Articles about Windows

The next time you sign into your Microsoft account you may well be greeted by a new look. Microsoft has started the roll out of what it is calling a “new sign in experience” as the company uses its Fluent 2 design language to revamp the UI and UX. For better or worse, this is an attempt to create an “unmistakably Microsoft” look and feel.

The changes affect users of Windows, Xbox, Microsoft 365, and more, and Microsoft predicts that the majority of users will see the new look by the end of April. As part of the redesign, users are being given more choice; there is now a dark mode option.

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Security issues in Windows crop up with scary frequency, and most are fixed by Microsoft… eventually. But while the tech giant works out how to patch holes in its buggy operating system, there are -- thankfully -- others who are willing to do the fixing faster.

0patch is a familiar name. It is a firm that, on a subscription basis, provides support and security fixes for versions of Windows that Microsoft has abandoned. It also frequently releases free patches for security issues that Microsoft is yet to fix, and this has just happened again with a fix for a worrying SCF File NTLM hash disclosure 0day vulnerability.

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There are several keyboard shortcuts that are seared into the minds of computer users, and they are turned to unthinkingly to speed up common tasks. But there are also keyboard shortcuts whose function has changed over time, with Win + C being a prime example.

Over the years, this particular shortcut has served as a way of accessing Cortana (remember that one?), launching Teams, and -- most recently -- for triggering Copilot. Win + C was killed off with Microsoft’s push of Copilot, and the arrival of the dedicated Copilot key on some new keyboards. Now there is some good news for people who either don’t use Microsoft’s AI-powered digital assistant, or would like to put the shortcut to better use.

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Just as you can get versions of Android that are free from Google, including LineageOS and /e/OS, so there are also alternative Windows operating systems not developed by Microsoft.

One of the most best examples of this is ReactOS, an open-source project that aims to provide a free and compatible replacement for Windows, removing all the things you don’t want in Microsoft’s OS, such as spying/telemetry, adverts, and so on.

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Looking for a way to protect your PC from the dreaded specter of data loss or system corruption? The most effective strategy involves backing up both data and your Windows system, and the best free tool for the job is Hasleo Backup Suite 5.2 Free.

Windows’ own backup tools aren’t really fit for purpose, while our previous backup tool of choice -- Macrium Reflect -- dropped its free tier a few years ago. That was forgivable, but we draw the line at switching to a subscription model. Thankfully, Hasleo Backup Suite offers a comprehensive -- and completely free -- alternative.

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ViewSonic has just rolled out the ColorPro VP2788-5K, and this 27-inch monitor should absolutely be on your radar! The display features a 5K (5120x2880), plus a 99 percent DCI-P3 color gamut.

Mac users should love how well this monitor plays with macOS, offering what ViewSonic calls “Retina-like” sharpness. Of course, this isn’t just for Apple fans -- Windows users will get the same experience.

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Microsoft has announced that it is pulling the plug on the Remote Desktop app. In just 6 weeks, the app will not only no longer be supported, it will also not be available to download from the Microsoft Store.

But Microsoft is not completely abandoning people who need to be able to remotely access systems -- it is replacing the Remote Desktop app with the Windows App. While the company is quick to point out the extra things Windows App can do when compared to the Remote Desktop app, it concedes that it is not a replacement tool and there are limitations.

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Windows XP hasn’t been supported by Microsoft for a decade now, but it’s in use in many places. According to the most recent figures from Statcounter, the ancient OS still holds 0.27 percent of the Windows market, placing it above Windows 8/8.1.

There is even a Linux version of XP that you can run if you want a hit of nostalgia, but don’t want to risk using an unsupported OS. You’ve no doubt seen Doom running on all sorts of hardware, and XP is similar in some respects. We’ve already seen it running on Apple’s Vision Pro, and now it appears that with a bit of creative thinking it’s possible to run Windows XP on an Apple TV.

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If you need to connect multiple displays, you'll be pleased to know that Plugable has just released the USBC-MSTH3, a new USB-C hub designed for that very purpose. The hub uses Multi-Stream Transport (MST) technology, which allows users to spread their Windows desktop across three external screens.

The hub supports HDMI 2.1, offering various display configurations:

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Dealing with Apple iWork files on non-Apple systems has always been a bit of a headache, but at least there were solutions. Apps like Microsoft Office and LibreOffice have long been able to deal with iWork formats, converting Pages, Numbers, and Keynote into formats that are more universally accepted. Now, however, with version 8.3, ONLYOFFICE Desktop Editors steps up, adding iWork compatibility for users on Windows, Linux, and macOS platforms.

This update lets users peek into iWork files without needing Apple's own software. While you can't edit these files directly yet, there's a conversion tool that can turn them into DOCX, XLSX, or PPTX, making them editable in the familiar formats. This move cuts out the need for extra software or asking for different file types from colleagues.

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For many users, myself included, Windows 10 and 11 are functional but unremarkable. The design, while supposedly modern, tends to be a bit, well, boring. The current design comes across as bland, offering little of the warmth or personality that once defined Windows. Remember Windows XP? Whatever happened to the Microsoft that gave us that leap forward in design a couple of decades ago?

Thankfully, there is a solution at hand. Seelen UI is a free tool that reimagines what a Windows desktop can be, giving users the tools to break free from Microsoft monotony. It offers a number of customization features that will let you craft a unique, stylish and practical workspace.

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Microsoft has very quietly announced that the VPN feature of its Microsoft Defender security tool is going away for anyone unwilling to part with money.

In a support document entitled “End of support-Privacy protection (VPN) in Microsoft Defender for individuals”, the company gives very short notice for the dropping of the free tool. When the end of February rolls around, the VPN feature will only be available to users paying for a Microsoft 365 Personal or Family subscription. What does all of this mean?

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The Wine team has officially released Wine 10.0, marking a full year of extensive development with over 6,000 changes. This stable release introduces major updates designed to improve performance, compatibility, and visual experience when running Windows applications on Linux (and other non-Windows platforms).

Perhaps the most impressive arrival in Wine 10.0 is the addition of full support for the ARM64EC architecture, now on par with ARM64. This allows developers to build hybrid ARM64X modules that blend ARM64EC and ARM64 code in a single binary. While currently reliant on an experimental LLVM toolchain, the upcoming LLVM 20 release should streamline support. The update also introduces 64-bit x86 emulation, using ARM64EC to allow Wine’s internal processes to run natively, reducing the need for resource-intensive emulation.

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If you’ve got BitLocker enabled on your computer and you’re seeing unexpected error messages, you can take some comfort in knowing that you are not alone -- and also that Microsoft is aware of the issue.

The problem affects some systems with TPMs (Trusted Platform Module), and it results in a message being displayed that reads: “For your security, some settings are managed by your administrator”.

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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.

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