Microsoft's Settings app is quietly turning into a one-stop hub for RGB: the long-rumored Lighting/Dynamic Lighting controls have appeared in Insider builds, and Microsoft is positioning Windows 11 to manage RGB lighting across compatible keyboards, mice, chassis and other peripherals without...
For decades, Windows users have been bewildered by the appearance of an anonymous window that blocks system shutdowns, often marked only with a vague message or a blank space where a program name should appear. This cryptic occurrence has left even seasoned PC enthusiasts perplexed, especially...
background apps
background processes
bsdr
helper windows
microsoft
program windows
security
shutdown
shutdown diagnostics
shutdown issues
shutdownblockreasoncreate
system processes
troubleshooting
windowswindowsapiwindows development
windows forum
windows internals
windows tips
windows troubleshooting
A long-awaited shift is taking shape within Microsoft's Windows ecosystem. The tech giant has committed to eventually making WinUI—a modern user interface framework central to Windows development—“truly open source.” While Microsoft’s intentions are now public, the path to full transparency for...
community contributions
cross-platform
developer tools
microsoft
microsoft technologies
open source
software development
ui design
ui frameworks
uwp
windows 11
windowsapiwindows app sdk
windows development
windows ecosystem
windows platform
winrt
winui
winui open source
Microsoft's recent release of KB5064646 marks a significant advancement in AI-driven image processing for AMD-powered systems. This update, elevating the Image Processing AI component to version 1.2507.793.0, is tailored for Copilot+ PCs running Windows 11, version 24H2. It introduces...
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amd
app development
background removal
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image editing
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image quality
image scaling
kb5064646
microsoft
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optimization
performance boost
real-time image processing
real-time video processing
system compatibility
system performance
system stability
tech updates
visual technology
windows 11
windows 11 24h2
windowsapiwindows camera
windows update
For IT professionals responsible for managing Windows updates across organizations of any scale, staying ahead of the rapidly evolving update landscape can feel like a full-time job in itself. Over the past year, Microsoft has markedly refined the way it communicates crucial information about...
ai in windows
automation
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it management
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windows update
Microsoft has introduced the Windows Update Orchestration Platform, a significant advancement aimed at streamlining the update process for both users and developers. Traditionally, Windows Update has focused primarily on updating the operating system components, leaving line-of-business (LOB)...
app integration
app updates
automatic updates
deployment
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energy efficiency
it administration
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microsoft technologies
powershell
release preview
system reliability
troubleshooting
unified update platform
update management
update notifications
user experience
windowsapiwindows platform
windows update
Disabling Windows Defender has never been considered a best practice, yet it persists as a fringe pursuit among power users, malware developers, and those who simply want full control over their PC’s security configuration. Recently, a new tool named Defendnot, created by developer and reverse...
api exploitation
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cybersecurity
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windowsapiwindows defender
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Windows users have always relied on Microsoft Defender as a silent, ever-vigilant line of defense against malware, but a new research tool dubbed ‘Defendnot’ has exposed a startling vulnerability in this trust. This article delves into how Defendnot tricks Windows into disabling Microsoft...
api exploitation
cybersecurity
defendnot
endpoint security
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hacking
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malware prevention
privilege escalation
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system protection
trusted process injection
vulnerabilities
windowsapiwindows defender
windows security
windows vulnerabilities
It happened quietly, almost like a beloved neighborhood coffee shop closing its doors without a fuss: Microsoft has officially signed the death warrant for the Windows Maps app, finally admitting what some of us have long suspected—nobody was really using it, and even Microsoft themselves had...
api deprecation
app lifecycle
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digital mapping
digital navigation
enterprise it
legacy systems
maps app
microsoft
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offline maps
privacy
tech news
uwp
windows 10
windows 11
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windows update
Hi, I am trying to install VirtualBox on my Win11 laptop and had to download and install Microsoft Visual C++ 2019 package, then had to download Python Core Package and install it (there was no way that I could see to uncheck Python install), then had to download Win32 api but could not find...
Microsoft’s bustling Security Vulnerability ecosystem has added a brand-new entry: CVE-2025-21328. This is a Security Feature Bypass vulnerability that many may overlook at first glance but has significant implications for Windows environments and secure browsing setups. Here’s everything you...
Microsoft has made strides in enhancing Windows API integration, notably through the Microsoft Graph application. This tool offers programmatic access to critical Windows information, catering to users' needs for more frequent, robust, and versatile data access. Users, now on a more personal...
I have solved the problem! When the AI Bot told me that I was stalling the message loop, I looked deeper. In the original code I was calling PeekMessage() with PM_REMOVE, filtering for WM_KEYDOWN, and then checking for VK_ESCAPE. This consumed the WM_KEYDOWN message but not any other messages...
Hi. I think I found a bug in GetWindow{Placement().
I save and restore the window placement using the registry as an intermidiary.
For save...
```
(In WndProc)
case WM_DESTROY:
{
WINDOWPLACEMENT wp;
ZeroMemory(&wp, sizeof(wp));
wp.length =...
I cannot open a handle to any of my storage devices.
HANDLE h = CreateFile(L"\\\\.\\PhysicalDisk0", GENERIC_READ | GENERIC_WRITE, FILE_READ_ACCESS | FILE_WRITE_ACCESS,
0, OPEN_EXISTING, 0, 0);
I also tried copying the full path from WinObj: \GLOBAL??\PhysicalDrive0 and...
access
c++
code snippet
createfile
data access
diagnostics
disk
error
file access
file management
handle
kernel-mode
programming help
storage devices
visual studio
windowsapi
Anyone know of any tools or Windows API that can monitor disk cache page accesses?
For example, if a cache page is loaded from/to memory, I would like to count the size and times. This is to determine possible SSD degradation with too many accesses from page caches.
Thanks
Today is the official GA release for .NET 5, and along with it we are excited to share the latest updates with our recent release of C#/WinRT version 1.0. C#/WinRT provides WinRT projection support for .NET 5 based apps. The Windows SDK leverages this technology and is now integrated with the...
I am at the end of my wisdom and need some help.
Here are the relevant parts of my code:
proc isKeyPressed(virtKeyCode: int32, stateCode: SHORT): bool =
if GetAsyncKeyState(virtKeyCode) and 0x8000 != 0:
return true
else:
return false
template checkKey(virtKeyCode: int32, keyValue...
We are excited to announce that the Rust/WinRT project finally has a permanent and public home on GitHub:
microsoft/winrt-rs
Rust/WinRT follows in the tradition established by C++/WinRT of building language projections for the Windows Runtime using standard languages and compilers, providing a...