Steve Thomas - IT Consultant

Microsoft’s most recent Windows 11 update introduced a number of changes, and one that’s caught some users by surprise is the addition of a noticeable black border around currently selected files and folders in File Explorer.

The change was highlighted by Windows Latest, who pointed out that it appears in File Explorer’s light mode, and it was so jarring to some users that they reported it to Microsoft as a bug in the cumulative update for July 2024 (KB5040442).

Windows Latest reached out to Microsoft to check if this was a glitch, or if it was a deliberate move, and the company has responded to clarify that it isn’t a bug, but an intentional change to improve user accessibility. In other words, the idea is to make it easier and clearer to see whatever is currently selected in File Explorer.

For those who aren’t so keen on this tweak to the interface, Microsoft did follow up to say that Windows 11 users can always submit feedback on the matter via the Feedback Hub.

A screenshot of the updated File Explorer, showing the new black border upon file selection

(Image credit: Microsoft/Windows Latest)

A choice is good, as always...

Personally, I agree that this design change looks a little odd compared to the rest of Windows 11’s user interface. Before, selected files and folders were accented with a blue border, which many people (myself included) preferred. Making it black does increase the contrast and make your selection in File Explorer more noticeable, and that might well be useful on the accessibility front - but surely it’d make sense to have this as an optional change. Then, if you do find it jarring, you can turn it off, but if the black highlighting benefits you, then all well and good. 

Maybe further down the line we’ll see Microsoft introduce a toggle to adjust the option in the Settings app. Perhaps we could even get a toggle to turn off some of the adverts that are increasingly appearing in Windows 11, too (not likely).

Note that the cumulative update for July comes laden with some significant issues, including an unexpected BitLocker recovery screen appearing and worrying Windows 11 users. 

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Windows 11 users, watch out – a new Netflix app has arrived for the OS (as was previously promised), but sadly it isn’t a step forward for those who enjoy watching the streaming service on their PC.

Windows Latest noticed that the rejigged Netflix app is now available for download via the Microsoft Store, but it’s a downgrade in many ways.

For starters, instead of a proper app, it’s now simply a web wrapper – in other words, it just fires up the Netflix.com site in a standalone Edge container. So, you’re basically running the website (in Edge) in what looks like an app window.

The second major blow to be delivered with the new app for Windows 11 is that Netflix no longer offers the option to download content. That ability allowed you to watch your favorite shows later, when offline, but you can forget about that now.


Analysis: All in the name of consistency, apparently

The download ability was one of the major strengths of the Netflix app, and as you can imagine, it’s regarded as a big loss. What doesn’t help is that the app itself feels very barebones and indeed as Windows Latest points out, it’s shoddily put together. Right-clicking anywhere in the new Netflix app lets you access the menu to open a link in a new Edge tab, so it’s painfully transparent that this is all running in a web wrapper.

On Netflix’s part, the firm has previously said that the new app is designed for a “consistent, quality experience” and that the “new version will now include access to live events, compatibility with ad-supported plans, and more.” Well, if consistency is the key aim, why remove the feature to download and watch offline which is present on the Netflix mobile apps?

As you can guess, most of the feedback online has been pretty (consistently, ahem) negative. And if you were hoping to avoid the new app, and just stick with the old Netflix client complete with its download functionality – well, eventually the old app is going to stop working. In other words, you’ll be forced to update soon enough.

All in all, this is a bit of a mystifying one, particularly given the apparently shoddy implementation of the web wrapper here, which feels rushed through to say the least.

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Microsoft has reportedly added a new full-screen pop-up that’s effectively an advert (or as the company puts it, a ‘recommendation’) urging Windows 11 users to back up their PC with OneDrive, its cloud storage service. We’ve seen a similar full-screen nag panel that pushed Windows 11 users to switch to Edge, Microsoft’s default browser for Windows devices, and Microsoft 365 in the recent past.

Windows Latest observed that this new full-screen promo appeared following a Windows update, after restarting the PC to complete the update. As mentioned, the pop-up attempts to get you to use OneDrive, and looks like the out-of-box-experience for Windows 11 (the process when you first set up the OS on a PC). So, it’s quite jarring in that respect.

Windows Latest provided a screenshot of the pop-up, which is entitled ‘Let’s back up your files,’ and it talks about having “peace of mind” knowing that your files and folders are backed up in the cloud, in the event that something happens to your PC.

This is followed by a list of reasons that opting in for OneDrive will be beneficial for Windows 11 users, which runs as follows:

  • Protect a lifetime of memories: Your files and photos will stay secured with OneDrive cloud storage.
  • Easily collaborate with friends and family: Share files and seamlessly edit together so you’re all on the same page.
  • All your information, when and where you need it: Your documents, desktop, and pictures folders will back up to OneDrive, so they’re available everywhere.
  • File changes automatically update: Files automatically sync in the background, so you always have the latest version on your PC.

At the bottom of the notification screen, there are two options: ‘Next’ which takes you through to OneDrive setup, and ‘Skip for now’ to opt out (at least temporarily).

If you press Next, you’ll be taken to the Windows Backup app and the syncing of your files to your Microsoft Account’s OneDrive storage locker will start automatically. If you’re not aware, OneDrive is a subscription-based cloud storage service, though you do get 5GB for free. That won’t go very far for the vast majority of users, though, so they’ll be looking at paying to increase the basic amount of storage.

If you don’t want to go through this process, you can click Skip for now to continue to your desktop. As the option suggests, this probably won’t dismiss the notification permanently and you can expect it to reappear at some point in the future. Windows Latest reports that if you skip this pop-up, you may also get another notification (in the notifications center, on the right side of the desktop) that warns you about your PC not being fully backed up. 

Microsoft OneDrive website under a magnifying glass. Microsoft OneDrive is a file hosting service.

(Image credit: IB Photography via Shutterstock)

Evaluating your options

Suppose the notification does persuade you to use OneDrive (and you probably decide to subscribe and buy some more storage space). In fairness, if this is the case, OneDrive is actually a pretty solid cloud storage service - you can check out our full review for more details. OneDrive along with Windows Backup enables you to sync files pretty smoothly and seamlessly, and to restore your old device’s settings and contents to a new Windows device or a clean Windows installation.

If you’re not going to take up Microsoft’s offer, and you don’t want to see this OneDrive notification again, well - you’re probably out of luck. Odds are you will see the pop-up in the future - though we can but hope Microsoft changes its tune. As Windows Latest noted, it’s not possible to dispense with these pop-ups if you live outside of the EU.

It’s easy enough to guess that moves like this are only going to add to the growing frustration with Microsoft’s persistent advertising in Windows 11. Sadly, that isn’t likely to make much difference to the software giant’s tactics in the foreseeable future - not unless people start turning away from Windows in meaningful numbers.

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Microsoft has just released a new Windows 11 test build in the Release Preview channel, the final stage of testing for preview builds, and this is an exciting - or depressing, in some respects - look at what will eventually be the 24H2 update for the OS.

As you’re likely aware, 24H2 will be the next major update for Windows 11, and possibly the last version of the operating system before the next-gen incarnation arrives (whether that’s Windows 12, or something else entirely). 

Microsoft has published the usual release notes on this new build, which is version 26100.1297 for the Windows 11 24H2 preview. Microsoft clarifies that not all the features will be delivered to all testers straight away - some will, but others will be rolled out gradually. So, if you’re a tester in the Release Preview channel, you’ll have to be patient and wait for some functionality to arrive over time.

Let’s dive into some highlights of the documented changes - for the full list, check out Microsoft’s blog post - all the while bearing in mind that these are features we expect will be part of the 24H2 update later this year. (Although that’s not guaranteed, as Microsoft could still drop things, even at this relatively late stage of development). 

Windows 11 Start menu

(Image credit: TechRadar)

 Changes aplenty from Settings to the Start menu

To kick off, the Settings app is getting a number of changes, including an Xbox Game Pass ‘recommendation card’ on the home page which has been in the works for a while and hasn’t been met very positively. It’s also getting a dedicated ‘Linked devices’ page - to manage any linked hardware with, such as your Xbox, for example - and the ability to add a recovery email address for your Microsoft Account straight from the Settings app.

Windows Share is being revised to prevent accidentally closing its window (by clicking anywhere outside of it), and additional capabilities are being thrown into the mix, such as being able to swiftly generate and share a QR code for a web link.

Windows Backup is also getting beefed up, and will now back up the sound settings of your PC (including the sound scheme). Task Manager is also benefiting from some tweaks to make it more reliable, as well as numerous accessibility improvements (such as bringing in Tab key navigation).

File Explorer has finally been graced with its long-awaited drag-and-drop functionality for the address bar, and the Windows 11 lock screen is getting new widgets. Currently, there’s just a weather widget, but you’ll now get sports, traffic, and finance widgets as part of this update. Sadly, you can’t pick and choose from the new widgets separately - you get them all, or none of them (though Microsoft is working on changing that, we’ve been promised in the past).

Windows 11’s Start menu has also been the subject of some controversy for similar reasons to the Settings app, recently seeing the addition of more of Microsoft’s ‘recommendations’ (which are regarded as ads by some). In this preview build, it’s getting a new account manager that will show you the benefits of your Microsoft Account (or rather, remind you of what you’re lacking, and that you should subscribe to various Microsoft products), as well as allowing you to manage account settings. As we’ve seen before, apparently this account manager feature will obscure a part of the Start menu that offers shortcuts to actions such as signing out of, or locking, your PC.

Finally, it’s worth noting that the new take on 24H2 adds the PC Manager app to Windows 11 PCs in China - so, will this come to other regions eventually? It’s a PC file and storage management tool with performance tuning abilities, but it has been a vehicle for more Microsoft adverts in the past - even hilariously suggesting one viable system 'repair' was to change your default search engine back to Bing.

Unhappy millennial male employee work online on laptop at home office frustrated by gadget error or mistake. Angry young Caucasian man stressed with computer operational problem or breakdown.

(Image credit: Shutterstock / fizkes)

A rough ride in store for Microsoft?

If a lot of these features and changes sound familiar to you, that’s because most of them have already been aired and tested previously in earlier preview channels. (Canary, Dev, and Beta all come before the Release Preview channel, which is the final stage of testing before the finished version is deployed).

There’s good and bad here, certainly. However, Microsoft might be in for a particularly rough ride when people see that there are a few ad-related features apparently marching on through to 24H2 - which is on course for release later this year (though perhaps not quite as early as we thought) - as many people are already frustrated with Microsoft’s continued, persistent, jamming in of adverts in key parts of Windows 11.

Frankly, I think there’ll have to be some serious improvements with performance and features elsewhere to help Windows 11 users look past Microsoft’s continued badgering with adverts. Microsoft seems pretty confident that it has enough goodwill with its customers, or maybe that its adverts won’t be especially bothersome or distracting, but I’m curious to see how the features delivered in this update will be received - and the reception the additional ‘recommendations’ will get in particular.

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Windows 11 users could be treated to a range of minor (but useful!) tweaks which have been spotted in recent preview builds, including some nifty taskbar-related changes. 

One notable change introduced with the latest preview of Windows 11 in the Beta channel (build 22635) is a taskbar tweak that means a jump list appears when you hover over an icon on the bar. This list pops up to allow you to access features in the app with a quick click - so for example, with the Snipping Tool, you can click to take a screenshot there and then.

Right now in Windows 11, to get these options you have to right-click the app icon on the taskbar (so having this work with just a hover is an extra bit of convenience, saving you an extra click).

Another new introduction spotted in this Beta build pertains to the ‘Continue from phone’ feature which has previously been spotted in testing with Windows 11. As the name suggests, it’ll offer some kind of functionality to allow you to continue a task from your Android phone on your PC. We don’t know how it’ll work yet - or how it will relate to the existing Phone Link feature in Windows 11 - because the ‘Continue from phone’ feature doesn’t do anything at all right now (later in testing it will, no doubt).

The fresh change here, first spotted by leaker PhantomOfEarth on X in the Start menu, is the addition of an option to have the ‘Continue from phone’ icon present itself on the taskbar when a ‘hand off’ is available (presumably meaning the ability to transfer something you’re doing on your smartphone to the Windows 11 desktop). In the new Beta build, you can turn this ability on or off under Settings (in Personalization > Taskbar).

Other useful tweaks for better mousing and more

Elsewhere in another preview version of Windows 11, build 26257 in the Canary channel, an option to duplicate a tab has been added to File Explorer in the right-click menu for the tab.

There’s also a smart tweak for the mouse scroll wheel - the ability to change the scrolling direction (so when you roll the wheel towards you, the page will move up, instead of down - you can have it either way, basically). It’s also possible to turn off ‘enhanced mouse pointer precision’ to boot, if you don’t like that functionality.

If you want to try these features out, you’ll need to join the Windows Insider Program as a tester. Otherwise, you’ll need to wait for them to make their way through the various test versions of Windows 11, until they get to public release.

There’s always a chance that features in testing could be pulled by Microsoft, but hopefully, the taskbar-related tweaks in particular will be available to all Windows 11 users soon. Windows Latest believes that they’ll roll out to everyone as part of the Windows 11 24H2 update. 

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A new bug is affecting some Windows 11 and Windows 10 users, and it’s been caused by the July cumulative update from Microsoft.

It’s an odd one, too, and what’s happening is that the BitLocker recovery screen is being presented to some users after booting up their devices, which must come as a bit of a nasty shock to those affected.

According to Windows Central, multiple versions of Windows 11 are affected by the issue, including Windows 11 versions 23H2, 22H2, and 21H2, and also Windows 10 versions 22H2 and 21H2, among others.

The monthly cumulative updates delivered by Microsoft - known as ‘Patch Tuesday’ updates, as they arrive on the second Tuesday of every month - impart quality-of-life improvements and security fixes for Windows 10 and Windows 11. And, of course, bugs on occasion - as with this July offering.

BitLocker is a tool that offers drive encryption to keep your data safe and secure. It can be configured on Windows 11 Pro (or business and education versions of the OS), but Windows 11 Home doesn’t have BitLocker support - it does, however, offer a Device Encryption option (a lightweight alternative, basically).

As a result, we obviously wouldn’t expect Windows 11 Home users to be affected by this bug, but those of you out there running Windows 11 Pro may need to be watchful when applying the July update.

Encrypting

(Image credit: Microsoft)

Microsoft is looking into the bug, but what can be done in the meantime?

Microsoft is aware of this issue and has updated the Windows 11 release health dashboard with details regarding the glitch. The software giant advises that the bug is more likely to happen if you have Device Encryption enabled as well as BitLocker turned on. You can find this option in the Settings app, by going to the Privacy & Security section, and clicking on Device Encryption. If Device Encryption doesn’t appear for you, then it may not be available on your device. 

In any case, after applying the July update, if you are met with the buggy BitLocker recovery screen (when you’re not expecting to see it), there’s currently an available workaround - namely entering a BitLocker recovery key. This key is available through your Microsoft Account, and it can be retrieved by logging into Microsoft’s recovery screen portal. After you enter the recovery key, your PC should continue to boot up as normal. 

Unfortunately, this is currently the only known workaround for the issue, but Microsoft is on the case and says it’s investigating the bug, so hopefully a fix will follow in short order. If Microsoft can find the time while still helping to firefight the big CrowdStrike outage, that is.

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Facing a Windows startup problem can be alarming, but there’s no need to panic. This blog provides step-by-step solutions to common boot issues, guiding you through each process to restore your PC to working order.

Check the power supply and monitor

Before resorting to more technical solutions, it’s essential to rule out any basic causes for why the PC won’t turn on. Make sure your computer is plugged in and that the power outlet is functioning correctly. If you’re using a desktop, ensure that the power button on the CPU is turned on. If you’re using a laptop and it’s not turning on, try removing the battery and plugging in the charger directly to see if that resolves the issue.

Additionally, if your PC appears to be booting up but the screen remains black, the issue could be with your monitor. Check that the monitor is properly connected to the computer and turned on. If you have a spare monitor, test it with your PC to rule out display issues.

Rule out problematic devices

Sometimes, a non-booting Windows PC can be caused by a faulty peripheral device, such as a USB drive, printer, or external hard drive. This is usually because the device is attempting to boot alongside the computer and causing a conflict. To rule out this possibility, disconnect all unnecessary devices from your PC and try booting it again. Then, if your PC successfully starts up, you can reconnect the devices one by one to determine which one was causing the issue.

Enable Safe Mode

Safe Mode is a stripped down version of Windows that’s used to troubleshoot and fix various system issues. If you’re able to boot the computer into Safe Mode, the underlying issue may be with a recently installed program, driver, or update.

To access Safe Mode, restart your computer and repeatedly press the F8 key to enter the Advanced Boot Options menu. Note that the button to enter Safe Mode may vary depending on your computer’s manufacturer, so try F5, F11, or even the Esc key if F8 doesn’t work.

Once you’ve entered Safe Mode, you can uninstall any recently installed software or driver and then restart your computer to see if the issue is resolved.

Run the Startup Repair tool

Windows 11 features a Startup Repair tool that can automatically diagnose and troubleshoot boot issues. To access this tool, follow these steps:

    1. Hold the power button down and force your PC to shutdown two to three times. This will trigger the Windows 11 Automatic Repair mode.
    2. Click on Advanced options and then choose Troubleshoot.
    3. In the troubleshoot menu, go to Advanced options and select Startup Repair.
    4. The startup repair tool will provide instructions and automatically attempt to remedy the issue.

Use System Restore

If your PC was working fine before but suddenly stopped booting properly, it could be due to a problematic system update. In this case, using the System Restore feature can roll back your computer to a previous state where it was functioning correctly.

To perform a System Restore, go to the advanced options like before. Go to the System Restore option and select a restore point based on the date and time when your computer was working properly. Note that this method only works if you have previously created a restore point on your PC or if the feature is enabled by default.

Reinstall Windows

If your computer is still not booting after trying all the above methods, it may be necessary to reinstall Windows. Keep in mind that this will erase all data and programs on your PC, so having a backup is essential.

Then, use a Windows installation media (such as a USB or installation disc) to boot your computer and follow the prompts to perform a clean install of Windows. This essentially resets your PC to its factory settings and can often fix boot issues caused by corrupted system files.

Check for hardware problems

If you’ve tried all software solutions and your PC still won’t boot, the problem might be hardware-related. Common hardware issues include failing hard drives, faulty RAM, or a malfunctioning motherboard. Consider running hardware diagnostics tools, which may be available in your PC’s BIOS settings. However, if you’re not comfortable diagnosing and repairing hardware and software issues on your own, talk to a professional technician. They will have the necessary expertise and tools to identify and fix the problem.

Fortunately, when it comes to boot issues, our team has experience tackling a wide range of technical problems and glitches. Contact us for professional support and guidance in troubleshooting and restoring your PC to working order.

When your Windows PC fails to boot, it’s essential to understand the potential causes and how to address them effectively. Boot issues can be caused by corrupted system files, hardware failures, or problematic software updates. Fortunately, there are several troubleshooting methods you can use to pinpoint the root cause and fix the issue.

Check the power supply and monitor

Before resorting to more technical solutions, it’s essential to rule out any basic causes for why the PC won’t turn on. Make sure your computer is plugged in and that the power outlet is functioning correctly. If you’re using a desktop, ensure that the power button on the CPU is turned on. If you’re using a laptop and it’s not turning on, try removing the battery and plugging in the charger directly to see if that resolves the issue.

Additionally, if your PC appears to be booting up but the screen remains black, the issue could be with your monitor. Check that the monitor is properly connected to the computer and turned on. If you have a spare monitor, test it with your PC to rule out display issues.

Rule out problematic devices

Sometimes, a non-booting Windows PC can be caused by a faulty peripheral device, such as a USB drive, printer, or external hard drive. This is usually because the device is attempting to boot alongside the computer and causing a conflict. To rule out this possibility, disconnect all unnecessary devices from your PC and try booting it again. Then, if your PC successfully starts up, you can reconnect the devices one by one to determine which one was causing the issue.

Enable Safe Mode

Safe Mode is a stripped down version of Windows that’s used to troubleshoot and fix various system issues. If you’re able to boot the computer into Safe Mode, the underlying issue may be with a recently installed program, driver, or update.

To access Safe Mode, restart your computer and repeatedly press the F8 key to enter the Advanced Boot Options menu. Note that the button to enter Safe Mode may vary depending on your computer’s manufacturer, so try F5, F11, or even the Esc key if F8 doesn’t work.

Once you’ve entered Safe Mode, you can uninstall any recently installed software or driver and then restart your computer to see if the issue is resolved.

Run the Startup Repair tool

Windows 11 features a Startup Repair tool that can automatically diagnose and troubleshoot boot issues. To access this tool, follow these steps:

    1. Hold the power button down and force your PC to shutdown two to three times. This will trigger the Windows 11 Automatic Repair mode.
    2. Click on Advanced options and then choose Troubleshoot.
    3. In the troubleshoot menu, go to Advanced options and select Startup Repair.
    4. The startup repair tool will provide instructions and automatically attempt to remedy the issue.

Use System Restore

If your PC was working fine before but suddenly stopped booting properly, it could be due to a problematic system update. In this case, using the System Restore feature can roll back your computer to a previous state where it was functioning correctly.

To perform a System Restore, go to the advanced options like before. Go to the System Restore option and select a restore point based on the date and time when your computer was working properly. Note that this method only works if you have previously created a restore point on your PC or if the feature is enabled by default.

Reinstall Windows

If your computer is still not booting after trying all the above methods, it may be necessary to reinstall Windows. Keep in mind that this will erase all data and programs on your PC, so having a backup is essential.

Then, use a Windows installation media (such as a USB or installation disc) to boot your computer and follow the prompts to perform a clean install of Windows. This essentially resets your PC to its factory settings and can often fix boot issues caused by corrupted system files.

Check for hardware problems

If you’ve tried all software solutions and your PC still won’t boot, the problem might be hardware-related. Common hardware issues include failing hard drives, faulty RAM, or a malfunctioning motherboard. Consider running hardware diagnostics tools, which may be available in your PC’s BIOS settings. However, if you’re not comfortable diagnosing and repairing hardware and software issues on your own, talk to a professional technician. They will have the necessary expertise and tools to identify and fix the problem.

Fortunately, when it comes to boot issues, our team has experience tackling a wide range of technical problems and glitches. Contact us for professional support and guidance in troubleshooting and restoring your PC to working order.

Whether it’s due to a hardware or software issue, a Windows PC that refuses to boot can leave you feeling frustrated and unsure of how to fix the problem. But don’t worry! Our troubleshooting guide will walk you through the steps to identify and fix the issue, helping you get your computer back up and running in no time.

Check the power supply and monitor

Before resorting to more technical solutions, it’s essential to rule out any basic causes for why the PC won’t turn on. Make sure your computer is plugged in and that the power outlet is functioning correctly. If you’re using a desktop, ensure that the power button on the CPU is turned on. If you’re using a laptop and it’s not turning on, try removing the battery and plugging in the charger directly to see if that resolves the issue.

Additionally, if your PC appears to be booting up but the screen remains black, the issue could be with your monitor. Check that the monitor is properly connected to the computer and turned on. If you have a spare monitor, test it with your PC to rule out display issues.

Rule out problematic devices

Sometimes, a non-booting Windows PC can be caused by a faulty peripheral device, such as a USB drive, printer, or external hard drive. This is usually because the device is attempting to boot alongside the computer and causing a conflict. To rule out this possibility, disconnect all unnecessary devices from your PC and try booting it again. Then, if your PC successfully starts up, you can reconnect the devices one by one to determine which one was causing the issue.

Enable Safe Mode

Safe Mode is a stripped down version of Windows that’s used to troubleshoot and fix various system issues. If you’re able to boot the computer into Safe Mode, the underlying issue may be with a recently installed program, driver, or update.

To access Safe Mode, restart your computer and repeatedly press the F8 key to enter the Advanced Boot Options menu. Note that the button to enter Safe Mode may vary depending on your computer’s manufacturer, so try F5, F11, or even the Esc key if F8 doesn’t work.

Once you’ve entered Safe Mode, you can uninstall any recently installed software or driver and then restart your computer to see if the issue is resolved.

Run the Startup Repair tool

Windows 11 features a Startup Repair tool that can automatically diagnose and troubleshoot boot issues. To access this tool, follow these steps:

    1. Hold the power button down and force your PC to shutdown two to three times. This will trigger the Windows 11 Automatic Repair mode.
    2. Click on Advanced options and then choose Troubleshoot.
    3. In the troubleshoot menu, go to Advanced options and select Startup Repair.
    4. The startup repair tool will provide instructions and automatically attempt to remedy the issue.

Use System Restore

If your PC was working fine before but suddenly stopped booting properly, it could be due to a problematic system update. In this case, using the System Restore feature can roll back your computer to a previous state where it was functioning correctly.

To perform a System Restore, go to the advanced options like before. Go to the System Restore option and select a restore point based on the date and time when your computer was working properly. Note that this method only works if you have previously created a restore point on your PC or if the feature is enabled by default.

Reinstall Windows

If your computer is still not booting after trying all the above methods, it may be necessary to reinstall Windows. Keep in mind that this will erase all data and programs on your PC, so having a backup is essential.

Then, use a Windows installation media (such as a USB or installation disc) to boot your computer and follow the prompts to perform a clean install of Windows. This essentially resets your PC to its factory settings and can often fix boot issues caused by corrupted system files.

Check for hardware problems

If you’ve tried all software solutions and your PC still won’t boot, the problem might be hardware-related. Common hardware issues include failing hard drives, faulty RAM, or a malfunctioning motherboard. Consider running hardware diagnostics tools, which may be available in your PC’s BIOS settings. However, if you’re not comfortable diagnosing and repairing hardware and software issues on your own, talk to a professional technician. They will have the necessary expertise and tools to identify and fix the problem.

Fortunately, when it comes to boot issues, our team has experience tackling a wide range of technical problems and glitches. Contact us for professional support and guidance in troubleshooting and restoring your PC to working order.

Microsoft has released a new Windows 11 preview (in the Beta testing channel of the Windows Insider Program), and it includes an update for the Microsoft Store that’s caught the attention of some folks.

The latest version of the Microsoft Store that’s available as part of this preview (build 22635) has added a flyout when you search for apps in the store’s search box, as Windows Central noticed.

This flyout will display suggestions for other content (apps, games and the like) you may be interested in, similar to suggestions that are displayed when you open the Microsoft Store which are based on your previous searches. 

At this point, we don’t know if these flyout suggestions will be generated organically from your past search history, or if there will be a sprinkling (or even a helping) of paid advertising added in here.

Given Microsoft’s history of cramming in adverts in various places in Windows 11, which many people are frustrated with and consider heavy-handed, it’s easy to be cynical when considering Microsoft’s motivation behind this fresh development. 

Windows 11 showing Microsoft Store

(Image credit: Shutterstock - Gorodenkoff / Microsoft)

It all 'ads' up to a headache, frankly

This is hardly the first time Microsoft’s offered similar app and product suggestions in parts of Windows 11, and I would hazard a guess that few users want these kinds of nudges. Microsoft calls these additions ‘suggestions’ and ‘recommendations,’ but to a lot of Windows users and observers, they sure look a lot like adverts. 

Just this year alone, we’ve written about ‘recommendations’ in the Start Menu that include promoted apps, alongside further recommendations in the Settings app urging you to get the Xbox Game Pass, not to mention intrusive full-screen notifications and nags. Then there’s ads infiltrating the MSN Weather app, and Microsoft jamming more ads into the Start menu (again).

It’s ad-ception all over Windows 11, in short, and all these moves are likely to annoy and frustrate at least some users, who may be thinking of looking elsewhere at an alternative desktop OS at this point (or maybe a trimmed-down version of Windows 11).

The Microsoft Store already suffers from a low count of users, seemingly lower than Microsoft would like, at any rate - and I doubt sticking ads (sorry, suggestions) in will help remedy that. Although, maybe because of that (relatively) low level of traffic, perhaps this store update won’t result in a significant increase in the overall discontent level of Windows 11 users. Either way, however, this begs the question - why bother doing this in the first place?

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While some computers are starting to get back online after yesterday's massive Windows outage took down numerous critical systems across the world, there's still a lot of troubleshooting to do – and it could be weeks before everything gets back to normal, according to experts.

The collapse was caused by a faulty update made to the Falcon software run in the cloud by a cybersecurity company called CrowdStrike. Falcon is critical to the protection of numerous IT platforms, and – importantly – the Windows operating system. When the bug reached Windows computers, it caused blue screens of death across the world.

IT departments, as well as engineers from CrowdStrike and Microsoft, are scrambling to get everything working again. The one bit of good news is that the problem has been identified, and a fix is rolling out – there's no suggestion of any hacking taking place, so your Windows systems are protected. They just might not turn on.

"The fix will have to be applied to many computers around the world," Adam Leon Smith of the British Computer Society (BCS), the Chartered Institute for IT, told Sky News. "So if computers are getting blue screens and endless loops, it could be more difficult and take days and weeks."

Other experts are calling the huge disruption a warning that changes need to be made. "This is a very, very uncomfortable illustration of the fragility of the world's core internet infrastructure," Ciaran Martin, the former chief executive of Britain’s National Cyber Security Center and a professor at the Blavatnik School of Government at Oxford University, told the New York Times.

What is still being affected?

The knock-on effects of the CrowdStrike bug are being felt all over the world. While critical systems affecting transport, health, e-commerce and other infrastructure are now largely functioning again, the backlog from yesterday still needs to be cleared. You might well notice more problems as we go through the rest of the week.

If you're flying today or tomorrow, airports are advising customers to check with their airline for the latest information – it's possible that your flight has been moved around – and the same goes for other booked transport routes, with tens of thousands of passengers still not where they want to be. You might find that the gig you missed due to the outage has been rescheduled too.

The NHS in England is telling patients to keep their scheduled appointments unless they're told otherwise. Over in the US, several 911 networks were affected by the computer problems, though these are now mostly back online. While the picture is certainly getting better, we've still got a long way to get back to normal.

In the meantime, authorities are warning users to be on their guard against scams linked to the CrowdStrike outage. Be suspicious of any emails purporting to come from CrowdStrike, Microsoft, or any other IT support source that you're not familiar with. Keep an eye on official sources of information, like CrowdStrike's social media channels, and trustworthy publishers (like TechRadar).

How do I fix the CrowdStrike bug?

If you've found your own Windows PC affected by the CrowdStrike bug, it most likely won't be able to boot up. As The Verge reports, some users are finding repeated reboots eventually solves the problem – Windows eventually snags the updated files which allows the computer to start up (connecting your PC directly to your router can help).

Windows should load up the Windows Recovery Environment if your computer won't start, and from there you do have the option to roll back the most recent update to your machine: Microsoft has instructions for this here. If you don't see the Windows Recovery Environment, try pressing F11 as your system starts up.

Windows Recovery Environment

The Windows Recovery Environment (Image credit: Microsoft)

Another option is to head into Safe Mode: from the Windows Recovery Environment interface, choose Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > Advanced Startup Options > Startup Settings > Restart. Pick 4 to go into Windows Safe Mode.

Safe Mode runs Windows in a stripped-down state, so don't be surprised if your PC is a lot slower than normal. In File Explorer, head to C:\Windows\System32\drivers\CrowdStrike, and delete any files matching “C-00000291*.sys”. Restart your computer in the normal way, from the Start menu, and you should be back up and running. 

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Windows 11 has witnessed the introduction of yet another piece of nagging designed to drive the use of another Microsoft service – but as always, this is in danger of having the opposite effect.

Windows Latest flagged up a fresh move regarding Microsoft’s promotional activity: a pop-up to push the Windows Backup app (which was introduced to Windows 11 and 10 last year).

Windows Backup does what the name suggests, providing a client to handle backing up the files on your PC, and it leverages OneDrive, Microsoft’s cloud storage locker, to do so.

Windows Latest was treated to a nag, which appeared as a notification (in the right-hand side notifications panel, on the desktop) pushing the Windows Backup app. It informed the tech site: “Your PC is not fully backed up. Backup is not turned on for Credentials and Folders. Back up now to save them if something happens to your PC.”

As the site notes, this is apparently being implemented via a server-side update (so it could automatically come to your Windows 11 machine at any time – though we’d hope it’s only showing for those who aren’t using the backup app already, of course).

The notification gives you the option to dismiss it or elect to ‘Back up now’ – choose the latter, and Windows Backup kicks into life and starts syncing your files with OneDrive (as well as backing up system settings, apps, and your whole PC, essentially).

Windows Backup is designed for consumers and works for those logged in to a personal Microsoft Account in Windows.

As Microsoft made Windows Backup a system app, it’s on all Windows PCs by default, which has been controversial for the likes of business computers which won’t use the app – they still can’t remove it, even though it’s for consumers only as mentioned.


Angry business man screaming on laptop

(Image credit: Shutterstock / ra2 studio)

Analysis: Promo center, please...

There are a couple of issues here. Firstly, more nagging, Microsoft – really? We’re getting a bit tired of this, and while every little pop-up might seem a small move in itself, they all add up to a fatiguing experience in the wider Windows experience.

Here’s an idea – a ‘promo center’ in Windows 11, a part of the interface you can visit that highlights all the features and capabilities you might be missing that aren’t turned on yet (like the Windows Backup app). You can visit here if you’re genuinely curious to see how you might improve your Windows installation via Microsoft’s other services, and all this kind of messaging is confined here – and doesn’t appear unwanted in everyday use of the OS, when it officially becomes ‘nagging’ as it were.

Depressingly, this will never happen, but hey, we can but hope.

The other issue is that many people with a OneDrive account will have the basic free allocation of 5GB of storage space. That’s not going to go very far towards backing up the contents of an entire PC. So you’ll have to fork out for more space via a OneDrive subscription – which is clearly what Microsoft is driving at with this new initiative.

At the same time, it is a great idea to have your PC backed up in this way – or in some way, ensure you have some kind of backup system in place – and there’s nothing wrong with OneDrive, either. It’s just the way Microsoft has gone about things here, which is off-putting and, as we noted at the outset, is perhaps more likely to persuade folks not to use OneDrive out of principle and seek out another cloud backup service instead.

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