FIX: DNS server issues after Windows 10/11 update

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

There have been reported quite a lot of DNS server issues with the Windows 10, 8.1 updates, as the DNS server is not responding. The problem has been also reported by some Windows 8 users. Below are some more details.

These days, a lot of issues are plaguing Windows 10, 8 and Windows 8.1 users. One of them is represented by DNS server problems reported by a good number of affected Microsoft customers. Here’s what one of them is saying:

I updated this morning and cannot connect wirelessly to the Internet any more. My VPN connects fine, no issues. Error message says the problem is my DNS. I have some tech from India trying to solve this but no luck. He is trying network drivers now. Has anyone else run into this. I am extremely frustrated and will hesitate to ever do an update until all the kinks are worked out. Anyone else have this and how did you solve it?

If you need to change the DNS settings in Windows 10, 8, then you need to know how to properly do it. Also, if you want to use the Google DNS settings, find the full instructions here.

dns server issues in windows 8.1

How to fix DNS server after Windows update

1. Update your drivers and router firmware

Of course, it goes without saying that you need to update all of your drivers, especially the motherboard drivers, to be sure they aren’t the culprits. Also, since it involves your connectivity, do check your router firmware, as well.

2. Run the Network Troubleshooter

Try going to Control Panel > Network and Sharing Center > Troubleshoot Problems and see whether this workaround helps you fix the problem.

If you’re running Windows 10, then go to Start > type ‘troubleshoot’ in the search box and double click on the first result to launch the Troubleshooting page. Now, select Internet Connections and run the troubleshooter.

fix dns server bugs windows update

3. Scan your system for malware infections

There is a chance that you could have a DNS changing malware, so try running a full scan. If you haven’t installed a full fledged antivirus software on your machine, check out this list of the best antivirus solutions that you can use on Windows 10. You can also install a dedicated anti-malware program that’s compatible with your antivirus of choice.

4. Disable IPv6

Thanks to a reader of ours, we managed to find another fix, so here are the steps that you need to take:

  1. Go to Network and Sharing Center
  2. Click on Change Adapter settings
  3. Right click on your WIFI adapter and click Properties
  4. Uncheck the IPv6 option and click OK

5. Clear your DNS cache

  1. Launch Command Prompt as administrator > enter the following commands and hit Enter after each one:
    • ipconfig /flushdns
    • ipconfig /registerdns
    • ipconfig /release
    • ipconfig /renew
  2. Test your internet connection. If the error persists, try restarting your modem/ router.

If your Internet connection is still unavailable, check out these troubleshooting guides for additional solutions:

Time is Wrong or Not Updating on Surface Pro [Fix]

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

The Surface Pro series has some of the most advanced and user-friendly laptops designed to deliver a seamless experience. But it, too, is plagued with error. And many reported that the Microsoft Surface Pro’s time is wrong and not updating.

For those wondering why the Surface Pro is showing the wrong time, the problem seems to be caused by the Windows Time Service, which needs to be set to Automatic. Keep reading to find out the solutions!

What can I do if Surface Pro shows the wrong time?

Before we start making changes, try these quick solutions:

  • Restart the computer.
  • Install the latest Windows updates.
  • If the battery is no longer working properly, you may encounter time and date issues. Head to the BIOS and check the time to identify whether the problem lies with the battery.

In case none work, head to the fixes listed next.

1. Set Windows Time Service to Automatic

  1. Press Windows + R, type services.msc, and hit Enter.
  2. Locate Windows Time, right-click on it, and select Restart.restart windows time
  3. Now, double-click the Windows Time service.
  4. Change the Startup type to Automatic in the General tab. windows time service automatic startup
  5. Click on the Start button to run the service, and then OK to save the changes.

If the Surface Pro 3 clock won’t keep the correct time, running the Windows Time service should get things up and running!

2. Change Internet Time server settings

  1. Launch Control Panel, go to Clock, Language and Region, and click on Date and Time.date time control panel
  2. Navigate to the Internet Time tab, and click on Change settings.change internet time settings
  3. In the Server section, select time.nist.gov instead of time.windows.com, and click on Update now followed by OK to save the changes.enable time.nist.gov
  4. Check if the problem persists.

If your Internet Time Server settings are incorrect, this may explain why your Surface Pro 2 clock is not updating or showing the wrong time. And this should fix the problem for good!

Before you leave, find out how to speed up a Windows PC and make it run faster than ever.

If this has solved your problems, let us know by leaving your comment.

Fix: Fifa Manager 12 Doesn’t work in Windows 10/11

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

Some Fifa Manager 12 players have been reporting that they are unable to start the game in Windows 10 or Windows 8.1. For others, the game starts, but it crashes right when you obviously don’t want that to happen
fifa manager 12 windows 8
I love soccer, or football, as those residing in USA and Canada like to call it, and that’s why I play a lot of soccer games on my PlayStation and on my Windows 8 computer. Now, I’ve stumbled upon multiple reports that Fifa Manager 12 doesn’t work in Windows 8 and Windows 8.1. And believe me, I know what that means!

Multiple forum postings online on EA forums and on Microsoft show that there are obvious problems with the Fifa Manager in Windows 8 and Windows 8.1. Here’s one of the complaints:

I bought Fifa Manager 12 and after installing it I can’t play the freaking game. It crashes at the begining and it’s quite frustating not been able to play the game you spend good money on it. Fifa Manager 11 works fine, but FM12 won’t. I tried to uninstall FM11 and install 12 but it just won’t work. Please, can you tell me what’s wrong?

But the fix to this annoying problem is very simple, since Fifa Manager 12 is obviously compatible with Windows 8 and Windows 8.1. Just Right click your FIFA manager 12 shortcut icon from your desktop and select ‘Troubleshoot Compatibility’. After that, select ‘troubleshoot program’ and then select Windows 7 then test the program and it should run. Now, how simple was that!

FIFA problems fixed in Windows 10

Besides FIFA Manager 12 there are also lots of issues with FIFA 2016, 2017 and 2018 (in case you also play one of them and have some problems). While many users struggle with some errors, lags, and glitches while playing, others are simply following our fix guides and enjoy the game. Here are the articles which helped lots of users:

Posted in Fix

Microsoft Bing News App Crashes in Windows 8.1, 10

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

Like it or not, we’ve got yet another crashing report for Windows 8.1, 10 users. This time, it’s about the built-in News App that seems to be causing problems for a few users. Below are more details.

A short while ago we were reporting that the Bing news app has received an update in Windows 8.1 which should have taken care of certain bugs. But, it seems that some of these bugs are still living and affecting users, provided that they have the latest version of the Windows 8.1 News app. One of them is saying this:

So I updated to Windows 8.1 Pro from Windows 8 Pro several weeks ago with no problems.  Now all of a sudden, the Microsoft News Metro App crashes on start.  No error messages, just opens to the splash screen and returns me to the desktop.  The app appears to still be running in the sidebar, but when I click on that, it briefly brings me to the news splash screen and then back to the desktop again.  I have already tried uninstalling and reinstalling the News app, a system refresh AND a full reinstall of the computer from scratch.  The app started working again after the system reinstall, only to have it start crashing after about an hour.

I’ve seen other folks complaining about this issue as well, but thank God it doesn’t happen for me. I will keep a sharp eye in the Windows Store in the event of a future update that might fix this annoying problem. If you happen to know any workarounds for this Windows 8.1 issue, do let us know by leaving your input in the comments box from below.

Bing app in Windows 10, 8.1 and 8

Besides Bing News, Bing Finance had problems as well. Many users reported issues with Bing Finance features after upgrading the OS. The most annoying problem was creating specific watchlists. Fortunately, we found some solutions on different specialized forums and you can try to fix this problem by following the guide from this article.

Once more issues have been reported, Bing improved the app and released an update. Now bing app has a better functionality, especially Bing Maps which moves faster. If you want to know more, you can read about all the important update details here.

READ ALSO: Microsoft working to fix Bing maps and Windows Map App delays

Give dad the gift of Surface, Xbox, and Windows 10 PCs with these Father’s day deals

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

Father’s Day is coming up, and Microsoft is highlighting some ways you can save if you’re looking to give the gift of tech. There are some savings on Surface, Xbox, Windows 10 PCs, and more at the Microsoft Store and beyond. Here’s a look at some of the big deals.

Microsoft Store Deals:

Other Deals:

Microsoft also offered up similar savings for Mother’s Day, so if you missed out on those initial sales, now is your chance to get in on the action. Feel free to drop us a comment in the section below and let us know if you’ve picked up anything part of this sale.

VGA not Working After Windows 10/11 Update for Some

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

Windows 8.1 problems are not done with and as I research more, more woes appear on the horizon. This time, somebody is complaining that his VGA display adapter is not working after he updated to Windows 8.1.

Troubles and problems with the VGA port have been reported in Windows 8 and I’ve seen quite a lot of them, but I was hoping that Windows 8.1 would fix them. Alas, this hasn’t happened and more Display Adapter woes for those using VGA continue. Here is the input from one user who has this problem:

My Asus UL30VT with windows 8 is working properly before updating to 8.1. After update, the Display Adapter have a problem : NVidia GeForce G210M : This device is not working properly because Windows cannot load the drivers required for this device. (Code 31) Insufficient system resources exist to complete the API.

Mobile Intel(R) 4 Series Express Chipset Family (Microsoft Corporation – WDDM 1.1) : Windows cannot load the device driver for this hardware. The driver may be corrupted or missing. (Code 39) {Unable to Load Device Driver} %hs device driver could not be loaded. Error Status was 0x%x

Read Also: Windows 7 vs. Windows 8 Comparison: Old Meets New

This seems like a case where the owner forgets to download and install the latest Intel VGA drivers for his specific laptop model. I don’t think it has anything to do with NVidia’s drivers, so my suggestion is for him to get the latest VGA drivers straight from Intel’s website. Have you experienced a similar problem with your Windows 8.1 computers?

Various VGA problems in Windows 10

You might experience more VGA-related problems on your PC. Error codes, drivers not working (one of the major issues that cause ‘VGA not working’), no sound and other errors will give you lots of troubles while using your PC. Here are the fix-guides of the most common VGA-related issues:

Before starting following the steps from a specific guide be sure that you detected the exact issue and let us know in the comments section if you have fixed it.

Traces of “Switch to S Mode” option appear in Windows 10 Insider build 17686

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

Contrary to what Microsoft previously said, it seems that it may soon be possible to switch “S mode” for Windows 10 on and off in the near future. Indeed, after installing the latest Insider build 17686, you’ll see that a new “Switch to S mode” option pops up when you search for S mode in the Settings app (via Thurrott.com).

Clicking on this option just redirects you to the Activation page, but you won’t have any “Switch to S mode” for now. It’s not clear yet if the option to enable S mode could actually be a thing, but it does make sense to bring this mode to more Windows 10 users.

Earlier this year, Microsoft said that Windows 10 in S mode would replace the pre-existing Windows 10 S SKU, and that it would be up to PC manufacturers to configure it on new PCs. Windows 10 in S mode is actually a renamed Windows 10 S, a more secure and battery efficient configuration of Windows 10 that can only run Microsoft Store apps.

Disabling S Mode is free for consumers regardless of Windows 10 edition , but as of today you can’t go back to S mode after switching out of it in the Microsoft Store. This may be a missed opportunity for Microsoft, as despite its shortcomings (you can’t use any other browser than Microsoft Edge or install new drivers, as an example), S Mode definitely has its merits.

As Microsoft explained, the purpose of S mode is to provide consumers, schools and enterprise users a streamlined version of Windows 10 that won’t get bogged down by desktop apps and other bloatware in the long run. This is really something that some consumers may want to turn on older machines, or PCs that are just being used for some light web browsing and other basic things. However, it would be interesting to know what would happen to your desktop apps once you turn on S Mode, as losing some important data would not be a great experience.

Anyway, when there’s smoke there’s fire, as the adage says, and the fact that this “Switch to S mode” option appears in the Settings app suggests that this is something that Microsoft may be considering. Do you think it makes sense to make S Mode something that all Windows 10 users can turn on and off at will? Let us know below.

 

Windows 8.1, 10 Refresh Problems Caused by Missing Files

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

Some users have been reporting that they can’t use the refresh/reset system in Windows 8.1 because of some “missing files“. We report their problems and give you more details about the issue below

Nope, we are not done yet – there are a bunch of other Windows 8.1 problems and issues that need to be brought upon the surface so that more folks could know about it. A good number of Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 users have been reporting that they have problems with the refresh/reset system and apparently they are “missing some files“. Here’s what one of them is saying:

Having some issues in windows 8.1 and would like to refresh/reset system, but it says that some files are missing and asks me to put in recovery media. I created a recovery media in the system but when i try to run it, it says that it is not the right one.  Ie, right now, I cannot refresh or reset my system.  My only system restore backups go back to November 10th–so not past installation of win 8.1.  Ps, the issue is that indexing service takes over my computer until it overheats and shuts off.  And there appears to be 80 gb unspoken for on my computer used by something.

A solution for his problem would be to create a USB (Universal Serial Bus) recovery drive and then use it to refresh the Windows 8.1 system. You can follow Microsoft’s own tips on this article. Another user is saying the following, even after creating a recovery media.

So I’ve been having a graphics driver / display related issue which has not been solved by uninstalling my drivers and doing a complete driver sweeper run. Thus I figured maybe it was time to do a full refresh hoping that would get all traces of the drivers from my system and registry. Trying this and using a burnt copy of the ISO that I initially installed Windows 8 on his system (I upgraded via the windows store), this failed with the refreshed system complaining about the media i supplied when asked.

I figured the recovery media was for 8 and my system was 8.1 and that was the issue. Searching i found a MS page describing how to create 8.1 media for this purpose. Following this failed too, as for some reason it refused to accept my product key. I have no idea why. My system was normally activated. I began to wonder if 8.1 product keys were different from 8. And using the belarc advisor I can see that my 8.1 system is activated using a 8 product key. At this point I’m all pretty terribly confused and wondering if i can ever use refresh or reset.

At the moment we don’t know exactly what is causing the problem, but we know that it is causing the following errors (quite a lot of them):

  • C:Windowsdiagerr.xml – error opening
  • C:Windowsdiagwrn.xml – error opening
  • C:WindowsMEMORY.DMP – error opening
  • C:WindowsInstaller4c66aad.msi » MSI » required.cab » CAB – error reading archive
  • C:WindowsLogsCBSCBS.log – error opening
  • C:WindowsLogsDPXsetupact.log – error opening
  • C:WindowsLogsDPXsetuperr.log – error opening
  • C:WindowsMicrosoft.NETFrameworkv3.0Windows Communication FoundationSMSvcHost.exe.config – error opening
  • C:WindowsMicrosoft.NETFramework64v3.0Windows Communication FoundationSMSvcHost.exe.config – error opening
  • C:WindowsPanthersqmSetup00.sqm – error opening
  • C:WindowsPantherUnattendGCsetupact.log – error opening
  • C:WindowsPantherUnattendGCsetuperr.log – error opening
  • C:WindowsPLASystemSystem Diagnostics.xml – error opening
  • C:WindowsPLASystemSystem Performance.xml – error opening
  • C:Windowssecuritydatabasesecedit.sdb – error opening
  • C:WindowsSoftwareDistributionDataStoreDataStore.edb – error opening
  • C:WindowsSoftwareDistributionDataStoreLogsedb.log – error opening
  • C:WindowsTasksAdobe Flash Player Updater.job – error opening
  • C:WindowsTasksGoogleUpdateTaskMachineCore1cec43c80df64d.job – error opening
  • C:WindowsTasksGoogleUpdateTaskMachineUA.job – error opening
  • C:WindowsWinSxSamd64_microsoft-windows-c..rformance-perftrack_31bf3856ad364e35_6.3.9600.16384_none_4c9196811ed79b13traceanonconfig.xml – error opening
  • C:WindowsWinSxSamd64_microsoft-windows-n..n_service_datastore_31bf3856ad364e35_6.3.9600.16384_none_c1ecf0b709f6bdc7dnary.xsd – error opening

Read Also: Driver Booster Discovers Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 Outdated Drivers

Do you have any idea on how this Windows 8.1 problem could be overcome?

Other ‘missing files’ related issues

There are many specific files missing and related issues. For example, if your Windows keeps refreshing and does not stop, there is actually a great fix guide written by us in order to help you.

Sometimes your system might make some files and folders disappear. That problem might occur on all Windows versions, and can be the result of an important update that has some errors. In that case, you can restore your files and folders and fix this problem by following the steps from this article.

Xbox One’s E3 video game sale is now live

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

Microsoft’s massive E3 sale is now live. A huge number of Xbox One video games and some Xbox 360 titles have had their prices slashed by up to 75% with a good mix of major and independent games being included.

Of note on the Xbox One is ABZU (50% off), Assassin’s Creed Origins (50%), Battlefield 4 Premium Edition (80%), Dark Souls III Deluxe Edition (67%), DmC Devil May Cry: Definitive Edition (67%), Farming Simulator 17 (75%), For Honor (75%), Injustice 2 (pictured, 40%), Life is Strange Complete Season (80%), Marvel: Ultimate Alliance Bundle (75%), Rise of the Tomb Raider: 20 Year Celebration (70%), Star Wars Battlefront II (67%), and Titanfall 2: Ultimate Edition (85%).

Xbox 360 video game discounts to look out for are Alan Wake’s American Nightmare (75% off), Beyond Good & Evil HD (67%), Blue Dragon (75%), Fable Trilogy (75%), Just Cause 2 (90%), Mass Effect (75%), Saints Row IV (75%), and Watch Dogs (67%).

You can view a full list of all of the discounted games here or by browsing the Store tab on your Xbox One console.

The next week will be a big one for Microsoft’s Xbox One console with several major announcements expected to be made at the 2018 E3 conference. We’ll be sure to cover all of the big Xbox news here so make sure to like us on Facebook, follow us on Pinterest, and follow us on Twitter to stay up-to-date on all the breaking news.

Sex and the City turns 20, all eps discounted in Windows 10’s Microsoft Store

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

The Sex and the City television series turned 20 years old today (feel old yet?) and to celebrate this milestone, all six seasons have been discounted in the Microsoft Store giving fans savings from five to 10 dollars per season.

Films and series bought in the Microsoft Store can be viewed within the Movies & TV app (also called Films & TV in some regions) on Windows 10 PCs and tablets, Windows phones, Xbox One consoles, and other Windows-powered devices such as HoloLens.

The Sex and the City sale will run for six more days after which the prices will return to normal. Were you a fan of Sex and the City and are you going to buy these episodes? Let us know in the comments below and don’t forget to follow us on Twitter for more Windows 10 news.

Donald Glover’s Lando comes to Star Wars Battlefront II on Xbox One

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

Details on the second half of Star Wars Battlefront II’s Han Solo Season of content have been officially announced and all of it will launch in just a few days on June 12th.

In addition to a variety of small bug fixes and balancing changes, this update to the game will add two new skins for Han Solo, two new skins for Lando, and one for Chewbacca. All five of these new skins are based on the appearances of the characters in the recently released film, Solo: A Star Wars Story. While Chewbacca’s new look isn’t too different from his current skins in-game, the new Han and Lando skins are completely different due to being based on the actors who play them in the new film, Alden Ehrenreich and Donald Glover.

Other new content being added with this update includes the new location, the Coaxium Mines of Kessel (also from Solo: A Star Wars Story), a new game mode called Extraction, a new version of the Millennium Falcon piloted by Lando and L3-37, and a visual redesign of the game’s menu system.

All of this new content is technically free for all owners of Star Wars Battlefront II however the skins will need to be purchased either by in-game currency (Credits) which can be earned by playing or by purchasing Crystals with real-world money. The Millennium Falcon will also need to be purchased with Credits.

More news regarding future Star Wars Battlefront II content is expected to be announced this weekend during the special EA Play event. The game has also currently been heavily discounted on Xbox One and is now 67% cheaper than usual.

Are you excited for fresh Battlefront II content? Let us know which bit of the Han Solo Season you like the most in the comments below and make sure to follow us on Pinterest for more Xbox video game news.

STAR WARS™ Battlefront™ II
STAR WARS™ Battlefront™ II
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STAR WARS™ Battlefront™ II
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Windows 10 is now installed on more than 700 millions devices

Posted on by Matthew Adams

Windows 10 launched in 2015, and since then the platform’s user base has steadily increased. Microsoft had laid down a lofty target for Win 10 to be installed on one billion devices by 2018. While Windows 10 has fallen a little short of that mark, the software giant has confirmed that Windows 10‘s user base eclipses the 700 million mark at recent Insider Dev Tour.

The departing Microsoft chief Mr. Myerson previously stated at a May 2018 Build developer conference that Win 10 was approaching a 700 million user base mark. At the conference, Mr. Myerson stated:

Today, we are now approaching 700 million active Windows 10 users, commercial usage is growing 84% year over year, Xbox One is running a Windows 10 core, Surface is leading PC innovation, HoloLens is bringing breakthroughs to computer vision, our universal Microsoft store enables Xbox GamePass, Azure reserved instances, and Office distribution, and the OEM ecosystem is revitalized with profitable growth.

However, Microsoft has confirmed at a more recent June Insider Dev Tour that Windows 10 is now installed on 700 million active devices. Thus, the platform’s user base has increased that much more to take it over the 700 million milestone. The figures provided at the Insider Dev Tour also highlight that the platform has an 84% growth rate and that there are more than 150 million users utilizing Cortana.

windows 10 market share 2018

So, Microsoft can rightly proclaim Windows 10 a big hit even if the platform has still fallen a little short of the company’s initial targets. StatCounter data also highlights that Win 10 has now overtaken Windows 7 as the foremost desktop operating system in 2018. The latest figures show that Windows 10 has 47.21% market share compared with 7’s 39.44% share.

However, it’s not all great news for Windows 10. Even though Win 10 has strengthened Microsoft’s grip of the desktop OS market, it has been an entirely different story for mobile devices. Windows 10 Mobile had little impact on phones and tablets. As such, Microsoft has discontinued support for Win 10 on mobile devices. The demise of Windows 10 Mobile is perhaps one of the main factors behind the platform falling short of the billion device mark.

Nevertheless, Windows 10 goes from strength to strength on desktops and laptops with every big update. The April 2018 Update has further enhanced the OS with Timeline, Focus Assist, Nearby Sharing, new settings, a redesigned Game bar and a revamped Edge browser; and the Redstone 5 update will deliver even more in 2018. So Windows 10 continues to sustain considerable momentum.

RELATED STORIES TO CHECK OUT:

This torrent contains files that may harm your computer

Posted on by Aleksandar Ognjanovic

Downloading files with torrent clients and thanks to a peer-2-peer networking is there for ages. However, besides the obvious advantages (not referring to free-of-charge pirated software and media), there were concerns about the safety. For that reason, most if not all torrent clients will inform you about the possible dangers the moment you try to access the file.

How important is this message and what does it mean? We made sure to explain below.

Dangerous file prompt in a torrent client? Here’s what to do

One of the obvious downsides of pirated software is the danger of system intrusion. Sure, a lot of those files will trigger a false alarm, as the security applications detect cracks as malware. However, there’s a good reasoning behind that. All of them are executable files and every ‘exe’ file from an untrusted source is a potential danger for your system. Whether it’s a potential keylogger, virus, or even hijacker – it’s not safe for work and not to be trusted blindly.

For that reason, even before the system protecting services scan new files, the torrent client will inform you about possible dangers. This mostly applies to installations, but the “This torrent contains files that may harm your computer” rarely appears with the multimedia files.

Now, we don’t endorse torrenting and piracy, but this is sometimes a bit over the top. The issues won’t start when you open the containing folder. They can, potentially, start when you run the executable file. And even if the downloaded files try to infiltrate or damage your system on their own, the antivirus will prevent them immediately.

What you’ll need to do is don’t open the file. Firstly, scan the containing folder. Do not unpack archived files, just perform a scan and after that, you can do whatever you want with the file. If it indeed carries some kind of malware – you should remove it; or if it doesn’t –install it or use it, depending on its purpose.

In order to scan a particular directory, just right-click on it and choose to scan with Windows Defender. This option in the contextual menu applies to all third-party antivirus solutions, as well. Once the scan ends, you can use files without the need to worry.

That’s it. In case you have additional questions concerning the subject, feel free to ask us in the comments section below. We’ll be glad to shed some light if need be.

RELATED STORIES YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT:

Windows Store Error 0x8004005: Solved For Good

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

The Windows Store (also known as Microsoft Store) is filled with problems and issues for many users. One of them says he is received a Windows Store error 0x8004005 and that the app doesn’t open at all anymore.

We have talked about similar errors before, but this is the first time we are talking about a specific error code.

Previously, we explained how to fix the Windows 8 Store so that it could open. Also, we’ve explained how to activate and display all Windows Store apps and how to see featured apps in the Windows Store.

This time we bump across a specific Windows Store error that gives the following code – 0x8004005 & HERESULT : 0x80073CFE. Here’s what the user who first spotted it is saying (excuse his poor English):

hi, upgrade windows 8.1 pro from windows 8. it was work fine for few days. but since last week my windows store not work. i am getting error of “something happened and windows store is no longer working might need to refresh windows on your pc” when i try to refresh its saying ” Insert Medial some files are missing” i don’t have any media as i upgrade windows 8.1 from windows stores and it was upgrade without any Error.
Even after upgrade it was running fine for few days. my all other apps working fine only i get trouble to start windows store.

i deed many research and development to solve this problem, even i uninstall my “Kasper Sky internet Security” also try “Wsreset.exe” also try “powershell….command given on micro soft solution & support sites but till i get problem. when i rub powershell command i got “Err : Add -Appxpackage : Deployment failed with HRESULT: 0x80073CFE, The package repository is corrupted.

Error -550:  windows can not process a deployment operation because the package repository database encounter an ESENT error.use the reset your pc feature to recover your pc. i don’t want to re-install windows 8.1 pro. also i don’t have any ISO file of windiws 8.1 pro. please give me solution of this error.

Other Windows store issues reported

Windows Store has tons of problems and the biggest might be when the Store is not working in Windows. Windows 10 users reported this issue and fortunately, we have found necessary fixes and wrote a guide on them.

In case your Store is working but it’s not opening, you can try out the steps from this how-to article.

Epson Printer Memory Card Readers Not Accessible in Windows 8, 10

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

Finally, we have somebody complaining about Windows 8 and not Windows 8.1 – a new problem has been spotted and it points to several Epson printer memory card readers not being accessible from Windows 8
epson printer memory card windows 8
A fresh new problem related to Epson printers has been spotted in the Microsoft Community support forums. This time, the problem isn’t related to Windows 8.1 but to Windows 8. Apparently, the Epson printer memory card readers are not accessible from Windows 8 for a user of a Epson Stylus Photo PX730WD model. Here is what he said:

My Epson Stylus Photo PX730WD is able to read and use memory cards inserted in its reader.  But I cannot view these readers in Windows 8.  I get unable to access all network ports om boot up.  Any suggestions?

Read Also: Windows 8.1 WiFi Problems Reported with Ralink Cards

Just like somebody is suggesting to him, I am saying the same thing – use the Map Network Drive tool in Explorer in order to assign a drive so it doesn’t interfere with existing drives. After that, you need to choose Reconnect at Boot option. Now, your problem should be solved. If it persists, I further hint that you could try and clear the dust from the tray as this has proved to be a big problem in my case.

We have previously written about other issues related with card readers in Windows 8.1 and here they are – Realtek Card Reader Drivers Still not Updated for Windows 8.1, SD Card Reader not Working in Windows 8.1 for some Lenovo Users. If you have been experiencing similar issues, head over there and see what the community is saying.

Fix various Epson Printer issues in Windows 10, 8.1 and 8

These are not the only problems with Epson printers. Users have reported various problems while using them, and we have managed to search and compile all the fixes we found on the internet and put them into ‘how-to’ fix guides. Here are some of the most annoying problems and their possible fixes:

You can also try to search for a specific fix on our site using the ‘search bar’. In case you fixed your issue let us know in the comments section so we can recommend that specific fix to other users.

Best Windows 8, 10 Alphabet Apps for Your Kids

Posted on by Andrew Wafer

Are you having difficulties in teaching your children the alphabet? Or maybe you just want to learn new words easily or to translate foreign sentences without using a classic dictionary? If so, then don’t hesitate and check the list from below where I tried to review the best Windows 8 Alphabet apps that are available on Windows Store.
windows 8 alphabet
During the present review, you will basically find alphabet apps that received four, or above, stars of ratings from Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 users. All the tools described can be downloaded from Windows Store and installed on any Windows 8 based tablet, laptop or desktop. Furthermore, all these alphabet apps are featuring intuitive user interfaces, which mean that anyone can use the tools, even if we are talking about a newbie or a child (be careful though as some software are age rating). Also, have a look at some of the best Windows 8 education and school apps and games for kids, as well.

Do note that on Windows Store you can find many other alphabet apps, in different languages, the list from below being my own top of Windows 8 Alphabet apps. In case you are looking for the best Windows 8 dictionary apps, you can anytime check our dedicated review (just click on the mentioned link).

Best Windows 10/8 alphabet apps in the Microsoft Store

Palmer’s Alphabet

Palmer's AlphabetPalmer’s Alphabet is a Windows 8, 10 alphabet software that comes to teach the English alphabet in an easy and interactive way. Kids will love learning the alphabet with Palmer, a golden retriever who’s always up for a new adventure. The dog will explain the alphabet by using fun methods and educative games, songs or tasks. Palmer’s Alphabet is priced $1.49 on Windows Store, and there is a trial version available to download for free.

Easy Alphabet

https://apps.microsoft.com/windows/en-us/app/05f9e072-2fdd-4285-9927-1674b5b04e68A five star rated and highly appreciated alphabet app from Windows Store is Easy Alphabet. As the name suggests, this tool is featuring an easy to use UI along with fun and happy methods that can be used for learning the English alphabet.

The tool is perfect for children as they can sing the alphabet or learn how to properly say words or phrases in English. Easy Alphabet is free on Windows Store and can be installed on any Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 device.

[UPDATE] This app has no longer received support in Microsoft Store.

Toddler Writing

Toddler WritingBy using this Windows 8 alphabet app you can learn how to write the English alphabet faster. You can practice your skills and you can hear the proper pronunciation of words, English sounds, and different sentences. Toddler Writing is easy to use, it’s fun and can be now downloaded for free from Windows Store.

[UPDATE] The app has received support, so you can enjoy more of this interactive and straightforward learning app.

Read also: What is the best software for learning how to sing?

English Alphabet Teacher

English Alphabet TeacherAnother easy to use Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 alphabet app is English Alphabet Teacher. This app is mainly developed for kids and features different options that can be used for learning the English alphabet with fun. English Alphabet Teacher is available for free on Windows Store and received five-star ratings from the users who have tried it.

 

3Mb – Alphabet Flashcards

3Mb - Alphabet FlashcardsThis app is developed as a game for kids but is not a classic Windows 8 alphabet. The tool can be used to increase vocabulary, concentration and cognition skills of children and not only. You can create words, sentences, practice your vocabulary and alphabet skills and also you need to remember sounds or words in order to resolve different puzzles.

Using 3Mb – Alphabet Flashcards is fun, the app is recommended for kids or for foreign users who want to practice English. You can anytime test this app as it is free distributed on Windows Store.

I can read! App for Windows 10

[UPDATE] We had difficulties in downloading the app at the moment, it might be temporary and we hope the developers will fix that. Another interesting app from the same brand, 3Mb-solutions, is I can read!  This will help your little learner to read in a fun way.

Click Master Phonetic Alphabet Match

Click Master Phonetic Alphabet MatchIf you want to learn or practice the phonetic alphabet on your own Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 device, then you definitely need to use Click Master Phonetic Alphabet Match. The app is actually a matching game where you need to match the letter to its corresponding phonetic word to clear it from the board. The game is timed, so you can track your progress. This tool is also available for free on Windows Store.

[UPDATE] Unfortunately, this app has no longer received support in Microsoft Store.

 

These are the best Windows 8, 10 Alphabet apps that can be anytime downloaded and used on your tablet, laptop or desktop. As I have mentioned before, these are only some of the alphabet tools which are currently available on Windows Store, so you can anytime expend the list from above by adding your own favorite Windows 8, 10 apps.

RELATED ARTICLES TO CHECK OUT:

User Reports Problems with Keyboard Behavior in Windows 8.1, 10

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

This is a first – a user is reporting on the Microsoft community support forums that he is seeing problems with his keyboard behavior in Windows 8.1. Below are more details

A new problem has appeared for Windows 8.1 users and it is related to the keyboard behavior. The user details that certain keys don’t perform as they should, for example, “if pressed the 1 key the start screen would open. If he pressed the q key it would open notepad”. Now, after the Windows 8.1 update, there seem to be issued with this. He details:

The first thing I looked for was a stuck Windows key but it worked normally. I checked such things as Accessibility options for sticky keys etc. but I couldn’t find anything enabled that would cause this issue. There was nothing running at startup the looked like it might affect the system in such a manner. I uninstalled and reinstalled the keyboard driver.

Then I discovered that if I pressed the shift key it allowed me to type normally. Furthermore, if I pressed capslock and shift together I could type in upper case. I was now able to launch msconfig using Windows search. (I know I could have browsed to the system32 folder and launched it with the mouse.) I rebooted into safe mode and the keyboard worked as normal.  The system responded as expected from the keyboard so I booted back into Windows normally and I could still type normally. It seemed like the problem had gone away all by itself.

Even spookier, I woke my own (self built) Windows 8.1 system from sleep this afternoon and my system behaved in a similar fashion. Except it would not allow me to type even with the shift key pressed. I also rebooted into safe mode and my system seemed to repair itself just like my customer’s laptop. And  I could also type normally again once I rebooted back into normal mode.

Have you observed a similar problem in Windows 8 or Windows 8.1? And if so, what was the fix or solution that you have tried to apply? I’ve also opened a similar forum thread and am looking to see whether somebody will be able to proved a solution. Leave your comment if you have one, as it will definitely help the community.

Keyboard issues in Windows 8, 8.1 and 10 fixes

There are various keyboard-related issues but fortunately, there is also a fix for any problem. We did notice these issues and wrote many fix guides and articles that will surely help you to get rid of them. Here are some of the most visited fixes:

You can find more specific guides in our site’s ‘search’ bar. Let us know in the comments how you fixed the problem.

Lenovo Miix 2 vs Acer W4: The 8-inch Windows 8.1 Battle

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

Both the Lenovo Miix 2 and the Acer Iconia W4 are some great Windows 8.1 tablets, at a very accessible price. But how do they fare when confronted? We go through their specs to decided who is the winner of this battle.
lenovo miix 2 vs acer iconia w4
The Lenovo Miix 2 is one of my favorite Windows 8.1 tablets and it is already on my shortlist for what should I buy this holiday season. But, a friend of mine has asked me about Acer’s Iconia W4 Windows 8 tablet, so I’ve decided to compare this to in a head-to-head battle of specs. Previously, I have compared the Lenovo Miix 2 with the Toshiba Encore and the Dell Venue 8 Pro.

Lenovo Miix 2 vs Acer Iconia W4: battle of specs

  • Price – both the Lenovo Miix 2 and the Acer Iconia W4 are affordable Windows 8.1 tablets, but the Lenovo Miix 2 is cheaper by $30, being available for $299, whereas the Acer Iconia W4 can be yours for 329.
  • Display – the Miix 2 has a HD 16:9 widescreen with IPS technology and a 1280 x 800 with 10-finger multi-touch support while the Acer Iconia W4 comes with an Active Matrix TFT Color LCD WXGA screen at a 1280 x 800 resolution. My guess is that Lenovo’s display is slightly better here.
  • Processor – here it gets interesting: while the Lenovo Miix 2 comes with the Z3740D Intel Bay Trail Dual Core of 1.80 GHz the Acer Iconia W4 has a quad-core Z3740 Intel processor, clocked at 1.33 GHz. From what I’ve seen, the performance of these two is pretty similar.
  • Memory – the Lenovo Miix 2 comes with a 2 GB LPDDR2 while Acer Iconia W4 comes with a 2 GB LPDDR3 one. Acer’s Windows 8.1 tablet is a tad better (like 1-3%), but this is really negligible. acer iconia w4 vs lenovo miix 2
  • Storage – no differences here as there is a 32 GB SSD internal storage for both tablets. To extend that storage, the Miix 2 comes with a Micro SD reader while Acer Iconia W4supplements that with an SDXC version.
  • Audio and Video – the Lenovo Miix 2 comes with integrated audio and intel HD graphics while Acer’s Iconia W4 comes with just about the same specs
  • Ports – the Lenovo Miix 2 has a small advantage as it has Micro USB 2.0, Micro HDMI and Headphone output while Acer Iconia W4 has the same features but the USB 2.0 port.
  • Battery – both Windows 8.1 tablets have a 2-cell lithium-ion battery and what I’ve seen from the reviews is that both of them average somewhere around 7+ hours. But, the specs sheet says that the Lenovo Miix 2′s can be alive for up to 7 hours while Acer Iconia W4 promises 8 hours.
  • Camera – the Lenovo Miix 2 has a 2 MP front camera sensor and a 5 MP in the rear and Acer’s Iconia W4 comes with the exact configuration.
  • Dimensions – Now it’s time to compare the sizes of these Windows 8.1 eight inchers. Lenovo Miix2 comes with the following dimensions – 8.46 x 5.19 x 0.31 in (214.88 x 131.82 x 7.87 mm) while the Aces Iconia W4 has these Height 0.4″, Width 5.3″, Depth 8.6″. We can see that the Lenovo Miix 2 is a tad thinner, by around 1mm.
  • Weight – the Lenovo Miix 2 wins the weight battle, as well, weighing only 0.77 lbs (349.26 g) versus Acer’s Iconia W4  15.17 oz (400 grams).

I don’t know about you but for me, the Lenovo Miix2 is the winner here. It is thinner, lighter, comes with just the same performance like the Iconia W4, but it is also cheaper by $30. What do you think?

Lenovo Miix2 versus other top tablets [update]

First of all, Lenovo Miix 2 has received an important update regarding its battery life. Now, all Lenovo Miix2 users with Windows 8.1 can install the KB2913236 Windows 8.1 update to put an end to battery problems.

After this update, Miix2 has increased its positions against other tablets, especially against Dell Venue 8 Pro and Toshiba Encore. If you are curious about who can be the winner against Lenovo’s tablet, here are the reviews:

You will find all specs comparisons and even prices, so do not hesitate to let us know in the comments which tablet you like the most.

READ ALSO: Best Windows 10 Tablets to Buy in 2018

Best 7 Windows 8, 10 Apps This Week

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

It’s that time of the week when we recount the best new Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 apps that have been published in the Windows Store. This time, we have a collection of top 7 and here they are.

At the moment of writing this article, there were around 129 thousand total apps in the Windows Store, which is an increase of almost 2000 apps from our roundup of the best new 8 Windows 8 apps from the last week. You will find a lot of interesting Windows 8 apps in the past week’s top, so do give it a read before proceeding to this new one.

Best 7 new Windows 8 apps this week

The Lone Ranger

lone ranger windows 8No, we are not talking about the movie, but rather a Windows 8 game made by Disney that follows the story of the latest Johnny Depp movie.

Become a legend of justice in the new game inspired by The Lone Ranger movie! Saddle up and take the reigns as one of the greatest Texas Rangers in the Wild West. Embark on a thrilling adventure as you protect the town of Colby, face-off in epic showdowns, and bring infamous outlaws to justice. Fight against greed and corruption in this 3d, role-playing adventure!

The best part about the The Lone Ranger Windows 8 game is that it is completely free! Go on and conquer the wild west!

Riptide GP2

windows 8 riptide gp2Riptide GP2 is the sequel to the popular Windows 8 game Riptide GP and it comes with a lot of improvements that are bound to keep you glued to your Windows 8 tablet.

Riptide GP™2 kicks everything into overdrive, with intense dynamic water racing, upgradeable hydro jets and riders, improved graphics, an all-new career mode, and a whole new stunt system with dozens of new tricks! Featuring rocket-powered hydro jets racing around futuristic tracks across a dynamic and interactive water surface, Riptide GP2 delivers a fast, fun, and visually stunning racing experience. From Vector Unit, developers of acclaimed racing games Riptide GP and Hydro Thunder Hurricane.

You get to compete in over 50 Race, Hot Lap, Elimination, and Freestyle events where you will unlock and master 25 outrageous new stunts.

ilomilo plus

ilomilo windows 8The ilomilo plus game for Windows 8 comes with a lot of fun levels, xciting new chapters and three new challenging cubes from the original game. Ilomilo for Windows 8 and Windows RT is a puzzle game where the player controls two fellows named ilo and milo. Here’s how the app description goes on:

The two friends always seem to get separated from each other in the surrealistic and ever changing world they inhabit, and the goal of each level is to reunite them. ilomilo presents puzzles where the player will have to use a great deal of three dimensional thinking to succeed. The world of ilomilo is made of cubes, and ilo and milo can walk any side of the cubes, as well as move cubes around. The player controls both ilo and milo, and will have to make them cooperate to unite them. ilomilo also allows players to control one character each, and play through the game cooperatively

Chimpact

chimpact windows 8 gameNot quite new, but Chimpact is one of the best Windows 8 games currently available in the Windows Store. At five dollars, it is not the cheapest game around, but you can try the game to see if you like it before buying.

Luscious environments with a variety of delightful characters make Chimpact top of its class. Collect gems, medallions and bananas by chucking your chimp through stunning jungle landscapes. Use bananas to add abilities to your chimp and complete all levels perfectly.

RSS Reader Live

rss reader live windows 8If you were looking for a free and reliable Windows RSS Reader, then you have found it in the form of RSS Reader Live Windows 8 app. It comes with Live Tiles and Toast notification and lets you rename feeds  and has a Reader mode and a Webview mode. The app has lockscreen notification and you also have the option of hiding feeds column for more space.

My Server 2012 R2

my server 2012 r2 windows 8The Windows 8 My Server 2012 R2 app is made available so that you can manage users, devices, alerts, and access shared files in Windows Server 2012 R2 Essentials straight from your Windows 8 tablet. You can also share local resources to server or save server resources locally.

Nesbox

nesbox windows 8 appThe Windows 8 Nesbox app works like a video console emulator hub. You get to play your favorite NES, Super Nintendo and Sega Genesis games if you run Windows 8.1 or Windows RT. It will read the following file types – NES (.nes), Sega (.gen), Super Nintendo (.smc). Even more, you can search games over Internet, see a library of added games. There is also keyboard support and a screen gamepad.

Bonus Apps for Windows 8, 10 users

As there are more interesting apps appearing daily, we are trying to be sure that this article is up-to-date. Here you will find a list of great apps that are very useful:

Windows 8.1, 10 App Fotor Receives Important Update

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

Fotor is one of the best all-in-one photo editing application to be used with your Windows 8 or Windows RT tablet and now it has received an update that brings some much-awaited features. Read below to find more about it.
fotor windows 8.1 photo editing
Like we have said in a previous review of the Windows 8 Fotor app, it is an app that takes photo editing at its best. I’ve been using the app for quite a while and can recommend it to everybody who is looking to do some basic photo editing. So, I’ve been glad to discover that it has received an update in the Windows Store that brings a lot of awaited features.

Perfectly combine the windows 8 user experience with cutting-edge tools including Basic Editing Tools, Brilliant Visual Effects, Frames, 1-Tap Enhance, Collage, Text, Tilt Shift and Raw Converter, all bundled together in one powerful package!

There are quite a few new features for Fotor in Windows 8.1, so here they are:

  • Improved EXIF data for the processed photo
  • New Resize feature
  • Size adjustments and quality options at point of saving processed photo
  • Keyboard Control
  • Dragging the arrow up or down controls the feature panel on the right
  • 6 different FX Effect categories including Favorites
  • Text Feature Improvement
  • Bigger size for the default Text user input and limited the maximum amount of words to prevent crashes or other bugs

So, follow the link from below to download the latest version of Fotor and start editing.

Download Fotor for Windows 8.1

Fotor for Windows 10 [+ download link]

Fotor has received important updates after Windows 10 launched, and it also works on this version of the famous OS. New features were added in order to keep up with other photo editing software for Windows 10 users. You can find more information about all that has been added by its developers in this review.

You can now use this app for specific image manipulations like:

Download here Fotor for Windows 10 from Microsoft Store

Discounted Windows 8, Windows 8.1 and 10 Apps & Games This Week

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

Microsoft has kickstarted the Red Stripe Deals on apps and games from the Windows Store just like it does it for Windows Phone. Here are the discounted Windows 8 apps and games for this week.
discounted windows 8 apps games
The Red Stripe Deals on Windows 8, Windows 8.1 and Windows RT apps and games from the Windows Store is now available for users and Microsoft will be publishing each week usually three of them – one Xbox game, one indie game, and one top-rated app.

But we’re also reaching out to Windows 8 developers to contact us and inform them of their discounts, if some. This way, we will have more discounted games and apps to choose from the Windows Store

Reckless Racing Ultimate

Original Price: $4.99. Sale price: $2.49
reckless racing ultimate discounted windows 8 app
There seems to be a problem with this discount because a lot of people still see the previous five dollars price and I can confirm this, as well. Guys, do fix it as soon as possible, because Reckless Racing Ultimate is one Windows 8 racing game we don’t want to miss!

Einstein Brain Trainer HD

einstein brain trainer hd discounted windows 8 appsOriginal price: $5.99. Sale price: $2.99

Brain training apps on Windows 8 are pretty awesome as you get to keep your memory and logic fit. Einstein Brain Trainer HD comes with 30 levels to stimulate your brain’s activity, from the most easy to hard levels.

Joining Hands 2

joining hands 2 discounted windows 8 appsOriginal price: $3.49. Sale price: $1.49

Joining Hands 2 sequel builds on the success of the first version and comes with more than 140 fun and challenging levels where you will play with 8 kinds of adorable Peablin characters.

Read Also: Asphalt 8: Airborne Game Launched in the Windows 8 Store

Let’s hope that future Red Stripe Deals will include free apps and games from the Windows Store, as well. For now, I am sure that there are developers who have discounted their apps, so feel free to reach out.

Other discounted Microsoft Store apps and games [Update]

Since this article was written, many other offers for interesting apps and games appeared. Every week there are different promotions on Microsoft Store but some games remain ‘appealing’ even if they’re not discounted this week. Here’s are some lists of games and apps that can be found on Microsoft Store and work on :

Let us know which games you found and played at the best price in the comments section.

Dell and AlienWare introduce new Inspiron Gaming Desktop, Alienware accessories and gaming programs ahead of E3

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

Dell and its gaming subsidiary Alienware are getting ready for E3 2018 with a couple of interesting announcements today. First of all, Dell has updated its Inspiron Gaming desktop with 2nd Gen AMD Ryzen™ processors (up to 8 core, 16-thread), a USB Type-C 3.1 port, up to six USB 3.0 ports and a high-capacity hard drive, all within a nice chassis with Polar Blue LED lighting. The new gaming desktop will start at $849 USD with optional dual-drive and SSD, and Dell says it will be available in US, Australia, New Zealand, China and South Korea mid-June.

Dell also announced some new Alienware accessories today, including the first Alienware Wireless Gaming Headset that will be available in the US on June 11. The premium gaming headset will be priced at $229, and for this price you’ll get a noise-cancelling microphone, support 7.1 Virtual Surround Sound and a “durable yet lightweight” design.

Also new is the next-gen Alienware Elite Gaming Mouse that will feature two interchangeable side wings, 11 programmable buttons and five configurable DPI levels. The new $89.99 gaming mouse will be available in the US starting July 31.

Last but not least, Dell also announced the Alienware Academy online training platform today, which will provide lessons to aspiring esports pros. Created in partnership with Tobii and Team Liquid, the training portal will be available as a closed beta later this month with a first series of online lessons focused on the popular shooter Counter Strike: Global Offensive.

Additionally, Alienware is transforming its Arewa Rewards Program with a new mobile app that will allow gamers to earn Arena Rewards Points and Dell Advantage Rewards though games and challenges. The Alienware Arena app will launch on the Google Play Store on June 12, and you’ll have to sign up for both Arena and Dell Advantage to join the fun

Microsoft Solitaire is now optimized for Windows 10/11

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

The Microsoft Solitaire Collection app from the Windows Store hasn’t been updated to Windows 8.1 right after Microsoft made available the update to Windows 8. Now, the Solitaire app has been officially made compatible with Windows 8.1

The Solitaire addiction will never disappear!
The good old Microsoft games that many of you know, such as Solitaire, Mahjong (which is now TapTiles), FreeCell or Spider have been given a serious revamp in Windows 8.1. That’s why all of them look so great on your Windows 8 tablets. Now, the beloved Microsoft Solitaire Collection has finally been optimized for Windows 8.1 in the latest update.

The release note for the Microsoft Solitaire Collection Windows Store app say that it is now optimized for Windows 8.1 and that general bug fixes and optimizations have been put in place. Also, the ability to reset the game statistics has been added. But what I know is that the release note don’t cover what the users are saying.

Read Also: Windows 8 App Dominoes Gets Full Support for Windows 8.1

So, looking through the reviews I’ve seen that many of the sound problems with Microsoft Solitaire Collection after the upgrade to Windows 8.1 have disappeared, as well as other crashing problems. The Microsoft Solitaire Collection should come built-in with your Windows 8.1 system, but if it is not, for a certain reason, then follow the link from below to download it.

Download Microsoft Solitaire Collection for Windows 8

Microsoft Solitaire Collection after optimization for Windows 10, 8.1 [Update]

microsoft solitaire collection update windows 10 daily challenge windowAfter this optimization that continued Microsoft’s old games revamping processes, Redmond giant has released iOS and Android versions for Microsoft Solitaire Collection. Apparently, there are many users that still like these games and want them functional on other devices.

However, after this optimization many issues still occurred, for example, display issues: driver errors caused by Pyramid and Tri Peaks for Intel Graphics based users or blank board appearing in daily challenges window. But do not worry, Microsoft fixed these glitches and now you can play Solitaire collection without any problem.

READ MORE: Solitaire Collection for Windows 10 gets Events in new update

Windows 10 Insider build 17686 brings new Region page in Settings, Privacy and Windows Mixed Reality improvements

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

The Windows 10 Insider build 17686 is now available to download for Fast and Skip Ahead Insiders, and this new release is a pretty minor one. The most important addition is the new Region page in the Windows 10 Settings app, which will make it easier for Windows 10 users to change default regional format settings and download Local Experience Packs from the Microsoft Store. You’ll also find new pop up notifications when apps require access to your microphone (only if your privacy settings blocked access to it).

The release notes also mention a couple of improvements for Windows Mixed Reality, such as the ability to access the portal without having a monitor connected to your PC. You can find more details about what’s new below:

Improved Local Experience

We have introduced a new Region page that allows overrides to default regional format settings such as Calendar, First day of the week, Dates, Times, and Currency. Please go to Settings App – Time & Language – Region and give it a try.

Region Page in Settings app.

Local Experience Packs are Microsoft Store apps that deliver Windows display language quality improvements. You can now access them easily via the Settings App. Please go to Settings App – Time & Language – Language. Once here click on Add a Windows display language with Local Experience Packs link to download a Local Experience Pack from the Microsoft Store and start enjoying Windows in your preferred language.

Acquire Local Experience Packs from Settings app’s Language page.

Privacy Improvements

We wanted to let you know that if access to the microphone has been disabled in your privacy settings, we’ll now pop a notification the first time an attempt to use the microphone is blocked so you can review the settings if desired.

Notification showing “Your privacy settings blocked access to the microphone. Review these privacy settings”.

Windows Mixed Reality Improvements

This build includes several improvements for Windows Mixed Reality users:

  • This build no longer requires a physical monitor to be connected while running Mixed Reality in cases such as backpack PCs. Setting up WMR for the first time in Mixed Reality Portal and unlocking the PC on the sign in screen still, require a monitor to be connected initially. However, you can configure auto login to prevent needing to sign in for subsequent usage here. Using Windows Mixed Reality while standing requires setting up a room boundary.
  • Apps running in Windows Mixed Reality can now make use of the Camera Capture UI API to capture images of the mixed reality world using the system capture experience. Try running Mail in the Cliff House and inserting an image from your camera in a new message to share an image of the scenic view.
  • We’ve also made some adjustments to the mixed reality video capture experience in this build to make it easier to stop videos from the Start menu.

As usual, this build also comes with a couple of bug fixes and improvements, including a more polished black theme for the Windows 10 File Explorer. You can download this latest build right now from Windows Update, let us know in the comments if you encounter any issues after proceeding.

Microsoft wants more women to return to the company after taking leave

Posted on by Kareem Anderson

Microsoft’s track record with women and inherent business division policies have been in long-standing contention that has been recently highlighted by several reports of bullying, harassment, and discrimination all culminated in a potential class-action lawsuit for the company.

Perhaps, in an attempt to combat the negative impact of its recent gender oriented turmoil, Microsoft is in the midst of expanding its efforts to hire women looking to rejoin the workforce after taking personal leave for various reasons.

According to Reuters, Microsoft will be boosting its “returnship” programs which make up a portion of its LEAP diversity initiative to focus on reintegrate women into workspaces through trainee and contract work.

“Not only do we want to empower women’s come back but also tap into non-traditional talent pools,” said Microsoft Human Resources Manager Belen Welch in a May 31 LinkedIn post promoting the program, which is the second iteration of a program first established in 2017.

According to the job posting by Microsoft, the current crop of returnship trainees will be shipped to Vancouver, Canada as part of a two-division team focused on virtual and augmented reality and the other as part of a video game studio.

Despite the mounting complaints from current and former female Microsoft employees, the company maintains a 26 percent female workforce across its worldwide presence and 19 percent in its leadership positions within the business according to the company’s own self-published diversity figures.

The returnship program is yet another small initiative by Microsoft to address past and present discriminatory practices that are embedded within the company and have put its employees in uncomfortable working environments or flat out caused them to leave the company.

The issue of gender discrimination isn’t unique to Microsoft, but the way the company chooses to address it is. Thus far, 20 employees associated with the 84 complaints of gender discrimination have been fired, but Microsoft has a long way to go judging by the 238 internal complaints filed by employees.

Microsoft announces Windows 10 IoT Core Services at Computex, promises 10 years of updates for OEMs

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

In addition to announcing a new product category called Windows Collaboration Displays at Computex yesterday, Microsoft also unveiled a new service offering for OEMs creating commercial IoT devices running Windows 10 IoT. Called Windows 10 IoT Core Services, the paid offering will provide Microsoft’s IoT partners 10 years of support for their devices, as well as the ability to manage updates and check their health.

“This new service offering enables partners to commercialize a secure Internet of Things (IoT)-device backed by industry-leading support, explained Rushmi Malaviarachchi, Partner Group Program Manager, Windows 10 IoT. “It provides device makers the ability to manage updates for the OS, apps, settings and OEM-specific files, and is backed by 10 years of support.”

Microsoft announced back in February that the next releases of Windows 10 IoT Core and Windows 10 IoT Enterprise would offer 10 years of support, but Windows 10 IoT Core Services is aiming commercial IoT devices that “need to be supported and in service for far longer than their consumer counterparts,” the company said today. The new paid offering is currently in limited preview and it will be generally available later this year.

Full Fix: System Restore error 0x80070091 on Windows 10, 7

Posted on by Madalina Dinita

Windows 10 is a reliable OS, but this doesn’t mean that it’s never affected by any issues. Sometimes, due to severe issues, users are left with no option but to perform a system restore. In this manner, the PC is taken back to an earlier point in time, called a system restore point when the OS worked perfectly fine.

Many Windows 10 users have recently reported that the system restore process fails to complete. More specifically, the process launches, but then suddenly freezes and an error message appears on the screen.

Many first thought that this error was caused by the latest Patch Tuesday updates, but this is not the case. The first wave of reports arrived in February.

System Restore error 0x80070091

Here’s how one user describes the issue:

 I tried SysRes from two points, both with same failure.

System Restore did not complete successfully. Your computer’s system files and
settings were not changed.

Details:
System Restore failed while restoring the directory from the restore point.
Source: AppxStaging
Destination: %ProgramFiles%WindowsApps
An unspecified error occurred during System Restore. (0x80070091)
The two attempts were from: choose a different restore point>show more restore points type Backup.  I really need this function to work.  Any solutions out there?

The good news is that Microsoft has recently acknowledged this issue. The company promised it would roll out a hotfix as soon as possible.
At the same time, it has also offered a temporary workaround that advanced users can use to fix error 0x80070091.

System Restore Error 0x80070091 can prevent you from fixing certain issues on your PC. Speaking of this error, here are some similar issues that users reported:

  • Windows 10 System Restore did not complete successfully – This message usually appears if there’s an issue with System Restore. However, you should be able to fix this problem with one of our solutions.
  • 0x80070091 Windows 7 – This error can appear on older versions of Windows as well. Even if you don’t use Windows 10, you should know that almost all of our solutions can be applied to Windows 7 and 8 alike.
  • System Restore encountered error, unexpected error, unknown error – Sometimes you might encounter certain errors while trying to perform System Restore. In most cases these issues are caused by corrupted system files, so be sure to check for file corruption.
  • System Restore failed due to antivirus – In some cases, this issue can appear due to your antivirus. Antivirus can interfere with your operating system and cause this issue to appear, so be sure to disable it and check if that solves the problem.

1. Rename the WindowsApp folder from Safe Mode

  1. Boot into Safe Mode.
  2. Right click on Start and click on Command Prompt (Admin).
    0x80070091 Windows 7
  3.  Type these commands below one by one:
    • cd C:Program Files
    • takeown /f WindowsApps /r /d Y
    • icacls WindowsApps /grant “%USERDOMAIN%%USERNAME%”:(F) /t
    • attrib WindowsApps -h
    • rename WindowsApps WindowsApps.old
  4. Reboot back into Windows.
  5. Run System Restore.

2. Check your antivirus

Using an antivirus is rather important if you want to protect your PC from online threats, however, sometimes your antivirus can interfere with your system and cause this error to occur.

If you’re having error 0x80070091 on your PC, you might want to try disabling certain antivirus features. Sometimes your antivirus can block other applications from accessing certain directories, and that can lead to this issue.

If the problem is still present, you might have to completely disable your antivirus. In the worst-case scenario, you might even have to uninstall your antivirus. Once your antivirus is removed, check if the problem is resolved.

If your antivirus was the issue, it might be a good time to consider switching to different antivirus software. There are many great antivirus tools on the market, but the best is Bitdefender, so feel free to try it.

You can as well choose from a multitude of compatible antivirus programs that will not interfere with other services and cause System Restore errors.

3. Remove problematic applications

Sometimes this problem can occur due to certain applications. If you installed any new applications recently, it might be a good idea to remove them and check if that solves the problem.

There are many ways to uninstall an application, but the best way is to use uninstaller software. These applications are specially designed to remove all files and registry entries associated with the application you want to remove, so be sure to try them out.

Hence, in order to entirely delete problematic software or junk files, you can perform the task using a famous cleanup software like CCleaner.

4. Use Linux Live CD

If you’re having problems with System Restore and error 0x80070091, you might be able to fix the problem using Linux Live CD. To do that, simply download any version of Linux and create bootable media.

Once you boot from the bootable media, choose the option to Try Linux without installing. Now go to C:Program Files and rename WindowsApps directory to WindowsApps.old.

After doing that, restart your PC and boot to Windows. Take ownership of WindowsApps.old directory and try to perform System Restore again.

5. Run chkdsk scan

According to users, sometimes file corruption can cause error 0x80070091 to appear while performing System Restore. To fix the problem, you need to perform chkdsk scan. This is rather simple and you can do it by following these steps:

  1. Open Command Prompt as administrator.
  2. Now enter chkdsk /f X: command. Be sure to replace X with your system drive. In most cases that would be C. Now press Enter to run the command.
    Windows 10 System Restore did not complete successfully
  3. You’ll be asked to schedule a disk scan at the next reboot. Enter Y and press Enter to confirm.
  4. Restart your PC.

Chkdsk scan will now start. The scan can take about 15 minutes or more depending on the size of your system drive. Once the scan is finished, check if the problem still appears.

6. Keep your system up to date

According to users, this issue can appear if your system is out of date. However, you can easily solve this issue by updating your operating system. In most cases, Windows automatically installs the missing updates, but sometimes you might miss an update or two due to certain issues.

However, you can always check for missing updates manually. To do that, just follow these steps:

  1. Press Windows Key + I to open the Settings app.
  2. Now go to Update & Security section.
    System Restore encountered error
  3. Click Check for updates button.
    System Restore failed due to antivirus

Windows will now check for available updates. If any updates are available, they will be downloaded in the background. Once the updates are downloaded, you just need to restart your PC to install them. After updating your PC to the latest version, check if the issue is resolved.

7. Use third-party tools

According to users, a 0x80070091 error can appear due to problems with your WindowsApps folder. However, you might be able to solve the issue by using a third-party tool such as Unlocker. To fix the issue, you need to do the following:

  1. Download and install Unlocker.
  2. Now navigate to C:Program Files. Right-click WindowsApps folder and choose Unlocker from the menu.
  3. Select Rename from the dropdown menu and change the name of the directory to WindowsApps.old. Click OK to save changes.
  4. If you get a message asking you to rename the object at boot, choose Yes.

After doing that, you should be able to perform System Restore without any problems. As you can see, this solution is rather simple, and if you’re not too fond of the command line, you might want to try this solution out.

8. Remove problematic updates

If this issue started appearing recently, it’s rather likely that an update caused it. Windows 10 installs updates automatically, and sometimes certain updates can lead to issues such as this one. If you suspect that an update caused this issue, we recommend removing problematic updates.

Removing installed updates is rather simple, and you can do it by following these steps:

  1. Open the Settings app and navigate to Update & Security section.
  2. Now select View installed update history.
    ystem Restore unexpected error
  3. Now you should see the names of recent updates. Memorize their names or write them down. Select Uninstall updates.
    Windows 10 System Restore did not complete successfully
  4. A list of updates will now appear. Double-click the update you want to remove and follow the instructions on the screen.
    0x80070091 Windows 7

Once you remove the update, the problem should be resolved. Keep in mind that Windows 10 automatically installs the missing updates, so the update will be installed again and cause the issue to reappear.

To prevent that from happening, we advise you to block automatic Windows updates. By doing that, you’ll stop this update from installing and the issue won’t appear anymore.

And this should help you to get rid of the error 0x80070091.

Sharp & Avocor to make Windows Collaboration Displays, a Surface Hub alternative

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

Today at Computex 2018 in Taipei, Microsoft revealed the Windows Collaboration Displays, a new category of devices designed targeted at businesses.

“These large, interactive displays will let people experience Microsoft 365 collaboration tools: Office, Teams and Whiteboard at room scale, and include built-in sensors that can connect to Azure IoT spatial intelligence capabilities,” Microsoft’s Nick Parker said in an official blog post. “This incredible technology will allow facility managers to utilize environmental data to make real-time decisions.”

Sharp and Avocor are confirmed to be making Windows Collaboration Displays for release later in 2018. No details specifications on models have been revealed yet however the Windows Collaboration Displays made by Sharp (see above image) is confirmed to be 70″ in size.

Windows Collaboration Displays appear to be an alternative hardware solution to Microsoft’s recently revealed, and very impressive, Surface Hub 2 product.

Are you interested in these Windows Collaboration Displays and do you think they can compete with the Surface Hub 2? Let us know in the comments below and don’t forget to like us on Facebook for more Microsoft news.

Far Cry 5 Snowshoe Error: How to Fix it

Posted on by Aleksandar Ognjanovic

Far Cry is a popular series, however, many reported that they cannot play the game due to Far Cry 5 Snowshoe error.

This is one of many Far Cry 5 issues you can encounter, and in today’s guide, we’re going to show you the best fixes you can use to fix this issue.

But before we start, let’s see what causes this issue.

What is the error code snowshoe?

Far Cry 5 error Snowshoe-110d8569 can be caused by the following:

  • Network issues – Network connection can cause this error to appear, so check your network and ensure it’s working properly.
  • Corrupted game files – File corruption can lead to this error, so check your games for file corruption. In some cases, you might have to reinstall the game to fix this issue.
  • Antivirus settings – Ensure that antivirus software isn’t blocking your game in any way.

How can I fix the Far Cry 5 Snowshoe error?

1. Troubleshoot the connection

  1. Switch to a wired connection. Avoid using wireless while gaming at all costs as it’s unstable, and the latency spikes are quite common.
  2. Restart your modem.
  3. Flash DNS.
    • Press Windows key + R to summon the Run elevated command line.
    • In the command line, type the following and press Enter: ipconfig /flushdnsfar cry 5 error snowshoe
  4. Restart Steam or uPlay.
  5. Check the server status. Maybe others are suffering from the same network lag.
  6. Check your PING on different servers.
  7. Update router/modem firmware.
  8. Consider Port Forwarding and UPnP on the router.

2. Verify game files integrity

  1. Open the uPlay client in Online mode.
  2. Choose Games.
  3. Right-click on Far Cry 5 and choose Verify files.far cry 5 error snowshoe

And this is how the procedure looks on Steam:

  1. Open the Steam client.
  2. Select Library.
  3. Right-click on Far Cry 5 and open Properties.far cry 5 error snowshoe
  4. Click on the Local files tab.
  5. Click on the Verify integrity of game files….far cry 5 error snowshoe

The procedure is almost the same on Steam, so it shouldn’t be an issue to find it in the Settings.

3. Delete Saved games and change the save location

  1. Close the uPlay client. Shut it down completely in Task Manager.
  2. Back up the save games from the following directory: C:\Program Files (x86)\Ubisoft\Ubisoft Game Launcher
  3. Navigate to Documents and locate the CPY.ini file.
  4. Open the .ini file with Notepad. Run it as administrator if editing requires administrative permission.
  5. Find Save location and change it. You can set any other destination for the saves — even on a different partition.
  6. Save the changes and restart your PC.
  7. Run the game through uPlay and look for changes.

After changing the save game location, check if Far Cry 5 error Snowshoe-3fa3981e is gone.

4. Add antivirus exception for Far Cry 5

  1. Open Windows Defender from the notification area.
  2. Select Virus & threat protection.far cry 5 error snowshoe
  3. Open Virus & threat protection settings.far cry 5 error snowshoe
  4. Scroll down and, under Exclusions, click Add or remove exclusions.far cry 5 error snowshoe
  5. Select a folder from the drop-down menu and choose Ubisoft folder in the Program Files.far cry 5 error snowshoe

The procedure is similar for third-party antivirus solutions, as well. Also, checking the Firewall permission might help if the issue is persistent. Even though the game should be free to communicate to Public networks by default after the installation.

5. Update uPlay and run as admin

  1. Right-click on the uPlay shortcut and open Properties.
  2. In the Compatibility tab, check the Run this program as an administrator box and confirm changes.far cry 5 error snowshoe
  3. Open uPlay and click on the hamburger menu.
  4. Click Go offline.far cry 5 error snowshoe
  5. Try starting the game.

6. Reinstall Far Cry 5

  1. Type control in the Windows Search bar and open Control Panel.
  2. Click Uninstall a program.
  3. Remove Far Cry 5.
  4. Delete the remaining files from App Data and Program Files folders.
  5. Restart your PC.
  6. Use Steam or uPlay and install the game again.

That’s it. If the Snowshoe error (or any of its variations) still troubles you, sending a ticket to Ubisoft’s support team might be useful.

If you’re having further issues, we suggest reading our Far Cry 5 FPS drops guide for more useful solutions.

Feel free to share your thoughts on the subject, post questions or suggestions. You can do that in the comments section below.

PUBG won’t launch on Xbox One [FIX]

Posted on by Aleksandar Ognjanovic

PUBG is the battle royale shooter in the class of its own. We can’t say with certainty, but there has never been a game which can evoke so much love and hate at the same time.

Love for the impeccable concept, and hate for the underwhelming execution. Xbox One version came out first and it, seemingly, works better than a PC version.

However, there are some issues which are not glitches or bugs. Some users are unable to launch the game on Xbox One after the update.

We prepared a list of possible solutions but don’t hold your hopes high. If the issue applies only to PUBG, the Bluehole should be held accountable.

Nonetheless, it won’t cost you a thing to try out the steps we enlisted below.

PUBG won’t launch on Xbox One? Here’s what to do

  1. Reset the console
  2. Pause all downloads
  3. Check the connection
  4. Stop Game Sharing
  5. Reinstall the game

We’ve written extensively about PUBG bugs on Xbox before. Bookmark this page in case you need it later.

1: Reset the console

We don’t want to trick you into thinking that these are the fully pledged solutions. The problem is so widespread that chances are that’s one of the recent updates causing it.

However, there are various things you can do to confirm that the root of the issue isn’t on your side.

The first thing you should do whenever your console starts misbehaving is a power cycle or hard restart. This should address all minor system halts and clear the system cache. I

t’s a simple procedure and here’s how to perform it:

  1. Press and hold the Power button for 10 seconds or so.
  2. Wait until the console shuts down.
  3. After a minute, turn on the console again and look for changes.

2: Pause all downloads

Some users advised blocking all current downloads while playing the game. This implementation should work fine, but, seemingly, certain online-based games suffer because of it.

So, before you start PUBG next time, make sure to pause all active downloads. After that, just resume the downloads.

Updates-wise, you can’t either pause or cancel those, so make sure to install all updates before starting the game.

Here’s how to pause all active downloads on an Xbox console:

  1. Open My games & apps.
  2. Choose Queue.
  3. Highlight active downloads and press the Menu button.
  4. Choose Pause installation from the menu.

PUBG crashing in-game? Fix this annoying issue with our easy solutions!

3: Check the connection

A lot of talks about PUBG’s performance on Xbox One included connection and the vast plague of issues that emerged.

However, we still would say that a large part of PUBG players has more than sufficient bandwidth and conditions to play the game in a seamless manner.

The problem is, of course, on Bluehole’s side.

Nonetheless, here are some common steps you can take to ensure that your connection is up to the task:

  • Restart the console.
  • Restart the router/modem.
  • Use a wired connection if possible.
  • Run Xbox network connection test. Navigate to All settings > Network > Network settings > tap Test network connection.pubg won't launch xbox
  • Reset MAC address. Go to Settings > All settings > Network > Network settings > Advanced network settings > Alternate MAC address > tap Clear.
  • Check the NAT. Make sure that the OPEN NAT type is enabled
  • Enable QoS in router settings.

Xbox not connecting to Wi-Fi? Here’s what you need to do!

4: Stop Game Sharing

In case you’ve shared your Gamertag with someone and allowed them to access your games, try sticking with just your console. For some reason, this nifty option caused errors for a multitude of users.

After they’ve set their console as the Home console and restored the account, the errors were resolved.

This procedure is rather simple. The only thing you should do is sign-in on your console with your account and choose your console as Home.

In addition, don’t forget that you have yearly limitations on Game Sharing.

5: Reinstall the game

Finally, reinstallation of the game only can help, so we suggest reinstalling PUBG on your console. Even the more consistent platforms created for gaming run into problems from time to time.

Luckily, if it’s to be believed to recent reports, PUBG works much better than before on Xbox One. By reinstalling the game, you’ll get the latest, fully-patched version. So there’s that, too.

Here’s how to reinstall the game on Xbox One:

  1. Navigate to My apps & games.
  2. Choose Games.
  3. Select PUBG from the list and press the Menu button.
  4. Choose Manage Game and then Manage All.
  5. Select Uninstall All and then Uninstall.
  6. Navigate to My apps & games and open the ”Ready to install” section.
  7. Highlight PUBG and select Install.

That’s a wrap. Were you able to resolve the issue or it’s still there? Don’t forget to tell us in the comments and don’t forget to send the ticket to Bluehole. Every voice counts.

RELATED STORIES YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT:

FIX: No items match your search in Windows 10/11 File Explorer

Posted on by Matthew Adams

The File Explorer search tool should find the vast majority of files and folders searched for providing that you enter clear and specific keywords. Yet, File Explorer’s search results might still state “no items match your search” for some users even when they are entering specific keywords for files and folders that are saved on HDDs.

If Explorer isn’t finding files and folders that you’re sure are saved on HDD, you might need to fix its search tool. This is how you can fix the File Explorer search tool when it isn’t working in Windows 10.

How to Fix File Explorer’s Search Tool

  1. Open the Search and Indexing Troubleshooter
  2. Restart Cortana
  3. Check Your Indexed Locations
  4. Rebuild the Search Index
  5. Check the Windows Search Service is Enabled
  6. Select the Always Search File Names and Contents Option
  7. Select the Allow Indexing Service Option

1. Open the Search and Indexing Troubleshooter

  • Windows 10 includes a Search and Indexing troubleshooter that you can utilize to fix the File Explorer search tool. To open that troubleshooter, press the Windows key + X hotkey and select to open Settings.
  • Enter the keyword ‘troubleshoot’ in the Settings app’s search box, and select Troubleshoot to open a list of troubleshooters.
  • Select Search and Indexing and press the Run the troubleshooter button to open the window in the image below.
  • Then select the Files don’t appear in search results check box, and press the Next button.

2. Restart Cortana

  • Some users have found that restarting Cortana, which powers search in Windows 10, can fix numerous search issues. You can do that by right-clicking the Taskbar and selecting Task Manager.
  • Select the Processes tab in Task Manager.
  • Select Cortana under Background Processes.
  • Then press the End Task button to restart Cortana.

3. Check Your Indexed Locations

  • File Explorer searches for files in indexed folder locations. So it might be the case that you need to add a few folders to the indexed locations. This is how you can check indexed locations in Windows 10.
  • Press the Windows key + R, enter ‘Control Panel’ in the Open text box and click OK to open the Control Panel.
  • Click Indexing Options to open the window in the shot below.
  • Press the Modify button to open the Indexed Locations window.
  • Then click the C: drive there to expand folders.
  • Select the folders that you need to add to indexed locations.
  • Press the OK button to index the newly selected folders.

4. Rebuild the Search Index

File search errors are often due to corrupted search index. As such, rebuilding the index is one of the best resolutions for fixing the File Explorer and Cortana search tools. You can rebuild the search index as follows.

  • Open Indexing Options as outlined above.
  • Press the Advanced button to open the window shown directly below.
  • Press the Rebuild button on the Index Settings tab.
  • A Rebuild Index dialog box window will open. Click the OK button on that window to confirm.

5. Check the Windows Search Service is Enabled

The Windows Search service provides content indexing. So you might need to switch that service on, if it’s disabled, to fix the File Explorer search tool. You can check the Windows Search service status as follows.

  • Press the Windows key + X hotkey.
  • Click Run to open the Run accessory.
  • Input ‘services.msc’ in the Open text box, and press the OK button.
  • Double-click Windows Search on the Services window.
  • Select Automatic from the Startup type drop-down menu.
  • Press the Start button if Windows Search is not running.
  • Click the Apply and OK options to close the window.
  • If Windows Search is already running, restart the service by right-clicking Windows Search and selecting Restart.

6. Select the Always Search File Names and Contents Option

File Explorer’s Always search file names and contents option is not one selected by default. However, selecting that option will ensure that the File Explorer search utility will always search file names and contents when searching non-indexed locations. You can select that option in Windows 10 as follows.

  • Press the File Explorer on the Windows 10 taskbar.
  • Select the View tab.
  • Press the Options button, and select Change folder and search options on the menu.
  • Then click the Search tab shown in the shot directly below.
  • There you can select the Always search file names and contents option.
  • Press the Apply button.

7. Select the Allow Indexing Service Option

If the File Explorer search tool doesn’t find any files or folders on a USB drive, you might need to select the Allow files on this drive to have contents indexed option for the USB storage device. That option should already be selected for the C: drive. This is how you can select the Allow files on this drive to have contents indexed option.

  • First, insert your USB flash storage device into a USB slot.
  • Open File Explorer in Windows 10.
  • Click This PC on the left of File Explorer.
  • Right-click the USB drive and select Properties to open the window shown below.
  • Select the Allow files on this drive to have contents indexed.
  • Then click the Apply and OK buttons to confirm the newly selected option.

Apart from these options, we recommend using professional third-party software with built-in character recognition technology that can help you find the data you’re searching for within seconds.

This type of tool creates an initial index of your hard disk and gives an easy-to-use search interface that returns results immediately after you enter your term.

The results are organized by file type, and they contain image thumbnails for image matches as well as highlighted keywords in the document preview.

Those are a few of the resolutions that might fix File Explorer’s search tool so that it doesn’t return “no items match your search” in its search results for saved files. Remember that there are numerous third-party search tool software that you can also utilize for searches, and some of those utilities might be better than File Explorer’s search box.

Windows 8.1, 10 App Netflix Updated to Fix Streaming Issues

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

The Windows Store Netflix app for Windows 10/8.1 and Windows RT users has received yet another update that seems to be fixing some streaming problems for several users. Download and install the app to get rid of them

The Windows 8.1 Netflix app has received a new update in the Windows Store that has no change log as of now. But, according to some forum postings and reviews that I’ve observed on the Windows Store, the update has been made available to fix some streaming issues that several users have been complaining about.

Netflix is one of the best movie apps a Windows 8 user could have in their collection, so it has millions of customers from all over the world. Besides solving the streaming issue, the app now seems snappier, so we suspect a performance improvement has also been made. The app’s description goes like this:

Netflix is the world’s leading subscription service for watching TV episodes and movies. Get the free app as a part of your Netflix membership and you can instantly watch thousands of TV episodes & movies. If you are not a Netflix member sign up for Netflix and start enjoying immediately with our one-month free trial.

Currently, the app is available in the following languages and countries: English (United States), Spanish, French, Portuguese, English (Canada), Danish, Finnish, Dutch, Swedish, English (United Kingdom), Norwegian (Bokmål). Download and install the updated Windows 8.1/10 Netflix app if have a Netflix movie streaming subscription and own a Windows 8.1/10 or Windows RT device.

Download Netflix app for Windows 10/8.1, Windows RT, Windows Mobile, Windows Phone 8/8.1

[UPDATE] Netflix is now available in more than 30 languages, so you can enjoy the programs in so many different countries. Still, if you wish to stream the programs from the US and you live don’t live there, find a reliable VPN to by-pass geo-restriction: Free* VPNs that work with Netflix [2018 Guide].

Many users waited patiently for PiP mode to reach the Netflix app. The good news came recently: Netflix for Windows 10 app finally received Picture in Picture mode. The Netflix app is also 4K compatible, and it has the highest bitrate in both audio and video.

If you encounter some other issues regarding surround audio or stream, you can find the quick solutions in the following articles:

Xbox sign in error 0x404? Here’s how you can fix it

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

If you are having an issue known as “Xbox sign in error 0x404” on your Windows 10 PC, then we are here to help. In this article we will discuss three possible solutions that you can use by yourself to resolve this problem. 

Fix Xbox sign in error 0x404

  1. Check to see if your Microsoft Store applications are automatically updating
  2. Manually update your Microsoft Store apps
  3. Check for updates for your Windows 10 PC
  4. Disable or uninstall anti-virus programs
  5. Sign in to a different user

Typically, this problem shows up when you try to sign in to the Xbox app, but you’re denied entry. After you are unable to sign in, the error code ox404 shows up. If this is the problem that you are facing, then you should be glad to know that there are several troubleshooting solutions for it. If one solution does not work, then you may want to try another. Also, it is important to note that these fixes are designed for PCs that run the Windows 10 OS.

Solution 1: Check to see if your Microsoft Store applications are automatically updating

Typically, applications from the Windows store will automatically update. That is the default setting. However, for some reason if it is not on its default setting, then you can always change it back.

Here’s how you do that:

  1. Open Microsoft Store. Usually found on the task bar or start menu.
  2. Find the more setting on the top right hand corner of the menu. It is located near the search bar and has the icon of three horizontal dots.
  3. Next click and enter the Settings option.
  4. You should see an option called App updates. Set the Update Apps Automatically settings to on. 

Solution 2: Manually update your Microsoft Store apps

Alternatively, you can manually update your Xbox application to try to fix the problem.

Here’s how:

  1. Open Microsoft Store
  2. Click on the more icon again.
  3. This time select the Downloads & updates option
  4. On this page you should see a button on the right side called “Get updates“. Click on it, then you will be good to go. (4)

Solution 3: Check for updates for your Windows 10 PC

If the two solutions above does not fix the Xbox sign in error 0x404, then you will want to see if there are any updates for your device’s OS.

  1. Open Windows Menu. You can do this by pressing on the Windows button on your keyboard or by clicking on the Windows icon with your mouse.
  2. Click on the settings icon which looks like a gear.
  3. In the settings windows select the Update and Security option.
  4. There will be a Windows Update tab on the right click on it, then click on Check for updates.check for updates
  5. If there are new updates, download then install them. Note that some updates may require that you restart your computer.

Solution 4: Disable or uninstall anti-virus programs

Even though the Xbox app is an official Windows applications, sometimes a third party antivirus program doesn’t recognize it to be safe in some way. Therefore, they may block you from using the app. Therefore, depending on the anti-malware program, you may need to disable or uninstall it for your Xbox app to work.

To uninstall a program you will need:

  1. Go to the start menu.
  2. Open up settings.
  3. Go to the Apps option, then click on the Apps and features tab.
  4. Locate your antivirus program, then uninstall it.

Solution 5: Sign in to a different user

Obviously this solution will only work if you have multiple users accounts on your PC. If so, then here’s how you switch accounts:

  1. Open the Start Menu.
  2. Locate your other user account on the left side of the menu.
  3. Click on it, then try out the Xbox App.

Conclusion

Since there are several factors that could cause the Xbox sign in error 0x404, there are several different solutions. That’s why it’s recommended to try each one until you find one that works. Fortunately, the fixes for this error are relatively easy and even someone who isn’t tech-savvy should be able to use them.

Read More:

FIX: Logitech Gaming Software Doesn’t Work in Windows 10/11

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

More woes continue for fresh Windows users – now, it seems that some Logitech users are reporting issues with the Logitech Gaming Software in Windows

We took a break from reporting Windows 8.1 issues and problems, but we’re back at it again. According to recent forum post on Logitech’s support forums, at least one user is reporting problems in Windows 8.1 with the Logitech Gaming Software. Here’s what he said:

I recently upgraded from Windows 7 Ultimate x64 SP1 to Windows 8.1 Pro x64. This was a clean install. Everything i installed thus far is working without any problems (this includes all my other devices). I own a lot of Logitech products but for this PC (my main PC) i use a Logitech G710+ keyboard and Logitech G400 mouse. Both of them make use of the Logitech Gaming software as a driver and profile manager etc. No matter what i have tried, the Logitech Gaming software will not install correctly, and after some trying… even if it does eventually install the application will crash repeatedly and randomly all over the place. Usually the setup just crashes and freezes the entire PC during step 4 of 5 upon installation. The freeze is so severe that the only resort you have is a hard reboot of the PC.

After the posting was made on the forums, more users have confirmed getting the same issue in Windows 8.1. Some users suggest uninstalling Logitech Gaming Software, and deleting the settings.json file, then reinstall LGS. The settings.json file should normally be located here: C:Users<username>AppDataLocalLogitechLogitech Gaming Software.

For most users experience this issue, even when making a clean install, it seems to stuck at ‘Step 4 of 5’. Also, running the Logitech Gaming Software installer under the Windows 8.1 compatibility mode seems to have solved the issue only for a few users. If you’re having the same issue, let us know in the comments box and we’ll try to search for a fix together.

Quick Fixes: Logitech Gaming Software doesn’t work in Windows 10 [2018 update]

1. Try to disable (not uninstalling) Windows Defender and any antivirus or anti-malware on your system and run Logitech Gaming Software.  Some of LGS processes may be seen as harmful even if they aren’t.

2. In case this does not work for you, there is another quick fix to try: Try to launch LGS installer directly from LGS folder. You can find this folder in /user/user/AppData/ or simply search for it with Windows search feature.

3. The last solution, but ONLY for advanced users, is:
– Fix the exact time before launching LGS installer and launch it
– In case LGS restarts your system, open Event Viewer
– Search right before and after the time LGS restarted your system to see what causes the conflict

You can also try to uninstall and delete all data about LGS (we recommend a dedicated tool for that) and enter Safe mode, download it on Desktop and installing it again, that may work as well, but it really depends on your Windows version and system compatibility.

Let us know in the comments if some of these solutions worked for you.

Update – a big thank you to all of our readers who left comments with possible solutions, so just head below and have a look, just in case you might find a working fix for you.

New Nvidia 331.82 GeForce WHQL Drivers for Windows 8.1 Released

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

Nvidia has rolled out an updated set of WHQL Game Ready drivers for Windows 8.1 that are meant to increase the gaming performance of such games as Assassins Creed IV: Black Flag, Need for Speed: Rivals, Metro: Last Light, Crysis 3, and Battlefield 4

Those of you who have an Nvidia video card with your Windows 8.1 devices need to download the latest GeForce 331.82 WHQL Game Ready drivers that Nvidia has made available a few days ago for Windows 8.1. The drivers come bundled with GeForce Experience 1.7.1, adding support for Nvidia’s GameStream and GeForce ShadowPlay features.

The GameStream feature lets you stream PC games from the GeForce GTX-enabled PC directly to a SHIELD devicel ShadowPlay is a game recording tool. The new Nvidia GeForce 331.82 WHQL GameReady drivers offer a 50% performance boost on GeForce 400/500/600/700 series GPUs in several PC games, such as Metro: Last Light, Crysis 3, and Battlefield 4 when compared to the previous 327.23 WHQL drivers. You could also try increasing the FPS in Windows 8 for a better gaming experience.

This 331.82 Game Ready WHQL driver ensures you’ll have the best possible gaming experience in Assassins Creed IV: Black Flag and Need for Speed: Rivals. These Game Ready drivers will also provide performance enhancements in a wide variety of different games. When running at 4K resolutions, SLI performance increases by as much as 50% in key titles like Metro: Last Light, Crysis 3, and Battlefield 4.

In addition, the new 331.65 Game Ready driver is bundled with GeForce Experience v1.7.1 which includes support for two highly-anticipated new technologies. NVIDIA GameStream™ provides end users with the ability to stream PC games from their GeForce GTX-equipped PC directly to a SHIELD device. This update also introduces the Beta version of GeForce ShadowPlay™, an innovated new game capture tool with exceptional features and performance.

Read Also: Battlefield 4 Crashes in Windows 8.1 for Some Players

The nwe Nvidia GeForce R331 Drivers also come with the SLI Technology that add or update profiles in the following games Assassins Creed IV: Black Flag, Path of Exile, Natural Selection. Furthermore, it will update the following software parts, as well – new PhysX System Software 9.13.0725, new HD Audio v1.3.26.4 and the new GeForce Experience 1.7.1. Follow the links from below to download the latest Nvidia drivers for Windows 8.1

Download Nvidia GeForce 331.82 Driver 64bit
Download Nvidia GeForce 331.82 Driver 32bit

Nvidia GeForce driver updates for Windows 10 gamers

After this important update, Nvidia released many more drivers in order to support different game releases. After Windows 8.1, Windows 10 came with the best gaming setup ever known, so there were several compatibility updates coming out from Nvidia. Here are the biggest GeForce drivers updates for most played games in Windows 10:

Here are also some important updates that fixed lags, crashes, and other issues for gamers with different Nvidia GeForce models:

Download Windows 8.1 SDK [Direct Link]

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

If you’re interested in creating apps for Windows 8.1, then you are looking to download the Windows software development kit (SDK) for Windows 8.1. Read below to find the download links and hints to the ISO files, as well.
Creating apps for Windows 8.1 is impossible if you don’t have the Software Development Kit for that, so use the link at the end of the article, if you are the TL;DR type, to download the Windows 8.1 SDK. Made available at the middle of previous month, it contains headers, libraries, and tools to make apps for Windows 8.1, but also Windows RT and previous Windows versions, of course.

It also comes with the Windows App Certification Kit 3.1 that developers need to test their apps for the Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 8.1 certification programs. Unfortunately, you will have to make the ISO files yourself, if you want to, but with the SDK being so lightweight, it doesn’t make that much sense to do it.

Here’s an important change regarding the Windows 8.1 SDK that Microsoft has shared:

The Windows SDK no longer ships with a complete command-line build environment. You must install a compiler and build environment separately. If you require a complete development environment that includes compilers and a build environment, you can download Visual Studio 2013, which includes the appropriate components of the Windows SDK.

The updated Windows SDK can be used to build apps for the following Windows operating systems: Windows 8.1, Windows 8, Windows Server 2012, Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008. Also, you are advised to install the latest updates and patches from Microsoft Update before installing the Windows 8.1 SDK.

Windows 8.1 SDK: what’s new?

Well, now it’s time to list some of the mail tech-features that are really important for those who need Windows 8.1 SDK:

  • Exclusion of command line interface
  • Headers, Libraries, Metadatafiles and other tool provided for new Store apps builders
  • .NET Framework 4.5 needed (previous versions not working)
  • Supporting DirectX games and applications
  • Windows Dev Center updated with samples and desktop applications

Windows 8.1 SDK requirements

Here’s what you need as OS in order to develop applications:

  • Windows 8
  • Windows Server 2012
  • Windows 7
  • Windows Server 2008 R2
  • Windows Vista
  • Windows Server 2008
  • x86, x64 ARm architecture

You can also read our previous article where we detailed how to manage your Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 apps. Also, if you’re interested in establishing a Bluetooth connectivity between an Arduino device with a Windows 8.1 app, we’ve covered that, as well.

Download Windows SDK for Windows 8.1