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Many users are experiencing problems after installing cumulative update KB5026372 for Windows 11, including Blue Screen of Death errors and malfunctioning VPN connections. This is a required cumulative update for those who aren't aware. Microsoft Windows 11 build 22H2, published just last year. It's been updated to fix a race condition in LAPS and add support for the secure Kernel-mode Hardware-enforced Stack Protection. This revision looks good on paper, but it has some serious flaws. KB5026372 is, according to feedback in our discussion forums and Reports on Reddit . For instance, there have been reports of issues with VPN connections, especially L2TP/IPsec VPN. L2TP is commonly used by businesses to enable VPN connections for their customers, and it does so by employing an encryption protocol. Some users have reported a significant slowing of transfer speeds, while others have had trouble downloading files via sftp while connected via an L2TP/IPsec VPN. U...

Microsoft recently discontinued the standalone Weather UWP app for Windows 11 in favor of the web-based MSN.com weather web page. PWAs are gaining popularity because of their efficient use of caching, which allows them to be smaller and use less bandwidth than traditional desktop or UWP apps. The switch to a PWA, however, has resulted in in-app advertising and a significant slowdown. After the update, both free users and Microsoft 365 subscribers saw an increase in advertising on the previously ad-free Weather client. Many Weather app users vented their frustrations about the "ads" in the app in the Feedback Hub. Microsoft has quietly decided to remove the update from the app's home screen in response to the widespread backlash it received on social media and its feedback platform. This means that the Weather app's home screen no longer displays banner ads. However, we found that it persists on other Windows 11 Weather pages, including the forecast...

As the end of extended support for Windows 10 approaches, Microsoft is pushing hard to get everyone onto Windows 11. In light of the, Update cumulative for Windows 10 due in May 2023 increasingly more users have reported being presented with a full-screen pop-up ad urging them to upgrade to the newest operating system. Perhaps in response to Windows 10 21H2's impending end-of-life, Microsoft is ramping up promotion of Windows 11. For the uninitiated, On June 12th, 2018, support for Windows 10 21H2 will end . A reminder from the tech giant to use a supported version of Windows has been sent out. Microsoft has restarted the Windows 11 advertising campaign on Windows 10. When you turn on your computer, a full-screen advertisement will appear, claiming that the free upgrade offer to Windows 11 is now available Windows Latest has captured screenshots showing an obtrusive advertisement that appears when users boot their devices. If...

I could write a whole novel about the peculiar dilemma of maintaining visual coherence in Windows 11. A presentation and summary could be made with the help of Microsoft's Copilot, but guess what? The issue would linger, waiting for the next act. Despite being the best operating system for productivity and gaming, Windows 11 is still not a unified system. Windows 11 may have a newer look and feel, but it still has some vestiges of older versions. When users attempt to switch from a Microsoft account to a local one, Windows 11 still refers to the Windows 8 "Search Charm," a bizarre case of inconsistent design. When users try to switch to a local account while device encryption is enabled, they are met with the screen shown below. " data-sizes="(max-width: 1621px) 100vw, 1621px" /> Charm Bar is mentioned in Windows 11 Windows 8's specialized 'Search Charm' has been removed from later builds of the operating system. Users are st...

After the release of the Creators Update in 2018, Windows 10, which was previously very reliable, began experiencing an uptick in issues. Windows 11, its successor, has not been free of these problems. Recently, Windows 11 has been plagued by numerous bugs, much to the dismay of its users. Build 5026372 for Windows 11 (Extensive revision as of May 2023) has been causing a slew of minor but serious problems, which may persuade some businesses to delay the upgrade for more than a month while the technology behemoth works on a fix. All known problems with the Windows 11 May 2023 update are detailed below. Problems with connection speeds in an L2TP/IPsec VPN due to a recent update Freezing and slowdowns in the system The Windows Security dialog boxes are broken. The settings for TPM detection and core isolation are also broken. Slow speeds for NVMe SSDs Update installation failures Constant reappearance of the Razer OSD Crashing and blue scree...

If you're experiencing what seems to be an " Kernel-mode Hardware-enforced Turning off Stack Protection. Your gadget might have security flaws in Windows 11 22H2 or 22H1, when you launch Windows Security. Windows 11 now includes the latest Windows Defender update users report that a brand-new "Kernel-mode Hardware-enforced Stack Protection is off" alert has appeared in Windows Security. Warning that "your device may be vulnerable." When users try to enable the feature, they are met with the same warning message they saw before. This is likely due to driver issues. To fill in the blanks, a recent Windows 11 bug incorrectly users were informed that LSA Protection had been turned off even though it was turned on by a switch. Due to the importance of LSA protection in preventing the theft of login credentials, this widespread false error understandably alarmed users. " data-sizes="(max-width: 690px) 100vw, 690px" /> This new safe...

The taskbar in Windows 11 has undergone significant changes. There are a few drawbacks to the design's recent overhaul to accommodate up-to-date context menus and APIs. For instance, there is a conspicuous lack of some long-loved features. Recent updates to the OS have included some much-requested features, such as the option to pin frequently-used files and applications to the taskbar. Microsoft is working on a couple of new features for the taskbar, despite the fact that some Windows 11 features are still missing and the taskbar's performance remains a concern. The taskbar decluttering feature is currently in testing and will be available in the next technical preview build. Users can accomplish this by disabling the system tray and other indicators of time and date. " data-sizes="(max-width: 496px) 100vw, 496px" /> The standard Windows taskbar layout, complete with icons and the time and date. Image: thewindowsfan.com The new customization op...

As part of the Windows Insider Program's Canary Channel, Microsoft has released Windows 11 Build 25346 for testing. Among the notable changes and fixes in this preview release is the ability to use Content Adaptive Brightness Control (CABC) on laptops and 2-in-1s. Content Adaptive Brightness Control (CABC) while plugged in is now available on laptops and 2-in-1 devices thanks to Build 25346. Until recently, only desktop computers had access to this function. CABC is a brand-new function that was introduced in 2021 with Windows 11. As noted  Microsoft's implementation of adaptive brightness and contrast adjusts the display settings to best suit the on-screen content. When a video cuts from a dark scene to a bright, sunny one, the lighting may change accordingly. This functionality is now available on laptops and 2-in-1s with Build 25346. A longer battery life, lower energy consumption, and a better experience could result from this change. However, when comparing ...

In Windows 11, Microsoft has been redesigning the taskbar from the ground up. Because of this, the operating system lacks a number of features that would make it more convenient to use, such as the capability to ungroup icons or drag and drop files onto the taskbar. Microsoft remains committed to listening to its customers and is actively working to restore previously removed features. A year ago, The taskbar now supports "drag and drop" again, thanks to Microsoft users can simply drop files onto it, just like they could in previous versions of Windows. March is when we The tech giant's intention to bring back some old taskbar features was exclusively confirmed this coming fall with the Windows 11 23H2 update. "never combine" for the taskbar is scheduled to come back. This new switch would allow you to separate icons and applications on the taskbar, as the name suggests. With Windows 11 Dev Channel Build 23440, Microsoft has implemented the initia...

New issues, such as printer issues, are being reported by users of the April 11th, 2023 release of Windows 10 April 2023 Update (KB5025221). Among the many issues fixed by this mandatory cumulative update is Windows' tendency to incorrectly classify USB printers as multimedia devices. The Windows 10 April 2023 Update, however, seems to have backfired, as some users are reporting new problems with their printers. After users discovered and reported serious issues with Update to Windows 11 for April 2023 (KB5025239) including a performance-affecting bug. In the wake of the Windows 10 update, reported  issues with Brother printers' document scanning capabilities, specifically the DCP-L2540DW. Deleting KB5025221 appeared to fix the scanner, so Microsoft's patch was definitely to blame. There has been a disproportionate impact on small businesses due to this bug on workplace printers. Downloading a required update at this time In a Microsoft Community Thread  User...

Microsoft's Chromium-based Edge browser is available for Windows 11, Windows 10, Android, and iOS. Once the dominant browser, Microsoft is now doubling down on efforts to promote its Edge product Desktop browser usage share leader: 2nd for Safari on the Mac. For starters, Chrome users ran into issues after a Windows 11 and 10 update broke a feature that allowed them to set a different browser as their default. In spite of attempts to make Chrome the default browser and restore its factory settings, some users continued to experience persistent pop-ups whenever they launched the browser. Users of Outlook and Microsoft Teams will be the focus of Microsoft's second incident, in which the company intends to promote the Edge web browser. The company's aggressive marketing strategy for Edge, which has been met with mixed reactions from users, is further demonstrated by this move. A Windows update bombarded Chrome users with pop-ups The ability to select a default...

Microsoft is getting ready to upgrade the default file system in Windows 11 to a more secure and efficient version. Two new features, using ReFS as the default file system rather than NTSF, are currently being developed independently by the tech giant's developers. Microsoft is working on incorporating Rust into the kernel of Windows 11 in order to improve its security features. As as Wired explains it , Rust, like languages like Java, is known for its resistance to injection attacks and its memory safety. Its purpose is to stop malicious software from gaining access to sensitive information stored in computer memory. The BlueHat IL 2023 conference will feature, Dr. David Weston , Microsoft's Vice President of Enterprise and OS Security confirmed Microsoft's intention to use Rust in Windows 11's core operating system code. The executive claims that the time for Windows and Rust integration is now. " data-sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px...

Some users are having trouble with the latest optional Windows 11 update (KB5025305), especially those who also use the Kaspersky anti-virus program. Windows 11 KB5025305 was released in the final week of April 2023 with some cool new features, such as updated animations for the Widgets button in the taskbar. When a notification pops up on the Widgets button in the taskbar, you'll see these fresh animations. Alternatively, the Widgets window will open whenever the mouse is over the corresponding button in the toolbar. There is also a new toggle switch that enables you to test out upcoming features and updates ahead of the general public. When this button is pressed, Windows 11 "Configuration Updates", giving your device a head start on receiving updates that aren't related to security, like a Task Manager's Search Box. The optional Windows 11 April 2023 update has been causing a number of problems, despite initially seeming like a pretty good rele...

There is a race between Microsoft and Google to improve browser performance with new features. While Microsoft Edge tabs can be set to hibernate. Google Chrome now has support for a memory-saving feature called "memory saver," which was added to desktop versions of the browser not too long ago. Tab discard control, an optional toggle in Google Chrome for Windows, will improve the browser's memory-saving features. An inactive tab memory saver was added to the browser in a recent update. As of last month, Google confirmed  that it is dedicated to improving Chrome's performance and has added two new options that can save up to 10GB of memory and cut usage by 40%. Soon, you'll be able to decide when Chrome closes a tab. Alert for Chrome's Memory Saver When the "Configure discard time for Memory Saver" switch is activated, you'll be given the option to alter the default discard time from 1 minute to 1 minute, 5 minutes to 15 minutes, ...

While I was working on a piece about The new alert settings in Windows 11, I noticed that Spotify doesn't work properly with the integration. Just in case you forgot, In 2021, Windows 11's highlight feature was the addition of Spotify support. Panos Panay, at the time, said this new functionality would be a "game changer" for workers looking to increase their efficiency. Microsoft has done nothing to fix the game-changing feature since February. In Windows 11, Spotify is integrated into the Alarms & Clock app as part of a new feature called "Focus Sessions," which is meant to help users focus on specific tasks and get more done. Since Focus Sessions is Spotify-compatible, users can curate sessions featuring their go-to tunes from the music streaming service. So, how exactly does Windows 11's integration function? Launch the Clock app, select a Microsoft To-Do item from the list, and then click the Connect Spotify button to link Spoti...

Internet notifications, whether on a desktop or mobile device, can be a nuisance. Windows 11 uses push notifications for both native and third-party apps and websites, much like mobile devices. Almost every app in Windows 11 attempts to notify you of something, and most of the time those notifications are useless. The Windows Security app, for instance, notifies you whenever your computer fails a security check. The same can be said for the Weather app's notifications, as well as those from any website you subscribe to in Microsoft Edge or Chrome. The number of Windows alerts you see on a daily basis has been reduced thanks to recent changes made by Microsoft. Focus Assist, included with Windows 11, is one such feature that helps you zero in on your work by muting all those pesky app toast notifications. The tech giant is now experimenting with a new method to cut down on unnecessary notifications so you can pay attention to the ones that matter. Preview builds of ...

Windows 11 "configuration updates" are now being tested in the production channel, Microsoft has confirmed. Non-security-related updates, fixes, and enhancements like Task Manager now has a search bar or an There should be a taskbar "End Task" button to gadgets using a wide range of servicing methods. You may already be aware that some Windows 11 features will be made available to users in stages via Microsoft's Controlled Feature Rollouts (CFR) technology. Once each component has been tested and found to be reliable, it will be made available to new devices and enabled by default in a subsequent monthly security update. Microsoft has stated in the past that it plans to release monthly updates that include new features and enhancements. CFR technology (an approach similar to A/B tests) is used for this monthly updating process, in which some users get new features and others don't. Get the latest updates as soon as they're available is a...

Microsoft's "Microsoft Silicon team," along with its partners, is developing new ARM chips to compete with Apple's M chips. Some job postings I've seen make it sound like the company is developing its own ARM chips on Silicon for use in consumer electronics. Furthermore, Microsoft is reportedly tailoring Windows 12 to the needs of the Silicon-ARM architecture. These changes align with Microsoft's impending release of Windows 12, which will feature a silicon-optimized and AI-enabled variant. Most of the job postings have been removed, but they described work with custom silicon accelerators, SoCs, and other high-performance, high-bandwidth designs. This hints that Microsoft is developing its own ARM-based chips in an effort to rival the efficiency and power of Apple's M chips. The "Microsoft Silicon team" is looking for a "Principal System on Chip (SoC) Silicon Architect" with knowledge of high-performance SOC architectu...