If your Windows 10 computer is currently experiencing high CPU usage because of the IAStorDataSvc, read on as this post will show you what you can do to resolve the issue. The high CPU usage of IAStorDataSvc is because of the Intel Rapid Storage Technology. It appears as a Service that may not only result in high CPU usage but also high disk and memory usage, as well as slow computer performance and overheating of your PC. This problem usually occurs on HP computers and on any computers that are using the Intel Rapid Storage Technology. You might also notice that your fan runs at high speed each time this issue occurs with the average CPU usage spiking up to 50%.
Take note that this service is used to speed up file access. However, if you are not using an SSD on your computer, then it’s not really necessary for you to have the IAStorDataSvc installed. To resolve this issue, here are some options you can try.
Option 1 – Update or reinstall or remove the IAStorDataSvc driver
Before you proceed, you need to decide first if you want to update, reinstall or remove the IAStorDataSvc driver. To make things easier for you, you can try downloading the latest driver from the Intel Download Centre and then install it on your computer. If it works, good, but if not, you might want to consider removing the driver completely and just let the Windows Update look for the right driver for your computer after you restart it. There are times when the drivers installed are incompatible with the latest Windows update which results in issues like high CPU usage.
Tap the Win + X + M combination on your keyboard to open the Device Manager.
After that, look for the Intel Rapid Storage Technology driver, right-click on it and then select Uninstall.
Now restart your computer for the changes to take effect.
Note: You might also have to go to the list of installed programs and uninstall a program that is listed as “Intel Rapid Storage Technology driver”. To do so, refer to these steps:
In the Cortana Search box, type “control panel” and from the search results that appear, click on Control Panel.
After opening Control Panel, select Programs > Programs and Features which will open the list of installed programs on your computer.
From there, look for Intel Rapid Storage Technology and uninstall it.
Option 2 – Try to disable the IAStorDataSvc via Services Manager
Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
Then type “services.msc” in the field and hit Enter to open Services.
Next, look for the Intel Rapid Storage Technology services from the list of services and then double-click it.
Then change its Startup type to “Disabled”.
After that click on the Apply button and then OK to save the changes made.
Now exit the Services window and check if the problem’s resolved.
Windows 11 has brought some new features and changed some of the existing ones. One of these changes includes quick switching of audio devices which will play audio.
Audio switching can still be done under the taskbar, it is just a little different and one could say even hidden. Follow this quick guide and you will be switching from your headphones to speakers as an example in a matter of seconds.
Click on the speaker icon located in the far-right part of the taskbar.
After the quick settings menu appears click on the right arrow located right of the volume slider. If the arrow is not present, instead of click on the pencil icon, then on add, and finally select Volume from the list.
After clicking on the arrow icon, a list of all enabled audio devices on the system will replace the volume slider. Click on the desired audio device in order to make it active.
Click anywhere outside the quick setting menu to save changes and close it.
Note: in the Quick settings menu if you choose More Volume Settings it will bring you to System > Sound where you can access more sound input and output options.
SD memory cards have surfaced as standard cards for digital cameras and microSD as phone standard memory cards. Most people have and use at least one daily, so naturally copying files and even formatting SD cards is a natural thing to do, but what if you cannot copy files or format SD cards?
Fear not because we had this issue and tried several things in order to overcome the problem and after some time here is a list of what can you do if you are facing this exact issue. The list is written from most simple solutions to more complex ones and it is advisable to follow it as presented. That being said, let's dive into solving the problem.
1. Remove Write Protection on SD card
First and in my experience the most usual thing preventing deleting, copying files, and formating SD card is due to write protection. Take an SD card out of the laptop, camera, or card reader and visually inspect it. On side of almost every SD card, there is a hardware lock switch and mark where it needs to be positioned in order to be locked. Even if the switch is positioned on unlocked state, switch it to locked and then back to unlocked. Sometimes this easy moving of switch can resolve some contact issues and the card will start working normally.
Another type of lock that could be turned ON is a software one. If for any kind of reason data protection has been turned ON, you will need to turn it off in order to be able to format an SD card. In order to do this follow this guide:
Press ⊞ WINDOWS + R to open the Run dialog
In run dialog type in diskpart and press ENTER
Once diskpart is opened in command prompt type in: list disk and press ENTER
Locate your SD card and type in select disk x, where x is disk number followed by ENTER
After the SD card is selected type in: attributes disk clear read-only and press ENTER
This process will clear the software lock on the SD card, after following this method try to format the card again, if the problem still exists go to the next solution.
2. Format SD card using Command prompt
Command prompt is a great tool and can perform some commands that are not been able to be completed using file explorer or another tool inside Windows.
In the taskbar search box, search for cmd and select the Command prompt
On the right part select run as administrator
If needed click on YES on UAC prompt
Inside command prompt type in diskpart and press ENTER
type in list disk followed by ENTER
Select your SD card by locating its number in the list and typing select disk X, where is X SD cards number in list and press ENTER
Once SD card is selected type in format fs=ntfs quick and press ENTER
This should format SD card but if for reason even this step is provided as unproductive, go to the next solution.
3. Format your card with the Disk Management tool
Go into the taskbar and search for Disk Management and open it
Select SD card partition that you wish to format
Right-click on the partition and select format
After the format is done, enter the volume label, file system, and allocation unit size. Confirm with OK
Press OK again to confirm the formatting process.
If you have not managed to format your SD card even with this method go to the next solution.
4. Repartition card with Disk part
If all previous solutions have failed there is a chance that the SD card has bad sectors on it. If this is the case that we will need to partition cards in order to isolate bad sectors and use healthy ones.
Press ⊞ WINDOWS + R to open the Run dialog
In run dialog type in diskpart and press ENTER
Once diskpart is opened in command prompt type in: list disk and press ENTER
Locate your SD card and type in select disk x, where x is disk number followed by ENTER
Type in Clean and press ENTER
Type in Create partition primary and press ENTER
To select a new partition type select partition 1 followed by ENTER
Make partition active by typing active and pressing ENTER
Format the drive by typing format fs=ntfs label=SDCard quick followed with ENTER
Assign a letter to drive by typing assign letter=h followed with ENTER
Type exit to close Command prompt followed again by ENTER and open File Explorer to check if the drive is active
5. Try a dedicated SD card formating fool
If anything failed so far, one last thing you could do is to download and try a dedicated SD card formatting tool. One that I would recommend is SD Memory Card Formatter, which is free software make specifically for formatting SD memory cards.
Call of Duty is a fun and good game, a great time killer with a squad of friends, however sometimes the game crashes, and fun is interrupted.
In this guide, we will address and solve this unpleasant issue.
Scan game files
inside launcher choose options and under them, choose scan and repair game files
This process can take 5-30 minutes, as the game is 60GB large. This will look through all your game files and make sure they’re all valid and that none are corrupted, which may cause crashes. When it’s complete, you’ll get a notification that the game is now playable. Try again and see if your crashes continue.
Update drivers
Keeping drivers updated is crucial for the game to run smoothly, GPU drivers are possibly important. Go to your GPU manufacturer's website and get the latest drivers.
Lower graphic settings
Intensive graphic requirements can overload GPU and cause crashes, try lowering details in-game and see if this will fix the issue.
Disable overlays
If you’re using a program like Discordthat has an overlay, you’ll want to disable it as it may be causing the graphic error
Recently, a lot of users reported getting several error messages when they upgraded their Windows 10 computers. One of these error messages users encountered during a Windows 10 upgrade is the Error 0x8007002C-0x4001E. if you are one of the users who is facing this error, read on as this post will help you fix it.
When you encounter this error, you will see the following error message on your screen:
“We couldn’t install Windows 10We’ve set your PC back to the way it was before you started installing Windows 100x8007002C-0x4001E, The installation failed in the SECOND_BOOT phase with an error during PRE_OOBE operation.”
To resolve the 0x8007002C-0x4001E, The installation failed in the SECOND_BOOT phase error, here are some suggestions that might help.
Option 1 – Try flushing the SoftwareDistribution and Catroot2 folders
You have to stop a couple of services such as BITS, Cryptographic, MSI Installer, and Windows Update Services. And to do that, you need to flush the contents in the SoftwareDistribution folder. The Software Distribution folder in the Windows operating system is a folder that can be found in the Windows directory and is used to store files temporarily which might be required to install the Windows Update on your PC. Thus, it is required by the Windows Update and maintained by WUAgent. Aside from that, it also contains all the Windows Update History files and once you delete them, you will most likely lose the Update history. As a result, the next time you run the Windows Update, it may result in a longer detection time.
Open the WinX Menu.
From there, open Command Prompt as admin.
Then type in the following command – don’t forget to hit Enter right after typing each one of them.
net stop wuauservnet start cryptSvcnet start bitsnet start msiserver
After entering these commands, it will stop the Windows Update Service, Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS), Cryptographic, and the MSI Installer
Next, go to the C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution folder and get rid of all the folders and files thereby tapping the Ctrl + A keys to select them all and then click on Delete. Note that if the files are in use, you won’t be able to delete them.
After flushing the SoftwareDistribution folder, you need to reset the Catroot2 folder to restart the services you just stopped. To do that, follow these steps:
Type each one of the following commands.
net start wuauservnet start cryptSvcnet start bitsnet start msiserver
After that, exit Command Prompt and restart your computer, and then try to run Windows Update once more.
Option 2 – Select the Keep your files option
You can also select the option to perform an in-place upgrade and opt for the “Keep my files” option during an installation as it might make the process a lot smoother and if you need to perform a clean install, you can do so once the setup is completed.
Option 3 – Try to run the Windows Update Troubleshooter
Running the built-in Windows Update troubleshooter could also help you resolve the 0x8007002C-0x4001E, The installation failed in the SECOND_BOOT phase error. To run it, go to Settings and then select Troubleshoot from the options. From there, click on Windows Update and then click the “Run the troubleshooter” button.
Option 4 – Try to run Microsoft’s online troubleshooter
Aside from the Windows Update Troubleshooter, you can also run the online troubleshooter of Microsoft as it can help you with Windows 10 upgrade errors.
Option 5 – Perform a clean install
If none of the options worked, you can try to clean install Windows 10. Just make sure that you have the ISO from the official Microsoft Website and then a bootable USB drive to install Windows 10 again. Take note that this will delete all the data from your drive where Windows 10 was installed previously.
If this unfortunate COVID-19 worldwide pandemic has managed to teach us, I would argue it is that our health is the most important thing. So in that spirit, we will continue in this article reviewing some of the best fitness trackers that can be found in the time of writing this article in 2021.
Now the market for fitness trackers is not small by any means and offerings are also not small, from no-name manufacturers costing only a few bucks to more serious one’s going slightly over 100 USD there is a fitness tracker for everyone.
In this particular article, we will not focus on cheap few dollars no-name ones, instead, we will be offering top ones in the field among some in the middle range simply because we can stand behind them considering quality and precision.
Fitbit Charge 4 fitness and activity tracker
Fitbit is not a pioneer company in the world of fitness trackers and it shows. Charge 4 model offers maybe the best quality, performance, and features for its price. It stands out with implemented GPS meaning that you will need your phone for tracking workouts. It also offers step tracking, sleep tracking, automatic workout-tracking, active zone minutes, etc.
It weighs 30g and has 1 inch grayscale OLED. Battery life is said to hold up to 4 days if you use built-in GPS regularly, if you decide to use GPS constantly device will last only 5 hours. Without GPS it can last up to 7 days and it is water-resistant and waterproof up to 50 meters.
Amazfit Band 5
Amazon’s offering of fitness tracker is aimed at beginners and as such, it is lacking some advanced features including an automated working tracker or GPS, also the model does not have replaceable bands so customization is not an option.
It does however offer activity and sleep tracking, heart rate monitoring and it is the only model that integrates with Alexa. The manufacturer states that the battery can last up to 15 days depending on usage which places Amazfit Band 5 as a device that has a longer life of use.
The device itself is packed with a 1.1-inch color OLED and it weights 12g. It is splash-resistant, not water-resistant.
Xiaomi Mi Band 6
Xiaomi tracker is the best budget version on this list including in it 30 sport modes like running, cycling, yoga, swimming, and more. Battery life is not bad also packing up to 14 days of life but only if the device is not used constantly.
It has activity and sleep tracking, a heart rate monitor, sleep tracking, customizable replicable bands and it is water-resistant up to 50m.
It comes in a 1.56 inch AMOLED color display and it weighs 63g. The device also has menstrual health tracking making it a great device for women.
Samsung Galaxy Fit 2 fitness tracker
Now we are getting into serious and little more expensive ones. Galaxy Fit 2 is among the top-notch trackers currently on the market. It of course can work along with Samsung’s smartwatches and mobile phones. Packed in the military-grade 1.1-inch casing with color AMOLED and weighing 91g with battery life up to 21 days and water resistance up to 50m this bracelet is an absolute beast.
It comes packed with features from standard sleep tracking to automated workout-tracking but it also has a connection to Samsung’s Health mobile app to choose from over 90 workouts, it monitors heart rate and stress levels making it really one of the complete solutions for serious fitness enthusiasts.
Garmin Vivosmart 4 fitness tracker
Last on our list is Garmin vivosmart 4. The device itself is not very impressive, 7 days battery life with 0.7 inch OLED display and 17g weight packed with 50m water resistance is nothing spectacular, Samsung’s model is packing better hardware and way more battery life but all of the mentioned devices fall flat if we compare software to Garvin.
Garvin’s Vivosmart 4 software is best on the list, it keeps track of your steps, sleep, calories burned, floors climbed, various exercises, and heart rate as standard features but you'll have advanced sleep tracking with REM sleep. It can also gauge blood oxygen saturation levels during the night with its wrist-based Pulse Ox sensor. In addition, a relaxation breathing timer complements the all-day stress tracking feature. Lastly, the "Body Battery" monitor helps optimize your daily activities based on your energy levels making it truly the only complete tracking solution on this list.
That's it for our review of fitness trackers of today, be sure to come back each day to find more interesting articles and tips for your everyday digital life.
Error code 1309 is an error code that occurs when installing either Microsoft Office 2003 or Microsoft Office Project 2003.
This error code may hamper your ability to run and use applications associated with Microsoft Office. To ensure installation is successful, it is first advisable to fix this error code. Error 1309 is displayed in any one of the two formats illustrated below.
When installing Microsoft Office Project 2003, the error message may pop up as:
Error 1309. Error reading from file: pathfilename.cab. Verify that the file exists and that you can access it.
When installing Microsoft Office 2003, the error message may appear in the following format:
Fatal Error During Installation
Solution
Error Causes
Error code 1309 message may appear during Microsoft Office installation due to several reasons. These include:
Problems in the Oclncore.opc file. Project 2003 uses this version of the file for program installation.
Lack of adequate use permission
The requested file was not found
Setup registry entries are modified in an unacceptable manner
To avoid inconvenience and access Microsoft Office 2003 or Microsoft Office Project 2003, it is recommended to fix the error immediately.
Further Information and Manual Repair
To resolve this error you don’t need to be a technical whiz. Here are some of the best, easiest, and proven do-it-yourself methods to resolve error 1309 on your computer screen instantly.
Method 1 - Change CacheLevel Settings
If the problem is related to Oclncore.opc file then try changing CacheLevel settings.
Follow these steps to work around this method.
First, locate the PRJPRO*.XML file in the FILESSETUP folder of the Project 2003 installation source and then open this file in the Notepad.
Also, make sure that you do not open the file as read-only and make sure that a checkmark is not displayed next to Word Wrap on the Format menu.
The next step is to search the file for the following text string: OCLNCORE.OPC_1033.
Now on the line where this string is located, change the CacheLevel=’1’ setting to the following CacheLevel=’3’ save the file back to the original location, and then quit Notepad.
After the changes are activated, try installing the software again on your system. If it installs successfully, then this means error 1309 is resolved. If the error still persists then try other given methods.
Method 2 - Configure security settings to get full permission
When the cause of error 1309 on your PC is related to lack of adequate permission issues, then configure security settings to resolve.
To do this, simply locate the folder on your installation drive.
Then right-click the folder and click Properties. On the Security tab, click edit and now make sure your user name is added to the list.
Grant required security permissions and then click OK to save changes.
After this, try installing Microsoft Office 2003 again on your system.
Method 3 - Copy the requested file from another source
If the error 1309 pops up because the requested file was not found, then try this method. Simply copy the file specified in the error to the destination directory.
For example, if the error shows data1.cab was not found, then copy this file from another source and paste it into the directory specified in the error description.
Method 4- Remove bad registry entries
Bad registry entries are responsible for registry setup modification. If this is the reason for error code 1309, then download Restoro.
This is a user-friendly PC Repair Tool embedded with a powerful registry cleaner. It scans and removes all bad and invalid entries accumulated in the registry. It cleans and repairs the registry resuming it back to its normal function.
Click here to download Restoro and repair error 1309 today.
So, what is Electron bot, and why it even matters if it is in the MS store. Electron bot is malware that somehow found its way inside MS Store via game clones of popular games temple run and subway surfer. This infiltration led to the infection of around 5000 systems over the globe in a very short period of time.
This malware is a backdoor that gives complete system control to the attacker. Any type of execution can be performed remotely in real-time. Usually, this kind of attack was aimed at a spread of click fraud over popular social media like Facebook, google, youtube, etc.
Primary goal
Electron Bot's primary goals in the ongoing campaign analyzed by researchers are:
SEO poisoning – Create malware-dropping sites that rank high on Google Search results.
Ad clicking – Connect to remote sites in the background and click on non-viewable advertisements.
Social media account promotion – Direct traffic to specific content on social media platforms.
Online product promotion – Increase store rating by clicking on its advertisements.
These functions are offered as services to those who want to increase their online profits illegitimately, so the gains for the malware operators are indirect.
Publishers that contain malware
For now, users may take note of the publishers who released confirmed malicious game apps using the following names:
If you encounter a Windows Update error with an error code 0x80070652 and an error message saying, “ERROR_INSTALL_ALREADY_RUNNING”, then it indicates that there was a previous Windows Update that was not installed successfully. This kind of Windows Update error typically happens when it gets stuck and so to resolve it, here are some suggestions that might help.
Option 1 – Restart your computer and try installing the Updates again
You can restart your computer and then try installing the updates once again. There are instances when a simple restart resolves Windows Update errors. Thus, after you restart your computer, check for updates once again and see if you’re still getting the error or not.
Option 2 – Try running the Windows Update troubleshooter
You might also want to run the Windows Update Troubleshooter as it could also help in fixing Windows Update error code 0x80070652. To run it, go to Settings and then select Troubleshoot from the options. From there, click on Windows Update and then click the “Run the troubleshooter” button. After that, follow the next on-screen instructions and you should be good to go.
Option 3 – Try downloading the Windows Update that failed
If the Windows Update that has failed is not a feature update and only a cumulative update, you can download the Windows Update and install it manually. But first, you need to find out which update has failed, and to do so, refer to the following steps:
Go to Settings and from there go to Update and Security > View Update History.
Next, check which particular update has failed. Note that Updates that have failed to install will be displayed under the Status column which has a label of “Failed”.
After that, go to the Microsoft Download Center and look for that update using its KB number and once you find it, download and then install it manually.
Note: You can also use the Microsoft Update Catalog, a service from Microsoft that provides a list of software updates that can be distributed over a corporate network. With the help of this service, it can be easier for you to find Microsoft software updates, drivers as well as fixes.
Option 4 – Try to restart the Background Intelligent Transfer Service
The Background Intelligent Transfer Service or BITS is a part of the Windows Update service and is the one that manages the background download of Windows Update, as well as scans for new updates and so on. And if Windows Update is experiencing some problems, you can try restarting BITS but make sure that you have admin privileges to do so.
Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
Next, type “services.msc” in the field and hit Enter to open Windows Services.
From the list of Services, look for the Background Intelligent Transfer Service and double-click on it to open Properties.
After that, you need to set the Startup type to “Automatic (Delayed Start) and click on Apply.
Now click the Stop button to stop BITS and then click the Start button to restart the service.
Click OK to save the changes made and then restart your PC.
Option 5 – Try to update Windows after a couple of minutes or an hour
There are times when the issue is from Microsoft’s end. It could be that there’s some issue with Microsoft’s server so it would be better if you give it a couple of minutes or an hour or so before trying to run Windows Update again.
In today’s world and age, there are some essential IT skills that basically everyone should know. No matter in what field you are working some skills are just needed in order to function properly in the work. So, without further ado let's dive into what are these essential IT skills everyone, even your grandmother should know.
5 Essential IT skills everybody should know
Word processing
No matter are you creating or editing business documents or just trying to help a friend or relative, word processing skill is an essential asset and requirement in today’s age. Writing anything on a bunch of paper is time-consuming, papers can get lost, and searching for a particular item inside a bunch of papers is not a really enjoyable experience. A much easier solution is to write, format, and keep everything on the computer and almost all employers are asking for this skill.
Send and using emails
Today we live in the digital age and most communication is done in real-time via messaging apps and file sharing is done via file-sharing services. Despite mentioned technology, many files are shared and sent through emails. When a message is too long or complex when it needs to have some attachment or to be kept in archive emails are the way to go and therefore using email is a must-have essential skill.
Using search engines
When talking about using search engines we really do not think about firing up your favorite browser, going into the search engine,s and typing cat pictures. What we think is that a person should know how to use a search engine properly, tweak its search options, and phrase words and sentences to find everything he or she needs.
Doing data work
Data entry and data calculations have been made easier than ever thanks to today's technology. Microsoft excel, libre office calc, google sheets, etc. are all capable of performing a great variety of calculations and keeping track of plenty of required data. This skill is often asked by employers as an essential one.
Cyber security
Each employee or person, in general, should be quite aware of various scams and best practices to keep itself safe in this digital world. We have several articles on this topic and there are a great variety of articles on the internet as well.
Conclusion
No matter are you young or old, employed or looking for a job, these skills are a must-have in today’s world. There are a lot of great tutorials online on these various topics and I am sure that your knowledgeable friend or cousin would be happy to help and show you how to do all of these things.
Still sitting on the fence about upgrading to Windows 11 because you don’t know what to expect? Interestingly, the new edition somehow manages to be both a total revamp and still very similar to its predecessor in many ways. It’s really something to experience for yourself.
We do want to give you a sneak peek, though. So here’s an overview of the biggest changes Windows 11 brings to the table.
What’s different in Windows 11?
1. Visual changes
The first thing anyone will notice after switching to Windows 11 is the striking visual difference. The entire interface is smoother, cleaner and more minimalistic than on Windows 10, even resembling the macOS in some instances. Perhaps the most obvious change in appearance is the Start menu and Taskbar location, which is now at the bottom center. It’s actually very neat, but if you’re someone who loves familiarity, don’t worry, you can move it back to the left.
Centralized Taskbar and Start menu
Moreover, you’ll notice that the Taskbar includes a Microsoft Teams icon by default (which you can, of course, remove) and that Live Tiles are gone. The News and Interests section has also been removed - or, shall we say, replaced. As opposed to Windows 10, news, weather forecasts and other information are now displayed as widgets.
To add to the cleanliness of the UI, Microsoft also enhanced the ‘Snap Layouts’ feature to help you better organize your windows and maximize screen real estate. It’s similar to app grouping on your smartphone. In Windows 10 this feature is slightly restricted, as it requires some manual resizing and dragging. In Windows 11, you can just hover over the minimize/maximize option on a window, select a layout and throw the windows in there.
Snap Layouts
2. New accessibility features
Microsoft has certainly paid attention to accessibility with Windows 10, but Windows 11 takes this to a whole new level.
One of the ways Windows 11 has taken things up a notch is by adding the long-awaited ‘Live Captions’ feature and advanced Narrator options.
Live Captions apply both to media played on your PC as well as your own speech when you’re using the microphone. Keep in mind that, as with almost all kinds of subtitles, you have to be prepared for a potential delay. However, it’s barely noticeable and doesn’t take away from the usefulness of this awesome new feature whatsoever.
As for the Narrator, there are three new voice packs to choose from. Microsoft has tried to put emphasis on a more natural voice than we are used to. So, now you can choose between Aria, Jenny and Guy, who will read pretty much anything off your screen out loud. Aside from this, Microsoft has also expanded the list of braille displays supported by the Narrator feature. For users with anxiety or trouble concentrating, a welcomed addition is the Focus app, which is no longer part of the Clock app. It’s now separate and called ‘Focus Sessions’, automatically triggering the Do Not Disturb mode when activated. It blocks all pop-ups and flashes and lets you work in peace until you’re ready to switch it off.
3. Android apps
Android users may rejoice! Windows 11 supports the use of your favorite applications now.
Microsoft has done this by integrating the Amazon Appstore to the Windows 11 Microsoft Store. From there, you can download your favorite Android apps and use them on your PC in a smartphone-like window.
Unfortunately not too many apps are supported at this time, but Microsoft is working on making the emulation possible for many more. Also, the option is only available in specific regions at this moment - check out if you’re one of the lucky ones.
4. Improved gaming performance
Avid gamers will be happy to hear that Microsoft has put some effort into streamlining Windows 11 for their gaming needs.
To give gamers a supreme visual experience, Windows 11 offers the ‘Auto HDR’ feature. As long as your monitor is HDR-compatible, this feature will automatically adjust the colors, brightness and contrast of games without any input from you.
Another update is DirectStorage, which we were introduced to in Windows 10 already. In Windows 11, it’s been improved to tweak loading times and overall gaming performance efficiency even better. The predisposition for it to work optimally is that your device has an NVMe SSD.
The Xbox Game Bar also helps gamers towards a smoother experience. It allows in-game screenshots, viewing processes that are running (similar to the Task Manager), monitoring the CPU and GPU performance and frame rate, integrating the Xbox App and more. There’s also a number of widgets you can now use with the Game Bar, for example the Spotify widget.
Xbox Game Bar
Another cool addition is the Xbox Game Pass, which unlocks hundreds of games to play on your Xbox App, with new additions coming in every month.
5. Smart App Control
Aside from a sleek new look and better accessibility for all users, Windows 11 also comes with a security power-up. Bear in mind that this feature is only available on clean Windows 11 installs.
Smart App Control (SAC) is an AI-powered new feature designed to protect your PC from potential threats. It blocks untrustworthy apps and adware and helps detect potentially unwanted apps, maintaining your PC’s performance and keeping your system safe.
It comes with an ‘Evaluation’ mode, which you should definitely select when running SAC for the first time. That way, the app monitors your usage and assesses whether you’re a candidate for SAC. Some users need it to be on all the time, for others it might be too distracting. Evaluation mode will turn SAC on or off based on your usage.
Don’t disable SAC again unless you’re absolutely sure you don’t need it, since reenabling it will require a fresh install. We recommend you don’t turn it off, as it is a neat feature protecting your data and files from malware at all times.
Summary
Have we piqued your interest in trying Microsoft’s latest OS? It’s a pretty exciting new iteration, but we’ll let you find out for yourself. We hope you like it!