legacy applications

I have a couple legacy apps that run in Windows 8 compatibility. I used to be able to run them as startup apps in Windows 10 but they will not run as startup apps in Windows 11. They do run in Windows 11 after I have started up. Is there a way around this?

Google has quietly removed one of the largest practical objections to moving entire fleets off Windows: the need to keep a handful of Windows-only business applications running on legacy hardware. With the relaunch of Cameyo as Cameyo by Google, enterprises can stream Windows and Linux desktop...

If an older program crashes, renders incorrectly, or refuses to launch on a modern PC, flipping the Compatibility Mode switch in Windows 11 is often the quickest, least invasive fix—one that can resurrect legacy utilities and classic games without reinstalling the OS or running a VM. The basic...

Windows 10’s official support end is a hard deadline — but for organizations wrestling with legacy, mission‑critical applications, the moment is not a verdict of doom; it’s a call to action with practical, fast, and defensible options to keep apps running securely while you plan longer‑term...

Windows 11’s dark mode finally has a practical, reproducible setup that makes the whole desktop — not just a handful of modern apps — feel cohesive, and the path to get there mixes built‑in settings, small automation tools, and a few targeted third‑party utilities that fill the remaining gaps...

Microsoft’s quiet pruning of long‑standing Windows apps has accelerated into a visible strategy: the company is retiring or removing familiar built‑ins — from the browser that once ruled the web to niche creative tools and the lightweight Mail client — and asking users and organizations to...

Parallels Desktop’s latest update lands as a consequential bridge between macOS’s year-based refresh cycle and the Windows ecosystem, delivering official macOS Tahoe compatibility while tightening enterprise controls and Windows VM reliability for the post-2024 OS landscape. The release —...

Windows 11 hides a surprisingly practical productivity trick behind a single folder name: the so‑called God Mode folder — a Master Control Panel view that gathers hundreds of system settings and administrative tools into one browsable container and can dramatically speed up troubleshooting and...

Microsoft’s warning that “the Windows are wide open for bad actors” is not hyperbole—October 14, 2025 is a hard deadline for Windows 10 support, and the downstream effects for healthcare providers, regulated institutions, and any organization running large fleets of legacy applications are...

Microsoft’s long‑running dark‑mode problem is beginning to look less like an unfinished promise and more like a deliberate, staged repair: recent Windows Insider and Release Preview builds contain code that darkens a cluster of previously glaring white file‑operation dialogs, and community...

Microsoft’s slow UI migration has an unexpected side effect: the Settings app often buries advanced controls behind extra clicks while the decades-old Control Panel still surfaces them instantly, and that reality makes many power users—and the author of a recent piece—reach for the Control Panel...

Over the past decade, Microsoft has been steadily transitioning system configurations from the traditional Control Panel to the more modern Settings app in Windows. This shift aims to provide a unified, user-friendly interface, yet the process has been gradual, with both interfaces coexisting...

With Windows 10’s end of life rapidly approaching and Microsoft’s relentless push toward Windows 11, many users find themselves experiencing not only technical indecision but also a powerful nostalgia. As Microsoft sunsets an operating system that many have grown comfortable with, there’s an air...

As the end of support for Windows 10 approaches, IT leaders everywhere are at a crossroads that has become all too familiar with the relentless cadence of Microsoft’s operating system release and retirement schedule. This inflection point isn’t just about operating system preference—it’s about...

Few Windows topics draw as much nostalgia—and resistance to change—as the ongoing replacement of longstanding system apps with modern, streamlined alternatives. For over three decades, Windows has bundled a suite of core utilities and productivity tools, many of which have remained largely...

With the October 2025 end-of-support date for Windows 10 rapidly approaching, millions of individuals and organizations are now forced to confront an uncomfortable reality: clinging to the familiar comfort of Windows 10 could put them on the “wrong” side of risk—cybersecurity, compliance...

The transformation of Notepad from a barebones text editor into a modern productivity tool marks a bold new chapter for one of Windows’ most enduring applications. With Microsoft’s latest move to introduce format features into Notepad, unveiled via the Windows Insider program, the app that’s...

For nearly four decades, Windows Notepad has stood as the epitome of digital simplicity. Long favored by programmers, writers, and anyone needing a blank canvas for their thoughts, Notepad has remained virtually unchanged through successive iterations of Windows. Its minimalist interface...

Windows has evolved dramatically since its inception some four decades ago, with each new version unveiling innovations that redefine the user experience on the world’s most widely-used operating system. Even in 2025, Microsoft continues to strike a delicate balance: pushing the boundaries of...

Microsoft's Notepad, a staple of the Windows operating system since 1983, has recently undergone significant updates that have sparked a mix of enthusiasm and concern among users. The introduction of lightweight formatting and Markdown support, alongside AI-powered features like the "Rewrite"...