The Start menu has evolved hugely since it was first introduced in Windows 95. While many of the changes that have been introduced over the years have been welcomed, this is not the case for everyone.

You might well be using Windows 10, but you may yearn for the Start menu that was to be found in Windows 7. There's no need to hack your system or resort to using virtualization software to run an ancient operating system, you can get a Windows 7-style Start menu in Windows 10 -- you can even customize the Start button. Here's how.

Continue reading →

Google has shared details of a bug in the Windows Kernel Cryptography Driver (cng.sys) which is currently being exploited in the wild by hackers.

The Project Zero team had already privately shared details of the security flaw with Microsoft a little over a week ago, but now that it is being actively exploited the company has gone public. The zero-day flaw is being tracked as CVE-2020-117087, and it is not likely to be addressed by Microsoft for a couple of weeks.

Continue reading →

Apple has launched a new service program for AirPods Pro after identifying a series of sound issues with the earphones.

The service program means that people experiencing problems with crackling or static are eligible for free replacements. The program also covers issues with Active Noise Cancellation, which could mean that bass is too low or background noise is louder than it should be.

Continue reading →

Microsoft has released a new optional, non-security update for Windows 10 that not only fixes a number of issues, but also adds a new Meet Now button to the taskbar.

The KB4580364 update is available for Windows 10 builds 2004 and 20H2. It addresses a wide range of bugs including system freezes and performance problems.

Continue reading →

Flash is a blight on the internet and has long posed a security threat to any computer with it installed. Once widely used in website design, the technology is now dead and has been overtaken by more secure alternatives -- but Flash remains installed on millions of computers around the world.

While all major web browsers will remove Adobe Flash Player at the end of 2020, there's no need to wait. Here's how to remove Flash right now.

Continue reading →

Microsoft has been showing Linux a lot of love in recent years, and nowhere is this more visible than in Windows Subsystem for Linux in Windows 10.

A new update to WSL makes it easier than ever to install Linux distros such as Ubuntu, Debian and Kali Linux. At the moment, automatic distro installation using the wsl --install command is only available to Windows Insiders, but it will make its way to everyone soon.

Continue reading →

It's only a week since we saw the release of Ubuntu 20.10 Groovy Gorilla, and now Linux-luvvie Canonical has shared details of the follow-up -- Ubuntu 21.04 Hirsute Hippo.

The newly published release schedule shows that work kicks off today with the toolchain upload. There are a number of key dates to look forward to, including a beta release on April 1, 2021 and the final release just three weeks later.

Continue reading →

Windows 10 is set to undergo a huge redesign next year, with sources saying that the likes of Explorer, the Action Center and the Start menu will be getting big overhauls.

The UI revamp has been codenamed Sun Valley, and it is due for a public release some time in the holiday season 2021. While the Windows 10 October 2020 Update introduced some changes to the Start menu, it is a while since Windows 10 received any significant updates to the user interface. With Sun Valley, however, Microsoft is said to be "reinvigorating" the operating system.

Continue reading →

Since the launch of the Chromium-based version of Edge, Microsoft has been on a mission to get more and more people using its web browser. This means not only trying to attract people who are currently using the likes of Chrome and Firefox, but also those who are doggedly hanging onto Internet Explorer.

Now the company is on the verge of forcing Internet Explorer users into Edge through the use of web page redirects. In addition to this, Windows 10 users who have installed the October 2020 Update (20H2) are seeing ads in the taskbar urging them to give the browser a try.

Continue reading →

After years of posing a security risk to millions of computers around the world, Flash is finally being killed off at the end of the year. Ahead of this, Microsoft has released a tool to help people remove Flash from Windows 8.x, Windows 10 and Windows Server.

The KB4577586 update not only purges systems of Adobe Flash Player, but also prevents the software from being installed again.

Continue reading →

The launch of any new feature updates for Windows 10 are met with a mixture of excitement at the prospect of new features and options, and trepidation about the new problems that might be introduced.

Windows 10 October 2020 Update (20H2) is no different in this regard, and there are already a number of known issues with the release. While there only a couple of significant issues that have caused Microsoft to put safeguard blocks on the update in place for some users, the company is still throttling the availability of 20H2 in order to "ensure a reliable download experience".

Continue reading →

The Alt-Tab keyboard shortcut is one of the most well-known and most useful in Windows. The shortcut has long made it possible to quickly switch between running programs and open windows, and in Windows 10 October 2020 Update (20H2) it has gained a useful new option.

With the latest feature update for Windows 10 installed, you can not only Alt-Tab your way between programs and windows, but also the tabs you have open in Microsoft Edge. Here's what you need to know.

Continue reading →

With first release candidate of version 5.10 of the Linux kernel now available, Linus Torvalds says that it "looks to be a bigger release" than he expected.

Linux kernel 5.10-rc1 includes 14-15,000 merge commits -- depending on how you count them -- Torvalds notes in his weekly update to the Linux community. He shares the news that, for him, the most interesting change in this release is the removal of the setf_fs() addressing tool.

Continue reading →

Since the arrival of Windows 10, Microsoft has made no secret of its desire to kill off the Control Panel. In moving everyone over to the Settings app, the company has been gradually chipping away, and the latest casualty in Windows 10 October 2020 Update (20H2) is the System applet.

Strangely, if you open the Control Panel, you will see that System is still present -- but when you open it you will be taken instead to the About section of Settings. But all is not lost; if you still want to access the classic System applet, here's how to do just that.

Continue reading →

Updates for Windows 10 are frequently problematic, causing a wide range of issues both large and small for users. Sometimes, Microsoft intervenes while it investigates problems, and puts a block on certain updates for systems and hardware configurations that are known to run into troubles with a particular release.

While this makes sense, many people prefer the idea of being in control of what they can and cannot install on their own computers. If you would like to get around one of these Microsoft-imposed compatibility holds/update blocks, here what you need to do.

Continue reading →