PUBG’s latest update on consoles is introducing a much-anticipated crossplay feature between Xbox One and PlayStation 4 consoles. The game is following Fortnite’s lead which has been supporting crossplay for quite some time now, though unlike Fortnite, the console versions of PUBG won’t support crossplay with PC gamers.
Cross Platform Party Play on Console is live! Invite your friends on Xbox One or PlayStation 4 to a single party with the new Cross-Party Play feature! pic.twitter.com/Nqy8OQ6LjK
Because of a one-year timed exclusivity deal with Microsoft, PUBG launched on PlayStation 4 a year after its Xbox One release in December 2017, but the battle royale game hasn’t really managed to steal the spotlight from free-to-play alternatives like Fortnite and EA’s Apex Legends. The latter still doesn’t support crossplay, though developer Respawn Entertainment hinted earlier that it was coming.
If PUBG was probably the game that made the battle royale genre go mainstream a couple of years ago, the genre has since been perfected by AAA developers. We mentioned Apex Legends earlier, but Call of Duty: Warzone, the new free-to-play battle royale mode of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare launching today on Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and PC will likely make a huge smash. Not only did developer Infinity Ward build a state of the art engine that pushes current-gen consoles to their limits, but the developers also made sure that the game will also support crossplay and cross-progression on day one.
A Call of Duty battle royale mode has been rumored for a while but it’s now been officially confirmed and is launching today on Microsoft’s Xbox One consoles, Sony’s PlayStation 4, and on PC.
Named Call of Duty: Warzone, this new battle royale mode will actually be a stand-alone video game that’s completely free for anyone to play regardless of what Call of Duty titles they may or may not have purchased.
Warzone will support crossplay between all three platforms straight out of the gate and players, much like with Fortnite, will be able to continue their progress when switching.
Impressively, Call of Duty: Warzone will support matches with up to 150 players with two separate modes on offer; Battle Royale and Plunder. Battle Royale is exactly what it sounds like while Plunder is kind of a battle royale mode but with the aim to collect the most cash instead of kills.
The map is set in a city named Verdansk but it will be split up into several different zones with a variety of environmental and manmade obstacles to navigate and explore. Vehicles, including helicopters, will be made available to make traversal faster while the rather unique one-versus-one Gulag game mechanic should help differentiate Warzone form its battle royale rivals.
Owners of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare will be able to download Warzone ahead of everyone else at 8AM PDT today while everyone else can grab it from the Microsoft Store on their Xbox One consoles (or other platforms) at 6AM in Sydney, 7PM in London, 3PM in New York, and 12PM in Los Angeles.
The onesies are likely following on from the success of the Xbox Onesies from over two years ago which become extremely wanted by gamers after their limited debut in Australia. Unfortunately, these Ori onesies don’t appear to be for sale to the general public and are more of a promotional gift to give to video game streamers on platforms such as Mixer.
Here’s one of them being worn by Mixer streamer, Greenskull.
The hoodies are for sale, however, for anyone in the United States and Canada from the Microsoft Store for $69.99. They’re available in sizes from S to 3XL and are limited to 300 units.
Using the Wi-Fi radio switch (or a combination of keyboard keys) to turn Wi-Fi on or off was quite useful back in the day. However, since there’s a way to disable Wi-Fi with the software, they somewhat lost their purpose in laptops.
In addition, the presence of dedicated keys or side switches can cause a lot of issues with Windows users. Some users are prompted with Wi-Fi radio switch is off and thus, they’re unable to connect to a Wi-Fi network.
Even though it sounds obvious, the problem might not be related to the physical switch. For that purpose, we prepared a list of possible solutions that should help you resolve this issue. If you’ve had a hard time with it, make sure to check the list below.
How do I turn on a hardware radio switch?
1. Check the hardware first
Most of the time, users that bump into this problem neglect the fact that there’s always a combination of buttons or a switch that disables/enables the Wi-Fi radio.
On the majority of laptops, a Wi-Fi radio can be turned off with the combination of Fn (FuNction dual-purpose key) and one of the F-keys (Function keys). In this example, the Wi-Fi radio is enabled/disabled by pressing Fn + F5. This may vary, depending on the manufacturer.
Furthermore, some older laptops have a side switch for the same purpose. This is analogous to modern Airplane mode, which uses software to disable Wi-Fi and Bluetooth radios.
So, take a good look at the peripherals on the side of your laptop and make sure that, if present, the Wi-Fi radio switch is On.
2. Check the BIOS
Press Windows key + I to open Settings.
Open Update & security.
Choose Recovery from the left pane.
Click on Restart now, under Advanced Startup.
Choose Troubleshoot.
Select Advanced Options.
Choose UEFI Firmware Settings and then Restart.
Your PC should boot into BIOS and, from there, you should be able to work it out.
Another reason for this occurrence lies in some Wi-Fi-related BIOS settings that can disable the Wi-Fi radio. The main suspect is the Power Management section in BIOS settings where you can regulate the activity of various hardware features, including the Wi-Fi radio (Wireless Radio Management).
There’s frequently an option to disable the Wi-Fi radio while the LAN cable is attached. So, make sure to boot into BIOS and disable it. Also, make sure that you’re running the latest BIOS version. Some users report motherboard incompatibility with the network adapter.
You can resolve that by updating your BIOS, but we strongly advise you to take great caution while doing so. For further insights on BIOS flashing, make sure to check this article.
However, if you’re still stuck with the same error and unable to connect to Wi-Fi due to a radio switch, make sure to check the final step.
3. Reinstall drivers
Right-click on the Start button and open Device Manager.
Navigate to Network adapters.
Right-click on the Wireless LAN driver and Uninstall device.
Connect the LAN cable to a router or modem.
Install the driver again and look for changes.
We can’t afford to exclude the wireless LAN driver from a shortlist of possible culprits. On some rare occasions, the conflict between multiple drivers can cause the error we’re addressing today. Moreover, making sure that Wi-Fi drivers are properly installed is also important.
On the other hand, if you’re still stuck with the same problem, we’ll need to change our approach. Namely, the Windows Update forces a driver that’s maybe the latest version, but not always the functional version.
Thus, making you look for a legacy driver on the official site. Luckily, since this is a laptop/netbook-related problem, there’s support for accompanying software on the manufacturer’s official site.
Once you’ve located the proper Wireless LAN driver, install it and look for changes. Also, some manufacturers offer utilities (ancillary applications) for replacing the hardware when it comes to enabling or disabling the various system features, including the Wi-Fi radio.
For example, a lot of users with Intel-based chips resolved this issue by installing Switch On Wi-Fi Radio Using Intel PROSet.
However, there is another option for saving time and ensuring that you are running the most recent versions of your drivers. Using a specialized third-party driver updating tool that can accomplish this for you automatically.
That should do it. In case you have some questions or suggestions regarding the Wi-Fi radio issue, make sure to post them in the comments section below.
Windows Defender is much better than Windows Security Essentials was, but it still has some issues, and not in regards to protection. Namely, it seems that sometimes is overeager to prevent certain applications and it literally bombards users with Potentially harmful software detected messages.
You might say that it’s just doing its job. Well, that would be the case if the users haven’t created an exception for certain executable files and the containing folder. Windows Defender is sometimes just over-determined, and below, we provided ways to resolve this for good.
How can I remove the Potentially harmful software detected alert?
1. Scan the system with Windows Defender or a third-party antivirus
Open Windows Defender from the notification area.
Select Virus & threat protection.
Choose Advanced scan.
Select Windows Defender Offline scan and click Scan now.
Your PC will restart and the scanning process will begin.
Even though you are sure that the suspicious application is clean, let’s indulge Windows Defender and scan for viruses. And then maybe it’ll leave you alone and that annoying popping sound will stop repeating over and over again.
Now, the best way to scan and remove malicious software with Windows Defender in Windows 10 is the Offline scan. If you’re not sure how to run it, we’ve got your back. Follow the instructions above.
Even though one can say that Windows Defender provides reliable protection, we’re still more inclined towards third-party solutions.
Therefore, you should benefit from valuable security capabilities that will entirely scan the system and eliminate risky software that can cause serious damage.
2. Disable Windows Defender and stick with the third-party antivirus
Press Windows key + I to open Settings.
Choose Update & security.
Select Windows Defender from the left pane.
Click on Open Windows Defender Security Center.
Open Virus & threat protection section.
Choose Virus & threat protection settings.
Toggle off Real-time protection.
As some users have stated, despite explicitly ordering Windows Defender to avoid that one application, it just refuses to do so. They decided to ditch Windows Defender, and if you’re inclined to do so too, make sure to follow the steps above.
Need a good antivirus for your Windows 10 computer? Look no further, here is a list of the top software available.
3. Disable Windows Defender in the Group Policy Editor
In the Windows Search bar, type group policy, and open Edit group policy.
Follow this path:
Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Defender Antivirus
In the right pane, right-click on the Turn Off Windows Defender and click Edit.
Set the policy to Enabled and confirm changes.
Restart your PC for them to take effect.
If Windows Defender is still bothering you, there’s a simple way to disable it completely. Since it’s the core part of Windows 10 shell, you won’t be able to uninstall it.
At least, not with the usual approach. However, you can completely subdue it with a little tweak in Group Policy Editor as shown above. Don’t forget that you’ll need administrative permission to do so.
In addition, the Local Group Policy Editor is only available in the Windows 10 Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions.
4. Use Registry Editor instead
In the Windows Search, type regedit, right-click on Registry Editor and run it as an administrator.
In the right pane, right-click on the DisableAntiSpyware DWORD and open Properties.
Change its value from 0 (zero) to 1.
If you can’t see the DWORD, right-click on the empty space and create DWORD (32-bit) Value. Name it DisableAntiSpyware and, set its value to 1.
If you’re not able to access Group Policy Editor, don’t worry. You can block Windows Defender through Registry Editor, as well. However, we advise you to avoid rushed moves since this is a danger zone.
The misuse of Registry can lead to critical system errors, ones that are hard to correct. So, follow the above steps closely to avoid any further issues.
With that, we can conclude this article. We hope Windows Defender’s alert won’t bother you anymore after you took the aforementioned steps.
If you have any more questions or suggestions, don’t hesitate to leave them in the comments section below.
Since the collectible cards genre gained a great popularity bust over the years, all the world needed is a massive online game. So, Blizzard took the opportunity and created Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft. Based on the well-established Warcraft universe, the game became an instant hit worldwide.
Hearthstone is not a demanding game. So, system requirements usually aren’t the problem, but there are some other issues that can bother players. Nevertheless, some users recently reported an annoying flaw. The game simply won’t start. For that matter, we’ve prepared some solutions for you.
How do I fix ”Game won’t start” issue in Hearthstone
Solution 1 – Disable or uninstall known conflicting programs
Some programs and their background processes are known for interfering with Hearthstone. Therefore, they can create a whole variety of issues. We are listing some of them here:
Norton, Kaspersky and Panda Antivirus solutions.
Torrent clients and download managers.
GPU tuning applications.
VoIP services.
Peer 2 Peer software.
The easiest way to resolve this issue is by uninstalling these programs. On the other hand, you can just disable them while playing Hearthstone.
Solution 2 – Update Hearthstone
You should always have the latest patch/update installed. The client will automatically update Hearthstone to the latest version, so that shouldn’t be a problem. Sadly, on some occasions, you’ll have to patch the game manually. You can do that by following these instructions:
If you want to update your drivers from the Device Manager, check out this article.
Solution 4 – Log into a different region
Changing your region can be very helpful for various issues. Don’t worry, it’s not a permanent change. After a few games in another region, you can comfortably get back home. You can easily change your region it the Battle.net app in Hearthstone tab. There might be a temporary problem with your regional server.
Hearthstone has 4 regions: America, Europe, Asia, and China. Try switching to one of them you’re not playing regularly on and later you can come back without losing any progress.
Solution 5 – Change compatibility mode
Some users reported that changing compatibility mode helped them resolve similar issues. So you should give it a try. This process isn’t hard at all, and we’ll lead you through it:
Go to Battle.net installation folder. The default location is C:\Program Files\Hearthstone.
Right-click Hearthstone application and open Properties.
In Compatibility tab check Run this program in compatibility mode for.
If you are running Windows 10, you should select Windows 8. So, basically, downgrade for earlier system version.
Check Run as administrator box, too.
Save the configuration and start the game.
Solution 6 – Scan and repair the game installation
Sometimes the game files get corrupted or incomplete. Is it because of bugs, malware, or other malicious software. Now, imagine that you have to reinstall the game every time that happens. Thanks to an implemented tool, Battle.net lets you scan and repair those files. To do so, follow these instructions:
Open your Battle.net desktop client.
Click on the Hearthstone tab.
Open Options and choose Scan and Repair.
The process will last for a couple of minutes.
Once it finishes, you can try starting the game.
Solution 7 – Reinstall the game
If none of the previous 6 steps helped you, try reinstalling the Hearthstone and look for changes. Even though this and all kind of other issues are resolved by the repair tool, sometimes the clean reinstall is the way to go. We encourage you to delete all associated files and registry entries after the game is uninstalled. That way, you can start from scratch. If you’re not sure how to reinstall the Hearthstone, follow these steps:
Open the Battle.net client, right-click on Hearthstone and uninstall it.
Navigate to Program Files and AppData and delete associated files.
Get back to the client and reinstall Hearthstone.
That’s about it. We hope you’ll find these solutions helpful and finally resolve problems related to failed startup.
Do you have any additional solutions? If you do, please share them with us in the comments section.
Whenever you request a web page and receive the Error 404 – the requested resource is not available at the top of your browser, or you get messages such as the page cannot be found, or the page you are looking for might have been removed, had its name changed, or is temporarily unavailable, it can be due to several causes.
Some of the most known and common causes, when the webserver returns the HTTP Error 404 – the requested resource is not available message, include:
The file you requested has been renamed
The file has been moved elsewhere and/or deleted
The file is temporarily unavailable due to maintenance, upgrades or other causes that are unknown
The file doesn’t exist
IIS 6.0 – the appropriate web service extension or MIME type has not been enabled
A virtual directory has been mapped to the root of a drive on a different server
While this Error 404 may sound technical at face value, there are some quick fixes you can try and see whether it helps solve the issue on your PC.
How do I fix HTTP Error 404 – the requested resource is not found?
1. Check your URL
Check if you typed the correct URL. A wrong URL will bring up the error 404, whether it’s a single letter or number, it makes a difference.
2. Boot in Safe Mode with Networking
Restart your PC.
When the sign-in screen is displayed, hold down the SHIFT key while you select Power then Restart.
After the computer restarts to Choose an option screen, select Troubleshoot.
4. Click Advanced options.
5. Click Startup Settings.
6. Click Restart.
7. Once it restarts, you will see a list of options. select 5 or F5 for Safe Mode with Networking.
Safe Mode with Networking starts Windows in safe mode, including the network drivers and services you need to access the internet or other computers on the same network.
Once you’re in safe mode, try to perform a clean boot as described in the next solution.
Performing a clean boot for your computer reduces conflicts related to software that can bring up the root causes of error 404. These conflicts can be caused by applications and services that start up and run in the background whenever you start Windows normally.
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.
How to exit Safe Mode with Networking:
Right-click Start button.
Select Run.
3. Type msconfig.
4. A pop up will open.
5. Go to the Boot tab.
6. Deselect or uncheck Safe Boot option box.
7. Restart your computer.
Missing the Safe mode feature in Windows 10? Check out this guide and learn how to get it back in no time.
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 you’re having trouble accessing Command Prompt as an admin, then you better take a closer look atthis guide.
As you open web pages on your computer, you can use Internet Explorer (with No Add-Ons mode) as a failsafe mode, or an alternative browser with its own safe mode, and check Error 404 – the requested resource is not available issue persists. This means you temporarily disable all add-ons and see if they’re causing the issue.
If it works fine in the No Add-ons mode, then an add-on could be causing the error, so you need to re-enable each one by elimination to determine which one is causing the issue.
If you’re having Internet Explorer black screen issues you can also check this resource which provides the best fixes.
6. Reset Internet Explorer
Close all windows.
Select Tools.
3. Select Internet Options.
4. Select Advanced tab.
5. Go to Reset Internet Explorer Settings.
error 404 – the requested resource is not available
6. Select Reset.
7. Select Close once default settings have been applied.
8. Click OK.
9. Restart your computer to apply changes.
Resetting Internet Explorer is irreversible and may remove security or privacy preferences added to the list of Trusted Sites. This includes parental control settings so note the sites before you do the reset.
7. Troubleshoot error 404 on a server running IIS
If you’re on a server running IIS, you can resolve error 404 by verifying that the file requested exists on the IIS computer and it is in the correct location.
Use the IIS Microsoft Management Console (MMC) snap-in to determine where the file exists in the IIS computer’s file system.
This is important if the website uses a virtual directory – one that isn’t contained in the home directory of the website, but appears to the client browser as if it does. The virtual directory must be mapped to a subfolder on a drive or reference files by name.
Did any of these solutions helped you fix the Error 404 – the requested resource is not available problem? Let us know in the comments section below.
The Battle.net desktop app helps gamers install and patch their favorite games much easier. Also, it allows them to log in faster thanks to its single sign-on feature. Gamers can also use the app’s game pages to check out the latest Blizzard news, too.
As it happens with any software, the Battle.net app stops working from time to time due to various issues. In this article, we’re going to focus on the update issue where Battle.net gets stuck at 0%.
“Logged into battle.net today and I can’t play any games because it says “Waiting on another installation or update.” It’s at 0% in “Updating Battle.net” menu so I don’t know what game is updating.”
It is good to know that even if Battle.net remains stuck at 0%, the app is still updating itself. Depending on your computer’s configuration, this process may take up to 45 minutes: “Thanks, after sitting at 0% for 45 minutes, […] later battle.net started updating.”
However, if you want to speed up the process and make sure the latest update files are installed without any problems, follow the troubleshooting steps listed below.
Fix Battle.net update issues
Open Task manager > select End task for both Battle.Net Launcher and Agent.exe
Launch Battle.net again> it should immediately install the update.
This solution will fix your update issues, but it’s only a temporary workaround. This means it won’t completely eliminate the Battle.net update bugs. Many Battle.net users wish they had other options at their disposal, such as manually installing the latest patches. Unfortunately, it appears that this update issue is here to stay.
You can also go for the client reinstall, but considering that the issue is connected to the latest version of the Battle.net app, it might not be of any use whatsoever.
A number of users have reported a similar situation: when printing PDF image files or PDF searchable image files to certain kinds of PostScript printers, they will print correctly, but an extra page is printed too. Sadly, this contains the following error message:
Undefined – OFFENDING COMMAND: showpage – STACK
Others say that only a part of the file prints, the design part, while the text doesn’t show up at all.
If you too are having problems with this printer issue, then you should check out the step-by-step guide we’ve written below precisely for cases like yours.
What can I fix the OFFENDING COMMAND printer error?
1. Check the printer’s drivers
Virtually, every printer function that you might want to enjoy can be controlled through the driver. What you’re experiencing this time sounds like a driver issue as well.
That’s why your first troubleshooting step is to make sure you have the most current drivers installed. In general, you could open the printer’s Properties dialog box, hit the Setup tab, click About and check the version.
Contact the printer manufacturer to obtain the latest version of your printer’s driver. If you are already using it and the Undefined – OFFENDING COMMAND error keeps reappearing, remove the driver, then try to reinstall it from the original installation disks or CD-ROM.
If this is too complicated or takes you a lot of time, there is an alternative that can provide helpful drivers support directly. With the press of a button, you can install or update any driver within a few minutes.
With specialized software, your PC will be scanned entirely for outdated drivers, broken or corrupted ones, and missing drivers too. Thus you can resolve the printer’s driver with zero effort and high efficiency.
To access your printer driver’s interface, click in the search box at the bottom left of your screen and type Control Panel.
Press Enter.
Then, click on Devices and Printers.
You should now see a series of icons identifying all printers for which you have installed drivers. The default printer is the one with a green checkmark.
Right-click on the icon for the printer you want to access.
This will bring up a menu with two choices: Printing Preferences and Printer Properties.
Enter into Printer properties > Advanced tab.
While here, just untick the option that says Advanced printing features.
This should further allow prints to come out with no issues.
The setting Enable Advanced Print Features is often considered a residual of the ancient days of Windows NT. The option was previously known as Always spool in RAW in Windows versions prior to Windows 2000.
When it is disabled, documents will spool in RAW format, which could be Postscript, PCL, or the printer’s native language. This allows the printer to easily read the files and helps you stay away from these errors.
3. Delete the existing print queue and add the printer
In the Printers list, click your printer.
Then, just click the Minus button to delete it.
Click the Add button next.
Find and select the name of your printer from the Printer list, then click Add to add your printer.
Click Print Using or Use.
Select the name of your printer.
Your new printer queue displays in the Printers list in an idle status.
Try printing again.
4. Disable Optimize printing for PS printer option
Navigate to the printer‘s printing options.
Unmark the Optimize printing for PS printer checkbox.
Also simple and easy is to disable the Optimize printing for PS printer. This could also help you get rid of the issue, so give it a try.
If after performing these troubleshooting steps you still encounter the Undefined – OFFENDING COMMAND error from time to time, remember this. Other users also report that printing a few files at a time works just fine. This might do the trick, but it’s just impractical when you’re supposed to print large amounts of files.
Also, make sure that your printer and the computer are connected to the same network. Double-checking that your computer’s software is updated cannot hurt either.
If you have any other questions or suggestions regarding this particular issue, don’t hesitate to reach in the comments section below.
Hearthstone’s popularity is well deserved. Blizzard made the right move with this game, even though it was primarily just an experiment. Nowadays, this collectible card game gathers more than 60 million players. And the numbers are growing on a daily basis.
The game’s simplistic graphics and low requirements are the valid reasons for its popularity. Nevertheless, even the best-optimized games can have an issue or two. One of those rare but critical issues is API loading error. In this article, we’ll try to address this problem.
On some occasions, your native server can be the reason for this issue. Therefore, you should try and switch the realm in order to troubleshoot it. If you are still prompted with an error, move on to the next solution.
Solution 2 – Update GPU drivers and redistributables
You should at any time have the latest drivers. Additionally, it seems that DirectX and Visual C can inflict a lot of errors. Therefore, updating them will make the problem easier to troubleshoot.
Windows will usually provide you with the latest iteration of GPU drivers, but they won’t work all the time. What you need to do is get the latest drivers from the OEM’s official website and install them. Also, another option is to try and roll back drivers to an older version. Windows Update tends to fix what’s not broken frequently, so a previous version of GPU drivers might work better.
Here’s where you can find Nvidia and ATI/AMD drivers.
Otherwise, you should update your GPU drivers with specialized help from a dedicated tool. You can thus manage all your drivers automatically using Fortect Driver Updater.
Solution 3 – Run the game in the compatibility mode
Compatibility mode will let your system adapt the game to an older version. Moreover, many users had a problem after upgrading to Windows 10. Rather than downgrading your system, try this out:
Right-click Hearthstone and open Properties.
Move on to the Compatibility tab.
Check the ‘Run this program in compatibility mode for’ box.
Choose Windows 7.
Save your settings and start the game.
Solution 4 – Repair the game using Battle.net client
Battle.net desktop app has a built-in repair tool for incomplete or corrupted game files. It is worth trying out in this on similar occasions. You can use Scan & Repair tool this way:
Open your Battle.net client.
Highlight Hearthstone.
Click Options menu above the game title.
Choose Scan and Repair.
Close the app and restart your PC.
Start the game.
If the problem proves is not related to game installation, clearing cache is the next obvious step.
Solution 5 – Delete Battle.net cache folder in Program Data
Cache files can get corrupted, too. While this doesn’t happen too often, it mostly happens after an update. As a result, your game can have numerous issues. You can delete the game cache this way:
Close the game and Battle.net app.
Make sure you ‘kill’ all game-related processes in Task manager.
Go to the system partition.
Enable view of Hidden Folders.
Open Program Data.
Select Blizzard Entertainment.
Open Battle.net folder.
Delete Cache folder.
Solution 6 – Perform a clean reinstall of Hearthstone
If the previous solution proved insufficient, reinstallation is the next viable solution. Furthermore, there is a possibility that the game system integration is the main reason for loading failure. You can reinstall the game in a few easy steps. In addition, we want the clean install, so you’ll have to use any registry cleaner and delete the installation folder manually.
Open Battle.net desktop app.
Select Hearthstone.
Open Options placed above game title.
Choose Uninstall Game.
After the process is finished, delete existing remainings of the game install folder.
Use registry cleaner (CCleaner is a viable choice) and clear registry.
Restart your PC and reopen Battle.net client.
Highlight Hearthstone and install the game.
Solution 7 – Use Windows File Checker tool
All of the previous steps are basically oriented on game issues. But, on some occasions due to corrupted system files, the game can suffer various problems. Therefore, you should download the Windows File Checker and look out for faulty files. You can run the mentioned tool this way:
Open Start and in the Run type CMD.
You should see the Command Prompt feature.
Right-click and choose Run as administrator.
In the command window type sfc /scannow.
Wait until the process is completed.
Close the window and restart your PC.
Solution 8 – Tweak Kernel32
The good folks of the Blizzard community suggested an additional workaround. We find it a bit risky since it involves tweaking Windows Kernel files. And we all know that can, in the worst scenario, result in a complete system crash. However, we will walk you through the process, step by step, and show you how to do it.
Go to your system partition.
Open WindowsSystem32.
Find Kernel32.dll and copy-paste it to Hearthstone_DataPlugins
Move or rename MemModule32.dll from Plugins.
Rename Kernel32.dll in Plugins folder to MemModule32.dll.
Start the game.
Please note that you may need administrative permission in order to do these steps.
We hope that the suggested workarounds will let you play Hearthstone again. If you have related issues or any suggestions or concerns, please tell us in the comments.
The Game Developers Conference, which was set to kick off on March 16 in San Francisco, is one of the many tech events to be cancelled amid growing concerns over the coronavirus outbreak. As we previously reported, Microsoft’s Game Stack team didn’t wait for GDC to be officially postponed to later this year to announce that it was pulling out in favour of an online event to be held during GDC.
— Microsoft Game Stack (@MSFTGameStack) March 9, 2020
Today, the schedule for the Game Stack Live digital-only event on March 17-18 has been made official, with multiple sessions featuring Microsoft’s internal studios such as The Coalition (Gears 5), Rare (Sea of Thieves), Turn 10 (Forza Motorsport 7), and inXile (Wasteland 3). For those unfamiliar, Microsoft’s Game Stack team is responsible for building the cloud and game development technologies that developers can leverage to create games for Xbox and other platforms, but some of the Game Stack Live sessions will actually focus on what’s coming next.
On March 18, there will be one session titled “Xbox Series X + Project xCloud = New Chapter in Gaming,” followed by another interesting session titled “What’s new in DirectX: Raytracing, mesh shading, and more.” Overall, it seems that this Game Stack Live event could be the next milestone in Microsoft’s communication strategy for the next-gen Xbox.
We still don’t know how Xbox Series X will integrate Project xCloud, Microsoft’s cloud gaming service that’s currently available in preview on iOS and Android, but we may finally get more details during this Game Stack Live event. All sessions will be live-streamed on Mixer, another Microsoft service that will hopefully get a boost from Project xCloud and Xbox Series X.
A little over half a month ago, users of Microsoft’s new Chromium-based Edge browser noticed that Google would issue a pop-up “warning” under the favorites bar about installing extensions to the browser from the Chrome Web Apps store. This caused quite the stir on the web, and especially in the Microsoft community. Perhaps in the face of such criticism, it looks as though Google has backtracked a bit as the banner has now been replaced (via Techdows.)
As a reminder, Google’s original “warning” message said that switching to Chrome is the best way to use extensions securely. This was proven as somewhat misleading, though. It was later explained a bit more in-depth by Eric Lawrence of the Edge development team that Microsoft implemented a protocol in the browser that pings the extension store roughly every 2 to 4 hours while querying for threat updates — making using extensions with the browser safer.
Now, fast forward to today, and Google’s “warning” message is gone entirely and has been removed in favor of Microsoft’s own message. Visiting the Chrome Web App Store now only shows Microsoft’s note about installing extensions. It reads, “You can now add extensions from the Chrome Web Store to Microsoft Edge – Click on Add to Chrome.”
Microsoft has made a lot of effort to ensure that Edge is indeed safer than before. There’s even a feature that can protect you from installing unwanted applications.
If you follow Microsoft, are a self starter, have experience producing timely, well-written content, and are looking for a part-time commitment of around 15+ hours per week, we are looking for you! OnMSFT has openings for writers conversant in all things Microsoft.
Pay is based on traffic, and while it isn’t a full time job, we can provide a respectable secondary income if you’re willing to put in the time and the effort. Knowledge and interests can vary, we post on a wide array of Microsoft-centric topics, from Azure to Xbox, and from breaking news to how-to and feature stories. Video expertise is not required, but it’s a plus, and we share YouTube revenue.
We have writers working from both US coasts, Australia, France, and India, so we can work out any time difference issues, but we generally work on “Redmond time” (US Pacific Time Zone, GMT -8), as that’s when the news happens.
If you’re experience, talented, and interested, apply to [email protected].
The Command Prompt has a handy little autocomplete feature allowing users to change directory paths using the Tab key. However, several users have reported Tab autocomplete is not working in CMD on Windows.
This issue can occur if the Completion Function is disabled in the registry. This can happen after installing new Windows updates, which may have disabled the feature. Keep reading to find out how to enable Tab autocomplete in Command Prompt and Terminal.
How do I turn on Tab autocomplete in CMD?
1. Enable autocomplete through Registry Editor
Press Windows + R to open Run, type regedit and click OK.
In the Registry Editor, navigate to the following locations and locate the CompletionChar entry: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Command ProcessorComputer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Command Processor
Depending on the Windows release, you will find the Command Processor in one of the above directories.
From the right pane, double-click on the CompletionChar DWORD.
In the Value data field, enter 9 and click OK.
Next, double-click on PathCompletionChar and set the Value data to 9 as well.
Restart the computer for the changes to come into effect.
When CMD Tab autocomplete is not working, modifying the Registry, i.e., the CompletionChar and PathCompletionChar DWORDs, should get things up and running.
2. Enable tab autocomplete using Command Prompt
Press the Windows key, type cmd, and click on Run as administrator.
In the Command Prompt, enter the following commands individually and hit Enter after each: reg add "hkcusoftwaremicrosoftcommand processor" /v CompletionChar /d 9 /t REG_DWORD /freg add "hkcusoftwaremicrosoftcommand processor" /v PathCompletionChar /d 9 /t REG_DWORD /f
The above commands will add the required registry values to the registry.
Having to type the complete folder path manually is a time-consuming task, which becomes annoying if the pathname has long numbers in it. This is where the autocomplete feature comes in handy.
And with these two methods, you should be able to fix things when the CMD tab autocomplete is not working.
When you try to install Windows 10 on a dynamic disk, you may encounter the Windows cannot be installed to this hard disk space error. This error occurs because, to install Windows, you must convert the dynamic disk space to a basic disk.
The full error reads:
Windows cannot be installed to this hard disk space. The partition contains one or more dynamic volumes that are not supported for installation
As discussed earlier, to resolve this error, you must convert the dynamic disk to basic, which can be done in multiple ways.
If you are also troubled by this error, here are the three ways to resolve Windows that cannot be installed to this hard disk space error while installing Windows.
How do I fix the Windows installation hard disk error?
1. Convert dynamic disk to basic using the Disk Management tool
Press the WindowsKey + R to open Run.
Type diskmgmt.msc and click OK to open Disk Management.
The dynamic disk that needs converting will be shown in Disk Management.
Right-click on every volume on the dynamic disk and select Delete Volume.
Once all the volumes on the dynamic disk are deleted, you will see the dynamic disk presented as unallocated disk space.
Right-click on the disk and select Convert to basic.
Once the disk is converted to basic, try to install Windows and check for any improvements.
The built-in disk management tool makes it easy to convert dynamic disk to basic disk. However, the process deletes all the data on the disk during conversion.
In the main interface, find the dynamic disk that you want to convert.
Right-click on the dynamic disk and select Convert to Basic Disk.
Click OK to confirm the action.
Return to the main interface again.
Click on Commit and then click on Proceed to complete the process.
The AOMEI Partition Assistant tool may take a few minutes to complete the task. Once done, the disk is ready to install Windows without losing any data.
While the Windows OS has a built-in disk management tool, it cannot convert the disk to basic from dynamic without deleting the data.
Type diskpart and click OK to open the Diskpart tool.
This Command Prompt-based utility requires you to execute a few commands to convert the disk.
In the command prompt, enter the following command to list disks.
list disk
Enter the following command to select the disk you want to convert. In the below command N refer to the disk number of the dynamic disk that you want to convert.
select disk n
Next, enter the following commands one by one:
list volume
select volume m
m is the number of the volume on the dynamic disk
delete volume
Repeat the two commands select volume m and delete volume to delete all volumes
select disk n
convert basic
While executing the command, make sure you have selected the right disk before deleting the volume and converting it.
Windows cannot be installed on this hard disk space since the partition contains one or more dynamic volumes not supported for installation. If you’re struggling with this solution, you can find a complete guide on how to convert your dynamic disk to a basic disk on Windows.
While installing a third-party PDF reading software like PhantomPDF, you may encounter the Windows cannot install the kernel-mode print driver error.
In this article, we look closely at a few troubleshooting tips to help you resolve the Windows cannot install kernel-mode print driver error in Windows 10.
What can I do if Windows cannot install the Kernel Mode print driver?
1. Disable the blocking policy for installation of drivers
Press the Windows key + R, type gpedit.msc and click OK to open the Group Policy Editor.
In the Group Policy Editor window, expand the Local computer Policy option.
Next, navigate to the following path: Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\Printers
On the right pane, locate and double-click on Disallow installation of printers using kernel-mode drivers policy.
In the properties window, select Disabled and click OK.
Click Apply and OK to save the changes and close Group Policy Editor.
Press the Windows key and type cmd. Right-click on Command Prompt and select Run as administrator.
In the Command Prompt, enter the following command and hit Enter: gpupdate
If that did not work, use gpupdate/force
Close the Command Prompt and try to install the program.
Depending on the version of Windows installed, the Group Policy Editor may or may not be available on your computer.
Open the Device Manager by pressing Windows key + X and choosing Device Manager from the list.
Right-click on Printers and select Properties.
Click on Settings and select Devices and Printers Folder.
Right-click on the printer you want to update.
Outdated or damaged printer drivers might cause the Windows kernel-mode print driver error. You can manually update them by following the above steps. We also have a great guide with detailed steps on how to download printer drivers, so don’t miss it.
You can also use an automatic tool that scans your PC and installs the most suitable drivers, optimizing your Windows OS and the overall system performance.
3. Configure point and printer restriction
3.1 Rename W32x86 / X64 folders
Open the File Explorer and navigate to the following location: C:\windows\system32\spool\drivers
In the Drivers folder, rename the following folders to anything you want:
W32x86
X64
Renaming these folders will remove incomplete or corrupt printer driver installation.
It will also remove your printer settings. So if you have a working printer, you may have to reinstall the printer drivers again to make your printer work.
Following this article’s steps, you can remove the limitations and resolve the error. Let us know which method helped you resolve the error in the comments.
Microsoft’s Surface Laptop 3 gets new Core i5 variant with 16GB RAM and 256GB SSD
A new variant of the Surface Laptop 3 has been made available, it runs a Core i5 CPU sporting 16GB RAM whilst coming with a 256GB SSD for storage. It gives more flexibility in having a more powerful Surface device without exponentially increasing cost due to the CPU.
New PowerToys for Windows 10 updates brings over 100 fixes and new auto-update tool
PowerToys on Windows 10 has received a new update that brings more than 100 bug fixes, as well as the ability to auto-update the tool.
That’s it for this week. We will be back next week with more Windows 10 news.
This error can occur if you are trying to print a page that is too large for the imagesetter or CtP device.
If your printer does not support explicit paper tray selection, it may generate rangecheck error if a wrong cassette is selected.
Check if the path is too long
Long path names of embedded images can also cause the rangecheck errors.
If your images have long names, try shortening the names for folders.
The Error rangecheck offending command image can occur due to bad Postscript code or if the Postscript drivers are not compatible with the print job.
This isn’t the only issue you can encounter, and many reported Printer error has occurred message, but we already covered that issue in a separate guide.
If any of our methods helped you, or if you know of another one we may have skipped, let us know by leaving us a message in the comments section below.
If the printer has multiple print jobs in the queue, it may show a pending deletion printer error, documents waiting error in the print box on the status line.
Several users have reported similar errors in the Microsoft community forum.
Have just one HP 4L printer, but is appearing on my printer list twice,4Land4L Copy 1. The 4L Copy 1, has 5 documents in its queue, but its status is : Offline – Pending deletion. (What does pending deletion mean?)
If you are also troubled by this error, here are a couple of troubleshooting tips to help you resolve the pending deletion printer error in Windows.
How to resolve pending deletion printer error?
1. Remove the print queue
Press Windows Key + R to open Run.
Type services.msc and click OK to open Services.
The UAC may ask you to provide admin access. Click Yes to proceed.
In the Services window, look for Print Spooler service.
Right-click on Print Spooler and select Properties.
In the properties window, click the Stop button under Service status.
Next, open the File Explorer and navigate to the following location:
C:\Windows\System32\Spool\printers
You may require admin access to access the Printers folder.
Delete all the jobs inside the Printers folder.
In the Printer Spooler Properties window, click the Start button and close the Service window.
Restart the computer.
Give a print job and check if the error is resolved.
2. Run printer troubleshooter
Click Start and select Settings.
Go to Update and Security.
From the left pane, click on the Troubleshoot tab.
Scroll down and click on Printer.
Click the Run the troubleshooter button.
Follow on-screen instructions to troubleshoot issues with the printer.
Apply any fixes recommended by the troubleshooter and check for any improvements.
3. Reinstall printer drivers
Press Windows Key + R to open Run.
Type control and click OK.
In the Control Panel window, open Hardware and Sound.
Click on Devices and Printers.
Right-click on your Printer and select Properties.
Open the Hardware tab and click the Properties button.
Open the Driver tab and click the Uninstall button.
Close the Properties window and restart the computer.
Upon restart, Windows will reinstall the driver, and that should resolve any issues with the printer.
A computer cannot manage video cards, computer programs, sound cards, or other hardware; they must be managed by a driver. If you are completely familiar with the drivers your PC requires, you can update them manually.
If you don’t have time to search for the best driver, an alternative is to use a driver updater tool, which can detect obsolete, missing, or corrupted drivers.
This type of tool, such as Fortect Driver Updater, not only downloads and installs drivers, but also manages them by troubleshooting, backing up, and restoring them. Try it out for yourself and see how easily it flows.
Scroll down and select your printer from the list.
Click the Remove device button.
Click Yes to confirm the action.
4.1 Add the printer
Click Start and select Settings.
Go to Devices > Printers and Scanners.
Under Add printers and scanners, click on Add a printer or scanner button.
Follow on-screen instructions to add the printer.
If the printer is added successfully, try giving a print job and check if the error is resolved.
If the issue persists, go to Start > Settings > Update and Security. Download and install pending Windows updates to download additional drivers for the printer.
The pending deletion printer error is a common problem that can be resolved by restarting the Print Spooler service. However, if the issue persists, follow other steps in this article to get your printer working again in no time.
If you found our article useful, let us know which method worked best for you by leaving your feedback in the comments section below.
The battle for streaming dominance has gotten bigger as Disney Plus stepped in. Considering the impressive library, it was surprising to see it without a Continue watching feature for tracking progress.
Disney Plus had a bumpy start, with many users reporting difficulty logging into their accounts, completing payment or watching The Mandalorian. One of the company’s first moves to address these issues was to remove certain features, the Continue watching list being one of them.
Subscribers were disappointed by this major shortcoming and started a flood of support inquiries to customer service. Disney Plus is not continuing shows and movies where you left off either?
If you left a series, you would have to either watch it again from the very beginning or manually figure out the moment you stopped watching. Worry no longer about this inconvenience since Disney corrected that.
It eventually added back the ability to track your viewing progress into its platform. You just need to know where to look for in order to easily pick up a movie or show for watching it later.
Where is my Continue Watching on Disney Plus?
Continue Watching on Disney Plus
Quickly jumping back into a movie or show without digging through menus is possible thanks to the Continue Watching feature.
In the Disney Plus interface, Continue Watching finally shows up as a row on the main screen. This displays all your most recently viewed selections. Even more, there’s also a Resume button on individual show and movie pages.
You may use it to easily restart the film or episode at the point where you last stopped watching. If you still can’t see the Continue Watching feature on your end, it’s just a matter of waiting. Don’t panic, it’ll probably appear shortly.
Moreover, Disney still needs to iron out these bugs. It’s a recently launched service, so it’s bound to glitches and features working with a certain inconsistency. Despite these few hiccups, the feature is meant to work across platforms.
If you play pause on your favorite show on a mobile phone, you will able to resume playback on your connected TV device or PC with ease. Just give it a try and confirm that it works or take a closer at some effective ways to address playback issues in the browser.
With these being said, the addition of a Continue Watching feature should finally allow you to easily keep track of what show you were interested in and where exactly you left off in a rewatch of one of those amazing TV episodes from your childhood.
Back in 2017, Microsoft launched an initiative to bring broadband connectivity to the more rural parts of the world, starting first in select US regions with the eventual goal of deploying its efforts to three million people in underserved areas within the United States by 2022. Roughly two years into the project, Microsoft is reporting that the company has reached 50% viability of its goal but notes that “one thing we have learned is that the problem is even bigger than we imagined.”
Far from throwing up its hands and calling it a day, Microsoft acknowledges that the broadband gap between more rural parts of the United States versus the more metropolitan areas presents a unique challenge but ultimately a solvable one.
According to the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC)2019 broadband report, more than 21 million people in America, nearly 17 million of who live in rural communities, don’t have access to broadband.
Part of the issue facing Microsoft in its efforts to expand broadband access are the numbers being reported. According to a recent study published by BroadbandNow, the number of unserved people may look to be almost double the currently reported states. The lack of access to broadband connectivity exceeds 42 million Americans with a majority living in the more rural parts of the country, furthermore, Microsoft’s own internal research finds that over 157.3 million people in the US aren’t utilizing internet access at broadband speeds.
As we’ve said from the start of the initiative, without accurate data we cannot fully understand the broadband gap. You cannot solve a problem youdon’t understand.More accurate data will help deploy broadband in the places its needed.
While waiting to get a handle on the exact number of people who do not have access to or are not utilizing broadband speeds, Microsoft continues its project and is now reporting that its white noise utilization is up and running in “25 states and one territory, and staging pilot programs in two additional states.” On top of their spreading presence in the United States, Microsoft’s broadband efforts have touched 633,000 people who previously were underserved by their previous internet access. According to Microsoft’s numbers, the 633,000 best the company’s expansion in 2018 where it managed to only serve 24,000 people. Microsoft plans an accelerated reach of its broadband project by leveraging its partner’s network deployments such as Wisper Internet to its 1 million customers across six states, Watch Communications to 860,000 users, and Sacred Wind Communications 47,000 people off the Navajo lands.
Aside from leveraging a growing list of telecommunications partners, another factor to Microsoft’s enthusiasm about expanding its efforts and potentially exceeding its goals comes by way of lowered connectivity costs through TV white spaces devices in general. TVWS connectivity technology prices have dropped YoY by 50% while simultaneously increasing broadband speeds by 10 times as much as before. While not a cure-all for the many issues ravaging ecosystems in rural America, Microsoft is hoping that connectivity will assist its other endeavors such as its TechSpark program, digital skills, and telehealth initiatives to boost job creation and employment in the areas.
Microsoft listed this particular update as an “Annual Updated” so we can presume we’ll get another update this time in 2021 where the company’s numbers have once again risen across the board, meaning the access to information is further democratized in the U.S.
Named Fuser, this new game tasks the player with mixing over 100 songs together by blending blend vocals, bass lines, beats and riffs from different tracks. It actually sounds very similar to the Dropmix card game that Harmonix also made recently.
Fuser will support both solo and online multiplayer modes and gamers will be able to share their creations on social media.
Here’s the official announcement trailer:
No release date for Fuser has been announced yet, however, it has been stated that it’s expected to launch in Fall this year.
To help promote the upcoming release of the Ori and the Will of the Wisps video game, Microsoft has created 10 official bonsai (see above image) based on the title and is giving each of them away to gamers.
Those interested in obtaining this limited, and pretty cool, piece of video game memorabilia can enter the giveaway by simply replying to this Facebook post with an emoji or GIF that represents their own spirit.
The competition will close on March 9th and is limited to gamers who are residents of Australia. You can read the full terms and conditions here.
Crossplay is now live for Black Desert players on Xbox One and PlayStation 4 consoles. This means that gamers on each platform can now play with each other in games which should significantly boost the number of players online in the MMORPG.
Black Desert players will still be able to select console-specific servers if they want but special Conquest and Node Wars events are currently planned for cross-console servers which should entice many to try the feature out.
Black Desert is the latest of many video games being given cross-console support following the likes of Minecraft, Dauntless, Fortnite, and Next Up Hero.
Download PCL5 / HP Universal Print Driver for Windows.
Install the drivers and check for any improvements.
If your printer is using a PCL6 driver, you may want to use PostScript or PCL5 drivers. Several users have reported that changing the printer driver has resolved the issue.
Select the Printers andScanners tab from the left pane.
Select your printer from the list of devices and click the Remove Device button.
4.2 Uninstall printer software
Click on Start and select Settings.
Go to Apps.
Search for your printer name or app.
Select the printer software and click on Uninstall. You may have to confirm the action by clicking on Yes.
This method works best when you perform a complete uninstall. That being said, a good third-party uninstaler will help you get rid of any residual data left over from uninstalls.
4.3. Remove drivers from Printer Server Properties
Click on Start and select Settings.
Go to Devices.
Scroll down to the Related settings section.
Click on Printer server properties.
In the new window, select the Drivers tab.
Select the printer you want to remove from the list and click the Remove button.
In the Remove Driver And Package box, select Remove driver and driver package option.
Click OK to proceed.
Click Delete to confirm the action.
4.4. Install the printer and driver
Download the latest version of drivers for your printer from the manufacturer’s website.
Install the driver and check for any improvements.
The Insufficient memory to load selected printer error can be resolved by resetting the printer to factory default. However, if the issue persists, try using universal printer drivers or reinstalling the printer.
If you are using Adobe Acrobat Reader, try resetting the preference settings.
Next, check if the application has any updates pending.
Adobe Acrobat Reader comes with a built-in repair tool.
Click on Help and select Repair Installation.
Follow on-screen instructions to fix any installation-related issues.
3.1 Isolate the file-specific problem
Open the PDF file in Microsoft Word.
Click Enable Editing button on top.
Click File and select Save as.
Select a folder to save the file.
Click the drop-down menu for Save as type and select PDF.
Click the Save button.
Open the file in Acrobat Reader and check for any improvements.
The Printer error ioerror offending command image usually occurs due to printer disk problems or application-related issues. Follow the steps in this article to fix this error and get your printer working.
If you are aware of another method that lets you fix the Printer error ioerror offending command image, tell us about it in the comments section below so that other users can use it as well.
Nicole Forsgren, a PhD, author, and former CEO of DORA (DevOps Research and Assessment, which was acquired by Google last year, is taking on a new role at Microsoft, as VP of Research and Strategy at GitHub. In a post on her blog, Forsgren describes what she’ll be doing next (after “after a short break to enjoy some naps, Diet Coke, and ice cream”):
At GitHub, I will expand and continue investigating developer happiness and productivity while also helping the industry get better, and there’s no better place to ask these questions because GitHub is truly at the heart of software development for so many communities. Here, I can bring the research closer to the tools that we use and build on the foundation of knowledge that exists while asking different questions, from different angles, and surfacing different insights. I am excited to continue talking with and learning from developers, testers, IT ops, infosec, and executives to understand their work; working with tools teams across the ecosystem to understand their challenges and what they see so we can help make things better; nerding out with researchers and makers across the industry and academia so we can partner to find interesting questions (and ways to ask and frame and think about those questions), supporting each other and collaborating on solutions.
There’s always some back and forth between big tech companies, but this looks to be a big get for Microsoft and GitHub. So far, Microsoft has been fairly hands-off with GitHub, a favorite for developer collaboration, but it’s good to see the company bring on this level of talent to move it forward.
When it comes to command lines, your mind will most likely go to PowerShell. This neat task automation and management framework has been with PC users since the dawn of operating systems, and it continues to evolve.
PowerShell 7 is now live
The new version is available for Windows, macOS, and Linux. It sees Microsoft moving from .NET Core 2.x to 3.1 which enables enhanced backward compatibility features with existing Windows PowerShell modules thanks to the resurrection of numerous .NET Framework APIs.
Being cross-platform compatible means that the new PowerShell version is now compatible;e with all Linux distros, including Ubuntu, OpenSUSE, Fedora, Debian and others.
If you weren’t able to use PowerShell Core 6.x in the past because of module compatibility issues, this might be the first time you get to take advantage of some of the awesome features we already delivered since we started the Core project!
What does PowerShell 7 bring to the table?
The official changelog for the new PowerShell is now available, and here are the newest features to be available to the general public:
Pipeline parallelization with ForEach-Object -Parallel
New operators:
Ternary operator: a ? b : c
Pipeline chain operators: || and &&
Null conditional operators: ?? and ??=
A simplified and dynamic error view and Get-Error cmdlet for easier investigation of errors
A compatibility layer that enables users to import modules in an implicit Windows PowerShell session
Automatic new version notifications
The ability to invoke DSC resources directly from PowerShell 7 (experimental)
You can get the latest version of PowerShell from GitHub where you can find the Windows, macOS and Linux versions.
What’s your take on the new features brought to PowerShell? Share your opinions with us and the other users in the comments section below.
According to a new report from Brand Sams at Petri.com, Microsoft could be shaking up Cortana a bit and giving it a bit of re-brand. Falling in with news about a possible Spring release for the Surface Earbuds, the report reveals that Cortana could soon be named “Microsoft 365 Assistant” and also might pick up a new integration with Teams.
Though best treated as a rumor, Sams details that Cortana is now known as “Microsoft 365 Assistant” internally at Microsoft, and believes that he “wouldn’t be surprised to see the assistant publicly rebranded as well.” In addition, the report says that Microsoft is playing with the idea of including a new Cortana-functionality in Teams. Per Sams, Teams could pick up a new look, with Cortana appearing in the search bar at the top of the window. Cortana, or the “Microsoft 365 Assistant,” could also be used in Teams for common productivity tasks such as sending files, creating chats, presenting content while in meetings, and more.
As for the news about Surface Earbuds, it is said that the reason for the delay in release was due to issues with the software, and the productivity features originally revealed by Microsoft. Additionally, the “Play my Emails” of Surface Earbuds feature might be re-branded as well to a “commute” feature, and could come to more devices than just the earbuds.
This news should not be too surprising, as Microsoft recently came out and announced that Cortana will be evolving from more of a personal assistant to a productivity assistant. Losing features like Cortana skills, it now fits in better with Office 365 and Microsoft 365, though the overall goal is still to help you achieve more with less effort.
As the novel Coronavirus continues to spread here in the United States and across the world, many companies like Microsoft have been asking employees to work from home. That often means depending on programs like Microsoft Teams or Slack to get your work done and stay in touch with your boss and coworkers. But, did you know that you can use Office 365 for remote work with more than just Teams? In this guide, we’ll show you how.
Share your files and folders with OneDrive
When you work in an office, you can typically head over to your coworker and hand them a print-out of a file or a folder, but working from home, this isn’t something you can do. With OneDrive, however, things are easy. You can share almost anything you want with your coworkers, be it a video, document, project, or more.
To share files in OneDrive, you need to sign in to your Office 365 account, and then choose OneDrive from the Office App Launcher. You’ll then want to click the New button at the top if you want to share your files in a folder and choose Folder. You also can upload an individual file by clicking Upload. Once done, you’ll want to right-click the file and choose Share. You’ll get a pop-up box, and you can choose if you want people to edit the file or not. You also can enter in the email address to send it right away, or click Copy Link to copy the link outside to Slack or another Program. When done, your file is free to share on the web.
Collaborate on your files in Word and Excel
One of the benefits of Office 365 is the collaboration features built into programs like Word and Excel. For instance, in Word, you’re able to add comments in your document so others can reply and give you feedback. This can simulate being in a team huddle or meeting, as when the document is uploaded to a OneDrive or SharePoint multiple people can open the document at once and edit it simultaneously.
Once your file is in OneDrive or SharePoint you can add comments in Word documents. To do so, you can go to the Review tab and choose New Comment and then type in your comment. You’ll also be able to reply to comments with Reply or delete comments by right-clicking it and choosing Delete Comment.
To comment in Excel, you can right-click the cell and then choose New Comment and then click the Post button. Your coworkers can then comment by right-clicking and choosing Reply to Comment. Additional comments can be edited by resting your cursor over the comment text and clicking Edit. You can read more about additional collaboration features in Excel here at Microsoft.
Use the Office app on iOS and Android to unlock your mobile Office
So far we’ve kept the discussion to Office 365 on desktop, but you also can unlock more collaboration by using your phone, too. Microsoft recently released a new all-in-one Office app for iOS and Android, and it includes a number of collaboration features. Using the app on your phone, you can get a peek at documents your coworkers have edited, and much more.
When you install the app, you’ll be able to do many things that you typically do in the office. For instance, you can scan pictures and quickly transform them into full-blown documents that you and your coworkers can collaborate with. You’ll also have access to Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, too. There’s even an option to help you sign PDFs, scan to PDFs, and transfer files between your phone and your computer.
When you’re working from home, things can get hectic and it might be hard to stay on top of what needs to be done. Luckily, you can use OneNote 2016 together with Outlook to help boost your collaboration. Outlook alone is a great way to collaborate, as we’ve previously explained, but paired with OneNote 2016 there’s a lot you can do. For instance, you’ll be able to turn Outlook emails sent to you into notes in OneNote, and mark up the message and sent it out to your coworkers. You’ll also be able to send your virtual meetings — Skype or Teams — to your OneNote notebook and take additional notes, and even create Outlook Tasks. We previously explained that here, so give it a read to learn more.
Many more ways
We’ve just touched on a few ways you can collaborate with Office 365 when working from home. When including Microsoft Teams, there’s a lot you can do. As part of our Office 365 coverage, we’ve shown how you can chat with Skype in Office on the web, share your screen in Microsoft Teams, and boost your productivity with Teams apps. Do you have any tips on how you collaborate when working from home? Let us know in the comments below.
Yesterday, we reported that Microsoft harshly degraded the points values of Xbox Game Pass quests, causing many Xbox fans (like myself) to become upset. A short 24 hours later, Microsoft has responded to the complaints of Xbox fans and has backtracked by increasing Game Pass Quests points values, although they’re still lower than the original values.
Although daily quests for logging into the Game Pass app on Mobile and playing Xbox Game Pass games are now still at 5 points, other quests that involve spending more time playing games have now increased. The value of weekly-game-specific quests has now gone up from 20 points to 50 points, and monthly-game specific quests are now valued at 75 points instead of 20 points. As the folks at True Achievements point out, that’s now a gain of 405 to 1635 points.
Other points values still remain the same and are still reduced. For instance, the bonus for earning achievements in Game Pass titles is still 10 points vs the original 50 or 25 points. Completing Adventurer, Apprentice and On the Go Quests also still remains 25 points vs the original 50.
Either way, it’s great to see that Microsoft has listened to the feedback of gamers. Do you like the new points values? Let us know in the comments below.
One of the common issues faced by the users after upgrading to a new version of Windows is compatibility problems.
While Windows installs generic printer drivers automatically, you may still encounter a printer sending job notifications error when printing a document.
This error can occur if the printer driver is not compatible with the printer or if the printer spool service is not working correctly.
If you are also troubled by this error, here are a couple of troubleshooting tips to help you resolve printer sending job notifications error.
What to do if the printer is sending job notifications error?
1. Update USB drivers
Press Windows Key + R to open Run.
Type devmgmt.msc and click OK to open Devices Manager.
In the Device Manager, expand Universal Serial Bus Controllers.
Find your USB port driver to which the printer is connected.
Right-click on the port driver and select Update Driver.
In the next window select Search automatically for updated drivers software option.
Windows will scan for an updated version of the driver and install it automatically.
Close Device Manager and restart the printer.
Try giving a print job and check for any improvements.
Try these steps if you have access to multiple computers. Connect the printer to another computer to check if the system can complete the print job without error.
1.1 Update printer driver
Make sure you have installed the latest print drivers for your printer.
You can download the latest version of the printer driver from the manufacturer’s website.
Alternatively, you have the option to update the printer driver or any other one using efficient support from a driver management tool such as Fortect Driver Updater.
2. Restart Print Spooler service
Press Windows Key + R to open Run.
Type services.msc and click OK to open Services.
In the Services window, locate the Print Spooler service.
Right-click on Print Spooler and select Properties.
In the Properties window, click Stop.
This will stop the print queue process.
Keep the Print Spooler Properties window open.
Open File Explorer and navigate to the following location:
C:\WINDOWS\system32\spool\PRINTERS
Delete all the files in the Printers folder.
If you don’t see any files, click the View tab and check the “Hidden Items” box.
Close the File Explorer window.
In the Print Spooler Properties window, click the Start button to restart the service.
Close the Services window and try printing again.
3. Troubleshoot printer level problem
3.1 Run printer troubleshooter
Click Start and select Settings.
Go to Update and Security.
Click the Troubleshooter tab.
Scroll down and click on Printers.
Click the Run the troubleshooter button.
Follow on-screen instructions and apply any recommended fixes.
3.2 Reset the printer
Turn off the printer.
Unplug the power cable from the wall outlet.
Leave the printer idle for a minute.
Press and hold the Power button.
While holding the power button connect the power cable to the wall outlet.
Release the power button when the printer restarts.
Now try printing and check if the error is resolved.
If you are experiencing printer sending job notification error in Windows, follow the steps in this article to troubleshoot the problem.
Do let us know which method helped you resolve the issue in the comments section below.
I’ve always been a big fan of Microsoft Rewards. Like many others who use the program, I run Bing searches every day across my phone and PC to eventually cash in my points for Microsoft products. That’s why I was quite happy when Microsoft revamped Xbox Game Pass Quests last month. Just like other gamers paying for Game Pass, I had more reason to turn on my Xbox, play my favorite games, and get rewarded with Microsoft Rewards points for doing so.
But, starting this month in March, Microsoft made a major change to Xbox Game Pass Quests. Points values for common quests are now extremely undervalued compared to what they were originally, and that is making Xbox gamers, and myself included, really disappointed.
To understand how much the points have been degraded, we need to look at how Game Pass Quests began. In the last month, you would get heavily rewarded for your time completing the daily, weekly, and monthly quests.
Before, you would get rewarded with 30 points each day for two tasks: logging into the Xbox Game Pass app on Mobile and playing an Xbox Game Pass game on Xbox. You’d also be able to get up 50 points each for monthly tasks, and 100 points for completing them all. Other quests also rewarded you heavily for getting achievements in Game Pass games or downloading or playing a certain amount of Game Pass games. You’d even get a payout 1,000 points for completing all the tasks for the month, as well.
As pointed out by the folks on Reddit, with this method, gamers, were able to average 500 points a week with the right level of dedication. It was an easy way to play Xbox and get rewarded for doing so.
But now that Microsoft has changed the way that points are valued for Game Pass Quests, they might as well be pointless. Daily quests for logging into the Xbox Game Pass app on Mobile and playing an Xbox Game Pass game on Xbox are now just worth 10 points at the rate of 5 each. Weekly quests are now just 10 points each, and monthly quests are down to 10 each also. You’d also only get a 100 point payout for finishing all the quests.
Math aside, the Xbox Game Pass quests are now way less valuable, with roughly just 285 points payout for the monthly section alone. You’d now get more Microsoft Rewards points per day by just completing searches on Bing on PC and Mobile than you do for playing Xbox Game Pass in a single month. You can check the chart below to see why (courtesy of Reddit user Dzahc.)
It is unknown why Microsoft made this change, but I think it might be a way of just experimenting with points values. Either way, much like myself, gamers are not happy about it. Considering the monthly price of Game Pass, some Redditors have said that they won’t be renewing their subscription to the service anymore if the points stay this way. Other gamers, myself included, played their Xbox and downloaded games they’d care less about otherwise just to score these points.
Indeed, now that Xbox Game Pass points are undervalued, it doesn’t even make sense to even buy into Game Pass to get the bonus Microsoft Rewards points. A subset of gamers simply won’t bother checking out games just to get the points from quests. And, for those in countries like Australia where getting Rewards points is tough enough, this only makes it harder to enjoy the program.
We reached out to Microsoft for comment about this change, and a Microsoft Spokesperson tells us the following:
“We’re always listening to fan feedback, and we appreciate those who took the time to reach out about changes to Xbox Game Pass Quests points. Based on that feedback, we’re rolling out adjusted point values that should be reflected on dashboards today.”
We will be keeping a close eye on the points values on the Xbox Game Pass Quests, and will keep you updated if values happen to change. Stay Tuned to OnMSFT for more.
Microsoft’s freeware suite of system utilities dubbed PowerToys was resurrected from its Windows XP days and brought to the company’s flagship operating system Windows 10 in May of 2019.
For power users accustomed to a very niche and specific workflow, the release of PowerToys was a godsend as it brought back the ability for users to tweak obscure settings such as opening cabinet files in a similar fashion to the regular File Explorer experience and shortcuts to opening desktop files from a menu on the taskbar, to name a couple.
PowerToys is arguably analogous to modding in gaming, for many Windows users. However, once brought back, the Windows team had its works cut out for it as users marked up a laundry list of issues when using the suite.
According to the release notes, PowerToys is up to version 0.15.1 after a hotfix came in hours after the initial release of v0.15.0. PowerToys users can now look forward to over 100 resolved issues as well as a cool new update notification system to “make you aware there is a new version from within PowerToys.
Make you aware there is a new version from within PowerToys
Removed requirement to always ‘run as admin’
Added almost 300 unit tests to increase stability and prevent regressions.
Resolved almost 100 issues
Made .NET Framework parts of the source run faster with NGEN
Improved for how we store data locally
Increased FancyZones compatibility with applications
For those anxious to download the update, the team does note that users will need to reapply their zone layout for FancyZones after updating. Fortunately, it seems that the minor inconvenience does not apply to custom zone sets, as they appear to be preserved.
Switching between audio devices is much simpler in Windows 10 than in prior versions. While the steps may not be immediately intuitive, it’s a quick process once you’ve done it.
Audio output options are now integrated into the modern volume control experience. You can open this by clicking the audio output icon (speaker icon) on the taskbar, down in the system tray area.
You’ll see a volume slider that will adjust the volume of the currently selected output source. Above that, click the device name to reveal all the output devices on your system. Next, click any of the devices to immediately set it as the selected output.
The volume slider will now update to reflect the new output’s levels. Volume settings are stored per-device, so you can make your headphones quiet while keeping your rear panel stereo system loud.
You can rename or remove devices to help organise the output list. You’ll need to use the old Control Panel for this. Launch Control Panel by searching for it in the Start menu. Click the Hardware and Sound category, followed by the Sound link.
You’ll see a list of the output devices on your system, which should be identical to that displayed in the taskbar volume control. Right-click any device and choose “Disable” to hide outputs which you don’t use.
Outputs can be renamed by double-clicking and typing a new name into the Properties window which appears. You can also choose a new icon, although it’s only displayed within Control Panel. More usefully, the window lets you configure the output’s settings, such as audio quality and equaliser controls, using the tabs along the top. The available options will vary with each device. Click Apply and OK to save your changes once you’re done.
Microsoft has just announced the next wave of games coming to Xbox Game Pass for Console and PC in March. NBA 2K20 will be the first Xbox game to join the Console catalog tomorrow, March 5, along with Train Sim World 2020. The latter will also be available on Xbox Game Pass for PC, if you prefer the comfort of using a keyboard and mouse.
Next week, the much-anticipated Ori and the Will of the Wisps and the puzzle game Pikuniku will join Xbox Game Pass for Console and PC on March 11 and 12, respectively. The first one is already available for pre-download on both platforms, and it will be an Xbox Play Anywhere title that supports cloud saves.
On March 13, State of Decay 2: Juggernaut Edition, a remaster of the zombie survival game will also join Xbox Game Pass for Console and PC, along with the new team brawler Bleeding Edge from Ninja Theory. These two games from Xbox Game Studios support Xbox Play Anywhere as well as crossplay multiplayer across Xbox One and PC.
Lastly, Microsoft announced two more games joining Xbox Game Pass for PC later this month with The Lord of the Rings: Adventure Card Game and the beat ‘em up title Mother Russia Bleeds. However, the company didn’t indicate when these last two games will be available via the new Xbox beta app for Windows 10.
Overall, this should be a pretty exciting month for Xbox Game Pass members. If you have yet to subscribe, we remind you that you can get your first month of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, which includes Xbox Game Pass for Console, Xbox Game Pass for PC, and Xbox Live Gold, for just $1.
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