Winamp is not working in Windows 10/11

Posted on by Aleksandar Ognjanovic

Winamp is, arguably, the most famous third-party music player since the Windows era started.

It was a reliable choice for so many years and now it’s in a decline, as the music streaming services are taking over.

Even its optimization for Windows 10 is not without issues and some users report not being able to open Winamp or play any audio files.

We have some suggestions on how to solve this problem, so make sure to give them a go.

  1. Scan for malware and PuPs
  2. Run the app as an administrator and remove Plugins
  3. Check the format of multimedia files
  4. Install the redistributables and NET. Framework
  5. Reinstall the application

What can I do if Winamp won’t play audio files?

1. Scan for malware and PuPs

The corruption of Winamp might occur due to a malware infection. Albeit, this is hardly the case. However, just for the sake of troubleshooting this problem, run the deep scan on your antimalware tool.

In addition, if you’re suspecting the presence of some PuPs which might interfere with Winamp, the antimalware solution suited for your PC should remove them in no time.

A malware removal tool offers real-time protection against all types of device viruses, such as spyware, malware, ransomware, etc.

These utilities are very easy to use, once you run it choose Scan, and simply wait for the procedure to finish. Afterward, your device will restart and the scanning process will be complete.

2. Run the app as an administrator and remove Plugins

  1. Right-click on the Winamp shortcut and open Properties.
  2. Select the Compatibility tab.
  3. Check the Run this program as an administrator box and confirm changes.winamp won't open

Remove plugins

  1. Navigate to the Winamp installation folder in Program Files (Program Files x86).
  2. Open the Plugins folder.
  3. Backup all plugins and delete them from the folder afterward.

3. Check the format and state of multimedia files

This suggestion is a long shot, but you should check the state of files before we move to additional steps. If you have any alternative player (even the built-in Windows Media Player will do), make sure to try opening the files.

If you’re able to play audio files on an alternative player and Winamp is still crashing, move to the next step on the list.

Here’s the list of file formats Winamp supports by default:

  • MP3
  • WMA
  • RealAudio
  • Vorbis
  • Musepack
  • AAC
  • AC-3
  • APE
  • FLAC
  • ALAC

4. Install the redistributables and NET. Framework

Some users suggestions confirmed that Winamp started working as intended after they installed the associated software.

Chances are you already have C++ Redistributables and NET. Framework installed, but we still encourage you to check whether the latest versions are available.

In addition, you should update Winamp to meet the latest iterations of Visual Studio and NET. Framework. You can download the latest C++ Redistributables and also the NET. Framework.

After you install them, Winamp should start working in a seamless manner.

5. Reinstall the application

  1. In the Windows Search bar, type Control and open Control Panel.winamp won't open
  2. Choose Uninstall a program.winamp won't open
  3. Remove Winamp and all associated user preferences.
  4. Navigate to the official site and download Winamp.
  5. Install the client again and look for changes.

With that, we can conclude this article. In case you have some alternative solutions and are willing to share, the comments section is just below.

Microsoft Video Authenticator aims to detect deepfakes by using AI and Azure

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

Microsoft has launched a new video authenticator tool to combat “deepfakes” to prevent misinformation on social media ahead of the upcoming U.S. election. Microsoft Video Authenticator has been designed to analyze photos and videos to automatically determine a “confidence score” to indicate that they’re artificially manipulated.

“This technology has two components. The first is a tool built into Microsoft Azure that enables a content producer to add digital hashes and certificates to a piece of content. The hashes and certificates then live with the content as metadata wherever it travels online. The second is a reader – which can exist as a browser extension or in other forms – that checks the certificates and matches the hashes, letting people know with a high degree of accuracy that the content is authentic and that it hasn’t been changed, as well as providing details about who produced it”, the company explained.

Example of a deepfake identification

Deepfakes basically use artificial intelligence to manipulate audio, video, or image files to make people appear to say something or do they didn’t. Deepfakes are now extensively used worldwide (including politicians, meme-makers, and news agencies), so it’s important for organizations to step up and build technology to address this issue. With Microsoft Video Authenticator, Microsoft aims to help news outlets and political campaigns that are involved in the democratic process.

Microsoft noted that the implementation of this tool is a part Defending Democracy Program, the company’s recent initiative to fighting disinformation, protect voting, secure campaigns, and more. “It’s also part of a broader focus on protecting and promoting journalism as Brad Smith and Carol Ann Browne discussed in their Top Ten Tech Policy Issues for the 2020s“, Microsoft said yesterday.

New vertical layout comes to Office app for Windows 10

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

Microsoft recently delivered a new design for the Microsoft 365 Office dashboard, but part of that is now expanding to the Office app on Windows 10, too. Spotted by Windows Blog Italia, a new vertical layout is coming to the Office app on Windows 10.

Currently, the feature is rolling out on a slow basis, and we’re only seeing it on one computer on our end. However, once it is made available, the experience of the Office app changes quite a bit, as seen in the featured image above.

The links to the core Microsoft 365 apps move from the middle of the app to a sidebar, making it easier to reach. There’s also a new clearer “all apps” button, too which makes it easier to see all the Microsoft 365 apps. You’ll also find a nice, clean looking “new document” button, as well.

It appears as though this is coming by way of a server-side update, which means you don’t need to go to the Microsoft Store to update the app to see this new layout. It should be coming to you automatically. We’re still hoping that this feature rolls out to more users soon, as it fits great with Windows 10’s overall design.

Microsoft 365 (Office)
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How to fix the AppHangB1 error on Steam

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

The AppHangB1 error usually causes the computer to become unresponsive or extremely slow. This error usually appears if you try to open a game through Steam.

It is also possible for users to receive this error when they try to open applications like Adobe Acrobat, Microsoft Edge, etc.

If you are seeing this error on your computer as well, then you will want to look at the possible fixes below. 

How can I fix the AppHangB1 error on Windows 10?

1. Search and destroy malware

try out Malwarebytes

Computer spyware and viruses are commonly known to negatively interfere with other applications. They can seep into your system settings and alter them without your consent.

This can cause Steam, or other programs, to execute some commands improperly, eventually generating errors like the AppHangB1 one.

Thus, it is not unlikely that the AppHangB1 error on your computer is caused by malware of some sort. That’s why it’s highly recommended to perform a virus scan using Malwarebytes.

This tool is easy to install and use, making the task to protect your devices and precious data much more intuitive.

Malwarebytes

Malwarebytes

Malwarebytes is a simple utility ready to help you fix the AppHangB1 error on Steam. Eager to give it a try?
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2. Disable antivirus programs or properly configure them

  1. Locate and double click on the Windows Firewall icon on the bottom right corner of your taskbar. Alternatively, you can open your Windows menu by pressing the Windows key on your keyboard.
  2. Type in Windows Firewall once you have your Windows menu open.
  3. Next, enter the Windows Firewall dialog and click on the Turn Windows Firewall on or off section located on the left side.
  4. Next, you will need to Turn off Windows Firewall on both your private network settings and your public network settings. You can see where to find them in the picture below.
  5. Press OK.
  6. Restart Steam or the application that you have a problem with and run it as administrator.

This advice may seem entirely contradictory to the advice of Fix 1. However, it is important to know that antivirus applications tend to restrict applications from opening, regardless of whether they are trustworthy or not.

Furthermore, Steam tends to use numerous different processes in order to offer the optimal gaming experience.

Antivirus programs that are not configured correctly can sometimes consider these processes as a potential threat to your computer. This in turn can cause errors when you open Steam games.

Therefore, you may want to try disabling your antivirus programs temporarily to see whether or not they are the reason why you are getting the AppHangB1 error.

If you are not sure how to disable Windows Firewall on Windows 10, then follow the above instructions.

3. Configure launch settings on Steam

  1. First, locate the default location of your steam client. This is typically found in  C: Drive>Program files (x86)Steam.
  2. Next, you will need to make a shortcut of steam.exe in the same folder.
  3. Right-click on the shortcut and choose Properties.
  4. Go to the Shortcut tab of properties and locate the section called Target. In this dialog box, you should see C: Program Files (x86)SteamSteam.exe written in it. Add -dx9 at the end. Your dialog should look like the picture below.
  5. Remember to press OK.
  6. After, open Task Manager and end task Steam Client Bootstrapper. 
  7. Relaunch Steam to see whether or not you will get the AppHangB1 Error.

This fix works for Steam, but it has not been tested on other applications that have problems with the AppHangB1 error. Basically this fix is a workaround type of fix for the error.

The instructions below will teach you how to make Steam and its games open with dx9, also known as DirectX 9. This sometimes fixes the AppHangB1 error.

Here is how you can change the game’s launch settings individually:

  1. Open Steam.
  2. Go to the Library section where all of your games are kept.
  3. Right-clickon the game that is giving you this error and click on Properties from the list.
  4. Go to the General tab.
  5. In the General section, you should see an option called Set Launch Options. Click on it.
  6. A dialog box will appear. Type in -dx9 into it and press OK.
  7. do not forget to press Apply and OK in the properties Windows also.
  8. You will need to completely close and exit Steam.
  9. Restart it, and see if the issue has been resolved.

4. Use Safe mode

Safe mode

  1. One method to boot Windows 10 in Safe Mode is to utilize the Run tool. Press the Windows key + R keys of your keyboard together to immediately bring up the Run dialog.
  2. Type in msconfig in the dialog box. This opens the System Configuration Windows. Alternatively, you can simply use Cortana to help you find System Configuration.
  3. Once you are inside the System Configuration Windows, you will need to click on the Boot tab.
  4. In this section, you should see a Safe boot option in the Boot options section. Select Safe boot and then select Network underneath it. Remember to apply your changes.
  5. Restart computer.
  6. Check to see whether or not the AppHangB1 Error still persists.

Computers using the Windows OS are capable of starting up in Safe mode. It is typically used to diagnose any problems your computer might have.

This mode shuts down most software and processes in order to make it easier for users to troubleshoot an issue.

Often, the AppHangB1 Error is caused by a third party program interfering with how Steam operates.

Starting Windows in safe mode can help you determine which program has a conflict with Steam. This will in turn allow you to disable any programs that are causing problems.

For Windows 7, which is the most popular OS among gamers, you can enter safe mode by holding Shift + F8 together while your computer is booting up.

However, since most modern computers these days are fast enough to boot up in a few seconds this technique became impracticable.

Therefore, Windows 10 has other options that allow users to boot their system in Safe mode.

If you are still getting the error message after you try this fix, then it is likely that a third party program, including third-party antivirus programs, is interfering with the operations of Steam.

You will need to see which program is affecting Steam and disable it.

5. Verify the integrity of your game files

check integrity of your game files

  1. Open Steam.
  2. Locate the game that is giving you the error and right-click on it to open Properties. 
  3. Next, go to the Local Files tab.
  4. You should see an option that says Verify Integrity of Game Files.
  5. Click on that option and Steam will do the rest.

Perhaps your computer was incorrectly shut down or the download of your latest patch was interrupted.

If events like these happened recently, then you may have corrupted files in your game. Corrupted files can cause errors like the AppHangB1 error.

Therefore, one fix to the AppHangB1 Error is to verify the integrity of your game files, which will fix any corrupted files.

Fortunately, Steam has an option that lets you easily fix corrupted files. Use the above steps in order to find that feature.

The AppHangB1 Error is a common problem, yet there are many methods that can resolve it. It is important to note that the fixes in this article are not ordered from best to worst or in any order.

Merely, since there are numerous possible causes for this error, so there are multiple solutions. Let us know which one worked for you in the comments area below.

[wl_navigator]

Microsoft is bringing its next-gen DirectStorage Xbox API to PCs

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

Yesterday was a big day for PC gamers, with NVIDIA announcing its brand new GeForce RTX 30 Series GPUs that will ship ahead of the less powerful PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X next-gen consoles. Nvidia has been pioneering features like ray-tracing and Deep learning super sampling (DLSS) on PC, but next-gen consoles may still have an edge on storage speeds thanks to new I/O system designed specifically for gaming.

That’s what Microsoft has been working on with the Xbox Velocity Architecture for the Xbox Series X, which will leverage a new DirectStorage API to unlock the full performance of the console’s NVMe SSD. Well, the good news is that Microsoft is now working to bring this next-gen DirectStorage Xbox API to PCs with NVMe drives. After Microsoft announced that DirectX 12 Ultimate would unify the graphics platform across PC and Xbox Series X, DirectStorage coming to PC should be another important milestone in simplifying game development on these two platforms.

“DirectStorage will bring best-in-class IO tech to both PC and console just as DirectX 12 Ultimate does with rendering tech. With a DirectStorage capable PC and a DirectStorage enabled game, you can look forward to vastly reduced load times and virtual worlds that are more expansive and detailed than ever,” the company explained yesterday. However, it’s important to note that PCs that won’t support DirectStorage will still be able to play the same games, though performance won’t be optimal. Having an NVMe drive that can bring data to the GPU as fast as possible should be a transformative experience, though it will be up to developers to take advantage of these new capabilities in their games.

“For every DirectX family feature, Microsoft brings together the best of the PC gaming industry players to standardize new gaming features, make them available to game developers, and eventually get them into your gaming machines. This process has already begun for DirectStorage and we’re working with our industry partners right now to finish designing/building the API and its supporting components,” Microsoft said yesterday. There’s still no precise ETA on the general availability of the DirectStorage API on PC, but Microsoft is currently planning to release it in preview for game developers next year.

Become an expert at Microsoft Teams meetings with these top five best practices

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

Now more than ever, you’re likely spending more time in meetings in Microsoft Teams. However, the more time you spend in Teams, the more important it becomes to try and make the most of all the features available for you, so you can have a seamless experience. Here’s a look at some of those features, and some best practices to leverage so you can become an expert at meetings in Microsoft Teams.

Practice 1: Blur your background or use background images

Microsoft Teams Backgrounds

The first best practice on our list is one that is the most obvious and most popular in the current situation. That is, using the ability to blur your background in Teams or use background images.

With this best practice, you can have your meeting almost anywhere, and disguise whatever happens in the background around you. Indeed, thanks to the feature, Teams will only put an emphasis on your face and hides everything else. Just be aware, it uses artificial intelligence, and only works with humans. So, you might want to be a little careful if your furry friends are in the background.

There are a few ways to blur your background or use a background image in Teams. You can do this before the meeting, or during the meeting.

Before the meeting, on the join screen, you’ll want to click the square box to the left of PC Mic and Speakers under your video feed. From there, you’ll see an option for Background Settings. You can choose the first one, which says Blur. Or, if you want a different background, you can choose one from the list. Your feed will change to the desired background, and when you’re done, you can close the Background settings window with the X.

To Blur your background during the meeting, click the three periods ( . . . ) at the top of the meeting window. Then, from there, click Apply Background Effects. You can then choose one from the list, and click Apply. 

Practice 2: Use a headset for a better experience

Next up, is a practice that your coworkers might end up appreciating: using a headset. With this practice, you’ll end up having a higher quality call in Teams. You won’t have to worry about coworkers not hearing you, or you not hearing them. Here’s how you can set one up in Teams.

To use a headset with Teams, just make sure it is plugged in or connected to your device, either via Bluetooth or headphone jack. Once connected, you’ll want to make sure Teams is configured properly for the headset. Again, there are two ways you can do this, either before the meeting on the join screen or during the meeting from the menu.

Before the meeting, you can configure the settings by clicking the PC Mic and Speakers button under your video feed. Once you do that, you’ll see Device Settings pop up. Be sure to look at the sections for Speaker and Microphone. Click the down arrow, and choose your headphone from the list for both speaker and microphone. Then, close the window with the X.

During the meeting, you can change to your headset by clicking the three periods ( . . . ) at the top of the screen and choosing Device Settings. From there, you’ll be able to choose the same settings as we describe above. When finished, close the window with the X.

It’s worth noting that you also can use the Make a test call feature here too, to ensure everything works right before you head into a meeting.

Practice 3: Schedule your meetings

Teams Scheduling Assistant

One of the worst things about meetings is being pulled into one at the very last minute or second. That’s why, as a best practice, we suggest scheduling and fine-tuning your meetings. You can do this with the Scheduling Assistant in Microsoft Teams. Here’s a look at how to use it.

First, click the Calendar icon in the sidebar of Teams. From there, click the Scheduling Assistant tab on the top. From that tab, you’ll be able to schedule a meeting based on the availability of your coworkers. You can add locations, attendees, and so much more. When adding attendees, your coworkers will show up as either available unavailable, or unknown. The assistant pulls information from your coworker’s Outlook calendar to fill this out. You’ll see a schedule view, showing their already scheduled meetings in purple. You can also scroll through days and hours to find the time that’s right for everyone.

Related to this, is the ability to share a meeting agenda. You can do this so that your coworkers and everyone in the meeting will be on the same page. When creating a net meeting, you’ll see this in the compose box. You’ll be able to put your agenda here, and it will appear in the invite email.

Practice 4: Take meeting notes

Microsoft Teams Meeting Notes

What happens if you’re in the middle of an important meeting, but need a way to take some notes? You think you’d have to use Microsoft Word or another program, but did you know that Teams has its own meeting notes feature, too?

This is one of our other best practices for meetings in Teams. The reason why? Notes get saved as part of the meeting itself, and can go anywhere with you, and will be saved for later or for sharing with your coworkers.

To use the feature, join the meeting as you normally would, and then click the (. . . ) more actions button, followed by Meeting Notes. You should then see a Meeting Notes window pop up. From there, you’ll want to click Take notes. This will then give you full access to a formatting toolbar, with bold, italic, highlighting, and some of other things you are used to in Microsoft Word. You also can create a new section with the (+) button, too.

When the meeting is finished, you can access your notes from the chat. There should be an option that says Show notes in full screen. Click it to view the notes.

Practice 5: Record your meetings (with permission of course!)

Microsoft Teams Recording Meetings

Final on our list of best practices is recording a meeting in Teams. One of the worst things in meetings is when you have to constantly ask your coworkers to repeat things over and over because you weren’t able to get it down or take some notes. Well, if you have the consent of all parties in the meetings, you can actually record a meeting live, as it happens, to ensure that you can have a copy of the meeting for reference later.

To record a meeting, you can click the three dots ( . . . ) at the top of the screen, followed by the Start Recording button. From there, you’ll see a disclaimer that the meeting is being recorded. You can ignore it, this is just for your coworker’s security. When the meeting is over, and you’re ready to stop, you can then click the same menu and choose Stop Recording.

When the recording is finished, you’ll get an email letting you know that it is available in Microsoft Stream. You can click that link in the email to access it, and even download a file, so you can view it offline.

Check out our other tips

While the focus of this article has been some of the best practices for Teams meetings, there’s a lot more to know about Microsoft Teams. Over the past few months, we’ve been diving deeper into Teams. Topics include how to run multiple instances of Teams, how to use Bots, manage notifications, and a lot more. Check out our news hub here for more, and let us know if you have any Teams tricks and tips of your own by dropping us a comment below.

Microsoft unveils new ‘Designed for Xbox’ logo for third-party accessories supporting all Xbox consoles

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

Microsoft revealed this morning a new ‘Designed for Xbox’ logo for new third-party accessories that will be compatible with all Xbox consoles including the upcoming Xbox Series X. We already knew that the next-gen Xbox would support all existing Xbox One accessories, but Microsoft is now expanding its Designed for Xbox program with new partners and a brand new logo to highlight officially-licensed products.

First of all, if you purchased officially-licensed Xbox One accessories that connect to your console via USB or wirelessly, the Xbox team made it clear today that they should work on the Xbox Series X, though firmware updates may be required in some cases. “Some gaming headsets that utilize an optical cable may require a firmware update to support game and chat audio over USB on Xbox Series X. Soundbars and headsets that do not receive updates may be connected directly to your televisions optical port,” the team explained.

Designed For Xbox Accessories

Going forward, consumers will see the new ‘Designed for Xbox’ logo on all partner accessories, and Microsoft said today that it has now teamed up with over 34 companies across the world and expanded the program to new categories including accessibility and cloud gaming. “The Designed for Xbox badge communicates how closely we have worked with our partners on each product to test quality, performance, safety, and security with all Xbox hardware experiences. It also communicates continuous compatibility as we move into the next generation of gaming,” the blog post reads.

So far, one of the first new accessories we’ve seen for the Xbox Series X is the 1TB expansion card from Seagate, which will provide the same speeds as the built-in NVMe drive on the console. However, Microsoft highlighted a couple of new partners including today including Cable Matters, luxury audio brand Bang & Olufsen, and flight simulator hardware company Honeycomb Aeronautical. The latter should is definitely a promising addition ahead of the release of Microsoft Flight Simulator on Xbox consoles. “We will continue to expand the Xbox ecosystem with innovative products and experiences, all while maintaining a level of quality we are proud of,” the team said today.

Microsoft now allows Surface Hub 2S owners to run Windows 10 Pro or Enterprise

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

Microsoft announced yesterday that it’s now allowing Surface Hub 2S owners to replace the built-in Windows 10 Team OS with the more versatile Windows 10 Pro and Enterprise. From the beginning, the family of digital whiteboards have been optimized for touch interactions, meeting spaces, and other enterprise use cases, but Microsoft acknowledges that some customers would like to have more flexibility with the 50-inch device.

By installing Windows 10 Pro or Enterprise on the Surface Hub 2S, customers will be able to install any app they want on the device, use any Windows 10 compatible accessory, and even use Windows Hello Biometrics with the Surface Hub 2 Fingerprint reader or third-party accessories. In comparison, the Windows 10 Team OS that ships on the Surface Hub 2S is restricted to Microsoft Store apps, and it supports inbox drivers only. It’s an OS optimized for multi-usage and immersive collaboration experiences, but the regular Windows 10 may really prove useful for some customers.

“The Windows 10 Pro and Enterprise on Surface Hub 2 configuration enables customers to break the monotony of sitting at one’s desk all day and allows our customers to stand, move around and meet with remote participants more naturally and invitingly, explained Yoav Barzilay, Senior Program Manager, Surface Engineering. “With the availability of the Windows 10 Pro and Enterprise on Surface Hub 2 configuration, customers can also create custom kiosk mode configurations in targeted environments – just like you would on any Windows 10 PC.”

The Surface Hub 2S comes with a massive 4K multitouch 50” screen, and using regular Windows 10 on it should be quite an experience. The device starts at $8,999, but enterprise users can also configure it with a Roam Stand and a battery to use it completely unplugged. If your company own one, you can find instructions on how to install Windows 10 Pro or Enterprise on it on this page.

Twin Breaker video game officially confirmed for release on Microsoft’s Xbox One consoles

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

In a bit of exciting news for fans of the popular Sacred Symbols podcast, Twin Breaker: A Sacred Symbols Adventure, the video game created by the show’s two hosts, has been confirmed for Microsoft’s Xbox One family of consoles and is set for release later this month on September 23rd.

Twin Breaker: A Sacred Symbols Adventure originally launched on Sony’s PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Vita consoles back in March. While this made perfect sense considering that Sacred Symbols is a podcast dedicated to PlayStation news, it did raise doubt on it ever coming to other platforms. Thankfully, this indie title sold well enough to justify a broader release.

In addition to the Xbox One version, Twin Breaker: A Sacred Symbols Adventure will also launch on Windows PC via Steam and the Nintendo Switch on the same day.

The title is inspired by retro brick breaking games but contains features that modern gamers would come to expect such as a solid story, collectibles, and Xbox Achievements. The Xbox One pre-order page isn’t live yet though it should be soon given how close the actual release is.

Are you excited for Twin Breaker on more platforms? Let us know why or why not in the comments below and then follow us on Pinterest and Twitter for more Xbox gaming news.

How to Fix the Network Lag Detected PUBG Error

Posted on by Aleksandar Ognjanovic

The PUBG Network lag detected error blocks the player in place. This is, to some extent, a part of the anti-cheating server mechanism which prevents the lag switch. Nonetheless, we are certain that the majority of affected users are not cheating but rather have connection issues or the game is failing them.

How do I fix PUBG Network lag detected error in Windows 10?

1. Use a VPN

Since PUBG is an online battle royale game, it goes without saying that lag can mean death in a match. Thus, a game-oriented VPN service like Speedify will greatly help you with such ordeals.

It does this thanks to the variety of techniques that it uses to fix lost and corrupted packets before they slow you down, and their expanded network of servers will provide you with the bests speeds based on latency and availability.

More so, all of this is self-regulated, so you don’t have to be a networking wiz in order to make ait work.

All this so that you can play PUBG without lag, lag spikes, connectivity issues, and more.

2. Update the drivers

Drivers somehow always find their way in basically any given troubleshooting list. And there is good reasoning behind that. Firstly, faulty drivers will affect the game’s performance, online or offline. One problem leads to another and if your system is poorly configured, everything else will suffer. Because of that, we suggest acquiring the latest drivers, with the main focus on the GPU.

Depending on your GPU’s manufacturer, here are the places to look up for the functional drivers.

Additionally, you could always try using a third-party driver updater that will do all the work for you, a tool like Fortect Driver Updater.

Simply download Fortect Driver Updater, run it, let it scan your PC for missing, broken, or outdated drivers, and then let it fix them for you. It’s all that simple!

More so, the program is 100% portable, so you don’t need to worry about installing tools just to keep others optimized.

⇒ Get Fortect Driver Updater

3. Inspect your connection

Now, there’s a division in the PUBG community concerning this issue. On one side, we have a tide which strongly suggests that the problem is individual and not a widespread issue we can pin to Bluehole and their servers.

On the opposing side, there are users who are certain that Bluehole’s servers are the ones to blame. You can actually check the PUBG latency situation.

We can concur that the truth is in the middle. Either way, it’s important to thoroughly check your connection and seal all the holes on your end.

Here are some things you can do to avoid the network lags and improve the gaming experience concerning the connection:

  • Always use a wired connection. Avoid using wireless while gaming at all costs as it’s unstable and the latency spikes are quite common.
  • Restart your modem.
  • Flush DNS.
    • Press Windows key + R to summon the Run elevated command line.
    • In the command line, type ipconfig /flushdns, and press Enter.network lag detected pubg
  • Restart Steam.
  • Check the server status. Maybe others are suffering from the same network lag.
  • Check your PING on different servers.
  • Update router/modem firmware.
  • Enable QoS (Quality of Service mode for gaming) in your modem settings.
  • Set PUBG as the High priority app in modem settings.
  • Disable IPv4 and stick with 5 GHz wireless frequency if you really need to use Wi-Fi.

4. Tweak firewall and antivirus

Another way to fix the PUBG ping problem is by checking the Windows Firewall or a third-party firewall in case you have one active. Allowing PUBG to communicate freely through the Firewall is of utmost importance.

Furthermore, if you have a third-party antivirus suite that includes a firewall, make sure to whitelist the PUBG and Steam. You can disable it for the remainder of a gaming session.

Additionally, if you use a VoIP for in-game chatting, don’t forget to let it past the firewall, as well.

Here’s how to allow the unhindered communication of PUBG through Windows Firewall:

  1. In the Windows Search bar, type firewall and choose Allow an app through Windows Firewall.network lag detected pubg
  2. Click on the Change settings button.network lag detected pubg
  3. Besides the PUBG, check both Private and Public network boxes.
  4. Confirm changes.

5. Disable background applications

Even if you initially have an above-average bandwidth speed and low latency, some of the third-party applications working in the background can be an issue. Disabling those should help a lot if you’re, say, torrenting in the background.

Also, disabling antivirus (or enabling game mode, if available) during the gaming sessions can certainly help.

When it comes to programs you should consider disabling, we would focus on the bandwidth-hogging applications. This includes VoIP and chat apps, torrent clients, Updaters for various third-party applications, media streaming services, cloud services etc.

Furthermore, disabling Windows 10 Gaming mode helped some users.

Another thing worth pointing out is VPN. VPN can be of help to avoid the geo-restrictions and ISP throttling, but it can also lead to high latency and subpar online gaming performance.

So, if you use VPN with PUBG, make sure to use the proper one and to choose a good server. If you play on US server, avoid non-US IP addresses. The latency will get too high due to a long data package travel time.

Do we need to say to avoid generic drivers provided by Windows update? Those can be a good compromise for a non-gaming GPU’s. For the GPU which can work its way around PUBG, you need a proper driver provided by the OEM.

6. Check game’s integrity

  1. Open the Steam client.
  2. Select Library.
  3. Right-click on PUBG and open Properties.network lag detected pubg
  4. Choose the Local files tab.
  5. Click on the “Verify integrity of game files…“.network lag detected pubg
  6. This can take some time. Once it finishes, restart Steam and PUBG.

If you’ve purchased the game via Steam and you are past the connection troubleshooting, we advise you to check the game’s integrity, in order to fix the PUBG ping problem.

This might be nothing of importance, but if the Network lag detected prompt starts appearing suddenly, checking the game files for corruption can be a resolution for the issue.

The tool automatically identifies the absence of some files and downloads the replacing files accordingly.

7. Reduce the monitor refresh rate

Here’s how to reduce the monitor refresh rate:

  1. Right-click on the Desktop and open Display settings.network lag detected pubg
  2. Navigate to the bottom and open Display adapter properties.network lag detected pubg
  3. Under the Monitor tab, reduce refresh rate from 144 Hz to 60 Hz.network lag detected pubg
  4. Confirm changes and start the game again.

Some users addressed the problem at hand by simply changing the monitor’s refresh rate from 144 Hz to 60 Hz. We’re aware that this downgrades the in-game experience and aesthetics.

However, if you want to play the game without the aforementioned error, we recommend doing so. On the other hand, this isn’t a 100% guarantee that the game will work without the Network lag detected prompt. Just give it a try.

8. Update the game

Since the game is out of its testing beta phase, the developers have a rather good insight on the plaguing issues which broke the gamers’ experience. A lot of issues from the Beta got fixed with the final release.

Connection issues and server lags are substantially reduced, even though this battle royale still has issues of its own. All in all, make sure to update the game as soon as possible. A lot of problems get sorted out that way.

The game updates on its own. However, if you run into an issue, just click Steam > Settings > Downloads and clear the cache. After that, you should be able to obtain the latest client version for PUBG.

And, that’ll hopefully address the “Network lag detected” error.

9. Reinstall the game

Finally, if none of the previous solutions worked for you, there are three last things we can recommend: reinstall the game, tweak your in-game settings, or minimize in-game graphics. Enabling vSync helped some users fix their PUBG ping problem, along with disabling some mildly-redundant effects.

And the last option is to send a ticket to a developer and wait. There’s a reason why the game is getting mixed reviews, no matter how big the player base is. We can only hope they’ll make the experience better over time, as it has a large potential, just like its battle royale peers.

Street Fighter V PC unable to connect to Internet [Fix]

Posted on by Ivan Jenic

Street Fighter V is one of the best games in the genre. One of the oldest fighting game producers in the business, Capcom, introduced a cross-platform title that brings a lot of new features to the table while holding on to well-known principles and characters.

The game’s most decisive feature is online gaming, which enables you to test your key-bashing abilities versus the players from around world. However, even though the game online modes are well-designed, there’s always a chance that you’ll have connectivity issues.

A lot of users experienced connection-inflicted FPS drops and sudden disconnections while playing. For that purpose, we prepared a list of the most common troubleshooting steps, hoping to help you resolve your issue.

If you’ve encountered any connections issues with Street Fighter V, make sure to check the steps below.

How to resolve connection problems on Street Fighter V for PC

1. Use a solid VPN


Since Street Fighter also has an online component, you will be trying to connect to the server in order to play with others.

However, if you have connection issues, or if the server you want to connect to is not the one you base don location, then a VPN is what you need.

For all of your gaming needs, there is no better VPN than Speedify. This service will resolve the problem by detecting, protecting, and prioritizing the connection issues that the user has.

As a bonus, it also monitors the traffic, so the user will know the connection’s usage, latency, and packet loss allowing them the chance to better manages their network settings.

Speedify

Speedify

Pummel your opponents into submission in online Street Fighter matches thanks to this fast and effective VPN!
Free trial Visit website

2. Check the antivirus/firewall


When it comes to online security, you’ll most definitely need an antivirus and firewall. If not, your PC will be endangered of malware infection. However, when it comes to online gaming, security solutions may be quite a drawback.

For that reason, make sure to create the exceptions for Street Fighter V, as some of them may prevent you from playing or cause an unstable connection. These are the files and/or folders you’ll need to create exclusions for in your antivirus and firewall:

  • C:ProgramFiles(x86)SteamsteamappscommonStreetFighterVStreetFighterV.exe
  • C:ProgramFiles(x86)SteamsteamappscommonStreetFighterVStreetFighterVBinariesWin6StreetFighterV.exe
  • C:ProgramFiles(x86)SteamsteamappscommonStreetFighterV

On the other hand, if the problems are persistent and some game executables are still affected, make sure to temporarily disable the antivirus. But only the antivirus, while keeping the Microsoft Firewall enabled.

Additionally, you can disable your router firewall and stick with the Windows built-in software.

3. Prevent the programs from running in the background

Another known reason for connection fallacy is a certain background app. There are so many programs that may and will make a negative impact on your Street Fighter V online experience. However, the ones that are known for bandwidth hogging are obviously highly positioned. These are some program categories you should take into consideration:

  • VoIP programs like Skype.
  • Torrents and other P2P download clients.
  • Cloud services.
  • Live recording and streaming programs.

Additionally, it’s well known that some touch input devices are somewhat affecting your connectivity. So, make sure to disable those before you start the game. Some users even advised to troubled users to disable even the Steam client from running in the background.

4. Disable Internet Protocol version 6


Some users encountered connectivity issues because of Internet Protocol version 6, which is not preferred when it comes to peer-to-peer online gaming.

Of course, it’s useful to say that you’ll need stable ethernet connection rather than Wi-Fi since Wi-Fi isn’t exactly best suited for the online gaming. This is the procedure you should follow in order to disable IP6v and run exclusively IP4v:

  1. Right-click the Connection icon in the notification area and open Network and Sharing center.
  2. Click on the Change Adapter settings option in the left pane.
  3. Right-click the ethernet network you use and open Properties.
  4. Under Networking tab, uncheck the box beside the Internet Protocol version 6.
  5. Click OK to confirm the selection.

That should hopefully decrease FPS drops inflicted by the faulty connection.

Check the server status


On some occasions, there’s a chance that the server may be down for maintenance or due some crash. For that reason, you should check the server status changes on the official Twitter account. It can be found here.

It’s quite important to check your data package loss and PING, also. You can use widely acknowledged Speedtest to check your PING. The lowest the number, the better. This is of utmost importance for online gaming.

Forward ports and enable UPnP on your router


This workaround may not be a reliable solution for certain users, but the for most of them, port forwarding may have a great impact on the overall connectivity. There are some ports you’ll need to open in order to play the game online. Since the procedure differs on different modems/routers, you should look up for your model online.

These are the ports you should enable in order to play the game:

  • TCP ports: 80, 443, 20002, 30840, 30850, 30870
  • UDP ports: 30840-30859, 30870-30879

Additionally, if it’s not enabled by default, you should open your router settings and enable UPnP. Moreover, make sure that your router/modem is running the latest firmware.

Use exclusively P2P instead of relay server


Now, let’s move to game-related tips. Since the game functions mostly on the peer-to-peer process, your overall experience is highly dependent on the opponent’s connection.

So make sure to choose wisely opponents in regard for their connection rating. Play only against the 5-bars rated players.

In addition, don’t play over the relay server but rather choose only the P2P connection mode. Also, have in mind that the Battle connection and data package loss will differ when you play with the players that are from another country or continent.

Update/Reinstall the game


At the end, some users managed to resolve connection inflictions after the update. Street Fighter 5 packs a two update clients: one trough the Steam client and other, minor, trough the game UI itself. So, make sure that you’re running the latest version of the game, in order to resolve some of the bugs that may affect your connection.

However, if the problem is still there and everything is functioning as intended on your end, reinstallation may be your best bet to resolve connection-related issues.

  1. Backup your saved games.
  2. Open Steam client.
  3. Click Library.
  4. Right-click Street Fighter and choose Uninstall.
  5. Restart your PC and open the Steam desktop client again.
  6. Open Library and locate Street Fighter V again.
  7. Click Install.

That should do it. If you have any alternative solutions or questions regarding the ones we posted, we look forward to those in the comments section below.

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LoL Connection Issues: 5 Ways to Get Rid of Them

Posted on by Ivan Jenic

LoL connection issues can negatively impact your gaming experience, so it’s crucial to fix them, and speaking of which, this guide will show you the right way to do it.

How do I fix common LoL connection issues?

Before we start, try switching to a wired connection since it’s usually more reliable. Restarting your router can also help.

1. Use a reliable VPN

Most often, using a VPN will pretty much always solve lag spikes and issues in games, as well as deal with common connection errors such as packet losses.

In the case of League of Legends, one great product worth trying is Speedify, a VPN service that makes your online experiences faster, more reliable, and more secure.

Besides, even when you’re not playing LoL, you can still use SPeedify from streaming content, safe browsing, and more, all at speeds that make you forget that you are using a VPN in the first place.

Speedify

Speedify

If you want to win matches in the Summoner's Rift without any lag, then Speedify is the VPN that you need in your life!
Free trial Visit website

2. Check your server’s current status

  1. Visit the Riot service status page.
  2. Check for any active issues.
  3. If there are issues present, wait for developers to fix them.

If there’s no issue with the server, perform a League of Legends ping test and ensure that servers are properly responding.

3. Make firewall exception or disable the firewall

  1. Go to Control Panel.
  2. Choose System and Security.
  3. Click Windows Firewall.
  4. Select Allow an app or feature trough Windows Firewall.
  5. In the given list you should find 2 League of Legends executables.
  6. Make sure both of them are checked in both Private and Public columns.
  7.  If the executables are not listed, you’ll need to add them manually.
  8. To do so, choose Change Settings and click Allow another app.
  9. The default location of two executables are :
    • C:/Riot Games/League of Legends/lol.launcher.exe
    • C:/Riot Games/League of Legends/RADS/systemrads_user_kernel.exe
  10. Add both to your firewall exceptions list and click OK.

To disable your Windows Firewall, follow the path:

  1. Go to Control Panel.
  2. Choose System and Security.
  3. Click Windows Firewall.
  4. Select Turn Windows Firewall on or off.
  5. You’ll need administrator privileges to turn it off.
  6. Turn it off.

4. Change to a public DNS

  1. Open Control Panel.
  2. Select Network and Internet.
  3. Select Network and Sharing Center.
  4. Select Change Adapter Settings on the navigation bar on the left
  5. Right-click on your network adapter and select Properties
  6. Select Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) and open Properties
  7. Go to the bottom of the menu and change Obtain DNS server address automatically, to Use the following DNS server addresses: 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4
  8. Save your changes by selecting Ok.
  9. Close all open web browsers and applications.
  10. In the Search bar type command prompt.
  11. Right click on the result and select Run as Administrator.
  12. In the command prompt type ipconfig /flushdns and press Enter.
  13. Restart your computer.

5. IP Release/Renew and Flush DNS

  1. Press the Windows Key (the key on the left side of the spacebar, between ctrl and alt).
  2. Type cmd
  3. Right-click the Command prompt shortcut and select “Run as Administrator” from the drop-down menu. You should now see a black window with white letters.
  4. Type ipconfig /release in the command prompt.
  5. Press Enter.
  6. Type ipconfig /renew in the command prompt.
  7. Press Enter.
  8. Type ipconfig /flushdns in the command prompt.
  9. Press Enter.
  10. Close the command prompt and attempt to make a connection.


We hope these steps help you resolve your LoL connection issues. If not,  you can submit a ticket to LoL Player Support here.

If you have any other solutions, feel free to share it with us in the comments section.

What happens when you reset your iPhone [Factory Reset]

Posted on by Milan Stanojevic

Sometimes your iPhone can run into certain issues, and the best way to fix them is to reset your device.

Resetting your iPhone is fairly simple, and today we’re going to show you how to reset your iPhone and explain what happens to your files and settings when you perform an iPhone reset.

How to factory reset your phone?

1. Use the reset option on your iPhone

  1. Back up your iPhone. You can back it to iCloud or to your Mac. If you’re using Windows, you can back it up using iTunes.
  2. On your iPhone, open the Settings app and navigate to General.
  3. Now tap on Reset.
  4. Select Erase All Content and Settings.
    erase all content what happens iphone reset
  5. You’ll be asked if you want to back up your iPhone. If you already did that select Erase Now. If not, be sure to use the Backup Then Erase option.
  6. Enter your passcode if required and tap on Erase iPhone.
  7. Wait for the reset process to finish.

Note: iPhone reset will remove all files and settings, so use it as a last resort, or if you planning to sell or give away your iPhone.

2. Reset the iPhone using your computer

  1. Backup your iPhone.
  2. Connect the iPhone to the computer.
  3. If you see a message asking you to trust your computer, be sure to allow it.
  4. Open Finder if you’re on Mac or open iTunes if you’re on Windows.
  5. Locate and select your device in the sidebar.
  6. Click the Restore iPhone button.
    restore iphone what happens iphone reset
  7. Click the Restore button to confirm.
  8. Wait for the process to finish.

iPhone reset process deletes all your settings and data, and it basically reverts your phone to its original state.

This is why it’s crucial that you back up your data to iCloud or to your computer, so you can restore your iPhone after the reset. If you choose not to back up your iPhone data, it will most likely be lost forever.

iPhone reset is a fairly simple procedure that will restore your iPhone to its original state by removing all your files and settings.

The process is simple and you can easily perform it from your phone or from a computer. Just be sure to back up all your data before hitting the Reset button.

WTFast Gaming VPN: Is It Legit? How Does It Work?

Posted on by Milan Stanojevic
Pros
Simple user interface
Supports over 1000 different games
Can reduce latency and packet loss
Uses machine learning
Cons
Free trial requires your payment information

While gaming online, the biggest problems can be high latency or lag. These issues can drastically impact your experience and potentially ruin your game.

Many tools can help you fix this issue, and one of them is WTFast. The software will pick the shortest route to the gaming server and thus lower your latency.

The software sounds great, so today, we decided to take it on a test run and see how it works in action.

What is WTFast?

WTFast is a software that uses machine learning to choose the best traffic path for your gaming connection.

By doing so, the software will reduce your latency in-game and lower the number of lost packages.

To download WTFast, be sure to visit our in-depth WTFast download guide.

WTFast

WTFast is a gaming software that will optimize your connection and reduce the latency and lag in online games.
Check Price Visit Website

Does WTFast work?

main window wtfast review

Yes, WTFast works, and it will improve your latency in certain games. The software can help you if your connection is taking a longer route to the gaming server.

If your latency is caused by a technical issue or a limitation related to your ISP, then you might not see a drastic improvement while using WTFast.

Is WTFast legit?

Yes, WTFast is a Canadian company founded in 2009. The service has several satisfied customers, so we can certainly say that WTFast is completely legit.

What are WTFast features?

Reduce your latency

WTFast will select the best route to the gaming server, and by doing so, it will reduce the latency and lower the number of lost packages during gaming sessions.

Optimized traffic path

Thanks to machine learning, the software will take the optimal traffic path for your gaming connection. However, you can customize the path and pick the best server route anytime.

Real-time network analysis

WTFast provides you with real-time network analytics so you can keep track of your network data at all times.

Works as a GPN

Unlike a VPN, a GPN (Gamers Private Network) will optimize your connection data, and it won’t change your IP address or your network settings.

Supports the most popular games

WTFast works with more than 1000+ different games, and the developers are constantly adding new games to the list of supported titles.

All the latest multiplayer games are on the list, and it’s rather likely that your favorite multiplayer titles are supported.

Do you have to pay for WTFast?

setting wtfast review

Yes, WTFast requires a subscription, but you can also test it out for free. There are four types of subscriptions, monthly, 3-month, 6-month, and yearly.

Is WTFast worth it?

WTFast is a great tool, and with its simple user interface and more than 1000 different supported games, WTFast is one of the best gaming services you can use.

If you’re experiencing packet loss or high latency while gaming, WTFast might be the right choice, so be sure to use it for the best lag-free gaming experience.

Kill Ping Review: Get Rid of High Ping Once and For All

Posted on by Milan Stanojevic
Pros
Can lower ping by up 60%
Friendly user interface
Supports 30+ most popular games
100+ available servers
Cons
Results might vary depending on your ISP

When playing online games, high ping can be one of the biggest problems and negatively impact your gaming sessions.

Certain applications can help you reduce your ping, and one of them is Kill Ping.

The software will route your gaming traffic to its servers, creating a shorter route and thus lowering your ping.

In today’s article, we will take a closer look at Kill Ping, see what it can do, and how it can lower your ping.

How does Kill Ping work?

Kill Ping is a special software that reduces your latency while playing online. In order to do that, Kill Ping redirects your gaming data to its game servers.

Kill Ping chooses the best routing paths to lower the ping and enhance your gaming experience.

The application is incredibly simple to use, and after you log in, you need to select the desired game and the server, and you’re good to go.

To download Kill Ping, be sure to visit our in-depth download guide.

Kill Ping

Kill Ping

Kill Ping is a gaming software that will optimize your connection and reduce both lag and ping while during multiplayer sessions.
Subscription Download it now

What are Kill Ping features?

Access to all servers regardless of your subscription plans

kill ping review


Kill Ping has multiple servers available, and you can access any of them regardless of the plan that you’re using.

By doing so, all Kill Ping users will get access to the same features, as long as they have an active subscription.

Latency reduction of up to 60%

Kill Ping developers claim that the software can reduce the latency by up to 60%.

Bear in mind that these are some extraordinary cases, and your results might vary.

Over 30 different supported games

Regarding the supported games, Kill Ping supports over 30 popular games. The list includes Fortnite, Rocket League, Overwatch, CS: byGO, LoL, Dota 2, WoW, and many others.

Over 100+ available servers

Kill Ping has over 100+ servers available, and you can access any of them with even the most basic subscription. All servers have 99% uptime, so Kill Ping will be ready whenever you need it.

Regarding the location of the servers, there are servers at 30+ different locations, so you should be able to find the best server in your region with ease.

Ease of use

Kill Ping has a simple to use interface and even the first-time users won’t have any issues using the software.

To make things even easier, the software also has the ability to automatically pick the best server for you depending on your current location.

Does Kill Ping work?

Kill Ping works, but keep in mind that it can only fix certain problems. If your ISP, for some reason, has issues reaching the game server or if it’s choosing the longer routes, Kill Ping can help with that.

On the other hand, if your ISP is having technical issues or if there are server-side issues, Kill Ping might not be able to fix those.

Is Kill Ping safe?

Yes, Kill Ping is safe to use, and it won’t interfere with other applications or with your network in any way.

The software will only send gaming packages to a specified server, similar to a VPN, so there’s no need to worry about your privacy.

Final thoughts on Kill Ping

High ping is the most common problem affecting your online gaming sessions, but with Kill Ping you should be able to rectify that.

By routing your traffic to its servers, Kill Ping will lower your latency and create a faster and more enjoyable multiplayer experience.

The application offers a simple and friendly user interface, so even the less tech-savvy gamers can enjoy the lag-free multiplayer experience with just a few clicks.

With the support for more than 30+ most popular titles, Kill Ping is a great choice for any gamer, so you might want to try it.

FIX: This folder is empty error on Windows 10/11

Posted on by Matthew Adams

This folder is empty error occurs occasionally for some users when they plugin USB flash drives.

File Explorer displays this annoying error for a USB drive even though the flash drive’s storage bar highlights that there are certainly files and folders in it.

As such, users can’t open the folders and files in their USB drives.

To fix these annoying Windows 10 errors for USB devices, check out some of the resolutions below.

How can I fix This folder is empty error on Windows 10?

1. Use Copernic Desktop Search tool

Use Copernic to fix This folder is empty error on Windows 10

Copernic Desktop Search is a free tool to search for lost files of various types of extensions on your own PC, and also text, pictures, music and video files.

With this great tool you don’t need your entire hard drive to be searched. You can easily set up the specific USB flash drive which you want to be searched, and the search results you get are accurate and comprehensive.

The search findings are presented in date order, and useful search options are offered. You can install it now and get back your relevant data. This desktop finder recognizes over 150 file types.

You can use it also to locate lost emails, documents and contacts, or to get back pretty much everything that you suddenly lost.

Copernic Desktop Search

Copernic Desktop Search

Now you can easily find files on your PC with Copernic Desktop Search.
Free trial Visit website

2. Scan the USB drive with a file recovery software

StellarInfo

Stellar Data Recovery helps you to recover files that seem to be lost or cannot be opened or used.

Need more info on how this recovery tool truly works? Just take your time to check out this detailed Stellar Data Recovery review.

Long sort short, after starting the program, the appealing interface shows all drives available on the computer.

It is also possible to read and restore files from deleted partitions, USB sticks, smart cards, or scratched CDs/DVDs.

Once you have selected the media, you need to select a location and then click on the Scan button at the bottom right to start the search for lost files.

If the file you are looking for is not among the items found, you can still perform a deep scan.

Stellar Data Recovery

Stellar Data Recovery

Ready to recover deleted, damaged, or corrupted files? Do so by using the intuitive Stellar Data Recovery tool!
Free trial Visit website

3. Insert the flash drive in an alternative USB slot

Fix This folder is empty error on Windows 10

  1. Insert the flash drive in another USB slot.
  2. File Explorer might not show the USB drive’s content.
  3. If that is the case, there’s probably something wrong with one of the USB ports.

4. Use the Hardware and Devices troubleshooter

  1. Plug the USB flash storage into your desktop or laptop.
  2. Next, press the Type here to search Cortana button on the taskbar.
  3. Enter the keyword troubleshoot in the search box.
  4. Select Troubleshoot.
  5. Select Hardware and Devices.
  6. Press the Run the troubleshooter button.
  7. Follow the on-screen solutions to fix your USB stick.

5. Select the Show hidden files, folders and drives option

  1. Open the Cortana app’s search box.
  2. Enter folder in the search box.
  3. Select to open Show hidden files and folders.
  4. Select the Show hidden files, folders and drives option.
  5. Then deselect the Hide protected operating system files option. 
  6. Click the Apply and OK buttons.

The flash drive’s content might not be visible if the Show hidden files, folders and drives option is not selected. Selecting that option will ensure that there are no invisible folders and files.

6. Show invisible files with the attrib command

  1. Press Win key + X key and select Command Prompt (Admin).
  2. Type attrib -h -r -s /s /d g:*.* in the Command Prompt, and press Enter.

Having trouble accessing Command Prompt as an admin? Take a closer look at this guide!

Follow each of these steps, and let us know which one worked best for you by leaving a comment in the section below.

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Microsoft’s Trello competitor “Project Moca,” gets officially promoted by company

Posted on by Kareem Anderson

Microsoft has been quietly testing out a new flexible content canvas tool to help Office 365 users access the files, media, links, documents, To-Do Lists, Sticky Notes, emails, and more.

The first appearance of this new digital workspace (similar in fashion to content management tools such as Trello or Monday) came back in February of 2020 when images and videos of the service began surfacing on the internet. At the time, Microsoft’s coalescing efforts were only known as Project Moca, and when asked about the project, the company avoided direct confirmation of its existence.

Since the pandemic hit, Project Moca has flown relatively under the radar, despite a preview roll out in May of this year. However, yesterday Microsoft finally acknowledge its existence by crowing it with a promotional roll out via the company’s Outlook Blog.

As the blog name implies, Project Moca will be part of a feature set for Outlook where users can call upon it from the navigation pane in Outlook for the Web and create and organize buckets of content. Use case scenarios might include project-specific “Buckets” to keep all corresponding emails, notes, websites, project goals, and related files, in one area.

Stickynotes

Depending on the level of access, Project Moca could be just another reason small to mid-sized businesses can find value in moving from free patchwork options such as Google, Trello, and Slack to a more streamlined Office 365 experience.

Capture

As part of the Community Blog post “Project Moca is available for Microsoft 365 consumer subscribers, EDU customers, and select commercial customers as a preview and is shipped off-by-default. Admins can enable it through PowerShell with the Set-OwaMailboxPolicy OwaMailboxPolicy-Default -ProjectMocaEnabled $true parameter.”

As we reported back in May, those interested and have access to an Office 365 account can visit this link to test it out the feature set ahead of a presumed general rollout.

RealPlayer Downloader Not Working on Windows 10

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

Some users still encounter problems when downloading videos or playing some clips with the player.

Just like BSPlayer for prior Windows versions, the popular RealPlayer video player is also compatible with Microsoft’s latest operating system.

However, some users have been reporting problems, especially with Windows 10. Here’s what one of the many users says:

Hello, I have problems with Real Player. It will give me the option to download videos online and everything but as it gets towards the end of downloading; it gives me a message saying download unsuccessful, refresh page and try again this is getting really annoying and it does that with every video I try to download from YouTube.

I have already tried manually resetting the compatibility mode with windows 8 and have even tried updating to the newest version of real player but still no luck. If anyone can help me with this problem or has any suggestions on what I can try please reply.

What can I do if RealPlayer downloader is not working?

1. Download the most recent RealPlayer version

Most of these issues seem to be related to the fact that Windows 10 users aren’t using the latest version of RealPlayer. Fortunately, this can be fixed in no time.

All you need to do is to grab the link below and install the tool into your PC.

⇒ Get RealPlayer for Windows 10

2. Try out a RealPlayer alternative

If the version above doesn’t work on your PC, the only solution left is to switch to another player. It might sound difficult, especially if you are using RealPlayer for a while, but don’t get scared.

Luckily, there are several alternative media players on the market that support high-quality video playback and media library management that have a similar user experience to RealPlayer.

Media player alternatives come with advanced audio and video settings to ensure you get the best possible entertainment experience.

Most of these tools include their own subtitle library and some of them allow you to connect to streaming platforms and access them directly from the player’s UI.

Let us know which of these solutions worked for you. If you decide to switch to a different player, which one do you prefer?

If you’re interested in more information about media players, these great universal video players cannot disappoint you.

We do our best to help you fix several software issues, as you can see in our PC Software Hub.

FIX: Belkin Network USB Hub Issues in Windows 10/11

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

Apparently, for some users, there are a lot of problems with the Belkin Network USB Hub in Windows 10.

The fact that Microsoft released Windows 10 has affected a lot of users who had to update their drivers and, in many situations, they have been experiencing annoying issues.

In a previous article, we explored how you can fix the USB 3.0 issues, as well as problems with external hard drives.

This time, some users are complaining that their Network USB Hub from Belkin doesn’t work with Windows 10 or has other problems:

I have the Belkin Network USB Hub (Part # F5L009) and have used it successfully in Windows XP through Windows 8.0.  Upgrading to Win 8.1, however, has broken it and I can no longer connect to my scanner and inkjet printer attached to it.  I’ve uninstalled and reinstalled the software to no avail.  The program connects to the hub and shows me the devices attached to it, but I cannot connect to and use them. During the reinstall on Win 8.1, Windows complained about SXUPTP driver, which I’ve seen elsewhere in the forums.  Why did this work on Win 8.0, but not on Win 8.1?  This really stinks and I’m ready to try rolling back to Win 8.0 because I really need my scanner and printer.

How can I fix Belkin Network Hub issues on Windows 10?

1. Scan your system for malware

Malicious software may trigger a wide array of problems on your Windows computer. Make sure that your machine is malware and virus-free by running a full system scan.

In that matter, we recommend that you use TotalAV. It’s the perfect Internet security system that protects your PC from all sorts of online vulnerabilities.

The real-time protection of this antivirus helps keep your device safe from trojans, spyware, ransomware, worms, or viruses.

Once you download it, the interface is intuitive and very easy to use. All you need to do is to run a full scan and delete all malicious elements.

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2. Install Sxuptp.inf drivers

  1. Close the Belkin network hub’s tray application.
  2. Download the latest version of SX Virtual Link.
  3.  Extract all of the files.
  4. In Windows Explorer, navigate to sx-virtual_link_win_3120s-33a3120FilesBinSxcsapiWinVistaX64 if you are running a 64 bit OS.
  5. If you are running a 32 bit OS navigate to sx-virtual_link_win_3120s-33a3120FilesBinSxcsapiWinVista.
  6. Right-click on Sxuptp.inf and select Install from the menu.

3. Check your firewall

Make sure that your firewall is not blocking the Belkin Network USB Hub.

You can either add Belkin to the list of exceptions or you can temporarily disable your firewall software.

That is all. We hope that one of the above solutions will help fix the Belkin Network Hub issues. If you have more suggestions or recommendations, let us know in the comments section below.

FIX: 0x8009002d error code in Windows 10

Posted on by Milan Stanojevic

Many users tend to use PIN code to lock their PC and to protect it from unauthorized access.

PIN codes are great since they are easy to remember, but users reported a 0x8009002d error while trying to sign in. This happens to Windows 10 users when introducing a PIN code.

Here are more examples of this problem:

  • Windows 10 PIN error 0x80070032 – Error code 0x8009002d  is one of the most common PIN-related issues in Windows 10.
  • Windows 10 PIN something went wrong – If you’re unable to login with your PIN, you’ll either receive this error message, or error code 0x8009002d.
  • Windows 10 add PIN does nothing – If you’re unable to do anything on the login screen, you can apply some of the solutions listed below.
  • Windows 10 PIN login not showing – If the PIN login screen doesn’t show, just log in with your password, and apply the solutions listed below.
  • Something went wrong code 0x8009002d – In this case, restart your device to see if that fixes this common PIN login-related issue.

How can I fix Something went wrong code 0x8009002d?

  1. Restart your PC
  2. Turn off Sleep mode and reset your PIN
  3. Delete everything from the NGC folder
  4. Remove your PIN
  5. Use I forgot my PIN option
  6. Use Find my phone feature
  7. Turn off cellular data on your phone

1. Restart your PC

This isn’t a permanent solution, but it’s a working workaround according to the users.

Users reported that restarting your computer fixes this error, but you’ll have to restart your computer every time this error appears.

This might not be the most practical solution, but it should allow you to log in to Windows 10.

2. Turn off Sleep mode and reset your PIN

  1. Press Windows Key + S keyboard shortcut and enter power options. Select Power Options from the list of results.
    0x8009002d-Windows-10-power options
  2. Find your currently selected plan and click the Change plan settings.
    0x8009002d-Windows-10-change-plan-settings
  3. Set Put the computer to sleep to Never and click Save changes.
    0x8009002d-Windows-10-save-changes

Sleep mode is useful if you want to save your current work and temporarily turn off your computer.

All your opened applications will be available once you turn them on so you can easily continue where you left off.

Sleep mode is great if you want to preserve power, but it seems that Sleep mode might be responsible for the 0x8009002d error on Windows 10, and many users are suggesting that you turn it off.

After turning off Sleep mode, reset your PIN by following the below procedure.

  1. Open the Settings app and go to Accounts > Sign-in options.
  2. Locate the PIN section and click the Remove button.
    0x8009002d-Windows-10-remove-pin
  3. The PIN section will change asking you if you’re sure that you want to remove your PIN. Click the Remove button to confirm your decision.
    0x8009002d-Windows-10-remove-confirm
  4. Enter your account password to verify your account and click OK. After clicking OK the PIN should be removed.
    0x8009002d-Windows-10-verify-account
  5. Click the Add button in the PIN section to add a new PIN.
    0x8009002d-Windows-10-add
  6. Enter your new PIN twice and click the OK button to confirm it.
    0x8009002d-Windows-10-new-pin

3. Delete everything from the NGC folder

Several users reported that one quick way to fix this error is by deleting all files from the NGC folder. Before thinking of any sort of complicated procedures, let us tell you more about Stellar BitRaser.

This nifty tool can erase pretty much anything you have in mind from Windows and Mac PCs – files from the previously mentioned folder, the folder itself, your saved passwords, photos, videos, and not only.

You can even get rid of app traces to keep away your sensitive data from hackers or remove your Internet usage history across Opera, Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge, and more browsers.

Consequently, you should consider this practical software to wipe out any data you have and permanently delete it from your device.

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4. Remove your PIN

Using a PIN code to sign in is great if you want to protect your PC but you don’t want to memorize a long password and enter it every time you want to sign in to Windows 10 or use a certain application.

Since users reported that PIN code can cause these types of errors, many of them suggested that you remove the PIN code and use a standard password instead.

Using a standard password isn’t the best solution, but it’s a decent workaround until you find a permanent solution. To see how to remove your PIN check steps 1 – 4 from the previous solution.

5. Use I forgot my PIN option

  1. Open the Settings app and go to Accounts > Sign-in options.
  2. Locate the PIN section and click the I forgot my PIN option.
    0x8009002d-Windows-10-forgot-pin
  3. Click the Continue button.
    0x8009002d-Windows-10-continue
  4. Enter your account password and click Sign in.
    0x8009002d-Windows-10-password
  5. Now enter your new PIN code and click the OK button to save it.

According to users, you can fix this problem by using the I forgot my PIN option. To see a forgotten PIN, do as described above.

6. Use Find my phone feature

  1. Log in to your Microsoft account.
  2. Go to Find my phone section and choose the Lock option.
  3. Enter your PIN code.
  4. After entering your PIN code your phone will turn off. Turn on your phone and enter the PIN code.

Error 0x8009002d affects both Windows 10 and Windows 10 Mobile, and if you’re getting this error on your phone you can fix it by using the Find my phone feature.

Unable to Login with my Microsoft Account in Windows 10? This quick guide will show you how to solve the issue.

7. Turn off cellular data on your phone

Users reported that 0x8009002d error appears on their Windows 10 phone while cellular data is turned on, so if you’re having this problem disabling cellular data temporarily might be a good workaround.

Error 0x8009002d affects both Windows 10 and Windows 10 Mobile, and if you’re experiencing this problem make sure that you check all of our solutions.

Let us know in the comments area which one worked for you.

Windows 10 May 2020 Update has new compatibility issues with certain LTE modems

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

Microsoft has discovered a new compatibility issue for some PCs with LTE modems running the Windows 10 May 2020 Update (via Bleeping Computer). On the Windows 10 Health Dashboard, the company explained yesterday that some PCs with certain WWAN LTE modems running the May 2020 Update might not be able to connect to the Internet after waking from sleep.

The company expects to fix the issue in a patch coming in late September, but in the meantime, the company has applied a compatibility hold on devices with affected WWAN LTE modems. For users who have already installed the May 2020 Update and are now encountering the issue, Microsoft recommends to enable and then disable Airplane mode to connect to the Internet after waking from sleep.

The Windows 10 May 2020 Update launched with several compatibility issues in the last week of May, and many owners of recent Surface devices have also been unable to install it until recently. However, Microsoft and its partners have now managed to resolve most problems, though there’s still a compatibility issue with Conexant audio drivers.

In the latest AdDuplex Windows Devices Statistics report for the month of August, the May 2020 Update was running on 24.1% of all surveyed PCs, still lagging behind the November 2019 Update at 35.5%. As the latest Windows 10 version is continuing its slow progression, Microsoft is now getting ready to roll out Windows 10 version 20H2, which will be a minor release just like the November 2019 Update was last year.

Hands-on with Surface Duo at Best Buy: An impressive phone unlike any other

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

The first Surface Duo review units are out, but Microsoft has a review embargo, and tech reviewers are under NDA and can not discuss the software or camera experiences until September 10th. Being the Surface fan that I am (and since OnMSFT was not on the initial review unit list and not under embargo) I was still eager to try one out, gather my own thoughts, and share them here.

Ahead of the arrival of my own Surface Duo pre-order next week, I headed to my local Best Buy where a display unit was available to try one out (without any limits on looking at the software or cameras.) It was tricky finding a location that had one available, but after spending two hours with the Duo in my hands, I must say, it is a phone like any other, and a phone that’ll make you a dual-screen believer.

Editor’s note: We are not under any NDAs and are using a display unit, and the final Android/software experience of the Surface Duo is subject to change. There’s also a red “tint” in our photos and videos, due to the lighting in the room at Best Buy. This is only noticeable on camera, and not in person.

The premium-feeling hardware

The minute I walked up to the Surface Duo display unit, I was amazed. As I picked it up with my hands, I was really surprised at how thin the Duo felt. Coming from the world of Windows Phone, Blackberry, iPhone, and Google Pixel, I never quite felt a phone that thin. As many tech reviewers have pointed out, one screen on the Duo is almost as thin as a single USB-C port. And, when folded together, the Duo is just as thin as a Pixel 3XL. It really is quite amazing.

But the thinness wasn’t all that amazed me. As I folded and unfolded the screen, the hinges really caught my attention. They are super solid and really can hold the phone up well. No matter which angle I opened the Duo too, the phone was able to support itself thanks and stay in place thanks to the hinges. The feel is a bit reminiscent of the watchband hinges that Lenovo has on its Yoga laptops, but the difference is that Microsoft tucked the hinges inside the screen.

Surface Duo Hinge 2

Then, there’s the overall material. The Duo is unlike your average Surface and is made of glass and not magnesium. It did feel a bit too smooth and slippery in my hands for my liking, but I think the included bumper case or a Drand skin can fix that. That’s also where I really appreciated the thick bezels, as it gave my fingers something to grab onto when handling the phone and rotating it around.

Comparing the dimensions of the Duo to my Pixel 3XL, meanwhile, offered another interesting experience. The Pixel is a lot taller than Duo, whereas the Duo is shorter, and a bit wider. I wasn’t able to move the Duo to see if it could fit in my pocket, but with those dimensions, I don’t see why it can’t fit.

The Dual-Screen Android experience

Surface Duo Dual Screen Apps

Next up in my hands-on experience was touring the dual-screen experience. This is where the Duo again feels different from other phones, and it’s all thanks to the underlying work Microsoft has done with Android. In fact, I think the Duo marks the perfect combination of Microsoft hardware and Google Android software.

In my experience of testing out the dual-screens on the Duo, I tried a couple of things. I stacked and scrolled two apps on the two screens at the same time, slid apps around from one screen to the next, spanned an app across the two screens. I also ended up rotating the Duo so both screens are in the vertical orientation, and turned it back over and shifted apps around. Then, I ended up using the Duo in its various modes, such as “tent” or “laptop.” Keep in mind, all of these gestures and experiences are powered by Microsoft Launcher and Android.

Surface Duo Side By Side Apps And Home

Again, thanks to Microsoft’s work on the hardware, leveraging those dual-screens for all my tests was an amazing experience. My fingers easily moved in between the two screens hinges as I pushed one screen to the next. It felt like the hinges and the gap in the screen were not even there. Even for pre-release, the software also felt quite polished too. As I moved things around, the Duo didn’t freeze and on-screen animations were always fluent and fast.

However, the hinge did feel a little annoying when spanning apps “full screen” in the horizontal mode. It cut out things I was scrolling or watching, especially when it comes to videos.

Surface Duo Apps Spanned Vertical Mode

But I do want to mention an interesting point. Although Microsoft hyped-up opening apps side by side, the real strength of the Duo is using it in the vertical mode, with a single app. Thanks to its aspect ratio and orientation, scrolling webpages, and other apps felt really natural and smooth. When reading the New York Times website, It felt like I was holding a piece of paper in front of me, and the content on the screen was really natural-looking. This will be a point for the Duo that I’ll keep an eye on moving forward.

I’ll end this section by pointing out another thing that makes the Duo unique. Since it has hinges, you can fold the Duo over into a tent mode. I did this to watch a video on YouTube, and it was really cool, to say the least. Although the video had a weird letterbox mode (I assume YouTube isn’t optimized for the Duo) it was a little heartwarming to be able to “fold” a phone over and use it to watch videos, in the same way that I would on a Windows 2-in-1.

The inking and using the Surface Pen

Surface Duo Inking On Phone

As I moved along in my demo, I found that the display unit I played with asked me to sign into a Microsoft Account to use core apps like OneNote, and Outlook, so my inking experience was a bit limited. However, that didn’t stop me.

I pulled up a New York Times article on one screen, and the sticky notes widget in the Microsoft Launcher on the other. I simulated jotting down notes, and I felt right at home. The movements of the pen on the screen is fluent, as is the latency. It’s really like using a Windows 10 PC or a Surface Pro.

Just be aware, there’s nowhere for the Surface Pen to attach to the Surface Duo. It’ll stick to the back screen, but it also will slide off. You’ll have to keep attaching it as it moves. From what I know, this isn’t officially supported, and you’d have to keep the pen stored in your pocket. Apparently this gets a bit better with the bumper, but still, it’s no Note 20.

The camera

Surface Duo Camera

The final point I want to mention is the camera. This has been an area of controversy with the Duo, and a reason I was quite hesitant to purchase one for my personal use. However, after trying the Duo out, I’m not as worried. Here’s why.

Microsoft has done a lot of optimization with the Surface Duo camera. To my surprise, the overall user interface is quite fluent. While it is true that there’s no rear camera, if you want to take pictures of something in your world, the Duo has your back.

Thanks to the software, just fold the screens over, and flip them around to switch from selfie mode to rear-camera mode. The switch happens almost instantly as clicking the “switch camera” button on a typical Android phone.

But, then there’s the quality. With a single 11MP sensor, can the Duo make the cuts? Have a look below for the quality, and let us know what you think in the comments.

Overall, I am not too worried about the Surface Duo camera. For situations with a lot of light, it looks like the camera can punch out some really great photos. However, in situations with low-light, the Duo might struggle a bit. It’s hard to come to a conclusion right now, but I do look forward to finding out more when I get my own Duo and take it out into the wild.

I can’t wait to get my own Duo!

As my initial hands-on occurred on a demo unit in the limited setting of Best Buy, there’s still a lot of things I am curious to see about the Duo. Once I get my own Duo, I can’t wait to set up my daily apps (Snapchat, Instagram, etc) and see how the phone tackles my everyday needs. I’ll be doing a full review of the Duo come mid-September, so be sure to keep tuned to OnMSFT. And, if you have any questions for me, drop me a comment in the section below. I’ll do my best to answer them!

Crusader Kings III, Resident Evil VII, and more are coming to Xbox Game Pass in September

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

The month of August was a pretty good one for Xbox Game Pass, which received no less than 4 new Microsoft games including the critically-acclaimed Flight Simulator and Wasteland 3, the Battletoads reboot, as well as the first episode of Tell Me Why. Well, Microsoft has just announced the next wave of new games coming to Xbox Game Pass in September, starting with the freshly-released strategy game Crusader Kings III on PC.

More games will follow on Thursday, September 3, with Resident Evil 7, Touhou Luna Nights, and the episode 2 of Tell Me Why on Console and PC. Console gamers will also get The Jackbox Party Pack 4 on the same day, while World War Z, which is already available on Xbox Game Pass for Console, will also join the PC catalog. It’s worth noting that the latter was previously exclusive to the Epic Games Store on PC, and the Left 4 Dead-inspired game also recently introduced support crossplay between PC and Xbox One.

Next week, two new games will join the catalog on September 10 with Disgaea 4 Complete+ on PC and Hotshot Racing on Console. Additionally, the third and final chapter of Tell Me Why will also be available on Console and PC on September 10. The Xbox team also listed Destiny 2: Shadowkeep & Forsaken as “coming soon” on Console, and we’ll let you know once we have the release date.

In case you missed it, four games will also leave Xbox Game Pass in September, starting with NBA 2K20 on console today. Red Dead Redemption 2 will follow on September 7, and then Jumpforce and Gonner: Blueberry Edition will also be removed on September 15. On that day, Microsoft will also launch Cloud Gaming (Project xCloud) on Android as part of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, and Microsoft promised that over 100 Xbox games would be playable on mobile devices at launch.

Xbox Series S mention appears once again in official Microsoft product docs

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

If Microsoft recently confirmed that its next-gen Xbox Series X console will launch in November, the company has yet to announce its cheaper alternative, the Xbox Series S, also codenamed “Lockhart”. This second next-gen Xbox console previously appeared in official documentation for developers as well as on the packaging for the next-gen Xbox controller to be released alongside the Xbox Series X and presumably, the Xbox Series S.

Earlier today, Twitter user BravaryBrendan tweeted a picture of an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate trial code sheet mentioning the “Xbox Series X/S consoles.”

According to previous reports, the Xbox Series S will share many of the Xbox Series X’s components, including a custom AMD Zen 2-based CPU and custom NVMe SSD. However, the Xbox Series S GPU is expected to deliver just 4 teraflops of computing power compared to 12 on the Xbox Series X. As a result, Microsoft is expected to position the Xbox Series S as an affordable next-gen option for 1080p gaming, delivering a better experience than the now-deprecated Xbox One X thanks to a faster SSD and a more modern GPU and CPU.

With the Xbox Series X set to launch in November, Microsoft probably won’t wait too long before officially announcing the Xbox Series S, as well as pricing details for the new console. A lot of details about the Xbox Series S have leaked in the past couple of months, but it’s quite impressive that the full hardware, which is presumably already in production, hasn’t leaked yet.

According to a previous report, the Xbox Series S could look more like the Xbox One S/X than the Xbox Series X. As the Xbox One X has now been discontinued, it could make sense for the company to re-purpose its existing Xbox One X manufacturing capabilities for Xbox Series S consoles going forward.

4 Tips on How to View Your WiFi Password in Windows 10/11

Posted on by Milan Stanojevic

We use Wi-Fi almost every day on our devices, and we have dozens of saved networks on our devices. But what if we need to see saved WiFi passwords for certain networks?

These operating systems keep track of previously saved passwords. This includes all the networks you connected your device to.

There are multiple different ways to see your WiFI password in Windows and Mac, and you can even use your browser to do so.

This is pretty easy to do, and in today’s article, we’ll show you how to do this on both Windows 10/11 and Mac computers.

How do you find your Wi-Fi password on PC?

There are multiple ways to see WiFi password on your Windows 10/11 PC. You need an account with administrative rights. The simplest method is to check your connection settings. You can also use the Command Prompt or Powershell.

You can use the Command Prompt to learn more about your network connections and check your activity, devices, and more.

How do I list Wi-Fi networks using CMD?
There are several commands that you can use to get network-related information. Most PC requires the administrator’s rights to use these commands.

  1. Make sure to select Run as administrator when you open CMD.how to see wifi password windows 10
  2. Type the following command: netsh wlan show wlanreport Press enter.how to see wifi password windows 10
  3. The Command Prompt will generate the report and display its location. To access it, open the Windows File Explorer and paste the location in the location bar. Press Enter.how to see wifi password windows 10
  4. This will open the report in a new window or tab on your default browser.how to see wifi password windows 10

The report shows info about the computer you execute the command from including name, manufacturer, BIOS version, operating system, and more.

You also get a list of all Network Adapters that are connected to your network. You can see the name, type of connection, connectivity percentage, and other useful information.

Another useful command that will give you a list of the WiFi networks in your area is netsh wlan show networks

Operating systems keep logs of the passwords of your saved networks. So if you have trouble connecting to a network you have logged into before on your Windows on Mac computer, check the following instructions.

How can I view saved WiFi passwords on Windows 10 and Mac?

1. Check your connection properties

  1. Press Windows Key + I to open the Settings app.
  2. Go to the Network & Internet section.
    network & internet view saved wifi passwords windows 10 , mac
  3. Click on Change adapter options.
    change adapter options view saved wifi passwords windows 10 , mac
  4. Double-click your Wi-Fi connection.
    wi-fi connection view saved wifi passwords windows 10 , mac
  5. Click the Wireless Properties button.
    wireless properties view saved wifi passwords windows 10 , mac
  6. Go to the Security tab and check Show characters checkbox.
    security tab view saved wifi passwords windows 10 , mac
  7. You should now see the password for this Wi-Fi connection in the Network security key field.

2. Use PowerShell or Command Prompt

  1. Press Windows Key + X and choose PowerShell (Admin).
    powershell view saved wifi passwords windows 10 , mac
  2. When the PowerShell starts, enter the following command: netsh wlan show profile WI-FI_NAME key=clear
    netsh wlan powershell view saved wifi passwords windows 10 , mac
  3. Be sure to replace WI-FI_NAME with the name of your Wi-Fi network.
  4. Scroll down to the Security settings and in the Key content field you should find the password for this Wi-Fi network.
    key content view saved wifi passwords windows 10 , mac

3. Use Keychain Access

  1. On your Mac go to Applications > Utilities section.
  2. Start Keychain Access from there.
  3. In the Keychains field select System. In the Category section select Passwords.
    keychain access view saved wifi passwords windows 10 , mac
  4. Locate the network in the right pane and double-click it.
  5. Now check the Show password checkbox.
    keychain access show password view saved wifi passwords windows 10 , mac
  6. Enter your administrative password and the Wi-Fi password will appear.

4. Use the Terminal

  1. Go to Applications > Utilities and start the Terminal.
    terminal open view saved wifi passwords windows 10 , mac
  2. Run the following command: security find-generic-password -ga WIFI_NAME | grep “password:”
  3. Replace the WIFI_NAME with the name of your network.
  4. Now enter your administrative credentials.
  5. The Wi-Fi password should now appear.

How to find WiFi password on Google Chrome?

  1. Open Google Chrome.
  2. In the address bar type 192.168.1.1 and press Enter.
    chrome address bar view saved wifi passwords windows 10 , mac
  3. Enter your router’s username and password.
  4. Go to the Wireless section.
  5. In there you should see your Wi-Fi settings.
  6. If available, check the Show password option to reveal your Wi-Fi password.
Note icon NOTE
Google Chrome doesn’t store saved Wi-Fi passwords, but you can use it to view your home network password.

Keep in mind that you need to know both your router’s IP address and login credentials to do so. Also, some routers won’t reveal your password, so this workaround might not work for you.

Viewing the saved password on Windows 10 and Mac is quite simple, and you can easily do it using the graphical interface.

If you’re more tech-savvy, you can easily reveal the saved password by using the command line. Did these methods work for you? Let us know in the comments below.

Want to learn more about network connections? For more info, go to our Network & Internet section.

We have a wide array of similar guides, and you can find them all in our How to Hub. Learn how to remove errors, optimize your settings, and more

FIX: Windows Firewall has blocked some features of this app

Posted on by Matthew Adams

Some users have stated on forums that the Windows Firewall has blocked some features of this app alert keeps popping up on regular basis.

That notification window pops up every time they open specific software (which usually requires a net connection), such as Chrome, iTunes, Spotify, Kodi, Edge, etc.

It is not an error message, but some users need to get rid of the firewall alert that pops up with regularity. These are a few resolutions that might fix the Windows Firewall has blocked some features error.

How do I stop Windows Firewall from blocking app features?

  1. Scan for Malware
  2. Open the Windows Firewall Troubleshooter
  3. Turn Off the Windows Firewall
  4. Allow the Software Through the Firewall
  5. Disable Network Adapters
  6. VPN Software and Extensions
  7. Restore the Firewall to its Default Settings

1. Scan for Malware

The Windows Firewall has blocked some features error might be due to malware that resets firewall settings. As such, it might be worth running a malware scan.

You can find many effective antivirus programs that provide strong guarding on your PC, keeping malware and other cyber threats away round-the-clock.

Using proper software, you can benefit from powerful anti-malware tools that offer comprehensive scan and high detection rates of intrusive malware.

In addition, it’s worth mentioning that antivirus software will protect your system completely, covering browsing security or gaming modes. Thus, we recommend you choose the best antivirus software today.

2. Open the Windows Firewall Troubleshooter

First, check out the Windows Firewall Troubleshooter for Windows 10, 8.1, 8 and 7. That’s a troubleshooter which can fix numerous WF errors.

The troubleshooter is not included in Win 10, but you can download it from this webpage. Open the troubleshooter from the folder you saved it to, and click Advanced to select the Apply repairs automatically option.

Then you can click Next to go through the troubleshooter.

3. Turn Off the Windows Firewall

  • Open Run with the Windows key + R.
  • Enter Control Panel in Run’s text box, and click the OK button.
  • Then enter firewall in the Control Panel’s search box, and click Windows Defender Firewall to open further options.
Windows 10 Store can't buy
  • Click Turn Windows Defender Firewall on or off to open the options shown directly below.
disable windows firewall
  • Select both the Turn off Windows Defender Firewall options, and press the OK button.
  • Add one of the third-party firewall alternatives included in this article to Windows.

Turning the firewall off might be among the more straightforward resolutions for ensuring the WF alert doesn’t pop up.

You don’t necessarily need the Windows Defender Firewall on as you can replace it with a third-party alternative. This is how you can switch off the Windows Defender Firewall.

4. Allow the Software Through the Firewall

  • Press Cortana’s Type here to search taskbar button.
  • Enter the keyword ‘firewall’ in the search box.
  • Then select to open Allow an app through Windows Firewall.
  • Press the Change settings button to adjust the options.
Windows 10 Start Menu and Cortana not working
  • Select both the check boxes for the software on the Allowed apps list that the “Windows Firewall has blocked some features” alert keeps popping up for.
  • Click the OK button.

The Windows Firewall has blocked some features of this app alert window requests that you permit an app through the firewall.

However, you might still need to let an app through the firewall via the Windows Defender Firewall settings to ensure the alert doesn’t pop up for particular software.

5. Disable Network Adapters

  • Enter ‘devmgmt.msc’ in Run and press the Return key to open the window below.
device manager
  • Select Network adapters to expand that device category as below.
  • Right-click your VPN network adapter and select Disable device.
  • If you’re not sure which one is the VPN adapter, just disable each network adapter one at a time to see if that fixes the Windows Firewall alert.

If you prefer to keep the VPN software, try disabling the VPN’s network adapter via Device Manager. Some users have confirmed they’ve fixed the issue by disabling a network adapter.

6. Uninstall VPN software and extensions

The Windows Firewall has blocked some features error can also be due to VPN client software and extensions.

So uninstalling VPN software, might fix the issue if you’ve installed a VPN client. In addition, check if there are any VPN extensions enabled for your browser.

One way to easily get around this issue is to simply have a dedicated uninstaller that will remove any program from your PC, extensions included.

So, in order to find highly efficient uninstallers that will erase your VPN fully with all its associated files, you can select one from the best uninstaller software on Windows 10.

7. Restore the Firewall to its Default Settings

  • Open the Control Panel.
  • Type ‘firewall’ in the Control Panel’s search box, and click Windows Defender Firewall.
  • Click Restore defaults to open the options shown below.
  • Then you can press the Restore defaults button.
  • A Restore Defaults Confirmation window will open. Click Yes on that dialog box to restore the default settings.

One, or more, of the above resolutions, will probably fix the “Windows Firewall has blocked some features” alert so that it doesn’t pop up. If you have another fix for the Windows Firewall alert, feel free to share it below.

Marvel’s Avengers video game is now playable on Xbox One consoles for Deluxe Edition owners

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

Xbox One owners who pre-ordered the Deluxe Edition version of Marvel’s Avengers can now begin playing the full game three days before everyone else.

Marvel’s Avengers is the first major Avengers-focused video game to be released on any gaming platform in a very long time. Well, if you don’t count the various (legitimately fun) LEGO Marvel video games that is.

The game features a rather realistic visual style and follows a completely original storyline set outside of the comic books and the Marvel Cinematic Universe. On Day One, players will be able to play as Captain America, Black Widow, Thor, Hulk, Iron Man, and Ms Marvel though a number of additional characters are set to arrive post-launch such as Hawkeye. A data leak made mention of a large roster of potential upcoming characters from Quake and Mockingbird to Scarlet Witch and Black Panther though it’s unknown if these Marvel creations are completely locked in.

Spider-Man has also been confirmed but will frustratingly be only available to players on Sony’s PS4 and PS5 consoles.

The Xbox One version of Marvel’s Avengers supports forward compatibility with Microsoft’s Xbox Series X console which means that owners of the current gen version will be able to play the next gen version for free.

Are you going to play Marvel’s Avengers or are you satisfied with getting your Marvel fix in the current season of Fortnite? Share your thoughts with the community in the comments below and then follow us on Pinterest and Twitter for more Xbox gaming news.

Marvel's Avengers: Deluxe Edition
Marvel's Avengers: Deluxe Edition
Download
QR-Code

Marvel’s Avengers: Deluxe Edition
Developer:
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Price:
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Marvel's Avengers
Marvel's Avengers
Download
QR-Code

Marvel’s Avengers
Developer:
Crystal Dynamics
Price:
Free

Microsoft and Slack’s long-standing duel is becoming a three-way showdown amid Zoom’s explosive earnings

Posted on by Kareem Anderson

While Microsoft and Slack duke it out for enterprise market share, the relatively new contestant Zoom is not so quietly eating up both general mindshare and market share while also making a nice little profit in the process.

On Monday, Zoom reported to investors that the company’s revenue earnings were $663.5 million for the quarter versus the market expectations of $500.5 million. Signaling a 335% revenue growth for Zoom year over year. The result for investors was a 92 cents per share increase beating out the estimated 45 cents the market once again predicted.

Perhaps, more importantly, Zoom’s monthly active users continue to grow and were at 148.4 million for the company’s fiscal second-quarter highlighting a 4,700% YoY increase.

On the heels of a stellar fiscal quarter report, Zoom is raising its guidance for the full 2021 fiscal year, expecting its fortunes to continue amid continued pandemic circumstances.

Perhaps, in preparation for Zoom’s earnings results, Microsoft unloaded a sack of new features all seemingly targeted at Zoom’s user base. This week’s update includes improvements to the app on iOS and Android, search in chat, uploading images to galleries, generating links for free meeting invites, and a Safe Key setting as well sidebar navigation customizations.

What may have started off as a duel between Teams and Slacks is now becoming a three-way showdown for video and enterprise chat communication supremacy for Microsoft going into 2021.

Boot Configuration Data is Missing: How to Rebuild it

Posted on by Ivan Jenic

The error message, Recovery: The Boot Configuration Data file is missing some required information, is caused by missing system files in the operating system. So either you deleted them accidentally, or the PC is infected with a virus that deleted critical system information.

When you find the boot configuration data missing in Windows 10, a blue screen appears, listing the message and asking you to use an installation media to fix things. It’s not that simple, though. Fret not! We will walk you through the solutions.

How do I fix boot configuration data is missing?

1. Recover missing files with dedicated software

One way of recovering boot missing files is using a dedicated tool such as Tenorshare Windows Boot Genius.

In case of boot failure or system crash after deleting/losing vital system files, this program can help you recover not only all the necessary data but also registry keys or program passwords needed to access your system.

The tool also works if your files were lost due to partition damage or in case of virus infection.

With Tenorshare Windows Boot Genius, you can easily restore your Windows 10/8.1/8/7/XP/Vista OS and get it back on track.

Tenorshare Windows Boot Genius

Tenorshare Windows Boot Genius

An amazing tool to recover all your important boot configuration data files after a crash or accidental deletion.
Free trial Visit website

2. Use installation CD/DVD

  1. Place the DVD/CD on the device, and reboot your PC.
  2. Press any key to boot from the CD or DVD when the message prompts you.
  3. Select the time and the type of keyboard you wish to use. Just follow the instructions on the screen to get to the next window.
  4. Now, go to Repair your computer on the lower left side of the screen.
  5. A Choose an option screen should follow, then click on Troubleshoot.
  6. Select Advanced options, then open Command Prompt.
  7. Type the following command and press Enter: Bootrec /fixmbrbootrec fixmbr command
  8. Similarly, paste the following commands, and after each one, press Enter: Bootrec /fixboot Bootrec /scanos Bootrec /rebuildbcd

When faced with the boot configuration data missing in Windows 10, a quick solution would be to repair and rebuild the data using the dedicated Bootrec commands.

3. Run Startup/Automatic Repair

  1. Insert the Windows installation disk (it has to be bootable).
  2. When you get the image below, press any key to continue.cmd press any key to continue screenshot
  3. Select the preferred language and press Enter.
  4. Click on Repair your computer on the bottom left of the Windows Setup window.
  5. From the options proposed, press Troubleshoot.recovery boot configuration data file error troubleshoot
  6. When the Advanced Options screen opens, choose Automatic Repair, wait for the process to be finished, and restart your PC.recovery boot configuration data file missing automatic repair option

That’s it! Also, if you are wondering how to fix things when the boot configuration data is missing in Windows 10 without CD, a bootable USB drive would work just as well. Create one, connect it to the PC instead of the installation CD, and boot the PC through USB.

Before you leave, find out how to make Windows boot faster with some easy changes.

If you had any complications during this tutorial, please write to us in the comments section, and we will see what we can do to help you further with this issue.

FIX: The destination already contains a folder/file named..

Posted on by Aleksandar Ognjanovic

Windows sometimes has the strangest issues one could imagine. Even the simplest UI commands, like copy-paste, can sometimes fail you. Luckily, those errors are not common and are simple to address.

For example, the The destination already contains a folder/file named… error pop-ups from time to time. Affected users are unable to copy or even merge the folder and files on the chosen destination.

In order to help you address this, we prepared a list of the most applicable solutions. If you’re having a hard time resolving the issue at hand, make sure to check them out below.

How do I fix The destination already contains a folder named..?

1. Restart Windows Explorer

the destination already contains a folder named
  1. Right-click on the Taskbar and open Task Manager.
  2. Under the Processes tab, navigate to Windows Explorer and End the task.
  3. Don’t close Task Manager yet.
  4. Click File on the Main menu and choose Run new task.
  5. Type explorer.exe in the command line and check the Create this task whit administrative privileges box.
  6. Press OK and close the Task Manager.

This and similar errors can have various causes, starting with the smallest ones and reaching to critical HDD or system issues.

The simplest cause for the error lies in the Windows Explorer inability to execute an ordinary task due to clipboard issues.

As it’s the essential built-in part of the Windows shell, you certainly can’t reinstall it. What you can do is restart it.By doing so, you’ll clear the cache and, hopefully, fix the copying error.

2. Check for hidden files

the destination already contains a folder named
  1. Open Windows Explorer.
  2. In the Main Menu (File, Computer, View) choose the View tab.
  3. Check the Hidden items box.
  4. Now you should be able to see whether there’s any conflicting folder in the preferred destination.

What if The destination already contains a folder/file named.. error is not an error at all? Some folders or files might be hidden, especially if you’re merging or copying to system folders.

And one single file can create the problem and prevent copying/merging. In order to address this, we recommend enabling hidden files.

That way you’ll know whether there’s or there isn’t the file or folder with the same name at the destination.

A file search tool can be used also to open hidden files in Windows 10.

This type of software allows you to search for text, pictures, music and video files. You can also search e-mails and contact addresses from Outlook and browse favorites and history in Internet Explorer.

The program searches MS Office, HTML, PDF, text and OpenOffice files. Using categories it can distinguish between file categories such as music, photos, videos or e-mails from Outlook or Mozilla programs.

3. Run SFCthe destination already contains a folder named

  1. Type cmd in the Windows Search bar.
  2. Right-click on the Command Prompt and run it as an admin.
  3. In the command line, type sfc/ scannow and press Enter.
  4. Wait until the scan is finished and restart your PC.
  5. Try copying the troublesome file or folder again.

Even the slightest corruption of system files can lead to inconsistencies in the performance. Since this problem’s core is somewhere with the system, we recommend running the System File Checker utility.

The SFC is the system utility tool run through elevated Command Prompt. Its main purpose is to check the integrity of the system files.

Once run, it should identify and fix the majority of the problems concerning the system files.

4. Use Command Prompt to transfer files

the destination already contains a folder named
  1. Open Command Prompt as an administrator.
  2. In the command line, type the following command and press Enter: robocopy C:Folder1 D:DataFolder2 /e
  3. Don’t forget to replace the C:Folder1 D:DataFolder2 part with your own destinations.

If Windows Explorer won’t work and you are in a dire need to copy something from the destination A to destination B, you can use the robocopy command in Command Prompt.

This command is a great way to copy large chunks of data while retaining the access permissions and copying all subdirectories in the process.

5. Check storage for errors

the destination already contains a folder named
  1. Open This PC.
  2. Right-click on your HDD or the USB flash drive and open Properties.
  3. Choose the Tools tab.
  4. Under the Error Checking section, click Check.

This error would be the last thing on your mind if it turns out there’s a storage error on your HDD. On the other hand, if you’re copying files to USB flash drive, these errors are quite common.

These get corrupted all the time and it’s rather simple to fix them. Of course, this only works if the hardware part is still performing.

6. Scan for malware

the destination already contains a folder named
  1. Open Windows Security Center from the Notification area.
  2. Choose Virus & threat protection.
  3. Choose Advanced scan.
  4. Select Offline Scan and click on the Scan now button.
  5. Your PC will restart and the scanning procedure will commence.

Possible malware interference is also a viable reason for Explorer’s mischief. Making sure that your PC is protected from the effects of the malware presence is of utmost importance. In this case, we recommend a deep scan.

You can do so with the built-in protective software Windows Defender, or with a third-party antimalware solution. If you want to get a third-party anti-virus, your best options are the ones we identified in this comprehensive article with the best antivirus for Windows 10.

They all perform well, have been tried in real-world settings, and have received positive feedback. To be clear, each of them is unique and can discover different difficulties depending on your PC and regular usage habits.

7. Reset the system to factory settings

the destination already contains a folder named
  1. In the Windows Search bar, type recovery.
  2. Open Recovery options from the list of results.
  3. Click on the Get started button under the Reset this PC recovery option.
  4. Choose whether you want to preserve files stored on system partition or not.
  5. Follow the instructions until the system is refreshed.

In the end, if the error is persistent, the only viable solution is turning to recovery options. System Restore should work just fine, but it’s not enabled by the default.

Which mean that there’s a good chance you don’t have available restore points. On the other hand, factory reset works like a charm.

It refreshes your system similarly to clean reinstall but you get to keep your files and installed applications.

In case you are aware of any alternative solution for the The destination already contains a folder/file named… error in Windows 10, please do share it with us. You can do so in the comments section below.

[wl_navigator]

The Connect app is now an optional feature in Windows 10

Posted on by Claudiu Andone

With each new version, Microsoft is adding new features, but it also removes some that become obsolete, redundant, or useless.

Now, the software giant added the Connect app to the list of removed features from Windows 10 version 2004.

The Connect app was helping you to connect to a wireless display using Miracast so it is pretty important but don’t worry because it will still be available as an optional feature.

How can I install the Connect app?

If you updated your system to the Windows 10 version 2004 and you can’t find the Connect app, you can still install it from Settings > Apps > Optional features > Add a feature. 

Then, you just need to type Wireless Display and install the app. After the installation, you will find the Connect app by typing connect to a wireless display in Windows search. 

However, there’s another, easier way to connect to a wireless display by using the Windows key + K combination. Not only you will find any compatible display but also all other audio wireless devices.

If you can’t connect your Windows 10 device to a wireless display, we have an excellent guide to fix that problem.

Please let us know if you have any suggestions in the Comments section below.

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How to fix Windows 10/11 MBR without CD [FULL GUIDE]

Posted on by Andrew Wafer

The Windows 10 MBR (Master Boot Record) might get corrupted or you might experience MBR-related issues if your device was infected with malware, or if an improper shutdown has occurred.

So, as you might know, it’s more than recommended to protect your device by using dedicated antivirus and antimalware tools and you should always be careful when shutting down your Windows computer.

Fixing Windows 10 MBR can be quite easy especially if you can use the Windows 10 installation DVD. You just need to follow the troubleshooting process and to run some commands in Command Prompt.

But what can you do if you can’t use the Windows 10 CD?

In that case, the process is a little bit tricky as you need to be fast when completing the troubleshooting steps. You will see what I am talking about at the right time in the steps below.

How do I fix Windows 10 MBR without an installation disk?

  1. Use a third-party dedicated software
  2. Use Windows Troubleshoot
  3. Run Bootrec
  4. Disconnect USB portable drive

1. Use a third-party dedicated software

boot pc without cd
When you can’t find the Windows 10 CD, you still have a chance of booting your PC, as well as recovering the OS if it’s unbootable using a dedicated tool such as Tenorshare Windows Boot Genius.

This tool can help you with booting up a PC that won’t start properly, burning a bootable ISO image of Windows 10 on a CD/DVD/USB, recover all passwords, product keys, and data in case of boot failure.

So not only you will be able to restore your system and files, but also to repair the crashed MBR or a corrupted registry caused by BSOD, various system crashes, virus infection, or partition damage.

Tenorshare Windows Boot Genius supports Windows 10/8.1/8/7/XP/Vista.

Tenorshare Windows Boot Genius

Tenorshare Windows Boot Genius

Get all-in-one efficient help with booting and restoring a crashed Windows 10 MBR with just a few clicks.
Free trial Visit website

2. Use Windows Troubleshoot

  1. Restart your device.
  2. Immediately start pressing Ctrl + Alt + Del (you might need some practice before being able to do this properly).windows-8
  3. Your device will restart automatically.
  4. Repeat pressing the three buttons mentioned above.
  5. Let the machine restart without doing anything else.
  6. You should see the following messages displayed: Preparing automatic repair, Diagnose, Attempting Repairs.
  7. Select Advanced options.
  8. Next, go towards Troubleshoot.
  9. Once more, select Advanced options.
  10. And finally, pick Windows startup settings and choose Restart.
  11. That’s it, now your computer should restart normally.

3. Run Bootrec

  1. Follow the steps listed above until step number 9
  2. When the Advanced options screen appears, select Command Prompt.
  3. Enter the following commands and hit Enter after each one:

bootrec.exe /rebuildbcd

run bootrec to fix mbrbootrec.exe /fixmbr
bootrec.exe /fixboot

4.  Disconnect USB portable drive

Disconnect USB portable drive to fix windows 10 mbr
If there is an external USB portable drive connected to your Windows PC, this may explain why you can’t boot your device. Many users who encountered this issue confirmed that unplugging the drive solved the problem.

So, that’s how you can fix Windows 10 MBR without using your installation disk or DVD. If you’re running on an older OS, the tool recommended in the first step, Tenorshare, will surely do the job for you.

If you have questions or if you can’t apply the steps above, share your thoughts with us by using the comments field from below and we will help you as soon as possible.

Also, if you’ve got additional tips and suggestions on how to fix Windows 10 MBR without an installation disk, you can list them in the comments below.

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How to fix the Your input can’t be opened VLC error

Posted on by Matthew Adams

Your input can’t be opened error is one that occurs for some VLC users when they try to play a video stream or YouTube video.

When they enter a URL for the YouTube video, an error message pops up stating: Your input can’t be opened. VLC is unable to open the MRL.

Consequently, users can’t play videos that aren’t saved on their HDDs. If that same error message pops up for you in VLC, check out some of the potential fixes for it below.

What can I do if VLC is unable to open the MRL streaming?

  1. Save the Youtube.lau file in VLC’s Playlist folder
  2. Turn off the Windows Firewall
  3. Turn off your third-party antivirus software
  4. Check for VLC updates
  5. Try a VLC alternative

1. Save the Youtube.lau file in VLC’s Playlist folder

  1. One resolution for the Input can’t be opened VLC error is save the Youtube.lau file to the VLC Playlist folder. To do that, open this VLC webpage in your browser.
  2. Click the Download button there to save the Youtube.lau file.
  3. Then, press the File Explorer button on the Windows 10 taskbar.
  4. Open the folder you saved Youtube.lau to.
  5. Right-click the Youtube.lau file and select Copy.
  6. Open this folder path in File Explorer: C:ProgramFiles(x86)/VideoLAN/VLC/lauplaylist
  7. Then right-click within the Playlist folder and select Paste to add the Youtube.lau file to that folder.

2. Turn off the Windows Firewall

  1. First, press the Type here to search button on the Windows 10 taskbar to open Cortana’s search box.
  2. Enter Windows Firewall in the search box.
  3. Then select Windows Defender Firewall to open the window shown in the shot directly below.
  4. Click Turn Windows Defender Firewall on or off to open the options.
  5. Select both the Turn off Windows Defender Firewall options.Turn off Windows firewall
  6. Click the OK button.
  7. If that does fix the Your input can’t be opened error, the Windows Firewall is probably blocking VLC. To add VLC to an exception list, enter Windows Firewall in Cortana and select Allow an app through Windows Firewall.
  8. Press the Change settings button.
  9. Scroll to VLC on the apps list and select all its checkboxes if they’re not selected.
  10. Press the OK button to close the window.

The Input can’t be opened error messages can often be due to firewalls blocking the VLC media player.

Thus, temporarily turning off the Windows Defender Firewall for VLC might fix the issue. You can turn off the Windows Defender Firewall as described above.

3. Turn off your third-party antivirus software

Third-party antivirus software can also include firewalls. As such, you might also need to turn off a third-party antivirus utility before you open VLC.

You can usually do that by right-clicking an antivirus utility’s system tray icon and selecting a disable option on the context menu.

Alternatively, open the antivirus software’s primary window to check if VLC is among the blocked applications on the firewall’s application list.

Adjust the software’s settings so that it allows VLC for all networks.

4. Check for VLC updates

Updating VLC might fix the Your input can’t be opened error if you’re currently utilizing an antiquated version of the media player.

To check for updates, click Help > Check for updates in VLC. The VLC media player updates window will tell you if there’s an available update.

If so, click Yes > Install to update the software.

5. Try a VLC alternative

If you keep getting the same error message that states Your input can’t be opened, you’ll need to think of a VLC alternative.

Cyberlink PowerDVD is an all-in-one multimedia app that can be easily used to play and pin your Youtube videos. Yes, you read it right. You wouldn’t have to worry about similar errors ever again.

Aside from that, it also allows you to enjoy Seamless Playback and return to watching your videos from the exact point where you left off and TrueTheater features, for the best video and audio quality.

⇒ Get Cyberlink PowerDVD

Those are some of the resolutions that might fix the error that prevents you from playing videos with the network stream in VLC.

Now, you know what to do when getting the Your input can’t be opened. VLC is unable to open the MRL message.

The above steps should be useful. Don’t hesitate to share your experience with us by using the comments section below.

How to play HEVC videos on PC [Best Tools]

Posted on by Ivan Jenic

Want to play HEVC files on your Windows 10 or Windows 11 PC but not sure how? You’re not alone. HEVC (also called H.265) is a powerful video format that delivers high-quality videos in smaller file sizes -but it doesn’t always work out of the box on Windows.

In this guide, we’ll explain what HEVC is, why it matters, and how you can easily play HEVC files on your PC, whether you’re using Windows 10 or Windows 11. We’ll also cover what codecs you might need, which devices support it natively, and the best players you can install to get smooth playback without any hassle.

Let’s break it down step by step so you can start watching your HEVC videos in no time.

Table of contents

What are the best HEVC players for Windows 10?

Cyberlink PowerDVD (recommended)

install Cyberlink PowerDVD

Cyberlink PowerDVD is a premium multimedia app that lets you play HEVC videos on your PC.

Aside from that, what really makes it stand out is the fact that it allows you to organize all your videos, photos, and music files in a single place.

No less important, if you’re constantly on the go, you’ll know the importance of the new Watch On-The-Go features.

You can easily take your HEVC videos and movies anywhere with the CyberLink cloud. And if you download them to your mobile device, watching offline is possible as well.

Main Cyberlink PowerDVD key features you’re about to enjoy:

  • Ultra HD Blu-ray and 8K video support
  • Seamless Playback to keep on watching from the exact point where you left off
  • TrueTheater features for an ultimate video experience
  • Ease of data share via a simple link
  • CyberLink generous cloud space
Cyberlink PowerDVD

Cyberlink PowerDVD

Do you want to play HEVC videos on PC? Cyberlink PowerDVD is the best multimedia app for the task!
Check priceVisit website

5K Player

install 5K Player

5K Player might be the newest kid on this block but is already considered among the best to play back HEVC videos. It is compatible with the UHD format, which makes it HEVC ready as well.

It is simple and efficient too, with the ability to playback HEVC videos really fast. It is lightweight as well, meaning its impact on the hardware is minimum.

Further, there is no need to download any codec or plug-in as the player comes with all the resources needed for it to read HEVC video files.

It supports 4K, 5K, and 8K formats as well, besides H.265, MP4, MKV, AVI video files. Saving the best for the last, 5K Player comes completely free.

⇒ Download 5K Player now

VLC Media Player

install VLC Media Player

VLC has already been among the most widely used media players and has built a reputation of being able to handle almost any media files you throw at it.

So it should be least surprising our old favorite VLC is able to handle HEVC video files with élan.

However, you might have to download the requisite codec before that, unless you are using the latest version of the VLC player.

The software otherwise is as simple and user friendly as it has always been.

⇒ Download VLC Media Player now

UFUSoft Blu-ray Player

install UFUSoft Blu-ray Player

Besides being an excellent Blu-ray disk player, its ability to playback HEVC videos is among the other extremely likable qualities of the free software.

It can also serve equally well as a 4K media player while other media formats it can handle include H.264, H.265, MPEG-4, and so on.

With these being said, could UFUSoft Blu-ray Player be your choice as well?

⇒ Download UFUSoft Blu-ray Player now

So there you have it, a brief introduction of the HEVC format followed by a compilation of the best players for reading HEVC video files.

Adopting any of these might require ditching one you have been hanging on for a long time, but rest assured that it will be worth it.

Which one is your choice? Let us know in the comments area below.

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Asus laptop won’t play DVD [Solved]

Posted on by Ivan Jenic

Many of us enjoy watching DVD movies on our computers, but it seems that DVDs won’t play on Asus laptops for some users.

This seems like a big problem, but fortunately for you, there are a few quick solutions available.

In previous versions of Windows, you were able to insert a DVD movie and watch it on Windows without any third-party software.

Now Microsoft decided to change that. Windows 10 doesn’t allow you to play DVD movies without using third-party software.

If you want to use the official software, you can download and buy the DVD application from Microsoft Store, but without that application, you can’t play DVD on your Asus laptop.

So, what can you do? Let’s take a look at some useful tips.

How can I play DVD on my Asus laptop?

  1. Use Windows 10’s built-in troubleshooter
  2. Update your computer
  3. Run an SFC scan
  4. Use a third-party media player that supports DVD playback

1. Use Windows 10’s built-in troubleshooter

  1. Go to Settings > Update > Troubleshoot.
  2. Run the Playing audio and Video Playback troubleshooter.
fix DVD asus computer

If you installed a third-party media player that supports DVD, yet the problem persists, try running the built-in audio and video troubleshooter.

2. Update your computer

  1. Go to Settings > Update & Security.
  2. Click on the Check for updates button.
  3. Now, you just need to install the available updates.
check for updates windows 10

If your ASUS computer still fails to recognize or play your DVD movie, try installing the latest OS updates on your machine.

Microsoft regularly releases updates to Windows 10 computers in order to improve the OS stability and fix various issues, including DVD rendering bugs.

Also, if you installed any DVD recording programs, try uninstalling them. Quite a few users confirmed that this quick workaround helped them fix the problem.

3. Run an SFC scan

  1. Open Command Prompt as administrator.
  2. Then, enter the command sfc /scannow > hit Enter.sfc scannow
  3. Wait until the scanning process completes and restart your computer.

System file corruption issues are extremely annoying as they can affect the overall functioning of the OS. The quickest way to fix system file issues is to run an SFC scan.

Have problems using the SFC tool? Don’t worry, we’ve got a quick guide precisely for this issue.

4. Use a third-party media player that supports DVD playback

As we said earlier, Microsoft has decided to change its policy, and now you need to buy Microsoft’s official DVD application in order to play a DVD movie on your laptop.

This came as a shock to many Windows users mostly because this feature has been free in all versions of Windows for years.

However, this only affects the default Windows applications. You can still play a DVD movie using a third-party media player such as Cyberlink PowerDVD, for example.

Fortunately, if you’re having this issue, all that you have to do is to download and install Cyberlink PowerDVD and you’ll be able to watch any DVD movie on your Asus laptop.

⇒ Get CyberLink PowerDVD

These quick workarounds should help you fix the issue where your ASUS computer fails to play DVDs.

If you come across other workarounds that our readers could use to fix this problem, let us know in the comments below.

Windows Insider Program “Get Started” is Greyed Out

Posted on by Ivan Jenic

The Windows 10 Insider Program is still active, even after the release of the full version of Windows 10.

But some users who left the Insider Program for the full version, report that they’re unable to get back to the program because of the ‘Get Started‘ button is grayed out. Luckily, this is a common problem, and there’s an easy solution for it.

Microsoft attracted a lot of users with the Insider Program for Windows 10 Technical Preview. More than 5 million people were using and testing Windows 10, before its actual release.

But when the full release finally came, most of the users decided to leave the Insider Program and use the full version only.

But when some of them decided to get back to the Windows Insider Program, they simply couldn’t, because the Get Started, button, which brings you back to the program was greyed out.

How can I fix greyed out Get Started button in Windows 10?

  1. Delete the Software Distribution Folder
  2. Check your privacy settings
  3. Enable Telemetry in the Registry
  4. Disable VPN software

1. Delete the SoftwareDistribution folder

Some people said that besides fixing the broken updates, deleting the content of the SoftwareDistribution folder helped them to get back the Get Started button, as well. Here’s how to delete everything from the SoftwareDistribution folder:

  1. Go to This PC and open the partition you have your Windows installed on (it’s usually C:)
  2. Go to Windows folder
  3. In Windows folder, find a folder named SoftwareDistribution and open it
  4. Delete everything from that folder get started button greyed out
  5. Restart your computer

Since the SoftwareDistribution problem is a possible solution, the problem lays in Windows Updates. So, if deleting the SoftwareDistribution folder doesn’t have any effects, you can try running Windows Update Troubleshooter, from Control Panel, maybe this Microsoft tool will be helpful.

If you need to make sure everything is deleted and that nothing is left behind, you should consider the aid of a third-party program.

There are multiple effective tools that can help you to permanently erase specific files you need to keep away from your PC.

In order to be sure the files are really erased, it’s not enough to delete them with file explorer and empty the Recycle Bin.

Regardless of your privacy, using effective file deletion software will help you thoroughly erase files and folders from your system.

2. Check your privacy settings

If you’re worried about your privacy in Windows 10, and a lot of people are, because it is well known that Microsoft collects your personal data through Windows 10, you probably changed some privacy settings, in order to keep your computer as private as possible.

One of these privacy settings is the ability to send data to Microsoft, as feedback of using Windows 10, and if you chose not to send any data, you won’t be able to get back to Windows Insider Program.

So, when you try to ‘get started,’ you won’t be able to, and you’ll see the message which says Some Settings Are Managed By Your Organization.

We talked about removing this message in our article about Some Settings Are Managed By Your Organization in Windows 10, so just follow the instructions from that article, and you’ll be able to remove this message, and Get Started button won’t be greyed out anymore, so you can receive future Preview builds normally.

get started button greyed out windows 10

If your ‘Get Started’ button is still greyed out, even after changing settings like shown in the article, then something’s actually wrong with your system, so you can try some of the following solutions.

3. Enable Telemetry in the Registry

As stated at the beginning of this article, in order to be able to select Insider builds, you need to first enable Telemetry settings. You can also do this by tweaking your Registry:

  1. Go to Start > type regedit > double click on the first result to launch the Registry Editor
  2. Navigate to this key:
    • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREPoliciesMicrosoftWindowsDataCollection
  3. Change the AllowTelemetry dword value to 3
  4. If there is noAllowTelemetry dword available, create it
  5. Restart your computer and check if you can download the latest Windows 10 Insider build

4. Disable VPN software

If you currently use a VPN tool, try disabling it. Then navigate to Settings > Windows Update > go to the Windows Insider Program and check if the Get Started button is still grey.

If you want to participate in developing further versions of Windows 10, getting involved in Insider Program is probably the best thing for that. And if you had some problems re-joining the program, I hope this article solved everything.