#Windows_OS

[phonemantra-blog]

Many innovations and many failures both at the installation stage and subsequently Microsoft released update KB5031455 last week, bringing a host of new Windows 11 Moment 4 features to Windows 11 PCs, including the Copilot assistant bot, taskbar improvements, a redesigned Start menu, support for 11 file archives, and more. . [caption id="attachment_79413" align="aligncenter" width="780"] Windows 11[/caption] The biggest Windows 11 update turned out to be problematic As it turns out, the KB5031455 update causes installation problems for many users: error messages appear at various stages. The installed update causes problems with games that crash and refuse to launch, as well as the performance of various applications, including Explorer. The incorrect operation of the new Copilot assistant deserves special mention. Microsoft developers have already acknowledged that a new known issue causes desktop icons to behave erratically on systems with multiple screens. Because of this, Microsoft had to disable Copilot for affected devices until a solution was found. The company is currently working on a fix.

[01radofficial]

#Microsoft is going to discontinue some of the legacy features of #Windows_OS - #01RAD #RapidApplicationDevelopment  

[phonemantra-blog]

All the innovations of Windows 11 Moment 4 and a little more Microsoft has released Windows 11 23H2 (build 22631.2428) to OEMs such as Dell, HP, and Lenovo. This was an important step before the full public launch and will allow manufacturers to ensure OS compatibility with their devices.  [caption id="attachment_77871" align="aligncenter" width="780"] Windows 11[/caption] The update is distributed as an "activation package" that includes features already present in the operating system code. The update includes all the innovations of Windows 11 Moment 4, as well as additional improvements. Windows 11 23H2 is considered the last major update before the release of Windows 12. The latest major Windows 11 update has gone to PC manufacturers ahead of its full launch Windows 11 Moment 4 includes a redesigned Explorer, support for more archive formats, taskbar improvements, the Windows Backup app, Copilot assistant, and a host of other changes. Additionally, Windows 11 23H2 brings a system components page in settings, improvements to the notification center, the Windows Ink Anywhere feature (you can write in any text field and then recognize it), and so on.  Note that Windows 11 Moment 4 with new features can already be installed manually by anyone using the recent optional update. 

[phonemantra-blog]

The update process will take about 5-10 minutes Microsoft has released a large functional update to Windows 11 2023 or 23H2, which is now available to all OS users without exception. It is considered the last major OS release before the release of Windows 12. [caption id="attachment_78162" align="aligncenter" width="780"] Windows 11 update[/caption] There is a bit of confusion surrounding this update. The fact is that the update was initially introduced in September as the biggest update in the history of Windows 11, and then the company began to gradually distribute some of its innovations to some users in the form of the Windows 11 Moment 4 update.  The biggest Windows 11 update has become available to all users Thus, those who have not yet managed to join Windows 11 Moment 4 will receive the entire major update at once, including the new Copilot assistant, Cocreator artificial intelligence functions in Paint, Photos and Scissors, a redesigned Explorer, improvements in the taskbar, and much more.  Those users who have already joined Windows 11 Moment 4, along with Windows 11 2023, receive such an innovation as the removal of the Microsoft Teams integration called Chat. Previously, Microsoft Teams was deeply built into the system and turned on by default in the taskbar. Now the Chat app is no longer pinned to the taskbar - all features are available in the Microsoft Teams app. Also, with a “clean” installation, 23H2 finally rids users of the Cortana voice assistant and the old Mail application. Like its predecessors, versions 21H2 and 22H2, Windows 11 23H2 will receive two years of active support (until October 2025) with monthly cumulative updates, fixes, and new features. As a reminder, support for Windows 11 21H2 expired earlier this month. As for version 22H2, Microsoft will stop updating it after a year, on October 4, 2024. The Windows 11 2023 Update does not change hardware requirements and works with existing apps, services, and drivers. The update is optional for now, but Microsoft plans to automatically update PCs in the coming months. Currently, users can download the update manually through Settings and Windows Update, while businesses can use options such as Windows Update for Business. The update process is expected to take about 5-10 minutes.

[phonemantra-blog]

The “System” icon has appeared in the OS Microsoft has released a small functional update for the Windows 10 operating system, which we can no longer count on with confidence.  [caption id="attachment_76643" align="aligncenter" width="780"] Windows 10[/caption] A few months ago, Microsoft confirmed that Windows 10 would no longer receive “major” updates with new features and significant changes. However, Microsoft continues to maintain Windows 10 with monthly Patch Tuesdays and additional minor non-security updates. Windows 10 received an unexpected update in the Start menu Not long ago, a new Windows Backup application and a new Explorer button appeared in the OS. Now it's time for the Start menu - the KB5031445 update for Windows 10 version 22H2 introduced the newly announced System icon.  Microsoft officially unveiled this new feature in the Windows 11 Build 23511 developer notes, and the icon has yet to make it into the latest OS's stable channel. It's interesting to see how Microsoft initially makes changes, albeit small ones, to Windows 10 without mentioning them in the release notes. Here's how Microsoft described the innovation: In the All Apps section of the Start menu, Windows 11 system components will now be labeled "system". It's worth noting that the System icon doesn't mean those apps can no longer be uninstalled. Most programs can still be uninstalled using traditional methods (right-click > Uninstall) or the Winget utility in Terminal or PowerShell.

[phonemantra-blog]

A lot has been cut, the antivirus does not work The NTDEV team of enthusiasts continues to improve their modification of Windows 11 called Tiny11. In February, a lightweight version of Windows 11 Pro 22H2 was introduced, which required 2 GB of RAM and 8 GB of storage space to operate. Now the developers have moved even further. In the latest release of Tiny11, installation requires a little more than 3 GB. [caption id="attachment_76635" align="aligncenter" width="780"] Windows 11[/caption] For comparison, a full-fledged Windows 11 Pro 22H2 requires 4 GB of RAM and at least 24 GB of disk space, but the official requirements are even higher - 64 GB. The new version of Tiny11 weighs 2 GB. Of course, you can't make Windows 11 17 GB lighter without significant sacrifices. According to the developer, the project required significant changes to the Windows Component Store, Windows Defender, Microsoft Edge, Windows Update, and more. Learn, Microsoft: This build of Windows 11 only requires 3GB of storage space As a result, the OS doesn't have a built-in antivirus or browser, and it can't install updates (trying to open Windows Update will crash the Settings app). Also, there are no network drivers, so it's worth preparing them in advance. Despite its small size, the tiny11 core still allows you to install applications from the Microsoft Store or other sources, giving you a more or less correctly functioning operating system. Here's a quick demo: https://youtu.be/Cb_hyFWRE9U According to the developers, Tiny11 is not a pirated or hacked version of Windows 11, so to activate it you will need to buy a license key from Microsoft or official partners.

[phonemantra-blog]

The source of the initial infection remained unknown for a long time Kaspersky Lab experts have discovered a previously unknown and extremely sophisticated malicious attack called StripedFly. As the press service notes, since 2017, more than a million users around the world have become its victims; now it continues, although less actively.  [caption id="attachment_75979" align="aligncenter" width="780"] Windows and Linux devices[/caption] For a long time, it was assumed that the malware was an ordinary crypto miner, but it later turned out that it was a complex program with a multifunctional, functional framework.  Many modules allow attackers to use it as part of APT attacks, as well as as a crypto miner or even ransomware. Accordingly, the list of possible motives for attackers is significantly expanding - from financial gain to espionage. Kaspersky Lab experts emphasized that the mining module is a key factor due to which malware could not be fully detected for a long time. A sophisticated spy miner, StripedFly discovered that managed to infect more than a million Windows and Linux devices. As it turns out, attackers have many opportunities to covertly spy on victims. The malware collects credentials every two hours: this can be logins and passwords to log into a website or connect to Wi-Fi, or personal data of a person, including name, address, phone number, place of work, and position. In addition, the malware can quietly take screenshots from the victim’s device, gain full control over it, and even record voice data from the microphone. The source of the initial computer infection remained unknown for a long time. Further research by Kaspersky Lab showed that attackers use their implementation of the EternalBlue SMBv1 exploit for this purpose. The EternalBlue vulnerability was discovered back in 2017, after which Microsoft released a fix (MS17-010). However, the threat is still relevant because not all users update the system.

[phonemantra-blog]

The deal was announced early last year. The deal between Activision Blizzard and Microsoft is finally closed. Microsoft Gaming and Xbox head Phil Spencer announced that Activision is now part of Xbox Game Studios.   [caption id="attachment_68015" align="aligncenter" width="780"] Microsoft[/caption] The deal was announced back in January 2022, but it was not closed in the original time frame. Sony actively interfered with this, and the British regulator was also against it at first. However, Microsoft managed to solve all the problems and close the deal.   Call of Duty and Diablo are now owned by Microsoft. Let's remember that the purchase of Activision Blizzard cost Microsoft a very impressive 68.7 billion dollars, which made this deal the largest in the video game industry, and it will likely remain so for a very long time. It's also Microsoft's biggest acquisition yet, which is quite curious considering it's not primarily a gaming company.  Together with Activision Blizzard, all franchises of the first company were transferred to Microsoft. These are Warcraft, Diablo, Overwatch, Candy Crush, and much more. Of course, first of all, this is the Call of Duty series, which brings a lot of money to its creators. To appease regulators, Microsoft had to enter into deals with several companies that meant that Call of Duty games would be released on other people's platforms for the next 10 years.  It's important to note that now that the deal is complete, don't expect every Activision Blizzard game to be included in Game Pass right away. This would especially appeal to active Call of Duty players. However, in the foreseeable future, the company's games will begin to be included in the subscription service, although there are no details on this yet. At a minimum, Modern Warfare 3 and Diablo IV will not appear there until the end of this year. 

[phonemantra-blog]

Already in October The Astra group of companies is going to conduct an initial public offering of ordinary shares (IPO) on the Moscow Exchange. Based on the results of the IPO, the share of the company's free float is expected to be about 5%, as reported by TASS concerning the press service of Astra Group of Companies. The listing and commencement of trading in the company's shares is expected in October 2023. [caption id="attachment_63236" align="aligncenter" width="780"] Windows[/caption] The creators of the Windows replacement are going for an IPO. As part of the IPO, existing shareholders will offer their shares to investors; after the IPO, current shareholders will retain a majority stake in the company's share capital. The company added that shareholders will continue to participate in the growth of Astra Group of Companies’ business and further strengthen the company’s leadership position in the Russian infrastructure software market. Earlier it was reported that 1,800 Astra Linux and My office licenses were purchased for deputies and administrative employees of parliament.

[phonemantra-blog]

For 52.5 million rubles As Vedomosti writes, 1,800 licenses of domestic analogs of the Windows operating system and the Microsoft Office suite of office programs were purchased for deputies and administrative workers of the parliament. An employee of a large IT company spoke about this and was confirmed by the technical director of the license provider - integrator Step Logic Stanislav Darchinov. In particular, it is mentioned that the role of the operating system was entrusted to Astra Linux, and the place of Microsoft Office was replaced by the MyOffice package. At this stage, we are talking about perpetual licenses with three years for receiving updates. The publication added that the purchase amount was 52.5 million rubles. [caption id="attachment_62777" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Windows and Microsoft[/caption] Windows and Microsoft Office are being replaced. The information was confirmed on the government procurement portal, as well as in the press service of the State Duma. 1,800 My office licenses cost 23.1 million rubles, and the same number of Astra Linux licenses cost 29.3 million rubles. Only Step Logic's application was received for the competition. “The solutions were fully delivered to the customer in September,” said Stanislav Darchinov. The developers of the MyOffice software package and the Astra Linux operating system declined to comment. It was previously reported that Microsoft stopped renewing licenses for Russian companies after September 30.

[phonemantra-blog]

The cloud version aims to compete with ChromeOS Microsoft is indeed working on a “web-centric” version of the next generation of the Windows operating system, widely known as Windows 12. This was reported by the thematic resource WindowsLatest, citing several sources close to Microsoft and its industry partners.  [caption id="attachment_61723" align="aligncenter" width="780"] Windows 12[/caption] The cloud, or web-based, version of Windows 12 is similar in operating principles to the already well-known ChromeOS operating system from Google, which is used mainly on school and student PCs and laptops, which are characterized by accessibility.  Microsoft is preparing a lightweight version of Windows 12 for very cheap PCs and laptops As WindowsLatest notes, the cloud version of Windows 12 is not intended to replace the traditional proprietary OS on desktop computers and could be the “true” answer to Chrome OS. This is Microsoft's attempt to create a more modern, modular, and lightweight version of Windows for low-cost educational devices.  Microsoft is already building a development team for the next generation of Windows. This is confirmed by job listings appearing online. It also notes that the “next generation of Windows” will appear in 2024. As WindowsLatest learned, the Microsoft Edge browser and a new artificial intelligence system will be the center of the first web version of Windows 12. 

[phonemantra-blog]

In older builds of Windows 11, the trick still works, but in new builds, it no longer works. Microsoft has announced the closure of the channel for free migration from Windows 7 and 8 operating systems to modern versions of Windows. [caption id="attachment_61024" align="aligncenter" width="780"] Windows 11[/caption] Until now, users could activate Windows 11 and 10 using valid Windows 7, Windows 8, and 8.1 keys. This “tradition” dates back to 2015, when Microsoft released Windows 10 with a one-year free update period. Apart from giving Windows 7/8 users a free upgrade to Windows 10, Microsoft has also allowed their latest OS to be activated using keys from previous editions. Microsoft has blocked the ability to activate Windows 11 with Windows 7 and Windows 8 keys [caption id="attachment_61025" align="aligncenter" width="780"] Windows 11[/caption] Upgrading from Windows 7 and 8 to the latest versions of Windows has been impossible for some time, and now Microsoft is eliminating the loophole that allows you to activate the latest OS with old Windows license keys. The check showed that although old Windows 7 and 8 keys can still activate Windows 11 version 22H2, new versions no longer accept them. Thematic resource Neowin managed to activate a virtual machine running Windows 11 version 22H2, but a similar virtual machine running the latest Windows 11 Canary build (presumably version 24H2) rejected the Windows 7 key.

[phonemantra-blog]

Don't be upset, there are plenty of alternatives Microsoft has begun warning about the imminent shutdown of another service - offline maps that can work offline, without an Internet connection, will no longer be available in the Windows operating system.  [caption id="attachment_60411" align="aligncenter" width="780"] Microsoft disables offline maps[/caption] As users have noticed, when opening the Maps app in Windows 11, a message appears: “By the end of 2023, offline maps will no longer be available in the Maps app.” After this date, you will not be able to view offline maps in the application. Minus one: Microsoft disables offline maps in Windows 11 [caption id="attachment_60412" align="aligncenter" width="780"] Microsoft disables offline maps[/caption] The decision to end support is most likely due to the expiration of the agreement between Nokia, its Here brand, and Microsoft. Microsoft acquired Nokia's mapping and navigation business (Here) in 2015, and since then both companies have been working together to create offline maps for Windows.

[phonemantra-blog]

The company has not yet decided whether to return the drag-and-drop feature. Yesterday, Microsoft released the biggest update since the existence of the Windows 11 operating system. As users discovered, along with the Windows 11 23H2 (or Moment 4) update, one useful feature disappeared from the OS. [caption id="attachment_60403" align="aligncenter" width="780"] Windows 11[/caption] We are talking about the possibility of “drag and drop”. As Mayank Parmar, owner of the WindowsLatest topic resource, humorously complains, new Microsoft developers don't like the drag-and-drop feature or don't understand its importance. When Windows 11 first came out, users couldn't drag and drop items onto the taskbar like they were used to. The option was returned a year later in the Windows 11 22H2 update. Microsoft "celebrated" the option as completely new, although it was familiar to many different versions of Windows. And it looks like history will repeat itself. [caption id="attachment_60404" align="aligncenter" width="780"] Windows 11[/caption] The biggest Windows 11 update: not only new features but also losses in Explorer Windows 11 23H2 introduces Explorer with a redesigned design, recommendations, and a new address bar that's deeply integrated with OneDrive cloud storage. Microsoft support explains: Explorer's newly designed address bar recognizes local and cloud folders. It also shows the status of the file. For Microsoft OneDrive users, the address bar now includes OneDrive sync status and a storage limits pop-up window. [caption id="attachment_60407" align="aligncenter" width="780"] Windows 11[/caption] This is all well and good, but with the new address bar, you can no longer drag and drop files or apps. For example, if you have two folders on your computer and you want to move a file from one to the other. Previously, when dragging, the “Move to...” mark appeared, but now it is gone, and the entire function does not work. Here is one typical complaint: Removing this feature from the address bar has disrupted my workflow many times lately. A Microsoft representative said that the company is aware of these changes, but no decision has been made on this matter yet. The company reported: This [drag and drop] is not currently supported by the updated address bar... we will continue to monitor feedback.

[phonemantra-blog]

With updated Explorer, AI in Paint, and integrated RAR support Microsoft has released the largest update to Windows 11 since the existence of this OS. There are a lot of new things in it, and one of the main new features is the Copilot function. [caption id="attachment_60343" align="aligncenter" width="780"] Windows 11 23H2[/caption] Copilot is a reimagined Bing Chat chatbot adapted for use on Windows. It opens into a classic sidebar that lets you manage your PC settings, launch apps, or get answers to questions without having to go to Google. To some extent, Copilot replaces Cortana. The update added artificial intelligence to the familiar Paint, Scissors, and Photos apps. Some Photoshop features (transparency and layers) have also appeared in Paint, and an AI image generator is also promised. [caption id="attachment_60344" align="aligncenter" width="780"] Windows 11 23H2[/caption] A holiday for all Windows 11 users: Windows 11 23H2 has been released AI in Scissors allows you to “cut” text from an image, copy it, and paste it, for example, into a text document or table. In Photos, AI will automatically separate the subject from the background and blur the background. Naturally, in the settings, you can specify the degree of “intensity” of the blur. [caption id="attachment_60345" align="aligncenter" width="780"] Windows 11 23H2[/caption] Explorer hasn't added much to its capabilities, but it has changed in appearance and is more in line with the style of Windows 11. It now has larger file thumbnails and an option to display the latest files in a carousel style. [caption id="attachment_60346" align="aligncenter" width="780"] Windows 11 23H2[/caption] Windows 11 23H2 integrates the ability to control RGB lighting of various devices (case fans, mice, keyboards, monitors, etc.) from various manufacturers (Acer, Asus, HP, HyperX, Logitech, Razer). That is, now to adjust the backlight, you will not need to install third-party applications. Windows 11 23H2 also integrates support for RAR and 7-zip file archives, so you can do without WinRAR. And this, of course, is not a complete list of innovations.

[phonemantra-blog]

Typically this interface is used to make the browser more touchscreen friendly. The latest update released by Microsoft has led to a strange crash in the proprietary Microsoft Edge browser on PCs running Windows 10 and Windows 11 operating systems. The problem was brought to the attention of the WindowsLatest thematic resource. [caption id="attachment_57458" align="aligncenter" width="780"] Windows 11 and 10[/caption] As the source notes, after the update, the browser interface automatically switched to “touch” or “tablet” mode, which is characterized by increased buttons and distances between interface elements, including tabs. Typically this interface is used to make the browser more touch-friendly. The problem is that this mode appears on regular Windows 10 and Windows 11 computers without a touchscreen, including desktop ones. [caption id="attachment_57459" align="aligncenter" width="780"] Windows 11 and 10[/caption] Apparently, Microsoft mistakenly enabled tablet support mode. The crash identifies desktop PCs as tablets and enables touch mode. The update forces Microsoft Edge into tablet mode, even on desktop PCs running Windows 11 and 10. [caption id="attachment_57460" align="aligncenter" width="780"] Windows 11 and 10[/caption] Fortunately, WindowsLatest found a very simple way out of the situation. The user only needs to go to the browser settings, go to the “Appearance” section and manually disable “touch mode”.