Page 1231 • Windows Report

Fix: Blacklight Retribution won’t launch

Posted on February 1, 2018October 4, 2023 by Matthew Adams

Blacklight Retribution is a cyber first-person shooter for Windows and PlayStation 4 that doesn’t always start. Some Blacklight Retribution players have stated on forums that the game isn’t launching in Steam. If you’re among those who can’t launch BLR, these are a few resolutions that might fix the game.

How to fix Blacklight Retribution launch issues and errors

1. Check the Game’s System Specifications

If you’ve never ran Blacklight Retribution in Windows before, and it isn’t launching, double-check that your desktop or laptop meets or eclipses the game’s system requirements. BLR is not a new game, so it doesn’t have especially high system requirements. A dual-core CPU, two GB RAM and 256 MB GPU are a few of the game’s specifications. Below is a snapshot of BLR’s full system specifications listed on Steam.

If your desktop or laptop doesn’t meet one of those specs, that might be why the game isn’t running. Even though Windows 10 and 8 aren’t listed as supported platforms on BLR’s Steam specifications, Blacklight Retribution does run in Windows 10. However, you could try running it in backward compatibility mode in Windows 8 and 10. To do that, right-click the BLR.exe, select Properties, click the Compatibility tab and select the Run this program in compatibility mode option.

2. Don’t Launch the Game Through Steam

Blacklight Retribution not launching can be due to the Steam launcher not launching it. Some BLR players have fixed the issue by starting the game from outside Steam. So enter the keyword ‘Blacklight Retribution.exe’ in your Windows search box, and then select to run BLR from there. Alternatively, open the Blacklight Retribution folder in File Explorer; and click the BLR.exe to open the game from its folder.

ALSO READ: How to fix Game DVR issues on Windows 10

3. Adjust the AllowD3D11 Setting in the PCConsole-FoxEngine File

Some BLR players have fixed the game not starting by adjusting the AllowD3D11 setting in the PCConsole-FoxEngine file. This is an especially effective fix for Windows laptops or desktops that don’t support DirectX 11. This is how you can adjust the AllowD3D11 setting.

First, open this path in File Explorer: C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\SteamApps\common\blacklightretribution\Blacklight Retribution\Live\FoxGame\Config\PCConsole\Cooked.
Then you can open the PCConsole-FoxEngine file in Notepad.
Alternatively, entering ‘PCConsole-FoxEngine’ in the Windows search box might be a quicker way to open the file.
Press the Ctrl + F hotkey to open the Find window.
Enter ‘D3A’ in the Find search box.
Then erase the true from the AllowD3D11 setting and enter ‘false.’ The setting should then be: AllowD3D11=False.
Click File and select Save from the menu.

4. Reinstall Blacklight Retribution in Steam

As previously mentioned, running this game without initializing the Steam launcher is a potential resolution for BLR not starting. Some players have also fixed the game by reinstalling in it Steam and then starting BLR with a Windows shortcut. That will update the game with the latest patches without the launcher.

To reinstall BLR in Steam, right-click Blacklight Retribution listed in Steam and select Delete Local Content.
You can then reinstall BLR by entering ‘Blacklight Retribution’ in the Steam’s search box.
Select to open Blacklight Retribution’s Steam page, and then click the Play Game button to reinstall.
Thereafter, right-click the Blacklight Retribution exe in File Explorer and select the Create shortcut option.
Press the Yes button to add a new BLR shortcut to the Windows desktop.

Then click BLR’s desktop shortcut to launch the game.

5. Verify the Game’s Cache

To check that the game is correctly installed, verify the game’s cache. You can do that by opening Steam and clicking Library.
Right-click Blacklight Retribution and select Properties from its context menu.
Select the Local Files tab shown in the snapshot directly below.

Then press the Verify Integrity Of Game Files button.

6. Close Background Software

It might be the case that background software is conflicting with BLR’s launcher. For instance, some Blacklight Retribution players have got the game starting by closing the TeamViewer remote desktop software. As conflicting software can vary widely from platform to platform, your best bet is close as many non-essential programs as you can via Task Manager. This is how you can close programs and background services with Task Manager.

You can open Task Manager by right-clicking the taskbar and selecting Task Manager.
Select the Process tab shown in the snapshot directly below.

First, close all the software listed under Apps by selecting them and pressing the End task button.
You can also close some background processes for third-party software listed under Background processes much the same. For example, terminate anti-virus software processes listed there.
In addition, you can remove third-party software from the Windows startup. Select third-party programs on the startup tab, and press their Disable buttons to remove them from the Windows startup.

Those are a few fixes that could kick-start Blacklight Retribution. If not, check out this article that provides further details for fixing Steam games that aren’t launching.

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Random system crashes? Fix: Windows 8.1 KB4041693, KB4041687

Posted on February 1, 2018October 4, 2023 by Madalina Dinita

Microsoft’s focus point on this month’s Patch Tuesday edition are system crashes. The majority of the updates that the company recently rolled out, including Windows 8.1 KB4041693 and KB4041687, aim at fixing random system crashes.

Monthly rollup KB4041693 also brings a series of Internet Explorer fixes that patch various graphics issues, as well as the bug where Internet Explorer stops responding to a navigation request, and more.

On the other hand, security update KB4041687 adds only a series of security enhancement to the following Windows component: Windows Search Component, Windows kernel-mode drivers, Microsoft Graphics Component, Internet Explorer, Windows kernel, Windows Wireless Networking, Windows Storage and Filesystems, Microsoft Windows DNS, Windows Server, Microsoft JET Database Engine, and the Windows SMB Server.

Without further ado, here are the exact changes and improvements that Patch Tuesday brought to Windows 8.1.

KB4041693 changelog:

Addressed issue with docking and undocking Internet Explorer windows.
Addressed issue with form submissions in Internet Explorer.
Addressed issue where Internet Explorer stops responding to a navigation request.
Addressed issue that occurs in the WebView Control of Internet Explorer in certain scenarios.
Addressed issue with URL encoding in Internet Explorer.
Addressed issue that prevents an element from receiving focus in Internet Explorer.
Addressed issue caused by a pop-up window in Internet Explorer.
Addressed issue with the rendering of a graphics element in Internet Explorer.
Addressed issue in Internet Explorer caused by a redirection link.
Addressed issue where messages that should be in a non-English language display in English in Internet Explorer.
Addressed issue where USBHUB.SYS randomly causes memory corruption that results in random system crashes that are extremely difficult to diagnose.
Security updates to Microsoft Windows Search Component, Windows kernel-mode drivers, Microsoft Graphics Component, Internet Explorer, Windows kernel, Windows Wireless Networking, Windows Storage and Filesystems, Microsoft Windows DNS, Windows Server, Microsoft JET Database Engine, and the Windows SMB Server.

If you’re planning to install KB4041693, keep in mind that you may receive an error message informing your that an application exception has occurred when closing certain apps that use mshtml.dll to load web content. Microsoft is aware of this issue and its engineers are working to find a solution for this problem.

You can download KB4041693 and KB4041687 automatically through Windows Update or get the standalone package from the Microsoft Update Catalog website.

Installing Windows 10/11 on unsupported Macs? Here’s how

Posted on February 1, 2018October 4, 2023 by Matthew Adams

Do you happen to have a Windows 10 laptop and a Mac OS X (or macOS) desktop? If you prefer Windows 10 to Mac OS X, you can install Win 10 on Intel-based Mac systems thanks to the Boot Camp Assistant multi-boot utility. That’s a utility which enables users to install Windows platforms on Mac desktops or laptops, and Apple has updated it to support 64-bit Windows 10. This is how you can install USB flash versions of Windows 10 on Macs.

First, note some of the things you’ll need to install Windows 10 on a Mac system. You’ll need to have a more update Intel MacBook Pro, iMac, MacBook or MacBook Air that doesn’t predate 2012. A blank USB 2 flash drive with at least 16 GB of storage will also be needed. That will include the 64-bit Windows 10 ISO, and you’ll also need a valid Windows 10 product key, which this Windows Report article tells you how to find.

In addition, make sure your startup Mac drive has at least 55 GB of storage space. If that’s the case, you can now add Windows 10 to a Mac as follows.

First, download the 64-bit Windows 10 ISO to your Apple Mac desktop or laptop from this page, which will probably take a few hours.
Secondly, you should update your macOS, Boot Camp Assistant and Mac firmware if required. To do so, open the Mac’s App Store app and select Update to check for updates.
Now open the Boot Camp Assistant utility in your Mac’s Applications > Utilities folder.

Next, you should select the Create a Windows 10 install disk option. Also select the Install Windows 10 check box.
Insert the USB flash drive in one of your Mac‘s USB slots.
Now you can select the Windows 10 ISO file in Boot Camp Assistant by pressing the Choose button. Boot Camp will then turn your USB drive into a Windows 10 boot disk with all the required Boot Camp drivers copied to it.
Then you’ll need to create the hard drive partition for Windows 10 with the Boot Camp Assistant’s slider. Set aside at least 30 GB for the hard drive partition so you can also add extra software to it.

Press the Install button after you’ve selected the required partition space. Do not remove the USB drive from Mac.
Once you’ve finished the assistant, the Mac will restart to the Windows installer.
First, select the required language, time and currency formats for Windows.
Then you’ll need to enter your Windows 10 product key. If you skip entering it, you can only use Windows 10 on the Mac for a 30-day trial period.
Next, you should select to install Windows 10 to the BOOTCAMP partition and click Format. Then you can press OK and Next to confirm.
The Windows setup process will continue for up to about 30 minutes. Thereafter, the Mac will boot up in Windows 10 and you can set up a user account.
Finally, you’ll also need to install Boot Camp’s drivers on the USB drive. So you should open the USB flash drive in File Explorer and then double-click the setup.exe in BootCamp folder to install the drivers.
You can switch between Windows 10 and your Mac platform by pressing the Option key on the Apple Mac startup. Alternatively, you can also click the Boot Camp system tray icon and then select Restart in OS X.
Note that you might also need to configure Windows 10 as your default Mac platform with the Boot Camp Control Panel.

So now Windows 10 is on your Mac! That’s how you can add Windows 10 to Macs with a USB drive, and you can also use a DVD installation disc (which might be essential for less update Macs).

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Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare – How to switch from Chinese to English

Posted on February 1, 2018October 4, 2023 by Radu Tyrsina

Call of Duty is a video game franchise that gained popularity in the early days of the shooter genre. It has been the subject of hard criticism in the past few years, due to the repetitive and unoriginal nature of their latest installments.

Despite receiving enough negative publicity already, the brand behind the game managed to strike again. The Chinese version of Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare has been shipped out to non-Chinese speaking countries, leaving customers unhappy and confused.

Hi. I just installed my IW Digital Deluxe Edition, which I had pre ordered earlier this year. The problem is that the game is in Chinese and there is no option for English in the language options inside the game. How do I change the language to English? I would really appreciate it if someone can help.

Gamers from other countries such as Singapore, but also Chinese residents that are not originally from China received the wrong game copy, and now can’t play it. While some are outraged and say they will ask for a refund, others are willing to accept a swap for the game version they wanted in the first place.

Fortunately, user CSA100 on the official Call of Duty forums has offered a solution that seem to work. According to him, users need to uninstall all their Call of Duty files and switch their location and time to UK from the language and region settings. When re-installing the game, the correct language version will be reinstalled as well.

Ok I have a fix, don’t refund. First uninstall all the COD IW files you got from the bundle. Then go to settings> system> language and location. Change location to UK and language to English(UK). Then reinstall all your files and it should be in English. It worked for me. Like if it works. Cheers!

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Fix: OHUb.exe Application Error in Windows 10

Posted on February 1, 2018October 4, 2023 by Ivan Jenic

Just like with any other operating system sometimes there are errors and certain issues. Speaking of which, some Windows 10 users have reported Application Error for OHUb.exe so let’s see if we can solve this issue today.

Users report Application Error for OHUb.exe every time when they run Windows 10, and this can be quite irritating after a while. As far as we know, this issue is related to Microsoft Office, or one of its components so let’s see if we can fix it.

How to Fix the Application Error for OHUb.exe in Windows 10

Solution 1 – Reinstall Office

Users who got Application Error for OHUb.exe error report that uninstalling their version of Office fixed the issue, so if you’re having this problem, you might want to try that. Sadly, this doesn’t work for all users, but it’s worth trying. If reinstalling Office doesn’t work for you make sure that you try our next solution.

Solution 2 – Uninstall Get Office app

If uninstalling Office doesn’t help, then the problem isn’t a bad installation of Office as most users would assume – it’s something else. Users have found that the main cause for Application Error for OHUb.exe is a Get Office app that comes with Windows 10. This application is located in Start Menu and to fix this issue you just need to uninstall it. To do so, follow these simple instructions:

Open Start Menu and locate Get Office app.
Right click the app and choose Uninstall from the menu.
After that restart your computer and Application Error for OHUb.exe should be resolved.

Alternatively, you can uninstall Office and all related files with the help of a third-party uninstaller tool such as IObit. This tool will automatically detect any registry entries and leftover files and completely remove them from your system.

⇒ Get IObit Uninstaller

Application Error for OHUb.exe can be irritating, but as you can see, it’s not too hard to fix. If you’re having this error, it won’t be necessary to uninstall your Office software, instead, you could just try uninstalling the Get Office app. Anyhow, we hope that these solutions were helpful to you.

Encyclopedia Britannica App: Tradition in Providing Knowledge

Posted on February 1, 2018October 4, 2023 by Radu Tyrsina

Encyclopedia Britannica App should be on all Windows 8, Windows 10 devices

Some might wonder: why the heck do I need the Encyclopedia Britannica app for Windows 8, Windows 10 when I have Wikipedia at my disposal? In times when for many, Google equals the information search, it would seem that there isn’t room for other options. But I can assure you that even if Google is the absolute king when it comes to information finding, others still have kept their niche. I have recently bought the physical books from the Encyclopedia Britannica and I am quite pleased with it.

We’ve reviewed other educational apps here, on Windows Report, and one of them has been Khan Academy for Windows 10, Windows 8. But here are some other related articles you might be interested in:

Encyclopedia Britannica (the free edition, that is) is a mix of Wikipedia and tradition in providing knowledge, just like we’ve mentioned in the title. So, let’s see what interesting and appealing we can find inside the application.

Encyclopedia Britannica for Windows 10, Windows 8

If you’ve opened up at least one Encyclopedia Britannica book in your life, then you know that the information found inside is organized in alphabetical order, just like inside a dictionary. Naturally, that has been kept and we can find it in the Windows 10, Windows 8 and Windows 8 RT application that we’re reviewing. The information that you’ll find inside the application is basically the same, like you find one the official website, on www.britannica.com

The sad part, of course, for those that can’t afford it, is the price that you’ll have to pay in order to get the full version. But the good part is that you’ll pay only $14.99 for an annual subscription. Comparing to the same amount of information in the “print version”, it’s actually pretty cheap, but then again, you’ll have to pay that amount every year. You should perceive Encyclopedia Britannica as a more “exclusive” Google.

So, in order to get the full functionality from Encyclopedia Britannica, you’ll have to pay that annual subscription. If you’re a student, pupil or just a hungry person for knowledge, then it will perform awesome for you. While you have opened an article, you can do the following while you’re on it:

Pin it to the screen for a later read.
Access the images and table of contents.
Link map: an interesting tool that allows you to link your article to others, if there’s any connection between them.
Change font size.
Add to favorites.
Save article

Get the paid app for full functionality

There are over 80, 000 articles inside the Encyclopedia Britannica application for Windows 10, Windows 8 right there, waiting for you to discover them. The free version will allow you to see the entire content of the articles featured in the “Top Article” section + the daily feature articles. From different articles, you’ll be able to see only 100-words articles.

If you save your article, then it will appear on your Saved “shelf”. If you choose to make it “favorite”, then it will appear under your “Favorites” section for later use. Also, there’s a recent section that will display all the articles that you’ve recently opened up. Also, on the start screen, you’ll see a promoted article related to the meaning of the current day. Also, there’s a “Did You Know?” section that highlights a curious fact. Here’s a video “walkthrough” of the app, as well. We hope you found our review useful.

Download Encyclopedia Britannica for Windows 10, Windows 8/RT

One of the best Windows app for 2D Cad and technical drawing

Posted on February 1, 2018October 4, 2023 by Radu Tyrsina

If you are looking for a reliable 2D CAD and technical drawing app for Windows 8 or Windows 10, then you need to look no further than Back to the Drawing Board, a great utility and a must-have if you’re in this field.

The Back to the Drawing Board is a really well-made 2D CAD and technical drawing app and without any doubt, one of the best on the Windows Store. You can go ahead and download it now on Windows 8, but I guess it will work on Windows 10, as well, once that gets released. You can use it to create 2D plans, elevations, details, schematics, diagrams, and charts on your Windows 8 device.

Perhaps the best Windows app for 2D Cad and technical drawing

Back to the Drawing Board takes full advantage of the unique features of Windows 8 to provide a great drawing experience on desktops, laptops and tablets. It is an affordable CAD solution for businesses, consumers, students or anyone who needs to produce quick, accurate technical drawings.

What’s really cool is that the app comes with a free 15-day trial and when you will be convinced that it’s worth the money, you can buy it for $18.99. Here are the main features of the app:

Import DXF drawings, export to DXF, SVG, PNG and JPEG
Rich drawing primitives include lines, circles, arcs, ellipses, rectangles, irregular polygons and b-splines.
Automatic baseline and incremental dimensioning.
High-quality text rendering using OpenType font technology
Assign attributes including layers, colors, line weights, line types, fills and fonts.
Create groups and symbols, include in symbol libraries, insert in linear or radial arrays.
Use grids and rulers to simplify dimensional drawing.
Work in English or metric units, “engineer’s” or “architect’s” scale.
Enter points using your mouse, stylus or touch.
Enter exact values using absolute, delta or polar coordinates.
Snap to grids, objects, normals and tangents.
Measure precise distances, angles, and area.
Easily move, copy, delete, transform and group objects.
Powerful line and arc editing features.
View your drawing full-screen for an immersive experience, or pin the control panel for instant access to important functions.

Protecting your personal data: Windows Privacy Tweaker is all you need

Posted on February 1, 2018October 4, 2023 by Radu Tyrsina

While the Internet has provided the ability to reach various parts of the world, it has also opened the doors to our private lives. Most of the time, the Internet collects and stores our personal data even without our consent. Thanks to Windows Privacy Tweaker, you can adjust your Windows privacy settings by modifying the auto-running components and disabling certain Registry entries.

Available for users of Windows Vista and later, the privacy tool works to enable or disable various functions of Microsoft’s operating system. Windows Privacy Tweaker has an intuitive and efficient user interface. Also, the tool does not require installation at all. Keep in mind, though, that you must first create a system restore point to back up your important files before performing the system modifications. Otherwise, the system changes might disable or remove some programs in your PC.

The tool lets you adjust settings by simply clicking the enable or disable buttons. To achieve the level of privacy and security you desire, simply uncheck all the unsafe red fields to the safe green fields. Although the applications is compatible with Windows versions no older than Vista, it is optimized for Windows 10.

Windows Privacy Tweaker displays three tabs upon launch that store the necessary information targeting the Windows services, scheduled OS tasks, and registry items. You can apply batch modifications to all entries in the tabs by clicking the “Uncheck all” or “Check all” buttons.

Each tab includes the default Windows components that may intrude your privacy. The entries include Xbox data synchronization services, customer experience improvement program dependencies, Cortana-related settings, data collection, sensor service options, and other telemetry or biometric registry entries.

Windows Privacy Tweaker also controls how applications access location, camera, tools, or devices. It can also disable Microsoft ads and block Bing searches.

However, the application is limited to the modification of privacy options. That means you cannot use it to root out registry exploits from third party applications or fix malware issues. If you find the tool useful, you can download it from Phrozen Software.

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Windows Updates message gets your computer stuck? Here’s the fix

Posted on February 1, 2018October 4, 2023 by Milan Stanojevic

aWindows Updates may come to you via either of the following messages on your computer:

Do not turn off computer we have updates for you.
These updates help protect you on the online world.
We want everything to be ready for you
Welcome to Windows Creator 10 Update

Most users do not like annoying popups that show while they’re working on something with much focus, so when one of these show up, you may be curious as to whether it is truly a genuine popup from Windows, especially if you don’t know what it’s about.

One of these popup messages is one that says these updates help protect you in an online world.

Downloading Windows updates depends on your connection speed, the network settings, as well as the size of the update. Usually, updates start looping if they encounter some corruption while doing their processes.

When you find that your computer is stuck or just loops at this update message, there are a few things you can do to troubleshoot and see if it goes away.

Fix: These updates help protect you in an online world is stuck

Perform Automatic Repair
Perform a System Restore

1. Perform Automatic Repair

In order to do this, you need to download Windows 10 ISO then create a Media Creation tool, which you can do from another computer.

Once you have the installation media, follow the steps below:

Insert the Windows Installation disk or USB drive then restart your computer. You will see a message requesting you to Press any key to boot from DVD.
Press any key to boot from DVD
Once you see the Install Windows page displayed, click Repair your computer to start Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE)
In WinRE, go to Choose an option screen

these updates help protect you in an online world is stuck

Click Troubleshoot

Click Advanced Options

The Advanced Options box will display

Click Automatic Repair

Note: If you don’t see the Press any key to boot from DVD message, you need to change the boot order in your BIOS settings to start from disk or USB.

Be careful when changing BIOS settings as the BIOS interface is designed for advanced computer users because you may change a setting that may prevent your computer from booting properly.

You should only update BIOS when necessary like when solving a compatibility problem. It can be complicated, and render your computer inoperable in case of any errors.

Follow the steps below exactly as they are to change boot order then perform a repair:

In the restart process, check for any instructions on how to interrupt normal startup
Enter the BIOS Setup Utility. Most computers use F2, F10, ESC or DELETE key to begin this setup
Find a tab in BIOS set up utility labeled Boot Order, Boot Options, or Boot
Use the arrow keys to go to Boot Order
Press Enter
Locate the removable device (CD, DVD, or USB flash drive) in the Boot list
Use arrow keys to move the drive upwards to appear as the first in Boot list
Press Enter
Your boot order sequence has now been changed to boot from DVD, CD, or USB flash drive
Press F10 to save changes and exit BIOS Setup Utility
Click Yes in the confirmation windows
Your computer will restart normally
Let the scan proceed for a few minutes to remove any malware infecting your computer
Select your preferred language, currency, time, keyboard or other input method
Click Next
Click Repair your computer
Choose the operating system you want to repair (in this case Windows 10)
Click Next
On Choose an option screen

Select Troubleshoot

Select Advanced Options

Click System Restore

Did an automatic repair fix the error: these updates help protect you in an online world is stuck? If not, try a system restore as described in the next solution.

ALSO READ: Fix: “We couldn’t connect to the update service” Windows 10 error

2. Perform a System Restore

Here’s how to do this:

Perform a hard reset – turning on and off the PC – by pressing and holding the power button for 10 seconds.
While booting, turn off the computer once you see the Windows logo. Do this at least three times
After the third run, the Recovery Screen will display
Select Advanced Options

Select System Restore. Choose the restore point where the issue did NOT exist.

Note: This will remove recently installed apps, drivers, and updates that may cause problems to your PC, but it will not affect your personal files.

In the System Restore dialog box, click Choose a different restore point

Click Next
Click a restore point created before you experienced the problem

Click Next
Click Finish

Restoring doesn’t affect your personal files. It however removes apps, drivers and updates installed after the restore point was created.

To go back to a restore point, do the following:

Right click Start
Select Control Panel

In the control panel search box, type Recovery

Select Recovery

Click Open System Restore

Click Next

Choose the restore point related to the problematic program/app, driver or update

Click Next
Click Finish

Let us know whether any of these solutions helped fix the error: these updates help protect you in an online world is stuck, by leaving a comment in the section below.

How to download the Fall Creators Update’s official ISO files without issues

Posted on February 1, 2018October 4, 2023 by Madalina Dinita

Microsoft already started rolling out the Windows 10 Fall Creators Update to the general public. However, the update is rolling out in waves, which means that not all users will be able to install it today.

However, if you’re eager to get your hands on the update as soon as possible, you can simply download the Fall Creators Update official ISO files right now.

But first, make sure that your device is compatible with this OS version and meets the necessary system requirements.

Prepare your PC to install the Fall Creators Update

In order to avoid install issues and various other bugs, certain preparations need to be made. Here are the top things to do before upgrading to Windows 10 version 1709:

Backup and clean your computer — delete any unnecessary files because they may slow down the update process. Uninstall all the apps and programs that you haven’t used for ages.
Clear your browser’s cookies and cache.
Make sure that you have a stable internet connection.
Check the free space available on your computer’s hard drive.
Use a USB or external drive for the download and a blank USB or DVD (and DVD burner) with at least 8GB of space.
Run a full system scan — in this manner you can detect and remove any malicious codes that may have infected your computer.
Create recovery media — in case anything goes wrong and your computer become unresponsive after the upgrade, your can always use a fully functional restore point to fix the problem. For more information on how to create a restore point, check out this guide.

Once you’ve checked all the steps listed above, you’re ready to go.

Download Windows 10 Fall Creators Update ISO files

You can download the 32-bit and 64-bit versions of the Fall Creators Update ISO files from Microsoft’s update page. You can find more information about the upgrade process on the same page.

As a quick reminder, Windows 10 Home is the version of Windows for general users. It doesn’t include the advanced or dedicated features available in the Windows 10 Pro version. You can download the Fall Creators Update Home edition from the link above.

Windows 10 Pro is the version of Windows developed for more advanced users and professionals. If you want to download Enterprise ISO files, you’ll need your business email address.

If you’ve already installed the Fall Creators Update on your computer, use the comment section below to tell us more about your experience!

Xbox One S console gets a price cut in Japan

Posted on February 1, 2018 by Kareem Anderson

There has been a contentious relationship between the Xbox and the Japanese market for some time and many have argued that Microsoft has done little to massage the rough edges of that situation.

Perhaps, Microsoft is offering an olive branch to the Japanese market by lowering the price of its most popular selling Xbox One console in recent months. Recently, Microsoft dropped the price of the Xbox One S 1TB model in Japan.

For fans of the Forza and Halo franchises, the Forza Horizon 3 and Halo: The Master Chief Collection can now pick up a bundle for 29,980 yen (around $278 US), which is a nice departure from the previous 34,980 yen it used to be marked as. Other bundles include an Xbox One S 1TB paired with Minecraft: Limited Edition which now sells for 34,980 yen.

The price cut isn’t only an attempt to garner more Japanese gamer attention but it can be seen as a competitive swipe at the PS4 competition in the country. The new price is more in line with the 500 GB PS4 model which now gives the Xbox One X a hard drive space advantage.

The new price cuts are not only a competitive move but mark another attempt by Microsoft to move more units in the country where, to-date, they’ve only managed to sell 90,000 units since availability in 2014.

AudioBookMaker: Turn Your Favorite Books into Audiobooks for Free!

Posted on February 1, 2018December 6, 2023 by Radu Tyrsina

AudioBookMaker is a free tool for Windows devices that converts books into audiobooks using a text to speech engine.

In some cases, when you want to go for a walk, jog, or take a nap, audiobooks are quite handy thanks to their hands-free/eyes-closed approach. (To stream Audiobooks, you can use Audible for Windows 10.)

AudioBookMaker features

This software lets you create audiobooks from text files or text you choose to add/copy to the program. The app supports plain text format along with Microsoft Word and HTML files.

No matter what you do, you can create a new document and then add/paste text in it directly. Alternatively, you also have the option of having the program read Clipboard text aloud.

AudioBookMaker has controls for the following features: playing text, selecting different voices, and changing speed, pitch, and volume. You can change these for new documents, and your default values will differ from their initial ones.

Audio speech engine

AudioBookMaker recognizes installed audio speech engines from the OS and lists them under voices. While audio output is identifiable as computer-generated, it isn’t a surprise.

The app supports pronunciation dictionaries, which you can add to the program to customize the pronunciation of words, phrases, and abbreviations. You can also substitute words.

Once you’re happy with it, all you have to do is hit the save button.

Windows Explorer integration

AudioBookMaker supports the .mp3 and .wav audio formats, allowing you to customize audio quality, file name, and other parameters.

More valuable options in the app’s preferences include Windows Explorer integration for easier adding text documents, changing hotkeys, and setting pre-processing process priority.

AudioBookMaker is a handy application that carries out the simple process of transforming text into audiobooks when an app like BorrowBox is not working.

While the output quality is acceptable even if the results are pretty robotic, you can change this by installing other text-to-speech engines on your Windows device.

You can download AudioBookMaker from the tool‘s official website.

Xbox One, Windows 10 game Gigantic set to close in July

Posted on February 1, 2018 by davew

Gigantic, available on Xbox One and Windows 10, received its last update yesterday. Sadly, the January 31st update will be the last content update for Gigantic and its servers will be shut down on July 31, 2018. The final Gigantic update introduces T-MAT, Gigantic’s newest ranged Hero. Other content included in the update are chances to the Shop, new Hero balance adjustments, exclusive Founder’s Pack colors, two new creatures, and an enormous list of new skins.

As noted on their blog, the decision to cease development on Gigantic was not an easy one.

“For all the amazing folks who continue to play and show passion for Gigantic, all Heroes will be FREE as the purchasing of Rubies and Hero Packs have been disabled. This includes our newest hero, T-Mat! Currency will still be rewarded in-game, and any Crowns or Rubies gained by an account will remain available to purchase Shop items at discounted prices.

Discontinuing Gigantic was not an easy decision. The game is a unique and exciting experience that captured many hearts and minds. Unfortunately, it did not resonate with as many players as we’d hoped. Over the last several months, the teams at Motiga and Perfect World looked into viable options to sustain Gigantic. However, the current state of the game has restricted options for further progress and relevant content updates, and delivering basic features while also fixing long-standing issues was more complicated than expected. Despite our best efforts, we were unable to find an impactful solution that would help Gigantic break through in a crowded market.”

Although Motiga and Perfect World were unable to find a way to make Gigantic a more economically successful game, you can still enjoy it on Xbox One (via the Microsoft Store) and Windows 10 (via Steam) until the official servers are shut down at the end of July 2018.

Statcounter: Windows 10 overtakes Windows 7 as the most popular Windows version for Internet usage

Posted on February 1, 2018 by Radu Tyrsina

Last month, Windows 10 finally beat Windows 7 as the most popular desktop OS to browse the web worldwide according to Statcounter. The independent web analytics company, which data is based on over 10 billion page views per month to over 2 million websites, says that Windows 10 had a 42.78% desktop market share worldwide in January while Windows 7 fell to 41,86%.

“Windows 10 was launched at the end of July 2015 and Microsoft will be pleased to have put its Windows 8 experience behind it,” said Statcounter CEO Aodhan Cullen. “However, Windows 7 retains loyalty especially amongst business users. Microsoft will be hoping that it can replace it a lot quicker than XP, launched back in August 2001, which only fell below 5% usage worldwide in June of 2017.”

It’s worth noting that Netmarketshare, which uses a slightly different methodology disagrees with Statcounter: according to the company, Windows 10 remained close to 10% points behind Windows 7 in January.

While it’s difficult to know which company got closer to the reality, Statcounter’s data also combines desktop and mobile operating systems. Unsurprisingly, Android remained the most popular OS for Internet usage in January with a 40,05% usage share (36,56% for Windows). Looking closer at mobile platforms exclusively, Statcounter’s data also reveals that Windows Phone had a 0.61% usage share worldwide in January: This matches the latest data from Kantar, which showed that Windows phones accounted for less than 1% of smartphones sold in most markets in Q4 2017.

Microsoft sees growth with Xbox One X, Xbox Live now has 59 million users

Posted on February 1, 2018 by Radu Tyrsina

Microsoft beat market predictions with its FY2018 Q2 earnings results yesterday, with cloud revenue growth (+56% YoY) being one of the main highlights. Because these latest financial results were also about the holiday shopping quarter, it’s safe to say that Microsoft’s Surface and Xbox business were also under heavy scrutiny.

While Surface revenue ($1.3 billion) disappointed a little bit with a 1% growth compared to the same period a year ago, the Xbox division did much better and brought $3.9 billion in revenue (up 8% YoY), which the company attributed to the successful Xbox One X launch. Moreover, Xbox Live monthly active users grew 7% to 59 million, a new milestone for the company.

Here is what Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella had to say about gaming during the company’s earnings conference call yesterday:

Our new Xbox One X was the top selling premium console this holiday in the U.S., and we saw strong sales of the Xbox One S. We will continue to innovate in console to attract high value gamers who want immersive, 4K experiences, to build a broader subscription service with Game Pass, and to extend our services to all the devices in our customers’ lives across console, PC and mobile.

Our decision to release exclusive game content on Xbox Game Pass simultaneous with global release increases the value of the subscription for members and our partners, and we are off to a good start.

We grew gamer engagement again this quarter with 59 million monthly active Xbox Live members, record usage of our Xbox Live services, record viewers of our new streaming service, Mixer, and record Minecraft users.

Finally, we just acquired PlayFab, which serves more than 700 million gamers with more than 1200 games from companies like Disney, Rovio and Atari. It’s a complete backend platform for mobile/PC/console game developers to build, launch, and scale cloud-connected games, extending our investments in Azure to provide a world-class cloud platform for the gaming industry.

In case you still had some doubts about it, Satya Nadella takes gaming and the Xbox division very seriously. It’s good to know that Xbox Live engagement is up, but we’d love to know the number of Xbox Games Pass subscribers as well. Unfortunately, we don’t think Microsoft will share some hard data until it can boast about a sufficient number of subscribers.

As for the freshly-released Xbox One X, Nadella only said that it was the top selling premium console in the US during the holiday season, which is definitely encouraging. The premium Xbox One X definitely remains for a niche audience, and Microsoft previously said that it expects to keep selling more Xbox One S consoles in the years to come.

Burn Calories and Get a Slim Body with BallStrike App for Windows 10

Posted on February 1, 2018November 28, 2023 by Milan Stanojevic

Keeping fit and healthy is a priority for most of us. While some prefer going out and jogging, others like the comfort of their homes to make their daily workout. BallStrike for Windows 10 is a perfect app to help you burn calories and get a slim body.

While other so-called “health” apps promote wonderful diets and show you how to exercise, BallStrike for Windows 10 helps you turn work into a game.

ball-strike-windows-8-app-fitness-game-workout (1)

Also, thanks to its awesome user interface and state-of-the-art technology, BallStrike will probably have lots of users who will lose weight in a fun way.

BallStrike for Windows 10 [Review]

While the app itself is free, users will have to buy the premium version if they want to enjoy all the different levels of the app.

The free version comes with 3 levels to understand what it is and how it works. If you are pleased with the app, you can upgrade to the premium version from within the app.

ball-strike-windows-8-app-fitness-game-workout (3)

Once you’ve installed the app, when you open it, it will warn you that you need to have adequate light in the room you plan to work out and that you should be roughly 2 meters away from the screen to get the best results.

The next part of the tutorial explains how the game works: you will have to hit the virtual balls that appear on your screen and avoid bombs.

ball-strike-windows-8-app-fitness-game-workout (5)

Once you’ve gotten by the tutorial, you will see the main menu, where you can select one of the 12 levels that the game offers (keep in mind that only the first 3 are available for the free version).

Once you’ve entered a game, it will show you an image of a body that you need to fit in (you will have to move back until you appear as big as the model).

ball-strike-windows-8-app-fitness-game-workout (6)

After a few seconds, you start the game, and you will see yourself on the screen along with the balls that you need to “punch” and “kick” to obtain points.

This is all done via AR (augmented reality) technology, and it works by tracking you with the camera integrated into your device and creating virtual objects around you that you can interact with.

ball-strike-windows-8-app-fitness-game-workout (2)

The technology is pretty awesome, and using it in a workout app is something brilliant for those who want to keep fit but don’t want to get out of their house and are tired of a treadmill.

However, to fully benefit from the app‘s features, you might want to use it on a big screen, so hooking your device to a TV would be a good idea.

On the screen, besides the objects you need to interact with, you can see other information, such as the number of calories burned, the points you’ve gathered, the number of missed balls, the level you are at, and the time remaining.

Overall, the app is awesome to make a workout with, especially for those who are more tech-savvy and like cutting edge technology. I hope that Windows 10 users will enjoy BallStrike and they will use it for their daily workouts.

While testing the app, I did experience only one problem: the app stopped using the camera from my device, but it still worked. After a while, it worked again, and I had no other issues with it. I hope that with future updates, it will become 100% reliable.

Still, there are other apps like iFit, so if one isn’t your cup of tea, the other can step in.

Download BallStrike for Windows 10

The Bing Finance app: problems for some Windows 8 users

Posted on February 1, 2018October 4, 2023 by Radu Tyrsina

The number of Windows 8-related problems is rising by the day, as so is the numbers of those who install the new operating system. According to a recent posting on the forums, there have been issues with the features of the Bing Finance app.

I have tried numerous times to create a watchlist of securities I own in Bing Finance. It seems simple enough, but after adding about 15 tickers successfully, they all disappear and revert to the default ones that exist when you first install the app. Sometimes mine will stay intact for a full day, but when I go to the app a day or two later,…….they are all gone. No other issues or problems taking place with my system, and all updates are installed with anti-virus and malware protection always active. I only say this so I don’t get the advice to do 150 different scans, and/or a full clean install of the OS. This is a Bing issue for sure, as it has happened since I took my new laptop out of the box. Seeking a fix before I uninstall the app.

The Bing Finance app has problems for some Windows 8 users

A Microsoft representative has replied that they are looking into the issue at the moment, but that they can’t replicate it. As a matter of fact, I now realized I’ve been having the same problems with tickers, which eventually made me switch to Yahoo! Finance, since I play Forex on a demo account. Uninstalling and installing again the app seems to have solved the problem for some, and here are some suggestion for potential fixes:

Run the App Troubleshooter
Run System File Checker

Also, when you are finished with the sfc scan, you will need to type the following into Command Prompt window and press enter – DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth Retry creating Watchlist. Also, you can try to do the following:

There is a setting in the Bing app itself that you can turn off. Once you boot, assuming it’s not asking for your pwd right away, do the following:
– Window + i
– click “Account”
– it should show the account on the right hand pane.
– If it’s logged in, it will show your email address – click on it and then click remove.
– if it doesn’t show your email and doesn’t give you an option to remove, I’ll follow up with the dev team here.

Let us know if this has solved some of your problems that you are experiencing with Bing on Windows 8.

OneDrive error code 159: Here’s how to fix it in Windows 10

Posted on January 31, 2018October 4, 2023 by Milan Stanojevic

A OneDrive error code 159 may be as a result of a temporary maintenance issue, or it can also happen due to network related concerns.

Whenever you get this error, first check your OneDrive account’s status to confirm what is causing it, as a temporary service outage is the likely cause.

We’ll briefly show you how to ensure OneDrive or OneDrive for Business apps and processes run correctly so you can access your files online, and you have enough space for the correct files to sync in OneDrive.

How to fix OneDrive error code 159

If you’re using Windows operating system, do the following to resolve OneDrive error code 159:

Launch OneDrive
Look for the cloud icon in the notification area on the right bottom side of the taskbar. You may need to click Show Hidden icons arrow next to the notification area to find the OneDrive icon.

You can also click Start and search for ‘select which icons’ to display the settings for the notification area, and then click show Microsoft OneDrive.
If the OneDrive icon still doesn’t appear in the taskbar notification area, then your OneDrive may not be running. Click Start, type OneDrive in the search box and click OneDrive from the search results

If you have a personal OneDrive and OneDrive for Business account at the same time, each will show its own icon – one in white color (Personal), and the other in blue color (Business).

Sometimes a red circle may appear with a white cross over your OneDrive icon. In this case, right click the icon and select View Sync problems.

A dialog box will describe the error and provide the way to resolve it.

However, if there’s no red circle, select the icon and label that mostly matches yours.

If there’s no OneDrive icon at all, do the following:

Click Start
Type OneDrive
Select OneDrive from the search results
If OneDrive doesn’t start, download the latest version of OneDrive and install it.

For OneDrive for Business users, the latest version also supports you with an Office 365 work or school account so you just need to download it once. In case you don’t have an Office 365 work or school account, get a previous version of OneDrive for Business (contact your Network admin if you’re not sure which version you need).

When OneDrive starts the setup process, enter your OneDrive account and sign in to set it up.

Note: Make sure you have the latest Windows updates by doing the following:

Click Start
Select Settings
Select Update and Security

Select Windows Update

Select Check for updates

This will keep your device updated with all the latest features.

You can also run the OneDrive Troubleshooter, which will help you determine and resolve any underlying issues with your OneDrive program that could trigger error code 159.

Let us know if this solution helped you resolve the OneDrive error code 159 problem in your Windows 10 computer by leaving a comment in the section below.

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FIX: Sticky Notes crashes in Windows 10/11

Posted on January 31, 2018October 4, 2023 by Milan Stanojevic

If you’ve been using Sticky Notes app in Windows 10 and suddenly it crashes, some of the first aid measures you can take to troubleshoot it include rebooting your computer, and letting Windows check for and install any pending updates.

In most cases, Sticky Notes crashing in Windows 10 is caused by a corrupted system file. App crashes are driven mostly by corrupted files or due to its outdated version. You can check the latter for a new update for the app in Windows Store and install if any.

However, there are times none of these quick fixes yield the desired results, which is why we share in this article more solutions you can use to resolve the problem.

How to fix Sticky Notes crashing in Windows 10

Run App troubleshooter
Reinstall Sticky Notes
Create new user profile
Disable Insights
Reset Sticky Notes

Solution 1: Run App troubleshooter

Right click Start
Select Control Panel
Go to the top right corner and find View by option
Click and select Large icons

Click Troubleshooting

Click on View all option on the left panel
Select Windows store apps

Follow the instructions to run the app troubleshooter

Check whether you are able to access Sticky Notes. If not, go to the next solution.

ALSO READ: Fix: “Sticky Notes is currently not available to you” error

Solution 2: Reinstall Sticky Notes

So you’ve tried opening the app again, checked for updates, restarted the device and even saved all your notes and data – good. Now reinstall Sticky Notes and see if it helps.

Click Start
Select File Explorer

Type this command in the address bar: %LOCALAPPDATA%\Packages\Microsoft.MicrosoftStickyNotes_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalState\plum.sqlite and press Enter
Right click on the file and select Copy
Go to your desktop and paste the file there
Click Start and in the search box, type PowerShell
Right click on Windows PowerShell and select Run as administrator
Copy this text and paste it in the PowerShell window then press Enter: Get-AppxPackage “*stickynotes*” | Remove-AppxPackage ; Get-AppxProvisionedPackage -Online | ? { $_.DisplayName -like “*stickynotes*” } | Remove-AppxProvisionedPackage –Online
Reinstall Sticky Notes app from Windows Store
Copy this text and paste in the address bar of File Explorer: %LOCALAPPDATA%\Packages\Microsoft.MicrosoftStickyNotes_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalState\
Find the file you pasted on the desktop previously and right click on it then select Copy
Go back to File Explorer window and paste the file in.
Launch the app by clicking Start and selecting Sticky Notes, then check that your notes are available.

Does this help? If not, try the next solution.

Solution 3: Create new user profile

Create a new user profile then change settings to administrator privileges, and check if the problem persists.

Click Start
Select Settings

Select Accounts

Click Family and other users

Click Add someone else to this PC

Fill in the form with the user name and password. Your new user account will be created.
Click on Change account type
Click the drop down arrow and choose Administrator to set the account to administrator level
Restart your computer
Login to the new account you just created

If the Sticky Notes app works, then it may mean your other user profile is corrupted, so do the following:

On your new account, use it to downgrade your usual account
Click Apply or Ok
Raise back your old account to its default admin level
Rinse and repeat a few times as this will help to remove any corruption
Leave your account on as Administrator

If the problem disappears, then you can either fix the old user account or migrate to the new account. If not, try the next solution.

ALSO READ: Transfer notes from Evernote to OneNote with this tool

Solution 4: Disable Insights

If Sticky Notes crashes on Windows 10 Anniversary Update, try disabling Insights. Simply click on the “…” in the top right corner then select the gear in the bottom left corner and toggle off Insights.

Solution 5: Reset Sticky Notes

This restores the default settings and eliminates any potential issues that may be lurking.

Click Start
Select Settings

Select System

Select Apps and Features

Find Sticky Notes, then click on it and select Advanced settings
Click Reset then run the app again

Does this help? If not, try the next solution.

Has any of these seven solutions helped resolve the Sticky Notes crashing in Windows 10 problem? If so, or if not, let us know by leaving a comment in the section below.

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How to fix common Microsoft Jackpot issues on Windows 10/11

Posted on January 31, 2018October 21, 2025 by Aleksandar Ognjanovic

Microsoft Jackpot, the Microsoft’s ticket for the video slot machines simulation, is one of the most played games available in Store. However, even though this game succeeds in various departments, the overall colorful picture is grayed by issues. Users report a lot of various problems with Microsoft Jackpot, and most of them are hard to cope with.

We decided to provide you with a list of workarounds in case you’re unable to start the game, the game freezes, or your funds are evaporating for no apparent reason. If you have a hard time dealing with those issues, make sure to check the steps we provided below.

Microsoft Jackpot bugs and how to fix them

The first obstacle on the road seems to be the inability to start the game or log in with the current Microsoft credentials. Firstly, a lot of users are stuck on the loading screen for 10 or so seconds and the game crashes. Secondly, the ones that are able to start the game (disabling internet connection should see you through) can’t log in later on in order to back up the coin balance to the cloud.

As we already stated above, there are certain issues that keep reappearing and the one to blame is the tech body in charge of Microsoft Jackpot. Nonetheless, we still offer a few troubleshooting steps that should address the problem, if it emerged due to issues on your side.

Close the game and try again.
Start the game with the internet connection disabled. Enable it once the game successfully starts.
Uninstall the latest Windows Update.
Update the game.
Reinstall the game.
Reset Store’s cache.
Make sure you have enough HDD space.

2. Large amount of coins disappear

This is, by far, the most reported issue regarding this game. Players are spending the real currency in order to have a better starting point but, instead of preserving the current coin balance, the in-game funds are frequently substantially lessened after every new game start. For no apparent reason whatsoever.

When something as grave as this happens, we advise you to send the report to the responsible team. Yes, there are some troubleshooting steps you can take, but the best way is to directly communicate about the issue with Microsoft Jackpot support.

Here are some worth-a-try workarounds, but don’t get your hopes high:

Restart the game.
Reinstall the game.
Don’t use Cloud backup for your funds. Stick with the offline play without logging in.
Update the game in Microsoft Store.

3. Game freezes

Game freezing is also quite a frequent issue in Microsoft Jackpot. Users report that, in the middle of the roll, the game just stops. There are various reasons for this occurrence and both tech-savvy gamers and Xbox/Microsoft technicians blame the internet connection. However, we can’t overlook the possibility that the dedicated game servers are the ones to blame rather than your own connection.

Nonetheless, here are some workarounds that should help you eliminate connection issues on your side:

Restart your PC.
Restart router and/or modem.
Use a wired connection.
Reinstall the game.
Disable connection and restart the game.

If the problem persists even after you apply this, you can also check if the network drivers are up to date and working normally. To do this automatically and without additional knowledge, it is advised to use Fortect Driver Updater.

4. Coin balance can’t be synced to the cloud

Finally, the last but not least problem which is present for almost 2 years in Microsoft Jackpot is the balance sync. Namely, users who substantially progress through the game are frequently unable to save their progress. Every new game start means that they’ll lose their precious coins. Since the saving can’t be done on the machine but rather on the cloud, they lose almost all progress and are prompted to start from scratch.

This is also a repetitive issue, but there are no certain solutions at this point in time. We can only provide you with a few steps you can take, but the best way to tend to this issue is to report it directly to the developer.

Run Window Apps troubleshooter or its downloadable version.
Reinstall Microsoft Jackpot.
Update Microsoft Jackpot.

That’s it. We highly recommend reporting this issue to Xbox/Microsoft support in order to address it completely. In case you have questions or suggestions, feel free to tell us in the comments below.

Sea of Thieves: Do the ‘Make friends’ emote to trigger Xbox Live add friends UI

Posted on January 31, 2018October 4, 2023 by Madalina Dinita

Sea of Thieves is an upcoming action-adventure game for Windows and Xbox One. The title is currently work in progress but players already have access to the Closed Beta.

Josh Stein (Microsoft’s Xbox Community Program Manager) recently unveiled a very interesting game feature that allows players to make friends quicker.

If you encounter an interesting fellow pirate on the high seas and you think he’d make a great adventure partner, you can do the “Make Friends” emote and this will trigger the add-a-friend feature on Xbox Live.

As you can see in the screenshot above, you’ve got three options available: you can add your fellow pirate on your friends list or your favorite friends list. As a quick reminder, favorite friends are listed first on your friends list.

If the respective pirate is already on your friends list, you can also choose to remove him by selecting the ‘Remove friend’ option.

The announcement caused a lot of excitement among gamers. They welcomed the idea adding that it’s a really cool and fun feature to use the Xbox live service.

That’s a great feature. it cuts out a few steps of the process…

The only downside is that the pop-up takes a large chunk of the screen and some players find it quite annoying.

Love this feature so much. Also wish I could disable it, as it’s a really cool emote but if I use it I generally get a big popup in front of my screen.

What do you think about this interesting little feature? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

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Microsoft pulls indie Xbox “Suicide Forest” game

Posted on January 31, 2018 by davew

Someone created a game that appeared prominently in the Xbox Creators Collection that emulated Logan Paul’s infamous trip to the Aokighara Forest. The game, titled, “The Suicide Forest,” was rated PEGI 3 (for ages 3 and up) was noticed first by Bearskopff on Twitter, who is the Global Comunity Manager for TT Games, the game developers behind all those multi-platform LEGO games.

Is this a joke? Just decided to check out the Creators Collection on the Xbox Marketplace and found a free, PEGI 3 rated game based on Logan Paul’s trip to Aokighara Forest… pic.twitter.com/i5XIW7OLvn

— Bear (@Bearskopff) January 30, 2018

Eurogamer picked up on the story and reached out to Microsoft for an explanation and the game was quickly pulled. The game was created as part of the Xbox Creators Collection that is obviously not very closely-monitored for content.

If you are unfamiliar with Logan Paul and his “Suicide Forest” YouTube video, that can be cleared up quickly with a Bing search. The Xbox Creators Collection game was quickly pulled when it was brought to the immediate attention of Larry Hryb, Xbox community manager, also known as Major Nelson.

This is being taken care of.

— Larry Hryb ????????☁ (@majornelson) January 31, 2018

A Microsoft spokesperson gave an official statement on the matter:

“This content violates our Store policies and we’re in the process of removing it,” a company spokesperson said. “Users can report inappropriate content on the game product page or by sending a report directly to [email protected].”

Surely, Microsoft will want to avoid this issue from happening again, so it is lkely that the Redmond company will pay more attention to the games being submitted to the Xbox Creators Collection in the future.

Special Lunar New Year Xbox One bundles launching in China next month

Posted on January 31, 2018 by Radu Tyrsina

According to a tweet from video games industry follower Daniel Ahmad, Microsoft is planning on releasing special Chinese New Year Xbox One S bundles in China. The bundles help mark the start of the Chinese Zodiac year of the dog and will come with two downloadable games.

February 16th 2018 will mark the start of the year of the dog in China.

To celebrate, Xbox China will release a special new year Xbox One S bundle on February 6th 2018 in Mainland China. The bundle will cost RMB 2,399 and come with two downloadable games. pic.twitter.com/QvxEvGF0aK

— Daniel Ahmad (@ZhugeEX) January 31, 2018

It is not clear which games the bundles will include, but there appear to be two variants, both of which are 1TB. The bundles are supposedly scheduled for release on February 6th, 2018 in Mainland China and will cost 2,399 Chinese Yuan (381.46 US Dollars.)

The console appears to be cool looking since it is complete with a cool traditional looking image of a dog on the box. It will fit in well with the many Xbox One S bundles which Microsoft currently sells in various regions across the globe. Do let us know in the comments section below if this is something you’d consider buying if you’re in China.

Shadow Warrior now free (a day early) on Xbox One with Games With Gold

Posted on January 31, 2018 by Radu Tyrsina

February Games with Gold titles shouldn’t become free to download until tomorrow, February 1, but Microsoft apparently jumped the gun for Shadow Warrior. That’s right, the Xbox One game is already free to download with Xbox Live Gold, and shooter fans should really check out this reboot of the 1997 PC game of the same name.

Here is the game’s official description:

Shadow Warrior tells the offbeat tale of Zilla Enterprise’s corporate shogun Lo Wang as he is ordered to acquire a legendary blade of limitless power by his deceitful employer. Betrayed and left for dead, Lo Wang learns of the blade’s connection to ancient gods from another realm preparing to push our world to the brink of destruction. Now the reluctant hero must become legend through a masterful combination of gun, blade, magic and wit to uncover the truth behind the demonic invasion and banish evil back into the darkness.

You can download Shadow Warrior on your Xbox One with the link below. In case you forgot about it, we also remind you that today is your last chance to grab The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing III and the Xbox 360 game Army of Two for free with your subscription.

Download
QR-Code

Shadow Warrior

Developer:
Devolver Digital

Price:
$29.99

Video shows off Microsoft’s long cancelled Xbox Watch prototype

Posted on January 31, 2018 by Radu Tyrsina

Just last week some then new images of the long-dead Xbox Watch prototype leaked on the internet. Noted by Windows Blog Italia, the same person who leaked the original images recently posted a Hands-On video showing some workings of the Xbox branded wearable device.

You can see that the person struggles to keep the Xbox Watch charged, having to do a bit of juggling with the cables in order to use the device and keep it running through several reboots. Despite this, still shown off is the UI of the watch, which is very reminiscent of the tiled interface on Windows Phone. There are three specific areas or apps of the UI which the user shows off— Workouts, Freeplay, and Settings.

It appears as though the Workout app does not do much and leads to a “please subscribe” menu. The Freeplay app, meanwhile, leads to an option to turn on or off GPS. And finally, the Settings menu shows some information about the device, the user. and gives options to control brightness.

It’s definitely cool to see the device in action, especially since it never came to be. Do you think this is a cool prototype? Feel free to let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.

Overwatch video game now plays in 4K on Microsoft’s Xbox One X console

Posted on January 31, 2018 by Radu Tyrsina

The popular Overwatch video game has finally received its Xbox One X update today which means that it will now play in 4K resolution when played on Microsoft’s new console.

Xbox One X 4K support, @Warcraft #BattleForAzeroth pre-purchase goodies, and hero balance updates are here!

Now LIVE on PC, PS4, and Xbox One. https://t.co/0eiXGlS0Mo pic.twitter.com/jmDhf61wFW

— Overwatch (@PlayOverwatch) January 31, 2018

This update will also unlock a variety of Warcraft-themed items in-game for those that have also pre-ordered the Digital Deluxe version of World of Warcraft: Battle for Azeroth. There are also several fixes and updates to some Overwatch charactaers which you can read about in the full release notes here.

The update is free for all owners of the Xbox One version of Overwatch and should automatically download on consoles that are powered on. If, for whatever reason, the update hasn’t installed yet, the update download can be force-activated by opening “My games & apps” and selecting “Updates”.

Have you had a chance to play Overwatch in 4K yet on your Xbox One X console? Share your impressions with the community in the comments down below. Are you impressed?

Download
QR-Code

Overwatch® 2

Developer:
Blizzard Entertainment

Price:
Free

New Insider build (1802.180129-1625) adds download progress to Xbox One’s Guide

Posted on January 30, 2018 by Radu Tyrsina

A new update has begun to roll out to Preview Alpha Xbox Insiders. This latest build, 1802.180129-1625, fixes a range of bugs involving UI glitches and crashes but it also adds something that a few gamers might find useful; a download/installation progress bar in the Xbox One’s popup Guide that also acts as a shortcut to the installation queue. Here’s the full release notes.

New Features:

Installation Progress in Guide

In-progress installations are now visible from a tile at the bottom of the Guide. When selected, this tile opens a new interface showing items in the queue and their status, and allowing some basic functions like pausing or cancelling the installation.

Fixes:

Profile

Fixed an issue which caused some elements in Profile to appear misaligned.

Home and Dashboard

Resolved an issue which sometimes caused unexpected crashes.

Miscellaneous

Miscellaneous fixes and improvements.

Known Issues:

Games Installation

Games that are installed fail to launch. Workaround: If the games are installed to an external drive please copy the game to the internal drive or attempt to delete the title and redownload to fix the launch error.

Display

We are investigating the inaccurate RGB colors that have been reported when displaying in 4K HDR mode when playing a UHD disc.

Tournaments

The left and right navigation for selecting date and time during Tournament creation is currently reversed when the console language is set to Arabic or Hebrew.

Left and right navigation in Tournament twists is reversed when the console language is set to Arabic or Hebrew.

Left and right navigation in the bracket view of Tournaments is reversed when the console language is set to Arabic or Hebrew.

Avatars on Home

Users wishing to represent themselves as an avatar can do so by changing their settings under My profile > Customize profile > Show my avatar.

Have you installed this build yet? Let us know if you like the new Guide feature in the comments below.

BitLocker Not Saving Key to AD: How to Force it

Posted on January 30, 2018October 4, 2023 by Madalina Dinita

BitLocker is a built-in full disk encryption software available on Windows, but sometimes Bitlocker is not saving key to AD.

This can be an issue and make your recovery process almost impossible, resulting in file loss.

To avoid such situations, follow the instructions listed below to ensure that BitLocker saves your recovery keys to AD.

Why is BitLocker recovery key not showing up in AD?

Usually, the key isn’t showing up in AD due to the following:

System policies – If certain system policies aren’t enabled, your key won’t be saved to AD.

What can I do if the BitLocker recovery key is not saved to AD?

1. Make sure the Group Policy setting to save the key to AD is enabled

Press Windows key + R and enter regedit.
Navigate to this registry key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\FVE
To allow backup of recovery information, make sure that the values listed below are available:
- OSActiveDirectoryBackup should be set to 1
- FDVActiveDirectoryBackup should be set to 1
- RDVActiveDirectoryBackup should be set to 1.

Also, make sure that the client is a member of the OU and that the BitLocker group policies apply to the respective OU.

After doing that, check if BitLocker is still not saving key to AD.

2. Get the ID for the numerical password protector

Search for Command Prompt and select Run as administrator.
Enter the following command, but be sure to use the correct drive letter: manage-bde -protectors -get c:
You should now see your ID and password for the numerical password protector.
Now run the following command but be sure to replace the values in brackets with your ID: manage-bde -protectors -adbackup c: -id {...}

As you can see, you can easily fix the issue with BitLocker as long as you follow our simple instructions.

If you’re having further problems, we suggest reading our guide on how to find BitLocker recovery key.

We hope this helps. Also, if you found other solutions to enable BitLocker key saving to AD or fix BitLocker key backup issues, use the comments below to let us know.

Vehicles get a revamp in latest PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG) update on Xbox One

Posted on January 30, 2018 by Radu Tyrsina

PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (or ‘PUBG’) just received its seventh update on Microsoft’s Xbox One family of consoles. This latest update makes some significant changes to the way vehicles are damaged in-game and also improves controller input response. Here’s the complete patch notes.

Gameplay

We’ve listened to your feedback and further modified the damage players can inflict on vehicles, increasing areas of vulnerability. This includes:

Increased damage to the vehicle body, and significant damage to the wheels when targeted with gunfire

Increased vehicle damage when successfully targeted with a grenade

Both driver and passenger will suffer increased injuries from crashing into objects or other vehicles (Dacia, UAZ, and Buggy)

Slight reduction to player damage when being struck by a vehicle

Optimization

Continued optimization to controller input lag

Visual quality of the reticle is improved for Xbox One (Red Dot, Holographic, and 2x Sight)

Bug fixes

Resolved issue where inventory may highlight the wrong column when looting

The sensitivity setting for 4x Scope is now also applied to the permanent scope on the VSS

Auto-run (double-clicking the left stick) is disabled when aiming down sights

Players can now use the D-Pad while in the map view without switching melee, pistol, or throwing weapons

Removing the marker from the map when pressing (Y) will no longer switch primary/secondary weapons

Fixed issue where the crosshair is not correctly displayed after players reconnect to a game session

PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds is one of the biggest video games on the Xbox One right now and currently boasts over 4 million players. Have you played PUBG yet? Let us know about your experience in the comments below.

Microsoft Sudoku Won’t Load or Crashes: Use These Fixes

Posted on January 30, 2018October 10, 2025 by Milan Stanojevic

What’s a game if you can’t play it? Even worse is if it is a casual game like Microsoft Solitaire and Sudoku.

When you try to launch a game, like Microsoft Sudoku, and it won’t load, or it crashes, or it just won’t run, you could try the first troubleshooting solutions, such as restarting your computer or the game itself.

If these quick fixes don’t work, try the solutions listed in this article, whether you’re playing from your Xbox console or Windows 10 computer.

What can I do if Microsoft Sudoku won’t run/crashes?

1. Check the Xbox Live service status

If you see any alerts here, wait until the service is up and running, and then try loading or playing Microsoft Sudoku again:

2. Check for game updates

Here’s how to find out if you’re running the latest version of your game.

Open the Microsoft Store
Sign in with the account you use to play the game.
In the search box, type the game’s name, in this case Microsoft Sudoku.
On the game detail page, the button will show Open if you have the latest version.

If it shows Update, select it to update your game. Alternatively, you can select your account icon in Microsoft Store (to the left of the search box), and then select Downloads and Updates to see if there’s an update available for your game.
Select App updates.
On the App updates screen, select Check for updates.

This also works when the Microsoft Sudoku subscription is not working. If updating the game doesn’t resolve the problem, check for device updates and see if it helps.

3. Uninstall and reinstall the drivers from the manufacturer’s website

Right-click Start
Select Device Manager

Find and double-click Driver from the left panel to uninstall
Right-click the device, and click Uninstall.
Windows will prompt you to confirm the device’s removal. Click OK to remove the driver.
After the uninstallation is complete, reboot your computer as soon as possible.

You must know that updating your firmware is an advanced procedure. If you’re not careful you can cause permanent damage to your router, therefore use extra caution. However, we strongly recommend using a third-party tool that can automate the process in safe mode and prevent any issues.

⇒ Get Fortect Driver Updater

4. Check for device updates

Using automatic updating, you don’t need to check for important and recommended updates. Windows Update checks for these updates and installs them when they’re ready.

If you don’t use automatic updating, you should check for updates yourself at least once a week. We usually release important updates once a month, but they can be released at any time.

No matter your settings, some updates aren’t installed automatically. These include optional updates that require you to accept new Terms of Use. When these updates are available, Windows Update will let you know they’re ready to be installed.

Click Start
Select Settings
Select Update & Security

Select Windows Update

Click on Check for updates, and then wait while Windows looks for the latest updates for your computer.

If any updates are found, select Install updates.

Note: You might need to restart your device to finish installing some updates. Save and close all your files and apps before you restart so you don’t lose anything.

If this solution doesn’t work, uninstall and reinstall the game as described in the next solution and see if it helps fix the problem.

5. Uninstall and reinstall the game

If you don’t usually sign in while playing, uninstalling the app will erase all your games and progress. However, if you sign in to the game before you uninstall, your data will be saved to the cloud, and any saved games won’t be lost when you uninstall and reinstall. You’ll be able to pick up where you left off in any game you’re currently playing.

On the Start screen, swipe in from the right edge (or, if you’re using a mouse, point to the lower-right corner of the screen and move the mouse pointer up), select Search, and then type the game title – in this case Microsoft Sudoku – in the search box. For example, type Microsoft Solitaire Collection in the search box.
Press and hold (or right-click) the app tile, and then select Uninstall.
Restart your device.
Right click Start
Select Run

In the Open box, type wsreset.exe, and then press Enter. Microsoft Store will open so you can reinstall the game.

If uninstalling and reinstalling the game doesn’t resolve the problem, try uninstalling and reinstalling Microsoft Sudoku in compatibility mode and see if it helps.

6. Uninstall and reinstall the game in compatibility mode

Right-click on the Microsoft Sudoku set-up file
Select Properties
Select Compatibility tab
Check Run this program in Compatibility mode
Let the game install and check the functionality

7. Make sure your firewall/antivirus software isn’t blocking the app

Temporarily turn off firewalls and any antivirus or malware prevention software to check if either is blocking Microsoft Sudoku from running as it should.

Sometimes having multiple firewalls, antivirus, or anti-malware programs, may at times prevent you from performing certain tasks or running processes on your computer.

If this is the cause of the issue, turn either of the three off temporarily then try to log in again.

Ensure you turn these programs back on immediately after you’re done to prevent hackers, viruses, and worms from damaging your system.

The steps to unblock the game (or any app that needs to access Xbox Live) will vary depending on the antivirus or firewall software you use. Refer to the documentation for your antivirus or firewall software to open the settings and ensure the software is not blocking the app.

If your antivirus or firewall has an app “whitelist,” make sure your Xbox Live-enabled games are on this list. And don’t hesitate to also check out this guide on how to quickly fix Microsoft Sudoku subscription in case you are facing such problems.

Have any of these solutions helped you return to your Sudoku game? If not, please let us know by leaving a comment in the section below.

Xbox “in the game?” Why a Microsoft acquisition of Electronic Arts just might make sense

Posted on January 30, 2018 by Kip Kniskern

In this article

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Yesterday, in a lede-burying revelation, Polygon asserted that Microsoft may be looking to acquire game and gaming related companies, including PUBG Corporation, Valve, and most importantly, Electronic Arts, or as it’s more widely known, EA.

The news created a bit of a flurry in the Twittersphere, with many pundits scoffing that Microsoft would be willing to ante up so much (EA’s market cap currently sits at about $36 billion), would walk away from EA’s lucrative PlayStation business to gain first party exclusive titles for Xbox, or would waste so much money chasing what Polygon describes as Xbox’s “serious exclusive games problem.”

No, it’s not about exclusives

First of all, before we get too far, yes let’s not read too much into Polygon’s bombshell. Microsoft looks at acquiring a lot of companies, as do all the major tech players, and it would be more unusual that the company was *not* looking around than that it is. But Microsoft did just promote Matt Booty to a revitalized role of head of Microsoft Studios, who noted that “(c)ontent is extremely important to our strategy going forward.”

If there is a plan and it is moving forward, there are some significant reasons why a Microsoft acquisition of EA just might make sense. Probably the least of these revolves around exclusive gaming. As much as the tech press likes to boil the business down to PlayStation vs. Xbox, since the release of Xbox Play Anywhere, Microsoft’s goals seem to be more about creating a Gaming Anywhere business than a “play games on Xbox” business.

Microsoft needs content

So why EA? First, Microsoft needs to go big with content, and soon. Last year it made a big bet on the Xbox One X, launching a powerful new console with full 4K capabilities early in the cycle, but now it needs to keep up the momentum. The company simply can’t rely on Forza and Halo for the next five years. It needs games, and it needs them now.

Crossplay

Microsoft has been trying to work with Sony on a Minecraft crossplay solution that would allow ‘Crafters to build their worlds across PlayStation, Xbox, mobile and PC, but so far Sony has resisted.

Currently, some 60% of EA’s sales are for PlayStation, and Microsoft would be foolish to clamp down with an Xbox Only exclusivity and cut out all that revenue. But what if instead of exclusivity, Microsoft only required crossplay capabilities for future EA PlayStation games? Microsoft would keep the lucrative Sony/EA gaming business, and at the same time drag PlayStation owners (perhaps kicking and screaming) into the world of crossplay Xbox/PC gaming.

The Games Pass / EA Access fit

Microsoft’s launch of Games Pass is also a good fit with EA, who runs the successful EA Access. Again, this wouldn’t be a play for exclusivity, but one to significantly bolster the Games Pass catalog, and at the same time grow the Games Pass subscription base by adding all those EA Access users. And yes of course there’s that catalog, with Battlefront and Star Wars and the lucrative sports games.

Donald Trump (yes, Donald Trump!)

Then there’s also the “flush with cash” angle. Although $36 billion is a lot of money (remember that Microsoft paid $26 billion for LinkedIn), President Trump’s recent tax cut made it significantly easier for Microsoft and other tech companies to repatriate their offshore cash, which had been sitting (well not exactly) in foreign banks with a 35% tax looming to bring it back to the US. The tax reform has slashed that to less than 20%, making bringing offshore cash, of which Microsoft currently holds some $132 billion, back to the US.

While Apple and other companies have announced plans to repatriate their cash, Microsoft has been close-mouthed about their plans (believe me, we’ve asked!). Sure, $36B is still a lot of money, but investing in Games Pass, in gaming, and in Xbox with a newfound pile of money burning a hole in Microsoft’s pocket could take some of the sting out of such a big spend.

Apple and Facebook and Amazon…

Finally, although as I said the tech press likes to make this out to be PlayStation vs. Xbox, there’s a lot more to it than that. Amazon has been making inroads into gaming, most notably with the acquisition of Twitch, and Facebook is sniffing around, too, signing up ESL to an exclusive tournament streaming partnership. If Facebook and Amazon enter the gaming market in a big way (not to mention Apple, if it “goes there” too), the landscape changes significantly and quickly. Microsoft could find itself dropping from a comfortable second place in a two player race to an also-ran once again, if it doesn’t think big and bold.

Will Microsoft buy EA? In truth, probably not. It’s a lot of money, a big bet, and EA is heavily invested in PlayStation. Still, if an acquisition does happen, it could not only be good for the Redmond giant, but quickly change the gaming industry in a way that catapults the company into the lead dog. Interesting times.

What do you think, should Microsoft buy EA? Let us know what you think in the comments below.

Microsoft to help Columbia Sportswear drive their digital transformation

Posted on January 30, 2018 by Radu Tyrsina

Microsoft and Columbia Sportswear today announced plans to help the outerwear, sportswear, and footwear company through their digital transformation. The leading innovator in the active outdoor apparel, footwear, accessories and equipment industries will turn to the power of Microsoft Dynamics 365 and Microsoft Azure cloud as part of the new plan.

According to Microsoft, thanks to Microsoft Dynamics 365 and Microsoft Azure cloud, Columbia Sportswear will be able to “manage merchandise globally and streamline operations with increased efficiency.” The company will also be able to use the solutions in their retail, call center, customer relationship management and merchandising operations. This also helps the company personalize engagement with customers thanks to enhanced digital tools and information.

In the words of Michael Hirt, chief information officer at Columbia Sportswear:

“At Columbia, we have a long history of leveraging innovative technologies to help connect active people with their passions…his practice extends not just to our products, but across every aspect of our business. Through our collaboration with Microsoft, we’re implementing intelligent cloud technology to streamline our global operations and provide additional flexibility and convenience to our consumers.”

Judson Althoff, executive vice president, Worldwide Commercial Business at Microsoft also expressed how this partnership will further make Columbia Sportswear an industry leader:

“Established in 1938, Columbia Sportswear is setting itself up to be an industry leader for another 80 years…Columbia Sportswear will leverage Microsoft’s intelligent cloud to connect data, people and processes globally to deliver personalized shopping experiences for its customers.”

Columbia Sportswear joins many other companies who have already partnered with Microsoft to drive digital transformation. UBS and Maersk, Hershey, Geico, and Fruit of the Loom are just a few of the companies which already deployed Microsoft services as part of their digital transformation.

Microsoft just made an official Xbox ring with 188 diamonds

Posted on January 30, 2018 by Radu Tyrsina

The winning Super Bowl team gets championship rings to celebrate their tremendous achievement, but if you’re good enough at playing Madden NFL 18, you can get a special ring of your own. Microsoft and Xbox have created an official 10 carat white gold Xbox Ring with 188 diamonds, and you try to win it by entering a sweepstakes on Mixer.

The sweepstakes runs from now until February 5th, and all it takes to enter is to enter is to play online in a head-to-head matchup in Madden NFL 18 on Xbox, while broadcasting on Mixer. A random winner will be selected on February 7th, so be sure to keep streaming for your chance to land the ring valued at over $10,000.

Microsoft is also holding an Xbox Live Sessions with Patriots star Rob Gronkowski. This will be held today on the Mixer Xbox channel starting at 5:30 p.m. PT, and fans can also watch in person at the Microsoft Store at Mall of America. NFL fans are also invited to check out special Super Bowl themed events happening in Microsoft Stores across the US on Sunday, February 4th.

How to fix PUBG Out of video memory error on Windows PCs

Posted on January 29, 2018October 21, 2025 by Aleksandar Ognjanovic

PUBG is the game that redefined the ”battle royale” genre and immediately gathered an enormous player base.

However, the game is far from flawless and it seems that, besides the usual bugs, we have more than a few issues that completely ruin the gaming experience.

One of those is a common crash followed by the ”Out of video memory” prompt.

If you’re frequently affected by this debilitating error, make sure to check the steps below and we’ll, hopefully, resolve it with joined forces.

How can I fix the “Out of video memory” error in PUBG?

Make sure your configuration is up to the task
Check the in-game Graphics configuration
Update GPU drivers
Change Virtual Memory allocation
Wait for the game update

1. Make sure your configuration is up to the task

If you didn’t get the memo, we must inform you that PUBG is one of the most demanding games out there. If you want to run it at an optimal FPS value, you’ll be needing a gaming rig, to say the least.

Top-notch graphics are a must, especially since this error refers to Video Memory which comes with GPU. On the other hand, if you reduce settings to a bare minimum, your CPU will take most of the pressure.

Here are the minimum and recommended requirements for Playerunknown’s Battlegrounds:

Minimum:

OS: 64-bit Windows 7, Windows 8.1, Windows 10
Processor: Intel Core i3-4340 / AMD FX-6300
Memory: 6 GB RAM
Graphics: Nvidia GeForce GTX 660 2GB / AMD Radeon HD 7850 2GB
DirectX: Version 11
Network: Broadband Internet connection
Storage: 30 GB available space

Recommended:

OS: 64-bit Windows 10
Processor: AMD Ryzen 5-1600 / Intel Core i5-7600K
Memory: 8 GB RAM
Graphics: Nvidia GTX 1060 6GB or better
DirectX: DirectX 11
Network: Broadband Internet connection
Storage: 30 GB available space

As you can see, these are some rather intimidating configurations so make sure to meet the enlisted requirements and optimize the game settings to your configuration capabilities.

2. Check the in-game Graphics configuration

While we are at it, there are certain Graphics options you should reconsider reducing in order to fix issues with Video Memory.

As we already stated above, the more you increase your graphics settings — the more GPU will have a hard time rendering it. On lower settings, the CPU takes over UnrealEngine 4.

These are the settings you should consider disabling or decreasing to lowest values:

While in game, open Settings > Graphics and set these values:
- Anti-Aliasing – Very Low
- Post Processing – Very Low
- Shadows – Very Low
- Texture – Medium (or Low)
- Effects – Very Low
- Foliage – Very Low
- View Distance – Low
Also, disable Vsync and Motion Blur by unchecking the boxes at the bottom.

These should help you reach at least a reasonable performance while, hopefully, avoiding Virtual Memory crashes in the future.

In addition, some players recommend restarting the game after every match is finished in order to avoid memory leaks.

3. Update GPU drivers

Now, this is where the issue with Virtual RAM takes a strange turn. Namely, it’s not unusual to experience this or similar issues if you’re running the game with a lackluster configuration.

However, as a plentitude of reports suggests, some users with ultra-premium GPUs with more than 10 GB of GPU VRAM are experiencing similar crashes. Which points towards drivers.

Without the proper functioning drivers, your GPU performance will suffer. No matter how powerful it is.

So, make sure to install proper drivers before you move to alternative steps. And we refer to official drivers, not the ones provided via Windows Update. Here’s how to do it simply:

Navigate to one of these official support sites and download proper drivers:
- NVidia
- AMD/ATI
Install driver and restart your PC.
Try running PUBG again and look for changes.

If you don’t know how to update your graphics driver, we’ve prepared a step-by-step guide to help you do it with ease.

Updating drivers manually is very annoying and could cause permanent damage to your PC by downloading and installing the wrong driver versions. We strongly recommend Fortect Driver Updater to do it automatically.

⇒ Get Fortect Driver Updater

4. Change Virtual Memory allocation

This step is often advised in scenarios when an application (in this case PUBG) takes a lot of VRAM due to memory leaks/ irregular freeing of the memory.

Now, there are two different ways to utilize system settings and address this issue. However, we can’t say what will work better for you, so make sure to check them both below.

Disable Paging file

In the Windows Search, type Advanced and open ”View advanced system settings”.
Select the Advanced tab from the dialog box.
Under the Performance section, open Settings.
Select Advanced.
Open Virtual Memory.
Uncheck the ”Automatically manage paging file size for all drives” box.
Click on the ”No paging file” and then on the Set button.
Confirm changes and restart your PC.

Allocate Virtual Memory

In the Windows Search, type Advanced and open ”View advanced system settings”.
Select the Advanced tab from the dialog box.
Under the Performance section, open Settings.
Open Advanced.
Choose Virtual Memory.
Uncheck the ”Automatically manage paging file size for all drives” box.
Click on the Custom size and insert your current available physical RAM in MB values.
Confirm changes and restart your PC.

5. Wait for the game update

Finally, if the issue is persistent, the only thing you can do is wait for the updates to patch the memory leaks that are, by now, quite prominently present in PUBG.

Reinstallation helped some users, but this is a long stretch and it’s hardly ever helpful. The ”Out of video memory” error/crash is the oversight of the developers and thus, we’ll need to wait for their next move in order to get a terminal resolution.

At the end, don’t forget to share your questions or suggestions in the comments section below. We look forward to hearing from you.

Xbox Insiders get new Preview Beta and Delta update

Posted on January 29, 2018 by Radu Tyrsina

A new update has just rolled out to Xbox Insiders enrolled in Preview Beta and Delta. This update, 1802.180125-1923, doesn’t add any new features worth getting excited about but it does fix several bugs associated with downloads, localization, and profile colors. Here’s the full release notes.

Fixes:

My Games and Apps

Fixed an error that resulted in content that was installing/downloading not resuming after a reboot.

Certain games when installing had been failing to run on first launch until a reboot – this is now fixed.

Party Chat

Reliability fixes to improve the time it takes for users to join a Party Chat session who had been experiencing long join times.

Pseudo Localization/Language Translation String Fixes

Users will no longer see incorrect language translations in the build. If you do encounter any incorrect strings please report a problem

Profile

Fixed an issue which caused the incorrect profile color to display after powering on the console.

Known Issues:

Games Installation

Games that are installed fail to launch. Workaround: If the games are installed to an external drive please copy the game to the internal drive or attempt to delete the title and redownload to fix the launch error.

Display

We are investigating the inaccurate RGB colors that have been reported when displaying in 4K HDR mode when playing a UHD disc.

Tournaments

The left and right navigation for selecting date and time during Tournament creation is currently reversed when the console language is set to Arabic or Hebrew.

Left and right navigation in Tournament twists is reversed when the console language is set to Arabic or Hebrew.

Left and right navigation in the bracket view of Tournaments is reversed when the console language is set to Arabic or Hebrew.

Avatars on Home

Users wishing to represent themselves as an avatar can do so by changing their settings under My profile > Customize profile > Show my avatar.

Have you noticed anything different on your Xbox One after installing this update that’s not mentioned here? Let us know in the comments below.

Developers can now submit UWP apps that target Windows 10 on ARM devices

Posted on January 29, 2018 by Kareem Anderson

Perhaps, I’m a cynic, but I feel the drumbeat for Microsoft Universal Windows Platform efforts may have drummed on for the company with a fairly lackluster showing over the past four years.

Fortunately for those who rely on or are encouraged by the UWP platform, Microsoft continues to push and nurture those efforts with continual development. Microsoft’s latest efforts come from the company’s Dev Center team via a blog post about developers being empowered to target Surface Hub and Windows 10 S customers using Snapdragon processors.

While the first part of the Dev teams proposition may have some scratching their heads and wondering how to balance their expectations versus actual customer base, the second half should be the more interesting tease from Microsoft.

Snapdragon processors.

With the future of Windows now being tied to the Snapdragon processor through OEM partner hardware, UWP apps specifically targeting those processors may see an uptick in downloads as form factors and operating system variants promote usage.

To target Surface Hub when submitting your UWP app to the Microsoft Store, simply ensure that the box for the Windows 10 Team device family is checked. This is generally the case if you upload packages targeting the Universal or Team device family.

If you include an ARM package in your submission that targets the Universal or Desktop device family, this package will be made available to Windows 10 S on a Snapdragon processor (Always Connected PCs) devices as long as the Windows 10 Desktop device family box is checked.

The example above shows three packages that target the Universal device family, x64, ARM and x86. The boxes for Windows 10 Desktop, Windows 10 Mobile, Windows 10 Xbox, Windows 10 Team, and Windows 10 Holographic are selected. This means that customers on any of those device types can download this submission.

For more on the specifics, the Dev team offers this documentation to help developers get started.

While I’m still skeptical about an influx of Windows S UWP apps hitting the stores, Microsoft should be credited with offering developers all the tools to succeed in Microsoft’s future of software and hardware.

How to fix Blacklight Retribution launch issues and errors

1. Check the Game’s System Specifications

2. Don’t Launch the Game Through Steam

3. Adjust the AllowD3D11 Setting in the PCConsole-FoxEngine File

4. Reinstall Blacklight Retribution in Steam

5. Verify the Game’s Cache

6. Close Background Software

KB4041693 changelog:

How to Fix the Application Error for OHUb.exe in Windows 10

Solution 1 – Reinstall Office

Solution 2 – Uninstall Get Office app

Encyclopedia Britannica for Windows 10, Windows 8

Get the paid app for full functionality

Perhaps the best Windows app for 2D Cad and technical drawing

Fix: These updates help protect you in an online world is stuck

1. Perform Automatic Repair

2. Perform a System Restore

Prepare your PC to install the Fall Creators Update

Download Windows 10 Fall Creators Update ISO files

AudioBookMaker features

Audio speech engine

Windows Explorer integration

BallStrike for Windows 10 [Review]

The Bing Finance app has problems for some Windows 8 users

How to fix OneDrive error code 159

How to fix Sticky Notes crashing in Windows 10

Solution 1: Run App troubleshooter

Solution 2: Reinstall Sticky Notes

Solution 3: Create new user profile

Solution 4: Disable Insights

Solution 5: Reset Sticky Notes

Microsoft Jackpot bugs and how to fix them

1. Game won’t start/can’t sign in

2. Large amount of coins disappear

3. Game freezes

4. Coin balance can’t be synced to the cloud

Why is BitLocker recovery key not showing up in AD?

What can I do if the BitLocker recovery key is not saved to AD?

1. Make sure the Group Policy setting to save the key to AD is enabled

2. Get the ID for the numerical password protector

What can I do if Microsoft Sudoku won’t run/crashes?

1. Check the Xbox Live service status

2. Check for game updates

3. Uninstall and reinstall the drivers from the manufacturer’s website

4. Check for device updates

5. Uninstall and reinstall the game

6. Uninstall and reinstall the game in compatibility mode

7. Make sure your firewall/antivirus software isn’t blocking the app

No, it’s not about exclusives

Microsoft needs content

Crossplay

The Games Pass / EA Access fit

Donald Trump (yes, Donald Trump!)

Apple and Facebook and Amazon…

How can I fix the “Out of video memory” error in PUBG?

1. Make sure your configuration is up to the task

2. Check the in-game Graphics configuration

3. Update GPU drivers

4. Change Virtual Memory allocation

5. Wait for the game update