Microsoft’s own troubleshooting guidance confirms a pair of everyday Windows 11 features — OneDrive’s background syncing and the operating system’s visual effects/animations — can make a PC feel sluggish on lower‑spec or I/O‑constrained machines, and both are simple, reversible knobs you can...
Microsoft has confirmed that an optional October 28, 2025 Windows 11 preview update (KB5067036) can leave the Task Manager process running after you click the Close (X) button, allowing multiple orphaned copies of taskmgr.exe to accumulate and — in some cases — degrade performance; Microsoft’s...
Microsoft’s October 28, 2025 preview cumulative—KB5067036 (OS Builds 26200.7019 for 25H2 and 26100.7019 for 24H2)—has started landing for Windows 11 devices and brings a dense mix of visible shell changes, on‑device and cloud‑assisted AI actions, accessibility improvements, and a broad set of...
copilot integration
enterprise it
insider preview
it admin guide
kb5067036
orphaned taskmgr processes
patch
power management
preview
process leakage
release preview
shutdown
software bugs
start menu
systemperformance
task manager
task manager bug
update and shut down
windows 11
windows 11 updates
windows update
Microsoft’s October preview for Windows 11 (KB5067036) has introduced a puzzling regression: closing Task Manager with the window Close (X) button sometimes does not terminate taskmgr.exe, leaving behind “ghost” Task Manager processes that accumulate with each reopen and can degrade system...
Microsoft’s optional preview update KB5067036 lands in the Release Preview channel with two of the most visible changes Windows users have asked for in years — a new just‑in‑time Administrator Protection model that binds elevation to user verification, and color‑coded battery icons that make...
Running a thorough computer performance test on a Windows PC is the fastest way to find what’s slowing you down — whether it’s CPU throttling, flaky RAM, a slow SSD, or background services hogging resources — and this guide walks through the built‑in tools and trusted third‑party benchmarks to...
If your brand-new Windows 11 desktop feels cluttered, apps are sluggish, or storage keeps creeping toward full, a targeted cache and temporary-file cleanup can deliver a measurable speed boost — and it’s easier than you think. The built-in Windows tools (Cleanup recommendations, Disk...
Windows 11 can feel like it was designed to slow you down — extra clicks, hidden options, and UI nudges that favour click-throughs over productivity — but a carefully chosen set of Registry edits will let power users roll back many of the annoyances without installing third‑party shell...
Microsoft’s recent nudge to users — asking “what do you miss most in Windows?” — is more than a PR moment; it’s a revealing sign that the company is wrestling with conflicting priorities for Windows 11: glossy AI capabilities and the long list of everyday quality‑of‑life features that power...
ai in windows
battery life
context menu
copilot
feedback
file explorer
folder size
insider builds
local ai
os roadmap
power controls
power management
powertoys
privacy
productivity
systemperformance
usability
ux design
virtual desktops
windows 11
Microsoft has quietly opened the gates: Windows 11 version 25H2 is now available to testers in the Windows Insider Release Preview channel as a small, fast enablement package that flips features already staged in the 24H2 servicing branch — which means you can install the 2025 annual update on...
Microsoft’s next-generation operating system, widely referred to in leaks and concept renderings as Windows 12, is shaping up to be less an incremental update and more a strategic pivot: an AI-first, modular OS that promises deeper cloud integration, a refreshed user interface, and a renewed...
ai first os
cloud integration
copilot
corepc
cross device sync
cross-device continuity
directx 12
enterprise migration
gaming-and-dev-tools
hardware requirements
hardware upgrade
hybrid processing
lite version
modular-ui
privacy telemetry
security
systemperformance
ui design
windows 12
windows as a service
Windows ships with a respectable set of built‑in utilities, but for many users those apps feel like checkbox features: serviceable, occasionally sluggish, and often lacking the power or polish needed for real work. A compact set of community‑driven, lightweight replacements can dramatically...
Over the years I’ve built a compact, free toolkit of Windows utilities that quickly expose the usual suspects when a PC slows down: low disk space, runaway background processes, flaky RAM, overheating hardware, or an aging storage drive. The MakeUseOf piece that started this conversation lays...
backup and recovery
chkdsk
crystaldiskinfo
device performance
disk i/o
dism
hwinfo
make use of
memory diagnostic
memory test
pc troubleshooting
resource monitor
sfc
smart-attributes
systemperformance
thermal throttling
troubleshooting-workflow
windows
windows security
wintoys
Microsoft’s recent performance bragging rights for Windows 11 have reignited an old debate: are holdouts running Windows 10 missing out on a meaningful speed boost, or is this marketing dressed up as engineering? A raft of new benchmarks and a fresh round of commentary — including a summary...
apples to apples
auto hdr
benchmark
cpu benchmarks
directstorage
driver optimization
end of support
extended security updates
gaming performance
hardware upgrade
independent testing
memory integrity
productivity
sponsor studies
systemperformance
tpm 2.0
vbs
virtualization
windows 10
windows 11
accessibility
casual
desktop customization
personalization
productivity
systemperformance
theme settings
troubleshooting
update
user experience
widgets
windows 11
windows settings
windows tips
For many newcomers and even seasoned users, the thought of updating the Linux kernel evokes a sense of apprehension. The kernel, after all, is the beating heart of any Linux distribution, dictating how software interacts with hardware and forming the core of your computer’s operating system...
bootloader
hardware support
kernel management
kernel safety nets
kernel updates
linux
linux distributions
linux safety
linux tips
linux troubleshooting
linux tutorials
linux upgrade
linux vs windows
maintenance
os security
package management
security
systemperformancesystem restore
Microsoft is reportedly planning to integrate AI capabilities directly into the Windows 11 taskbar, introducing a feature referred to as the "Taskbar Companion." This development has been identified through references in recent Windows 11 preview builds, suggesting the addition of an "agentic...
ai
ai assistant
ai development
ai features
ai in windows
ai integration
ai privacy
microsoft
notifications
operating system
preview build
productivity
smart search
system improvements
systemperformance
taskbar
tech news
windows 11
windows update
Suffering from low FPS in Grounded 2 has emerged as a surprising and prominent headache for players across both high-end PC and console platforms. The much-anticipated survival adventure, powered by Unreal Engine 5, promises immersive visuals but often leaves gamers frustrated with unexplained...
Checking your PC’s performance has never been easier thanks to a little-known trick that still works—even in the latest versions of Windows. For many users, knowing exactly how their computer measures up in terms of speed and responsiveness is key to making upgrade decisions, troubleshooting, or...
benchmark
cpu performance
experience index
gpu
optimization
pc benchmarking
pc upgrade
pcperformancecheck
performance scores
performance testing
ssd vs hdd
system evaluation
systemperformance
tech guide
troubleshooting
windows performance
windows tips
windows tools
Microsoft has unveiled a comprehensive redesign of Windows 11's Task Manager, introducing a modern interface and enhanced functionality aimed at improving user experience and system monitoring capabilities.
A Modernized Interface
The updated Task Manager now features a sidebar-based navigation...
cpu usage
dark mode
efficiency mode
microsoft
monitoring
optimization
performance monitoring
performance tools
real-time graphs
resource management
software features
systemperformancesystem utilities
task manager
tech updates
ui redesign
user experience
windows 11
windows tools
windows update