Microsoft Enhances Windows 11 with Taskbar Customization, Driver Recovery, and Expanded Compatibility

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Microsoft Enhances Windows 11 with Taskbar Customization, Driver Recovery, and Expanded Compatibility
Photo: Wired
tech· A press review of 5 outlets

  1. Most PCs from the past 15 years can run Windows 11. PCs sold with Windows 10 can usually upgrade after a registry edit.

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    Wired

    Use Tiny11 to Rescue a Computer Running Windows 10 If you can’t—or don’t want to—upgrade to full Windows 11, consider this lightweight version of Microsoft’s operating system that works on a wide range of computers.

  2. Microsoft is making Windows Update a lot less disruptive. Microsoft has created a new “Cloud-Initiated Driver Recovery” feature that can replace a faulty driver installed on a PC with a previously working driver through Windows Update. Right now, Windows 11 users have to manually roll back a driver or hardware vendors have to publish a new one to work around any problems, but this new feature aims to make this process automatic.

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    Engadget

    Windows 11 users are not happy campers at the moment for multiple reasons, but Microsoft is doing something about an issue around updates. The company just introduced "Cloud-Initiated Driver Recovery" (let's call it CIDR) for Windows Update, a system that will roll back faulty drivers detected during the company's shiproom evaluation process, with no user intervention required.

    ZDNet

    When will these latest updates reach all Windows 11 users? That's difficult to say. Since the changes are still in the new Experimental channel of the insider build, they need to transition to the Beta channel once they're more stable. From there, they can then roll out to to the general public. Normally, that entire process can take anywhere from a few months to a year. But with Microsoft keen on cleaning up Windows 11, I think the company will try to expedite these and similar updates.

  3. Thanks to an update rolling out to Windows 11 insiders, you'll be able to move the taskbar to the top, bottom, left, or right. Start menu changes are coming soon, too.

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    The Verge

    Windows 11 Insiders can choose a smaller taskbar as well. Microsoft first teased its movable taskbar in March as part of efforts to rebuild trust among users. You can adjust the alignment of the icons inside the taskbar, as well as open the Start menu drawer from wherever you placed it. Windows 11 Insiders can access a shorter taskbar, too, which could come in handy for devices with smaller displays. There’s also an option to choose from a “Small” or “Large” Start menu.

    Engadget

    Microsoft is testing changes for Windows 11 that will make it easier to customize the Start menu easier and to position the taskbar better for your needs. The company is rolling out them out to Windows Insiders in the Experimental channel starting today and over the coming week.

    Ars Technica

    Most significantly, the Windows 11 taskbar can now be docked to any edge of your screen, including the left and right, something that was possible in Windows 10 (and many older versions of Windows) but has been missing from Windows 11 since launch. Users can configure slightly different taskbar behavior for every taskbar position—if you prefer a different icon alignment or a left/right-mounted taskbar over a top/bottom-mounted taskbar, or if you want different settings for labels and icon groupings, you can choose different options for each position and Windows will remember them.

From the margins

2 details only one outlet reported

Independent claims that didn't surface elsewhere in our corpus. Treat as supplementary — not corroborated across outlets.

  1. 01 ZDNet

    How to upgrade your 'incompatible' Windows 10 PC to Windows 11 - for free Microsoft really doesn't want customers to upgrade older PCs to Windows 11, but there are workarounds for all but the oldest devices. Extended security updates for Windows 10 will stop in just a few months, so it's time to plan your exit strategy.

  2. 02 Engadget

    To be part of Microsoft's Windows Insider program, you'll have to register with your Microsoft account. Insiders get to preview the latest Windows builds the company is testing, and they'll be able to send their feedback to the company to improve its experimental features before their wider rollout.

Assembled from 3 corroborated claims drawn from 5 independent outlets. Every passage above is taken verbatim — Dorothy doesn't paraphrase or summarize.

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Sources (5)

  • verge
  • wired
  • arstechnica
  • engadget
  • zdnet

Original Articles (8)

Culture Use Tiny11 to Rescue a Computer Running Windows 10 — Wired
Enterprise How to upgrade your 'incompatible' Windows 10 PC to Windows 11 - for free — ZDNet
Enterprise Five years later, Windows 11 brings back much-missed taskbar options (and more) — Ars Technica
Enterprise Microsoft is finally bringing the movable taskbar to Windows 11 - here's who can try it now — ZDNet
Consumer Microsoft lets Insiders choose their Windows 11 Start menu size — Engadget
Consumer Windows 11 tests an adjustable taskbar and resizable Start menu — The Verge
Consumer Windows Update will soon revert problematic drivers automatically — Engadget
Consumer Windows Update will soon automatically roll back faulty drivers — The Verge