Recent Discussions
What is the best AI tool for restoring old photos?
Hi everyone, I just digitalized hundreds of old photos and some of them didn't look good. I heard these blurred images can be repaired or enhanced with AI tools. I want to digitally restore a collection of old, damaged family photographs. Many have cracks, spots, and faded areas. I’ve heard AI tools can automate a lot of the repair work, but I’m unsure what is the best AI photo restorer tool for restoring old photos? I'd love to hear about your personal experiences. What has worked well for you in terms of ease of use, quality of results, and handling of complex damage? Free options are a plus, but I’m also open to paid services if they are truly superior. Thanks in advance for your suggestions!
Any good pc to android file transfer software that that actually works?
Hi all, I tried the Phone Link app that comes with Windows but it does't work. I need to make a backup of photos, videos and documents. And the free space on my Android phone is only 20 GB. USB works sometimes, but it can fail, disconnect, or stop for no clear reason. I just want a tool that moves files without drama. I need a solid and safe PC to Android file transfer software. I use Windows 11 and an Android phone, and I often copy big videos, photos, and full folders. Wi-Fi transfer is okay too, as long as it stays stable, keeps the folder layout, and does not push ads or weird extra installs. If you have a tool you trust (or one you avoid), please drop the name and why you like it. Simple, clean, and reliable is all I need. Thanks!
Win 11 not recognizing external monitor
With my 2 year old ASUS Flow z13 laptop, connected to my 65" TV, I've been gaming happily but just recently Win11 refuses to see any external TV / monitors I attach to it. I've changed cables, TV / monitors, plus etc but nothing works. I suspect it might be related to me allowing my TV and computer to Time-out while I was doing something else. When i came back, my TV was off (auto turn off) and same with my Laptop. Now Win11 does see any attached external monitor. Help ! I'm hoping this is Win11 bug and not my laptop hardware fault.Switching to W11, but UEFI or CSM?
The fateful date is fast approaching, my question is how to switch to W11 knowing that I am currently in CSM startup and this is what is blocking this passage in Windows Update. this mode has already bothered me a lot after each update of the bios (twice) of my CM. the PC no longer wants to start, it goes into uefi originally after update and even after putting csm back on it doesn't want to go away, and suddenly it wants to boot.... I have an MSI pro Z690-p ddr4 with a 12600KF, and a P3 nvme 1To SSD.Unable to boot from my SSD, Windows 11 installation
Please help me! I've been there for 13 hours! I want to install Windows 11 on my second m2 SSD because I need uefi and secure boot, I switched it to gpt, after installing Windows 11, I am sent back to the BIOS because my SSD does not is not boot and is not recognized as a boot sequence, it is only when I activate the CSM and inherited that it wants boot, I don't understand where the problem is coming from, I can't take it anymore...How to Remove the Alphabetical Index Bar Under All Apps in the Windows 11 Start Menu?
I want to remove or hide the alphabetical index bar on the left side of the "All Apps" list in the Start Menu to simplify the visual layout or restore a more traditional list browsing method. No direct option to turn off this index was found in the system settings. Seeking specific adjustment methods.
How can I update Windows 11 23H2 to 25H2 on my pc?
Hello everyone, My PC is currently running Windows 11 23H2, and I just saw that Windows 11 25H2 is starting to roll out. I want to update to 25H2 but not sure what's the safest and most reliable way to do it. I checked Windows Update, but it only says my system is up to date. Should I wait for the automatic rollout, or is there a way to manually update Windows 11 23H2 to 25H2 without losing my files and apps? Also, if anyone has experience upgrading directly from 23H2 to 25H2, did you run into any issues? Thanks in advance for the help!
Trying to MSIX package LOB application that needs TWAIN access
So I think this isn't possible but I just wanted to ask. I've a LOB application that needs to access TWAIN scanning devices. How this works in a normal environment is that the TWAINDSM.dll (TWAIN Data source manager) is loaded from c:\windows\system32 This then scans the C:\Windows\twain_32 or C:\Windows\twain_64 depending on if the app is x86 or x64 The scanning manufacturers will have their TWAIN drivers installed to c:\windows\twain_32 (or 64) as subfolders and the TWAIN Data source manager scans these subfolders for available TWAIN devices that can be connected to. All this breaks down in an MSIX environment because the container doesn't have access to C:\windows\twain_32\ManfactureDriverN folder It can see the folders and when the TWAINDSM tries to initialize the driver it fails, most likely due to sandbox limitations. Does anyone know of a solution to this, or apps like this will always need to stick to MSI packaging because of this limiation. Thanks.Microsoft finally admits almost all major Windows 11 core features are broken
A major new Windows 11 update has introduced widespread stability issues affecting core system functionality. Many users, including myself, are now experiencing frequent and disruptive problems like File Explorer crashes, slow performance, taskbar glitches, and Bluetooth failures, which together make the operating system frustratingly unreliable for daily use.I have Administrator rights but can't turn on location services...HELP! ;-)
My account shows that I have administrator rights, but Location Services is greyed out. How can I get that working? I'm not tech-savvy, so I'm not very good at searching, or at least finding the right words for the question. Thanks!
Comment convertir des fichiers HEIC en JPG sur Windows 11 facilement
Bonjour à tous, Je viens de transférer des photos depuis mon iPhone vers mon PC Windows 11, et elles sont toutes au format HEIC. Malheureusement, certaines applications Windows ne les lisent pas bien, donc je cherche une solution fiable pour convertir heic en jpg sans perdre en qualité. J’ai entendu parler de l’extension HEIF de Microsoft, mais je ne sais pas si ça permet vraiment de convertir les fichiers. Je préfère éviter les sites en ligne si possible pour des raisons de confidentialité, donc une option locale serait idéale. Est-ce que quelqu’un peut me recommander un outil gratuit, une méthode intégrée à Windows, ou même une commande PowerShell pour convertir heic en jpg ? Merci beaucoup pour votre aide !
The New Start Menu Is a Perfect Example of Microsoft Forcing Unwanted “Features” on Users
I’m posting this because I’m beyond fed up with the direction Microsoft is taking with Windows, and the latest Start Menu redesign is really unwelcomed. Whoever decided to implement the new “All” section with forced Categories, Grid/List views, and a permanently attached app list seems to have completely forgotten something fundamental: this is my Start Menu, not theirs. I’ve already turned off every bit of clutter I can — Recommended, recent files, “suggestions,” all of it. Yet Windows still insists on injecting an enormous block of UI I never asked for and will never use. I don’t care whether it’s Categories, List, or Grid. I don’t want any of it. I want the Start menu to show ONLY the pinned items I chose, nothing else, the same way it worked for years. But now? Microsoft has deliberately removed the ability to collapse, hide, disable, or eliminate this lower “All” section entirely. It wastes space, disrupts workflow muscle memory, and provides zero value for users who already know exactly what they need. It’s an unwanted visual and functional takeover of the one UI element that should be the most personal and customizable. This is exactly the type of “change for the sake of change” that pushes long‑time Windows users away. It feels like decisions are being made by people who never actually use Windows for real work, and who believe their design experiments matter more than respecting users’ preferences. I’m tired of being forced into UI experiments I never opted into. I’m tired of updates that remove more choice than they add. And I’m tired of Microsoft ignoring the most universal feedback users keep giving: Stop shoving new UI elements in our faces and give us back full control over our own operating system. If Microsoft wants people to stay enthusiastic about Windows instead of increasingly frustrated with every forced redesign, then we need true user‑controlled customization — not “pick between three unwanted layouts,” not “view modes,” not scripts, not policies, not third‑party hacks. Just a simple, basic ability to hide what we don’t want. Give us the Start Menu we choose, not the Start Menu you decide we should have.
Windows 11 23H2 → 25H2 in-place upgrade fails in SAFE_OS / MIGRATE_DATA
I'm trying to in-place upgrade a Windows 11 23H2 system to 25H2 and consistently get a rollback in the SAFE_OS / MIGRATE_DATA phase with 0x8007042B – 0x2000D. After a lot of analysis (Panther logs, SetupDiag, DISM, etc.), the failure always points to migration problems around Microsoft-Windows-TPM-Driver-WMI (CCSIAgent) and, secondarily, Microsoft-Windows-DirectoryServices-ADAM-Client (adammigrate.dll). I'd like to confirm whether this is a known 25H2 migration issue (especially on Education) and if there is any supported workaround short of a clean install. --- ENVIRONMENT - OS: Windows 11 Education 23H2, Build 22631.6276 - Edition: Education (confirmed via winver and Settings → System → About) - Target: Windows 11 25H2 (26200.6584, "2025 Update") - Upgrade method tried: - Windows Update feature enablement - Windows 11 Installation Assistant - Official 25H2 ISO (26200.6584.250915-1905.25h2_ge_release_svc_refresh_CLIENT_CONSUMER_x64FRE_en-us.iso) mounted locally → setup.exe - Hardware: - Motherboard: Gigabyte Z690 AORUS PRO (BIOS F31) - SSD: WD_BLACK SN770 NVMe (firmware 731130WD, WD Dashboard reports "Healthy", no errors) - TPM 2.0: Intel PTT (firmware TPM) enabled - Secure Boot: Enabled - BitLocker on C: OFF (fully decrypted) --- SYMPTOM Every full in-place upgrade attempt (23H2 → 25H2) behaves as follows: 1. Setup runs, copies files, reboots to SAFE_OS phase. 2. During MIGRATE_DATA, setup fails and rolls back to 23H2. 3. Message on screen: "0x8007042B – 0x2000D The installation failed in the SAFE_OS phase with an error during MIGRATE_DATA operation" In C:\$WINDOWS.~BT\Sources\Panther\setuperr.log / setupact.log, the failure is always in SAFE_OS / MIGRATE_DATA and includes: V2VArbitrate: Source migration unit <System>\Microsoft-Windows-TPM-Driver-WMI (CCSIAgent) is not supported on the destination machine and it will not be restored V2VArbitrate: Source migration unit is critical, arbitration will fail V2V Arbitration failed. Last error: 0x00000032 pSPExecuteApply: Apply operation failed. Error: 0x0000002C Apply (machine-independent apply, offline phase): Migration phase failed. Result: 44 ExecuteOperations: Failed execution phase Safe OS. Error: 0x8007042B On some runs, just before the TPM arbitration failure, there are also errors related to DirectoryServices-ADAM-Client: Failure while calling IPostApply->ApplySuccess for Plugin="Microsoft-Windows-DirectoryServices-ADAM-Client\adammigrate.dll"… Error: 0x80070002 Error READ, 0x00000002 while gathering/applying object: apply-success, Action,CMXEXmlPlugin, C:\$WINDOWS.~BT\Sources\ReplacementManifests, Microsoft-Windows-DirectoryServices-ADAM-Client\adammigrate.dll… However, the ADAM plugin errors are logged as "ignore" in some traces, while the actual rollback is always tied to the critical TPM-Driver-WMI migration unit. --- WHAT I HAVE ALREADY TRIED I've tried to rule out all the usual suspects and a bit more: 1. Health checks & storage - sfc /scannow → no integrity violations - DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth / CheckHealth / RestoreHealth → clean - chkdsk C: /scan → no file system / bad sector issues - WD Dashboard extended test → drive healthy, no SMART warnings 2. Drivers, TPM, AV, services - TPM: - Device: "Trusted Platform Module 2.0" (ACPI\MSFT0101\1) - Driver provider: Microsoft (inbox TPM driver), no OEM TPM drivers - pnputil /enum-drivers | findstr /i tpm shows only Microsoft TPM entries; any OEM/TMP-related oem*.inf were removed. - Legacy / problematic drivers: - Removed old Intel CougarPoint USB driver (oem25.inf) via pnputil /delete-driver oem25.inf /uninstall /force. - Antivirus / security: - McAfee WebAdvisor fully uninstalled. - Kaspersky products uninstalled via standard uninstallers and then cleaned with Kaspersky's kavremover in Safe Mode. - No Kaspersky services, drivers, files, or uninstall entries remain. - Currently only Microsoft Defender is active. - Telemetry: - Connected User Experiences and Telemetry (DiagTrack) service set to Manual and Running to avoid telemetry-related cancellation (0x800704C7). 3. Upgrade artefacts / component cleanup - Deleted: - C:\$WINDOWS.~BT - C:\$GetCurrent - C:\$WINDOWS.~WS - C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download - Ran: - DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /StartComponentCleanup /ResetBase - Then again DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth and sfc /scannow 4. ISO & media verification - 23H2 ISO: Win11_23H2_English_x64.iso (official multi-edition ISO, SHA-256 verified). - 25H2 ISO: 26200.6584.250915-1905.25h2_ge_release_svc_refresh_CLIENT_CONSUMER_x64FRE_en-us.iso (official 25H2 ISO, SHA-256 verified). - Both mounted locally; upgrade run via setup.exe from the ISO (no third-party media tools). - Tried with Dynamic Update enabled and disabled (/DynamicUpdate Disable). 5. Compatibility scan vs full upgrade behavior - Running from 25H2 ISO: setup.exe /Compat ScanOnly /DynamicUpdate Disable → completes WITHOUT logging the earlier TPM-Driver-WMI / MIGRATE_DATA critical failures. - However, when running a FULL in-place upgrade (same ISO, same environment, DynamicUpdate disabled, "Keep personal files and apps"), the upgrade still fails in SAFE_OS / MIGRATE_DATA with the same TPM-Driver-WMI critical arbitration error and rollback. So, compatibility scan looks clean, but the real SAFE_OS/MIGRATE_DATA phase still hits the TPM-Driver-WMI migration problem. 6. ADAM / DirectoryServices-ADAM-Client state - DISM shows DirectoryServices-ADAM-Client feature as Disabled. - The ADAM migration plugin (adammigrate.dll) logs 0x80070002 during IPostApply->ApplySuccess on some runs. - As suggested in other cases, I have tried: - dism /online /enable-feature /featurename:DirectoryServices-ADAM-Client /norestart → reboot - dism /online /disable-feature /featurename:DirectoryServices-ADAM-Client /norestart → reboot - The ADAM error sometimes disappears or is logged as "ignored", but the TPM-Driver-WMI critical arbitration error persists and still causes rollback. 7. Attempt to repair TPM-Driver-WMI as a package (failed) Following the idea that TPM-Driver-WMI might be a partially removed servicing package, I: - Ran: DISM /Online /Get-Packages | findstr /i "TPM-Driver-WMI" → NO ENTRIES. There is no Microsoft-Windows-TPM-Driver-WMI-Package~… installed as a standalone package. - Mounted Win11_23H2_English_x64.iso as G: and searched for *TPM-Driver-WMI*.cab: → No such cab found anywhere in the ISO. - Mounted install.wim (index 4, Education) read-only and inspected Windows\servicing\Packages, and ran offline DISM /Image:... /Get-Packages | findstr TPM: → No Microsoft-Windows-TPM-Driver-WMI package or mum/cab. Only the component payload exists in WinSxS (amd64_microsoft-windows-tpm-driver-wmi_31bf3856ad364e35_10.0.22621.1...), but there is no installable package to feed into DISM /Add-Package. So there is NO STANDALONE TPM-Driver-WMI package that I can re-add or repair via DISM; it appears baked into the base image. --- CURRENT SITUATION - TPM driver: Microsoft inbox, no OEM TPM drivers. - AV: only Defender. - Component store: DISM /RestoreHealth and sfc /scannow are clean. - Storage: healthy. - Telemetry service: running. - ADAM client: "enable → disable" cycle tried. - 25H2 compatibility scan: now passes without TPM migration errors. - Full upgrade: still fails in SAFE_OS / MIGRATE_DATA with: - Source migration unit <System>\Microsoft-Windows-TPM-Driver-WMI (CCSIAgent) is not supported on the destination machine and it will not be restored - Source migration unit is critical, arbitration will fail - V2V Arbitration failed. Last error: 0x00000032 - pSPExecuteApply: Apply operation failed. Error: 0x0000002C - ExecuteOperations: Failed execution phase Safe OS. Error: 0x8007042B At this point, the only remaining options I can see are: - In-place repair install of 23H2 using the 23H2 ISO (setup.exe → keep apps & data), to rebuild the whole servicing/migration stack, and then retry 25H2; - Or clean install 25H2 from scratch. Before I go down that path, I'd like to know: --- QUESTIONS 1. Is this a known migration issue in Windows 11 25H2 (especially for Education) involving Microsoft-Windows-TPM-Driver-WMI (CCSIAgent)? In other words, is the "not supported on the destination machine" for this migration unit an expected symptom of a current 25H2 bug or a misconfiguration on my side? 2. Is there any supported way to reset/repair/ignore the TPM-Driver-WMI migration unit on the source side, given that: - there is no standalone Microsoft-Windows-TPM-Driver-WMI-Package~*.cab in the 23H2 ISO, and - DISM /Get-Packages does not list such a package? 3. Is an in-place repair install of 23H2 the recommended next step in this scenario, or is the official guidance to perform a clean install of 25H2 when SAFE_OS / MIGRATE_DATA fails on a critical migration unit like this? 4. Is there any known difference between consumer vs Education/volume 25H2 media that could affect whether the TPM-Driver-WMI migration manifest is present on the target image? Any official guidance or confirmation (e.g., "this is a known issue; wait for an updated 25H2 image or cumulative update" vs "your 23H2 install is irreparably corrupted, clean install recommended") would be very helpful before I commit to a wipe-and-reinstall. Thank you in advance.Credentials when syncing folder using sync center Windows 10
Hi everyone, I have a problem with a number of computers that have sync center enabled. The issue is that those computers have the "Desktop" and "Documents" folders synchronized against a File Server. Well, when I connect through VPN, it stops being able to synchronize due to a problem with the user's credentials and I have found out that it is because it takes the credentials of the VPN instead of those of the user's session and of course, they are not the themselves. Is there a way to configure synchronization to work exclusively with the credentials of the user who is logged on to the computer and not take those of the VPN? I have to clarify that the VPN is configured through Windows' own VPN client. Thank you.Windows 10 keeps changing my logon picture
Windows 10 keeps changing my local logon picture to my wife's picture. My wife has a separate local logon on our desktop computers, as well as on our laptop computers. We both have our own separate Microsoft accounts based on our separate email address. Both of our Microsoft accounts display the correct picture. We both log onto whatever computer we are using locally, not through Microsoft. There are no pictures in the picture history directories. I would really like to know how to fix this. I've stopped sync on both Edge and Chrome. That seems to be causing other problems - freezing both browsers.Windows 11 Initiated a Restore after WinPE / dism partition capture
I recently needed to create backups of a Windows 11 machine. I created a WinPE USB as per Microsoft instructions and booted the laptop into using WinPE (I had already turned off BitLocker on the laptop and waited for it to decrypt the laptop). After I captured the partitions (system, recovery, primary, oem) as separate wim files, I rebooted the machine an it started a System restore, which I was not anticipating and honestly have never had happen before. My experience though is primarily with Windows 10. Is this expected behaviour?
I don't want to update the Windows 11 system version.
The system frequently prompts for updates, and the pause option is grayed out and cannot be clicked. I heard that the new version will lose hard drive data, so I don't dare to upgrade it casually. Is there a reliable way to permanently disable updates?
Microsoft Edge's "Preview Channel" Option Disappeared in Windows 11
Previously, I joined the Dev channel through the option "Get early preview versions of Microsoft Edge" in the settings, and the browser version switched to Beta. However, recently Edge seems to have automatically received and rolled back to the official Release version, causing the original preview channel selection entry in the settings to completely disappear, making it impossible to reselect or join any preview programs (Dev, Beta, Canary). Seeking methods to restore the channel option or rejoin the preview versions.
¿Cómo liberar espacio en el ordenador Windows 11 PC?
¡Hola a todos! Mi disco principal (C:) está prácticamente lleno y Windows me está mostrando advertencias. Esto está ralentizando mi equipo y tengo problemas para instalar actualizaciones o guardar nuevos archivos. He intentado eliminar algunos archivos manualmente y vaciar la papelera de reciclaje, pero la ganancia de espacio fue mínima. Necesito métodos más efectivos y seguros. ¿Podrían compartir sus mejores consejos y pasos para liberar espacio en Windows 11 PC de manera efectiva? Mi objetivo es liberar espacio en Windows 11 sin dañar el sistema operativo o perder archivos personales importantes. Saludos.
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