When idling, laptop runs background programs with 'Very high' power usage, leading to loud fans
I have an Acer Aspire 7 A717-72G-700J laptop which is now a couple of years old and which runs Windows 10. Oftentimes, when I leave it idle for a few minutes, the fans start whirring, and when I check Task Manager I find that one program or another is running in the background, leading to 'Very high' power usage, which is presumably what's causing the fans to run. Some culprits include: MsMpEng.exe / Antimalware Service Executable: this is probably the one that causes this most frequently. I presume Windows Defender is running some sort of background scan, but when I open up Defender it doesn't say anything about it currently running a scan, and usually the last scan recorded was hours ago, or even the previous day. Google Chrome: I sometimes have quite a few tabs open, but I'm not actually doing anything on them, and they shouldn't be running anything in the background (it's often just reddit, Wikipedia, or other websites that are 99% text), yet, while idling, Chrome will leap to 'Very high' power usage. AggregatorHost.exe msedgewebview2.exe: I don't even use Edge! I think wsappx and some others may have caused problems as well. To be honest, I've kind of lost track at this point, since it happens so regularly. If anyone knows how to fix this I'd really appreciate. I've Googled this previously and it seems like lots of others have this problem too, especially with the Antimalware Service Executable one, but fiddling with Defender settings hasn't fixed things, and because I'm having it with loads of different programs I'm beginning to think it might be a broader problem.
Bitlocker 851 the system cannot find the path specified
Hi everyone, We are trying to migrate computers from domain joined to INTUNE. Every time we disjoin a computer the BitLocker has a problem suspending or even disabling and re-enabling. What we found is an error 851 the system cannot find the file specified. When we rejoin to The domain and enable BitLocker the error does not happen and BitLocker is enabled successfully. We also use a pin with the boot up. I tried searching the issue and attempted the repairs suggested with no luck. Any ideas would be appreciated. Rahamim
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 User
Trouble trying to fix 0x800704cf on Windows 10, possible Windows 10 update reversion required?
I had been having this issue with trying to access my MS store and Minecraft Launcher, but no matter what it says I am offline not. I can browse around the MS store, and I know my accounts aren't blocked, but, whenever I got sign in or even create an account, it gives that error and denies me. I tried a lot of commands to fix this issue such as: netsh int ip resetnetsh int ip reset netsh winhttp reset proxynetsh winhttp reset proxy ipconfig /flushdnsipconfig /flushdns netsh winsock resetnetsh winsock resenetsh int ip resetnetsh int ip resetnetsh winhttp reset proxynetsh winhttp reset proxyipconfig /flushdnsipconfig /flushdnsnetsh winsock resetnetsh winsock reset But nothing has worked, I tried lots more commands but it will still give the error, Next I tried powershell commands to clear the ms store, wipe credentials, ip resets, and flushing the dns or fixing files that were corrupted, but still nothing. I tried deleting many files tied to what could cause it but still no luck. I am aware this was I believe an issue for Windows 11 users, but, it has also been an issue seemingly with the Windows 10-Extended updates as well, not sure when this occurred as I hadn't touched these apps for a long time, but I am confident that it is the "March 10, 2026—KB5078885 (OS Builds 19045.7058 and 19044.7058)" and the security updates from 3/10 and another from 3/11. I tried a lot of methods to fix the problem but I think I had reached a dead end as it seems very deep rooted and I think I may have to revert whatever update caused the issue. I also want to know if any Windows 10 users that are enrolled in the extension updates had these issues and what fixed it if they were able to, as I had not been able to fix it myself and may have to revert. Let me know if reverting affects any of the extended updates also.
Reliability monitor is blank for weeks
My reliability monitor is not showing any results whatsoever. While all the similar services such as event viewer and error reporting etc are active and automatically running. Reliability monitor is not showing any errors. I know that even if you don't have a critical issue it should at least show some things like failed services or install/uninstall reports. The system has no big issues and easy solutions like doing a sfc scan is not going to help my issue. All I remember is just using 'clean this log' command from event viewer once but I didn't make a significant change. I love this tool to troubleshoot problems every once in a while. So if you have any idea, feel free to share so I will try to enable it again properly.
