Category: Windows

Copilot key laptops

You can remap the Windows Copilot Hardware Key to something useful

Posted on by Martin Brinkmann

Many Windows devices will ship with a new hardware key. The Copilot key is a new key on the keyboard that activates the core AI feature of the operating system when pressed.

If that is all it does, it is probably the most useless key on the keyboard. Yes, it is worse than Scroll Lock.

The main reason is that Copilot sits on the taskbar already. A click opens the interface. Why would you need a key for that?

I’d take it back if Microsoft would add Copilot shortcuts to it, similar to how the Windows-key works. Press Copilot Key and V, and Copilot gives you an analysis of the Clipboard content. Something like that.

How to remap the Copilot key

The Group Policy entry Set Copilot Hardware Key and the corresponding Registry entry. Source: Tero Alhonen

Good news is that you can remap the Copilot Hardware Key. Right now, you may do so either through a policy or directly in the Registry. Tero Alhonen published the information on X.

Since Windows Home admins have no access to the Policy Editor, it is easier to remap the key in the Registry.

Here is how it is done:

  1. Open the Start menu.
  2. Type regedit and select Registry Editor from the list of results.
  3. Confirm the UAC prompt by selecting the option Yes.
  4. Navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\CopilotKey
    • Note: if a key does not exist, right-click on the previous key and select New > Key. Name it accordingly and proceed.
  5. Right-click on CopilotKey and select New > Dword (32-bit) Value.
  6. Name it SetCopilotHardwareKey.
  7. Double-click on SetCopilotHardwareKey and set its value to 1.
  8. Right-click on CopilotKey again and select New > String Value.
  9. Name it EnterAppAumid.
  10. Double-click on it and paste the Application User Model ID of an installed app into the field.
  11. Close the Registry Editor.
  12. Restart Windows.

Background information: The AUMID / AppID (Application User Mode ID) is used by Windows to “identify and differentiate applications for switching, launching, telemetry, and functions”.

You can get the IDs of all installed apps in the following way:

  • Open the Start menu.
  • Type Terminal and select the Terminal app.
  • Type Get-StartApps and press the Enter-key in the Terminal window.

The list of IDs of installed apps is returned. You need to copy the entire ID, e.g. Microsoft.WindowsCalculator_8wekyb3d8bbwe!App, as the value of EnterAppAumid in the Registry.

O&O Lanytix

This free Windows program lists and logs all devices connected to the local network

Posted on by Martin Brinkmann

Computer users have a few options to list devices connected to the local network. O&O Lanytix is a free software for Windows that does offers the functionality.

Why is this important? There are several purposes. One may help reveal foreign devices connected to the network. It may also reveal hidden cameras, provided that they are connected to the same network.

The application is compatible with all supported versions of Windows (Windows 10 and up). Just download the 2 megabyte file to get started. You can run it after the download completes, an installation is not necessary.

Activate the scan local network button to run the first scan. It takes a moment to complete and reveals connected devices.

Each device is listed with its name, IP address, Mac, manufacturer, ping, OS, and the time it first appeared on the network. The status, on (connected) or off (disconnected) is also displayed.

Name, operating system, and manufacturer may reveal much about the devices, but this is not always the case. Some devices have no name or manufacturer, which may make it difficult to identify them.

An option to assign notes to entries is missing; this could help improve identification, as it may make it easier to spot foreign or new devices.

One of the shortcomings of Lanytix is that it does not support automation. There is no hourly scan option or other scan options. If you want a scan, you need to activate the scan button manually.

The application keeps a history for each detected device. Double-click on a device to look up the information. It shows changes, for instance to a device’s IP address, among other things.

The program supports scanning an IP range next to that. Data can be exported.

Verdict: O&O Lanytix is a well-designed program for Windows. It is easy to use and scans the local network for devices quickly. The log feature is particularly handy, as it reveals a device’s history.

Do you scan devices in your networks sometimes? Or is that something that you have no interest in at all? Feel free to leave a comment down below.

Windows 11 Sign out

Microsoft listened? Sign out restored in Windows 11’s Start menu

Posted on by Martin Brinkmann

Microsoft has restored a feature that it removed some time ago from Windows. At least in the Beta version of the operating system, sign-out is once again accessible directly when clicking on the profile icon in the Start menu.

Here is the current process in Windows 11 when you want to sign out using the Start menu:

  1. Click on the Start button to open the Start menu.
  2. Click on the profile icon.
  3. Activation of the menu (three dots).
  4. Selection of sign out.

Once the change lands, the process is the following one:

  1. Click on the Start button to open the Start menu.
  2. Click on the profile icon.
  3. Select Sign out.

It used to be this way, but Microsoft introduced the account manager to the Start menu. The main purpose of it, if you ask me, is to advertise Microsoft 365 and Microsoft cloud storage.

Account manager in Start menu. Source: Microsoft

It shows the M365 subscription status and also the available cloud storage. For that, Microsoft removed the options to sign out or switch users from the main interface and hid it behind a new menu that it added just for that purpose.

If you look at the screenshot of the revised version, you may notice that something is amiss. Where is the option to switch to another user? Microsoft says that it will show a list of signed in users under menu.

The screenshot shows nothing of it though. Maybe it is only displayed when there are other users who are signed in.

Note: a better way of signing out is to right-click on the Start button. It shows that option next to others under shutdown.

Since it is a beta release, it is possible that Microsoft is going to alter the interface further before it hits the stable channel and the majority of users.

How do you sign our or shut down your Windows PCs? Do you have any preference? Feel free to leave a comment down below.

Windows 11: Intelligent Media Search feature powered by AI is coming

Posted on by Martin Brinkmann

I have a simple opinion about AI. If it is off by default and if I control my data, I might use it if it is useful. Whether Intelligent Media Search is such a feature remains to be seen.

First spotted by Xeno and revealed on X, it is designed to let users index all of their audio and video files to make it searchable. The feature is powered by AI and the idea is that you can use natural language to search for matching audio or video files.

You can ask questions like:

  • What cakes did I eat over the years on my wife’s birthday?
  • Who shot first? Han or Greedo in the film Star Wars?
  • Retrieve every mention of X in project videos / audio files.

Obviously, you could do a lot with this, provided that you have the media files on the local system. Ask questions about a teleconference call, financial audio webcasts, or anything else that is available as media on the system.

There is also the possibility for it to find specific files, music by a band, appearances of an actor, or a certain event in movies or videos.

Does that sound useful? Not to everyone, but it certainly has more appeal than the overreaching Recall feature. That is back to the drawing board as Microsoft was certainly caught off-guard when the rain of negative feedback started.

Still, little is known about the feature. Good news is that Microsoft is asking for consent and it seems likely that the feature is off by default because of that. So, there is little to worry about for users who do not want to use it, provided that Microsoft does not push the Intelligent Media Search feature to hard or in an annoying way.

The verdict is still out on this one. Lots is unclear. Where is the indexed data stored, how is it protected, will it be synced? What controls do users get?

What is your take on the feature? Would you use it under certain circumstances? Feel free to leave a comment down below.

Windows 11: new update time estimation is as accurate as Windows’ copy dialog

Posted on by Martin Brinkmann

When you copy files from one location to another in Windows, an estimation of the remaining time is displayed. This estimation may fluctuate widely and it has been at the center of many jokes.

source: xkcd

Microsoft has added a similar estimation to Windows updates in the latest Insider builds.

Some Insiders in the Canary Channel will begin to see an estimated time for how long their PC will be offline to install Build 27695. This estimate will be shown on the Windows Update settings page and via the Start menu power button.

If you have installed updates in Windows before, you know that you never know how long an update will take to install.

When you hit the restart button, it feels like a game of chance. Sometimes, updates seem to install quickly, at other times, they seem to take ages.

New builds or feature updates take longer, naturally, than the monthly cumulative updates or minor updates.

It is a good idea to avoid installing updates if you are in a hurry. If you just have a bit of time before you need to leave the computer, you better postpone the installation until you return.

There is another reason for that: if something goes wrong, you may not have the time to start fixing the issue immediately.

Microsoft hopes that the displayed estimates help administrators; but does it?

Windows Update downtime estimation

Problem is, Windows Update displays a range and not a fixed number. The screenshot that Microsoft published shows a downtime between 15 and 50 minutes.

Source: Microsoft

Is that helpful? Would not it be better if Microsoft would either display just the maximum, e.g. up to 50 minutes, or the average, e.g. 35 minutes to the user?

The feature is in testing right now and only some Insiders see it. It is shown on the Windows Update settings page and the start menu power button after an update has been downloaded and prepared for installation.

How do you handle updates in Windows? Feel free to leave a comment down below.

VeraCrypt interface

VeraCrypt: first update of the year improves security and fixes bugs

Posted on by Martin Brinkmann

The developers of the open source encryption software VeraCrypt have released VeraCrypt 1.26.14 for all supported platforms. The new version adds a notification if volumes are affected by the XTS master key vulnerability.

The issue was fixed last year in VeraCrypt 1.26.7, but only for newly created volumes. While unlikely even then, the newly added notification ensures that users are informed if one of their encrypted volumes are still affected by the vulnerability.

Installation or upgrade

The new release installs over existing installations. This should not be problematic for most users. A system restore point is created by default during the installation. Note that a restart is required to complete the process. You cannot mount volumes until the final restart.

VeraCrypt 1.26.24 does not mount TrueCrypt volumes anymore. This was the case for last year’s release as well, but is still noteworthy.

If you still have an old TrueCrypt volume, e.g., on a removable drive you have not touched for years, you may want to use an earlier version of VeraCrypt to decrypt the encrypted volume before you encrypt it again using the software.

Note that you may download older VeraCrypt versions from the official project website. VeraCrypt 1.25.9 was the last to support TrueCrypt volumes.

An overview of the changes of VeraCrypt 1.26.14

The update is a bug fix release for the most part. It does come with updated translations and documentation as well as some compatibility improvements on non-Windows systems.

Here is a short list of the most important changes and fixes:

  • Windows: VeraCrypt Expander: Fix expansion of volumes on disks with a sector size different from 512.
  • Linux: Enhance ASLR security of generic installer binaries by adding linked flag for old GCC version.
  • macOS: Fix near zero width PIM input box and simplify wxTextValidator logic.
  • FreeBSD: Support automatic detection and mounting of ext2/3/4, exFAT, NTFS filesystems.

You can check out the full changelog here. As you can see, it is mostly maintenance related changes and a fix bug fixes.

Closing Words

Still, it is a good idea to upgrade to the new version because of these fixes and the notification if one of the volumes has a vulnerable XTS master key.

Now You: do you use encryption software? Maybe even VeraCrypt? Or do you swear on a different software? Feel free to leave a comment down below!

Vivaldi Rename Tabs

Vivaldi Browser’s Tab Renaming feature is an incredibly useful feature

Posted on by Martin Brinkmann

So, Vivaldi has released a new stable version of its web browser, which is also called Vivaldi. Vivaldi 6.9 includes a number of new features that improve customization and options for its users, as usual.

Among the batch of 6.9 features is tab renaming. To the best of my knowledge, it is a first in the browser space, but correct me, if I’m wrong.

Update: Arc Browser supports this as well.

The idea is simple: you can use it to rename any open tab in the browser. To do that, you simply right-click on the tab, select rename, and type the new name.

Note that this works better for unpinned tabs, as pinned tabs show only the site’s icon by default. But even here, it is useful. More on that later.

Once you have changed the name of the tab, it stays. Restart the browser, and you still get the custom tab names after the restart.

While some may wonder what this feature is good for, others may have noticed it immediately. It depends a bit on how you use the browser.

Here are a few examples:

  • Make the titles descriptive. Some sites use titles that do not always reflect their name or purpose. If you visit eBay, you get Electronics, Cars, Fashion, C as the visible title. Change it to eBay, and you do not have to look twice. If you are the romantic type, you could change tabs from your crush so that they read I love you, from Bob, or something similar.
  • Shorten titles. Many sites use titles that do not display fully. Also, if you open enough tabs, the available space shrinks further. You could assign the letter C to my site for instance or Chip, or whatever, and it is visible for longer.
  • Use titles as reminders. Don’t feed after midnight, message mom, or CANCEL are all valid.
  • Disguise names. If you fear that someone could catch a glimpse of the sites that you have open, and you do not want that, you could use the feature to change the title to something else. Maybe change Facebook to TikTok to avoid having to defend you still spending time on the site. The site’s icon may still reveal the real site to some bystanders though.

There is the slight chance that you may get confused and want to restore the title. This is done by selecting rename again and deleting the current title. Press the Enter-key and the original title returns. You may use the same method to alter a modified title.

The new title is also shown when you hover over tabs. This is where the usefulness for pinned tabs comes from.

You can download the latest version of the Vivaldi web browser from the official site. If you like customization options, this might the browser for you.

Tab renaming, is that something that you might use, if your browser supported it? Let me and everyone else know in the comments down below.

XD-AntiSpy Plugins

Latest xd-AntiSpy update introduces (mighty) plugin support

Posted on by Martin Brinkmann

The unofficial successor of the classic XP-AntiSpy application for Windows, xd-antispy, has added support for plugins in an update.

I reviewed the initial version on Ghacks last month, and liked it. Plugin support heaves the app to new levels and that is reason enough to check it out again.

Plugins, as the name suggest, expand the functionality of the Windows tweaker. The latest version includes a good number already, including the hyped Super God Mode script, that creates over a 1000 Windows shortcuts to speed up administrative tasks.

Note that you can use the program without any plugins, if you want. The new version displays a settings window on start. If you switch to Plugins / Marketplace, you see the available plugins.

Tip: If this window does not appear, select Menu > Find more plugins online to launch it.

Windows security warning: Windows displays the “protected your PC” message when you run the application. The app is not malicious, but it is new, and Windows SmartScreen does not like things that are new; hence the warning. Ignore it.

The names of the plugins reveal their purposes only sometimes. It is clear what the plugin Uninstall OneDrive does, but not so clear what Chris Titus App or Plugin Butler do.

It would be useful if the program would display a short description on hover.

Using Plugins in xd-antispy

Using plugins is simple. Select “more tools” at the top of the xd-AntiSpy interface and then one of the installed plugins.

These are then loaded by the app and you may check items to modify the system accordingly.

Plugin Debloater, one of the few plugins installed by default, gives you options to remove certain apps from the operating system.

Just check and hit the “remove selected apps” button to get them removed.

Closing Words

Plugins extend the base functionality of xd-AntiSpy. That is a good thing, especially since they are entirely optional. Do not want them, ignore them. Everyone else gets extensions that can be added easily to get more options.

Have you tried xd-AntiSpy in the past? Or do you prefer to use a different tweaker or even manual changes? Feel free to leave a comment down below.

AMD’s Windows 11 24H2 performance patch leaves a mixed impression

Posted on by Martin Brinkmann

This year’s feature update for Windows 11 includes a performance patch for AMD processors. AMD says that this should improve the performance on systems with Ryzen 9000 processors by up to 13% when gaming.

A 13% increase would be a massive achievement. Independent tests show now that there is not only light but also shadow.

German hardware-specialists at Hardwareluxx have tested the performance of Ryzen 7 and 9, as well as several Intel processors, on Windows 11 version 23H2 and 24H2 systems.

The takeaways:

  • There are not any meaningful application performance gains.
  • Some processors have performance gains in some games. The performance of Ryzen 5 9600X and Ryzen 7 9700X increased by 8% in Cyberpunk 2077.
  • Performance gains go up to about 23% in some games and some processors.
  • The testers recorded performance degradations in some games. Ryzen 7 7800X3D and Ryzen 5 7600X saw a drop by nearly 20% in F2 2024.
  • Performance drops in some games and for some processors by almost 20%.

Hardware Unboxed ran tests as well, and they differ from the Hardwareluxx tests in one meaningful way: the testers did not notice any performance losses in their tests.

They tested the performance of the AMD Ryzen 7 9700X and 7700X in more than 40 games on Windows 11 version 23H2 and 24H2.

Here is the video:

According to Hardware Unboxed, users will notice a performance gain between 10% (Zen4) and 11% (Zen5) on average on Windows 11 version 24H2 systems when playing games.

Closing Words

The tests contradict each other. It is possible that drops are recorded only in some games, and that Hardware Unboxed did not test these. More tests are needed to come to a final conclusion.

Most Windows 11 users will get the performance patch when they upgrade their devices to the upcoming feature update. Microsoft has not revealed a release date yet, but it should not be more than a month or two away at this point.

Is AMD hardware powering your PC? What is your take on the performance patch? Feel free to leave a comment down below.

How to add support for HEIC and HEVC media files on Windows 11

Posted on by Martin Brinkmann

If you use Windows 11, you may have noticed that you cannot open HEIC or HEVC media files by default. Windows does not ship with an app that supports the file types by default.

While it is possible that the manufacturer of a PC adds support for these file types, there is a good chance that the files won’t open by default on your devices.

Thankfully though, there is an easy solution. One that does not require that you download a full-blown codec package to your system.

Heil file previews in Windows 11's File Explorer

The details:

  • Both codecs are available on the Microsoft Store free of charge.
  • When you search for them, you may not get them.

Some third-party apps may support the media file types out of the box. Any app that relies on the codecs that Windows provides needs the Extensions that Microsoft provides or a codec from a third-party source.

Here are the steps that you need to undertake to install the required codecs to open the files on your Windows 11 PCs:

  1. Open the HEVC Video Extensions from Device Manufacturer Microsoft Store page.
  2. Click on the install button.
  3. Select “Open Microsoft Store” when the popup appears.
  4. Click the Install button to install the codec on the system.
  5. Open the HEIF Image Extensions Microsoft Store page.
  6. Click on the install button.
  7. Select “Open Microsoft Store” when the popup appears.
  8. Activate the install option on the page to install the codec on the system.

You should now be able to play the media files on your system.

Note: Default Windows apps like the Photos app and also third-party solutions such as Paint.Net will load the files from that moment on. File Explorer will also show previews of the media files, if you select one of the thumbnail view modes.

The extensions install like any other app, which means that you can remove them from Settings > Apps > Installed Apps at any time. Third-party tools like the excellent O&O AppBuster work as well.

Have you encountered HEVC or HEIF files before? What did you do to load them on your devices? Feel free to leave a comment down below.