Page 1251 • Windows Report

Operating system version is incompatible with Startup Repair [FIX]

Posted on October 17, 2017October 4, 2023 by Milan Stanojevic

Startup Repair, also known as Automatic Repair, is a tool used in Windows operating system to automatically repair your computer when it cannot start – or is unbootable.

There are several reasons your computer may be unbootable, and Startup Repair tool helps sort out issues such as:

A corrupted Registry
Missing or damaged system, and driver files
Corrupted Disk metadata
Corrupted File system metadata
Installation problems
Incompatible drivers
Incompatible errors that come with installation of Windows service packs, and/or patches
Corrupted boot configuration data
Bad memory
Disk hardware errors

If you’re experiencing some of these (if not all) issues, then the Startup Repair tool should help you out.

You’ll need to run the tool at the early stages so that your computer is not affected by any eventual problems that could come up as a result. If you encounter secondary effects, follow a reinstall guide or contact your machine’s technical support, or Microsoft Support for further guidance.

However, your computer could also bring up a troubleshooting to do with the Startup Repair tool, when it’s incompatible with your operating system.

This article describes what you can do in order to fix the Startup Repair incompatibility issue with Windows 10 operating system.

Windows 10 is incompatible with startup repair [FIX]

Disconnect all devices
Go into Safe Mode then do a Clean Boot
Perform Automatic repair from WinRE

Solution 1: Disconnect all devices

If you’re unable to boot to the start screen on your computer, try disconnecting all the devices plugged in to your computer, with exception to the keyboard and mouse. Try booting again.

If this doesn’t work, try the next solution.

ALSO READ: All About: Microsoft Software Repair Tool for Windows 10

Solution 2: Go into Safe Mode then do a Clean Boot

Safe Mode starts up your computer with limited files and drivers but Windows will still run. To know whether you’re on Safe Mode, you’ll see the words at the corners of your screen. If you can’t start your computer on Safe Mode, follow the steps listed in this troubleshooting guide.

How to get your computer into Safe mode

There are two versions:

Safe mode
Safe mode with Networking

The two are similar, though the latter includes network drivers and other services necessary to access the web and other computers in the same network.

Follow these steps to start your computer in Safe Mode:

Click on Start button
Select Settings – the Settings box will open up
Click Update & Security
Select Recovery from the left pane
Go to Advanced startup
Click Restart now
Select Troubleshoot from the choose an option screen, then click Advanced options
Go to Startup Settings and click Restart
Once your computer restarts, a list of options will come up.
Choose 4 or F4 to start your computer in Safe Mode

ALSO READ: 4 best PC repair toolkits to restore your PC’s health

A quicker way to get into Safe Mode is to restart your computer then do the following:

From the Choose an option screen, select Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Setting s> Restart
Once your computer restarts, a list of options will come up.
Choose 4 or F4 to start your computer in Safe Mode

If the problem isn’t there while in Safe mode, then your default settings and basic drivers are not contributing to the issue.

Do the following to exit Safe Mode:

Right click Start button
Select Run > type msconfig
A pop up will open
Go to the Boot tab > uncheck Safe Boot option box
Restart your computer

If the issue doesn’t persist with Safe Mode, perform a Clean Boot to check whether a third party app is causing the issue.

How to perform a clean boot

Performing a clean boot for your computer reduces conflicts related to software that can bring up the root causes of the Startup Repair incompatibility with your operating system. These conflicts can be caused by applications and services that start up and run in the background whenever you start Windows normally.

In order to successfully perform a clean boot on Windows 10, you have to be logged on as the administrator, then follow these steps:

Go to the search box
Type msconfig
Select System Configuration
Find Services tab
Select Hide all Microsoft services box
Click Disable all
Go to Startup tab
Click Open Task Manager
Close Task manager then click Ok
Reboot your computer

You will have a clean boot environment after all these steps are carefully followed, after which you can try booting your computer again.

Didn’t help? Try the next solution.

Solution 3: Perform Automatic repair from WinRE

If you still experience the issue with the Startup Repair tool, try booting from Windows 10 media then perform Automatic repair from Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE).

In order to perform Automatic repair, do the following;

Insert a USB or DVD
Restart your computer
Press F12 on your computer to open Windows Setup
Select the drive you inserted your USB or DVD into
Click Next
Choose Repair your computer
A blue screen will come up with options
Choose Troubleshoot
Select Advanced options
Choose Startup Repair (or Automatic Repair) from Advanced boot option

Once the repair is complete, try booting your computer again to see whether the issue persists.

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Mouse Without Borders: How to Download and Use

Posted on October 17, 2017October 4, 2023 by Aleksandar Ognjanovic

Microsoft Garage is a great Microsoft project that brings a lot of interesting Windows applications. Microsoft developers develop applications like Mouse Without Borders, making them much more trustworthy and better optimized.

Compatibility is not an issue for a program as useful and well-designed as Truong Do’s Mouse Without Borders. But there have been some issues with Windows 10, though these are fixable. Keep reading to find out!

What is Mouse Without Borders?

Mouse Without Borders is a great and simple freeware KVM (Keyboard, Video, Mouse) tool that covers one too often neglected function. It employs a single mouse and keyboard for up to 4 different computers or other computing devices.

Now, one could assume that this isn’t exactly a novelty, but there’s a catch. With the Mouse Without Borders app, you can transfer files across PCs in a seamless manner as all connected devices share one clipboard.

You’ll need to configure one host PC and ensure that others share the same wireless or LAN network. That’s quite a simple procedure, and you don’t need to be a tech-savvy user to get things working.

The user interface is as well-designed and combined with detailed instructions. You’ll have an easy time learning how to take full advantage of Mouse Without Borders and multiple interconnected devices. And all of that on various Windows versions that you can combine (only Windows for now, though).

Nonetheless, the ”Windows versions” part is also where the problems start. Namely, this program (believe it or not) doesn’t support Windows 10.

At least, not officially. As we can confirm, the developer provided an alternative in Windows Store, but, as stated by some users, the desktop version is better in many aspects.

Now, it seems that it works well, but there are minor problems, especially when users combine different systems, e.g., Windows 10 as a host and Windows 7 as a slave.

So, how can Mouse Without Borders work in Windows 10 without minor issues like in Windows 7? We have a few ideas, so check them out below.

How do I run Mouse Without Borders on Windows 10?

Download Mouse Without Borders.
Run the setup and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation process.
Right-click on the application’s launcher and select Properties.
Navigate to the Compatibility tab.
Now, tick the Run this program in compatibility mode for checkbox, and select Windows 7 from the dropdown menu.
Once done, click on Apply and OK to save the changes.

Some users managed to use Mouse Without Borders with some peculiar workarounds. Namely, you’ll need to keep a surplus mouse plugged in on Windows 10 PC for the application to work. Furthermore, you can try and run the application in a different compatibility mode.

Repeat this procedure for all Windows 10-powered PCs you want to connect. Additionally, you can run Mouse Without Border as an administrator, which might improve the overall performance.

Besides, do not forget to check some of the best customization apps for Windows to reconfigure things.

Have you tried Mouse Without Borders? What’s your favorite KVM application for Windows 10? Tell us in the comments section below.

New security report pegs Microsoft Edge as the safest browser against phishing attacks

Posted on October 17, 2017December 15, 2017 by Madalina Dinita

Ever since Microsoft Edge was released, the browser has been battling out with the other browsers including Chrome and Firefox. The Edge browser initially faced a lot of criticism for lack of features but the recent builds have improved greatly.

Yes, the extension collections on the Edge browser is not really exhaustive and this is one aspect that might make you abandon the browser.

All said and done the Edge browser has often been lauded for its security features. Cyber security consultancy firm NSS Labs has published a Security Comparative Reports on the web browsers and the report has pitted the browsers against each other to test their resistance against a phishing attack.

A phishing attack is when a hacker attempts to take hold of sensitive information like bank credentials, usernames and other data for personal or monetary gains.

Usually, the attacker wears the guise of a trustworthy entity or will employ social engineering tactics. Phishing has been one of the most infamous methods of obtaining information and as per Microsoft, the annual impact of phishing is pegged at US$5 billion.

As per the report, Microsoft Edge is better than Chrome or Firefox when it comes to the phishing attack. The report has studied in 36,120 different instances wherein 1,136 suspicious URL’s were opened in a span of 23 years.

Microsoft Edge successfully blocked 92.3% of the phishing attacks while Chrome and Firefox managed to block 74.6% and 61.1% respectively.

Zero-day threats are released even before the security patch is released. Even in the zero-hour protection test, the Edge Browser could ward off 81.8% of the attacks as opposed to the 58.6% for Chrome and 50.7% for the Firefox. Microsoft Edge also has a better reaction time when it comes to warding off the attacks.

The Microsoft Edge browser has come a long way and even as we speak the browser is being updated for the new feature. I have used personally used the Edge browser and apart from being fast, it has also helped me save on my laptop battery.

Do you use Microsoft Edge as your primary browser? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below.

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Microsoft adds Follow Me guided navigation for Windows 10

Posted on October 17, 2017October 4, 2023 by Matthew Adams

Windows 10 users usually rely on the Tips and Get Started apps to provide furthe guidance for getting around the OS and configuring its settings.

However, a new video leaked by a reliable tipster highlights that’s about to change with the addition of Follow Me to Cortana. Although nothing has been officially announced, the video highlights how guided audio navigation may become a new feature for Windows 10.

Cortana is the virtual assistant included with Windows 10 and Microsoft has enhanced that app in previous updates. Follow Me could be the next new Cortana feature, providing audio and visual prompts to guide a user on how to configure various settings in Windows.

They would be something like screencast tutorials for Windows, except that you don’t need to open any videos to launch them.

Follow Me improves guided navigation on Windows 10

The YouTube video includes one example of the Follow Me guided navigation. In it, Cortana provides details for how you can connect a Bluetooth device with Windows 10 via the Settings app.
Follow Me guided navigation includes a blue circle and red rectangles to highlight the cursor and other options.

Cortana’s Follow Me is comparable to Guided Help in that it appeared in pre-release builds of Windows Vista. Vista’s Guided Help option also had a Show me step-by-step option that showed users where to click. It looks like Microsoft is resurrecting Guided Help in Windows 10 with Follow Me.

When Microsoft will add Follow Me to Windows 10 is somewhat unclear. The Windows 10 Fall Creators Update rolling out this October probably isn’t going to include any last-minute surprises. However, Follow Me could be a part of a spring 2018 update.

Cortana’s Follow Me could be a great new addition to the virtual assistant’s repertoire. Cortana is becoming an ever more essential part of Windows 10, and with Follow Me the app will provide invaluable guided navigation for new users.

How to download and install Windows 10 Fall Creators Update

Posted on October 17, 2017October 4, 2023 by Ivan Jenic

Microsoft finally releases the freshest major update for Windows 10, the Fall Creators Update, on October 17. When the rollout officially starts, millions of Windows 10 users around the world will get the new version of the system. As there are multiple ways to obtain the new update, you can pick one that suits you.

How to download Windows 10 Fall Creators Update

There are two legitimate ways to obtain the Fall Creators Update. And you’re probably familiar with both of them. Of course, we’re talking about updating through Windows Update and manually installing the update. And in case you’re not sure how to download it, we’ll be talking about it in a bit.

System requirements

But first, let’s quickly check the system requirements. System requirements haven’t changed since the Creators Update. So, if you’re running the current latest version of Windows 10, you’ll also be able to run the Fall Creators Update. Here’s the complete list, as a quick reminder:

Processor: 1GHz or faster processor or SoC
RAM: 1GB for 32-bit or 2GB for 64-bit
Hard disk space: 16GB for 32-bit OS or 20GB for 64-bit OS
Graphics card: DirectX9 or later with WDDM 1.0 driver
Display: 800×600

So, if you’re a ‘regular’ user you probably won’t have any problems downloading and using the Fall Creators Update. But, if you want to exploit the full potential of Windows 10 version 1710, you’re going to need much more than just minimum system requirements.

Of course, we’re talking about Mixed Reality and 3D objects. Which are, more or less, the main highlight of the Fall Creators Update. To check if your computer is ready for Mixed Reality, download official Microsoft’s tool which will tell you exactly that.

Install through Windows Update

The most popular, easiest, and straightforward way to install Windows 10 Fall Creators Update (and just about any other update) is through Windows Update. If you choose to install the new update like probably 90 percent of other users, you’re choosing the easy path. All you have to do is go to Settings > Update & security and check for updates.

As soon as the Fall Creators Update becomes available in your region, the download process will start automatically. Just wait for everything to download and install, restart your computer, and follow further instructions. After the process is finished, you’ll end up with the freshly installed Fall Creators Update on your computer. As simple as that.

But knowing the nature of Windows 10 and its updates, there’s a chance you won’t be getting the Creators Update on the very first day of its availability. We’re not going to discuss reasons, as there are a couple of them. But if you don’t want to wait for the update to eventually appear in Windows Update, there’s another way to install it.

Install Manually

As soon as Windows 10 Creators Update becomes available, Microsoft will also release installation files. You’ll be able to obtain them from Microsoft’s site (link still unavailable). You’ll get the installation files in form of a Media Creation tool. When you start the tool, you can choose whether you just want to download the ISO file, and mount the USB later, or create an installation media right on the spot.

If you’re not sure how to perform the whole process, you can check out our article about installing Windows 10 Creators Update manually. The procedure is pretty much the same.

That’s about it. We hope you’ll get the Creators Update on time and that it will serve you well. If you have any questions, just let us know in the comments section below.

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Microsoft adds two new members to its board of directors

Posted on October 17, 2017 by Radu Tyrsina

Microsoft announced yesterday two new additions to its board of directors, Penny S. Pritzker, founder and chairman of PSP Capital and Arne Sorenson, former U.S. Secretary of Commerce. These nominations follow the appointment of Hugh Johnston, vice chairman and chief financial officer of PepsiCo last month.

The new board members will be presented for election at the company’s annual shareholders meeting on Nov. 29, 2017, when ValueAct Capital President G.Mason Morfit will also leave the board. “Penny and Arne are both strong leaders with impressive accomplishments and contributions that span business and public service,” said John Thompson, independent Microsoft board chairman. “They will serve as valuable additions to the board.”

With these two additions, Microsoft’s board of directors will soon have 14 members including Reid Hoffman, LinkedIn co-founder and partner at Greylock Partners, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates and CEO Satya Nadella. You can learn more about Board of Directors members on Microsoft’s website.

The process is not in background processing mode [Fix]

Posted on October 17, 2017October 4, 2023 by Milan Stanojevic

System errors can appear on almost any PC, and one of those errors is ERROR_PROCESS_MODE_NOT_BACKGROUND. This error comes with The process is not in background processing mode error message, and today we’re going to show you how to fix it.

How to fix ERROR_PROCESS_MODE_NOT_BACKGROUND?

Fix – ERROR_PROCESS_MODE_NOT_BACKGROUND

Solution 1 – Restart the problematic services

According to users, this error appears while trying to download software updates in ConfigMgr. If you’re experiencing this error, you might be able to solve it by restarting certain services. To do that, follow these steps:

Logon to the ConfigMgr server or WSUS server.
Press Windows Key + R and enter services.msc. Press Enter or click on OK.
Services window will now appear. Locate Background Intelligent Transfer Service and stop it. To do that, right click the service and choose Stop from the menu.
Disable Windows Update service as well.
Minimize the Services window.
Press Windows Key + R and enter %appdata% press Enter or click OK.
Navigate to the MicrosoftNetworkDownloader directory. Locate and delete qmgr0.dat and qmgr1.dat files.
Navigate to C:Windows directory, and delete the SoftwareDistribution folder.
Go back to Services window and start Background Intelligent Transfer Service and Windows Update services.
Open the ConfigMgr console and click on Software Updates > Software Repository > Run Synchronization.

After doing that, you should be able to download software updates without any problems. If the problem still persists, some users are recommending to edit Anonymous Authentication for the IIS website. Simply change it from Specific User to Application pool identity and the problem should be fixed.

Solution 2 – Change the deployment settings

Users reported this error while trying to deploy an update with SCCM. According to users, you might be able to fix this problem by changing your deployment settings. Simply change Deployment settings from Download software updates from Internet to Download software updates from a location on my network. After that, you just have to point to the file share that uses WSUS and the update should be downloaded without any problems. This solution applies only to SCCM users, so if you’re not using it you should skip this solution.

READ ALSO: Fix: ”There is no internet connection, there is something wrong with the proxy server” error in Windows

Solution 3 – Export the public key

If you’re using ePO and you’re having this problem while trying to perform UNC pulls, you might want to try exporting the public keys. According to users, you just have to export the public key from third-party ePO server and install it on your ePO. After doing that, the issue should be resolved completely. This is an advanced solution, so if you’re not familiar with ePO servers you should skip it entirely.

Solution 4 – Update the Sophos UTM exceptions

This error usually appears when trying to deploy an update with SCCM. According to users, you can fix it simply by updating Sophos UTM exceptions. After doing that, you should be able to deploy updates without any problems.

Solution 5 – Configure your proxy

Many users use proxy to protect their privacy online, but sometimes your proxy can interfere and cause this and other errors to occur. This error appears while using SCCM and it can prevent you from downloading update packages from WSUS. To fix the problem, you just have to configure proxy to bypass the local addresses and the problem will be resolved.

Solution 6 – Enter your proxy credentials

Users reported this error message while using SCCM server and proxy. According to them, you can avoid this error simply by logging in to the SCCM server and opening your browser. After doing that, you just need to enter your proxy credentials and everything should be in order.

Solution 7 – Recreate your repository

If you’re getting this error while using ePO, you might be able to solve it by deleting the whole repository and recreating it. Several users reported this error, but they were able to solve it by deleting and recreating the repository. After doing that, the problem should be resolved entirely.

The process is not in background processing mode error message can cause some problems, but you should be able to fix it by using one of our solutions.

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Fix: Windows Resource Protection could not start the repair service

Posted on October 16, 2017October 4, 2023 by Madalina Dinita

Windows has several mechanisms for protecting itself from malware and other security threats.

It’s a well-known secret that the registry values are compromised in most of the cyber attacks. It is for this reason that Microsoft has something called as Windows Resource Protection, a tool that protects registry keys and folders apart from the critical system files.

In cases where the Windows Resource Protection file is missing or corrupted the Windows will not work as expected. The System File Checker tool can be used to scan for errors and repair the computer however if the WRP file is missing then even the SFC tool cannot be run.

Why is my PC showing ‘Windows Resource Protection could not start the repair service’?

The Windows Resource Protection works in tandem with a service called Windows Modules Installer. The Windows Module Installer has complete access to the WRP.

In this case, when we try to run the WRP resources the Windows Module Installer is disabled and this the error ‘Windows Resource Protection could not start the repair service’ will be displayed.

At this juncture, I would also like to mention that the SFC service sometimes needs to be run multiple times or in safe mode.

How to fix ‘Windows Resource Protection could not start the repair service’ error?

One can fix the WRP error by following the steps below,

Press Windows key+R in order to open a Run box. Now type “services.msc” in the box and then click OK.
Once the Services window is open find the “Windows Modules Installer” and double click on the same.

In the next step, the properties pane opens and its here that you need to select “General”
Go to the “Startup” type drop down and select the “Manual” option. Before exiting click on “Apply” and “OK” to save the settings. Now you can exit the services Window.
Now one needs to open the CMD by searching for the same in the Start Menu. Right-click and select the “Run as administrator.” If prompted by User Account Control click on Yes.
Once the CMD window is open click the commands listed below and don’t forget to press “Enter” after each line.

sc config trustedinstaller start= demandnet start trustedinstaller

net start trustedinstaller

Now try to run the sfc.exe on the Windows and everything should work as intended. As an alternative approach, you may also use tools like Reimage which will repair the Windows file corruption in a single click.

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Microsoft compares AWS and Azure in new Cloud Service Map

Posted on October 16, 2017 by davew

Today, Microsoft released a cloud service map showing users why they should choose Microsoft Azure over Amazon Web Services (AWS). The cloud service map goes over the cloud capabilities of Azure and AWS in all categories. Depending on what service, you choose, Microsoft shows what you need ot keep in mind when choosing either available cloud service.

Excerpt from the Compute Section from the Cloud Service Map for AWS and Azure

The cloud service map lays out 13 areas that pits AWS against Microsoft Azure and shows the pros and cons of each cloud service. Here are the 13 areas that the cloud service map covers.

Marketplace
Compute
Storage
Networking & Content Delivery
Database
Analytics and big data
Intelligence
Internet of Things (IoT)
Management & monitoring
Mobile services
Security, identity, and access
Developer tools
Enterprise integration

Microsoft provides a very informative cloud service map to help you make the choice that is right for your organization.

The Turing Test & Medal of Honor: Airborne now free for Xbox Live Gold members

Posted on October 16, 2017 by Radu Tyrsina

We’re about halfway through the month of October, which means a new set of games have just gone free for Xbox Live Gold subscribers. Gamers can now grab up The Turing Test & Medal of Honor: Airborne for free for a limited time with their membership.

The Turing Test:

The Turing Test is a first person puzzler that explores the phenomena of consciousness and challenges the meaning of human intuition. Take control of Ava Turing, an engineer for the International Space Agency (ISA), and progress through a narrated story of introspection and morality whilst uncovering the hidden mysteries of Europa. Delve into The Turing Test’s human interaction puzzles and arm yourself with logical and methodical thinking. Take on tests designed in such a way that only a human could solve them. In an evolving story based on mankind’s inherent need to explore, protect and survive; players search deeper into Europa’s ice crusted core and transcend the line between man and machine.

Medal of Honor Airborne:

Take to the skies in Medal of Honor Airborne, where your choices will turn the tide of WWII. Starting with your jump from a C-47, every choice you make can seal your fate. In the air, control your parachute to select the landing spot that brings you the greatest strategic advantage. On the ground, explore the open, vertical environment for positions that will provide you a tactical edge against your enemies. Then, head onto Xbox LIVE for furious multiplayer battles in three different modes, including all-new Airborne modes! You decide where to drop, you decide how to fight. It’s a different war every time.

Valued at $40, these are two good games to play on your Xbox One. Let us know in the comments which games would you like to see go free next month.

Microsoft highlights several Fluent Design System components in new video

Posted on October 16, 2017 by Radu Tyrsina

Last week, Microsoft held its second Windows Developer Day where the company highlighted everything that’s new for developers in the Fall Creators Update. One of the big theme of the event was Fluent Design, Microsoft’s new design language for Windows 10 which is already visible in the Windows Shell as well as several stock Windows 10 apps.

Yesterday, the company published the following video on its Windows Developer channel to showcase several Fluent Design System components (via Neowin): beyond the “acrylic” transparency effects, you can see the “Reveal” lighting effects when the mouse is over the desired areas, and there are also some cool parallax scrolling effects in some apps such as Photos and MSN News.

Microsoft previously explained at Build 2017 that Fluent Design will evolve and become more complex (and hopefully prettier) in future major Windows 10 updates. It’s now up to developers to embrace Fluent Design in their Windows 10 apps, and you can learn more technical details about the new design language by checking all videos from last week’s Windows Developer Day.

What is $Windows.~WS folder in Windows 10/11

Posted on October 15, 2017January 25, 2024 by Aleksandar Ognjanovic

Just like all previous Windows iterations, Windows 10 has some unique features and unique folders. One of those is the $Windows~WS folder, which stores upgrade-related files.

Today, we’ll try to explain what this folder stands for, why it is important, and why you can or can’t delete it without a second thought. You can find everything you need regarding this folder just below.

What’s $Windows~WS folder and can you safely delete it?

What’s the Windows~WS folder?

$Windows~WS is a hidden folder in which you can find essential files of the previous system version. Basically, it stores the most important data and provides you with backup in case you want to downgrade your system back to Windows 7 or Windows 8.

Thus, this folder is only visible to users that upgraded to Windows 10 on Windows 7 or 8 foundation, rather than performing the clean installation.

It can be found in the system partition, once you enable the Hidden items. You can do so by checking the Hidden items box under the View section.

Even though ‘WS’ stands for Windows Setup, it stores mostly configuration files and not the setup files. Still, if you’re rethinking switching back to Windows 7 or 8 respectively, it’s quite important to keep this file and not delete it.

Another similar folder is $Windows~BT, which, on the other hand, stores major updates and installation files, so it’s also worth keeping.

Can I delete $Windows.~WS?

On the other hand, these folders combined can take dozens of gigabytes of storage space. And if you’re satisfied with what Windows 10 offers, you can delete their content immediately. You can do it manually — by deleting the folder, or with the bit of help of the built-in Disk Cleanup tool. Details about Disk Cleanup can be found in this article, so make sure to check it out.

Follow the instructions below to clean them and free some storage space on your system partition:

In the Windows Search bar, type Disk and open Disk Cleanup.
Select the system partition (C: most of the time).
Click on the ”Clean Up System Files” button.
Check all the boxes.
Click OK to confirm the start of the cleanup procedure.

After that, you can navigate to C:$Windows~WS and delete its content completely. And, don’t worry, you can delete this folder without consequences.

This isn’t the only issue you can encounter, and a few users reported 2 Windows folders on the C drive, but we covered that issue in a separate guide.

That should do it. If you have related questions regarding this or other folders, post them in the comments section below. We look forward to hearing from you.

Fix: ‘No .natvis files found’ error on Windows 10

Posted on October 13, 2017October 4, 2023 by Madalina Dinita

The ‘No .natvis files found‘ error on Windows 10 occurs when users try to run DX commands in the Windows 10 kits debugging tools. Alternatively, when users click DML links generated by other commands such as X or DV, this error appears.

The error message looks something like this:

“No .natvis files found at C:Program Files (x86)/Windows Kits/10/Debuggers/x64/Visualizers”

As the error message suggests, the reason behind this error are some missing files (the .natvis files). These files typically help the debugger understand how a particular data types should be visualized.

With the files missing, the error is thrown. In this article, we look into how you can resolve the ‘No .natvis files found’ error on Windows 10.

How to fix the ‘No .natvis files found’ error on Windows 10

.Natvis files are typically included with the debuggers of Windows 10 kits, Visual Studio 2013 comes with a slightly modified version of these files. Hence, doing a clean installation of Visual Studio 2013 (not 2015, as its Natvis files are not supported by the debuggers of the Windows 10 kits).

Once the installation is complete, follow these steps:

1. Find the Visual Studio 2013 Natvis files. Press Windows + R, and in the Run dialogue enter the following address:

“%programfiles(x86)%Microsoft Visual Studio 12.0/Common7/Packages/Debugger/Visualizers”

2. Locate the address of the Windows 10 debugger. Usually, it is the following location. (Press Windows + R, and in the Run dialogue enter the following address:)

3. Locate location where debugger of Windows 10 is installed. Usually this location is:

“%programfiles(x86)%Windows Kits/10/Debuggers/[x86 or x64 or arm]”

4. Now create a folder named “Visualizers” in the addresses of all available debugger packages (x86 or x64 or arm). You will need administrative privileges.
5. Copy the .natvis file from the installation folder of Visual Studio 2013 to these newly created folders.
6. Restart all Windows 10 kits debuggers.

Microsoft has said that a future version of Windows 10 kits will include updated versions of .Natvis files that are compatible with Visual Studio 2015. So make sure you keep an eye for updates.

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How to remove the ‘SLU_Updater.exe’ pop-up message

Posted on October 13, 2017October 4, 2023 by Andrew Wafer

Any sort of pop-up that asks you to download something shouldn’t be trusted. Usually, you are dealing with deceptive messages that scam websites use to access data on your Windows 10 system or trick you into paying for third-party software.

Either way, you should be extremely careful as most likely you are experiencing a malware attack.

One such particular case is the SLU_Updater.exe pop-up message.

Therefore, if you just received the SLU_Updater.exe pop-up, you should quickly decide what to do next. Of course, you shouldn’t download anything on your computer. What you need to do is initiate a full scan and remove the malware which is playing with your nerves.

And here is how you can achieve that.

How to remove the SLU_Updater.exe malware

Apparently, the update pop-up is associated with the program Stagelight by Openlabs. So, erasing the SLU_Updater.exe file should be possible if you uninstall the already mentioned software from your computer.

In order to do so, follow these steps:

Press the Win+X hotkeys and select Control Panel.
In Control Panel, switch to Categories and click on Uninstall (under Programs).
Find the Stagelight program and remove it.
If you cannot remove the program, try to stop its processes first – access Task manager and under Processes tab end any process that might be related with this program.

Hint: If you just cannot remove the program, try to complete the steps from above through Safe Mode – press Win+R hotkeys and type msconfig and then press Enter; from the next windows switch to Boot tab and check the Safe Mode check box; save your changes and restart your Windows 10 system.

If you are still receiving the SLU_Updater.exe pop-up, after uninstalling the Stagelight by Openlabs program, initiate a scan. You can use default antivirus software from Microsoft, or you can choose to run a more automated software that will eliminate the issue.

For this purpose, we advise any user to approach the best antivirus software for Windows PCs you can find now.

Either way, make sure you complete a full scan – just wait for as long as it takes (the scan will run depending on how many files are stored on your device). In the end, choose to remove all the infected files and restart your computer.

Afterward, perform one last scan for making sure that everything is safe and secured now.

That should do the trick and you should now remove the SLU_Updater.exe pop-up message from your Windows 10 system. Make sure that your computer is always protected by antivirus or antimalware programs to avoid similar problems.

Also, Windows Firewall must be enabled and you should use web browsing protection too. And, of course, be careful when downloading and installing third-party apps on your device, especially when you navigate towards web pages that cannot be fully trusted.

Windows 10 bloatware: check what the release includes & what it removes

Posted on October 13, 2017February 3, 2020 by Radu Tyrsina

Everyone was waiting for Microsoft to release the Windows 10 Fall Creators Update on October 17. But, in case you didn’t know, you also have the ability to install it right now without even having to join the Windows Insider Program. Read below to find out how.

Windows 10 Fall Creators Update Bloatware Free Edition is not an official release from Microsoft

The Windows 10 Fall Creators Update Bloatware Free Edition is not an official release from Microsoft. Instead, it’s a special edition built using the MSMG Toolkit v7.7 and the latest Windows 10 Fall Creators Update RTM Build 16299.15.

The Bloatware Free Edition will remove a lot of unwanted extras from the operating system. Speaking of which, if you want to completely remove bloatware from your Windows 10 PC, check out this step-by-step guide.

Check out what the release includes & what it removes:

This release includes an integrated DirectX 9 and applied Metro skin to the Windows Photo Viewer.

Regarding what it excludes, the following features have been eliminated:

All the Metro apps except the Store, Xbox, and Sticky Notes
Third-party app links
Telemetry
Maps
Skype video app
Contact support
Windows Embedded Features (removes packages related to Custom Shell, Device Lockdown, Keyboard/Registry Filter)
Cortana
Home group
Geo location
Quick Assist app
Mixed reality
Windows Defender
Take a Test

Once you installed the Windows 10 Fall Creators Update Bloatware Free Edition, you will have to enter your Windows product key in PC Settings – Updates & Security – Activation – Change Product Key to activate the release. You can use the operating system also without activating it.

The ISO also comes with the stable RAID Driver v15.2.0.1020, so it will be on your USB Flash disk once you burn the ISO to it for easier access.

This is useful for users who want to install Windows 10 on a RAID setup, and you can simply point to the USB Flash disk/RAID folder in order to load the IRST driver. This way, you will get the chance to see your RAID array.

You can now download the Windows 10 Fall Creators Update Bloatware Free Edition ISO.

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The Thread is Already in Background Processing Mode [Fix]

Posted on October 12, 2017October 4, 2023 by Milan Stanojevic

System errors, such as ERROR_THREAD_MODE_ALREADY_BACKGROUND can appear on almost any computer. This problem is related to the Windows platform, and you can easily recognize it by its The thread is already in background processing mode error message.

This isn’t a major error, and today, we will show you how to fix it properly.

How can I fix ERROR_THREAD_MODE_ALREADY_BACKGROUND?

1. Check your dsm.opt file

According to users, this error occurs after restarting the TSM Client Acceptor service. It seems that the cause of the problem is dsm.opt file. This file doesn’t support certain characters, and if you made any changes to it you might’ve caused the problem.

To fix the issue, you need to open dsm.opt file and remove the problematic entries. After doing that, you have to save changes and restart the TSM Client Acceptor and check if that solves the problem.

Several users reported that their dsm.opt file had several invalid TCPCADAddress entries. After removing them from the dsm.opt file, the issue was resolved entirely.

Several users reported that the option file was the problem in their case, and after commenting out VMSKIPMAXVMDKS=yes entry and saving the changes, the issue was resolved.

2. Check your file name

According to users, this error occurs with InfoPath and SharePoint Library. Apparently, the issue can appear if your file name contains any illegal characters. If you’re having this problem, you should check your file name for any illegal characters and remove them.

Many errors can occur with illegal characters in file names, so be sure your file name contains only alphanumeric characters. If there are any special characters, remove them and check if that solves the problem.

3. Clear the InfoPath cache manually

By default, InfoPath saves its cache automatically on your PC. However, sometimes certain issues can occur; the only solution is manually removing the cache. To do that, follow these simple steps:

Press Windows Key + R to open the Run dialog and enter %appdata%. Press Enter or click OK.
Navigate to the MicrosoftInfoPathFormCache2 directory and delete all files from the directory.

After doing that, the cache will be successfully cleared and the problem should be resolved.

If you don’t want to delete the cache manually, you can do it using a single command. Simply open the Run dialog like we showed you in the previous steps and enter Infopath /cache clearall. Now press OK or Enter, and the cache will be removed automatically.

4. Recreate ThinApp packages

This error also appears while using VMware and ThinApp for Horizon. Users reported that recreating the ThinApp packages and choosing the Manage with Horizonfixed the issue for them, so be sure to try it.

Keep in mind that this solution applies only to the users that are using VMware. You can skip this solution entirely if you’re not using this tool.

5. Check your antivirus software

Antivirus tools are necessary, but sometimes third-party antivirus software can interfere with your system and cause this and other errors to occur. You need to check your antivirus configuration and disable all problematic features to fix the problem.

Finding the problematic feature isn’t always simple, especially if you’re unfamiliar with antivirus software and computer security, so you’ll have to use trial and error.

Alternatively, you can disable your antivirus software entirely and check if that solves the issue. In some cases disabling the antivirus doesn’t work, so you might have to remove your antivirus.

We must mention that antivirus tools often leave certain files and registry entries behind that can still interfere with your system. To completely remove your antivirus, we advise you to download and use a dedicated removal tool. Many antivirus companies offer these tools for their software, so be sure to download one for your antivirus.

After removing your antivirus entirely, check if the problem still persists. If not, you might want to install the latest version of your antivirus or switch to a different antivirus tool.

6. Enter Safe Mode

Safe Mode is a special segment of Windows that runs with default drivers and applications, so it’s perfect for error troubleshooting. To enter Safe Mode, you need to do the following:

Open the Start Menu and click the Power button. Press and hold the Shift key and choose Restart from the menu.
Choose Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings. Click the Restart button.
Once your PC restarts, a list of options will appear. Select any version of Safe Mode by pressing the appropriate key.

Once you enter Safe Mode, check if the problem still appears. If not, it’s most likely that one of the third-party applications is interfering with your system and causing this error. To fix the problem, you must remove any recently installed or updated applications and check if that solves the issue.

7. Keep your system up to date

Windows 10 is a solid operating system, but just like any other one, it also has a few bugs. Microsoft is frequently releasing new updates and addressing these bugs, so if you want to keep your PC bug-free and stable, it’s advised to keep your system up to date.

In most cases, updates are downloaded automatically in the background, but sometimes, you can skip an update due to certain errors. To fix this issue, you can check for updates manually by doing the following:

Press Windows Key + I to open the Settings app.
Once the Settings app opens, navigate to the Update & security section.
Click on Check for updates button.

If any updates are available, Windows will download them in the background and install them once you restart your PC. After updating your operating system, check if the problem still appears.

The thread is already in background processing mode error message can cause problems on your PC, but we hope you managed to solve it by using one of our solutions.

Windows Media Player disappeared after update? Here’s how to get it back

Posted on October 12, 2017October 4, 2023 by Radu Tyrsina

It is already known that the upcoming Windows 10 Fall Creators Update will get rid of some of the oldest programs in the Windows ecosystem, such as Paint. However, it appears that list might be longer than we expected. Windows Insiders are already testing the Fall Creators Update and, after receiving the KB4046355 update, discovered that Windows Media Player is no longer available.

After the update the WMP is completely gone, the C:Program Files (x86)Windows Media Player” folder only has a “wmp.dll” file. Currently on build 16299.0.

Right now, we do not have any official information from Microsoft but we are waiting for an announcement. However, it is not hard to understand why they decided to remove it, since there are many other alternatives including third-party players.

How to reinstall Windows Media Player

Windows Media Player users might have been scared by the news, but it appears that Windows Media Player is not gone forever. While it is true that it will not come installed by default in the upcoming Windows 10 Fall Creators Update, there is a way to get it on your computer once again.

Here is what you have to do:

Go to the Settings app.
Open Apps > Apps & features and then select “manage optional features”
Once you are there, select the “Add a feature” option.
Scroll down all the way to the bottom of the screen and you should find Windows Media Player.
The program will be listed as an optional feature. Select it and click the install button.
In less than a minute, the installation should be complete and you will be able to use Windows Media Player once again on your computer.

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KB4041689 marks the end of support for Windows 10 version 1511

Posted on October 12, 2017June 5, 2019 by Madalina Dinita

If you’re still running Windows 10 version 1511 on your computer, perhaps it’s time to upgrade your OS. Microsoft recently pushed the last Windows 10 version 1511 update to the public, marking the end of support for the OS.

Update KB4041689 brings a series of bug fixes to Universal CRT that blocked executable files from running, patches memory corruption issues, and adds many security improvements to various Windows components.

KB4041689 changelog

Addressed issue where the Universal CRT _splitpath was not handling multibyte strings correctly, which caused apps to fail when accessing multibyte filenames.

Addressed issue where the Universal CRT caused the linker (link.exe) to stop working for large projects.

Addressed issue where the MSMQ performance counter (MSMQ Queue) may not populate queue instances when the server hosts a clustered MSMQ role.

Addressed issue with the Lock Workstation policy for smart cards where, in some cases, the system doesn’t lock when you remove the smart card.

Addressed issue where, when using Conditional Access with Azure Active Directory, authentication fails.

Addressed issue with form submissions in Internet Explorer.

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, Microsoft Edge, Windows Authentication, Windows TPM, Microsoft PowerShell, Windows Wireless Networking, Windows Storage and Filesystems, Microsoft Windows DNS, Microsoft Scripting Engine, Windows Server, Device Guard, and the Windows SMB Server.

Windows 10 version 1511 end of service

As we already stated at the beginning of this article, KB4041689 is the last update that Microsoft released to Windows 10 version 1511. In other words, devices running this OS version will no longer receive monthly security and quality updates. If you continue using Windows 10 version 1511, your computer will no longer be protected against the latest security threats.

Upgrading your PC to the latest OS version available is extremely important. In this manner, you can stay one step ahead of hackers and avoid malware and ransomware attacks.

To continue receiving security and quality updates, we recommend upgrading to Windows 10 Creators Update as soon as possible. For more information on how to install the Creators Update and fix possible download issues, check out the articles below:

Download the Windows 10 Creators Update’s official ISO files
Unable to download Windows 10 Creators Update [Fix]

Command Specified Offset Data Error: 5 Ways to Fix it

Posted on October 12, 2017October 4, 2023 by Milan Stanojevic

System errors, such as ERROR_OFFSET_ALIGNMENT_VIOLATION, can cause Command specified offset data message to appear.

This message can be problematic, and it cause BSOD errors and crashes. Speaking of Blue screen errors, we have a great guide on BSOD causes that you should check out.

Today we’re going to focus on the offset data message, so without further ado, let’s get started.

What causes The command specified a data offset that does not align to the device’s granularity/alignment?

In some instances, your antivirus can interfere with your PC and lead to this error message.
Missing updates will sometimes cause this issue.
Problems with Windows Update components can cause this problem.
Sometimes third-party startup application can result in this error message.

How can I fix Command specified offset data error?

1. Check your antivirus

Open your antivirus settings.
Next, locate Core Shields and disable them all.
After doing that, check if the problem is gone.

Keep in mind that these are just a general guidelines, and the steps will different depending on the antivirus software that you’re using.

2. Make sure that Windows is up to date

Press Windows Key + I to open the Settings app.
Once Settings app opens, navigate to the Update & security section.
Now click on Check for updates button.

If any updates are available, Windows will automatically download them in the background and install them once you restart your PC. After updating your system, check if the error message still appears.

3. Reset Windows Update components.

Press Windows key + X and choose Windows Powershell (Admin).
Enter the following commands one by one:
net stop wuauserv net stop bits net stop cryptsvc cd %SystemRoot%\System32 ren catroot2 catroot2_BackUp cd.. ren SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution_BackUp net start wuauserv net start bits net start cryptsvc
After all commands are executed, close Command Prompt.

4. Perform a Clean boot

Press Windows Key + R and enter msconfig. Press OK.
System Configuration window will appear. Navigate to the Services tab and check Hide all Microsoft services option. Now click on Disable all.
Navigate to Startup tab and click on Open Task Manager.
When Task Manager opens you’ll see a list of all startup applications. Select the first entry on the list and click on Disable button. Repeat this step for all applications on the list.
After disabling all startup apps, close Task Manager and go back to System Configuration window. Click Apply and OK to save changes.
Restart your PC to apply changes.

After doing that, check if the problem still appears. If not, you need to repeat the same steps and enable applications and services one by one or in groups.

Keep in mind that you need to restart your PC after enabling a group of apps or services. After you find the problematic application you can keep it disabled, remove it and Command specified offset data error will be gone.

4. Perform a System Restore

Press Windows Key + S and enter system restore. Choose Create a restore point from the menu.
System Properties window will now open. Click on System Restore button.
When System Restore window appears, click on Next. Check Show more restore points and select the desired restore point. Click on Next to continue.
Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the reset.

After completing the reset, check if the issue still persists. In most cases System Restore should be able to revert any recent changes and problems, so be sure to try it out.

5. Reset Windows 10

Open the Start Menu and click the Power button. Press and hold the Shift key and click on Reset.
List of options will appear. Click on Troubleshoot > Reset this PC > Remove everything. You might need to insert an installation media during this step, so be sure to have it ready.
Choose your version of Windows and select Only the drive where Windows is installed > Just remove my files.
You’ll see a list of files that reset will remove. Once you’re ready to start click on Reset button.
Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the reset.

After resetting Windows 10 check if the issue still persists. If not, install all your applications and move files from the backup.

Command specified offset data is a system error and it can prevent you from installing certain applications. This isn’t a serious error, and you should be able to resolve it by using one of our solutions.

In case the problem is still there, we suggest using BSOD Viewer to diagnose crashes and further analyze the problem.

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

Sony’s reluctance to bring Minecraft cross-play to Playstation “not going away,” says Xbox chief

Posted on October 12, 2017 by Radu Tyrsina

Back at E3 2017, Microsoft made headlines when they announced that Minecraft’s Better Together update would enable cross-play multiplayer between Xbox One, Windows 10, Nintendo Switch as well as mobile platforms. But unfortunately for PlayStation gamers, Sony declined to play ball, defending their refusal to open up cross-network play by the necessity to protect younger gamers.

In the following months, Microsoft said that it has been in discussions with Sony to enable cross-play on the Playstation 4 version of Minecraft, but things aren’t looking good so far. In a recent interview with GameSpot, Xbox Chief Phil Spencer shared that he’s unsure if Sony will ever have a change of mind about it. He explained:

“I have a real struggle making comments about their motivation or timelines. I know there is a certain view that says if my friends have this console, they can’t play with people who buy another console. That’s a reason they go buy my console,” he said. “That reason is not going to go away. So we’re putting Minecraft out there as one of the biggest games on any platform and allowing people to play together regardless of what device they bought. I don’t think everybody is taking that same approach to the ecosystem. So I’m never going to call anything a lost cause but I think some of the fundamental reasons and certain scenarios, they’re not really going away. So I don’t know what would change.”

For Spencer, crossplay multiplayer is positive for gamers, game developers as well as the video games industry as a whole. “If it’s better for gamers, I have a hard time thinking why we shouldn’t go do this, especially when you’re trying to make the gaming business a bigger business; grow it, get more games, create more opportunity,” he explained. But Sony, which has the best-selling console of this generation may have no interest to play nice with other platforms, for now at least.

In the meantime, if cross-platform multiplayer does matter to you, then the Xbox One remains the better choice. In addition to Minecraft, several Microsoft Studios titles such as Gears of War 4 or Forza Horizon 3 already support cross-play between Xbox One and Windows 10, and the fighting game Killer Instinct even supports it between Steam, Windows 10 and Xbox One. Do you think Sony will have to change its stance at some point, or do you think the company is more interested in keeping PS4 players in a walled garden? Let us know below.

The target device has insufficient resources to complete the operation [Fix]

Posted on October 11, 2017October 4, 2023 by Milan Stanojevic

ERROR_DEVICE_NO_RESOURCES is a system error and it can appear on almost any PC. You can easily recognize this error thanks to its The target device has insufficient resources to complete the operation message, and today we’re going to show you how to fix it.

How to fix ERROR_DEVICE_NO_RESOURCES?

Fix – ERROR_DEVICE_NO_RESOURCES

Solution 1 – Check for updates

Windows 10 is a great operating system, but it’s not bug-free. Some compatibility issues and bugs can occur once in a while, and in order to prevent them from appearing it’s advised to keep your Windows up to date. Updating Windows is rather simple, and in most cases Windows 10 will automatically download and install the necessary updates. However, due to certain problems you might skip an update. To ensure your PC is up to date, we strongly advise you to check for updates manually. This is rather simple and you can do it by following these steps:

Press Windows Key + I to open the Settings app.
When Settings app opens, go to Update & security section.
Click for Check for updates button.

Windows will now check for updates. If any updates are available, they will be downloaded in the background and installed once you restart your PC. Once your PC is updated, the error should be resolved.

Solution 2 – Check your antivirus

Even though antivirus software is a necessity, it can sometimes interfere with your system and cause this and other errors to occur. If you’re using a third-party antivirus software, you might want to check its settings. Sometimes certain features can prevent specific operations from running, and to fix the problem you need to find and disable the problematic features. This isn’t as easy as it sounds, especially if you’re not familiar with your antivirus or computer security.

If disabling the problematic feature is too complicated for you, you can try disabling your antivirus software entirely. Even if you disable your antivirus, your PC will remain protected thanks to the Windows Defender.

READ ALSO: Fix: ‘System Running Low on Resources: Cannot Log on as new User’ in Windows 10

If disabling the antivirus doesn’t fix the problem, your last option is to remove it. Keep in mind that antivirus tools tend to leave certain files and registry entries behind even after you remove them. These files can also interfere with your system, so it’s important that you remove them. The best way to do that is to use a dedicated removal tool. Almost all antivirus companies have dedicated removal tools for their software, so be sure to download one for your antivirus and use it to remove all leftover files.

If removing the antivirus fixes the problem, you can try switching to a different antivirus application or install the latest version of your antivirus software.

Solution 3 – Run Windows Update troubleshooter

According to users, you might be able to fix this problem simply by running Windows Update troubleshooter. Improperly installed update can cause this error to appear, but you can fix that by running Windows Update troubleshooter. This is relatively simple and you can do it by following these steps:

Open the Settings app and navigate to Update & security section.
Navigate to the Troubleshoot tab and choose Windows Update from the right pane. Click on Run the troubleshooter button.
Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the troubleshooting process.

You can also troubleshoot Windows updates by doing the following:

Press Windows Key + S and enter control panel. Choose Control Panel from the list.
Once Control Panel opens, click on Troubleshooting.
Click on View all.
Scroll all the way down and click on Windows Update.
Click on Next to start the troubleshooter.
Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the process.

Several users reported that running the troubleshooter fixed the problem for them, so be sure to try this solution.

READ ALSO: “Application.exe has stopped working” error in Windows 10 [Fix]

Solution 4 – Remove a problematic update

Even though it’s important to keep your PC up to date, sometimes certain updates can cause this and other problems to appear. To fix the problem you might want to try removing any recently installed updates. This is rather simple and you can do it by following these steps:

Open the Settings app.
Navigate to Update & security section and click on Update history.
Click on Uninstall updates option.
Installed Updates window will appear. Look for any recent update and double click it to remove it.

After removing the problematic update, check if the problem still appears.

Solution 5 – Enter Safe Mode

Safe Mode is a special segment of Windows that runs with default drivers and applications, so it’s perfect for troubleshooting. To enter Safe Mode, do the following:

Open the Start Menu and click on Power button. Now press and hold the Shift key on your keyboard and choose Restart from the menu.
Choose Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings. Click the Restart button.
Once your PC restarts a list of options will appear. Select any version of Safe Mode by pressing the appropriate key.

Once you enter Safe Mode check if the problem still appears. If not, it means that one of disabled applications is probably causing this error. To fix it, you need to find and remove the problematic application from the PC. In most cases the cause is usually a recently installed application, so be sure to remove those applications first.

Solution 6 – Perform System Restore

If this error started appearing recently, you might be able to solve it by restoring your PC using System Restore. This is a useful feature that will restore your PC to the previous state and fix any recent problems. We have to warn you that this feature might remove any recently saved files as well, so we recommend to back up your files just in case. To perform System Restore, do the following:

READ ALSO: Windows Update issues after installing Windows 10 Creators Update [Fix]

Press Windows Key + S and enter system restore. Choose Create a restore point from the menu.
System Properties window will appear. Click on System Restore button.
Once System Restore window opens, click on Next.
Check Show more restore points option and select the desired restore point. Click on Next to proceed.
Follow the instructions on the screen to restore your system.

System Restore is a quick and simple way to fix computer errors, so if you’re having this problem, be sure to try this solution.

Solution 7 – Reset Windows 10

If other solutions can’t fix this problem, you might want to consider resetting Windows 10. We have to warn you that this process will remove all installed applications and files from your system drive, so be sure to back them up. You might need a Windows 10 installation media to perform the reset, so be sure to create it with Windows Media Creation Tool. To reset Windows 10, you need to do the following:

Open the Start Menu, click the Power button, press and hold the Shift key and choose Restart from the menu.
List of options will now appear. Choose Troubleshoot > Reset this PC > Remove everything. During this step you might need to insert Windows 10 installation media, so be sure to have it ready.
Select your version of Windows and choose Only the drive where Windows is installed > Just remove my files.
Now you’ll see a list of changes that reset will perform. Click the Reset button to start.
Follow instructions on the screen to complete the reset.

After resetting Windows 10, all your files and apps will be removed from the system drive. Now you just have to restore your backup and check if the error appears again. This is a drastic solution, so you should use it only if other solutions can’t fix the problem.

ERROR_DEVICE_NO_RESOURCES and The target device has insufficient resources to complete the operation error message can cause some problems, but they aren’t serious errors. These errors are relatively simple to fix, and you should be able to fix them by using one of our solutions.

READ ALSO:

Mozilla Firefox ends support for Windows XP and Windows Vista in 2018

Posted on October 9, 2017October 11, 2017 by Madalina Dinita

Yes, it’s finally come to this. Windows XP is arguably the most popular Windows operating system that had a run for nearly two decades. Even today, I see small enterprises and educational institutions use Windows XP. In the meanwhile, the Windows Vista had its fair share of trouble and was dismissed for good. The news here is that Mozilla has decided to end support for Windows XP and Vista starting from June 2018.

Next year Firefox will reach the ‘end of life’ (EOL) on the Windows XP and the Windows Vista. On an interesting note, both the operating systems themselves are nearing the end of life. However, earlier the older operating systems were put into Extended Support Release last year and the expiry, in this case, was September 2017. This time around the company has confirmed that the ESR will be the last and Mozilla will finally pull the plugs on its browser for both the operating systems.

“As one of the few browsers that continue to support Windows XP and Vista, Firefox users on these platforms can expect security updates until [June 2018]. Users do not need to take additional action to receive those updates.”- Mozilla announced.

We think that the nine-month warning is fair enough and this should ideally compel the users to upgrade to a latest Windows version. Unsupported operating systems are vulnerable to all kind of threats be it from the malware or other exploits. The worst part, however, is that Microsoft will not be issuing patches and security fixes. That being said Mozilla has also pulled the plug on other operating systems as well, so Windows is no exception.

In the meanwhile, Mozilla is arming itself with the Firefox Quantum which uses a new CSS which according to the company makes the new browser twice as fast as its predecessor. The Firefox Quantum has also garnered rave reviews and perhaps will help people switch back to Firefox.

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RAM is Not Detected? 4 Ways to Recognize it

Posted on October 9, 2017October 4, 2023 by Matthew Adams

Many users reported that new RAM is not detected on their PC, which can be problematic. RAM is a basic component of any computer, and your PC can’t work without it.

To fix this issue, first, you need to check your RAM type and make sure that you’re using compatible modules.

Fixing this issue isn’t as hard as you think, and today we’re going to show you how to fix it properly.

Why is my RAM not detected?

You have exceeded your operating system’s RAM limit.
Your motherboard can’t handle more RAM memory.
The memory isn’t compatible with your motherboard.
The maximum RAM limit isn’t properly set on your PC.

What can I do if my RAM is not detected?

1. Check Windows OS RAM limits

Press the Cortana button on the taskbar.
Enter the keyword system in the search box.
Select to open the System tab shown in the snapshot directly below.
Windows 10 users can also select About your PC to open further OS details as below.
The listed system type specification tells you whether your platform is 32 or 64-bit. Also, note the Installed RAM spec that highlights the usable RAM amount.

You’ll need to upgrade a 32-bit platform to a 64-bit OS to ensure that all your system’s RAM is accepted. A 64-bit Windows 10 or 8 upgrade will ensure at least 128 GB RAM is accepted.

The Pro edition of Win 10 supports up to 2 TB (terabytes) of RAM. Note that your desktop or laptop will also need to 64-bit CPU to upgrade to a 64-bit OS.

The 64-bit Windows 7 platforms have lower RAM limits. The 64-bit Windows 7 Basic accepts 8 GB RAM only. You can add up to 16 GB RAM to Win 7 Premium.

2. Check Motherboard RAM restrictions

Check your motherboard manual.
Alternatively, enter the motherboard’s model number in a search engine to find a manufacturer support page for it.
Then you can open a page on the manufacturer’s website that might provide further details pertaining to how much RAM your motherboard supports.

This is always a good rule to follow, with any hardware, so always make sure that everything is fully compatible.

3. Check RAM compatibility

Check out this web tool with which you can find compatible upgrades.
Enter your model and check the compatibility list.
If it’s not compatible, remove the module and return it to the vendor for a replacement.

4. Adjust the maximum RAM setting

Press the Windows key + R hotkey and enter msconfig in Run’s text box.
Press the OK button to open the MSConfig window in the snapshot below.
Select the Boot tab on the System Configuration window.
Press the Advanced options button to open BOOT Advanced Options as shown below.
Deselect the Maximum memory option there if it’s selected.
Click OK to close the BOOT Advanced Options window.
Press the Apply button, and restart the Windows OS.

We hope these steps helped you with the RAM not detected issue on your PC. Maybe now Windows will recognize all your laptop’s or desktop’s RAM.

Just make sure you check your Windows and motherboard system specifications before adding another RAM module to a desktop.

If the problem is still there, we have a great guide on what to do if the PC is not using all RAM, so be sure to check it out.

Mail App Error 0x8500201d: How to Fix it

Posted on October 9, 2017October 4, 2023 by Madalina Dinita

If you’ve recently encountered error code 0x8500201d with the Mail app on Windows 10, this article is for you. This error occurs when the Outlook mail account fails to sync your emails with the mail app.

The error usually shows up when you click on Sync. The error message reads as, Something Went Wrong; We can’t sync right now. Error Code: 0x8500201d. Keep reading to find out how to fix things.

How do I fix sync error 0x8500201d?

1. Re-enable Mail syncing.

Open the Mail app. Go to Accounts, and select the account that’s giving you the problem.
On the Account settings window, click on Change mailbox sync settings.
Change the Syncing option to OFF.
Close and restart the Mail app.
Go to Accounts, select the same account, and click on Change mailbox sync settings on the Account settings window.
Change the Syncing options to ON and then restart the Mail app.

The first troubleshooting solution you need to try to resolve mail app synchronization error 0x8500201d on Windows 10 is disabling and then re-enabling the mail syncing process.

2. Perform a clean boot

Click on Start, and in the search bar, type msconfig.
From the search results, select System Configuration.
Open the Services tab.
Check the Hide all Microsoft services checkbox, and click the Disable all button.
Next, go to the Startup tab, and click the Open Task Manager button.
Right-click on all start-up items and click on Disable to disable them.
Close Task Manager.
Click the OK button on the Startup tab of the System Configuration window to save the changes.

Performing a clean boot can be useful in identifying the cause behind error code 0x8500201d. Usually, the problem stems from some third-party application or startup processes. Disabling all start-up processes and then re-enabling them one at a time can help pinpoint the source of the error.

Once the process is complete, restart the computer. See if the error persists. If not, start each application/service one at a time. As soon as the problem reappears, you will have identified the culprit.

If this doesn’t work for you, you can try the next solution.

3. Remove & re-add your account

Open the Mail app. Go to Accounts, and select the account that’s giving you the problem.
On the Account settings window, click on Delete account.
Close & restart the mail app.
Click on Settings from the bottom left corner of the screen.
Choose Accounts, and then Add account.
Enter your email account credentials and add the account.
Close and restart the Mail app again. Go to Accounts, and select the new account.
On the Account settings window, click on Change mailbox sync settings.
Disable contacts sync.

Hopefully, this will resolve Mail error 0x8500201d. If not, try the next step.

4. Remove your account

Open the Mail app. Go to Accounts, and select the account that’s giving you the problem.
On the Account settings window, click on Delete account.
Now, add a new account.
Close and restart the Mail app again.

If the previous solutions didn’t work, you can remove the current account and add a new one to fix Mail app error 0x8500201d in Windows. Or, you could try contacting Microsoft Support.

Besides, do check the best email clients to use in Windows.

Tell us which fix worked for you in the comments section below.

Fast Ring Insiders may receive first RS4 build as soon as this week

Posted on October 9, 2017 by Radu Tyrsina

We’re now just a week away from the release of the Windows 10 Fall Creators Update, and Microsoft is warning Windows Insiders on the Fast Ring Insiders to check their Windows Insider settings today. According to a recent post on the Windows Mixed Reality Developer Forum, the company is asking Mixed Reality developers to switch to the Release Preview Ring as the Fast Ring may get its first Restone 4 build as soon as this week.

Urgent! Mixed reality devs need to change Windows Insider settings TODAY (Oct 9). More info here: https://t.co/is6JYIyCzb

— Windows Developer (@windowsdev) October 9, 2017

From the forum post:

For those of you developing VR experiences for the new Windows Mixed Reality immersive headsets, we have an important message: if you stay in the Windows Insider Fast ring, beginning October 10, 2017 you may begin to receive RS4 builds, which will not be the most stable builds for mixed reality development. To continue mixed reality development uninterrupted, please switch your Insider settings to receive “just fixes, apps, and drivers” without getting a new Windows build from the “Windows Insider Release Preview” ring.

It’s not clear why the message is only addressed to Mixed Reality devs, as this is probably something all Windows Insiders should know about. The first RS4 builds, currently only available to Skip Ahead Insiders, can be more buggy especially since we’re quite early in this new development cycle. Additionally, once you move to this new development branch, you won’t be able to go back to the production branch (RS3) without reinstalling Windows. In other words, if you’re not ready yet for RS4, you should probably switch to the Release Preview ring as soon as possible. Here is how to do it:

Open Windows Settings
Select “Update & Security”
Select “Windows Insider Program”
In the “What kind of content would you like to receive?” drop-down menu, select “Just fixes, apps, and drivers”
In the “What pace do you want to get new builds?” drop-down menu, select “Windows Insider Release Preview”

As of today, the Windows 10 build 16299.15 is available to download for both Fast Ring and Slow Ring Insiders, and we expect it to the Release Preview Ring pretty soon. If you’re already running this build and don’t want to test new builds from the development branch, you now know what to do.

The system cannot find message text for message number [Fix]

Posted on October 9, 2017March 26, 2024 by Milan Stanojevic

ERROR_MR_MID_NOT_FOUND is a system error that can appear on any PC. This error usually comes with The system cannot find message text for message number message, and today we’re going to show you how to fix it.

How to fix ERROR_MR_MID_NOT_FOUND error?

Fix – ERROR_MR_MID_NOT_FOUND

Solution 1 – Check your Command Prompt shortcut

According to users, this error usually appears when trying to run certain commands from Command Prompt. Users reported creating a shortcut of Command Prompt on their desktop, but it seems that they can’t run any commands from it.

This error usually occurs if you don’t create a Command Prompt shortcut properly. If you copy Command Prompt to your desktop by mistake and try to run commands from it, you might experience certain problems. To fix this problem, we strongly advise you to check your Command Prompt shortcut and recreate it.

To create a Command Prompt shortcut, you can do the following:

Right click on your desktop and choose New > Shortcut.
Create Shortcut wizard will appear. Enter cmd in the input field and click on Next.
Now enter the name for your shortcut and click on Finish.

You can also create Command Prompt shortcut by going to the Windows directory and creating a shortcut from there. To do that, follow these steps:

Open File Explorer and go to C:WindowsSystem32.
Locate cmd.exe, right click it and choose Create shortcut option.
You’ll now get a warning message asking you to create a shortcut on your desktop. Click on Yes.

If you want, you can also use Pin to Start option to pin Command Prompt to the Start Menu. Alternatively, you can also start Command Prompt directly by doing the following:

Press Windows Key + S.
Enter command prompt and select Command Prompt from the list of results.

Another way to start Command Prompt is to use Win + X menu. This is a useful feature that allows you to quickly access certain system applications on Windows. To access Command Prompt, do the following:

Press Windows Key + X.
A list of options will appear. Select Command Prompt from the list.

If Command Prompt isn’t available, you can also use PowerShell to run your commands.

You can also start Command Prompt using the Run dialog. To do that, follow these steps:

Press Windows Key + R to open the Run dialog.
Enter cmd and press Enter or click OK.

As you can see, this problem is usually caused by a bad shortcut, but you should be able to solve it by creating a new Command Prompt shortcut or by running it directly.

Solution 2 – Use third-party software for registry issues

We recommend installing professional third-party software designed to fix registry and hardware issues, as well as common Windows errors. This type of tool can provide you with a thorough diagnosis and deliver system optimization within minutes.

Defective OS files and registry affect your PC’s performance and response time too. Repairing or replacing them is necessary if you want them to perform advanced administrative functions.

These tools will perform complex scans and detect damaged files in real time. Using online databases, will replace all the files in critical condition with healthy ones and restore your Windows registry values to their default settings.

Solution 3 – Check if the command syntax is correct

If you’re using command line applications often, you can sometimes get this error if you don’t enter your commands properly. If you make a typo or enter an invalid parameter or command, you can cause this error to appear. To avoid it, we strongly advise you to double check your commands before you run them in Command Prompt.

Solution 4 – Reinstall IIS service

According to users, this error can sometimes occur while using IIS service. To fix this problem, users are suggesting to uninstall and reinstall the IIS service. After doing that, the problem should be resolved completely.

Solution 5 – Use Command Prompt

The system cannot find message text for message number error can sometimes appear while trying to start Event Viewer. To fix this problem, users are recommending to use Command Prompt to disable certain services. This is relatively simple and you can do it by following these steps:

Press Windows Key + X and choose Command Prompt (Admin). If Command Prompt isn’t available, you can use PowerShell instead.
When Command Prompt opens, you need to enter these commands one by one:
- net stop winmgmt
- cd C:WindowsSystem32LogFilesWMI
- rename RtBackup RtBackup2
- exit

After running these commands restart your PC and check if the problem still persists.

Solution 5 – Use PowerShell ISE

PowerShell is a command line tool similar to Command Prompt, but it offers more advanced features. However, users reported this error message while trying to run certain scripts in PowerShell. To fix this problem, users are recommending to use PowerShell ISE. To do that, follow these steps:

Press Windows Key + S and enter powershell.
Choose PowerShell ISE from the list of results.
After PowerShell ISE starts, try to run your script again.

In addition to running PowerShell ISE, you can also try running it with administrative privileges. To do that, simply repeat the same steps and right click PowerShell ISE and choose Run as administrator from the menu.

Solution 6 – Run SFC scan

According to users, this error can sometimes occur due to corrupted system files. Fortunately for you, you might be able to fix it by running an SFC scan. To use this feature, do the following:

Press Windows Key + X and choose Command Prompt (Admin) from the menu.
Once Command Prompt starts, enter the sfc /scannow command and press Enter to run it.
The scanning process will now start. Keep in mind that the scanning can take more than 15 minutes, so be sure not to interrupt it.

After the scanning is completed, check if the problem still appears.

If SFC scan can’t fix the problem, or if you can’t run SFC scan at all, you might want to try using DISM scan instead. To do that, follow these steps:

Open Command Prompt as administrator and enter the following:
- DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth
- DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth
These two commands will scan your system separately, so be sure not to interrupt them. If the scans report any problems, you need to use DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth command to repair your installation. The repair process can take more than 20 minutes, so be sure not to interrupt it.

After repairing your system with DISM command the problem should be resolved.

Solution 7 – Make sure to properly open Command Prompt

According to users, they are getting this error while trying to start Command Prompt. It seems that this error occurs when users try to copy Command Prompt to a different folder and run it from there. In order to use Command Prompt you need to run it from its default folder.

Sometimes users need to open a specific directory with Command Prompt, but copying the Command Prompt to that directory isn’t a solution. To properly open any directory with Command Prompt you need to do the following:

Navigate to the directory you wish to open.
Press and hold the Shift key and right click anywhere in the directory. Choose Open Command Prompt window here. Some users might have Open PowerShell window here option instead. Both options work the same and it will open the command line tool in that directory.

Alternatively, you can start the Command Prompt and use the CD command to navigate to the desired directory.

The system cannot find message text for message number error usually appears when using Command Prompt. This isn’t a serious error and in most cases you can fix it by checking your Command Prompt shortcut.

Acquiring Network Address Message: How to Fix it

Posted on October 9, 2017October 4, 2023 by Matthew Adams

Is your PC stuck while acquiring a network address? This can be a problem since your PC won’t get an IP address assigned to it.

This will prevent users from accessing the Internet, so it’s crucial to fix this issue, and in today’s guide, we will show you how to do it.

How do I fix acquiring network address in Windows 10?

1. Update the LAN (Network Adapter) Driver

Press the Windows key + X and choose Device Manager from the list.
Double-click Network adapters and right-click the listed wireless LAN device to open its context menu.
Select Update driver to open the Update Drivers window.
Click the Search automatically for updated driver software option to obtain and install the latest device driver.
Some prefer to download and install drivers manually. You can do that by entering a hardware device listed on the Device Manager window in a search box on the network adapter’s manufacturer website.
If you’re not sure which manufacturer website to download a driver from, right-click the wireless LAN device listed on the Device Manager window and select Properties. The General tab includes manufacturer details.
Download a driver that’s compatible with your Windows platform from the manufacturer’s website. Select the Browse my computer for driver software manually option on the Update Driver window.
Press the Browse button to select the new driver, and click Next to install it.

On the other hand, it’s recommended to have a driver update manager to ensure your PC driver software works properly and the OS benefits from the latest updates.

Performed regularly, this action can lead to significant speed gains and protect your device from security breaches and malware. So, you should consider a dedicated application that can update the desired driver with a few clicks in a secure way.

2. Open the Internet Connections Troubleshooter

The Internet Connections troubleshooter might shed some light on and perhaps even fix the issue. To open that troubleshooter, press the Cortana button on Windows 10’s taskbar.
Input troubleshoot in the search box. Select Troubleshoot to open the window shown directly below.
Select Internet Connections and press its Run the troubleshooter button.
Click the Troubleshoot my connection to the internet option in the troubleshooter’s windows. The troubleshooter might then provide some potential resolutions.

3. Switch off firewalls

First, enter the keyword firewall in the Cortana or Start menu search box.
Select Windows Firewall to open its Control Panel tab shown below.
Click Turn Windows Firewall on or off to open the Customize Settings tab in the snapshot directly below.
Select both the Turn off Windows Firewall options.
Click OK at the bottom of the Customize Settings tab.
You can switch third-party anti-virus software firewalls off via their system tray icons. Right-click your anti-virus utility’s system tray icon to open its context menu.
Select a disable option on the context menu to switch the anti-virus software off.
If switching firewalls off resolves the acquire network address error, restore them to their default configurations. You can restore the Windows Firewall to its default settings by clicking Restore Defaults on the Firewall tab and pressing the Restore defaults button.

The Windows or third-party firewalls might be blocking the DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) ports 67 and 68. The DHCP protocol enables automatic IP address and network parameter requests. Switching firewalls off will ensure they aren’t blocking the DHCP.

4. Check the DHCP client

Press the Win key + R hotkey to open Run.
Enter services.msc in Run, and press the OK button.
Double-click the DHCP Client to open its properties window shown directly below.
Select Automatic from the Startup type drop-down menu if that’s not already selected.
Click Apply and OK to confirm the new setting.

5. Clear the DNS Cache and Renew the IP Address

Open Command Prompt as administrator.
Run the following commands:
ipconfig /flushdns ipconfig /release ipconfig /renew
Close Command Prompt and check if the problem is gone.

6. Reset the TCP/IP Protocol

Open the Command Prompt as an administrator by entering cmd in the Windows search box and right-clicking Command Prompt. Then you can select a Run as administrator option.
Run the following command: netsh int ip reset
Thereafter, restart the desktop or laptop.

How can I roll Windows back to a restore point?

To open System Restore, press the Win key + R keyboard shortcut to open Run.
Enter rstrui in Run’s text box, and click the OK button.
Press the Next button, and select the Show more restore points option.
Select a listed restore point that predates the acquire network address error.
System Restore might also remove some software. Click Scan for affected programs to open a list of software that will be deleted.
Press the Next > Finish buttons to confirm your restore point and restart Windows.

How do I find the IP address of my computer?

Press Windows key + X and choose PowerShell (Admin).
Next, run the following command: ipconfig
Look for IPv4 value for your network connection and you’ll find your local IP address.

Some of the resolutions above will probably fix the Acquiring network address error and re-establish the internet connection.

This can be a serious error since it can lead to a lost Internet connection and many other problems, but we hope you managed to fix it.

In case you’ve found a different solution that worked for you, please share it with us in the comments section.

Facebook Windows 10 app gets Jump Lists support with latest update

Posted on October 9, 2017 by Radu Tyrsina

If there are not a lot of great social media apps on the Windows Store as of today, Facebook is probably one of the few exceptions. So far, the social network has been supporting its Windows 10 apps (including Messenger and Instagram) with frequent updates, and the latest version of the Facebook app introduces jump lists support, something that you don’t often see on UWP apps (via Windows Blog Italia).

For those unfamiliar, Jump List support means that if you have pinned the Facebook app on your taskbar, you can right-click the app icon to get instant access to select features such as writing a new post, upload a photo or video or start a Live video.

Jump lists on the Facebook app

Although the list of tasks is quite limited for now, it’s still a handy feature for Facebook addicts and it may well convince others to install the app instead of just using Facebook on a web browser. Do you think the Facebook app for Windows 10 is a good example of a well-done UWP app? Let us know below.

Download
QR-Code

Facebook

Developer:
Meta

Price:
Free

Microsoft to purchase wind energy from GE in Ireland thanks to new 15-year agreement

Posted on October 9, 2017 by Radu Tyrsina

Microsoft today announced the signing of a new 15-year agreement to purchase wind energy from General Electric (GE) in Ireland. All a part of the company’s commitment to building a “responsible cloud for global good” in Europe, under the new agreement, 37 megawatts of clean energy will be added to the Irish electric grid.

Technically known as a power purchase agreement, Microsoft is set to buy 100 percent of the wind energy from the Tullahennel wind farm in County Kerry, Ireland. This makes Microsoft one of the first multinational tech giants to support the construction of a wind energy project in the area.

Also under the agreement, Microsoft is hoping that valuable new insights will be created about “how renewable energy can be stored.” A first in the region, Microsoft and GE will specifically be testing how batteries can be used to capture and store leftover wind energy before sending it back to the rest of the electric grid.

Christian Belady, General Manager, Datacenter Strategy at Microsoft, remarked on this new agreement:

“Microsoft is proud to be deepening our long history of investment and partnership in Ireland with this agreement…Our investment will help bring new, clean energy to the Irish grid, and contains innovative elements that have the potential to grow the capacity, reliability and capability of the grid to incorporate new clean power sources like wind energy. And that is good for the environment, for Ireland and for our company.”

Microsoft already has supported many sustainability projects in Ireland, such as a new foresty initiative, as well as investments in energy efficiency measures and technologies. Today, the tech giant is also acquiring an Irish energy supply license from GE, with the energy trading company ElectroRoute acting as a trading service provider for the supply company. This will all bring more flexibility and allow for the growth and investment in renewable energy in Ireland over the next few years.

What to do when your computer won’t download anything

Posted on October 8, 2017October 4, 2023 by Milan Stanojevic

Are you having trouble because your computer won’t download anything? Worry not.

Billions of downloads happen almost down to the minute on a global scale. When you get to the point where your computer won’t download anything, even after you’ve tried all you know how to, frustration takes over, and you feel like replacing it with a new one.

Fortunately, there are solutions to fix this problem, and we share them in this article.

My PC won’t download anything: How do I fix that?

Create a new account
Reset Internet Explorer
Use Windows Defender
Check for malware

Solution 1: Create a new account

Here are the steps you can take to execute this:

Click Start
Select Settings
Select Accounts

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

Try downloading using the new account.

If this doesn’t work, try doing 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

Check whether you can download from the newly created account. If they work, then there’s two things to do at this point:

Fix the old user account
Migrate to the new account

Solution 2: Reset Internet Explorer

If you have any antivirus, antispyware and security products on your computer, sometimes these cause issues whenever they’re uninstalled (or installed) as they leave traces or their file elements behind.

One thing to do when your computer won’t download anything is to reset Internet Explorer.

Here’s how to go about it:

Start Internet Explorer
Open Reset Internet Explorer Settings dialog box
Go to Tools menu
Click Internet options
Click Advanced tab
Click Reset or Restore Default
Under Reset Internet Explorer Settings dialog box, click Reset
Click Close once Internet Explorer completes application of default settings
Exit then restart Internet Explorer

READ ALSO: Fix Slow Xbox One game downloads

Solution 3: Use Windows Defender

To use Windows Defender, follow these steps:

Go to the Search box
Type Windows Defender
Select Windows Defender from the list of search results
Click Scan now

The scanner will check or look for any issues within your computer on programs that may not look legit.

Solution 4: Check for malware

Here you can use a malware scanner to check for any malware infection. Update your malware remover, then use it only to scan for any such suspect files.

Sometimes it could be a BHO or Browse Helper Object, a plugin for Internet Explorer that enhances its capabilities. BHOs are usually abused by spyware programs to monitor and sometimes steal user identity and browsing habits silently, but also slow down your system.

To deal with this issue, get a BHO remover that will identify and remove any spy BHOs present in your computer’s system.

Let us know whether which solutions worked for you.

RELATED STORIES TO CHECK OUT:

Download RansomSaver to detect and block ransomware on Outlook

Posted on October 8, 2017October 4, 2023 by Radu Tyrsina

Many ransomware attacks target emails because they are an excellent opportunity for hackers to use in a short amount of time. RansomSaver is an add-on for Microsoft’s Outlook messaging program. It detects and removes emails that include ransomware.

RansomSaver essential features

RansomSaver is an add-on for Microsoft Outlook that is compatible with all 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Microsoft Outlook from Outlook 2007 to the newest versions. It runs on all versions of Windows released after Windows XP. Speaking of Windows XP, if you’re still running this OS, don’t forget to install a reliable antivirus tool. For more information on the best antivirus software to use, check out this list.

RansomSaver integrates into Outlook automatically after installation. It features lots of options, but the essential function is scanning for ransomware.

RansomSaver checks the emails that you choose to select for ransomware attachments, and it can delete the whole message or just the infected attachment. The add-in then will move the emails to a dedicated folder called RansomSaver.

RansomSaver features

The options that are supported by the program are very simple, and they include the following:

You may enable or disable the removing of attachments/emails
You may disable the functionality until your next Outlook start
You may disable the scanning of the deleted items folder in Outlook

These options can be found in the add-in’s toolbar. There you will also see options to scan the existing folders for ransomware and a link that will lead you to the incident log as well.

All in all, RansomSaver targets two goals: detecting potential threats when you’re opening your emails and scanning all existing ones for possible issues. It’s likely that more experienced user won’t find this tool extremely useful for their own systems, but the program will definitely turn out to be great for protecting more inexperienced users and preventing them from executing malicious files attached to their emails.

For more information about other similar tools that scan your emails for malware, check out this article.

Download RansomSaver from Synergy.

RELATED STORIES TO CHECK OUT:

Short Names are Not Enabled on This Volume [Fix]

Posted on October 8, 2017October 4, 2023 by Milan Stanojevic

There are many system errors that can occur on your PC, and one of them is ERROR_SHORT_NAMES_NOT_ENABLED_ON_VOLUME.

This error comes with Short names are not enabled on this volume message, and today we’re going to show you how to fix it on Windows 10.

How to fix ERROR_SHORT_NAMES_NOT_ENABLED_ON_VOLUME error?

1. Install the latest updates

According to users, this error occurs when trying to access certain files. Bugs in your operating system can cause this; to fix them, we advise you to install the latest updates.

Microsoft addresses bugs and other issues via Windows updates, so if you want to keep your PC up-to-date and bug-free, be sure to install the latest updates.

Updating Windows is straightforward, and it will occur automatically in the background, meaning there’s no need for user interaction. However, sometimes due to certain problems, you might skip an important update. To be sure that your system is up to date, we strongly advise you to check for updates manually by following these steps:

Press Windows Key + I to open the Settings app.
When Settings app opens, navigate to the Update & security section.
Now click on Check for updates button.

Windows will now check for updates and download them in the background. After updates are installed, check if the problem still appears.

2. Check your antivirus software

Antivirus software is necessary, but some antivirus tools can enforce certain policies that prevent you from copying or accessing files. If you’re using a third-party antivirus tool, you might want to check its security policies.

To do that, you need to check your antivirus configuration and disable features that might interfere with your system. This method might require a bit of trial and error, especially if you’re unfamiliar with your antivirus or computer security.

3. Disable or remove your antivirus

If you can’t find the problematic policy in your antivirus configuration, you might want to try disabling it entirely. Windows 10 comes with Windows Defender that works as a default antivirus, so you can disable other antivirus tools without any fear of malware. After disabling the antivirus, check if the problem still persists.

If disabling the antivirus software doesn’t solve the issue, you can also try removing your antivirus. Keep in mind that antivirus tools often leave files and registry entries that can still interfere with your system.

We suggest using a dedicated removal tool to remove all files related to your antivirus completely. Almost all antivirus companies offer these tools for their software, so be sure to download and use one for your antivirus.

If removing the antivirus solves the problem, you can try to install the latest version of your antivirus and check if the problem appears again. Alternatively, you can switch to a different antivirus software entirely.

4. Use Command Prompt

According to users, Short names are not enabled on this volume message that appears on their PC when they are trying to access files from their backup. To fix the problem, you must run a single command from Command Prompt. To do that, follow these steps:

Press Windows Key + X to open Win + X menu. Select Command Prompt (Admin) from the menu. If Command Prompt isn’t available, you can also use PowerShell.
When Command Prompt opens, enter fsutil behavior set disable8dot3 0 and press Enter to run it.

Some users are suggesting to use a slightly different command. To fix the problem, start Command Prompt and enter fsutil 8dot3name set X: 0 command. Remember that you need to replace X with the letter of the problematic drive.

If you want, you can check which drives have 8dot3 name creation feature enabled. To do that, enter fsutil behavior query disable8dot3 X: in Command Prompt. If the drive has this feature disabled, you can enable it by using the command above.

5. Perform Clean boot

Sometimes third-party applications can interfere with your system and cause this and other system errors. To fix this problem, you need to disable all startup applications and services and check if that helps. To do that on Windows 10, do the following:

Press Windows Key + R and enter msconfig. Press Enter or click on OK.
System Configuration window will appear. Go to Services tab and check Hide all Microsoft services option. Now click on Disable all button to disable them.
Navigate to the Startup tab and click on Open Task Manager.
When Task Manager starts you’ll see a list of all startup applications. Select the first entry on the list and click on Disable button. Repeat this step for all entries on the list.
After disabling all startup items, close Task Manager and go back to System Configuration window. Click on Apply and OK to save changes.

After doing that you need to restart your PC to apply the changes. If the problem doesn’t appear after restarting your PC, one of the startup applications is certainly causing the problem. To find the problematic application you need to repeat the same steps and enable apps and services individually or in groups.

Keep in mind that you’ll need to restart your PC every time after enabling a group of apps or services. After you find the problematic application, you can keep it disabled, remove it or update it to the latest version and check if that solves the issue.

6. Reset Windows 10

Before we start, we have to mention that this solution will delete all files and applications from your system drive, so be sure to back them up. This process also requires Windows 10 installation media, and you can create it easily with Media Creation Tool. To reset Windows 10, do the following:

Open the Start Menu and click on Power button. Press and hold the Shift key and click on Restart.
Select Troubleshoot > Reset this PC > Remove everything. This step might require installation media, so be sure to have it ready.
Select your version of Windows and choose Only the drive where Windows is installed > Just remove my files.
Now you’ll see a list of changes that reset will perform. Once you’re ready, click Reset to start.
Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the reset.

This is a drastic solution since it will remove all your files and apps from the system drive, so use it only if other solutions can’t fix this problem.

Short names are not enabled on this volume message can cause some problems, but in most cases, you can fix it by using Command Prompt and running certain commands from it.

Xbox news recap: Halo Easter egg found inside the Xbox One X, the return of the Xbox Onesie and more

Posted on October 8, 2017 by Radu Tyrsina

Welcome to our weekly Xbox news recap series, where we go over the top stories of the past week in the world of Xbox. Let’s get started.

Halo Easter Egg found inside the Xbox One X

While most people aren’t going to be opening up their Xbox One X to take a peek at its hardware, there’s a special surprise in there for anyone who does. Some Spanish fan YouTubers recently discovered that, engraved into every Xbox One X, there’s a picture of Halo’s Master Chief riding a Scorpion. It’s a nice love letter to the franchise that put Xbox on the map, and is just generally cute.

The Xbox Onesie is returning to Australia

Xbox One fans will remember the Xbox Onesie – a product that came and went very quickly, as part of a special event. The onesie looks extraordinarily comfortable, and people were very upset when they were pulled away from shelves. If you live in Australia, however, the onesie has made a triumphant return. These ones are coming in celebration of Forza Motorsport 7, and are a bit more form fitting – in the interest of looking like racing uniforms.

Free Xbox One X adapters probably won’t come with the Xbox One X

According to a tweet from Aaron Greenburg, the Xbox One X won’t be getting free Kinect adapters like the Xbox One S did. When asked about a potential free adapter promotion, Greenburg said that “that program has ended,” without much hope for a similar program regarding the Xbox One X.

Scuf announces new Elite controllers for Forza

Scuf, the leading third party manufacturer for high quality controllers, has announced a partnership with Forza on their latest project. The Xbox One Elite controller has real leather on it, as well as all of the special switches and buttons that you’ve come to expect from an Elite controller. The final product is absolutely gorgeous – but you’re going to have to be willing to drop $300 bucks on it, in its extremely limited run of 2,500 units.

Thanks for joining us. To keep up to date with all the latest Xbox news, keep a close eye on our Xbox One tag.

1073545193 File System Error: 4 Ways to Fix it

Posted on October 7, 2017October 4, 2023 by Madalina Dinita

Many users who upgraded from Windows 8.1 to Windows 10 may face a File System Error (1073545193) when trying to open Windows Store applications. This error may also pop up when users try to open image files in these newly upgraded systems.

Even though the error is a File System Error, a simple File System scan in the command prompt (SFC scan) may not be able to fix the problem.

To resolve the File System Error (1073545193) on Windows 10, try the following troubleshooting steps.

How do I fix file system error 107354519?

1. Reset the store cache

Open the Run dialogue by pressing Windows + R.
Type in the command and hit Enter:wsreset.exe

Hopefully, this simple trick should solve your issue. If it doesn’t, move on to the second solution.

2. Run the Windows Store app troubleshooter

Press Windows + I to open Settings, and click on Update & Security.
Select Troubleshoot from the navigation pane, and click on Additional troubleshooters.
Click on Run under the Windows Store Apps troubleshooter.
Follow all the on-screen instructions. Once the process is complete, restart your computer.

This is another simple solution that will almost always resolve the error. Run the Windows Store app troubleshooter to fix File System error 107354519.

3. Try disk cleanup

On Start, type Command Prompt, right-click on the relevant search result, and select Run as administrator.
In command prompt, enter the following commands in succession:DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Scanhealth DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth
Once done, restart the computer.

4. Reinstall apps

Open PowerShell in administrative mode.
Type in the following commands in succession:Get-AppXPackage | Remove-AppxPackage Get-AppxPackage -AllUsers | Remove-AppxPackage
Restart your computer and again open PowerShell in administrative mode.
Type in the following command:Get-AppXPackage | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)AppXManifest.xml"}

This will restore Windows Store and the apps. If it didn’t help, try contacting Microsoft Support for a resolution.

Before you leave, find do check our comprehensive guide on File System Errors to find out more solutions.

Tell us which fix worked for you in the comments section below.

FIX: Age of Mythology Extended Edition bugs on Windows 10/11

Posted on October 7, 2017October 4, 2023 by Aleksandar Ognjanovic

Age of Mythology Extended Edition is a revamped and enhanced edition of the popular RTS classic, which finally enables Windows 10 users to enjoy this amazing title, too. Despite this, the game edition is quite well optimized but not completely without issues. Users have reported various bugs and errors on Steam‘s official forum and offered ways to fix the Age of Mythology Extended Edition.

For that purpose, we conducted extensive research to provide you with solutions for all the most commonly known Age of Mythology Extended Edition issues on Windows 10.

How to fix Age of Mythology Extended Edition common issues and bugs on Windows 10

1. Game won’t start/crashes

Restart Steam. This is an essential but nonetheless helpful workaround that comes in handy once the game fails to start.
1. Close the game and kill its process in the Task Manager.
2. Close Steam and terminate its processes.
3. Start the Steam desktop client and look for changes.
Check game integrity. Many errors are caused by corruption or incomplete installation files. Check them out with Steam and repair affected files.
1. Open Steam.
2. Choose Library.
3. Right-click on the Age of Mythology Extended Edition and open Properties.
4. Select the Local files tab.
5. Click on the ”Verify Integrity of Game Files” button.
Start the game in windowed mode. Some users managed to resolve the problem by starting the game in the windowed mode and switching to the full screen within in-game settings.
1. Close the game.
2. Navigate to C:Program Files (x86)SteamsteamappscommonAge of MythologyUsers
3. Open your profile (file with .prf extension) with Notepad.
4. Search for <windowmode>0</windowmode> and change the 0 with 1 (<windowmode>1</windowmode>).
5. Confirm changes and restart the game.
Check GPU drivers. Lack of proper graphics drivers can cause a bag of issues. Make sure to check them out and download from the OEM’s official site.
Update Windows. Make sure that your Windows 10 is up to date. You’ll need to acquire certain cumulative updates in order to install game-related files.
Uninstall mods. Mods can cause a lot of trouble. Make sure to remove them one by one in order to find out which one is preventing the game from starting.
Install DirectX and redistributables. Make sure to install the latest version of DirectX and Visual Studio C++. For the latter, you might need both x64 and x86 versions.
Run the game in the compatibility mode as an admin.
1. Right-click on the Age of Mythology Extended Edition desktop shortcut and open Properties.
2. Choose the Compatibility tab.
3. Change the Compatibility mode to Windows 7 and choose to Run the program as administrator.
4. Confirm changes and start the game.
Reinstall the game. Reinstallation is the last resort.

2. Users can’t play online/update the game

Check the connection. Firstly, we’ll need to make sure that the internet connection is up and running. If that’s not the case, make sure to:
- Switch to a LAN connection.
- Restart your modem or router.
- Disable router’s Firewall and third-party antivirus temporary.
- Update router’s firmware.
Verify the game cache. We already explained this step above, and it’s viable for connectivity-related issues, too.
Install Microsoft Visual C++ 2015. Microsoft Visual C++ 2015 is an important piece of the puzzle. Install all Windows Updates and then download Microsoft Visual by following this link.
Use Voobly to play online. This third-party site offers a multi-version multiplayer, which can be great for some players that want to play online.
Reinstall the game. Reinstallation can take some time, but it’s always advised when there’s nothing else to do.

3. Game sound missing

Update sound card. As same as with GPU drivers. Make sure that proper sound drivers are installed.
1. Right-click Start and, from the Power Users menu, open Device Manager.
2. Navigate to Sound, video, and game controllers and expand it.
3. Right-click on the main sound device and choose ”Update driver”.
Update Windows. Certain users resolved sound issues in Age of Mythology Extended Edition by updating system.
1. Press Windows key + I to open Settings.
2. Choose Update & security.
3. Click on the Check for updates button.
Disable mods. Third-party mods are great, don’t get us wrong. Some of them just tend to affect the game in a bad way including, the in-game sound.
Disable surround sound. Other users regained normal in-game sound by disabling Dolby Surround sound and switching to Stereo.
Check the default Playback device. Make sure that your primary playback device is up and running.
1. Right-click on the Sound icon in the notification area and open Playback devices.
2. Right-click on the preferred playback device and Set it as default.
3. Look for changes.
Check in-game Sound settings. Confirm that everything is properly set within in-game sound settings.

4. Low FPS

Lower your settings. Even though this game is remastered, it’s not demanding by any stretch of the imagination. However, if you’re stuck with a quite old PC, take these steps into consideration:
- Disable all graphical enhancements.
- Lower screen size
- Set shadow quality to Off.
Restart the game. A fresh start is always good. Many in-game problems can be resolved this way.
Disable background processes. Some background processes might take a toll on your PC’s performance and affect Age of Mythology. Make sure to prevent resource-hogging programs from working in the background.
Disable Game Mode. It seems that the Game Mode feature isn’t providing the results we hoped for.
1. Press Windows key + I to summon the Settings app.
2. Open Gaming.
3. Select Game mode from the left pane.
4. Toggle Game Mode off.

5. DLC Tale of the Dragon issues

Disable mods. Another obvious step. Older mods might lack compatibility with the lately introduced DLC and vice versa. Disable one mod at a time until you confirm the issue. That way you can keep other mods.
Install redistributables. With the latest DLC packages, you need to update your DirectX and redistributables, too. Download Virtual Studio C++ and DirectX in order to resolve the DLC issue at hand. Pay a close attention to architecture (64-bit or 32-bit).
Confirm the integrity of the game files with Steam. Follow the steps we provided above to do so.
Reinstall the DLC. Finally, you should reinstall DLC if none of the previous steps resolved the issue.

In order to boost your game performance and get rid of slowdowns, lags, low FPS and other annoying issues, we recommend downloading GameFire (free).

6. Text not showing on the in-game Main menu

Perform a registry tweak. This is a bit risky procedure, so make sure to backup your registry and follow the below-presented steps closely:
1. Firstly, type Fonts in the Search bar and open Fonts.
2. Delete the GiovanniITCTT if it’s there.
3. Secondly, you’ll need to download the GiovanniITCTT and install it again. You can download this font from this website.
4. Next, in the Windows Search bar, type regedit, right-click on Registry Editor and run it as an administrator.
5. Follow this path:
  - ComputerHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindows NTCurrentVersionGRE_Initialize
6. Right-click on the right section and create a new DWORD (32-bit) registy entry.
7. Name it DisableFontBootCache and set its value to 1.
8. Restart your PC and look for changes.
Verify game integrity. For various reasons, the installation files tend to get corrupted or incomplete. Run Steam‘s tool and verify game‘s integrity.
Reinstall Windows 10. Some users managed to resolve the issue with in-game fonts by completely reinstalling Windows 10. If you’re ready to go that far, make sure to check this article for the thorough explanation on how to reinstall Windows 10.

With that, we can finally conclude this list. Hopefully, these steps helped you fix Age of Mythology Extended Edition issues for good. If you have additional issues or alternative solutions, feel free to tell us in the comments section below.

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File Type Being Saved or Retrieved Has Been Blocked [Fix]

Posted on October 7, 2017September 26, 2025 by Milan Stanojevic

System errors such as ERROR_BAD_FILE_TYPE can appear sooner or later on any PC. This error often comes with The file type being saved or retrieved has been blocked message.

The error will prevent you from opening specific files in the browser, so in today’s guide, we’ll take a closer look at it and show you how to fix it.

What can I do if The file type being saved or retrieved has been blocked?

1. Check the file name

Right-click the file and choose Rename. Make the name as short as possible.
Alternatively, try moving the file to a different location.
Lastly, check for any special characters in the path and file name and try to remove them.

2. Try using a different web browser

Many users reported that this issue occurs while trying to download files from the Internet. According to users, they can download the files without any problems, but once they try to run them they encounter The file type being saved or retrieved has been blocked message.

As a potential workaround users are suggesting to switch to a different web browser and try to download the file again. Several users reported that this workaround works for them, so try using a different browser to download the problematic file.

We recommend trying a modern and intuitive browser with less processing capacity than its counterparts. Its advanced capabilities and customizable features will provide an error-free and secure online experience.

Opera

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3. Change the file extension

Open File Explorer.
Click on View tab and then check File name extensions.
After doing that you’ll be able to see file extension for each file on your PC. Now locate the problematic image file, right click it and choose Rename.
Change the file extension from .mdf to .iso.
Confirmation message will appear. Click on Yes to change the file extension.

After changing the extensions, check if the issue is gone.

4. Check blocked file types

Navigate to Central Administration.
Click on Security and navigate to General Security and choose Define blocked file types.
Navigate to Web Application menu and choose Change Web Application. Now go to Select Web Application page.
If you see that a certain file type is blocked, you can unblock it simply by selecting it from the list and pressing the Delete key. After doing that, click OK to save the changes.

This is a relatively simple solution, and if you’re using SharePoint, feel free to try it out.

Why is my file being blocked?

Long path name or special characters in file name can cause this problem.
Sometimes, your web browser can lead to this issue.
In some instances, a specific file extension will cause this error.
Your SharePoint settings can interfere with certain files.

ERROR_BAD_FILE_TYPE and The file type being saved or retrieved has been blocked message can cause a lot of problems on your PC. The issue is similar to Download cannot be saved because an unknown error occurred message that we covered earlier, so be sure to check that guide for more solutions.

However, you should be able to fix this problem using one of our article’s solutions.