Microsoft’s upcoming Windows 11 version 24H2 release will block certain tweaking apps from running or making modifications to the system.
When you look at Windows development of the past ten years, you may notice a trend: certain options get removed without proper alternative. The release of Windows 11 is a prime example. Suddenly, users could no longer display the taskbar on the right or left side of the screen.
Tools like StartAllBack or Explorer Patcher were created to address these shortcomings. They used hacks and undocumented APIs at times to restore functionality or even top what Microsoft offered in previous Windows versions.
Now it seems that this period is slowly coming to an end. The signs were on the wall for some time. Microsoft blocked updates on systems, if certain software was installed on them.
Microsoft does have a valid argument: some of these programs did in fact cause issues in the past. In July 2023 for instance, users noticed that the Start Menu was broken after installation of the latest cumulative update.
This was caused by third-party customization apps according to Microsoft. The company put the “won’t fix” tag on the issue and left users more or less stranded.
Removal of the programs resolved the issue, but many liked what the tools brought to the table. Explorer Patcher, for instance, removed the “recommended” section from the Windows 11 Start Menu entirely. It filled it with apps of the user.
While Microsoft added an option to hide all recommendations, it never implemented an option to use the space of the recommended section for user apps.
These programs block the installation of Windows 11 24H2
Microsoft is blocking the installation of Windows 11 version 24H2 or the update to the new feature update, if certain tweaking software is installed on the system.
Our colleagues over at Deskmodder published the entire list. The two tweaking programs on it are StartAllBack and Explorer Patcher.
There is a lengthy workaround, which involves deleting the app, updating the system, renaming the application’s name, and then running the application.
It is possible that this workaround will work for a while, but there is a good chance that it is blocked eventually as well.
No quick changing of default apps or file extensions anymore
Microsoft implemented a new filter driver in Windows 10 and 11 that prevent the changing of default apps or file extension associations using the Registry.
This breaks tools like SetUserFTA, that allow users to modify these settings comfortably. These tools are even more important to administrators, provided that they need to modify system defaults.
You can check out my article on the userChoice Protection Driver for a detailed overview. Only this much: the filter prevents modification of userChoice Registry settings. These hold the keys to the default apps and file associations.
All programs could manipulate the keys previously. Now, Microsoft is limiting changes to its own programs only. Programs that do not meet the requirements get an access denied error and that is it. Microsoft is also blocking common Windows tools used to change Registry keys.
In other words, only Microsoft programs that are not on a deny list may change the keys. If that is not an unfair advantage over other programs, what is?
Do you customize your systems? Have you used some of the tools that Microsoft is now outlawing?
WTF!!!!???? I have RTL8192su.sys, it’s my WLAN driver. Am I not supposed to have wireless internet anymore????
There will be an update prior to release, probably 🙂
The only 2 times I ended up with Windows 11 I customized it by reinstalling Windows 10.
Then I install Open-Shell and create a quick launch that I’m used to. Of course this is followed by uninstalling all the bloatware and changes in the Group Policy Editor. I don’t even use the default apps or Explorer, just third-party software that does the job better.
Well, Notepad is still useful to me.
The second time I had looked at Explorer Patcher but was not convinced after reading the list of issues found on GitHub, maybe it works well but with an OS that is likely to change things with every update I was a bit hesitant.
I don’t think it’s that hard for Microsoft to increase or keep the choices to customize the start menu or the taskbar and all that, but they are hardheads following their own self-interest.