Windows 11 build 26200.8116 broke system dll crtdll.dll
Latest Windows 11 25H2 release broke this system dll by replacing it with msvcrt40.dll which isn't anywhere like it, and it broke 32 bit programs that relied on that dll to run since it is missing symbols. I couldn't find an appropriate space to report this kind of issues, since this is not user error or a configuration problem, but a bug caused by a windows update that only has meaning for developers and users which use the very few apps remaining relying on this component. If there's a better way to report this issue, let me know, but I have no direct access to a Windows 11 device so i can't use the feedback hub application
A Vision for Windows 12: Familiar Power Meets Modern Innovation
Dear Microsoft Windows Development Team and Community Hub, With the inevitable speculation around Windows 12, I wanted to share a comprehensive vision for the next iteration of Windows. The goal is to blend the best elements of past versions with modern needs, creating a truly powerful and personalizable operating system. Here’s what many users like myself are hoping to see: 1. A Revitalized Start Menu & Screen Fresh, Resizable Layout: A clearly divided Start Menu with dedicated zones: Account Area (top-left), Shortcut Area (far left for common folders), List Area (pinned, most-used, and suggested apps), and a Pinned Tiles Area (right side, four-column layout). It should be resizable by dragging its edges. Full-Screen Start Screen Option: A return of the full-screen Start that combines the easy-to-browse list from Windows 7 with the dynamic Windows 8.1-style Live Tiles, supporting both horizontal and vertical arrangements. Enhanced Tile Flexibility: Tiles in five sizes (small, medium, long, wide, large, tall) with smooth resizing animations. New customization options should include colorful, gradient, light, dark, transparent, and semi-transparent tones. Migration Friendly: When upgrading from Windows 7, 8.1, 10, or 11, all pinned apps and websites should automatically migrate. Copilot Integration: A dedicated, prominent Copilot Tile to highlight the AI assistant's role, perhaps with a new rainbow effect for visual flair. 2. A More Functional Taskbar & Search Comprehensive Taskbar: Featuring the Cortana icon, mobile devices, Start, Search, Task View, Chat, applications, and the system tray. Prominent Search Box: The search box should be more prominent, changing from a circle to a rectangular shape, serving as a stronger entry point. Flexible Search Menu: The search interface should be highly adjustable and consistent with the new Start menu's style. 3. Personalized User Experience Lock Screen Customization: Options for left or center-aligned date and time. New photo effects that highlight the main subject, allowing it to overlay the time. Windows Hello: Facial recognition that works while wearing a mask. Enhanced Widgets: Desktop Pinning: Widgets should be pinnable anywhere on the desktop, not just in a sidebar. Full-Screen Widgets Board: A full-screen mode with a widget panel on the left and news/feeds on the right, supporting up to six columns. New Widgets: Introduction of a 'Calendar', 'People', 'Microsoft Edge', 'Cortana Suggestions', and a dedicated 'Microsoft Store' widget. 4. Peak Productivity & Multitasking Task View & Virtual Desktops: A return to the mature Windows 10 experience, allowing windows to be dragged directly to other desktops in Task View. Timeline Returns: The Timeline feature should come back, including cross-device history. Classic Alt+Tab: The Windows 10 Alt+Tab window switcher experience should be restored. Supercharged Snap Assist: Enhanced Snap Layouts supporting up to 8 segments for large screens, with specific, intelligent layouts for ultrawide (21:9, 32:9) monitors. 5. Application & Ecosystem Evolution App Updates: New versions of Mail, Calendar, and People. The new Outlook app should fully support popular third-party email services like QQ, 163, and 126. A New Cortana: Multilingual support with the return of consumer skills (music control, smart home, third-party skills). It could be offered in two visual forms and power the 'Cortana Suggestions' widget. Screenshot Tool Upgrade: Should support full-screen recording. Media Player: The return of an appearance selector and support for live tiles. Microsoft Store Revamp: UWP Return: High-quality UWP and classic Metro apps should return to the store, with PWAs transitioning to UWP. Gaming Expansion: Addition of dedicated PlayStation and Nintendo Switch apps, including a Nintendo game section. 6. Visual & Nostalgic Enhancements Refined Aesthetics: Improved window transparency with a new glass effect, rounded rectangle system avatars, and a new top bar (weather, system tray, time). Dynamic wallpaper effects would be a welcome addition. Keep the Win11 Sound: The Windows 11 startup sound is great and should be retained. The "Bold Strategy" – Legacy Feature Return: To satisfy power users and nostalgia, consider the large-scale return of beloved features like MSN apps, Windows 7 Desktop Gadgets, Windows Media Center, Groove Music, HomeGroup, a significantly enhanced Tablet Mode, and Windows Ink Workspace. 7. Hardware, Compatibility & Core System Broad Controller Support: Native compatibility with DualShock 4/5, Joy-Con, and others. Android Subsystem (WSA) Return: WSA should return with a focus on fixing previous pain points, especially full-screen landscape app support. Separated Notification Center: The Notification Center and Calendar quick actions should be separated for a cleaner interface. "Next-Gen PC" Promise: Windows 12 should deliver on larger storage, longer battery life, more power, and enhanced security/stability. Enhanced Backup & Transfer: Windows Backup should expand to more regions and add support for backing up personal files and apps to external drives, including migration from old PCs or to new hard drives. 8. Core Versioning & Hardware Requirements A Fresh Start: Version 26H1, with an internal OS version reset to 12.0.0.0. Tiered Editions: Windows 12e (for education, 2GB RAM), Windows 12 (mainstream, 4GB RAM, removing strict TPM restrictions), and Windows 12 Ultra (flagship, 8GB RAM, unlocking all AI and performance features). Extensive Free Upgrade Path: A critical strategy, offering free upgrades from Windows 11 (including SE), Windows 10 (including S), Windows 8/8.1 (including RT), and Windows 7. Doubled Support Lifecycle: Home/Pro/Workstation: 24 months → 48 months. Enterprise/Education/IoT: 36 months → 72 months. In summary, we envision a Windows 12 that isn't afraid to learn from its rich history while pushing forward with modern innovation. It should be a system that respects user choice, empowers productivity, and welcomes everyone from legacy users to those with the latest hardware. If you like this vision and want to support it, you can upvote it here: https://aka.ms/AAylqhw Thank you for considering this feedback. Sincerely, A Passionate Windows UserWindows 12 Is Not a Rumor. It’s Already in Your System
The new build 29558 reveals way more than most people think. If you know where to look, you’ll see that the next Windows release is already very close. Side‑by‑Side Winners now includes new versions of core system modules Startup‑task‑data is updated across all architectures Defender and Networking UI have new branding resource packages ShellCompatibility is already using version 12.\* GDI+ and the Search engine have new generations of libraries These are not “small tweaks”. This is the groundwork for a new shell and a new UI that is already physically present in the system — just not unlocked yet. Don’t follow YouTube “tech enthusiasts” — they spread rumors and don’t know how to look for real evidence inside the system. Windows is not analyzed through thumbnails, but through the registry, WinSxS and shell layers. 😎✌️ Winners sample: offlinefiles-ui is now running on version 29558.1000. This is one of many modules that indicate the presence of a new shell layer in the system.Native Vulkan in Windows System Manifest
Vulkan’s been in Windows for ages as a loader and runtime, but the OS still doesn't use it as a native backend. It's wild because so many studios start with Vulkan now and only port to DirectX later, which just adds a ton of extra work for no reason. If Windows actually supported Vulkan natively, we’d get rid of those translation layers that cause CPU overhead and shaky frame times. In CPU-bound games, we’re talking 20–30% more performance just by cutting out the middleman. Plus, it would mean consistent performance across NVIDIA, AMD, and Intel. I really think Vulkan should be a priority in Windows, not just an add-on. What do you guys think? Is it worth pushing Microsoft on this, or are they too locked into DX12?" Community Call to Action If you believe Windows deserves a modern, efficient graphics backend — If you’ve ever seen performance lost to translation layers — If you want Vulkan to be treated as a first-class citizen inside Windows — Then speak up. Share your thoughts. Test, compare, and challenge the status quo. This isn’t just about games. It’s about the future of UI, recovery, and system performance. Let’s show Microsoft that the community is ready for native Vulkan. No translation. No compromise.
installing Windows while keeping all your files and apps intact
I have been facing an issue in Windows OS that my major apps are crashing, and windows is not all responding normally. I an in insider preview build of Windows and this has been happening since yesterday after I installed the latest Insider Preview Build. Now when I decided to go back to previous version I was not able to and decided to install normal windows 11 ( public release ) and disengage from insider program but after installing the ISO file and running with all apps and files to be intact after a while the blue screen came to install windows , after which it logged me back to my home screen stating that their was some error installing windows 11 So if any of the moderators could help me with this ASAP
New laptop problems with system
Hello, i have this problem on new bought laptop that is completely brand new. I updated Windows and it happened. So what happened? After opening Windows, logging in my screen looks like it’s constanly refreshing. There is no way to open anything or go into settings. Only way to open cmd is via task manager which Works. Even after trying a few cmd options and then uninstalling updates it’s still like that. (Constant refresh) when turned in safe mode same thing. Even in „tryb awaryjny” it’s still the same. I tought maybe uninstalling latest feature update will help but i cannot do that. this laptop has like 5 days so pls help me cuz im losing it
When using touch mode, clicking the "extension" button on the toolbar causes Edge to crash
Version 146.0.3844.0 (Official build) dev (64-bit) When using touch mode, clicking the extensions button on the toolbar causes Edge to freeze for two to three seconds before crashing. Accessing edge://extensions/ displays normal functionality, I can open extension detail pages and configure settings without issue. Reinstalling Edge or uninstalling all extensions resolves the problem. Disabling touch mode restores normal behaviour.Block Microsoft from running experiments in the Microsoft Edge browser
Browsers like Firefox, Chrome or Microsoft Edge come with built-in functionality to run experiments. Browser makers like Mozilla or Google may enable or disable features or changes in select browsers; this is often used to A-B test features or get early feedback on new implementations. While most users may not even notice that experiments are running in their browsers, it happened in the past that experiments caused issues. The latest case was revealed in November when administrators from around the world reported that a Chrome experiment would crash browsers in organizations worldwide. Negative side-effects of experiments are a problem for home users and business users alike, and it is often desirable to disable or block experiments from being downloaded and run. Microsoft distinguishes between controlled feature rollouts and experiments in the company's new Chromium-based Microsoft Edge web browser. Both are made available to part of the user base when they start to roll out but similarities end here. Microsoft notes: Microsoft Edge builds have features and functionality that are still in development or are experimental. Experiments are like CFR, but the size of the user group is much smaller for testing the new concept. These features are hidden by default until the feature's rolled out or the experiment's finished. Experiment flags are used to enable and disable these features. System administrators may use the "Control communication with the Experimentation and Configuration Service" on pro and Enterprise editions of Windows 7, 8.1 or 10 to prevent experiments in the browser. Here is what is needed for that: Get the latest Microsoft Edge policy file from the Microsoft Edge Insider website. It is likely that the policies will become available natively eventually when Edge is released and integrated in Windows. Extract the file (first a cab, then a zip). Open Windows > Admx. Copy the two .admx template files to C:\Windows\PolicyDefinitions\. Open the language folder that matches the system language and copy the .adml files to the corresponding language folder of C:\Windows\PolicyDefinitions\ Open Start, type gpedit.msc and hit the Enter-key to open the Group Policy Editor. Consult this Docs page on the Microsoft website for additional scenarios, e.g. when domain controllers are used. Open Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Microsoft Edge. Open the policy "Control communication with the Experimentation and Configuration Service" policy. Set the policy to Enabled. Set it to either "Retrieve configurations only" or "Disable communication with the Experimentation and Configuration Service". Retrieve will download configuration payloads only, disable won't download or enable them. The behavior of not configuring the policy differs depending on whether it is a managed or unmanaged device. Managed devices will download the configuration only while unmanaged devices will retrieve configurations and experiments. Source
Camera app not wirking
Hello, I am in the Relaese channel, 24H2. I have issues with my camera. Yesterday, Windows Hello and the camera app were not working but Zoom did. Today Windows Hello works but not the camera app. I get the message below. I tried ot unistall/reinstall the camera app and checked fir updates; I also tried to repair Windows with scc/scannow but it did not solve the issue. Would you have ideas? Thanks much
