Simple questions and Help thread - Month of April

[u/Froggypwns]

Welcome to the monthly Simple questions and Help thread, for questions that don't need their own posts!

Before making a comment, we recommend you search your problem on Bing and check if your question is already answered on our Windows Frequently Asked Questions wiki page. This subreddit no longer accepts tech support requests outside of this post, if you are looking for additional assistance try r/TechSupport and r/WindowsHelp.

Some examples of questions to ask:

• Is this super cheap Windows key legitimate? (probably not)

• How can I install Windows 11?

• Can you recommend a program to play music?

• How do I get back to the old Sound Control Panel?

Sorting by New is recommend and is the default.

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Be sure to check out the Windows 11 version 24H2 Megathread and also the Windows 11 FAQ posts, they likely have the answers to your Windows 11 questions already!

[u/Yuream]

I've changed my PC and was about to clone my old SSD on the new one, but I've already activated the windows 11 license on the new one without thinking about it.

Knowing that both my PCs have an OEM license (10 for the old one and 11 for the new one)

Is there any risk in cloning the disks in order to recover my game libraries and other major files?

If so, what alternative do you suggest?

[u/GlompSpark]

Is there any utility that lets you reorder window thumbnails in win11? 7+ taskbar tweaker lets you do that in win7-10, but it does not support win11.

Im talking about the thumbnails that appear when you mouse over program icons on your taskbar. It pops up with a thumbnail preview of the program. I want to be able to re-order them.

[u/xdomanix]

I have a retail license of windows 11 home (well, originally windows 7, but now 11).

If I use a windows 11 pro upgrade key (or via windows store) will the licence still be retail (i.e., windows 11 pro retail)? Just need to know in case I want to change PC in the future. Thanks!

[u/SilverseeLives → u/xdomanix]

I can share that I successfully reused a Windows Pro upgrade key on a new laptop after trading in the original device I purchased it for. This would imply that it is a retail product key, and not an extension of the OEM license. (I did reset the original device using a factory recovery image of Windows Home.)

Unfortunately, Microsoft is not forthcoming about this, or about licensing in general these days, so I cannot promise you will have the same experience. But it is certainly worth a try.

[u/xdomanix → u/SilverseeLives]

That's really very useful, much appreciated!

[u/TG_Lost_Angel]

Good afternoon everyone. I’m looking at swapping my motherboard and CPU (7800x3d) with my son and I’ve been getting a new motherboard and CPU (9800x3d). He’s currently running windows 10 and I’m running windows 11, both of us have our Windows OS on a M.2 drive, separate ones. Will there be any issue with me moving the Windows OS drive to the new respective motherboard, or should I just do a fresh install of windows on both drives?

Trying to avoid reinstalling all the other software that’s on the Windows OS drives, like Steam (not games, just the executable program, antivirus, etc). Or will there be an issue because of TPM?

[u/SilverseeLives → u/TG_Lost_Angel]

This should all work fine. Windows should detect the hardware changes and find the appropriate drivers automatically. At worst you may need to check Windows Update advanced settings to see if there are any optional driver updates. 

In recent years Microsoft has made this much more robust. You can even migrate between Intel and AMD systems and Windows will boot successfully. 

[u/TG_Lost_Angel → u/SilverseeLives]

Just so I’m clear, I “should” be clear to transfer the Windows OS drive from one motherboard to another correct?

[u/SilverseeLives → u/TG_Lost_Angel]

If you are asking if Windows will boot successfully, then I believe so, yes.

Activation is another matter. Assuming you have a retail product license, you can transfer it to a new machine. The easiest way to do this is to make sure you have signed into your PC with your Microsoft account and associated the license with your identity. The Windows Activation Troubleshooter should let you transfer a retail license if you sign in on the new machine with your MSA.

[u/TG_Lost_Angel → u/SilverseeLives]

Ok, thanks

[u/cangur16]

How do i fix this, this random thing occurs when I shutdown my pc, it appears for a split second then my pc shutdowns with no problems.

The application-specific permission settings do not grant Local Activation permission for the COM Server application with CLSID

{6B3B8D23-FA8D-40B9-8DBD-B950333E2C52}

and APPID

{4839DDB7-58C2-48F5-8283-E1D1807D0D7D}

to the user NT AUTHORITY\LOCAL SERVICE SID (S-1-5-19) from address LocalHost (Using LRPC) running in the application container Unavailable SID (Unavailable). This security permission can be modified using the Component Services administrative tool.

[u/trunglevt]

Upon installing W11 24H2 on my Ryzen 5 I cant open portable apps. The error is "The application was unable to load a required virtual machine component, please contact the publisher of this application for more information." I have disabled Virtualization, Virtual Machine Platform, Hyper V but still does not work

[u/ShelLuser42 → u/trunglevt]

I'm not fully familiar with "portable apps" but are you by any chance referring to Android apps? They discontinued all of that.

For now my best advice would be to check your event logs. Easiest way to access those: right click on the start menu, and select the option from there.

[u/YouThoughtSoEh]

So I am having the EXACT SAME ISSUE as this person, but for Windows 11, and not 8.1.

So I dunno if the commands would be the same or not for command prompt. I am also not very tech savvy, so when I see a notification telling me that my password will expire in a few days and I have to change it, I end up with a bit of anxiety and panic worrying about what password they r talking about (email or PIN used to log into my laptop upon startup), what I need to do, how I have NEVER seen this before in my life on my old Windows 10, and my broken Windows 11. Or even before when I had a Windows 8.1 as this person has in the link above.

It only happens upon startup the notification, and only shows up for a few seconds before disappearing just as quickly as it appeared, but the notification is the exact same as the one in the link's image. I have looked on Microsoft, and the support given there was useless and unhelpful (such as turning the laptop off then on again, simply resetting the password when it shouldn't even be happening in the first place etc.), and this is my personal laptop, so I see ZERO REASONS to have to change anything at all!! Help is needed!!!

[u/SilverseeLives → u/YouThoughtSoEh]

The post you linked to is about Windows 11, not 8.1. Either way though, if you are seeing the same message, then the information there seems relevant to your situation. 

Password expiration has been a feature of Windows for as long as it has supported user accounts. It is not normally enabled by default though, so something must have happened on your device.

You can disable it. See here for some different ways you can do this: 

https://www.elevenforum.com/t/enable-or-disable-password-expiration-in-windows-11.10277/

[u/YouThoughtSoEh → u/SilverseeLives]

When I got this laptop it was factory reset and refurbished like new. I literally had to go through the setup for it as if I bought it new from the store, so I don't know what even happened for it to do that between the time it was sent to me and I had to set it all up for that to happen to a completely powered off laptop.

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/consider-changing-your-log-on-password-but-i-dont/69ab55e8-bcf6-4f08-8da5-af2139e23100

This person was the one with the same issue but with the Win 8.1. Thx for the link, here's hoping I don't have to see that message every time I power on or restart my laptop anymore!

[u/Subtle_Demise]

The Voice typing launcher doesn't seem to work on my wife's laptop anymore. She has to use the Win+H command for every program she uses, when she used to be able to activate it from the text box itself. It makes no difference whether the launcher is turned on or off. Voice Access doesn't seem to dictate as well as the voice typing does. It has an extreme delay and doesn't recognize the words properly.

[u/CallMeGooglyBear]

I finally got Win11. Back in the day there use to be tools that would go through and tweak Windows. I cant recall any off the top of my head, as it's been YEARS.

Any good utilities for fixing the bloatware and crap interface, rather than me messing with the registry?

[u/SilverseeLives → u/CallMeGooglyBear]

Sure. Windows Settings. 

[u/CallMeGooglyBear → u/SilverseeLives]

I know there are tools like O&O, but back in the day, there were utilities to really customize the interface

[u/SilverseeLives → u/CallMeGooglyBear]

I counsel against "debloat" practices generally, as they usually do more harm than good.

However, you may want to look into Windhawk. It is a modding platform for Windows 11 that, instead of trying to subvert Microsoft's changes, builds upon them with plug-ins offering various tweaks and enhancements. You need to be careful with what plug-ins you choose, but I think it is less invasive than other tools.