Articles about Microsoft

Microsoft releases Windows 11 Build 25231, unlocks additional features

Windows 11 laptop

Some Windows 11 insider builds for testers in the Dev Channel offer a wealth of new features. Build 25231 doesn’t as such, but Microsoft is using it to increase the rollouts for a few previously announced features.

It’s not all good news though as this build also comes with some additional known issues.

Continue reading

Zorin OS 16.2 makes it even easier to switch from Microsoft Windows 11 to Linux

Want to know a secret? If you don't like Windows 11, then you don't have to use it. Look, in 2022, there are plenty of legitimate alternatives. For instance, you can buy a Mac or a Chromebook. If you want to use your existing computer, however, you can just install a traditional Linux distribution such as Ubuntu.

One of the best Linux-based operating systems for Windows-switchers these days is Zorin OS. This distribution is based on Ubuntu, but improves upon that distro by offering a more user-focused experience -- particularly for current Windows users. Today, Zorin OS 16.2 becomes available, and the newest version of the operating system makes it even easier to ditch Windows 11. You see, with Zorin OS 16.2, you can run Windows programs with ease.

Continue reading

Microsoft releases KB5018496 update to bring new features and improvements to Windows 11 2022 Update

Windows 11 2022 Update

It is the time of the month that sees Microsoft releasing previews of the updates that will be made available to everyone next patch Tuesday. In line with this, the company has released a preview of the KB5018496 update for Windows 11 2022 Update / Windows 11 22H2.

This is a non-security update, but it includes an impressive number of not only fixes, but also new features for the latest version of Windows 11. It does not, however, address some of the known issues that have been acknowledged recently including problems with slow file copying, and issues with provisioning packages.

Continue reading

Windows 11 bug breaks safe removal of USB devices

Man using Windows 11 laptop

It may be something that we are all guilty of failing to do each and every time, but using Windows' Safely Remove Hardware option before disconnecting a USB drive is highly recommended. Sadly, this handy safety feature seems to be broken in Windows 11 2022 Update.

The point of ejecting media using this method is to ensure that Windows has stopped reading from and writing to the drive before it is unplugged. In certain circumstances, users are reporting that instead of being informed that it is safe to remove their device, they see a message that reads Problem Ejecting USB Mass Storage Device.

Continue reading

Google Chrome will no longer be supported on these Microsoft Windows versions

Chrome warning tape

Google Chrome is a great web browser for many reasons, including its cross-platform nature. You can run Ubuntu Linux, macOS, Windows, and Android, for instance, and use the same Chrome web browser on all of those operating systems. Thanks to cloud data syncing, you can have a seamless experience too.

With the upcoming Google Chrome 110, however, there will be two fewer operating systems supported. You see, early next year, Google will be dropping support for its web browser on both Windows 7 and 8.1. In other words, if you use Microsoft's desktop operating system, you will need to be on Windows 10 or 11.

Continue reading

Microsoft PC Manager is a new Windows optimization app currently available in beta

Microsoft PC Manager

Tools that claim to speed up Windows used to be hard to avoid. Now they are far less common, but Microsoft looks ready to get a piece of the action with a new system cleanup, optimization and security app called PC Manager.

Available in public beta, Microsoft PC Manager has been compared to CCleaner. The company is currently testing the app with the Chinese market, but there is nothing to stop you from downloading it and trying it out for yourself (it's available in English). A word of warning, however -- you will be pestered to change your default web browser to Microsoft Edge.

Continue reading

You need much longer to test the new Windows 11 2022 Update (22H2) -- this secret trick will let you massively extend the rollback time

Whisper

Microsoft recently released the Windows 11 2022 Update (22H2) followed by a 'moment' update which introduced new features to the OS, including tabs in File Explorer.

If you’ve been reading our coverage of the problems that users have found with the Windows 11 2022 Update you might be concerned about installing it, but don’t worry you can roll back the operating system to your previous build. There’s just one problem -- Microsoft only gives you 10 days to do this, which is hardly any time at all. We think you need longer, much longer, so we’ll show you how to extend this allowance to 60 days.

Continue reading

Microsoft is annoyed with security firm that discovered misconfigured server exposing sensitive customer data

Microsoft logo

Microsoft has admitted that the sensitive data of thousands of customers was exposed last month because of a "misconfigured Microsoft endpoint". The data includes names, email addresses, the content of emails and attachments related to business between a customer and Microsoft or an authorized Microsoft partner.

Security researchers from SOCRadar notified Microsoft about the server misconfiguration back on September 24. The data exposure is part of a series of leaks from public data buckets which the security firm has dubbed BlueBleed. It is described as "one of the largest B2B leaks in recent years" and affects thousands of individuals and companies across over 100 countries. Microsoft has addressed the misconfiguration, but the company is not happy with SOCRadar.

Continue reading

Microsoft releases Windows 11 Build 25227, makes update restarts less annoying

Man using Windows 11 laptop

Yesterday was a huge day for Microsoft as it not only released the first 'moment' for Windows 11 which introduced extra features to the operating system (including a tabbed version of File Explorer) but it also released the Windows 10 2022 (22H2) Update for its older OS.

Today it’s business as usual for Insiders in the Dev Channel who receive a fresh new Windows 11 test build to play around with.

Continue reading

Windows 11 vs. Windows 10 -- which is fastest? We have an answer

Windows 10 v Windows 11

Microsoft is currently supporting both Windows 10 and Windows 11, even though it would prefer you to switch to the latter. Windows 10 is the most popular desktop operating system by some margin, but that doesn’t mean it’s the best one.

One thing that people are definitely swayed by is speed and gaming performance, and if you’re wondering which of the two operating system is fastest, we have the answer.

Continue reading

Get 'Teach Yourself VISUALLY: Word 2019' ($18 value) FREE for a limited time

Teach Yourself VISUALLY: Word 2019 provides readers with a thorough and visual exploration of the 2019 edition of Microsoft Word.

Written by the celebrated author of over 100 books on computing, Guy Hart-Davis, Teach Yourself VISUALLY: Word 2019 allows you to quickly get up to speed with one of the most popular word processors on the planet.

Continue reading

Tabbed File Explorer finally arrives in Windows 11, along with other new features

Microsoft announced the availability of Windows 11 2022 (22H2) a month ago, but some of the promised new features, most notably an updated version of File Explorer with tabs, were missing from that release.

Microsoft did say these experiences would be "coming in October" and after a period of testing in the Release Preview Channel, they are now available to all users starting from today.

Continue reading

Microsoft starts to roll out the Windows 10 2022 Update (22H2) -- Here's how to get it

Windows 11 users may have already been offered the Windows 11 2022 Update (aka Windows 11 22H2) as that was released a month ago.

Windows 10 users haven’t been forgotten however -- although it may sometimes feel like they have -- as today the software giant announces the availability of the Windows 10 2022 Update (22H2).

Continue reading

New version of Windows 95 runs on Windows, macOS and Linux, with dedicated builds for ARM-based systems

Windows 95

I hated Windows 95 when I first used it back in 1995, purely because it was so different from what I was used to. I soon came to realize the error of my ways and it introduced many of the features we still use today, including a desktop, taskbar and Start button.

Slack developer Felix Rieseberg released Windows 95 as an Electron app four years ago, updating it shortly afterwards to allow it to run gaming classics like Doom. Now he rolls out a new version which can run on any Windows, Mac or Linux system.

Continue reading

Microsoft releases out-of-band KB5020387 update to fix TLS handshake issues in Windows 11

Microsoft building logo

It may be the middle of the month, but that hasn't stopped Microsoft releasing an important update for various versions of Windows, including the KB5020387 update for Windows 11.

The updates fix a TLS handshake issue that causes SEC_E_ILLEGAL_MESSAGE errors. In all, there are seven non-security updates available for Windows, Windows 8.1, Windows 10, Windows 11, Windows Server 2012 and Windows Server 2022.

Continue reading

© 1998-2024 BetaNews, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy - Cookie Policy.