Windows 11 Microsoft Store opens up to all Win32 apps... oh, and ads, too
Among the plethora of announcements to come out of Build 2022, Microsoft had quite a bit of news relating to the Microsoft Store in Windows 11. With a sly dig at rivals, the company pointed out that developers are able to use their own in-app commerce engines and retain one hundred percent of revenue. But the announcements about what is new are far more noteworthy.
While developers and users alike will welcome full Microsoft Store support for Win32 apps, news about the arrival of Microsoft Store Ads is likely to prove more divisive. But this is not the end of the Store-related announcements.
Microsoft announces that third-party widgets are coming to Windows 11 this year
At its Build 2022 event, Microsoft confirmed what we have heard rumored for some time -- that third-party widgets will soon be making their way to Windows 11.
Although the company has not given an exact date, it says that "later this year" it will be possible for developers to start building their own widgets. It is possible -- probable, even -- that this will be linked to the release of the Sun Valley 2 feature update for Windows 11 in the coming months.
Windows 11 Phone is everything a mobile operating system should be
Microsoft certainly bet big on Windows 10 Mobile, even going so far as to buy phone giant Nokia in order to make its own handsets for it. While there was much to recommend the tiled mobile operating system, the combined might of iOS and Android proved too strong for the would-be rival. Windows 10 grew into a great operating system on PCs and tablets, but the company was forced to pull the plug on its mobile aspirations.
Windows 11 is slowly replacing Windows 10 (with the emphasis on 'slowly') but given the chance, would it fare any better on mobile than its predecessor did?
MINISFORUM HX90G Windows 11 mini PC is powered by an AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX CPU and RX 6650M GPU
MINISFORUM is a computer manufacturer that has been cranking out a lot of mini PCs lately. Its machines are looked upon favorably by many consumers that prefer diminutive desktops. Not only are its computers well-made and small, but often quite powerful too. These machines can be good servers, retro-gaming machines, office workstations, home theater PCs, and more.
Many MINISFORUM computers are powered by capable Intel processors, but lately, the company has been making mini PCs with AMD chips too. In fact, the company now has several AMD-powered options. Today, MINISFORUM announces an upcoming AMD desktop that is notable for using discrete graphics. Called "HX90G," the tiny Windows 11 PC is powered by an AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX CPU and RX 6650M GPU. Yeah, this diminutive computer is going to rock!
Microsoft announces that Windows 11 is now ready for (almost) everyone
Some seven-and-a-half months after the original release, Microsoft has announced that Windows 11 is now "designated for broad deployment".
We use the word "announced" fairly loosely here; the revelation was made in a status change on the release health page for Windows 11. It means that any computer that meets the minimum requirements will now be offered the upgrade, and it lays the groundwork for the rollout of Windows 11 22H2 in the coming months.
Microsoft releases Windows 11 Build 25120 with new Bing-powered desktop search bar
A while back, Microsoft announced that it would be using the Insider Dev Channel to trial new, more experimental ideas in Windows 11. In the latest insider flight, Build 25120, we see a good example of this.
Insiders will now see a new search bar on the desktop that they can use to search the web. This won’t be something that appeals to everyone -- especially as it uses Bing to return results -- but it’s easy enough to disable.
Microsoft Teams finally arrives in the Microsoft Store -- so long as you don't want it for personal use on Windows 11
The apps section of the Microsoft Store has been an embarrassment since day one, and even now -- despite Microsoft’s efforts to improve it -- it’s still a dumpster fire.
Perhaps most embarrassingly of all, if you went to the app store expecting to be able to download Microsoft Teams, you’ll have drawn a blank as it wasn’t there. Today though, that finally changes. Well, changes for some users anyway.
AvdanOS Pro really is the Windows 11/macOS alternative we need!
If you want to run a modern version of Windows, you can choose between Windows 10 and Windows 11. If you have an Apple computer, then it will run macOS, and if you don’t fancy any of those options, then you can opt for various flavors of Linux distro.
But what if you’re not blown away by any of those? AvdanOS Pro gives us a glimpse of what the future could look like.
Microsoft warns that KB5013943 update is causing authentication failures in Windows 11, Windows Server and more
Following the release of this month's Patch Tuesday updates, Microsoft has issued a warning that installing the KB5013943 update can lead to authentication issues for various Windows services.
The update was released on May 10, and was meant to -- among other things -- fix an issue with screen flicker in Safe Mode. But in addition to causing error messages for some users, the KB5013943 update has also led to authentication failures Windows domain controllers.
KB5013943 update for Windows 11 is causing 0xc0000135 errors
While each Patch Tuesday sees Microsoft fixing various problems with Windows 11, the following days see the negative fallout. We've become used to the updates that Microsoft releases having unwanted side, and this month's KB5013943 update is a prime example.
With echoes of a previous update fiasco that caused endless problems with printing, Microsoft intended the KB5013943 update to fix an issue with .NET Framework 3.5 apps introduced by another update. But rather than fixing the problem, installing the KB5013943 update seems to have made things worse for some users.
Microsoft releases Windows 11 Build 25115 with one new feature and lots of fixes
It’s Wednesday, so that usually (with occasional exceptions) means a new Windows 11 test build. Not today though, today Microsoft rolls out two new builds -- one for the Dev Channel (Build 25115) and one for the Beta Channel (Build 22621).
The Dev Channel flight comes with one new feature, but there is some bad news -- it won’t be offered to ARM64 PCs.