Tag: windows 11

Windows 11 and previous versions use the mouse feature Enhance Pointer Precision by default. This guide helps you understand what the feature does and why, in some cases, it may be better turned off.

What is Enhance Pointer Precision? Put simply, it is designed to improve the accuracy of slow mouse moves.

Maybe you have tried to target a very specific pixel on the screen. Say, a smaller than usual scrollbar, a button or link that is tiny, or anything else that needs precise movements.

Enhance Pointer Precision makes “the pointer work more accurately when you’re moving the mouse slowly” according to Microsoft.

While that may be useful in some cases, it can introduce problems in certain apps or games. Take first-person shooter games as an example. You need to be precise in them, but mouse movement is often rapid.

If you do not want Windows 11 to apply its pointer precision algorithm in those cases, you may turn it off.

Turning off Enhance Pointer Precision

You may toggle the mouse preference in the Settings app. Here is how that is done:

1. Open the Start menu.
2. Launch the Settings app from it.
   • Tip: you may use the shortcut Windows-I to launch the Settings app.
3. Go to Bluetooth & devices > Mouse.
4. Set Enhance Pointer Precision to Off to disable the feature.

Chance is, you may not see a difference right away. It depends on several factors, including the mouse and its movement.

Tip: you may want to test the change. If you ran into issues with the mouse in certain apps or games, launch those and start tests.

You can undo the change at any time by setting the preference to On again.

Registry offers more control

You may also modify the relevant settings in the Windows Registry. While most users may not need to do so, it is offering more options.

Here is an overview of the available keys:

• MouseThreshold1 — If mouse movement exceeds this value, cursor speed is doubled.
• MouseThreshold2 – If mouse movement exceeds this value, cursor speed is quadrupled.
• MouseSpeed — The speed of the mouse cursor.

The two threshold values need to be higher than the value of MouseSpeed.

Here is how you change those values

1. Open the Start menu.
2. Type regedit.exe and press the Enter-key.
3. Confirm the security prompt by selecting Yes.
4. Navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Mouse.
5. Double-click on MouseSpeed, MouseThreshold1, and MouseThreshold2 respectively to change the values.
6. To turn Enhance Pointer Precision off, set all values to 0.
   • To enable the feature again, set the values to 1, 6, and 10.

Tip: you can experiment with different values to see if the adjusted parameters work for your use cases.

News about BlueScreen crashes on Western Digital or Sandisk SSD systems broke shortly after Microsoft’s release of Windows 11, version 24H2.

Affected user systems crashed regularly after the upgrade to the new version of Windows 11. Users started to collect information about the issue and even suggested a fix that involved making an edit to the Registry.

Microsoft, in the meantime, added an upgrade block for systems with affected hardware. This block prevents the upgrade to Windows 11, version 24H2 via Windows Update.

The block did not help users who upgraded already. Some downgraded their systems to resolve the issue, others applied the Registry fix.

Firmware Update

Western Digital and SanDisk have released a firmware update for affected storage devices that resolves the issue.

A page on the official SanDisk support website provides the details.

Note: it is recommended to back up important data before you apply firmware updates to storage devices. A BlueScreen crash during the process could corrupt the device and make the data unreadable.

In a nutshell:

1. Download the Wester Digital Dashboard software using the provided links on the website.
2. Run the downloaded application.
3. Select the install button to install the application on the device.
4. Keep “launch dashboard” checked and activate the finish button.
5. Select the Tools section.
6. Click on Update Firmware and then on proceed.
7. Activate shutdown now at the end of the process.
8. Power the computer on again.

The new firmware is now installed on the device and the crashes should be a thing of the past.

Affected Western Digital and SanDisk devices

The following Solid State Drives are affected by the issue:

Name	Model Number Starting With	Updated Firmware Version
WD_BLACK SN770 NVMe SSD 2TB	WDBBDL0020BNC, WDS200T3X0E	731130WD
WD_BLACK SN770M NVMe SSD 2TB	WDBDNH0020BBK, WDS200T3X0G	731130WD
WD Blue SN580 NVMe SSD 2TB	WDBWMY0020BBL, WDS200T3B0E	281050WD
WD Blue SN5000 NVMe SSD 2TB	WDBS3F0020BNC, WDS200T4B0E	291020WD
SanDisk Extreme M.2 NVMe SSD 2TB	SDSSDX3N-2T00

Microsoft confirmed three more issues that affect devices that are upgraded to Windows 11 version 24H2.

Probably the most severe of the lot is the issue that may cause a BlueScreen error during the upgrade from earlier versions of Windows 11.

Here are the details:

• Some Asus devices, including 415KA and X515KA models, are affected.
• The upgrade does not complete and may result in a BlueScreen error.
• The issue is linked to “certain hardware components” used in affected models.

Microsoft is blocking (some?) Asus devices from upgrading to Windows 11, version 24H2 using a compatibility hold. This feature blocks the upgrade on the devices, but only when Windows Update is used.

Microsoft recommends that device administrators do not attempt to install the update manually, for instance by using the Windows 11 Installation Assistant or Installation media.

Two additional issues confirmed

Microsoft confirmed two additional issues. These are:

• Voicemeter app may close unexpectedly and throw a BlueScreen error that may highlight a memory management error. Link
• Camera use may cause some apps to become unresponsive. This may happen if object or face detection features are enabled. Link

A compatibility hold is now in effect for both issues. While it is easy enough to identify devices with Voicemeter, Microsoft does not reveal which devices are affected by the camera issue.

Administrators are asked not to upgrade to Windows 11, version 24H2 using any other method while Microsoft is investigating and creating patches to address the issues.

Closing Words

Microsoft confirmed several issues affecting Windows 11, version 24H2 already. It is possible that some of these will get resolved when the optional update for the operating system gets released later this month.

On a personal note, I did not experience any issues on a test system that I upgraded to Windows 11, version 24H2.

What about you? Did you upgrade a device to the latest Windows 11 version already? How did it go? Feel free to leave a comment down below.

Microsoft released the 2024 feature update for Windows 11 a few days ago. This update is rolling out to all users and the main way to install it on non-managed devices is through Windows Update.

But what if the feature update is not shown to you? When you follow Microsoft’s instructions, but it is not offered?

In any event, I recommend that you create a backup of the system before you install a major update. A tool like Paragon Backup & Recovery does the trick. It is free and I have used it for years for backups.

To summarize the official step-by-step instructions:

1. Open the Start menu.
2. Load Settings.
3. Navigate to Windows Update.
4. Check “Get the latest updates as soon as they’re available”.
5. Activate the “check for updates” button.

Note: I recommend that you disable the “get the latest..” option after installation of the update again. You may end up with optional updates installed regularly otherwise.

There are multiple reasons why the feature update is not returned after you hit the button:

• Microsoft is rolling out the update, pushing it to PCs first that it considers the most likely to install it without issues.
• If a PC is affected by a known issue, it won’t get the update.
• Driver or application compatibility issues may also block the update via Windows Update.

Thankfully, several other options exist to install the feature update.

Option 1: the Windows 11 Installation Assistant

What is it? The Windows 11 Installation Assistant is a free Microsoft program to upgrade the operating system to a new version.

• Download the Windows 11 Installation Assistant from the Microsoft website.
• Run the downloaded Windows11InstallationAssistant.exe file.
• Select “yes” when the security prompt (UAC) is displyed.
• Accept the terms.
• The new version of Windows is downloaded.
• Follow the on-screen instructions to upgrade the system.

Option 2: Using the latest Windows 11 ISO

What is it? A disk image holds the installation files for the operating system.

1. Open the Microsoft Windows 11 download website.
2. Scroll down to “Download Windows 11 Disk Image (ISO) for x64 devices”.
3. Select Windows 11 (multi-edition ISO for x64 devices) from the menu.
4. Activate the “Download Now” button.
5. Select the desired language of the installation (you can change it later, if you make an error).
6. Click on the 64-bit Download button.
7. Use the save file dialog to save the ISO image to the local system.
8. Right-click on the downloaded ISO image and select Mount from the context menu.
9. Accept the request prompt to open the image on the device.
10. Double-click on the setup.exe file to start the upgrade.

Note: the download link is valid for 24 hours. You also need to make sure that you choose to keep files and installed apps during installation.

There are other options, but not all are recommended for all users. You could download the Windows 11 ISO from another source, for example. This is only recommended if you trust the source.

Another option is provided by the open source tool Rufus. You may use it to download the latest Windows 11 ISO, mount it and run the installer. You may also burn the ISO to disc or copy it to a USB Flash drive instead.

Do you plan to install the new feature update, or have done so already? Feel free to write a comment down below.

Microsoft has confirmed a reboot issue that is affecting Windows 11 version 23H2. The company says that it is investigating issues that are causing multiple restarts or blue / green screens after installation of the latest update for Windows 11.

The update in question is KB5043145, which Microsoft released as an optional update for the operating system some says ago.

Affected devices reboot the system multiple times. Some may trigger automatic repair in an effort to repair the issue that is preventing the start of the Windows 11 operating system.

In other cases, users may get into the BitLocker recovery screen where they may need to enter the key to proceed.

Good to know: Microsoft plans to encrypt drives automatically with BitLocker.

Not the first time

If you follow Windows 11 news, you may remember that Microsoft confirmed a very similar issue back in July.

Back then, Microsoft confirmed that devices might boot into BitLocker recovery after installation of the — then — latest update for Windows 11.

Microsoft resolved the issue in August 2024. It is unclear if the issue is identical or related to the September 2024 issue that Microsoft confirmed this week.

Closing Words

The bulk of Windows 11 users are not affected by the new issue, as it is triggered by the optional update that Microsoft released in September 2024 for the operating system.

Microsoft has about two weeks left to address and fix the issue before the next cumulative update gets released. If Microsoft fails to to so, it will impact more users.

The next Patch Tuesday updates will be released on October 9, 2024 for Windows 11 version 23H2 and other supported systems.

The issue highlights again why most users may want to ignore the optional — beta — updates that Microsoft releases at the end of each month. These may introduce issues and bugs. If you do not want beta updates, do not install them and wait for the inclusion less than three weeks later as part of the cumulative security updates.

What is your take on optional updates? Do you install them or skip them? Feel free to leave a comment down below.

Turning Bluetooth off for two hours, enabling Dark Mode at eight in the evening, or setting the volume to 0 percent in the morning. These are all examples what a new PowerToys tool might offer in the future.

The main idea is simple: let users create schedules for certain system settings. Besides what is been mentioned already, the new feature may support Wi-Fi or keeping the screen turned on for a specific amount of time.

Windows itself offers limited functionality when it comes to automating features. One of the very few options lets users activate Night mode on schedule so that Dark Mode is enabled at a specific time.

Administrators may use the Task Scheduler for certain jobs, but this is an advanced tool and not user friendly.

What is PowerToys? PowerToys is a collection of tools that expand Windows. It adds dozens of tools to Windows. The program is optional and while it does add a ton of tools to Windows, some dislike it because of its size.

Settings Scheduler Tool

Settings Scheduler is not yet available, but it has been announced as an idea on the PowerToys GitHub repository.

There, it has been described in the following way:

A simple utility for scheduling a setting for a set time or duration. The utility would have a few options for different settings then the option to change them based on a timer or based on a specific schedule.

While it seems likely that Settings Scheduler is going to be integrated into PowerToys, there is no guarantee for that at this stage.

Who is the tool for? The answer depends largely on the functionality that it will ship with initially. It could be an interesting tool for users who would like to automate certain processes.

The real question is, would you use it if it meant that you would likely have to run PowerToys on system start (assuming that the scheduled tasks are not added to the Task Scheduler)? Feel free to leave a comment down below. Also, whether you use PowerToys. (via Neowin)

DISM-GUI is a free app for Windows 10 and 11 that gives you access to various commands to check and repair Windows.

Good to know: DISM stands for Deployment Image Servicing and Management. It is a command line tool that, among other features, may be used to find and repair Windows issues related to missing or changed operating system files.

The free app makes the functionality more accessible. You still need to know the basics, as the program lacks documentation. The program interface consists of buttons that run the selected commands in a command prompt window.

It includes all popular options, including cleanup, which frees up storage space by removing overhead from the component store, and restore, which attempts to repair the Windows system.

Tip: check out Super God Mode as well. It creates shortcuts to more than a thousand admin tools and settings on Windows.

Here is a quick overview:

• Check (CheckHealth) – The command checks for corruptions inside the Windows image.
• Scan (ScanHealth) – The command runs a more thorough scan.
• Restore (RestoreHealth) – Searches for errors and attempts to repair them.
  • Online – check using the local image.
  • Wim – use an ISO image or an unpacked ISO image for the repair.
  • ESD – use an ESD image.
• Analyze ( AnalyzeComponentStore) – Checks the component store for overhead.
• Cleanup (StartComponentCleanup) – Cleans up the component store to free up disk space.

DISM-GUI supports several non-DISM commands next to that:

• SFC Scan — Runs the command sfc /scannow.
• CAB Install — Install a CAB update on the system.
• ESD > WIM — Convert an ESD file to a WIM file.
• Get State — Returns the state of Reserved Storage.
• Enable / Disable — Enable or disable Reserved Storage.

Note: Windows reserves storage on the primary partition for “proper performance” and updates.

Commands are executed in a command prompt window in the background.

You can download DISM-Gui over at Deskmodder.

Verdict

DISM-Gui is a useful helper app for Windows 10 and 11. It is especially useful for admins who use the commands regularly and for inexperienced users who need to run the commands.

All in all, it is a useful free app for Windows administrators.

Will it disallow access to the Windows kernel by security products? Not right now, but the path could lead there.

Microsoft held a security conference earlier this week at its Redmond headquarters. It invited business partners, especially those in the security field, to participate.

The hot topic during the conference was the Crowdstrike disaster that took down more than 8.5 million PCs worldwide. More precisely, how to avoid a repeat of it in the years to come.

David Weston, Vice President Enterprise and OS Security at Microsoft, published a summary of the event on the Microsoft Windows blog.

The main short-term takeaways:

• Microsoft and security vendors agree that choice is good when it comes to security products for Windows.
• A list of best practices for developing and distributing security updates will be created based on discussing Safe Deployment Practices.
• Other areas of improvement include testing, information sharing, and improved incident response effectiveness.

For the long-term, Microsoft plans to introduce new security capabilities to the Windows platform to add “security capabilities outside of kernel mode”.

Microsoft will design and develop the new platform in collaboration with “ecosystem partners”. The goal is “enhanced reliability without sacrificing security” according to Microsoft.

The blog post ends with several partner quotes and how everyone appreciated the opportunity to discuss security. Reading between the lines, several expressed concern that security could suffer, especially if kernel access would be revoked.

Closing Words

It will take some time before changes, even the discussed short-term changes, are applied. While Microsoft said nothing about pushing security products out of the kernel on Windows, some are worried already that Microsoft could create a solution that benefits its own products over everyone else’s.

Called it. Regulators need to be paying attention. A world where only Microsoft can provide effective endpoint security is not a more secure world. pic.twitter.com/PR2AnJwpZi

— Matthew Prince 🌥 (@eastdakota) August 23, 2024

It would not be the first time in the history of Windows.

What is your take on this development? It should be clear that something needed to be done to avoid another scenario that would cause millions of PCs to go down in flames. Are the proposed changes the right way?