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.

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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.

File Opens with the Wrong Program? Here’s How to Fix it

Posted on by Ivan Jenic

When opening files with the wrong program in Windows 10, this most likely prevents you from running that program correctly, or it will not run at all.

So, if you want to watch a movie, listen to music, or open a Word document for work, you need to set up the right program to open the respective files.

Opening your files in the wrong program in Windows 10 is a common mistake, but luckily your PC comes with a straightforward app to set the default program for a specific file you want to open.

How can I stop my file from opening with the wrong program?

1. Set a default program for opening files using the context menu

  1. Right-click the file you want to open and select Open with.
  2. Select Choose another app.
    choose another
  3. Now, select the app you want to keep using and check the Always use this app to open <extension> files option.

With this, you should have a default app for launching your files. This will prevent the file from opening with the wrong program in the future.

2. Use the Settings page

  1. Press the Windows key + I to launch Settings and select Apps.
  2. Choose Default apps in the left pane.default apps windows 10
  3. Now, click on the type of content that you want to open.
  4. A drop-down menu will appear on the screen, allowing you to select the default program to use.
choose default app windows 10

There you have it, this is how you change the default program for opening files on Windows 10. Follow the instructions listed above to set the correct program for the files you want to open.

If you are getting this file does not have a program associated with it error, check our guide to fix it.

Let us know in the comments below if you could set a default program for your files.

Original X-shaped Xbox prototype lives on

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

A very long time ago in the year 2000, Microsoft took a prototype of the original Xbox on a tour of the world to help developers become interested in the new console. Almost jokingly so, it was unlike anything else seen at the time since it was literally a giant “X” shaped device. Well, that very prototype is now living on and has a special place at the Microsoft Visitor Center in Redmond (via Eurogamer.)

The prototype device reportedly cost $18,000 to make and was composed of a solid block of Aluminum. It frequently appeared at trade shows, and other gaming-related events, and was apparently a working unit, per Seamus Blackley, the father of Xbox. Seamus even added that the Xbox team would literally carry this prototype device around in penguin cases, by pulling them up and down stairs.

In another Tweet, Seamus revealed that Microsoft once took the prototype Xbox to PlayStation headquarters when they were in Tokyo. They actually placed the Xbox unit on top of the Sony sign as a prank, which someone else joked might be the closest we’ll ever get to seeing Xbox and PlayStation cross-play.

This isn’t the first time that the prototype has surfaced. It was roughly two years ago that Microsoft’s Aaron Greenberg revealed the device on the Xbox Snapchat. Anyway, when the Xbox actually launched, the design was much more conventional, but Microsoft obviously had fun with this prototype device.

State of Decay 2 hits 3 million players, releases Independence Pack

Posted on by Kareem Anderson

State of Decay 2 released to a mixed bag of reviews, with many gamers citing bugs, glitches, and a repetitive gameplay as negatives for the blended RPG/Sim game.

Seemingly in an effort to address critics’ complaints, the game studio Dead Labs recently released a 20GB patch for SoD2 that resolved a majority of core game mechanic shortcomings and probably helped push the total number of players cross the 3 million mark, two months since release.

Now Dead Labs is set to give those 3 million players some additional content to consume over the 4th of July holiday in the US.

In advance of the 4th of July holiday, we are celebrating that the State of Decay 2 community now exceeds three million players. This, along with the recent news that fans made State of Decay 2 the best-selling game of May, puts us in a festive mood. To celebrate, we are revealing our first post-launch content, the Independence Pack. This pack gives you the opportunity to take on the zombie horde with style, grace and most importantly, colorful gunpowder. Available today on both Xbox One and Windows 10, the pack unlocks an array of fiery new versions of vehicles, weapons and gear for your community. State of Decay 2 wants you to show off with explosive awesomeness to the three million player strong community. Heck, even the zeds are dressed for the occasion in this pack, and there are few things as satisfying as taking out a Revolutionary War-themed zombie during a supply run. It’s like history that you can blow up…with fireworks!

The Independence Pack is an over-the-top visually themed extravaganza that includes, souped-up vehicles with attached flamethrowers, sparklers, and custom caging to support more vehicular zombie killing as well as new handheld and over the shoulder fireworks cannons for close quarter combat.

The new tools can be crafted using the new Fireworks Crafting Station facility mod to customize more creative uses of fireworks to weapons, or gamers could just buy new explosives from a “traditional fireworks sales.”

Unfortunately, for some, the Independence Pack isn’t free but will run at a moderate price of $4.99. For gamers who purchased the more expensive SoD2 Ultimate Edition upfront, the expansion pack will be free.

The Independence Pack isn’t the only new thing coming to SoD2 as Dead Labs also packed 20 new free missions, 10 new weapons, and a “Rare Books” trader for new skills in its giant 2.0 update released a few weeks ago.

SoD2 Ultimate Edition owners will also be getting a new mod following the Independence Pack, that offers new gameplay as a well equipped Red Talon soldier on a mission to hunt zombies in the Daybreak Pack coming out sometime in September.

That all-new content lets you take the fight to the zombies, featuring an exciting new mode where you play as a well-equipped Red Talon soldier. You’ll work to complete a challenging objective while protecting your fortified position against waves of zombies and freaks to earn new rewards and weapons. The Daybreak Pack is also included in State of Decay 2’s Ultimate Edition.

While SoD2 has been criticized for what seemed like a mixed marketing message of AAA backed studio quality for an indie game release, Dead Labs along with Microsoft’s support looks to be giving gamers every cent worth of gameplay possible at varying price points. With the upcoming DLCs and overall patchwork, SoD2 is becoming every bit of the indie phenomenon it was originally billed as, as well working its way towards impressive AAA gameplay. 

How to fix white screen in The Sims 4

Posted on by Aleksandar Ognjanovic

Since its introduction, the latest release of The Sims franchise hasn’t exactly met the expectations. With dozens of glitchy add-ons and lots of bugs, The Sims 4 is far from a well-optimized game. In addition, some errors are completely ruining the experience. Just like the reoccurring white screen, with flashes while in the game.

The description of the occurrence vary. Some users were met with the white screen during the initial screen, while others were able to start the game. For the latter, the white screen flashes started unexpectedly and they weren’t able to exit the game. There are some viable solutions and workarounds for this error, and we made sure to enlist them below.

The Sims 4 white screen: How to fix it

  1. Make sure you meet the requirements
  2. Remove mods temporarily
  3. Check the installation integrity
  4. Update the display drivers
  5. Disable Origin In-Game
  6. Start the game in the windowed mode
  7. Start the game without saves
  8. Reinstall the game and Origin

1: Make sure you meet the requirements

First things first. Before moving to standard troubleshooting steps, we need to confirm that your PC indeed meets the game‘s system requirements. At least the minimum requirements. As a side note, if you are unable to close the game, press Ctrl + Alt + Delete to open the Admin menu. Then select Device Manager and terminate the “The Sims 4” process.

Here are the minimum system requirements:

  • CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E4300 or AMD Athlon 64 X2 4000+ (2.0 GHz Dual-Core required if using integrated graphics)
  • RAM: 2 GB
  • GPU: NVIDIA GeForce 6600 or ATI Radeon X1300 or Intel GMA X4500
  • DIRECTX: DirectX 9.0c compatible
  • HDD: 14 GBthe sims 4 white screen

2: Remove mods temporarily

The Sims 4 is the shadow of itself if we remove all interesting available modes. However, some specific mods can occasionally fail to load or slow down the game execution. Since we can’t determine which exact mod is possibly causing the white screen, we need you to remove the mods folder completely.

Follow these steps to temporarily remove mods from The Sims 4:

  1. Close the game and the Origins client and restart your PC.
  2. Navigate to the C:\Users\: Your Username:\Documents\Electronic Arts\Sims4 folder.
  3. Cut the Mods folder and paste it on the desktop.
  4. Start the game and check whether the white screen occurs.

Later on, you can remove exclude individual mods until you determine which exact mod is causing the issue at hand. This tool called Mod Conflict Detector should help you in your endeavors.

If you want to learn how to install mods in Sims 4, check out our dedicated article.

3: Check the installation integrity

Chances are that you’re using either Steam or, more likely, Origin when playing games. In case you’re, you can use one of those two clients to fix the issue at hand. Namely, both include the same utility which checks the game‘s installation integrity and applies fixes if the need arises. The Sims 4 is Origin exclusive, so the Origin desktop client it is in this case.

Here’s how to run it on the Origin client:

  1. Open the Origin client.
  2. Open My Game Library.
  3. Right-click on The Sims 4 and choose Repair from the contextual menu.the sims 4 white screen
  4. Wait until the tool verifies the integrity of the game files and close Origin.
  5. Restart your PC and run the game.

4: Update the display drivers

When it comes to games and screen errors and crashes, we point our suspicion towards the bad graphics card driver. Before we move with additional steps, we need you to confirm proper drivers are installed. An important note is that the generic drivers might work, but that’s a risky doing. Rather, we suggest navigating to official OEM site and downloading officially supported drivers.

Here’s the short list of all 3 GPU OEM’s:

Once you’ve installed the proper driver, restart your PC and start The Sims 4 again.

5: Disable Origin In-Game

The Origin In-Game feature fits in quite nice if you’re playing online with friends. However, since The Sims 4 is a single player game, this particular Origin integration is of no need whatsoever. Even worse — it might cause some in-game issues. So, with that in mind, we suggest disabling Origin In-Game while playing The Sims 4.

  • READ ALSO: FIFA 2019 on Windows 10, Xbox One: The first game details

Here’s how to do it in the client’s settings:

  1. Open the Origin client.
  2. Click on the Origin in the menu bar and open Application Settings.the sims 4 white screen
  3. Click More and open the Origin In-Game.the sims 4 white screen
  4. Disable Origin In-Game.the sims 4 white screen
  5. Optionally, you can right-click Origin again and Go Offline.

6: Start the game in the windowed mode

There were some reports about The Sims 4 bug regarding the fullscreen. Namely, some gamers weren’t able to start the game in the fullscreen mode. Instead, they tried starting the game in the windowed mode. That’s what we suggest in this scenario, as well. Of course, you can enable the fullscreen later on in the game Settings or try pressing Alt + Enter while in the game.

Here’s how to run The Sims 4 in the windowed mode:

  1. Open Origin and My Game Library.
  2. Right-click on The Sims 4 and open Game Properties.the sims 4 white screen
  3. Choose the Advanced Launch Options tab.
  4. Add -w to the command-line and confirm changes.
  5. Start the game and look for improvements.the sims 4 white screen

7: Start the game without saves

If some of the installation files were corrupted or incomplete, the repair tool from the step 3 would fix them. However, this tool can’t help you with the save game files. If those get corrupted, they are beyond repair. But, let’s not run ahead of ourselves. Maybe this isn’t the issue. Luckily, there’s a simple way to find out. It includes removing temporarily The Sims 4 folder from Documents and starting the game with a blank slate.

Here’s how to do it:

  1. Close the game and the Origins client and restart your PC.
  2. Navigate to the C:\Users\: Your Username:\Documents\Electronic Arts\Sims4 folder.
  3. Move the “Saves” folder from the Sims 4 folder to the desktop.
  4. Start the game again.

8: Reinstall the game and Origin

Finally, if none of the presented solutions help you deal with the white screen error in The Sims 4, the only remaining step we can suggest is the reinstallation. To cover all the ground, you should reinstall both The Sims 4 and Origin and install them back again. Starting from a scratch might help.

With that said, we can wrap up this article. If you were able to resolve the issue, share the joy with us in the comments section. If not, please provide a distinctive explanation of the issue, and we or other readers might offer a helping hand.

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How to fix poor Wi-Fi signal on Windows 10/11

Posted on by Ivan Jenic

Every Windows 10 user relies on his/her computer to surf the internet. Nowadays, this is a necessity either for work or for home entertainment. Having a Wi-Fi internet connection makes things a lot easier, and we no longer need to connect through an Ethernet cable to access the internet.

Usually, we find that it isn’t always an easy job to connect to the internet via Wi-Fi on your Windows 10 computer, tablet, or phone.

After hearing more and more users having issues with their Wi-Fi internet connection on Windows 10, we have decided to explain exactly how you can troubleshoot your Windows 10 PC for any problems you might encounter trying to connect to Wi-Fi.

How can I fix a weak Wi-Fi signal on Windows 10?

1. Reset the TCP/IP Stack and Autotuning for Windows 10

  1. Hover the mouse over the right of the screen.
  2. When the Charms Bar appears click (left click) on the “Search” icon.
  3. In the search box you have opened type “Command Prompt”.
  4. Click (right click) on the search result and select from the menu “Run as administrator”
  5. In the “Command Prompt” window you opened, type “NETSH INT IP RESET C:RESTLOG.TXT”
  6. Press “Enter” on your keyboard.
  7. In the “Command Prompt” window, type “NETSH INT TCP SET HEURISTICS DISABLED”
  8. Press “Enter” on your keyboard.
  9. In the “Command Prompt” window, type “NETSH INT TCP SET GLOBAL AUTOTUNINGLEVEL=DISABLED”
  10. Press “Enter” on your keyboard.
  11. In the “Command Prompt” window, type “NETSH INT TCP SET GLOBAL RSS=ENABLED”
  12. Press “Enter” on your keyboard.
  13. Try rebooting the PC and see if you can pick up the wifi.

2. Prevent the Wi-Fi adapter from turning off while idle

  1. Press and hold the “Windows” button + the “W” button.
  2. Type “Network and sharing center “ in the search box
  3. Press “Enter” on the keyboard.
  4. Click on your Wi-Fi network
  5. The “wifi status” windows should now open.
  6. Click (left click) on the Properties button in the lower left of the “WiFi status/ Change settings of this connection” option.configure wi-fi connection
  7. In the new windows that opened lets click(left click) on “Configure” button.wifi properties
  8. Let’s go to “Power Management” tab in the upper side of the window and verify if the option “Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power” is unchecked. If it isn’t, then uncheck it.Allow computer turn off device save power
  9. Click (left click) on “OK” button in the lower side of the window.
  10. Reboot the PC.

3. Revert Network adapters

  1. In the search box on the start screen we need to type “Device Manager”
  2. Press “Enter” button on the keyboard.
  3. In the “Device Manager” window that pops up double click (left click) the “Network Adapters”.
  4. Click (right click) on “Wireless Connection” and click (left click) on “Update Driver Software”.update wifi driver
  5. Click (left click) the “Browse my computer for driver software”.browse computer for driver software
  6. On the new window that pops up click (left click) on “Let me pick from a list of device drivers on my computer”.
  7. On the window that says “Select Network adapter” choose the adapter that starts with the Manufacturers name not the one starting with Microsoft. The installation will begin.
  8. After the installation is completed reboot the PC.

4. Reinstall the network adapters

  1. In the search box on the start screen we need to type “Device Manager”
  2. Press “Enter” button on the keyboard.
  3. In the “Device Manager” window that pops up double click (left click) the “Network Adapters”.
  4. Click (right click) on “Wireless Connection” and click (left click) on “Uninstall”uninstall wi-fi driver
  5. Restart the PC in order to make your Windows 10, Windows 8 or Windows 8.1 automatically install the driver.
  6. If the system won’t install the driver automatically, then follow the steps below:
    • In the search box on the start screen we need to type “Device Manager”
    • Press “Enter” button on the keyboard.
    • Click(right click) the username on the top of the “Device Manager” window.
    • Click (left click) on “Scan for hardware changes”, Windows 10 will automatically identify which driver is missing and will install it.
    • Reboot the PC.

5. Get Wi-Fi signal repeater software

If the problem persists, you may need a Wi-Fi signal repeater. We have already compiled a list of the best Wi-Fi repeater software you can install on your computer, so go ahead and check out our list and install the tool that best suits your needs and your network configuration.

6. Buy a Wi-Fi extender

There are also many hardware devices that you can use to boost your Wi-Fi signal. These devices are called Wi-Fi extenders. So, with the help of a Wi-Fi signal repeater software and a Wi-Fi extender, you should be able to fix the weak Wi-Fi signal issues that you’re experiencing, including your Wi-Fi slowing down when you connect a Bluetooth device.

So, these are some workarounds you can use if your computer won’t pick up the Wi-Fi connection. Let us know which off these methods helped you fix your Wi-Fi internet connection problems.

Fix: Problems with VIA HD Audio in Windows 10/11, 7

Posted on by Ivan Jenic

Most new operating systems have driver issues and Windows 10 isn’t an exception. According to users, they have reported problems with the VIA HD Audio driver for Windows 10, and if you have a problem with these audio drivers today we have a solution that might help you.

But first, here are some more examples of similar issues that can be resolved using the same solutions:

  • VIA HD Audio deck not opening
  • VIA HD Audio front panel not working
  • VIA HD Audio driver Windows 7 64 bit
  • VIA HD Audio headphones not working Windows 10

What to do if VIA HD Audio stops working in Windows 10, 8.1, 7

  1. Uninstall old drivers and download the latest ones
  2. Change the default format of your speakers
  3. Set VIA HD as Default Audio Device
  4. Use the Audio Troubleshooter
  5. Disable Audio Enhancements
  6. Perform the SFC scan
  7. Restart the Audio service

Fix: VIA HD Audio not working in Windows 10, 8.1, 7

1. Uninstall old drivers and download the latest ones

Probably the most common solution for fixing problems with VIA HD Audio is updating your drivers. This is especially important for Windows 10 because updating your drivers is important after the upgrade to the new system. So, if you’re not sure how to do that, follow these steps:

  1. Open the Device manager.
  2. Find the Sound, video and game controllers and left click to expand it.
  3. Find VIA HD drivers from the list, right click on them and press Uninstall.
  4. After the uninstall process is completed restart your computer.
  5. Now you need to go to VIA’s website and download the Windows 10 drivers. As far as we know the 6.0.11.0500b version of the drivers was released just two days ago but if there’s a newer version download that one instead.
  6. Download the driver, and install it.

Users have reported that 6.0.11.0500b drivers have fixed the sound issues while microphone issues remain. VIA has confirmed that there are some issues related to sound and their cards, and they claim that fully functional drivers will be released shortly.

1.1 Update drivers automatically

If you don’t want to wander VIA’s website in search of the right driver, you can use a third-party tool that will do this for you. This software can scan your PC out of date drivers as soon as you install it and provides an accurate account of all of the elements that need to be updated.

Plus, it is guaranteed that you get the correct drivers for your device and not end up with incompatible ones that may damage your PC even more. The tool will find outdated drivers and install the current ones automatically very fast.

The process of updating old drivers is intuitive and you will be guided through the steps, and therefore get the job done in a few clicks.

That being said, you only have to try this tool for yourself and ease the puzzling method of installing PC drivers manually.

⇒ Get Fortect Driver Updater

2. Change the default format of your speakers

If updating your drivers didn’t get the job done, or your VIA HD drivers are already updated, you can try with changing the default sound format of your speakers. Here’s how to do that:

  1. Right-click the Sound icon in the bottom right of your screen and choose Playback devices from the menu.
  2. When the Sound window opens, double-click the speakers icon and you’ll open Speaker Properties.
  3. Navigate to the Advanced tab and find the Default format list.
  4. From the list choose any 16bit option, for example, 16bit 96000hz.
  5. Click Apply then OK.

Now your sound should be working, and if there are still issues, repeat the process and choose a different value.

We have to point out that this also works with your microphone, and the process is almost the same.

  1. Right-click the Sound icon, open Playback devices and choose Recording tab.
  2. Double click the Microphone to open Microphone properties and then click the Advanced tab.
  3. Find the Default format list and choose one of the 16bit options.
  4. Click Apply then OK, and you’re good to go.

This is just a workaround and not the best or the permanent solution, but the number of users has confirmed that it works. As we already stated, both Microsoft and VIA have noticed that there are some issues between VIA’s cards and Windows 10, and VIA has stated that they will release an updated version of their drivers optimized for Windows 10 soon, so we’ll just have to be bit patient until that happens.

3. Set VIA HD Audio as Default Audio Device

If you have multiple devices or simply drivers that can act as the Default Audio Device, there’s a chance VIA HD Audio is not set for that. So, we’re going to check if VIA HD Audio is set as your default audio device, and set it if not. Here’s how:

  1. Right-click the speaker icon from the taskbar.
  2. Head over to the Playback tab.
  3. Click VIA HD Audio device, and click Set as default. 
  4. Save the changes and restart your computer.

4. Use the Audio Troubleshooter

The next thing we’re going to try is Windows 10’s built-in audio troubleshooter. Here’s how to run it:

  1. Go to Settings.
  2. Head over to Updates & Security > Troubleshoot. 
  3. Select Playing Audio, and go to Run the Troubleshooter. VIA HD Audio deck not opening
  4. Follow further on-screen instructions and let the process finish.
  5. Restart your computer.

5. Disable Audio Enhancements

Although Audio Enhancements are meant to improve the audio experience in Windows 10, they usually interfere with drivers. So, sometimes the best solution is to simply disable Audio Enhancements. Here’s how to do that:

  1. Right-click the speaker icon from the taskbar.
  2. Head over to the Playback tab.
  3. Double-click your VIA HD Audio device.
  4. Go to the Audio Enhancements tab.
  5. Check Disable all sound effects.VIA HD Audio driver Windows 7 64 bit
  6. Save the changes and restart your computer.

6. Perform the SFC scan

The SFC scan is another built-in troubleshooter we’re going to try. This tool can help you resolve various issues within Windows, and hopefully, this one too. Here’s how to run the SFC scan:

  1. Go to Search, type cmd, and open the Command Prompt as Administrator.
  2. Type in the following command, and press Enter: sfc/scannowVIA HD Audio headphones not working Windows 10
  3. Wait for the process to finish.
  4. Restart your computer.

7. Restart the Audio service

If none of the previous solutions helped you resolve the problem with VIA HD Audio, let’s try restarting the Audio service. Here’s how to do that:

  1. Go to Search, type services.msc, and open Services. 
  2. Scroll down and find the Windows Audio service.VIA HD Audio front panel not working
  3. Right-click it and go to Restart. 
  4. Wait for the process to finish and restart your computer.

That’s about it. We certainly hope at least one of these solutions helped you resolve the problem with VIA HD Audio in Windows 10. If you have any comments, questions or suggestions, just let us know in the comments down below.

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

Epson Scan Software – How to Download & Install on PC

Posted on by Ivan Jenic

Epson scanner software is a software used by Epson scanners and is excellent for projecting both prints and film images. Epson printers are powered by Epson scan software which gives users full control of your Epson scanner or printer.

There are several pros and cons concerning this scanner software due to the presence of many scanner software on the market. However, Epson scanner software is efficient as well as free to download on the Epson website.

Epson Scanner software features:

  • This software works with the latest Epson photo scanners.
  • It is capable of processing scanned images and objects to a maximum of 12.2×17.2 inches; this enables batch scanning of up to 30 slides simultaneously.
  • It allows for latest technologies and drivers which ensure efficiency and quality of image scanned
  • Scanner module and transparency module for transparent clear images.
  • The software has an easy to use Graphic user interface which makes it easier for beginners to access scanning features.
  • It has two major film software options with the Epson Scan 2 and the dedicated Lasersoft silver fast software.

epson scanner software for windows 7 8.1 10

Pros:

  • Excellent selection and scanning of images
  • Cool image quality
  • Free to download
  • Cool user interface.

Cons:

  • No inbuilt film profile
  • Fewer features compared to VueScan and Silverfast

More about the Epson scanner software for Windows 10, 8.1, 7

Epson scanner software is the power behind various Epson scanners and three in one printer over the years. Epson scanner is compatible with most Windows Operating Systems from Windows XP up to Windows 10. The scanner software essentially gives your Windows PC access to control your scanner.

Also, you can easily decide the frames you need. The Epson scan controls two lenses present in the scanner. This two lens form the basis of scanning, the first camera gives a pre-focused image for the basics of your work. This gives you better image quality and full features contained in the scanning software. Also, Epson scanner software enables users to scan up to files of 35mm deep, medium format, and large patterns.

Sometimes, Epson scanner software is included in the printer package for easy installation and usage of the software. However, you can install the Epson scanner software independently from the website as it is free to download and use for your system.

There are various versions such as Epson Scan for Personal Use, though you can download the client program of Epson Scan for Businesses. It has more features and users can access simultaneously various scanned documents at a time.

Epson scan can also be used across several computer networks. However, you will need to have “Epson scan for business” available before using it across a network of servers and networking.

The user interface is well arranged making it easy for beginners to use. You can make a modification to your settings which is a cool option to have. An important thing to note is that, the developers are working on improving Epson scanner software with subsequent releases of newer versions.

You can download the scanner software from the official website.

Conclusion

The scanner software is among the best with the Epson using this software for the majority of their scanners and printers.

In addition, Epson scanner software for Windows 7, 8.1, and 10 is free to download here which means you can get all the drivers and executable devices without paying anything. However, the  software has limitation as it only works on Epson printers.

An average Epson photocopier cost around £2000; this is quite expensive. Meanwhile, Epson scanner software is an efficient software. It may be better to settle for a less expensive scanner, however it give good value forget the scanners as you become opened with possibilities.

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Google could be set to move into game streaming and consoles, taking on Xbox and PlayStation

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

In an interesting move, Google could be ready to make a big move into the gaming industry. While the company has a strong gaming presence via YouTube and YouTube Gaming, new reports, backed by multiple independent sources, suggest Google will be going a bit further (via Kotaku).

The company looks to be planning to create its own game streaming service, in which users wouldn’t necessarily need to download the entire game to play. This comes after Microsoft announced at E3 that it too was working on its own game streaming service, for Xbox.

Separately, reports say that Google is planning on launching its own gaming console. It could be that the console acts as a connector to the game streaming service, or it could contain its own dedicated graphics, directly competing with those who have been in the industry for decades, such as Microsoft and Sony.

Of course, with any game streaming service or console, it also requires games, which requires strong relationships with game developers and publishers alike, which both Microsoft and Sony have strong partnerships and acquisitions in. Google, on the other hand, has slimmer pickings. The company looks like it is ready to recruit new expertise in this area, or announce major acquisitions.

Whatever Google’s plans, it marks a strong industry for the company to move into, and it could put it in direct competition in yet another industry with Microsoft and Sony.

File Explorer won’t detect Network devices in Windows 10/11

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

Microsoft has confirmed that there are some bugs in the Windows 10 April 2018 Update. And while they have confirmed that they’re fixing a number of issues, some users need to fix them faster, on their own, before Microsoft does.

Many users have encountered a bug that leaves File Explorer unable to find network devices or even share files with other computers. Microsoft is investigating the problem, but there is a way to allow users restore functionality until the company solves this bug.

On their Community forums, a Microsoft agent describes the bug some people can get after the Windows 10 April 2018 Update (version 1803):

File Explorer cannot connect to other devices running version 1803.  When clicking the Network tab in File Explorer, other devices on the home network running version 1803 do not appear, and thus I’m not able to perform file sharing or access files on other devices on my home network.

How to fix the File Explorer bug

To fix the bug, you must change the default configuration of some Windows 10 services. First, you must be signed in with an admin account.

  1. Pres ‘Win key + R’ -> type services.msc in the Run dialog. Press enter. You will see a list with services available in Windows.
  2. You must change the settings of some services (see list below). Double click on each service and go to the section ‘Startup type’ -> select Automatic (Delayed Started) -> apply. Do this action for the same service. Here are the services that must be tweaked:
    • Computer Browser (Browser)
    • Function Discovery Provider Host (FDPHost)
    • Function Discovery Resource Publication (FDResPub)
    • Network Connections (NetMan)
    • UPnP Device Host (UPnPHost)
    • Peer Name Resolution Protocol (PNRPSvc)
    • Peer Networking Grouping (P2PSvc)
    • Peer Networking Identity Manager (P2PIMSvc)
  3. Reboot your PC and the bug should be fixed.

If the networking sharing functionality hasn’t been fixed, then follow the same steps and return to the original settings of the services above. If the fix worked, continue with the new settings until there is an official fix from Microsoft.

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Microsoft drops Windows 7 support on Pentium III CPUs

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

In 2020, we’ll can say goodbye to Windows 7, but some users might see that their old Intel processors are not supported anymore. It seems that Microsoft has dropped Windows 7 support on a few PCs that have Pentium III CPUs. And that’s because Pentium III cannot support the SSE2 technology, which enables single instruction multiple data. Other processors support this tech – Intel Pentium 4 and next generations – which is a feature mandatory for Windows OS.

The issue was first spotted and added in the list of known issues in the monthly security patch for Windows 7, since March:

A Stop error occurs on computers that don’t support Streaming Single Instructions Multiple Data (SIMD) Extensions 2 (SSE2).

Originally, Microsoft mentioned that an upcoming release would come with a resolution, but in the end, they updated the changelog, with the following recommendation:

Upgrade your machines with a processor that supports SSE2 or virtualize those machines.

Older Products Won’t Get Security Updates

In all honesty, let’s agree that 18 years old CPUs are too old to handle all the security patches for Meltdown or Spectre. So, Microsoft abandoned them, and leaving them without a security patch. Their action does not go against Microsoft’s support policies, and it’s written in a help article:

Microsoft advises customers to install the latest product releases, security updates, and service packs to remain as secure as possible. For the latest information on security updates, please visit our TechNet Library. Older products may not meet today’s more demanding security requirements. Microsoft may be unable to provide security updates for older products.

Considering Pentium III was released in 1999, the news could affect some people that use an old hardware. But whoever still runs a Pentium III in 2018 should immediately go and by a newer one, which is definitely more secure and a lot faster!

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All Xbox Insiders can now test the Xbox One 1806 update

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

After a couple weeks of testing with select Insiders, the Xbox One 1806 update is now available to download for everyone who joined the Xbox Insider program. Yesterday, the latest Xbox One system update (1806.180626-1359) started rolling out to Beta, Delta, and Omega insiders, and we’re now really close to the public release.

The Xbox One 1806 update (likely to be named “June update”) brings a couple of new features including the ability to group your Games and Apps, improved Search Functionality, as well as additional Accessibility options. Microsoft also recently started testing the new Xbox Live Avatars as well as a Microsoft Rewards Beta app, but the most interesting new feature may be Fast Start, which is leveraging machine learning to speed up the installation of your Xbox games.

It’s still not clear if the 1806 update will be generally available before the end of June, especially since the latest Insider build still has some known issues affecting Groups, Profile Color, and Networking. Anyway, we really like the Xbox team iterating fast on the Xbox One OS, as we’ve now seen new featured updates for three months in a row.

Dell launches a new portfolio of slimmer, wide-screen All-In-One desktops in India

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

Dell has announced the launch of a new range of Inspiron All-in-Ones (AIO) desktops in India. The highlight of the new range of Inspiron AIOs – Inspiron 22 3000 AIO and Inspiron 24 3000 AIO – is the virtually borderless display and slimmer profile.

Powered by 7th Generation Intel and AMD processors with multiple GPU options, the AIO portfolio is equipped with signature Dell innovations like Dell Cinema. Dell CinemaStream packs in SmartByte technology that allows users to experience lower buffering, fewer drops, and better resolution while streaming video and making web calls. Dell CinemaSound offers in-built Waves MaxxAudio Pro technology to provide professional-grade control for music and videos.

The Inspiron 22 3000 AIO sports a sleek design and features a Full HD IPS Anti-Glare narrow border LED display and weighs around 4.27 Kgs while the Inspiron 24 3000 AIO weighs over 4.62 Kgs.

The new AIOs come with a wireless mouse and keyboard option for a complete one-cord experience.

Available in black and white color options, the new Dell Inspiron 22 3000 AIO with AMD A6-9225 processor is priced at ₹29,990 ($438) and the Dell Inspiron 22 & 24 3000 AIO with Intel processor variants starts at ₹34,590 ($505). The AIOs are available for purchase in India on dell.co.in and across the country at Dell exclusive stores, multi-brand outlets, including Croma.

Next Up Hero is the latest Xbox One game to support Nintendo Switch crossplay

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

Next Up Hero launched on Microsoft’s family of Xbox One consoles this week and it’s the latest game to support crossplay with Nintendo’s rival console, the Nintendo Switch.

The game also support crossplay with PC players though, as usual, PlayStation 4 consoles aren’t part of the party due to Sony’s strict stance on crossplay with other video game consoles. Other recent Xbox One games that have allowed crossplay with the Nintendo Switch are Minecraft and Fortnite.

Next Up Hero is a game that allows players to create their own unique dungeon for other players to fight their way through. If they beat your dungeon, they get a reward but if they don’t, you get it. Here’s the full game description and trailer. Buy it here.

Fight. Die. Win! (And probably die some more.) Next Up Hero is a dungeon crawler featuring hand-drawn heroes that hack, slash, bongo-drum, boomerang, and jet their way through Ventures. Choose your Hero and start rolling dungeons, gearing out, and maxing your stats. If you’re feeling especially heroic, invite a friend for co-op. You’re going to need all the help you can get.

  • Dungeon Maker Mode: Craft a savage dungeon and challenge the community to beat it. If they beat the dungeon, they get to keep a rare piece of loot. If they fail, the treasure is yours.
  • Perma-Permadeath: Death is so permanent in Next Up Hero that your “echo” remains for the next player to raise. People die a lot in Next Up Hero, so you can resurrect up to 20 AI followers!
  • Mixer Interactive Enabled: It’s Hero vs. Dirge powered by Mixer Interactive. Spectators can control the echo army, helping the hero survive the floor, or buff the Dirge enemies, slowing and freezing the player.

Do you want more crossplay in video games or do you think gamers should only play with those on the same console? Share your thoughts with the community in the comments below and then make sure to like us on Facebook for more video game news.

Next Up Hero
Next Up Hero
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Next Up Hero
Developer:
Aspyr
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How to fix Samsung printer/ scanner issues in Windows 10

Posted on by Madalina Dinita

Many Windows 10 April Update users complained about printer and scanner problems. Judging by the reports available on Microsoft’s forum, these issues are prevalent for Samsung printing and scanning devices.

HP, the new owner of the affected Samsung devices already escalated the problem to Microsoft, as it occurred shortly after users installed the latest Windows 10 version on their computers.

It has been a month since I didnt use my scanner. Yesterday after trying to use it I kept getting the following message : I/O error while communicating with the device.Please wait and try scanning again.If it does not help, please turn the device off, then switch it on and wait while it warms up. […]

I did lookup on the internet, many people seem to have the same problem after the above windows update. Also did contact HP, that is the new owner of Samsung printers and was told that HP has escalated the matter to microsoft, since it did happen after the recent update. HP claims is microsofts problem not their.

While there is no official solution to fix this problem, users suggested a few workarounds that might solve the issue. However, if you want to solve printer and scanner issues in Windows 10 v1803, you also need a bit of luck. Nevertheless, we’ll list a few of the solutions suggested by users as some of them may help you fix the problem.

Fix printer and scanner issues on Windows 10

1. Download the latest OEM drivers for Windows

Users suggested that downloading the newest possible OEM driver package for Windows might solve this bug. Once downloaded,  install the driver package in compatibility mode.

If you want a quicker and safer process, install the OEM driver using dedicated driver updating software. It will automatically install and repair all your drivers.

The software can run in the background and take care of your drivers on a regular basis. It is easy to use and suitable for any device since it is very lightweight.

2. Disable Windows Defender

Other users suggested that Windows Defender might be the culprit and turning it off when using your printer or scanner should fix the problem.

3. Run the Printer and Hardware troubleshooters

In rare cases, running the built-in Windows 10 Printer and Hardware troubleshooters may help you solve the problem. Go to Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshooter and run these two troubleshooters.

fix printer scanner windows 10 april update

If you come across other solutions to fix this problem, let us know in the comments below. We’ll update this guide as soon as new information is available.

How to Make Desktop Default in Windows 10

Posted on by Ivan Jenic

Making the desktop on Windows 10, Windows 8.1 a default permanent setting is very useful, especially if you are a new user and you are used to the old Windows desktop. Although it wasn’t quite easy to make the desktop default on Windows 10, 8, on Windows 8.1, Microsoft implemented a feature that does this. So, if you are interested in finding out how to do this, then check out the guidelines available below.
How to make Desktop default on windows 8.1
This tutorial explains in a few short steps how to make your desktop default on Windows 10, 8.1 right from the boot of the PC. The whole process won’t take you more than 2 minutes to accomplish. Normally, Windows 10, 8.1 has a different start up image then the previous ones. A lot of people were frustrated about the fact that they have to click every time when the PC starts on the Desktop app. Let’s have a look at how we can make things easier for them.

Make desktop default in Windows 10

1. After booting the windows PC we need to left click on the “Desktop” app on the  left of the screen in order to enter desktop mode.

desktop

2. Right click an open area on the taskbar (situated on the lower side of the screen) and select from there “Properties” by left clicking on it.
3. Left click on “Navigation” tab on the upper side of the “Taskbar and navigation properties” window.
4. Under the “Start screen” portion of the window check the box next to the “Go to the desktop instead of Start when I sign in”.
5. Click “OK” on the lower side of the “Taskbar and navigation properties” window.
6. Reboot the computer in order for the changes to take effect.

If you are stuck in the tile screen and you want to get your desktop back, you need to turn off tablet mode. So, click on the notifications icon which is located by the clock (you should find a square box) and then click on the tablet mode button. You should now be off tablet mode.

This is it, after the computer reboots it will automatically get you to your desktop app. If you have any thoughts or improvements on this article let us know below.

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Microsoft Teams to begin rollout to Government customers in July

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

Microsoft announced today that their Microsoft Teams collaboration tool will begin rolling out to Government Community Cloud (GCC) customers starting July 17th. The company says that Microsoft Teams for Government is designed to meet the government strict security standards, and will allow government users to transform the way they communicate and collaborate.

Microsoft Teams for Government and the consumer-facing version of Microsoft Teams are somewhat different from each other. Features like Call and Meeting Recording, Apps, Email Notifications, are all either disabled or unsupported in Microsoft Teams for Government. “New features for Microsoft Teams will arrive to GCC after release to commercial customers due to increased audit requirements and activities to meet the needs of the GCC environment,” Microsoft also explained.

GCC customers with Office 365 for US Government G1, G3, G5, F1 and Microsoft 365 for US Government G3, G5, F1 plans are expected to get access to Teams by the end of August 2018. Administrators will not need to take action, and Microsoft Teams will be enabled by default under these plans. As for other government users, Microsoft detailed that they are working to expand availability to other US government clouds soon.

Microsoft’s Azure cloud continues to float company’s fortunes upwards

Posted on by Kareem Anderson

Windows 10 was a massive undertaking for Microsoft and came at a time when the company was seemingly reeling from several public initiatives that were poorly received. Between the company’s declining smartphone market share, the disaster that was the Windows 8 release and the fumble of the Xbox One announcement, Microsoft needed a win and Windows 10 was arguably it for the time being.

In a little less than four years, Microsoft has almost entirely pivoted its fortunes from being tied to Windows to now relying on a new platform prospect in Azure, or “The Microsoft Cloud.” Sure, Windows licensing is still a large business for the company, but Microsoft is already seeing sunnier days ahead with Azure and investors are handsomely rewarding the prospects.

A new rating from Atlantic Equities investment firm has further solidified the notion that Microsoft is more a cloud company than it is software packing giant. Equities analyst James Cordwell told its clients that Microsoft’s recent re-org was a clear indicator of the direction the company was going and how that would affect the businesses future financial pursuits.

“Azure has replaced Windows as the platform underpinning Microsoft’s enterprise offering, and we forecast it exceeding $100 billion revenue over the next decade,” Cordwell wrote. “With Office 365, Microsoft has already established a strong position in the software as a service market and there remains robust growth potential as the greater accessibility of the cloud delivery model continues to drive expansion in the user base and customers steadily upgrade from basic packages.”

Cordwell is so bullish on Microsoft’s future that he has set a 24 percent increase in price target for investors that brings the total to $125. Cordwell’s confidence is backed by Microsoft’s recent 3 percent jump in market share from 10 to 13 that results in a direct erosion in Amazon’s leading market share.

Realistically speaking, many investors see the market unfolding similar to the maturing days of the smartphone and PC markets as they settled into a dual provider landscape with Amazon raking in $185 billion and Microsoft racking up $115 billion in revenue in roughly 10 years, for a combined 70 percent market share.

Windows 10 Tweeten app gains dark theme and revamped login screen in new update

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

Tweeten, the third-party Windows 10 Twitter app, has received a rather significant update this week. In addition to a new dark theme and a completely revamped login/signup page, the Tweeten app now allows users to download images from DMs and has also reorganized its settings screen.

Here’s the official release notes for all of the details.

  • Say hello to Tweeten Black: A beautiful new dark theme that is full of deep blacks, offering a super sexy tweeting experience that you won’t get anywhere else. Now on Tweeten. For free.
  • A new onboarding experience: Completely rebuilt from the ground up, the login and start-up experience for the app has been revamped with a vibrant new design.
  • Settings: A re-organized settings app, with sub-sections, make it much quicker to find the exact customization options you’re looking for.
  • Direct Messages: You can now download private images on DMs. Privacy features such as the ability to blur messages and hide other info on the DM column are once again available.
  • Patching: Tweeten can now automatically update itself to apply patches when there’s a breaking TweetDeck bug, meaning you no longer have to manually download updates from the site. Oh, and, when something is broken and we are aware of the issue, you will be notified on the splash screen of the app so you can rest assured and don’t bug us about the broken things while we are busy focusing on fixing it.
  • Tweeten is now a single instance application by default, but you can enable multiple instances from settings if you’d like.
  • Design tweaks for the dark and light themes, plus a lot of minor UI fixes throughout the app.

Do you use Tweeten on your Windows 10 device and would you recommend it over the official Twitter app? Share your thoughts with the community in the comments below and make sure to follow us on Twitter, in whichever Twitter app you prefer, for more Windows 10 news.

Tweeten
Tweeten
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Tweeten
Developer:
Mehedi Hassan
Price:
Free

Plex for Xbox One app update fixes several bugs and glitches

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

The official Plex for Xbox One app has updated today with a variety of fixes for bugs and improves the display mode switching algorithm. Here’s the full release notes.

  • Fixed an issue where focus would disappear after selecting a different news clip from the play queue
  • Fixed missing jump bars when viewing Artists and Albums from Quick Links
  • Don’t show ‘Browse by Folder’ option when not applicable
  • Fixed missing shuffle button from collections preplay
  • Improve display mode switching algorithm

Plex for Xbox One is an all-in-one media consumption app that allows users to stream their own media library, record live TV, and view news broadcasts from over 190 providers. Plex is also available on Windows 10 Mobile and PC.

Do you use Plex on your Xbox One console? Let us know what you use it for in the comments below and then head on over to our Twitter account and make sure to follow us for more Xbox news.

Plex
Plex
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Plex
Developer:
Plex
Price:
Free

KB4284848 issues: The update fails to install or Wi-Fi won’t work

Posted on by Madalina Dinita

Update KB4284848 is now available for download, but many Windows 10 April Update can’t install it on their computers. The download process goes smoothly but the update won’t complete installing, as this user reports on Microsoft’s forum. Unfortunately, the OP doesn’t more details about the exact issues that’s affecting the update install process — it could be an error code, or the system may simply revert the changes.

On the other hand, the Windows 10 v1803 users who managed to successfully install the update encountered other types of bugs. For example, many complained about Internet connectivity issues and particularly Wi-Fi connection problems. Luckily, some users were able to quickly fix this issue by rebooting the network hardware.

KB4284848 wi-fi issues

Me too..after update, i could not connect to my WIFI. As if WIFI was not enabled. Found out that the wireless adapter driver was not even loaded. Rebooted several times and it came back. Am now back online.

The good news is that these are the only KB4284848 bugs reported by users. If you encountered other issues after installing it, do tell us more about your experience in the comments below. If you haven’t found a solution to fix your KB4284848 issues, maybe the best solution is to simply uninstall the update. Go to Windows Update > View Update History > and hit the Uninstall button.

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Some OpenVPN configuration files may sneak malware to your PC

Posted on by Madalina Dinita

If you installed OpenVPN on your computer, then you should really read this piece of news. Recent reports confirmed that certain OpenVPN config files may be dangerous, opening the gate for malware to enter your Windows computer.

As a quick reminder, OpenVPN configuration files are used to run a series of VPN connection instructions, such as: what crypto solution to use, which remote servers to connect to, what protocols to use, and so on. There is an important command in the OpenVPN config file that allows users to any binary script. This could lead to hackers generating reverse shells that are very hard to spot.

In other words, attackers can direct OpenVPN traffic to one particular IP address and then use it to run commands on the remote computer using the specially crafted OpenVPN configuration file.

In a blog post on Medium, Jacob Baines offers further details about this issue:

Using untrusted ovpn files is dangerous. You are allowing a stranger to execute arbitrary commands on your computer. Some OpenVPN compatible clients like Viscosity and Ubuntu’s Network Manager GUI disable this behavior. However, after a long discussion with [email protected], it does not seem like this behavior will ever be removed from OpenVPN proper. As such, unless you know how to read ovpn files, I suggest you be very wary about the configuration files you are using.

So, if you’re using OpenVPN, the best solution is to simply avoid downloading config files. You can also switch to an alternative VPN solution. We recommend installing Cyberghost, one of the best VPN software in the world. Follow the link available below to get at a discounted price.

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Windows 11 Calendar is Greyed Out: 5 Ways to Enable it

Posted on by Matthew Adams

Some users have stated on forums that Windows 11 calendar is greyed out. This can be a problem since you won’t be able to access your calendar at all

Of course, you can always use other calendar apps for Windows, but many users want to continue using the default one, so today, we’re going to show you how to fix that.

Why can’t I open my calendar on Windows 11?

  • The app is experiencing certain bugs or glitches preventing it from running.
  • Issues with Microsoft Store can also cause this problem.
  • If your Calendar app installation is damaged, you’ll encounter this problem.
  • Outdated graphics card drivers can cause this issue sometimes.

What can I do if my Windows 11 calendar is greyed out?

1. Open the Windows Store App troubleshooter

  1. Press the Type here to search taskbar button to open Cortana’s search box.
  2. Enter troubleshoot in the search box and select Troubleshoot to open the Settings window as in the shot below.
  3. Select the Windows Store App troubleshooter to press its Run the troubleshooter button.
  4. Then you can go through the app troubleshooter’s suggested resolutions.

2. Open the Start Menu Troubleshooter

  1. Open the Start Menu troubleshooter.
  2. Click Advanced and select Apply repairs automatically.
  3. Then press the Next button to run through the troubleshooter‘s fixes.

3. Reregister the Microsoft Store

  1. First, enter PowerShell in the Cortana search box.
  2. Right-click Windows PowerShell in Cortana to open its context menu, and select the Run as administrator option.
  3. Run the following command: Get-AppXPackage | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)AppXManifest.xml"}
  4. Restart your desktop and laptop.
  5. After reregistering MS Store, reset the MS Store’s cache. To do that, press the Windows key + R hotkey.
  6. Then input ‘wsreset.exe’ in Run, and press the OK button. The Store app might then update the greyed out Calendar app.

This is a simple solution, but it can help if Windows 11 calendar is greyed out.

4. Reinstall the Calendar App

  1.  To uninstall Calendar, open the folder C:\Windows\system32
  2. Click the File tab and select Open Windows PowerShell > Open Windows Powershell as administrator to open Powershell.
  3. Run this command: Get-AppxPackage *windowscommunicationsapps* | Remove-AppxPackage
  4. To reinstall Mail and Calendar, open this page.
  5. Then press the Get the app button to install the app.

5. Update the graphics card driver

  1. Next, open your graphics card manufacturer’s website in a browser.
  2. Open the driver section of the website.
  3. Then select your graphics card model and Windows platform from the site’s drop-down menus. If the site has a driver search box, enter your graphics card model there.
  4. Download the most updated driver compatible with your 64 or 32-bit platform.
  5. After that, open the driver installer from the folder you saved it in to install the graphics card driver.

Those resolutions might fix the Mail, Calendar, and other apps, grayed out on the Start menu.

If you haven’t managed to fix this problem, consider reading our guide on how to use Google Calendar on Windows.

What method did you use to fix this issue? Let us know in the comment below.

With Windows 10 Insider build 17704, Microsoft takes Sets offline

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

Today’s new Windows 10 Insider build brings tons of new enhancements and some tweaks across Windows 10, but it also marks the end of the testing for one of the most anticipated Windows features. Indeed, Microsoft says it is now taking Sets offline, in a decision to “continue making the feature great.”

Microsoft did work on the experience over the past few Insider builds and recently opened it up to new Windows Insiders. Sadly, head of Windows Insider program, Dona Sarkar, had this message for Windows 10 testers in a blog post today:

Thank you for your continued support of testing Sets. We continue to receive valuable feedback from you as we develop this feature helping to ensure we deliver the best possible experience once it’s ready for release. Starting with this build, we’re taking Sets offline to continue making it great. Based on your feedback, some of the things we’re focusing on include improvements to the visual design and continuing to better integrate Office and Microsoft Edge into Sets to enhance workflow. If you have been testing Sets, you will no longer see it as of today’s build, however, Sets will return in a future WIP flight. Thanks again for your feedback.

Though many were looking forward to Sets coming in the final Redstone 5 release, it never really had a solid release date. In fact, at Build 2018 Microsoft’s Joe Belfiore said that the feature would become available “when we think it is great. For now, Windows Insiders will have to wait for the feature to make its triumphant return in a future release. Still, there is plenty to play with in the latest Redstone 5 builds, including a dark mode in File Explorer, Swiftkey, and Cloud Clipboard.