Should I clean-install Windows 11 when replacing my CPU and motherboard?
I'm upgrading my older gaming PC, which currently can't officially upgrade to Windows 11. The new parts are an Intel Core i5-12600KF, MSI PRO H610M-G DDR4 motherboard, and…
Windows 10
What’s the safest way to completely erase a Windows 10 SSD before selling a PC?
I installed an SSD containing Windows 10 in a computer that I plan to sell. Beforehand, I want to remove Windows, delete all the system and recovery partitions,…
What’s the best order for upgrading my motherboard, CPU, and Windows installation?
I'm upgrading an older gaming PC that can't officially move to Windows 11. The new parts are an Intel Core i5-12600KF, MSI PRO H610M-G DDR4 motherboard, and 32GB…
What’s the best way to securely wipe a Windows 10 SSD before reusing it?
I installed Windows 10 on an SSD, but I'm selling the computer and want to reuse the drive as secondary storage in another PC. Windows created several partitions,…
Why Does WSUS Show an Older Windows Version Than Intune?
I manage about 1,500 devices enrolled in Intune, but WSUS is still our primary patching system because our organization has limited internet bandwidth. Some devices report different operating…
Why do Intune and WSUS show different Windows build numbers?
I have about 1,500 devices enrolled in Intune, but WSUS is still our primary patching system. Some devices show different OS versions in the two systems—for example, Intune…
Should I upgrade my 14-year-old PC or switch to Linux?
I have an older PC built around an AMD FX-8350 processor and an ASUS M5A78L-M PLUS/USB3 motherboard. The system still works fine for what I use it for,…
Is Windows 11 finally worth upgrading to with version 26H2?
I've stayed on Windows 10 for a long time and kept it updated with extended-support patches because Windows 11 felt sluggish and frustrating when it first launched. Now…
Should I switch from Windows 10 to Linux after upgrading my PC?
I'm upgrading several core parts of my PC, including the CPU, motherboard, and GPU, with the graphics card changing from AMD to NVIDIA. That has me wondering whether…
What should I upgrade to fix PC stuttering, high temperatures, and slow SSD performance?
I built this PC around 2020 with an Asus TUF Gaming B550M-Plus motherboard, a Ryzen 7 3700X using the stock cooler, 32GB of G.Skill Ripjaws DDR4 memory, an…
Enabling Secure Boot causes my Windows PC to restart every few minutes
After enabling Secure Boot, my Windows 10 computer repeatedly crashes and reboots about every five minutes. The kernel dump reports bugcheck 0x1E (KMODE_EXCEPTION_NOT_HANDLED) with an access violation (0xC0000005).…
Can I transfer my Windows 10 retail license to a new Windows 11 PC?
I have a retail Windows 10 license linked to my Microsoft account, and I'm building a completely new PC with different hardware. Can I use that license to…
Can I transfer my retail Windows 10 license to a new Windows 11 PC?
I have a retail Windows 10 license linked to my Microsoft account, and I'm building a completely new PC with different hardware. Can I use that license to…
Can Windows 10 still handle a brand-new high-end gaming PC?
I'm planning to build a new PC after spending more than six years using Macs. It'll be a very high-end system with a Ryzen 9 9950X3D2, 96GB of…
Should I switch from Windows 11 to Linux or stay with Windows for gaming?
I'm considering leaving Windows 11 because I'm concerned about bloat, resource usage, data collection, and some recent update problems. I mainly browse the web, watch videos, and play…
Gaming PC Build for €1,500–2,000 in Germany: Reuse DDR4 or Move to AM5?
I'm planning a new gaming PC in Germany with a budget of roughly €1,500–2,000. I mostly play less demanding games, but newer titles such as Baldur's Gate 3…
Should I switch from Windows 11 to Linux if I mainly browse and play multiplayer games?
I'm considering leaving Windows 11 because I'm uncomfortable with its bundled software, data collection, resource usage, and some recent update problems. My computer use is pretty simple: browsing…
How does Windows 11 compare with earlier Windows releases in adoption and usability?
This is the first major Windows release I've followed closely enough to form a real opinion about operating systems and have some control over which one I use.…
How can I restore audio on a generic Windows 10 laptop?
I was given an inexpensive generic laptop with Windows 10, but Windows says there is no audio output device. The built-in troubleshooter did not help. I've tried updating,…
How does Windows 11 compare with earlier Windows releases in adoption, stability, and usability?
Windows 11 is the first major Windows release I've followed closely enough to have a strong opinion about the operating system itself and some choice over what I…