Windows 11

Windows 11

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Windows 11 Windows 11 introduces a refreshed design, improved performance, and new features aimed at enhancing productivity and user experience.

Windows 11

Redesigned UI (Fluent Design)

  • Centered Start Menu and Taskbar
  • Rounded corners for windows and menus
  • New animations and transparency effects

Snap Layouts & Snap Groups

  • Improved multitasking with predefined window arrangement options
  • Hover over the maximize button to see layout choices

Microsoft Store Overhaul

  • Faster and more curated app store
  • Support for Android apps (via Amazon App store or sideloading)

Widgets Panel

  • Personalized news, weather, calendar, and task updates
  • AI-powered content suggestions (powered by Microsoft Start)

Gaming Enhancements

  • Direct Storage (faster game load times with NVME SSDs)
  • Auto HDR (improves color range in supported games)

Xbox Game Pass integration

  • Virtual Desktops & Multitasking
  • Customizable virtual desktops (like macOS Spaces)
  • Better multiple monitor support
  • Microsoft Teams Integration
  • Built-in Chat feature (replacing Skype)
  • Quick access for video calls and messaging

Performance & Security

  • TPM 2.0 requirement (for enhanced security)
  • Secure Boot and hardware-based security
  • Better efficiency for battery life on laptops
  • Android App Support (via Amazon App store)
  • Run select Android apps natively (limited to certain regions)

Updates & Support

  • Smaller, more frequent updates (like Windows 10)
  • Annual major updates (e.g., Windows 11 22H2, 23H2)

System Requirements for Windows 11:

Component                                       Minimum  Requirement

CPU                            64-bit, 1 GHz+, 2+ cores (Compatible Intel/AMD/Qualcomm)

RAM                                           4 GB (8 GB recommended)

Storage                                                        64 GB+

TPM                                           Trusted Platform Module 2.0

Graphics                              DirectX 12 compatible / WDDM 2.x

Display                                    720p, >9″ diagonal, 8-bit color

Secure                                                Boot Required

UEFI                                                  Firmware Required

Note: Some older PCs may not meet the TPM 2.0 requirement, but workarounds exist (at your own risk).

Hidden Features & Lesser-Known Tricks

Secret Start Menu Layouts

  • Right-click the Start button → “Windows Terminal” (Admin/User) for quick PowerShell/CMD access.
  • Press Win + X + U → Quickly shut down, restart, or sleep.

Enhanced Right-Click Menu

  • Shift + Right-click → Shows the old-style context menu with more options.
  • Ctrl + Shift + Esc → Directly opens Task Manager (no Ctrl +Alt +Del needed).

Hidden Features & Lesser-Known Tricks

Live Captions (Accessibility)

  • Win + Ctrl + L → Auto-generates captions for any audio (even local videos).
  • Dynamic Refresh Rate (for Supported Displays)
  • Settings > System > Display > Advanced > Dynamic Refresh Rate (saves battery on laptops).

God Mode (Classic Hack Still Works)

Strict Hardware Requirements

  • Many users were upset over TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot blocking older PCs.

Removed Features

  • No more Live Tiles (from Windows 10).
  • Taskbar limitations: No drag-and-drop, can’t move to side/top of screen.

Ads in Start Menu

  • Microsoft pushes recommended apps/settings (can be disabled in Settings > Personalization > Start).

Forced Microsoft Account

  • Home edition requires an internet connection + MS account during setup (pro versions allow local accounts).

3. Advanced Performance Tweaks

Reduce Animations

  • Settings > Accessibility > Visual Effects → Turn off animations.
  • Disable VBS (Virtualization-Based Security)
  • May improve gaming performance (but reduces security):
  • Disable via: Windows Security > Device Security > Core Isolation > Memory Integrity (Off).

Optimize Storage

  • Win + R → clean MGR → Clean up system files (including Windows Update cache).
  • Use Storage Sense (Settings > System > Storage) to auto-delete temp files.

4. Windows 11 for Power Users

  • WSL (Windows Subsystem for Linux) Improvements
  • Supports GUI Linux apps (e.g., GIMP, Firefox) via WSLG.

Hyper-V & Sandbox

  • Built-in virtual machine support (enable in “Turn Windows features on/off”).
  • Windows Sandbox → Isolated temporary desktop for testing unsafe apps.

Future Updates (2024 & Beyond)

  • Windows 11 24H2 (Expected Fall 2024)
  • “AI Explorer” → AI-powered timeline/search across all apps.
  • Faster updates with “Hot Patching” (no restarts for some updates).
  • Improved ARM support (for Snapdragon X Elite laptops).

Windows 12 Rumors (2025?)

  • Microsoft may shift to a 3-year release cycle, with Win12 focusing on cloud/AI integration.

6. Should You Upgrade?

Good for:                                                                                                  Avoid if:

New hardware (12th Gen Intel+/Ryzen 6000+)                   You have an old PC without TPM 2.0

Gamers (Direct Storage, Auto HDR)                                        You rely on drag-and-drop taskbar

Touchscreen/2-in-1 devices                                                        You prefer Windows 10’s UI

Developers (WSL2, Android apps)                                             You need long-term stability

Kernel & Low-Level Changes

  • Hybrid CPU Scheduling (“Thread Director”)
  • Windows 11 is optimized for Intel 12th Gen+ (Alder Lake) and Ryzen 6000+ hybrid CPUs (P-cores + E-cores).
  • The scheduler prioritizes foreground apps on Performance cores while background tasks use Efficiency cores.

2. Enterprise & IT Pro Features

  • Windows 365 Integration (Cloud PC)
  • Requires Azure AD + Intune for management.
  • Granular Control Over Feature Updates
  • New “Update Compliance” policies in Intune allow:
  • Pausing updates for 60 days (vs. 35 in Win10).
  • Targeted rollouts (ring-based deployments).

TPM 2.0 + Pluton Security Chip

  • Microsoft Pluton (in newer CPUs like Ryzen 6000+) acts as a hardware root-of-trust.
  • Stores encryption keys inside the CPU (not in the TPM chip).

Kernel DMA Protection

  • Blocks Thunderbolt DMA attacks (like  PCI Leech).
  • Requires UEFI + VT-d/AMD-Vi support.

Smart App Control (SAC)

  • AI-driven application whitelisting (blocks unsigned/unknown EXEs).
  • Can only be disabled during clean install (not reversible afterward).
  • Extreme Customization (At Your Own Risk)

Replace Explorer with Open-Shell

  • Use Open-Shell-Mod to restore Windows 7-style Start Menu.
  • Windows 11 Internals (For Developers)

Win UI 3 vs. UWP vs. Win32

  • Win UI 3 is now the default UI framework (replacing UWP).
  • Backwards-compatible with Win32/WPF via XAML Islands.
  • WDDM 3.1 GPU Driver Model
  • Supports DirectX 12 Ultimate features:

Mesh SHADERS

  • Variable Rate Shading (VRS)
  • Sampler Feedback

The Future: What’s Next?

  • Windows 11 LTSC (2024)
  • “Core PC” Modular OS (Leaked)
  • Microsoft is testing a state-separated OS (like Chrome OS) for instant updates/resets.
  • Full Win32-on-ARM Emulation
  • Qualcomm X Elite chips will run x86 apps at near-native speed.

Kernel & System Architecture

  • Memory Management Changes
  • Segment Heap Adoption (replacing legacy heap):
  • 30-45% memory reduction for Win32 apps
  • HVCI (Hypervisor-Protected Code Integrity):
  • Uses EPT to enforce W^X (Write XOR Execute)
  • Bypass techniques via CET shadow stacks

5. Debugging & Reverse Engineering

  • Win DBG New Commands
  • Analyze thread director decisions
  • Dump VBS security contexts
  • Driver framework inspection

10. Future Roadmap (2025+)

  • Projected Features
  • AI Copilot Runtime (NPU-accelerated)
  • Win32onARM64 JIT Re compiler
  • Fully Modular Windows Core

TPM 2.0 PCR Extend Sequence

  • Boot process extends PCRs in this order:
  • PCR 0: CRTM + Firmware
  • PCR 2: Extended Firmware
  • PCR 4: Boot Manager
  • PCR 11: BitLocker Unlock
  • PCR 18: Kernel Integrity Checks

Secure Boot & TPM: The Hidden PCRs

  • Beyond PCR 0-23: Microsoft’s Custom PCRs
  • Windows 11 extends undocumented PCRs for Measured Boot:
  • PCR 28: Windows Defender ELAM (Early Launch Anti-Malware)
  • PCR 29: Secure Kernel (VBS measurements)
  • PCR 30: Pluton Firmware (Microsoft’s secure co-processor)

Hyper-V & VBS: The Dark Side of Virtualization

  • Undocumented Hyper calls (Hyper-V Backdoor)
  • Direct Storage & GPU Secrets
  • NVME Priority Bands (Beyond Documentation)
  • Windows 11 assigns 6 priority bands for Direct Storage:

Band Purpose

0  OS Critical (MMIO)
1  Game Assets (RT)
2  Background Downloads
3  Prefetch Data
4  User Files
5  Low-Priority I/O

The Future: Windows 12 Leaks (2025)

  • “Core PC” (Fully Modular Windows)
  • State Separation: OS partitions into read-only / writable sections.
  • Instant Reset: Like Chromebooks, but for Windows.
  • AI Copilot in Kernel Mode
  • NPU-accelerated system calls.
  • Predictive memory preloading.

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………..Windows 11……..

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