Page 1049 • Windows Report

Skype also gets custom backgrounds for video calls with latest update

Posted on April 22, 2020 by Radu Tyrsina

Earlier this month, we reported that Microsoft had rolled out the ability to set background effects during Microsoft Teams video calls. This week, the company is bringing the same feature to Skype for Windows, Mac, Linux, and the web (via Neowin), and this should be a timely addition after Skype usage grew 70% last month.

Custom backgrounds are now available in version 8.59 of Skype and this feature expands on the existing background blur feature in Skype. For anyone interested to try out the new custom background feature, you can follow the steps mentioned below, though it’s important to note that the new feature isn’t supported on the Microsoft Store version of Skype:

During a call, hover over the video button or click the More menu.

Click Choose background effect.

You can Blur the room you’re in currently, choose an image you previously added, or Add a new image to customize your background effect.

Note: It’s recommended to use images in landscape orientation and the custom image needs to be saved locally on your desktop. Skype for Windows 10 (version 14) supports blur background only.

Besides the new custom backgrounds support, the latest Skype update also brings some notable features including easier access to call controls directly from the chat menu and ability to share files from the Finder app on macOS. Do you think Skype video calls could become cool again? Sound off in the comments below.

Play Xbox and donate to the United Nations Foundation, GlobalGiving

Posted on April 22, 2020 by davew

As everyone is doing their part to help stop the spread of COVID-19 (coronavirus), Microsoft found a way to help gamers give back just by playing games on their Xbox One. We already know that Xbox One owners can use their Microsoft Rewards points to donate to the CDC Foundation to help battle COVID-19. Now, there is another way for Xbox One owners to give back.

As noted in a post on Xbox Wire, there are two other global organizations that Xbox One owners can donate their Microsoft Rewards points to help fight COVID-19; the United Nations Foundation (UNF) and GlobalGiving. Microsoft will match donations of your Microsoft Rewards one-to-one; 1,000 Microsoft Rewards is equal to $1 donated.

Xbox One owners can earn Microsoft Rewards points by playing games, renting and buying TV shows and movies in the Microsoft Store, and completing Xbox game quests via the Microsoft Rewards app on Xbox One. In addition, Minecraft has a similar partnership with the United Nations to share helpful information from the World Health Organization (WHO) about proper handwashing to combat COVID-19.

If you are not already a member of Microsoft Rewards, you can sign up for free through the Microsoft Rewards app on your Xbox One console, or by using microsoftrewards.com.

Connect your Xbox 360, Xbox One controllers to Windows 10/11

Posted on April 22, 2020October 4, 2023 by Radu Tyrsina

Albeit many Windows 10 users have been reporting problems with getting their Xbox gamepads and controllers to work, you should know that the two platforms are officially compatible.

Recently, we have shared with you some of the best Windows 10 gamepads to choose if you want to enrich your gaming experience. Now, there are some problems that some of you may encounter with the XBox 360 Game Controller. One customer said the following recently in the Microsoft support forums:

Hi guys, i’ve just purchased a Xbox 360 wireless controller for Windows . I’m using Windows 8 x64, Windows recognizes it automatically and works when I plug it. The problema is when I play games it turns slow in a random way and it fixes just touching the mouse :S. I tried with 2 games so far : Amnesia and Fifa 12 and happens exactly the same with both. Also i’ve installed the software coming with controller but i’ve got the same result.

The compatibility is 100% when it comes to the wired version of the Xbox 360 controller for Windows 10. However, in Windows 10, you might encounter issues with the wireless version, so, you are advised to download and install the latest drivers. Also, check out this guide on how to use the wireless receiver to set up your Xbox 360 controller for Windows 10.

As for the Xbox One controller, unfortunately, it is not yet compatible with Windows 10, but that should be solved any moment now.

UPDATE: The Xbox One controller is now fully compatible with both Windows 10. You can play your favorite games on your computer using your Xbox controller without any problems. Follow the instructions listed below to establish a wireless connection between your PC and your Xbox controller:

Go to Settings > Devices > select Add Bluetooth or other device.
Select Everything else > choose Xbox Wireless Controller > click Done and that’s it.

As a quick reminder, you can connect up to 8 Xbox wireless controllers at the same time to support your multiplayer sessions. If you’re planning to connect more than one controller that has Xbox Chat Headsets attached, keep in mind that you can connect a maximum number of 4 such devices. If your controllers have Xbox Stereo Headsets, you can connect only two of them at the same time.

You can also use an Xbox Wireless Adapter for Windows 10 to connect the two pieces of hardware.

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FIX: Microsoft Solitaire error code 124

Posted on April 22, 2020October 4, 2023 by Milan Stanojevic

Most, if not all gamers have come across error messages while trying to play their favorite games whether that’s on their Xbox consoles or Windows computers.

Microsoft solitaire collection error code 124 may be caused by loss of network connectivity, or if the online game service is unavailable.

They may also be displayed when you try to save the game or the game files have become corrupted.

Usually, Microsoft releases the error codes (mostly known), and their corresponding issues, so if your error code starts with 101, there’s something not quite right with the news feature, or a file is missing from the manifest.

An error with the code 107 means something is preventing the game from downloading so you need to check your internet connection, antivirus program and ensure the game is whitelisted.

If you’re getting Solitaire error 124 or error 101_107, it’s probably within that range of issues, but here are some known solutions to help resolve the issue.

How can I fix Solitaire errors 124/ 101_107?

Run App troubleshooter
Run Windows Update troubleshooter
Check that Windows Updates aren’t stuck
Check if Xbox Live is down
Create new user profile and try setting up from there
Uninstall and reinstall Microsoft Solitaire Collection
Make sure your firewall/anti-virus isn’t blocking the app
Clear your Windows Store cache
Uninstall and reinstall the game with a clean Windows Store cache
Clear Disk cache

Solution 1: Run App troubleshooter

This fixes some issues that prevent apps from running such as screen resolution, and incorrect account or security settings.

Right-click Start
Select Control Panel
Go to the top right corner and change View by
Select Large icons
Click Troubleshooting

Click on View all option on the left panel
Select Windows store Apps

Follow the instructions to run the app troubleshooter

Check whether you are able to play Solitaire again. If not, go to the next solution.

Solution 2: Run Windows Update troubleshooter

This tool automatically detects and fixes the most incorrect settings on your computer that brings the Solitaire error 124/ 101_107/and prevent you from running any updates.

Click Start
In the search field box, type Troubleshooting > hit Enter
Click View all in the left pane
Select Windows Update

Run Windows Update Troubleshooter and follow the instructions on the screen

Solution 3: Check that Windows Updates aren’t stuck

If you’ve checked for Windows Updates and there was no problem there, try checking if there are some updates that are stuck because some do get stuck for various reasons.

Click Start
In the search box, type Windows Updates
Click Check for Updates

Click Check Now
Click View Details
Install any updates you may find that have not been installed including optional ones
Restart your computer

Solution 4: Check if Xbox Live is down

Sometimes the network on Xbox goes down, in which case you can check and log in then click Support to see if it says Xbox Service is up or Xbox Service is limited or Xbox Service is down.

It is down or limited, you may not be able to log in to your game till it is fixed.

You might also be interested about the best Solitaire apps for Windows 10 users

Solution 5: Create new user profile and try setting up from there

You can create a new user profile then change settings to administrator privileges, and check if Solitaire error 124/ 101_107/ persists.

Here’s how you can create a new user profile:

Click Start
Select Settings

Select Accounts

Click Family and other users
Click Add someone else to this PC

Fill in the form with the user name and password. Your new user account will be created.
Click on Change account type
Click the drop-down arrow and choose Administrator to set the account to administrator level
Restart your computer
Login to the new account you just created

If the issue goes away, then it may mean your other user profile is corrupted. You can try the following in case of a corrupted user profile:

On your new account, use it to downgrade your usual account
Click Apply or Ok
Raise back your old account to its default admin level
Rinse and repeat a few times as this will help to remove any corruption
Leave your account on as Administrator

Check whether Solitaire error 124/ 101_107/ goes away when using the newly created account. If it does, then you can either Fix the old user account or migrate to the new account.

Solution 6: Uninstall and reinstall Microsoft Solitaire Collection

If you usually don’t log in to Solitaire, uninstalling the app will erase all your games and progress.

If you do log in to Solitaire before you uninstall, all your data will be saved in the cloud, and any saved games will not be lost when you uninstall and reinstall Microsoft Solitaire Collection.

You can then pick up where you left off in the game you’re currently playing.

Click Start
In the search box, type Microsoft Solitaire Collection

Right-click Microsoft Solitaire collection app tile, and then select Uninstall.

Restart your computer
Right-click Start
Select Run

Type wsreset.exe, and then press Enter. The Microsoft Store will open so you can reinstall Microsoft Solitaire Collection.

Solution 7: Make sure your firewall/anti-virus isn’t blocking the app

Sometimes having multiple firewalls, antivirus or malware programs, may at times prevent you from performing certain tasks or run processes on your computer.

If this is the cause of the issue, turn either of the three off temporarily then try to log in again.

Ensure you turn these programs back on immediately after you’re done to prevent hackers, viruses, and worms from damaging your system.

The steps to unblock the game (or any app that needs to access Xbox Live) will vary depending on the antivirus or firewall software you use.

Check the documentation for your antivirus or firewall software to open settings and ensure that the software is not blocking the app.

If your antivirus or firewall has an app whitelist, make sure that your Xbox Live-enabled games are on this list.

Solution 8: Clear your Windows Store cache

Right click Start
Select Run

Type wsreset.exe and press enter. This will launch Windows Store with a cleared cache. You can check if Solitaire error 124/ 101_107/ goes away after doing this.

Solution 9: Uninstall and reinstall the game with a clean Windows Store cache

This should be one of the last resort methods. Ensure you’re connected to Xbox and save your game data. If not connected, you may lose all your game progress.

Right-click on the Solitaire game app icon and choose Uninstall
Right click Start
Select Run

Type wsreset.exe and press Enter
The Windows Store will launch for you with a clean cache
Go to Settings

In the Settings Menu, go to App Updates

In the App Updates menu, press Check for Updates AND Sync Licenses
Press the arrow key at the top left to go back
In the search bar at the right, type in the name of the game – Microsoft Solitaire
Reinstall the game

Solution 10: Clear Disk cache

This is another last resort method. Connect to Xbox Live and save your data before doing this otherwise you’ll lose all your game progress.

Close all your games using ALT+F4 while it is running
Click Start
Select File Explorer

Click the View tab at the top

Check the box that says Hidden Items

Go to the following folder: C:Users[USERNAME]AppDataLocalPackages[GAMENAME]LocalState
- [USERNAME] – is the name you use to log in to the computer, for example John Doe
- [GAMENAME] – is something with the name of the game. Something like this for example: Microsoft.Solitaire_8wekyb3d8bbwe
Delete the folder DiskCache.
Run the Microsoft Solitaire game again.

Were any of these solutions helpful? Let us know in the comments section below.

Is Microsoft Solitaire Collection free?

Solitaire Collection is a free collection that allows you to play 9 challenge Solitaire games. If you can’t run it in Windows 10, read this expert guide to fix the problem.

How do I get Microsoft Solitaire Collection?

Microsoft Solitaire Collection is already installed in Windows 10. Did you know that there are other solitaire games out there?

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The latest non-security Windows 10 update is now live

Posted on April 22, 2020 by Don Sharpe

Microsoft has rolled out the latest non-security Windows 10 update. KB4550945 belongs to the C category of releases that are usually available the third week of the month.

Recently, the Redmond-based company announced that it would not be releasing such updates starting in May 2020. You will still be getting Update Tuesday releases that address known security issues with Windows 10, though.

Update fixes multiple problems affecting Windows 10 1909 and 1903

Cumulative update KB4550945 does not introduce any new features to the targeted Windows 10 versions.

But it offers numerous improvements and fixes for the operating systems in question. These include:

According to the release notes for the CU, KB4550945 fixes a problem that prevented some apps from opening after updating to a more recent version of Windows 10.
Notifications for PCs that use a VPN on a cellular network should now work without problems.
Some Xbox users could not resume a game on a Windows device after upgrading to a more recent version of Windows 10. That problem is no more.
With the update, text boxes with multiple lines of texts should be working well in all scenarios.
Changing default application settings should not be generating unusual notifications once you update your PC with KB4550945.
If Windows Update crashes when you check for updates, you cannot use it to get optional fixes and improvements like KB4550945. Microsoft says it has fixed that problem too.
The update should also correct an issue preventing the printing of content that falls outside the margins of a document.
Microsoft announced it had a fixed an issue with the Windows 10 on-screen keyboard during sign-in. Some users had complained that the feature would not come up when the system prompted them to provide their login credentials.

How to get the update

KB4550945 is an optional update, and as such, it does not automatically download and install on your PC. One way to get it is via Settings, Update & Security, and then Windows Update.

While you are there, click the download link in the Optional updates available area to get and install the latest fixes and enhancements for your Windows 10 computer.

You may also go to the Microsoft Update Catalog to manually download and install update KB4550945.

Not all cumulative updates for Windows 10 turn out well, which is why you may want to create a restore point before updating. Doing that provides a healthy OS status to fall back on in case updating interferes with the performance of your system.

How to fix Winload.efi errors on Windows 10/11

Posted on April 22, 2020October 4, 2023 by Ivan Jenic

Sometimes, Windows 10 users may get the error message The application has failed to start because its side-by-side configuration is incorrect.

Please see the application event log or use the command-line sxstrace.exe tool for more detail.

Users also reported other similar errors caused by the same problem and luckily have the same solution:

– windows system32 winload efi error code 0xc00000f
– asus zenbook winload efi error
– windows system32 winload exe error 0xc000001
– required file is missing or contains errors winload efi

This error usually occurs when users launch an app after installing the latest Windows updates. So, basically when you have these sorts of issues, you might want to try a system refresh or a system restore.

The only issue is that when users try to perform a system restore or refresh, they get the winload.efi file error.

Fix winload.efi error is preventing me from resetting or refreshing my computer (Windows 8)

There’s no need to panic — in this article, we’ll show you how you can fix the winload.efi error in the shortest time possible.
Fixing the winload.efi error code requires you to boot from the Windows 10 Installation Media disk and follow the steps listed below in the order they are described.

Also, if you do not have an installation media disk for Windows 10, follow the last method listed in this article to get your system up and running.

How can I fix Windows 10 winload.efi errors?

Refresh your PC
Run System Restore
Create your own Windows 10 Installation Media
Disable Secure Boot
Check your disk for errors
Disable antivirus/ firewall protection

1. Refresh your PC

Insert the 10 Installation Media disk into the device.
Reboot the operating system with your Installation Media CD or DVD inside the device.
After the reboot, you will get to a screen where it asks to press any key to boot from the CD or DVD.
Press any button on the keyboard.
You should now have in front of you a window where you need to select the correct time and keyboard type.
Press the Next button after you set the time and keyboard type.
You should now have in front of you the Choose an option screen.
Select the Troubleshoot feature you have on that menu.
From the Troubleshoot menu, select the Refresh your PC option.
Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the System Refresh.
Reboot your operating system.
Check again if you still get the winload.efi error.

2. Run System Restore

Note: Before attempting this step, please create a backup copy of your files and folders.

Start Windows 10 normally.
Move the mouse cursor over to the upper right side of the screen.
From the menu that appears, select the Search feature
In the search dialog box, enter control panel without the quotes.
After the search has finished, select the Control Panel icon (it should be the first result).
In the Control Panel search box situated in the upper side of the window, enter Recovery.
Press the Enter key on the keyboard.
After the search has finished, select the Open System Restore feature.
Follow the on-screen instructions to finish the System Restore and bring back your operating system to a previous point in time when you did not have the winload.efi error message.

3. Create your own Windows 10 Installation Media

If you do not have a Windows 10 Installation Media disk, follow the steps below.

Get a USB stick with at least 8 GB of free space and make sure it is blank.
Click on this link to open Microsoft Support.
Connect your USB stick to the device.
In the link listed above, select the Create Media button.
Follow the on-screen instruction to create your Windows 10 Installation Media USB.
Search on the USB stick for the Setup executable.
Right-click on the icon.
From the menu that appears, select the Properties feature.
Go to the Compatibility tab located on the upper side of the Properties window.
Under Compatibility mode, select Run this program in compatibility mode for.
In the drop-down menu, select Windows 7 > hit Apply > OK.
Now double click to open the setup executable file.
Follow the on-screen instructions to finish the setup.

4. Disable Secure Boot

If you own a UEFI computer, try disabling Secure Boot. This setting can sometimes prevent your computer from actually accessing the winload.efi file.

For more information on how to disable this feature, go to your device manufacturer’s website. The UEFI UI is different for every computer mode.

Once you have located and disabled the UEFI setting, exit the user interface, and restart your computer.

5. Check your disk for errors

Disk errors and faulty files may also trigger the winload.efi error code. The quickest and safest way to fix this problem is by checking for disk for errors. Here are the steps to follow:

Go to Start > start Command Prompt as administrator and type chkdsk C: /f
Hit Enter and wait for the scanning process to complete
note: Replace C with the letter of your hard drive partition.

If you do not use the /f parameter, chkdsk displays a message informing your that the file needs to be fixed, but it does not fix any errors.

To repair physical issues, run the /r parameter as well.

6. Disable antivirus/ firewall protection

If nothing worked, try disabling antivirus and firewall protection to see if this workaround can fix your problem.

Don’t forget to turn your antivirus and firewall back on as soon as you launched the problematic app.

There you have a few methods to fix your winload.efi error code in Windows 10.

If you do have more questions regarding this subject, you can post a comment in the section below. We will try to help you as soon as possible.

Yakuza Kiwami video game launches on Microsoft’s Xbox One consoles and Xbox Game Pass

Posted on April 22, 2020 by Radu Tyrsina

Yakuza Kiwami, a modern remake of the original Yakuza video game, launched on Microsoft’s family of Xbox One consoles today.

The game is features a variety of visual and gameplay improvements over the 2005 original in addition to some new story elements and an evolved combat system.

Here’s the official game description:

Yakuza, the first installment in SEGA’s critically acclaimed action series, gets an extreme remake in Yakuza Kiwami.

To save his best friend, Kazuma Kiryu takes the fall for a crime he didn’t commit, and ends up with a 10-year prison sentence. After being released, Kiryu finds himself expelled from his yakuza family, and alone in a world he no longer recognizes.

Events take a turn for the worse when 10 billion yen vanishes from the vault of the Tojo Clan, Kiryu’s former yakuza family, igniting a war in the red-light district of Kamurocho. Together with a mysterious girl named Haruka, Kiryu must fight to survive and uncover the truth hidden amidst the chaos surrounding them.

In addition to being for sale on Xbox One, Yakuza Kiwami is also available to play via the Xbox Game Pass subscription service from today. After more Yakuza gaming on Xbox One? Yakuza 0 also recently launched on the console.

Are you a fan of the Yakuza video game franchise? Let us know what your favorite game is in the comments below and then follow us on Pinterest and Facebook for more Xbox gaming news.

Download
QR-Code

Yakuza Kiwami

Developer:
SEGA

Price:
Free

Download
QR-Code

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate

Developer:
Microsoft Corporation

Price:
$1.00

Laptop Was Stolen? Here’s How to Track it & Block Files

Posted on April 22, 2020October 4, 2023 by Andrew Wafer

Was your Windows laptop stolen? Do you want to get it back, or do you want to secure your personal data?

Well, if you need to know how to find your stolen Windows laptop, you should look below. We’ve tried to explain to you what to do in this unfortunate situation, and also I’ve described the methods to apply to prevent such situations.

Your laptop might get stolen in various ways, especially when you are not paying attention to the people that are around you at some point.

Thieves are always watching, so you should do the same thing;

I know that this might sound a bit too dramatic, but let’s be honest: it’s better to be cautious than confront difficult situations afterward.

Of course, some situations can’t be prevented, so this guide will teach you how to find or track your stolen laptop and prepare yourself for this kind of action.

What can I do if my Windows 10 laptop is stolen?

A stolen laptop can be a big problem, and in this article, we’re going to cover the following issues:

How to track a stolen laptop with an IP address – If your laptop is stolen, you can track it with an IP address. Certain applications and services keep track of the IP address of your PC, and you can use that address to track your device. Even if you find the IP address, you’ll need to contact the authorities in order to get the exact location of your laptop.
The laptop was stolen how to find it – There are a few ways to find your laptop once it gets stolen. The best way is to install the tracking software on it, but you can also track your laptop using the IP address. However, the IP address won’t give you the exact location of your device.
Laptop was stolen what to do – If your laptop is stolen, you need to contact the authorities first. In addition, you can also try to locate your device using one of our solutions.
Protect your laptop from theft – Protecting your laptop from theft is important, and in this article, we’re going to share a few tips on how to protect your laptop and your files.

Usually, a common user is using his laptop for various reasons, which means that on the device, there are saved personal data, info, and even accounts.

That’s why it is essential to protect your data and to secure the same, even when your laptop is stolen – so you will have to do it from a distance.

The most important thing to do is to act quickly to avoid unpleasant situations.

So, as soon as you notice your laptop is gone, get to work, track it out, and secure your accounts.

Then, of course, call 112 to make a report about what happened and to communicate with trained persons who can help you track your device.

How to secure your data when your laptop was stolen?

The first thing to do is to ensure that the thieves can’t access your personal data. You don’t want to lose anything important to you, so you should act quickly.

First, it should be clear to you that you can only secure the info stored online through your personal accounts.

Therefore, don’t hesitate and set new passwords for your accounts, and download and erase the online data if possible.

This process should be similar to the one you apply when your Microsoft account has been hacked.

Only now, you have to do the same thing for all your valid accounts, including social media websites and cloud storage services.

Remember your web browser history, passwords, cache, and so on. You should be able to erase all this info only if, on your stolen laptop, you have previously installed a dedicated tool in that matter – we will talk about this during the next section of our guide.

So, use this program from another machine and delete your web browsing history and anything else.

You can even use these tools to erase your folders and apps or display messages on your stolen laptop with your phone number or a reward text in case you have lost your Windows laptop.

If it has been stolen, you send the reward in vain.

How to prepare for unfortunate situations and track a stolen Windows laptop with ease?

First of all, anyone should install tracking software on their Windows laptop. This software can then be used to find your device and secure or destroy your personal data, info, and accounts.

There are also free and paid tools, choose the apps you prefer the most.

For example, you can use LoJack, which will set you back less than £30 inc VAT for a year of coverage.

With this software you will be able to get geolocation data within the Absolute Monitoring Centre; finding your stolen laptop is quite easy in this matter.

You can also use LoJack for erasing all of your data from your computer and for protecting your BIOS – all the major manufacturers (Acer, Asus, Dell, HP, Lenovo, Samsung, and Toshiba).

How to track a stolen laptop with an IP address

Another tracking tool to use can be Prey. Prey will call you on your phone number each time your thief goes online on your stolen Windows laptop.

Prey can be installed for free and offers a detailed report about the state and location of your laptop, which you can access over the web.

Now, on the other hand, you can use tools like LaptopSentry, Laptop Superhero, GadgetTrak, and Snuko, which can all capture images from an available webcam so you will be able to see the thief’s face and also where your laptop is.

This info will be highly appreciated by Police, so don’t hesitate and install one of the mentioned apps on your device as soon as possible.

LaptopSentry and Laptop Superhero can be used for scare tactics, too; these tools can be set to initiate a loud alarm sound when a laptop is being – in a running matter – disconnected from its power cord.

All these apps, which I have mentioned above, come with various features that can be easily used for tracking down your stolen Windows laptop.

While most of the apps are paid, Pray is free, and it is also recommended for entry-level users.

How can I track my laptop without third-party tools?

If your laptop is stolen, you can track it using its IP address. Many services such as Dropbox, Gmail, Facebook, Hotmail, and others allow you to track your device.

If you’re automatically logged in to these services or if you have Facebook, Dropbox, or Gmail clients running in the background, you might be able to see the IP address of the person who is accessing your account.

To do that, log in to Facebook, Dropbox, or Gmail; in the security section, you should see recent logins.

This section should contain all the recent IP addresses used to access your account.

In addition, you might also get the city’s location, but that information isn’t always the most reliable.

If needed, you can also lock your PC remotely if you use a Microsoft account to sign in to Windows.

If you see that a certain IP address is frequently accessing your accounts, you should take this information to the authorities.

They could then obtain all the necessary information about the IP address accessing your accounts.

Keep in mind that other services might also support this feature, so be sure to check the security section for all your online services and see if they’ve been accessed from any new and unknown locations.

This isn’t the most reliable method to track your laptop since you won’t get the exact location, so you’ll need help from authorities to locate it.

On the other hand, this method doesn’t require you to install any additional applications beforehand, so feel free to try it out.

How to prevent laptop theft and protect your files in the future?

Before we wrap this up, we also want to mention a few ways that you can protect your laptop from theft in the future.

In addition to tracking software, using a cable lock for your laptop is always a good idea.

These locks are relatively affordable, and they will securely lock your laptop and prevent any chance of theft.

We covered some of the best cable locks for your laptop in one of our previous articles, so be sure to check them out. You might also find interesting our article about how to retrieve a laptop with laptop-tracking software.

If you’re concerned about your personal files, you can protect them by encrypting your hard drive. There are many ways to do that, and you can use BitLocker or any other tool.

We covered 256-bit encryption software in one of our older articles, so if you don’t want to use BitLocker, feel free to try any of these tools.

Once you encrypt your hard drive, nobody can access your files or use your PC without a password.

In fact, the only way to remove the encryption and use the PC is to format the entire hard drive and install new Windows on it.

Enable Find My Device and track your laptop

Windows 10 has a helpful feature called Find My Device that allows you to track your device.

This feature isn’t enabled by default, but if you want to protect your laptop in the future, we recommend you enable it. To do that, follow these steps:

Open the Settings app. You can do that by pressing Windows Key + I shortcut.
When Settings app opens, navigate to Update & Security section.
In the left pane, select Find My Device.
Now click on Change button.
Now enable Save my device’s location periodically option.

After doing that, you should be able to track your laptop remotely. To do that, go to Microsoft’s website, log in to your Microsoft account, and click Find my device.

Now, you should see the location of your laptop on the map. You can also enable Find My Device on Windows 11. Even though this feature is useful, you must remember that this location on the map isn’t always correct or sometimes, Find My Device is not working.

This is a useful feature, but if it’s not enabled, you won’t be able to use it to track your laptop.

If you manage to locate your laptop using this method, be sure to contact the authorities and forward them the IP address and the location of your laptop.

In the end, the most important thing to do is to secure your Windows laptop as soon as possible.

So, get tracking software and install the same on your device, and don’t wait until someone is stilling your laptop; take action now and prevent these unfortunate situations from happening.

Do use the comments field below if you know other methods by which you can find a stolen laptop, as we will update this guide accordingly.

Windows 10 Twitter app gains DM and multi-account improvements with latest PWA update

Posted on April 22, 2020 by Radu Tyrsina

The progressive web app (PWA) which powers the web and Windows 10 app versions of Twitter updated with a variety of changes this past month and an official list has finally been released detailing all of the adjustments and fixes that were made.

While a lot of the recent changes are related to improved accessibility in terms of use and readability, the UI for adding and switching Twitter accounts was also changed, and a large number of bugs were squashed.

Here’s the full release notes:

New

Accessibility: Focus rings on components will now display with the selected primary color.

DMs: Reactions that you’ve sent for DMs will now show as selected in the DM’s footer.

Multi-Account: Use multiple Twitter accounts? We’re rolling out improvements to the UI for managing and accessing all of your accounts! Account management along with logout can now be found in the bottom of the sidebar, behind your profile image.

Updated

Accessibility: The GIF search gallery now provides accessibility labels for GIFs returned by searching. These labels will be read out by screen readers, providing additional context for search results.

Accessibility: Improved accessibility in poll components. Voiceover will now read the selected choice properly. Fixed text color when in high contrast mode.

Composer: Inline feedback errors when composing will now provide a “Learn more” link if there’s additional information.

Keyboard Shortcuts: Improved KB shortcuts for screen accessibility.

Timeline: We’ve made some density and visibility improvements to timeline surfaces.

User Profile: When your date of birth is set to be visible to “only you”, it will no longer show up when you navigate to your own profile page.

Fixed

Accessibility: When a Tweet is focused, the “U” keyboard shortcut will mute the Tweet.

Composer: Moving your cursor off a username or hashtag will now properly close the typeahead or autocomplete dropdown if it was open.

Composer: Videos added to the composer which generate an error state will now properly clear the banner when removed.

Dialogs: Confirmation dialogs will now consistently show titles and text.

DMs: Reaction summary sheet will now properly render at lower resolutions.

Home Timeline: The inline composer on the home timeline will now display in both widescreen and narrow screen size configurations.

Media: We’ve improved zooming and panning of media on touch devices.

Media: Media controls will now be shown properly when you’ve hidden them and then zoomed back out on touch devices.

Text: Fixed instances where the text size was being set to the smallest value.

Topics: The login sheet that’s displayed when attempting to follow a Topic while logged out will now display text content correctly.

Tweets: Emojis added to Tweets via the emoji picker will be saved properly as part of the Tweet draft.

Tweets: If you’ve muted a user, re-tweets of their tweets will now be immediately removed from your timeline.

Video: Addressed player crashing when attempting to replay.

User Avatar: Fixed an issue where avatar borders and backgrounds were not displaying correctly.

User Profile: Blank usernames that are populated with the user’s @ handle will now be styled consistently.

User Profile: The name field will no longer auto populate when editing your profile.

Do you use Twitter? Make sure to follow us @onmsft for more Windows app and internet news.

Download
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Twitter

Developer:
Twitter Inc.

Price:
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This could be the official logo for Microsoft’s upcoming Xbox Series X next gen console

Posted on April 22, 2020 by Radu Tyrsina

Some Reddit users (via WC) have just discovered a trademark application made by Microsoft for what is very clearly a logo for their Xbox Series X console that’s due out later this year.

The logo (see above image) is noticeably different than existing Xbox logos, discarding the traditional circular X for a stylized one and a vertical writing of the word “SERIES” next to it.

It’s worth noting that the Xbox Series X console will still have the circular X logo on it for its power button so Microsoft isn’t getting rid of it entirely. This new logo will likely be used on the console’s box and on the game cases of video games that feature enhancements when played on it or are exclusive to the next gen console.

The trademark application does cover almost everything from clothing to magazines and watches but, while it’s likely that we’ll see the logo on a variety of merchandise, most of the items are probably listed on this trademark on a “just in case” basis.

The Xbox Series X will signify the launch of the next generation of Microsoft’s Xbox consoles, following on from the current Xbox One gen. Unlike past console generation launches, the Xbox Series X will debut with support for most Xbox One games and a growing library of Xbox and Xbox 360 titles straight out of the gate. There will likely be some Xbox Series X exclusive titles at launch but, for the most part, the initial aims seems to be to create the ultimate Xbox gaming console. AT least for the first few months or so.

More official details concerning the Xbox Series X are expected to be announced in the very near future so make sure to follow us on Twitter and Facebook for the latest news as it breaks.

Microsoft hires new CVP for expanding health-care vertical

Posted on April 21, 2020 by Radu Tyrsina

Microsoft announced today that they have hired a new Corporate Vice President to supports it’s growing health-care vertical especially in the midst of the global COVID-19 pandemic. CNBC noted in today’s article that Tom McGuinness was brought in to support Microsoft’s relationships with the healthcare industry including large hospitals, health insurers, and life sciences companies.

The newly hired Corporate Vice President is a veteran of the industry previously serving as the president and CEO of GE Healthcare’s $10 billion imaging business, and who will initially play a key role in helping companies successfully get through the COVID-19 pandemic. As a company, Microsoft is aggressively deploying new services and offerings to help healthcare providers. Just last week, Microsoft made news by offering their AccountGuard service for free for healthcare companies, and recently released a Power Platform solution for healthcare response.

Tom McGuinness hired as new Corporate Vice President at Microsoft.

With the hiring of Tom McGuinness, Microsoft has made another prominent hire in support of their healthcare business and since 2019, the company has also hired other industry leaders including Google Cloud’s Greg More and Samsung’s Chief Medical Officer, David Rhew. While the major cloud providers have been competing for the business of healthcare companies in recent years, Microsoft’s strategy has been to strategically partner with them. Because of the recent COVID-19 pandemic, Microsoft is also seeing increased demand for Azure by healthcare companies looking to use the cloud to better engage with their customers and patients remotely. Today, Azure’s largest healthcare customers include Humana, Novartis, and Walgreens.

Break Reminder Software for Windows 10 [2026 Guide]

Posted on April 21, 2020January 8, 2024 by Ivan Jenic

Working for too long at a stretch can have its toll on both your mental and physical health. While that applies to all types of work, this is perhaps particularly true for those who have to spend long hours in front of the computer monitor. This is damaging for your eyes besides being taxing on your brain as well. That is not all as having to maintain the same posture for too long can leave you with strained back muscles and so on. Fortunately, there are tech solutions available to set things right in the form of apps that acts to remind you to take a break from work at regular intervals.

Best tools that remind you to take breaks from work

Stretchly

The app is designed to remind you to take both micro-breaks or those of longer duration. The app will serve you a pop-up that will show when the next break is due, and then again when it is time to actually take the break.

The micro breaks will be after every 10 mins and last 20 seconds or so while the longer breaks will be after every 30 mins where you will be asked to remain off of your PC for at least 5 mins.

Also, of course, you can customize the duration of the micro as well as the long breaks.

Download Stretchly

Awareness

It is another free app which, once you have installed on your PC will set up a timer in your menu bar. The timer will let you know (by playing the sound of a bowl) when it is time to take a break.

Looking for the best reminder software for Windows 10? Here are our top picks.

However, if the timer finds there has been no activity on the PC, it will automatically reset to be able to warn when it’s time again to take a break.

Furthermore, if you choose to ignore the warnings and continue working, it will play the next warning sound at twice the volume.

Additionally, you will also be served as a link to a site containing information on how best to spend your breaks.

Download Awareness

Workrave

It’s a free app that you will have to install on your PC and will let you customize to flash alerts as to when you should take microbreaks.

Apart from suggesting the time when to take a break, the program will also tell how long the break should be.

It doesn’t stop at that as the program will also tell you the type of exercises you can do while on break.

All in all, quite a reliable solution if you need to be regularly reminded to take some time off of a screen.

Download Workrave

Big Stretch Reminder

It is a simple reminder app that will prompt you when it’s time for you to take some time off your PC.

This way, you can remain fresh and focused even during long working hours by ensuring timely breaks in between where you can choose to do something else.

Download Big Stretch Reminder

This makes for a nice collection of apps that will help you take regular breaks from your PC every once in a while.

[wl_navigator]

Humble Bundle PS4 deals & how often do they happen

Posted on April 21, 2020October 4, 2023 by Vlad Constantinescu

Not only does Humble Bundle offer PC Steam game keys, but also console ones, and we can all agree that the PlayStation 4 is currently among the most popular ones. However, you should know that this happens way less frequently than we’d prefer.

Therefore, every now and then you might be lucky enough to grab a PS4 deal out of Humble Bundle. And the deals are awesome, too! You can get a lot of games at the cost of one decent PS4 release (usually around $15-20 for the whole bundle).

How often does Humble Bundle offer PS4 games?

We don’t know for sure since all the offers are kept under wraps until their very launch date. However, judging by past behavior, we could at least assume that they occur every 6 months or so. Here’s a list of all the previous PlayStation Humble Bundle offers:

Capcom PlayStation Bundle – August 23rd, 2016
THQ Nordic PlayStation Bundle – April 4th, 2017
2K PlayStation Bundle – August 15th, 2017
THQ Nordic Encore PlayStation Bundle – September 26th, 2017
Capcom x Sega PlayStation Bundle – April 24th, 2018
Indie PlayStation Bundle – January 29th, 2019

Given that at the time being, there has been more than one year since the latest PS4 bundle, we don’t exactly know what to expect. Humble Bundle could either have something awesome in store for us console enthusiasts, or they could postpone it forever. However, notice that the offers don’t follow a clear pattern, so don’t lose hope just yet!

For SIEA PSN accounts only

If there’s something disappointing about these offers, it is that they’ve been region-locked to the US (mostly). More specifically, most of them were offered to SIEA (North America + South America) countries, while some were only destined for NA (North America) accounts.

SIEA countries:

Argentina
Belize
Bolivia
Brazil
Canada
Chile
Columbia
Costa Rica
Dominican Republic
Ecuador
El Salvador
French Guinea
Guam
Guatemala
Guyana
Honduras
Mexico
Nicaragua
Panama
Paraguay
Peru
Puerto Rico
Suriname
United States
Uruguay

In other words, if your PSN account didn’t fall under any of the countries mentioned above, you couldn’t grab any of the deals. Moreover, there are slim odds that this geo-restriction will be lifted sometime in the near future. At least we’ve got the Humble Choice thing going on.

Different than the PC bundles

One major difference between the PC and PS4 bundles, besides the obvious (platform), is that the latter didn’t provide you with individual redeemable keys for every game. Instead, the bundle was either split into three tiers, each of which had a different price or was priced as a whole, with no way to separate its content.

Therefore, you could either purchase the whole bundle and receive one code for the entire collection of games it comprised, or purchase a tier and receive a redeemable code for the entire tier. There was no way to gift a key for a single game to someone else if you already had the game in your library.

Does Humble Bundle give Steam keys & how to redeem them

Posted on April 21, 2020October 4, 2023 by Vlad Constantinescu

It’s already widely accepted that Humble Bundle and Steam mix well. Like peanut butter & jelly, Tango & Cash, Ping & Pong. You get it. The reason they get along so well is that the games Humble Bundle offers are usually available as Steam keys.

Steam is already a popular game library client and it only makes sense to “partner up” with a service that often gives you the best deal on games. Even though you can download some of the games and keep them on your PC, it’s far more comfortable to keep them organized using Steam.

How to redeem Humble Bundle games on Steam

Assuming that you’ve landed on an offer that holds Steam game keys, you can tackle this situation in two different manners. One of them involves activating the game manually within the Steam client, while the other handles it automatically for you. However, the second method requires you to link your Steam account to Humble Bundle.

Method #1 (activate Humble Bundle Steam keys manually)

Register a Humble Bundle account
Purchase the bundle or Humble Choice subscription of your choice
Access your account menu
Select “Keys” from the dropdown menu
Locate the game you want to redeem
Click the “Reveal your Steam key” button
Copy the key
Launch your Steam client
Select “Activate a Product on Steam…” from the “ADD A GAME” menu
Follow the on-screen instructions
Paste the game key when prompted to and hit “Next”

That’s it! If you’ve followed all of these steps, you should have redeemed the game you selected on Steam. Note that if you already have the game, you won’t get extra giftable copies, so be aware of the titles you buy.

Method #2 (redeem Humble Bundle Steam games automatically)

Register a Humble Bundle account
Purchase the bundle or subscription of your choice
Access your account menu
Select “Keys” from the dropdown menu
Locate the game you want to redeem
Click the “Reveal your Steam key” button
Click the “Redeem” button next to your Steam key
Link your Steam account with Humble Bundle
Agree to the “Steam Subscriber Agreement” terms
Click “Continue”

Now you’re ready to rock and roll! You’ve successfully activated your game by redeeming your Steam key without copying it manually. However, this step requires you to take a leap of faith and link your Steam account to Humble Bundle. We’ve done it a long time ago, and so far we don’t regret it.

How to activate a Humble Bundle product key on Steam

Bonus: how to gift a game from your Humble Bundle library

If you constantly buy game packs from Humble Bundle, you’ll inevitably reach a moment when some of the games in the bundle will already be in your library. While this might not be an ideal situation, you can practice your generosity by offering them as gifts. And we’ll show you how to do just that.

Go to your “Keys” library
Locate the game you want to gift
Click the “Gift to a friend” button
Read the “Region Lock Warning” if available
Choose between creating a gift link or sending an email

Now depending on your choice, Humble Bundle will either provide you with a gift link you can send anywhere you like or send a personalized email from you. You can also choose to send your gift anonymously.

Create Humble Bundle gift link or send an email

Note: Gifting a game will remove the key from your library, so make sure you double-check that you’re giving away the right game.

Fix: Error playing this video when streaming on Hulu

Posted on April 21, 2020November 6, 2023 by Milan Stanojevic

The worldwide popular Hulu service is not short on streaming errors. This is not to say the service is unreliable, only that this is to be expected from time to time.

Hulu errors are numbered, most of the time, for easier reference. Also, the developer offers practical troubleshooting solutions for most errors, and no expert knowledge is required.

The Error playing this video message is commonly received when the service encounters a problem with the Internet connection or when your device is not working correctly.

Alternative messages for the same error:

Error playing this video
Sorry, we encountered an error playing this video. Please try restarting the video or selecting something else to watch
Error code: 3(-996)

How can I fix the Error playing this video on Hulu?

1. Check Internet connectivity

Turn off all devices connected to your home network.
Close all background apps or other programs.
Then, connect your device to the router using an Ethernet cable.
Also, place the modem or router near your device.

2. Deactivate your device

To deactivate your device, navigate to your Hulu account page and remove your device by logging out completely.

Then, you can log back in by re-entering your credentials. Launch Hulu again and see if the problem is solved.

3. Perform a power cycle

To help improve streaming conditions, switch off your devices (including modem and router). Wait a few minutes, then switch them back on and see if it helps.

4. Update the Hulu app

If you’re streaming videos while using Hulu on an Android device, repeated error messages might pop in because the app is outdated.

You’re likely to run into the webpage is not available error numerous times, even when using an outdated browser. To fix this, go to Play Store, find the Hulu app, and click on Update, if available.

5. Clear cookies and cache

On devices running on Windows, Android, or iOS, cached data is usually found in the storage/privacy section of the Settings menu.

For Windows, use a dedicated PC cleaner software to clean temporary or unwanted files. Such tools will scan your PC and find unnecessary files that take up space for no reason.

They are easy to use and safe. Most of them display a list of all clutter found and let you pick what you want to remove and what you want to keep, so there’s no risk of losing important data.

On Apple TV you have to uninstall and reinstall the Hulu app.

For Xbox One see the following steps:

Go to Menu.
Choose My Games and Apps > Apps.
Highlight the Hulu.
Hit menu on your controller.
Tap on the Manage Apps > Clear saved data.

For Roku:

Select Home in the main menu.
Then, on the remote controller press Home 5 times + press Up + press Rewind 2 times + press Fast Forward 2 times.
It should take a few seconds to clear the cache.

If you have used other workarounds to fix the streaming problem on Hulu, feel free to leave a comment below.

3.0 Mbps for the Hulu streaming library
8.0 Mbps for live streams
16.0 Mbps for 4K content

What is Hulu error code P Dev 320?

Hulu error code P Dev 320 is a streaming error that can appear on any device anytime you use the service. To resolve this issue, explore the Hulu error code P Dev 320 guide.

Check out the Hulu Hub from our website, where we provide solutions for more errors Hulu users encounter.

In addition, in the video streaming dedicated section on the website, you might find some helpful articles.

Fix error 0x80070057: The parameter is incorrect

Posted on April 21, 2020October 4, 2023 by Matthew Adams

The parameter is incorrect is a fairly frequent error message that pops up for some users when attempting to copy a file or folder from a PC to USB drive or external hard drive.

When that happens, an Error Copying File or Folder window opens stating, The parameter is incorrect or Drive is not accessible, the parameter is incorrect. Consequently, the file or folder doesn’t copy to the storage device.

This might just be due to your target drive not having enough storage space, a corrupted file system or that the file you’re attempting to copy exceeds the maximum file size the external drive can store.

Let’s see how you can fix error 0x80070057, the parameter is incorrect when copying files to an external drive.

How to fix parameter is incorrect on Windows 10

1. Check the Amount of Space on the External Storage Device

First, check how much space is available on the USB drive or external hard disk. You might not have enough storage space for the file you’re copying.

You can check available drive storage space in File Explorer by right-clicking the pertinent drive and selecting Properties. That opens the window directly below which shows both free and used space.

Alternatively, if you need a USB flash drive or an external hard disk with a bigger storage capacity, here are some suggestions:

2. Compress or Split up a Larger File

If there’s enough storage space on the external drive, check the size of the file that isn’t copying. Does it eclipse four GB?

If so, that’s probably why you can’t copy it to the external storage device. Lots of USB sticks, and other storage drives, still have the FAT32 file system that supports file sizes up to four GB only. So you can’t save files larger than four GB to FAT32 external storage.

If the file is larger than four GB, you might be able to fix the parameter error by reducing the file’s size. You can do that either by compressing or splitting it up into smaller pieces. 7-Zip is a freeware utility that you can both compress and split files with.

Click either the 32 or 64-bit Download link on this website page to save the software’s installer to Windows. Once you’ve installed the utility, you can compress and split four GB files as follows.

Open 7-Zip in Windows.
Browse to the folder that includes the file you need copy.

Right-click the file you need to compress, and then select 7-Zip > Add to archive to open the window directly below.

Select a compression format from the Archive format drop-down menu. Zip has one of the best compression ratios.
Press OK to close the window and save the archive, which saves in the same folder as the original file.
To split a file, right-click it and select Split file. That opens the window shown directly below.

Select a value to split the file by from the Split to volumes, bytes drop-down menu.
You can also choose a path to save to by pressing the … button.
Press OK to split the file.
When you need to merge the files together again, select them, right-click and click Combine files to open the window below. Press OK to merge the files together.

When you’ve compressed or split the file you need to copy, it must be less than four GB. If so, copy the archive, or split files, to the external storage drive.

Feel free to check out this guide to learn what are the best file compression tools for PC.

3. Convert the Storage Device to NTFS

Alternatively, you can convert the storage device to NTFS, which is a file system that supports single files larger than four GB. You can convert external storage drives to NTFS with a partition manager software such as Mini Tool Partition Wizard, Paragon Partition Manager or AOMEI Partition Assistant.

Download the tool of your choice and run the installer on Windows. Run through the setup wizard to add the software to Windows. Then convert the storage drive to NTFS as follows.

First, plug the storage drive to convert to NTFS into your desktop or laptop.
Open the Partition Manager window.
Then you can right-click the required disk drive and select Convert to NTFS.
A pop-up dialog box will open. Press OK and click Apply to convert the storage drive to NTFS.

4. Format the Drive to NTFS

Or you can convert the storage drive to NTFS by formatting it. However, formatting drives also erases their files. So if you need to keep the drive’s content intact, back it up before formatting.

Then format the storage device to NTFS as follows:

Insert the USB stick or external hard drive to format into a desktop or laptop.
Open the File Explorer window.
Now you can right-click your external drive, and select Format from the context menu to open the window in the snapshot directly below.

Select NTFS from the File system drop-down menu.
Press the Start button to format the storage drive.

5. Fix the Drive’s File System

If you can’t copy files less than four GB to the external drive, your storage device might have a corrupted file system. You can fix storage drives with the Check Disk, or Chkdsk, tool in Windows.

That’s a tool that scans file systems on drives, and Check Disk provides repairs for anything that needs fixing. This is how you can scan storage drives with Check Disk.

Insert the USB stick or external hard drive into a suitable slot on PC.
Open File Explorer and right-click your USB stick or external hard drive to open the context menu.
Select Properties on the Context menu.
Click Tools to open the tab in the shot below.

Press Check to open the window below.

Press the Scan and repair drive button to scan the external storage.
If the scan reveals anything, Windows will present a repair option to fix the external storage with.

How to fix incorrect parameter errors depending on the programs they occur on

If you’re getting this error on particular programs, such as incorrect format parameter errors, there are specific methods that you can use to fix it.

1. Fix: Failed to properly assess the disk. The parameter is incorrect

This error is specific to Windows 7 and usually occurs when doing a Windows Experience Index performance scan. Many users confirmed that third-party antivirus tools such as Avast and AVG trigger this error. To get rid of this error code, you can either temporarily disable your antivirus or install a new antivirus solution.

Fix 7Zip: The parameter is incorrect

If you’re getting incorrect parameter errors on 7-Zip, this indicates there’s a problem with the RAR format. Make sure you’re using the latest 7-Zip version and the tool supports the respective RAR file format.

Fix Virtual Disk Manager: The parameter is incorrect

The parameter is incorrect on Virtual Disk Manager usually occurs when you assign a new drive letter. To fix this issue, first back up your data, and try removing the partition, reboot your machine, and change the drive letter and path. Once you’ve done that, add the virtual partition again.

Fix Microsoft Word: The parameter is incorrect

This error can also affect the Office Suite and particularly Microsoft Word. The error occurs when users try to open documents in Word.

To fix incorrect parameter errors on Microsoft Word, repair the Office installation folder from Settings > Apps > Apps & features > Microsoft Office. Select Change and let the tool automatically repair Office.

Fix diskpart has encountered an error: The parameter is incorrect

This error occurs due to two main reasons: the file system of the partition got corrupted or the volume encryption driver has been changed. Sometimes, this error indicates that data might have been lost.

To fix diskpar incorrect parameter errors:

Run chkdsk /f /r. For detailed instructions, check out this guide.
Uninstall the USB controller
Check your USB connection and port
Remove writing protection from ComputerHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetServicesUSBSTOR. Locate the Start key and change the value data to 3.

Those are a few effective fixes for external drives with parameter errors. In most cases, The parameter is incorrect error is usually due to the drives’ four GB file restriction. So the best fix is probably to convert the storage drive to NTFS.

Windows 10 Camera app gets new Fluent Design icon with latest update

Posted on April 21, 2020 by Radu Tyrsina

Microsoft has started rolling out a new icon for its Camera app on Windows 10, which is now live in the latest version of the app (2020.127.20.0). The revamped icon is inspired by Microsoft’s Fluent Design guidelines, and it follows other redesigned icons such as Alarms & Clock, Weather, Photos, Mail and Calendar as well as Paint 3D.

Just like all other icons which received a fresh coat of paint recently, the new Camera app icon uses a blue background by default. This means that it will ignore your Windows 10 accent color and probably mess with your beautifully-organized Start Menu, but we can’t always have nice things, right?

While the revamp of app icons in Windows 10 has been happening for the past couple of months, Microsoft initially announced its plans to update their various app icons back in December 2018. However, the rollout is taking quite some time, and the software giant has since expanded on this idea by bringing Fluent Design to mobile devices, starting with the Office apps last year in December. Do you like the new Windows 10 Camera app icon? Let us know in the comments section below.

Download
QR-Code

Windows Camera

Developer:
Microsoft Corporation

Price:
Free

Microsoft announces Open Data Campaign

Posted on April 21, 2020 by Radu Tyrsina

Today, GeekWire reported on Microsoft’s efforts to breakdown the data divide by committing itself to share the vast troves of data that are created each day and making it easier to access. The newly announced initiative called the Open Data Campaign is designed to start a much-needed conversation about how the world uses data and is starting with a series of initiatives to help organizations of all sizes realize the benefits of data and the technologies that it powers.

According to Microsoft’s blog post, about 100 companies collect more than 50% of all data generated online and around half of all people with technical AI skills work in the technology sector, giving these same 100 companies an advantage of others and creating a data divide that Microsoft believes poses a serious challenge to society. The Open Data Campaign is a direct response to that data divide and is designed to give organizations, governments, and businesses of all sizes the ability to realize the full of value of the data being generated.

Microsoft’s Open Data Campaign is based on a three-step approach that is designed to help Microsoft create a principled course moving forward, open up new collaborations and make data sharing easier and safer by doing the following:

First, Microsoft is publishing new principles that will guide how Microsoft itself approaches sharing our data with others.
Second, Microsoft is committing to take action by developing 20 new collaborations built around shared data by 2022. This includes work with leading organizations in the open data movement like the Open Data Institute and The Governance Lab (GovLab) at the New York University Tandon School of Engineering. And we’ll seek to lead by example by making our Microsoft social impact initiatives “open by default,” beginning with sharing data on broadband access from our Airband initiative and combining it with data from others to help accelerate improvements in broadband connectivity.
Finally, the company is investing in the essential assets that will make data sharing easier, including the required tools, frameworks and templates.

Microsoft has indicated that they are already seeing some early successes in tackling some of the world’s biggest challenges including COVID-19 and climate change. In support of open data, over the last year, Microsoft has released a series of campaigns including last year’s announced Data Dignity team who focused on giving users more control over their own data. Microsoft will become a founding partner of the Open Data Policy Lab at NYU. Anyone can learn more about Microsoft’s new campaign and the need for open data by visiting their “Closing the Data Divide” microsite, and in the upcoming weeks, Microsoft plans to release more details to help cities around the world share data.

Microsoft may reveal next-gen Xbox “Lockhart” very soon

Posted on April 21, 2020 by Radu Tyrsina

It’s been quite some time since we last heard about “Lockhart,” the second next-gen Xbox console that could be a low-cost alternative to the Xbox Series X, previously known as “Project Scarlett.” So far, Microsoft never confirmed the existence of Lockhart, though a Kotaku report from last December confirmed that it was still in the pipeline.

According to previous leaks, Lockhart is expected to be a disc-less console that would be less powerful than the Xbox One X, but still deliver a next-gen experience thanks to its faster CPU and SSD. Back in February 2019, a report from French website jeuxvideo.com, which pretty much accurately predicted the Xbox Series X specs, said that Lockhart would feature a similar custom-designed AMD Zen 2 CPU coupled with a custom Navi GPU delivering 4 teraflops of computing power. This same report also mentioned 12GB of GDDR6 RAM for Lockhart (4GB less than Xbox Series X), as well as 1 terabyte of fast NVMe storage.

Today, Jez Corden from Windows Central has shared more information about this Lockhart SKU, which could be unveiled as soon as next month as the replacement for the Xbox One X. “We’re expecting Lockhart to be a 4TF “entry-point” to next-gen gaming, and it should effectively replace the Xbox One X. This system is designed to be affordable but will offer aspects of a next-gen experience currently unavailable to past-gen consoles, presumably in the form of NVME loading speeds and perhaps some limited ray-tracing,” explained Corden.

According to Corden, Lockhart could now be tested at home by Microsoft employees, just like Xbox Series X. “Recently, we heard Lockhart is entering take home stages for Xbox employees to get their hands on the system and begin providing feedback and testing. The timing would indicate to me that rumors of upcoming showcases in early May are likely accurate,” Corden said.

Microsoft has yet to announce anything about an Xbox event in May, but with E3 2020 being cancelled in June, the company is now free to hold the replacement for its E3 press briefing a bit earlier. Interestingly, Corden also heard that Microsoft could soon reveal a new Xbox Wireless headset which would support both Bluetooth and Microsoft’s proprietary Xbox Wireless protocol for maximum compatibility. “It could be Xbox’s answer to the Surface Headphones, albeit with some of the more “premium” features stripped out,” said Corden.

We’ll see what happens next month, but May could indeed be a busy period for Microsoft. The company is also expected to unveil new Surface devices very soon, including Surface Book 3, Surface Go 2, as well as a new Surface dock. It remains to be seen if Microsoft will keep its Xbox and Surface announcements separately, but the ongoing coronavirus has recently forced the company to hold digital-only events, as we’ve seen with the recent Microsoft 365 event and Inside Xbox episode.

Microsoft Teams to show 9 conference participants at once

Posted on April 21, 2020April 22, 2020 by Don Sharpe

Up to 250 people can participate in a Microsoft Teams meeting. But only four can appear on a video conferencing screen at once.

Well, that is about to change as Microsoft is working on extending that limit to nine participants.

Microsoft Teams to display up to 9 video conferencing participants simultaneously

Soon you will be able to see up to nine Teams video conferencing participants at once. That will come to pass if a recent Tweet by Microsoft is anything to go by.

Coming soon: the ability to see 9️⃣ participants simultaneously in @MicrosoftTeams. ? pic.twitter.com/iDfmEG9OM9

— Microsoft (@Microsoft) April 20, 2020

The company made a similar promise last week in response to concerns over the inability of participants to see each other during Teams video meetings.

Then, Alex, a Microsoft Teams engineer, responded that the tech giant was working on extending the limit beyond just nine.

We will start rolling out our first update to view nine participants simultaneously by the end of April. In parallel we are continuing work to increase this limit even further. Stay tuned!

Teams user concerns

Team users calling for the increase of video chat participants that appear on the screen are eyeing much more than just collaboration. They are asking for the ability to see each other and the reactions of others, which can enhance the effectiveness of business communications.

A typical application would be learning where teachers or instructors would like to see everyone in their class. Unfortunately, you cannot see 30 or so members of your class at once via Teams for now.

It is also critical for users to appreciate the fact that a video-intensive conferencing session has higher hardware and bandwidth requirements.

Teams’ competition

Teams recently attained 44 million daily users, partly thanks to the COVID-19 global pandemic. But the platform faces stiff competition from Zoom when it comes to video conferencing.

As at now, Zoom supports up to 49 thumbnail displays of conference participants on a single screen. So, Microsoft has a long way to go before catching up with its main rival.

Nine, though, would not be bad for Teams customers that can only see a maximum of four participants at once currently. You may expect the feature to be available in the next one or two weeks as Microsoft promised.

Xbox One’s Spotify app updates with a new UI for easier music navigation on consoles

Posted on April 21, 2020 by Radu Tyrsina

The official Spotify app for Microsoft’s Xbox One consoles updated today with a rather surprising new design that’s much closer to the Windows 10 and mobile apps.

This new app retains its original play experience but the main navigation (see above image) now features a side menu of the left side similar to the Netflix and YouTube apps and a wider variety of previously played songs, artists, and playlists to choose from. The support for podcasts has also been improved.

Of particular note is the dynamic background which changes as the user selects different tiles. Overall, this new app makes it much easier to find content than before with the old Spotify design and looks a whole lot better visually on a TV screen.

Do you use the Spotify app on your Xbox One console? Let us know if you like these changes in the comments below and then follow us on Pinterest and Twitter for more Xbox news.

Download
QR-Code

Spotify Xbox – Music and Podcasts

Developer:
Spotify AB

Price:
Free⁺

4 compilers to turn a programming language into another

Posted on April 21, 2020October 4, 2023 by Milan Stanojevic

In order to transform the computer code from one programming language to another, you will need to use specialized computer software.

These programs transform the code written in a high-level programming language to a lower level language (machine code, object code, etc.), and allows you to create executable files.

In order to be able to get access to the features offered by compilers, you will need some software that allows you to install the compilers and run them.

This type of software is called IDE (integrated development environment).

And besides helping you transform a source programming language into a target language, this type of software also offers a good range of useful tools to use when programming.

Top 4 compilers to use on Windows 10

Code::Blocks

Code:: Blocks is a great integrated development environment that can be used freely for different programming languages – C, C++, Fortran, etc.

With the wide range of features and the incredibly easy to understand user interface, CodeBlocks is one of the best compiler software available on the market in 2019.

Because this software is built around a plugin framework, the wide range of features CodeBlocks contains can be extended even more by the use of plugins.

You can find plugins that fit your needs perfectly, and can even create your own if you’re feeling up to the task.

Having its infrastructure built around plugins, CodeBlocks allows you to extend and improve the capabilities of your software without needing to change any lines of code in this software’s source code.

Because anybody can contribute to the plugins database, over time, the number of available plugins has increased considerably.

Check out the list of plugins.

Once you downloaded and installed Code: Blocks, it will automatically scan your system to find any supported compilers.

If you already have compilers installed on your PC, Code: Blocks will configure them to be used. This software can also configure compilers that were not found on the PC.

Here are some examples of the compilers Code:: Blocks supports:

GCC (MingW / GNU GCC)
MSVC++
Clang
Digital Mars
Borland C++ 5.5
Open Watcom

You can find a good list of details about the supported compilers and how to install them on the Code Blocks page.

Here are some of the best features found in Code::Blocks:

Can access your computer’s extra cores for parallel builds
Can create multi-target projects
Supports the importing of MSVC workspaces and projects
Imports DEv-C++ projects
Great interfaces for GNu GDB, MS CDB
Support for code and data breakpoints
Great code folding for C, C++, Fortran, XML, etc.

Visit the official FAQ, or have a look at the official forums for more information.

⇒ Download CodeBlocks

Microsoft Visual Studio

A close contender to CodeBlocks, Visual Studio from Microsoft is another great software option that allows you to use compilers to transform source programming language to a target language.

This software was built in such a way that it allows users to experience the full power of this software by using the great looking user-interface.

It can be used to create console and graphic user applications, Windows Forms, WPF applications, websites, and web services, etc.

Looking for the best Software to Use For Linear Programming? Here are the best options.

Because this software was built by programmers, for programmers, it is extremely easy for you to get amazingly accurate results and improve your programming efficiency as well.

One of the best features of Visual Studio is its ability to easily zoom into any details you choose – call structure, related functions, etc.

Some other notable features of Microsoft Visual Studio:

Great debug features – allows you to quickly fix bugs across a variety of programming languages
Can use profiling tools to diagnose performance – directly from the debugging window
Greate test tools that allow you to create high-quality results – plan, execute, and monitor every stage of the test, and create professional tests status reports
Works with GitHub, Azure DevOps
Features can be extended by choosing one or more plugins from the store
Great templates that can be customized without any limits

Here are some examples of decompilers that can be found on the Microsoft Visual Studio Store:

⇒ Download Microsoft Visual Studio

Netbeans by Apache

Netbeans is another good software option that can help you transform a programming language into another, giving you the opportunity to create a wide range of applications in Java, JavaScript, HTML5, PHP, C/C++, etc.

Even though this software doesn’t have the power of the 2 previously presented software options, it is still a very useful software, and it’s completely free to use.

Netbeans allows you to quickly edit any source code to fit your project’s needs and can be set up so it automatically highlights source code both syntactically and also semantically.

Here you can find some very useful information regarding how to configure NetBeans to use C/C++/Fortan.

You can find a wide range of other useful tools by visiting the official Netbeans Plugins Store.
Click here to learn how to use NetBeans.

⇒ Download NetBeans

Tiny C/C++ Compiler

As the name suggests, this is a very small compiler for C/C++ programming language that can execute code anywhere you need to. This compiler generates x86 computer code that can compile, assemble and link elements easily.

Here are some of its best features:

Any sort of C dynamic library can be used without the editing
Full ISOC99 compliance with the ability to compile itself
Optional memory and bound checker
Easily compile and execute C source without the need to use linking or assembly

⇒ Download Tiny C/C++ Compiler

Conclusion

In this article, we explored some of the best software options on the market that allow you to create, edit, and also manage every aspect of the process of compiling a base programming language into another.

If you want a fully-featured software option that covers all your needs and also offers you a comprehensive and good looking user interface, you might want to start with Code:: Blocks, or Microsoft Visual Studio.

If you need a fast compiler that does not take too make hard-drive space but still gets the job done, you could try Netbeans or Tiny C/C++ Compiler.

We would love to know what software you chose to work with and how it performed for you. Please feel free to let us know in the comment section below.

Yammer app: new features for collaboration

Posted on April 21, 2020October 4, 2023 by Radu Tyrsina

Yammer has recently informed its users through a blog post that the Windows 10 versions of the app has received some new features. Find below more details about this if you’re using the service.

Dubbed as the enterprise social network, Yammer for Windows 10 is a tool for easy access to conversations that are happening across your company.

It’s pretty much similar to Lync for Windows 10, only that it lacks the traditional look and feel of an instant messenger.

Besides Windows 10 the Windows Phone, Android, and iOS versions of the Yammer app have also received updates.

Yammer is the enterprise social network for your company that connects you to the people, projects and information you need to get work done.

Discover new company conversations, share ideas with your team, ask questions and respond to updates with this easy-to-use app. Yammer Feed for Windows 8 is designed for the new Windows 8 Experience and is optimized for touch devices.

However, this update doesn’t target the official Yammer app in the Windows Store, but the desktop Windows 10 edition, so it’s not aimed at those using Yammer on Windows 10, or Windows 10, touch devices.

The updated version of Yammer for desktop Windows 10 users brings access to Group Feeds, new notifications, and live tile functionality, as well as the new Snap option, that lets you snap the Yammer app to the side of the screen.

Now, multitasking is really possible! Follow the links below to download whichever version of Yammer suits you better, the desktop or the touch one.

Yammer key features in Windows 10

Yammer is a great collaboration tool that can help you boost your business and create more engagement among your employees.

It helps you increase transparency in your company and actively engage your employees and collaborators.

This tool is part of Office 365, and allows users to access and manage documents, share notes, as well as organize responsibilities and work tasks.

The fact that 85% of Fortune 500 companies use Yammer confirms the usefulness of this tool.

FIX: CCleaner error when opening files for writing

Posted on April 21, 2020September 23, 2025 by Milan Stanojevic

When you want to clean up or optimize your computer for better performance, there are many tools available that can help you do the job, and well at that.

One of these tools is CCleaner, arguably one of the world’s most popular ones that clear out temporary files clean your Registry and erase browser history among many other tasks.

CCleaner is also compatible with Windows operating system, and has a great user interface, support for Chrome and Internet Explorer, plus added support for programs like BitTorrent, AVG antivirus, Audacity and others.

In short, it is the ultimate tool for cleaning your system, but you still have to make a full system backup and create a new system restore point prior to using it.

Like any other software, CCleaner also has troubleshooting issues that bring up errors in its installation and usage, like the CCleaner error opening file for writing.

This error is associated with installation problems when using the tool if you’re trying to install it without being logged in as an administrator.

Check out the known solutions to resolve the CCleaner error opening file for writing.

How do I fix CCleaner error opening file for writing

Retry running the installer
Log in as an administrator
Use CCleaner Portable

1. Retry running the installer

If you run the installer, you may get a dialog box when a previous version of CCleaner is running. First, make sure to download the right installer from the official webpage. Then proceed with the process and in case the message shows again, wait for a few seconds and click Retry.

If this doesn’t get it back up and running again, try the next solution.

⇒ Get CCleaner

2. Log in as an administrator

As mentioned earlier, the CCleaner error opening file for writing may be caused when you try to run CCleaner without being logged in as an admin. In this case, you can log in as admin and run it, or contact your system admin for help with this.

If you were able to log in as an administrator and this worked, you can carry on using CCleaner on your system, if not, try the next solution.

3. Use CCleaner Portable

CCleaner Portable is the perfect tool when you need to clean your system on the go or want to carry it elsewhere to do a cleanup on another computer system. This version lets you carry it in your USB flash drive and use it anywhere, though it may have limited functionality if you’re not using an administrator account. Once installed, you can run CCleaner without logging in as an admin, but it may not clean certain files and folders.

Did this help resolve the CCleaner error opening file for writing? Share your comment in the section below.

⇒ Get CCleaner Portable

FIX: Failed to lock profile on Fortnite

Posted on April 21, 2020October 4, 2023 by Teodor Nechita

Fortnite is one of the biggest Battle Royale games currently on the market, and it was developed by Epic Games and released in 2017.

It’s been the target of many bugs, issues, and user complaints, but they were quick to patch fix up every single time.

Players around the world are complaining that they are having issues with Fortnite:

I started a new account because I was bored, and after every mission I have to close the game and verify in the fortnite settings so that I can play another mission. This just repeats itself over and over.

As the user describes it, the game seems to forget your profile details between matches.

This forces you to log out after every mission and log back in.

Other users have it more severely, as it forces them to uninstall and reinstall the game.

How can I fix the user authentification error in Fortnite?

Some users claim that you don’t need to reinstall or restart Fortnite.

Apparently, if you just go back to Select Mode and pick Save the World or any other Solo content, the issue should be fixed.

This should be considered more of a workaround the issue, as Fortnite is a multiplayer game.

This means that denying players core game modes inadvertently leads to them leaving the game.

Admittedly, there is no known cause as to why this issue is occurring.

As such, the standard solution is to wait until Epic Games releases a new patch that will fix this issue.

If you’re not the patient type, you could just try playing Fortnite‘s solo game modes instead.

For those of you that are also experiencing this issue, please contact Epic Games customer support for more help.

If you haven’t tried it yet, you’ll need to download the Epic Games Launcher first.

Once that is done, you are all ready to prove who’s the king of the Island.

How do you fix fortnite error?

The first thing you should try when you see an error on Fortnite is to simply restart your computer. You might also need to reinstall Fortnite. Here’s how to uninstall it in just a few steps.

[wl_navigator]

How to set up automatic weekly backups in Dropbox

Posted on April 21, 2020September 28, 2025 by Teodor Nechita

In an age of cloud storage, a service such as Dropbox is probably known by everybody. However, for those of you that aren’t familiar with it, Dropbox is a file hosting service that offers cloud storage, file synchronization, personal cloud, and client software.

This means that you can extend your storage capacity using it, with the extended space being in an online environment.

The advantage of this type of service is that if your hard drive ever crashes, the data stored on the cloud is unharmed.

That being said, it should come as no surprise that these types of services are quite popular.

However, Dropbox does have it’s own limitations. For example, While you may think that to be the case, Dropbox is not an automatic backup service that you can use.

This means that data needs to be uploaded manually, and it won’t come as much use in case of an OS crash.

However, there are a few things that you can do to set up automatic backups in Dropbox.

How do I set automatic backups in Dropbox?

Use Handy Backup

Open Handy Backup
Click Create on the main panel to create a new backup task
Select your dataset for backing it up
Select the Dropbox plug-in .
Click on Create a connection
1. The program will open a Dropbox account interface so you can enter your credentials
Enter your Dropbox account data in the appearing dialog window.
Give Handy Backup access to your Dropbox
Continue creating a new backup task.
Give your task a name and finish the task creation wizard.

Handy Backup is a dedicated Dropbox plug-in that you can use to copy your data to a Dropbox account as a backup vault, or from this account to another place such as backup to Google Drive.

Handy Backup features a restoration tool that you can use to return Dropbox backups to their original places or set a new location to restore these data. This tool can also be used to copy or move files and folders from backup to any location you need.

Most importantly, Handy Backup allows creating synchronization tasks for Dropbox. This includes relatively complex tasks such as making Dropbox sync Google Drive on a given date.

These tasks often operate with an API of related storage, and this makes it so that they don’t use Dropbox’s sync folder or utility.

⇒ Download Handy Backup

Use Acronis True Image

Start Acronis True Image.
Click Backup.
Click Add backup to add a new backup
Click backup source icon, and then select the type of items you want to back up:
- Disks and partitions
- Files and folders
From here you can select a specific disk or partition that you want to back up
- You can also select files and folders
Click backup destination icon, and then select a destination for the backup
- This is where you can select Dropbox as the backup destination
- You need Acronis True Image Advanced or Premium to be able to back up to Acronis Cloud.
Click Back up now or select another start time option

⇒ Download Acronis True Image

By following these steps, you should be able to set up automatic backups of your Dropbox files on a weekly basis.

There are other tools that can perform this task as well, but we’ve decided to include the top ones exclusively.

Know of any other solution that we may have missed out on? Let us know by leaving us a message in the comments section below.

[wl_navigator]

2 Best Xbox Controller Software for PC

Posted on April 20, 2020October 4, 2023 by Ivan Jenic

Are you searching for the best software for your Xbox controller on a Windows PC? Windows Report has got you covered in this post.

There has been a steady rise in gamers over the years. Casual gamers and professionals have participated in both online and offline gaming. This has also been made more popular with the advent of Steam, which allows the purchase of games at half the cost of the equivalent console.

Nevertheless, the major issue many PC gamers experience is the controller issue. Unlike console gaming, where a particular controller works for all types of games, PC gaming is a lot more dynamic, with different brands of controllers available in the gaming market.

Nowadays, several PC games come with support for different types of controllers but still heavily favor the use of Microsoft’s Xbox controllers – especially for Windows 10 PC users. However, without an Xbox controller, Windows users may be unable to play such games at high standards.

For instance, the Microsoft Xbox 360 controller would play any PC game when plugged in directly, which is not possible with a PS3 controller. This is where an emulator comes in, as it helps to simulate the Xbox controller on your PC, making it possible to run games without the default controller.

If you are searching for such a tool, keep reading this post. We’ll list two of the best Xbox controller software below.

What are the best tools to emulate an Xbox controller on Windows?

TocaEdit Xbox 360 Controller Emulator

TocaEdit Xbox 360 Controller Emulator is one of the best software for Xbox controllers on Windows PC.

This software enables gamers to efficiently configure their default Xbox controller settings and access different games.

The emulator comes in two distinct versions, which are 32-bit and 64-bit version compatible. So, download and install the one that suits your operating system version.

Installation is fast as the installation file is lightweight in size. On installation, the software opens to a simple window. To configure, you need to plug in your controller and launch the software, which detects the controller. Configure the buttons to your preference and click Save.

TocaEdit Xbox 360 Controller Emulator was tested with over 30 games and worked adequately. Suffice it to say, it is the best software for Xbox controllers on Windows PC currently available.

⇒ Download TocaEdit Xbox 360 Controller Emulator

Xbox 360 Controller for Windows

Xbox 360 Controller for Windows is a solution offered by Microsoft to help users configure their settings perfectly. The controller setup is less than 10 Mb and installs in quick time.

The user-friendly interface allows users to configure their Xbox 360 controller settings based on their preferences. However, the tool cannot be used for other controllers, which is a limiting factor.

However, it’s a handy application if you have an Xbox 360 controller. Nevertheless, this is one of the best Xbox controller software for Windows PCs. Plus, it’s free to download from the Microsoft website.

⇒ Download Xbox 360 controller for Windows

Using the Xbox controller software can also help prevent issues like Controller acting like a mouse, for more details, read this guide.

Have you used any of the best software for the Xbox controller on the Windows PC we mentioned above?

Feel free to share your experience with us by commenting below.

Download Hitman 2 almost for free [This Month Only]

Posted on April 20, 2020October 4, 2023 by Vlad Constantinescu

Hitman 2 (2018 video game)

Hitman 2 is the follow-up of the 2016 Hitman release, and it resumes Agent 47’s traveling/assassination story in a slightly different manner. Among the most notable differences between the two titles is that Hitman 2 is not episodic, as opposed to its predecessor. In other words, you can play levels in any order you see fit, as it won’t affect your experience too much.

Locations are another key comparable element between the two releases. Hitman 2 lets you explore 6 new locations: Miami, Hawke’s Bay, Mumbai, Santa Fortuna, Whittleton Creek, and the Isle of Sgaig. However, you’re not here to read about the game, you want to get it “almost for free,” so let’s show you how to do just that.

Editor’s note: Hitman 2 refers to the 2018 version of the game, and not the second installment in the original Hitman series, which was released in 2002 and was also called Silent Assassin.

Part of the April 2020 Humble Choice

Granted, this is an awesome game. And we can all agree that almost nothing worth having comes for free. Long story short, there’s no way to download it for free at the time being, but we can teach you how to get the best deal on it.

The April 2020 Humble Choice subscription includes Hitman 2, and you can have it for as little as $15. All you have to do in order to grab this awesome deal is subscribe to Humble Choice, and choose between the Basic and Premium plans. You can have the former for $15, and the latter costs only $5 more ($20).

If you don’t know what Humble Choice is, take a look at our comprehensive Humble Bundle review.

Explanation: although Humble Choice has 3 plans (Lite, Basic, and Premium), only two of them (Basic and Premium) offer you access to the curated list of games.

Once you’ve purchased the subscription, you can choose 3 or 9 games (depending on your plan of choice) from the list, including Hitman 2.

Note: This is a limited time offer, and you won’t be able to access it after the April 2020 edition of Humble Choice comes to an end. However, if you decide to keep your subscription, you’ll be eligible for up to 20% off discounts on certain titles in the Humble Store, which may include Hitman 2 if the timing’s right.

Humble Bundle Monthly: best deals + free games

Posted on April 20, 2020October 4, 2023 by Vlad Constantinescu

Humble Bundle Monthly: What is it?

Whether you’re a hardcore gamer, or just like hoarding awesome titles in your virtual library, we have some exciting news for you. Humble Bundle is an online platform where you can get a lot of games, but also books, comics, and even software, for a bargain price.

How does Humble Bundle work? Is it worth it? [Review]

If you’re already familiar with this service, it’s time to get down to business. You can grab Humble Bundle’s awesome deals in various ways: you can either wait for your desired titles to show up in bundles, purchase a Humble Choice plan, or check out the Humble Store.

Humble Monthly vs Humble Choice

It’s no longer a secret; Humble Bundle has been here for a long while and has already built some solid reputation. If you feel a bit nostalgic (much like we do) you’ll surely remember there was a time when you could pay as little as $12 per month in exchange for a lot of games. We refer to this pleasant time as the “Humble Monthly” era.

However, times have changed and Humble Monthly has grown into what today we know as Humble Choice. It’s similar, but not exactly the same. There are three different plans, and you can choose the games you get to keep. As a result, there’s no longer a standard $12 monthly payment, as each plan is priced differently and offers you a different amount of content.

Note: if you have a Humble Monthly (classic) plan since before the Humble Choice came to be, you can keep using it. However, if you cancel it (unsubscribe), you will lose it forever. To make matters worse, there’s no way to revert to the Classic plan once you’ve unsubscribed.

How does Humble Choice work?

Even if you miss the good ol’ days when you paid a flat $12 monthly fee for games galore, many users argue that Humble Choice is fairer to the average consumer. The cheapest option ($5) grants you access to a DRM-free game catalog, whereas the most expensive plan ($20) lets you choose 9 titles every month from a 10+ selection of curated games.

Additionally, as long as you’re a subscriber, you get some generous discounts off certain titles in the Humble Store. Thus, the Lite and Basic subscriptions grant you a 10% off discount, while the Premium plan can shave up to 20% off your purchases.

One thing that’s worth mentioning is that unlike the bundles section, Humble Choice doesn’t offer anything besides games. At least not for the time being, anyway. Long story short, this monthly subscription was designed with gamers in mind, and will probably stay that way.

Humble Choice May 2020

Another important, yet somewhat obvious piece of info we didn’t cover is that the list of curated games changes each month. So there are slim chances you’ll get to see the same game in different selections.

May 2020 games:

Jurassic World Evolution + Jurassic World Evolution – Deluxe Dinosaur Pack
XCOM 2 + XCOM 2: Reinforcement Pack and XCOM 2: Resistance Warrior Pack
Rise of Industry
Niche – a genetics survival game
Warhammer 40,000: Gladius – Relics of War
The Swords of Ditto: Mormo’s Curse
WARSAW
Heave Ho
MO:Astray
Neoverse
Chess Ultra
Horace

May 2020 extras:

Rainy Season – DRM-free game
Fae Tactics Sneak Peek – DRM-free game

Note: depending on your Humble Choice plan, you’ll be able to pick 9, 3, or no games at all from this compilation. The Premium plan lets you choose 9 games for keeps, the Basic one allows 3 game grabs, while the Basic plan only gives you access to the Humble Trove. Which brings us to the next part of our article:

Humble Trove: Free & DRM-free games

The Humble Trove is a nice touch to the Humble Choice plans. It’s only fair that Basic plan subscribers get something besides store discounts, right? Joke aside, regardless of the plan you wish to purchase, Humble Bundle offers you free access to the Humble Trove.

Thus, the Trove is but a collection of DRM-free games that you can download on your PC and play for free. That being said, as long as you’re a Humble Choice subscriber, you’ll always have access to this catalog.

If you cancel your Humble Choice subscription you won’t be able to access the Trove again. On the bright side, you’re free to play the games that you’ve already downloaded to your PC before your subscription expired.

Humble Trove’s contents [updated April 2020]

We’ve compiled a full list of the games you’ll find in the Humble Trove. We’re always updating the list with the latest additions, so you can rest assured that we won’t miss any title, regardless of its “freshness.” Therefore, without further ado, here are the Humble Trove titles, sorted from newest to oldest (appearance):

When Ski Lifts Go Wrong
Divinoids
Snake Pass
Etherborn
Space Routine
Card Quest
Tales From Off-Peak City Vol. 1
The Flame in the Flood
Unparallel
Race The Sun: Challenge Edition
Dear Esther
Balconing Simulator 2020
Arrog
Operator
Runestone Keeper
The Whispered World Special Edition
Valhalla Hills
Broken Sword 5 – the Serpent’s Curse
Roman Sands
Shady Knight
Blackguards
Broken Sword 4 – The Angel of Death
Chaos on Deponia
DON’T GIVE UP
Broken Sword 3 – the Sleeping Dragon
Kind Words
Anna’s Quest
Broken Sword 2 – the Smoking Mirror
macdows 95
Deponia
Broken Sword: Director’s Cut
MirrorMoon EP
Once Upon A Crime In The West
Avadon 3: The Warborn
Avadon 3 Hintbook and Bonuses
A Short Hike
Tokyo 42
FOTONICA
Avadon 2: The Corruption
20 Minute Metropolis
Wheels of Aurelia
Overture
Avadon: The Black Fortress
Tacoma
SanctuaryRPG: Black Edition
after HOURS
Roombo: First Blood (Justice Sucks)
Epistory – Typing Chronicles
Renowned Explorers: International Society Complete Edition
Frozen Synapse
vApe Escape
Orwell: Keeping an Eye On You
Reus
Ollie & Bollie’s Outdoor Estate
Tumblestone
Dungeon Souls
Hacknet
The Bridge
Gemini Rue
ETHEREAL
SOMA
Woten
The Sexy Brutale
Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs
Stumblehill
Deadlight
Satellite Reign
The Penumbra Collection
Subserial Network
Star Wars™: X-Wing Alliance™
STAR WARS™ Rebellion
Knight Club
Lyric Sonata
Indiana Jones® and the Fate of Atlantis™
The Incredible Machine Mega Pack
Drawkanoid
Star Wars™: X-Wing vs TIE Fighter – Balance of Power Campaigns™
Fortune-499
Hitchhiker
THOR.N
Crescent Bay
Fallen Enchantress: Legendary Heroes
Wilmot’s Warehouse
Copoka
Getting Over It with Bennett Foddy
Keyboard Sports
Trine Enchanted Edition
Volantia: Kingdom in the Sky
Tiny Echo
Elephant in the Room
2000:1: A Space Felony
Jawns
Yojimbrawl
Gunmetal Arcadia Zero
Spoolside
Uurnog
Quiet City
A2Be – A Science Fiction Narrative
Kimmy

As you can see, there’s plenty enough titles to keep you entertained for days, weeks, or even months if you’re not a fan of speedruns. If you feel that’s not enough, you can purchase a Basic, or Premium subscription plan, for 3, respectively 9 more games each month, aside from the Trove’s content.

Multi-windows chat support starts rolling out in Microsoft Teams

Posted on April 20, 2020 by Radu Tyrsina

Last month, we learned that Microsoft is working on a better messaging experience, allowing users to pop out chat conversations into separate Windows. Some users took to Twitter to announce that multi-windows chat support in Microsoft Teams is already live. The new messaging experience is apparently gradually rolling out to Windows users running Microsoft Teams version 1.3.00.9267, so you may not see it yet. Unfortunately, we’re not seeing it here on the various Windows 10 PCs we checked.

Anyone seen Multi-Window Chat for Microsoft Teams? pic.twitter.com/p5ILuhEMAl

— Tero Alhonen (@teroalhonen) April 16, 2020

Once the update is available on your PC, you can pop out multiple chat windows by any of these methods: First of all, navigate to the Chat tab, right-click on any chat to open its context menu, and then click “Pop out chat” to move the chat into a separate pop-out window. Secondly, you can hover to a chat in the recent chat list and then click the “pop out” button (which appears when you hover on a chat).

Interestingly, multi-Window Chat support would be helpful for schools and large companies who need to monitor many fellow meeting participants at the same time. the new pop will enable them to keep important conversations going while they are either attending a webinar or a meeting in Microsoft Teams.

Microsoft first announced the multi-Window Chat support for Microsoft Teams last year at Ignite. While the Microsoft 365 roadmap confirmed recently that the feature would be first available for Windows users in early April, with Mac and Linux users to follow “in the coming weeks.”

Xbox One X Cyberpunk 2077 Limited Edition will be available in June in limited quantities, controller available now

Posted on April 20, 2020 by Radu Tyrsina

If the Cyberpunk 2077-themed Xbox One X leaked a couple of days ago, Microsoft has confirmed today that it will be available in June in limited quantities. Actually, the Xbox team emphasized that this will be the last Xbox One X limited edition console to be released, and only 45,000 units will be manufactured.

Just like the Xbox One X Gears 5 Limited Edition console before it, the Cyberpunk 2077 Limited Edition console will come with a stand as the vertical position is really best to admire the Xbox team’s attention to detail. Indeed, this console has laser etchings and LED light on front, custom panels on top, and an “No future” graffiti underneath that glows in the dark.

The console will also come with a digital copy of the game ahead of its September release, as well as a matching Cyberpunk 2077 Limited Edition Xbox Controller, which is available to purchase separately for $74.99 starting today. This one is definitely a looker with its metallic look graced by some subtle scratches. The Xbox team’s goal was to create “a half natural and half cyber-enhancement design inspired by the breathtaking character, Johnny Silverhand.”

Also available today is the Cyberpunk 2077 Xbox Pro Charging Stand is available today for $49.99 USD, while the Seagate Cyberpunk 2077 Special Edition Game Drive and the Steelseries Arctis 1 Wireless for Xbox Johnny Silverhand Edition headset will be available in June 2020.

Cyberpunk 2077, from the developers of the critically-acclaimed RPG The Witcher 3 is definitely one of the most-anticipated games of the year. Microsoft seems to enjoy a special partnership with developer CD Projekt Red, and the Cyberpunk 2077 segment of Microsoft’s E3 2019 presser featuring Keanu Reeves was definitely one of the highlights of the annual trade show last year. CD Projekt Red has already announced that Cyberpunk 2077 will get a free update to optimize the game for Microsoft’s upcoming Xbox Series X, but the Xbox One X will likely be the best console to play the very ambitious game when it’s released on September 17, 2020.

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Cyberpunk 2077

Developer:
CD PROJEKT RED

Price:
$29.99

Windows 10 version 1909 users are seeing WiFi issues, BSODs, and lost data after installing April Patch Tuesday

Posted on April 20, 2020 by Radu Tyrsina

Last week, Microsoft released April Patch Tuesday updates for all supported versions of Windows 10. The fourth round of updates was notable from a security standpoint, especially because the build 18363.778 (KB4549951) for Windows 10 version 1909 improved security in all Microsoft Office products. But, at the same time, Microsoft seems to have spawned a plethora of other issues with this release.

More specifically, according to multiple user complaints posted on Microsoft Community forums (via Windows Latest), the build 18363.778 introduces numerous unexpected complications such as WiFi issues, BSODs and data loss (listed below).

Blue Screen of Death

When Microsoft shipped the build 18363.778, it didn’t acknowledge any issue in this release. However, emerging reports suggest that the buggy patch may cause the dreaded Blue Screen of Death error message on Windows 10 PCs. Several users noted on Microsoft Community forum [1, 2, 3] that updating their OS resulted in the BSoD error:

I have been without the use of my computer since the latest Windows 10 update occurred for me on the night of April 15, 2020. It made my computer totally unusable. The only thing I was able to get after signing in on Thursday morning was the blue screen of death. The computer would not boot up and it would not go into safe mode. I could not get it to do anything.

WiFi connectivity issues & more

In addition, some reports have also emerged that the new update breaks WiFi connectivity and even leads to data loss:

All files in Documents more than 1 week old are deleted without notification or moving to the Recycle Bin. No restore available, no help, no live chat, no nothing.

For now, the only reliable way to get rid of these frustrating issues is to uninstall the build 18363.778 (KB4549951) from your Windows 10 device. However, since the patch brings patches some important security vulnerabilities, the uninstallation is only recommended if you’re experiencing serious problems.

If you’re in that group and noticed similar issues on your PC, sound off in the comments down below.

How to Back-up and import worlds in Minecraft on Windows 10

Posted on April 20, 2020 by Radu Tyrsina

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Updated: 3/29/2023

Importing and exporting worlds can be useful for many things, whether you want to share a copy of your world with a friend, or if you want to make backups of your worlds for safekeeping.

It’s also important to create backups for world saves before installing pre-release versions of Minecraft. Worlds opened or modified in pre-release versions of Minecraft can destroy them, and compatibility with release versions of the game is never guaranteed.

Whatever your reasons for doing so may be, creating backups of worlds in Minecraft for Windows 10 is very easy.

Minecraft (Bedrock) for Windows 10

The Bedrock edition of Minecraft for Windows 10 has built-in export/import functions that make it especially easy to create backups of worlds.

Minecraft for Windows 10 will export worlds to a single file using the .MCWORLD file format. You can upload, send, or share your exported MCWORLD file anywhere you’d like.

To Export an MCWORLD file:

To Export an MCWORLD file, navigate to the world list and locate the world you want to export. To the right of the worlds name on the world list, click the “edit” button.

Scroll to the very bottom of the “Game Settings” pane on the right and click “EXPORT”. A File Explorer window will appear. Navigate to where you want a copy of your world saved, give it a name, then click “Export”.

Minecraft will let you know when it finishes exporting a copy of your world. Exporting may take some time, depending on how big your world is.

To Import an MCWORLD file:

When you’re ready to import a world back into the game, navigate to the world list from the title screen. Click on the “Import” Button to the right of the “Create New” button. A File Explorer window will appear.

Navigate to where you have an MCWORLD file saved to your PC, click it, then click “Import”. Again, it may take some time to import your world.

minecraft improt

Minecraft Java Edition (Windows 10)

The process of creating world backups is a little different in Minecraft Java Edition. In this version of the game, you have to navigate to the game’s directory and manage world saves directly. Because of this, you don’t have to launch the game when importing or creating backups of worlds.

How to locate Minecraft Java Edition World Saves:

You can use Windows Search to locate the Minecraft Java Edition Saves folder. To do this, click the Windows Search box on the taskbar. Type “%appdata%”, then click on the folder that appears in the search results.

In the File Explorer window that appears, navigate to the “.minecraft” folder, then to the “saves” folder. Now that you’re in the saves folder, you can see all your Minecraft worlds listed as folders.

appdata

To create a backup, right-click a folder and select ‘copy’. Next, navigate to a different location on your PC where you want to save the copy. Then, right-click a blank area in the window and select ‘paste’.

A copy of your Minecraft world will be created in the new location, which may take some time, depending on how large your world is. To load a backup world, simply place the world folder you want to import into the saves folder.

It’s always a good idea to create backups of worlds that are important to you, just in case something happens. For extra precaution, I would recommend uploading your backups somewhere outside of your PC, such as with removable media or in the cloud.

Microsoft Teams gets a long-promised Yammer app called Communities

Posted on April 20, 2020 by Radu Tyrsina

Yammer, the enterprise social networking service that Microsoft acquired back in 2012, received a fresh coat of paint last November. During Microsoft’s Ignite conference, the company also announced a new Yammer app for Microsoft Teams called “Communities,” which would bring Yammer communities and conversations right within the team collaboration hub.

This Yammer Communities app is now available starting today in the Teams App Store, and it can be pinned to the app’s left sidebar for quicker access. For now, the app is only available on the desktop and web version of Microsoft Teams, though Microsoft plans to bring it to the Teams mobile apps for iOS and Android as well.

“The new Yammer app for Teams keeps everyone connected to what’s happening in their communities conversations, share announcements, attend live events, and connect with coworkers just as you would in the Yammer web or mobile apps,” explained Murali Sitaram, General Manager, Yammer and Office 365 Groups. It was already possible for Microsoft Teams users to add a Yammer group as a tab in a Teams channel, but thanks to this new Yammer Communities app, access to the full Yammer experience is just one click away.

“By bringing Yammer into Teams, we want to make it easier for leaders and communicators to quickly and effectively communicate with their teams and organizations, even when they need to work apart. We’ll continue to create a more seamless Yammer communities experience within Teams, including unifying notifications and search and bringing the Yammer app to Teams mobile,” Sitaram said today.

How to use Minecraft not enough items mod

Posted on April 20, 2020September 1, 2025 by Vlad Turiceanu

Minecraft is one of the most well-known voxel-based games out there, and it shows no sign of getting older or losing any users.

However, the game is constantly updated with mods. A popular one is Not Enough Items (NEI)(versions 1.12.2, 1.7.10, and more)

**How do I use the Not enough items mod?**

1. Download and Install Forge

Before you install Not Enough Items you will first need to install Forge Mod Loader. You can go install the Forge from here.

After you have Forge installed and running, you can continue with the next steps.

2. Download Not Enough Items, CodeChickenLib, and Just Enough Items

For NEI to work you will need to download and install 2 more compatibility mods. First, let’s download Not Enough Items. You can download NEI by clicking here.

This will take you to CurseForge, the site that will be hosting all of the mods we are going to be downloaded. Once you’re on this site, click on the Files tab, and then select the version of Not Enough Items you are going to install.

If you want to play with Not Enough Items in Minecraft 1.7.10, you will need to select the 1.7.10 version of NEI. Once you have identified the desired NEI version, click the little download arrow next to the version name.

That will start the download. You make need to keep the file.

Now let’s download NEI’s compatibility mods. First, CodeChickenLib by clicking here. and then Just Enough Items on Curse Forge, by click here. Use the same methods that you did for Not Enough Items to get the compatibility packs downloaded.

Also, make sure that all 3 downloaded packs have the same version. Once all files are downloaded, it’s finally time to move on to getting everything installed.

3. Install Not Enough Items, CodeChickenLib, and Just Enough Items

Press Win key + R to open Run window.
In the search box type, %appdata%. This will launch the Roaming folder on your computer.
At the very top of this folder, you will see a folder called .minecraft. Open this folder, and search for mods folder. If you don’t have one, just create a new folder.
Now, take Not Enough Items, CodeChickenLib, and Just Enough Items and drag and drop them into this folder.

After you’ve done that, the mods are installed. We aren’t quite done yet though, we will still need to make sure that we have the right version of Forge.

4. Open The Minecraft Launcher and Select The Forge Profile

In order to select the correct version of Forge, we need to open up the regular Minecraft launcher that we allow know and love. From here, we can click the up arrow next to the Play button.

From there, find the profile titled Forge. Click it, and then, click the big green Play button. Minecraft should then launch with Forge and Not Enough Items installed.

Not Enough Items is now installed. You can now build stuff, or install some other cool mods. One of the great things about NEI is that it has extensive mod support that allows you to build and setup different things in the mods that you have installed.

Now that you have NEI working, you might also want to try out experimental builds. Check this Minecraft D1 guide to learn more about snapshots and early versions.

It appears in-game whenever the player’s Inventory or other GUI that contains an inventory is opened and allows a player to view crafting recipes and usages of the majority of the items in the FTB Modpacks.

The GUI of the mod can be quickly enabled and disabled with the O key by default.

[wl_navigator]

Best Cricut Maker bundles

Posted on April 20, 2020October 4, 2023 by Radu Tyrsina

If you like to craft, I’m sure you already heard of the Cricut Maker machine. You probably have seen a lot of fancy images on the internet and wondered how in the world do they cut those intricate designs.

Then you wanted to do the same things yourself but didn’t know where to start. We have been in this position, and now we are here to help you.

What is a Cricut machine? A Cricut machine is a die-cutting machine used for various projects, and scrapbooking, mainly. You can use it to cut so many things. From vinyl to paper, plastic and even hard materials like wood and heavy leather.

Of course, you also need a dedicated software solution to get the most out of your Cricut machine and create amazing patterns.

There are over 100 materials that you can use on your Cricut. The sky is the limit. All of this is possible because of the rotary blade, which glides smoothly across the material resulting in the perfect cut.

The machine can be used even as a printer. An accessory slot makes it possible for the machine to draw the design for you.

There are several Cricut products, but the two lines that they still update and promote are the Explorer Airline and the Cricut Maker. We compiled the best list of Cricut machine bundles that you can buy right now.

2 Cricut Maker bundles to fuel your hobby

Cricut Maker Machine bundle for beginners

buy Cricut Maker Machine bundle beginners

If you’re a beginner and this is the first time you’ve used a Cricut Machine, we recommend getting this impressive bundle.

So, what’s in the package for you? You’ll get a brand new Cricut Maker machine, as well as a rotary blade and a fine point pen.

Additionally, there are plenty of patterns included in this bundle, which makes it the perfect choice for beginners:

A USB cable and power adapter which definitely will come in handy.
50 free ready-to-make projects
25 sewing patterns that you can get directly from Cricut’s website.
Plenty of materials for your first project so you don’t need to go shopping as soon as the package arrives.
12 exclusive vinyl designs, as well as 2 heat transfer vinyl designs.

⇒Get this bundle now

Cricut Maker Machine bundle Explore Air 2

This bundle includes a Cricut Explorer Air and it was created for beginners.

The bundle includes an iron-on vinyl, adhesive-backed vinyl, and a pen set. It’s perfect for personalizing gifts, wall signs, t-shirts, pillows, and such. You can use the pen set to write messages on envelopes, paper invitations, labels, and gift tags.

The bundle comes with some additional items, perfect both for beginners and more advanced users. Yes, you don’t have to go shopping for various items to use the machine at its full capacity.

The package includes:

A German carbide premium blade is already installed.
An accessory adapter — also already installed.
A USB cord and US Standard Power Cord. Compatible with laptop and desktop computers and devices with USB Type-A ports
Built-in wireless Bluetooth. A useful feature if you want to cut wirelessly. Just make sure your machine is within 10 feet of your computer and connected to it via Bluetooth.
Cricut Tool Kit.

⇒ Get this bundle now

So, these are the hottest Cricut bundles of the moment. Let us know which one you picked.