Microsoft is deprecating Legacy DRM services - these clients are affected
Microsoft has added another feature to the list of deprecated Windows features. After tagging Paint 3D and Adobe Type1 fonts as deprecated in August 2024, it set its eyes on legacy DRM […]
Windows 7 and 8.1 support ends next month
Microsoft plans to end support for Windows 7 and 8.1 on January 10, 2022. The devices won't receive updates anymore after end of support and some programs, like Chrome or Microsoft Edge, […]
Chrome notification suggests Windows 10 or 11 on Windows 7 and 8.1 devices
Google Chrome users who use the web browser on Windows 7 Service Pack 1, Windows 8.1 or Windows Server 2012 R2 devices get a notification at the top of the browser screen […]
Windows 8.1: Microsoft Store apps continue to work, but..
Most Windows users know by know that the operating systems Windows 7 and 8.1 will reach end of support by Microsoft on January 10, 2023. The first Patch Day of 2023 is […]
The end of Windows 8.1 is near, and Microsoft plans to inform customers with warnings
Microsoft plans to display notifications on Windows 8.1 systems to inform customers about the upcoming end of support. Windows 8.1 was not Microsoft's most successful desktop operating system, but it still is […]
OneDrive's desktop app won't be supported anymore on Windows 7 and 8.1 in early 2022
Microsoft announced plans this week to end support for OneDrive desktop applications on the company's operating systems Windows 7, Windows 8 and Windows 8.1. Customers who use these operating systems may still […]
You can still upgrade Windows 7 and 8.1 systems to Windows 10 for free
When Microsoft launched its Windows 10 operating system, it knew that it had to convince customers to give it a try. The bad adoption of Windows 8 still haunted the company and […]
Microsoft releases October 2019 update previews for Windows
Microsoft released cumulative updates for various supported versions of Windows on October 15, 2019. The company released preview updates for Windows 7 Service Pack 1 and Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows 8.1 […]
Another nail in Windows 8's coffin
Microsoft published a roadmap yesterday for Windows 8, 8.1 and Windows Phone 8.x that highlights the end of support dates for app submissions to Windows Store and the distribution of app updates […]
Microsoft fixes July 2018 updates for Windows 7, Windows 8.1, and Server
A lot of things went wrong on the July 2018 Patch Day on July 10, 2018. System admins and users flocked to forums and support sites to report all kinds of issues […]
Windows 8.1 End of Mainstream Support
Mainstream support for Windows 8.1 ended on January 9, 2018. Yesterday's Patch Day marked the end of mainstream support for the two operating systems and the beginning of extended support. Microsoft distinguishes […]
Turn off smart multi-homed name resolution in Windows
Smart multi-homed name resolution is a DNS related feature that Microsoft introduced in Windows 8 and implemented in Windows 10 as well. The feature is designed to speed up DNS resolution on […]
Microsoft extends Windows 8.1 Update deadline to June 10th
When Microsoft released the first feature update for Windows 8.1, which it called Windows 8.1 Update, it announced that it would stop releasing updates for Windows 8.1 without that particular update shortly […]
Remove default applications on Windows 8 systems
The Windows 8 operating system ships with a set of default applications that are installed out of the box. Apps like Bing Finance, Camera, Photos, or Communication can be used right away […]
Windows Image Boot feature to reduce Windows storage space requirements
One of the things that Microsoft has been criticized for is the storage space requirement of the Windows operating system. If you take Microsoft's original Surface devices for instance, you will notice […]
Another new Windows feature pops up: Interactive Live Tiles
Live tiles are a new feature of Windows 8's start screen which can display static or dynamic information. A plain live tile may just show the logo or name of an application […]
Windows 8.1 Update is mandatory for all Windows 8.1 users. Here is why!
Today's Patch Tuesday is special because of a couple of reasons. First, it is the last patch public patch day for most Windows XP systems. I do not think there is need […]
Microsoft announces big Windows Store update
You may know that I write a weekly series over at Betanews about new apps that are published to Windows Store. I browse the store each week, pick the best apps, test […]
Start Screen Unlimited adds features to Windows 8's Start interface
The start screen interface of Windows 8, as well as the improved versions in Windows 8.1 and Windows 8.1 Featured Update, let you pin apps or programs to it so that you […]
Mozilla drops Firefox for Windows 8 Metro
Has it really been this long? Mozilla started to work on the Metro version of the efox web browser back in 2012 before Microsoft released the retail version of the successor of […]
How to pin or move multiple apps in Windows 8.1 after installing the feature pack
I have been running the Feature Pack update for several days now and while I like what it has added to the Windows 8 operating system, I noted that several workflows changed […]
Should you upgrade Windows XP right now, or wait for Windows 9?
Windows XP users need to make a decision next month. When Microsoft ends extended support for the operating system, millions of PC systems running XP will not receive any security updates anymore […]
Here is why Windows 8.1 Update 1 is a step in the right direction, but...
Microsoft has released one major update so far for the Windows 8 operating system that raised the version of it to Windows 8.1. The update corrected several usability issues that users of […]
Free Windows 8 upgrades? Microsoft gets it wrong again
The rumor mill on the Internet has been buzzing lately again. Sites like The Verge or ZDNet report that Microsoft is considering giving away a special version of Windows 8 for free […]
Windows 8.1 Update 1 paves the way for a unified experience
When Microsoft released Windows 8, it became clear quickly that the company wanted to create an operating system that could be installed on any type of device, well, apart from smartphones that […]
How to reset the Windows Store cache
You may know that I run a weekly series over at Betanews that looks at the best Windows Store apps released in the last seven days. I browse all new apps released […]
Who is going to use the VLC Media Player app for Windows 8?
VLC Media Player is without doubt one of the most popular media players out there right now. It offers incredible out-of-the box support for the majority of audio and video formats that […]
Save bandwidth on Windows 8 by disabling automatic app updates
Apps may be automatically updated on Windows 8 even if you never use the apps that ship with Microsoft's Windows 8 operating system by default and do not have a single other […]
How to diagnose and fix Windows 8 apps crashes
I'm testing quite a few applications in Windows 8 -- and more recently Windows 8.1 -- each week, and while most apps work just right away, I do encounter some that don't. […]
TouchMousePointer adds an on-screen touchpad to Windows 8 PCs
A strong development focus in regards to Windows 8 was support for touch screens and gestures. While touch was supported in older versions of Windows to a degree, Microsoft made the decision […]
Should Microsoft add the start menu back to Windows 8?
The missing start menu is without doubt one of the most controversial topics when it comes to the Windows 8 operating system. Only a few issues have caused this much controversy. If […]
How to clear app notifications in Windows 8 on shutdown
One of the new features of the Windows 8 operating system is the new start screen interface. It displays default apps that shipped with the operating system and applications that you have […]
Display the Advanced Boot Options in Windows 8 when you hit F8
The advanced boot options have been an integral part of all recent versions of the Windows operating system. All you had to do was tap on the F8 key numerous times (or […]
How to log on automatically on Windows 8 using a Microsoft Account
Windows 8 users have options to log on to the system using a local account or a Microsoft Account. Both options have their advantages. The local account does not communicate with Microsoft […]
Why you may not be able to upgrade Windows 8 in Windows Store
Most Windows 8 users who visit the integrated Windows Store today on their machines will get a prominent notification about the available update to their system that they can install for free […]
How to download Windows 8.1 Enterprise Trial right now
You have probably already noticed that Microsoft has released the Windows 8.1 update a bit early today. All Windows 8 users can install the upgrade by visiting the built-in store of the […]
What I do not like about Windows 8.1
I have been running the Windows 8 operating system on my secondary PC every since it was released by Microsoft as a first beta. I had my gripes with the system but […]
StartIsBack+ adds taskbar to Start Screen on Windows 8.1
More than a dozen different start menu programs have been created which all add a start menu back to Microsoft's newest operating system Windows 8 and Windows 8.1. Depending on which program […]
Windows 8.1: return to the desktop after you close the last Modern app
Microsoft has made several concessions in Windows 8.1 to improve the usability of the operating system for the "desktop crowd". While those changes won't get you back the pre-Windows 8 work environment, […]
Finally, Microsoft to build unified app store for Windows Phone and desktop Windows
If you have read my take on why the Windows App store is not popular right now, you know my opinion on the current state of the apps store of the Windows […]
