Microsoft releases emergency fix for Windows 11 startup problems
Following the release of the KB5058405 update last month, Microsoft acknowledged that it was causing problems for some users. Affected users were left with startup issues and a warning of a 0xc0000098 error in the ACPI.sys file.
Now the company has released an out-of-band fix for the issue in the form of the KB5062170 update. Such is the impact of the original problem that Microsoft recommends installing this update in place of the May 2025 security update for Windows 11.
Microsoft says it is ending USB-C confusion with updated Windows 11 WHCP
USB-C was supposed to be the connection that simplified everything -- but it has ended up doing anything but making things simple. With different USB generations, and within those generations different levels of capability, it is no wonder people are confused about just what their USB ports and cables can do, and what level of capability to expect.
This is something Microsoft is looking to change. Pointing to the “inconsistent implementations of USB-C port capabilities across the PC ecosystem”, the company is seeking to end USB-C port confusion by using the Windows Hardware Compatibility Program (WHCP) to help people know precisely what to expect from certified PCs.
Microsoft Security gets a style upgrade that goes beyond the surface to embrace the human
Padlocks, chains, keys, shields: these are all stereotypical images used to represent security. They are also the themes -- tropes, if you will -- that have been avoided in an eye-catching and vibrant rebranding for Microsoft Security.
A team at Koto -- a creative studio also behind design projects for Amazon, Riot Games, FitBit, WhatsApp, and more -- is responsible for a bold new brand identity that sidesteps the obvious. Instead, the new look that is bold yet human, clear and confident.
Instagram announces support for the most commonly used photo aspect ratio
Post an image to Instagram and it will almost certainly be automatically cropped. The reason for this is that, until now, the platform has supported 4:5 aspect ratio images, as well as the Instagram staple -- the square format.
But this is not in line with how most people shoot photographs, and the platform is finally taking this into account. There is now support for a new (new to Instagram, at least), aspect ratio.
No prizes for guessing what's to blame for the latest problem that stops Windows 11 booting (yep, it's another OS update)
Windows updates that cause problems are far from being uncommon, sadly, but the latest issue is a pretty serious one. Some users who have installed the KB5058405 update from earlier this month have found themselves with an non-booting system.
Those affected will note a 0xc0000098 error in the ACPI.sys file, and a message informing them that their device needs to be repaired. The bad news does not end there. Microsoft does not yet have a fix -- or even a workaround.
Your WhatsApp status just got a huge upgrade that injects creativity and personality
While WhatsApp is, ostensibly, a messaging, chat and video calling platform, it is more than that; it is also a pseudo social media platform. The Status section of WhatsApp has gradually evolved over the years to become a way to not only indicate your availability, but to express much more.
And now Status has received another massive upgrade. It is now possible to display a collage of multiple photos, share music, and much more. A plethora of new options are rolling out globally; here's what you have to look forward to.
Get your hands on the new Windows Share feature and try out Click To Do enhancements with the KB5058499 update for Windows 11
Microsoft has released a preview version of the KB5058499 update for Windows 11, adding a host of new features to the operating system -- many of them, predictably, AI-oriented.
The biggest additions are updates to Click To Do, as well as the rollout of the new Windows Share feature. There is also “Cross device resume” to allow for seamless device migration when using OneDrive files, and much more.
The launch of Windows Backup for Organizations sees Microsoft making it easier to move to Windows 11
The end of support for Windows 10 is fast approaching, as Microsoft is only too eager to keep reminding us. This is important for all users of Windows 10, but particularly for organizations that need to ensure security.
Microsoft has just launched Windows Backup for Organizations, and this can be seen as one of the ways in which the company is encouraging migration to Windows 11. It is an Entra-based way to backup and restore Windows settings, and it's now available in a limited public preview.
Microsoft super-charges Windows Update so it can keep all of your apps up to date
Microsoft has launched a preview version of the Windows Update orchestration platform. This is an update to Windows Update itself which opens it up for use by third-party developers.
This means that Windows Update could soon be able to update not only Windows, but also drivers, and third-party apps. So broad is the scope of what Microsoft is working on that it feels as though Windows Update will soon be a misnomer, and a rebranding may be in order.
Microsoft brings new features to older versions of Windows 11 with the KB5058502 update
It's the time of the month when Microsoft releases previews of next month's software updates, and for Windows 11 users there is the KB5058502 update preview.
Interestingly, this particular update is focused on older editions of Windows 11 -- specifically Windows 11 23H2, and the Enterprise and Education editions of Windows 11 22H2. And the update is significant; it brings not only bug fixes, but also a raft of new feature, including the almost inevitable selection of new Copilot-related bits and pieces.
There is, at long, long last, a native WhatsApp app for iPad
Using WhatsApp on an iPad has long meant making a compromise or two. The reason is that there has simply not been a version of WhatsApp designed for Apple's tablet, forcing users to turn to WhatsApp Web in Safari.
After an incredibly long period of development, Meta has finally produced an iPad version of WhatsApp. So how does the iPadOS port of WhatsApp look?
Microsoft releases Defender update to improve the security of your Windows installation images
Having Windows installation images is handy; they can be used to reinstall your operating system, but they are also useful when creating virtual machines. Microsoft is concerned about their safety, however.
Pointing to "a Microsoft Defender protection gap" that exists in the first hours of a freshly installed copy of Windows, the company highlights installation images that contain outdated antimalware software binaries. The solution to this problem? An update to Microsoft Defender for these images.
Windows 11 now has its own built-in color picker tool
Forget installing a random, third-party color picker just to learn the HEX values for a particularly pleasing hue on your screen -- Microsoft is gracing Windows 11 users with a built-in utility.
The Windows 11 color picker is part of the impressive (and increasingly so) Snipping Tool, and it is very similar to the Color Picker module found in PowerToys. While this may seem like a small, niche tool, we'd be very surprised if you don't find a use for it in the future -- but there is at least one disadvantage when compared to the PowerToys utility.
The new PC-to-PC migration experience in Windows 11 could be a game-changer
Getting a new PC is something met with excitement and dread in just about equal measure. For all of the positives associated with a shiny, new, faster system, there are the negatives of transferring files, installing apps, and configuring settings.
The process of migrating from one PC to another can be approached in various ways, and for Windows 11 users there is a new option. Microsoft is rolling out its new PC-to-PC migration experience as it implements significant changes to the Windows Backup app.
WhatsApp makes Voice Chats available to groups of any size
WhatsApp has announced the expansion of its Voice Chat feature for groups. The live audio feature is something that was well-received when it first appeared in the chat app, so the wider rollout makes a lot of sense. There is a twist, however.
While the feature is now available to more users than before, the expansion is not like most feature expansions.
Sofia Elizabella's Bio
Sofia Wyciślik-Wilson is a queer, transgender journalist based in Poland. She has been writing about technology for more than two decades, and after years working for magazines, her writing moved online. She is fueled by literature, music, nature, and vegetables. You can find her on Bluesky and Mastodon. If you like what you read, you can Buy her a Coffee!
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