/r/windows

Photograph via snooOG

Welcome to the largest unofficial community for Microsoft Windows, the world's most popular desktop computer operating system!

  • Welcome to the largest community for Microsoft Windows, the world's most popular computer operating system!
  • Tech Support posts are only permitted on Mondays.
  • You may also use r/WindowsHelp or r/TechSupport to get help with your PC.

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    Rules

    • 1. Keep the discussion related to Microsoft Windows Posts completely unrelated to Microsoft Windows will be removed. Just because something is compatible with Windows, doesn't mean this is the subreddit for it. Derailing conversations and threads is not allowed.

    • 2. Flair posts correctly We are not extremely strict with what flair you pick, but if it's very wrong we will change it. If we select another flair, don't put the original one back. Not sure what flair to use? Read this list to help you decide.

    • 3. Do not distribute malicious programs Do not purposely distribute viruses or other harmful programs or apps. Advising the use of pirated software (including piracy, activation tools, and bypasses to enable paid features) is prohibited. This also includes "grey market" and other activation keys from unauthorized resellers.

    • 4. Do not post Blogspam links or URL shorteners Blogspam, URL shorteners, mobile links, and referral and affiliate links are not allowed. Post the full desktop link for articles and news.

    • 5. Be civil and do not troll others Personal attacks, bigotry, fighting words, inappropriate behavior and comments that insult or demean a specific user or group of users are not allowed. Posts or comments containing or seeking any identifying personal information are also prohibited. Do not engage in blatant trolling or flaming.

    • 6. Do not advertise a 3rd party software without permission If you want to promote an app or website, you must send us a modmail to request permission. Include as much relevant information as you can in both the modmail and the post. This is not a marketplace subreddit, selling anything is prohibited.

    • 7. Do not promote pirated content or grey market keys Do not post pirated content or promote it in any way. Encouraging or hinting at the use of sellers of grey market keys is not allowed.

    • 8. Titles must be relevant to the post Irrelevant, sensationalized, or vague titles that have the pure intent of misleading or dramatizing a topic are not allowed. The relevancy of submissions' titles will be judged at the moderator's discretion.

    • 9. Do not submit reposts, low-effort posts or rants Reposts are not allowed. All posts and answers that can easily be found by searching this subreddit or by using a search engine will be removed at the moderators' discretion. Although we encourage healthy discussions, rants and low-effort posts that do not contribute positively to the subreddit are not allowed.

    • 10. Only post memes and tech support posts on Mondays Memes and tech support posts are only allowed on Mondays (UTC timezone) and they will be removed any other day of the week. Not Monday yet? Read this list to find more appropriate subreddits for your post.

    • Read the full rules for more information

    Contact the Moderators

    Related Communities

    Filter by Flair

    /r/windows

    296,220 Subscribers

    1

    What is the best in 2024, between Windows 10 and Windows 11 ?

    I would like to know, in 2024 what is the best between choose Windows 10 and Windows 11 ?

    6 Comments
    2024/03/23
    00:05 UTC

    6

    Y’all who tf else uses Windows 8.1 in 2024?

    I need at least 1 other person who still uses 8.1

    21 Comments
    2024/03/22
    22:35 UTC

    1

    How often was this used outside Pasta theme?

    I downloaded a file and wondered if that looked familiar with a very used sound effect back in 2010s? Not sure if that is the origin, but if not, then the rest of them are on a Sound Effect Audio CD or smth like that

    https://vocaroo.com/19FrWLfFVmWd

    It is Pasta Critical Stop

    0 Comments
    2024/03/22
    21:41 UTC

    0

    Windows XP Font Spritesheet (use with credit)

    5 Comments
    2024/03/22
    18:09 UTC

    24

    Do you think Windows 12 Will Bring back taskbar orientations?

    17 Comments
    2024/03/22
    15:45 UTC

    2

    Why is it so difficult to modify the default user configurations?

    [Windows 10]
    I want to make it so all users created on this computer have certain GPO and QoL settings, and from what I can see I have to find a windows install file, use WSIM to create a unattend.xml, use CopyProfile and sysprep my computer just to assign default user settings. What madness! All I want is to modify the custom background and taskbar shortcuts for everyone.

    Is there an easier way?

    2 Comments
    2024/03/22
    13:25 UTC

    1

    External Windows sandbox

    I want to install windows to an external m.2 drive that i can use as a sand box and install what ever i want. I want to do this so the install still has full access to the cpu / gpu. And i dont want to do virtualisation. Question is. If the windows install on the external drive got a virus. Will /could it infect the original windows install on my internal drive.

    Thanks

    5 Comments
    2024/03/22
    10:47 UTC

    1

    Is there a way to determine total time windows been running accross all boots

    Im wondering if there is a way to somehow determine total time windows been running accross all boots. Ive seen the method of looking at eventviewer however does boot dates doesnt add up. Im more looking mabye for a script or a method for determining how many hours this pc been running.

    2 Comments
    2024/03/22
    10:09 UTC

    1

    Third, virtual monitor | Windows 11

    Hello.

    I currently have a PC at home with 2 monitors connected to it. When I work from home I bring my laptop with me, since it already has some software I need, but while at work I have a docking station with 2 monitors, at home I have to use the measly single 14" display.

    Instead of reconnecting the monitors, keyboard, and mouse from my PC to the work laptop, I instead run Rustdesk (like Teamviewer) which streames the laptop's screen to my PC. This way I can utilize my 2 home monitors for work (one running laptop screen, the other being free), and I don't have to replug mouse, keyboard or anything else, since I can just mouse over to the laptop screen.

    Since I don't really need to have the laptop screen shown on the monitor and laptop screen at all times, I'd like to have a third virtual monitor in which I can "tuck away" the Rustdesk screen share, and just mouse over to it whenever I need to do something on the laptop.

    How it is VS How I want it

    Is this possible in native Windows 11? I've looked at this: https://github.com/itsmikethetech/Virtual-Display-Driver. But I don't know if it's quite the same thing, I'd appreciate if someone who tried it could share how it is - I don't want to mess up my rather fagile graphics drivers.

    Has anyone ever done something like this? This is not a tech-support post, more like a question about a feature or an addon.

    1 Comment
    2024/03/22
    08:48 UTC

    1

    Recommendation for backup of both local and cloud only files

    What do you recommend for backups? Local is easy but some of my OneDrive files are cloud only

    2 Comments
    2024/03/22
    01:55 UTC

    1

    Question about Windows 98

    Hello, I’ve been thinking about installing Windows 98 on an IBM Thinkpad 600X, however, most of the installs for new PCs say something along the lines of “For distribution with an HP PC only”; Same thing with Compaq and etc. Does this mean that it would be unable to work or install on the Thinkpad? Assistance would be appreciated maybe. Thanks!

    14 Comments
    2024/03/21
    23:11 UTC

    1

    Microsoft popup question

    Hello Guys, So my PC got a Popup of Microsoft straight out of nowhere asking me if i want to sign in to have it everywhere like that. It also had a “ms/so” black text or similar to that. Question is it normal??? because today i also had like a white screen “setting up or do it in 3 days” but without the “3days text” so it just went and did something but idk what. I apologise for my poor wording and obviously grammar.

    0 Comments
    2024/03/21
    23:44 UTC

    1

    Burning a 4K RIP to a blank BD-R

    Hi. For the life of me I can't find a straightforward answer. Yes, I know to retain the original structure is a whole different thing but I just want to know the best method for burning a 4K RIP in MKV or MP4 to a blank BD-R 50Gb. Just a plain old rip, not the full original structured 4K disc with BDMV, Stream, etc. Can Windows 10/11 simply drag and drop the file onto the drive or will it have no idea what it's doing? Do I need dedicated burning software, etc? Thanks for your help :)

    1 Comment
    2024/03/21
    20:35 UTC

    1

    I wonder how they managed to test NT on a 386SX

    (a 386SX is limited to 16MB of RAM)

    10 Comments
    2024/03/21
    22:26 UTC

    9

    do you use something else than windows defender, why?

    i don't think it is worth anymore using something else than windows defender

    most other softwares are just bloated with crap i don't need too. i was a fan of avast back then but then something happen to them

    55 Comments
    2024/03/21
    22:05 UTC

    3

    If I revert back to a restore point will I keep the files I have downloaded after it was made?

    Genuinely curious because I have a lot of files like Blender files and videos and stuff that I want to keep But I am planning on reverting back to a restore point. Will all the new files I have gotten after the restore point be lost?

    8 Comments
    2024/03/21
    19:27 UTC

    4

    Does anyone know a good screen recording software/app for Windows?

    Hi I'm wondering what is a good screen recording app/software? Things I'm looking for:

    records audio can select area for recording no watermark free (flexible on this, but ideally not insanely expensive) Long recording times (plan to use it for university lectures where work is on the computer but lecture is in person that last 2-3 hours... 1 hour recording time maximum would work as well if possible!) the application does not take up a lot of space

    I know some people recommend OBS but I don't believe that meets the length requirement.

    17 Comments
    2024/03/21
    18:19 UTC

    0

    Is ther any way to use mac apps on windows?

    the question is clear but when i searched for it, all i can found was about downloading macOS on a virtual machine, which is what not i have been looking for. So, is there any way i can run macOS apps like wine runs .exe, but on windows for mac apps?

    10 Comments
    2024/03/21
    17:52 UTC

    9

    What are the differences between the normal windows versions and the professional versions?

    Pls tell me

    22 Comments
    2024/03/21
    15:38 UTC

    1

    I updated my laptop to windows 11 but I had a win 10 pro key and now I have to active windows. The old key is wrong what options do I have?

    .

    8 Comments
    2024/03/21
    10:58 UTC

    1

    Multi Monitor Setup: Turning Pen Display on and off in a running session

    Setup with 3 screens on Win 10. Two identical screens are needed daily, the third is a Wacom Pen Display that I only need for retouching work. I want to…

    • start Windows by default with two screens active
    • turn on the Wacom Display when I need it
    • turn off the Wacom Display when done with retouch work

    This all seems straightforward, except it isn't. When Windows has booted without the Pen Display turned on, I see no way to properly post-start its driver and load preferences. I have to perform a reboot to hook up the Wacom device properly.

    Simply turning off the Wacom device in a running session is problematic, too. Windows doesn't retain assigned screen-numbers but remaps them. Screen 3 becomes screen 2 and Windows likely reloads drivers and profiles (flickering going on).

    The result is that I let the Wacom device running, although I don't need it. Ideally, Windows should remember that there are three screens and their number assignment, even if one of the displays is turned off. Does anyone know a solution to the problem?

    0 Comments
    2024/03/21
    10:19 UTC

    5 Comments
    2024/03/20
    23:48 UTC

    1

    Any good Windows apps similar to Flasia, Pixel Engine, or Atomus for Android?

    Any recommendations?

    0 Comments
    2024/03/20
    22:34 UTC

    4

    Windows command line only

    I would like to run a fully functional windows 10 pro from the command line and only using a 60% keyboard.

    Where do I start?!?

    11 Comments
    2024/03/20
    22:00 UTC

    3

    Is it possible to cycle through visualizations with Windows Legacy Media Player on Windows 11?

    Just that. I like a lot of the different stock and DLC visualizations and being able to automatically transition between them at 30 second intervals would greatly enhance my listening/ viewing experience.

    https://preview.redd.it/nbgjykd60kpc1.png?width=1658&format=png&auto=webp&s=5e992c758e9794195dabaaf702f756d5008a23e7

    0 Comments
    2024/03/20
    21:05 UTC

    84

    I edited a Bliss remake that user u/MetaAesthics did in Minecraft, after skinning my Windows10 to look like XP once again, to look more accurate to the original while still retaining the nice quality of being a spin on the original Bliss desktop wallpaper

    5 Comments
    2024/03/20
    19:01 UTC

    2

    Creating child controls on W10 without a Microsoft account.

    Hi I would like to have some control over what my kids do thier laptop without me hovering over them.

    my littlest has managed to change the time zone and calendar to Chinese before.

    They are already standard accounts.

    However I dont want to go and creating a load of MS accounts for this.

    2 Comments
    2024/03/20
    18:58 UTC

    93

    Windows NT 3.51 from 1995 can find my wireless Epson printer and use it with a 1994 driver to print text and raster graphics...

    17 Comments
    2024/03/20
    18:43 UTC

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