Tag: windows 10

When it comes to the dozen or so Windows app that Microsoft ships with Windows, there are several that most users would probably never touch.

Of these, Paint 3D is probably high up on the list of the majority of Windows users. It sits there at the top with the likes of 3D Builder.

Paint 3d came out at a time when Microsoft wanted to push creativity and creating in Windows. It was set out to replace the original Paint application, which was a trustworthy, albeit basic, image editing app for Windows for a long time.

Many users were not pleased with Paint 3D and Microsoft’s course, as interface and functionality were changed. Eventually, Microsoft realized that Paint was the app that won the popularity contest and decided to deprecate Paint 3D.

Paint 3D is now beginning to show an end of support banner in its interface. First reported by Phantom of Earth on Twitter, the banner notifies users that the app will reach end of support soon.

Paint 3D now has a banner stating that it will no longer receive updates or be available in the Microsoft Store starting on November 4th. pic.twitter.com/ksPg1Irdjo

— phantomofearth 🌳 (@phantomofearth) August 10, 2024

It says:

Paint 3D won’t be available in the Microsoft Store or receive future updates on November 4, 2024.

It is a crushing defeat for the app, considering that a very similar message was displayed in the original Paint app at one time.

It said:

This version of Paint will soon be replaced with Paint 3D. Classic Paint will then become available in the Store.

Paint 3D is not getting the same treatment. The app is already no longer installed on new Windows devices. Soon, users won’t find it listed anymore on the Microsoft Store.

Microsoft does not say if it is going to remove the app if it is installed on user devices. It likely won’t, but it will certainly remind users that the app is no longer supported when it is run.

Do you have any favorites among the default Windows apps? Is Paint 3D on that list? Let us known in the comments below.

If you still run an older version of Microsoft’s Windows 10 or 11 operating systems, then you may have noticed that Windows update KB5001716 was installed recently on your devices.

It is an important update, here is why:

• KB5001716 is an update for Windows Update Service components.
• The update enables Windows to download and install new feature updates for the device automatically.
• It furthermore detects issues with the Windows Update service and notifies you about any that it finds.

In other words, it is designed to push new versions of Windows onto systems that are no longer supported or about to reach end of support.

Microsoft supports consumer editions of Windows for 18 months. The systems receive security updates and other updates during that time. Updates stop once the version of Windows reaches end of servicing.

Microsoft notes:

f your device is out of support, it is no longer receiving security updates from Microsoft and may become more vulnerable to security risks and viruses. For this reason, we strongly recommend that you update to the latest version of Windows. Each version of Windows is supported for 18 months. After support ends, you must update to a newer version of Windows to continue receiving Windows updates and security fixes.

Here is the (current) list of Windows versions that will receive the update:

• Windows 11, version 21H2
• Windows 10, version 22H2
• Windows 10, version 21H2
• Windows 10, version 21H1
• Windows 10, version 20H2
• Windows 10, version 2004

As you can see, Microsoft is pushing the update to all but the latest versions of Windows 11.

These versions of Windows do not receive the update at the time of writing:

• Windows 11, version 23H2
• Windows 11, version 22H2

While this won’t change anymore for Windows 10, expect Windows 11 Version 22H2 to be added to the list soon.

Most Windows users may want to upgrade to new versions of Windows, as it guarantees that security updates continue to be provided by Microsoft.

Users who do not want to upgrade yet or want to keep full control over the updating, may want to prevent the installation of KB5001716.

If the update is installed already, you may check out my guide on uninstalling Windows updates and blocking them afterwards.

Closing Words

Several Windows 10 and 11 versions reach end of servicing in the coming months. While most devices should be upgraded to a newer version by then, there will always be systems that are left behind.

In most cases, this may not be a deliberate decision and the update may help these users in keeping their systems supported.

Which version of Windows, if any, do you run currently? Any particular reason for that, if you do not run the latest version?

O&O Software’s free AppBuster app for Windows was one of the first programs that I reviewed on this site.

The latest update introduces several important changes and features that deserve to be mentioned here o this site.

If you have used AppBuster in the past you know what the program is about. It lets you uninstall many built-in or user-installed programs on Windows devices.

O&O AppBuster 1.4.1345 is now available. The application is still free to use. Here are the three core changes introduced in the new version:

• O&O AppBuster is now compatible with Windows on ARM devices.
• The app makes recommendations now regarding the programs that you may want to consider for removal.
• It detects new apps and programs that were installed since the last run of the application.

Let us take a closer look at one of the new features.

Recommendations

Tech savvy users know which apps to remove from their devices and which not. The same may not be true for users who are not that interested in tech.

The recommendation system is for these users. It highlights apps that the users may want to take a closer look at when it comes to picking apps for removal.

Recommendations may either suggest to remove a program or may highlight an app as optional.

On a test Windows 11 system, it recommended to remove the Feedback Hub, Game Bar, and Microsoft 365 (Office) apps among several other Microsoft apps.

It listed other Microsoft apps as optional, as well as non-Microsoft apps, including Adobe Acrobat Reader.

AppBuster does not reveal why it is making a recommendation. It is certainly possible that it recommends removing apps that the user uses frequently or even regularly.

It would be great if the program could take into account last use dates or other information to improve recommendations.

The other changes

Support for ARM platform starting with Windows 11 version 24H2 is a welcome addition, considering that Microsoft is pushing Windows on the platform.

For now, it is the only Copilot+ PCs ready platform, but this will change once AMD and Intel release new silicon.

Detection of new apps can also be useful. It makes it easier to spot new apps that Microsoft sneaked-in, and also user-installed apps.

Closing Words

O&O AppBuster continues to be an excellent piece of software. Yes, there are other programs out there that can also remove apps in bulk. It is perfectly fine to continue using those.

My favorite is winget right now, as it is easy to use and very powerful.

You can download the latest AppBuster version from the official website.

Do you use programs like AppBuster to remove apps and programs that you do not need? Let us know in the comment section down below!

The release of Windows 10 saw a fundamental shift towards Microsoft accounts. While users got to choose between local and Microsoft accounts in Windows 10, it was clear that Microsoft’s intention was to get customers to use online accounts.

It integrated new features into Windows that required an online account. From OneDrive over the synchronization of settings to the ability to restore an account password.

Microsoft shifted into a higher gear with the release of Windows 11. It enforces the creation of a Microsoft account on first setup now for Home and Pro systems.

Many workarounds do not work anymore, but there may still be options to deal with the user-unfriendly behavior. Still, most users may not know about these and that forces them to create the Microsoft account.

It is possible to create local accounts after the initial setup phase and delete the Microsoft account, but Microsoft has scattered warnings across the system in that case.

Microsoft highlights the advantages of local accounts

The support page “Change from a local account to a Microsoft account” on Microsoft’s official support website lists the advantages of both local and Microsoft accounts.

Here is what Microsoft has to say about local accounts (via WinFuture)

A local account is created on the device and doesn’t require Internet connectivity to sign in. It’s independent of other services, and it’s not connected to the cloud. Your settings, files, and applications are limited to that single device

While that is meant to be discouraging, may of the users who prefer local accounts may beg to differ.

The key here is that local accounts are not known to Microsoft. They work offline and files stay on the local system by default. Users may still sync files using first or third-party tools, but this is completely optional.

Wonder about the advantages of using a Microsoft account? Here are the key features of using a Microsoft account, according to Microsoft:

When you sign in to your PC with a Microsoft account, you’re connected to a Microsoft cloud service, and your settings and files can sync across various devices. You can also use it to access other Microsoft services

So, some settings and files sync when a Microsoft account is used. Using a Microsoft account may also give users access to services that require it.

Closing Words

To break it down: if you prefer privacy, you may want to consider using local accounts. If you prioritize convenience, or use multiple Windows devices, you may find that the advantages outweigh the disadvantages.

What about you? Do you prefer local or Microsoft accounts on Windows devices?

DoNotspy11 is a long-standing privacy and tweaking application for Windows. The first update of 2024 introduces new features and compatibility with recent Windows releases.

It is a small tool that you may use to modify Windows settings with ease. It addresses one of the main issues that privacy-conscious users have with Windows: the scattering of privacy-related preferences and policies.

Instead of having to use the Control Panel, Settings app, Registry, Group Policy Editor, and some other tools to improve privacy, it delivers everything in a single easy-to-use interface.

Word of Advice: Windows may throw a SmartScreen error when you try to run the program on your device. This is not because it is malicious or faulty. SmartScreen displays also when a program is new.

Another great privacy tool is O&O ShutUp10++, which I reviewed some time ago.

A short DoNotspy11 Intro

DoNotSpy11 displays all applicable privacy tweaks in the interface. It uses color codes to highlight the safety of tweaks. The following colors are used:

• Blue — These are safe settings that should not have any ill-effects.
• Orange — It is necessary to read the description, as they may impact other features among other things.
• Red — Usually not recommended to change.
• Gray — These settings have not changed since the last use of the application.

The program suggests to create a System Restore point whenever changes are made. This allows you to go back to the previous state in case something does not work anymore. I never ran into this problem while using the app, but a backup option is always welcome.

Just check or uncheck the available options and hit the apply button in the end to make the change. It is easy to undo changes manually or through System Restore points.

DoNotSpy11 1.2.1.0 Changelog

The update introduces ten new tweaks, including a new Windows AI category. It also adds general compatibility with Windows 11 version 23H2 Moment 5 and Windows 11 version 24H2, which will be released later this year.

The final change adds high DPI support, which should improve visuals on high DPI displays.

As for the tweaks, here is what is new:

1. AI: Disable Recall (Snapshots) (from build 26100)
2. Apps: Disable Access to Cellular Data
3. Apps: Disable Access to Eye Tracking
4. Apps: Disable Access to Motion / Activity
5. Edge: Disable Control Copilot Access to Browser Context
6. Edge: Disable Spell Checking Provided by Microsoft Editor
7. Edge: Disable Website Typo Protection
8. Edge: Hide App Launcher on Microsoft Edge New Tab Page
9. Start: Disable Recommended Section
10. Start: Disable Website Recommendations in Recommended Section

Three tweaks have been updated. The first two add options to disable Copilot and the Copilot taskbar button on Windows 10 devices. The third changes the disable background applications recommendation from blue (safe) to yellow (read comment).

You can check out the full changelog here.

Do you use tweaking tools to improve privacy or other features of Windows devices?

The first O&O ShutUp10++ update for Windows 10 and 11 of 2024 is now available. It is an excellent privacy tool to improve privacy through an easy to use interface.

You can check out my full review of O&O ShutUp10++ for in-depth information.

O&O ShutUp10++ 1.9.1437

The new version of the free application is available already. It was released about a week ago. New and existing users may download it from the official project website.

The update introduces new privacy options and also quality of life improvements. As far as privacy options are concerned, here is what is new:

• NEW: Disable remote assistance connections to this computer
• NEW: Disable remote connections to this computer

You find these two new options under Local Machine > Miscellaneous at the very bottom of the page.

The remaining changes improve usability of the app. Whenever you make a change, you receive a prompt to create a system restore point. If the feature is disabled, O&O ShutUp10++ may now launch the Control Panel in this case to rectify this.

Existing users may also notice that the start of the app is faster than before.

The configuration file is saved to the start directory now, and it is automatically migrated from previous versions. The file is called OOSU10.cfg and you find it in the same directory that you run O&O ShutUp10++ from. This makes it easier to migrate the configuration to other systems.

The application supports making bulk changes. It distinguishes between recommended, somewhat recommended, and all settings. A click on any of those under Actions displays the number of changed preferences now.

Tip: while these actions sound useful, they are applied immediately. It is better to make changes manually instead.

1. Select View > Group by Categories to disable the grouping of settings.
2. Click on “recommended” in the table to sort by recommendation state.
3. Go through the list from top to bottom and make the changes manually.

Closing Words

O&O ShutUP10++ is an excellent free application for Windows to improve user privacy on the system. It is updated frequently to introduce new privacy options, such as disabling Copilot.

Do you use privacy tweak tools or system optimization tools? Which do you use and prefer?

Microsoft configured non-managed Windows 10 systems to restart automatically after the installation of updates. This can be a huge problem for users. If you run certain processes or have important apps up and running, Windows 10 may restart regardless of that.

This happens after a certain inactivity period. Sometimes, this may result in users losing access to work or being thrown out of games or other apps. While some may reload, like Office apps, others may not reload to the state they were in prior to the initialization of the restart.

The following sections offer step-by-step instructions to stop Windows 10 from restarting the system automatically after the installation of updates.

Stop automatic restarts using the Group Policy Editor

Note: the Group Policy Editor is only available for Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions. In other words, it is not available for Home editions. Please skip this section and check the Registry section below for instructions to enable the same policy on Home devices.

1. Open the Start Menu.
2. Type gpedit.msc and select Edit Group Policy from the results. This opens the Group Policy Editor.
3. Follow the folder structure on the left and go to: Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Update.
4. Double-click on No auto-restart with logged on users for scheduled automatic updates installations.
5. Set the policy to Enabled.
6. Select OK.
7. Double-click on Configure Automatic Updates under the same Windows Update folder.
8. Set the policy to Enabled.
9. Set the policy to Auto download and schedule the install.
10. Click ok.

Tip: you can also set the second policy to Notify for download and auto install to prevent any automatic downloads of updates or installations of updates.

Stop automatic reboots using the Registry

1. Open the Start menu.
2. Type regedit.msc and select Registry Editor.
3. Confirm the UAC prompt, if it is displayed.
4. Go to Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\AU.
5. If a key does not exist, right-click on the previous key and select New > Key. Name it accordingly.
6. Right-click on AU and select New > Dword (32-bit) Value. Repeat the steps six times:
   • Name the first AUOptions. Double-click and set its value to 4.
   • Name the second NoAutoRebootWithLoggedOnUsers. Double-click on it and sets its value to 1.
   • Name the third NoAutoUpdate. Double-click on it and set its value to 0.
   • Name the fourth ScheduledInstallDay. Double-click on it and set its value to 0.
   • Name the fifth ScheduledInstallEveryWeek. Double-click on it and set its value to 1.
   • Name the sixth ScheduledInstallTime. Double-click on it and set its value to 3.
7. Close the Registry Editor.
8. Restart the PC.

How do you handle updates on Windows devices?