The WinSxS Folder
The topic of the Windows Side-by-side assembly folder (aka WinSxS or Component Store) has been the source of much discussion and misinformation since it first appeared in Windows Vista.
Overly simplified, the WinSxS folder is the folder that holds the Windows Component Store. The Windows Component Store holds files that are “used to support the functions needed for the customization and updating of Windows.”
[Read more…] about Windows 11 – Cleaning WinSxS
Windows 11 Disk Cleanup
First Things First
On modern systems with SSD’s, cleaning your drives IS NOT A PERFORMANCE TWEAK unless your drive is near full. SSDs do not get fragmented and Windows not only periodically cleans system files but also automatically optimizes drives (TRIM).
You clean a drive to reduce its size resulting in quicker backup and recovery and a smaller image.
[Read more…] about Windows 11 Disk Cleanup
Patch Tuesday
Windows Updates
Over 100 vulnerabilities addressed.
Win11 – January 13, 2026—KB5074109 (OS Builds 26200.7623 and 26100.7623)
Win10 ESU – January 13, 2026—KB5073724 (OS Builds 19045.6809 and 19044.6809)
Monday News
Linux Mint 22.3
Released and upgradable but official pages haven’t been updated yet.
For now hit the download pages > pick your edition > pick a mirror > change link from 22.2 to 22.3:
i.e. https://pub.linuxmint.io/stable/22.3/linuxmint-22.3-cinnamon-64bit.iso
Download | New Features | Release Notes
To upgrade:
Update Manager > from the menu choose Edit > click Upgrade to Linux Mint 22.3 Zena
Intel Drivers
Intel Chipset Drivers 10.1.20398.8776
Intel Network Adapter Driver for Microsoft Windows 11 v30.6
Intel Network Adapter Driver for Microsoft Windows 10 v30.6
Intel Killer Performance Suite v40.25.1125.1924
Twas The Day Before Christmas
Wishing you and yours a safe and joyful Christmas.
WACUP v1.99.44.23410
WACUP = WinAmp Community Update Project
Download & Info | Changelog (x86) or (x64)
Nvidia Drivers
Nvidia Geforce Game Ready Drivers 591.59 WHQL
and
Nvidia GeForce Hotfix Display Driver version 591.67
Intel Drivers
Intel 7th-10th Gen Processor Graphics Driver v31.0.101.2140
Intel Wireless Wi-Fi Drivers for Windows 10 and Windows 11 v24.10.0
Intel Wireless Bluetooth Drivers for Windows 10 and Windows 11 v24.10.0
Intel PROSet/Wireless Software and Wi-Fi Drivers for IT Administrators v24.10.0
Intel Killer Performance Suite v40.25.1010.1818
Warning – New Tweak Making The Rounds
Background
The latest tweak making the rounds is one that allegedly increases the performance of NVMe drives in Windows 11. For now, this is done via registry modification.
[Read more…] about Warning – New Tweak Making The Rounds
Friday News
Audacity 3.7.7
Free sound recorder and editor. Hotfix release.
Download
Winaero Tweaker 1.64.2
Download
See my post HERE for important info.
Intel Drivers
Intel 11th – 14th Gen Processor Graphics Driver v32.0.101.7082
Intel Arc Graphics Driver v32.0.101.8331 WHQL
Intel Wireless Wi-Fi Drivers for Windows 10 and Windows 11 v24.0.2
Intel Wireless Bluetooth Drivers for Windows 10 and Windows 11 v24.0.1
AMD Drivers
AMD Ryzen Chipset Driver v7.11.26.2142
Wednesday News
AMD Software Adrenalin 25.12.1 WHQL Drivers
Notepad++ 8.8.9
Notepad on steroids.
“vulnerability-fix”
Download & Info
Patch Tuesday
This Patch Tuesday addresses over 30 security vulnerabilities.
Win10 ESU – December 9, 2025—KB5071546 (OS Builds 19045.6691 and 19044.6691)
Security updates.
Win11 – December 9, 2025—KB5072033 (OS Builds 26200.7462 and 26100.7462)
Along with security updates has a few fixes and a few new/improved features. See video at above link.
Friday News
***Update to my article Enroll In Windows 10 ESU
Reader Andrew let me know the project has been updated and it is working again. He linked to a forum post at AskWoody where the author explains the issue and sent a link to the newest version that works:
https://gitlab.com/-/project/11037551/uploads/f8b47372a5f2f3cc37c50872930e0cb5/Consumer_ESU_Enrollment-v0.0.8.zip
GPU Drivers
Nvidia Geforce Game Ready Drivers 591.44 WHQL
Intel Arc Graphics Driver 32.0.101.8331 WHQL
Audacity 3.7.6
Free sound recorder and editor.
Download | Release Notes (when available)