Resident Evil 2 digital pre-orders open on Xbox One consoles

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

The remake of Resident Evil 2 is now available to pre-order digitally on all Xbox One consoles. This version of the classic video game features completely new graphics and improved gameplay and received a pretty positive reaction when it was showcased during this year’s E3.

Resident Evil 2 is due for release on January 25th next year and will be available in both a regular and Deluxe Edition. Pre-orders of both will unlock two Samurai Edge in-game weapons while those who buy the Deluxe Edition will also get a variety of alternate costumes, another exclusive weapon, and an option to swap the game’s soundtrack.

A deadly virus engulfs the residents of Raccoon City in September of 1998, plunging the city into chaos as flesh eating zombies roam the streets for survivors. An unparalleled adrenaline rush, gripping storyline, and unimaginable horrors await you. Witness the return of Resident Evil 2.

Are you excited to play Resident Evil 2 again or will this be your first time? Share your thoughts with the community in the comments below or head on over to our Facebook page and comment there.

RESIDENT EVIL 2 Deluxe Edition
RESIDENT EVIL 2 Deluxe Edition
Download
QR-Code

RESIDENT EVIL 2 Deluxe Edition
Developer:
CAPCOM CO., LTD.
Price:
Free

Microsoft’s SwiftKey keyboard gets exclusive Ant-Man and The Wasp stickers

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

Microsoft’s SwiftKey keyboard for Android devices is getting a special sticker set based on the newly released Marvel’s Ant-Man and The Wasp movie. The stickers are free to use for all users and feature the two main protagonists from the film plus one of the villain and other related images.

The announcement, which came in the form of a tweet from the official SwiftKey account, claims that these stickers are exclusive which is a pretty great win for Microsoft.

Have you tried these Ant-Man and The Wasp stickers yet on your Android device? Let us know what you think of them in the comments below and then follow us on Twitter for more smartphone news.

Microsoft SwiftKey AI Keyboard
Microsoft SwiftKey AI Keyboard
Download
QR-Code

Microsoft SwiftKey AI Keyboard
Developer:
SwiftKey
Price:
Free

Windows 8.1, 8 vs Windows 10: Worth the Upgrade?

Posted on by Ivan Jenic

I know most of you just got used to Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 operating systems, but we have a new Windows 10 in town and it is heading up to be quite impressive. You will see more information below if you should upgrade your system to the Windows 10 operating system or not.
windows 10 vs windows 8
Microsoft took out Windows 9 from the equation but brought the Windows 10 OS to the spotlight for our desktops and laptops computers. Also, they released the official version of this operating system in October 2015.Regarding the pricing of this operating system, there are two possible scenarios: you can either upgrade to Windows 10 for free (yes, the free upgrade offer is still valid!) or you can shell out $119.00 to get the OS package.

As a plus to the Windows 10 operating system, Microsoft introduced  a one application platform meaning that it can run on all your Windows devices like Desktop PCs, laptops, tablets, Smartphone’s and of course having the same “Store” feature  on all.

  • RELATED: Microsoft offering free Windows 10 upgrade to cloud service subscribers

Should I install Windows 10 or stick to Windows 8.1, 8?

For all of the fans of the Windows start menu, you will be pleased to find out that Windows 10 has this feature available again. Of course, it is designed so that even if you have a mouse or a touch screen on your device, you are still able to move around quite easily. Another useful feature about the start menu present in Windows 10 is the option to resize everything going from the start menu itself up to the tiles present in the start menu.

Regarding Windows 8, you will still have access to the Charms bar in Windows 10, so this good feature is still available for all the Windows 8 users who got used to it. Also, the search box feature has  the capabilities of the Windows 8 operating system one of which being the results from our Windows store.

Windows 10 compared to Windows 8

Windows 10

  • Charms bar feature

Seeing that the charms bar is still present in Windows 10 can be very reassuring for all Windows 8 users. This feature is pretty much the same but with a slight modification to ease your operating time.

Let’s take, for example if you have an app opened up in Windows 10 and you want to bring up the charms bar, you will have to press and hold the buttons “Windows” and “C”. The only difference is that the charms bar will appear a little bit smaller and it will be situated in the upper left corner of the app you have opened.

— RELATED: Windows 10 S vs Windows 10 Home: All the differences between the two

  • The command prompt feature from Windows 8 still present in Windows 10

Yes, you will still have the beloved Command Prompt window in Windows 10. Besides the stylish design, you now have the opportunity to copy and paste your text inside and outside of the Command Prompt window.

On the other hand, Windows 10 features a new tool called PowerShell. Windows 10 PowerShell is a task automation framework that allows administrators to perform administrative tasks on both local and remote Windows systems. So, if you want to test this new feature, you need to install the latest Windows 10 OS version.

  • The “Alt Tab” feature

Press and hold the “Alt” button and the “Tab” button in any Windows operating system and you will see how easy it is to shift between apps. This feature has not disappeared in Windows 10 either from what Microsoft shows us in the prototype of this version. From this point of view there is still no downside so far from upgrading your Windows 8 to Windows 10 system.

— RELATED: Microsoft further encourages iOS devs to port their apps to Windows 10

  • Windows 8 vs Windows 10 Security features

As far as security is concerned, it’s pretty clear why Windows 10 takes the crown. Long story short, if online security is one of your key concerns, then you should definitely hit the upgrade button and install the latest Windows 10 version on your machine.

The Windows Defender version that’s available on Windows 10 is one of the best antivirus software that you can use, according to tests. Microsoft has significantly improved its built-in antivirus tool since the Windows 8.1 edition, adding a plethora of new features and improvements so as to successfully fend off the latest cyber threats.

  • Windows 8.1 vs Windows 10 gaming

If you’re a gamer, then Windows 10 is definitely the right OS for you. Microsoft has added a series of gaming-related features in Windows 10, including the Game Bar, Game DVR option, and more. Windows 10 definitely offers better gaming performance than Windows 8.1 or Windows 8.

So, seeing that a good bunch of the features in Windows 8 are still be present in Windows 10 and also some of them have been improved a bit as far as the design and user experience part is concerned, it’s easy to tell why this operating system might very well take the first place in Microsoft’s releases so far. It is worth mentioning that Windows 7 is still king, with over 43% of Windows users preferring it over other OS versions.

New Windows 10 operating systems will regularly hit the market, but in the meantime you can compare the features present on both operating systems and decide if you want to stick to Windows 8 or upgrade your device to Windows 10. Write us in the comments section below for any questions on this article.

RELATED STORIES TO CHECK OUT:

Fix: Battery Icon is Missing in Windows 7

Posted on by Ivan Jenic

Have you just installed your Windows 10, 8, 7 operating system and your battery icon is missing from your desktop? For this particular issue, we have some steps that we need to take to bring back your battery icon.

Having your battery icon missing from the system tray can get pretty annoying seeing that you might be at work or on a vacation and you don’t have access to the power outlet to charge your laptop.

battery icon won't show up

Not being able to see how much power is left on your laptop‘s battery in Windows 8.1, 8,  Windows 7 or Windows 10 might cause you to lose everything you worked on because of an unexpected shutdown. You won’t have to worry about the battery icon anymore because you will list four methods to fix this problem so that you can go on with your everyday Windows 8.1, 8, 7 usage.

The battery icon is missing from the taskbar

  1. Check ‘Show icon and notification’ settings
  2. Uninstall Microsoft AC adapter
  3. Use SFC scan
  4. Refresh your PC

1. Check ‘Show icon and notification’ settings

  1. In the start screen of Windows 8.1, 8, 7 you will need to left click on the “Desktop” icon to take to the desktop mode.
  2. Left click on the small arrow you have in the lower right side of the screen that is pointing up.
  3. Left click on the “Customize” button you have there.
  4. Now you will have a list with options, look in there for the “Power” option.
  5. Left click on the drop down menu next to “Power” and select the “Show icon and notification” option.
  6. Left click on the “OK” button you have in the lower side of the screen.
  7. Reboot the Windows 8.1, 8, 7device and check if your battery icon shows up now.

2. Uninstall Microsoft AC adapter

  1. Press and hold the buttons “Windows” and “R”.
  2. After the Run window pops up you need to type in there “devmgmt.msc” and press the “Enter” button on the keyboard.
  3. In the window that opens up you will have on the left an option that says “Batteries”. Left click on that option.
  4. In the “Batteries” list you will be presented with a “Microsoft AC adapter” icon.
  5. Left click on the “Microsoft AC Adapter” icon and choose the “Uninstall” feature.uninstall Microsoft AC adapter
  6. You will get a pop up message where you will need to left click on “ OK”.
  7. Left click on the “Action” tab you have in the upper side of the “Device manager” window.
  8. Left click on the “Scan for hardware changes” option presented in the “Action” menu.scan hardware changes
  9. Reboot the Windows 8 device and see if after the startup your battery icon shows up.

3. Use SFC scan

  1. In the menu presented in the start screen you will need to type “cmd”.
  2. After your Windows 8.1, 8, 7 system finds the “cmd” icon you will need to left click on it and select “Run as administrator” feature.
  3. In the “Command Prompt” window you need to type “sfc /scannow” and press the “Enter” button on the keyboard.SFC scan
  4. After the verification is completed you will need to reboot the Windows 8.1, 8, 7 system and check again for the battery icon.

4. Refresh your PC

Note icon NOTE
Do this only if the three methods above did not work for you.
  1. Move the mouse cursor to the lower right side of the screen.
  2. Left click on the”Settings” icon you have in that menu.
  3. In the “Settings” feature left click on “Change PC settings”.
  4. In the “PC settings” feature left click on the “General” tab.
  5. Left click on “Refresh your PC without affecting your files” and left click on the “Get started” button under that topic.
    Note: this feature will uninstall any apps you installed after the installation of the Windows 8.1, 8, 7 system but you will be able to see a list of the apps that were uninstalled on the desktop and copy them again to your system afterwards.
  6. Left click on the “Next” button to proceed.
  7. After the process is finished you will have to press on the “Refresh” button.
  8. After the process is complete check to see if you have your battery icon back to your system tray.
  9. If it doesn’t show try another reboot of the Windows 8.1, 8, 7 PC.

It is worth mentioning that even the latest Windows OS version, Windows 10, is affected by similar issues. Indeed, Microsoft has yet to permanently fix this missing battery icon problem. So, if you already upgraded to Windows 10, and  your battery icon is nowhere to be seen, check out this troubleshooting guide and follow the instructions available there to fix it.

So, there you have it, these quick methods can help you bring back your battery icon in Windows 8.1, 8, 7 and carry on your work. For any questions or misunderstandings regarding this subject, drop us a line in the comments below.

How to Back up Windows System to USB in Under 5 Minutes

Posted on by Ivan Jenic

It is always a safe bet to create a backup of your Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 7 operating system just in case something goes wrong, and you would like to have your Windows OS back to the way it was.

For you to create a backup of your Windows 8.1 to your USB stick you will need to have a big enough USB to support everything you have on your Windows 8.1 system. But fortunately for us we only need approximately 6 GB of free space on our USB or less therefore we shouldn’t have any issues with this.

Another good feature in Windows 8.1 is the fact that it offers us the possibility to save directly to an external USB thus making the process a lot easier for us.

So if you used your internal hard drive to save the backup image of your Windows 8.1 operating system you can now transfer it to your USB stick and free up some space for other stuff. For a detailed explanation of how to backup Windows 8.1 to your USB follow the tutorial below.

How do I back up Windows 10 on USB?

1. Use the Create a recovery drive option

  1. Click the Start button and type recovery drive.
  2. Click on the Create a recovery drive icon.recovery drive windows 10
  3. You will need to check the box right next to Copy the recovery partition from the PC to the recovery drive.
  4. Left click on Next button you have in the lower side of the window.
  5. You will be presented on the Windows 10, 8.1 window with the necessary size needed on the USB.
  6. If you have the necessary space needed for the recovery partition on the stick, then insert the USB stick.
  7. Click on the USB drive to select it.
  8. Click on the Next button in the lower side of the screen and select Create.
  9. You will have to wait up to one hour depending on the transfer speed.
  10. Hit the Finish button after the process is completed.
  11. Remove the USB stick from your PC.

2. Use Control Panel

  1. Launch Control Panel and go to System and Security.
  2. Select Backup and Restore (Windows 7)backup and Restore windows
  3. Create a system image
  4. Now, select On a hard disk.create system image windows 10
  5. Select the storage device where you want to save the backup, then launch the backup process.
  6. The wizard will now create a full system backup of your system.

Also, another thing you need to keep in mind is that if you upgraded to Windows 10, 8.1 from a previous Windows 8, 7 version you will need to upgrade again your system after you use the USB stick as a backup.

With this being said, you now have a workable backup copy of your Windows 10, 8.1, 7 system ready to use whenever you have any issues with your operating system. If you have any questions regarding this article, let us know in the comments below and we will reply in the shortest time possible.

How to Clear the Event Logs: 5 Ways to do it

Posted on by Ivan Jenic

Event Log is the best way to keep track of issues on your PC, but many are wondering if it’s possible to clear event logs.

Clearing the log is one of the best Event Log practices, and in today’s guide, we will show you how to perform it properly.

Is it OK to clear event logs?

  • Yes, it’s perfectly fine to remove event logs, but you shouldn’t do it too frequently.
  • By doing so, you’ll minimize the number of logs, and you’ll be able to find current issues easier.
  • Do keep in mind that you don’t remove them too often because you might need them to fix a certain problem.
  • Clearing the logs may help when you get the Failed to transfer logged messages to event log error.

How can I clear event logs?

1. Use the manual method

  1. Open the Control Panel.
  2. Click on Administrative Tools in the System and Security window. You can also type event in the search menu and select View event logs.view event logs control panel
  3. Now you will need to be signed in as administrator and double click (left click) on Event Viewer.
  4. After opening Event Viewer, you will have a list of events you can access.event logs windows 10
  5. Right-click on the event you want to clear and then left on the Clear log.
  6. After you are finished with clearing the event logs close the Event log window, and you can go on with your work.

2. Use Command Prompt to clear a single event

  1. Open the start menu and type cmd.
  2. After it finds the cmd icon you will need to right click on it and select Run as administrator.
  3. You will need to type the following command: wevtutil elwevtutil el
  4. Now that you have the list of event logs in front of you, write down the one you want to clear.
  5. For clearing a specific event write down the command below followed by the name of the log, like this for example: wevtutil cl Error

3. Use the Command Prompt

  1. Open Notepad and paste the following text:
    @echo off
    FOR /F "tokens=1,2*" %%V IN ('bcdedit') DO SET adminTest=%%V
    IF (%adminTest%)==(Access) goto noAdmin
    for /F "tokens=*" %%G in ('wevtutil.exe el') DO (call :do_clear "%%G")
    echo.
    echo Event Logs have been cleared!
    goto theEnd
    :do_clear
    echo clearing %1
    wevtutil.exe cl %1
    goto :eof
    :noAdmin
    echo You must run this script as an Administrator!
    echo.
    :theEnd
  2. Save that text as .bat or .cmd file (Name the file with quotes to automatically save it as .cmd file, like ClearLog.cmd)
  3. Run .cmd file you just saved as the administrator clear event log windows 10
  4. Just let the command finish event log clear windows 10

That’s all, all your event logs are now cleared. This is probably the simplest way to clear all event logs in Windows 10, but if you want to try other ways, see how to do that below.

4. Use the PowerShell

  1. Go to Search, type powershell, right-click on PowerShell and choose Run as administrator.
  2. Enter the following line into PowerShell and press Enter:
    wevtutil el | Foreach-Object {wevtutil cl "$_"} event log clear windows 10 powershell
  3. Now just type Exit to close PowerShell window.

If you decide to use PowerShell to clear event logs, you’ll clear multiple logs in a matter of seconds.

5. Use the sing VBScript/WMI

  1. Open Notepad and enter the following text:
    strComputer = "."
    Set objWMIService = GetObject("winmgmts:" _
    & "{impersonationLevel=impersonate, (Backup, Security)}!" _
    & strComputer & "rootcimv2")
    Set colLogFiles = objWMIService.ExecQuery _
    ("Select * from Win32_NTEventLogFile")
    For each objLogfile in colLogFiles
    objLogFile.ClearEventLog()
    Next
  2. Save it as VBScript (.VBS), take a look at method 1 on how to save file as .vbs directly, name it, for example ClearEvent.vbs
  3. Move ClearEvent.vbs you just created to C:\Windows\System32
  4. Now open Command Prompt as administrator and run the following command:
    CScript ClearEvent.vbs event log clear windows 10

As you can see, these are just a couple of methods to remove logs on your PC.

If you’re looking for more powerful software, check our guide on the best event viewer software.

What method do you use to clear the event logs? Share it with us in the comments below.

File History Not Working in Windows 10: How to Fix it

Posted on by Ivan Jenic

The File History feature will back up your operating system files if you ever have any trouble. But for many users, File History in Windows 10 is not working.

The problem arises both on Windows 10 and 11 and is often accompanied by the error message, Could not enable File History. The service cannot be started. If you are also facing this problem, keep reading to find solutions.

How do I turn on file history in Windows 10?

Tip icon Tip
File history will not work immediately when you install Windows 10 because its default setup is set automatically to off state. Besides, you will need an external USB or a network drive to enable to feature.

1. Select where you want the backups to be saved

  1. Plug in the external hard drive or the USB stick in the device.
  2. Press Windows + R to open Run, type control panel, and hit Enter.control panel to fix file history not working in windows 10
  3. Click on System and Security.
  4. Now, click on File History.file history
  5. Click on Select Drive in the navigation pane on the left.
  6. Select the external hard disk or the USB stick that is plugged into the Windows 10 PC, and click OK.add drive
  7. Click Yes in case a confirmation prompt appears.

Once you have set up the drive, be it an external one or a network drive, all that’s left is to enable the feature when file history is not working in Windows 10.

2. Turn the file history feature on

  1. Head back to File History in Control Panel.
  2. Click the Turn on button.turn on file history

That’s it! If Windows file history backup is not working, adding another USB drive or correctly configuring the first one should get things up and running in Windows 10. In case the error persists, we recommend using a restore point or performing an in-place upgrade.

Before you leave, find out how to recover deleted files in Windows.

For any queries, drop a comment below.

Fix: Wi-Fi Frequently Disconnects in Windows 10/11, 7

Posted on by Ivan Jenic

You can have a stable ISP connection for the Wi-Fi and still occasionally have issues with your Wi-Fi disconnecting. In 80%  of the cases, this will be caused by upgrading to Windows 10 or 11. Fortunately for users, a few easy steps will help you fix your WiFi and continue surfing the Internet without any problem from your operating system.

In many cases, you will lose your Internet WiFi connection because you have incompatibilities between the Windows 11, 10, or 7 operating system and the Wi-Fi driver, or your Bluetooth driver is interfering with the Wi-Fi connection, thus making your connection very unstable and unreliable.

Follow the tutorial below for a more detailed explanation of fixing our Wi-Fi connection in just a few minutes.

What can I do if Wi-Fi disconnects frequently on Windows 11, 10, 7?

1. Disable Bluetooth and Network Adapters

  1. Press and hold the buttons “Windows” and “R”.
  2. Type in the box that pops up the word in quotes: “devmgmt.msc”.
  3. Under the topic “Bluetooth” you will need to disable everything you have there.
  4. Under the topic “Network Adapter” you will have to disable all the entries except the one for the Wireless adapter you have.
  5. Reboot the Windows PC or laptop.
  6. See if you have a stable Wi-Fi connection after the restart.

2. Update your Wi-Fi drivers

You will have to look on the manufacturer’s website to see if you have any available WiFi drivers that are compatible with your OS. After Windows 11 was released, most of the manufacturers released new WiFi drivers that are fully compatible with your OS version.

Install the drivers available on the website and reboot your Windows PC. After you restart it, check if WiFi still disconnects frequently. Updating the driver also helps when the Internet keeps disconnecting while gaming.

Alternatively, you can fix the Wi-Fi driver issue more efficiently and faster using dedicated driver update software.

By choosing this alternative, it’s likely to update your drivers accordingly without harming your system even more. The process is automatic, and it finds the appropriate drivers in minutes.

Then, you should have renewed drivers that help your connection to be more stable, so try this method to get it done already.

⇒ Get Fortect Driver Updater

3. Uninstall your WiFi driver

Suppose the options listed above do not work. In that case, we will uninstall the current driver for the WiFi adapter and let Windows install it automatically after a reboot.

  1. Press and hold the buttons “Windows” and “R”
  2. Type in the box that appeared in the new window “devmgmt.msc” to launch Device Manager
  3. Click(left click) on “Network adapters”
  4. On all the wi fi adapters, you have there you need to click( right click) on them and select the “Uninstall” feature.uninstall wifi driver pc
  5. Reboot your Windows PC or laptop.
  6. After the reboot, the installation of the Wi-Fi drivers will begin automatically.
  7. Check and see if your Wi-Fi still disconnects after you reboot your machine.

4. Change Power settings

  1. Press and hold the buttons “Windows” and “R” to launch a new Run window
  2. Type ‘control panel’ in the new window and hit Enter to open Control Panel > type ‘power’ in the search menu located in the upper right-hand corner
  3. Click (left click) on “Power options” situated in the Control panel window.power option control panel
  4. Click (left click) on “Change Plan Settings”.
  5. Click (left click) on “Change Advanced Power Settings”
  6. Click (left click) on “Wireless Adapter Settings”
  7. Click (left click) on “Power Saving Mode”
  8. You have there a feature that says “Plugged in”, you will have to change this to “Maximum Performance” feature.maximum performance wireless adapter settings
  9. Reboot the Windows PC and check if the wi fi works now.

5. Disable ‘Allow this computer to turn off this device to save power

  1. Press and hold the buttons “Windows” and “R”.
  2. Type in the box that appeared “ncpa.cpl”
  3. You will have to click(right click) on the wi fi connection you have there and select “Properties”wifi properties
  4. Click(left click) on “Configure”
  5. In the upper side of the new window you will have to click(left click) on the “Power Management” tab.
  6. From the “Power Management” tab, you will need to uncheck the feature that says “Allow this computer to turn off this device to save power”Allow this computer to turn off this device to save power
  7. Click(left click) on “OK”
  8. Reboot the Windows PC and check your Wi-Fi connection now.

6. Restart Wi-Fi AutoConfig

If the problem persists, you can try to restart and then reset the Wi-Fi AutoConfig service. Here’s how you can do this:

  1. Go to Start > type services.msc > hit Enter to launch Services. You can also launch a Run window, type services.msc and then hit Enter to launch Services.
  2. Locate the WLAN AutoConfig service > double-click on it
  3. Select Restart to refresh the servicerestart WLAN AutoConfig service
  4. Now, right-click again on WLAN AutoConfig > select Properties
  5. Go to Startup type > select Automatic >hit Apply and OKwlan autoconfig automatic
  6. Check to see if your Wi-Fi connection is working as it should.

You can use all the options listed above to fix your Wi-Fi internet connection. In the majority of the cases, applying one of the options above will solve the problem. However, do leave us a comment below to let us know if your Wi-Fi still keeps disconnecting.

July Xbox One Update now rolling out, complete with FastStart, Groups, and more

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

Microsoft’s Major Nelson today has announced that the July Xbox Update is now rolling out to users across the world. This update was previously tested with Xbox Insiders last month and comes with FastStart on select games, the Groups feature in Games and Apps, and more. Here’s what you need to know before installing on your Xbox One device.

FastStart

Originally announced at E3, FastStart is a feature which allows you to quickly start playing the games you’ve just downloaded. The feature is only available on select Xbox Game Pass titles on the Xbox Store and is powered by machine learning. FastStart prioritizes the files in games which need to be downloaded first, Microsoft says you can expect for FastStart to expand to more games in more languages over the next few months.

Groups

Groups is an enhancement to Xbox’s Pins feature that allows you to create different collections of any of the items under Games and Apps. You can assign names, organize and order the items in Groups, and you can sync them with your Microsoft Account across all your Xbox Consoles. Your groups will appear under My Games and Apps, in Home, and in the Guide.

Search

With the July Update, Microsoft is making it easier to search on your Xbox. You can now press the Y button anywhere on the dashboard to bring up the search box and look for Settings, Games, or products in the store.

Mixer improvements

Microsoft is making multiple improvements for Mixer in the July Update. They’ve updated the Mixer Share controller option on the web, added multi-touch support for Mixer Share on touch devices, and added a channel leaderboard for viewers who’ve contributed to a channel during Share Controller sessions.

Additionally, Mixer streamers can now go full-screen with their webcam when broadcasting. This mode will automatically mute audio in the game, and best works with the webcams seen below:

  • Microsoft LifeCam Studio
  • Logitech HD Pro Webcam C922
  • Logitech Webcam C930e
  • Microsoft LifeCam HD-3000

This update may not be as major as others from the past, but the arrival of Groups and FastStart is very appreciated. Skip Ahead Xbox Insiders, meanwhile, are now on the Redstone 5 builds, so the development of the next version of the Xbox OS is already underway.

If your Xbox is set to automatically receive updates, it should be downloading now. In the event that you’ve set your Xbox to manually download updates, you can head to  Settings > All Settings > System > Updates > Update console to download now.

Windows Mixed Reality usage is rising on Steam VR

Posted on by Kareem Anderson

For many industry observers, the world of virtual and augmented reality has seemingly hit a ceiling in public awareness and relevancy. Despite the fervor of action companies such as Valve, HTC, Facebook, Google, and Microsoft, VR and AR outwardly appear to be for niche audiences.

Fortunately, for Microsoft, that niche audience seems to be using its licensed operating systems as the foundation for those “Mixed Reality” experiences according to the latest Steam Hardware Survey.

The numbers as of June 2018 show that SteamsVR experiences, powered by Windows 10 have hit their second highest monthly market share at 6.25 percent which is an increase over its previous month of 5.89 percent.

Recently, partner OEM’s of Microsoft’s Mixed Reality platform went on a price slashing foray which may part of the reason the company saw a bump in market share. This also might also be part of why it’s competitors such as HTC’s Vive platform saw a decrease in the month of June 2018. While Steam’s numbers are somewhat biased in their conclusions, it’s hard not to draw a one-to-one conclusion of lower-priced PC powered VR experiences helped push the needle for Microsoft and partners.

VR and AR still haven’t taken off in any significant mainstream way, but PC partners continue to make the platforms more accessible by packing laptops and headsets to the brim with graphics upgrades. There may be a day in the not too distant future where trying one of these experiences is as easy as downloading an app on your PC and plugging in a set of headphones (metaphorically speaking).

Windows 10 Sets delays tabs, remove it to fix the problem

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

Sets is Microsoft’s feature that brings tabs all across Windows 10, and the tech giant announced that the function wouldn’t get to be launched with the next OS update. The news disappointed lots of users and Microsoft did not say much about the reasons for which it took this decision.

The users’ disappointment is even greater because Sets was already a part of preview builds of Windows 10 Redstone 5, and no one could tell that there’s something wrong with the way it worked.

Sets actually causes compatibility issues

The features worked great only at first glance, because if you took a closer look at it, you would find out that it could trigger some compatibility issues that would eventually ruin some functionalities in third-party apps.

For instance, Reddit apps are just one example, and the removal of the Sets feature from Windows 10 Redstone 5 build returns everything to normal and working correctly after previously being quite unstable.

Third-party app developers agree with Microsoft’s decision

Third-party app developers agreed with this decision that Microsoft took to pull Sets, and their reason was that the apps were sometimes not working as they should due to the tab implementation.

A developer, Jose Fajardo, tweeted “damnit … upgraded to 17661 and “SeparateProcess” WebView in my XAML UWP app is broken 🙁 🙁  Does anyone know if there’s a capability/declaration that needs to be set to get this working again?” and then flaunted his happened on Twitter after finding out the cause of the problem.

It’s worth mentioning that Microsoft did not entirely kill the Sets feature, but it delayed its debut. It will not be packed in Redstone 5, but there’s a pretty strong chance that we’ll get to see it included in the update that’s due in the spring of 2019. We’re expecting to see Redstone 5 launched this fall.

RELATED STORIES TO CHECK:

Windows 10 v1803 Surface devices get new firmware updates

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

Microsoft Surface owners got some good news as Microsoft decided it’s time to update their devices. Windows Update brings some new goodies, so users are advised to head over there and check them out. Microsoft recently rolled out a few driver and firmware updates for Surface devices running the Windows 10 April Update.

New Intel drivers

Users claim that it seems the updates include new Intel drivers and a new Surface system firmware update for the Surface Book 2. Reports also say that the very same updates rolled out to the Surface Pro and the Surface Laptop as well.

There are also some devices that haven’t been updated just yet, and these include the Surface Laptop, the Surface Book 2, and the Surface Pro. There aren’t any pages that document updates for these systems yet.

The updates might cause trouble with BitLocker

It seems that the latest update might have caused some BitLocker problems, but this could have only been an isolated issue. Many users reported that the latest firmware update for the Surface Book 2 locked them out of their devices with BitLocker. Some users claimed that this is the exact reason for which they haven’t activated BitLocker on their systems.

Some users also find it pretty strange that whenever Microsoft releases a new Windows version, the company also has to update the firmware in their own systems to fix the problems that have been triggered in the latest OS version, but we’re all used to this by now.

More changelogs are probably on their way and also more devices running Windows 10 April 2018 Update will likely receive updates rather sooner than later, and we’ll make sure you’ll find out when this happens.

RELATED STORIES TO CHECK:

What is Windows update error 0x80071a91? How do I fix it?

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

Some time ago, we have shared with you some tips that you could follow in order to fix errors during the Windows 8.1 Update installation which failed for some with various error codes. Speaking of update errors, all Windows versions are affected by update issues, including Windows 10, the latest OS version. Microsoft already acknowledged one of these errors and has released an official fix for it – hallelujah!
0x80071a91 Error fix windows 8.1
Many have been hit with various errors during the install of the latest Windows 8.1  or Windows 10 Update or after it was already deployed, such as slowing down of the computer or the fact that it erases saved games. So, now, Microsoft has come up with a patch that’s been released via the Windows Update or available for download online in order to fix this error. Here’s how it is officially described:

When you install update 2919355 by using Windows Update in Windows RT 8.1, Windows 8.1, or Windows Server 2012 R2, the installation fails with error code 0x80071a91.

Fix error 0x80071a91

1. Uninstall KB2919355

One of the fixes that seemed to work for those affected by various glitches during the install of the Windows 10, 8.1 Update was to uninstall the KB files and then try to perform a Clean Boot install. But the patch released by Microsoft doesn’t uninstall the update in cause – KB2919355, but just patches it so that errors will no longer appear and the system would run smooth. Besides Windows 8.1, Windows RT 8.1, Windows Server 2012 R2 Datacenter, Windows Server 2012 R2 Standard, Windows Server 2012 R2 Foundation, Windows Server 2012 R2 Essentials, Windows 8.1 Enterprise and Windows 10 are also affected by this bug.

2. Run the Windows Update Troubleshooter

Error 0x80071a91 usually occurs during or shortly after you installed the latest updates on your computer. Fortunately, Windows 10, Windows 8.1 features a built-in troubleshooter that can help you fix general update issues — and hopefully it will fix error 0x80071a91 as well.

  1. So, launch Control Panel > type ‘troubleshoot’ in the search box located in the upper right-hand corner
  2. Click on View All to list all the troubleshooters
  3. Select the Windows Update troubleshooter and run itwindows update troubleshooter control panel
  4. Wait until the process completes, restart your computer and check if the error persists.

After you have installed the patch, you will have to restart in order to see the changes take place. Let us know if this has helped you fix the problems, if not, detail in the comment your issue and we’ll try to solve it together.

RELATED STORIES TO CHECK OUT:

How to Fix Far Cry Errors in Windows 10/11

Posted on by Ivan Jenic

The last Far Cry game released by Ubisoft is one of the top games played in 2014 but there are some bugs that need fixing with this game and its compatibility with the Windows 10, 8.1, 8 operating systems, fortunately for us we will be able to play this game in no time at all by following the guidelines posted a couple of rows below in order to fix the frequent issues appearing in Far Cry 3 for Windows 10, 8.1, 8.

There are a few glitches in the compatibility part of Far Cry on Windows 8 due to the fact that the Direct X is not responding correctly, Steam is not responding correctly, Windows 10, 8.1, 8 will encounter incompatibilities with Far Cry or maybe the drivers you are using on your system are outdated and needs updating.

How to fix Far Cry crashing (Windows fixes)

If Far Cry stops responding or crashes randomly:

  1. You need to be sure that Windows 8.1 or 8 has all the specific system requirements needed to play Far Cry.
  2. If the graphics driver you have in your Windows 8, 8.1 needs updating. We recommend you use a driver updater tool that will do all the hard work for you automatically. Using a dedicated tool, you will avoid serious malfunctions.
  3. When opening Far Cry your Antivirus might prevent it from running, to check if this is the case you will need to turn off the antivirus and try opening it again.

When Windows 8 tries to change the visual theme and crashes :

  1. Go to your Far Cry installation folder.
  2. Click (right-click) on the Far Cry .exe .
  3. Click (left click) on “Properties”.
  4. Click(left click) on the “Compatibility” tab on the upper side of the “Properties” window.
  5. Make sure you have the Windows XP SP3 Compatibility mode on.
  6. Mark the “Disable Visual Themes”.
  7. Place a checkmark in the “Disable Desktop Composition”.
  8. Open the game and see if it crashes.

For the “DX11 Crash Error” do the steps below:

  1. Open the folder “C:Users/(open your username)/Documents/My games/Far Cry”.
  2. Click(right click) on “GamerProfile.xml” and select “Open With” and open it with Notepad.
  3. Search for the string that says “D3D11MultithreadedRendering”.
  4. Set this string above to “0”, this will disable the feature.
  5. After you set it to “0” it will look like “D3D11MultithreadedRendering=”0″”.
  6. Click (left click) on “ File” in the upper side of the Notepad and click(left click) on “Save”.
  7. Close Notepad and start Far Cry.

Windows Runtime error will crash your Far Cry game:

In order to fix this issue, you will need to install the following in the order presented below.

  1. Directx9c, Microsoft Visual C++ 2010 x86, Microsoft Visual C++ 2010 x64, Microsoft Visual C++ 2010 SP1 x86/64, (Win7/Vista) Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5 Service Pack 1 / (Win8)Microsoft .NET , Framework 3.5 on Windows 8, Microsoft .NET Framework 4.0, Microsoft .NET Framework 4.5.
  2. If you are asked in the process to repair any files do so as it will fix any runtime files you have in the system.

“Exception Code: c0000005″ Crash Error in Far Cry:

  1. Disable any Direct X hooking software before opening the game.
  2. Usually the Direct X hooking programs are one of the following: Fraps, Evolve Client, Gamer OSD, ASUS Smart Doctor, Gigabyte OC Guru I & II, Steam Overlay.

Far Cry error “Ubisoft Game Launcher was not found. Please try re-installing the game. Error code: 3”:

  1. If you are a UPlay user, reinstall it from the official Uplay download site.
  2. If you are a Steam user, check the integrity of your game cache of the Steam (this will download any corrupted or missing game files).

FarCry 3 crashes in Windows 10: what to do?

For some incompatibility reasons, Far Cry 3 can crash in Windows 10. In this case, there are other solutions to check as the problems start from a different source.

First of all, try to uninstall the game, and reinstall it in compatibility mode by following the steps below:

1. Right-click on the ‘Setup’ file then click on ‘Properties’
2. Select the ‘Compatibility’ tab
3. Check the ‘Run this program in Compatibility mode’ option
4. Once the game is installed check its functionality

If this doesn’t work, try some basic but important things to do:

  • Check if you have all the Windows Updates installed
  • Disable any programs or overlays that could interfere with Far Cry 3
  • Make sure that DirectX runtimes, Uplay and/or Visual C++ runtimes are installed and working

Last but not least, checking for the latest GPU drivers which are compatible with Windows 10 might fix this issue. Game-ready drivers are game accelerators that provide new features, repair issues and improve gaming performance.

NVIDIA GeForce Game Ready drivers, AMD Radeon Software Adrenaline Edition drivers, and Intel Graphics drivers are examples of common game-ready drivers.

You can manually update or install those drivers if you have a thorough understanding of the drivers your PC requires. Even so, we strongly recommend a driver updater utility that is the best alternative, to avoid any further issues.

You can trust Fortect Driver Updater is capable of making such changes to ensure a proper update with the most recent game-ready drivers. It will find the suitable drivers your computer requires and will update or install them quickly.

⇒ Get Fortect Driver Updater

There you go, the most common errors you might have playing your Far Cry game on Windows 10, 8.1, and 8. Also for any additional information write us below and we will see how we can help you play this game to the maximum fun you want.

How to Connect a Bluetooth Mouse to Windows 10

Posted on by Ivan Jenic

If you upgraded to Windows 10 or Windows 8.1 and your Bluetooth mouse failed to connect after the upgrade then read below this article to find out more on how to connect your Bluetooth mouse on Windows 10, 8.1. Your Bluetooth might fail to connect for several reasons on your Windows 10 and 8.1 but don’t worry because we are going to solve this issue by doing a few easy steps below.

First of all before we start the troubleshooting in Windows 10 and 8.1 we will need to check the batteries of the mouse or any other Bluetooth device because if the batteries don’t have the sufficient power then your Windows 8 PC or laptop will fail to receive the transmission of the mouse , therefore, failing to connect to your Bluetooth feature.

How to solve connection issues with Bluetooth mouse on Windows 10 and Windows 8.1

1. Use Bluetooth Support Service

  1. Press and hold the buttons “Windows” and “R”.
  2. Now that you have the “Run” window opened we need to type in the search box “services.msc” (type the word without the quotes).
  3. After you finished typing hit the “Enter” on the keyboard.
  4. Now a “Services” window will pop up, we need to look in the list presented for “Bluetooth Support Service”.
  5. Double click (left click) on “Bluetooth Support Service” after you find it.
  6. Click (left click) on the “General” tab presented in the upper side of the window you opened (Bluetooth Support Service Properties).
  7. In the “General” tab click on the menu next to “Startup type” and click(left click) on “Automatic”
  8. Now we need to click (left click) on the “Log on” tab in the upper side of the Bluetooth window.
  9. Click (left click) on “This Account” in order to enable this feature.
  10. Type in there your account name or browse to find the account name.
  11. After the above step we need to delete the “Password” field and the “Confirm Password” field.
  12. Click(left click) on “OK” in the lower side of the Bluetooth window.
  13. Reboot the Windows 10, 8.1 PC or laptop.
  14. After the PC or laptop boots up we need to install the latest Bluetooth drivers available on the manufacturer’s website for Windows 10 or Windows 8.1.

2. Bluetooth drivers not found

If the above steps don’t solve your Bluetooth mouse issue then we will need to do the steps presented below:

There might be a possibility that you wont find the Bluetooth drivers for Windows 10 or Windows 8.1 .

  1. Press and hold the buttons “Windows” and “R” .
  2. After you have the “Run” window opened we need to type in there “regedit”.
  3. Hit the “Enter” button on the keyboard.
  4. Now that the “Registry Editor” window is opened we need to click (left click) on “HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE”.
  5. In the “HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE” folder we need to click (left click) on “SOFTWARE”.
  6. In the “SOFTWARE” folder we need to click (left click) on “Microsoft”.
  7. In the “Microsoft” folder we need to click (left click) on “Windows NT”.
  8. In the “Windows NT” folder we need to click (left click) on “CurrentVersion”.
    Note: the path should look like this “HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/SOFTWARE/Microsoft/Windows NT/CurrentVersion”
  9. In the “CurrentVersion” folder we will need to look on the right side for the file “CurrentVersion” and double click (left click) on it.
  10. After the “Edit String” window pops up we need to modify the value in there from “6.3” to “6.2”.
  11. Click (left click) on “OK”.
  12. Reboot the Windows 10, 8.1 PC and check your Bluetooth mouse to see if it works.

3. Bluetooth mouse not working in Windows 10, 8.1

If your Bluetooth mouse is simply not working, you can try some of the solutions from this fix article:

  1. Change power and sleep settings
  2. Check if Bluetooth service is running (just in case)
  3. Restart the Bluetooth mouse
  4. Change mouse frequency
  5. Roll back your drivers
  6. Change power management options

You will find how to do id step by step in the article mentioned above, and this will help you fix this annoying issue.

Above you have 2 ways on how to fix your Bluetooth transmission on Windows 10 or Windows 8.1 in order to recognize your mouse. Write us below if you have any questions regarding this article and we will see what we can do to help you further.

Skype starts testing read receipts to let you know who read your messages

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

After introducing encrypted conversations a couple of months ago, Skype continues to play catch up with the most popular messaging apps out there. Indeed, the latest Skype preview build 8.26.76 brings support for read receipts, letting you see at a glance who read your latest messages.

Microsoft says that this feature is available in 1:1 conversations and group chats with 20 or fewer people, and you’ll see your contacts’ avatar below your messages after they’ve been read, as seen below:

For now, read receipts will only work between Skype users running the latest Insider build. You can turn the feature on and off in settings, and Microsoft explained that read receipts will also be disabled when you switch to Invisible mode.

This latest preview build for Skype has started rolling out to Android 6+ and iOS 10+ devices, as well as the desktop client for Windows, Mac and Linux. You can’t officially download this version of Skype on the latest versions of Windows 10, unless you open this page in Internet Explorer and then run the installer in compatibility mode.

This Windows 10 DVD player app just got a $39 discount

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

The Windows 10 app, Player for DVD’s, has been given a massive $39 discount which brings it down from its usual price of $44.99 to just $5.99.

Player for DVD’s is, as its name suggests, an app for playing DVDs on a Windows 10 PC. This app offers the usual controls one would expect from such an app and also supports playing movie files encoded in several formats. Here’s the app description.

It is easy to watch your favorite DVDs with Player for DVD’s! Player for DVD’s is a powerful DVD player that provides great quality sound and video and supports a wide range of formats! This app offers full playback control and various advanced features that allow you to play with subtitles, manage playlists, view the history of last played files, play in the shuffle mode, use the program in the background etc. You also can select audio tracks from videos, use double volume boost which will give you a splendid visual-audio experience. Player for DVD’s is a complete compatible media player and it supports popular formats including VOB, MKV, MPG, AVI, MOV, FLAC, ALAC, OGG, MP3 and that’s not all. The full list of supported formats you can find in app’s features. Use professional DVD player software and enjoy media playback! Install and try out now!

Do you watch DVDs on your Windows 10 device? Let us know what app you use in the comments below.

Player for DVD's
Player for DVD's
Download
QR-Code

Player for DVD’s
Developer:
Yellow Elephant Productions
Price:
$0.99

Ready Player One now available on Xbox One S & X consoles in UHD

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

Steven Spielberg’s hit Sci-Fi film, Ready Player One, is now up in the Microsoft Store to buy and watch on Microsoft’s Xbox One consoles and other Windows 10 devices.

Ready Player One is available to buy in SD, HD, and UHD and comes with almost two hours of bonus content. As an extra bonus for American customers, anyone who buys it digitally in the Microsoft Store will also receive the Goro playable character for the Mortal Kombat X Xbox One video game.

The Goro bonus gift may seem like an unrelated extra but those who have seen the film will know that the character actually makes a (kind of) cameo in Ready Player One alongside characters from Street Fighter, Minecraft, Overwatch and numerous other video game franchises.

The UHD version of Ready Player One can be bought natively on an Xbox One S or Xbox One X console and via the film’s product page on the web version of the Microsoft Store here. Only the SD and HD versions will show as available on PC and the original Xbox One console.

Did you see Ready Player One? Let us know what your favorite cameo was in the comments below and then follow us on Twitter for more Microsoft Store news.

Windows 10 VGA is Not Working: How to Enable it

Posted on by Ivan Jenic

Some Windows users have stumbled upon VGA issues. Either they get a black screen when booting the PC, or they can’t get into their desired games. So, what do you do when Windows 10 VGA is not working?

The problem often arises after changing the PC or laptop display settings. Keep in mind that some VGA adapters will not support every option we want to use on Windows 10. For example, the two-monitor setting scenario or even high-end games.

Keep reading to find out the solutions!

What can I do when Windows 10 VGA is not working?

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

If none work, move to the fixes listed next.

1. Use an external HDMI monitor

  1. After you boot the laptop with the alternative display, undo the changes made to the graphics drivers and settings.
  2. Press Windows + X and select Device Manager.
  3. Expand the Display adapters entry, right-click on the problematic graphics adapter, and select Disable device.disable display adapter windows 10 device manager
  4. Confirm the change, reboot the laptop, and see if you can use the graphics card properly.

If you have a laptop and cannot get into Windows 10 because you have nothing on the screen, the first thing you need to do is connect the laptop to an external display via an HDMI cable.

Then, disable the problematic graphics adapter and let Windows rely on the other one when the Windows 10 VGA is not working.

2. Run the Hardware and Devices troubleshooter

  1. Press Windows + R to open Run, paste the following, and hit Enter:msdt.exe -id DeviceDiagnostictroubleshooter to fix windows 10 vga not working
  2. Follow the on-screen instructions to run the troubleshooter and make the recommended changes.
  3. Once done, restart the PC for the changes to apply.hardware and devices

This is how you can fix all VGA issues when it’s not working on Windows 10 and the latest iteration, i.e. Windows 11.

However, if it’s a hardware VGA issue, we recommend contacting the Video Card manufacturer or PC manufacturer for more detailed help on the matter.

Before you leave, find out how to update the graphics driver and get the best performance.

Let us know in the comments below if you have other ideas related to this specific issue.

Windows 10 hits 35% user base, Windows 7 takes the crown with 43%

Posted on by Matthew Adams

Microsoft recently confirmed Windows 10 is installed on more than 700 million devices. So, we would expect market data to also show a percentage increase in Windows 10’s user base share. The latest Netmarketshare data shows that Windows 10’s user base has almost increased to the 35% mark with its highest Netmarketshare percentage figure to date.

The Netmarketshare June 2018 figure for Window 10’s user base stands at 34.92%. That is Windows 10’s highest Netmarketshare percentage figure which highlights the platform’s user base continues to increase. Yet, the figure represents only a very slight user share increase for Windows 10 in 2018 as it stood at 34.29% in January. That amounts to a 0.63% increase in the platform’s user base during this year.

Windows 7 keeps its crown

Windows 7 remains ahead of Win 10 in Netmarketshare’s market data. Windows 7‘s user share also increased slightly to 43.03%. Furthermore, that figure also represents an increase in Win 7‘s user base during 2018 as the platform has climbed from 42.39 in January 2018 (an almost identical 0.64% percentage increase). Thus, Windows 10 is seemingly not making great inroads into 7’s user base at the moment.

However, StatCounter market share data for Windows paints a somewhat different picture. Win 10’s user base stands at 46.43% in StatsCounter’s chart data. Thus, StatCounter shows that Windows 10 has now eclipsed 7’s user base, which stands at 39.36% on its chart. There Windows 10 has climbed from 42.4% in January 2018, while 7 has dropped from 41.5%.

Mac OS X 10.13 (High Sierra), Windows 8.1 and XP are the third, fourth and fifth platforms on Netmarketshare’s Operating System Share chart. For an unsupported platform, XP retains a surprisingly high 3.96% market share. Windows 10’s user share has at least risen well above 8.1’s percentage figure, which has slumped to 4.89%. Mac OS X 10.13 is on the rise, and it has now overtaken both 8.1 and XP with a 5.36% market share.

So, Windows 10 still has a bit to do to eclipse Windows 7 in Netmarketshare’s OS share chart. Windows 7 still retains a large user base, and Mac OS X 10.13 might provide some more serious competition for Win 10 from Apple. However, with Microsoft releasing more exclusive software for Win 10 along with two big annual updates, it will probably eventually overtake Windows 7 on all the OS user base charts.

FIX: Printer won’t print in Windows 10/11

Posted on by Ivan Jenic

Upgraded your system to Windows 10, 8 recently? If you’re having issues printing after you upgraded to Windows 10, 8, then read this guide on how you can fix your printer and get it to work with the new Windows operating system.
printer won't print in Windows 8
First of all, we need to find out what drivers you have for your printer because usually and in most of the cases the drivers you have on the CD might not be compatible with the Windows 10, 8 operating system resulting in glitches like not letting you print pages. In this case, we need to go on the manufacturer’s website and look for a driver to the printer that is compatible with your new Windows 10, 8 operating system or just let your Windows 10, 8 find the drivers automatically.

Fix printer issues in Windows 10

We need to be aware that printing has changed along with the new Windows 8, Windows 10 upgrade. There are new methods of printing in Windows 8, 10 and they are a bit different from the old versions of Windows where you had to go click on the “File” menu and then select the files to print. Follow the suggestions listed below in order to properly connect your printer to your Windows computer and avoid printing errors.

1. How to print in Windows 10, 8

  1. Open the app you want to print from.
  2. Go to the context in the app you want to print from.
  3. Open the charms bar by pressing and holding the button “Window” and the button “C”.
  4. Click(left click) on the “Devices” icon after you opened the charms bar.
  5. In the “Devices” window you can see a list of printers you can print to. Note: In some cases the app you are trying to print from doesn’t support printing. In this case unfortunately you will have no printers available in the “Devices” window.
  6. All you need to do now is click (left click) on the printer you want to use for printing and a menu should appear (depending on the type of printer the menu will be a bit different).fix printer problems windows 10
  7. Click (left click) on the button “Print” to start the printing.

2. How to print PDF files in Windows 10, 8

It seems that printing PDF files in Windows 10, 8 is not always an easy task, but don’t worry we have a solution for this issue as well.
One of the most reliable programs you can try to use to print PDF files in Windows 10, 8 is called CutePDF Writer. Download CutePDF Writer and install it on your PC to avoid printing errors and other issues.

After you finished installing the app, it will appear in your list of printers and you can go from there to print your PDF files.
Also Microsoft has created a better driver architecture for for Windows 10, 8 compared to the previous one, meaning that when you plug in your printer, your Windows 8, 10 PC will automatically detect it without having to install any new special drivers and you can go right to printing.

If you still can’t print PDF files, here are a few troubleshooting guides that you can use:

3. Printer connections to the PC

USB printer connections

If you have connected your  printer via USB, then make sure your USB cable is not plugged in any hub and is not longer than 1.5 meters. Basically, your USB cable must be directly plugged into your Windows 10, 8 PC or you might encounter some issues while using your printer to normal standards.
In Windows 10, 8 after you plug in the printer from a USB cable, it should automatically detect it and you should be able to start using it immediately.

Ethernet printer connections

Make sure you have the local network or public network setup correctly and connect your Ethernet cable to the router you are using. After you connect the printer to the network via Ethernet cable, Windows 8, 10 will detect it and install the necessary drivers automatically.

Wireless printer connections

Make sure your wireless network is setup properly in your home and your also have your wireless password for the printer. Again, as in the methods above, after you connect the printer to the wireless network, Windows 8, Windows 10 will detect it and will start installing the drivers needed.

So, there quick tips and tricks will help you avoid common print issues on Windows 10. We hope this quick tutorial helped you connect your printer to your Windows 10, 8.1 computer and you can now use the Print button without any issues.

RELATED STORIES TO CHECK OUT:

FIX: Sound is not working in Windows 10/11

Posted on by Ivan Jenic

If you recently updated your operating system to Windows 10 or Windows 8.1 for that matter, you might experience some sound issues on your PC. So, if you either want to listen to music or work on your PC, you still need your sound up and running.
Sound not working in Windows 8.1
Usually the sound on Windows 10, Windows 8.1 appears inactive if you have the sound icon in the lower right corner of the screen marked with an “X”. If you click on the sound icon, it will run the Windows 10, 8.1 troubleshooter but in this particular case it will not work. Another symptom you will find concerns the audio card.  If the audio card is not working, when you go to Control Panel and look there for your card, it should show as unplugged.

Unfortunately, after checking your drivers in your Device Manager, the driver will be up to date but sound on Windows 10, 8.1 will not be working. After seeing that people using Windows 10, 8.1 encountered this exact issue, we have decided to compile this guide to help you fix this problem and prevent it from happening in the future.

No sound on Windows 10

  1. Download IDT Audio Installer
  2. Run the built-in sound troubleshooters
  3. Additional solutions for fixing audio bugs

1. Download IDT Audio Installer

  1. We will need to go and download the IDT Audio Installer following the link below.
  2. Now, we will need to save this IDT Audio to our Download folder you have on Windows 10, 8.1
  3. We need to open the “Control panel” in Windows 10, 8.1
  4. In “Control Panel” we need to open “Device Manager”device manager control panel
  5. In “Device Manager” we will need to open “Sound, Video and Game Controllers”.Sound, Video and Game Controllers
  6. In “Sound, Video and Game Controllers” you will have to look for “IDT HD Audio” or something that has IDT in the name.
  7. Click (right click) the device with IDT in the name and select “Uninstall”
  8. After doing this you will get a message telling you if you want to delete the current drivers, you will need to check the box that allows the removal of current driver (If you get no IDT entry keep doing the steps posted below).
  9. After you have done the steps above shut down your Laptop.
  10. Unplug the AC power adapter.
  11. Remove the battery of the Windows 10, 8.1 Laptop.
  12. Keep the power button of the Windows 10, 8.1 laptop pressed for approximately 40 seconds.
  13. Put the batter back into the laptop.
  14. Plug in the AC power adapter into your laptop.
  15. Press a few times the “Esc” button when the laptop is starting.
  16. Select F10 to enter BIOS settings.
  17. After this, you need to press “F5” to “load defaults” option(if it is not F5 then read what it says on the lower side of the screen for what you need to press to load defaults).
  18. Select “Yes” using the arrow keys on your keyboard and press “Enter”.
  19. Press “F10” again and select from the arrow keys “Yes”.
  20. Windows 10, 8.1 will load an audio driver but let it finish.
  21. Open the download folder where you downloaded the IDT Audio.
  22. Click (right click) on the IDT Audio installer and select from there “Run as administrator” in order for the installation to start correctly.
  23. After the installation of the IDT Audio is completed, click (right click) on the speaker icon and select from there “Playback Devices”.
  24. Click (left click) the “Speaker and Headphones” to select it and afterwards click (left click) the “Set Default” button on your screen.
  25. Now all you have to do is check the volume you have set in Windows 8.1 from the speaker icon in the lower right side of the screen and raise it a bit so you can check if it works.
  26. Run a music video for example and see if you have your sound back.

2. Run the built-in sound troubleshooters

You can quickly fix sound issues on your computer by running the built-in audio troubleshooters. There are three main Windows 10 sound troubleshooters that you can run: Playing Audio, Recording Audio, and Hardware and Devices (if your speaker can’t play any sounds).

Go to Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot > run the three troubleshooters mentioned above.

fix audio issues

3. Additional solutions for fixing audio bugs

WindowsReport has already published a series of troubleshooting solutions allowing to fix various audio problems on your Windows 10 computer:

These steps will help you fix your audio issue on Windows 10, 8.1, but keep in mind that this will not solve any issues related directly to your hardware sound card or your sound system. These solutions will solve the specific Windows 10, 8.1 audio problems after updating.

For any thoughts on the audio sound not working in Windows 10, 8.1, use the comment section below and we will help you with additional troubleshooting solutions.

FIX: Program Takes a Long Time to Open in Windows 10/11, 8.1

Posted on by Ivan Jenic

Taking a long time to open apps in Windows 10, Windows 8 can be caused by different reasons. In any case, this is very frustrating if you use your Windows 10, 8 PC for working purposes or even if you want to spend your free time in front of the PC.
Windows 8 apps take long time to open
There are a lot of reasons why a program takes forever to open on a Windows 10, 8 operating systems. Some of the reasons as why this is happening is that you might have a virus, your antivirus is eating up a lot of memory if you leave it open in the background. Or maybe you have an app that is not fully compatible with your Windows 10, 8 system and it slows down your PC’s response time for everything else you do on the PC.

How to fix programs that take too long to open

  1. Check the system requirements
  2. Scan your system for malware
  3. Check if your antivirus is the culprit
  4. Perform a Clean Boot
  5. Update your apps and programs
  6. Repair or reinstall problematic apps
  7. Install a PC optimizer tool

We will list a few methods below  and how you how you can troubleshoot your Windows 10, 8 PC and find out what is causing your apps to load so slowly.

1. Check the system requirements

The first thing we need to check is if we upgraded to Windows 10, 8 without reading the proper hardware specs requirements necessary to smoothly run this version. Check your Windows 10, 8 CD and make sure that you meet the necessary hardware requirements for Windows 10, 8 such as the memory RAM needed, the amount of free space on the hard drive and the processor required to run this version of Windows.

If he necessary system requirements are met yet your computer is slow to open programs, go to the next solution.

2. Scan your system for malware

Run an full system check with your antivirus. One of the reasons for this issue is that your PC might be infected with a virus that slows your Windows 10, 8 PC response time.

You can use Windows Defender to scan your system or you can install a third-party antivirus solution. For more information about the best antivirus tools to install on your computer, check out the guides listed below:

3. Check if your antivirus is the culprit

Close your antivirus for the duration of the check and see if your programs respond better. Leaving your antivirus ON might eat up a lot of memory from your PC and prevent your programs from opening as they should.

4. Perform a Clean Boot

We will run a Clean Boot to see if there are any programs that are having conflicts with your Windows 10, 8 operating system.

Here’s how to clean boot your Windows 8.1 computer:

  1. Move the mouse cursor to the right side of the screen and click (left click) on the search box
  2. Type in the search box “msconfig” and hit “Enter”.
  3. Now the “System Configuration” window is opened.Click (left click) on the “General” tab in the upper side of the window.
  4. Click (left click) in the “General” tab on “Selective Startup” and be sure to uncheck “Load startup items”.
  5. Make sure the “Load system services” and “Use original boot configuration” are checked.
  6. Click(left click) on “Services” tab.
  7. Place a checkmark in the “Hide all Microsoft services” situated in the lower side of the screen.
  8. Click(left click) on “Disable All”.
  9. Click (left click) on “Apply” and reboot the Windows 8 PC.

Here’s how to clean boot your Windows 10 computer:

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

If your programs still take a long time to open, then undo the changes mad and reboot the computer again.

5. Update your apps and programs

Make sure that the programs you are trying to open are up to date and compatible with the Windows 10, 8 operating systems. Some programs only work on Windows 7 ,for example, and if you are trying to use them in Windows 10, 8 they might not work as they should.

6. Repair or reinstall problematic apps

If only one app is causing you the problem, try to reinstall it and check if it is still loading slowly. You can use the Control Panel to repair or reinstall the apps that are not running as smoothly as they should.

  1. Go to Start > type ‘control panel‘ > double click on the first result
  2. Click on Programs > select Programs and Featuresprograms features control panel
  3. Select the problematic app in the list of app > right click on it to enable the context menu and select Repair or Uninstall.repair uninstall program control panel
  4. Restart your computer and reinstall the respective program.

7. Install a PC optimizer tool

If the issue persists and programs are taking a long time to open in Windows 10, you can also install a PC optimizer software. This category of software solutions quickly scan, repair and optimize your system. For more information about PC optimization software, check out the guides listed below:

So, these are the steps to follow in order to fix your programs and make them run a bit faster. For any thoughts or opinions on this subject, you can drop us a comment in the comment section below.

SOLVED: Flashing Screen in Windows 10/11

Posted on by Ivan Jenic

Usually, when we have issues with a flashing screen on Windows 10, 8.1 start-up it’s probably because the Windows operating system has crashed. Unfortunately, until we fix the flashing screen we cannot do the work we want or relax with a good movie.
flashing screen on Windows 8
Hopefully, there is a very easy way to fix the flashing screen on Windows 8 PCs or tablets. We only need the Windows 10, 8.1 disk or the USB stick which we used to first install Windows on our PC. Seeing that a lot of users have this issue I have decided to explain exactly how you can fix this in a few steps below.

Fix screen flashing on Windows 10

We listed here two simple solutions for screen flickering on Windows PC. Check them below, but be careful at each step as some missed details may cause you more headaches that you have at this moment.

Solution 1: Troubleshoot

  1. First, let’s take the Windows 8.1 or 10 disk or USB stick and boot from it like you did when you first installed Windows 10, 8.1.
  2. After you boot from the CD or USB stick you will get to a page that will ask you to “choose your language”.
  3. Click (left click) on the button that says “Next” situated in the lower right corner of the window.
  4. After you click on “Next” you will get to a page that says “Install now”, we will need to click (left click) on “Repair your computer” situated in the lower left corner of that window.
  5. A window will pop up with a set of options (Continue: exit and continue to Windows, Troubleshoot: Refresh or reset your PC or use advanced tools and Turn off your PC) that you can choose from.
  6. Let’s click (left click) on the second option that says “Troubleshoot: Refresh or reset your PC or use advanced tools”.
  7. Another window will pop up with the following options: Refresh your PC, Reset your PC, Advanced options.
  8. Click (left click) on the first option that says “Refresh your PC” (this option will reset your PC to the default settings you had when you first installed Windows).
  9. Click (left click) on “Next” situated in the lower left corner of the window.
  10. Your PC will start the operation after you click on “Next”, it will probably take around 10 minutes to finish.
  11. After the process finishes it will ask you to choose a volume. You can choose your volume depending on your liking (Example: Volume 2).
  12. It will start another process again for approximately 5 minutes.
  13. After this, your Windows PC should be back to the default settings and you should not have the flashing screen issue anymore.

Solution 2: uninstall the old driver and install a new one

Bad drivers can cause lots of problems, especially if we are talking about display. Here is a guide how you can uninstall the old driver and install a new one:

  1. Boot into Safe Mode with Networking
  2. Do a system search for ‘Device Manager ‘
  3. Click the arrow at the left of ‘Display Drivers’ to expand the bar and see all display drivers
  4. Right click on ‘Graphics card’
  5. Click uninstall, check ‘Delete driver for this device’ (or something similar) and click OK
  6. Exit Safe Mode and restart your PC as usual
  7. Search for the latest driver for your system and install it
  8. Reboot your system and check if the problem is solved

Solution 3: Uninstall problematic software

At the moment the article was written, screen flickering was caused sometimes by some applications. There are not so many of them detected at this moment (only three) and they are Norton ANtiVirus, iCloud and IDT Audio. If IDT Audio is not so popular among users, it might cause this problem. In this case, we recommend you to uninstall it.

Norton AntiVirus has released a fix for this issue that can be found on their official webpage. For iCloud, it is only your choice if you want to uninstall it, or fix it if you choose a guide on specialized forums but we suggest you to deactivate it for a while and see if this is the problem.

There you have it, an easy way to refresh your Windows 10, 8.1 PC and get your operating system back to normal. If you have any thoughts on this article write us below a few ideas.

 

Posted in Fix

Microsoft adds two more titles to the Xbox One Backward Compatible catalog

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

After the additions of Fable Heroes 2 and two other titles to the Xbox One Backward Compatible catalog last week, Microsoft is adding two additional games this week. Joining the list today are Assassin’s Creed Liberation HD and Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter.

Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter is a Tactical Shooter Video Game that was originally released back in 2005. The game places emphasis on using cover effectively in order to stay alive, together with sound and strategic coordination. If you don’t already own the game you can buy it here from Microsoft for $19.99.

Assassin’s Creed Liberation HD is a more recent game, originally released back in 2012. This game was originally exclusive to PSVita but was later re-released to other consoles. Players in this game take control of Aveline de Grandpré, an African-French Assassin around the end of the French and Indian War. The game can be found here for $19.99 if you don’t already own it.

If you own the physical version of these titles you can insert the disc into your Xbox One to have it download to your system and play. In the event that you own the digital version, it should automatically appear in the “Ready to Install” section of My Games and Apps on the Xbox One dashboard.

Microsoft announces architects, contractors for Redmond campus modernization

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

In a news release today, Microsoft announced the architects and contractors for its Redmond campus modernization. Part of a project detailed last year, the groups will work together on building and designing 3 million square feet of new workspace on 72 acres of land.

Construction on new buildings will begin later this year and will be completed by the year 2022. Architect teams that are part of the project include LMN, NBBJ, WRNS Studio and ZGF Architects. The general contractors for the project include Skanska, Balfour Beatty, GLY, and Sellen.

Once complete, the new campus will feature 18 new 180,000 to 220,000 square feet buildings, built into four distinct villages. Buildings will be designed with accessibility features in mind to help enhance mobility and ease of access. There will also be spacious atrium and courtyards for improved daylighting, and the entire campus will be organized around the experience of pedestrians and cyclists. You can learn more about this project by checking here.

Win a gold plated Xbox One X with Xbox Game Pass Quests: Summer Edition

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

One of the cool perks of subscribing to Microsoft’s Xbox Games Pass is that you can participate in limited-time quests to win some exclusive rewards. As part of the just announced Xbox Games Pass Quests: Summer Edition, subscribers in the US, UK and Canada will get the chance to win a gold-plated Xbox One X Project Scorpio Edition and other prizes.

To enter the sweepstakes, Xbox Games Pass members will have to complete the two Quests below. Gamers who get both quests done before July 16 will also get a Foxbat Brassilisk from The Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel Unlimited for free:

  • Quest 1: Play 60 minutes, three days in a row in any Xbox Game Pass title before July 9
  • Quest 2: Earn three achievements in The Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel Unlimited from July 10-16

“We’ll have new Quests lined up all Summer long and we’ll unlock the next Quest on July 17.  So, stay tuned in the Xbox Game Pass membership area on your Xbox One,” wrote Xbox’s Major Nelson.

Microsoft pushes rural broadband initiative with new RADWIN partnership

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

Microsoft has long been pushing for the use of TV White Space technology in order to bring broadband to those who live in rural areas across the world. In the latest win for this initiative, Microsoft is now pairing up with RADWIN.

For those unfamiliar, RADWIN is a world leader in delivering high-performance broadband wireless access solutions. TV White Space is also known as the unused areas of the broadcasting spectrum.

As part of Microsoft’s Airband Initiative, the company has been pushing for the use of this tech to bring internet to areas far out from big cities. They now hope that their partnership with RADWIN will further help in making broadband more affordable and accessible to customers in the rural U.S. and around the world.

The partnership will also see more innovative technologies introduced into the TV White Space market. According to Paul Garnett, the senior director of the Microsoft Airband Initiative:

“The TV White Space radio ecosystem is rapidly growing, and we are excited to work with RADWIN to bring innovative technologies to market at a global scale…Our partnership with RADWIN, a recognized global leader in fixed wireless broadband access, will help address the rural broadband gap for residents and businesses, enabling farmers, healthcare professionals, educators, business leaders and others to fully participate in the digital economy”

Microsoft already has invested in partnerships with multiple ISPs under their Airband initiative. The company also promotes digital skills training for people in newly connected communities. There are hopes for the new TV White Space tech developed under RADWIN to come to these partners during the second half of 2019.

Fix: Frame rate problems in Windows 10/11

Posted on by Ivan Jenic

We really enjoy using Windows 10, but this new operating system from Microsoft isn’t without flaws. Users have complained about frame rate problems in Windows 10 while gaming and today we’re going to explore what is causing these issues.

According to users, before upgrading to Windows 10 they had no problems with frame rate, but now gaming is almost impossible because the frame rate drops drastically. So what is the cause of this problem? In most cases, the problem is your display driver that isn’t compatible with Windows 10, but luckily you can try to fix this by trying out these steps.

How to fix Frame rate problems in Windows 10

  1. Remove and reinstall the latest display driver
  2. Install the drivers in compatibility mode
  3. Check your cooling and clean the dust from your computer
  4. Diasble the Game Bar
  5. Install the latest updates
  6. Uninstall the latest updates
  7. Run the SFC scan 
  8. Disable Game DVR

1. Remove and reinstall the latest display driver

  1. Open the Device Manager and find Display Adapters.
  2. Left-click on it to reveal the list of your drivers.
  3. Select the driver on the list, there will be the only one available in most cases.
  4. Right-click it and select Uninstall and when uninstall is completed restart your computer.
  5. Find the manufacturer and model of your graphics card, and visit the graphics card manufacturer’s website.
  6. Go to the Drivers section and find your model from the list.
  7. Download the driver and install it.

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.

The advanced software not only downloads and updates drivers but also avoid PC damage as a result of incorrect driver updates.

However, a tool like Fortect Driver Updater not only downloads and installs drivers, but also manages them by troubleshooting, backing up, and restoring them.

You may rely on Fortect Driver Updater to make such changes to ensure a proper update with the most recent display drivers suitable for your PC.

⇒ Get Fortect Driver Updater

2. Install the drivers in compatibility mode

Sometimes, if the manufacturer doesn’t have Windows 10 drivers available on its website, you might need to install them in compatibility mode, but don’t worry, it’s actually easier than you think.

  1. Uninstall the currently installed driver and download the display driver from the manufacturer’s website as we have explained in the previous solution.
  2. After you’ve downloaded the setup file, right-click it, and choose Properties from the menu.
  3. When the Property window shows up, press the Compatibility tab.
  4. Find the “Run this program in Compatibility mode” checkbox and check it, then choose the operating system from the dropdown list.
  5. Press Okay and run the setup file.

3. Check your cooling and clean the dust from your computer

According to some users, Windows 10 is throttling your CPU when the temperature gets over 71 Celsius while older versions of Windows don’t do that. Why does this happen, we aren’t sure, but it might help if you clean your fan from dust, or by adding an additional cooling. If you’re not sure how to do it, please contact a professional.

4. Disable the Game Bar

Windows 10’s built-in Game Bar may also cause some frame rate drops. So, we’re going to disable it to see if there’s any difference. You’re probably not using it, anyway.

Here’s how to disable the Game Bar in Windows 10:

  1. Go to Settings.
  2. Head over to Gaming > Game bar.
  3. Switch off the Record game clips, screenshots, and broadcast using Game bar option.frame rate problems windows 10
  4. Restart your computer.

5. Install the latest updates

If you’ve recently installed a major update for Windows 10, there’s a chance for some frame rate drops or other gaming issues. In fact, users already reported similar issues before. Luckily, Microsoft usually acknowledges these issues relatively quickly. Therefore, the company releases a patch through Windows Update.

To remove any doubt, simply keep your system up to date, and you’ll get all the potential patches. Windows 10 usually installs updates automatically, but it won’t hurt if you check for updates every once in a while. To check for Windows 10 updates, go to Settings > Updates & Security, and check for updates.

6. Uninstall the latest updates

Contrary to the previous solution, there’s also a chance the latest Windows 10 update you installed actually causes the frame rate drops. In that case, your best bet is to uninstall that update and wait for Microsoft to resolve the issue and deliver another patch.

Here’s how to uninstall updates in Windows 10:

  1. Go to Settings.
  2. Head over to Updates & Security > Windows Update.
  3. Go to Update history > Uninstall updates.
  4. Now, find the latest update installed on your computer (you can sort updates by date), right-click it, and go to Uninstall.
  5. Restart your computer.

7. Run the SFC scan

If none of the previous solutions resolved the low FPS problem, we’ll try with a universal troubleshooting tool like the SFC scan. Although the SFC scan doesn’t directly affect gaming, it may fix a problem that actually causes the frame rate drop. Here’s how to run it:

  1. Go to Search, type cmd, right-click Command Prompt, and select Open as Administrator.
  2. Enter the following command, and press Enter: sfc/scannowframe rate problems windows 10
  3. Wait for the process to finish.
  4. Restart your computer.

8. Disable Game DVR

Game DVR is a part of the Game bar that allows you to record your gameplay. So, just like it’s the case with the Game bar itself, Game DVR may also cause some frame rate drops. So, we’ll go and disable this option. Here’s how:

  1. Go to Settings.
  2. Head over to Gaming > Game DVR.
  3. Switch off the Record in the background while I’m playing a game option.frame rate problems windows 10
  4. Restart your computer.

Unfortunately, this may not be enough to eliminate the frame rate drops. So, launch your game after disabling the DVR, and if the drops still occur, do the following:

  1. Go to Search, type regedit, and open Registry Editor.
  2. Navigate to the following path: HKEY_CURRENT_USERSystemGameConfigStore
  3. Double-click the GameDVR_Enabled DWORD to open the Edit DWORD window.
  4. Set the value to 0.frame rate problems windows 10
  5. Save the changes.
  6. Now, navigate to this path in Registry Editor: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREPoliciesMicrosoftWindows
  7. Right-click Windows and select New > Key to set up a registry key.
  8. Set GameDVR as the title.
  9. Right-click GameDVR and select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value from the context menu. Then enter ‘AllowGameDVR’ as the DWORD’s title.
  10. Double-click the AllowGameDVR DWORD to modify its value. Enter ‘0’ in the Value data box, and press the OK button.
  11. Save the changes and restart your computer.

That’s about it. We hope at least one of these solutions helped you resolve the frame rate issue in Windows 10. If you have any comments, questions or suggestions, just let us know in the comments below.

If you have any other Windows 10-related issues you can check for the solution in our Windows 10 Fix section.

PUBG, Minecraft featured in new Xbox One bundles

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

It’s officially summer here in the United States and the Xbox bundles are coming in hot. Indeed, Microsoft has just added two new bundles to the Xbox One family, featuring both PUBG and Minecraft.

The first of the bundles is the $499 Xbox One X PUBG Bundle. This comes with an Xbox One X with a 1TB HDD, an Xbox Wireless Controller, full game download of PUBG, and 1-month Xbox Live and Xbox Game Pass trials. Microsoft promises that this bundle will become available at most major retailers worldwide later this week.

A second bundle joining the Xbox Family is the $299 Xbox One S Minecraft Bundle. This comes with a 1 TB Xbox One S, and a full-game download of Minecraft featuring Update Aquatic plus the Explorer’s Pack. Other extras in this bundle include season one of Minecraft: Story Mode – The Complete Adventure, and 1 month of Xbox Game Pass and 14-days of Xbox Live Gold. Microsoft says this bundle will be available “soon” at retailers in select regions. and at Microsoft Store and Walmart here in the US.

These are just two Xbox One bundles which are coming up for purchase. There are many others currently available at the Microsoft Store, or Xbox.com. Which Xbox Bundles are on your wish list? Let us know in the comments below.

Microsoft’s upcoming low cost Surface clears FCC, could be nearing launch

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

We may not see Microsoft’s long-awaited “Surface Phone” this year, but it looks like new Surface devices are definitely on the way. Following a previous Bloomberg report mentioning new 10-inch Surface tablets to be released later this year, it seems that this new hardware has just been cleared by the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

The FCC documents spotted by German blog WinFuture mention “portable computing device” which doesn’t have a specific name except “Model 1824.” The various documents also reveal that the new hardware will be powered by a 24W charger, similar to the one used by the Surface Pro 4 ( the 2017 Surface Pro uses a more powerful 36W charger).

There isn’t much more information about the new device, except that it will come with an Intel processor coupled with a Qualcomm Wifi and Bluetooth module. Anyway, the FCC clearance suggests that this new tablet could be just around the corner. It’s been three years now since Microsoft released the 10″ Surface 3, and it will be interesting to see if Microsoft can make small Windows tablets interesting again.

Desktop Turns Black in Windows 10/11, 8.1 [Fix]

Posted on by Ivan Jenic

Have you ever tried working on your Windows 10, 8.1 PC and suddenly the desktop background turned black? Well after doing some troubleshooting on this issue I have discovered that there is a specific feature in Windows 10, 8.1 that is causing this malfunction to the system. Fortunately for us we can fix it very quickly.
fix black screen image in windows 8.1
The issue in Windows 8.1 that makes your PC’s desktop turn black is directly related to the “Show Desktop icons” feature, after playing a bit with this feature it seems that my desktop on Windows 10, 8.1 had turned black but don’t worry, there is a very easy way to fix the desktop and bring back your normal picture by following the guidelines posted below.

Tutorial on how to fix your desktop if it turns black on Windows PC

First of all, I am going to tell you how you got this problem in the first place.

How you got the black desktop:

You have to check if the desktop is showing then click (right click) in an empty space on the desktop and select from the menu “View”. After you selected “View” then uncheck the “Show Desktop icons” to make your icons disappear from your desktop.

Now you will need to click (right click) again on the desktop and select from there “Personalize”. Now you will need to select from there a theme with more than one wallpapers. After this select again a single wallpaper theme like “Windows”.

After doing this you can close the “Personalize” window and the desktop will turn black.

How to fix the desktop if it turns black:

In order to fix the desktop we need to:

  1. Click (right click) on a free space on the desktop.
  2. Click (left click) on “View”.
  3. In the “View” menu check the “Show Desktop icons”.
  4. Now we need to go again to the “View” menu and uncheck the “Show Desktop icons” again.
  5. This should fix your desktop and turn it back to normal.

Other ‘desktop turns black’ issues and their fixes

This may not be the only issue that you might have and, in other cases, this fix may not work. Here are some fix-guides for other black desktop issues:

Above you can see how we can easily fix in just a few minutes our Windows 10, 8.1 desktop if it turns black. Although this is not a very troublesome error and it doesn’t affect your PC in any way other then the black screen it is still annoying if you want to customize the desktop and suddenly it turns black. For any thoughts on the matter write us below.

Copy Text From a Popup Window: How to do it

Posted on by Ivan Jenic

Fixing computer errors isn’t easy, but you can make researching them faster if you copy text from a popup window or a dialog box on your PC.

Combining that with Event Viewer allows you to research and fix any issue easily. Not many users are familiar with this feature of Windows, and in today’s guide, we’re going to look closer into it and see how it works.

How do we retrieve text from alert popup window?

  • This is possible without any third-party solutions simply by using copy and past feature.
  • For more advanced options, you can use various freeware software.

How do I copy text from Windows popup?

1. Use built-in Windows Function

  1. Click (left click) on the upper sidebar of the window error.
  2. Press Ctrl + C to copy the text.
  3. Now open a Text document and press Ctrl + V to paste the text.

This is a hidden feature of Windows that not many users know about. It doesn’t require additional software or tools, and it works on any PC.

The only thing that you need is a text document in order to paste the information from the entire dialog box.

This can sometimes be a problem, especially with larger error messages, but for smaller ones, it’s perfect. For more advanced options, check our next solution.

2. Use a third-party tool

  1. Download SysExporter.
  2. Extract the tool and start it.
  3. Now select the window that is giving you the error message and copy it.

Now you can see how easy it is to copy text from a popup window. You don’t even have to rely on third-party solutions, and you can do it all in a matter of seconds.

For more information, we have a great guide on how to highlight unselectable text, so be sure to check it out as well.

What methods do you use to copy text from windows? Let us know in the comments below.

‘Couldn’t recognize that fingerprint’ Windows Hello error

Posted on by Aleksandar Ognjanovic

With the introduction of Windows Hello, Microsoft added a few extra security layers with a few versatile biometric options. The fingerprint scanner is commonly used, and it’s held in high regards when it comes to its security value (look at all those smartphones). Once established, you’ll be able to go past the lock screen with just a touch. However, it seems that the fingerprint recognition failed for some users and they were acquainted with the “Couldn’t recognize that fingerprint” error.

FIX: Couldn’t recognize that fingerprint Windows Hello error

  1. Re-assign new fingerprint and try again
  2. Disable and re-enable Hello and update Windows
  3. Run Hardware Troubleshooter
  4. Reinstall fingerprint scanner drivers
  5. Clean fingerprint scanner from debris
  6. Inspect Group Policy settings
  7. Delete the Profile folder and start again
  8. Rollback or reset Windows 10

1: Re-assign new fingerprint and try again

Let’s start the troubleshooting by re-assigning the new fingerprint. Before that, let’s briefly explain why there might be a bug with the fingerprint readings. Since Microsoft provides software for fingerprints, you won’t need any associated third-party software. But, the thing is this whole Hello addition was primarily targeting Surface devices.

And it hardly works with the same success with other OEMs. Thus, Microsoft Hello and the accompanying sign in options display lots of bugs on Lenovo and Dell laptops. And, for that reason, you’ probably need to re-establish the fingerprint sign-in profile more times than you would like.

Here’s how to do it, including the PIN resetting:

  1. Open Settings.
  2. Choose Accounts.couldn't recognize that fingerprint
  3. Choose Sign-in options from the left pane.
  4. Click Remove under the Fingerprint.
  5. Do the same with the PIN.couldn't recognize that fingerprint
  6. Enroll the new fingerprint and add a PIN.
  7. Restart your PC and try unlocking with the fingerprint sensor.

2: Use Local account and update Windows

The same reason. If Windows 10 update broke your fingerprint reader and it gives you the “Couldn’t recognize that fingerprint” error, you might look for alternatives. Lots of affected users managed to address the problem but, in exchange, they were able to use the fingerprint only on Local account instead of the Microsoft account.

You can try it out. Of course, you can always sign-in to Microsoft account after passing the lock screen. Here’s how to do it:

  1. Navigate to Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options and remove Microsoft Hello settings.
  2. Now, select Your info from the left pane.
  3. Click on the “Sign in with a local account instead“.couldn't recognize that fingerprint
  4. Enter your current password and create a local account.
  5. Restart Windows 10 and select the Local account.
  6. You should be able to sign-in with the fingerprint scanner. This might resolve the stall with Microsoft account as well.
  7. Additionally, you can navigate to Settings > Account > Your info and sign in with Microsoft account again.
  8. Restart your PC and look for changes.

In addition, for the aforementioned reasons, confirm that you have the latest version of Windows 10. Manual Windows 10 updating is done this way:

  1. Open Settings (right-click on the Start button).
  2. Choose Update & Security.
  3. Check for updates.

3: Run Hardware Troubleshooter

Windows 10 is here to stay and, over the period of almost 3 years, it pilled up hundreds of issues and errors. Tech enthusiasts were dealing with those in the beginning, but Microsoft finally decided to give a helping hand. At least, when it comes to Windows native features. They’ve added the unified Troubleshooting menu, which includes Hardware and Devices troubleshooter. The troubleshooter which should come in handy in this situation.

After you run it, the dedicated troubleshooter should resolve the error at hand. And here’s how to run it:

  1. Open Settings.
  2. Choose Update & Security.
  3. Choose Troubleshoot from the left pane.
  4. Expand the Hardware and Devices troubleshooter.
  5. Click on the “Run the troubleshooter” button.couldn't recognize that fingerprint
  6. Follow the instructions closely until the troubleshooter identifies and fixes all issues with the fingerprint scanner.

4: Reinstall fingerprint scanner drivers

As the fingerprint scanner is the piece of hardware, regardless whether it’s a built-in or an external variation. And hardware needs proper software to work in a seamless manner. For that purpose, we encourage you to check the fingerprint driver. Even better, reinstall it and move from there.

Here’s how to reinstall fingerprint driver on Windows 10:

  1. Right-click Start and open Device Manager.
  2. Navigate to Biometrics devices and expand this section.
  3. Right-click on the fingerprint scanner device and uninstall its driver.
  4. Restart the PC and wait for the system to install it again.

In addition, you can navigate to the official OEM’s site and download proper drivers.

5: Clean fingerprint scanner from debris

This might seem obvious, but it’s often neglected. Namely, we’re dealing here with the sensitive equipment and even the smallest grain, grease, or dust can cause false readings. In those state, your fingerprint will hardly perform. So, we suggest thorough clean up.

The best way to clean fingerprint scanner is with a slightly wet cloth and dry one afterward. You can use some other cleaning chemicals, but be careful not to damage the scanner as some of those are abrasive.

6: Check Power Options

Power options which are found in the Device Manager deal with the individual devices. The intention was to preserve the power consumption, by disabling various inactive devices. The same option is available for biometric devices, which are fingerprint scanners. But, even though it’s useful in theory, this setting might disable a certain device permanently (until the reboot cycle) and keep it in the “sleep” mode.

What we need you to do is go to Device Manager and disable this option completely for the biometric device. Follow these instructions to do it:

  1. Right-click Start and open Device Manager.
  2. Navigate to Biometrics devices and expand this section.
  3. Right-click on the fingerprint scanner device and open Properties.
  4. Click on the Power Management tab.
  5. Uncheck the “Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power” box.couldn't recognize that fingerprint
  6. Confirm changes and restart your PC.

7: Delete the Profile folder and start again

Another workaround some that worked for some users includes deleting all credentials of the system folder where the Profile credentials are stored. However, this is a risky procedure and you’ll need to take the ownership of the named folder in order to proceed. We wouldn’t recommend it, but since it seemingly works for others — it found the place on this list.

Before moving on, make sure to create a restore point. After you’ve done that, move on with the steps we provided below:

  1. Check the “Hidden items” box in the View tab under the Explorer’s title bar.
  2. Navigate to C:WindowsServiceProfilesLocalServiceAppDataLocalMicrosoft.
  3. Download and run this script to take the ownership of the folder. Just right-click on the file and run it as admin.
  4. Delete the content from the Microsoft folder.
  5. Restart your PC and try signing in again.

8: Rollback or reset Windows 10

In the end, we can only concur that the system is the one to blame for the issue. If the error is persistent, we can only point you towards the recovery options. Two of them, to be exact. If the fingerprint sensor started misbehaving after the latest major update, the Rollback option is a better choice. On the other hand, if the issues emerged for no apparent reason, resetting PC to factory values is, in our opinion, a better choice.

Here’s how to rollback your Windows 10 to previous major build or reset it to factory settings:

  1. Open Settings and Update & Security.
  2. Choose Recovery from the left pane.
  3. Here, you can choose between the two options. Expand either “Get back to the previous version of Windows 10” or “Reset this PC“.couldn't recognize that fingerprint
  4. Follow the instructions.

With that, we can conclude this article. We can only hope that these steps helped you resolve the “Couldn’t recognize that fingerprint” error in Windows Hello sign-in. If there is some additional information you consider useful, feel free to share it with us. The comments section is just below.

RELATED STORIES YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT:

iBall launches CompBook M500, an affordable Windows 10 laptop for business professionals

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

Indian OEM maker, iBall announced the launch of its newest laptop in its affordable CompBook series, the iBall CompBook M500.

The CompBook M500 comes in a beautiful Cobalt Blue chassis and sports a 14-inch Full HD IPS display.

Powered by an Intel Celeron Dual Core processor with a speed of up to 2.4 GHz and 4GB of RAM, the CompBook M500 packs in 32GB of built-in storage. It also includes an optional hard drive that enables you to affix either Hard Disk Drive or SSD up to 1 TB storage. There’s a 38Wh battery that the company claims to offer 5.5 hours of battery life. The CompBook M500 sports dual speakers for clear and crisp audio experience.

iBall CompBook M500 Specifications

  • Operating System: Windows 10 Home/Pro
  • Processor: 2.4GHz Intel Celeron dual-core
  • RAM: 4GB
  • Storage: 32GB
  • Ports: 2 x USB | mini HDMI

While targeted at business professionals, the iBall CompBook M500 is also a fine pick for a lot of students. The Windows 10 Home version is priced at ₹16,999 ($247) while the Windows 10 Pro version is priced at ₹18,999 ($276).

Xbox and Nintendo’s Cross Play support tarnishes Sony’s ‘helpful’ developer story, according to Bethesda

Posted on by Kareem Anderson

Sony’s summer of anti-Cross Play rhetoric continues to tarnish the PlayStation’s hard-fought and well-deserved reputation this console generation.

In the wake of an arguably disastrous Xbox One unveiling and poor Wii U console sales, Sony’s PlayStation 4 has seemingly made every gamer-beneficial decision while avoiding relatively hindering public and commercial missteps, until now.

As Microsoft and Nintendo continue to promote their support of Cross Play technology for their respective consoles this summer, Sony has been staunchly opposed to participating in a campaign of uniformity.

Perhaps, driven by their market dominance, Sony has chosen to sit out the Cross Play talks for some of the biggest titles being played on various consoles such as cultural phenomenon Fortnite and while the company may have hoped to wait out gamer frustrations for lack of support for the battle royale fad, it’s now being hit by complaints from executive game developers such as Bethesda’s Todd Howard, in charge of upcoming Fallout 76.

When asked by German publication GameStar.de about the potential for Fallout 76 Cross Play, Howard did away with corporate nuance and directly called out Sony’s unwillingness to aid developers.

“You cannot do cross-play in 76. We’d really love that but right now we can’t. Sony is not as helpful as everyone would like.”

While Bethesda has nothing further to say about Howard’s comments according to Polygon, the sentiment seems to be targeted at Sony’s current gaming strategy as the company has yet to make a move on its potential Minecraft or Fortnite Cross Play efforts, citing that security concerns have held back Minecraft CP development and that the company will come up with a different solution its gamers will accept.

“We’re looking at a lot of the possibilities. You can imagine that the circumstances around that affect a lot more than just one game. I’m confident we’ll get to a solution which will be understood and accepted by our gaming community, while at the same time supporting our business.”

Sony is in a tough spot as Cross Play is tied to more than just pure gaming entertainment for the company, a lot of factors such as in-game purchasing, security, and licensing would all impact the platform.

On the plus side, Sony’s attempt to wait out the bad press and fevered angst from the very vocal gamer minority could be just the windows of opportunity for Nintendo and Microsoft to use some press and earn not only some goodwill with developers but sell a few more consoles this summer and lock in some fans for future releases.