Recent Discussions
Why keep personal files and apps option greyed out during windows 11 upgrade?
I heard it is totally possible keep all files and apps when upgrading to Windows 11 from Windows 10. However, when I tried to do this, the option keeps and apps greyed out and I can't choose it all. Only the 'Keep personal files only' and 'Nothing' option are available. I don't want to reinstall apps and lost my files during Windows 11 upgrade. Is there any way to fix this easily?
24H2 bricked two of our PCs？
One of my clients runs roughly 30 PCs. Asus Prime Z790-P 1666 with RTX 3060 and i7-13700. Two of them already installed 24H2 and are now unusable. Split second bluescreens (a critical process has died), explorer, task manager crashing with RAM errors and so on. Sometimes it won’t boot at the first try because Windows encountered an error. Not sure what is causing the issue yet, updated BIOS, Chipset, Graphics driver but the problem persists. Tried to uninstall the update on one PC by rolling back. That unfortunately also did not went through and stopped with an error (and now all it boots to an empty windows. Windows.old is still there). This is not really an ask for help, just a heads up. Pausing Windows Updates for 4 weeks so 24H2 does not auto install, seems like a good idea.How can I recover files from a formatted hard drive?
Hello, I recently encountered a problem. My hard drive was accidentally formatted. There are many important files in it. I urgently need to find a way to recover files from a formatted hard drive. I have tried some recovery software before, but the effect is not very good. Many files are not found, or they become garbled after recovery. Has anyone encountered a similar situation? Can you share some reliable recovery methods? I mainly want to recover files such as documents and photos. If there is a recommended tool, it is best to support Mac and Windows and be simple to operate. I hope everyone can provide some experience or effective tools, thank you!
Finding reliable data recovery tools for Windows
Hello everyone, I want to find at least 2 reliable data recovery tools for Windows to recover all files in the disk image (excluding the Windows File Recovery from Microsoft), then hopefully you can compare the effectiveness of the tools and the ease of use. Thank you very much.How to Downgrading from W7 to W11?
So I said I would never move to W10 and have not, even though I have had to use it at work. Similarly was not keen on W11 either, although I have not used it yet but will see what its like when work finally force me onto it. I was going to stay with W7 as long as possible, have changed email client, looked in depth at debloated/secure browsers and have good security, browsing habits and opspec. But I will need to move to W7 as software I use (more than one, but workarounds running out) will not run on W7 anymore. So W11 it will be, had said Linux, but that is not going to work either.
Can Not Upgrade my computer to Win 11
I have an ASUS ROG gaming laptop. It's 3 years old and it apparently has the specs to be able to run Win 11. It has a 10th generation i7 CPU, 16 gig ram memory, 2070 nVidia video chip, 500 gig SSD and a 2 TB drive that I removed. I tried to upgrade from the (upgrade and security) area. It failed. I went to the MS site and tried to create a USB boot disk and could not. After finding out that the second SSD drive I installed was handing things up I removed it. Then I found there wasn't enough available storage space on the C drive. I removed programs. I checked and updated drivers and on and on. This is the last failure message I got. "We couldn't install Windows 11, we've set your PC back to the way it was right before you started installing Win 11, 0xC1900101 - 0x30018 (apparently a driver error message). The installation failed on the FIRST_BOOT phase with an error during SYSREP_SPECIALIZE operation." Thats the message. I feel that I am competent at doing computer stuff and I have never had a problem when upgrading all types of computers over the last 40 years. Dealing with DOS 3.0 was easier than this. I am now at the point of just going out and buying a new computer so I can play the PC games that I review for a web site. Please help because I would like to salvage this PC If possible. Thank you. "Message
Windows 11 24H2 (Build 26100.6899) (KB5066835) — Apps freeze when accessing camera or microphone
Windows 11 24H2 (Build 26100.6899) (KB5066835) — Apps freeze when accessing camera or microphone After installing the update 2025-10 Cumulative Update for Windows 11 Version 24H2 for x64-based Systems (KB5066835) (26100.6899), multiple applications as well as the Settings app experience freezes or crashes seemingly whenever Windows attempts to enumerate audio/video devices or query app permissions. Even just opening the Google login page in Brave or Chrome freezes the browser, for example. (Interestingly, Edge does not freeze on the same page.) The issue appears to originate in the Capability Access Manager Service (camsvc), which deadlocks when handling capability access requests. How to reproduce Install Windows 11 Version 24H2 Build 26100.6899 with KB5066835. Open Settings → Privacy & security → App permissions → Camera (or Location or Microphone or pretty much any other page). → The Settings app immediately freezes. Launch any application that requests camera or microphone access (e.g., Brave, Chrome, Slack). → The app freezes or crashes. Note: Edge shows no camera or microphone devices but does not crash. Observed result The Settings app becomes unresponsive on any App permissions page. Many applications that attempt to access the camera or microphone (or presumably any device or service that queries app permissions) freeze or crash. Chrome and Brave freeze on login pages requiring Google account access (presumably camera/microphone enumeration triggers the freeze). Edge simply reports no devices found. Expected result Duh. Applications and the Settings app should enumerate camera and microphone devices normally without freezing or crashing. Workaround Disabling the Capability Access Manager Service (camsvc) via the registry or Services.msc (and stopping the service or rebooting) restores system stability and prevents all freezes and crashes: reg add "HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\camsvc" /v Start /t REG_DWORD /d 4 /f reg add "HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\camsvc" /v DelayedAutoStart /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f However: Applications cannot access the camera or microphone. All App permissions pages in Settings remain non-functional. Attempted troubleshooting Ran full DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image check & repair sequence followed by SFC /SCANNOW. → No effect. Issue persists across reboots. Problem (kind of) resolves only when Capability Access Manager Service (camsvc) is not running. Extensive chatting with GPT-5 in ChatGPT. Despite some hallucination, my AI buddy has been quite helpful. My system details Edition: Windows 11 Pro 24H2 Build: 26100.6899 Installed update: KB5066835 Other updates installed at the same time: KB5066131 (.NET 3.5/4.8.1), KB5068331 (.NET 8.0.21) Summary This appears to be a regression in KB5066835 affecting the Capability Access Manager subsystem. It causes deadlocks whenever capability enumeration APIs are invoked. Disabling the service stabilizes the system but at the cost of access to devices and services. A hotfix or updated cumulative patch is needed to restore normal functionality.
Warning! new Win11 PC OneDrive problem
Just bought a new (Windows 11 Home) Microsoft Surface Pro 12. I needed to set it up as a new computer, not transferring from another machine (the old one was a very old Surface and the settings, etc. would not have been compatible). When I signed in to my Microsoft account to complete setup, Windows located our (cloud) OneDrive folders and set them up as the default Documents folder. This is not OK because we only use OneDrive to occasionally back up some files- all working files are stored on the local drive. I placed all my files in C/users/documents, but couldn't get Windows to recognize that as Documents folder. I tried to work around by renaming folders, but after restart everything was completely screwed up and not usable- so don't try that! I had to do a clean full reinstall, start over from scratch, and immediately removed the OneDrive app, went to Settings/ Accounts/ Windows Backup and make sure it was set to NOT backup to OneDrive. But still could not get Documents to reference the right location (the Properties/ Location tab was still not available). Ended up having to edit the registry key HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders. I replaced all OneDrive references with the desired folders. It worked. All this took hours of my life, after spending $1000 on a nice new computer. Not happy! But at least it's OK now.
Win11 - Unexplained password failure into bitlocker key mismatch
Hi, I bought a brand new Windows 11 laptop last month, and have been using it fine until today. Even this morning it was working fine, and I then closed the lid to have lunch before returning to it, and my password was no longer correct, apparently. I can't see how anything would have changed in the hour or so between usages I tried several times to make sure of no spelling mistakes, including checking it with the 'show password' tool but each was incurrect and bitlocker has now locked me out, prompting me to enter the recovery key. Upon signing into my microsoft account, I find and enter the only recovery key listed there for my device. I am met with a "failed to unlock with this recovery key" error message, and the key's ID does not match the ID on the computer screen. Why would my password have stopped working after just a month, and where can I find the correct recovery key? If I google the error message, I just get told to press the 'skip this drive' button, which does not exist at all on the screen my computer loads to. Is there a way to find this button? I have had two windows 11 laptops get locked by bitlocker for no discernable reason this year, and I am very disappointed.My PC keeps getting windows 11 update error 0x8024a205
It is a Dell XPS laptop and is enrolled in Windows Insider Preview program. It keeps getting this error when installing the update: Windows 11, version 24H2 Insider Preview error code - 0x8024a205 I've already restarted my computer several times, and I’ve made sure my internet connection is stable, but the update still fails to install. I searched online and found that this might be related to Windows Update components or some system corruption, but I’m not exactly sure how to fix it. If anyone has dealt with Windows 11 update error 0x8024a205 before, could you share the steps or tools that worked for you?How do I disable the keyboard shortcut for hiding the taskbar?
Hello, it seems that during a recent update, a function was added to Windows 11 for hiding the taskbar via a keyboard shortcut [Shift + Tab]. I have a problem with this, since I play shooter games where you can check the scoreboard [Tab] while sprinting [Shift]. Some games have the backpack bound to [Tab], for example CoD Warzone or Zombies lets you quick-look into the backpack when holding [Tab]. Doing so causes the games to lose focus, because the windows readjust to the available space, which is really annoying. Is there a way to disable this specific shortcut?Mandatory Microsoft Account on Dell AIO?
I'm experiencing an issue with my Dell all-in-one PC where it requires me to sign in with a Microsoft Account to access certain features or perform basic tasks. This mandatory Microsoft Account login seems to limit my control over the device and privacy, and I want to find out if there is a way to use the PC with a local account instead of being forced to sign in with a Microsoft Account.How to Setting Up a New Laptop with Windows 11 Pro?
I just ordered a Dell laptop with Windows 11 Pro already installed, and am expecting it in a few days. I have been running Windows 10, and was resisting Windows 11, so I haven’t necessarily read all the Windows 11 posts, feeling like they didn’t apply. But my Windows 7 laptop is on its last legs, and I wanted a new up-to-date machine. I have some questions regarding initial setup. I haven’t set up a new computer since early 2018, and a lot has changed.
How can I translate html files to another language?
Hi, Our website only has the English version and we need to add a few languages, such as Japanese, French and German. It is a huge and time consuming task if we do this manually, either with a human translate or online service like Google Translate. The website has dozen of html pages and the online service usually translate the html tags and css style. This will make the html pages looking awful. Is there any efficient and accurate way to transfer html files to another language from English? Best regards. PerezHow to convert mp4 to mp3 free in Windows 11?
Hi everyone, I've recently started compiling some of my favorite video clips and would like to extract the audio to MP3 format for easier listening on the go. I'm using a Windows PC and was wondering what the best methods or tools are for converting MP4 files to MP3. Whether it's free software, online tools, or built-in Windows features, I'd love to hear your recommendations and any step-by-step guides you might have. Additionally, I'm interested in maintaining the quality of the audio during the conversion process. Are there specific settings that help preserve audio fidelity after converting mp4 to mp3? I'm also curious about batch conversion options, as I have a large number of files to process and want to make the workflow as efficient as possible. Finally, if there are any potential issues or things to watch out for during the conversion, such as file compatibility or software limitations, please let me know.Unexplained disappearance of uninstallers from C:\Windows\Installer
Hello, I’m reaching out here after several unsuccessful searches on this issue. For about three years, I’ve been regularly noticing on several Windows computers in my organization (around 600 machines) the unexplained disappearance of uninstallers located in C:\Windows\Installer. This affects around twenty random machines per year, involving various software such as Google Chrome, Zoom, PDFsam, Anaconda, Thunderbird, and others. For example, today two PCs can no longer update Google Chrome because the original uninstaller executable has vanished. As a result, the program cannot be updated, repaired, or uninstalled normally. The only workaround I’ve found so far is to manually remove all related registry keys and folders using a tool like Revo Uninstaller, then perform a clean reinstallation. I haven’t found any trace of errors in the antivirus logs or the Windows Event Viewer. I also don’t use any specific tools or GPO that could be cleaning these files automatically. Has anyone encountered this issue before? Could it be caused by a specific service, scheduled task, or any automatic cleanup feature in Windows? Or is there a known way to prevent uninstallers from disappearing? Thanks in advance for any insights or suggestions.
[UKR] Win 11/Copilot: Voice Access Localization, Stability, and Features
I am an active user of Windows 11 Pro (Version 24H2) and regularly use Copilot. I urge you to consider the following proposals to enhance the usability and functionality of the system for the Ukrainian community. ### 1. Critical Issue: Missing Ukrainian Language in Voice Access This is the most pressing issue for millions of users in Ukraine. * **Problem:** Windows' built-in voice control feature (**Voice Access**) **does not support the Ukrainian language for executing system commands** (e.g., "Open Notepad"), only for text dictation. This makes the feature virtually unusable. * **Current Status:** An existing Feedback Hub submission regarding this issue lacks votes and has not been prioritized. * **Proposal:** We urgently request the integration of **full Ukrainian language support for system control commands**, prioritizing this issue immediately. ### 2. Copilot Stability and Functionality Improvements Issues that reduce Copilot's effectiveness: * **Eliminate Answer Interruptions:** When using **voice input** and the **"Share" mode** (screen analysis), Copilot's answers are frequently **cut short or interrupted**. Please optimize the server-side processing for stable and complete result delivery, especially when processing image data. * **Expand Interactivity (Control):** I request giving Copilot the ability to **perform basic actions** within an open window in **"Share" mode** (e.g., "Click the 'Settings' button," "Scroll down"). * **Ukrainian AI Model Optimization:** Please optimize the Copilot AI model for the Ukrainian language to enhance the accuracy and speed of processing complex queries. * **Allow Copilot Hotkey Change:** The system assignment of **Alt + Space** conflicts with popular launchers. Please add an option in Windows Settings to **change the system hotkey** for launching Copilot. ### 3. Windows Organization Improvement * **Expanded Desktop Sorting Options:** Please add more context- or **category-based sorting options** to the Desktop "Sort by" menu to improve the logical order of icons (beyond just "Name" and "Item type"). Thank you for your attention to these critical suggestions.Tried windows insider for the first time on my hp omen 16
After trying the windows insider in my hp omen 16 even tho i opted for unenrollment from this feature but i couldn't for the past few months and i really need to exit from it as it's been making My laptop hard to use like i can barely do anything not even YouTube been working properly so is there any other option which i can opt for? but not the reset of my desktop as i have some important data in it. Any other option would be preferable.
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