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These are the most popular computer operating systems from 1985 to 2024, based on market share. The latest numbers from 2003 on are readily available from Wikipedia and Statcounter. The first half of the video required a bit more research, which entailed finding and converting sales figures into market share. These numbers may be different based on what OSes are included in the stats, this is why different videos have slightly different numbers.

Your PC without this CPU feature won’t boot Windows 11 24H2 KEY TAKEAWAYS Windows 11 24H2 update requires the POPCNT CPU feature, making it impossible to run on super-old PCs. Modern CPUs support POPCNT, so if you recently bought a new PC, you won't have any issues. PCs older than fifteen years will be affected by this change and won't be able to boot Windows 11 without POPCNT support. Windows 11 24H2 is the next big update that Microsoft will roll out later this year, and it might finally put an end to the practice of running Windows unofficially on...

Can a computer problem get any weirder? I'm running a fast Dell laptop with Win 11 Pro. If I play audio from YouTube while browsing with Brave (or Chrome), System sounds, test tones from Windows' troubleshooter, etc., play over a bluetooth speaker just fine, but the audio on the YouTube vid plays only over the tiny laptop speakers. (Nothing is connected to the headphone jack.) I've been all through Windows troubleshooting, and even a session with a MS tech support rep, to no avail, other than doing a Shift + Shutdown now results with (after booting back up and returning...

Windows 10 users worldwide report problems installing Microsoft's January Patch Tuesday updates, getting 0x80070643 errors when attempting to install the KB5034441 security update for BitLocker. Yesterday, as part of Microsoft's January 2024 Patch Tuesday, a security update (KB5034441) was released for CVE-2024-20666, a BitLocker encryption bypass that allows users to access encrypted data. However, when attempting to install this update, Windows 10 users are reporting getting 0x80070643 errors and the installation failing. When installing the KB5034441 security update, Microsoft is installing a new version of the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) that fixes the BitLocker vulnerability. Unfortunately, Windows 10 creates a...

Microsoft has announced the launch of what they are calling “Windows app,” a new service designed to stream the full Windows desktop operating system from the cloud to various devices, including Chromebooks. This new offering from Microsoft signifies a major shift in how the company thinks users will be using Windows in the future and is clearly a response to the “Chromebook threat.”Let’s first dive into what this new service entails exactly. The Windows App is essentially a new remote desktop hub that enables users to stream Windows Cloud PC and remote desktop services on a range of devices. This...

I performed what appeared to be a normal reboot for a normal upgrade. Now I am blocked by the need for a bitlocker password. I do not recall ever messing with bitlocker. Is there a flowchart? I got as far as a system32 Cmv.exe prompt (not very far). Thanks!

Here's how to install Play Store and other Google apps on Windows Subsystem for AndroidWSAGAScript is a tool that lets you easily patch the Windows Subsystem for Android to install the Google Play Store.Windows Subsystem for Android is finally here. What's more interesting is that you can unofficially try it right now — even if you're not enrolled in the Beta channel of Windows 11. In case you're not happy with the mandatory Amazon Appstore integration, you should be happy to hear that the app sideloading process isn't difficult either. It is also possible to install a third-party Google...

Here's how to use Windows To Go and Rufus to set up Windows 11 on a PC that doesn't meet its requirements. Windows 11 system requirements specify that it needs UEFI, Secure Boot and TPM. Many old computers are powerful enough to run Windows 11. Yet, they cannot install the OS because of these requirements. Windows 11 refuses to install and displays the message "this PC can't run Windows 11". There is a way to bypass these requirements and install Windows 11 on any powerful computer, even if it is old. The process is quite simple as well. Unlike earlier...

Woke Microsoft has added a Pride flag to the widgets board located on the taskbar of Windows 11 to demonstrate its allegiance to the LGBT agenda. Here’s how to disable it. GeekerMag reports that Microsoft has added a Pride flag to the widget board of its newest operating system, Windows 11, as a gesture of support for Pride Month. The decision appears to be an effort by Microsoft to display its commitment to diversity and inclusion. The company believes in the woke LGBT agenda to such a degree that it does give users the option to remove the pride flag...

A few related questions for our FReeper computer gurus: Has anyone tried upgrading a fairly competent* Windows computer with an older processor from Win 10 Pro to Win 11 Pro? Are significant "tricks involved?** Then were there any subsequent problems with following updates (immediately after installation of Win 11 Pro?) *The 1st computer in question has an i7 6600u processor, 16gb DDR4 RAM, and a 512GB NVME SSD. (Pretty quick machine.) Then my immediate family & I have a few slightly "lesser" Win 10 Pro machines (which run great, and is as my custom I'll likely keep Win 10 Pro...

Those still using Windows 10 version 21H2 have about a month until support ends, which means there will be no more security updates or other measures after that. Their options essentially are to upgrade to Windows 10 22H2 or make the move to Windows 11, which would make Microsoft happy. Servicing and support for the Windows 10 21H1 Home, Pro, Pro Education, and Pro Workstation editions ends June 13, with the June 2023 security update – due out that same day – being the last one for those editions. "After this date, devices running these versions will no longer receive...

Windows 10 22H2 will be the final version of the operating system, Microsoft said in a blog post on Thursday. Moving forward, all editions of Windows 10 will be supported with monthly security updates until October 14th, 2025, when Microsoft will end support. (Some releases on the Long-Term Servicing Channel, or LTSC, will get updates past that end of support date.) Microsoft is encouraging users to now transition to Windows 11 because Windows 10 won’t be getting any new features. Now that Windows 11 has been out for more than a year and a half, it’s not too surprising that...

Users report that read speeds from SSD have dramatically reduced after the newest Windows 11 update (Windows 11 Version 22H2 - KB5023706). While the few reported events were thought to be localized to the ADATA XPG SX8200 Pro 1 TB SSD, the issue is found to plague other manufacturers and can be fixed after uninstalling the update. Windows 11 update slows SSDs during data transfers; Microsoft aware of the problem The newest Windows 11 update, which has the codename "Moment 2," is downloading to PCs starting today, with updates to quality of life and the integration of the ChatGPT-based Bing...

I have hearing loss. I get by with earbuds and subtitles, but I could use help. I imagine many people could benefit from this. I believe it’s possible to boost volume, because I have VLC Media Player, which boosts volume enormously. However, it only seems to work on DVDs. So, I still need help in boosting volume on internet videos and streams. An internet search yielded the BOOM 3D add-on, but reviews say its Volume Booster only works in Macs. My laptop is a Dell Inspiron 15-3501, running Windows 11. I’ve searched Windows Settings and Registry Editor for help, without...

After years of anticipation, today officially marks the end of Windows 7 and 8/8.1, Microsoft has confirmed.The aged operating systems will no longer receive Microsoft security updates from today, January 10, 2023, marking the end of their official lifespan.Anyone using the software will now be at risk of cyberattacks from criminals exploiting current and future security flaws and vulnerabilities, and is urged to update to newer Windows versions - particularly Windows 11 - immediately in order to stay safe.

I stupidly said yes to downloading windows 11. It has downloaded but not yet installed. I want to uninstall/delete it preferably before it installs itself. I am computer illiterate and need some handholding. I know my fellow Freepers are all knowing and can help me

Easiest method to get rid of annoying "Access Denied" error messages while copying, moving or deleting files and folders.

DogWalk, a security flaw in Windows first discovered in January 2020, has finally been addressed, the company has confirmed.The remote code execution flaw, existing due to a path traversal weakness in the Windows Support Diagnostic Tool (MSDT), is being patched as part of the August 2022 Patch Tuesday, Microsoft has said.

My old laptop (with Windows 8.1) was showing its' age, so I recently replaced it with a new HP (running Windows 11). I transferred all my pictures, documents, videos etc. via a thumb drive and thought everything would be fine. I was in for an awakening.

Microsoft has recently added a new privacy feature that allows Windows 11 users to get a list of all the apps that have recently accessed their sensitive info and devices, including their camera, microphone, and contacts. Added in one of the June Windows 11 Preview Builds, it can now be tested by Windows Insiders in the Dev Channel. Besides requests to access the users' contacts, the newly included privacy feature also keeps track of apps that have accessed other sensitive information linked to your location, phone calls, messaging, and screenshots in the last week. The list of nosy apps is...