When Microsoft announced Windows 11, users expected new features. They anticipated updates that bring together stability, speed, as well as an enhanced consumer experience. Before you lose your mind readily in awaiting the latest and greatest operating system from Microsoft, take a moment to find out if your PC is prepared for that update.

By taking time to ascertain if your computer is ready, you can ease a lot of the anxiety around the update itself. There will, of course, be bugs, but knowing that your machine has got the proper specs means understanding that, on paper, everything should run somewhat smoothly.

Let's see what's new, and how to prepare for the update.

What Are We Looking forward to in Windows 11?

Redesigned Snipping Tool
The Snipping Tool is a handy screen capturing tool that Microsoft first introduced in Windows XP in 2005. With Windows 11, the Snipping Tool is set to merge with another screen capturing tool from, Snip & Sketch. The initial Win + Shift + S shortcut for Snip & Sketch will use the Snipping Tool too.

New Look For Your Calculator, Mail, And Calendar
Windows Calculator, Mail, and Calendar apps will now offer visually pleasing rounded corners. Theming can also be possible now on these 3 apps, and maybe others. Users can choose a fresh change for each app, and theme them independently from the primary visual theme.

All-New Taskbar
Windows 11 features a completely revamped taskbar that moves the Start button and app icons front and center. The long-lasting Start button also receives a more straightforward look. It's now a square cut into four sections. But for those uncomfortable with changes with a of Windows' oldest, and most-loved features, they are able to revert them to their default look and placement with only a few clicks.

Natively Accessible Android Apps
Android apps will always be accessible with Windows 10 thanks to the Your Phone app and Connect to Windows feature. Windows 11 takes mtss is a step further by letting you access your favorite Android apps natively, from your pc.

Getting Your PC Ready for Windows 11

Before getting too excited about the newest Windows operating system, it's worth going for a moment to be certain it's ready for installation. Here's how we're preparing our PCs for that release of Windows 11.

Check Windows 11's Minimum Requirements
According to Microsoft's website, below are the minimum specifications your computer will need to operate the new operating-system without issue. Sticking with Windows 11's Minimum Note that these values are only minimums, meaning that a pc with exact specs may run Windows 11 at the lowest settings and minimum performance.

Processor: 1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster with two or more cores on a compatible 64-bit processor or System on the Chip (SoC)
Memory: 4 Gigabytes RAM
Storage: 64 Gigabytes or larger hard drive
System firmware: Unified Extensible Firmware Interface, Secure Boot capable
TPM: Trusted Platform Module (TPM) version 2.0
Graphics card: DirectX 12 compatible graphics / WDDM 2.x
Display: >9" with HD Resolution (720p)
Internet connection Microsoft account and internet connectivity required for setup for Windows 11 Home

You can manually check whether your computer passes these minimum requirements by going to Settings > System > About. Take a look at My Computer > Properties to check on storage and make sure you've enough room for that installer. Lastly, you may even wish to take a look at Microsoft's PC Health Check app to check your system compatibility in only a single click.

Observe that these values are just minimums, meaning that a computer with exact specs may only run Windows 11 at the lowest settings and minimum performance.

Backup Your computer
Updating to a later form of Windows has always been somewhat stable and safe. But that's not to say issues never arise. There will always be cases of corrupted (or deleted) files, crashing applications, or hardware failure with every round of updates. And that's why, we wouldn't recommend proceeding with no stable backup you are able to revert to if things go awry. A cloud-based backup is typically fine, but if you need to go that step further...

Create a Recovery Drive for Windows 10

A Recovery Drive is a USB device which you can use to access system recovery tools if issues arise from your Windows 11 installation. You can use it to reinstall Windows 10, or an even older version of Windows. It's worth noting that a recovery drive won't help you recover any corrupted or missing personal files. So, it is vital to support your files too.

Now that you've got prepared your PC for Windows 11. You can now install the new operating system with no anxiety that generally accompanies big updates. If something wrong happens, you're inside a great place to recuperate everything and return to dealing with Windows 10.

The new Start menu bundled with Windows 11 isn't everybody's cup of tea, because it drops popular features like live tiles. Instead, it comes with a far more static approach inspired by Windows 10X, with Microsoft only rolling our rather subtle polishing lately.

Obviously, users continue to be hoping for bigger Start menu improvements, and fortunately, third-party solutions available come to the rescue this time around.

Start11, which is currently one of the most advanced Start menu customization solutions available, has recently been updated to version 1.1, therefore getting a couple of very welcome improvements.

One of them is support for folders, something which Microsoft theoretically supported in Windows 10 if this allowed users to create live tile groups. The folders have left officially in Windows 11, but Start11 brings it well in an exceedingly modern UI.

"In v1.1, both Windows 10 and Windows 11 users can certainly create a folder directly within the Start menu by holding down the shift key and dragging one icon over another. The brand new right-click icon submenu makes it simple to change the appearance of app icons in the Start menu, too," Stardock, Start11's parent company, explains in an announcement.

First Windows 11 feature update due in the summer

Furthermore, the brand new form of Start11 introduces a brand new right-click icon submenu, in addition to support for importing existing Windows 10 menu layouts.

Certainly, the popularity of these software implies that Microsoft must continue its focus on polishing the Windows 11 Start menu, though right now, the organization doesn't necessarily appear to be very dedicated to improving the experience about this front.

The next Windows 11 feature update is scheduled to land in the summertime, but at this time, no major Start menu improvements are being tested as part of the Windows Insider program.

One of the greatest changes introduced by Microsoft with the debut of Windows 11 is definitely an all-new Start menu inspired by Windows 10X.

The new design no more uses live tiles, because the software giant desired to use a more static approach that makes more sense because of the OS redesign.

Simultaneously, the beginning menu is now centered, something which those searching for a familiar Windows experience might not like whatsoever.

This new small app, however, comes in handy for anybody who wants the Windows 10 Start menu on Windows 11. In other words, it enables you to restore the prior Start menu version even after the update to Windows 11, and of course, you're getting both classic design and the Start page-inspired approach which goes full screen.

Simply called Native Windows 10 Start menu for Windows 11 and published on GitHub, the app comes with just one bug, because the Start menu may also be slow to exit.
Microsoft and also the Windows 11 Start menu

In the meantime, Microsoft sees the Start menu redesign like a major advance for Windows 11.

"We've simplified the design and consumer experience to empower your productivity and inspire your creativity. It's modern, fresh, neat and beautiful," Microsoft said when it announced Windows 11.

"From the new Start button and taskbar to every sound, font and icon, everything ended intentionally to put you in control and produce a feeling of calm and ease. We put Start in the center and made it simpler to quickly find the thing you need. Start utilizes the power of the cloud and Microsoft 365 to inform you your recent files no matter what platform or device you were viewing them on earlier, even if it had been with an Android or iOS device."

At this point, the rollout of Windows 11 is still underway, as Microsoft plans all eligible devices to be provided by the new OS through the summer of this year.

Windows 11 is here as a major upgrade to the modern Windows experience that was launched by Microsoft with so much fanfare in July 2015.

In other words, Windows 11 is a substantially evolved form of Windows 10, and probably the most obvious register this regard may be the spec bump which has caused so much debate lately.

Windows 11 can't be placed on all Windows 10 devices available, as Microsoft has raised the system requirements, therefore making it impossible for some computers to run the OS.

Quite simply, you need new hardware to make the most of Windows 11, though in some instances, it looks like old hardware feels at home on the new OS as well.

Enter diskettes.

As it turns out, the traditional floppy disk is still effective like a dream on Windows 11, as obviously, the legacy support for such hardware is still there within the OS.

A video published on YouTube by Jrcraft implies that 5.25" floppy disks are properly recognized by Windows 11, and therefore, users can read their contents much like on Windows XP.

This isn't necessarily such a big surprise, as legacy support for old hardware will probably continue to be offered in modern Windows for obvious compatibility reasons.

Of course, very little individuals are still using diskettes, but those who do should be able to access their files as straightforward as you possibly can.

So at the end of the day, this video implies that Windows 11 isn't necessarily an operating system exclusively aimed at new hardware, though this might obviously reignite this system requirements debate once again.

Meanwhile, should you have a floppy disk around and your computer has already been running Windows 11, the 2 seem to be playing nice just perfectly.

Within the last six years, Windows users have watched around the sidelines as the tech landscape changed at a breakneck pace. All the while, Windows 10 remained largely unchanged. When Microsoft's sporadic "feature updates" did arrive, these were often plagued with bugs, some so damaging the updates were suspended. But, despite its rocky path, Windows 10 will go down as a success, a stopgap to the mess its predecessors left behind. It brought back the traditional desktop interface, gave PC owners reliable performance, and popularized touchscreen displays and hybrid 2-in-1 laptops.

But Windows 10 has struggled to stay fresh. Tired interfaces and ancient software plague the operating-system utilized by more than a billion people. This is where Windows 11 comes in. I have been using some version of the OS for the last month or so and spent the past few days with the final product.

Overall, Windows 11 is a part of the right direction. Although it won't revolutionize the way you engage with the digital world, this latest release builds upon the principles of Windows 10 while bringing modern aesthetics and some useful productivity features. However the grass is not always greener on the other hand from the pane. Some changes are sure to frustrate users, and in relation to additional features, there is not much hiding behind this new coat of paint.

Remember that this OS is very much a piece in progress. As such, same with this Windows 11 review. We'll update this writeup regularly to keep you up to date around the changes being made to Windows 11.

Windows 11 review: Download and setup

Windows 11 launches on October 5, 2021 like a free upgrade to Windows 10 for anybody with a compatible PC (see below) who want to result in the switch. Microsoft says it will not be until mid-2022 prior to the OS is created available to all eligible computers, but you can skip the line and download Windows 11 manually when you purchase. It will likewise come pre-installed on all new PCs.

It's not necessary to make the change to Windows 11, even when your system checks all the compatibility boxes. If you decline the choice to upgrade, that's OK because Windows 10 currently has an end-of-life date of October 14, 2025. That gives it four more many years of important feature updates and security patches before Microsoft takes it out to pasture. By that time, Windows 11 should be a well-oiled machine (and you will need to update your hardware anyway).

If you've downloaded Windows 11 but wish to revert back to Windows 10, Microsoft gives you Ten days to do so.

Windows 11 review: System requirements may make you purchase a new PC

To even run Windows 11, your computer must adhere to the recommended system requirements. You must have at least an 8th Gen Intel Core processor (which launched at the end of 2017), or AMD's Ryzen 2000 or later. Qualcomm processors designed for PCs from the Snapdragon 850 onwards will also work.

Other requirements include a minimum of a dual-core 1-GHz 64-bit processor, 4GB of RAM, and a 64GB hard drive. Your display should be a minimum of 9-inches having a 720p or higher resolution, as well as your graphics card will need to be compatible with DirectX 12 or later using the WDDM 2.0 driver.

What has caused much confusion is the need for a TPM, or Trusted Platform Module, a burglar chip on the CPU. The good thing is that this is a requirement in Windows systems since 2016, so if your Windows laptop was launched after that year, you'll have TPM 2.0. You don't have to comb through your specs or attempt to remember whenever you purchased your laptop to figure this all out. Microsoft has released an opportune PC Health Check app that will quickly operate a check to verify whether your system meets all of the necessary requirements.

Windows 11 review: Becoming fluent in Fluent

Microsoft developed its Fluent design language in 2017, creating a vision for the future aesthetic of their operating-system. Under this system, Windows transforms from the rigid origins to some softer OS with rounded corners, transparency, and pops of color. We saw glimpses from it in recent Windows 10 updates, but which was touch-up paint on the fading canvas. Windows 11 feels like a full makeover.

It comes down to some gorgeous new wallpapers, though the more attention-grabbing change is the Start Menu located in the center of the Taskbar. Shifting the icons over hasn't impacted my workflow in any measurable way, however i prefer the more symmetrical look. If you do not, that's OK. Microsoft makes it simple to shift the Start Menu back to the left side of the Taskbar.

Press around the Start Menu and up pops your preferred apps except that this time around, they aren't in tiles. Yes, Live Tiles ?a those rotating squares of info introduced in Windows 8 ?a are dead, replaced by an easy grid of app icons having a uniform gray background. Below those apps is a "Recommended" section showing recently opened files and apps.

As somebody who not used at all the Live Tiles for their intended purpose, I favor the brand new setup for its simpler interface, and also the recommended section is wonderful for getting back to personal files you might have closed without remembering what folder putting it in.

At the top of the beginning Menu is really a search blank or use the standalone Search tool next to the Start Menu in the Taskbar. Like a universal search, it'll look both locally in your system as well as on the net for everything from solutions to random questions to the place of files. The feature worked well, showing us a preview from the Kansas City Chiefs vs. Philadelphia Eagles game before you take me to the web.

Unfortunately, this is when looking falters: forcing you to employ Edge and Bing. Changing my default internet search engine in Edge to Google was easy enough however it didn't swap out Bing when using the universal search tool. Sorry Windows users, you're still stuck using Bing.

You will find additional changes towards the Taskbar. For one, Cortana, Microsoft's voice assistant, is no longer pre-installed and it is only available as a separate app. There's also a Task View icon (for virtual desktops) and Widgets (more about this below) along with Teams Chat. Yes, Teams now lives in the Taskbar automatically because Microsoft thinks Windows 11 users ought to be bombarded by its products.

The countless Windows users that do not use Teams can remove the icon, but they'll need to do so from Settings ?a there isn't any simple right-click, unpin choice for pre-installed apps. Those who do use the recording conferencing software can launch video calls, host chats, or mention the full Teams app. I'm sure many will find this convenient, but many Windows 11 users will wonder why something they'll never touch is featured so prominently around the desktop.

Fortunately, the File Explorer, where your documents, photos, videos, and downloads are stored, got such a look. The very best bar was simplified having a "new folder" option around the left side. Also, icons in the top bar aren't stacked along with each other, producing a much cleaner interface. I simply wish Microsoft took this chance to enhance the functionality of the app; moving things around and accessing your files works exactly as it did before.

With regards to making Windows 11 fluent in Fluent, there are some literacy gaps. Take the Device Manager, in which you need to navigate using tiny, low-res icons to see system components. Microsoft didn't want to update the User interface, either. Her same outdated icons and awkward spacing as before. It gives me the sensation that these aesthetic updates are skin deep ?a dig too far underneath the surface and you're certain to locate an outdated interface.

In addition, Windows 11 feels less customizable than Windows 10. One inexcusable missing feature may be the ability to drag and drop files or apps to the Taskbar. Instead, you need to right-click, select "Show more options" then "Pin to Taskbar." You also can't adjust the height of the taskbar or move it to the top or sides.

Windows 11 review: Notifications and Action Center

The Action Center and Notifications features stay in the bottom-right corner from the screen but work differently in Windows 11. Instead of being grouped together, the Action Center stands alone, and is accessible by hitting a group of icons (Wi-Fi, Battery, Volume) in the Taskbar. Doing this presents a pared-down interface with only your most important settings: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Airplane mode, Accessibility, Battery Saver and Volume/Brightness sliders. You can include functions but Microsoft was smart about which of them to include automatically.

To the right from the Action Center may be the Notification pane which shows your individual calendar together with new emails, upcoming meetings along with other events. Oddly, you cannot do much towards the calendar ?a right-clicking or double-clicking on the date doesn't let you add an event or reminder as it does in Windows 10.

Windows 11 review: New Microsoft Store

How often do you use the Microsoft Store? Probably nowhere close to frequently as the iOS and Android app stores. There is a reason for that. For just one, Microsoft's version lacks popular apps, and those it will contain just aren't very good. Microsoft is taking the best making its digital keep kind of place you'd genuinely wish to shop in. The new Microsoft Store for Windows 11 looks fantastic and is more organized than almost any other app store I've used.

Apps are organized into categories: Gaming, Entertainment, Productivity and Deals. You might not will need to go that far because a handy listing of "Essential" apps can be found on the home screen (no, they are not just Microsoft apps). There is also a featured games list and, my favorite, a summary of the top free apps.

But as it stands, iTunes, a 2-star app, may be the top pick. This really underlines the problem Microsoft faces: devs weren't porting apps over to Windows. It's bad enough to provide Microsoft fans flashbacks of the Windows Phone days.

Microsoft wants to rectify this problem by looking into making its store more compelling for devs. Most significantly, the Windows Store can host any kind of app. Before, if developers desired to bring their apps to the Windows Store, they had to train on a specific Microsoft framework. Now, they are able to select from a number of technologies including the traditional desktop Win32 format, Microsoft's UWP mode, and even progressive web apps.

Microsoft is also letting developers keep all of the revenue their apps earn as long as they use their own commerce avenue. On Windows 11, even if devs opt for Microsoft's payment tech, they can keep 85% (88% for games) of their earnings when compared with Apple's 30% tax.

Windows 11 review: Performance and gaming

When Microsoft killed Windows 10X and folded it into Windows 11, it appeared to set its new OS as much as adopt the idea of its fallen friend in being a flexible, lightweight operating system that maintained stability on lesser hardware. That's, a true Chrome OS competitor. But Microsoft continues to be coy about what performance gains you may expect in Windows 11. We did get a 13-minute technical video posted to YouTube explaining why Win11 systems should be faster and last longer on a charge, but there is no marketing describing how much faster or how much longer.

One of the changes made underneath the hood is what Microsoft calls foreground prioritization where memory now favors the app windows you've running in the foreground, providing them with CPU and system resource priority. The aim is to prevent the apps and programs you're actually using from ever reducing. We'll need to do more testing to see how well this really works.

Things i can tell is the fact that Windows 11 feels very stable. I did not come across a single bug, glitch or performance hiccup throughout my time testing the OS on the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio. Every icon taken care of immediately my click or tap, animations were fast and fluid, and opening a dozen Windows at the same time didn't cause problems. Those who are waiting to upgrade until Microsoft irons out performance hiccups do not have anything to fear ?a Windows 11 is very much a finished product, not a beta test.

Bear in mind, however, that i am testing this on the most powerful system in Microsoft's Surface fleet. I will be running performance benchmarks on other laptops running Windows 11 and comparing those numbers to the Windows 10 scores. We'll be also testing cheaper systems with lesser hardware to ascertain if Windows 11 is much more nimble than its predecessor, or if people who want a budget laptop should continue to choose a Chromebook.

For gamers, Windows 11 means Xbox integration so you can jump straight into Xbox Game Spread PC. Around the performance front, DirectStorage API allows quicker load times for systems with NVMe SSDs. DirectStorage is available on Windows 11 at launch however it needs to be supported by developers to operate.

Dynamic refresh rates are another welcome addition. Available on most contemporary smartphones, it works with panels above 60Hz, increasing their refresh rates to 90Hz or 120Hz when fast-action appears on the screen, then dialing things down to reduce power and extend life of the battery. Talking about displays, AutoHDR adds high dynamic range capabilities to games that did not include it. For doing things, you need a GPU and display that support HDR.

Windows 11 review: The (few) additional features

You'll find small changes throughout Windows 11, but major feature additions are rare. That said, the few I've tested work nicely. Perhaps the best addition is Snap Layouts, which lets you arrange your windows in different layouts on the screen. Windows has always been good about split-screen and Snap Layouts takes things to another level with more customization options.

It's also easy to use. Just hover within the square icon in the top-right corner of the tab along with a preview can look revealing several layout options. Pick one, then tap a shape there to maneuver your keep the windows open into that space. Once each tab is arranged in a layout, the grouping is saved to the Taskbar so that you can quickly re-open the Snap Layout.

I used this while writing my Surface Laptop Studio review; I placed the benchmarks in the top-left corner, a web browser tab within the bottom-left, and my Google Doc on the right half of the screen. This way, I could type my review while researching and referring to our benchmarks. Yes, I possibly could did such like in Windows 10, but Snap Layouts managed to get much easier to jump back and forth between "Surface Laptop Studio review layout" along with other a few things i was using without anyone's knowledge (Slack, Trello, etc.).

There are Widgets. Pressing the icon raises a transparent left pain filled with information pertinent to your interests. I used to be tracking NFL games to see how my Fantasy players were performing therefore it made sense that my Widgets window revealed a few of the latest scores. And also the weather section offered me a friendly reminder that residing in Austin means wearing sunscreen in October. I really like that I can quickly glimpse only at that info or browse deeper if something catches my attention. I say that now, but I don't really see myself using Widgets frequently. I've already curated my personal favorite websites onto my browser bookmarks and my phone can just as readily show me the same info however with more context.

I was excited to use Android apps on Windows 11, however, which include is missing. We know Android apps will ultimately be built-into the OS using Intel's Bridge Technology, however this isn't ready at launch. We'll update this review when the functionality arrives.

Windows 11 review: Should you upgrade from Windows 10?

Am i going to be downloading Windows 11 on my small PC? No, since it doesn't adhere to Microsoft's frustratingly strict OS requirements. If I could, I would, if without better reason than being bored by Windows 10. Perhaps it isn't so much boredom than the discontentment of utilizing a visually outdated operating system. Windows 11 has its issues however the visual updates are sufficient for me to make the switch, it doesn't matter how I feel about the new Start Menu and Taskbar.

If you take a far more conservative approach together with your tech by staying with what works, you might as well keep Windows 10 around. There are several genuinely useful additional features within this new version, but those are undone by questionable changes, specially those designed to the Taskbar. But because I've said, Windows 11 is built on the same foundation since it's predecessor using the biggest update as being a new coat of paint. Ultimately, you are able to take or leave Windows 11, also it probably won't change how you use your system.

First created by Microsoft on Windows 10, the experience Center has changed the way we use our computers. Because of its easy-to-access notifications, tools, and settings, it's no surprise we see it return in Windows 11.

But before we get started, let's check out the brand new things Windows 11's Action Center provides. One of the most notable changes is that quick settings and Notifications are now grouped into two separate panels. With the separation of these two groups, the experience Center is cleaner and much more user-friendly.

Another new addition would be the slicker look from the Quick Settings. "Toggleable" features, such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and Airplane Mode now have simpler designs, which are pleasing towards the eyes. Read below to learn how you can customize your notifications and quick settings.

Changing Your Notification Settings

1. Right-click on the date and time at the right side of the Taskbar. Doing this will open a dropdown box with two settings, namely "Adjust time and date," and "Notification Settings."

2. Click "Notification Settings." Windows 11 opens a new Settings window, and from here, you are able to navigate to your Notifications Settings.

In the Notification settings, you are able to adjust something more important such as turning notifications off or on, selecting which apps can display you notifications, and customizing when and how to exhibit your notifications.

Customizing Your Quick Settings

1. Open Quick Settings by hitting the section of your Taskbar with the Wi-Fi, sounds, and battery icons.

2. Right-click on any kind from the Quick Setting menu.

3. Select "Edit quick Settings" to enable its customization mode.

4. If you wish to remove any of the Quick Settings icons, click on the unpin button next to it.

5. To add other icons, click on the Add+ button at the end of the Quick Settings menu. A few of the available alternatives include WiFi, Bluetooth, Airplane Mode, Battery Saver, Focus Assist, Accessibility, Cast, Keyboard layout, Mobile Hotspot, Nearby Sharing, Night Light, and Project.

6. You may also arrange the fast Settings icons by clicking and dragging these to your preferred position.

7. Once you have finished your customization, click on the Done button at the end from the menu.

An ISO file or image is really a selection of data which contains all necessary files and applications to run a program. ISO images substitute physical disks, for example CDs and DVDs, that would instead have been needed to use a program. It is commonly used for large software such as os's or games.

Just like a physical disk, an ISO image must be mounted first prior to being run. Mounting means accessing the ISO file's contents similar to the way your computer would read an actual disk. You can think of it as your pc simulating a CD running, but instead, it is software that it's reading.

You've two methods to mount an ISO file. The very first method is using Windows' own ISO mounting program, and the second could be using third-party programs. The very first method is only available if you are using Windows 8.1 and above.

How to Mount an ISO File in Windows 8.1 and Above

1) To mount an ISO image with its built-in mounting program, first, navigate to your ISO file's location.

2) Second, right-click the ISO file to open its context menu. In this menu, you can observe various actions that can be done together with your ISO, for example open, delete, copy, cut, open with, and much more.

3) Select Mount in the context menu. Depending on your computer's processing power, it might load for some seconds before the mounting is complete.

4) Go to My Computer (if below Windows 10) or This PC (Windows 10 and above).

5) Under Devices and drives, click on the DVD Drive with the name of your ISO file. This can open the ISO file to inform you its contents.

How you can Mount an ISO File with a Third-Party ISO Mounting Apps

In this guide, we will be using the free ISO mounting app WinCDEmu by Sysprogs. Do not concern yourself. You can also use other disc mounting programs. Most of them will require exactly the same or similar steps, as shown below.

1) Download WinCDEmu from this link. Double-click the installer and follow the instructions shown. Its default settings would be enough for the needs.

2) After installing this program, right-click the ISO file to open its context menu.

3) Click "Open with" to show programs able to running ISO files.

4) Select WinCDEmu mounter from the options. This step should open a WinCDEmu window that allows you to set your preferences when mounting your ISO file.

5) After setting your requirements, click OK.

6) Go to My Computer (if below Windows 10) or This PC (Windows 10 and above).

7) Under Devices and drives, click on the DVD Drive using the name of the ISO file. This can open the ISO file to show you its contents.

Windows 11 is here and lots of of us might have already downloaded and upgraded from Windows 10. When we use Windows, we quite often save files around the desktop due to the ease of access to those files. But simultaneously, the desktop could possibly get too much cluttered due to a large amount of files saved. Also, some of the apps while you install will add a shortcut to the desktop. When you can delete the unwanted files and sort them, they may look messy sometimes. This is where you can hide the desktop icons in Windows 11.

Just how to cover the icons around the desktop in Windows 11? This method is pretty simple.

All you need to do is to right-click on the desktop and choose View-> Show desktop icons. If the option is checked automatically, select it once again that it is disabled. Now you will be able to see a cleaner desktop on your Windows 11 with no icons.

If you wish to bring back the icons on the desktop, you need to simply repeat the same process and you'll get back all of the icons around the desktop. This is pretty useful for those who have a lot of icons cluttered around the desktop.

Among the good things about Windows 10 is the ability to customize the feel and look and get themes running on your OS. We've covered a lot of custom themes for Windows 10 including custom ones. You may also obtain the new Windows 11 theme for Windows 10. macOS Big Sur was launched last year for Mac devices also it has a refreshed feel and look. If you liked the large Sur feel and look, you can bring it to Windows 10 too with this particular custom theme. Big Sur for Windows 10 is totally new theme which could get you the look and feel of macOS Big Sur. So let's observe how you will get this theme working.

WARNING!
Patching system files using 3rd party software could create issues, which means you are requested to perform this at your own risk. We won't be responsible for any issues brought on by using these tools. Please create a system restore point before patching files.

macOS BigSur Theme for Windows 10:

How to Install Custom Themes:

To install custom themes, you have to patch system files. For this, the very best tool is UltraUXTheme Patcher. Once installed, it will patch the files and also you have to reboot the machine. Now you can copy the custom themes to "%windir%/Resources/Themes" folder. Now you can start using the brand new custom themes on Windows 10. The procedure to patch the themes is straightforward and once you have installed the app, you can install custom theme in Windows 10.

Before installing, be sure you produce a system restore reason for Windows 10, to ensure that in case of any items you can always restore it back.

Step 1: To install the theme on your Windows 10 PC, first patch the system files while using app mentioned above.

Step 2: Copy all of the file in Theme folder to "%windir%/Resources/Themes"

Step 3: You can now open the Personalization option in settings and you will begin to see the new theme listed. You are able to click on the theme and apply it to your Windows 10.

After you have installed Windows on your computer, the unit needs activation. Only activated Windows 10 will have all of the features of the OS. But while activating there can be various kinds of errors. One particular error may be the activation error 0xc03f6506 can come for few users who are trying to upgrade to Windows 10 Pro from home or any other editions. The error message you receive in such a condition is, The final product key you entered can't be used about this copy of Windows (0xc03f6506). So how to fix this activation error, let's discover.

There are multiple ways you can fix this error in Windows 10 while activating the OS.

How you can Fix Windows Activation Error 0xc03f6506

You will find different methods you can test to repair Windows activation error 0xc03f6506. One of them would be to activate via command prompt, let's see results for yourself.

Activate Windows 10 through the Command Prompt:

Step 1: In order to activate via command prompt, you will need a bootable Windows 10 installation CD. It can be a pen drive as well.

Step 2: Open the command prompt within the administrator prompt. To get this done type cmd in the start menu and in the result, right-click on the command prompt within the google listing and choose Open as Administrator.

Step 3: This will open the command prompt in administrator mode.

Step 4: Now insert the bootable media for Windows 10.

Step five: You now have to type this in the command prompt setup.exe /auto upgrade /pkey xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx. Here xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx may be the actual product key which you need to enter properly.

Now Windows will activate your copy.

Disable Network Connection:

If you are not capable of finding a strategy to this problem, you can try this method of disabling the network connection.

Step 1: Open the run command in Windows (Win key + R)

Step 2: Type ncpa.cpl in the run command and press enter button.

Step 3: This can open the Network connection inside your Windows.

Step 4: In the next step, right-click your web connection there and select Disable.

Step five: Now try activating your PC while using Windows key. Once activation is performed, be sure you enable the network connection once again.

We all know that Apple uses iCloud as its cloud storage service for macOS and iOS. Photos, messages, videos are all synced automatically if you work with a MacBook or an iPhone, or iPad. Now what if you work with an apple iphone or iPad, but uses a Windows laptop. In such instances, you will need to have iCloud on a Windows laptop. Apple continues to be improving iCloud support on Windows by giving more features including recently available password sync. So how do you access iCloud from Windows File Explorer?

How you can Access iCloud from Windows File Explorer:

iCloud can be obtained for download and you may install the latest form of iCloud in the Microsoft Store for Windows 10 or Windows 11. After you have installed the iCloud app on your Windows machine, you need to run the app and sign in together with your Apple ID.

You'll be able to see the screen as shown below. This will show you the choices to sync your iCloud drive, photos, emails, contacts, bookmarks, as well as passwords. If you need to sync your passwords, then you'll need to install the extension.

Now, you need to enable the check box against the iCloud Drive and then click the Apply button.

After you have carried this out, open the Windows File Explorer and you will begin to see the iCloud enabled on the quick access menu around the left side.

Whenever you open this, you're going to get the iCloud drive within the Windows File Manager and you will be able to add files or access the files within the drive from your File Manager in Windows. If you have enabled Photos to sync, you will then be able to see all of the iCloud photos in your Windows File manager.

By default, iCloud storage gives you 5GB of free cloud storage and if you want more storage, you'll be able to upgrade the storage right from the app.

Microsoft has released a brand new set of Windows 11 ISOs, because the company shipped the ultimate preview build of the season to insiders enrolled in the Dev channel.

In other words, the new ISOs are for Windows 11 build 22523 and therefore are specifically targeted at Windows Insiders, which means they ought to simply be used for testing and seeking out the latest improvements for that operating system.

Obviously, you are able to perfectly install these builds in a virtual machine to see what's new, though the ISO images allow you to also begin with scratch on a device where the current Windows 11 preview builds aren't in working order due to various issues.

The Windows 11 rollout continues

Meanwhile, the rollout of Windows 11 continues, and it's expected to gain in traction within the first months of 2022.

Microsoft has promised to accomplish the rollout of Windows 11 through the summer of 2022, and because of the holidays is here, don't expect it to make any major progress these days.

A new wave of computers should receive Windows 11 in January, if you haven't been offered the update already, you may either perform it manually or wait for Microsoft to push it to your device.

"The upgrade will roll out over time to in-market devices based on intelligence models that consider hardware eligibility, reliability metrics, age of tool and other factors that change up the upgrade experience. We expect all eligible devices to be offered the disposable upgrade to Windows 11 by mid-2022," Microsoft originally said captured. Obviously, the company strongly recommends against upgrading to Windows 11 if any safeguard holds are in place, as you could end up struggling with various problems because of the operating-system not ready for your device.