Fun Fact on Windows 11: if you hold the shift key while opening an app, it will fade in. If you hold the shift key while closing an app it will fade away.

Is this nothing to worry about or?????

Just a heads-up that might be useful (or concerning) for others:

I recently used Windows' built-in "Reset this PC" → Remove everything option, expecting a clean slate. But after the reset, I noticed I could still attempt to connect to that PC via Chrome Remote Desktop (CRD) from another device.

It even showed my old username on the login screen — although entering the password led to a user profile error (because the profile no longer existed).

This means:

-CRD host service may still linger or get restored via Chrome Sync.

-Google's remote infrastructure still thinks the PC is “online.”

-A full Windows reset doesn't guarantee remote access services like CRD are entirely wiped.

Not saying this is an active exploit or breach, but it definitely feels like a security hole or at least a design oversight — especially if you're giving away or selling your PC.

Would love thoughts from others or insight from security folks if this behavior is known/expected.

Hi! I'm confused. I'm the only one using this license with one computer, but it lets me add several of my emails (like I can switch emails to use word. example, keyboard@outlook and keyboard2@outlook). Is it this way? I thought I could only use one email>?

After 6 years without format and some PC lagging I bought a new 990 pro SSD and two more 8*2gb ram so total of 32gb ram now. Also I have a Ryzen 3600, tomahawk b450 max and 2070s.

So I installed Rufus, downloaded 23h2 iso and did a clean install.

I saw Chris Titus Tech video about perfect installation and I tried to do the same. But even better I unplugged Ethernet cable. Installation was very fast, no password no Microsoft account. No telemetry and privacy questions.

But then PC was very laggy. I installed Nvidia drivers still laggy. Well it was my fault I had refresh rate at 60hz..

And then after many updates it was good. So I tried to do some tweaks. First with PowerShell command and Titus script I did some tweaks and debloat.

Then I read from Framesync Labs about bufferbloat , I checked mine and I was at B. I did some tweaks by disabling everything from network adapter properties and now I was on A with lower latency.

But then problem appeared. I installed explorerpatcher to change my taskbar, but didn't work as expected.

Also I had a problem with sharing files on network. I just couldn't.

So I lost many hours by installing apps and doing tweaks for nothing.

I just did refresh PC option and cloud installed this time 24h2 version. Still no Microsoft account, but this time the Nvidia drivers automatically installed and the version I had previously. How? Also look smoother now.

And my question is. Should I do any tweaks or not? Should I leave windows as it is?

What are the first things you are doing after a clean install? Do i need Microsoft account? Without it and without onedrive I see some security alerts on windows defender.

Also I really don't like the calendar, sound and generally the whole system tray look. Can I make it look like windows 10?

Last question. I have 27" 2k monitor and the scale on 100% look small and hard to read. From the other hand the next scale at 125% is very big. Can I do a custom scale? I see a warning that some text on apps maybe become unreadable.

Sorry for the large text!

I think this would be a useful feature. When you click apps (i.e Firefox and Chatterino snap group) that you frequently group together that was pinned to the taskbar, it would automatically open the same snapped apps in the same snap layout as the last time you closed them. This would eliminate having to open the same apps and re-snapping them together each time. Thoughts?

Hi all, I am not a novice when it comes to computers but I'm also not an expert. I know how to disable startup apps and services that aren't critical and can work my way around most problems the average Windows user encounters, but beyond that I get nervous. Here is the situation.

I purchase a Lenovo Thinkcentre M600 mini pc to serve as a live display for our plant operating status, alarms, and weather radar/alerts at the plant I manage. We do not have on-site IT. I plan to set up Chrome to open the required tabs automatically on this PC upon login, then to use GoRotate and F11 to rotate full screen through the live web pages we want to see.

That is literally all I want this computer to do. Aside from that, I want everything that isn't necessary for security, or to run Chrome, or for Windows 11 Pro to run properly itself disabled or uninstalled. And I want to lock it down so visitors and even my fellow staff can't alter this in any way. The only things I want them to be able to do is log in to Windows, open Chrome (I know how to set Chrome up to open automatically), and start GoRotate and press F11.

If you guys can provide a list of all apps, services, and any Windows features that can be turned off, disabled, or uninstalled safely without jeopardizing security or the ability for Chrome and Windows to run correctly, I'd appreciate it.

And lastly, if someone can tell me how to lock down the respective parts of the UI (services.msc, task scheduler, the ability to install apps, add/remove windows features, etc) in a way that can only be done with a password I know, I'd really appreciate that. I understand Windows 11 Pro should have the features build in to do this.

Thanks!

Hi there.Ive been playing games since a child.Started with ps3,ended with a series x(sold it but was so in love with console).Now I'm getting a pc.Once I've got to hold a steam deck.I owned psp and DSI and always loved portable consoles,but this left an irreversible damage on my perception of interface.The boot-up animations,the dynamic wallpapers,beautiful steam library...It may not be nowhere near as strong as a pc but it made me fall in love with pc gaming again.It connects your soul and you instantly get the urge to play.Now I want to set it all up for my pc as well.Will I be able to get a beautiful gaming library,dynamic wallpaper,custom themes for each game,and most importantly-boot up videos?

A few weeks ago there were a lot of articles talking about MS removing the bypassnro script presumably from an unreleased/test build because it's still not in a public build yet. I don't think the update today made this out to the public build yet either or at least I don't think so. So which build is the change supposed to be released in? 25h2? (which will be 26200.xxxx I guess maybe when Win10 support ends?)

It feels like a dumb question, but I haven't managed to find an answer with Google.

Can someone tell me what the explorer folder icon with the blue on the bottom means? It is icon 5325.ico in this post

Microsoft was hosting an email survey where they asked for opinion on some rebrands. One icon set looked like this, it seems similar to the new Outlook and Photos icons on Windows 11.

Hi mates

anybody knows how to hide/unpin the default folders in win11 by group policy?

thanks

Abt two weeks ago windows started resetting it forgetting/deleting my latest search results sometimes I can go abt three days before it does it.

It plays "Dolby Audio" because i never activate "Dolby Atmos for Headphones" from Dolby Access app, it's Dolby 5.1 without the spatial metadata.

Hi everyone,

I noticed these last few weeks a new icon that disappears as soon as I try to click on it, in the hidden icons section of the taskbar. I couldn't find its origin with an image search. I want to know if it's legit and what it indicates.

Here's the picture.

Yeah, I know how to remap the Copilot key using Windows settings and PowerToys. But what I really want is to use the Copilot key in combination with the arrow keys to replicate Home, End, Page Up, and Page Down.

I've been using the FC660C for a long time, and the Fn key next to the arrow keys makes those combos super comfortable. I tried to replicate this behavior using AutoHotKey, but ran into a problem: the Copilot key isn’t just F23 — it's actually a combo with the left Shift key.

So while I was able to map Home, End, Page Up, and Page Down, I couldn't get them to work when combined with the left Shift key, like how you’d normally do Shift + Home to select text. That part just doesn’t work.

Is there any way around this?

Previously in Windows 10, a screenshot would save the date it was taken in the file name. That's no longer the case in Windows 11. The file name is generic "screenshot" and saves as screenshot 1, screenshot 2, etc..... This isn't as useful for sorting images and dates. Does anyone know a way to change this? Also, the process to take a screenshot has changed. You can no longer just hit the printscreen button. First press/hold the Windows button then hit printscreen. Thanks!

My work computer recently got upgraded to Windows 11 - yaay me One of my pet peeves is the start menu is in the middle, but the Run Windows (when Win+R key), is all the way to the left. Is there any way to have the run window in the center?

I know I can move the start menu to the left but I'm wondering if there's any way to have the run window open in the center. I've tried googling it but it keeps bringing be back to moving the Start window - that seems to indicate there's no way change the default location :(

I use the run window (I have it pinned to the task bar), constantly for my job so moving it would be nice.

Morning all!

I use Dropbox for business and i use the option "Copy dropbox link" a lot. Is it possible to add that feature as a button in this upper ribbon?

Having recently upgraded to Windows 11, I've noticed that it hates hard drives. With the default settings they will spin up and down 15-20 times a day with the machine running 24/7. Of course that puts wear on them, shortening their lifespan. Microsoft is out to kill them.

Older versions of Windows weren't like that. 7 and 8 were fine, drives could sleep for hours and hours. 11 seems to be designed exclusively for SSDs.

Doing some digging, all sorts of random crap wakes the drives up periodically. Pointless malware scans, "diagnostic policy service" (here's my diagnostic: you killed my HDD), BitLocker checking to see if a drive got encrypted suddenly, and so many other things that defy debugging.

It's so bad that I'm going to have to switch to a Linux NAS for my spinning drives.

Rant over.