Microsoft’s latest Windows security fixes may not install alongside Citrix software -- but there is a workaround
The recently released security updates for Windows 10 and Windows 11 are proving problematic for some people. Microsoft has acknowledged issues with the KB5049981 and KB5050009 updates on systems with “certain Citrix components installed”.
With Windows 10 breathing its last, users will be keen to grab all available security updates before Microsoft abandons it later in the year, so it is good that while there is not yet a proper fix for the problem, a workaround is available.
Windows 11 is finally getting a decent battery tool -- here's how to enable it so you know how much power you have left
Laptop users rejoice -- Microsoft is finally getting around to making life a little easier for you. When you’re working on battery power, you really need to know how much juice you have left, and this is something that has been frustrating to access in Windows 11.
While hovering the cursor over the taskbar battery icon is not exactly a massive hardship, most other devices and operating systems provide much more helpful information that is visible at all times. Windows 11 users can now look forward to the same, with the taskbar showing the battery percentage permanently.
Best Windows apps this week
Six-hundred-thirty in a series. Welcome to this week's overview of the best apps, games and extensions released for Windows 10 and Windows 11 on the Microsoft Store and elsewhere in the past seven days.
Next month, Microsoft will install the new Outlook app as part of the February security updates on all unmanaged PCs. Microsoft says there is no way to block that initial installation, but users can remove it again and block it afterwards.
Microsoft rolls out administrator protection feature to some Windows 11 users to boost security
Microsoft has been testing a new Windows 11 security feature called “administrator protection” for a few months, and now the company has rolled it out to more users to try out.
Currently available to Windows Insiders who are beta testing preview builds of the operating system, the new security feature introduces important new protections by only assigning standard user permissions to administrator accounts. Authentication prompts appear when higher privileges are needed to complete a task.
Optimum 10 Pro is an upgraded version of Windows 10 with next-level performance, privacy and control
When Windows 10 first launched back in 2015, it sparked a major backlash for its aggressive data collection practices. Features like default telemetry settings and forced updates left many people feeling uncomfortable with the new OS. Microsoft eventually dialed back some of the most invasive elements, but the damage was done, and some users still worry about how much control the company has over their data.
Beyond privacy concerns, Windows 10 has also faced criticism for performance issues, especially on older hardware, and for limiting user control with automatic updates and a lack of flexibility in system customization. The good news is there is a solution.
Auslogics BoostSpeed 14 adds hardware monitoring and improved drive optimization tools -- get it now!
Auslogics has unveiled its first major release of BoostSpeed for over two years with the release of Auslogics BoostSpeed 14.0. The Windows optimization suite -- available as a free cut-down version alongside a fully featured Pro version, which you can have for just $19.95 -- gains eye-catching new features, optimizations and a major revamp of its user interface.
Existing users will notice the difference immediately on launching the new program. BoostSpeed 14.0 ditches the multi-Dashboard approach by consolidating Basic and Advanced dashboards into a single interface.
Best Windows apps this week
Six-hundred-twenty-nine in a series. Welcome to this week's overview of the best apps, games and extensions released for Windows 10 and Windows 11 on the Microsoft Store and elsewhere in the past seven days.
Windows 10 users will mass-migrate to Windows 11 this year according to Microsoft. The older version of Windows will run out of support in ten months. Users may extend support for a year officially though.
New year, new Microsoft OS -- the stunning Windows 25 is everything Windows 12 should be
Every so often, we get hints about Windows 12 -- usually in the form of accidental slips from Microsoft partners, like Intel. So far, though, that future OS has yet to be confirmed. Instead, what we get are continuous updates for Windows 11, typically with new AI features hastily jammed in.
But it’s 2025, and a new year is when we look forward to fresh beginnings and groundbreaking innovations. It’s time for a new Microsoft operating system. Let me introduce you to Windows 25.
New Lenovo Yoga Slim 9i is the first Windows laptop with camera-under-display technology
Lenovo made several big reveals at CES, but perhaps the most interesting is the Lenovo Yoga Slim 9i (14”, 10). This laptop has numerous features that make it stand out from the crowd.
Not only is this a Windows 11 Copilot+ PC, it is a laptop with virtually no bezel; Lenovo boasts of a 98 percent screen-to-body ratio. The most interesting innovation, though, is the inclusion of an under-display camera (or camera-under-display/CUD) which means a webcam without the need for a notch or a bezel.
Microsoft says 2025 is the year to ditch Windows 10 and embrace Windows 11
Every time January rolls around there are declarations that this will be the year of Linux on the desktop -- and of course, it never is. This year is no different, and Microsoft would much rather you consider 2025 to be the “year of the Windows 11 PC refresh”.
The company is using CES as a platform to encourage people who are still hanging on to Windows 10 to loosen their grip and move to Windows 11. The end of support for Windows 10 is being used as a stick, but the carrot is the new breed of AI-powered Copilot+ PCs. Microsoft is hoping that the artificial intelligence driven capabilities of this recently launched range of PCs will also encourage existing Windows 11 users to invest in new hardware.
Like magic! Transform Windows 11 into the Microsoft OS you've always wanted in just a couple of mouse clicks
Windows 11, despite being marketed as a modern operating system, often feels visually uninspired and inconsistent. The rounded corners and glass-like transparency effects attempt a minimalist look but come across as bland rather than innovative.
Microsoft stepped out of its comfort zone with a centered taskbar and Start Menu, but that’s about as bold as the tech giant was prepared to go. Key UI elements, like the Start Menu, feel oddly sterile, with a basic grid of icons and limited customization, making it look more like a placeholder design than a refined final product.
Best Windows apps this week
Six-hundred-twenty-eight in a series. Welcome to this week's overview of the best apps, games and extensions released for Windows 10 and Windows 11 on the Microsoft Store and elsewhere in the past seven days.
The last week of December has been a slow news week, as usual. Reports suggest that some Path of Exile 2 players experience high CPU loads on Windows 11, but the issue has not been added to the official known issues list yet by Microsoft.
Best Windows apps this week
Six-hundred-twenty-seven in a series. Welcome to this week's overview of the best apps, games and extensions released for Windows 10 and Windows 11 on the Microsoft Store and elsewhere in the past seven days.
Microsoft confirmed a new Windows 11 issue this week that prevents future installations of security updates. The issue affects Windows 11 devices that were installed using installation media, but only if the October or November 2024 security updates were included. No workaround at the time for affected users.
Microsoft warns of Windows 11 24H2 installation issue that blocks all future security updates
Microsoft is vocal about the importance of ensuring that Windows users have all of the latest security updates installed, and rightly so. Now the company has warned that using certain installation media to install Windows 11 24H2 could result in not being able to receive any further security updates.
The root cause of the problem has not been revealed as Microsoft is still investigating, but the issue can occur when using media such as CDs or USB drives to install the latest version of Windows 11. While the cause is not known, and there is no specific fix, there is a workaround.
Can siduction OS seduce you into saying goodbye to Windows 11 in 2025?
The start of a new year is always a chance to reassess priorities, try to break old habits, and make lifestyle changes that bring us closer to the life we want to live. New Year’s resolutions typically center around health, career, or relationships, but there’s another area worth considering -- the software and tools we rely on daily.
If you’ve been thinking about leaving Microsoft Windows 11 behind and diving into the world of Linux, this could be the perfect time to do so. (Like all resolutions there’s no guarantee you’ll stick to it of course, but like that well-meaning health kick, it’s worth giving it a go.)
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