Microsoft outlines next steps to manage increased Azure and cloud services demand

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

Microsoft’s cloud is growing, and the company has stated publically that they are actively working to increase cloud capacity to keep up with the demand for their cloud services and Azure. The software giant explained that it’s currently prioritizing the needs of healthcare companies, frontline workers, and first responders to help in the battle against COVID-19, and the company is not only expanding their worldwide data center footprint but putting temporary resource limits on new Azure subscriptions.

In a new blog post on the Azure blog yesterday (via ZDNet), Microsoft provided some additional clarity around “business continuity with Azure” and described their primary focus as being in two key areas of action: Helping customers address their most urgent needs, and ensuring that Microsoft Azure continues to scale to meet new demands.

However, Microsoft has already been dealing with Azure limits well before the COVID-19 pandemic started. In early fall, multiple East US2 Azure customers were unable to launch virtual machines, and as recently as march customers in Europe encountered capacity issues including hitting SQL Server limits.

One of the key capacity issues Microsoft discusses in their blog post is around Microsoft Teams. Over the last month, Microsoft has also experienced unprecedented growth with their total user population doubling in less a month:

Last month, the surging use of Teams for remote work and education due to the pandemic crossed into unprecedented territory. Although we had seen surges in specific data center regions or wider geographies before, such as in response to natural disasters, the substantial Teams demand increase from Asia and then quickly followed in Europe indicated that we were seeing something very different, and increasingly global.

In direct response to the surge in Teams use, Microsoft took several proactive steps to manage the cloud and infrastructure demand including:

  • Optimized and load-balanced Teams architecture without interrupting the customer experience.
  • Expediting additional server capacity to the specific regions that faced constraints.
  • Approving the backlog of customer quota requests.
  • Removing restrictions for new free and benefit subscriptions in several regions.
  • Refining our Azure demand models.

While Microsoft’s continued growth in the cloud bodes well for the future of the company, it is likely the company will continue to deal with capacity issues for the foreseeable future as Teams and cloud growth accelerates.

FIX: Google Drive keeps going offline

Posted on by Matthew Adams

Google Drive is one of the foremost cloud storage providers that you can save files to. Some have stated that Google Drive keeps disconnecting in Chrome.

hen you might get the following error message: Trying to connect. To edit offline, turn on offline sync when you reconnect. Here are a few potential fixes for Google Drive disconnecting.

But first, here are some more examples of this issue:

  • Google Drive unable to connect, can’t connect – According to users, sometimes Google Drive can’t connect. This is a big problem, and we already covered it in our Google Drive unable to connect article.
  • Google Drive won’t sync Windows 7, 8 – This issue affects older versions of Windows as well. Even if you’re not using Windows 10, you should know that our solutions are applicable to Windows 7 and 8 alike.
  • Google Drive sync won’t start, run – In some cases, Google Sync won’t even start or run. If that happens, you might have to reinstall your Google Drive client.
  • Google Drive won’t sync all files, some files – Users reported that Google Drive won’t sync some of their files. This can be an issue, but you might be able to circumvent it by using the web version of Google Drive.
  • Google Drive won’t sync with desktop – Sometimes your Google Drive won’t be able to sync with your desktop PC. This can occur due to your antivirus software, so if you’re having this issue, be sure to disable your antivirus and firewall and check if that helps. In worst case scenario, you might have to switch to a different antivirus solution.

What to do if Google Drive keeps disconnecting

List of solutions:

  1. Check Your Connection
  2. Disable Kaspersky Encrypted Connection Scan
  3. Terminate Googledrivesunc.exe
  4. Restart the Google Drive Sync
  5. Clear Your Browser Cache
  6. Reset the Browser
  7. Turn off Windows Firewall
  8. Reinstall Google Drive

Solution 1 – Check Your Connection

If Google Drive keeps disconnecting, first check your overall connection. You can do that simply by opening some other website pages in the browser. If the connection is down, reset your router and then reboot Windows. Otherwise, you can probably contact a technical support line for the router.

Solution 2 – Disable Kaspersky Encrypted Connection Scan

Do you have Kaspersky anti-virus software installed on your computer? If so, the Kaspersky software could be disconnecting Google Drive as it blocks the GD desktop app. You don’t need to close the system utility but should switch off Kaspersky’s encrypted connections scanning.

  • Open the Kaspersky software, and click Settings at the top right of its window.
  • Select the Additional tab at top of the window.
  • Then click Network on the left of the window.
  • Now you should be able to select a Scan encrypted connections option. Click the Scan encrypted connections checkbox if it’s already selected to clear the box.
  • Press OK and close the Kaspersky window.

If Kaspersky is the culprit, maybe you should consider switching to a different antivirus.

Solution 3 – Terminate Googledrivesunc.exe

If you’re running the additional Google Drive software, try terminating Googledrivesunc.exe. You can terminate that as follows.

  • Open Task Manager by right-clicking the Windows taskbar and selecting Task Manager.
GD2
  • Scroll through the Processes tab to find Googledrivesunc.exe.
  • Now you can right-click Googledrivesunc.exe and select End Task.
  • Enter ‘Google Drive’ into Windows 10’s Cortana search box to open the GD software again.

Solution 4 – Restart the Google Drive Sync

  • You can restart the Google Drive sync by clicking the Google Drive app icon in the system tray.
  • Click the More (overflow) button with three vertical dots at the top right of the menu.
  • Select Quit Google Drive from the menu.
  • Now you can reopen Google Drive with the restored connection.
  1. Make sure that cookies are enabled
  2. Clear your browser‘s cache
  3. Install the latest browser updates
  4. Turn on the option that allows Chrome to remember passwords for you.

Solution 5 – Clear Your Browser Cache

Clearing the browser cache and cookies to delete website settings might also fix Google Drive disconnecting. As a matter of fact, this is one of the best methods to use if Google Drive keeps asking you to sign in. You can clear the cache in all the browsers.

This is how you can clear the cache in Google Chrome.

  • Click the Customize Google Chrome button on the browser’s window.
  • Select Settings to open the Settings page.
  • Click the + Show advanced settings at the bottom of page to expand options.
  • Then you can press a Clear browsing data button to open the window shown directly below.
GD
  • Select all the check boxes on that window.
  • Press the Clear browsing data button.

Solution 6 – Reset the Browser

You should also switch off browser extensions. Resetting the browser is the best way to disable all extensions. That will delete all the extra add-ons and could feasibly fix Google Drive connection issues.

If you prefer to keep some extensions, you should at least disable them all from the extensions (or add-on) page in the browser. You can reset Google Chrome as follows.

  • Press the Customize Google Chrome button.
  • Click Settings on the menu to open the Settings page options.
  • Select + Show advanced settings and scroll to the bottom of the Settings page.reset chrome button
  • Then press the Reset settings button and click Reset.

Solution 7 – Turn off Windows Firewall

There’s also a chance Windows Firewall actually prevents Google Drive from working normally. To see if that’s indeed the case, just turn off the Windows Defender Firewall for a couple of minutes, and try to run Google Drive sync again.

Here’s how to turn off the Windows Defender Firewall in Windows 10:

  1. Press Windows Key + S and enter firewall. Select Windows Defender Firewall from the list of results.
  2. In the left pane, click Turn Windows Defender Firewall on or off.
  3. Now select Turn off Windows Defender Firewall (not recommended) and click OK to save changes.

Solution 8 – Reinstall Google Drive

And finally, if none of the previous solutions resolved the problem, let’s try and reinstall Google Drive. Here’s how to do that:

  1. Quit Google Drive. You will do this by opening the icon in the notification area.
  2. Uninstall Google Drive.
  3. Rename your Google Drive folder on your local storage whatever you like.
  4.  Download the latest version of Google Drive and install it.
  5. Syncing should work now.

Try any, or all, of the above suggestions to fix Google Drive connections. They’ll probably resolve the issue, but you can also find further details at the Google Drive forum.

Microsoft will help you chill out with these 15 free 4K wallpapers of cute sloths

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

We probably all need to chill out during these exceptionally stressful times, and fortunately, we can count on Microsoft to help us slow things down a little bit. Indeed, the company has just released a cool Sloth theme pack for Windows 10 to cheer you up during lockdown.

Jen Gentleman from the Windows Insider team, who usually has good taste regarding everything Windows 10, teased the cool new theme on Twitter earlier today, and we couldn’t resist sharing the cuteness with you all:

The wallpaper pack features 15 4K images of Sloths, with some of them hanging upside down while others simply chilling out in the forest. If you are someone who loves nature, feel free to tweak your theme settings to have it cycle through all week. However, you can also choose a specific image to use persistently on your desktop.

Our favourite image from the brand new collection happens to be the one with sleeping sloth. Head to the Windows Store now to download now and check it out yourself. Once you’ve downloaded the collection, go to Start >> Settings >> Personalization >> Themes and click on the theme to select it. Feel free to share your personal favourite image with the community in the comments down below.

Sloths PREMIUM
Sloths PREMIUM
Download
QR-Code

Sloths PREMIUM
Developer:
Microsoft Corporation
Price:
Free

More than just chat – using Teams as a SharePoint front end to manage your small business documents

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

With more and more users of Microsoft’s products working from home, small businesses and their users are looking to find the right tool(s) to manage their business documents. Should the business use SharePoint, Teams, or something like OneDrive for Business?

Earlier today, Reddit user JuIT03 asked a very good question on the Office 365 subreddit:

I was wondering for smaller businesses (around 50 employees) who don’t require SharePoint sites for each area (i.e. Sales) we could use One Drive for Business from the main account (director or someone) and then set up the folders out from there to treat it more as a file server?

Well, one easy answer to that question would be to use Microsoft Teams to manage your documents as it provides the functionality of SharePoint, the storage capabilities of OneDrive, and the usability of a collaboration of tool like Slack all rolled into one.

Since the launch of Microsoft Teams, Microsoft bundled many of its Microsoft 365 applications into one super-charged platform that is designed from the ground up to be a web-based collaboration space including document management and storage. In fact, Microsoft Teams gives users the best of SharePoint, but with an entirely new front-end experience. Teams uses SharePoint to create Teams Sites, which are document libraries for all things shared and can be referenced easily within any Teams conversation. Teams can also be used to show OneDrive and SharePoint document libraries, new items, and even show content as a website. This graphic shows you how SharePoint and OneDrive have been integrated into the Teams ecosystems:

Microsoft Teams integrates SharePoint

Unlike SharePoint and OneDrive, Teams is designed from the group up for collaboration, giving users the ability to share any document or file inside the chat window or conversation. SharePoint and OneDrive both require additional steps if someone wants to share a document or file with another team member, whereas Teams can give anyone the ability to easily share a file inside any conversation. There are several easy options inside of Teams to manage, store, and share documents and files.

Attach a file

For example, inside any chat window, you will see a dialogue box to attach a file to a chat conversation.

Share Files on Microsoft Teams
Share any file with OneDrive in Microsoft Teams

Add files and apps to Teams

Microsoft Teams also has another unique feature to quickly add access to files and apps in Teams. Users can simply select the “+” symbol.

Add files to Microsoft Teams
use the “+” symbol to add files and apps.

Once the pop-up window opens, you can then select the app or file tab that you want to add to your chat windows. For this writing, I do a lot of note-taking in OneNote so this makes it very easy to quickly share my cloud-based notes with other team members.

Add a tab to Microsoft Teams
Easily add apps and files to Microsoft Teams.

Add storage or view files

Users can also attach additional cloud storage options, as well as review recent files and downloads inside Microsoft Teams using the “Files” dialogue box on the left-hand side.

Microsoft Teams Files
add cloud storage and review files in Teams.

Teams is an entirely new Microsoft experience. It takes the best of SharePoint and OneDrive, and makes those services usable with Microsoft Teams’ user-friendly front-end. Reddit user /r/PeterH9572 summarized it well.

Microsoft Teams lets a few people be owners, manage the files, and membership as they see fit, and we encourage people to move away from “it is a shared file,” but instead use collaboration! Why share a file then email or phone about it when you can have a team and all the chat, meetings, updates and the file itself are in one place and can be seen by everyone in the team without having to keep clicking the share button or referring back to your email or a half-remembered IM chat?

Microsoft is continuing to add new features to Teams like new custom backgrounds and multi-chat windows to make it more user-friendly. Tell us what you think, do you prefer Teams to SharePoint? Sound off in the comments below!

Feature image credit: Tracy Van der Schyff

Greeting Card Software for Computer: 5 Best to use

Posted on by Vlad Turiceanu

There’s a reason why a few greeting cards are kept at eye level in your living room. This is the perfect place for an eye-catching work of art and that’s what greeting cards have turned into.

Having said that, all of us know very well that no greeting card can look awesome without the support of appropriate greeting card maker software.

Therefore, we have decided to share with you our top card maker software picks. Like that, you can instantly get one of them and start working on your greeting card projects as soon as possible.

What’s the best greeting card maker software to get?

Adobe Photoshop

get Adobe Photoshop

As far as greeting card maker programs go, it’s really tough to beat what Photoshop has to offer to its users.

Adobe Photoshop is a famous imaging and graphic design software ready to show you once more that creativity has no boundaries these days.

Beginners and professional artists have used it for ages to make the most of their time. This software gives you better control of the brush, so it enables you to work faster than before and with precision.

When you work with a mouse, feel free to take the cursor and move the tool in one or the other direction. The mouse button will act as an On/Off button.

If you’re working on a drawing tablet instead, its pen will allow you not only to move the brush on the surface but also to control the pressure for higher efficiency.

Refer to the key features below for further details:

  • Combine photos and text to create entirely new images and retouch them as you please
  • Work with unlimited layers and masks
  • Use Quick Actions from the improved Properties panel
  • Paint with brushes that you control with a stylus or touch on your iPad
  • Enjoy the Auto-Blend Layers tool to add soft transitions to your image

Adobe Photoshop

If you’re looking for the best greeting card software for Windows 10, then try out Adobe Photoshop!
Free trial Visit website

Adobe Creative Cloud Express

Adobe Creative Cloud Express is a very powerful greeting card maker program that offers plenty of rich features and professionally designed templates for use in making greeting cards.

There are cards for all sorts of events you might have in mind – weddings, birthdays, and baby showers, to name a few.

Just upload your own photo from your computer or cloud storage or use the template backgrounds if you have a hard time deciding where to start from.

In addition, you can apply motion graphics or play with the text however you prefer in order to create the best greeting cards ever.

After making all the desired changes, download your card to print or share it electronically by email.

Refer to the key features below for further details:

  • Stock photo library for quick use
  • Invite others to the projects you create to make their own edits
  • Direct posting on Facebook and Twitter with a link provided by Adobe Creative Cloud Express
  • Advice from experts and other people who face the same challenges as you do
  • Select Inspiration Gallery to see great projects

Adobe Creative Cloud Express

Get Creative Cloud Express and take your time to explore its built-in editing tools. They’ll satisfy your highest demands.
Check price Visit website

PrintMaster

try out PrintMaster

A great option for card making is PrintMaster. Creating your own cards in this program will require no extra effort.

You may start from scratch or get a little help. With over 6500 brand-new royalty-free images and a great project wizard, PrintMaster makes the design process intuitive.

As for those 150000 clipart elements that you can introduce in your cards, they empower you to explore your creative ideas with no reservations.

Refer to the key features below for further details:

  • Over 3500 templates made by professional designers
  • Comprehensive page layout tools
  • Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram templates for posting and sharing with friends
  • PC and Mac OS compatibility

⇒ Get PrintMaster

Print Artist 25 Platinum

install Print Artist 25 Platinum

Print Artist 25 Platinum has multiple card templates for customizing. To be more precise, there are over 28000 professionally-designed templates to choose from, along with 377000 graphics and over 1000 premium fonts.

All these make it incredibly easy to design as many greeting cards as you’d like. Another fascinating thing about Print Artist 25 Platinum is that it lets you create CD slideshows to watch on TV.

Last but not least, this software allows you to easily upload projects to social media – Facebook, Twitter, YouTube – you name it.

Refer to the key features below for further details:

  • Special text effects gallery
  • Sensational print projects for virtually any occasion you may think of
  • Limitless creative tools
  • Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, and 10 compatibility

⇒ Get Print Artist 25 Platinum

ArcSoft Print Creations 3

install ArcSoft Print Creations 3

ArcSoft Print Creations is yet another extremely easy-to-use greeting card maker software. Firstly, note that it comes with an extensive selection of templates to choose from.

Moreover, it’s properly equipped with built-in photo editing tools to enhance your images before you even get to add them to your next cards.

In fact, this program enables you to create all sorts of projects with your beloved photos, from the classic folded greeting card to calendars, posters, brochures, and customized scrapbooks.

Refer to the key features below for further details:

  • Various text editing tools for unique projects
  • WYSIWYG functionality for an accurate photo and text editing
  • Print your work, save it as image files (JPG, TIF, BMP), or share it via email
  • Available in both Mac and Windows PC versions

⇒ Get ArcSoft Print Creations 3

In this article, we have highlighted some of the best greeting card maker software choices for creative people who want something a bit more than a regular greeting card.

You’re clearly one of them, so don’t hesitate to make an informed choice. Let us know all about it by using the comments area below.

Don’t let your inner child be hidden in a corner. Find more answers in our Graphic & Design Hub.

Samsung’s Android powered Galaxy Tab S6 Review: Whetting my appetite for the Surface Duo?

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

Microsoft’s dual-screen Surface Duo will be coming later this year and it will have a little bit of everything. You’ll get the productivity and all apps you love on Android, a touch-friendly Android interface powered by Microsoft Launcher, and the premium Surface design and branding.

But what if you want to go out and buy something like this right now (without the phone or dual-screen features?) I recently purchased a Samsung Galaxy Tab S6, and as a Microsoft fan, I find that it’s filling the gap and fits all my tablet needs ahead of the Surface Duo release.

Design: Just like the Surface lineup.

Starting at $649 (with the optional keyboard coming in at another $179,) there’s a lot to love about the Galaxy Tab S6 for the price. With a glass front, aluminum back, and aluminum frame, the device feels absolutely great in the hand. I’ve reviewed the Surface Go before, and both devices have similarly sized 10-inch screens (Samsung’s is bigger at 10.5 inches,) but I couldn’t help but to prefer the Galaxy Tab S6. It’s rounded corners and square edges just feel so great in the hands. It makes me eager to see what the Surface Duo will feel like in my hands, too.

Coming in at 9.63 x 6.28 x 0.22 inches in dimensions, and 0.92 pounds, the Tab S6 is also quite lighter than any Surface device I’ve ever used. For comparison, the Surface Go is 9.65 x 6.90 x 0.33 inches in dimensions, and 1.15 pounds in weight. We obviously don’t know much about the Surface Duo yet, but Microsoft has told publications that it would be 0.19 inches thick. If it holds up to be true, that would be the same as around the same as the Galaxy Tab S6.

But of course, the Galaxy Tab S6 is not a dual-screen device like the Duo. It’s rather a traditional single-screen Android tablet. But, it can behave like a dual-screen device, without all the awkward folding and the hinges.

As weird as it sounds, that’s largely in part thanks to the slim bezels around the screen. Coming in at 10.5 inches and at the 1,600 x 2,560 resolution (287 PPI,) this tablet is designed for productivity. It isn’t foldable, like the Duo or the Galaxy Fold, but with such slim bezels, and a beautiful AMOLED panel, the Tab S6 works very well for multitasking.

As I describe later, I was able to use it to get some work done, and even use it to write this review. The slim bezels invite you to snap your Android apps side by side, pick up the Spen and draw, or just glide your fingers across the screen. The display panel is also great for media consumption too. With its peak brightness of around 473 and the use of an AMOLED panel, colors can get extremely vivid and bright. After coming off using a Surface Laptop 3 for work, the Tab S6’s panel makes the Surface’s look boring.

For some additional comparison, the Surface Duo two 5.6-inch screens fold out to a total of 11.2 inches. The resolution, meanwhile, was rumored to be 1,350 x 1,800 on each of the two displays. Obviously, though, the Duo is visually flanked by thicker bezels. It’s also larger, but if you’re considering buying or using the Duo as a tablet-only, the Tab S6 is the closest you can get right now thanks to its beautiful screen and design. It’s not too big, not too small, nor is it dull.

Specs and Performance: Can it shape up to be just like the Duo?

Under the hood of the Galaxy Tab S6 is something that should sound familiar to Microsoft Fans: a Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 processor. Microsoft hasn’t officially said what processor would be in the Duo as of yet, but it’s widely believed that the Snapdragon 855 will be Microsoft’s choice. Some have argued that this might be “last-gen” technology whenever the Duo launches, but with my experience on the Tab S6, I think there’s little reason to worry.

Simply put, the Snapdragon 855 inside the Tab S6 is a true beast. Paired with 6GB of RAM on my model (and 8GB of RAM if you buy the model with 256GB of storage,) there isn’t anything this tablet couldn’t handle. When opening up both Chrome and Edge side by side, the tablet was easily able to juggle a combination of 10 tabs across both browsers. It also handled games like Fornite and Pokemon Go and Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp with ease.

Switching between all the open apps and games was also buttery smooth, and I never once experienced any slowdowns, crashes, or freezes. Once I went to the list of open apps when in split-screen mode, Android would automatically show my open apps switch me into the second app I needed. I find this a bit similar to those “swiping” gestures Microsoft promised for the Duo and dragging apps from one screen to the next. There’s even a blue bar in the middle when multitasking which lets you resize apps as needed.

There was, however, the issue of websites giving me their “mobile” version. I had to manually make sure that sites were loading the desktop version, each time. There’s also no spell check in Chrome or Edge, and I had to manually copy my posts and texts into Word to make sure everything was spelled right before submitting my assignments ( and yes there’s Edge Editor, but it’s not available for mobile Edge yet).

Other than that, Android really feels right at home on this tablet. Microsoft’s apps especially ran smoothly. I installed Microsoft Launcher, and I enjoyed some of the same Windows to Android synergies promised for the Duo. I had a quick glance at my calendar, tasks, sticky notes, documents, and other things from my Windows PC. I opened up Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, and thanks to OneDrive, all the files I needed were available for me on my tablet. Considering that the Duo will also be powered by Microsoft Launcher, this really whets my appetite.

Battery life is also great, too. I used the Tab S6 for work, and it got me through an entire 6-hour writing shift, with roughly 30% battery left over. I carried one full charge throughout the day for both work, play, and media consumption. It’s unknown to me if that’s thanks to the Snapdragon processor or the OLED panel, but either way, if this tablet has enough juice to last throughout the day, so might the Duo.

I’ll also want to mention that there is an LTE version of the Tab S6 available, which will let you make calls and receive texts. You will need to link your Samsung Phone to the tablet to help sync both devices. This wasn’t available for me in testing, though, as I have a Google phone. There’s still no phone hardware in the device, though, unlike the Duo.

Ports: One port that does it all

Much like Apple’s iPad Pro, and what we can tell about the Duo, the Tab S6 has only one USB-C port. It’s designed to do it all, charging data, and even as a headphone port. That’s right, there is no dedicated headphone jack on the Tab S6. That might be problematic for some, but it never really bothered me.

I think Microsoft and Samsung are opting to exclude the jack for design reasons and to keep the devices slim, and there’s a good reason why. I already own Bluetooth headphones and used them with the tablet. Most times, I didn’t need them anyway, as the Tab S6 has a quad-speaker set up. They’re located on the bottom and top half of the tablet and fire the sounds outwards. Watching old NASCAR replays was quite a joy thanks to this.

Other ports of note relate to the fingerprint sensor, which is embedded in the display. There’s even an option for facial login too. Both are appreciated and make the tablet extra secure.

Camera: Compete with the Duo?

Elsewhere, there’s the need to talk about the camera. Of course, this has been the most controversial area of the Duo. If someone were to use it as a tablet (as I plan to,) they’d have to “flip” the screen over to make use of the front-facing camera. There’s no back camera, as there is on the Tab S6. We don’t know much about the Duo camera to do a true comparison here, but the Tab S6 does make me hopeful.

It features a 13 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide) camera, and a 5 MP, f/2.2, 12mm ultrawide camera on the rear. The front, meanwhile, sports an 8 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide) selfie lens. I never was one to use a tablet for photos, but the quality is quite impressive. Some sample shots can be seen below.

Panos Panay, though, has teased the Duo’s image quality before. We saw a picture of his son in focus, with the woods and the flames of a fireplace looking vivid. If anything, I think the Tab S6 is a bit on par. The colors in the images are particularly bright, and the focus is great.

Samsung also has a lot of great software elements like a Food mode, Pro mode, and Live Focus which help you take the right photos for various situations. Even the selfie camera has two modes, letting you zoom in to a wider or narrow shot to fit more in the frame. It will be hard for Microsoft to beat Samsung, though and I do hope they have something similar on the Duo.

A Pen that reminds me of the new Surface Slim Pen

Other than the dual-screen layout, one of the other would be the highpoints of the Surface Duo is its support for the Surface Pen. Satya Nadella was recently caught dogfooding this, saying to Geekwire that he loves the annotations features on the Duo.

This isn’t strange, as Microsoft’s Surface devices have long been compatible with the Surface Pen. However, Samsung too shares this heritage with the SPen, and the Tab S6 has its own pen as a result. Overall, I think the pen experience with the Tab S6 might end up being a lot like the Surface Duo.

Samsung includes the pen for free right in the box of the Tab S6, and it magnetically attaches to its own housing at the back of the tablet. It also has some “Air Actions” features that let you remotely take pictures or play/pause slideshows via Bluetooth connection with the tablet. Charging is optional, though, and it would work without a charge if need be. That’s a bit different from the current Surface Pen, which has its own charging cradle and won’t when the battery has died out.

Aesthetically wise, the Tab S6 pen shares a lot with the new Surface Slim Pen. Both are flat and similar to a carpenter’s pencil. It feels ergonomic and is great for taking notes. The pressure sensitivity is also the same, at 4,096. I used the pen for drawing and scribbling in OneNote, and it felt just like my experience with the Slim Pen on the Surface Pro X. Smooth, easy, with no lag. If this carries over to the Duo, with Surface Slim Pen, they’ll be a lot to look forward to.

Dex Mode and the keyboard adds new possibilities

So far, throughout my review, I’ve mentioned Android experience on the Tab S6. Samsung, though, has a special software feature known as DeX mode which turns the Tab S6 into PC like experience. It’s activated in the software side when a keyboard and mouse are detected, and it’s one of the best points of this device. This is where the Tab S6 is less like a Surface Duo, and more like a Surface Pro.

The best way to experience the Tab S6 is with the DeX mode and the $180 keyboard accessory. The keyboard case has two parts. A top part attaches to the back of the tablet with a rubber suction material and holds it solid. It gives you a kickstand to prop-up the Tab on your desk or lap or desk. The bottom half is the keyboard cover, which attaches to the bottom of the device via a POGO connection.

It’s quite small(and expensive) at 10 inches, but it adds a trackpad and mouse, allowing you to get the mode of DeX mode. I never had an issue with the size and typed this entire review on the tablet.

This mode is what makes the Tab S6 so unique. I was able to use my Tab as a PC, and get Android apps in windows, drag them around, and stack them side by side. I also connected the Tab to a monitor and was able to get my work done, just as if I were using a Surface.

Buy it now if you’re eager for the Duo

Without having a Surface Duo in my hands, it’s hard to truly compare the Tab S6 to the Duo. However, so far, I do think a lot of experiences on the Tab S6 can carry over to the Duo as well. In terms of performance, Android apps, and ports, the two seem very on par with each other, at least on paper. So, if you’re looking for something to whet your appetite for the Duo, buy this now.

Microsoft offers small businesses six free months of Microsoft 365 Business Basic

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

In response to the coronavirus pandemic that profoundly affected how we work and the tools we use, Microsoft has found a new way to help small businesses to adapt to these exceptional circumstances. The software giant has just offered a free six months Microsoft 365 Business Basic subscription plan to small businesses, allowing them to cope with the increasing need to communicate virtually with their customers. However, the offer is only valid for new subscriptions. Microsoft announced the limited-time offer on its Community website yesterday:

As small businesses adapt to the increased need to have people work remotely and connect with their customers virtually, new subscribers to Microsoft 365 Business Basic can get the first six months free of charge. Get a custom email domain, access to Office web apps (Outlook, Word, Excel, and more), cloud storage, and host meetings with up to 250 people via Teams.

Notably, the Microsoft 365 Business Basic includes access to Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Microsoft Teams, OneNote (plus Access and Publisher for PC only), and 1 TB of OneDrive storage every month. The announcement comes at a time when thousands of small businesses are currently struggling with the management and engagement of customers, as many SMEs don’t have the resources to employ active customer engagement. Indeed it’s a good step by Microsoft to help them deal with the ongoing situation.

Moreover, Microsoft recommends small business owners to check out their official guide for tips and resources to get going with Microsoft 365 and Office 365.

GitHub service outages continue, no official word on why

Posted on by davew

These last few weeks, GitHub has experienced multiple outages with no official word from Microsoft as to why. Over the last three days, in particular, developers have reported The GitHub outages have been so extreme that they have been unable to perform even basic programming tasks.

As noted in a post by ZDNet, Mary Jo Foley details what GitHub services have been affected over the past few days.

“On April 21, a number of GitHub services were plagued by problems for at least an hour and a half. On April 22, two back-to-back outages affected numerous developers over at least a two-hour period. And today, April 23, several GitHub services are being impacted by various problems, starting around 13:20 UTC (9:20 a.m. ET) and is still ongoing as of an hour later.

Today’s outage is affecting Git Operations; API Requests; Webhooks; Issues, pull requests and projects; GitHub Actions; GitHub Packages; GitHub Pages and more. On the GitHub status site, only Git Operations is listed as having an incident; other services are labeled as ‘degraded.’”

On Twitter, GitHub Education admitted to outages in their services, particularly GitHub Classroom and education.github.com, which is “due to the current github.com outage.”

Curiously, there has been no official word from Microsoft as to the reason for the GitHub outages. With everyone at Microsoft and GitHub being forced to work from home due to COVID-19, it can be particularly hard to run a data center efficiently. Keep up-to-date with all of the issues on the GitHub status website. Stay tuned and we will update this post once Microsoft releases an official statement.

You can now watch Microsoft’s March 30th digital event on YouTube

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

Last month, Microsoft held a digital press-only event, with a focus on productivity, as the Redmond giant made numerous new announcements. However, the digital briefing was not available online until this week. Recently, the Microsoft 365 team has posted the complete Microsoft 365 & Microsoft Edge digital event on YouTube (via Thurrott), sharing the details of the new features.

In this roughly 30-minute long event video, Microsoft discussed various enhancements made in its productivity suite, ranging from Outlook, Office, Teams and more. Some major video highlights include the launch of Microsoft 365 Personal and Family, Microsoft Editor, PowerPoint Presenter and Designer, Money in Excel, and a new Family Safety App. Moreover, Microsoft also announced some new features for Microsoft Edge and Outlook, along with some new consumer-facing features to Teams. If you are interested to learn more about the new features, check out our in-depth review of Microsoft’s event.

In case you missed, Microsoft has already announced that all of its external and internal events will be digital-only through July 2021 amid coronavirus crises. This change also applies to the next year’s Build developer conference, which is scheduled to be held in May 2021. So, there is likely a lot more digital events like this one on the road ahead

Red Dead Redemption 2 is coming to Xbox Game Pass on May 7 when GTA V will leave the catalog

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

Red Dead Redemption 2, one of the most critically-acclaimed games of this console generation, is joining Xbox Game Pass for Console on May 7, the Xbox team announced today. Rockstar Games’ western-themed action-adventure game will replace GTA V on the catalog, as the latter will also be removed on May 7.

With this latest Xbox Game Pass addition, Microsoft is proving that the biggest video game publishers adhere to the company’s vision that game subscription services are a great way to make AAA games available for more gamers. In addition to Rockstar Games, Microsoft also convinced major game publishers such as CD Projekt Red (The Witcher 3), Capcom (Devil May Cry 5), or Bethesda (Doom) to add some of their biggest games to Xbox Game Pass.

“Winner of over 175 Game of the Year Awards and recipient of over 250 perfect scores, Red Dead Redemption 2 is an epic tale of honor and loyalty at the dawn of the modern age,” the Xbox team said today. The game is indeed one of the few titles that truly proved the purpose of mid-generation upgrades like Xbox One X and PlayStation 4 Pro, and it’s certainly one of the most detailed, vibrant open-world games you can play on Xbox One today.

If you’re an Xbox Game Pass subscriber, you can already pre-load Red Dead Redemption 2 ahead of its May 7 availability. If you have yet to subscribe, we remind you that you can get your first month of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate for just $1.

Error 0x00000006 INVALID PROCESS DETACH ATTEMPT [FULL FIX]

Posted on by Milan Stanojevic

Blue Screen of Death is one of more serious problems on every version of Windows since it’s usually caused by a problematic driver or software, or in worst case scenario, a faulty hardware.

INVALID PROCESS DETACH ATTEMPT error can appear on almost any version of Windows, and Windows 10 is no exception, but fortunately, there are few ways to fix this problem.

How to fix INVALID PROCESS DETACH ATTEMPT error

Steps to fix INVALID PROCESS DETACH ATTEMPT error

1. Make sure that Windows 10 is updated

BSoD errors can be caused by a hardware incompatibility, and in order to avoid this issue, users are advising to keep your Windows 10 up to date. If Microsoft is aware of this issue, it will probably be fixed in one of the upcoming updates, so make sure to update Windows 10 regularly.

2. Update your graphics card driver

Number of users reported that this issue is caused by an outdated graphic card driver. If your graphic card driver isn’t compatible with Windows 10, we strongly advise you to update it. To update your graphic card driver you just need to visit your graphic card manufacturer’s website and download the latest driver for your graphic card.

2.1 Update drivers automatically

Searching for drivers on your own can be time-consuming. So, we advise you to use a tool that will do this for you automatically. Using an automatic driver updater will certainly save you from the hassle of searching for drivers manually, and it will always keep your system up to date with the latest drivers.

A dedicated tool will help you update drivers automatically and prevent PC damage caused by installing the wrong driver versions. After several tests, our team concluded that this is the best-automatized solution.

It scans your PC and detects all driver-related issues, be it outdated, corrupt or missing drivers. It automatically fixes them and you can set it up to regularly check your drivers and never worry about this again.

⇒ Oubyte Driver Updater

3. Run the BSOD Troubleshooter 

If updating your system and drivers didn’t get the job done, let’s try a few troubleshooting tools. The first tool we’re going to use is Windows 10’s built-in troubleshooter. This tool can help you resolve all sorts of issues, including the BSOD problems.

Here’s how to run Windows 10’s built-in troubleshooting tool:

  1. Go to the Settings app
  2. Head over to the Update & Security section.
  3. Select Troubleshoot from the menu on the left.
  4. Select BSOD from the right pane and click Run the troubleshooter.
  5. Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the troubleshooter.

4. Run the SFC scan

The SFC scan is a command line tool that scans your computer for potential issues, and resolves them (if the solution is possible). Therefore, the SFC scan can be helpful when dealing with problems like the INVALID PROCESS DETACH ATTEMPT error.

Here’s how to run the SFC scan in Windows 10:

  1. Right-click the Start Menu button, and open Command Prompt (Admin).
  2. Enter the following line and press Enter: sfc/scannow
  3. Wait until the process is done (it may take a while).
  4. The tool will automatically apply the solution, if possible.
  5. Restart your computer.

5. Run DISM

The third troubleshooting tool we’re going to try here is DISM. Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) reloads the system image, and resolves potential issues on the way. So, it might be helpful when dealing with the INVALID PROCESS DETACH ATTEMPT error.

We’ll walk you through both standard and the procedure that utilizes the installation media below:

  • Standard way
  1. Right-click Start and open Command Prompt (Admin).
  2. Paste the following command and press Enter:
    • DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
  3. Wait until the scan is finished.
  4. Restart your computer and try updating again.
  • With the Windows installation media
  1. Insert your Windows installation media.
  2. Right-click the Start menu and, from the menu, choose the Command Prompt (Admin).
  3. In the command line, type the following commands and press Enter after each:
    • dism /online /cleanup-image /scanhealth
    • dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth
  4. Now, type the following command and press Enter:
    • DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth /source:WIM:X:SourcesInstall.wim:1 /LimitAccess
  5. Make sure to change an X value with the letter of the mounted drive with Windows 10 installation.
  6. After the procedure is finished, restart your computer.

6. Check the hard drive

If there’s a problem with your hard disk or partition, BSOD issues are more than possible. To eliminate that possibility, we’re going to run a hard disk check tool, to make sure everything related to your partition is in its place.

Here’s how to check the hard drive in Windows 10:

  1. Enter the Advanced Startup (Restart your computer while holding the Shift key).
  2. Choose Troubleshoot > Advanced Options.
  3. Select Command Prompt from the list of options.
  4. When Command Prompt appears, enter the following lines and press Enter after each line in order to run it:
    • bootrec.exe /rebuildbcd
    • bootrec.exe /fixmbr
    • bootrec.exe /fixboot
  5. Some users are also suggesting that you need to run additional chkdsk commands as well. To perform these commands, you need to know drive letters for all your hard drive partitions. In Command Prompt you should enter the following (but remember to use the letters that match your hard drive partitions on your PC):
    • chkdsk /r c:
    • chkdsk /r d:

      This is just our example, so keep in mind that you have to perform chkdsk command for every hard drive partition that you have.

  6. Restart your computer and check if the issue is resolved.

7. Reinstall Office

Few users reported INVALID PROCESS DETACH ATTEMPT while using certain older versions of Microsoft Office. If you are using an older version of Office, make sure to completely remove it from your PC. After removing Office, you need to disable your antivirus software and reinstall Office again. This is just a potential solution, but it worked for few users, so you might want to try it out.

8. Uninstall your antivirus software

In certain cases, antivirus software can cause INVALID PROCESS DETACH ATTEMPT to appear, and in order to fix this error you’ll have to temporarily uninstall your antivirus software. Tools such as Norton, AVG, Avast or even Malwarebytes can cause a BSoD error to appear.

Even if you don’t use any of these tools for system protection, you should know that almost any antivirus can cause this issue to appear, therefore it’s advised to remove your current antivirus.

If the issue persists even after you removed the antivirus software, maybe few of its files or registry entries remained in your computer. To completely remove a certain antivirus software, it’s advised to use an uninstaller tool, and many antivirus companies offer these tools for download, so make sure to get one for your antivirus software.

After you remove your antivirus, you can try reinstalling the updated version or you can download one of the best antivirus programs and use it instead.

⇒ Get TotalAV

9. Enter Safe Mode

If your computer constantly restarts while giving you INVALID PROCESS DETACH ATTEMPT error, you should try entering the Safe Mode. Safe Mode uses only limited software and drivers in order to run, and by entering Safe Mode you can find if a problem is related to your software. To enter Safe Mode, do the following:

  1. While your computer boots, restart it. Repeat this process 3 or 4 times. This should start Automatic Repair.
  2. Choose Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup settings. Click the Restart button.
  3. When your computer restarts, you should see a list of options available. Press 5 of F5 to select Safe Mode with Networking.

Try using your PC in Safe Mode for a while to see if the INVALID PROCESS DETACH ATTEMPT error appears. If the problem doesn’t manifest, it’s probably caused by a certain software or a driver, and you’re advised to find and uninstall the problematic software.

As we previously mentioned, antivirus can cause this BSoD error, but at the same time, this issue can be caused by almost any other software. If the blue screen error started appearing recently, make sure to remove any software that you installed in past few days or weeks.

In some cases, certain driver can cause a BSoD error, and you’re advised to find the problematic driver and remove it. Removing an installed driver is simple, and you can do it by following these steps:

  1. Open Power User Menu by pressing Windows Key + X and select Device Manager from the list.
    device-manager
  2. Locate the problematic driver, right click it, and choose Uninstall from the menu.
    uninstall-driver

10. Check your hardware

BSoD errors are often caused by a faulty hardware, most commonly RAM, so if you’re having INVALID PROCESS DETACH ATTEMPT error, we advise you to use MemTest86+ and check if your RAM is working properly. In addition to RAM, this issue can be caused by any other hardware component or even by a newly installed hardware.

Sometimes your new RAM, graphic card or even wireless adapter might not be fully compatible with your motherboard and that can cause this error to appear. If you installed any new components recently, we advise you to replace them with previous components to see if the issue still persists.

11. Perform System Restore or reset your PC

If all other solutions don’t work, you can try performing a System Restore. To perform a System Restore you need to do the following:

  1. While your PC boots, restart it few times. This should start Automatic Recovery.
  2. Choose Troubleshoot > Advanced options > System Restore.
  3. Select your user name and enter your password.
  4. Follow the instructions and select a system restore point you wish to restore to. Click Next and follow the instructions.

If System Restore doesn’t work for you, you can always reset your PC. To do that, do the following:

  1. Start the Automatic Recovery by restarting your computer few times while it boots.
  2. Choose Troubleshoot > Reset this PC.
  3. You can choose between Keep my files and Remove everything. In our experience, sometimes it’s better to use Remove everything option, since that options works similarly to clean install. If you choose Remove everything remember to choose Only the drive where Windows is installed > Just remove my files. By using this option all files and folders from your C drive will be removed, so make sure that you back them up.

INVALID_PROCESS_DETACH_ATTEMPT BSoD error can be troublesome and sometimes hard to fix, but we hope that some of our solutions were helpful to you.

We covered a similar issue in our INVALID_SILO_DETACH guide, so don’t miss it.

Windows 10/11 activation errors: Causes and solutions

Posted on by Madalina Dinita

When users upgrade to the latest version of Windows 10, they oftentimes can’t take advantage of the newest features and improvements due to various activation errors.

To help, we’re going to list the most frequent Windows 10 activation errors as well as their corresponding workarounds in this article.

How do I fix Windows 10 activation errors?

  • Errors 0x803f7001, 0x800704cF

These errors mean that Microsoft hasn’t found a valid Windows license for your PC and they occur if either you used an invalid key or made a major change to your device’s hardware.

For the former, you need to buy a valid activation code. For the latter, run the Windows Activation troubleshooter to fix these errors.

  • Errors 0xC004C003, 0xC004C060, 0xC004C4A2, 0xC004C4A2, 0x803FA067L, 0xC004C001, 0xC004C004, 0xC004F004, 0xC004C007, 0xC004F005, 0xC004C00F, 0xC004C010, 0xC004C00E, 0xC004C4A4, 0xC004C4A5, 0xC004B001, 0xC004F010

There are two possible explanations for the errors listed above: an invalid product key was entered or the activation servers were busy.

If you’re sure that valid key was entered, wait for a few hours then try again.

If you still can’t activate Windows 10, it’s likely that a valid activation code from the Windows Store needs to be purchased.

  • Error 0xC004F034

Windows 10 activation error 0xC004F034 occurs if an invalid product key or a product key for a different version of Windows is entered.

To fix this issue, a valid product key needs to be entered.

If Windows is installed on a device that connects to a Key Management Service server, contact your organization’s support department.

  • Errors 0xC004C4AE, 0xC004E016, 0xC004F210, 0xC004F00F

These errors occur when a product key for a different Windows version than the one installed on a device is entered. Enter a valid product key to fix this issue.

If your PC is already running Windows 10, use the Activation troubleshooter to install the correct edition of Windows.

  • Error 0xC004FC03, 0x8007267C

These two errors occur when you’re not connected to the internet or your firewall settings prevent Windows from completing the activation process.

Check your Internet connection and temporarily disable your firewall.

  • Error 0xC004E028

This means that you’re trying to activate a device that is already in the process of activation. Your device should be activated after the first request is completed.

  • Errors 0xD0000272, 0xC0000272, 0xc004C012, 0xC004C013, 0xC004C014

This means that the activation server is temporarily unavailable. Rest assured, your copy of Windows will automatically be activated when the service comes back online.

  • Errors 0xC004C008, 0xC004C770, 0x803FA071

This error means the product key has already been used on another PC or is being used on a larger number of PCs than allowed by the Microsoft Software License Terms.

To fix the problem, buy a product key from the Windows Store.

  • Error 0xC004C020

This error occurs when a Volume License has been used on more PCs than the Microsoft Software License Terms allow.

To fix the problem, use a different product key to activate Windows on your PC. Contact your organization’s support person for more help.

  • Error 0x80072F8F
Error 0x80072F8F occurs when the date and time for the PC are incorrect or when Windows can’t connect to the online activation service.
Verify the date and time on your PC and restart your computer.
  • Error 0xC004E003

This error occurs when third-party software changes your system files. Restore system files back to an earlier point in time.

  • Error 0x80004005

Go to the Start button, select Settings, navigate to Update & security, click Activation, then select Troubleshoot to run the Activation troubleshooter.

If the troubleshooter doesn’t fix this activation error, reset your PC.

If you’ve come across other Windows 10 activation errors and you’ve managed to fix them, you can list the troubleshooting steps in the comment section below.

  • Why am I activating Windows message?
Activation is the process intended by Microsoft to identify and verify if your License is legitimate. If you are facing an activation error, here’s how you can fix it.

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How to fix upgrade error 0x80070714 in Windows 10/11

Posted on by Aleksandar Ognjanovic

The Fall Creators Update covers 75% of Windows 10 platform.

However, a lot of users that haven’t obtained 1709 version yet, are stuck with an incredibly unyielding problem which prevents the upgrade.

This error goes by the code 0x80070714 and it’s easily identified as the ERROR_RESOURCE_DATA_NOT_FOUND codename.

If this error trapped you in the never-ending upgrade loop, make sure to check the steps we provided below.

How do I resolve upgrade error 0x80070714 in Windows 10?

  1. Run Update troubleshooter
  2. Reset update services
  3. Run DISM
  4. Use Media Creation Tool
  5. Install updates via the installation media
  6. Perform a clean reinstallation

1: Run Update troubleshooter

First things first. Even though this might seem like an unfitting workaround for the grave issue at hand, it might help you, nonetheless.

Windows Update Troubleshooter will, upon running, reset various related services and it might address your problem.

However, don’t hold high hopes, since this error mostly occurs when upgrading to major updates, thus it’s harder to address it than usual.

Here’s how to run Windows Update troubleshooter:

  1. Press Windows key + I to summon the Settings app.
  2. Select Update & Security.windows 10 error 0x80070714
  3. Then select Troubleshoot from the left pane.
  4. Expand Windows Update Troubleshooter and click ”Run the troubleshooter”.windows 10 error 0x80070714
  5. Wait for the restoring process to end and restart your PC.

2: Reset update services

Most of the time, the problem with the update errors in general concerns update-related services that tend to get stuck or unresponsive.

Furthermore, the folder in which all update-related files are stored and installed can be an issue, as well.

Installation files tend to get corrupted or incomplete, especially if there’s a presence of malware on your system.

For that reason, it’s advised to restart update services and delete the content from the Software Distribution folder. Here’s how to do it:

  1. In the Windows Search bar, type cmd.
  2. Right-click the Command Prompt and run it as an administrator.
  3. In the command-line, copy-paste the following commands and press Enter after each:
    • net stop wuauserv
    • net stop bits
    • net stop cryptsvc
    • Ren %systemroot%SoftwareDistributionSoftwareDistribution.bak
    • Ren %systemroot%system32catroot2 catroot2.bakwindows 10 error 0x80070714
    • net start wuauserv
    • net start bits
    • net start cryptsvc
  4. Restart your PC and try updating again.

Also, some knowledgeable users suggested disabling SQL service in Services. Allegedly, it seems that SQL blocks the upgrade for some reason. Here’s how to disable it:

  1. In the Windows Search bar, type services, and open Services.
  2. Disable all Microsoft SQL services you can find and try updating again.

3: Run DISM

If none of the previous steps get you out of a slump, the next obvious step is to utilize DISM.

Deployment Image Servicing and Management tool is the advanced troubleshooting built-in tool run through the command-line.

This tool’s main use is to, by employing system resources or an external source, locate and fix critical errors in system files.

As we already said, the corruption in update-related files is quite common, especially if the update size is as overwhelming as it is with major Creators updates.

Here’s how to run DISM in Windows 10, as simplified as it can be:

  1. Type cmd in Search, right-click on the Command Prompt and run it with the administrative permissions.
  2. In the command line, copy-paste these lines one by one and press Enter after each:
    • DISM /online /Cleanup-Image / ScanHealth
    • DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
  3. Wait until the procedure ends (it might take up to 10 minutes).
  4. Restart your PC.

4: Use Media Creation Tool

If you’re unable to overcome the 0x80070714 error with the standard update procedure, there are still alternatives you can turn to.

Namely, Microsoft offers the Media Creation Tool which can be used to override the standard OTA updates.

Furthermore, you can use this tool to download and install the latest system version manually.

Follow these steps to do so:

  1. Download Media Creation Tool by following this link.
  2. Right-click on the tool and choose to run it as an administrator.
  3. Accept the Licence Terms.
  4. Now, choose to Upgrade this PC.
  5. Wait until all files are downloaded and the installation should start afterward.

5: Install updates via the installation media

In case even that fails, you can, by using the same tool, create an external install media , and install updates that way. This should exclude the possible issues within the system resources.

That way, you’ll use the data on the bootable USB or an ISO drive to install updates, rather than utilizing the system services mainly.

Here’s how to do it in a few steps:

  1. Download the Media Creation Tool from here.
  2. Plug in the USB flash drive with at least 4 GB.
  3. Run Media Creation Tool and accept the License Terms.windows 10 error 0x80070714
  4. Choose Create installation media (USB flash drive, DVD, or ISO file) for another PC.windows 10 error 0x80070714
  5. Select the preferred language, architecture, and edition and click Next.windows 10 error 0x80070714
  6. Choose USB flash drive and then click Next.
  7. Media Creation Tool will download the setup and copy the installation files onto the USB flash drive.
  8.  Finally, restart your PC.
  9. Plug in USB and start the Setup.

6: Perform a clean reinstallation

In the end, if none of the previous steps worked, the only thing that comes to my mind is to advise you to reinstall the system clean or to disable major updates and stick with the previous Windows iteration.

The former is, of course, not a preferable step, taking into consideration that you’ll lose all of your customized preferences and applications.

On the other hand, you can disable major updates temporarily, and avoid further issues. Here’s how to do it in Windows 10:

  1. Open Settings.
  2. Choose Updates & Security.windows 10 error 0x80070714
  3. Select Advanced options under the Windows Update.windows 10 error 0x80070714
  4. Scroll down and toggle on Pause updateswindows 10 error 0x80070714

That should be it. In case you have a better alternative to our solutions or questions regarding the error code 0x80070714, we encourage you to share them in the comments section below.

Windows 20H1 Build 19041.208 fixes an NPLogonNotify bug

Posted on by Don Sharpe

As the Windows 20H1 development approaches its completion, insider preview build 19041.208 is now live in the Slow ring.

The build does not provide any new app features or enhancements. Instead, it offers a fix that a previous update, build 19041.207, did not include.

Microsoft released build 19041.207 to the Release preview ring last week. It said that the build would be the last as the company prepares to push out the much-anticipated Windows 10 May 2020 Update (20H1).

Little wonder the latest update has no new features.

Upgrade now to address an NPLogonNotify API bug

Win32 app Developers can breathe a sigh of relief as Microsoft said that it resolved a problem with NPLogonNotify API notifications.

The function in question is critical to credential management.

In a typical Winlogon process, the Multiple Provider Router (MPR) invokes the API to tell the credential manager (CM) that a logon event has occurred. Next, the CM sends back a logon script.

With this update, sending NPLogonNotify alerts from the credential provider framework should work as expected.

It is not surprising that preview build 19041.208 fixes only one bug. The reason for this is that the update includes numerous solutions that Microsoft released with build 19041.207 last week.

So if, for some reason, you did not install build 19041.207, try installing the latest update to fix other Windows 10 PC bugs like:

  • The unexpected crashing of the Remote Procedure Call (RPC) service.
  • The malfunctioning of the Device Enrollment Status Page (ESP) on managed devices.
  • The malfunctioning of the rear camera flash on devices with that feature.
  • The update also included security patches for multiple Windows 10 applications, systems, and features.

The persistent screen reader issue

The release notes for 20H1 build 19041.208 include some bad news for Chromium-based Edge browser users with visual impairment.

We are aware Narrator and NVDA users that seek the latest release of Microsoft Edge based on Chromium may experience some difficulty when navigating and reading certain web content. Narrator, NVDA and the Edge teams are aware of these issues.

Meanwhile, affected users can still use the screen readers with the old Microsoft Edge. The legacy version of the browser does not seem to have compatibility issues with Narrator or NVDA.

Also, NVAccess published a solution to this particular Edge problem.

Users expect Microsoft to push the Windows 10 May 2020 Update very soon. The final version will include major upgrades to the OS, apps, and features.

 

 

FULL FIX: NBA 2K error codes 0f777c90, a21468b6 and 4b538e50

Posted on by Madalina Dinita

NBA 2K17/18/19 is a title every basketball fan should play that simulates the experience of playing in the National Basketball Association and includes several game modes.

MyCareer lets you create your own player and guide him through his career.

The MyGM and MyLeague modes allow you to take full control over an entire basketball club, and MyTeam lets you create your own team to challenge other players‘ teams.

Unfortunately, like many other titles, it appears that there are three common errors that affect NBA 2K17’s MyCareer mode and prevent gamers from actually playing.

How do I fix errors 0f777c90, a21468b6 and 4b538e50 on NBA 2K17/2K18/2K19?

Solution 1 – Update NBA 2K17

These three errors most likely occur because you haven’t downloaded the latest game updates.

For some players, this may take longer depending on the size of the download and the speed of your internet connection.

When the download is complete, you’ll be asked to return to the game’s main menu so the update can go into effect.

You can play a series of games in Play Now mode to trigger a faster download process.

These three errors most likely occur because you haven’t downloaded the latest game updates.

For some players, this may take longer depending on the size of the download and the speed of your internet connection.

When the download is complete, you’ll be asked to return to the game’s main menu so the update can go into effect.

You can play a series of games in Play Now mode to trigger a faster download process.

If you’re playing on an Xbox One, you simply need to restart your console and this should fix the problem.

If you use an NBA 2K17 disc, first remove the disc, wait for a couple of minutes and then go back online.

Solution 2 – Select the save file

According to other NBA 2K17 players who contacted 2K’s Support, you can fix errors 0f777c90 and a21468b6 by simply tapping the triangle on MyCareer to select the save file.

If you’ve encountered other NBA 2K17 errors that we didn’t list in this article, try using the same troubleshooting methods listed above.

It appears that the majority of NBA 2K17 errors are triggered by the fact that you’re not running the latest game updates.

For a better gaming experience, we recommend downloading Game Fire for free. It will help with various gaming issues, such as low FPS, lags and slow PC.

Solution 3 – Clean boot your computer

When playing games, it’s important to make sure that your computer’s resources are directed towards running the respective games.

You can disable unnecessary apps, programs, and processes by performing a clean boot. Here are the steps to follow:

  1. Go to Start > type msconfig > hit Enter
  2. Go to System Configuration > click on the Services tab >  check the Hide all Microsoft services check box > click Disable all.hide all microsoft services
  3. Go to the Startup tab > Open Task Manager.
  4. Select each startup item > click Disable > close Task Manager > restart the computer.disable startup programs

And if you’re thinking about upgrading to NBA 2K18, maybe you should think twice since the game to has quite a plethora of issues.

However, we have an extensive guide on how you can fix most of them. You can use this guide for NBA 2K19 as well.

FIX: Windows 10/11 font is too small

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

There is an annoying font problem for some Windows 10  users – the font is too small on their devices.

There’s a very simple fix to this problem that we’re going to talk about below.

If you have been struck by the small font problem in Windows 10 here’s what you can do to remedy this problem.

The problem might be caused by high DPI scaling in Windows, so check our previous post with similar working fixes – Chrome Looks Blurry in Windows 10: What to do.

If your issue persists, then here’s how to make the font on your screen larger or smaller, in our situation you want to make it bigger.

How do I make the font bigger in Windows 10?

  1. Change font size
  2. Change display resolution
  3. Press the CTRL key and use your mouse wheel

1. Change font size

You can make the text (and other things like icons) larger without changing the screen resolution of your monitor or laptop screen.

That way, you can make the text easier to see and still keep your monitor or laptop set to the best possible resolution.

How to change font size on Windows 10:

  1. On Windows 10, things are simpler. All you need to do is go to Start > type display > select Change Display Settings.
  2. Under Scale and Layout, you can change the size of text, apps , and other items

display resolution

2. Change display resolution

Another way to increase font size on PC is to change the display resolution.

However, keep in mind that the default resolution of your screen already uses the best possible configuration to display Windows.

Increasing the resolution will indeed make all parts of the UI larger, but some of them will become blurry or will even disappear.

To change display resolution on Windows 10, go to Settings > Display and choose another resolution level from the drop-down menu.

change display resolution

3. Press the CTRL key and use your mouse wheel

If you want to increase font size on various apps and programs or while browsing the Internet, you can simply press and hold the CRTL key on your keyboard and scroll up using your mouse wheel.

The text size on the respective apps and programs will automatically increase.

That’s it, we hope that these suggestions helped. If you’ve got additional tips and suggestions, you can list them in the comments below.

If you’re still using Windows 8.1, here’s how to change display resolution:

  • Open Screen Resolution by swiping in from the right edge of the screen, choose Search, enter Display in the search box, choose Settings, and then Display.
  • Choose Larger – 150%. This sets text and other items to 150% of normal size. This option appears only if your monitor supports a resolution of at least 1200 x 900 pixels.
  • Hit Apply

If you want to change the text size for specific items in Windows 8.1, here’s what you need to do

  • Open Screen Resolution
  • Under Change only the text size, choose the item you’d like to change and pick a text size.
  • Apply

How to fix Save Error 510 in Sims 4 on Windows 10/11 PCs

Posted on by Aleksandar Ognjanovic

Sims 4 is one of the most popular sequels of the most popular, so to say, life simulation ever.

Now, EA somehow managed to improve on the old recipe and make it even better with a dozen DLCs and additional content.

Nonetheless, this game has various downsides, including bugs and various errors. The one we’ll try to sort out today goes by the code 510 and it occurs while saving the in-game progress.

In order to resolve this error, we advise you to follow gradually the steps below in order we presented below.

How can I resolve Sims 4 Save error 510 on PC?

  1. Update mods
  2. Remove mods
  3. Clear game cache
  4. Validate the game integrity with Origin
  5. Reinstall the game

1. Update mods

The main reason for basically all save-related errors are mods. They’re mostly provided and administered by third-party sites and they certainly do enrich the overall experience.

However, you’ll need to keep them up to date. A lot of valuable mods a large player base uses in Sims 4 are outdated and not in the sync with the current Sims 4 version.

Because of that, before you completely remove mods, we advise you to update the ones you can.

For that purpose, you’ll need to navigate to the mod supplier’s site and look for the fresh version of all installed mods.

Only the mods that support the current Sims 4 version will be able to run in a seamless manner. Thus, you’ll have a better time with saving the game progress.

2. Remove mods

In case you’re still seeing the same save error 510, the next step you should consider is removing the mods from your installation.

Now, we don’t say to delete them all immediately (even though you can do that, as well).

What we say is to move the mods folder to an alternative location (Desktop is a good choice) and create a new folder with the same name folder.

Now, you can insert mods individually and look for an error trigger. Once you’re certain which mod causes the error, make sure to exclude it from the game.

3. Clear game cache

Now, even though our suspicion is focused on unsupported and/or outdated mods, culprits often come in numbers.

The corrupted cache can also inflict a save error, including the one with the 510 error code.

What you’ll need to do in order to resolve this is to delete certain cache files and move from there.

Of course, before you start meddling with the Sims 4 installation, don’t forget to backup your save files.

Here’s how to clear the cache in Sims 4, and hopefully resolve the save error 510:

  1. Exit the game.
  2. Go to Documents (My Documents).
  3. Open Electronic Arts.
  4. Open Sims 4.
  5. Move your Saves folder to Desktop or an alternative location.
  6. Delete these cache files from Cache folder:
    • localthumbcache.package
    • cache
    • cachestr
    • cachewebkit
    • lotcachedData
  7. Start the game.

For a better gaming experience, we recommend downloading Game Fire for free. It will help with various gaming issues, such as freezes, crashes, low FPS, lags, and slow PC.

4. Validate the game integrity with Origin

In case you’ve acquired the game from Origin client, you can use it to repair corrupted or missing game files and address the problem that way.

Now, this comes once you’ve dismissed mods as the instigators of the problem. The game files can get corrupted, too.

Especially due to malware infection or accidental deletion of one or more essential files.

Here’s how to validate the game integrity with Origin and resolve possible saving stall caused by corrupted/incomplete installation files:

  1. Open Origin client.
  2. Navigate to My Games.
  3. Right-click Sims 4 and click Repair install.
  4. The tool will check your game and repair corrupted or incomplete files.

5. Reinstall the game

Lastly, if you’re still unable to move past the save error 510, we advise you to reconsider game reinstallation as the last resort.

By reinstalling the game, you’ll have the blank, vanilla iteration.

Later on, you can add mods of choice one by one but make sure to add only the ones that are up to date and supported by the last version of the game.

Here’s how to reinstall Sims 4 with the Origin client:

  1. Open the Origin client and select My Games.
  2. Right-click and select Uninstall.
  3. After the process is finished go to the location of installation and delete remaining folders.
  4. Use a 3rd-party tool to clean registry. We recommend CCleaner.
  5. Restart your PC.
  6. Start Origin again.
  7. Find Sims 4 and select Install.

That should be it. We certainly do hope that you were able to finally save your game after applying one of these solutions.

Furthermore, feel free to share your questions or suggestions, and tell us whether the solutions helped you or not. You can do so in the comments below.

How to fix USB code 43 error in Windows 10

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

If your USB device fails to work on Windows 10 with code 43 error in Device Manager, then you need to read the following to be able to fix the problem.
usb 3.0 windows 8.1 code 43
There is no news in the fact that there are problems with the USB connectivity in Windows 10.

We have explained in a previous post how to fix slow USB 3.0 problems in Windows 10 and now it’s time to talk about another specific problem – the code 43 error that you see in the Device Manager.

Shared by the Microsoft Windows USB Core Team on a recent posting, this annoying USB problem seems to finally have received an end. Here’s what the team says:

A few USB devices when connected to a port of an Enhanced Host Controller (EHCI) might not enumerate on Windows 8.1 but work on Windows 8. In Windows 8.1, the failure is reported as error code 43 in Device Manager.

One of the reasons is that the device reports itself as supporting a USB version greater than 2.00, but does not provide the required BOS descriptor.

As per the official USB specification, a USB device with version 2.00 or greater must provide a BOS descriptor. In Windows 8, the USB 2.0 driver stack does not validate that requirement.

As a result, a 2.00 or greater device without a BOS descriptor, enumerates successfully when connected to an EHCI controller. In Windows 8.1, the driver stack has been updated and enumeration fails for such devices.

Note: The USB 3.0 eXtensible Host Controller (xHCI) driver in Windows 8 and 8.1 validates that requirement. We are investigating a possible workaround for devices with that problem.

This is a hard nut to crack, as you will be required to do several quite technical things in order to get rid of it.

If the below steps won’t solve your problem, leave your exact device model number with a comment here or on the above-mentioned post from the Microsoft Windows USB Core Team and maybe they will help.

How can I fix USB Code 43 error on Windows PCs?

1. Check the bcdUSB and fid_URB_Hdr_Status values

  • Capture a USB ETW trace for the enumeration failure.
  • Open the trace in the Microsoft Network Monitor application (Netmon)
  • Open the Find Frame dialog (CTRL-F) and search for the USBPort.USBPORT_ETW_EVENT_DEVICE_INITIALIZE event
  • Expand the fid_USBPORT_DeviceDescriptor field in the Frame Details pane and see the value of bcdUSB
  • If the bcdUSB value is greater than 0x200, open the Find Frame dialog again and search for USBPort.USBPORT_ETW_EVENT_COMPLETE_URB_FUNCTION_CONTROL_TRANSFER_EX.ControlTransfer.Urb.SetupPacket.Value_DescriptorType == 0xf. The search returns control transfer completion for the BOS descriptor type of 0x0F
  • Expand the ControlTransfer field in Frame Details pane and view the URB_Hdr_Status value
  • If the fid_URB_Hdr_Status value is anything other than success, the device failed to return a BOS descriptor even though it reports a version greater than 0x200.

2. Unplug all peripherals and restart your computer

Restarting your computer or laptop may fix this error quicker than you may think. But there’s a catch: since error 43 affects your USB connection, you should first unplug all peripherals connected to your device.

Then restart your computer and plug your peripherals back in one by one.

3. Launch the Windows Troubleshooter

Windows 10 comes with a built-in troubleshooter that allows users to quickly fix various issues. Here’s how to use it:

  1. Go to Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot
  2. Go to Find and fix other problems > click on Hardware and Devices > launch the troubleshooter
  3. fix usb error 43
  4. Wait until the troubleshooting process completes > check if the issue persists.

4. Remove the problematic USB controller driver

If the solutions above didn’t work, identify the problematic USB controller driver, uninstall it, and then re-install on your computer.

  1. Launch Device Manager > go to Universal Serial Bus controllersUSB error 43 fix
  2. Check if there is a yellow triangle with an exclamation mark there. It should be accompanied by the description Unknown Device
  3. Select the problematic driver > in the new window, go to the Driver tab > click Uninstall to remove the USB controllers driver
  4. Now click on Scan for hardware changes’ to re-install the driver.

Note: this solution works only for the error message Windows has stopped this device because it has reported problems. (Code 43) is visible under the General tab – Device status.

5. Update Windows

Make sure that you’re running the latest Windows OS updates on your machine.

As a quick reminder, Microsoft constantly rolls out Windows updates in order to improve the system’s stability and fix various issues, including USB errors.

To access the Windows Update section, you can simply type update in the search box.

This method works on all Windows versions. Then go to Windows Update, check for updates and install the available updates.

6.  Run a full system scan

Malware may cause various issues on your computer, including hardware errors. Perform a full system scan in order to detect any malware running on your computer.

You can use Windows’ built-in antivirus, Windows Defender, or third-party antivirus solutions.

Here’s how to run a full system scan on Windows 10 Creators Update:

  1. Go to Start > type ‘defender’ > double click Windows Defender to launch the tool
  2. In the left hand pane, select the shield icon
  3. In the new window, click the Advanced scan option
  4. Check the full scan option to launch a full system malware scan.

7. Replace the problematic hardware

If none of the solutions listed above fixed the error, test the problematic USB device on another computer.

If the same error occurs or the device fails to work, this indicates that the device itself is triggering error 43 and you need to replace it.

Let us know if you managed to fix the Windows 7, 8.1, 10USB problem highlighted with code 43 error by following the above steps.

FAQ: Read more about USB issues

  • How do I fix code 43 USB?
Start by unplugging all your peripherals and restarting your computer. If the problem persists, we have the right guide to help you fix it.
  • How do I force Windows to recognize a USB?
You need to uninstall the USB device driver and restart your computer. If the USB device is not recognized, here’s a guide on how to fix that.
  • How do I reinstall USB 3.0 drivers?

You need to change the driver using Device Manager. If you can’t install a driver, read this complete solution to fix the problem.

[wl_navigator]

Windows 10 preview build 19613 fixes Windows Forms issues

Posted on by Don Sharpe

Microsoft has responded to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic in different ways. One of them is by pausing the release of optional Windows 10 updates to users starting in May.

But the company’s Windows Insider program is still releasing beta versions of the OS. The latest one is Windows 10 preview build 19613, which is now available in the Fast ring.

Update 19613.1000 fixes a couple of technical issues. However, the release notes for this build do not mention any particular Windows 10 improvements.

Problems fixed include:

Windows Forms apps

According to Microsoft, build 19613 fixes an issue affecting applications that use Windows Forms. Apparently, the ImmSetOpenStatus() function was not handling the input method editor (IME) service properly with text fields in focus when using the newly introduced Japanese or Chinese IMEs.

The ImmSetOpenStatus() API is for closing or opening up the IME. In turn, the IME lets you input complex characters, for example, the Japanese Kanji, with a standard PC keyboard.

We fixed an issue impacting Windows Forms applications where the ImmSetOpenStatus() API wasn’t changing the IME mode correctly when setting focus to text fields while using the new Japanese or Chinese IMEs.

Visual Studio-Monitor problems

After installing some recent Windows 10 builds, insiders using multiple monitors reported a problem where Visual Studio would not respond to clicks. Microsoft said it fixed that issue with build 19613.

Taskbar/Explorer issues

This update resolves a problem where app icons in the taskbar were not displaying correctly. In some cases, the taskbar would show the default .exe icon instead.

The problem destabilized the explorer.exe app, but affected insiders can install the update to fix it.

Command-line issues

Before installing this fix, you may not successfully use the doskey / listsize command to set the history buffer’s maximum number of commands.

Under normal conditions, invoking the doskey /reinstall command should result in the installation of a new copy of Doskey.exe. It also removes all previous commands from the history buffer.

But instead of working as it should, the command would end the command-line session all together. Affected Fast ring insiders can clear the problem by updating to build 19613.

Settings app

Would your Windows 10 Settings app crash when you were uninstalling a font? That issue should disappear after upgrading.

Do not forget to create a system restore point before updating to build 19613.

 

16 Best Benchmark Software for Windows 11 (2026 List)

Posted on by Matthew Adams

With the best benchmark software for Windows 11, you can test your PC’s real performance under load, compare hardware, and uncover bottlenecks. These tools help you assess your system’s capabilities for gaming, editing, upgrading, or troubleshooting. Please find below the top benchmark tools and their respective use cases.

Top Performance Benchmark Software for Windows 11

Table of contents

1. AIDA64 Extreme – Best for Deep Diagnostics and Hardware Monitoring

AIDA64 offers complete system analysis, thermal tracking, and multi-component stress tests. It reads sensors in real time and displays detailed reports for every component, including CPU, GPU, memory, and storage.

Best For: PC builders, overclockers, system analysts
→ Get AIDA64 Extreme

2. 3DMark – Best for GPU and Gaming Benchmarks

3DMark simulates modern gaming scenarios using real-time 3D rendering and ray tracing. It generates scores based on GPU and CPU coordination under load.

Best For: Gamers, GPU testers, hardware reviewers
→ Download 3DMark

3. Geekbench 6 – Best for Real-World CPU and GPU Compute

Geekbench measures how well your processor handles realistic tasks like image editing, file compression, and machine learning. It generates scores for both CPU and GPU performance.

If you’re comparing performance across GPUs, you may want to reference this GPU comparison tool breakdown to complement Geekbench results.

Best For: Developers, testers, laptop buyers
→ Run Geekbench 6

4. PassMark PerformanceTest – Best All-in-One Testing Suite

Best For: IT professionals, PC tuners, tech-savvy users
→ Try PerformanceTest

5. Cinebench R23 – Best for Content Creation and CPU Rendering

Cinebench tests your CPU with professional rendering tasks from Cinema 4D. It benchmarks single-core and multi-core performance using real production workloads.

Best For: Animators, editors, content creators
→ Download Cinebench R23

6. PCMark 10 – Best for Productivity and Workload Simulation

PCMark evaluates your PC’s performance using tasks like video conferencing, spreadsheets, and photo editing. It gives an overall score reflecting how well your device handles office work.

To explore more tailored options, check out this overview of PCMark for Windows, which includes specific module-based test features.

Best For: Office users, remote workers, students
→ Run PCMark 10

7. CrystalDiskMark – Best for SSD and HDD Speed Tests

CrystalDiskMark benchmarks your disk’s sequential and random read/write speeds. It works for SSDs, HDDs, USB drives, and memory cards.

You can explore other alternatives in this list of hard drive benchmark software for Windows if you want varied I/O testing tools.

Best For: Storage testers, upgraders, IT techs
→ Download CrystalDiskMark

8. UserBenchmark – Best for Fast System Snapshots

UserBenchmark scans your CPU, GPU, RAM, and storage and gives you a full performance breakdown with upgrade suggestions.

Best For: Beginners, casual users
→ Test with UserBenchmark

9. NovaBench – Best Lightweight Full-System Test

NovaBench runs a quick suite of CPU, GPU, RAM, and disk tests and displays easy-to-read results. It’s beginner-friendly and finishes in under five minutes.

Best For: Students, casual testers
→ Try NovaBench

10. OCCT – Best for Stability and Overclocking Stress Tests

OCCT provides intense system stress tests while tracking real-time voltages, clock speeds, and thermals. It covers CPU, GPU, RAM, and even PSU stability.

Best For: Overclockers, performance tuners
→ Download OCCT

11. Unigine Heaven – Best for Visual GPU Stress Testing

Unigine Heaven is a long-running graphics benchmark that uses a beautiful 3D environment to stress your GPU.

Best For: Gamers, GPU overclockers
→ Run Heaven Benchmark

12. AS SSD Benchmark – Best for Advanced SSD Analysis

AS SSD goes beyond read/write speed, offering latency, IOPS, and compression testing. It’s useful for validating NVMe and SATA SSDs under advanced conditions.

For another minimal yet high-precision option, CCSIO Benchmark is a helpful drive speed testing tool that complements AS SSD well.

Best For: Storage enthusiasts, benchmark reviewers
→ Use AS SSD Benchmark

13. HWMonitor – Best for Real-Time Hardware Stats

HWMonitor displays live temperature, fan speed, power usage, and voltages across all key components. It works well alongside stress testing tools.

Best For: PC maintenance, thermal testing
→ Track with HWMonitor

14. RealBench – Best for Real-World Content Workloads

RealBench uses photo editing, video rendering, and multitasking simulations to benchmark system performance under real usage.

Best For: Streamers, creators, ASUS ROG fans
→ Try RealBench

15. Speccy – Best for Hardware Inventory Snapshots

Speccy offers a clean interface that shows CPU, motherboard, RAM, storage, and OS information at a glance.

Best For: Tech support, inventory logging
→ View specs with Speccy

16. ThrottleStop – Best for Fixing CPU Throttling

ThrottleStop helps advanced users unlock performance by adjusting CPU voltage and disabling manufacturer-imposed throttling on laptops.

Best For: Advanced laptop users, performance tuners
→ Download ThrottleStop

Benchmarking Software Feature Comparison

ToolMain FocusBest ForStandout Feature
AIDA64 ExtremeDiagnostics, sensorsOverclockers, system buildersIn-depth monitoring + stress testing
3DMarkGPU/gaming performanceGamers, graphics testersReal-time DX12 and ray tracing tests
Geekbench 6CPU/GPU computeDevelopers, laptop buyersCross-platform results
PassMarkFull system benchmarkIT pros, DIY usersComposite score and hardware ranking
Cinebench R23CPU renderingCreators, editorsUses Cinema 4D engine for realistic stress loads
PCMark 10Productivity simulationRemote work, studentsSimulates real office apps
CrystalDiskMarkDisk read/write speedsSSD/HDD testersLightweight and widely adopted
UserBenchmarkQuick component scoreBeginners, casual usersUpgrade suggestions based on ranking
NovaBenchLightweight overall testCasual testers, laptop usersFast and beginner-friendly
OCCTOverclocking and stabilityPerformance tunersStress test CPU, GPU, PSU, and RAM
Unigine HeavenGPU stress and visualsGamers, streamersReal-time rendering and FPS stats
AS SSD BenchmarkSSD latency and IOPSPower users, reviewersIncludes compression and advanced metrics
HWMonitorHardware stats monitoringTech maintenanceReal-time temps, voltage, and fan speeds
RealBenchReal-world multitaskingContent creators, streamersGIMP, H.264 encoding, multitask simulation
SpeccySystem spec overviewIT, resale, tech supportHardware snapshot in one click
ThrottleStopCPU performance tuningAdvanced users, gamersDisable limits and fix CPU throttling

FAQ

What is benchmark software used for?

Benchmark tools simulate workloads to test your PC’s performance in specific areas like graphics, storage, or CPU. They help detect hardware bottlenecks, confirm upgrade impact, or validate overclocking stability.

Which benchmark tool should I use for gaming?

3DMark and Unigine Heaven focus on GPU performance with gaming workloads. They’re ideal for gamers checking FPS, thermal limits, or GPU health.

Can benchmark tools harm your PC?

Most are safe, but stress testing (like OCCT or AIDA64) pushes your hardware hard. Use them carefully, monitor temperatures, and stop if you see crashes or thermal throttling.

Is UserBenchmark accurate?

UserBenchmark offers quick component rankings, but its scoring system can be biased. Use it for fast comparisons, but validate results with tools like PassMark or Cinebench.

How often should I benchmark my PC?

Run benchmarks after hardware changes, major driver updates, or when diagnosing issues. Regular use isn’t needed unless you’re actively tuning or testing.

Conclusion

Benchmarking your Windows 11 PC doesn’t require guesswork or expensive software. Whether you’re checking CPU thermals, comparing GPUs, or reviewing SSD performance, the tools above cover all major use cases. From casual diagnostics to professional hardware reviews, each tool offers something valuable. Use this guide to choose your toolkit and keep your PC running at its peak.

Windows Terminal v0.11 is out with support for non-English UI languages and various Settings changes

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

Today marked the last major update before Microsoft releases the 1.0 version of Windows Terminal, the new terminal emulator for Windows 10 that the company unveiled a year ago. According to Microsoft’s Kayla Cinnamon, Program Manager for Windows Terminal, anyone can download the latest terminal from the Microsoft store, or by visiting their GitHub releases page to see what has changed with the latest version of Windows Terminal.

Overall, the new release isn’t packed with brand-new features but rather, it is focused on usability and enhancements to the app’s settings as it moves closer to its production release. Windows Terminal now includes support for non-English UI languages, and Microsoft recommends that you move the settings file out of the app folder to let it generate a new one, and then copy your settings back.

Some other major additions include:

  • The profiles.json file has been renamed to settings.json. This change happens automatically for any existing installations.
  • The new settings file binds the “copy and paste” commands to the Ctrl+C and Ctrl+V shortcuts, and will work alongside any existing key bindings already setup.
  • Copied text will now copy as plain text by default.
  • The Cascadia Code font is now the default font for all profiles automatically generated by Terminal.
  • Terminal now ships with two new themes -Tango Light and Tango Dark.
Microsoft Terminal Tango Themes
Microsoft Windows Terminals new Tango themes

As Microsoft prepares for version 1.0 of the Windows Terminal, some settings have also been removed as they were deprecated.

  • The “Globals” namespace is no longer supported in the JSON file.
  • The application theme has been renamed.  Microsoft suggests that this change will help clean up naming and providing more flexibility in the future.
  • Copying as a single line has been removed in favor of a new argument that makes it easier to understand.

In March, Microsoft released v0.10 that added new mouse and input support, as well as the ability to have duplicate panes in Terminal. To see a complete list of changes and bug fixes, visit Microsoft’s DevBlog and GitHub page. You can also find the Windows Terminal roadmap here.

5 Best brochure maker software [Online & Desktop]

Posted on by Milan Stanojevic

It doesn’t matter if you’re a small startup or an established enterprise. You’re entitled to look for the best brochure maker software tools. After all, you want to make sure your story reaches out to more people.

Creating professional brochures that reflect your brand without spending a fortune seems to be a difficult task these days.

You’ve come to the right place if you need some help. With our five picks below, you can learn, explore, and have fun while creating catchy and professional brochures in just a few clicks.

What’s the best brochure maker software that you can get today?

Adobe Photoshop

grab Adobe Photoshop

Adobe products have set the industry standards for decades, so there’s no wonder that Adobe Photoshop has gone a step higher in brochure making too.

With designs that are easy to edit, with infinite effects to choose from, and continuous work from both your computer and iPad, Photoshop can be a tremendous help in pretty much any design project.

That’s why it works impressively well for making outstanding brochures. With flexible custom brushes, you can actually control every single element, work intuitively, and surprise people.

Amazing key features that you’ll most likely find useful:

  • Easy to use Properties panel to change document settings and enjoy convenient Quick Actions
  • Precise Object Selection tool at your disposal
  • Modern presets to help you remain organized at all times
  • Better Content-Aware Fill to give you the desired control when it comes to filling multiple areas of an image without leaving the window
  • Vector graphic import is included
  • Photoshop on iPad subscription includes Adobe Fresco too
  • Photoshop on the iPad auto-activates Adobe Fonts when needed
  • Seamless integration with Creative Cloud

⇒ Download Adobe Photoshop free

Adobe Creative Cloud Express

Non-designers deserve a chance to make interesting brochures as well. If you find yourself in this category too, then Adobe Creative Cloud Express set of online design tools will come in handy.

Many of you probably used the tool for short projects such as book covers and greeting cards, so you already know how versatile the interface of this program really is.

Moreover, Adobe Creative Cloud Express allows you to get creative in terms of brochure making as well.

Do note that you’ve got a great gallery of free brochure templates that you can easily customize, then print or share with friends and family.

Amazing key features that you’ll most likely find useful:

  • Multiple colors, fonts, and images to make your brochure projects unique
  • Design filters and layout options to help you make a statement
  • It lets you combine video clips, photos, and cinematic motion to create amazing video stories
  • It is not only part of any Creative Cloud plan, but also as a standalone subscription

⇒ Get Adobe Creative Cloud Express

Canva

try out Canva

Canva is a program often recommended for quality graphic designs. It should, therefore, come as no surprise that you may use if for creating brochures even if you lack design skills.

The extensive template library practically gives you a start point that you can take advantage of from the very start.

Then, customize according to your needs and you’ll have the brochure you’ve been dreaming of. And if you’re in a creative mood, no one says that you cannot design your brochure from scratch.

Amazing key features that you’ll most likely find useful:

  • Extensive library of more than 2 million stock photos, illustrations, and icons
  • You may leave comments on the work done, to improve collaborative efforts
  • User-friendly interface
  • Intuitive drag and drop tool

⇒ Get Canva

Lucidpress

try out Lucidpress

Lucidpress may also become your go-to for brochure making. First of all, it has hundreds of professionally-designed, customizable templates waiting to be discovered.

Besides that, easy customization is allowed as the software provides a plethora of intuitive functionalities.

Lucidpress not only enables you to create your own brochures but is also an excellent tool to share documents across any device or assign different roles and permissions to members of your team.

Amazing key features that you’ll most likely find useful:

  • Simple interface for all users
  • Useful team templates to minimize wasting valuable time
  • Real-time collaboration options for all team members
  • Multi-channel distribution options such as direct mail, social publishing, and on-demand printing

⇒ Get Lucidpress

Scribus

try out Scribus

If you are a fan of open-source desktop publishing software that works on Linux, then Scribus is a choice that you will find extremely useful.

Unlike Adobe Creative Cloud Express, you need to know from the very start that it targets professional users only. Brochures will look amazing thanks to the extra control of color display and conversion.

And since the file format is based on XML, repairing damaged files will work like a breeze.

Even if it comes in two versions – stable and development- we strongly advise you against the development option if you want to avoid any unpleasant surprises.

Amazing key features that you’ll most likely find useful:

  • Commercial color systems are complemented by national and government color standards/open-source color collections
  • You are in full control of your data with the code of your desktop publishing tool at your disposal
  • You can create your own Scribus files without even without accessing Scribus
  • It is completely free

⇒ Get Scribus

Simple brochures have no chance to stand out, but you already know how to prevent that. Do you have any questions regarding the five brochure maker software tools mentioned above?

If you do, don’t hesitate to let us know by using the comments section below.

Skype also gets custom backgrounds for video calls with latest update

Posted on 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 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 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.
xbox windows 8 controller
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:

  1. Go to Settings > Devices > select Add Bluetooth or other device.add xbox controller to pc
  2. 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.

[wl_navigator]

FIX: Microsoft Solitaire error code 124

Posted on 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?

  1. Run App troubleshooter
  2. Run Windows Update troubleshooter
  3. Check that Windows Updates aren’t stuck
  4. Check if Xbox Live is down
  5. Create new user profile and try setting up from there
  6. Uninstall and reinstall Microsoft Solitaire Collection
  7. Make sure your firewall/anti-virus isn’t blocking the app
  8. Clear your Windows Store cache
  9. Uninstall and reinstall the game with a clean Windows Store cache
  10. 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 iconscontrol panel
  • Click Troubleshooting

troubleshooting control panel

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

 

Solitaire error 124/ 101_107/

  • 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

 

Solitaire error 124/ 101_107/

  • 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

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

Solitaire error 124/ 101_107/

  • Select Accounts

Solitaire error 124/ 101_107/

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

Solitaire error 124/ 101_107/

  • 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

Solitaire error 124/ 101_107/

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

Solitaire error 124/ 101_107/

  • Restart your computer
  • Right-click Start
  • Select Run

Solitaire error 124/ 101_107/

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

Solitaire error 124/ 101_107/

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

Solitaire error 124/ 101_107/

  • 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.

Solitaire error 124/ 101_107/

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

Solitaire error 124/ 101_107/

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

Solitaire error 124/ 101_107/

 

  • In the Settings Menu, go to App Updates

Solitaire error 124/ 101_107/

  • 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

Solitaire error 124/ 101_107/

  • Click the View tab at the top

Solitaire error 124/ 101_107/

  • Check the box that says Hidden Items

Solitaire error 124/ 101_107/

  • 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?

[wl_navigator]

The latest non-security Windows 10 update is now live

Posted on 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 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?

  1. Refresh your PC
  2. Run System Restore
  3. Create your own Windows 10 Installation Media
  4. Disable Secure Boot
  5. Check your disk for errors
  6. Disable antivirus/ firewall protection

1. Refresh your PC

  1. Insert the 10 Installation Media disk into the device.
  2. Reboot the operating system with your Installation Media CD or DVD inside the device.
  3. After the reboot, you will get to a screen where it asks to press any key to boot from the CD or DVD.
  4. Press any button on the keyboard.
  5. You should now have in front of you a window where you need to select the correct time and keyboard type.
  6. Press the Next button after you set the time and keyboard type.
  7. You should now have in front of you the Choose an option screen.
  8. Select the Troubleshoot feature you have on that menu.
  9. From the Troubleshoot menu, select the Refresh your PC option.
  10. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the System Refresh.
  11. Reboot your operating system.
  12. 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.

  1. Start Windows 10 normally.
  2. Move the mouse cursor over to the upper right side of the screen.
  3. From the menu that appears, select the Search feature
  4. In the search dialog box, enter control panel without the quotes.
  5. After the search has finished, select the Control Panel icon (it should be the first result).
  6. In the Control Panel search box situated in the upper side of the window, enter Recovery.DISM.EXE ERROR 1392
  7. Press the Enter key on the keyboard.
  8. After the search has finished, select the Open System Restore feature.
  9. 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.

  1. Get a USB stick with at least 8 GB of free space and make sure it is blank.
  2. Click on this link to open Microsoft Support.
  3. Connect your USB stick to the device.
  4. In the link listed above, select the Create Media button.
  5. Follow the on-screen instruction to create your Windows 10 Installation Media USB.
  6. Search on the USB stick for the Setup executable.
  7. Right-click on the icon.
  8. From the menu that appears, select the Properties feature.
  9. Go to the Compatibility tab located on the upper side of the Properties window.
  10. Under Compatibility mode, select Run this program in compatibility mode for.
  11. In the drop-down menu, select Windows 7 > hit Apply > OK.
  12. Now double click to open the setup executable file.
  13. 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 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.

Yakuza Kiwami
Yakuza Kiwami
Download
QR-Code

Yakuza Kiwami
Developer:
SEGA
Price:
Free


Xbox Game Pass Ultimate
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate
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 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.

Laptop was stolen how to find it

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.

Laptop was stolen what to do

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:

  1. Open the Settings app. You can do that by pressing Windows Key + I shortcut.
  2. When Settings app opens, navigate to Update & Security section.
    Laptop was stolen what to do
  3. In the left pane, select Find My Device.
    Protect your laptop from theft
  4. Now click on Change button.
    How to track a stolen laptop with an IP address
  5. Now enable Save my device’s location periodically option.
    Laptop was stolen how to find it

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 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.

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

Posted on 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 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 McGuiness
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 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

Stretchly software that reminds you to take breaks

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

Awareness software that reminds you to take breaks

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

 

WorkRave software that reminds you to take breaksIt’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

Big Stretch Reminder software that reminds you to take breaks

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 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 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)

  1. Register a Humble Bundle account
  2. Purchase the bundle or Humble Choice subscription of your choice
  3. Access your account menu
  4. Select “Keys” from the dropdown menu
  5. Locate the game you want to redeem
  6. Click the “Reveal your Steam key” button
  7. Copy the key
  8. Launch your Steam client
  9. Select “Activate a Product on Steam…” from the “ADD A GAME” menu
  10. Follow the on-screen instructions
  11. 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)

  1. Register a Humble Bundle account
  2. Purchase the bundle or subscription of your choice
  3. Access your account menu
  4. Select “Keys” from the dropdown menu
  5. Locate the game you want to redeem
  6. Click the “Reveal your Steam key” button
  7. Click the “Redeem” button next to your Steam key
  8. Link your Steam account with Humble Bundle
  9. Agree to the “Steam Subscriber Agreement” terms
  10. 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.

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.

  1. Go to your “Keys” library
  2. Locate the game you want to gift
  3. Click the “Gift to a friend” button
  4. Read the “Region Lock Warning” if available
  5. 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.

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.