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Microsoft is testing a built-in internet speed test feature in Windows 11, currently available to Windows Insiders on the Experimental channel. The tool replaces the previous method of redirecting users to a Bing webpage, instead offering a direct test accessible from the system tray or network icon. Users must enable a specific feature flag to access it, and results show live download and upload speed graphs.
Microsoft released KB5134133 for Windows 11 and KB5134125 for Windows 10 on October 26 to remove trust in certificates linked to eight compromised eMudhra intermediate certificate authority keys. The updates target systems without internet access or automatic certificate trust list updates, removing seven certificates including six eMudhra G3 roots and an AAA Certificate Services cross-sign from the Windows trust store.
Microsoft has rolled out a new customizable right-click context menu to Windows 11 Insider Beta channel testers. Users can add or remove commands, reorder items, and insert shortcuts for specific actions like opening files in Notepad or Photos, accessible via a new customize entry in File Explorer or through Settings.
Acer confirmed US pricing and availability for its Predator Atlas 8 gaming handheld, which will be sold exclusively through Best Buy starting November 1 for $1,300. The only configuration offered pairs Intel's Arc B390 graphics (12 Xe3 GPU cores) with 24GB of LPDDR5x RAM, an 8-inch 120Hz display, Wi-Fi 7, and Windows 11 with Xbox Game Pass support. Best Buy says initial pre-orders have already sold out, with a new ordering window opening on launch day.
A software essay pushes back on the idea that programs were better built in earlier decades, arguing that Windows-era software crashed constantly despite near-universal market dominance. The author, a computer user since 1990, cites recurring crashes and the infamous Blue Screen of Death as evidence that nostalgia for 'the good old days' of software quality is misplaced.
A Windows 11 Insider build (29295) spotted by Neowin includes a new 'Advanced Performance Extensions (APX)' setting, though no Intel chips currently support the feature. Intel first detailed APX in 2023, describing 32 general-purpose registers and new instruction formats meant to cut loads by 10% and stores by 20% versus its baseline Intel 64 architecture.
A modified version of WineVDM, called OTVDM, enables users to run legacy 16-bit Windows executables (from Windows 1.x through 3.1) directly on modern 64-bit Windows systems, which natively lack support for 16-bit code. The tool works by emulating the CPU and LDT functions, converting Win16 API calls to Win32 equivalents, redirecting Windows directory file writes, and even emulating DOS environments. Users can install it via a setup script or run executables directly by dragging them onto the included otvdm.exe.
Developer NTDEV, creator of the Tiny11 project, built a proof-of-concept tool called Pico11 that compresses a working Windows 11 install into a single ISO sized under 700MB, small enough for a CD-ROM. The demo retains a functional desktop with Calculator, Settings, Notepad and Paint, though it uses an older, lightweight Task Manager and strips out Windows Update and servicing features.
A roundup highlights utilities like StartAllBack and Windhawk that let Windows 11 users restore classic taskbar and Start menu layouts, including left-aligned Start buttons, two-column Start panels, and legacy system tray flyouts. Windows 11 26H2 now natively allows moving the taskbar to the top or sides and offers a smaller taskbar size, but still lacks the granular control these third-party tools provide. StartAllBack costs $5 after a 100-day trial, while Windhawk uses a modular, community-driven mod system rather than a full interface overhaul.
Windows includes a built-in virtual desktops feature that lets users separate apps by purpose, such as keeping communication apps away from work tools, effectively expanding usable screen space on a single monitor. Users can adjust taskbar and Alt+Tab behavior per desktop through Settings > System > Multitasking > Desktops. A free third-party tool called Windows Virtual Desktop Helper, available on GitHub, adds extra features like displaying desktop names and system tray navigation.
Microsoft's Windows XP went on sale at retailers 25 years ago today, backed by a $500 million marketing campaign. The launch event in New York featured Bill Gates and Mayor Rudy Giuliani, along with a free Sting concert in Bryant Park, though festivities were toned down following the September 11 attacks. The OS marked Microsoft's shift away from the MS-DOS-based Windows line toward the more stable Windows NT core for consumers.
Developer Rafael Rivera found that wallpapers Microsoft emailed to Windows Insiders in mid-October, marking the program's 12th anniversary, carried file metadata showing they were saved using Photoshop on a Mac. Rivera said the ten wallpapers came from Microsoft's in-house design team, and the company has since replaced the files on its design site without comment.