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Windows 11 leak reveals new UI

Microsoft’s upcoming Windows 11 operating system has leaked online today. After screenshots were first published at Chinese site Baidu, the entire Windows 11 OS has appeared online, complete with a new user interface, Start menu, and lots more.

The new Windows 11 user interface and Start menu look very similar to what was originally found in Windows 10X. Microsoft had been simplifying Windows for dual-screen devices, before canceling this project in favor of Windows 11. Visually, the biggest changes you’ll notice can be found along the taskbar. Microsoft has centered the app icons here, cleaned up the tray area, and included a new Start button and menu.

This updated Start menu is a simplified version of what currently exists in Windows 10, without Live Tiles. It includes pinned apps, recent files, and the ability to quickly shut down or restart Windows 11 devices. It’s really a lot more simplified than what exists in Windows 10 today.

If you don’t want the app icons and Start menu centered, there’s an option to move them all back to the left-hand side. Coupled with the dark mode that’s also available, and Windows 11 starts to look like a more refined version of Windows 10 than something dramatically new.

Microsoft is also using rounded corners throughout Windows 11. These are visible in context menus, and around apps and the File Explorer. The Start menu itself also includes rounded corners. This is still an early version of Windows 11 that has leaked, so not everything is included yet.

We’re expecting to see more changes to the built-in apps within Windows 11, but most of those don’t appear to be present yet. A large part of the operating system feels finished though, so we’d expect to see a beta of this to arrive shortly for Windows Insiders to test.

Windows 11’s search interface.

The File Explorer in Windows 11. You may have noticed a new icon in the Windows 11 taskbar, and it’s labeled Widgets in the operating system. Rumors have suggested Microsoft is bringing back Windows Widgets, and this early version appears to include some.

As this is clearly a very early version of Windows 11, the widgets aren’t loading fully in the OS, but they’re designed to slide out and provide quick access to news, weather, and other web content.

Early version of Windows Widgets in Windows 11. While Microsoft canceled its Windows 10X operating system, the company is clearly reusing large parts of that work with Windows 11. Windows 10X was originally designed for dual-screen devices, before shifting toward traditional laptops and then being canceled. Windows 10X included a number of refined and simplified aspects to Windows, and most of that work is present in this leaked version of Windows 11.

Windows 11 also includes new snap controls that you can access from the maximize button on all apps. They’re modern equivalents of the cascade windows function that has existed in the operating system for years. You can quickly snap windows side by side, or arrange them in sections on your desktop.

Windows 11’s new snap feature. Unfortunately, there don’t seem to be big updates to the Windows Store yet. As this is an early leaked version, it’s likely that whatever updates Microsoft is planning just aren’t showing up yet.

The Windows Store interface is largely the same as what exists in Windows 10 right now, with access to all the same apps that are available today.

The existing Windows Store in Windows 11. Microsoft has reportedly been working on a new app store for Windows in recent months, and rumors suggest it will be a big change from what exists today. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella has promised to “unlock greater economic opportunity for developers and creators” with Windows, and that will likely come in the form of a new store.

Microsoft is reportedly overhauling its Windows app store to allow developers to submit any Windows application, including browsers like Chrome or Firefox. Microsoft may also be considering allowing third-party commerce platforms in apps, allowing developers to avoid the cut Microsoft usually takes from in-app purchase systems.

Elsewhere, Microsoft has also included a new setup experience in Windows 11. It’s very similar to Windows 10X, walking users of new hardware or those upgrading to Windows 11 through a set of steps to configure Windows. This out-of-box experience also includes a new Windows 11 startup sound, which then triggers at every boot.

Microsoft is also improving the Xbox experience in Windows 11. The new Xbox app is now integrated into Windows 11, offering quick access to Xbox Game Pass games, the social parts of Xbox network, and the Xbox store. The Xbox Game Bar and Windows Game Mode all remain the same as Windows 10 in this early leaked build.

Microsoft has been dropping hints that it’s ready to launch Windows 11. The software giant is holding a special Windows event to reveal its next OS on June 24th. The event starts at 11AM ET, and the event invite includes a window that creates a shadow with an outline that looks like the number 11. Microsoft execs have also been teasing a “next generation of Windows” announcement for months, and this leak now confirms that Windows 11 will be officially revealed later this month.

[technowtoday]

How to Upgrade and Install a New Graphics Card in your PC in Windows 10

If you do not have the latest drivers of the graphics card in your PC or laptop, your games may not run smoothly. In this artifact, you are going to find out how to easily upgrade and install a new graphics card in your PC with Windows 10.

Install Graphics Card in Windows 10 As Windows 10 checks for the updates automatically, still you can manually upgrade or reinstall the graphics card. It is necessary to install the graphics card drivers in Windows 10 using device manager utility. If graphics card drivers are not installed, you cannot upgrade your graphics card.

To upgrade and install a new graphics card in your Windows 10, please follow the following procedure:

Click the Search button and type Device Manager in the search bar. As you type device manager in the search bar, Device Manager will show in the menu bar. Select Device Manager from the menu as shown in the below image:

Windows Device Manager

As you select Device Manager the following screen will appear:

Display Adapters

Double click on Display Adapters menu. Now already installed graphics cards will display as shown in below image:

Double click any graphics card and a following dialogue box will appear:

Graphics Card properties

Click on Driver menu, then click Update Driver option as highlighted in the above image. By clicking on Update Driver, the following screen will open:

Search for updated driver software

Select Search automatically for updated driver software. As best drivers are installed already, that’s why below screen will appear:

Update Driver

Click Search for updated drivers on Windows Update as highlighted in the above image. If there will any updated drivers available that will display and you can update the graphics card driver.

Check for Updates

Click Check for updates option and the following screen will appear:

Updates available

Now you will be having the latest graphics cards on Windows 10. Once the installation is complete, the following screen will appear:

Restart Required

Click Restart Now button. Your PC or laptop will restart and now upgraded graphics cards are installed, as indicated in the following image:

You're up to date

Conclusion By following all steps mentioned in this artifact, you can have the latest graphics cards on your Window 10. You can play and enjoy your games without any difficulty. Moreover, the graphics card will improve the computer to play and edit the videos. Your computing experience will also be smoother by having an upgraded graphics card.

[technowtoday]

How to install a new graphics card (GPU) in your PC

If you need more help deciding which graphics card to buy, you can read up on all our graphics card recommendations for 1080p, 1440p and 4K gaming, and you can also find the best prices for them in our regularly updated graphics card deals hub.

A few things to note before we get started. Your graphics card is one of the most powerful components inside your PC, so you'll need to make sure you've got an appropriate PSU to match. Most graphics cards will state their minimum or recommended PSU wattage on the box or on their specifications page online, but it can vary from 450W all the way up to 750W. Nvidia's new RTX 3070 GPU, for example, recommends a 650W power supply unit, while the RTX 3080 and RTX 3090 recommend you have one that's at least 750W.

You'll also need to check your power supply has the correct number of cables to plug into your new graphics card. Some graphics cards only require a single 6 or 8-pin connector, for example, while others require two 8-pin connectors.

Finally, make sure your display's selection of outputs matches those on the back of your graphics card. New graphics cards tend to come with HDMI or DisplayPort outputs, so if you've been using an old monitor that only has a DVI or VGA output, for example, you might also need to think about upgrading your display in the process. If you need help with this, check out our top gaming monitor picks, as well as our gaming monitor deals hub for all the best prices.

How to install a graphics card Turn off your PC Turn your PC off at the plug, and make sure the switch on the back of your PC next your PSU is switched off as well.

A photo of a PC's power button in the 'off' position Remember to switch off your PC's power button (as pictured above). Remove the side panel Next, remove the side panel. Start by untwisting the screws on the back of your PC, and sliding the side panel backwards. This should release it, allowing you to take it off, and put it to one side.

If you're installing a graphics card for the first time, carry on reading, but if you're upgrading your existing graphics card, then you can skip down to Step 4.

Now that you've removed your PC's side panel, you should be looking at something like this:

A photo showing a motherboard and its empty PCIe slots inside a PC case. You’ll want to put your primary graphics card in the top PCIe x16 slot (the big long one). Push your graphics card into the top PCIe slot All graphics cards these days need to go in a PCIe x16 slot, which are the long, horizontal connectors on the lower half of your motherboard. Some motherboards may have a second PCIe x16 slot that can run at the full x16 speed - usually the more upmarket ones - but most of the time you'll find any additional PCIe x16 slots you have only run at x8 speed, or even x4.

As a result, it's best to install your graphics card in the top PCIe x16 slot if possible. This will always be the fastest PCIe x16 slot on your motherboard, and will result in the best performance. If in doubt, consult your motherboard manual to find out the exact running speeds of all your PCIe slots.

Before we do anything with the PCIe x16 slot, though, you need to remove the corresponding backplates. To the left of those PCIe x16 slots, you should see a number of brackets with thumb screws holding them in place. You'll need to remove some of these so you can get to your graphics card's display outputs.

Most graphics cards take up two slots, but particularly large graphics cards, such as the enormous RTX 3090, take up three. Simply untwist the ones you need to get rid of using a screwdriver (or your fingers if they're held on with thumbscrews). Make sure you keep those backplate screws nearby, though, as you'll need them again in a minute to secure the graphics card in place.

A photo showing the display ports of a graphics card on the rear of a PC case. It sounds obvious, but you’ll need your display outputs poking out the back in order to connect up your monitor. Remove the backplates Remove any plastic covers on your graphics card's PCIe connector and display ports, as these will prevent you from installing your graphics card correctly.

If you're upgrading an existing graphics card, you'll also need to remove your current one. To do this, remove the screws holding it in place, disconnect any display cables attached to it, and unlock the PCIe slot security clip. This is a small plastic clip on the right hand side of the PCIe slot, and should just about be visible underneath your graphics card - see below. Then, you should be able to pull your graphics card away from your motherboard with relative ease.

A close-up photo showing the PCIe security clip on your motherboard. Before removing an existing graphics card, you'll need to unlock the PCIe security clip by pushing it down. Next, line up your new graphics card over the top PCIe x16 slot inside your case. Make sure the display output side of your graphics card is facing toward the end of your case, and push your GPU down into the slot.

If you can't push it all the way in, check that there isn't a stray backplate getting in the way. Otherwise, it should click into place in much the same way as your RAM, and sit straight along the PCIe slot. You might want to give it an extra shove, just to make sure. Once it's firmly in place, the security clip should pop back up into its original position.

Screw your graphics card into place Still got those backplate screws handy? Wherever you put them, dig them out again, as you'll now need to use them to finish off securing the graphics card in place. Just put them back into the corresponding holes and twist. This will stop the graphics card from moving up and down when you come to connect your monitor cables, and generally keep it nice and steady inside your case.

A photo showing a graphics card firmly secured inside a PC case with its thumb screws. Use the thumbscrews you removed earlier to secure your graphics card back in place. Connect your power supply Now it's time to connect your graphics card to your PC's power supply. Most graphics cards need at least one 6 or 8-pin connector, but beefier cards sometimes require two - it all depends on the make and model. Either way, though, you should have the corresponding cables in your power supply box if you went with a modular PSU, or they might even be sticking out of it already if you went for a non-modular one.

A photo showing the power connector on an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1070 Ti graphics card. Some graphics cards only require one 8-pin connector, but some graphics cards need two. You'll probably want to thread the connector through to the back of your case for this if you've got the space, routing it back round the main side using the appropriate hole down the side of your motherboard that's closest to your graphics card's power connector. This helps keep things nice and tidy and improves airflow inside your case, but you can always just plug it straight in if you prefer.

Either way, these connectors are very similar to the main power cables on your motherboard - just push down and they should click into place by themselves. And you're done!

What to do next... If you're building a new PC from scratch, your next step will be installing your SSD / HDD.

For those of you who are just upgrading your existing graphics card, though, you'll want to make sure you follow these few extra steps.

First of all, you'll need to reattach your PC's side panel and re-connect your display cables. Remember, make sure you plug them back in to the display outputs coming out of your graphics card, not the ones above from your motherboard. It sounds silly, but you'd be surprised how often people make this mistake. Once that's done, you'll need to turn on your PC and install some new display drivers.

Installing display drivers To make sure your new graphics card is working in tip top condition, you'll need to make sure it has the correct display drivers installed. If you're upgrading from an existing Nvidia card to a new Nvidia card (or indeed from an old AMD card to a new AMD card), then all you need to do is download the latest drivers from their respective websites, which I'll get to in a minute.

If you're upgrading from an Nvidia card to an AMD card (or vice-versa), however, you'll need to remove your existing display drivers first so they don't clash. AMD have detailed instructions on how to do this, but at time of writing Nvidia haven't been quite as forthcoming about this. The good news is that it effectively boils down to the same method.

To remove your current display drivers, open up Windows Settings and select Apps, or search for 'Add Or Remove Programs'. For AMD, click uninstall AMD Software. For Nvidia, you'll need to make sure you uninstall the Nvidia Graphics Driver, Nvidia GeForce Experience, Nvidia HD Audio driver, Nvidia PhysX System Software, Nvidia Control Panel and Nvidia USBC Driver if applicable.

Once everything is removed, you may be prompted to restart your PC. Do this, and wait for the system to reboot. Don't be alarmed if the resolution suddenly looks a bit funny. This is perfectly normal. Once you're back at your desktop, use the links below to download and install the latest drivers.

Once this process is complete, your desktop should have returned to its normal resolution, and you're now ready to start playing games again.