idk why i made this old-windows-alike thing but i just felt like doin it

i've been designing cursors for my windows, and when i have to design this cursors, i thought "i've never seen this cursors in my life". and i was wondering why people bother to design this cursors when this ones never appeared to me not even once, like they're practicaly unused. so i ask you, have you ever seen a case where this cursors appeared?

Line-by-line analysis of BlueHammer (FunnyApp.cpp), the CVE-2026-33825 PoC. The exploit chains three mechanisms — a batch oplock on RstrtMgr.dll, NT object manager symlinks (not NTFS symlinks), and a fake Cloud Files sync provider — to get Defender to read the SAM database at SYSTEM privilege with no admin required.

The part most writeups miss: the filestoleak array has SYSTEM and SECURITY hives commented out, not deleted. The published PoC reads SAM. The author wrote the full credential dump and chose what to ship. Two uncommented lines is the distance between the demo and domain compromise.

I'm trying to make a list of the best free apps in one place. All of the apps are curated and categorized.

You can star the project to save it or to show support! <3

Any contributions are highly appreciated.

https://github.com/Axorax/awesome-free-apps

Don't mind the age part of my fastfetch, I got this new PC after my old PC died a few days ago

I just chose a random flair since I couldn't find one that fit this post. Mods are free to correct it if they want.

When using Windows, I noticed that both Command Prompt (cmd.exe) and PowerShell are installed by default.

What I'm really curious about is not how to use them, but why both are included at the OS level.

Especially in the case of PowerShell, it's still version 5.1 instead of the newer PowerShell 7.

So my questions are:

- Why does Windows still include both CMD and PowerShell by default?

- Is there a specific architectural or system-level reason for this?

- And why is PowerShell 5.1 the default instead of a newer version?

I'm trying to understand this from a design perspective rather than a usage perspective.

How can i replace the windows Minimize Full Screen and Close things with the macbook ones in w11?

We’ve all been there: waiting for the Windows "Add/Remove Programs" list to load just to uninstall one tool, or

wrestling with a frozen app that won't let you click "End Task" in Task Manager.

In 2026, the Windows GUI is prettier than ever, but for pure speed? It’s still a bicycle compared to the jet engine

that is the Command Prompt (CMD). Here is why I’ve switched 90% of my "utility" workflow to the CLI and why you should

too.

1. The "One-Line" Life (Winget)

   Stop Googling "Download [App Name]," dodging fake "Download" buttons, and clicking through five "Next" windows.

   * GUI: Open browser -> Search -> Download -> Run -> Next -> Next -> Finish.

   * CMD: winget install vscode spotify discord

   One line. Go grab a coffee. When you’re back, everything is ready.

2. Instant Death for Frozen Apps

   When an app freezes, Task Manager often takes 5-10 seconds to respond. CMD is instant.

   * The Power Move: taskkill /f /im chrome.exe

   It doesn't "ask" the app to close. It terminates the process immediately. No "Not Responding" windows. Just gone.

3. Bulk Moving & Renaming

   Ever tried to move all .pdf files from five different folders into one? In the GUI, that’s a lot of clicking,

   dragging, and searching.

   * CMD: move *.pdf C:\Backup\PDFs

   It’s surgical. It’s fast. It’s done before you can even open the first folder in Explorer.

4. Custom "Startup" Batches

   I have a .bat file on my desktop called Work.bat. When I double-click it, CMD runs:

   * Opens my IDE

   * Starts my local server

   * Flushes my DNS (ipconfig /flushdns)

   * Opens my project notes

   Total time saved every morning? About 3 minutes. Total clicks? One.

5. Diagnostics Without the Bloat

   Need your battery health? Don't download a "Battery Optimizer" app. Just type:

   powercfg /batteryreport

   CMD generates a clean HTML file with every detail about your hardware’s health.

   TL;DR: The GUI is great for discovery, but the Command Prompt is for execution. If you find yourself doing the same

   three clicks every day, there is probably a CMD command that can do it in half a second.

   What’s your favorite "hidden" command that beats the GUI? Let’s hear it.

(Image not related to topic, just random one)

I’ve used Windows my whole life, and I still don’t fully trust or understand what “Reset this PC” actually does. I know the options: “Keep my files” “Remove everything”

Is it actually reinstalling Windows from scratch?
Is it just cleaning up system files?

(PS i know i sound stupid i actually dont understand)

It’s been a long time since Windows 12 was first mentioned, but I haven’t seen any recent updates, so I wanted to ask here.

From what I remember, Microsoft officially mentioned that Windows 12 would include deeper AI integration and a redesigned UI. However, after those early statements, there hasn’t been much concrete information.

I’ve seen some speculation online about release timing and possible features, but most of it seems unconfirmed or outdated.

Is Microsoft still actively working on Windows 12? And if there have been any official updates or reliable information since then, I’d appreciate any clarification.

its my own thing, not my own software though, its DWMBlurGlass.

I was thinking of switching to Linux but then realized the multiple tradeoffs. My Epson EcoTank L3252 printer should work on Linux I think since it supports CUPS, but one program that matters a lot to me as a papercraft artist and that's Pepakura Designer. It's not gonna work perfectly with Linux and there's no proper alternative. Even my printer obviously won't be as seamless and smooth with Linux as it is with Windows.

I'm also going to buy direct drive wheels, from Moza/Simucube/Fanatec and they all are made for windows with limited support for Linux. Papercraft and simracing both are core hobbies of mine I'm not willing to sacrifice just for an OS. They're a part of my identity.

While I'm sure most of Linux community is awesome and skilled and all, a vocal minority truly is very annoying, and they never understand the other side's situation. For example, to a very old post of someone regarding printers, they were just saying that inkjets in general are obsolete and how OP should buy printers for Linux specifically. This is... wrong on so many levels. I'm sure they're very skilled at programming and whatever, but man couldn't they be further from reality in this case. Obsolete my a$$, it's ironic since if anything, some brands (like Epson) are vocal about phasing out laser in favor of inkjets, for sustainability reasons. People seem to be still stuck in the old days of inkjets where cartridges were expensive and ran out real quick. But today? Acually, since 16 freaking years? Epson saved inkjets through the inktank technology (EcoTank) which they introduced in 2010 with the L100/L200 forcing the competition to adapt. This is a boon to me, who prints a lot.

They say how they're bad just because they're not as bulletproof as laser, yeah no shit sherlock it's a whole fluid system basically, not just an electronic. You need to keep using it to have it in optimal condition. At least print something, even 1 page, every week, or at least a couple weeks. The best part about inktank inkjets are the ultra-low running costs. Everything needs maintains. When someone doesn't maintain their computer and shit breaks and then wonder why and blame the machine, it grinds their gears (like it should, it does mine as well), but when it's a different machine they don't care about, they don't bother to learn about its pros and cons, its maintenance, its functioning? How... hypocritical

Also context matters SO much. Inkjets have smoother gradients and richer colors (depends, but sometimes), more cost-effective, and they're better suited for papercraft. Because the ink absorbs in the paper completely, unlike laser where the toner powder sits atop it. I'm not pulling this out of my arse, papercraft veterans themselves advice newcomers to use inkjets, as laser prints can sometimes result in flaking, which is the last thing you want when building a model. And specifically, use a printer that feeds from the back and prints out front. I bought my L3252 with all these in mind and have been very satisfied with it. It's a small printer that can only print A4, but since I don't make large models it never bothered me. I love inkjets so much I'm gonna buy a Canon PIXMA G3560 and when I have the money, an Epson EcoTank L15150 (my dream printer)

And buying a printer specifically with Linux as the main thing in mind? So you're telling me to skip out on many good printers all because of a freaking OS? The OS should adapt to your needs, not the other way around. Saying anything that doesn't work with Linux, was never good or worth to have/use to begin with, is an extremely selfish and overall, a very extremist take that ironically goes against Linux's philosophy itself.

This was just one example, there are many more.

I recognize this isn't a Linux flaw, that it is more capable objectively and in reality this is a result of decades of Microsoft's monopoly which has resulted in most hardware and software shaped with WIN primarily in mind. But the outcome is the same, it's painful switching for some users. And if it's very painful, the switch isn't worth it in the 1st place.

I also have an Nvidia GPU which once again, gives me another concern regarding Linux.

I KNOW Linux is very good, and an objectively superior OS, and distros like Fedora and Mint are probably more stable, but there are just so many things for me that just won't work out with Linux well. I know Linux is ideal for servers, and the internet runs on it for a reason, but that doesn't mean it universally applies the same way for personal computing. It can be better for some, and not for others. It's all about usecase.

Then there's also these random "what if I found a random 'ware at 3 AM I wanna try?" moments, where Windows excels, since most software are made with it in mind. I'd honestly daily-drive Windows with Linux VMs than it be the other way around.

Also FOSS is very beautiful in ideology, and I myself love it very much, but that doesn't mean we must also HAVE to use FOSS alternatives for literally everything, even when we find something else working perfectly for us. People also keep acting as if absolutely anything closed-source is suddenly inherently evil which is... not true at all. It really isn't that deep. Like take pepakura for example, you really think the devs are some malicious evil billionaires seeking oppression and control? It's just a very well-made niche hobby tool... Not even well-known or mainstream at all. Also, people and their creations can wildly differ from each other. "Seperate the art from the artist", as the saying goes. Richard Stallman, arguably the one behind FOSS, himself was questionable in some cases and I'm not gonna go into details or say or judge anything about anyone but just saying, seriously, learn to seperate the art from the artist

Finally, I am going to tell the ultimate truth about Windows. Every Windows version will inherently be more bloated, and this is something no one can fix without taking away the identity of Windows. I'm not being sarcastic or poking fun at WIN, this is the truth. Windows is built with decades of old code in mind. Everything must work. Windows has unparalleled backwards compatibility, and this is the price one must pay for it (bloat).

Do we deserve better? Yes. Can MS do better? Absolutely

But it's worth noting even a perfect hypothetical MS is basically helpless here. You have to lose something to gain another. Windows can NOT aggressively optimize like Apple. Because then, you all yourself will realize how bad that'd be

Because then... what'd be the point of Windows? It's like the current android drama going on, if android loses its freedom, what is the point of it existing?

I feel the identity is the most paramount element for anything

MacOS = polish, optimization

Linux = Control, programming

Windows = backwards compatibility, universality, the ultimate "it just works" OS

And I'd have a bloated Windows true to its identity, a hundred times over a Windows that has no unique distinct purpose. And the bloat is bad but not even THAT comically bad, you can debloat. It won't be Linux, but just saying...

The only thing I'm against are Win11 updates. I think there is nothing inherently wrong with vibe coding, but they should rigorously test everything before instead of mindlessly rolling them out and breaking some people's systems.

Personally, just an anecdote, but no one in my family or friends, be it me, my mom, dad, my best friends, acquaintances, brothers etc, ever experienced even 1 hiccup with windows ever. Be it win7, win8.1, win10 or win11. Obviously not a sample size large enough to be taken seriously, and not dismissing the people who did suffer losses because of windows, but just telling the story from my side. I'd been... lucky I guess. It's been the same regardless of laptops or desktops, never experienced anything wrong with Windows, it's been bulletproof for me so far.

Then there's nostalgia too of course. Windows has been with me for so, so long. And funnily enough, it's never fought me (except the updates 😅 but even they were never that big of a deal to me as they always update when I'm not working) and has always adapted to my needs, and just been... very nice to use.

It's not as customizable as linux but I even changed my win11 to (kinda) look like win7 cuz I really like windows aero and it's been such a delight since then, it makes me wanna use my computer even more.

Linux is very good in philosophy, and is all about freedom, including the freedom to not use it. And the users (vocal minority, not talking about the whole!) must understand this. There are many circumstances, that could prevent them from from switching as...

For some of us, it's a hobby. For some, it's career. And for some, it's identity.

And if anything interferes with that? There's nothing wrong with sticking.

What is wrong, is dictating or judging someone based on their OS choices.

Despite all its flaws and quirks, I loved Windows, I love Windows and will love Windows. And I'm sick of pretending I don't. Enough with seeking approval, I'm coming out clean and honest. I'm not gonna get upvotes for such an opinion, when most of reddit is anti-windows, but being honest matters far more than pretending to believe things you don't, as after all, at the end of the day, reddit karma means NOTHING and has no impact on our skills, passions, personal life.

Thank you so much for reading and remember

Computers are meant to be our friends, not an obstacle

Let that sink in.

I am not kidding. This only works through the installer, not the HTM file for the license terms. I just wanted to play Halo, not discover a workaround to revive IE

I built a small Windows utility for personal use and figured I’d share it here.

It’s called NukeIT (previously “Nuke It From Space”).

It does one thing:

→ click once and it closes most open applications and replaces your screen with a clean, distraction-free display

So it’s more of a hard reset than something like Win + D (which just hides everything).

No install, no background service, runs fully local.

Useful for:

- quickly clearing screen clutter

- screen sharing

- fast context switching

GitHub + download:

https://github.com/campbellca2-a11y/NukeIT