Windows 11

Why is Path variable behaving like other user variables in "Edit environment variables for your account"?

I tried to add a path to the Path variable using chatgpt prompts (which I should not have done)

setx Path "%JAVA_HOME%\bin;%PATH%"

Now I can't see the old path variables nor add new path variables. The system functions fine until now but I don't know what I should do to revert back the behaviour.

Is there a way to reduce the memory usage of mail in Windows 11?

I have a Microsoft Surface, with only 120GB of memory; however, in the System>Storage view it shows that mail is using up 7GB. I have uninstalled Outlook and this doesn't change.

It's kept installing the same version for 30 times now

• Windows 11, version 21H2: KB5032192 (OS Build 22000.2600)
• Windows 11, version 22H2/23H2: KB5032190 (OS Builds 22621.2715 and 22631.2715)

I'm trying to shrink my C: volume to allow for dual booting, but the built in utility is getting hung up on $BITMAP. It was originally having problems with another unmovable file $DATA, but after using contig that one was moved out of the way.

However, no matter what combination of contig options, safe mode, whatever I try, $BITMAP won't move. 200GB free, and I can only shrink the volume by 9GB because of it. :)

I'd prefer not to have to perform a complete reinstall.

Or it seems, I have to go about disabling bitlocker in order to allow a 3rd party tool to work on the partition... Last time I was messing with partitions was from before Secureoot and Bitlocker days. :)

So I set up my test lab with a domain controller and some clients and changing things in Windows 11 is just a complete nightmare. I see that they finally added the option to where you can ungroup icons on the task bar in this latest update but holy shit man it's been 2 years.. and we're barely getting basic functionality that's been in Windows 10 for 8 years now? How does a development team this size get lead so far astray from their target audience?

Don't even get me started on the Xbox bullshit that comes on a Windows pro machine used in a business environment. I'm getting fed up with windows more and more every day.

Also all these extra bullshit apps like Chat, Teams home. Why are they there ootb on a pro license?

Is there anyone experiencing this issue?

It happened today after updating my system to 23H2. It takes a longer time to boot. I use iso file from microsoft site.

That's all that I found for now.

• Windows 11, version 21H2: KB5031358 (OS Build 22000.2538)
• Windows 11, version 22H2: KB5031354 (OS Build 22621.2428)

I thought this was possible in the past, but I can't seem to find the option in Windows11

This update is NOT 23H2, that is coming at a future date.

Moment 4 optional non-security update is now rolling out to Windows 11 users starting today. This is a slow staged rollout, not everyone is getting it at the same time.

What's new?

Microsoft Copilot!

Copilot is an amazing digital assistant, powered by Bing Chat, that helps you use your PC and improve productivity. (Currently not available in all regions)

More details about that here: https://blogs.microsoft.com/blog/2023/09/21/announcing-microsoft-copilot-your-everyday-ai-companion/

• Return of the Ungroup / Uncombine taskbar icons, including showing the names of running tasks - No longer are you forced to combine icons of apps with multiple windows open, and now you can see the name of the app in addition to the icon.

• Native support for RAR, 7Zip, and other archives - No longer will you need 3rd party software to open these files, they will open in Explorer just like Zip files do.

• Many enhancements to MS Paint, including dark mode support and layers.

• Dynamic Lighting, AKA RGB peripheral support. Now you can control the lights of select RGB devices right from the Windows Settings app, reducing the need to rely on manufacturer provided tools.

• New volume mixer flyout - https://i.imgur.com/577rnlC.png

And hundreds of other little changes. For a fairly comprehensive list, see this ChangeWindows post. Be sure to update the apps from the Microsoft Store to see the changes.

Some anticipated features are not included with this update, they may be part of the upcoming 23H2 update later this year.

You can read more here:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/september-26-2023-kb5030310-os-build-22621-2361-preview-363ac1ae-6ea8-41b3-b3cc-22a2a5682faf

https://www.neowin.net/news/microsoft-details-all-windows-11-23h2-features-it-starts-delivering-early-in-22h2-itself/

https://www.techradar.com/computing/windows/windows-11-update-coming-today-will-finally-persuade-me-to-upgrade-but-not-because-of-copilot

https://www.ghacks.net/2023/09/22/windows-11s-moment-4-update-launches-on-september-26-2023/

How to install the update

Assuming you are already on Windows 11 22H2, open Settings then go to Windows Update, and enable "Get the latest updates as soon as they're available". Have your PC check for updates, once it appears you can select the Download and Install option. Sit back, let it do its thing, and enjoy your new features once completed.

As an alternative, it can be manually downloaded and installed from the Update Catalog: https://www.catalog.update.microsoft.com/Search.aspx?q=KB5030310

This update only applies to users on Windows 11 22H2, those on 21H1 or still on Windows 10 would need to upgrade to Windows 11 22H2 first.

These features will roll out to everyone on 22H2 automatically in October. This update does not change your build version number, this is not one of those major updates that requires a large download, multiple reboots and a long installation time. In most cases, it should easily install in only a few minutes.

If you have the update installed but are not seeing the new features, make sure you have the September 26th configuration update installed too: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/september-26-2023-windows-configuration-update-542780c2-594c-46cb-979d-11116fe164ba

If you are in a region that does not support Copilot, you can try and create your own shortcut to launch it. Create a shortcut to the following: microsoft-edge:///?ux=copilot&tcp=1&source=taskbar

With today's update to Windows 11, Microsoft is bringing the power of Copilot and new AI-powered experiences to apps like Clipchamp, Paint, Photos, and more.

Summary

• ThemeBleed exploit is a new vulnerability in Windows Themes that allows remote code execution (RCE).

• The vulnerability was discovered by Gabe Kirkpatrick and assigned the CVE identifier CVE-2023-38146.

• It is a race condition vulnerability that can be triggered by opening a specially crafted .theme file.

• Microsoft has released a patch for the vulnerability in the September 2023 Patch Tuesday updates.

• However, the patch does not fix the more fundamental problem in the verification procedure of .msstyles files, nor does it add MOTW warnings to .themepack files.

• The researcher notes that the vulnerability appears to be only present in Windows 11.

Snipping Tool gets smarter with its latest update.

Here's my situation:

I've got a minecraft server running inside a restricted Windows user account, and I'm using a main account for everything else. So, two Windows user accounts are always logged on simultaneously.

With both users logged in, this works quite well, and I've got not issues.

However, it seems that Windows closes the minecraft server user account for being idle at least once every 24h... how can I prevent it from doing that? I literally want that account running in the background 24/7 unless I log out.

Any ideas?

UPDATE: For anyone who has the same request, I ended up finding a small app that sends a keystroke every so often, and lets windows know that there's still an active user present. Almost like a mouse jiggler, but with a keystroke. There are several of these apps available, and most are called "caffeine" or some variant of that. LOL Been running this app for nearly a week and the user remains logged in :)

• Windows 11, version 21H2: KB5030217 (OS Build 22000.2416)

• Windows 11, version 22H2: KB5030219 (OS Build 22621.2283)

Is there any way around this? Why is Windows doing this? Don't get me wrong, I got the laptop to install a Linux distro anyway, but it's helpful for others (especially my older family members) to just use Windows when they need to print a paper or do a small task, so I would have liked to keep it. Microsoft really lost me here.

Edit:

Thanks everyone for the answers. For reasons I will not delve into now, I ended up installing Windows 10 from the official iso Image, then upgrading to Windows 11. This is the longest and shittiest way to avoid the login as it simply used the local account I created on Windows 10, and that's the road I took (not recommended). Also I ended up installing Mint with dual boot and I love it. I have windows on the smallest partition size possible (about 66G).

Basically just the title, everything else works in my mouse except for the scroll wheel. The weird thing is it works in system apps, like settings, but in like my internet browser I can't scroll Any fixes to this?

• Windows 11, version 21H2: KB5029253 (OS Build 22000.2295)
• Windows 11, version 22H2: KB5029263 (OS Build 22621.2134)