Placing a link / shortcut to a web page on your task bar in Windows 11

Windows

Sometimes Windows 11 is sooooooo annoying.

Place a link to a webpage on your desktop... works. Drag it to the taskbar... can't pin it.

Why oh why? Well, here's the work-around...

Jellyfin - Install Server and Client

Datatalk

Jellyfin is a free alternative for Plex (and as you may have noticed Plex has gotten a little top heavy lately).

Unfortunately, the people behind Jellyfin dropped the ball with the latest version - at least for Windows - as it simply doesn't 'auto' install. But fixing it isn't too hard.

Shrinking an oversized System Volume Information folder

Windows

After an update, I was suddenly left with a 500 GB hidden folder on drive O: (this is my Drivepool storage machine), and I couldn't figure out the owner.

It turns out, the owner might be anyone, and the folder could have gone 'plus-sized' due to a (partially) failed update.

Shortcuts to Windows 11 (and other) settings

Windows

I've updated the old page with some new entries. Go here.

VirtualBox 7.2.4 - Client resolution doesn't automatically adjust to window size

VirtualBox + Windows

VirtualBox has a few more options in its latest incarnation, and a few defaults are different from previous releases.

Auto-adjusting client resolutions is one of those.

VirtualBox - Windows 11 install is stuck at 10% on Windows 11 Host

VirtualBox + Windows

Symptom: stuck at 10% when installing Windows 11 Guest on Windows 11 Host in VirtualBox.

Solution: lots of small things, but mostly Memory Core Integration... I still have some testing to do, but this looks promising!

Old Wacom + Old and New Graphical Software + New (Old) PC

Wacom + Windows

(Mostly notes for myself.)

I'm using an old Wacom with some old and new software. These are notes on how to set up and run things.

Installing OBS, Virtual Webcam, RSTP, Chromecast and what not, in 2026...

OBS + Windows

I'm writing this new OBS install post, as newer releases use different options, and things were getting a little confusing. Unfortunately, not everything works as it did in the past. That might be me, or other stuff may have changed...

Remember HWInfo64's Window Positions

Windows

HWInfo64 is a nice program, but it has two disadvantages:

1. It needs to run with Admin rights

2. It sometimes forgets the location of its (child) windows

That second one is a bummer, so here's a desktop link that make it a little easier to restore them.

Countdown to 2026 - #3 - A New PC! Next: Migrating Windows and Office (October 12)

Countdown + Windows

Migrating Microsoft Windows and Microsoft Office is an artform by itself. I'm still investigating and messing around, but one thing is certain: Microsoft did their best to make sure it's all as confusing as possible.

I would not go as far as to claim it's done deliberately in the hope you will buy new licenses. But it certainly is not user friendly!

Retrieve the original installation language for Windows installs

Windows

To do an in-situ upgrade from Windows 10 to Windows 11 your install medium needs to be of the same language as the one you originally installed your Windows with... or not?

On their website Microsoft says you need to pick the language you're currently using, but when you try to do an in-situ upgrade, it asks for the language you installed your original copy with.

Swapping / upgrading / downgrading SSDs - You want Rescuezilla!

Windows + Datatalk

Replacing an SSD with something larger or (especially) smaller can be quite tricky. Here's a simple way to do it.

(And yes, it is using a Linux boot stick, duh 😏)

Pin a shortcut to a batch file on the taskbar

Windows + Datatalk

Sometimes you just need a shortcut to a batch file. Now that's easy. But sometimes you want to place that shortcut on the task bar, and that is slightly more complicated.

This approach appears to work on Windows 10 and 11.

Microsoft Copilot... in Notepad? And 'on' by default?!?

Windows

Microsoft / Muckysoft / Micro$oft is rolling out it's Copilot AI assistant... and it doesn't matter if you like it or even agree with it, or not... You'll get it shoved down your throat, no matter what.

Did you know that Notepad (!) has Copilot support? Did you know it's ON by default?!? M$, what the hell is wrong with you?!?!?

(Go into settings and turn it off. Also uninstall the Copilot app. Fuck M$.)

Creating Shortcuts to Batchfiles in Windows 11

Windows

Why make things easy... You can only create links to .exe files now on Windows 11, but there's a way around that as well. It just takes a little effort.

Here's how to create a taskbar shortcut to a batch file in Windows 11:

How to install Windows 11 without a Microsoft account and / or TPM

Windows

In the past you could install Windows 11 with a local account. These days? Not so. You MUST create a Microsoft Account to install Windows 11. That's... ridiculous. Can't even install a PC anymore without an internet connection.

How to avoid being Microsoft's Bitch... Or: adding and managing Local Accounts on Windows 11

Windows

My deepest apologies for the choice of words, but today was one of those days where I have been literally yelling at my computer screen for at least ten minutes. All thanks to Microsoft.

And today, my local accounts suddenly disappeared.

Windows 10 suddenly stops reacting to WOL

Windows

Why does Microsoft keep doing these things? My home server (a Windows 10 box) ran perfectly fine, and woke up when requested. And then, suddenly, it doesn't respond to a WOL anymore.

Possible reason: Windows 10 decided that their limited default Windows-provided driver was better than the custom, certified driver provided by Asrock.

Unfortunately, re-installing the original driver did NOT restore WOL functionality. Why, Microsoft, oh why... Anybody help?!?

Windows Version (and retrieving keys, upgrade tricks, and pitfalls)

Windows

Notes to figure out what version of Windows you have, and what combos can be upgraded.

Progress

Column + Windows

Nearly thirty years of progress... Did we make any? I compared the layout of the same app on old style Windows NT / 98 (XP with a theme), Windows XP, Windows 10, and Windows 11.

Just from a stupid user's point of view... did we make any progress? If you just look at the user interface then it's still the same beast. So why is Microsoft so desperate to change the looks, when in the end we'll buy the new version anyway?

When you think about it... things haven't changed much for the last 30 years...