Windows 10 April update now on 84% of Windows 10 PCs running AdDuplex ads

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

The propagation of the Windows 10 April Update continued this month to reach 84.2% of Windows 10 PCs, AdDuplex said today in its latest report for the month of July. As usual, the company’s data only takes into account PCs running Windows Store apps that use AdDuplex’s SDK. In other words, this is just a small sample of the Windows 10 user base, but without any hard data from Microsoft this is still the best we have for now.

“As April 2018 Update has reached 3/4 of all PCs running Windows 10 last month, it was clear that the growth can only slow down, noted AdDuplex. “While that definitely happened, A18U still gained more than 6%.”

Ahead of the release of Microsoft’s new Surface Go tablet, the cross-promotion network for Microsoft Store apps and games also shared a snapshot of the Surface family of devices in July 2018. Almost three years after its launch, the Surface Pro 4 remains the most popular device (31.47%) in AdDuplex’s sample, while the 2017 Surface Pro (17.39%) is slowly gaining ground on the Surface Pro 3 (20%).

Both the Surface Laptop and Surface Book 2 also remained below the 5% bar in July. “It will be interesting to see if Surface Go manages to make a serious dent in this chart in the upcoming months,” AdDuplex said.

Xbox Beta Insiders can download a new 1806 build that fixes annoying app & game launch bug

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

Following the release of the July update for the Xbox One earlier this month, Microsoft is now working to fix an annoying bug that can cause select apps and games to crash at launch. And because Preview Alpha and Skip Ahead Insiders are already testing the upcoming Fall update for the Xbox One, Microsoft is now testing the fix for the July Update with Beta Insiders.

If you have already joined the Xbox One Preview Beta Ring, the build 1806.180723-1749 is now available to download. In addition to fixing the bug with games and apps failing to launch, this build should also resolve the issue with Wireless and Wired networks failing to be detected when the console wakes from Instant on/connected standby, as well as an issue with the Microsoft Store giving an 0x80070bfa error in some circumstances.

It’s important to note that this build is a 3.4GB download, but it won’t factory refresh your console. Preview Delta and Omega Insiders should receive these fixes over the coming days before they become generally available for all Xbox One owners.

Add Safe Mode to Boot Menu on Windows 10: 2 Ways to do it

Posted on by Ivan Jenic

If you like the old boot menu of the Windows 7 operating system with the Safe Mode feature included, the good news is that you can add the Safe Mode to your Windows 10 boot menu too.

This requires just a few tweaks and commands, and we will show you how to do it in this guide.

Can you enter Safe Mode from the boot menu?

You can enter Safe Mode from the boot menu, among other options, to enable the troubleshooting mode. However, unlike Windows 7, you need to add Safe Mode to your boot menu on Windows 10.

This is relatively easy to do, as shown in the following sections of this guide.

How can I add Safe Mode to the boot menu on Windows 10?

1. Add Safe Mode Minimal using Command Prompt

  1. Press the Windows key, type cmd, and select Run as administrator under Command Prompt.
    cmd admin add safe mode to boot menu windows 10
  2. Type any of the commands below for the type of Safe Mode you want to add and hit Enter: bcdedit /copy {current} /d "Windows 10 Safe Mode"option or bcdedit /copy {current} /d "Windows 10 Safe Mode with networking"networking or bcdedit /copy {current} /d "Windows 10 Safe Mode Command Prompt"command
  3. Finally, wait for the command to finish running.

The first step towards adding Safe Mode to the boot menu on Windows 10 is to activate it by running some commands. After doing this, you must proceed to solution 2 to make the Safe Mode option available on the boot menu.

2. Enable the option in System Configuration

  1. Press the Windows key + R, type msconfig, and click OK.
    msconfig add safe mode to boot menu windows 10
  2. Click the Boot tab at the top.
  3. This will show your default OS boot option and the new entry you created in solution 1.
  4. Now, select the entry you created.
  5. Check the Safe Boot box.
  6. Next, tick the radio button for Minimal to enable Safe Mode, Network for Safe Mode with networking, or Alternate shell for Safe Mode with Command Prompt.
    alternate
  7. Now, enter the seconds you want the boot option to be available in the Timeout box.
  8. Mark the box for Make all boot settings permanent.
  9. Click the OK button.
    timeout
  10. Finally, choose your preferred option to restart your PC.

After restarting your PC, Safe Mode should be successfully added to your boot menu on Windows 10.

How to start Windows 10 in Safe Mode while booting?

  1. Power off your PC. Now, power it on and press and hold the Power button to forcibly shut it down when the manufacturer’s logo comes up. Repeat this twice to bring up the Advanced startup menu.
  2. Now, select Troubleshoot > Advanced options.
    advanced
  3. Choose the Startup Settings option.
    startup settings
  4. Next, click the Restart button.
    restart
  5. Finally, when your PC restarts, choose the corresponding button to select your preferred Safe Mode option.
    safe mode

This is the way to boot Windows in Safe Mode from power.

Safe Mode is a vital troubleshooting option that starts your PC with only the required drivers and processes.

Adding Safe Mode to your boot Menu on Windows 10, as shown above, saves you the stress of going to the Advanced startup menu whenever you need it.

If Safe Mode keeps crashing on your Windows 10 PC, check our detailed guide to fix it.

Feel free to let us know in the comments below if you encounter any problems applying the steps in this guide.

Microsoft launches Windows 7 upgrade campaign but will it succeed?

Posted on by Matthew Adams

Windows 10 is well on its way to becoming the world’s foremost desktop platform, but Windows 7 still retains a substantial user base. Microsoft confirmed that it will stop supporting Windows 7 by 2020 a while back. Now the software giant is starting a new Windows 7 upgrade campaign that will remind users that Microsoft will stop supporting Win 7 in 2020.

Microsoft has reputedly requested its channel partners to bang the drum about Windows 7‘s 2020 end of support date. Thus, the company’s channel partners will make it all the clearer that Windows 7 will no longer be a supported platform from 2020. One Microsoft product and marketing manager stated, “The end of support is coming in 2020 and it’s time to make the shift to 10.” That campaign message will become all the more urgent in 2019.

Windows 7 upgrade campaigns are not entirely new. Microsoft also initiated a similar upgrade campaign in 2015 when Windows 10 was new. That was a Get Windows 10 campaign that included a series of 10 Reasons to Upgrade videos. Furthermore, the software giant gave Windows 10 away to Win 7 users for a year.

Yet, despite such campaigns, NetMarketShare data highlights Windows 7 still has a larger user base than Win 10. Win 7‘s user base percentage figure amounts to 41.74% compared with Windows 10’s 35.71% share. As such, Windows 7 could potentially become the new XP, which retained a substantial user base even when Microsoft stopped supporting the platform. Windows XP’s current NetMarketShare user base figure stands at 4.08%, which is higher than Win 8’s share.

So, Microsoft is now renewing its Windows 7 upgrade campaign to convince more users to upgrade to Win 10 before 2020. Windows 10 will have probably eclipsed Windows 7‘s user base by then, but Win 7 will still likely remain among the foremost desktop platforms for some time.

Microsoft is fixing Windows Update so that your PC will no longer reboot while you’re busy

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

One of the most well documented (and often mocked) problems with Windows is the way in which the OS will install updates at the worst possible times. Well, Microsoft has heard the complaints and is now promising that your PC will soon no longer update when you’re working or leaving it five minutes to get some coffee.

A note on the improvement was mentioned in a blog post today for Windows 10 Insider Preview Build 17723 and Build 18204. “We heard you, and to alleviate this pain, if you have an update pending we’ve updated our reboot logic to use a new system that is more adaptive and proactive,” explained Microsoft’s Dona Sarkar and Brandon LeBlanc.

They both went on to explain that Microsoft has now trained a predictive model which can accurately pick the right time to restart your device to update. The model can also check if your device is being used, or predict if you’ve just temporarily stepped away from your PC.

Microsoft doesn’t yet have anything specific on the exact accuracy of the model but did say that it was being used on internal devices. Sarkar and LeBlanc also say that they’ve seen “promising results upon rollout” and are able to update the model with the least possible turnaround time based on “insights from its performance.”

This is not the first time that Microsoft has made improvements or tweaks to the Windows Update service. The company previously worked to reduce the “offline time” when installing a featured Windows 10 Update. Anyway, since Microsoft is known as the company that empowers people, it is nice to see that they can finally empower Windows 10 to not disrupt workflows across the world

Windows 10 KB4340917 fixes user account and remote session issues

Posted on by Madalina Dinita

The Windows 10 April Update just got a new cumulative update: KB4340917. This patch brings quite a long list of fixes and improvements. The most important bug fixes concern time zone information, RemoteApp sessions, Bluetooth connections and more.

You can download and install KB4340917 by going to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and then check for updates. You can also install the KB4340917 standalone package from the Microsoft Update Catalog website.

What’s new in KB4340917?

Here are the main changes that KB4340917 brings along:

  • Fixed the issue that causes devices within Active Directory or Hybrid AADJ++ domains to unenroll from Microsoft Intune or third-party MDM services after installing provisioning package updates (PPKG).
  • Time zone information should now update correctly.
  • Addresses an issue with registration in the “Push to Install” service.
  • The AppData\Local and AppData\Locallow folders should now synchronize correctly in Roaming User Profiles.
  • Peripherals that use Quality of Service (QoS) parameters for Bluetooth connections should work properly now.
  • The update also fixed the issue that causes SQL Server memory usage to grow over time.
  • The patch addresses the issue that prevents OpenType fonts from printing in Win32 applications.
  • The DNS Response Rate Limiting should no longer trigger memory leaks when enabled with LogOnly mode.
  • KB4340917 also fixes the issue in a RemoteApp session that may result in a black screen when maximizing an app window.

You can check out the full KB4340917 changelog on Microsoft’s Support page. Microsoft also listed a known issue affecting this update, but apart from this minor bug, users haven’t reported any other issues.

If you installed KB4340917 on your Windows 10 v1803 computer and you experienced any issues afterwards, do let us know in the comments below.

Here are the fixes and known issues with Windows 10 19H1 build 18204 and Redstone 5 build 17723

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

Microsoft today pushed out Windows 10 Redstone 5 Insider Preview build 17723 and 19H1 (Redstone 6) build 18204. These builds come with a set of new features, but also has a set of known issues and a long list of fixes which you need to take note of before installing on your PC. Have a look below for more information.

Fixes, Changes, and Improvements:

  • We fixed an issue resulting in the “…” menu not working in multiple apps (including Microsoft Store, Photos, and Screen Sketch) where clicking on any of the items would just make the menu dismiss.
  • We fixed an issue where in certain cases on PCs with multiple monitors, all the windows might have appeared shifted “up” and mouse input going to the wrong location.
  • We fixed an issue where SNMP and the Windows Event Log service might start using an unexpectedly high amount of CPU in the last flight.
  • We fixed the issue with Windows Defender Application Guard no longer working after installing the Build 17713.1002 Cumulative Update.
  • We fixed an issue from the last flight where upon rebooting in order to start upgrading to the build, the system would boot back into the current build rather than the new one.
  • We fixed an issue resulting in upgrades to the previous build failing with error 0x8007001f.
  • We fixed an issue from the previous flight where Window Recovery Environment (WinRE) would not launch and resulted in “Reset this PC” and “Advanced startup” flows to be broken and appear to do nothing. We also fixed an issue from the flight before last (not visible in the last flight due to the aforementioned bug) where “Reset this PC” would initiate and rollback without completing the intended reset.
  • We fixed an issue resulting in some laptops experiencing a CRITICAL PROCESS DIED bug check when the PC was put to sleep by closing lid and the connected power disconnected.
  • We fixed an issue resulting in ShellExperienceHost.exe crashing when trying to pin apps to Start Menu via drag and drop.
  • We fixed an explorer.exe crash when launching the Default Apps Settings page via WIN+R ‘control /name Microsoft.DefaultPrograms /page pageFileAssoc’.
  • We fixed an issue where .mkv files were using a generic app icon in File Explorer instead of a thumbnail.
    Delivery Optimization Settings now has a new icon.
  • We fixed an issue where suggestions on the main page of Settings would appear after a delay, making the Settings categories shift unexpectedly.
  • We fixed an issue where Notification Settings listed every possible quick action in the enable/disable quick actions section, even those not applicable to the PC being used (including two Focus Assist entries).
  • We fixed an issue where the systray overflow area could end up drawing slightly below the taskbar.
  • We fixed an issue resulting in the network state in the taskbar potentially becoming stale in recent builds (showing there was no connection when there was, and vice versa).
  • We fixed an issue where pinging PCs by name on the same LAN would do a case-sensitive name check.
  • We fixed an issue where using v6v4tunnel to establish a tunnel didn’t work.
  • We fixed an issue in Command Prompt from the previous flight where if a typed string wrapped around to a second line, you could only delete it up to the line break.
  • We fixed an issue resulting in Task View / Timeline crashing on launch for some Insiders in recent builds.
  • We fixed an issue where right-clicking an activity in Timeline was missing the “clear all from day” option.
  • When you open a PDF using Microsoft Edge, the activity will now be listed in Timeline.
  • We fixed an issue where sometimes you would see windows unexpectedly quickly reorder after exiting Task View without selecting a window.
  • We fixed an issue from recent builds where the clock in the taskbar was leaking graphics device context handles (HDCs) every time it redrew, leading to performance issues the longer a PC was running. Multiple factors can impact performance, so if you’re continuing to notice any issues after upgrading to this build, please log feedback including a performance trace with a short repro and description.
  • We fixed an issue resulting in not being able to distinguish the border between two overlapping Command Prompt windows.
  • We fixed an issue resulting in the tops of apps in tablet mode being clipped (i.e. missing pixels).
  • Thanks everyone for sharing your feedback about the new welcome screen string prompting you to lock your PC. For the time being we will be reverting this to the previous string “These updates will protect you in an online world”.
    We’ve made some tweaks to the design of the Cortana & Search landing page, specifically in situations where Cortana isn’t enabled/supported.
  • We fixed an issue resulting in Microsoft Jigsaw hanging on launch in recent builds.
  • The settings menu in Microsoft Edge (“…”) is now acrylic.
    When you right-click a book in the Microsoft Edge Books pane, you’ll now see an option to share the book.
  • We fixed an issue that could result in Microsoft Edge spellchecking even though spellchecking was turned off in Settings.
  • We fixed an issue where using the mouse wheel in Microsoft Edge would unexpectedly do a forward/back through browser history if focus was in the address bar and “Scroll inactive windows” was disabled.
  • We fixed an issue where when using certain sites to listen to music in Microsoft Edge, your mouse might experience a small freeze if moving when the song changed.
  • We fixed an issue resulting in apps like Adobe XD crashing on keypress in recent flights.
  • We fixed an issue that could result in a deadlock on certain devices after using the pen to ink.
  • We fixed an issue where the touch keyboard would still have a launch animation even if “Show animations” was turned off in Ease of Access Settings.
  • We fixed an issue where launching regedit.exe (or any .exe that requires elevation) from a non-elevated cmd window using the “start” start command produced a “parameter is incorrect” error.
  • We fixed an issue causing Narrator speech to fade when waking from sleep mode.
  • We fixed an issue where the error “Your fingerprint couldn’t be recognized. Try using a different finger.” was displaying unexpected characters in place of the apostrophe.

Known Issues:

  • The clock & calendar flyout may not appear until bringing up Start or Action Center (and then they will both appear at the same time). This same issue may also result in notifications not appearing until Start or Action Center is opened.
  • We’re progressing in our work on adding dark theme in File Explorer and the Common File Dialog – you’ll notice improvements in this build, although we still have a few things left to do. You may see some unexpectedly light colors in these surfaces when in dark mode and/or dark on dark text.
  • When you upgrade to this build you’ll find that the taskbar flyouts (network, volume, etc) no longer have an acrylic background.
  • When you use the Ease of Access Make Text bigger setting, you might see text clipping issues, or find that text is not increasing in size everywhere.
  • When you set up Microsoft Edge as your kiosk app and configure the start/new tab page URL from assigned access Settings, Microsoft Edge may not get launched with the configured URL. The fix for this issue should be included in the next flight.
  • On Build 17723 (but not Build 18204), you may see the notification count icon overlapping with the extension icon in the Microsoft Edge toolbar when an extension has unread notifications.
  • On Windows 10 in S Mode, launching Office in the Store may fail to launch with an error about a .dll not being designed to run on Windows. The error message is that a .dll “is either not designed to run on Windows or it contains an error. Try installing the program again…” Some people have been able to work around this by uninstalling and reinstalling Office from the Store. If that doesn’t work, you can try to install a version of Office not from the Store.
  • When the Narrator Quickstart launches, Scan Mode may not reliably be on by default. We recommend going through the Quickstart with Scan Mode on. To verify that Scan Mode is on, press Caps Lock + Space.
  • When using Scan mode you may experience multiple stops for a single control. An example of this is if you have an image that is also a link. This is something we are actively working on.
  • If the Narrator key is set to just Insert and you attempt to send a Narrator command from a braille display then these commands will not function. As long as the Caps Lock key is a part of the Narrator key mapping then braille functionality will work as designed.
  • There is a known issue in automatic dialog reading where the title of the dialog is being spoken more than once.

As you can tell, Microsoft is ramping up the fixes for Redstone 5, so best to keep the feedback coming before the Fall release. Also, please keep in mind that Microsoft is running the second Redstone 5 Bug Bash from July 27th through to August 5th, 2018. You can send your feedback during this period and enter for the chance to go to Microsoft’s Redmond campus and meet the Insider team.

How to Improve your USB Data Transfer in Windows 10

Posted on by Ivan Jenic

If you carefully read the lines below you will find out how exactly you can improve your data transfer for the USB flash drive using the Windows 10 operating system. Seeing that most of the Windows users have a portable USB drive this tutorial comes in handy when you are a bit out of time and wish to make a quick transfer of your important data.
How to improve your data transfer for the USB flash drive (Windows 10)
Also keep in mind that this tutorial is made for the USB 2.0 technology and what specific tweaks you can apply in Windows 10 Technical Preview to speed up the data transfer.

If you wish to have a much better data transfer the USB 3.0 technology will surely be for you but one of the main issues with the USB 3.0 is that not all devices have yet a USB 3.0 port (blue usb connector) therefore they still operate at the USB 2.0 transfer speed.

Check out these best USB-C flash drives for lightning-speed data transmission!

Improving the data transfer for the USB flash drive in Windows 10: what to do?

This is what you have to do in order to improve USB flash drive data transfer:

  1. Insert your USB 2.0 into the Windows 10 device.
  2. Open the Windows Explorer window.
    Note: Make a backup copy first of all your data you have on the USB flash drive.
  3. Right-click or hold tap on the USB flash partition.
  4. From the menu that appears left click or tap on the “Format…” feature.
  5. Now you have the “Format Removable Disk” window in front of you.
  6. Under the “File System” topic you will have to left click or tap on the drop-down menu and select from there “NTFS”.
  7. Uncheck the box next to the “Quick Format” feature.
  8. Left click or tap on the “Start” button to proceed with the formatting.
  9. After you successfully formatted the USB flash drive right click or hold tap again on the USB flash partition.
  10. Left click or tap on the “Properties” feature present in the sub-menu you opened.
  11. Left click or tap on the “Hardware” tab situated in the upper side of the Properties window.
  12. Now from the Hardware tab left-click or tap on the “Properties” button you have in the lower right side in the window.
  13. Next, you will have another window that pops up names “Device Properties”
  14. Left click or tap on the “General” tab situated in the upper side of the window.
  15. Left click or tap on the “Change Settings” button.
  16. In the next window left-click or tap on the “Policies” tab situated on the upper side of the window.
  17. Left click or tap on the “Better Performance” feature to select it.
  18. Now Left click or tap on the “OK” button to save your changes.
  19. Close the windows you opened so far and open the “This PC” folder.
  20. Right-click or hold tap on the USB flash drive partition.
  21. From the sub-menu select the “Eject” option by left-clicking or tapping on it.
  22. When the Windows 10 system gives you a pop up that it is safe to remove the USB please remove it from the device.
  23. Plug the USB flashback into the Windows 10 device.
  24. Check again the data transfer of your USB flash device to see how much it improved.

USB Enclosures for the fastest data transfer

If you do need fast speed to transfer data, and even after the guide above you are not satisfied, try switch to a USB enclosure. NekTeck is a great enclosure compatible with all major platforms.

Qicent is another great enclosure that you can use in order to transfer data at high speed. For all interested in high transfer speeds, you must know that USB 3.2 was announced and that should improve data transfer speed.

And you are finished; following the steps above will surely improve the data transfer of your USB flash device in Windows 10 but do not expect the USB 2.0 to transform itself into a rocket.

If you want a better data transfer for your USB flash drive you will have to change to the USB 3.0 as stated above.

Looking for the best USB flash drives? Here are the best options.

Also, if you do run into issues along the way in the steps above please do not hesitate to write us in the comments section of the page situated below.

READ ALSO: How to Enable the Legacy Windows 7 Boot Menu Using Windows 10

Enabling NumLock for Logon Screen and Lock Screen in Windows 10: How To

Posted on by Ivan Jenic

If you already got used to the Windows 10 Technical Preview operating system then you also noticed that the NumLock is not enabled by default for the Logon screen and also for the Lock screen. Therefore by following the lines below, you will be able to set the NumLock to enabled by default in Windows 10.
How to enable NumLock for Logon screen and Lock screen (Windows 10)
The tutorial below will describe two methods on how to enable the NumLock for the Logon screen and Lock screen in Windows 10, you will have to keep in mind that for the method that requires a registry tweak in the Windows 10 operating system it will be a good idea to make a backup copy of your important files, folders, and applications.

How to enable NumLock for the Logon screen and Lock screen of Windows 10?

In order to enable NumLock on the logon screen in Windows 10 and customize it, here is what you need to check:

  1. Enable NumLock from your keyboard
  2. Enable it from Registry Editor
  3. Windows 10 Logon screen tips

1. Enable NumLock from your keyboard

  1. Reboot your Windows 10 operating system first.
  2. When the device starts you should have the Logon window in front of you.
  3. Now press the “NumLock” button on the keyboard and make sure the green light on the keyboard that specifies that NumLock is active is turned on.
  4. Now left click or tap on the power button situated in the lower right side of the Logon screen.
  5. Left click or tap on the “Restart” option you have there.
  6. Now after the Windows 10 operating system reboots the NumLock feature should be active by default.

2. Enable it from Registry Editor

  1. Press and hold the “Windows” button and the “R” button.
  2. You should have the “Run” window in front of you.
  3. In the run dialog box write the following: “regedit” without the quotes.
  4. Press the Enter button on the keyboard.
    Note: If you are asked by a user account control window to allow access to the Registry Editor left-click or tap on the “Yes” button to proceed further.
  5. Now the Registry Editor window should be in front of you.
  6. On the left side panel left-click or tap on the “HKEY_USERS” folder to open it.
  7. From within the “HKEY_USERS” folder find and left click or tap to open the “.DEFAULT” folder.
  8. In the “.DEFAULT” folder left-click or tap on the “Control Panel” folder to open it.
  9. In the “Control Panel” folder left-click or tap on the “Keyboard” folder to open it.
  10. On the right side panel search for and double-click to open the “InitialKeyboardIndicators” string.
    Note: If you do not have this specific file please right click on an open space in the right panel and left click or tap on the “New” option to create one with this name.
  11. Under the “value data” field you will need to write there the following: “80000002” without the quotes.
  12. Left click or tap on the “OK” button to save your changes.
  13. Now close the Registry Editor window as well.
  14. Reboot your Windows 10 operating system.
  15. When you get to the Logon screen or Lock window of your Windows 10 check to see if your NumLock is enabled.

3. Windows 10 Logon screen tips

If you are interested in more tricks you can do with the Logon screen then you are in the right place. We will help you with a dedicated guide if you want to change your Logon screen in Windows 10, 8.1.  We also created a step-by-step instruction for all users that want to disable logon screen background image in Windows.

You not only may change the appearance of your logon screen or disable it, but also encounter some issues. Some users encountered issues with LogonUI.exe in Windows 10. Be sure that you follow all the instructions in our fix article so you get rid of this issue.

And you are finished, following one of the two methods posted above will enable your NumLock feature in the Logon screen as well as the Lock screen of your Windows 10 Technical Preview system. Also if you need further assistance or if you stumbled upon any issues along the way in this tutorial please write us in the comments section of the page situated below and me or my colleagues will help you as soon as possible.

READ ALSO: Enable NumLock on Startup in Windows 10 [How to]

Complete List of Windows Shell Commands: Basic and Advanced

Posted on by Ivan Jenic

If you want to learn the most useful Shell commands used in Windows 10, as well as many other specific commands, read this guide. We bet you probably didn’t know some of these commands were even available until now.

By using these Shell commands, you can access a specific system folder or one of the Control Panel applets available in your Windows 10 operating system. Keep reading to find all the Windows Shell Commands.

What are the various Windows Shell Commands?

Tip icon Tip
These commands can be executed via Run. Paste the one you want to execute and click OK.
  1. This command accesses the account pictures folder you have in your Windows 10 device- shell:AccountPictures
  2. Adds a new program folder- shell:AddNewProgramsFolder
  3. Accesses administrative tools folder- shell:Administrative Tools.
  4. Accesses AppData folder in the Windows 10 system- shell:AppData
  5. Accesses Application Shortcuts folder- shell:Application Shortcuts
  6. Accesses the Apps Folder- shell:AppsFolder
  7. Accesses the Apps updates folder- shell:AppUpdatesFolder
  8. Accesses the Cache folder- shell:Cache
  9. Access camera roll folder- shell:Camera Roll
  10. Accesses the temporary burn folder- shell:CD Burning
  11. Accesses the Remove/Change program folder- shell:ChangeRemoveProgramsFolder
  12. Accesses the Administrative Tools folder- shell:Common Administrative Tools
  13. Accesses the Common AppData folder- shell:Common AppData
  14. Accesses the public desktop folder- shell:Common Desktop
  15. Accesses Public Documents folder- shell:Common Documents
  16. Accesses Programs folder- shell:Common Programs
  17. Accesses the start menu folder- shell:Common Start Menu
  18. Accesses Startup folder situated in the Windows 10 system- shell:Common Startup
  19. Accesses Common Templates folder- shell:Common Templates
  20. Accesses Downloads folder- shell:CommonDownloads
  21. Accesses the music folder- shell:CommonMusic
  22. Accesses Pictures folder- shell:CommonPictures
  23. Accesses the ringtones folder- shell:CommonRingtones
  24. Accesses the public Video folder- shell:CommonVideo
  25. Accesses the Conflict folder in the Windows 10 system- shell:ConflictFolder
  26. Opens up the connections folder- shell:ConnectionsFolder
  27. Opens the Contact folder- shell:Contacts
  28. Opens the Control panel folder- shell:ControlPanelFolder
  29. Opens the Cookies folder- shell:Cookies
  30. Opens the Credential manager feature- shell:CredentialManager
  31. Opens up the Crypto keys folder- shell:CryptoKeys
  32. Opens the CSC Folder- shell:CSCFolder
  33. Opens up the Desktop folder- shell:Desktop
  34. Opens the metadata store folder- shell:Device Metadata Store
  35. Opens the Documents Library folder- shell:DocumentsLibrary
  36. Opens the Downloads folder- shell:Downloads
  37. Opens the DpapiKeys folder- shell:DpapiKeys
  38. Opens the Favorites folder- shell:Favorites
  39. Opens the Fonts folder- shell:Fonts
  40. Opens the Games folder- shell:Games
  41. Opens the Game Tasks folder- shell:GameTasks
  42. Opens the History folder- shell:History
  43. Opens the HomeGroup folder for the current user- shell:HomeGroupCurrentUserFolder
  44. Opens HomeGroup folder- shell:HomeGroupFolder
  45. Opens the Implicit Apps shortcut folder- shell:ImplicitAppShortcuts
  46. Opens Internet Folder- shell:InternetFolder
  47. Opens Libraries folder- shell:Libraries
  48. Opens the Links folder- shell:Links
  49. Opens Local AppData folder- shell:Local AppData
  50. Opens Local AppDataLow folder- shell:LocalAppDataLow
  51. Opens LocalizedResources folder- shell:LocalizedResourcesDir
  52. Opens MAPI folder- shell:MAPIFolder
  53. Opens LusicLibrary folder- shell:MusicLibrary
  54. Opens My Music folder- shell:My Music
  55. Opens My Video folder- shell:My Video
  56. Opens MyComputer folder- shell:MyComputerFolder
  57. Opens NetHood folder- shell:NetHood
  58. Opens NetworkPlaces folder- shell:NetworkPlacesFolder
  59. Opens OEM Links folder- shell:OEM Links
  60. Opens OneDrive folder in Windows 10– shell:OneDrive
  61. Opens Original Images folder- shell:Original Images
  62. Opens Personal folder- shell:Personal
  63. Opens PhotoAlbums folder- shell:PhotoAlbums
  64. Opens PicturesLibrary folder- shell:PicturesLibrary
  65. Opens Playlists folder- shell:Playlists
  66. Opens Printer folder- shell:PrintersFolder
  67. Opens PrintHood folder- shell:PrintHood
  68. Opens Profile folder- shell:Profile
  69. Opens ProgramFiles folder- shell:ProgramFiles
  70. Opens ProgramFilesCommon folder- shell:ProgramFilesCommon
  71. Opens ProgramFilesCommonX64 folder- shell:ProgramFilesCommonX64
  72. Opens ProgramFilesCommonX86 folder- shell:ProgramFilesCommonX86
  73. Opens ProgramFilesX64 folder- shell:ProgramFilesX64
  74. Opens ProgramFilesX86 folder- shell:ProgramFilesX86
  75. Opens Programs folder- shell:Programs
  76. Opens Public folder- shell:Public
  77. Opens PublicAccountPictures folder- shell:PublicAccountPictures
  78. Opens PublicGameTasks folder- shell:PublicGameTasks
  79. Opens PublicLibraries folder- shell:PublicLibraries
  80. Opens Quick Launch folder- shell:Quick Launch
  81. Opens up recent items folder- shell:Recent
  82. Opens up recorder file in the Windows 10 system- shell:RecordedTVLibrary
  83. Opens the system Recycle Bin folder- shell:RecycleBinFolder
  84. Opens up the Resource folder- shell:ResourceDir
  85. Opens up Demo folder- shell:Retail Demo
  86. Opens up the Ringtones folder in Windows 10– shell:Ringtones
  87. Opens up the Roamed Tile images folder- shell:Roamed Tile Images
  88. Opens the Roaming Tiles folder- shell:Roaming Tiles
  89. It opens the SavedGames folder you have in the Windows 10 system- shell:SavedGames
  90. Opens the Screenshots folder- shell:Screenshots
  91. Opens the Search folder- shell:Searches
  92. Opens the Search History folder you have in the system- shell:SearchHistoryFolder
  93. Opens the Search Home folder- shell:SearchHomeFolder
  94. Opens the Search templates folder- shell:SearchTemplatesFolder
  95. Opens the SendTo folder- shell:SendTo
  96. Opens the SkyDriveCameraRoll folder- shell:SkyDriveCameraRoll
  97. Opens the SkyDriveMusic folder- shell:SkyDriveMusic
  98. Opens the SkyDrivePictures folder- shell:SkyDrivePictures
  99. Opens up the Start menu folder- shell:Start Menu
  100. Opens the AllPrograms folder you have in the start menu- shell:StartMenuAllPrograms
  101. Opens the Startup folder- shell:Startup
  102. Opens the SyncCenter folder- shell:SyncCenterFolder
  103. Opens the SyncResults folder- shell:SyncResultsFolder
  104. Opens the SyncSetup folder- shell:SyncSetupFolder
  105. Opens the System folder- shell:System
  106. Opens the SystemCertificates folder- shell:SystemCertificates
  107. Opens SystemX86 folder- shell:SystemX86
  108. Opens the Templates folder- shell:Templates
  109. Opens the ThisPCDesktop folder- shell:ThisPCDesktopFolder
  110. Opens User pinned folder- shell:User Pinned
  111. Opens the user profiles folder- shell:UserProfiles
  112. Opens Program Files folder- shell:UserProgramFiles
  113. Opens Program Files Common folder- shell:UserProgramFilesCommon
  114. Opens the Files folder from a specific user you are logged in with- shell:UsersFilesFolder
  115. Opens the Libraries folder for a specific user- shell:UsersLibrariesFolder
  116. Opens Video library folder- shell:VideosLibrary
  117. Opens the Windows folder- shell:Windows

It’s worth mentioning that you can use the Windows shell commands listed above in CMD and File Explorer as well.

You can also explore a complete Command Prompt commands list to learn more system-level actions you can perform from CMD and enhance your Windows control skills.

You can also take your command-line skills further with this complete Windows PowerShell scripting tutorial that explains how to automate tasks and write scripts in Windows step by step.

Learn how to manage Volume Shadow Copies from Command Prompt using the Vssadmin Commands guide.

Before you leave, find out how to run a virus scan from the Command Prompt.

If you have any questions related to this guide, let us know in the comments below, and we will help you as soon as possible.

Bitdefender Antivirus Plus 2019: The best affordable antivirus for Windows users

Posted on by Milan Stanojevic

We recently reviewed Bitdefender Total Security 2019 and Bitdefender Internet Security 2019, but Bitdefender released another product. Bitdefender Antivirus Plus doesn’t have all the advanced features that other products have, but it still offers great protection for most users.

Bitdefender Antivirus Plus 2019, what does it have to offer?

Complete real-time protection

Just like the other members of the BitDefender family, Bitdefender Antivirus Plus 2019 offers advanced real-time protection against all types of malware. Of course, multi-layer ransomware protection is still available, so your PC will remain safe from ransomware attacks.

bitdefender antivirus plus 2019 scanning
Rescue Mode feature is still present, so if your system is infected by a rootkit, you can boot to a safe environment and prevent all malicious applications from booting with your system.

bitdefender antivirus plus 2019 scanning settings
Advanced Threat Defense feature is also available allowing Bitdefender Antivirus Pro 2019 to analyze application behavior in real-time and inform you if anything suspicious occurs.

Online security against malicious websites

Similar to other members of the BitDefender family, Bitdefender Antivirus Plus 2019 offers a Web Attack Prevention feature that informs you if any of your search results is malicious. Thanks to this feature, you’ll never visit a malicious website by accident again.

Anti-phishing and anti-fraud features are still present, so you’ll be certain that your personal information is safe at all times. The application also has a Social Network Protection feature that will help you identify malicious links on social networks.

Password manager, Safe Online Banking, and other features

If you’re concerned that malicious users might obtain your personal or banking information, we’re pleased to inform you that Bitdefender Antivirus Plus 2019 has a Safe Online Banking feature. Thanks to this feature, you can make safe purchases in a dedicated and secure browser.

If you’re concerned about your privacy, we’re happy to inform you that Password Manager is still available. Using this feature you can store all your passwords, personal information, and other important data, and use it to instantly log in to certain websites or to fill forms. Of course, all your data is password protected, so other users won’t be able to access it.

bitdefender antivirus plus 2019 password manager
The application also has a File Shredder feature allowing you to permanently delete any file from your PC in just a couple of clicks.
bitdefender antivirus plus 2019 file shredder
Vulnerability Assessment feature is also there allowing you to see potential vulnerabilities on your system, including missing system updates, missing passwords or outdated applications.

VPN is available in this version as well, but you’re limited to 200MB per day and forced to use a random server. If you want to remove these limitations, you’ll have to purchase a VPN subscription.
bitdefender antivirus plus 2019 VPN

Maximum performance without high system usage

Just like all other applications from Bitdefender family, Bitdefender Antivirus Plus 2019 uses Bitdefender Photon technology in order to optimize hardware usage and bring maximum performance.

The application also supports cloud scanning allowing your system to use its resources for other important tasks. The application also has Battery Mode that will automatically tweak your system settings in order to save your battery.

If you enjoy in multimedia or games, there are Game and Movie modes available, so your multimedia experience won’t suffer due to your antivirus.

Anti-Theft, Firewall, Safe Files, File Encryption and other missing features

For the most part, Bitdefender Antivirus Plus 2019 offers the same features as Bitdefender Internet Security, but unfortunately, some important features are missing. The most notable missing feature is the firewall, so if you want to control which applications have Internet access, you’ll have to use Windows Firewall instead.

Safe Files feature is also missing, so you can’t lock your files and prevent other applications from opening them. Another missing feature is File Encryption, so if you want to encrypt your files and prevent other users from opening them, you’ll need to use a third-party application.

Wi-Fi Security Advisor and Webcam Protection features are also missing, but most users probably won’t miss them too much. Another feature that is missing from this version is Parental Control, so if you want to monitor and limit the computer usage for your kids, you’ll need to consider a different software.

Anti-Theft feature isn’t available in this version, so if you want to keep track of your devices, you might want to consider using different software.

Conclusion

Bitdefender Antivirus Plus 2019 is missing certain features, most notably Anti-Theft, Parental Control, and Firewall. This isn’t a major problem since you can use other applications that offer the same functionality.

In addition to the missing features, we have to mention that Bitdefender Antivirus Plus 2019 is available only on Windows. If you want a multi-platform security solution, Antivirus Plus might not be for you.

Bitdefender Antivirus Plus 2019 offers the high-quality protection that we expect from Bitdefender, but it’s missing a couple of somewhat important features. However, Bitdefender Antivirus Plus 2019 is the most affordable out of all Bitdefender products, which is definitely a plus.

If you’re a home user that wants solid antivirus protection without any advanced features, or if you simply want an affordable but reliable antivirus, Bitdefender Antivirus Plus 2019 is just what you need.

Fix Audio Issues in Windows 10/11

Posted on by Ivan Jenic

I know most of our users who are running Windows 10 Technical Preview had a lot of issues with the sound features. I can tell you that we have a good fix to the many sound issues you have encountered in the past and you only need to follow the tutorial below in order to find out what you need to do and fix the audio issues in Windows 10 Technical Preview.
How to fix audio issues in Windows 10
Seems that after Microsoft released the new build 10041 for Windows 10 Technical Preview a lot of audio issues have been fixed including the Realtek static noise issue and also a lot of USB audio issues like the “Rode Podcaster” microphone. But you will find out what fixes are included in this new build of Windows 10 and also how to make your update to the new build by reading the lines below.

How to fix audio issues in Windows 10 Technical Preview?

Here is what you will have to check in this article in order to fix your sound issues:

  1. Issues fixed by 10041 build
  2. Issues that were not fixed
  3. Install Windows 10 Technical Preview latest build
  4. Windows 10 sound issues and their fixes

1. Issues fixed by 10041 build

  • Realtek “static noise” issue which after you make the Windows update you can go directly to your Device manager and update the card driver to the last version 6.0.1.7458 which was released on 3/2/2015.
  • USB audio issues including the problems you may have had with the Rode Podcaster microphone.
  • HDMI audio issues on the Surface Pro 3 in this new build are now fixed.
  • Your Deezer application, as well as the Spotify application, are now fixed and you can use your music playback feature normally.
  • The Creative X-Fi issues are fixed and you only need to update the driver from Device Manager.

2. Issues that were not fixed

  • While trying to install the driver from Realtek you get the following timeout message “error 0x800705b4”
  • “VIA HD Audio” unfortunately still does not play all sounds, only the system sounds and the sounds from a few apps work.

3. Install Windows 10 Technical Preview latest build

  • On the Start screen of your Windows 10 operating system, you will have to left click or tap on the “Settings” feature.
  • From the “Settings” sub-menu find and left click or tap on the “Update & recovery” feature.
  • Now find and left click or tap on the “Windows Update” feature.
  • Find the “Check for Updates” button and left click or tap on it.
  • Follow the instructions on the screen to finish the Windows 10 update.
  • After you successfully brought your Windows 10 to the latest build you will have to reboot your device.
  • After the device starts, check to see if your audio issues have disappeared.

And you are all done if you successfully brought your Windows 10 device to the latest build you should have fixed most of the audio issues you had in the past.

4. Windows 10 sound issues and their fixes

You might have sound problems after Windows 10 April update but we have the right fix for that. Before trying to fix that, be sure that the cause is this patch. It is important as you may lose sound after installing Nvidia Graphics drivers. We recommend you to be sure you know where lies the problem so you won’t do anything that could damage your system.

Sometimes you may simply not have sound because you will have the ‘Audio device disabled’ error in Windows 10. In this case, try to update/reinstall your audio drivers or try the other solutions from our guide.

Also if you have other questions regarding this subject please write us in the comments section of the page situated below and me or my colleagues will help you further as soon as possible.

READ ALSO: Audio Issues in Windows 10: How to Fix Them

SOLVED: Xbox error 0x83750007 in Windows 10/11

Posted on by Aleksandar Ognjanovic

Since it was introduced, the Xbox App has been plagued by issues. This Xbox companion has an important role in Microsoft’s gaming ecosystem, especially due to cross-platform features. Nonetheless, judging by the reports, the variety of errors and overall lackluster performance on Windows 10 speaks volumes about it. One of the common log-in errors goes by the “0x83750007” code. Today, we’ll try and help you resolve it.

How can I fix Xbox sign in error 0x83750007?

  1. Run Store apps troubleshooter
  2. Check the connection
  3. Update Xbox App
  4. Reset Xbox App
  5. Check the date and time
  6. Change your credentials and try again
  7. Remove the Microsoft account and try signing in
  8. Select Normal boot
  9. Check the services
  10. Reinstall the Xbox App

1: Run Store apps troubleshooter

The Xbox App comes pre-installed in Windows 10, with all other kinds of bloatware. Of course, what’s bloatware for someone, it’s rather useful for others. At least if it works as it’s supposed to. Now, the fact that this is a Windows 10 app, allows you to tackle all issues by simply running the dedicated troubleshooter.

Here’s how to run the dedicated troubleshooter in Windows 10:

  1. Open Settings.
  2. Choose Update & Security.
  3. Select Troubleshoot from the left menu.
  4. Scroll to the bottom and expand Store Apps troubleshooter.xbox error 0x83750007
  5. Run the troubleshooter.

2: Check the connection

This and similar errors mostly occur due to integral in-app issues. However, as the access to your Xbox account and Xbox Live requires a connection, it’s worth checking out your network. There are some things you should try out, as certain reports speak about blockage imposed to Xbox Live. For some, it was the router’s firewall, while others had issues with the Windows Firewall and firewalls provided by third-party protective

Here are some steps you can try out prior to sign in and hope for the resolution:

  • Restart your PC and router.
  • Make sure LAN cable is plugged in.
  • Navigate to Firewall and allow Xbox (and associated services) to communicate freely.
  • Disable all third-party firewalls.
  • Flash DNS.

— READ ALSO: Fix: Xbox App Server Blocked Connectivity on Windows 10

3: Update Xbox App

Updating the app might help, as well. Even though updates for all apps are automatically administered, it’s worth giving the manual approach a try. Since you can’t update the app, you can try the Beta version. Maybe the current iteration is having issues and the next one in line might provide a fix. We can’t be sure about the results, but it won’t cost you to give it a go.

Follow these steps to update the Xbox App:

  1. Open Microsoft Store.
  2. Search for Xbox Beta and open Xbox (Beta) app.xbox error 0x83750007
  3. Install it and try signing in.

Since this isn’t a stable version, expect other issues. But, it should at least allow you to sign in, so keep it for the time being.

4: Reset Xbox App

If updating is a step forward, resetting the app is a step back from a possibly faulty version. This option comes in handy with all kinds of strange behavior Microsoft Store apps are known for. And we’ll know the whole ecosystem is somewhat troublingly unreliable. Either way, try resetting the app and it might come with a payoff.

To do so, follow these steps:

  1. Open Settings.
  2. Choose Apps.
  3. Under the Apps & features, search for Xbox.
  4. Expand it and open Advanced options.xbox error 0x83750007
  5. Click Reset.

5: Check the date and time

In order to connect to a dedicated Xbox server, we can’t have any time discrepancy. If your date and time settings are not correct, you’ll probably run into a stall. This is why we encourage you to confirm that both date and time are correctly set. In order to avoid further concerns, we suggest setting automatic time and date options obtained online.

Here’s what you need to do:

  1. Right-click Start and open Settings from the Power menu.
  2. Select Time & Language.
  3. Under the Date & Time section, enable the ‘Set time automatically‘  and ‘Select time zone automatically‘.xbox error 0x83750007

6: Change your credentials and try again

Even though this is a far-fetched workaround, it still might help. If you tried to log in multiple times in succession, the login sequence might be corrupted. That’s why we suggest resetting your password and trying to log in again. Hopefully, this will deal with the bug at hand and you’ll be able to access your account.

Here’s how to reset your Xbox Live credentials:

  1. Navigate to Security basics site.
  2. Sign in with your Microsoft account associated with Xbox.
  3. Click on the Change password option.
  4. Change your current password and open the Xbox app again.xbox error 0x83750007
  5. Try signing in with the new password and look does it works.

7: Remove the Microsoft account and try signing in

If that won’t work, we have a similar workaround. Chances are you’re using the same Microsoft account to manage Windows 10 and sign into the Xbox App. For no apparent reason, this seems to be an issue. Namely, some users were finally able to log into their Xbox account by switching to a Local account instead of the Microsoft one.

Here’s what you need to do:

  1. Open Settings.
  2. Choose Accounts.
  3. Sign in with the local account.xbox error 0x83750007
  4. Navigate to Xbox app and try signing in again.

8: Select Normal boot

This is where the major system configuration meddling comes into play. For some reason, the custom startup options automatically disable the responsible Xbox services. This isn’t a rule, not at all, but since we’re slowly depleting options, you can give it a go. It won’t cost you a thing and you can always change the way your PC starts later on.

Follow these instructions to enforce the Default startup settings:

  1. In the Windows Search bar, type msconfig and open System Configuration.
  2. Under the General tab, select Normal startup and click Ok.xbox error 0x83750007
  3. Restart your PC and look for changes.

9: Check the services

Now, the dedicated Xbox services are the next step. We need you to confirm that those are up and running when the app is opened. There are multiple services associated with Xbox on Windows 10, but the most important ones, concerning the error at hand, are Xbox Live Networking Service and Xbox Live Auth Manager. If they’re down (stopped), you won’t be able to log into your Xbox account.

Here’s what you need to do:

  1. Open the Xbox app and minimize it.
  2. In the Windows Search bar, type Services and open Services from the list of results.
  3. Press “X” and you should see several Xbox-related services.xbox error 0x83750007
  4. Right-click on the Xbox Live Networking and click Start in the contextual menu.
  5. Repeat the procedure for Xbox Live Auth Manager.
  6. Try signing in again.

10: Reinstall Xbox App

Finally, if none of the previous solutions helped you address the issue, we can only recommend two options. The first one is the complete reinstallation of the Xbox app through PowerShell. If that fails, you can reset your PC to factory values and hopefully, with the system refresh, the “0x83750007” sign-in error won’t reoccur.

Follow these steps to re-register (reinstall) the Xbox App in Windows 10:

    1. Right-click Start and open PowerShell (Admin).
    2. In the command-line, copy-paste the following commands one by one and press Enter after each:
      • Get-AppxPackage Microsoft.XboxApp | Remove-AppxPackagexbox error 0x83750007
      • PowerShell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Command “& {$manifest = (Get-AppxPackage *XboxApp*).InstallLocation + ‘AppxManifest.xml’ ; Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register $manifest}”
    3. Wait until the app is re-registered on your system and restart your PC.
    4. Open the Xbox app, enter your credentials, and hope for the best.

With that said, we can conclude this article. If you have any alternate solutions or questions concerning the aforementioned error, feel free to write them down in the comments section below.

RELATED STORIES YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT:

How to Change Windows 10 Window Colors and Appearance

Posted on by Ivan Jenic

I know most of you running a Windows 10 device were wondering if they can change the colors and appearances in the operating system. Well, the answer to your question is yes and you only need to follow the tutorial posted below in order to find out how exactly you can change the colors and appearances in Windows 10.
How to change Windows 10 window colors and appearance
In order for you to select your Windows 10 colors and appearances you will first need to turn on the “show color on Start, taskbar, and action center” feature if you haven’t already. If you turn on this feature you will be able to change to your liking the Start menu colors, the taskbar colors, and the action center background will have your preferred color as well.

Change Windows 10 colors and appearances

  1. Press the “Windows” button on the keyboard to open the Start menu in Windows 10.
  2. In the upper side of the Start menu, you will have to left click or tap on the “Settings” feature.
  3. Now in the Settings menu, you will have to find and left click or tap to open the “Personalization” feature.

Now for changing to a specific color if you are using a Windows default theme:

  • In the Personalization window left-click or tap on the “Colors” feature situated in the left side panel.
  • Turn on the “show color on Start, taskbar, and action center” feature.
  • Move the slider for the “Automatically pick a color from my background. ” to off.
  • Now from the menu of colors left-click or tap on a color you wish.
  • Now close the Settings window you opened and reboot your Windows 10 operating system.

How to let your Windows operating system pick a color from your background(only if using Windows default theme):

  • From the Personalization menu you need to left click or tap on the “Colors” feature again.
  • Turn on the “show color on Start, taskbar, and action center” feature.
  • Turn on the feature “Automatically pick a color from my background“.
  • Close the Settings windows and reboot your Windows 10 operating system.

How to choose your color if you are using a high contrast theme:

  • Left click or tap on the “Colors” feature situated on the left side panel in the Personalization window.
  • Find and left click or tap to access the “Go to high contrast color settings” link situated on the lower side of the window.
  • In this next window left-click or tap on the color you wish to change and from the colors, menu chooses the color you want.
  • Now left click or tap on the “Apply” button.
  • Left click or tap on the “OK” button in the same window and close the Settings menu.
  • Reboot your device and check to see if the colors have changed.

Useful Windows 10 customizing hints and tips

For some of our readers changing the color and appearance of specific communication, windows are something they need in order to navigate quickly through a large number of opened tasks. For this, we have a dedicated article that teaches you how to customize the colors of your start menu and taskbar. If you simply want to change the color of a window, this is not so complicated.

If you do navigate on Facebook and it starts being annoying, try to change its color schemes and customize it. Finally, if you simply want to calibrate the colors, the brightness or the contrast of your Windows screen, here’s how to do it.

You are done, now you know exactly how to change the colors and appearances in your Windows 10 operating system but if you do run into any issues along the way you can always write us in the comments section of the page situated below and me or my colleagues will help you further as soon as possible.

READ ALSO: Strategy Game ‘Age of Sparta’ Available as Free Download from the Windows Store

Fix: Broadcom WiFi can’t find wireless network

Posted on by Ivan Jenic

After upgrading to Windows 10 some users report that they cannot find any wireless networks and that can be a major problem since most of us use internet on daily basis. If you’re having this issue you might want to check some of these solutions below.

What to do if Broadcom WiFi cannot find any wireless networks

Table of contents:

  1. Upgrade your wireless adapter drivers
  2. Disable unsupported VPN software
  3. Delete your wireless profile
  4. Run the Troubleshooter
  5. Reset your router
  6. Check if the network is enabled
  7. Reset the network

Fix: Broadcom WiFi won’t connect

1. Upgrade your wireless adapter drivers

Usually these kind of problems are caused by driver incompatibility, but you can try to fix that by installing the latest Windows 10 drivers.

If you’re having a built-in WiFi card you might want to download the latest drivers for your motherboard, but if you’re using a dedicated WiFi card make sure that you download drivers from the WiFi card manufacturer. Make sure that you download the latest drivers, preferably one optimized for Windows 10.

If there are no Windows 10 drivers available you can always install Windows 8 drivers in compatibility mode. To install drivers in compatibility mode do the following:

  1. Find the driver setup file, and right-click it.
  2. Choose Properties from the menu.
  3. Go to Compatibility tab.
  4. Find “Run this program in compatibility mode for” and choose Windows 8 from the list.
  5. Click OK and Apply to save the changes and then run the setup.

Update drivers automatically

If you don’t want the hassle of searching for drivers on your own, you can use a tool that will do this for you automatically. Of course, as you’re not able to connect to the internet at the moment, this tool won’t be useful.

However, once you get online, it will help you to keep all your drivers up to date, so you won’t be in this situation anymore.

We strongly recommend updating drivers automatically and safely with a full-dedicated tool that will help you to avoid permanent damage to your PC by downloading and installing the wrong driver versions.

One of our top recommendations when it comes to driver utilities is Fortect Driver Updater. It is lightweight with a straightforward user interface.

After you download and install the software, let it scan your PC and identify whether you have any outdated or damaged drivers.

It has a large driver database and automatically finds the perfect version for your specific hardware. You can set it up to regularly update your drivers and never think about it again.

⇒ Get Fortect Driver Updater

2. Disable unsupported VPN software

If you’ve upgraded from Windows 8 to Windows 10 you might have unsupported VPN software installed. To uninstall it, follow these steps:

  1. Open Command Prompt as administrator. You can open it by pressing Windows Key + X and choosing Command Prompt (Admin) from the list.
  2. Enter netcfg –s n in Command Prompt.
  3. You should get a list of networking protocols, drivers and services. Search the list for DNI_DNE. If the DNI_DNE is
  4. present proceed to the next step. If there’s no DNI_DNE on your list, skip this solution.
  5. Enter the following line into the  Command Prompt and press Enter:
    • reg delete HKCRCLSID{988248f3-a1ad-49bf-9170-676cbbc36ba3} /va /f Wi-Fi-does-not-work broadcom
  6. Next, enter in this:
    • netcfg -v -u dni_dne broadcom wifi doesn't work windows 10
  7. Restart your computer and see if the issue is resolved.

We hope that at least one of these solutions helped you with your problem with Broadcom WiFi. However, if you didn’t solve the problem, even after applying these fixes, you can check out our article about problems with WiFi adapters in Windows 10, and maybe you’ll find the solution there.

3. Delete your wireless profile

If updating the Broadcom driver didn’t get the job done, we’re going to try resetting your network profile. The first thing you need to do is to delete it:

  1. Go to Search, type cmd, and open Command Prompt as Administrator. 
  2. When Command Prompt stats type in the following command and press Enter: netsh wlan delete profile name=”WirelessProfileName” (be sure to replace WirelessProfileName with the actual name of your wireless connection)

Once you reconnect, the new wireless profile will be created automatically.

4. Run the Troubleshooter

Now, let’s try Windows 10‘s built-in troubleshooting tool. This tool can resolve various system issues, including our network problem. Heres how to run it:

  1. Go to Settings.
  2. Head over to Updates & Security > Troubleshoot. 
  3. Select Internet Connections, and go to Run the Troubleshooter. 
  4. Follow further on-screen instructions and let the process finish.
  5. Restart your computer.

5. Reset your router

The problem can be caused by improper router configuration, and of course, you can fix it by resetting your router. To do that, just press the reset button on your Realtek router, or open the router settings and select the reset option.

Before resetting your router you might want to save and export your configuration so you don’t have to enter it manually.

For more information on how to reset your router or how to export your router’s configuration, be sure to check your router’s manual.

6. Check if the network is enabled

Although it sounds unlikely, it’s possible that your Broadcom device isn’t even enabled. So, make sure to eliminate that possibility:

  1. Go to Search, type devicemngr, and open Device Manager.
  2. When Device Manager opens, locate your wireless adapter and double click it to open its properties.
  3. Go to Driver tab and look for Enable button. If you don’t see the Enable button, it means that your device is enabled and working.

7. Reset the network

If none of the previous solutions worked, the last thing we’re going to try is resetting the network. Here’s how to do that:

  1. Go to the Settings.
  2. Navigate to Network & Internet > Status.
  3. Scroll down and locate the Network reset option. This feature allows you to set your network component to default. You might need to reinstall certain network software afterward.
  4. Go to Reset now, and click Yes.
  5. Wait until your PC restarts and then check if your Ethernet connection is available.

If you have any comments or questions, just reach to the comments section below.

KM Player for PC: How to Download & Install

Posted on by Ivan Jenic

KM Player is one of the best video players you can download on your Windows PC. The app offers you a variety of options and allows you to play just about any video.

Also, it is pretty easy to install, so you won’t go through much stress.

How can I download KMPlayer on Windows PC?

1. Download KM Player

  1. Visit the KMPlayer website and click the KMPlayer for Windows button.
    for windows km player for pc
  2. Click the Download for KMPlayer button.
  3. Now, double-click the downloaded file to run it and click Yes when prompted by UAC.
  4. Next, select your language and click OK.
    language
  5. Click the Next button on the Welcome page.
    welcome km player for pc
  6. From here, click I Agree on the license agreement page.
    i agree
  7. Click the Next button on the components page.
    next
  8. Finally, click the Install button and wait for the process to complete.
    install km player for pc

2. Useful features in KM Player:

One of the best features you have in KM Player is that you can do pretty much all you want and customize the user interface just by doing a few clicks.

The options you have include also the adding of the Screen Controls feature, the Pan & Scan feature, the 3D Subtitle Control feature, the Capture feature and the Control Box feature.

What are the KMPlayer alternatives to consider?

Not only KMPlayer can be used when speaking about different formats. If you do not arrive to run some specific formats, especially MKV videos in Windows 10, we recommend you to switch to another player.

We have some great media player software compiled and you can try them in order to watch your favorite videos.

Let us know in the comments section if this information helped you and share with us your experience.

Fix: Err_ssl_protocol_error in Windows PC

Posted on by Ivan Jenic

Many Windows 10 and Windows 11 users have stumbled upon the error code err_ssl_protocol_error while trying to access specific websites on Google Chrome.

Trying to refresh the page seems to help in the short term (because, eventually, it will get your website up and running). Also, the users reported various issues, such as err_ssl_protocol_error localhost, while trying to access localhost pages in Chrome.

We will see what version of Google Chrome you need to update to fix code err_ssl_protocol_error on Chrome Windows 10 once and for all.

How can I fix err_ssl_protocol_error on a Windows PC?

1. Update your Chrome browser

Note icon NOTE
The version of Google Chrome you need to download is 5.0.342.9 or the latest one you can find on their website.

After you downloaded the new version of the Google Chrome application you will need to install it by following the instructions on the screen.

  1. Close all Google Chrome windows you have opened.
  2. Reboot your Windows 8.1 or Windows 10 device.
  3. Try opening the Google Chrome application after the operating system is up and running.
  4. Now you should have everything working without having to deal with the error code “err_ssl_protocol_error” anymore.

Left-click or tap on the link posted above to access the Google Chrome website and download the latest version of Chrome from there.

2. Disable Chrome QUIC Protocol

Many users confirmed that turning off the Chrome QUIC Protocol help them fix the problem. Here are the steps to follow:

  1. Enter the following command in a new browser tab:  chrome://flags/#enable-quic
  2. Now, use the drop-down menu to disable the feature, as shown in the screenshot belowdisable Experimental QUIC protocol

3. Disable Chrome extensions

Follow the next steps to disable your Chrome extensions:

  1. Open your Google Chrome browser
  2. Click on the vertical dots at the top right of your window
  3. Find and select the Settings
  4. On the Settings menu, click on Extensions button
  5. Uncheck the needed extensions from your list

In rare cases, Chrome extensions may trigger the annoying Err_ssl_protocol_error. To rule out this possible reason off your list, go ahead and disable all your browser extensions and test if the error persists.

If this is not the case, this means that one of your browser extensions is the culprit. Enable your browser extensions individually to identify and uninstall the faulty extensions.

4. Clear SSL State

Clearing your SSL State is one of the quickest ways to fix browser issues. These are the steps to follow:

  1. Launch Control Panel > go to Network and Internet
  2. Navigate to Network and Sharing CenterNetwork and Sharing Center
  3. Select Internet Options > go to the Content tab > hit the Clear SSL state buttonclear SSL state
  4. Restart your computer > launch Chrome and check if the problem persists.

5. Try an alternative browser

You can also consider an alternative browser to fix this error. Opera One, for example, is a better solution to avoid this issue, plus upgrading your internet speed and capabilities.

You don’t have to worry about data integration and bookmarks because you can use the import option to get everything from other browsers. Plus, it provides connectivity between your devices to transfer files quickly.

More importantly, you can get built-in features right in your browser and thus don’t have to download other extensions or add-ons that may cause err_ssl_protocol_error on Chrome Windows 10.

Therefore, with dozens of features, this qualitative browser is a suitable way to be more protected on the web and benefit from a more stable browsing experience.

Opera One

Get a browser alternative and benefit from this easy customization and enhanced security browsing.
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There you go; it’s not hard to get rid of the error code “err_ssl_protocol_error” from your Windows device. These errors affect consoles, and we have a guide on how to handle SSL handshake errors on PS4/PS5, so don’t miss it.

If you have any other questions about this guide, please write in the comments section below.

Microsoft Edge is better at blocking phishing attacks than Chrome

Posted on by Madalina Dinita

If you’re still not sure whether you should install the Edge browser on your computer or not, here’s a new reason in favor of this idea: Microsoft Edge beat some of the most popular browsers in phishing tests.

Yes, this means that Edge is much better at identifying and blocking phishing attacks than Chrome and Firefox. Tests conducted by NSS Labs showed that Microsoft’s favorite browser blocked 96% of socially-engineered malware (malicious links and pop-ups), whereas Chrome successfully blocked only 88% and Firefox blocked 70% of these threats.

Edge blocks 92% of phishing attacks

As far as phishing attacks are concerned, Edge blocked 92% of malicious URLs, while Chrome blocked 75% of them. Firefox, on the other hand, got even worse results, blocking only 61% of phishing attacks.

Phishing attacks target both individual users, as well as business organizations. This is actually one of the biggest cyber security problems nowadays, as hackers can get their hands on sensitive personal and corporate information. Moreover, the number of email phishing campaigns have been continually increasing in recent years with phishing attacks becoming more and more complex. This means that detecting and blocking these threats has become more difficult.

In case you want to be secure while surfing the internet, you will need to get a full-dedicated tool to secure your network.  Install now Cyberghost VPN and secure yourself. It protects your PC from attacks while browsing, masks your IP address and blocks all unwanted access.

As a result, the safest approach is to prevent these attacks. Here’s how you can do this:

  • Install a reliable antivirus software on your computer to protect your machine against the latest threats.
  • Install an anti-malware tool: This will target specific cyber threats that are perhaps more difficult to spot by conventional antivirus software.
  • Avoid clicking on suspicious links or opening emails that you didn’t request.

RELATED STORIES TO CHECK OUT:

Install KB4345421 to fix error 0x000000D1 on Windows 10 v1803

Posted on by Madalina Dinita

If you’ve often experienced error 0x000000D1 after installing the latest Windows 10 April Update patches, then download and install KB4345421 to fix this problem for good. Microsoft rolled out this hotfix just one week after it released the problematic updates that triggered the issue mentioned above.

This is not the only bug fix that this update brings. Here is the complete list of KB4345421 improvements and fixes:

  • The update fixed the issue with the DHCP Failover server that may cause enterprise clients to receive an invalid configuration when requesting a new IP address. This results in a loss of connectivity.
  • The issue that may cause the restart of the SQL Server service to fail occasionally with the error, “Tcp port is already in use” has also been fixed.
  • The bug where the W3SVC remains in a “stopping” state, but cannot fully stop or it cannot be restarted has been fixed as well.

Download KB4345421

As always, you can automatically download KB4345421 via Windows Update or you can simply install the stand-alone update package from Microsoft’s Update Catalog.

KB4345421 issues

While Microsoft said it was not aware of any issues affecting the update, some Windows 10 users reported their computers often froze when they tried to create a new Windows 10 image. Here’s how one user describes this issue:

I tried to create a new windows 10 image from the scratch with windows media CD, then I updated it, and when it reaches a different update (KB4284848) it freezed and I can’t do anything except force restart, so I took a new dell PC right from the box never been used and I ran windows updates and it reached (kb4345421) and it also freezed. I updated All drivers, BIOS, chipset…etc.

If you encountered other issues after installing update KB4345421, do tell us more about your experience in the comments below.

Prevent a User From Changing Password on Windows 10 [How to]

Posted on by Ivan Jenic

Having a password on your Windows profile is important, but sometimes you want to prevent users from changing passwords in Windows 10.

This is important if you’re an administrator and want access to other accounts in your network. We already wrote about how to change password or username, and in this guide we’ll show you how to keep them.

How do I password-protect a user in Windows 10?

  1. Open the Settings app and go to Accounts.
  2. Select Sign-in options and expand the Password section.
  3. Click on Add and follow the instructions on the screen.

How do I prevent a user from changing the password in Windows 10?

1. Use the Computer Management feature

  1. Press Windows key + X and select Computer Management icon.
  2. Click on System Tools and then click the Local users and groups. Next, click on the Users folder.
  3. Double-click the user that you want to restrict from changing the password.
  4. In the next window that appears you will have to check the box next to User cannot change password field.
  5. Click Apply and OK to save changes and restart your PC.

2. Use Registry Editor

  1. Press Windows key + R and enter regedit. Click OK.
  2. Navigate to: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies
  3. Right-click the empty space in the right pane and expand the New menu and select New DWORD (32-bit).
  4. Name the DWORD DisableChangePassword.
  5. Now that you have created it you need to double-click on it.
  6. In the Value data field write 1 and press the OK button.

This might not be the simplest way to prevent a user from changing password Windows 10, but it will get the job done.

3. Use Group Policy Editor

  1. Press Windows key + R and type inside the Run Box gpedit.msc.
  2. Double-click on User Configuration\Administrative Templates \System\Ctrl+Alt+Del Options
  3. Double click on Remove Change Password and select Enabled.
  4. Click Apply and close the window.

This is pretty much all you need to do in order to prevent users from changing the password in Windows 10.

In case you want to remove the password on Windows, we have a great guide that can help you with that as well.

Please write us below if you have any other questions related to this subject; we will help you as soon as possible.

Here’s how to fix Gmail error 76997 once and for all

Posted on by Milan Stanojevic

If you’re getting error 76997 when using your Gmail account, this troubleshooting guide will help you solve the problem.

Gmail’s emailing service is one of the most used across the world, and has many new and advanced features, plus an interactive interface that makes it a favorite among its users.

However, the service doesn’t come without errors just like other services or even software programs, and this can affect work, communication, and even productivity in general besides ongoing processes.

Gmail users have reported various technical problems, most of which are easily resolved by their support team. Among these errors is the 76997 error, an error code that occurs when you try sending a single email to a group of contacts, but sometimes even to a single recipient.

Tackling Gmail problems, however, need not require a wealth of technical knowledge, so here are a few troubleshooting fixes and other solutions you can use to resolve the Gmail error 76997.

How can I fix Gmail error 76997 for good?

  1. Switch your email server to another email client
  2. Create a contact group
  3. Enable Labs
  4. Clear browser cache data
  5. Scan for Malicious Software
  6. Disable all Third-party Software
  7. Perform a Clean boot
  8. Disable extensions (Chrome)
  9. Disable Labs

1. Switch your email server to another email client

Many users reported various errors while accessing Gmail using their browsers. Because Gmail is a very heavy web app, many things could go wrong. This is especially true if you are running multiple browser extensions that could interfere.

Since Google doesn’t provide an official email client for Windows, users must choose a client themselves. Forget about the one built-in with Windows.

Think bigger. Think wider such as adding multiple accounts. Viewing all your messages in one unified inbox.

Integrating with other services such as WhatsApp, Slack, Dropbox, Evernote and many more. It’s starting to sound like the real deal, doesn’t it?

Mailbird offers all of these and more: a customizable email client for Windows that offers the possibility to quickly make LinkedIn LookUps right as you are reading an email you just received and need to find out more about that person.

It’s great for your Gmail account because it also integrates with other Google products such as Calendar, Docs and Hangouts.

Mailbird

Mailbird

Powerful email client for Gmail on Windows 10
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2. Create a contact group

You can create a contact group and then email that group, to do this:

  • Go to Google Contacts.
  • On the left under “Labels,” click Create label (or go to group contacts in old Contacts.)
  • Type a name, then click OK.

— RELATED: FIX: Gmail won’t load in Chrome on Windows 10

3. Enable Labs

Gmail error 76997 may be caused when all Gmail labs are disabled, so to enable one Labs, do this:

  • Open your Gmail account.
  • Click the Gear icon on the upper right side.
  • Select Settings.
  • Click the Labs tab.gmail labs
  • Enable an Available Labs.
  • Click save changes to confirm

4. Clear browser cache data

Gmail error code 76997 can be caused when the Gmail cache stored in your browser interrupts the operation. Clear cache and restart your browser. To do this:

Google Chrome

  • Open Google Chrome in the address bar, type in chrome ://settings/clearBrowserDataclear browsing data chrome
    In Clear the following items from, select the beginning of time.
  • Check all checkbox below Clear the following items from
  • Then, click Clear Browsing Data.

5. Scan for Malicious Software

If your Windows operating system is running a malicious code, you could get Gmail error 76997. In this case, perform a full antivirus scan to check for any such malware, which you can do using your security software program or Windows Defender, or even Microsoft Security essentials if you don’t have an antivirus. Ensure these are updated then run the scan.

— RELATED: SOLVED: ‘Something’s not right’ Gmail error

6. Disable all Third-party Software

Third party apps could cause Gmail error 76997, through an extension or plug in your browser, or even through a Windows application that runs each time you start up your computer. Disabling these third party apps may fix the problem.

7. Perform a Clean boot

  • Click start and type msconfig then select System Configuration from the search results.
  • On the Services tab of the System Configuration dialog box, tap or click to select the Hide all Microsoft services check box, and then tap or click Disable all.

Windows Defender is not removing Trojan

  • On the Startup tab of the System Configuration dialog box, tap or click Open Task Manager.

Windows Defender is not removing Trojan

  • On the Startup tab in Task Manager, for each startup item, select the item and then click Disable.
  • Close Task Manager.
  • On the Startup tab of the System Configuration dialog box, click OK, and then restart the computer.
  • Try to open Gmail.

8. Disable extensions (Chrome)

  • Open a new tab in Google Chrome.
  • Type this path ://extensions/ into the address bar.
  • Disable or Uninstall unnecessarily apps.</li>

9. Disable Labs

You can disable Labs one at a time to figure out which one is causing Gmail error 76997. To do this:

  • Open Gmail.
  • In the top right, click Settings
  • Click Settings.
  • Click the Labs tab.
  • Next to any labs you have enabled, select Disable.
  • At the bottom of the page, click Save Changes.

Were you able to resolve the Gmail error 76997 using any of these solutions? Let us know in the comments section below.

[wl_navigator]

How to stop Windows 10/7 from searching for Wi-Fi networks

Posted on by Ivan Jenic

Your list of wireless networks can get a tad huge if you have a lot of neighbors nearby. So, seeing that this can get very annoying very quickly, this short tutorial will show you how you can make your Windows 10, Windows 10 or Windows 7 device stop the search for Wi-Fi networks.

You can very easily access the feature to configure your very own wireless network search and stop the searches for others in Windows 8 or Windows 10. You only need to carefully follow the steps listed below and you can adjust this option as you wish.

How do I stop my PC from searching for Wi-Fi networks?

1. Disable Wireless Autoconfig

  1. Press the hold the “Windows” button and the “R” button.
  2. You should have in front of you the “Run” window.
  3. Write in the box within the window the following line: “Services.msc” but without the quotes.
  4. Press the “Enter” button on the keyboard.
  5. Left click on one of the options in the right panel side.
  6. Press on your keyboard the “W” button.
  7. Now you should find the Wireless Autoconfig feature or WLAN Autoconfig (on Windows 10)disable wlan autoconfig
  8. Right click on the Wireless AutoConfig option you have on the left side panel.
  9. Left click on the “Properties” option you have in that menu.
  10. Left click on the “Stop” button under the “Services status” topic.
  11. You will have there a feature that says “Startup type”.
  12. You will need to left click on the drop-down menu on the right side from “Startup type” and left click on the “Manual” option.wlan config startup type
    Note:You can also undo the changes by following the steps above and change back to the automatic search of the Wireless Networks
  13. Left click or tap on the “ok” button button to close the window.
  14. Reboot your Windows 8 or Windows 10 device.
  15. Check and see if you still have your searching for the wireless networks enabled.

2. Forget other Wi-Fi networks

Another way to reduce the number of wireless networks available on the list is to simply use the Forget option. In this manner, you Windows computer will simply delete the networks it previously connected to or detected.

Here are the steps to follow:

  1. Go to Settings > Network and Internet > Manage known networks
  2. Right click on the wireless networks that you want to delete > select Forget > restart your computer.

Now that you know how to stop your searching for the wireless networks in Windows 8 or Windows 10, you can go ahead and configure only the network you want to use for your operating system. If you have any questions on this article, let us know in the comments below and we’ll do our best to help you further with this issue.

RELATED STORIES TO CHECK OUT:

Full Fix: Opencl.dll Problems in Windows 10/11, 7

Posted on by Ivan Jenic

Although Windows 10 is becoming the most popular Windows on the market, it still has occasional bugs. Speaking of bugs, users have reported problems with opencl.dll in Windows 10, and today we’ll try to fix that.

How to Fix Opencl.dll Problems in Windows 10

Opencl.dll is an important file, and if this file is missing, you might encounter various issues. Speaking of issues, here are some problems reported by users:

  • Opencl.dll missing Windows 10, 8, 7 – According to users, this issue can appear on any version of Windows, but you should be able to fix the problem by using one of our solutions.
  • Opencl.dll corrupt – Sometimes this file can get corrupted, but you might be able to fix the problem simply by using the Windows 10 ISO file and DISM command.
  • Opencl.dll missing from your computer – If this file is missing from your PC, you might not be able to run certain applications, but you can always copy the file from another PC.
  • Opencl.dll missing AMD – According to users, this problem can appear due to your graphics card drivers, and to fix the problem you just need to update your drivers to the latest version.
  • Opencl.dll cannot be found – Sometimes the necessary files might not be found, but you should be able to fix the problem simply by installing the latest Windows updates.

1. Update your graphics card drives

As we already mentioned, opencl.dll is related to your graphics card, so it wise to check for latest driver updates. To do this, go to your graphics card manufacturer’s website and find your graphics card model. Check for the latest drivers and install them. After the latest drivers have been installed check if the issue has been resolved.

You can manually update your graphic card drivers through Device Manager from Display adapters. Select the drivers you need and right-click to Update your drivers. After the updating process is finished restart your PC.

We also recommend a specialized third-party tool to automatically download all the outdated drivers on your PC.

2. Use Windows Image File

In order to do this, you’ll need to have Windows 10 ISO of the exact build that you have installed. We have to mention that this solution is a bit more advanced, so if you don’t know how to do it, maybe it’s best to contact an expert.

  1. Mount the ISO image.
  2. Run Command Prompt as admin.
  3. Create a temporary directory to mount Windows Image File using the following command:
    • mkdir C:WIM
  4. Mount the WIM file:
    • Dism /Mount-Wim /WimFile:D:sourcesinstall.wim /index:1 /MountDir:C:WIM /ReadOnly
  5. Run DISM:
  6. Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth /Source:C:WIMWindows /LimitAccess
  7. After the process is completed unmount the image and delete the folder created in Step 3:
    • Dism /Unmount-Wim /MountDir:C:WIM /Discard
    • rmdir C:WIM
  8. Restart your computer.

3. Copy the missing file

According to users, one way to deal with Opencl.dll problems is to copy the missing file manually. To do this, it’s usually best to copy the file manually from another PC.

To fix the problem, simply copy the file to C:WindowsSystem32 directory. If you’re using a 64-bit version of Windows, you need to copy the missing file to the C:WindowsSysWOW64 directory as well.

Before you copy these files, be sure to create a backup of original files, just in case. Once you overwrite the original files, you’ll need to register the new files. To do that, just do the following:

  1. Press Windows Key + X to open Win + X menu. Now choose Command Prompt (Admin) or PowerShell (Admin).
    Opencl.dll missing Windows 8
  2. Now enter regsvr32 opencl.dll command and press Enter.

After doing that, the problem with the DLL file should be resolved.

A couple of users reported that you can copy the file from another directory on your PC. According to users, the file is located in Nvidia drivers directory, and you just need to copy it by following these steps:

  1. Go to C:Program FilesNVIDIA CorporationOpenCL directory. Locate OpenCL64.dll, right-click it and choose Copy from the menu.
  2. Go to C:WINDOWSSystem32 directory, and paste the file there. Be sure to change its name from OpenCL64.dll to OpenCL.dll.

After doing that, the problem should be resolved and everything will start working again.

4. Download the latest OpenCL runtime package

If you’re having problems with Opencl.dll, you might be able to fix the problem simply by downloading the OpenCL runtime package. According to users, you can download OpenCL runtime right from Intel’s website.

Once the runtime is downloaded, run the setup file to install it. After everything is installed, the issue should be resolved.

5. Uninstall your graphics card drivers and perform a DISM scan

According to users, Opencl.dll is related to your graphics card drivers, and in order to fix the problem, it’s advised that you uninstall your graphics card drivers and switch to the default drivers. To do that, just follow these steps:

  1. Press Windows Key + X and choose Device Manager from the list.
    Opencl.dll missing from your computer
  2. Locate your graphics card driver, right-click it and choose Uninstall device.
    Opencl.dll corrupt
  3. Confirmation menu will now appear. If available, check Remove driver software for this device button. Now click the Uninstall button.
    Opencl.dll missing from your computer
  4. After removing the driver, click on Scan for hardware changes icon and your system will automatically install the missing drivers.
    Opencl.dll missing AMD

Once you remove your driver, repeat the steps from Solution 2 to repair your system.

6. Prevent the driver from automatically updating

According to users, in order to fix this problem you need to prevent your graphics card driver from updating automatically. If you have a graphics card driver already installed, be sure to uninstall it from Device Manager.

Now, you need to prevent Windows from automatically updating the driver. After doing that, download the latest driver from your graphics card manufacturer and install it. Once the driver is installed, the problem with opencl.dll will be completely resolved.

7. Disable your dedicated graphics card

Opencl.dll issues are usually caused by your graphics card drivers, and if you can’t fix the problem, it’s advised that you temporarily disable your dedicated graphics card.

Keep in mind that this is just a workaround, and until the proper drivers are released, it’s advised to use an integrated graphics card. Your integrated graphics card might not be able to handle the latest games, but at least your PC will be stable so you can perform the most basic tasks without issues.

To disable your dedicated graphics card, be sure to check the graphics card software on your PC. Alternatively, you can disable your graphics card right from BIOS.

8. Perform a DISM and SFC scans

Users found out which directory is causing problems with opencl.dll, and in order to fix the problem, you just need to run DISM and SFC scans. To do that, just follow these steps:

  1. Mount Windows 10 ISO image.
  2. Start Command Prompt as administrator and run the following commands:
  • Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth /Source:esd:F:sourcesinstall.esd1WindowsWinSxSwow64_microsoft-windows-r..xwddmdriver-wow64-c_31bf3856ad364e35_10.0.10586.0_none_3dae054b56911c22
  • sfc /scannow

After doing that, the problem should be completely resolved.

9. Install the latest updates

This can be just a Windows 10 bug, and like most Windows bugs, you can fix it with the latest updates. Microsoft is working hard to fix various Windows issues, and if you want to ensure that your system is bug-free, it’s advised to keep your system up to date.

By default, Windows 10 installs the missing updates automatically, but sometimes you might miss an update or two. However, you can always check for updates manually by doing the following:

  1. Press Windows Key + I to open the Settings app.
  2. Go to Update & Security section.
    Opencl.dll corrupt
  3. Click Check for updates button.
    Opencl.dll cannot be found

Windows will now check for available updates and download them automatically in the background. Once the updates are downloaded, restart your PC to install them and the issue should be completely resolved.

That’s about it, I hope this article helped you to solve the problems with Opencl.dll on your computer. To find out more about solving the problem with missing DLL files in Windows 10, check out this article.

If you have any comments, or questions, just write them down below.

Fix: RAM Usage Went up After Installing Windows 10/11

Posted on by Ivan Jenic

I know that a lot of users who upgraded to the Windows 10 or the Windows 8.1 operating system might have some memory RAM related issues. But you will find out below some tips on how to fix your Windows 8.1 or Windows 10 if the RAM usage went up after the update you made.
RAM usage went up after installing Windows 8.1, Windows 10 Fix
The RAM usage went up after installing Windows 10 or Windows 8.1 first of all because the new operating system from Microsoft needs a few more RAM memory to operate as well as the applications you have installed on it. The lines below will show you how to better optimize your operating system and get your RAM memory down a notch.

How to fix RAM usage if it went up after the installation of Windows 10

  1. Adjust RAM performance
  2. Check problematic apps
  3. Disable startup programs
  4. Defragment your drives
  5. Open only needed applications
  6. Run a virus/malware scan
  7. Reboot your PC periodically

First option: Adjust RAM performance

  1. On the start screen of your Windows 8.1 or Windows 10 device you need to left click or tap on the “Desktop” icon.
  2. You will have there a “Computer” icon. You will have to right click on it or tap and hold in order to bring up the next menu.
  3. Left click or tap on the “Properties” option.
  4. Now in the properties window you will need to left click or tap on the “Advanced System settings” feature situated on the left side in the window.
  5. Now you have in front of you the “System properties” window.
  6. In the window above you should have a “Performance” topic and you need to left click or tap on the “Settings” icon.
  7. Now you have a “Performance options” window in front of you.
  8. Left click or tap on the option “Adjust for best performance”.
  9. Left click or tap on the “Apply” button.
  10. Left click or tap on the “OK” button to close this window.
  11. Close all the other open windows.
  12. Reboot your Windows 8.1 or Windows 10 operating system.
  13. Check and see how your RAM usage is doing now.

Second option: Check problematic apps

For a better improvement on your RAM usage, you will also have to check all the apps you are using inside Windows 8.1 or Windows 10 operating system.
Note one: Uninstall the apps that you are not using or don’t need in the Windows 8.1 or Windows 10 operating system.
Note two: Check if one of your apps is using more RAM memory then it is supposed to(You can check this by opening the task manager and looking into the processes tab to see which app is using the most memory).

Third option: Disable startup programs

See what programs are running at startup of the Windows 8.1 or Windows 10 device.

If you don’t need all of them to startup when the Windows 8.1 or Windows 10 boots I would suggest taking them out and opening them only when you need it. You can use the described steps below to take out a specific app from the startup feature.

  1. Press and hold the button “Windows” and the button “R”.
  2. Now that your run window shows you will need to write in there “msconfig” without the quotes.
  3. Press the “Enter” button on the keyboard.
  4. Now that you have the “Task manager” window in front of you left click or tap on the “Startup” tab situated in the upper side of the window.
  5. You will have there a list of programs that run at startup.
  6. If you want to disable them you only need to right click or tap and hold on a specific application and left click or tap on the “Disable” feature.

Fourth option: Defragment your drives

  1. Press and hold the “Windows” button and the “R” button.
  2. In the run window you will need to write the following: “dfrgui” without the quotes.
  3. Press the “Enter” button on the keyboard.
  4. In the new window that shows you will need to left click or tap on the hard drives you want to defragment.
  5. After you have selected the hard drives you will need to left click or tap on the “Optimize” button and follow the instructions on the screen to finish the defragment process.
  6. After the defragmentation is completed reboot your Windows 8.1 or Windows 10 device and try to see if it improved your RAM usage.

Fifth option: Open only needed applications

Try to open only the applications you need in Windows 8.1 or Windows 10. If you have more apps opened that you don’t use please close them to ensure a better functionality of the Windows 8.1 or Windows 10 system.

Sixth option: Run a virus/malware scan

Run a full system virus scan to ensure that you don’t have any third party programs that make your system RAM take up more usage.

Seventh option: Reboot your PC periodically

It is always helpful in case your Windows 10 or Windows 8.1 operating system is not working at the speed you want it to reboot it once in a while. If you do a reboot of the system this would ensure that you don’t have blocked applications in your processes even though you closed the previously.

How to Fix High RAM Usage in Windows 10

Solutions from the first part of the article apply to Windows 8.1 and Windows 10 Technical Preview! So, we found a couple of more solutions that might be helpful in solving the high RAM usage problem in the full version of Windows 10.

Solution 1 – Disable Windows tips

Ever since the Technical Preview, and it looks like it’s still present in the full version of Windows 10, the system will ocasionally show you some tips about using or some other system-related actions. As some users who were facing the high RAM usage problem in Windows 10 said, this proved to be a huge ‘memory-eater.’ So, since this isn’t an important part of the system, and you probably figured out how to use Windows 10 on your own by now, you can disable this feature, and hopefully you’ll regain some of your memory’s used space. Here’s how to easily disable “Show me tips about Windows” feature:

  1. Open Settings app
  2. Go to System
  3. Under Notifications & actions tab, uncheck Show me tips about Windows high ram usage windows 10

There you go, you computer should be at least a little faster now. But, if you’re still experiencing the high RAM usage problem, check out another solution below.

Solution 2 – Change Memory Management Settings

To change a Memory Management settings, you’ll have to perform a little registry tweak. Here’s exactly what you need to do:

  1. Go to Search, type regedit and hit Enter
  2. Go to the following path:
    • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetControlSession ManagerMemory Management
  3. Find ClearPageFileAtShutDown and change its value to 1 high memory usage windows 10
  4. Restart your computer

There you go, the few options above will help your Windows 8.1 or Windows 10 operating system use only the necessary RAM memory and ensure that your system is working at the speed it is intended. Also you can write us below any other questions related to this article and we will help you further in the quest of making your operating system work better.

You can also check our dedicated guide in order to fix low memory on Windows 10, 8.1 or 8. You can sometimes get other common error: Your computer is low on memory. Do not bother if you get this error message as our team managed to create a fix guide for ‘your computer is low on memory’ and its solutions will help you get rid of this issue.

READ ALSO: Windows 7 SP1 to Windows 10 Upgrade to be Performed Through Windows Update

Fix: Right Swipe not Working in Windows 10/11

Posted on by Ivan Jenic

Are you using a touchscreen device with Windows 10 or Windows 8.1 and your right swipe is not working? Well, you will be glad to find out that this feature can be easily fixed in no time at all but you will have to follow the instructions posted below very carefully in order to enable or fix the right swipe in Windows 8.1 or Windows 10.
Fix: Windows 8.1, Windows 10 right swipe not working
This feature can be either disabled or bugged but you will learn in the tutorial below how you can enable it if it is the case or what are your options to fix this feature if it is broken using a Windows 8.1 or Windows 10 device.

How to fix right swipe if it is not working correctly in Windows 10:

First method:

In this method you will learn how you can enable it if by any chance when you installed Windows 10 or Windows 8.1 it was disabled.

  1. First of all you will need to reboot your Windows 8.1 or Windows 10 device.
  2. When the operating system starts you will have to log in with your administrator account.
  3. Now while on the start screen you will have to move the mouse cursor over to the lower right side of the screen.
    Note: You can also press and hold the “Windows” button and the “C” button.
  4. You should have the “Charms” bar in front of you.
  5. Left click or tap on the “Settings” icon in the charms bar.
  6. At the lower side of the “Settings” window you will need to left click on the “Change PC settings” feature.
  7. Now you will need to left click on the “PC and devices” feature.
  8. Now in the new window you will need to left click on “Corners and edges” which situated on the left side in the “PC and devices” window.
  9. Now you should have on the right side of the screen a “App switching” topic.
  10. Move the button under the “When I swipe in from the left edge, switch between my recent apps instead of showing a list of them” topic all the way to the right side in order to enable this feature.
  11. Now under the “Corner navigation” feature you will need to place all the buttons you have on the “ON” position as well.
  12. Now reboot your Windows 8.1 or Windows 10 device and try your right swipe and see if it did the trick.

Second method:

  1. Move the mouse over to the upper right side of the screen.
  2. Left click or tap on the “Settings” feature.
  3. Left click or tap on the “Change PC settings” feature.
  4. On the left side panel you will need to left click or tap on the “Update and Recovery” feature.
  5. In the list presented you will need to go all the way down and select the “Recovery” setting.
  6. Now you will need to left click or tap on the “Get started” button under the topic “Refresh your PC without affecting your files”.
  7. Left click or tap on the “Next” button in the next screen you get.
  8. Left click or tap on the “Refresh” feature.
  9. It will take approximately fifteen minutes depending on the hardware configuration of your system.
  10. After this, you will need to reboot your Windows 8.1 or Windows 10 device and try again to swipe from the right side to see if it works.

Editor’s update: There are also some other issues that are related to a touchscreen device, and it would be good for you to know that many of them may occur on your device as well. If you have a specific device model you might be interested in the fixes below. Here they are:

That is it. Just two methods on how to fix your right swipe if it is not working as expected. Please write us below for any questions or thoughts on this subject and we will help you further with your issue on your Windows 8.1 or Windows 10 touchscreen device.

READ ALSO: CyberPOWER’s New FangBook Edge: Thin Gaming Laptop With 4K Display, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 860M

Full Fix: Blue Circle When Playing Games in Windows 10

Posted on by Ivan Jenic

Many people enjoy gaming on Windows 10, but some users report that they are getting a blue circle during games. This can be quite distracting when you’re playing your favorite game, but luckily for you, there’s a simple solution available.

How to get rid of the blue circle while playing games in Windows 10

Many gamers reported a strange blue circle while playing their favorite games. This can be a big problem, and speaking of blue circles in games, here are some similar issues reported by users:

  • Nahimic blue circle – This issue usually occurs due to Nahimic software, but you can disable the blue circle simply by using a single keyboard shortcut.
  • CSGO blue circle – Many users reported this issue in Counter Strike: Global Offensive. The problem can be caused by certain third-party applications, so to fix the issue, it’s advised to remove the problematic application.
  • Blue circle on screen Alienware – Alienware owners reported this problems as well. To fix the issue, find and disable Audio Recon feature.
  • Blue circle Steam games – This problem can occur with Steam games as well. To fix the issue, it’s advised to disable biometric devices on your PC and check if that helps.
  • Overwatch blue circle on screen – Sometimes this problem can appear due to your audio drivers. Try installing the default audio drivers to fix the issue and check if that helps.
  • Blue circle appearing in games – Blue circle can appear in almost any game, and in order to fix the issue, be sure to try some of our solutions.

1. Remove biometric software from your computer

Users report that biometric software, such as Asus Smart Gesture and HP Simple Pass, causes this issue so if you want to stop blue circle from appearing you might have to uninstall this software.

If you’re using HP Simple Pass you don’t have to uninstall it completely, instead, you can just disable LaunchSite from the Simple Pass settings.

There are several ways to remove these applications from your PC, but one of the best is by using uninstaller software.

In case you’re not familiar, uninstaller software is a special application that will completely remove all files and registry entries related to the application you want to remove.

Thanks to these tools, the application will be completely removed, and leftover files won’t interfere with your system.

Uninstaller applications will completely remove problematic apps from your PC, we suggest you give them a try.

2. Disable your biometric device / remove biometric device drivers

If the previous solution doesn’t work for you might want to try disabling your biometric device or uninstalling its drivers.

  1. Press Windows Key + X and from the menu choose Device Manager.
    CSGO blue circle
  2. In the Device Manager look for the biometric device.
  3. Right-click it and from the menu Choose Disable or Uninstall.
  4. Restart your computer and check if the issue is resolved.
  5. If the problem persists, you might want to repeat the entire process but choose a different option in Step 3.

3. Disable Nahimic sound tracker

According to users, a blue circle in games can appear due to the Nahimic sound tracker feature. To disable this feature, you just need to make a few changes to the Nahimic application. To do that, follow these steps:

  1. Open MSI Dragon Center Application and click on Nahimic2UILauncher.
  2. When the Nahimic window opens, go to Sound Tracker tab.
  3. Now press the On/Off button to disable this feature.

Alternatively, you can press LCTRL + LSHIFT + S shortcut to turn this feature off instantly. Many users reported that this solution worked for them, so be sure to try it out.

4. Turn off Audio Recon

Sometimes third-party applications can cause the blue circle to appear during gaming sessions. Many users reported that the problem occurred on Alienware laptops due to the Audio Recon feature. To fix the problem, go to Alienware Sound Center > Audio Recon and turn it off.

After turning this feature off, the blue circle should be gone and you’ll be able to enjoy gaming sessions without any problems.

5. Install the default audio driver

According to users, the blue circle appears in your games due to your driver software. To fix the problem, it’s recommended to switch back to the default audio driver. Although dedicated drivers are usually better, for basic needs such as gaming and multimedia, the default driver should be more than enough.

To install the default driver, first, you need to remove your current driver. To do that, just follow these steps:

  1. Open Device Manager, locate your audio device, right-click it and choose Uninstall device.
  2. When the confirmation dialog appears, check Remove driver software for this device option and click Uninstall.
  3. Once the audio driver is removed, click Scan for hardware changes button.
    Nahimic blue circle

Windows will now install the default audio driver. Once the default driver is installed, check if the problem is still there.

Alternatively, you can use a dedicated driver software such as Fortect Driver Updater. This utility scans your PC for damaged, missing, and outdated files and automatically fixes them.

It is very easy to use and safer because it always finds the corresponding driver for your hardware, eliminating the risks that come with mismatched drivers.

⇒ Get Fortect Driver Updater

6. End nahimic2uilauncher.exe process

As we already mentioned, sometimes a blue circle can appear on MSI motherboards due to the Nahimic Surround Sound application. However, you can fix this problem simply by ending a single task. To do that, just follow these simple steps:

  1. Open Task Manager. You can do that quickly by using Ctrl + Shift + Esc shortcut.
  2. When Task Manager opens, go to the Details tab. Right-click nahimic2uilauncher.exe and choose End task from the menu.
    Blue circle Steam games

After ending this task, the blue circle should be gone. Keep in mind that this isn’t a permanent solution, so you’ll need to repeat it every time you turn on your PC.

7. Use Safe Mode

Safe Mode is a special segment of Windows that runs with default drivers and applications, so if a third-party application is causing the blue circle to appear during your gaming sessions, you might be able to troubleshoot the issue using Safe Mode.

To enter Safe Mode, you just need to do the following:

  1. Press Window Key + I to open the Settings app.
  2. When Settings app opens, go to Update & Security section.
    Nahimic blue circle
  3. Go to the Recovery section in the left pane. In the right pane, in the Advanced startup section click the Restart now button.
    Blue circle on screen Alienware
  4. Choose Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings. Now click the Restart button.
  5. When your PC restarts you’ll see a list of options. Select any version of Safe Mode by pressing the corresponding key.

Once you enter Safe Mode, check if the problem is still there. If the issue doesn’t appear in Safe Mode, it means that one of your third-party applications is causing the problem. To see how to identify the problematic application, be sure to check out the next solution.

Solution 8 – Perform a Clean boot

As already mentioned, third-party applications can cause this issue to appear, and one way to find and disable the problematic applications is to perform a Clean boot. If you’re not familiar, the Clean boot state will start your PC only with default applications and services, so you can easily tell if a third-party application is a problem.

To perform a Clean boot, you need to do the following:

  1. Press Windows Key + R and enter msconfig. Press Enter or click OK.
    CSGO blue circle
  2. System Configuration window will appear. Go to Services tab and check Hide all Microsoft services. Now click Disable all button.
    Blue circle on screen Alienware
  3. Go to Startup tab and click Open Task Manager.
    Blue circle Steam games
  4. Task Manager will now open with the list of all startup applications. Right-click the first item on the list and choose Disable from the menu. Repeat this step for all startup applications on the list.
    Overwatch blue circle on screen
  5. Once you disable all startup applications, go back to the System Configuration window and click Apply and OK to save changes. Restart your PC.
    Blue circle appearing in games

Once your PC restarts, check if the problem is still there. If not, you can enable disabled applications and services one by one or in groups. Keep in mind that you need to restart your PC in order to apply changes after enabling each group of applications.

Once you find the problematic application, you can keep it disabled or uninstall it, so it doesn’t interfere with your gaming sessions anymore.

As you can see, the blue circle during games is caused by biometric software, but if biometric software isn’t the issue, be sure to try our other solutions.

Printer Won’t Scan to Computer: 4 Ways to Fix it

Posted on by Ivan Jenic

Printer issues are fairly common, and many reported that printers won’t scan to the computer. This can be a problem and prevent your printer scanner combo from working properly.

The issue is different than printer won’t print issue that was previously encountered, and today we’re going to show you the best ways to fix it.

Why my printer can print but cannot scan?

  • If your device isn’t properly connected, you’ll encounter issues while scanning or printing.
  • Outdated drivers are one of the most common causes of printer problems.
  • Temporary glitches with your printer or system can cause this problem.

How do I get my printer to scan to my computer?

1. Check your USB cable and printer

  1. Check your USB cable from the printer to the Windows device and be sure it is plugged in.
  2. Check if your printer is running in normal parameters and all the lights are on.
  3. Check and see if you can print a document so that we resume ourselves only to the scanning feature of the printer.

If your printer is working properly and you just need instructions for scanning, check our guide on how to use your printer to scan.

2. Update your printer drivers

  1. Press Windows key + X and select Device Manager.
  2. Locate your printer scanner combo, right-click it and choose Update driver.
  3. Select Browse my computer for driver software.
  4. Next, navigate to Let me pick from a list of device drivers on my computer.
  5. Locate your model on the list and select it.
  6. Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the setup.

After doing that, check if the problem is resolved.

3. Get the latest printer drivers from the manufacturer’s website

  1. Visit your printer manufacturer’s website.
  2. Navigate to the driver’s section and locate your model.
  3. Locate the latest driver and download it.
  4. Once the setup file is downloaded, run it to install it.

4. Run the Printer troubleshooter

  1. On Windows 10, simply go to Settings and select Update & Security.
  2. Next select Troubleshoot.
  3. Select and run the Printer troubleshooter.


As you can see, it’s easy to fix this problem on your PC as long as you follow our solutions.

Sadly, this isn’t the only issue you’ll encounter, and many reported that the HP scanner is not working on Windows.

What solution did you use to fix this problem? Let us know in the comments section below.

[Updated] Xbox team shares plans for Gamescom next month, teases “all new Xbox hardware and accessories”

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

The Xbox team is coming back to Gamescom in Cologne, Germany this August, giving Xbox fans in Europe a big opportunity to check out an exciting lineup of games coming on Xbox One. The annual trade fair for video games will kick off on Tuesday, August 21 with a press/trade only day plus a special Inside Xbox episode at 4:30 PM EST, but the Xbox and Mixer booths will welcome all Xbox fans from Wednesday, August 22 to Saturday, August 25.

Attendees will be able to get their hands on a selection of 25 games including some of the most exciting Xbox exclusives to be released in the coming months. “This is the first time that European gamers will have the chance to jump in and try out many of our newest gameplay experiences including the open world freedom of driving through stunning beautiful historic Britain in Forza Horizon 4 or embarking on a journey to unravel Ori’s true destiny in this emotionally engaging, hand-crafted, story-driven adventure in Ori and the Will of the Wisps,” wrote Xbox’s Major Nelson.

Interestingly, Major Nelson also teased “all-new Xbox hardware and accessories, and features on upcoming titles that we can’t wait to tell you more about and perhaps even a few surprises” in his blog post. It’s not immediately clear what to expect from the announcement, but this could well include the new version of the Xbox Elite Controller that leaked a couple of months ago.

Last but not least, there will also be an exclusive Xbox FanFest on Thursday, August 23, though Microsoft has yet to share more information about the program and tickets. The official Xbox Gear shop, which officially launched in the US during E3 will also make its European debut at Gamescom, in partnership with Game Legends.

Update: Xbox’s Major Nelson has updated his blog post to replace the “all-new Xbox hardware and accessories” bit with “new Xbox One bundles and accessories,” and explained on Twitter that the initial wording was an error.

Microsoft removes Windows 10 Insider ISOs from download page, new ones coming soon?

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

Windows Insiders looking for a fresh start with the newest builds usually turn to ISOs for help, but Microsoft hasn’t pushed out new files in over four months. There might still be hope for new ISOs soon though as the company has now placed a “Coming Soon” message on Advanced Preview download section of the Windows Insider website (via Neowin.)

This portion of the Windows Insider website was last offering both builds 17127 and 17115, which have now been removed in favor of the “Coming Soon” message. These builds also both come from the Redstone 4 development cycle, which has since expired. It is likely that Microsoft removed these builds in favor of the message because Windows Insiders were not able to properly install.

ISO releases usually coincide with Slow ring releases, and there only been one of those in the last four months. Since the company recently announced a fork in the Redstone 5 cycle, Microsoft could likely be cooking up new ISO’s soon. You’ll just have to stay tuned for more and hope for an announcement in an upcoming build blog post.

Fix: Windows + Shift + S hotkey not Working in Windows 10

Posted on by Matthew Adams

Since the Creators Update, some users have stated on forums that OneNote 2016’s Windows + Shift + S hotkey (Windows + S in earlier versions) doesn’t work in Win 10.

Windows + Shift + S is now the default hotkey for the Snipping Tool. Thus, the Snipping Tool and OneNote have a keyboard shortcut conflict. Here are a few resolutions for fixing OneNote’s hotkey so that it opens the Select Location in the OneNote window for screen clippings.

What can I do if the Snipping Tool shortcut won’t work?

1. Change the OneNote Hotkey

Some users have fixed the OneNote 2016 hotkey for screen clippings by changing the keyboard shortcut. OneNote doesn’t include any built-in options for customizing hotkeys. As such, you must modify its hotkey with the Registry Editor as follows.

  1. Press the Windows key + R hotkey to open Run.
  2. Input ‘regedit’ in Run and click OK to open the Registry Editor.
  3. Then open this key in the Registry Editor: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\16.0\OneNote\Options\Other.
  4. Select Other and then right-click an empty space on the right of the Registry Editor window to open the context menu. Select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value to set up a new DWORD.
  5. Then enter ‘ScreenClippingShortcutKey’ as the title for the new keyword.
  6. Double-click ScreenClippingShortcutKey to open the Edit DWORD window.
  7. Then input ‘5A’ in the Value data text box to change the OneNote 2016 clipping tool’s hotkey to Win + Shift + Z.
  8. Press the OK button to close the window.
  9. Then close the Registry Editor, and restart your laptop or desktop.

2. Disable the Global Hotkey

Alternatively, you can disable the global Windows + S hotkey so that the Snipping Tool doesn’t open when you press the Win key + Shift + S keyboard shortcut. Windows doesn’t include options to customize its default keyboard shortcuts. However, you can disable the Windows + S global keyboard shortcut with the Registry Editor as follows.

  1. Enter ‘regedit’ in Run to open the Registry Editor.
  2. Then browse to this registry key: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced.
  3. Right-click Advanced and select New > String Value.
  4. Enter DisabledHotkeys as the title for the new string value.
  5. Double-click DisabledHotkeys to open the Edit String window.
  6. Enter ‘S’ in the Edit String window, and click OK to close the window.
  7. Now close the Registry Editor, and click Restart to restart Windows.

3. Capture Screenshots With OneNote’s System Tray Icon

OneNote 2016 users don’t need to press the Windows + Shift + S hotkey to capture screenshots. Instead, you can configure the application to capture snapshots when you click its system tray icon. This is how you can capture snapshots with the OneNote system tray icon.

  1. Right-click the OneNote system tray icon to open its context menu. You might need to click the notification area’s up arrow to right-click that icon.
  2. Select the Take screen clipping option on the context menu.
  3. Then you can select an area to capture in the snapshot, and the Select Location in the OneNote window will open.
  4. Thereafter, you can click the OneNote system tray icon to capture snapshots and open the Select Location in the OneNote window.
  5. If you can’t find OneNote’s system tray icon, right-click the Win 10 taskbar and select the Taskbar settings option. Click Select which icons appear on the taskbar to open a list of icons as shown below. Toggle the Send to OneNote Tool icon on to include it in the system tray.

So that’s how you can fix the OneNote hotkey for screen clippings and capture snapshots without it. Then, you can select a OneNote location to save the snapshots instead of pasting them into notebooks with the Ctrl + V hotkey.

And if you also find that keyboard shortcuts are not working in Word, the problem is just as easy to fix.

To share more solutions with us, drop a comment below.

Windows Server 2019 Insider build 17713 now available with new preview of Windows Admin Center

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

Microsoft has released today the preview build 17713 for Windows Server 2019 and Windows Server version 1809. The new Insider builds bring no new features to the two separate versions of the server OS, but in the additional downloads you’ll find a new preview of Windows Admin Center (1807).

Windows Admin Center (formerly Project Honolulu) became generally available back in April, and it allows IT admins to remotely manage Windows Server and Windows 10. Windows Admin Center will be optimized for Windows Server 2019, and this latest preview release brings a couple of new features including File Sharing from the Files tool, Azure Update Management integration and more. We invite you to check this separate blog post to get all details about this new preview release.

As usual, registered Windows Insiders can download the new Windows Server preview builds from the Windows Server Insider Preview download page. For Windows Admin Center Preview 1807, you’ll have to look under the Additional Downloads dropdown.

Get Death Squared and Splinter Cell: Conviction free now with July’s Xbox Games with Gold

Posted on by davew

Every month, Xbox Live Gold members are treated to free games and special discounts with Games with Gold. As we now enter the second half of July, Death Squared and Splinter Cell: Conviction have just become available for free on Xbox One to Xbox Live Gold subscribers.

Death Squared is a fun puzzler, offering 80 puzzles to solve alone or with the help of up to four friends on Xbox Live. Splinter Cell Conviction is a great Xbox 360 game that is available via Xbox Backward Compatibility and puts you in the shoes of Sam Fisher, who is considered a fugitive of the US government.

These games add up for a total of about $35 in value, so be sure to grab them up soon. As  you’re at it, you also might want to check out this week’s Deals with Gold, featuring Fortnite premium packs, cult-classic OKAMI HD, Dragon Ball Xenoverse 1 and 2, and more.

Download the latest version of VLC Desktop for Windows 10

Posted on by Ivan Jenic

I know most of our Windows users like having the VLC multimedia player around and for a good reason.

This platform offers a large amount of accessible multimedia files, as well as the DVD’s readings, audio CD’s, VCD’s extensions and many other streaming protocols.
download latest version of VLC for Windows
The latest version available on the market for free is the 3.0.3 VLC version for Windows operating systems. One of the best features in this new version is the faster decoding time on multi-core– test it for yourself.

So, let’s take a look at the available features in the VLCDesktop application and see what’s new in this version. Read this review all the way to the end to find the link which you can access in order to install the latest VLC Desktop version.

If VLC is lagging on Windows 10, check out this dedicated guide to solve the problem in no time.

Download VLC Desktop 3.0.3

download link VLC desktop

The video features available in VLC 3.0.3

  1. The VLC app brings us with this new version some new video outputs for the Windows 7, OS/2, Android and last but not least the compatibility with iOS platforms.
  2. It also has a “shader” support for the OpenGL outputs and also for “colorspace” conversion.
  3. A high variety of anti-flickering and debanding filters available.

The Audio features available in the latest VLC version:

  1. In the audio features, VLC includes resamplers for higher quality audio output.
  2. Karaoke filters and a dynamic range compressor.
  3. As posted above it has the feature for new audio outputs like iOS, Android and even OS/2.
  4. Faster processing of the audio outputs that are made by simplifying the audio core of the application is another useful option available in VLC 2.0

Want to know how to adjust subtitle speed in VLC? Check out this guide and learn how to do it with ease.

The devices and inputs for this application are many in number but I will enumerate just a few that many of our users probably need:

  1. BluRay discs.
  2. Support for a SDI capture cards if needed.
  3. Support for QTKit devices if you have any that you want to use.

The VLC 3.0.3 version also provides support for MxPEG files, streams as well as a more customizable menu for the Mac OS X operating system.

Also a large variety of fixes for HTTP Live streaming, “CDDB”, “UDP/RPT” support and a great improvement in bug fixes on the”MKV” support subject.

VLC is one of the few media players that support absolutely all the file formats our there.

So, if your default player could not render a particular format, go ahead and install VLC Desktop on your Windows computer and you’ll be able to play the respective file.

Here is the complete list of supported media file formats:

  • MPEG-1/2, DivX (1/2/3/4/5/6), MPEG-4 ASP, XviD, 3ivX D4, H.261, H.263 / H.263i, H.264 / MPEG-4 AVC, Cinepak, Theora, Dirac / VC-2, MJPEG (A/B), WMV 1/2, WMV 3 / WMV-9 / VC-1, Sorenson 1/3, DV, On2 VP3/VP5/VP6, Indeo Video v3 (IV32), Real Video (1/2/3/4).
  • MPEG Layer 1/2, MP3 – MPEG Layer 3, AAC – MPEG-4 part3, Vorbis, AC3 – A/52, E-AC-3, MLP / TrueHD>3, DTS, WMA 1/2, WMA 3, FLAC, ALAC, Speex, Musepack / MPC, ATRAC 3, Wavpack, Mod, TrueAudio, APE, Real Audio, Alaw/µlaw, AMR (3GPP), MIDI, LPCM, ADPCM, QCELP, DV Audio, QDM2/QDMC, MACE.
  • DVD, Text files (MicroDVD, SubRIP, SubViewer, SSA1-5, SAMI, VPlayer), Closed captions, Vobsub, Universal Subtitle Format (USF), SVCD / CVD, DVB, OGM, CMML, Kate.
  • ID3 tags, APEv2, Vorbis comment.

So, if this version got your attention, access the link below and install VLC to try it for yourself.

If you have any other questions regarding VLC media player, don’t hesitate to leave them in the comments section below and we’ll be sure to check them out.

RELATED STORIES TO CHECK OUT:

Fix: Do you Want to Allow Files From this Website to be Copied to Your Computer

Posted on by Ivan Jenic

Sometimes, you will try to copy and paste or drag and drop an image file or any other kind of file from a website to your Windows 8.1 or Windows 10 device, you will get the Do you want to allow files from this website to be copied to your computer message.

This tutorial will show you how to enable or disable this feature.

How can I fix do you want to allow files from this website to be copied to your computer?

1. Change security settings

  1. Open your Internet Explorer application Windows 10.
  2. Left-click the Tools button you have in the upper side of the screen.
  3. Now select Internet Options.
  4. Click the Security tab situated in the upper side of this window.
  5. You will have in this window a topic named Select a zone to view or change security settings.change internet security settings
  6. Next, click the Restricted Sites icon.
  7. Select the Custom level button in the lower side of this window.restricted sites internet settings
  8. Tick the Enable box for Drag and drop or copy and paste files in the Security Settings – Restricted site zones option.
  9. Finally, click the Apply button, followed by OK and restart your PC.

2. Tweak your Registry Settings

  1. Press the Windows key + R, type regedit, and click the OK button.
  2. Now, navigate to the path below in the left pane: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet settings\Zonesinternet settings registry editor
  3. Next, double-click the folder named 4 under Zones.
  4. Double-click the 1802 DWORD in the right-pane.
  5. Change its Value data to 0.
  6. Finally, click the OK button and restart your PC.

If the method above did not work for you then you can also change this message from the Registry Editor window by doing the steps above.

3. Customize GPO settings

  1. Press the Windows key + R, type gpedit.msc, and click OK.
    gpedit.msc
  2. Go to the path below in the left pane: User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Attachment Manager
  3. Now, double-click Do not preserve zone information in file attachments.
  4. Tick the Enabled radio button, click the Apply button, followed by OK. In this manner, your computer will run all your downloaded files without displaying any alert.
  5.  To be more specific, you can enable the policy inclusion list for the following file extensions that you often run .exe; .docx;.doc;.xlsx

There is also a third solution that you can use and it involves changing your GPO settings.

This is pretty much all you need to do in order to disable the Do you want to allow files from this website to be copied to your computer message you get while trying to copy a file from a website to your Windows 8.1 or Windows 10 device.

If you are also dealing with a similar error in do you want to allow webpage to access your clipboard, check our detailed guide to fix it.

If you have any other questions regarding this article, let us know in the comments below.

How to record Skype calls on Windows 10, 7

Posted on by Ivan Jenic

There are a couple of possibilities for your Skype application in which you can record video, audio calls. However, keep in mind that Skype does not have a built-in feature that will let you do this. Therefore you will need a third party application for recording Skype calls. We will show you exactly what we need to do in order to record video and/ or audio Skype calls using Windows 8.1, Windows 7 or Windows 10.

You can either use the Evaer Skype video recorder application or use the Supertintin Skype Video Recorder application. Using these two applications is as easy as it can get and you will find the download links as well as a few tips on how to install and use these applications below.

How can I record Skype video calls on Windows 10?

1. Download and install Evaer

evaer-video-recorder-windows-10

  1. Download from the link below the Evaer application:
    Click here to download Evaer
  2. After you downloaded the application you will need to double click or tap on the executable Evaer file in order to start the installation.
  3. Left click on the “next” button in the first window that pops up after you opened up the executable file.
  4. It will ask you if you want to allow the Evaer application to use Skype in which case you will need to left click or tap on the “Allow access” button.
  5. Now that you have installed the Evaer application you will only need to start your Skype conversation and left click or tap on the “Start recording” button present in the “Evaer” application.

— RELATED: How to keep using old Skype versions on Windows 10, 8, 7

2. Download and install Supertintin

Supertintin skype recorder app

  1. Download from the link below the Supertintin application:
    Click here to download Supertintin
  2. Double click or tap on the executable file after the download is finished.
  3. Follow the instructions on the screen to finish the installation.

3. Additional Skype recorder software for Windows 10

As you already know, Skype doesn’t support video and audio recording natively. However, the company has also published a list of the best tools that you can use to record your Skype calls. You can check out the list on Skype’s official website. Read the description for each tool and download the one that you like best.

We also compiled a list of the best apps and software to record Skype videos and audio. As you can see, there are plenty of tools to choose from.

There you have a few applications that you can download for free and begin recording video and audio Skype calls in Windows 8.1 and Windows 10. If you experience any difficulty or you have any other questions related to this article, let us know in the comments below.

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Microsoft could bring ads to Windows 10 Mail App in the future

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

Microsoft seems to be testing this strange change on its Mail app. This was spotted by most insiders who have been seeing ads in their inboxes. So, the only conclusion may be that the Windows 10 Mail app could soon receive an update that will definitely be hated by lots of users, there’s no doubt about it. Ads straight into the main UI above your latest emails from your inbox is not something you’ve been dreaming to have, we assume.

You won’t simply be able to opt out

Windows 10 Mail App ads

It also seems that this is not a feature that you will simply be able to opt out of. Instead, it will be an ad that’s bundled into the application that nobody can get rid off. This could trigger users to give up on the app entirely if such a thing will happen. For the moment, this may seem the best idea or solution for most ad haters, and it’s also very unusual for an app that’s developed by Redmond for an OS designed by them as well to include built-in ads.

Let’s hope Microsoft ditches the idea

For the sake of the app, we hope that this is just an experimental feature and it will not be implemented eventually. Anyway, if Microsoft plans to release the feature to all Windows 10 users, the Mail app’s user base will definitely decline numerically especially considering the vast number of email clients that are available out there for free and without any annoying ads implemented in their UI. Many users already shared their thoughts about this on Reddit:

Here’s a thought: Use another mail client. Thunderbird for example, or pay for one if you don’t like the one Microsoft is making. Personally, the moment I see an ad on the Mail app I will completely uninstall it and use Thunderbird exclusively. Maybe even donate more money to Mozilla. It’s nice that you can still do that.

This is not even the most controversial change that Microsoft is planning for the Mail app. Let’s not forget that Microsoft has recently revealed that users will be forced to open links in Microsoft Edge and not in their third-party browsers that are set as their default. This was for sure another disturbing news coming from Redmond.

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