Download the Windows 10 February Patch Tuesday updates today

Posted on by Madalina Dinita

The second round of major updates for the year 2020 are here, and they are called the February Patch Tuesday updates. As always, this round of updates targets all major versions of Windows 10.

However, one thing worth mentioning is that despite reaching the end of its life back in January, this round of updates also comes with some small changes to Windows 7 as well.

The February security release consists of security updates for the following software:

  • Microsoft Windows
  • Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool
  • Microsoft Edge (EdgeHTML-based)
  • Microsoft Edge (Chromium-based)
  • ChakraCore
  • Internet Explorer
  • Microsoft Exchange Server
  • Microsoft SQL Server
  • Windows Surface Hub
  • Microsoft Office and Microsoft Office Services and Web Apps

Cumulative updates included in February Patch Tuesday Updates

Windows 10, version 1909

As usual, Windows 10, version 1909 and versions 1903  share a common core operating system and an identical set of system files. As a result, all major changes that apply to one version will be present in the other.

As far as issues are concerned, there is nothing worth mentioning out yet.

Cumulative update name:

Improvements and fixes 

  • Addresses an issue that occurs when migrating cloud printers during an upgrade.
  • Improves the installation experience when updating to Windows 10, version 1903.
  • Security updates to Internet Explorer, Microsoft Edge, Windows Fundamentals, Windows Cryptography, Windows Virtualization, Windows Network Security and Containers, Windows Server, Windows Management, Microsoft Graphics Component, Windows Input and Composition, Windows Media, the Microsoft Scripting Engine, and Windows Shell.

Known Issues

  • There are no known issues

[DIRECT DOWNLOAD LINK]

Windows 10, version 1903

Cumulative update name:

Improvements and fixes

  • Same as Windows 10, version 1909

Known Issues

  • There are no known issues

[DIRECT DOWNLOAD LINK]

Windows 10, version 1809

This cumulative update applies to Windows 10 version 1803 and bumps the OS Build to 17763.1039. Besides the other fixes, one notable new feature is that this release also contains updates for Microsoft HoloLens (OS Build 17763.1039) released on February 11, 2020.

Cumulative update name:

Improvements and fixes

  • Security updates to Microsoft Edge, Internet Explorer, Microsoft Graphics Component, Windows Input and Composition, Windows Media, Windows Shell, the Microsoft Scripting Engine, Windows Fundamentals, Windows Management, Windows Cryptography, Windows Virtualization, Windows Hyper-V, Windows Core Networking, Windows Peripherals, Windows Network Security and Containers, Windows Storage and Filesystems, and Windows Server.

Known Issues

  • Certain operations, such as rename, that you perform on files or folders that are on a Cluster Shared Volume (CSV) may fail with the error, “STATUS_BAD_IMPERSONATION_LEVEL (0xC00000A5)”. This occurs when you perform the operation on a CSV owner node from a process that doesn’t have administrator privilege.
  • After installing KB4493509, devices with some Asian language packs installed may receive the error, “0x800f0982 – PSFX_E_MATCHING_COMPONENT_NOT_FOUND.”

[DIRECT DOWNLOAD LINK]

Windows 10, version 1803

One noticeable feature of this cumulative update is that it marks the end of service for the Windows 10 Home and Pro editions. Thus, you should expect a new ste of updates in the near future that will force you to update to the next supported version available.

Cumulative update name:

Improvements and fixes

  • Security updates to Microsoft Edge, Internet Explorer, Microsoft Graphics Component, Windows Input and Composition, Windows Media, Windows Shell, the Microsoft Scripting Engine, Windows Fundamentals, Windows Management, Windows Cryptography, Windows Virtualization, Windows Hyper-V, Windows Core Networking, Windows Peripherals, Windows Network Security and Containers, Windows Storage and Filesystems, and Windows Server.

Known Issues

  • Certain operations, such as rename, that you perform on files or folders that are on a Cluster Shared Volume (CSV) may fail with the error, “STATUS_BAD_IMPERSONATION_LEVEL (0xC00000A5)”. This occurs when you perform the operation on a CSV owner node from a process that doesn’t have administrator privilege.

[DIRECT DOWNLOAD LINK]

Windows 10, version 1709

Windows 10, version 1709, reached the end of service on April 9, 2019, for devices running Windows 10 Home, Pro, Pro for Workstation, and IoT Core editions. This means that the devices running this version will no longer receive monthly security and quality updates.

If you do wish to continue receiving added protection, Microsoft recommends that you update to the latest version of Windows 10.

Cumulative update name:

Improvements and fixes

  • Security updates to Microsoft Edge, Internet Explorer, Microsoft Graphics Component, Windows Input and Composition, Windows Media, Windows Shell, the Microsoft Scripting Engine, Windows Fundamentals, Windows Management, Windows Cryptography, Windows Virtualization, Windows Hyper-V, Windows Core Networking, Windows Peripherals, Windows Network Security and Containers, Windows Storage and Filesystems, and Windows Server.

Known Issues

  • Certain operations, such as rename, that you perform on files or folders that are on a Cluster Shared Volume (CSV) may fail with the error, “STATUS_BAD_IMPERSONATION_LEVEL (0xC00000A5)”. This occurs when you perform the operation on a CSV owner node from a process that doesn’t have administrator privilege.

[DIRECT DOWNLOAD LINK]

Windows 10, version 1703

Windows 10, version 1703 has reached end of service for all editions. If you want to continue receiving security and quality updates, Microsoft recommends updating to the latest version of Windows 10.

Cumulative update name:

Improvements and fixes

  • Security updates to Microsoft Edge, Internet Explorer, Microsoft Graphics Component, Windows Input and Composition, Windows Media, Windows Shell, the Microsoft Scripting Engine, Windows Fundamentals, Windows Management, Windows Cryptography, Windows Virtualization, Windows Hyper-V, Windows Core Networking, Windows Peripherals, Windows Network Security and Containers, Windows Storage and Filesystems, and Windows Server.

Known Issues

  • There are no known issues

[DIRECT DOWNLOAD LINK]

Windows 10, version 1607

Windows 10, version 1607, reached the end of service on April 10, 2019, for devices running Windows 10 Home, Pro, Pro for Workstation, and IoT Core editions. This means that the devices running this version will no longer receive monthly security and quality updates.

Cumulative update name:

Improvements and fixes

  • Security updates to Microsoft Edge, Internet Explorer, Microsoft Graphics Component, Windows Input and Composition, Windows Media, Windows Shell, the Microsoft Scripting Engine, Windows Fundamentals, Windows Management, Windows Cryptography, Windows Virtualization, Windows Hyper-V, Windows Core Networking, Windows Peripherals, Windows Network Security and Containers, Windows Storage and Filesystems, and Windows Server.

Known Issues

  • After installing KB4467684, the cluster service may fail to start with the error “2245 (NERR_PasswordTooShort)” if the group policy “Minimum Password Length” is configured with greater than 14 characters.
  • Certain operations, such as rename, that you perform on files or folders that are on a Cluster Shared Volume (CSV) may fail with the error, “STATUS_BAD_IMPERSONATION_LEVEL (0xC00000A5)”. This occurs when you perform the operation on a CSV owner node from a process that doesn’t have administrator privilege.

[DIRECT DOWNLOAD LINK]

Windows 10, version 1507

Among all of the cumulative updates released this Patch Tuesday, this is the only KB to include a fix for an issue that would affect the implementation of a Group Policy

Cumulative update name:

Improvements and fixes

  • Addresses an issue that might prevent the “Turn off encryption support” Group Policy from being set correctly.
  • Security updates to Microsoft Edge, Internet Explorer, Microsoft Graphics Component, Windows Input and Composition, Windows Media, Windows Shell, the Microsoft Scripting Engine, Windows Fundamentals, Windows Management, Windows Cryptography, Windows Virtualization, Windows Hyper-V, Windows Core Networking, Windows Peripherals, Windows Network Security and Containers, Windows Storage and Filesystems, and Windows Server.

Known Issues

  • Certain operations, such as rename, that you perform on files or folders that are on a Cluster Shared Volume (CSV) may fail with the error, “STATUS_BAD_IMPERSONATION_LEVEL (0xC00000A5)”. This occurs when you perform the operation on a CSV owner node from a process that doesn’t have administrator privilege.

[DIRECT DOWNLOAD LINK]

Patch Tuesday list of CVEs

If you want to learn more about this month’s list of common vulnerabilities and exposures, you can check out the list below. Keep in mind that this is not the full list. If you want to know about this month’s 99 CVE, you can check out this article.

How do I get the latest updates?

The most common and secure method of installing the updates is via Windows 10‘s Windows Update feature. The latest updates should appear as available there as soon as they are released.

However, if you are only interested in a specific update, then all you need to do is visit the Windows Update Catalog, and enter the specific KB number. The download should start immediately, and you can then manually install the updates that you desire.

Other viable sources for updates include:

  • Microsoft Update
  • Windows Server Update Services (WSUS)

Note: Don’t forget to always have a backup of all of your data before performing a big set of updates like the ones on Patch Tuesday.

Editor’s Note: If you want to know everything there is to know on Patch Tuesday, check out this in-depth guide.

Download Adobe Patch Tuesday Updates [February 2020]

Posted on by Vlad Turiceanu

It’s Patch Tuesday time and Adobe leads the pack, again. While January 2020 Patch Tuesday wasn’t the biggest for Adobe, things seem to be different with this set of security updates.

It’s already common for Adobe to release its security updates a bit sooner. Now, with the February 2020 Patch Tuesday, the company patched a set of important vulnerabilities for almost all of its products.

Adobe products are affected by 40 CVEs

It seems like from the last security updates there are around 40 CVEs that could affect different Adobe products. These CVEs have severity ranges from Important to Critical.

Check out the full list with all the Adobe products affected:

Somewhat expected, Adobe Acrobat and Reader along with Adobe Framemaker have the most vulnerabilities.

While Experience Manager, Digital Editions, and Flash Player have priorities of 2 and 3 and were patched for Denial-of-service, Information Disclosure, and Arbitrary Code Execution, for Acrobat, Reader, and Framemaker things are different.

Adobe Acrobat and Reader have the most vulnerabilities

The last three have a priority rating of 2 and 3 also, but the majority of vulnerabilities are marked as Critical.

Besides the Arbitrary Code Execution and Information Disclosure, these products are susceptible to Memory Leak and Arbitrary file system write, which makes them more dangerous.

To keep your system safe, Adobe recommends to immediately update the affected programs to their latest version. This way, you can make sure that the mentioned CVEs can’t affect your PC.

Usually, Adobe product update automatically when a new update is detected. If you want to update your product manually, you can do so by choosing Help > Check for Updates.

Alternatively, you can also find the full installers with the latest version on Adobe’s website.

Don’t forget to leave us a message in the comments section below if you bump into any problems while updating and we’ll be sure to help you out.

READ NEXT:

Windows 10 Auto Login Not Working: 3 Ways to Fix it

Posted on by Vladimir Popescu

If you find that the Windows 10 auto login is not working properly, you are not the only user experiencing issues. This is an extremely frustrating issue, especially if you used it before, and it worked just fine.

It seems that the problem appears after users apply the latest Windows 10 updates.  This issue occurs on both the x32 and x64 versions of the operating system.

So, while updating the PC should fix things in most cases, we have solutions even when it doesn’t. Keep reading to find out!

How do I fix auto login on Windows 10?

Before we move to the slightly complex solutions, try these quick ones:

  • If the Windows 10 auto login is not working after reboot, another restart should fix things.
  • When the Windows 10 auto login is not working after an update, a patch should be underway. Look for any newer OS versions and install them.

If none work, head to the fixes listed next.

1. Use the Windows AutoLogOn v 3.10 tool

  1. Download Autologon from Microsoft’s official website.autologon
  2. Extract the files.
  3. Run the setup designed for the architecture of the installed OS.
  4. Click Agree to accept the license terms.accept
  5. Fill out the required information, and click Enable to activate Autologon.autologon to fix windows 10 auto login not working

When Windows 10 automatic login is not working, the Autologon tool should help set things up! In case that sounds too complex or you don’t want to rely on third-party solutions, check the next two.

2. Use Registry Editor to enable the function

  1. Press Windows + R, type regedit, and press Enter.
  2. Click Yes in the UAC prompt.
  3. Paste the following path in the address bar and hit Enter: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/SOFTWARE/Microsoft/WindowsNT/CurrentVersion/Winlogonpath
  4. Locate the DefaultUserName and DefaultPassword values. If one doesn’t exist, create them by right-clicking on the empty portion, hovering the cursor over New, and selecting String Value.string
  5. Double-click on each of the strings and set the Value date as your username and password for the respective strings (if you’re using a Microsoft account, add the Microsoft Account/<your email ID>).
  6. Double-click on AutoAdminLogon string, set the Value data to 1, and click OK.autoadminlogon to fix windows 10 auto login not working
  7. Close the Registry Editor and restart your Windows 10 PC.

When things don’t work, you can always set up auto login via the Windows 10 Registry by modifying a few entries. Just make sure to follow the steps as it is and not make any other changes.

3. Use netplwiz command to enable auto logon

Tip icon Tip
If you don’t find the Users must enter a user name and password to use this computer checkbox in User Accounts (netplwiz), a few quick changes to the Registry should do!
  1. Press the Windows +R, type netplwiz, and hit Enter.netplwiz
  2. Go to the Users tab, and uncheck the option Users must enter a user name and password to use this computer.
  3. Type your credentials inside the Automatically sign-in dialog, and save the changes.
  4. Restart your Windows 10 PC.

When the Windows 10 auto login is not working, the netplwiz utility should come to aid! You can easily enable automatic sign-in by checking the designated option.

That’s all for now! And remember, these solutions also work when the Windows 11 auto login is not working.

Before you leave, find out how to bypass the login screen when you forget the password.

If you want to share this information with us, feel free to use the comment section found below this article.

FIX: Corsair Utility Engine no device detected error

Posted on by Tashreef Shareef

Corsair makes premium gaming gear for pro and casual gamers. To make the most of its products, the company also offers Corsair Utility Engine, a customization software for the Corsair products. However, some users have reported no device detected, please connect a device error with the software.

This error occurs after launching the Corsair Utility Engine software and the application fails to detect the connected Corsair devices.

If you are also troubled by this error, here are a couple of troubleshooting tips to help you fix Corsair Utility Engine no device detected, please connect a device error in Windows.

How can I fix CUE’s no device detected error?

1. Quit and relaunch CUE

no device detected

  1. Close Corsair Utility Engine if running.
  2. Click the small arrow icon in the taskbar.
  3. Right-click on the CUE icon and select Quit.
  4. Restart the computer.
  5. Start Corsair Utility Engine again and check for any improvements.

Quitting and relaunching  CUE after a restart has helped users with similar error fix the issue. Make sure you restart your computer before starting it again.

Looking for a new mechanical keyboard? Check out our recommendations in this article.

2. Unplug and replug the device

no device detected

  1. Quit Corsair Utility Engine if it is running.
  2. Unplug all the Corsair devices connected to your laptop.
  3. Restart your computer.
  4. Press and hold the Esc key on your keyboard and connect it to your computer.
  5. Launch Corsair Utility Engine and check for any improvements.

Removing and replugging the Corsair device while holding the Esc key in case of the keyboard has helped users resolve the issue.

3. Update the drivers

no device detected

  1. Press the Windows key on your keyboard to bring up the search.
  2. Type Device and click on Device Manager.
  3. Expand the Keyboard section.
  4. Right-click on the Corsair keyboard entries.
  5. Select Update Driver.
  6. When the how do you want to search for drivers window appears, click on Search automatically for updated driver software.
  7. Windows will now look for any pending driver update and download it.
  8. Wait for the installation to complete.
  9. Do this for all the keyboard entries.
  10. Now run the Corsair Utility Engine and check for any improvements.

Did you know that the majority of Windows 10 users have outdated drivers? Be a step ahead using this guide.

Update USB controller driver

no device detected

  1. Open the Device Manager.
  2. Expand the Universal Serial Bus Controller section.
  3. Right-click on Intel (R) USB 3.0 Host Controller and select Update Driver.
  4. Select Search automatically for updated driver software option.
  5. Windows will now scan the system for any pending updates and install them.
  6. If no update found, check the Intel or AMD website for new updates.

Windows can’t automatically find and download new drivers? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered.

4. Check Corsair keyboard compatibility

no device detected

  1. If the issue is with your Corsair keyboard, make sure the keyboard is full RGB supported.
  2. Check the packaging of your keyboard to better understand the specifications.
  3. Not all the Corsair keyboards are full RGB supported.
  4. If your Corsair keyboard is not full RGB supported, then the Corsair Utility Engine may not show all the customization options.

The  Corsair Utility Engine No device detected, please connect a device error that can occur if your Corsair device is not supported by the software or if there are issues with the driver. Follow the steps in this article and see if that helps you resolve the error.

For any other questions and suggestions, reach for the comments section below.

READ ALSO:

Microsoft Teams-Outlook email integrations coming in March

Posted on by Teodor Nechita

Those of you that are part of companies that heavily rely on Microsoft products are familiar with Microsoft Teams and Outlook. One is Microsoft’s very own collaborative tool, while the other is a personal information manager that doubles as an email client.

Both of them are part of the Microsoft Office Suite, but at the same time, both of them are some of the few products that are actually truly free.

Both of these programs handle talking with others, scheduling tasks and other operations. Thus, it was only natural that away to link the two services directly would come to light.

Such is the story of how Microsoft plans to introduce Teams-Outlook Email Integrations in March.

The Teams-Outlook email integrations hits live in Q1 CY2020

Unfortunately, other than the announcement itself on Microsoft’s official forums, no other information was given.

Because of the ambiguity of the post, users started speculating about the new add-in’s functionality:

To use these new features you can use the already existing Teams Meeting add-in or will there be a new one?

Other users were more curious about the integration’s release date:

Any idea when this add-in will become available, it’s February 2020 and I can’t find a download link

Plans for this new tool first reached the general public when Microsoft published on their Microsoft 365 Roadmap page that this will be the only feature they are currently working on.

Some of the speculations were debunked since according to the Roadmap page, there will be nothing to download. All the new features will be automatically added as part of the next major Outlook update.

What does this mean for users?

Now that the two programs will be linked together easier, you will be able to work faster and more efficiently. This is especially when considering how the two programs complement some of each other’s cons.

Regardless of which, both of these programs are usually installed together on the same PCs anyway. Thus, linking them for better functionality should be second nature.

How do you think this new integration will affect workflow? Don’t hesitate to reach for the comments section below.

How to fix the can’t share printer error 0x00006d9 in Windows

Posted on by Matthew Adams

Some Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 users have encountered the printer error 0x00006d9. It’s an issue that can occur when users select the Share this printer option.

The full error message states: Printer settings could not be saved. Operation could not be completed error 0x000006d9. As a result, users can’t share printers.

How can I fix printer error 0x00006d9?

1. Enable the Windows Firewall Service

  1. Microsoft’s official resolution for error 0x00006d9 is to enable the Windows Firewall Service. To do that, open Run by pressing the Windows key and R at the same time.
  2. Enter services.msc in the Open text box, and click the OK button. Then the Services window will open.
  3. Then double-click Windows Firewall to open its properties window.Windows Firewall Properties can't share printer error 0x00006d9
  4. Click the Startup type drop-down menu to select the Automatic setting there.
  5. Click the Start button (on the properties window).
  6. Select the Apply option.
  7. Press the OK button to close the window.
  8. In addition, make sure the firewall is enabled within the Control Panel. To do so, open Run again.
  9. Enter control.exe /NAME Microsoft.WindowsFirewall in Run, and click the OK button.Windows Firewall applet can't share printer error 0x00006d9
  10. Click Turn Windows Firewall on or off to open the options shown directly below.Turn on Windows Firewall settings can't share printer error 0x00006d9
  11. Select both the Turn on Windows Firewall radio buttons there.
  12. Click the OK button to exit.

2. Uninstall third-party antivirus software

  1. Some users might need to also uninstall third-party antivirus software to enable the default firewall in Windows 7. Open the Run accessory.
  2. Input ‘appwiz.cpl’ in Run and click OK to open the uninstaller window shown directly below.
    uninstaller window can't share printer error 0x00006d9
  3. Select your antivirus utility.
  4. Click the Uninstall button.
  5. Then click Yes to further confirm.

We recommend using a third-party uninstallation tool that removes the antivirus software automatically and efficiently.

With this type of program, every malicious ad/plug-in or residual file from the system connected to the antivirus service will be deleted completely. This will provide you with a clean PC and will contribute to the overall performance of your Windows OS.

So, uninstall third-party apps with the most efficient uninstaller programs capable of removing your antivirus and activating the default firewall.

3. Check that network discovery and printer sharing are enabled

  1. Make sure that both network discovery and printer sharing are enabled. First, open the Run accessory.
  2. Enter control /name Microsoft.NetworkAndSharingCenter in the Open box, and click the OK button.Network and Sharing applet can't share printer error 0x00006d9
  3. Click Change advanced sharing settings in windows to open the settings shown directly below.
    The Turn on network discovery setting can't share printer error 0x00006d9
  4. Select the Turn on network discovery option if required.
  5. Select the Turn on file and printer sharing setting if printer sharing isn’t enabled.
  6. Press the Save changes button.

Those are the confirmed fixes for error 0x00006d9. With that error fixed, you can then share your printer as required.

If you have any other questions or suggestions, leave them in the comments section below and we’ll be sure to check them out.

How to Easily Host Files on GitHub

Posted on by Vlad Turiceanu

GitHub is an extremely popular website among software developers for sharing code, yet don’t think of it as an exclusive place for them. GitHub just launched its beta Android app at last and you may also use it as a free file hosting service. So, don’t postpone learning how to host files on GitHub.

If you’re undecided, let us remind you that it stores file changes more efficiently and ensures file integrity better than other systems available. If you and your team constantly make changes to Word documents, for example, you could use GitHub as your version control system.

Do keep in mind that GitHub has a limitation for individual files of no more than 25 MB each. It is more than enough when planning to upload a few lines of code. The limit could prove insufficient if you want to go far beyond that, but at least there are no known bandwidth limits to worry about.

Now that you know what GitHub is capable of, in the following sections, we will teach you the process of hosting files on it.

How can I host files on GitHub?

1. Create a new repository for your files

  1. To get started with GitHub, go to github.com and sign-up for a free account.
  2. Click the New Repository button as it’s time to create a new repository for hosting your files. See this as a location where all the files for a particular project are stored. Each project has its own repository, and you may easily access it with a unique URL.
  3. Up next, give your repository a name. You may also add a description if wanted.add name and description
  4. Then, click the Create button.
  5. Your repository will be empty at this point, so click the Import Code button on the next screen to initialize the repository.Import Code button
  6. Paste the URL https://github.com/files.git into the repository field.
  7. Click Begin Import to create your very first GitHub repository for hosting files.

2. Upload your files to GitHub

  1. Click the Upload Files button to begin uploading some of your files.
  2. Drag one or more files there or choose them directly from the computer.choose your files
  3. Then, click Commit Changes to publish them on the web.

Once your files are uploaded, you might also want to learn how to clone a repository in GitHub so you can keep a local copy and manage updates more easily.

After you upload and publish changes, keep the repository tidy by learning how to delete a GitHub branch when a feature branch is no longer needed.

3. Get a downloadable version

  1. With the file already uploaded to GitHub, all you need to do is click the filename in the list and you’ll get the file’s URL in the browser’s address.
  2. Finally, just attach ?raw=true to the URL in order to get a downloadable version.
  3. Alternately, if you go to a public codebase, click on the green button that says Clone or Download.
  4. Then, select Download ZIP.
  5. All files will begin downloading to your computer, usually in your Downloads folder.
  6. Up next, open your Downloads folder and find the ZIP file that contains the entire repository content.
  7. Right-click it and choose the option that says Unzip or Uncompress.
  8. Also, select a folder where you want the files to end up.

Most public repositories can be downloaded for free, without even having a user account. Therefore, unless the owner of the codebase decides to check a box otherwise, the files can be easily packed into a zipped file. Then, just grab them into your computer.

As you can see, hosting files on GitHub is actually quite easy, even for non-developers. In just a couple of minutes, you can create your first repository, or upload some of your files. Then, downloading files from GitHub is just as easy too.

In case you need help with other GitHub issues, such as the fatal not possible to fast-forward aborting error message; read this guide to learn the solutions.

If you have any questions about this procedure, let us know in the comments area below.

First reactions to Microsoft’s Windows 10X / Surface Neo / Surface Duo announcements from Microsoft Developer Day

Posted on by Kip Kniskern

Microsoft pulled back some more of the covers on Windows 10X, Surface Neo and Surface Duo today during its online Microsoft Developer Day, with CVP for Windows Developer Platform Kevin Gallo hosting the festivities. While it’s still too early to fully digest all that was announced, here are some first reactions.

Boy, are Surface Neo and Duo buggy

The most glaring issue coming out of today’s event was the multiple times both Neo and Duo failed during demos. At one point, Gallo was showing off a simple “move Google Maps into both screens” task, but it froze up the Duo he was live-demoing on. Luckily, he had another Duo in his back pocket, but after just a minute or so, that device locked up too.

Now Microsoft is to be commended for getting these devices out in the open early, and having demos fail this early in the process is probably just par for the course. However, it’s still not a good look for what isn’t much more than some UI controls running on top of Android, in the case of the Duo. With Surface Neo, which also failed in demos, the brand new Windows 10X may have a bit more of an excuse, but these failures show that if nothing else, these devices are no where near ready for release.

Windows 10X Win32 Containers

Perhaps the most important news coming out of the event today involves Windows 10X and the revelation that Win32 apps will run on Windows 10X in containers, separate from the operating system. The new system will work similar to, and is actually based on the work Microsoft has done to get Linux to run on Windows via the WSL2 Windows Subsystem for Linux:

https://twitter.com/h0x0d/status/1227285210380804096

Running all apps, not only UWP apps but Win32 apps as well in containers means that not only do the apps run more securely, unable to write to the core operating system, but also makes it possible to streamline that core OS. Windows 10X will be able to update “in as little as 90 seconds,” and will significantly improve battery life.

Running in a container has a number of advantages, but some legacy Windows apps will have trouble running in this new system. Over the years, developers have pushed to get their apps to run as fast as possible, and to cut a corner here and there to get the most out of their applications. So, not every Win32 app will work on Windows 10X, but most will. Each of the three types of containers handled by Windows 10X (Win32, MSIX, or UWP) has their own advantages, as developer Ginny Caughey points out (click through to check out the thread):

Microsoft continues to insist Windows 10X is for dual screens only… why?

Faster, safer, quicker to update, and with most or all of the legacy crap removed. Those are features that are appealing to consumers whether they use dual screens or not, yet Microsoft continues to insist on locking down Windows 10X to dual screen devices. We get that Microsoft really wants dual screen devices to succeed, and to lead in the next generation of computing, but there are a number of downsides to dual screens, too (cumbersome, bulky, expensive, unproven, etc., etc.), and we continue wait for the other shoe to drop. So far, Microsoft is sticking to its dual screen guns, but we can’t see any reason why Windows 10X couldn’t run on a single screen tablet, other than having to go head to head with the iPad. There may be technical reasons why Windows 10X only works on as-yet unreleased devices, but we doubt there’s a technical reason why these devices need dual screens.

We’re not too worried about the buggy performances, it is early, and we’re glad that Microsoft is willing to suffer a few embarrassments in the cause of openness. We still have to hear how real world apps work in Win32 containers, or if developers will have to do a lot of work to get their legacy, but important apps to run (hint, they won’t). And we’re going to continue to hold out hope for a Windows 10X future beyond dual screens. Again, it’s early.

What do you think about Windows 10X, Surface Neo, and Surface Duo? Let us know in the comments below.

The Windows 10X emulator is now live, here’s what you need to get it to run

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

During Microsoft 365 Developer Day, the details on app development for Windows 10X were finally made available. Delivered through the Microsoft Emulator and Windows 10X SDK, developers can now code and test their apps for Windows 10X without owning a dual-screen device.

Anyone, though, is free to try it out on their own. Here’s what you need to get it to run if you want to get a feel for Windows 10X ahead of release.

Before you get started with even thinking about trying out Windows 10X, you need to meet a few software requirements. You’ll need to be a Windows Insider, and have the latest Windows Insider build. You’ll also need to have Visual Studio 2019 Preview and the Windows 10 SDK Insider Preview installed. You also need to make sure you’re running 64-bit Windows 10 Pro, Enterprise, or Education. The other software requirements are listed below.

  • In the BIOS, the following features must be supported and enabled:  Hardware-assisted virtualization, Second Level Address Translation (SLAT), Hardware-based Data Execution Prevention (DEP)
  • Ensure that the “Hyper-V” feature has been enabled on your system through Control Panel -> Programs -> Programs and Features -> Turn Windows Features on or off -> ensure that “Hyper-V” is selected for the Emulator installation to be successful.

There are also a few hardware requirements too. First off, your system needs to meet the specs below. You also need to have a device with an Intel processor, as AMD processors are not supported at this time. Nested virtualization is required to run Windows 10X in the emulator.

  • Intel CPU with at least 4 cores you can dedicate to the emulator (or multiple CPUs with a total of 4 cores)
  • 8 GB of RAM or more, 4 GB of RAM for the emulator
  • 15 GB of free disk space for vhdx + diff disk, SSD recommended
  • Dedicated video card recommended
  • DirectX 11.0 or later
  • WDDM 2.4 graphics driver or later

Once you meet these requirements, you can install the Windows 10X Emulator from the Microsoft Store. You also need to install the Emulator Image, as well. Additional directions on how to launch, run, and get started with the emulator are available here from Microsoft.

Tom Clancy’s The Division 2 is up to 95% off as part of this week’s Xbox sales

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

Tom Clancy’s The Division 2 is available right now for just $2.99 in the U.S. right now ($3.99 in Canada), a whopping 95 percent discount compared to its off-sale price. In other regions, the game is on sale for an 85 percent discount, which makes this the best time to buy the game if you’ve been considering the action RPG.

Tom Clancy's The Division® 2
Tom Clancy's The Division® 2
Download
QR-Code

Tom Clancy’s The Division® 2
Developer:
UBISOFT
Price:
Free

Numerous other game titles from Ubisoft, Capcom, and 2K are available for some great discounts. In addition to Tom Clancy’s The Division 2, Ubisoft has multiple Assassin’s Creed titles and DLC for up to 75% off, and Far Cry 5 is just $14.99 right now. 2K also has Borderlands 3 for half off, and all three editions of NBA 2K20 for 60% off. Capcom is also running its own publisher sale with a handful of titles of its own, including Resident Evil 2 for 67% off.

Assassin's Creed® Odyssey
Assassin's Creed® Odyssey
Download
QR-Code

Assassin’s Creed® Odyssey
Developer:
Ubisoft
Price:
Free

This week’s Deals with Gold offers are also available for those with an Xbox Live Gold or Game Pass Ultimate subscription. The Gold Edition of Hitman 2 is available for $29.99, 70 percent off its list price of $99.99. Grand Theft Auto V: Premium Online Edition & Great White Shark Card Bundle is also on sale for just $29.94, or 35 percent off.

HITMAN™ 2 - Gold Edition
HITMAN™ 2 - Gold Edition
Download
QR-Code

HITMAN™ 2 – Gold Edition
Developer:
Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
Price:
Free

The Spotlight sale also has a handful of titles available outside of the Publisher Sale, as well. These include two titles from Blizzard: Diablo III—Eternal Collection and Overwatch: Legendary Edition— each for for 67 percent off right now.

Diablo III: Eternal Collection
Diablo III: Eternal Collection
Download
QR-Code

Diablo III: Eternal Collection
Developer:
Blizzard Entertainment
Price:
$59.99

Which games are you looking at? Let us know what you think in the comments area below.

How to password protect notebook sections in OneNote on Windows, iOS, Android, and MacOS

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

OneNote is an excellent tool to take notes, but it also can be a great journaling app too. In this case, and in other instances, you might want to password protect a specific section of your notebook to keep it out of the hands of those who you don’t want to access it. In our latest guide, we’ll show you how you can protect those notebooks with a password.

Be aware, though, we’ll be talking about the OneNote app downloaded through the Microsoft Store, or your respected app store. We won’t be touching on OneNote 2016, which is still here to stay. You can easily password protect sections there too if you want by right-clicking the section tab and choosing Password Protect this Section. But, here’s a deeper look at how you can do this in the modern OneNote app.

The workflow of a password-protected section in OneNote

Before diving into how to password protect sections, we’ll touch on it changes your workflow. Once a section is password-protected, you’ll need to enter the password each time to unlock it. Although supported on iOS and Android, OneNote on Windows and MacOS don’t support fingerprint authentication. This means you’ll need to take a few extra sections to input the password in OneNote. Also, be aware that the password doesn’t encrypt your notebook like Bitlocker in Windows 10. It’s just there to make it harder for others to access as the notebook can’t be opened without the password. Lose the password, lose the notebook. With that explained, it’s time to move on!

On Windows 10

To password protect a notebook section in OneNote on Windows 10, you’ll first need to double click on the name of the notebook in the sidebar to open it. This will then open up a list of sections, and you can right-click on the one that needs protection. Once you do that, look for the option that says Password Protection. You’ll want to click that and choose Add Password. Enter in the password, and click OK. Your notebook section is now protected!

On MacOS

The process of password protecting a section of a notebook in OneNote on MacOS is a bit similar. Make sure you’ve double-clicked the section name in the sidebar and opened up the section of the notebook you want to add a password to. Once done, right-click the name of the section, and choose Password Protection. You’ll then want to choose to Protect this Section and enter your password and verify it.

On Android

As Android is a mobile platform, password protecting a section of a notebook in OneNote will be different. To do this, open up the section of the notebook you want to protect. You’ll then want to hold down the name of the section, till you see a bullet point. After that, head to the top right corner, and click the … menu. Choose to Protect Section and enter your password and click OK. When done, you can lock the section again from the … menu. When unlocking next time, you’ll be prompted to enter the password. You can also check the toggle to unlock with fingerprint next time to speed up the process.

On iOS

The process of password protecting a section in OneNote on iOS is a bit similar to Android, but there are more icons to help you understand the process. To begin, you’ll want to select the section you’d like to protect. You’ll then want to click the lock icon in the bottom right corner of your screen. Choose Protect This Section and enter your password. The section will automatically lock after a period of inactivity. You can unlock by tapping it and entering the password. Just like on Android, you can unlock by fingerprint by choosing the option the first time you unlock after putting in a password.

How do you use OneNote?

As we said before, OneNote is a fairly powerful tool. It has dark mode support, image features, and even integration in Microsoft Teams. OneNote is a topic we’ve covered extensively, so check out our news hub here for more. And, feel free to let us know how OneNote is working for you by dropping us a comment in the section below.

Microsoft backtracks on forcing Bing extension for enterprise Chrome users

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

Microsoft has reversed its decision to automatically install Microsoft Search with Bing Chrome extension for Office 365 ProPlus users due to “customer feedback”. The forced installation extension would have changed the default search engine in Chrome to Bing, a move that was likely meant to show off the company’s Microsoft Search—a tool that gives employees quick access to company files, documents, and other data along standard Bing web results.

In January, Microsoft announced that beginning in Office 365 ProPlus version 2002, the company would automatically install the extension to change the default search engine. Although the company provided instructions on preventing the extension to be installed, this also meant extra work on the organization’s part.

Instead, Microsoft will make it so that organizations can choose to opt-in to the program itself. The company also noted that “in the near term, Office 365 will only deploy the browser extension to AD (Active Directory)-joined devices even within organizations that have opted in.” Users who do install the extension can still choose to set another search engine as the default if they so choose.

For now, Office 365 ProPlus version 2002 won’t ship with the Microsoft Search with Bing Chrome extension, so no changes to the user’s default search engine will be made. Microsoft says that it will provide a new timeline for the optional extension “over the next few weeks.”

What do you think about Microsoft’s decision? Feel free to leave your thoughts and suggestions in the comments area below.

IBM chooses another Microsoft competitor for its employees; Slack instead of Teams

Posted on by Kareem Anderson

Microsoft and Slack have been locked inside a metaphorical cage match over the future supremacy of productivity communications and today, IBM placed a large bet on Slack.

According to a Busines Insider report, IBM is going all-in with Slack to help support communications of its 350,000 employees in the near future.

IBM choosing a Microsoft competitor, while a tantalizing headline grabber, isn’t a new event. A few years ago, IBM and Apple made headlines as the former opted to shift 25% of its  537,000 active laptops from PCs to Macs.

On the face of it, the IBM contract is a huge get for Slack, especially as the company scales to continue competing with the likes of Microsoft Teams, but some of the details of the agreement have arguably subdued the news.

Powering modern communications one of the largest businesses worldwide is not only a validation of Slack’s ability to support and scale its solution but should be a relatively lucrative revenue stream that can counter Microsoft’s recent surge in the sector.

However, the reality is that Slack had already been supporting IBM employees as early as 2014 and has scaled to support 165,000 as 2019.

Furthermore, the company has yet to clarify which portion of the current 165,000 or future total 350,000 employees will be using a free or paid tier of the service.

While understandably proud of the full commitment from IBM Slack also seemingly attempted to underplay the news by not updating its fourth-quarter forecast to reflect its new agreement, a move that saw its shares soar 15% but ultimately fall 6% in after-hours trading.

Invalid email error message on Arc Games? Use this fix

Posted on by Vladimir Popescu

A large number of users have complained on different online forums that their Arc Games launcher is telling them that their credentials are invalid.

This can be extremely frustrating over time, especially if you can’t wait to play the latest release of a game.

In today’s guide, we will explore the best steps you can take if you find yourself in this situation. Read on for more details.

Follow these steps to successfully log into Arc Games

1. Make sure you’re using the right credentials

You will need to make sure that the information you provide to log into Arc is not erroneous.

To successfully log in, you will need to use the credentials for your Arc account, and not your Steam log-in.

Even though this solution might seem obvious, some users have managed to solve the issue by making sure they use their Arc, and not Steam log-in information. It is worth a check, just to be sure.

2. Try the password recovery option

If the above message keeps appearing, and you’re sure you typed the correct information in, then the first step is to recover your account.

To do so, you will need to either visit the Arc website login page or click the option from the Arc launcher log-in screen.

An email will be sent to the account that you used to create the Arc username. After receiving this information, try to see if you can log in. If you still can’t do this, please try the next method.

Want to permanently delete your Arc Games account? Do this

3. Log in using the email address as a username

In the case of some users, using the email address they utilized for creating the account inside the username box has allowed them to log in normally.

Try this method out, and if you still can’t log in, follow the next possible solution.

4. Activate the option Stay logged in inside Arc

When faced with this same issue, some users have had success by simply ticking the box next to the option Stay logged in, while attempting to sign into their account.

The fact that this method worked points to the possibility of this being a server-side issue.

We hope that this guide has proven useful in your situation and that you managed to log into your Arc account without any problems.

If this guide helped you in any way, you can choose to let us know by using the comment section found below this article.

[wl_navigator]

Posted in Fix

Fix: Folder redirection doesn’t update to a new server

Posted on by Teodor Nechita

If you’re part of a work environment, it is not uncommon for you to be migrated once every few years from one server to another. This is usually done by the IT department, and migration is provided with all the setting changes that you would expect with them.

For example, folder redirection should be said as well, and in a large company, this can only be efficiently done via Group Policies.

However, some users have reported that their folder is redirecting them to an old location:

Right before I started working here, the DC was taken offline and replaced with a new Win2008 machine. All the shares were replicated to the new server and all group policy/AD settings changed reflect the new location. All users’ profiles were pointing to the new server but the My Documents folder redirection is still pointing to the old server on each workstation (all XP).

Thankfully enough, there is a fix to this issue, and we’ve arranged it into a step-by-step guide for you to follow.

How do I fix my folder redirection issue?

  1. Force update your Group Policy
  2. Press Windows + R
  3. Type in gpedit.msc
    • This will open the Group Policy Editor
  4. Create or modify a GPO that applies to the computers on which users who are affected by folder redirection policies log on
  5. Edit the GPO
  6. Under Computer Configuration, expand Administrative TemplatesGPO Computer Configuration
  7. Under Administrative Templates, expand System
  8. Right under System, select Group Policy
  9. Double-click the Folder Redirection policy processing setting
  10. Select the Enabled option
  11. Click to select the second checkbox.
  12. Exit the Group Policy Object Editor

Windows 10 doesn’t come by default with a Group Policy Editor. Read this article to find out how you can get it.

By following these steps, you should now be able to force a Group Policy update that will take into account all the changes that have been made. This will make it so that no folders will redirect you to an older location any longer.

Note: Since this step involves Group Policies, it is best if you let the System Admin perform the operation. This is because he will be performing this fix for multiple PCs at the same time.

If you know of any other way to solve this problem, share it in the comments section below so that other users can try it, as well.

RELATED ARTICLES YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT:

Fix: Sharing tab missing in folder properties

Posted on by Teodor Nechita

Whenever you are curious about the properties of a folder or file, the best course of action is to right-click it, and select Properties from the context menu.

context menu

As you can see, the context menu is made up of several tabs, namely:

  • General
  • Sharing
  • Security
  • Previous Versions
  • Customize

Unfortunately, some users have reported that their Sharing tab is missing from the context menu:

The issue is, on some folders (mapped drives in particular) the Share tab is missing. The Share tab is present on every other local folder I’ve reviewed, just not on the mapped drives and folders. I’ve tried four different “fixes” I’ve found online. The four fixes I’ve reviewed are below. Note that there were no changes I had to make as every recommended fix was already in the recommended state.

The lack of this tab makes it impossible for you to share it via Network Sharing, or set any permissions or privacy and protection settings to folders already on the network.

Thankfully enough, there are solutions to this problem, and you will find them in the guide below.

How do I make my Sharing tab appear again?

1. Enable Server and Security Accounts Manager

  1. Press Windows + R
  2. Type in services.msc and press Enter
    • This will open the Services Manager
  3. Scroll down until you find Server and Security Accounts Managerservices
    • If they are disabled, select them and choose Automatic as a Startup type
    • Additionally, right-click the services and select Start

2. Modify certain registries

2.1 Registry fix #1

  1. Press Windows + R
  2. Type in regedit and press Enter
    • This will open the Registry Editorregistry editor
  3. Go to the following key:
    • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Lsa
  4. Double-click on forceguest DWORD and set its value to 0
  5. Reboot your PC

2.2 Registry fix #2

  1. Press Windows + R
  2. Type in regedit and press Enter
  3. Go to the following key:
    • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Shell Extensions\Blocked
  4. If you find {f81e9010-6ea4-11ce-a7ff-00aa003ca9f6} DWORD, double-click on it and delete it
  5. Reboot your PC

Don’t know how to use the registry editor? Check out this detailed guide for more information.

By following these steps, you should now be able to see the Sharing tab again whenever you open a folder’s context menu.

If you’re aware of another way to solve this problem, share it in the comments section below so that other users can try it, as well.

RELATED ARTICLES YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT:

What is a .tax file and how to open it on Windows 10

Posted on by Mduduzi Sibisi

If you’re wondering what a .tax file is and how you can manage and open this filetype, then you’ve come to the right place. TAX files aren’t used by a lot of programs out there, which means they’re extremely rare.

You may have a bit of anxiety after finding them on your PC. The following is here to help you kill off those anxieties and tell you what exactly is a .tax file and how to open it.

What are .tax files?

If you’ve ever filed for tax returns, you know how exhausting it can be. Thankfully, there are software solutions out there to make filing for your taxes easier. One such solution is called TurboTax.

The TurboTax uses the .tax file for saving tax forms for filing purposes. Often, the .tax file is suffixed with the year of the filing. For instance, .tax2019 or .tax19 are used for tax returns in the year 2019.

It’s important to note that this software is made to generate tax returns for the United States of America. While anyone outside of the country can play around with the software for educational purposes, you cannot generate federal tax returns for any country outside of the borders of the US.

TurboTax is very easy to use and it is particularly welcoming to users with no prior tax experience or knowledge. Instead of giving you a form that you manually have to fill out, TurboTax presents a set of questions to answer about your life and then generates the tax form for you.

This eases the bureaucracy of tax filing. Once the tax form is generated, you can then read through it and make changes. TurboTax also allows you to contact the developers with any tax questions that you may have.

Building the tax form is a long process. You can save your progress when you’re tired and then continue with it once you feel you are ready. You can save the file with the .tax extension.

Since the IRS (as well as state taxing agencies) changes their forms every year, TurboTax makes sure that it’s updated with the latest forms. Nevertheless, whatever form it is, TurboTax will save it with the .tag extension (with tax year appended to it).

Looking for the best TurboTax deals? Check out this article and get yours right now!

How do I open a .tax file?

Using TurboTax to Open .tax files

  1. Download and install TurboTax if it isn’t already installed.
  2. Run TurboTax.
  3. Click on File (in the top left corner) and then select Open Tax Return from the sub-menu list.Open .tax file
  4.  Navigate to where the .tax(year) file is and open it.Navigate to tax return file

If you try to open it only to find that the file is corrupted or can’t be opened by TurboTax, we suggest that you delete it. Naturally, if it contains anyone else’s tax information, notify the user. If you can’t contact the user and the TAX file is on your computer, then you have every right to delete it.

For any more questions or suggestions, reach for the comments section below.

READ ALSO:

How to Setup Surround Sound on Windows 10 [Quick Guide]

Posted on by Tashreef Shareef

It is no secret that a surround sound setup can greatly enhance the audio listening and media experience as it offers limitless audio and atmospheric possibilities. However, if you are trying to connect your Windows 10 system to the setup, you might encounter some obstacles.

Apart from meeting the minimum system requirements, the configuration can be a little tricky. In this article, we discuss how to configure and test surround sound on Windows 10.

How can I configure and test surround sound on Windows 10?

Update Sound Card Drivers

configure and test Surround Sound on Windows 10
  1. Press Windows Key + R to open Run.
  2. Devmgmt.msc and click OK to open the Device Manager.
  3. In the Device Manager, expand the Sound, video and game controllers option.
  4. Right-click on the sound card to which your surround sound 5.1 setup is connected.
  5. Select Update Driver.
  6. Click on Search automatically for updated driver software option.
  7. Windows will look for any pending driver updates and install them. Once installed, close the Device Manager.

If no updates are found, visit the sound card manufacturer’s website and check for the latest drivers. Updating the sound card is optional, you can proceed even if you don’t find any driver updates.

Did you know that the majority of Windows 10 users have outdated drivers? Be a step ahead using this guide.

Configure surround sound in Windows 10

configure and test Surround Sound on Windows 10
  1. Right-click on the speaker icon in the Windows system tray that you can access by clicking the arrow icon in the taskbar.
  2. Select the Sounds option. This will open the Sound Control Panel.
  3. If you don’t see the Sounds option, click on Open sound settings.
  4. Scroll down and click on Sound Control Panel under Related Settings.
  5. In the Sounds window, open the Playback tab.
  6. Select the Surround Sound enabled sound card among the list of audio devices and then click the Set Default button.
  7. Click on the Configure button.
  8. In the Speaker Setup window, choose 5.1 Surround from the Audio Channels list.
  9. Click Next to proceed.
  10. In the Customize your configuration window, check all the boxes for Optional Speakers option.
  11. Click Next to proceed.
  12. On the “Select full-range speakers” window, check the box next to the speakers in your setup.
  13. Click Next and you should see the “Configuration complete” screen.
  14. Click Finish to save the changes and close the Sound Control Panel.

2. Test Surround Sound in Windows 10

configure and test Surround Sound on Windows 10
  1. Open the Sound Control Panel. Refer to section 1-2 above for steps.
  2. Open the Playback tab.
  3. Select the Surround Sound enabled card and click on Configure.
  4. Make sure the speakers are on and you have set the volume accordingly.
  5. Click the Test button. Windows will play sounds via the newly set up speakers.
  6. If everything looks good, open up any video or audio streaming service and check the speakers with your favorite track.
  7. You can use this YouTube video which can give you a good idea if the speakers are working as they should.

Surround sound audio systems offer immersive gaming and movie-watching experiences. By following the steps in this article you can successfully configure and set up your surround sound setup on Windows 10.

If you want to learn how to enable Loudness Equalization on Windows, we have a separate guide for you.

If you have any other questions or suggestions, leave them in the comments section below and we’ll check them out.

Fix Epson printers’ 0xE errors in just a couple of steps

Posted on by Matthew Adams

Some Epson printer users might encounter 0xE errors when they try to print. Those printer errors can have 0xE1, 0xE3, 0xE5, oxE8 and 0xE9 error codes, which the Epson printers show on their own displays.

The fixes for those 0xE errors are often much the same. These are some of the potential resolutions for fixing Epson printer 0xE errors.

How can I fix a 0xE error on my Epson printer?

1. Check if any paper is jammed in the printer

The 0xE errors are often due to printer paper jams. Thus, removing the paper stuck in the printer can often resolve those errors. If the printer has a removable paper tray, remove it to have a peek inside. Open the lid on the printer to check if there is any jammed paper.

If you see paper jammed in the printer, turn the printer off and unplug it. You can often pull stuck paper out from Epson printers by removing their duplexers. Press the tabs to detach the duplexer from the printer. Then remove the jammed paper from the duplexer.

2. Reset the printer’s ink cartridges

  1. Some users might need to reseat their printers’ ink cartridges to fix 0xE errors. First, turn on your printer.
  2. To reseat the cartridge for an Epson XP printer, press the home button on it.
  3. Select the Setup, Maintenance, and Ink Cartridge Replacement options on the printer’s display.
  4. Press the OK and Start buttons.
  5. Lift the printer’s scanner unit up when the display shows a replace ink cartridge message.
  6. Squeeze the tabs on each cartridge to remove them.
  7. Then reinsert the ink cartridges one at a time. Make sure they click back into place.
  8. Close the printer’s scanner unit after reseating the cartridges.

3. Clean inside the printer

  1. The 0xE errors can arise due to debris and dirt within the printer. To clean inside the printer, turn off and unplug it first.
  2. Then open the top cover on the printer. Look for and remove any debris, such as small scraps of paper, foam blocks, or paperclips.
  3. Next, wipe away dust inside the printer with a soft, clean cloth. If there’s a lot of dust, you can dampen the cloth with a detergent for more thorough cleaning.
  4. Wipe the encoder strip that runs along the printer just behind the carriage to clean it.
  5. Close the top of the printer.
  6. Then plug the printer back in and turn it on.

4. Scan for malware

The 0xE errors can also be due to malware. For this reason, scanning your PC with a powerful antivirus software is highly recommended.

We suggest you to use a third-party antivirus with multiple layers of protection because these are typically able to detect threats quickly and accurately.

Make sure to run a thorough, full system scan and allow your security tool to remove or quarantine all threats found. Then restart your PC and see if you still experience the error.

5. Replace incompatible ink cartridges

Some users might need to replace incompatible ink cartridges. Have a look through your printer’s manual for further details about cartridge compatibility to check if the cartridges might need changing.

If an ink reference card came with the printer, have a look at that. If replacements are required, replace them with official Epson cartridges for the printer.

So, that’s how you can fix 0xE errors for Epson printers. If the printer is still within warranty, you can also return it to Epson for repairs (or a replacement model if needed). However, try fixing the 0xE issue with some of the potential resolutions above first.

For any other questions or suggestions, don’t hesitate to reach in the comments section below.

Can’t shut down your Windows 7 PC? Try this

Posted on by Teodor Nechita

Despite officially being at the end of its life, Windows 7 is showing issues from the last update that Microsoft has delivered.

The last round of Patch Tuesday updates were also the last ones that would ever include Windows 7. Unfortunately, that update brought a really nasty bug that would replace a user’s wallpaper with a black screen.

Microsoft then released a series of off-schedule updates that would act as last-minute fixes for Windows 7. However, these came with their own fair share of issues.

For example, users have been reporting that they cannot shut down their Windows 7 PC since they are faced with the following error message:

You don’t have permission to shutdown and restart this computer 

As you can imagine, this is quite a serious issue, since not being able to restart your PC comes with a whole world of problems.

What makes matters worse is that this isn’t an isolated case since many more users are facing these problems and many don’t know what to make of it:
Is it a virus or Window 7 issue. Even we are facing it

How do I fix my Windows 7 shutdown issue?

Users found various workarounds to this issue, which involved enabling User Account Control (UAC).
  1. Press Windows + R
  2. Type in gpedit.msc
  3. Go to Computer Settings
  4. Choose Windows Settings
  5. Go to Security Settings
  6. Choose Local Policies
  7. Select Security Options
  8. Select User Account Control: Run all administrators in Admin approval and enable itUser Account Control: Run all administrators in Admin approval
  9. Press Windows + R
  10. Type in gpupdate /force
  11. Reboot your PC

Note: This fix only works for users of Professional, Ultimate, or Enterprise versions

For more information on how to enable User Account Control, check out this detailed guide.

By following these steps, you should now be able to restart and shut down your Windows 7 PC as normally. Alternatively, you could also uninstall the last update you applied to it.

No word on whether Microsoft will fix this issue, nor if anyone has figured out what is causing it. The only certain thing is that the problem came after installing the last WIndow s7 update.

For more information on the subject at hand, don’t hesitate to reach for the comments section below.

RELATED ARTICLES YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT:

Download Windows 7 KB4539602 to fix black wallpaper issues

Posted on by Teodor Nechita

Back in January when Microsoft released the last official Patch Tuesday Updates for Windows 7, they delivered a bugged patch that caused user’s wallpapers to be replaced by black screens.

This bug was not well-received, especially in the context of it being the last update Windows 7 was to ever receive. More so, general concern stemmed from the fact that no one really knew whether Microsoft would address this issue.

And even those that believed Microsoft would fix it was worried they would have to pay for the patch, as part of the Windows 7 Extended Support.

Microsoft fixed Windows 7’s black wallpaper issue

Thankfully enough, Microsoft released a cumulative update outside of the normal Update schedule called KB4539602 and, it fixed the black wallpaper bug.

This update supports 32-bit and 64-bit Windows 7 SP1, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows 7 Embedded Standard Edition, and other related versions.

KB4539602 Changelog

Only one key change comes with KB4539602 :

  • Addresses an issue that might cause your wallpaper that is set to Stretch to display as black.

Prerequisites to download and install KB4539602:

  • You must have the SHA-2 update (KB4474419) that is dated September 23, 2019 or a later SHA-2 update installed
  • You must have the servicing stack update (SSU) (KB4490628) that is dated March 12, 2019 or a later SSU update installed.

The updates are available via all known sources, which include:

Have any other questions or suggestions regarding Windows 7 bugs that haven’t been fixed? Don’t hesitate to reach for the comments section below.

Editor’s Note: If you want to know everything there is to know on Patch Tuesday, check out this in-depth guide.

Microsoft wants you to replace Firefox with Edge

Posted on by Vlad Turiceanu

As you may know, Microsoft started out the year 2020 with a series of major changes:

Speaking of the latter, their campaign to convince users to switch to their newer browser has reached a new height. It seems that as of recently, users would get suggestions in their Start Menu to replace Mozilla Firefox with Microsoft Edge.

The suggestion was first spotted by a Redditor who went to comment on the ad, having to say the following about it:

This must be the most cringing suggestion text I have ever seen in win10.

edge over firefox

Users aren’t pleased with Microsoft’s suggestions

This is just another step in their effort to make more and more users use their Chromium-based browser. At first, Microsoft would urge users to stop using Internet Explorer also through the Start Menu.

This wouldn’t be much of a big deal since both products belong to Microsoft, and it is only natural that they would guide you to a better and safer option. However, the fact that they are now suggesting it as an alternative to a third-party browser is quite controversial.

Suggesting that your product is better than others without actually giving a name is a common practice. However, the fact that these ads are specifically targeted towards users of a certain browser is quite interesting.

User backlash was soon to follow, as everyone was eager to support the poster’s opinion. Some even went on and added that:

I would understand if it said ”Still using Internet Explorer” but that is just nasty

They even commented on how Microsoft suggests you switch to Edge when you use the Start Menu‘s search function to look for Internet Explorer.downlaod edge

Microsoft hasn’t commented on this decision, nor did it offer an explanation on why it has specifically targeted Mozilla Firefox users. Whichever the case, the suggestion was not well-received.

The only bright side is that disabling Start Menu suggestions is quite simple, so you don’t have to see such posts any longer.

What’s your take on Microsoft‘s latest move against Mozilla Firefox users? Share your thoughts in the comments section below and we’ll continue the talk.

Microsoft looks to bring the news right to the side of your desktop with Project Newsbar app

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

There are many ways you can get your news these days, but a new app for Windows 10 might soon help you grab all the latest news right on your desktop and at quick glance. As spotted by WalkingCat, and reported by MSPoweruser, Microsoft’s News Team is working on a project known as Project Newsbar.

As the name of the app suggests, Project Newsbar works as a sidebar in Windows 10. The app isn’t yet available for download, but you can currently install it with a workaround. Once installed, you’ll get a sidebar on the right side of your screen. As configured by default, this sidebar will take up roughly 10% of your screen space, and push all your other windows to the left side of it. However, you can tweak it to automatically hide when not in use, and appear only on hover. There’s also an ability to hide the bar for 90 minutes, too, to put it out of the way.

Inside the Newsbar, you’ll see a list of top stories from Microsoft News, complete with images and two arrows that will let you scroll through the feed. Clicking a story, meanwhile, will open it in your default browser and take you to MSN News. There’s also a set of settings that you can configure. These range from the position, which monitor you want it to be placed on, and if you want it to autostart.

As this app is currently not available in the Microsoft Store, it’s not certain if or when Microsoft will release it to the public. Still, it’s really cool to see Microsoft working on such a project, especially during an election year when misinformation and “Fake News” can be a huge problem.

Stop the eavesdropping: Here’s how to password protect Office 365 files

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

It’s easy to protect a file or a folder in Windows 10, but did you know that you can also password protect a specific Office 365 file, too? This might be useful if you’re sharing a file with confidential information, or if you want to stop eavesdropping and keep the document away from someone who you might not want to see it. In our latest Office 365 guide, we’ll take a look at how you password-protect files from the Microsoft Office apps.

In Microsoft Word

Password protecting a Microsoft Word document is easy. All you need to do is head to the File ribbon, click Info, Protect Document, and then Encrypt with Password. Once you do that, you can enter a password and press OK. Keep in mind that passwords are case-sensitive, and can be a maximum of 15 characters long. It’s also important to note that if you lose a password, Microsoft Word will not be able to recover it. Make sure you write down the password or save it somewhere you’ll be able to find it.

In Microsoft PowerPoint

Just like protecting a Microsoft Word document, protecting a PowerPoint is easy. All you need to do are click through a few menus. You’ll want to head into the File ribbon, and click Info. After that, select Protect Presentation, and then Encrypt with Password. You’ll then want to enter the password in the Password box and click OK. PowerPoint will prompt you to confirm the password, and then you’ll need to save the file to ensure that the password takes effect.

Please keep in mind, though, that password protection isn’t supported in PowerPoint for ODP files. You also won’t be able to co-author any password-protected file that someone else is currently working on as the file will show up in a read-only mode.

In Microsoft Excel

Password protecting a Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet is more of a complicated situation. To prevent others from accessing data, or moving it around in a spreadsheet, you can lock cells and protect the sheet with a password. This can be useful if you own a worksheet, but only want team members to add data in specific cells only, without touching anything else.

Keep in mind though, that Worksheet level protection isn’t intended as a security feature. Also, protecting a worksheet is not the same as protecting an Excel file or workbook with a password. This is why we’ll start first with password protecting an entire Excel document. You can do this by clicking the File ribbon and clicking Info. you can then choose to Protect Workbook and choose Encrypt with Password. You can then enter the password and click OK. 

In the event that you don’t want to protect an entire Excel document, you also can lock certain areas of an unprotected sheet. This ranges from not allowing others to see your formulas or ranges. You can do this by selecting the data range, right-clicking it, and choosing the Format Cells options. You’ll then want to clear the box where it says Locked. You’ll then need to keep the selection highlighted, and head to the Review tab. Choose Protect and then Protect Sheet and unselect what you want users to not edit.

Check out our other Office 365 guides for more!

This is just the latest entry in our ongoing Office 365 series. We’ve covered many other topics. The topics range from best keyboard shortcuts in Excel, our tips and tricks for Excel, and more. Do you find that protecting Office 365 files will be useful? Let us know in the comments below.

Millennials prefer PlayStation but Gen Z like Xbox more according to new study

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

Early stats from MBLM’s Brand Intimacy 2020 Study (via Yahoo), which will be fully released on February 14th, show that, while Millennials rank PlayStation as their number one brand, those in Gen Z (individuals born between 1995 and 2012 according to the study) chose Xbox.

What’s interesting about this study is that it’s not about video game brands but brands in general which just goes to show how much gaming has become a part of modern life. It’s unclear why Millennials (1981-1996) claim to have a more emotional connection to PlayStation over Xbox though it could likely be a response to having such strong memories of the first three PlayStation consoles throughout their childhood.

Those in Gen Z connecting more to the Xbox brand is curious as Sony’s consoles have generally outsold Microsoft’s recently. It’s important to remember though that this study isn’t about how profitable a brand is but by the strength of its emotional connection to consumers.

So, while PlayStation consoles may be selling better, the Xbox brand appears to be doing a better job of creating positive experiences for consumers to latch onto. This could be related to Xbox’s prominence on Windows 10 devices, the Xbox Game Pass subscription service, the rise of the Mixer streaming service, support for backwards compatibility, or even its fun Xbox-branded merch like the Xbox Onesie and the Xbox Lynx body spray.

Xbox could also just be on consumers’ minds more than PlayStation since Xbox has had a stronger presence at E3 recently and also revealed its Xbox Series X console while all consumers have seen of Sony’s PS5 is its logo.

Let us know what you think the reasons are for the difference in the comments below and then follow us on Pinterest and Twitter for more Xbox gaming news.

How to Add a Dark Notepad to Windows 10

Posted on by Matthew Adams

Windows 10’s Notepad is the platform’s default text editor that some users utilize for batch files and other coding. Notepad is, however, a little basic, with only limited customization options for text. Some users would prefer to have a dark Notepad, with a black color scheme, but Windows 10’s default text editor doesn’t include any dark theme options.

Windows 10’s dark option for apps has no impact on Notepad. Users can still add a black background to Notepad by clicking Ease of Access and High contrast in Settings and selecting the Turn on high contrast > High Contrast Black options.

That, however, also changes the whole color scheme in Windows, which is not ideal. So, most users will probably prefer to add alternative third-party text editors with dark themes to Windows 10 instead.

Notepad and the High Contrast option how to make notepad dark

How can I add a Dark Notepad alternative to Windows 10?

Check Out the Black Notepad UWP App

The Black Notepad UWP app is a dark-themed version of the default Windows 10 text editor. Thus, it’s almost exactly the same as Notepad except for its alternative dark color scheme. Click the Get button on its MS Store page to add this app to Windows 10.

Black Notepad app how to make notepad dark

Add Black NotePad to Windows 10

Black NotePad is third-party text editor that retains the original features of Notepad. However, it’s not entirely the same as it includes additional options and features.

Black NotePad software how to make notepad dark

The most notable difference is its default dark theme that users can configure by clicking alternative color scheme options on its toolbar. Users can get this text editor by clicking Black NotePad on its Download Center page.

Customize the Theme for Notepad++

  1. Users can also select a dark theme for Notepad++ to add a dark Notepad alternative to Windows 10. To do so, click Download on that text editor’s download page to save its installer.
  2. Then open the Notepad++ setup wizard to install it.
  3. Next, open the Notepad++ window shown directly below.Notepad++ how to make notepad dark
  4. Notepad++ has a plain theme by default. To change that, click Settings > Style Configurator to open the window in the snapshot directly below.
    Style Configurator window how to make notepad dark
  5. Then select Deep Black on the theme drop-down menu.
  6. Users can also modify more specific UI element colors by selecting them in the Style box. Then click the color boxes to open palettes for them.
  7. Click the Save & Close button.
The dark theme for Notepad++ how to make notepad dark

Select the Notepad Alternative to be the Default Text Editor

  1. After adding one of the above software to Windows 10, configure it to be the default text editor. To do that, right-click a text file and select Open with.
  2. Click Choose another app to open an open this file window.The Choose another app option how to make notepad dark
  3. Click More apps > Look for another app on this PC if the text editor isn’t listed on the window.
  4. Then select the new text editor software in the Open with window.
  5. After that, the new text editor will be listed on the How do you want to open this file? window. Select the new text editor there, click the Always use this app to open .txt files option, and press the OK button.The open this file window how to make notepad dark

So, that’s how users can add a dark-themed Notepad alternative to Windows 10. After configuring one of those programs to be the default text editor, it will open all TXT files when you click them.

Did you know that you can change Notepad font, style, and size? That’s right, and we have a guide that shows you how to do that.

FIX: Sony Smart TV not connecting to YouTube

Posted on by Tashreef Shareef

Sony’s smart TV with the Android TV OS comes pre-installed with the YouTube app. Users can stream their favorite YouTube video on TV after connecting to the TV. However, some users have reported Sony smart TV not connecting to YouTube.

The issue occurs while launching the YouTube app. The app freezes and shows a non-ending loading screen. This error can be triggered by a glitch in the app or Sony TV.

In this article, we have listed the best possible fixes to resolve the YouTube app not working with Sony smart TV problem.

Troubleshoot Sony smart TV YouTube issues

1. Check for service error

  1. Make sure the problem is not with the YouTube service before attempting to troubleshoot.
  2. Launch the YouTube app on your smartphone or access it from the computer.
  3. Try to play any video and check if the streaming is working fine. If the issue remains across devices, you can only wait for YouTube to fix it.
  4. If YouTube is working on your smartphone and PC, follow the next set of troubleshooting tips.

2. Turn off and on

  1. A simple solution for this issue is turning off and on the TV.
  2. When you feel the YouTube app is frozen or stuck, press the power off button your TV.
  3. Turn on the TV and check if the YouTube app works without freezing.

Clear browser cache

  1. If the issue persists, try clearing the browser cache.
  2. On your TV, go to your browser.
  3. open Browser settings.
  4. Select Delete cookies. You may have other options on the screen depending on your browser.clear cookies
  5. Launch YouTube and check for any improvements.

3. Reset personal information

  1. Resetting the personal information seems to have worked for many users.
  2. Turn on your TV.
  3. On the remote control press the Home button.
  4. Go to Settings.
  5. Navigate to  Set Up and select Customer Support.
  6. Scroll down and select Initialize personal information option.
  7. This will reset all the personal information and log you out all of your accounts.
  8. Launch the YouTube app again and sign in with your username and password.
  9. YouTube app should start working now without any issues.

4. Factory reset Sony smart TV

reset tv settings

  1. If the issue persists, you may have to factory reset the Sony smart TV. While this fix seems to have solved the issue, doing so will delete all the personal information as well as settings.
  2. Press the Home button on the remote control.
  3. Go to Settings.
  4. Under System Settings, select General Set-up.
  5. Select Factory Settings.
  6. Proceed with factory resetting Android TV. The reset process may take a few minutes to complete.
  7. Once the TV restarts, launch the YouTube app and log in.
  8. The YouTube app will start working. Make sure you set the preferences for custom display, audio setting and saved channels again.

5. Update TV firmware

  1. Make sure you have the latest firmware installed for your Sony smart TV.
  2. New firmware updates include bug fixes and new features.
  3. Make sure you have the latest firmware installed from the Settings.

RELATED:

Xbox One listings for Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5+2.5 ReMIX and Reigns: Game of Thrones are now live

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

Legendary Microsoft tipster WalkingCat has spotted Microsoft Store listings for the Xbox One versions of Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5+2.5 ReMIX and Reigns: Game of Thrones.

Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5+2.5 ReMIX is a rather massive bundle containing six titles from the Kingdom Hearts franchise such as Kingdom Hearts Final Mix, Re:Chain of Memories, 358/2 Days (HD Remastered cinematics), Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix, Birth by Sleep Final Mix, and Re:coded (HD Remastered cinematics).

This will be the first time that these video games have been released on an Xbox console and, judging by the listing, some or all of these will obtain 4K visuals when played on an Xbox One X.

While the pre-order for Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5+2.5 ReMIX isn’t live yet, the listing does say that it will launch on the 18th of this month so the option should appear soon.

Reigns: Game of Thrones is a video game based on the hit Game of Thrones TV series. Interestingly, it’s a kind of strategy game that incorporates a Tinder-esque swiping mechanic to make changes and progress through the storyline.

It’s due for release on the 20th of this month so its pre-order should go live soon as well.

Are you hyped for any of these games? Let us know which one in the comments below and then follow us on Pinterest and Twitter for more Xbox gaming content.

KINGDOM HEARTS - HD 1.5+2.5 ReMIX -
KINGDOM HEARTS - HD 1.5+2.5 ReMIX -
Download
QR-Code

KINGDOM HEARTS – HD 1.5+2.5 ReMIX –
Developer:
SQUARE ENIX
Price:
$49.99


Reigns: Game of Thrones
Reigns: Game of Thrones
Download
QR-Code

Reigns: Game of Thrones
Developer:
Devolver Digital
Price:
$3.99

Ssh_exchange_identification: Connection Closed by Remote Host [Fix]

Posted on by Tashreef Shareef

While using an SSH client to connect to your server, you may encounter some ugly errors. One such error is the ssh_exchange_identification: connection closed by remote host in Windows. The error appears on other operating systems as well.

This error can occur due to many reasons, including the SSH keys used for a connection being corrupt or issues with the server. Keep reading to find out how you can fix things when a ssh connection is closed by a remote host immediately!

How do I fix connection closed by remote host?

Before we move to the slightly complex solutions, verify these first:

  • This error can also occur if your server is under heavy load. Check if the server has enough resources to do the task or if it is under brute force attack.
  • Increasing the amount of connection SSHD can run to resolve the issue.

If none work, head to the fixes listed next.

1. Check for missing dependencies

This ssh_exchange_identification: connection closed by remote host Windows error usually occurs after a Glibc or OpenSSL update and the server fails to restart.

While many distros can install the update to Glibc or OpenSSL and not require a restart, yours may not fall in the same category.

If you know the update for the Glibc is installed, use lsof to see where the SSHD has open files. For those using Ubuntu or Debian, use the upgrade command to get new packages and install them. This will help fix any issues that may have occurred due to broken packages.

2.  Check for extra SSH sessions

ssh_exchange_identification: connection closed
  1. Try to clear up the old sessions and then reconnect to the server.
  2. At any given time, you should see only one or two users logged in. To check if there are multiple instances of SSH running, use the following command:who
  3. If there are more than two users logged in, then kill the user processes one by one.
  4. Reconnect to the server using SSH and check for any improvements.

It is possible that the users may have exceeded the maximum number of SSH sessions without knowing it.

This ssh_exchange_identification: connection closed by remote host error in Windows or Linux occurs if the SSH can’t keep up with a script that starts multiple SSH sessions back to back. You can also delay the SSH session with the sleep command.

3.  Check for corrupted fingerprints/keys

  1. Remove the server-side fingerprint in the clients ~/.ssh/known_hosts and try again.
  2. When you re-connect, you will be prompted to accept the host identity. Accept and proceed.
  3. This error can also show up if the files  /etc/ssh/*key*  are removed, and SSHD is not restarted. Check the SSH configuration directory for the key files.

If the issue persists, check for corrupted fingerprints or keys. This is most likely to happen if you have installed these files manually.

Once done, find out whether the connection is still lost after the ssh_exchange_identification connection closed by remote host lost connection error. In all likelihood, things should be up and running.

Before you leave, find out some quick and easy tips to improve the performance of your Windows PC.

If you have any other questions or suggestions, feel free to leave them in the comments section below.

Windows 10/11 File Explorer dark theme not working [Fixed]

Posted on by Milan Stanojevic

Using a dark theme on your PC can be useful, but many users reported that the dark theme in File Explorer isn’t working for them on Windows 10.

This can be a problem, and in today’s article, we’ll show you how to fix this issue.

Dark theme is a welcome addition to Windows, but some users reported issues with the dark theme and File Explorer. Here’s how you can easily solve them.

If your system is up to date, and you’re running the latest Windows 10 build, be sure to try all other solutions from this article.

They may be applied to any of these common problems that users often face:

  • Windows 10 dark mode File Explorer is not working – This issue can occur due to certain glitches on your system. In most cases, you can fix the problem by restarting Windows Explorer.
  • Windows Explorer dark theme is not working – This problem may appear if you’re using a custom visual theme in Windows. To fix it, be sure to revert to the default theme and check if that helps.
  • File Explorer dark theme is not working 1803 – Many users reported that the dark theme isn’t working on build 1803. In case you don’t know, this feature is available starting from build 1809, so be sure to update your system.
  • Dark theme not applying to File Explorer is not enabling in File Explorer – There are many causes for this error, but if you’re having problems with File Explorer and dark theme, you should be able to solve them by using one of our solutions.

What can I do if the File Explorer dark theme is not working?

  1. Make sure that you have the latest updates installed
  2. Switch to the default theme
  3. Restart File Explorer
  4. Log out and log back in
  5. Create a new user account
  6. Run SFC and DISM scans

1. Make sure that you have the latest updates installed

1.1 Check the version

  1. Press Windows Key + R and enter winver. Now press Enter or click OK.
    winver run dialog dark theme not working
  2. You’ll see some basic information regarding your system. Pay close attention to the version section.

If the dark theme isn’t available for File Explorer on your PC, the issue is most likely related to a missing update.

The dark theme in File Explorer is a new feature, and so far it’s available only in Windows 10 October update or later.

If you don’t have a newer build installed, then you won’t be able to use the dark theme on your PC. To see if you have the latest build installed, you just need to follow the above steps.

1.2 Check for updates

  1. Open the Settings app. You can do that instantly by using Windows Key + I shortcut.
  2. When the Settings app opens, navigate to the Update & Security section.
    update and security dark theme
  3. In the right pane, click the Check for updates button.
    check for updates button dark theme windows explorer

Windows will now check for available updates and try to download them in the background.

Bear in mind that this method doesn’t always work, and if that’s the case, you’ll need to use the Media Creation Tool and Windows 10 ISO.

We wrote a detailed guide on how to install Windows 10 October Update from an ISO file, so be sure to check it out for step-by-step instructions.

Once your PC is up to date and you have the latest build installed, the problem should be fixed, and you’ll be able to use the dark theme without any issues.

Which is the latest version of Windows 10? Find out from our constantly updated article!

2. Switch to the default theme

  1. Open the Settings app and navigate to the Personalization section.
    personalization settings dark theme
  2. Pick Themes from the menu on the left. In the right pane, select Windows from the list of available themes.
    default theme dark theme file explorer

After doing that, you’ll switch back to the default theme, and the dark theme should start working in File Explorer.

Windows 10 supports a wide range of customization, and it allows you to switch between many different themes.

Usually these themes come with their own color palette, and while these themes allow you to customize your Windows experience, they can also sometimes cause issues to appear.

Apparently, the dark theme for File Explorer isn’t available unless you’re using the default theme.

Several users confirmed this, and according to them, the dark theme became available as soon as they switched to the default theme.

3. Restart File Explorer

  1. Open Task Manager using the Ctrl + Shift + Esc shortcut.
  2. Locate Windows Explorer on the list. Right-click it and choose Restart from the menu.
    restart windows explorer dark theme

After a couple of moments, Windows Explorer should restart and you should be able to switch to the dark theme in File Explorer.

If the dark theme isn’t working on your PC, perhaps the issue is related to File Explorer. Sometimes there might be certain glitches with your system.

However, you can fix that issue simply by restarting File Explorer. To do that, just follow the above steps.

4. Log out and log back in

  1. Open the Start menu and click your profile icon. Now choose Sign out option from the menu.
    log out windows dark theme
  2. Once you sign out, select your user account to log back in.

As we previously mentioned, sometimes glitches with Windows can cause issues with a dark theme to appear.

According to users, if you’re not able to use the dark File Explorer theme on your PC, you can try logging out of your account and logging back in.

Sometimes this can help you with certain glitches, and you can log out by completing the above procedure. After doing that, you should be able to use the dark theme on your PC.

5. Create a new user account

  1. Open the Settings app and head over to the Accounts section.
    account settings dark theme
  2. Select Family & other people from the menu on the left.
  3. In the right pane, choose Add someone else to this PC.
    add a new user dark theme
  4. Select I don’t have this person’s sign-in information and select Add a user without a Microsoft account.
    Microsoft account dark theme ifle explorer
  5. Enter the desired username for the new account and click Next.
    new user information dark theme file explorer

If you’re still unable to use a dark theme in File Explorer, it’s possible that your user account is corrupted.

This can happen for various reasons, but you can fix this problem simply by creating a new user account.

Since there isn’t a straightforward way to fix a corrupted user account, your best option would be to create a new user account. This is quite simple to do, as you can see above.

After doing that, you should have a new account ready to go. To check if the problem is resolved, switch to the new account and try activating the dark theme.

If the dark theme works on the new account, you should perhaps move all your personal files to it and start using it instead of your old account.

Do you want to learn how to manage User Account Control like a pro? This guide will help you!

6. Run SFC and DISM scans

6.1 Run the SFC scan

  1. Open Command Prompt as administrator by searching for cmd in Windows search and clicking on Run as administrator. You can also use PowerShell (Admin) if you like.
    log out windows dark theme
  2. After the Command Prompt opens, type sfc /scannow and press Enter to run it.
    scannow file explorer dark theme not working
  3. The scan will now start. This scan can take about 10-15 minutes, so be sure not to interfere with it in any way.

If the dark theme isn’t working in File Explorer, it’s possible that your installation is damaged. This can happen for various reasons, and in order to fix the problem, it’s advised to run an SFC scan.

The procedure is quite simple, and you can do it by following the previous steps, After the SFC scan is finished, check if the problem is still there.

If you couldn’t run an SFC scan or if the scan didn’t fix the problem, you need to perform a DISM scan by doing the steps in the next solution.

6.2 Run the DISM scan

  1. Start Command Prompt as an administrator, and run the following command:
  2. DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
    dism scan dark theme not working
  3. This scan can take about 20 minutes, sometimes more, so don’t interfere with it.

After the scan is completed, check if the problem is still there. If you couldn’t run an SFC scan before for some reason, try running it after the DISM scan and check if that helps.

If you need more info on DISM and how to use it, check out our detailed guide to master it like a professional.

Dark theme for File Explorer is a great addition to Windows 10, but if the dark theme isn’t working for you, the issue is most likely related to the missing updates.

One of our readers also suggested uninstalling f.lux or any other night filter that could interfere with the File Explorer’s Dark Theme so make sure to check that too.

If you have any other suggestions, you are more than welcome to leave them in our comments section below. As you can see, we pay attention to our reader’s suggestions.

How to fix the HP Officejet 5610 0xd05d010d Reset Power error

Posted on by Matthew Adams

Some HP Officejet 5610 users have posted on support forums about a 0xd05d010d error for that printer. The error arises when they turn on their 5610 printers.

When the issue arises, the Officejet 5610’s display shows an Error:0xd05d010d Reset Power error message. If that error sounds familiar, check out some of the potential resolutions for it below.

The 5610 display printer error 0xd05d010d reset power

How can I fix the 0xd05d010d Reset Power error?

1. Clean the ink cartridges

  1. Some users have said they’ve fixed the 0xd05d010d Reset Power error by cleaning the printer’s ink cartridges. To do that, open your printer.
  2. After the print carriage moves to the right, unplug the Officejet 5610.
  3. Lightly press one print cartridge down so that it releases. Then you can remove the print cartridge from its slot.
    5610's printer catridges printer error 0xd05d010d reset power
  4. Next, dip a cotton swab in some warm water or alcohol.
  5. Then clean the cartridge’s contacts and ink nozzle with the cotton swab. In addition, you can also clean the carriage’s contacts with the swab.
  6. Dry the cartridge.
  7. Place the cartridge back into its print carriage slot.
  8. Repeat the above steps for all the printer’s cartridges.
  9. Close the printer.
  10. Then plug the printer back in.

2. Reset the printer

  1. Resetting the printer is another resolution some users have confirmed fixes the 0xd05d010d Reset Power error. To do so, unplug the Officejet 5610’s USB cable from both the printer and wall.
  2. Then plug the USB cable back into the wall after about half a minute.
  3. Press and hold the # and 6 buttons on the printer.
  4. Plug the USB cable into the printer whilst holding the # and 6 buttons.
  5. Let go of the keys when the printer’s display shows a reset message.
  6. If that doesn’t work, try resetting it while pressing and holding # and 3 or # and 9 (for a full reset).

3. Check out the HP Print and Scan Doctor

  1. The HP Print and Scan Doctor might also come in handy for fixing Error:0xd05d010d.
  2. Install HP Print and Scan Doctor with the downloaded installer.
  3. Open HP Print and Scan Doctor, and click the Start button.
    HP Print and Scan Doctor utility printer error 0xd05d010d reset power
  4. Select the Officejet 5610 printer, and click the Next button.
  5. Select the Fix Printing option. The Fix Printing button printer error 0xd05d010d reset power
  6. Thereafter, HP Print and Scan Doctor will display an X to highlight any issue detected. Go through the software’s guidelines to resolve it.

The above resolutions aren’t guaranteed, but they’ve fixed the 0xd05d010d Reset Power error for some users. Return the printer to HP for repairs if further resolutions are required.

If the printer is still within its warranty period, HP will either fix it or give you a replacement Officejet 5610.

For any other questions or suggestions, don’t hesitate to reach for the comments section below.

RELATED ARTICLES TO CHECK OUT: 

How to fix Windows update error 0x8024a000 in a few steps

Posted on by Madalina Dinita

When getting the error code 0x8024a000, remember that it is related to a Windows update. You might see it when you try to update Windows from Microsoft’s site.

There’s nothing wrong with wanting to use the latest features and technologies. A connection interruption between your computer and the Windows Update server may be causing this error.

To further work around this problem, note that a missing Internet connection from the start could also lead to receiving the error 0x8024a000 you’re currently trying to fix. The list further extends to faulty hardware components, an infected system with malicious programs, file corruption, and more.

You can try to fix this Windows update error on your own. However, taking the experts’ guidance is recommended to simplify the process. Try to look for a solution here and you won’t walk away disappointed.

How can I get rid of Windows update error 0x8024a000?

1. Exclude faulty cable, router or modem

check router

Check your modem, router, cable, etc. to be sure that all these components are working well. You should also restart the router and try again to complete the update.

If nothing looks shady here, please move on to the next step.

2. Run an antivirus scan

run antivirus scan

What if your system is infected with malicious programs? Rule out this possibility too by running the Windows Defender program built-in to your PC to scan for malware or viruses.

If it does identify any malware, you should remove it from your PC and go back to whatever you were doing when you received the error code.

Need help with that? We’ve listed the best virus removal tools for Windows 10 to choose from.

3. Run Windows Update Troubleshooter

use Windows Update Troubleshooter

  1. Type troubleshooting in the Windows Search bar.
  2. Click on Troubleshooting.
  3. Next, from the left window pane, select View all.
  4. Alternately, you could select Start > Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot.
  5. Select Windows Update from the Troubleshoot computer problems list presented.
  6. Follow on-screen instructions and answer any specific questions.
  7. Let Windows Update Troubleshoot run.
  8. Then, restart your PC.

Let’s take into consideration this scenario as well. A corrupt download or the incomplete installation of Windows Update software is causing this error. The same goes for a potential operating system overload or deleted system registry files.

We have just shown you above how to let Windows Update Troubleshooter handle any of these. At the end of the procedure, try reinstalling the updates which were not completely installed previously.

Can’t open the Setting app? Take a look at this article to solve the issue.

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

4. Clean the Windows Update temporary cache folder

Windows Update temporary cache

  1. Press Win + R keyboard hotkey, then type services.msc.
  2. Hit Enter.
  3. A new window will open containing all Windows services on your system. Search for Windows Update.
  4. Right-click it.
  5. Up next, click on the Stop button.
  6. You are now ready to clean the Windows Update temporary cache folder, so hold your Windows key pressed and hit the R key at the same time.
  7. A new window appears next, so type %windir%SoftwareDistributionDataStore.
  8. Click OK.
  9. This will open Windows Explorer. You may now delete all contents of the given folder.

In case the above troubleshooter doesn’t work, you’re entitled to suspect that the issue is related to old downloaded Windows updates corrupted on your system.

Refer to the procedure here described to clear the temporary cache folder. Then, you can switch back to Windows Services.

Locate Windows Update, right-click on it and choose Start. In this way, your issue should be fixed by now.

5. Run Deployment Image Servicing and Management

Deployment Image Servicing and Management

  1. Press Windows key + X, then select Command Prompt (Admin).
  2. Enter the following command in cmd: DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth.
  3. Hit Enter.
  4. After the procedure is completed, type the following in the cmd: sfc /scannow.
  5. Let System File Checker run.
  6. Finally, restart your PC.

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

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

If the error occurs again, then running DISM is your best shot now.

If the

 DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth command

doesn’t work, then try entering this one instead:

 Dism /Image:C:offline /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth /Source:c:testmountwindows 
 Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth /Source:c:testmountwindows /LimitAccess

It seems that everything is lost when DISM fails on Windows? Check out this quick guide and get rid of the worries.

Another efficient solution is to reinstall Windows 10. This method should be used as a last resort since it can sacrifice your data and all applications on your drive.

We hope our suggestions proved to be helpful when it comes to getting a fresh download of the update and trying to install it again.

If you still have any other questions or suggestions, don’t hesitate to leave them in the comments section below.

READ NEXT:

Fix AOL’s certificate not trusted error in a few easy steps

Posted on by Keshi Ile

AOL certificate not trusted error is an Internet Explorer security measure that usually protects you from insecure and malicious websites. Obviously, the AOL website is neither malicious or untrustworthy, but due to a problem in your setup, it detects the AOL certificate as invalid and not trusted.

If you experience this AOL certificate issue, you won’t be able to access the AOL service. To learn how to resolve it, read this guide to the end.

How do I fix the AOL certificate error?

1. Adjust date and time

Set Time Zone and Date - Windows 10

 

  1. On your Windows taskbar, right-click on the date and time to reveal the options.
  2. Select Adjust date/time from the options.
  3. For automatic detection of your current time, enable to toggle labeled Set time automatically. For automatic timezone detection, enable Set time zone automatically.
  4. Otherwise, to set the date and time manually, disable to two toggles and click Change under Change data and time.

The AOL certificate error indicates that your AOL certificate is expired. Even if it’s not really expired, if your computer’s date and time are incorrect, it could cause the annoying AOL certificate not trusted error.

The first step to fix this AOL certificate issue is to confirm that the date is correct and not set to a past date. Not only the date; you should also check the time and time zone if they are right.

Is your Windows time always incorrect? Fix it permanently with the help of this guide.

2. Check the proxy server configuration

internet options

  1. Launch Internet Explorer.
  2. Click on Tools on the menu bar and select Internet Options.
  3. Next, navigate to the Connections tab and select the relevant internet connection.
  4. Click on Settings. To configure the proxy settings manually, uncheck Automatically detect settings below Automatic configuration.
  5. After disabling automatic configuration, click on Use a proxy server for this connection.
  6. Now, enter your proxy settings here.
  7. Save your settings and hit OK twice to exit.
  8. Now, restart the browser and try again to see if you still get the AOL not trusted error.

Proxy server issues are pretty annoying. Make them a thing of the past with the help of this guide.

3. Disable server certificate revocationdisable server certificate revocation to fix aol connection issue

  1. Launch Internet Explorer.
  2. Next, click the Tools menu and select Internet Options.
  3. After that, click on the Advanced tab.
  4. Navigate to the Security section, and here, confirm that Check for server certificate revocation box is not checked. Uncheck this option if it is.
  5. After disabling the Check for server certificate revocation option, save it by clicking Apply and OK.

AOL no longer supports Internet Explorer but says that it “may still work with some AOL products and services,” and the fact that it cannot be updated plays a huge part in this AOL certificate not trusted issue.

You can fix this AOL certificate error by correcting the date and time on your computer, disabling server certificate revocation, or using correct proxy configurations.

Alternatively, to avoid this AOL certificate not trusted error, AOL recommends that you switch to a supported browser.

If you have any other questions or suggestions, feel free to leave them in the comments section below.

READ ALSO:

How to run a port scan using SolarWind’s Port Scanner

Posted on by Tashreef Shareef

There are many port scanning tools that can help you to carry out vulnerability assessments. However, one of the popular tools for this job is SolarWinds Port Scanner.

SolarWinds Port Scanner is a freeware and allows you to carry out a vulnerability assessment to find ports on a device and check what services are running on those ports.

In this article, we will show you how to run a port scan using the SolarWinds Port Scanner tool to help you check for open ports on a device and possibly probe for the services running on those ports.

How do I run a port scan using SolarWinds Port Scanner?

Download and run the tool

run a port scan using SolarWinds Port Scanner

  1. Download SolarWinds Port Scanner from the official website
  2. Extract the zip file to a folder.
  3. Open the folder and run portsanner.exe.
  4. Accept the terms and conditions of the license agreement to proceed.

Note: Before proceeding with the installation, make sure your computer meets the minimum system requirement.

Configure scan settings

run a port scan using SolarWinds Port Scanner

  1. Launch the SolarWind Port Scanner tool.
  2. Set your hostname and IP address ranges, as shown below:
    192.168.0.100 – 192.168.0.105 will scan six IPs (from 100 to 105)
    192.168.0.0/24 will scan 256 IPs (from 0 to 255)
    192.168.0.1 192.168.0.2 myhostname will scan two IP addresses and one hostname
    192.168.0.1;192.168.0.2; myhostname
    192.168.0.1,192.168.0.2, myhostname
  3. Next, set your port range:
    1–100 will scan a range of 100 ports
    1,5,8,50,100 (will scan five specified ports)
    1 5 8 50 100 (will scan five specified ports)|
    1;5;8;50;100 (will scan five specified ports)
  4. Next, select Protocol options to scan TCP ports, UDP ports or both.
  5. Check the Ping Response box.
  6. Check the Resolve DNS box if you want the scanner to resolve hostnames.
  7. User-Specific DNS – if no IP address of a DNS server for hostname resolution is given, the port scanner will use default adapter settings.
  8. Resolve Mac – if you want the scanner to resolve MAC addresses
  9. Check Detect OS option – the scanner will try to detect the OS version on the destination host.
  10. Finally, click on the SCAN button to initialize the scan.

Save your scan profile

run a port scan using SolarWinds Port Scanner

  1. Once you have configured all of the settings, you can save your scan profile and can load it to initialize scan without having to configure the scanner all again.
  2. To save the profile,  expand the Profile section under Port Scanner and click on Save As.
  3. Enter a name and click on Save.

Review scan results

run a port scan using SolarWinds Port Scanner

  1. SolarWinds Port Scanner will display the scan results in the middle columns of the tool. By default, the tool is configured only to show active hosts only.
  2. For detailed analysis, you can sort the list of the results by IP address or hostname.
  3. To get the details about scanner ports, click on the result. It will show one of the following statuses:
    Open – it means the application actively accepting TCP connection
    Closed – the port is accessible but not active
    Filtered – the scanner failed to detect if the port is open or close.
  4. You can also save the scan results into xlsx, CSV or xml file formats.

Port scanning tools are essential to perform a Vulnerability Assessment, and the SolarWinds Port Scanner tool is one of the best tools you can use with excellent output.

If you are new to SolarWinds Port Scanner, follow the steps in this article to get started with Vulnerability Assessment and let us know what do you think of the tool in the comments.

READ ALSO:

Microsoft Azure helps an Indian port set new standards for ease of doing business

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

Microsoft has collaborated with Kale Logistics to enable the digital transformation of Tuticorin Port, the fourth-largest container terminal and a major all-weather port in India. Now known as V. O. Chidambaranar Port Trust, the Tuticorin Port is one of the first ports in India to completely digitally transform and automate its operations and processes.

Located strategically close to the East-West international sea route in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, traffic at the port has increased by 25 percent in the last five years and with burgeoning traffic, the port faced operational challenges. The port handles over 34 million tonnes of cargo every year and among 1,350 vessels, more than 550 container vessels berth at the port every year, offloading and on loading as many as 1,568 containers.

Powered by Microsoft Azure, the digitization of the Tuticorin Port has helped reduce documentation, digitally streamline movement, and considerably reduce carbon emissions.

According to J David Raja, President, Tuticorin Container Freight Station (CFS) Association, a port is a premium place for containers. The higher the dwell time or wait time at a port, the higher is the cost for everyone involved – the port authorities, the shipping lines, the exporter or importer. The V. O. Chidambaranar Port Trust reached out to Kale Logistics Solutions, a Microsoft partner focused on the logistics industry, to find a digital solution.

And then, CODEX was born. The Container Digital Exchange is a single-window platform where information from all relevant parties is captured digitally and made available to any entity that required it. Given that traffic at ports could be seasonal and subject to global, economic factors, it was critical that the platform could scale up or down easily.

Given the strategic national importance of ports, there are elements of data security, safety, reliability that come into play. We also considered the traffic seasonality that ports have and needed to optimize on cost during non-peak times. Therefore, we decided to go with Microsoft Azure for its ease of deployment, support, security, scalability, and cost optimization.

– Vineet Malhotra, Director, Kale Logistics Solutions

The adoption of CODEX unlocked multiple benefits that have not been experienced in any other port in India. With all the data being digitized, it reduced documentation errors significantly and Kale Logistics integrated the taxation system into CODEX as well. Additionally, with trucks spending less time with every container, their fuel consumption has come down from 15 litres to just 8 litres that has led to the port cutting down carbon emissions by 75 percent.

The solution is now being evaluated by the Ministry of Commerce and the Ministry of Finance for implementation at other ports in India.

Coronavirus could delay Xbox Series X, PlayStation 5 releases, according to analyst

Posted on by Kareem Anderson

While there hasn’t been any official news from either Microsoft or Sony, some Wall Street analysts believe the lockdowns and quarantines to mitigate the spread of the China-based Coronavirus may affect the production of next-gen consoles, Xbox Series X and the PlayStation 5.

According to a report from Nikkei Asian Review, Terry Goud, founder of Foxconn, spoke with reporters in Taipei just days before the province of Wuhan was locked down for quarantine by Chinese authorities, saying “We are considering whether or not to let employees return to China after the Lunar New Year holidays.”

Now that shutdowns, due to the coronavirus, are a reality for an increasing number of factories in China, analysts from the Jefferies Group have been expounding on how the length of a shut down could affect the gaming industry among others.

“The video game sector is currently manufacturing, or beginning to, a once-in-several-years’ product generation change for the 2020 holiday season,” a note from Jefferies Group published this week says. “If [company] shutdowns exceed a month or so, game schedules will be delayed. New consoles may likewise suffer supply issues from a prolonged disruption, ahead of their Fall 2020 planned launches.”

In late 2019 the World Health Organization declared the nCoV strain of the virus a public health emergency that affects an international population, especially countries with “weaker health systems,” if spread beyond the borders of China.

Since the declaration, the coronavirus is estimated to have infected up to 25,000 individuals across 20 countries and resulted in 490 deaths.

With an outbreak underway, companies have been issued a mandate by the Chinese government to shut down and remain closed until explicitly notified otherwise. Manufacturers such as Foxconn and Chongqing Changan Automobile are shutting down for an extended time which could reak havoc on planned production of US and international consumer goods, such as AirPods, new shoes, clothing, and automobiles among many others.

Companies such as Apple, Telsa, Disney, Nike, and Nintendo are already feeling some minor effects of plant and theme park shutdowns due to quarantines and more lockdowns are planned to go into effect as the Chinese government and the WHO attempt to limit exposure.

With that being said, it doesn’t seem all that unreasonable to believe that Chinese sourced parts for the Xbox Series X and the Playstation will slow down, if not outright, stop being produced until it is safe for workers to return to their factories which could in turn, slow down or outright stop the plan releases for the consoles later this year.

Anecdotally, it seems Foxconn has devised a plan to expedite the prevention and recovery process from the coronavirus by now shifting its production focus to creating surgical face masks.