Page 1062 • Windows Report

Microsoft Teams adds 12 million daily users in a week

Posted on March 19, 2020 by Don Sharpe

Microsoft Teams got 12 million new daily users in the last seven days, according to a report Microsoft released earlier today. The cloud-based communication and collaboration tool is now powering over 44 million remote workers and learners per day.

Microsoft Teams celebrates its third anniversary this week.

COVID-19 drives an unprecedented surge in Teams usage

The world is now turning to digital workspaces and video conferencing platforms like Teams to enable the continuity of business operations and learning in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

Microsoft is itself leading by example, allowing tens of thousands of its employees to work from home. They are using Teams to communicate and collaborate on workplace matters.

Already, we are seeing how solutions that enable remote work and learning across chat, video, and file collaboration have become central to the way we work. We have seen an unprecedented spike in Teams usage, and now have more than 44 million daily users.

Some schools have already closed in different parts of the world due to the COVID-19 threat. No wonder a proportion of the 12 million new Teams users comprise students and institutions of higher learning.

For example, the University of Bologna, Italy, moved 90% of courses to the cloud-hosted communication tool.

Fortune 100 companies are using Teams

It is quite an achievement for Microsoft Teams to earn the recognition of several of the largest and most successful corporations in the U.S. The Redmond tech giant said that 93 Fortune 100 companies are using the Office 365-powered product.

Part of the platform’s growth can also be attributed to its extensive reach, worldwide. It is available in 181 markets, and it supports 53 different languages.

Will Teams deliver on expectations?

With over 44 million daily users, Teams is probably the leading digital workspace tool by now. Before COVID-19, organizations used the platform for purposes like optimizing productivity and convenience.

But today, businesses are leveraging Teams as a necessity—a matter of survival. Companies want their operations to continue, and their employees want to stay safe.

So, can remote working with chat, video conferencing, and file-sharing tools work when it is the only option? Hopefully, the technology will meet user expectations in areas like latency, service availability, and data security.

Scalability is also critical to the reliability of Teams at times like this. Consider the case of an unexpected nationwide lockdown. Would all affected organizations manage to deploy Teams to hundreds of thousands of remote workers quickly?

The world will find out soon enough.

The access code is invalid: How to fix this PC error

Posted on March 19, 2020October 4, 2023 by Madalina Dinita

If you’re getting the ERROR_INVALID_ACCESS error code 12 with The access code is invalid description, follow the troubleshooting steps listed below to fix it.

Windows users may experience this error when trying to access various files, apps, or platforms using a specific access code. However, strangely enough, although the code is correct, users are not granted access to the respective apps and files.

There are also cases where the invalid code error prevents users from completing various actions, such as importing app or hardware settings or resetting passwords.

In order to make sure that the invalid code error is genuine and is not triggered by inappropriate keyboard layout, verify your keyboard settings first.

On Windows 10, go to Settings > Time & Language > Regions & Languages and select the appropriate keyboard layout.

Fix The access code is invalid error

1. Run a full system scan

Malware may cause various issues on your computer, including 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.

2. Repair your registry using CCleaner

The simplest way to repair your registry is to use a dedicated tool, such as CCleaner. Don’t forget to first backup your registry in case anything goes wrong.

If you haven’t installed any registry cleaner, check out our article on the best registry cleaners to use on Windows 10.

3. Use Microsoft’s System File Checker to check for system file corruption.

1. Go to Start > type cmd > right-click Command Prompt > select Run as Administrator

2. Now type the sfc /scannow command

3. Wait for the scanning process to complete and then restart your computer. All corrupted files will be replaced on reboot.

4. Update your OS

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.

Go to Windows Update, check for updates and install the available updates. To access the Windows Update section, you can simply type “update” in the search box. This method works on all Windows versions.

If you’re looking for a particular update, go to Microsoft’s Update Catalog website. Simply type the KB number of the respective update, hit Enter and then click on the download button.

5. Remove recently installed software

If you recently installed new software on your computer, try uninstalling it. The respective software may have changed various elements on your computer triggering the invalid code error.

Go to Start > type Control Panel > select the program(s) recently added > click Uninstall.

Then restart your computer, and copy the files again.

5. Use the hidden Administrator account

Launch Command Prompt (Admin)
Run the net user administrator /active:yes command to unlock the administrator account.
Log off of your account > switch to the newly enabled Administrator account. Follow the initial steps that triggered error 12 and see if the Hidden Admin account helps.
After you’re done using the account, go back to your main account.
Launch Command Prompt as administrator again > enter net user administrator /active:no to disable the Administrator account.

You might also want to read our guide on how to make yourself an Administrator in Windows 10

6. Check your permissions

Right-click the problematic directory > select Properties
Go to the Security tab > click the Edit button.
Select your user name from the list > check Full control for Allow column in Permissions section.

if your user name isn’t on the list, add it manually and then change the permissions. Grant Full control to both Administrators and Users over the problematic folder, or even Full control to Everyone.

There is also one particular situation where ERROR_INVALID_ACCESS 12 (0XC) occurs, requiring you to use specific troubleshooting methods.

7. The access code is invalid error on printers

1. Go to Start > type powershell > right-click the tool > Run as Administrator

2. Type the get-printer/set-printer -PermissionSDDL command and hit Enter

Have you encountered the ERROR_INVALID_ACCESS in other situations? If so, you can also list the necessary troubleshooting steps in the comments below.

What is computer error code?

An error in Windows or other programs will cause the generation of an error code that is displayed sometimes on the screen. The error code is a certain number or set of words that help you or a professional to identify the problem. Of course, you can use the code to find a solution.

What is the system error?

A Windows system error, as the term describes it, is a problem with the operating system causing it to malfunction. The system error term can be extended, of course, to any other system.

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FIX: Error 0x80070002 in System Center 2012 Endpoint

Posted on March 19, 2020October 4, 2023 by Andrew Wafer

Finding the right resources for keeping your network protected all the time might be a real challenge, especially when you have to secure several computers and notebooks from a certain group.

However, Microsoft might have the solution to your problem as it develops and provides an antimalware and antivirus complex service specially created for network groups: Microsoft System Center 2012 Endpoint Protection.

When System Center 2012 Endpoint Protection is installed and used along with the Configuration Manager you can be sure that your network and the devices connected are protected against malware attacks. Your only job is to properly install and set up the security software.

Even though the installation process should be the easiest part, some users reported problems while trying to complete the System Center 2012 Endpoint Protection (SCEP) installation wizard.

So, in this guide, we will try to fix the 0X80070002 error code that’s associated with this operation and which prompts you with the Cannot complete the system center endpoint installation message.

How can I fix Endpoint installer error 0x80070002 in Windows 10?

Right from the start, you have to know that this Microsoft security service can be installed only in certain conditions which include:

there shouldn’t be any other security feature installed on the computer where you want to complete the installation process
the original Windows (genuine) system must be running on your device
set the right permissions for the Microsoft System Center 2012 Endpoint Protection software.

So, here is how you can ensure all these conditions:

1) Uninstall additional antivirus and antimalware programs

The 0x80070002 error code might occur if there are other security programs running on your device. Now, uninstalling these programs through the System Center 2012 Endpoint Installer might not properly remove all the associated security files.

So, a manual uninstall is required; you can complete it by following:

On your computer press the Win+R keyboard keys.
In the Run box enter appwiz.cpl and press Enter in the end.
The Programs and Features window will be displayed on your computer.
Look for your antimalware and spyware programs and uninstall each entry one by one.
Restart your Windows 10 system in the end.
Retry the System Center 2012 Endpoint Protection installation process.

2) Allow permissions from Microsoft Client Manager

If you are currently initiating the install remotely, you need to set the right permissions first; otherwise, you will end up experiencing the 0x80070002 cannot complete the system center endpoint installation error log. So:

Open the Configuration Manager service.
Select Administration from the interface that will be displayed.
Within Administration choose to expand the Overview entry.
Also, expand Site Configuration and click on Sites.
Select Configure Site Components and choose Software Distribution.
Switch to Network Access Account.
From here just add the user account that needs permission to access the content when that will be required.
Resume the System Center 2012 Endpoint Installer process.

Hopefully, now you should be able to complete the System Center 2012 Endpoint Installer operation without receiving the 0x80070002 cannot complete the system center endpoint installation error message.

Tell us how everything worked during the troubleshooting process that was explained above as that’s the only way in which we can still help other users succeed with their own Windows 10 fixes.

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Pcdrcui.exe is Corrupt: Here’s How to Fix This Error ASAP

Posted on March 19, 2020March 18, 2024 by Ivan Jenic

If you are getting the Pcdrcui.exe is corrupt error message when launching the PC Doctor application, we have come with the right fixes to solve this technical problem.

The Pcdrcui.exe application is powered by PC-Doctor Inc as an independent application. Also, there are two other applications powered by PC-Doctor using the same pcdrcui.exe name, namely Lenovo ThinkVantage Toolbox and Dell SupportAssist.

However, PC Doctor consists of a set of diagnostics, system information, and software tools. They can be used to check the hard disk, including scanning bad sectors and carrying out hard disk tests. Pcdrcui.exe is preinstalled in most of the Dell and Lenovo PCs.

However, some Windows users cannot run PC-Doctor, Dell SupportAssist, or Lenovo ThinkVantage, because this pcdrcui.exe file is corrupt.

Incorrect BIOS configuration, damaged or missing dynamic link library files, corrupt Windows registry, overheated CPU, malfunctioning HDD controller, lower CPU usage, and RAM shortage are some of the causes of the pcdrcui.exe error message.

In order to fix the pcdrcui.exe is corrupt error message, we compiled the solutions listed below.

How can I fix the error Pcdrcui.exe is corrupt?

1. Uninstall the application

Windows users can uninstall pcdrcui.exe so as to get rid of the error which is associated with it.

Although uninstalling the application will fix the pcdrcui.exe is corrupt error, the diagnostics, system information, and software features that characterize the application will be unavailable.

In order to uninstall pcdrcui.exe application, follow these steps:

From the Start menu, go to Run or hold the Windows logo and press R at the same time.
In the Run window, type appwiz.cpl and hit Enter
The Program and Features will open; select one of the installed PC Doctor software on your PC, which could be PC-Doctor, Dell SupportAssist, or Lenovo ThinkVantage Toolbox.
Hence, click Uninstall to remove PC-Doctor, Dell SupportAssist or Lenovo ThinkVantage Toolbox from your PC.
Restart your Windows after uninstall.

Note: The complete uninstall of the application will prevent the pcdrcui.exe is corrupt message from showing up ever again on your PC. This will result in the removal of the corrupt files and remove the security threats.

Keep in mind that some applications are incompatible with pcdrcui.exe and may cause problems if installed on your PC; these applications include Fitbit Connect, FrostWire 6.2.2, and Spybot.

2. Reinstall the application

You can also consider reinstalling pcdrcui.exe because the pcdrcui.exe is corrupt error. This method will replace the corrupted program files with a fresh copy.

Another advantage of this method is that the newly installed pcdrcui.exe application will run on your PC without the pcdrcui.exe is corrupt error message. In order to reinstall pcdrcui.exe; use this procedure:

Uninstall pcdrcui.exe application namely PC-Doctor, Dell SupportAssist, or Lenovo ThinkVantage Toolbox from your PC using the steps mentioned in [Solution 1] above.
Download and install PC-Doctor, Dell SupportAssist, or Lenovo ThinkVantage Toolbox from the PC-Doctor website.
Hence, you can run PC-Doctor, Dell SupportAssist or Lenovo ThinkVantage Toolbox on your PC

Note: However, if reinstalling the pcdrcui.exe application causes a display of error pcdrcui.exe after complete uninstall, it is advisable you uninstall pcdrcui.exe again and install an alternative system utility application.

You can consider using an alternative system utility program like CCleaner, Windows Check Disk, or ReImage Plus. Meanwhile, CCleaner is available for download here.

3. Unblock pcdrcui.exe in Firewall

Windows Firewall is a network security system in Windows which regulates incoming and outgoing network traffic between your computer and other networks such as the Internet.

However, you can fix the ‘pcdrcui.exe is corrupt’ issue by unblocking pcdrcui.exe in the Windows firewall by following these steps:

From the Start menu, type Run and hit the Enter key. Or, hold the Windows key and hit the R key.
In the run windows, type firewall.cpl without quotes and hit the Enter key.
Select the Allow a program or feature through Windows Firewall menu in order to enable pcdrcui.exe.
Here, click Change settings and then click Allow another app menu at the bottom of window.
Click Browse to locate the pcdrcui.exe program file in your hard disk
Here, navigate to PC Doctor Toolbox for Windows located in the Program Files folder.
Then, click Add and then click OK.
Finally, you can launch Run PC-Doctor, Dell SupportAssist, or Lenovo ThinkVantage.

Note: In steps 5 and 6 above, the pcdrcui.exe program files may be in the program name PC-Doctor, Dell SupportAssist, or Lenovo ThinkVantage depending on pcdrcui.exe preinstalled software name on your Windows PC.

For instance, if you are using Lenovo PC, browse the Lenovo ThinkVantage program files to add to the unblocked app in Windows Firewall. This will fix the ‘pcdrcui.exe is corrupt’ error message.

Also, if you are using any third-party firewall software, follow the steps above and use your user account with Administrator privilege before making any firewall changes.

4. Repair your registry

You can use Microsoft’s System File Checker to check for system file corruption. The utility verifies the integrity of all protected system files and repairs files with problems when possible. Here’s how to run an SFC scan:

1. Go to Start > type cmd > right-click Command Prompt > select Run as Administrator

2. Now type the sfc /scannow command

3. Wait for the scanning process to complete and then restart your computer. All corrupted files will be replaced on reboot.

In addition, you can repair your registry using a dedicated repair solution. Such an application can repair and scan damaged files from your Windows PC in a few clicks.

Also, don’t forget to first back up your registry in case anything goes wrong.

5. Run a full system scan

Malware may cause various issues on your computer, including the Pcdrcui.exe is corrupt error. 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:

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

6. Update your OS

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.

We hope that the solutions listed above helped you to fix the pcdrcui.exe is corrupt error message. Feel free to comment below and share your experience with the rest of the Windows community.

WordPerfect macros will not work? Try these methods

Posted on March 19, 2020October 4, 2023 by Madalina Dinita

Some Corel WordPerfect users describe the following situation: they have been typing a document for several days and it all worked just fine. Out of the blue, some of the macros stopped working.

If you are also at a loss about how to tackle the issue, check out some of the resolutions below. One of them should work for you too.

What can I do when WordPerfect macro is not found?

1. Fix any shortcuts-related problems

Make sure that the macros do exist, so click the Macros button on the View tab of the ribbon. This will open the Macros dialog. While there, change the Macros in the dropdown to the Normal.dotm template.

If the names of all your macros show up in the list, click on any of them right away. Then, click the Edit button to enter the macro editor in a separate window, with the selected macro’s code displayed on the right.

Check all other macros the same way. If the macros are all there, then the issue resides in the shortcuts. Open the Options dialog and click the Customize item in the left panel. Then, click the Keyboard shortcuts Customize button in the bottom right corner.

In the Customize Keyboard dialog, make sure the Save changes option in the dropdown is set to Normal.dotm. Scroll the Categories list until reaching to Macros and click on it.

On the right side, all your macros should be listed. Click on each one in turn and look at the Current Keys box. Your choice of shortcut should appear there. If it isn’t complete or nothing shows up in that box, hit the Press new shortcut key box.

Finally, press the shortcut you want and click the Assign button. Don’t hesitate to repeat the process for the other macros.

2. Re-attach the normal template

WordPerfect macros won’t work even after applying the above fix? Then, check if the normal template is attached by checking the Developer Tab. If not, try to re-attach the normal template to your document and see if the issue persists.

3. Move the macro files into the default macro folder

Open Windows Explorer.
Enter into C:Program FilesHotDocsPlayerSource(WP version)Macros.
Copy the files located in the Macros folder.
Open WordPerfect.
Find your way into Tools > Settings > Files next.
Click the Merge > Macro tab and note the path of the default macro folder.
Open the default WordPerfect macro folder in Windows Explorer.
Then, it’s time to paste the macro files into the default macro folder.
You may now click Tools > Options.
Expand the Word Processors folder.
Click your WordPerfect version and confirm the Macros Folder path matches the one seen before.

Worried that the macro is being canceled due to a Not Found condition processing? This error often occurs when assembling a form in LexisNexis Automated Forms while using WordPerfect, but the above steps are a quick fix.

Did you happen to copy and move your macros from an old machine to the new by using a CD? It might sound like a fast solution first, yet it isn’t the most efficient one. This often causes problems, especially when the folder itself is read-only.

For documents that are read-only, take a closer look at these fixes that really work. No less important, keep in mind that if macros are stored on a network server they might become slow to be accessed or completely inaccessible at times.

Which of these solutions did the trick for you? Let us know by leaving us a message in the comments section below.

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How to fix The server stumbled 0x80072EFD error

Posted on March 19, 2020October 4, 2023 by Ivan Jenic

The Microsoft Store is where you discover exciting new apps or games. That also happens to be the only legitimate place to source your apps for the Windows 10 platform.

However, so much for the importance of the Store, oftentimes, you might end up viewing the message The server stumbled message after clicking on the Microsoft Store icon, with error code 0X80072EFD shown for further reference.

Frustrating that sure is but fret not, here are some possible workarounds.

How can I fix The server stumbled error?

1. Turn Off Manual Proxy Setting

The Manual proxy setting turned on has often been linked to The server stumbled error. Here is what you need to do to turn it off.

Launch Settings app. You can do this by either writing Settings in the search box or by clicking / tapping on Start and selecting Setting option.
In the Settings app, click / tap on Network and Internet.
Next click / tap on the Proxy tab. It is at the bottom in the left panel.
Look for Manual Proxy Setup. It is along the bottom.
There lies the Use a Proxy Server setting. Turn it off.

Close the Settings app and try launching Microsoft Store. It should work fine now. If not, read on for other possible tricks.

2. Check the Automatic Time Option

Making changes to your time and date settings can also help solve the problem. It is not that a wrong date or time is causing the issue but changing the same has often been found to fix the error. Here is how you can do it.

Launch Settings app once again.
Click / tap on Time & language option.
You should get to see the Date & time page right away. If not, click / tap on Date & time from the left pane.
The Set Time Automatically is at the top. Turn the toggle to off.
Scroll down a bit to find the Change button which gets enabled now. Click / tap on it.
Change the time to anything but the current value.
Click / tap on the Change button and close the Settings app.
Try and see if the Store gets launched.

3. Set Services Startup time to automatic

There might be a few changes needed here to make the Store accessible again. Here are the steps.

Launch Services application. You can do this by typing Services in the search box.
In the Services app, look for BITS, COM+, Remote call, and Windows update.
Right-click / long press on BITS (Background intelligent transfer services) and select Properties.
In the Properties windows, under the General tab, set Startup type to Automatic (delayed start).
Click/tap on Apply. Also, click on the Start button to let it run for the first time.
Click/tap on OK to get back to the Services app.

Similarly, locate Com+ Event System.

See if the Startup type is set to automatic.
If not, then right-click / long press on it and select properties and make necessary changes here.

Next, locate the Remote procedure call and see if its Startup type is also set to automatic. If yes, move on or else, make suitable changes. The procedure is the same as mentioned above.

Locate Windows update and see the Startup type is set to anything but disabled. Other options include automatic and manual.

Click/tap on Apply and then on the Start button to let it run.

4. Check the Network Settings

You will need to make some changes in the network and internet settings in the Control Panel as well. Here are the steps.

Right-click / long press on Start and select Control Panel.
Click tap on Network and Internet option > Network and Sharing Center.
Click/tap on your internet connection, which can be Wi-Fi or LAN.
Click/tap on Properties
Select Internet Protocol Version 4 and click/tap on Properties.
Select Use the following DNS server addresses.
Here you have the option to either user –
Open DNS – Pre – 67.222.222Alter- 208.67.220.220

Google DNS – Pre – 8.8.8.8

Alter – 8.8.4.4

Click/tap on OK and Save.

5. Enable automatic settings detection

There are a few other changes left to be made in the Control Panel. Here they are.

In the Control Panel, click/tap on Network and Internet > Internet Options.
In the Internet Properties window that opens, select the Connections tab.
Click/tap on LAN setting along the bottom.
In the LAN Settings windows, select the Automatically detect settings checkbox.
Also, make sure the Use a proxy server for you LAN is unchecked. Delete anything that might be there in the Address and Port boxes.
Click/tap OK on all the windows open.
Close Control Panel.

See if the Store launches. It should, now.

6. Tweak the Registry

If you continue to face the issue, it is time we moved on to the next fix. It is a bit advanced but you can still pull it off if you follow the instructions carefully.

Open registry editor. You can do this by typing regedit in the search box in the taskbar.

Navigate to this key here:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsNTCurrentVersionNetworkListProfiles

Right-click / long press on Profiles key.
Under the Performance tab, click/tap on Advanced.
Check the Replace all child object permission entries with inheritable permission entries from this object setting.
Click/tap on Apply.
Re-start the machine to let the changes take effect.

So, these are all that you need to do to get Microsoft Store to be up and running. Let us know which of the above solutions worked for you.

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Fix Microsoft Store error: see details alert with ease

Posted on March 19, 2020October 4, 2023 by Andrew Wafer

Do you have problems while trying to update your Microsoft Store apps? If you cannot properly use the Microsoft Store functionality, it’s time to act wisely and choose to apply the right troubleshooting solutions.

In this article, we’ll show you how to address the error: see details warning displayed by the Microsoft Store app each time you try to update your recently installed tools.

What can I do if getting Microsoft Store error: see details alert?

1. Restart your PC and reconnect to Microsoft Store

Launch the Microsoft Store.
From the upper-right corner, click on the account icon and select the account name.
Choose Sign out.
Now, repeat the same steps but this time choose Sign in.

Usually, if minor issues are involved, you can address the Microsoft Store problems with a simple restart. So, first of all, restart your Windows system. Then, log off from Microsoft Store as described above.

Don’t know what to do if Windows 10 is not restarting? Fix the issue with the help of this complete guide.

2. Reset Microsoft Store

Click on the Windows search icon – it’s usually located near the Microsoft Store start icon.
In the search field type wsreset.
Click on the result with the same name.
Wait while this command is executed.
When done, open the Microsoft Store and check its functionality.

3. Run Windows troubleshooter scans

On your computer, open Start.
Then, you need to search for Command Prompt, right-click the top result, and select Run as administrator.
In cmd type sfc /scannow and press Enter.
Afterwards, enter the following commands one by one: Dism.exe /online /cleanup-image /scanhealth and Dism.exe /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth.
When done, close the cmd window and restart your Windows 10 system.
Check if the issues are resolved.

First of all, run the Windows Update Troubleshooter. Just initiate the scan and wait while possible bugs and issues are fixed. If the Troubleshooter stops before completing the process, fix it with the help of this complete guide.

Similarly, initiate a system scan by following the steps above, with the help of the System File Checker. Having problems using the SFC tool? Check this useful guide and set things right once again.

Finally, use the DISM command tool and confirm that the Microsoft Store error: see details warning is gone for good.

Worried that DISM failed on Windows 10? Check out this quick guide and set things right again.

4. Apply Windows 10 updates

Press the Windows key+I keyboard hotkey.
System Setting will be displayed.
Click on Update & Security.
From the next field switch to Windows Update.
If there is an update available follow on-screen prompts and apply it.
Then, check if the error, see details warning is still there or not.

Up next, verify if there are any Windows updates waiting for your approval and apply any available patches. Windows Update cannot check for updates? Check this guide to solve the issue quickly!

5. Create a new Microsoft account

Once more, go to System Settings.
This time, choose Accounts.
From the left panel, switch to Family & other users.
Next, click on Add someone else to this PC.
Follow the rest of the on-screen prompts and add a new account.
Under this new account, you will be able to properly use your Microsoft Store app.

If your account got corrupted, you need to create a new one and here is how you can do that.

Having trouble opening the Setting app? Then, take a look at this article to solve the issue.

6. Reinstall the Microsoft Store app

Launch the Windows search field.
There, enter powershell.
Then, click or tap the Windows PowerShell result and choose run as administrator.
From PowerShell, now find the Microsoft Store entry; copy the Microsoft Store name as it’s displayed in PowerShell.
Next, in PowerShell type remove-appxpackage insert copied package name here.
The Microsoft Store app will be now removed from your Windows 10 device.
You may now reinstall the app, so open the PowerShell command line window as explained above; you must run it with admin rights.
In PowerShell type and execute the following command: Get-AppxPackage -allusers Microsoft.WindowsStore | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register “$($_.InstallLocation)AppXManifest.xml”}.
Restart your system in the end.

Can you reinstall the Microsoft Store? Not only that you can but it’s actually recommended to do so if you haven’t managed to fix the error: see details warning.

Follow the steps here detailed and of course, start by removing Microsoft Store from your PC.

Are things any better now? Do tell us how you eventually managed to fix the error: see details Microsoft Store warning and if you know other troubleshooting solutions that might solve this particular issue.

You can share your observations in the comments form available below.

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Windows Skips BIOS? Check out These Solutions

Posted on March 19, 2020February 9, 2024 by Andrew Wafer

The most important system tweaks can be initiated and applied through BIOS. This special mode should be at your disposal anytime as it represents a built-in environment added by default to your motherboard.

Anyway, if you’re having problems while trying to access BIOS on your Windows 10 system, don’t panic. You can try to fix the Windows skips BIOS problem with the help of the following troubleshooting solutions.

What can I do if Windows skips BIOS?

1. Make sure you are using the appropriate reboot sequence

There are times when you might be using the wrong reboot sequence. Even though it might look like Windows is skipping BIOS, in fact, your system might be loading everything extra fast.

So, you must act quickly in order to access BIOS and in that matter, you need to know the right keyboard combination required in this situation. How do you get into the BIOS in Windows 10?

Be aware that accessing BIOS is different from one configuration to another. That’s why the right thing to do will be to access your manufacturer’s documentation.

Overall, you can go into BIOS by pressing repeatedly on F1, F2, F10, F12, or Delete. You can also choose to press these keyboard keys while pressing and holding the Power button.

Anyhow, if Windows is indeed skipping BIOS, try the next troubleshooting solutions for fixing this system malfunction.

2. Verify boot options and restart to UEFI

Press the Win+R keyboard hotkeys in order to open the Run field.
There enter msconfig.
From System Configuration, switch to the Boot tab.
The No GUI boot option shouldn’t be checked.
Also, make sure you enter enough seconds into the Timeout field.
You may now restart into UEFI from your Windows device, so press the Win+I keyboard hotkeys.
From System Settings, click on Update & Security.
Switch to Recovery tab.
Go to Advanced startup and click on Restart now.
From the next window, choose Troubleshoot.
Then press Advanced options and pick up UEFI Firmware settings.
Finally, click on Restart to UEFI.

Windows Troubleshooter has stopped working? Check this guide to solve the issue quickly!

3. Run a system scan

On your computer open an elevated command prompt window: right-click on the Windows start icon and from there click on Command Prompt (Admin).
In the cmd window type sfc /scannow and press Enter.
Just wait while the scan is running – it might take a while depending on how many files are stored on your device.
If errors are found, Windows will try to fix everything.
Reboot your system in the end.

Sometimes, after a new Windows update is installed, or after you flash a new program, the BIOS is skipped during the Windows reboot sequence.

In that situation, you can try to run a system scan as the default Windows troubleshooter can fix any related malfunctions. Use the procedure described above in that regard.

If you’re having trouble accessing Command Prompt as an admin, you better take a closer look at this guide.

4. Update BIOS

update BIOS to fix Windows skips BIOS issues

If Windows skips BIOS it might be because of outdated software. Thus, before trying anything else you should make sure that BIOS is up to date.

Once more, the update process depends on your own manufacturer so check its documentation or just access its official webpage and download any available BIOS updates. Then, try to access UEFI on the next Windows reboot.

5. Reset BIOS

The last troubleshooting solution to apply refers to a reset process. Shortly, you should reset BIOS. In this way, you will get a fresh start, and any related problems can be automatically fixed.

Usually, you can complete this reset by removing the BIOS battery. Now, depending on certain motherboards you might be able to use a dedicated reset button situation during which the battery doesn’t have to be removed.

Anyway, in this case, you will have to disassemble your computer, so be careful – if you are not a tech enthusiast, a better idea will be to ask for more experienced assistance.

The solutions explained above should help you fix the Windows skips BIOS issue. However, if you are still experiencing this problem, try to describe the situation in detail by using the comments area below. And you can also learn how to set BIOS for best performance.

Other users reported a different problem in which the computer keeps booting to BIOS, but we have a guide that addresses that.

We will try to find additional troubleshooting solutions based on the details you offered.

FIX: Start Menu won’t show up in Windows 10/11

Posted on March 19, 2020October 4, 2023 by Ivan Jenic

One of the most iconic features of Windows as an OS is the Start Menu from which pretty much every other program is launched. However, some errors and issues can prevent it from appearing, even when you try to access it.

And if it somehow doesn’t show up due some system error, that could be a huge disappointment. Fortunately, there’s a solution if your Start Menu doesn’t show up in Windows 10.

How do I make the Start menu appear again?

1. Use PowerShell commands

Go to Search and type powershell
Right-click on the PowerShell icon and select Run as Administrator
In PowerShell enter the following key and press Enter:
- Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register “$($_.InstallLocation)AppXManifest.xml”}
Wait for PowerShell to execute the command
- A few errors might show up, ignore them
When everything is finished try to open Start Menu again

There are a lot of factors in your system that could prevent your Start Menu from showing up, but Windows PowerShell could solve them for just a few moments.

2. Use the Registry Editor

Press Windows key and R at the same time and type Regedit
Open Registry Editor and navigate to the following key:
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersion ImmersiveShellLauncher
Click Edit > New > DWORD (32-bit) Value, and name it UseExperience
Double-click the newly created item and set the value to 0
Click OK, close the Registry Editor and then restart your computer

If the PowerShell solution somehow didn’t work for you, you can try to fix your problem with Registry Editor, because your problem may lay somewhere in the registry.

Can’t access the Registry Editor? Things aren’t as scary as they seem. Check out this guide and solve the issue quickly.

If you follow these methods, you should be able to solve your annoying Start Menu problem in Windows 10.

If you have any additional comments or suggestions, please write them down in the comments section below.

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New report details possible new Microsoft 365 consumer services we could see during March 30 event

Posted on March 19, 2020 by Radu Tyrsina

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It’s now very much known that Microsoft will be hosting a virtual press event on March 30. Rumors indicate there won’t be a public livestream, but a new report out from Windows Central’s Zac Bowden details some of the new products and services we could see be revealed.

Microsoft 365 for consumers

First off, it’s important to note that it is believed that this event will not be related to anything Surface. Instead, it will likely only be focused on productivity. As a result, it is believed the event will mainly be about a new subscription service for consumers, and judging from Windows Central’s report, the bundle could just be known as “Microsoft 365.”

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However, unlike existing Microsoft 365 subscriptions for businesses and enterprises, this one is mainly for people who already depend on Office 365. This means that Microsoft 365 could end up replacing Office 365 Personal and Office 365 Home as we know it today. Pricing is not known, but it will, though, possibly be coming in April. It also could include extras like bonus fonts, templates, and some new services, which we describe next.

The possible bonus features for consumers

Along with including access to the Office 365 apps like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, it is said that Microsoft 365 could come with some family and education-friendly perks. The most interesting of the bonus features and services could be a Grammarly-like editor for Microsoft Edge and Word. We’ve seen similar functionality in the Office 365 extension before, but Windows Central’s Zac Bowden provides the following extra details on what we can expect:

“The new Grammarly-like editor is exciting, as it will enrich the writing process inside Word with definitions, sentence suggestions, and more. Many have been calling for Microsoft to buy Grammarly itself for some time, but it appears Microsoft is making its own competitor to the service instead. What’s cool about this is that I’m hearing it will also extend into Microsoft Edge, allowing users who pay for the subscription to get the same rich writing suggests on the web.”

Also included could be a new family safety app for Android and iOS. Much like the experience that recently launched in Microsoft Edge Canary, this app would let parents “set rules, permissions, and track their children’s location all without having to load up a PC or the Microsoft Family website,” according to the report.

It’s not known, though, if the app will have features that are exclusive only to those who are Microsoft 365 subscribers. It also might not be available right away when Microsoft 365 will launch. As per ZDNet’s Mary Jo Foley, possible new password manager from Microsoft could also be with this, too, though the details are scarce.

Interestingly enough, one of the bonus features for subscribers could also be some new financing feature in Excel. This is where things are blurry, but Windows Central suggests it could “make things easier when it comes to dealing with bank statements and general financing.”

Teams for Life?

Much talk has been around Teams for Life, which is a rumored version of Microsoft Teams for family. However, according to Zac Bowden, this might not be here at launch with Microsoft 365 and it probably won’t be announced, either.

There could also be a lot of other services in Microsoft 365 that won’t be there at launch, either. Anyway, we’ll just have to wait until March 30 to find out the truth. OnMSFT will be planning to cover the event as the news unfolds, so be sure to keep tuned.

FIX: Windows Package Manager operation failed

Posted on March 19, 2020October 4, 2023 by Milan Stanojevic

Package Manager is a command-line tool in Windows used to install, remove, and/or update packages while offline.

You can easily add a package, expand .cab files, or even enable or disable a Windows feature offline or on a running Windows installation.

Other things you can do with Package Manager include:

Installing or uninstalling Microsoft hotfixes
Add drivers to the driver store
Install language packs
Install or uninstall multiple packages in Windows using one command string
Add packages to offline images on Windows
Accept answer files as input under offline Servicing settings

If you encounter an error message that says Windows Package Manager Operation failed, here are solutions to help you fix the problem.

How do I fix Windows Package Manager operation failed?

1. Run Windows Update troubleshooter

The Windows Update troubleshooter automatically detects and fixes the most incorrect settings on your computer that brings the message Windows Package Manager Operation failed.

Running Windows Update troubleshooter resolves any issues that prevent you from updating Windows, so follow these steps to run Windows Update troubleshooter:

Click Start
In the search field box, type Troubleshooting
Click Troubleshooting

Click View all in the left pane

Select Windows Update

Run Windows Update Troubleshooter and follow the instructions on the screen

2. Run DISM tool

If you still get the Windows Package Manager Operation failed message, run the DISM tool, or Deployment Image Servicing and Management tool.

The DISM tool helps fix Windows corruption errors when Windows Updates and service packs fail to install due to corruption errors, like if you have a damaged system file.

Here’s how to run the DISM command on your PC to check if it helps:

Click Start
In the search field box, type CMD
Click Command Prompt in the search results list

Type Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth
Type Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

Once the repair is complete, reboot your computer and check if the problem persists.

If you need to create a partition, ckeck our best partition manager software for Windows 10 top.

3. Run a System File Checker scan

A System File Checker scan checks or scans all protected system files, and then replaces the incorrect versions, with the genuine, correct Microsoft versions.

If a Windows Resource Protection file is missing or corrupted, Windows may not behave normally, or some functions may not work, or Windows may even crash.

Here’s how to run an SFC scan:

Click Start
Go to the search field box and type CMD
Select Command Prompt

Right click and select Run as Administrator

Type sfc/scannow
Press Enter
Restart your computer

If the update installation issue persists, try the next solution.

4. Automatic Repair in Windows Recovery Tool

Using Windows 10 installation media, you can use Automatic Repair to detect and fix any problems that prevent your computer from starting.

Such problems include drivers, program conflicts, malware, and memory.

However, if you do not have installation media, you can download and create Windows 10 installation media, then follow the steps below to perform the Automatic Repair.

Insert installation USB media
Boot Windows Technical Preview from the installation media
Under Windows setup page, select Language to install
Select Time and currency format
Select Keyboard or input method
Click Next
Click Repair your computer
Select Troubleshoot
Select Automatic Repair, then choose the operating system
A blue screen will appear with an option to choose from. Choose Troubleshoot
Select Advanced options
Choose Automatic Repair from Advanced boot option
Follow the prompt’s instructions

You can also check our most recent top with the best file tepair software for Windows 10.

5. Perform an In-Place Upgrade

If you perform the repair process and your computer doesn’t operate normally, you can try doing an in-place upgrade of the existing installation.

An in-place upgrade is a final alternative before you reinstall the operating system. This takes the same time you’d take to upgrade, and some customized settings may be lost in the process.

Take these steps to perform an in-place upgrade and repair installation of Windows:

Close all running apps
Insert the installation DVD
In the Setup windows, click Install now.

If Windows doesn’t automatically detect the installation DVD, do the following:

Click Start
Go to the search field box and type Drive:setup.exe
Go to Programs
Click Setup.exe
Click Install now in the setup window
Click Go online to get the latest installation updates
Type the CD key if prompted
Go to Install Windows page and select the operating system you want to Upgrade or Inplace
Click Yes to accept the terms
Click Upgrade under the Which type of installation do you want screen
Restart your computer once the installation is complete

Does this take away the Windows Package Manager Operation failure issue? Try the next solution if it doesn’t.

6. Manually reset Windows Updates components

Disclaimer: this solution contains steps that are part of modifying the registry. Please note that serious problems may occur if you do this incorrectly. Ensure you follow these steps correctly, and carefully.

Back up the registry before you modify it, then restore it if a problem occurs.

Follow these steps to manually reset the Windows Updates Components:

Right click Start
Select Command Prompt (Admin)

Click Yes when asked for permissions

Stop the BITS, Cryptographic, MSI Installer, and Windows Update Services by typing the following commands at a command prompt:
net stop wuauserv
net stop cryptSvc
net stop bits
net stop msiserver
Press Enter after each command you type
Rename the SoftwareDistribution and Catroot2 folder by typing the commands below in the Command Prompt then press Enter after each command you type:
ren C:WindowssoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old
ren C:WindowsSystem32catroot2 Catroot2.old
Restart the BITS, Cryptographic, MSI Installer, and Windows Update Services by typing the following commands in command prompt:
- net stop wuauserv
- net stop cryptSvc
- net stop bits
- net stop msiserver
Type Exit in the Command Prompt to close it

Try running Windows Updates again to check if the issue has been resolved.

Note: it isn’t recommended to uncheck the update option Give me updates for other Microsoft products when I update Windows.

Windows Updates downloads and installs updates required to run Windows efficiently.

7. Perform a Clean Boot

If you still get the Windows Package Manager Operation failed, eliminate any software conflicts that may be causing the issue.

Performing a clean boot for your computer reduces conflicts related to software that can bring up the root causes of the Windows Package Manager Operation failure.

These conflicts can be caused by applications and services that start up and run in the background whenever you start Windows normally.

How to perform a clean boot

In order to successfully perform a clean boot on Windows 10, you have to be logged on as the administrator, then follow these steps:

Go to the search box
Type msconfig

Select System Configuration

Find Services tab
Select Hide all Microsoft services box

Click Disable all
Go to Startup tab
Click Open Task Manager

Close Task manager then click Ok
Reboot your computer

You will have a clean boot environment after all these steps are carefully followed, after which you can try and check if the problem is gone.

Did any of these solutions resolve the Windows Package Manager Operation issue? Let us know in the comments section below.

How can I fix Package Manager operation failed?

Start by running the Windows Update troubleshooter. If that doesn’t fix the problem, here’s our expert guide to help you solve that problem.

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Fix: Input file is not the format specified in WordPerfect

Posted on March 19, 2020October 4, 2023 by Milan Stanojevic

When cutting plain text from Word and pasting in Corel WordPerfect, this specific error message may appear: Input file is not in the format specified. The same happens when users try to copy the text of an email composed on Outlook or a few lines from a website.

Attempting to paste them into a WordPerfect document doesn’t work. Even if they never experienced this problem with any other program except WordPerfect, users should not rush into concluding that it is specific to a particular version of WordPerfect.

It happens across platforms and old WordPerfect versions alike. As we have seen, many people have reported this issue online, so we are going to help them understand and fix it.

What can I do if the Input file is not the format specified?

1. Leave the browser open

This error occurs if the browser is closed prior to pasting the copied text from a website. If it remains open, the text will paste into the WordPerfect document with no issues.

In other words, all you have to do is to keep in mind this nifty trick: make sure the browser remains open for a few more seconds when attempting to paste the copied text into WordPerfect and you’ll get no hiccups.

2. Use Notepad

Leaving the browser open seems an easy workaround. You may also try this if the first tip makes no difference.

When trying to insert text from an email, paste it into Notepad first, copy and then paste it into WordPerfect. This should clear all formatting and get rid of the error for you.

Aren’t you a Notepad fan? Check our top Notepad alternative picks.

3. Choose the Paste Special option

Trying to cut from Word and paste in WordPerfect? Instead of clicking on the Paste button, try clicking on Edit > Paste Special to get a dialog box with additional choices. They vary depending on the formatting embedded in your source text, yet some of these options could help you out.

No less important, if you paste it as a Microsoft Word Document, it doesn’t matter that it’s plain text only. It reached its destination as a box with an embedded Microsoft Word object.

To edit the text, just double-click on it. This opens up a Microsoft Word window to allow you to edit it. And if you had any special formatting turned on for any of the originating text, you’ll need to manually restore that in the new document as well.

If you’re still not able to get to the bottom of it, do note that older versions have a problem with the format. You have several choices in terms of newer versions, so you could try out making this change as well.

For any other solutions that you might be aware of, don’t hesitate to reach for the comments section below. We’d appreciate that.

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Chkdsk Runs on Every Boot: How to Stop it

Posted on March 19, 2020October 23, 2025 by Ivan Jenic

The Check Disk Utility or Chkdsk.exe is used for detecting and fixing errors in your hard disk, but many reported that chkdsk runs on every boot.

This isn’t the only issue with chkdsk; many reported that chkdsk got stuck on their PC as well. In today’s guide, we will show you how to fix the boot issues.

Why does chkdsk run every startup?

Your PC has encountered a glitch, and it’s constantly running the disk scan.
The chkdsk isn’t properly configured, so it repeats the scan.
In some rare instances, there might be issues with your hard drive.

How do I stop chkdsk from running at startup?

1. Tweak some registries

Press Windows + R and type in regedit.exe.
Navigate to the following registry key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager
In the right pane, you will spot BootExecute.
Change its value from autocheck autochk * /. to autocheck autochk *

If you are having problems opening the Registry Editor, check out our guide on how to access the Registry Editor.

2. Use the Command Prompt

Press the Start button and type in cmd.
Type in the following line and press Enter: fsutil dirty query g:
This command will query the drive, and there’s a high probability that it will tell you that your drive is dirty.
Type CHKNTFS /X G:
Restart your computer, and after that open cmd again and enter the following and wait for it to finish Chkdsk /f /r g:
After all of that, run the following: fsutil dirty query g:

By following these steps, you should be able to efficiently and permanently stop Chkdsk if it runs on every boot.

To learn more about this feature, we recommend reading out guide on how to access chkdsk log file location and analyze your log files.

For a detailed guide on CHKDSK and the latest version of Windows, check out this how to run CHKDSK on Windows 11.

If you know of any other method that is good at solving this boot-related issue, leave us a message in the comments section below, and we will update the guide accordingly.

Play Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey, Sea of Thieves, and Smite’s full legendary gods roster for free with Xbox Live Gold this weekend

Posted on March 19, 2020 by davew

After a long week being stuck inside due to the coronavirus, another weekend of Free Play Days on Xbox One is here. As noted in a post on Xbox Wire, this weekend, Xbox Live Gold can play Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, Sea of Thieves, and Smite for free.

Starting now and ending on Sunday, March 22, at 11:59 PM PDT, Xbox Live Gold members can play Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, Sea of Thieves, and Smite for free. As OnMSFT reported yesterday, Ubisoft is offering already offering deep discount prices for Assassin’s Creed Odyssey on Xbox One. Sea of Thieves is already available for free for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members and Smite has always been a free Xbox One game since its release, although an Xbox Live Gold account is required to play Smite.

As usual, you can download the Xbox One games directly through Xbox.com or find them via the Microsoft Store on your Xbox One console. Here is a look at the price drops for all of the Assassin’s Creed Odyssey Editions on Xbox One.

Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey

Standard Edition (~~$59.99 SRP~~) at 75% off: $14.99
Gold Edition (~~$99.99 SRP~~) at 75% off: $24.99
Ultimate Edition (~~$119.99 SRP~~) at 75% off: $29.99

Don’t have Xbox Live Gold or Xbox Game Pass Ultimate? Sign up using the links below.

Xbox Live Gold
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate

What game will you play during this weekend’s Free Play Days on Xbox One? Let us know in the comments.

Here’s how to use Snapchat Camera on Windows 10 to spice up your Microsoft Teams calls

Posted on March 19, 2020 by Radu Tyrsina

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When you’re working from home you have to keep your environment professional for conference-calls with your boss and colleagues during important meetings, However, there are some ways Teams can help spice up the work from home life.

You could use GIFS and memes when chatting with Teams, but there’s also Snapchat Camera. Here’s a guide on how you can use the Snapchat camera to add funny filters to your Teams calls and give your coworkers some good old laughs (via Stephanie Stimac/ Twitter.)

Step 1: Download Snapchat Camera

To get started, we’ll just give you a friendly reminder: Snapchat Camera isn’t intended for you to use during important meetings. It’s more of a way for you to spice up the private chats with your coworkers in Teams. After all, you don’t want to get fired!

Anyway, the first step in this process is heading online and downloading Snapchat Camera. The Snapchat Camera is different from Snapchat on iOS and Android and is a separate app available on MacOS and Windows 10. It will run on basically any modern computer that has a webcam. Once downloaded and configured, you’ll be able to use the app as an input method during your video conferencing call and select a filter for your face or background. Downloading is easy, and you’ll just need to follow the steps in the setup prompts.

Step 2: Launch Snapchat Camera

Once installed, you’ll need to launch Snapchat camera and keep it running in the background. On the first launch, you’ll get a guide on how it works. It’s simple, much like the Snapchat app on iOS and Android.

On the top, you’ll see Featured filters, which are some of the most popular filters being used at the time. There are also various categories such as “Cute” “Funny” “Gaming” “Character” “WFH” and more. You can play with these as you see fit, and even transfer them to the Snapchat app on your phone by scanning the code that appears next to your image. Once you’ve found the filter you want to use, click it, and close the window to minimize Snapchat Camera.

Step 3: Head into Microsoft Teams

Finally, once you’ve chosen your favorite Snapchat filter, you can head back into Microsoft Teams. You’ll want to start your video call with your coworker. On the page where you choose your audio and video settings, you’ll want to click Custom Setup and then click check under the Camera section, choose Snap Camera. You can then see a preview of the filter, and then join your call as usual, with the filter overlayed on your face throughout.

If this doesn’t work, you can try joining the call as usual, with the default settings. Then, once in your call. hover over the middle bottom part of the screen with your mouse, and those . . . more actions. You’ll then want to select Show Device Settings and look for the Camera section. Be sure to choose Snap Camera and then close the Device Settings window with the X on the top. You should see your filter overlayed on your face now.

Have fun!

Snap Camera is a great way to have fun, as the filters can be downright silly sometimes. But, it also can be used outside of Teams, too. If you’re a gamer, you can use Snap Camera when streaming on Mixer or Twitch and switch up different lenses when you’re playing different games. And, if you’re the artistic type, you also can create lenses with Snapchat’s Lens Studio app. The possibilities are endless, so let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

How to use Microsoft Planner to keep track of tasks when working remotely

Posted on March 19, 2020 by Radu Tyrsina

Microsoft Planner is a Kanban-style task management system aimed at busy teams and remote workers. Planner can help you to organise, assign and track tasks when you can’t discuss them in-person.

Planner work occurs in “plans” which are tied to Office 365 Groups. When you create a new plan, it will automatically create a new group (unless you add the plan to an existing group). The group exists like any other in Office 365 – it will have its own SharePoint site, OneNote notebook and other resources.

This may sound complicated at first but it helps to power some of Planner’s advanced integrations. In daily use, you shouldn’t need to worry too much about the underlying group model. You can use the Planner interface to create plans and add users to them, without getting involved in Office 365 group management.

Plans and tasks

Log in to Planner at tasks.office.com and click “New plan” in the left navigation menu. Name your plan and choose whether to make it public or private. Public plans are automatically visible to everyone in your organisation.

Tasks within plans are arranged into a columnar Kanban structure. They’re represented as vertical lists (“buckets”) of cards which are displayed horizontally across your screen. You can add as many buckets as you need.

To create a task, click in any bucket and type a name for the task. Optionally, choose a due date and assign the task to a user. It’ll then show up as a task for them to complete.

Once a task has been created, you can click it to expose more options. These include the ability to add notes, checklists, comments and attachments. You can also indicate a task’s priority and current progress.

The right side of the pane lets you select from colour-coded labels to add to the task – these will show up on the card back on the board screen. Click any label to change its name. Labels help you to distinguish between different kinds of task.

Using Planner

There’s no set way to use the options which are available. For smaller teams, a simple setup may suffice, with “To do,” “Doing” and “Done” buckets. You can then drag task cards between the buckets to create a clear overview of progress.

Larger teams with a higher volume of tasks may benefit from a more structured approach. Plans which represent a linear process may include a bucket for each stage of the process (such as “Design”, “Develop”, “Test” and “Release” for software development, or “Plan”, “Write”, “Edit”, “Review” for writing). You could then use the “Progress” option on cards to indicate the completion status.

To get more insight into tasks, you can use Planner’s built-in analytics capabilities. Click the “Charts” tab at the top of the display to obtain a visual breakdown of your plan. This reports on task status, bucket and priority, so you can clearly see how work is progressing. The Schedule tab gives you a calendar view that lets you see when work is planned to be completed.

This article has given you a high-level overview of Planner’s basic concepts. We have more detailed guides available on specific features, should you want to learn more. Planner excels at replacing in-office whiteboards covered with columns of sticky notes. You can get an at-a-glance view of your tasks, which keeps everybody informed even in distributed remote-working teams.

Fix: Can’t Boot Windows 10/11 After Installing Ubuntu

Posted on March 19, 2020October 23, 2023 by Ivan Jenic

Most likely when you reinstalled your Ubuntu system on your Windows 10 device, you might have gotten some error messages when trying to boot into Windows 10 operating system.

Although this issue is not very common, I will explain to all our readers how you can fix it and prevent it from happening in the future.

The error message that you might get is this: No boot disk has been detected or the disk has failed.

But you don’t need to be alarmed because, in the majority of cases, your disk is not broken.

The first step you should take is to check if you can boot into Ubuntu. If you can, then it is a Windows 8 or a Windows 10 issue, and you can fix it by following the steps listed below.

What can I do if Windows 10 won’t boot after Ubuntu install?

1. Use diskpart

Place a USB or a DVD in the Windows 10 device with Windows recovery media.
Reboot the Windows device and you should get to the Advanced Options window.
In the window that shows after the device boots from the USB or DVD, you will need to left click on Troubleshoot.
After left-clicking on Troubleshoot, you will need to select the Advanced Options feature.
Left-click on Command Prompt feature.
The Windows 10 device will restart and then you need to choose your account to sign in.
Now after Windows restarts, you will get to a black window which is the command prompt.
In the command prompt window type diskpart.
Hit Enter on the keyboard.
Type in the following command sel disk 0.
Hit Enter on the keyboard.
In the command prompt type list vol
Hit Enter on the keyboard.
The EFI partition you have there should be a FAT32 partition.
Note: Depending on what volume your EFI partition is you will have to follow the next steps accordingly
We will take for example that the EFI partition is Volume 2.
Now type in the command prompt window sel vol 2
Hit Enter on the keyboard.
Type in the command prompt window assign letter=a
After you hit Enter you will get a message saying DisKPart successfully assigned the driver letter or mount point.
Type in the command prompt exit.
Hit Enter on the keyboard.
Now you will still have the command prompt window in front of you but you will be take out of the DISKPART> feature.
Type in the command prompt window cd /d a:EFIMicrosoftBoot
Hit Enter on the keyboard.
Type in the command prompt window bootrec /fixboot
Hit Enter on the keyboard.
Note: The bootrec /fixboot command will repair your selected drive.
Now type in the command prompt window the following command ren BCD BCD.old
Hit Enter on the keyboard.
Type in the command prompt window bcdboot c:Windows /l en-us /s a: /f ALL
Hit Enter on the keyboard.
Remove the USB or DVD with the recovery media and try a reboot of the Windows 10 system.

2. Additional solutions

If the steps listed above did not solve your problem, here are some additional solutions that you can use:

Download and install Boot Repair. With the help of this tool, you can repair boot errors on dual-boot machines. You can use it when you can’t boot Ubuntu after installing Windows 10, or when you can’t start Windows 10 after installing Ubuntu.
Boot in UEFI Mode. If you don’t use this boot mode, you may experience various boot issues when launching your Windows 10 OS. Keep in mind that OEMs usually install Windows 10 in UEFI mode by default. If you install Ubuntu in legacy mode, you won’t be able to boot to Windows 10 simply because you installed the two operating systems under two different modes. Make sure that both operating systems are installed in UEFI mode so that you can boot both of them.

After the restart, everything should be back to normal, and you should be able to boot into Windows with your Ubuntu still running.

You may also remove Ubuntu from the dual-boot sequence in Windows 11.

If you have any questions about fixing your Windows 10 after installing Ubuntu, use the comments below to let us know.

FIX: Your Browser has Been Locked in Windows 10/11

Posted on March 19, 2020September 8, 2025 by Andrew Wafer

Using your Windows 10 and 11 devices on a daily basis, whether we are talking about business purposes or only for your own entertainment, implies certain risks, which are mainly related to viruses or malware infection.

A malware infection can become quite annoying and dangerous as your access might be restricted and also you might lose your data, or someone else might access your private files.

The same might happen when noticing the Your Browser has been Locked error.

First, you might think that this is a system alert caused by your Windows 10 system, though things are more complicated than that.

So, if you are prompted with the mentioned message, it means that your Windows 10/ Windows 11 / Windows 8 / Windows 8.1 device is dealing with malware.

Therefore, you have to act quickly in order to remove all your infected files and for being able to protect your device along with your personal data, info, and accounts.

Anyway, the most important thing is not to panic.

You should be aware that you must remove the Your Browser has been Locked malware and also you shouldn’t download any kind of software that is recommended by the virus.

Furthermore, don’t pay anything even if the FBI or other governmental institution is prompting you to take action in order to restore your computer.

This is a scam and you shouldn’t spend your money in vain.

Now that we have cleared out what is with the Your Browser has been Locked issue, you need to learn how to remove the same – check the guidelines from below in that matter and for obtaining further info.

How do I fix Your browser has been locked issue in Windows 10?

Run Malwarebytes Anti-Malware
Install a tool that blocks browser hijackers
Install Windows Defender Browser Protection

1. Run Malwarebytes Anti-Malware

First of all, run Task Manager on your Windows 10device (you can launch Task Manager by using the Ctrl + Alt + Del sequence of keyboard keys).
From Task Manager navigate through Processes tab.
From the bottom of the window select Show processes for all users.
Now end all your processes that are related to your infected web browser.
At this point your web browser window will be closed, so you can now remove the malware.
First, download the free distributed Malwarebytes Anti-Malware tool on your computer – you can get it from here.
Install the antimalware software on your computer by following the on-screen prompts.
From the main window of Malwarebytes Anti-Malware select perform full scan and then click on Scan.
Do note that the scan process might take a couple of minutes so be patient and don’t end the scan sequence.
In the end, select the show results option; select all the infected files and click on Remove Selected.
In the end, reboot your device and launch the Malwarebytes Anti-Malware software once more; this time choose the quick scan option and check if you have removed the Your Browser has been Locked from your Windows 10, 8 / Windows 8.1 machine.

2. Install a tool that blocks browser hijackers

To prevent similar events in the future, we recommend you install a reliable anti-browser hijacker.

We already published a list of the best anti browser hijackers that you can install on your Windows 10 computer, so make sure to check it out.

3. Install Windows Defender Browser Protection

There are many security extensions that you can install on your browser to secure your browsing session.

For example, the Windows Defender browser extension is one of the best tools that you can get on your computer.

The tool protects you against a wide variety of online threats including phishing attempts and specially crafted websites that try to trick you into downloading malicious software.

In other to prevent these situations in the future, make sure that your device is being protected against malware and virus infection.

In that matter use strong and up-to-date antivirus and antimalware programs that offer real-time web browsing protection.

If you have further or similar problems on your Windows-based device, don’t hesitate and use the comments field from below for talking with us.

Of course, we will assist you as soon as possible with compatible troubleshoot solutions, just like the above-described one.

FIX: Startup folder not working in Windows 10/11

Posted on March 19, 2020October 4, 2023 by Aleksandar Ognjanovic

The most common problem with startup programs is that they tend to bloat your system and slow down the startup process.

The dozens of programs in combination with an old HDD mean that you’ll wait for some time until the PC finally boots.

However, there’s also the opposite of it – when programs in Windows Startup folder just won’t start no matter what you do.

For the sake of dealing with this annoyance, we prepared an in-depth list that should provide you with enough resources to address this problem.

In case you’re trying to make a program start with the system without success, make sure to take a look below.

What can I do when programs from Startup folder won’t start?

1: Check the Startup manager

Back in the days, you had to turn to System Configuration in order to tweak the startup programs. There were all Windows services, too, so there are a lot of things you couldn’t touch.

A tad overcomplicated for a standard user. Others turned to third-party tools that were more of a bloatware than the solution. Luckily, that’s not the case with Windows 10.

Now, you can navigate to good old Task Manager and find all startup programs you need.

You can enable or disable any of them based on your needs.

This might seem like a simple solution, but it’s worth starting from the simplest one and gradually advancing to more complex solutions in the troubleshooting procedure.

If you’re not sure how to use newly added Startup manager in Windows 10, follow the instructions below:

Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
Open the Startup tab.
Select the programs you want to start with the system and enable them.
Confirm changes and restart your PC.

2: Reinstall the program

After every installation, the program or application should automatically create a shortcut in the system’s startup folder.

However, sometimes and for no apparent reason, the installation sequence simply skips on doing so.

Even though the way of manipulating startup programs changed, the containing folder is still there with Windows 10. And it still needs those shortcuts to run as intended.

You might also be interested in our guide on how to reinstall Windows Store apps in Windows 10

What you should do in this scenario is to try to repair the installation or reinstall the program.

Most programs offer the Repair option, but even the reinstallation shouldn’t take too much of your time, with only the largest ones being an exception.

Here’s how to repair or reinstall the troubling program and, hopefully, enable it to create a startup entry:

In the Windows Search bar, type Control and open Control Panel.
In the Category View, open Uninstall a program.
Navigate to a problem that refuses to start with the system, right-click on it, and choose Uninstall.
Navigate to Program files or Program files (86) and delete the remainings in folders.
Also, you can use a third-party cleaner like CCleaner to delete the remaining traces stored in the registry.
Run the installer and install the program again.

3: Run DISM

Most of the steps we provided in this article relate to third-party programs. However, if some of the Windows-native applications won’t run at the startup, there’s an alternative way to address this.

We’re referring to DISM or Deployment Image Servicing and Management tool.

This tool can come in handy for various system-related issues, and since you’re unable to reinstall the, let’s say Task Manager, you can at least restart it with the little help of DISM.

If you’re not confident running this tool, we made sure to present you two ways it can be used in Windows 10. Follow the instructions below:

Type cmd in the Windows search bar, right-click on the Command Prompt and run it as an administrator.
In the command line, type the following line and press Enter:
- DISM /online /Cleanup-Image / ScanHealth
- DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
Wait for the procedure to finish (it might take up to 10 minutes) and restart your PC.

And here’s the alternative way to run DISM:

Mount your Windows 10 installation media, either USB or ISO DVD.
Open Command Prompt (already explained how to above).
In the command line, type the following commands and press Enter after each:
- DISM /online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth
If there’s not any single error, enter this command and press Enter:
- DISM /online /Cleanup-Image / ScanHealth
If DISM finds any errors, enter the following commands and tap Enter:
- DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth /Source:repairSource\install.wim
Have in mind that you’ll need to replace the ”repair source” part with your installation media.
Wait for the procedure to end and restart your PC.

Although this is should help you with the majority of issues, it may not be the final solution for your issue. If that’s the case, make sure to continue with the steps we provided below.

4: Insert the shortcut manually

Now, the fact that you can’t locate the Startup folder in the Start menu like before, doesn’t mean that you can’t find it at all. It’s still there in Windows 10, hidden from the prying eyes.

Now, we already informed you about automatically created shortcuts that are made just after the installation process is finished.

However, since that’s not always the case, you’ll need to take the matters into your own hands and create the shortcut on your own.

This shouldn’t be too much of a problem if you follow these instructions closely:

Navigate to the installation folder of the troublesome program.
Right-click on the exe file (program’s main executable) and create a shortcut.
Press Windows + R to open the elevated Run command line.
In the command line type to open the Startup folder:
- shell:startup
Copy the shortcut and paste it into the Startup folder.
Restart your PC and look for changes.

5: Create a batch file

Another possible solution also requires a manual approach. Namely, you can create a batch file and force a program to start with the system.

You’ll still be prompted with UAC message informing you about the program at every startup, nonetheless. But, đ at least you’ll be able to make it work.

Some users advised this as the best workaround for the current state, at least until the problem is dealt with formally in the future.

Here’s how to create and run the batch file that enables you to run any program at the startup:

Right-click on the desktop and open New > Text document.
In the document, paste the following lines but don’t forget to change the example with the path to the program’s exe file.
- @echo off
  
  C:\Program Files\DAEMON Tools Lite\DTLauncher.exe
  
  exit
After that, click on the File > Save as, and change the document’s extension to .bat instead of .txt.
Close the document and double-click on it to run it.
After the system starts next time, the program should start. Although, you’ll be prompted with UAC message.

6: Force the elevated program with Task Scheduler

The Task Scheduler is a built-in tool that enables you to create, schedule and run various tasks with the implementation of triggers and criteria you set.

This, obviously, means that you can set an EXE file to run with the system startup, setting At Startup as criteria or trigger.

If you never had a chance to use Task Scheduler to force a program to start with the system, make sure to follow these steps and we should be good to go:

In the Windows Search bar, type taskschd and open Task Scheduler.
Expand Task Scheduler Library and click on Create Task under the right pane.
Under the General tab, name the Task same as the program you’ll try to run. In this case, we’ve chosen DeamonTools for a showcase.
Check the Run with highest privileges box.
Select Windows 10 from the ”Configure for” drop-down menu and open the Actions tab.
Under the Actions tab, click New.
From the Action drop-down menu, select Start a program.
In the Program/script field, paste the following command:
- %windir%\System32\cmd.exe
In the ”Add arguments (optional)” section, add the Task name and the path to the program’s EXE file (installation folder) in this manner:
- /c start Task Name Full Path of Program
Don’t forget to replace the Task name and Full path to program’s EXE file above.
Now, finally press OK to confirm changes and you should be able to see the newly-created task.
Now press Windows + R to open the elevated Run command line.
In the command line type to open the Startup folder:
- shell:startup
Copy the program’s shortcut and paste it into the Startup folder.
Right-click on the empty space in the folder and click New > Shortcut.
In the empty field, type the following line and click Next:
- schtasks /run /tn “Task Name”
Don’t forget to change the task name with the name of your actual task we just created. In our case, DeamonTools.
On the next screen, name the shortcut as the program is named. In our case DeamonTools Lite.
The last thing is to right-click on the newly-created shortcut, open Properties > Shortcut, and change the icon.

7: Disable UAC

User Account Control or UAC is one of those security measures that are certainly helpful to some extent but can become bothersome over time.

Especially if a certain program requires administrative permissions in order to run. By default, UAC will block these kinds of programs on startup, so the only thing that comes to our mind is to disable it completely.

Now, have in mind that this can affect security and overall performance of the system, and it’s highly unadvised to turn UAC off.

I’ve always turned it Off on Windows 7 for various reasons, but it seems that the drawbacks are higher when it comes to Windows 10.

If you’re not sure how to disable User Account Control in Windows 10, follow the instructions below:

Type UAC in the Search bar and open Change User Account Control settings.
Move the slider to the bottom and confirm changes.
This should stop further prompts and enable you to start some of the troubled programs.

We don’t advise you to keep this setup permanently since it can affect the performance of Windows Firewall and other related security features. It might not, but it’s always better to be safe than sorry.

8: Edit registry

Mostly everything that you do within the Windows interface can be taken to a higher authority, which is Registry.

As you probably know, Windows Registry keeps all low-level settings of both system and third-party processes that appear in everyday use.

That makes it quite dangerous, so make sure not to meddle with registry inputs if you’re not 100% sure what you’re doing.

Nonetheless, with a careful approach, you should be able to easily force certain programs into starting with the system from the Registry Editor.

Make sure to follow the steps below closely and we should be good to go:

In the Windows Search bar, type regedit, and open Registry editor.
Open the File option and create a backup of your current registry state.
Follow this path:
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
Right-click on the empty space and choose New > String value.
Name value exactly as the program you want to run is named.
Right-click on the newly-created value and choose Modify.
In the Value data field, paste the exact path of the program’s EXE file (including the exe file, like all the above-enlisted programs).
Save changes and restart your PC.

9: Reset this PC

Finally, if you’ve reached the brink of your nerves and the system just won’t comply, the only remaining solutions we can offer is to start from a scratch.

We won’t go as far as to recommend a clean reinstallation, and luckily, with Windows 10 you don’t need it. What you can do is to check for the recovery options and use Reset this PC.

Restoring the system to its default values should be the final resort, but also it can help.

In addition, you get to keep your files without losing any important data in the process. If you’re up for the task, follow the instructions below:

Press Windows key +I to open Settings.
Open Update & security.
Select Recovery from the left pane.
Click on Reset this PC and then on Get started.

That should do it. In case you have anything to add to our list of solutions, make sure to do so in the comments section below.

New secured-core PCs to thwart RobbinHood attacks

Posted on March 19, 2020 by Don Sharpe

Microsoft has provided detailed information about secured-core computers—a new class of devices with built-in fortification against cybersecurity threats.

The company has been developing the fortified Windows 10 PCs jointly with its OEM partners. It is talking up a new chip-to-cloud strategy that provides multi-level system protection.

RobbinHood malware attacks

Secured-core PCs come with defenses against the RobbinHood malware (and other threats) enabled out of the box.

Such a threat may prevent you from accessing your computer or data. Also, an attacker can use it to ask for a specific amount of money as a precondition for releasing your system.

Baltimore’s government suffered a similar breach of cybersecurity last year after hackers seized part of the city’s information technology system.

In a typical RobbinHood attack, the malware targets your operating system’s kernel. From there, it can execute the lowest-level and most sensitive functions of the OS.

The ransomware contains multiple files, one of which can give an attacker elevated kernel privileges. Once this happens, the intruder may disable kernel-mode driver signing and validation.

That breach paves the way for the loading of a malicious driver with kernel-level privileges like turning off security features or tools.

That is why Microsoft is proposing a multifaceted approach to protecting the kernel. The strategy would involve building cybersecurity into the PC’s chip, OS, and the cloud.

Guarding against kernel attack

With secured-core devices, Hypervisor-protected code integrity (HVCI) verifies each driver that loads into the kernel. It makes it difficult for RobbinHood malware to introduce and run an unsigned driver in the kernel.

Secured-core PCs are the latest hardware to provide driver control out of the box, with baseline configuration already set. Driver control is provided by a combination of HVCI & Windows Defender Application Control (WDAC) technologies.

Additionally, these fortified devices come with built-in defenses against the execution of unverified code.

Microsoft also talked about Kernel Data Protection (KDP), an upcoming Windows 10 feature. Its purpose is to prevent the illegal manipulation of kernel memory and data.

Why hardware-backed security makes sense

There are several ways to handle different types of ransomware in Windows 10. However, you can boost your PC’s security with hardware-backed defenses because these are not just OS-focused.

Likewise, even with all the technical cybersecurity features at your disposal, you may be unable to match them with the right hardware profile.

Also, getting the BIOS and OS settings right for optimal protection can be tricky sometimes.

It will be interesting to see how secured-core devices stack up against persistent remote code execution (RCE) cybersecurity threats.

Windows 10 build 19587 changes how unmute audio works

Posted on March 18, 2020July 23, 2020 by Don Sharpe

Fast ring insiders have something fresh to explore today after Microsoft shipped out Windows 10 Insider Preview Build 19587.

For the most part, the latest build comprises numerous fixes.

It brings a couple of enhancements too, one of which touches on how to unmute volume. The other improves Narrator controls in Windows 10.

What is new in build 19587?

With this Windows 10 update, you have to raise the volume on your PC to unmute sound. The audio will not unmute using your physical keyboard’s media keys unless you do this.

There is also some good news for those who rely on the Narrator screen-reading application to navigate or use Windows 10 software. Since the tool lets you pick your default audio device, it makes sense that Microsoft is updating it to make the selection process as smooth as possible.

So, when you go to the volume flyout to pick your favorite playback device, the app will be describing the audio output using a more user-friendly string.

Similarly, adding new devices is now much easier for Narrator users. The app provides you with more information so you can have meaningful interactions, such as with the Add Bluetooth dialog within the Settings app.

Some of the problems this update fixes are:

Crashing of the Default Apps page in Settings when you attempted to alter defaults.
Inability to open some files in win32 apps from File Explorer. This issue affected files with very long paths that contained East Asian characters.
The failure to produce thumbnails for images inside a Work Folder.

There are pending issues too, including:

ARM PCs

Fast ring insiders using ARM devices will not get Windows 10 build 19587 for the time being. Microsoft said that the update is triggering a bug check in those machines.

BattlEye incompatibility

It appears that Microsoft has not yet solved the incompatibility issues that prevent some preview builds from installing on machines with BattlEye. As such, if you have the anti-cheat software on your PC, you cannot upgrade to build 19587 for now.

The GSoD error

Some insiders are reporting the green screen of death (GSoD) when installing this build.

Microsoft is suggesting a workaround in case you experience this error when restarting your machine to install the update.

“If this happens, log in, schedule a time for the update to install, and then log off all user profiles before the scheduled install time. The install will then proceed as expected.”

It is not clear if the proposed solution works for all affected Windows 10 users.

FIX: Microsoft Teams mailbox does not exist

Posted on March 18, 2020October 4, 2023 by Tashreef Shareef

Microsoft TeamsMicrosoft Teams is a popular hub for teamwork in Office 365. Microsoft Teams’ mailbox allows the users to receive and send emails directly from the MT interface.

However, some users have reported that they are unable to view their mailbox in the Calendar tab as it shows Microsoft Teams error: Mailbox does not exist.

There are multiple instances of this error occurring to other users as seen in the Microsoft Tech community.

I configured Office 365 Hybrid ( sync users, configure exchange hybrid, configure federated domains( contoso.com, fabrikam.com) , all settings is ok. But when i log in my teams(with my —-“[email protected]” credentials) on calendar tab i have an error mailbox does not exist

Follow the troubleshooting tips in this article to resolve the “Microsoft Teams error Mailbox does not exist” issue.

How to fix Microsoft Teams error mailbox does not exist

1. Verify OAuth Configuration

The first thing you should do is to check the OAuth settings. You can test it using the Test-OAuthConnectivity cmdlet. You can learn more about using Test-OAuthConnectivity Cmdlet in the official forum.

However, for a quick guide, you can use the following PowerShell command to verify the authentication.

Right-click on Start and select PowerShell (Admin).
In the PowerShell command window type the following command and hit enter to execute.
Test-OAuthConnectivity -Service EWS -TargetUri https://outlook.office365.com/ews/exchange.asmx -Mailbox <On-Premises Mailbox> -Verbose | Format-List
Make sure you change the required user authentication details from the above command.

Microsoft Teams might make its way to Linux in the future

2. Manually Return the Job and Contact Support

If the issue persists, you can try to manually return the job as a workaround.

Although this is not an ideal solution or not even a solution, if the issue is at the Microsoft Team’s end, you may need to do it manually.

Several users have reported that the Microsoft Teams error Mailbox does not exist error resolved itself automatically after a few days.

Make sure you contact the support in the meantime to let the Microsoft Teams developers know about the issue.

3. Reinstall Microsoft Teams

If the issue persists, you may want to uninstall and reinstall Microsoft Team.

Press Windows Key + R to open Run.
Type control and click OK to open Control Panel.
Go to Programs > Programs and Features.
Select Microsoft Teams and click on Uninstall.
Next, select Teams Machine Wide Installer and click on Uninstall.
Reboot the computer after the uninstalling process is done.
Download and install Microsoft Teams from the website again and check for any improvements.

Go to Outlook and select your profile
Go to More Settings and then the Advanced tab
Click on Add to add your shared Microsoft Teams email address
Hit OK and the mailbox will be visible in the left-hand pane

Can a shared mailbox send emails?

Shared mailboxes can send emails without any problem. However, there is no information about the individual user sending the message as the common email address is listed in the sender field.

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Fix Microsoft Teams file unknown errors using these methods

Posted on March 18, 2020October 4, 2023 by Tashreef Shareef

Microsoft Teams allows the app users to share PDF documents and other files from their SharePoint library with other users using the Add Cloud Storage option.

However, some users have reported getting the annoying Microsoft Teams file unknown error while trying to share their files. You can find several users complaining of similar issues in the Microsoft Teams forum.

I have a PDF document in a SharePoint library.
I linked the SharePoint library to Teams using the “Add Cloud Storage” under the files tab.
then linked to the PDF document in a post in the channel (using the browse for attachment option where I navigated into the now linked SharePoint library folder to select my PDF).
Clicking the file causes it to try to render within Microsoft teams and shows an “Unknown Error” message.

If you are also troubled by this error, here is how to fix Microsoft teams file unknown error in Windows computer.

How to fix Microsoft teams file unknown error

1. Sign Out and Restart Teams

If you haven’t already, try to sign out of Microsoft Teams and restart the app.
If it is a temporary cache related issues, a quick sign out and relaunch should help you resolve the error.
Make sure you sign out of Team before you close the app.
If the issue persists, keep the app closed for a few minutes and relaunch it again.

2. Add Files from Conversation

Some users have reported a workaround where the user needs to upload the file from the Conversation.
When uploading the file, a folder labeled General will be added. However, if you mess with the auto-generated file names, you may end up with Microsoft teams file unknown error.
So make sure you upload the files as it is without making any changes to the file names.

3. Open Files with Online Option

If the issue persists, try to open the file with Online feature.
Click the “…” on the message and select Open Online.
This should open the file in the Microsoft Teams web client.
Although this a workaround, you should be able to access the file until a proper fix is found.

4. Contact Support and Online Community

The Microsoft Teams community is very active and more than happy to help fellow Team users.
You can reach out Microsoft Team Community forum online to get help.
You can also contact Microsoft Team support using the app or the web client.

5. Reinstall Microsoft Teams

If the issue persists, the support may ask you to reinstall the Microsoft Teams desktop client again.
At times, file corruption or any issues with the system files can affect the functionality of the app.
Uninstall Microsoft Teams if necessary and reinstall the latest version from the official website.

There does not seem to be any conclusive solution to Microsoft teams file unknown error. However, you can follow the troubleshooting tips in this article to resolve the issue.

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Fix: Ask Your Admin to Enable Microsoft Teams

Posted on March 18, 2020March 14, 2024 by Tashreef Shareef

Microsoft Teams is a popular productivity software that offers a shared workspace to chat, meet, share files, and work with business apps.

However, Microsoft Teams users reported a rather unusual Microsoft Teams error you’re missing out! Ask your admin to enable Microsoft Teams while trying to log in to the app.

If you are also troubled by this error, here are a couple of troubleshooting tips to help you resolve this error on your Windows computer.

How to fix Microsoft Teams error you’re missing out?

1. Assign License for Microsoft Teams

If you are the Office 365 Admin, you can assign a license for Microsoft Teams to one of your team members. Here is how to do it.

Go to Office 365 Admin Center.
Click on Users and select Active Users.
Select the user and click on Edit for Product License.
Check the Microsoft Teams box for the selected user.
Now, ask the affected user to log in to their Microsoft Teams app and check if the Microsoft Teams error you’re missing out on is resolved.

2. Enable Guest Access

Suppose you are using Microsoft Teams in an education institution. In that case, you may want to enable Guest Access in your tenant before the student can access the Microsoft Teams dashboard without getting the Microsoft Teams error you’re missing out.

First sign in to your Microsoft Office 365 with your admin account.
From the Dashboard, go to Settings > Services & add-in.
Click on Microsoft Teams.
From the top-right corner, click the drop-down menu under the section Setting by user/license type.
Select Guest from Business and Enterprise.
Enable Microsoft Teams by toggling the On switch.
Click Save to save the changes.
Now ask your student to access the Microsoft Teams app and check for any improvements.

3. Clear Local Cache

Cleaning the Microsoft Teams app Local Cache can help you resolve the error. Here is how to do it.

Open File Explorer app.

Navigate to the following location:

%appdata%MicrosoftteamsApplication cacheCache

Delete all the files in this folder. If UAC asks for confirmation, click on Yes.
After that, navigate to the following location:
```
%appdata%MicrosoftteamsCache
```
Delete all the files in this folder as well.
Reboot the system and launch the Microsoft Teams desktop app. Try to sign in and check if the error is resolved.

By following the steps in this article you can resolve the Microsoft Teams error you’re missing out issue.

Go to the Office 365 Admin Center and select Settings
Then click on Services & Add-Ins option
Now, select Microsoft Teams, and the settings pane will appear on the screen

How do I get my Microsoft Teams administrator certification?

To become a Microsoft Teams administrator, you must become Microsoft 365 certified. Teams is now part of the Office 365 Suite, and having the Microsoft 365 certifications qualifies you for a job as a Microsoft Teams admin.

Even more, enabling Microsoft Teams Meeting Recommendations in the Start Menu is now possible, so take a closer look at our dedicated guide. And you can also quickly learn how to enable Microsoft Teams Together Mode.

Keep in mind that this isn’t the only issue you can encounter, and many reported that the Microsoft Teams vertical scroll bar missing, but we covered that in a separate guide.

WordPerfect Spell Check is not working? Try this

Posted on March 18, 2020October 4, 2023 by Radu Tyrsina

Users often try to take advantage of Spell Check but they get an error box saying Corel WordPerfect Version executable has encountered a problem and needs to close. The program then closes and wants to send an error report. This isn’t of any immediate help, so what can they do?

The latest versions also behave differently related to words beginning with capital letters especially. Moreover, testing Skip All in combination with Spell Checker options leads to conflicting results.

On top of that, WordPerfect isn’t picking up all spelling errors like other professional tools that catch any misspelled words. If you are also struggling to understand why Spell Check quit working properly, here we have jotted down the best potential solutions to troubleshoot this with ease.

Don’t hesitate to go through the fixes below as described.

What can I do when WordPerfect Spell Check is not working?

1. Untick Correct other mistyped words when possible

When the Spell Check feature continues to highlight words even after you tell it to Skip All, try unchecking the option that says Correct other mistyped words when possible. You may find it under Tools > QuickCorrect.

In spite of using it for a long time, keeping it unchecked is recommended. If you keep it enabled, not only does it make WordPerfect ready to replace typographical errors that have only one possible correction without notifying you of the change, but it also changes proper names.

2. Install the Writing Tools for the proper language

If the Correct other mistyped words option is already unchecked or your problems go beyond that, go back to the basics. If you open a file that is written in a language that is different from the writing tools you have installed, they run in the installed language.

For example, suppose you’ve installed the English Writing Tools and you open a French file. Language Codes may cause trouble as the writing tools run in English. You can only imagine the result. If you want to use the function in a different language, install the Writing Tools for that language.

3. Take a closer look at some essential settings

Make sure that Recheck All Text (under Spell Check options) is not checked. If it is, it continues to recheck all the text you have skipped or added. This makes your job a lot harder than it’s supposed to be.
Don’t forget how easy is to disable a word list when you don’t use it any longer. Click Tools, then go to the Spell checker. Click Options > Use word lists and disable the checkbox that corresponds to the appropriate word list.
Untick the prompt before Auto Replacement. Otherwise, it will prompt you for words you previously entered in the QuickCorrect options.
Double-check the QuickCorrect words to make sure problem words have not been added in there.

You can also try to update the build of your WordPerfect program. And if you have recently installed Windows XP, learn a few tips to keep using Windows XP forever and do note that the two applications use completely different dictionaries for spell checking.

The quickest solution is to re-install the dictionary for WordPerfect. As always, you can let us know how it goes.

If you have any other suggestions or questions, don’t hesitate to leave them in the comments section below and we’ll surely check them out.

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FIX: Remove Everything recovery option won’t work

Posted on March 18, 2020October 4, 2023 by Ivan Jenic

One of the most common Windows 10 reported issues concerns the Remove Everything recovery option. Namely, something prevents it from restoring your PC from scratch.

How do you delete everything off your computer Windows 10? In case you have a large variety of issues and lack the enthusiasm for the ISO/USB reinstall, the Remove Everything tool comes in handy.

As a short recap, it reinstalls Windows 10 and removes all your personal files, deletes apps and drivers you installed, and removes changes you made to settings. It also removes any apps your PC manufacturer installed.

If you’ve tried this advanced feature and ran into problems, be sure that these possible workarounds will help you resolve the issue. Just don’t postpone applying the solutions described below.

How can I fix the Remove Everything recovery option?

1. Uninstall Office 365

Right-click Start.
Open Programs and Features.
Right-click Office 365 and choose Uninstall.

The main culprit for this issue is, as stated by Microsoft, Office 365. So, your best bet to resolve this issue is to uninstall Office 365 prior to performing any restoring procedures.

Hopefully, once you’ve finished with the restoring process, you can download Office 365 from the official Microsoft site.

2. Fire up DISM and SFC Scans

Open the Start menu and type cmd in the search bar.
Don’t hesitate to right-click Command Prompt.
When prompted by the UAC, hit Yes to open it with administrator privileges.
An elevated Command Prompt window will now appear, so type the following commands and press Enter:
Dism.exe /online /cleanup-image /scanhealth
Dism.exe /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth
The system will commence the verification phase to identify the corrupt files and resolve the issue for you. Do not close the command line window until you see the message verification 100% complete.
Up next, you may restart your PC.
You need to open Command Prompt as an administrator again.
Once the Administrator: Command Prompt window opens, you can run sfc /scannow.
Since it is an extensive scan, it could take some time to complete.
The system will inform you once the procedure has been completed successfully and you may restart your computer.

SFC and DISM are advanced tools that hold the potential to detect the deeply rooted problems which cause the Remove Everything recovery option issues. Give them a try as described above.

Don’t know what to do when DISM failed? Check out this quick guide and get rid of the worries.

scannow command has stopped before the process finished? Don’t worry, we’ve got an easy fix for you.

3. Keep your system updated

In case you uninstalled Office 365, tried the above tools, and the Remove Everything feature is still malfunctioning, remember this. Fresh updates could be your best bet, so don’t hesitate to look for any new ones.

Having trouble updating your Windows? Check out this detailed guide that will help you solve them in no time.

Users also describe performing a clean Windows 10 install as a working solution. For the complete reinstallation process walkthrough, look here.

Moreover, if you have any questions related to the subject, do not hesitate to ask. You may use the comments area below in that regard.

[wl_navigator]

WoW Update Stuck on Initializing: Why and How to Fix

Posted on March 18, 2020April 26, 2024 by Aleksandar Ognjanovic

Many users reported that their Blizzard app is stuck on initializing, and this can be a big problem since it will prevent you from playing your favorite games. Although this is an issue, you can fix it easily with one of our solutions.

Blizzard, the sovereign leader in MMO genre, offers a great desktop client that still doesn’t shy from issues of its own. One of the recently-reported problems concerns a stuck in the initializing screen.

This, so to say error, occurs especially during the download and installation process of one of the offered games. Mostly with the recently-introduced Destiny 2.

In order to help you overcome this issue and finally put your hands on long-expected FPS title, we provided 6 viable solutions. So, make sure to check them out and, hopefully, address the problem at hand.

How can I fix Blizzard downloader stuck at 0 b/s?

Run Blizzard app with administrative permissions
Disable background programs
Check the connection
Clear app’s cache
Restart download with different folder location
Update the client

1. Run Blizzard app with administrative permissions

If your Blizzard app is stuck while initializing, the issue can be caused by the lack of privileges.

However, there’s a quick way to solve this problem, and all that you have to do is to run the application as an administrator. To do that, follow these simple steps:

Right-click on the Blizzard app’s desktop shortcut and open Properties.
Select the Compatibility tab.
Check the ”Run this program as an administrator” box.
Save changes and start the app.

That should resolve the halt. On the other hand, if you’re still stuck at the initializing screen, make sure to move on.

Learn everything there is to know about the administrator account and how you can enable/disable it right here!

Nothing happens when you click on Run as administrator? Don’t worry, we’ve got the right fix for you.

2. Disable background programs

This here is paramount. Programs that function in the background have caused and can cause a lot of issues. In addition, the special emphasizes goes to connection-dependent programs that hog on your bandwidth.

These can slow down downloads and even prevent the client updates. Furthermore, some other programs like third-party solutions, VPNs, or firewalls can stop the connection in the first place.

These are some background programs that can provoke issues:

Download managers and torrent clients.
VoIP programs like Skype.
Voice chat in-game programs like Ventrilo.

For that purpose, we advise you to, either ”kill” these programs individually within the Task Manager or start your PC in with a selective startup. Follow the instructions below to perform the latter:

In the Windows Search bar, type msconfig.msc and open System Configuration.
Under the General tab, select the Selective startup.
Uncheck the ”Load startup items” box.
Now, navigate to the Services tab.
Check the ”Hide all Microsoft services” box.
Click on the Disable all and then OK to confirm changes.
Finally, restart your PC and start the Blizzard again.

If you want to know how to add or remove startup apps on Windows 10, check out this simple guide.

Windows won’t end a task in Task Manager? Count on us to solve the problem.

3. Check the connection

In 90% of situations, the main culprit for the initializing stall lies within the connection issues. Either your bandwidth is too slow, Blizzard servers are busy (that’s common with every new game introductions), or something’s wrong with your router or modem.

In order to make sure that everything in this department is working as intended, make sure to try the workarounds we presented below:

Use wired, LAN connection instead of the wireless one. The wireless connection is mostly unstable and it’s not recommended for downloading or updating games.
Enable the highest download rate.
1. Open the Blizzard app.
2. Click on Blizzard and choose Settings from the drop-down menu.
3. Open the Game Install/Update section from the left pane.
4. Under Network Bandwidth, set both Latest updates and Future patch data values to 0 (0 means Unlimited).
5. Confirm changes.
Restart your router and modem. Wait for a minute or so and power on your equipment.
Reset router to default settings.
Make sure that needed ports are open.
Flash the DNS.
1. In the Windows Search bar, type command prompt.
2. Right-click on the Command Prompt and run it as an administrator.
3. Type in the following command and press Enter:
  - ipconfig /flushdns
4. Close Command Prompt and reconnect.
Run Internet connection or Network adapter troubleshooters. Navigate to Settings > Update & security > Troubleshoot, and run both tools, respectively.

If you’re having trouble accessing Command Prompt as an admin, then you better take a closer look at this guide.

Also, if you can’t flush the DNS Resolver Cache in Windows 10, follow the simple steps from this article to fix the problem.

If the Troubleshooter stops before completing the process, fix it with the help of this complete guide.

4. Clear app’s cache

Close the Blizzard app completely. This includes closing the client from the notification area, too.
Right-click on the Taskbar and open Task Manager.
Kill all Blizzard app-related processes.
Now, navigate to the system partition (C:).
Enable Hidden items.
Open Program Data.
Delete Battle.net folder and restart your Blizzard desktop client.

Additionally, after some time of extensive use, the Blizzard app will accumulate a lot of redundant files. Those can slow down the app and cause various issues.

Moreover, some stored app files can get corrupted or incomplete which will, eventually, result in additional issues. Therefore, it’s advised to delete those files and move from there.

Can’t open Task Manager? Don’t worry, we’ve got the right solution for you.

5. Restart download with a simple trick

Stop the downloading process within the Blizzard app.
Navigate to C:Program Files (x86) and drag the game‘s installation folder to the Desktop background.
Open the Blizzard app and navigate to the game which caused the halt.
Click ”Install” and leave it at the Location selection screen.
Move the installation folder back in Program Files.
Select the default location and resume with the installation.

Some resourceful users decided to take matters into their own hands and managed to resolve the problem with certain games that get stuck at the initialization screen.

Namely, it seems that the stall is resolved with one simple trick. Allegedly, all you need to do is to move the installation folder from the original path, move it back again, and continue with the downloading.

Therefore, follow the steps above to do so on your PC and maybe you’ll overcome the initializing screen. Moreover, the download should resume as intended.

After that, the download speed vastly improved and, which is more important, the initializing screen halt was gone.

6. Update the client and wait

Finally, if none of the previous solutions worked, we can only advise you to keep your Blizzard app up-to-date and wait.

We’re aware that Blizzard is being sloppy sometimes, but, eventually, the problems like the one with the Destiny 2 distribution, we’ll be sorted out.

That should conclude it.

In case you have questions or additional solutions regarding the stuck on the initializing screen, make sure to share them with us. You can do so in the comments section below.

[wl_navigator]

WordPerfect has not been installed correctly? Try this

Posted on March 18, 2020October 4, 2023 by Vlad Turiceanu

Have you also got the error message which says WordPerfect has not been installed correctly? You are now looking for a way to fix this instead of creating impressive presentations, spreadsheets, and more. Let us help you out.

WordPerfect by Corel is a reliable word processing program. Sometimes, due to any number of factors, you’re getting this popup, but it shouldn’t be there to stay.

A number of different fixes can be applied, as detailed below.

What can I do if getting WordPerfect has not been installed correctly?

1. Temporarily turn off the antivirus

This problem often arises when you have the antivirus software running when you try to start WordPerfect. That’s why you should disable all antivirus programs and firewalls before installing any new software or even completely remove them from your PC by using specialized uninstaller software.

If this sounds a bit too much for you, remember that most antivirus programs have a Snooze option these days. You may often choose the snooze duration, so the program does come on automatically at the end of the time period you’ve set.

Thinking that it’s time to change your antivirus with a better one? Here’s a list with our top picks.

2. Remove the checkmark from Load Start Up Items

At first, use the keyboard shortcut Windows Key + R to launch the Run dialog box.
In the text box, type MSConfig.
Press Enter or click OK and the MsConfig window will open.
Find your way into General > Selective Startup.
Now, you need to remove the checkmark from Load Start Up Items.
Reboot the PC for any changes to take effect.

Plenty of users report successfully installing WordPerfect by following the above procedure. It works flowerless, with the exception of a desktop icon that you can manually add.

3. Follow a repair installation procedure

To begin the procedure, close all open applications including WordPerfect by Corel.
Open the Run window by pressing the Windows logo and the R key.
Type: appwiz.cpl and press Enter or click OK to open the Programs and Features folder window.
Right-click on WordPerfect Office from the currently installed programs list.
Left-click to Uninstall.
Click Next.
Follow the given prompts.
Finally, restart your computer.

Keep getting the WordPerfect has not been installed correctly error message? Then, try a repair installation of the software to help resolve this.

Have you successfully fixed the issue? For any other questions or suggestions, don’t hesitate to reach for the comments section below.

[wl_navigator]

Here’s how IT admins can delete Office 365 accounts and users

Posted on March 18, 2020 by Radu Tyrsina

In this article

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Whenever someone leaves a job or is no longer with an organization it makes sense to delete their data and remove them from Office 365. This not only frees up a spot for future employees but it prevents the user from going back and accessing their data. It also eliminates paying an extra Office 365 subscription fee for the user. In this guide, we’ll take a look at how IT admins can delete old Office 365 accounts.

Some information

Before getting into anything, we’ll mention that this is a guide for IT admins only. Only people who have Office 365 global admin or user management permissions for a business or school can delete user accounts. It’s also worth noting that an IT admin will only have 30 days to restore the account before the user’s data is permanently deleted.

We’ll also mention that even if you delete an Office 365 user, you’ll still be paying for their license. You’ll need to take the extra step of stop paying for the license or move it to another user, to avoid paying extra.

If losing critical company information is a concern, there are ways to back up a former user’s data, if need be. Finally, it is still possible to keep the user’s email, before you delete the account by moving the email to a different location. IT Admins with enterprise-level Office 365 subscriptions can also preserve the mailbox data of a deleted Office 365 user account by turning it into an inactive mailbox.

Step 1: Delete a user

If you’re deleting a user’s account that you’ve converted to a shared mailbox, there is a special consideration before deleting a user. There’s also special consideration if you have set up email forwarding on the account.

The reason why? When a person replies to a message sent to the shared mailbox, the email will appear to be from the shared mailbox and not from the individual user. Additionally, email forwarding also depends on having the actual account still active and if you delete the account the mailbox will become inactive. In these situations, Microsoft recommends for you to stop paying for the license instead of deleting the account (which we describe in the next section.)

Anyway, to get started with deleting an Office 365 account or user, you’ll need to visit the Microsoft 365 Admin Center. From here, you’ll want to make sure the Try the new admin center switch is toggled on the top. You can then click Users in the sidebar, select the user you want to delete and choose Delete User.

IT Admins with more in-depth experience can also remove many users at the same time with the Remove-MsolUser PowerShell cmdlet. We won’t get into the technical aspects of that, but you can read about it here if wanted.

Step 2: Stop paying for their license

Again, deleting an Office 365 account still means that you’ll be paying for the license. You can stop paying for the license by doing the following. You’ll first want to go to the Billing page of the Microsoft 365 Admin Center. Then, you’ll want to click the Products & Services page. You can then select the subscription and then select Add/Remove licenses to delete the license. You also can reassign the license to someone else from the same page, if need be. Just be aware it won’t be won’t be assigned to someone automatically.

Other Notes

Depending on your situation, you might not be able to remove the corresponding license once you’ve removed an Office 365 user (in this case, you could still re-assign the now freed-up license to a new user). This will happen if you’ve purchased licenses through a Partner or volume licensing. You also might not be able to remove licenses if If you are paying for an annual plan or if you are in the middle of a billing cycle. In this case, you won’t be able to remove the license from your subscription until your commitment is completed. You can learn more about deleting Office 365 accounts from Microsoft here.

FIX: I can’t delete files in Microsoft Teams

Posted on March 18, 2020September 13, 2025 by Milan Stanojevic

Sharing files in files in Teams.

One user said the following on the official Microsoft forum:

This is a brand new team and there are only two people in it and neither of them are online today. I created several help files for the team and needed to delete the one named Test, and cannot. I just want to delete this test file, and I cannot figure out how to do it. Help?

Also, the user added that he tried to delete this file from SharePoint, but received this message: “The file is currently checked out or locked for editing by another user”. However, there are no other users and it is not open anywhere.

Luckily, there are some solutions to this issue and today we will show you how to delete files in Microsoft Teams.

What to do if Microsoft Teams won’t delete certain files?

1. Wait patiently

If the file was opened by another client program, Windows SharePoint Services puts a write lock on the document on the server. So, it will take some time before the time lock expires.

Therefore, wait a little longer and try again later to see if the problem persists.

2. Clear cache and cookies from the browser

If the solution above didn’t work, try clearing the cache from the browser. In Google Chrome, you can do this by following the steps below.

Go to the three vertical dots from the upper-right corner of your window.
Select More tools and Clear browsing data.
Go to Advanced and select All time.
Check the Cookies and other site data box and click on Clear data.

3. Try a different browser

If you’re having this problem, perhaps you can fix it by trying a different browser.

Opera Browser is a great alternative to Google Chrome that prioritizes user security and privacy.

Regarding privacy, you should know that Opera doesn’t send your data to Google. In addition, there’s a built-in tracking and phishing protection, as well as an adblocker.

For extra security, there’s a VPN and a malware scanner for downloaded files. For what is worth, Opera has even a Turbo utility, that compresses data so you can download files fast and efficiently.

4. Restore an earlier version

In the documents library, select the three dots next to a document.
Click on Version history.
Restore to an earlier version.
Check if you can delete the file.

Conclusion

Sharing files in Microsoft Teams is easy, but as we can all see, deleting documents could be problematic. However, this problem can be solved in no time with the solutions above.

Alternatively, you can also check out our list of the best software you can use to delete stubborn files.

Did our methods work for you? Do let us know in the comments section below!

Launch the SharePoint document library where the respective files are located
Locate the files or folders you want to delete
Right-click on the respective file or folder and click on Delete.

What happens when you delete a team in Microsoft Teams?

Once a team in Microsoft Teams is deleted, all the data associated with that team gets deleted as well. This includes channels, files, chats, contacts, etc. Office 365 admins are the only persons who can restore deleted teams provided that this happens within 30 days from the deletion.

How do I delete a conversation in Microsoft Teams?

Currently, Microsoft Teams users are not allowed to delete the whole conversation in private chats. They can hide or archive the conversation or delete the messages they sent, but not the entire conversation.

[wl_navigator]

Assassin’s Creed Odyssey will be free to play on Xbox One and PC on March 19-22

Posted on March 18, 2020 by davew

Assassin’s Creed Odyssey offers the most realistic open-world experience of Ancient Greece. Odyssey is arguably the best Assassin’s Creed title yet, offering plenty of challenging missions to keep you playing for hours. As noted in a post by Ubisoft, starting March 19, anyone can download and play Assassin’s Creed Odyssey for free this weekend on Windows 10, Xbox One, and PS4.

Players can download Assassin’s Creed Odyssey now and start playing the game for free on March 19, by downloading the Uplay launcher on Windows 10. When the free weekend ends on March 22, any progress you make during the free weekend will be carried over if you decide to purchase Assassin’s Creed Odyssey directly from the Ubisoft Store.

Assassin’s Creed Odyssey will be on sale on Xbox One from March 20 to March 30, 2020, and up to 67% off via the Ubisoft Store from now until March 26, 2020. Another added bonus is that anyone who plays Assassin’s Creed Odyssey will unlock Ezio’s Roman Set, including the Milanese Sword and Legendary armor set based on Ezio’s outfit from Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood. All Assassin’s Creed Odyssey editions are available for 75% off in the Ubisoft Store.

Buy Assassin’s Creed Odyssey Standard Edition for $15.00
Buy Assassin’s Creed Odyssey Deluxe Edition for $17.50
Buy Assassin’s Creed Odyssey Gold Edition for $25.00

Will you be playing Assassin’s Creed Odyssey this weekend? What edition will you buy? Let us know in the comments.

Fix ERROR_INVALID_FUNCTION

Posted on March 18, 2020March 26, 2024 by Madalina Dinita

If you’re getting the ERROR_INVALID_FUNCTION error, follow the troubleshooting steps listed in this article to fix it.

ERROR_INVALID_FUNCTION affects all Windows versions but occurs more frequently on older Windows versions. This error type can occur in a variety of situations:

when upgrading your PC to Windows 10
after installing the latest Windows updates
when downloading apps from the Windows Store
when launching various apps
when performing various tasks, such as printing, opening media files, etc.

There are many invalid_function errors. The most common ones are the following:

ERROR_INVALID_FUNCTION 1 (0x1). This error mainly occurs if the files you are trying to access corrupted files.
ERROR_INVALID_FUNCTION Incorrect function.

ERROR_INVALID_FUNCTION: How to fix it?

1. Run a full system scan

2. Repair your registry

1. Go to Start > type cmd > right-click Command Prompt > select Run as Administrator

2. Now type the sfc /scannow command

3. Wait for the scanning process to complete and then restart your computer. All corrupted files will be replaced on reboot.

In addition, you can use automated tools capable of repairing malfunctioning operating systems. So, you can scan and find all corrupted files that need to be removed from your PC using a professional tool.

Thus, with such a complete repair service, you will fix damaged Windows files, virus errors, or freezing computer errors in a few steps.

3. Update your OS

If you’re looking for a particular update, go to Microsoft’s Update Catalog website. Simply type the KB number of the respective update, hit Enter, and then click on the download button.

Windows updates are meant to improve the operating system’s stability and reliability, but sometimes they bring issues of their own. For this reason, it’s possible that some updates cause various INVALID_FUNCTION errors.

4. Update your PC drivers

For Windows 10 type update in the Search box, and click Check for Updates to download and install the latest updates.
You can also launch Device Manager. Expand the available categories and select the device that you wish to update the driver for. To install the latest driver updates for that device, right-click on it and select Update Driver.
A third option is to download the available driver updates directly from the manufacturer’s website.
For Windows 7, go to Start > click Devices and Printers, right-click the name of your computer and select Device installation settings. Click Yes, do this automatically, and then click Save changes.

You can also use Windows Update to install the latest driver updates on your machine. If Windows can’t find a driver for your device, you can download the available driver updates directly from the manufacturer’s website.

5. Perform a clean boot

Type System Configuration in the search box > hit Enter
On the Services tab > select the Hide all Microsoft services check box > click Disable all.

3. On the Startup tab > click on Open Task Manager.

4. On the Startup tab in Task Manager > select all items > click Disable.

5. Close the Task Manager.

6. On the Startup tab of the System Configuration dialog box >click OK > restart your computer.

6. Perform a clean boot on Windows 7

1. Go to Start > type msconfig.exe > select the System Configuration utility.
2. On the General tab, click the Selective startup option > uncheck the Load startup items checkbox.

3. On the Services tab, check the Hide all Microsoft services check box > click Disable all > click OK > Restart.

For more information on how to perform a clean boot on other Windows versions, check out Microsoft’s support page.

7. Uninstall and reinstall the apps and programs affected by the INVALID_FUNCTION error

If the INVALID_FUNCTION error occurs when using a particular app or program, try uninstalling and reinstalling the respective programs. Also, if this error occurs shortly after installing a new app or program, try uninstalling the respective app or program.

8. Clean your temporary files and folders using Disk Cleanup on Windows 10

1. Go to Start > type Disk Cleanup > launch the tool

2. Select the disk that you want to clean > the tool will them tell you how much space you can free up

3. Select Clean up system files

4. On Windows 7 go to Start > type Disk Cleanup > open Disk Cleanup. In Disk Cleanup’s description section, select Clean up system files and select the drive that you want to clean up > click OK.

On the Disk Cleanup tab, select the checkboxes for the file types that you want to delete > click OK > select Delete files.

The good news is that the ERROR_INVALID_FUNCTION error occurs quite rarely. If you’ve come across other workarounds to fix ERROR_INVALID_FUNCTION, feel free to list the troubleshooting steps in the comment section below.

What are the hardware problems in PC?

The most common hardware problems on your PC are blank monitors, mouse problems, PC won’t recognize the USB camera, the smartphone doesn’t sync with the PC, keyboard issues, problems with the power cord, problems with the motherboard.

What happens when windows get corrupted?

The system gets corrupted with one or more system files become corrupted. This happens usually happens when you have problems saving a file. If your computer crashes or if the power gets disconnected from the PC, the file being saved will sometimes become corrupted.

FIX: Current security settings do not allow this file to be downloaded

Posted on March 18, 2020October 4, 2023 by Milan Stanojevic

Keeping your PC safe from online threats is a priority, but sometimes your security settings can interfere with your work.

Windows 10 users reported Current security settings do not allow this file to be downloaded error on their PC, and since this error will prevent you from downloading files, it’s crucial to know how to fix it.

Current security settings do not allow this file to be downloaded, how to fix it?

1. Change Internet options

Press Windows Key + S and enter internet options. Select Internet Options from the menu.
Go to Security tab. Select Internet and click the Custom level button.
A list of settings will appear. Scroll down to the Downloads section and enable File download and Font download.
Optional: In the Miscellaneous section check the Prompt option for Launching applications and unsafe files and Launching programs and files in an IFRAME.
After doing that, click OK to save changes.

As you can see, sometimes just one setting can prevent you from downloading files, but you can easily fix that by following the instructions above.

2. Reset Internet Explorer settings

Open Internet Options and go to the Advanced tab.
While you’re in the Advanced tab, locate Reset Internet Explorer settings section and click the Reset button.
A confirmation dialog will appear. Check the Delete personal settings option if you want to delete your browsing history, cookies, password, and other data. Click the Reset button.
After the reset process is completed, restart your browser and check if the problem is resolved.

3. Temporarily disable your antivirus software

Antivirus software is important because it protects you from malicious files, but sometimes your antivirus can cause these types of problems to appear.

Many antivirus tools will scan files before you download them in order to protect you from malicious users, but that can sometimes cause this problem to appear.

To fix this problem, you might want to temporarily disable your antivirus and check if that fixes the problem. If the problem still exists, you might want to try removing your third-party antivirus software and check if that solves the issue.

4. Change your mail settings

Users reported that they are unable to download XPS files on their PC, but you can easily fix that problem by changing one setting.

To fix this problem, simply go to Mail settings, select Tools > Options and uncheck Do not allow attachments to be saved or opened that could potentially be a virus.

It seems that Windows sees XPS documents as potentially dangerous for some unknown reason, but after disabling this option the problem should be completely resolved.

Read our complete guide about handling XPS files in Windows 10

5. Unblock this file

According to users, sometimes certain files can’t run simply because they are blocked by your PC. This might be useful if you download a malicious file by accident, but this option will block all non-malicious downloaded files as well.

To fix this issue, you need to right-click the problematic file and select the Properties option from the menu. When the Properties window opens, look for the Unblock option and click it.

After doing that, the problem should be completely resolved. Keep in mind that you’ll have to repeat this process for every downloaded file.

6. Set the security level to default

Open Internet Options and go to Security tab.
Select Internet Zone and click the Default level button.
Restart your browser and try to download the file again.

Some users are also suggesting to use Reset all zones to the default level option, so you might want to try that as well.

7. Disable User Account Control

Press Windows Key + S and enter user accounts. Select User Accounts from the menu.
When the User Accounts window opens, click on Change User Account Control settings option.
Lower the slider all the way down to Never notify and click OK to save changes.

After turning off the User Account Control check if the problem is resolved.

Bear in mind that turning this feature off poses a slight security risk, but as long as you don’t download any malicious files and you have your antivirus software running, you shouldn’t have any problems.

User Account Control is a useful feature of Windows that prevents you from running certain commands that require administrator privileges.

Thanks to this feature malicious applications won’t be able to perform any changes to your system unless you allow them. We can see why this feature is so useful, but sometimes this feature can interfere with your work and cause certain problems to appear.

8. Add the site to Trusted sites zone

Open Internet Options.
Go to Security tab and select Trusted sites. Click the Sites button.
When Trusted sites window opens, enter the name of the site from which you’re trying to download this file and click Add. For extra security, you can check Require server verification (https:) for all sites in this zone option. Click Close.
After that, click Apply and OK to save changes.

Few users reported that adding the download site to the Trusted sites zone fixes the problem for them, so be sure to try this solution.

9. Run Command Prompt

Press Windows Key + X to open Win + X menu and select Command Prompt (Admin) from the list.
When Command Prompt opens, enter regsvr32 urlmon.dll and press Enter.
After the command is executed, close Command Prompt and check if the problem is resolved.

10. Export registry keys from a working computer

Go to the healthy PC or user account, press Windows Key + R and enter regedit. Press Enter or click OK.
When Registry Editor opens, go to HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionInternet SettingsZones key in the left pane.
Right-click Zones key and choose the Export option from the menu. Select the save location and enter the name for the registry file, for example, working_zones.reg. Click the Save button.
Close Registry Editor and switch back to problematic PC / user.
Open Registry Editor on a problematic user account / PC and go to HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionInternet SettingsZones key and export it. You’ll use this file as a backup in case anything goes wrong.
Rename the Zones key to Zones_error or delete it and close the Registry Editor. Now locate working_zones.reg file that you created in Step 3 and run it. This will add the exported key to your registry.

After adding the key to your registry, check if the problem is resolved.

Users reported that they managed to fix this problem by exporting registry keys from a working computer or from another user account on the same computer.

If you want this process to work, we suggest exporting these keys from a user account that doesn’t have this problem. If necessary, you can even create a new user account just for this purpose.

If all user accounts are affected by this problem, you can transfer the necessary registry keys from a different computer that runs on the same version of Windows 10.

If you’re not happy with how Command Prompt looks, read our guide about how to customize it to your own desire

11. Enable Allow active content to run in My computer option

Open Internet Options.
Go to Advanced tab. A list of settings will appear.
In the Security section check Allow active content to run in files on My Computer.
Click Apply and OK to save changes.

We provided the solution above in case you are getting the Current security settings do not allow this file to be downloaded message while trying to view or download .pdf files.

11. Add the website to the Trusted sites zone

Many webmasters and web developers user FTP to upload files to the server, but sometimes this type of problem can appear.

To fix this problem, first, you need to add the website that you’re trying to establish an FTP connection to the Trusted sites zone. We already explained how to do that in one of our previous solutions so be sure to check it out.

After adding the website to the Trusted sites, start Internet Explorer and go to the following url: ftp://username:[email protected]_website_name.com/.

After doing that, you should see the list of all available files. Simply right-click the file that you want to download and select Copy to Folder option and you should be able to download it without any problems.

Current security settings do not allow this file to be downloaded error can interfere with your work, but you can fix this problem in most cases simply by changing your Internet Options. If that doesn’t work, feel free to try any other solution from this article.

Click on the taskbar search box and type internet options, then click on the Internet Options in the results.

Start Internet Explorer, click on the Tools button in the top right corner of the window, then choose the Internet Options in the drop-down menu.

Start Internet Explorer, click on the gear symbol in the top right corner of the windows, then choose Internet Options in the drop-down menu.

Go to Control Panel. In the top right corner, you will see a search bar where you type Internet Options. Choose the options from the results.

How do I unhide my toolbar?

If you don’t see the toolbar in Internet Explorer just hit the F10 button. Then, in the View option, you can select the Toolbars option and check the one you want to unhide.

How do I turn on Internet Explorer?

Go to Control Panel, then click on the Programs and Features option. On the left side of the screen click on the Turn Windows features on or off and check the box corresponding to the Internet Explorer program from the list. You need to restart the computer for the settings to change.

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How to Fix Microsoft Store Pardon the Interruption Error

Posted on March 18, 2020September 25, 2024 by Andrew Wafer

You may want to stick around if you cannot get past the Pardon the interruption error message in the Microsoft Store. We’ll help you fix it so you can download, install, and update your favorite apps.

Here’s how:

How to fix the Microsoft Store Pardon the interruption error?

1. Update your operating system

Open a command prompt window, right-click on the Start icon and choose Command Prompt.
In the cmd window type: winver.
All the details related to the Windows build number should be now listed.
If you’re not running on the latest Windows 10 update, go to System Settings and apply all the available patches: press Win+I hotkeys, choose Update & Security and under Windows Update select the pending update.

When bothered by the Pardon the interruption error in Microsoft Store, you need to make sure that you have the latest version of Windows installed on your computer. So, first of all, check the build number for your software.

2. Update the Microsoft Store app

Firstly, launch the Microsoft Store software on your computer.
Click on your account icon.
Then, select Settings.
The Store version is listed here. If you’re running on an older Microsoft Store build, you will receive the Pardon the interruption error message.
Click on the Update button and wait while all the updates are applied.
If, in the end, you receive an error message saying this app can’t open, don’t panic; just restart your Windows 10 PC.

Once you ensured that the latest Windows 10 software is installed, it’s time to do the same thing for the Microsoft app.

3. Reset Microsoft Store cache

Press Win+R keyboard hotkeys.
The Run box should be displayed next, so you may type wsreset and press Enter.
Go and run the Microsoft Store app and try to update it.

If you cannot update your Microsoft Store app, or if you just receive the same Pardon the interruption message again, your next move should be resetting the cache.

4. Reinstall Microsoft Store

Click on the Search button first.
There, you need to type powershell and right-click on the result with the same name and then choose Run as administrator.
In PowerShell, enter the following command: $manifest = (Get-AppxPackage Microsoft.WindowsStore).InstallLocation + ‘AppxManifest.xml’ ; Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register $manifest.
Press Enter in the end.
If the command from above cannot be executed, enter instead: Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register “$($_.InstallLocation)AppXManifest.xml”}.
Don’t forget to restart your Windows 10 system.

If the problem is still there, a good idea will be to reinstall the software from scratch. You may use the native PowerShell and since it does not require much effort, it’s worth trying.

5. Disable proxy connection

Press Win+I and from System Settings choose Network & Internet.
From there, choose Proxy (located in the left panel of the main window).
Make sure the Automatically detect settings option is turned On.
Turn off the option saying use a proxy server.
Save and close everything.
Open the Microsoft Store and try to update the app again.

As you can see, there are a few ways to fix the Microsoft Store Pardon the interruption error. You can also try to run a system restore if the solutions listed above didn’t help.

Don’t forget to tell us how you managed to fix this issue in the end or if you need any help. You can use the comments field from below in that respect.

KB4541331 boosts the installation success of Windows 10 updates

Posted on March 18, 2020 by Don Sharpe

Cumulative update KB4541331 is now live.

The CU comes with numerous non-security fixes and enhancements. These improvements are for all Windows 10 version 1809, Windows Server version 1809, and Windows Server 2019.

Device and app compatibility with Windows update

Several of the issues that Windows updates have been causing lately have something to do with device or app incompatibility.

For example, some Windows 10 users have been reporting the malfunction of system hardware like graphics and sound cards after installing an update.

In severe cases, incompatibility has resulted in 100% update failure.

Well, Microsoft said that CU KB4541331 fixes that problem.

Addresses an issue with evaluating the compatibility status of the Windows ecosystem to help ensure application and device compatibility for all updates to Windows.

The company does not specify the applications or devices that this fix is targeting, though.

BattlEye is one of the apps that have in the past caused Windows 10 update errors due to incompatibility. So severe is the bug that sometimes Microsoft blocks PCs with affected versions of the anti-cheat software from updating.

Windows 10 updates that are compatible with such applications install with fewer post-upgrade issues.

Touch keyboard, printing, and calendar updates

Installing KB4541331 should ensure that your PC’s touch keyboard appears as required during sign up, according to Microsoft. It also fixes a problem arising from printing to a document-sharing repository.

Likewise, Windows 10 users in the Samoa time zone must have had it with the system’s date and day mismatch issue, prompting Microsoft’s latest intervention.

Even with the correct date and time settings, their PCs would display dates on the wrong day of the week in the notification area. You would be getting most of your schedules or appointments wrong with a discrepancy like that.

Fortunately, KB4541331 has a fix for the issue.

Updates an issue that causes calendar dates to appear on the wrong day of the week in the clock and date region of the notification area when you select the Samoa time zone.

How to install the update

CU KB4541331 is optional, so you do not have to install it if the issues it fixes do not affect your Windows 10 PC.

Still, you may upgrade by going to Settings, Update & Security, and finally Windows Update. The Optional updates available area has a link you can click to download and install the CU on your device.

Alternatively, visit the online Microsoft Update Catalog to download a standalone package for the latest Windows 10 fixes and improvements.

Windows 10 KB4551762 causes BSoD and thumb drive issues

Posted on March 17, 2020 by Don Sharpe

Microsoft frequently releases Windows 10 updates to deliver new improvements and security fixes as fastest as possible, to the delight of many users. But just like KB4551762, these upgrades do not always go as planned.

The company rolled out KB4551762 OS files on March 12, 2020 to fix the CVE-2020-0796 vulnerability it had inadvertently revealed earlier. The security issue affected the Microsoft Server Message Block 3.1.1 (SMBv3) protocol.

Ironically, the update is now attracting a barrage of complaints as users express their frustrations with its undesirable outcomes, such as the blue screen of death (BSoD) and audio complications.

Thumb drive failure

A security fix should not cause your USB flash drive to malfunction. But in the Microsoft Answers forum, one user complained that they could not use their thumb drive anymore after installing KB4551762.

The physical drive did not seem to be the problem there because the user tried using three of them that had not had any defect before.

The BSoD error and performance issues

Looking at all the issues that Windows 10 updates cause these days, PC crashes appear to be the common denominator. Multiple reports in the Windows 10 Subreddit can confirm this.

Worse still, the latest update is keeping people out of their own operating system. One user reported that they could no longer boot into Windows.

I only get BSOD, audio stuttering and other issues and on top of that I couldn’t even boot into Windows today.

Fortunately, the user utilized System Restore to take their PC back to its healthy status before updating.

Another Reddit user complained that their PC failed to boot past the welcome screen after installing updates KB4551762 and KB4540673.

After spending hours trying to login, I somehow managed to uninstall both the updates, rebooted, disabled and re-enabled HyperV but my system won’t go back to being normal.

All these issues have many Windows 10 users questioning the point of updating. They cannot even tell what update is compatible with what piece of hardware until after upgrading or midway through the process.

Yesterday, Microsoft announced that Windows 10 has reached 1 billion active monthly users. It attributed that growth to customer-focused feature design and development.

As such, more people have moved from having to use to loving the OS, the company claimed. Unfortunately, not every Windows 10 user shares this sentiment, especially with its erratic updates.

The only reliable workaround for now is to always back up your files and data before updating your PC.