Microsoft releases Viva Pulse in public preview

Last year, Microsoft expanded Viva Goals with new apps and services to mitigate some issues. The company further highlighted that the tools were designed to help boost morale and ultimately enhance the employee performance index. Some of the applications that debuted included Viva Amplify and Viva Pulse.

And now, Microsoft has announced that Viva Pulse is now shipping to public preview. For those not conversant with the application, it’s designed to enhance communication between managers and team leads. It uses both smart templates and research-backed questions to help businesses identify their strengths and weaknesses. In turn, they will get recommendations on how to address the issues.

According to Microsoft:

With Viva Pulse, managers and project leads can request ad-hoc feedback on topics to better understand their team’s needs and address them in the moment. Pre-populated, research-validated survey templates help zero in on important topics such as change management or work situations. Managers and leads can also customize templates to meet their unique team needs.

Additionally, users will be able to leverage the tool’s capabilities to provide team leaders and managers with swift responses highlighting their sentiments on certain matters, This will, in turn, help with the decision-making process and ultimately play a major role in determining the success of the project. “Survey senders can leverage automatic sentiment analysis which saves time and helps them focus on areas of opportunity for the team. To ensure employee confidentiality, managers and project leads receive an aggregated view of survey results,” says Microsoft in the blog post.

thumbnail image 3 of blog post titled Microsoft Viva Pulse available for public preview

Once the feedback is given to the team leader, Viva Pulse will also suggest the next steps that should be followed based on the feedback results. This way, employees will get a sense of belonging and that the issues they raised are being heard. Microsoft is set to ship VIva Pulse to general availability next month.

Mscomm32.ocx is Missing: How to Fix or Download it Again

When your computer fails to access or locate mscomm32.ocx file, then you may see the mscomm32.ocx is missing error.

In this guide, we will walk you through each step, providing clear instructions and best practices to fix the error.

What is mscomm32.ocx?

The mscomm32.ocx file is a component of Microsoft’s ActiveX controls, specifically the Microsoft Communications Control.

This file is used by several applications to enable communication and interaction with external devices, such as barcode scanners, modems, electronic scales, and other equipment connected via serial ports.

It provides programming interfaces that allow developers to implement serial communication functionality within their software.

Most recent versions of Windows have deprecated the use of ActiveX controls and replaced it with .NET. However, there are some legacy apps that rely on mscomm32.ocx file, which may encounter issues if the file is missing.

Why is mscomm32.ocx missing?

There could be various reasons for this issue; some of the common ones are listed here:

  • Corrupted file – If the mscomm32.ocx file is corrupted or damaged due to malware infection, improper shutdown, or hardware issues; you may see this error.
  • Improperly registered – The file may not be registered correctly in the Windows system registry, leading to this error. You need to re-register the file to fix it.
  • Compatibility issues – The software that relies on Mscomm32.ocx may not be compatible with the version of the file installed on the computer, causing the error.
  • Registry issues – If your computer has registry issues, including broken entries, it may lead to this error. Run a registry cleaner to resolve the problem.

Now that you know the causes, let us check the solutions to fix them.

How can I fix the mscomm32.ocx missing error?

Before engaging in advanced troubleshooting steps, you should consider performing the following checks:

  • Make sure you have the admin rights to perform the methods mentioned below.
  • Try restarting your computer.
  • Ensure your Windows is up to date.
  • Run a registry cleaner.
  • Restart or reinstall the program that is throwing the error.

Once you are done with these steps, move to the methods mentioned.

1. Re-register the file

  1. Press the Windows key, type cmd, and click Run as administrator.CMD elevated mscomm32.ocx
  2. Type the following command to unregister the mscomm32.ocx file and hit Enter:  regsvr32 /u MSCOMM32.OCXcmd_qlptbm8IEz
  3. Once the process is complete, copy & paste the following command and press Enter: regsvr32 /i MSCOMM32.OCXcmd_pnXWZG2a5b
  4. Close the Command Prompt and restart the app associated with the problem.

Once your PC is up, check if the issue persists.

2. Run SFC & DISM scans

  1. Press the Windows key, type cmd, and click Run as administrator.CMD elevated mscomm32.ocx
  2.  Copy & paste the following command to restore Windows OS image files and press Enter: DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealthRestore health mscomm32.ocx
  3. Once the command is run, the DISM uses Windows Update to provide the files that are required to fix corruption; once done, type the following command to replace corrupted files with a cached copy  and hit Enter: sfc/scannowSFCSCANNOW CMD
  4. It may take several minutes for the command operation to complete; once done, restart your computer.

To make this process easier and prevent other errors from occurring by doing this manually, we suggest using a specialized repair software.

3. Download the file manually

  1. Go to the OCXMe website and click Download.Download OCX File
  2. Once the file is downloaded, right-click it and select Show in folder.Download mscomm32.ocx Show in folder
  3. Copy the file and navigate to the former path for 32-bit and the latte path for 64-bit:
    • C:\Windows\System32\ folder
      C:\Windows\SysWOW64\ folder
  4. Paste the file once you are in the folder to restore the missing file.

So, these are steps that you can take to resolve the mscomm32.ocx missing error and ensure the smooth operation of your applications.

If you are wondering how to fix other corrupt or missing files on your computer, we suggest you check out this guide to find the solutions.

Please feel free to give us any information, tips, and your experience with the subject in the comments section below.

How to deploy Windows 11 to multiple computers at once

If you’re an admin in an organization, chances are you needed to install Windows 11 on the organization’s PCs.

You can, of course, use a lot of tools to sync the devices of your organization. But is there a solution to deploy Windows 11 to multiple computers at once?

In a Reddit thread, a user is asking the same thing, and the answers are varied, but definitely yes. You can deploy Windows 11 to multiple computers at once.

The thing is, which solution would be the best in this case? There are quite a lot of ways you can do that. However, every solution takes a certain time to complete, and what if you need to do it quickly? Follow our guide, and we’ll tell you what are your options when thinking about deploying Windows 11 to multiple computers at once.

Here’s how to deploy Windows 11 to multiple computers at once

Before we start, you should know that these solutions will take time, depending on what apps you have available, how much time, how many USB drives, and so on.

Deploy Windows 11 to multiple computers with Microsoft Intune

The most obvious way to deploy Windows 11 to multiple computers at once is through Microsoft Intune. The app should make it very easy for you to update your entire organization’s PCs at once, in an automated way.deploy windows 11 to multiple computers

That means you won’t really have to check every system, the updating will happen automatically after the restart, and you won’t need to worry.

However, there are prerequisites that you need to be aware of before trying Microsoft Intune.

First, your organization must have one of the following subscriptions for deploying feature updates in Intune:

  • Windows 10/11 Enterprise E3 or E5 (included in Microsoft 365 F3, E3, or E5)
  • Windows 10/11 Education A3 or A5 (included in Microsoft 365 A3 or A5)
  • Microsoft 365 Business Premium
  • Windows 10/11 Virtual Desktop Access (VDA) per user

Second, the devices in Intune should be running a supported version of Windows 10. They also must be enrolled in Intune MDM and be Hybrid AD joined or Azure AD joined.

Third, and most important of all, the device should meet the Windows 11 minimum requirements to upgrade to Windows 11 in Intune.

If your organization already uses Microsoft Intune, then you’re in luck. You will be able de deploy Windows 11 very easily.

The steps to deploy Windows 11 with Microsoft Intune

  1. Sign in to the Microsoft Endpoint Admin center (Intune Portal).
  2. In the portal, go to Devices > Features Updates for Windows 10 and later.
  3. Select Create Profile and define the required Windows 11 upgrade settings in the policy.
  4. In the Deployment Settings tab, enter the name of the policy as Upgrade to Windows 11 using Feature update deployment.
  5. Under Feature Deployment settings, select Windows 11 as a feature update to deploy.
  6. In the Assignments tab, add the AAD groups to which you want to target the Windows 11 upgrade policy.
  7. Click the +Add Groups button and select the ADD group.
  8. Click Next.
  9. Finally, on the Review + Create tab, click Create.
  10. Under Feature Updates for Windows 10 and later, you can see the new profile that you created for Windows 11 upgrade.
  11. You must restart the computer to install the latest Windows feature update. Select Restart Now, and click it.

Deploy Windows 11 to multiple computers with Microsoft Deployment Toolkit (MDT)

You can also try to deploy Windows 11 with Microsoft Deployment Toolkit, which is a free tool that you can download from Microsoft.Microsoft Deployment Toolkit

  1. You need to create a Windows 11 operating system folder in the Deployment Workbench.
  2. Once you’re done, you will import the Windows 11 files.
  3. You will then create a Windows 11 task sequence similar to Intune.
  4. Using the Windows 11 task, you will build and capture the image file.
  5. You deploy the Windows 11 image captured with Microsoft Deployment Toolkit.

You can also try the classic way of using multiple USB tools at once, but you will have to move a lot between computers, and it will take a lot of time.

If you’re dealing with 50 computers at once, as in the Reddit thread, the best solution is by far Microsoft Intune. Your organization should already run on it if it has Windows PCs already. MDT can be useful, but it can become very tiring, as the process is not entirely automated.

You can also check the Reddit thread for more unconventional solutions. You can use all sorts of third-party apps to clone images quickly. But if they’re not connected to a shared network, it will be very time-consuming to deploy Windows 11 on all of them.

How to upgrade your HoloLens 2 to Windows 11

It seems that the era of augmented reality is upon us, once again. Recently, Apple announced its Apple Vision Pro, a headset set to revolutionize all headsets. In light of this news, Microsoft has also released Windows Holographic, version 23H1, the June 2023 Update for its HoloLens 2.

You will be able to upgrade your HoloLens 2 to Windows 11. And if you haven’t done it already, then you should do it. You’ll have a seamless experience with it, and exciting new features are coming to it as well.

Version 23H1 is now available to your HoloLens 2, and Microsoft will also discontinue the support for the Windows Holographic version 20H2, so there is another reason to update it.

Here’s how to upgrade your HoloLens 2 to Windows 11

HoloLens 2 will move to Windows 11 with the 23H1 release.

To upgrade your HoloLens 2 devices they must be currently running the 21H1 May 2021 update (build 20346.1002) or newer.

If the 23H1 feature update is not available, Microsoft advises you to update your device and try again, as the newer updates will be automatically suggested to you.

You should know that, if you are on a version that is older than Windows Holographic version 20H2 (Build 19041.1136), you first need to update to the February 2021 update (build 19041.1136 or newer). Then you will be able to update to the 21H1 May 2021 update (build 20346.1002) or newer.

But let’s stick to the exciting things. Here are all the features coming to HoloLens 2 on Windows 11 with the new update.

These features are coming to HoloLens 2 with the new update on Windows 11

FeatureDescriptionUser or scenario
Store app update from Settings featureIntroduces the option to manually check for app updates from the Settings app.All
WebView2 control now availableThe Microsoft Edge WebView2 control allows you to embed web technologies (HTML, CSS, and JavaScript) in your native apps and is now available for the HoloLens 2.Developer
Device reset requirements in the Settings ApplicationDevices must have sufficient battery and free disk space to perform a device reset.All
Removing placements of an app in the mixed worldAn option to close one or all placements of an app is now available in the context menu.All
Automatic update of Dynamics 365 Remote Assist and Dynamics 365 Guides during Autopilot flowWhen provisioning a HoloLens 2 device using Autopilot, Dynamics 365 applications will update automatically.IT Admin
Reboot CSP enabled and related changesHololens now supports weekly scheduled reboots and other options.IT Admin
Update available notificationShows user that update is available when looking at the start menu.End User
Autopilot reset experienceImprovements in Autopilot reset experience to enable users to reset HoloLens 2 and restart Autopilot without requiring manual flashing.IT Admin
Biometrics disclosure screenDisplays information to all new users on what biometrics the device uses.All
Remove users on deviceNew policies to manage when to remove users from the device to prevent hitting the maximum limit.IT Admin
Fixes improvementsFixes and improvements for HoloLens.All

As you can see, every professional can enjoy the new HoloLens 2 features, as they can be used for work, school projects and so many more.

Are you excited about the new HoloLens 2 features? Let us know in the comments section below.

How to Fix Your Arrow Keys if They’re Not Working in Teams

Several of our readers have reported that for them the left and right arrow keys are not working in Microsoft Teams. There can be multiple reasons behind this issue.

And that is exactly what we are going to discuss in this guide along with the solutions to fix the problem. Let us get right into it.

Why are my arrow keys not working in Microsoft Teams?

We dug into the internet and found out a few common reasons that are possibly causing the arrow keys to not work in Microsoft Teams.

  • Microsoft Teams is outdated – Chances are the version of Microsoft Teams that you are running is outdated and causing a problem because of some internal bug or glitch.
  • Keyboard driver is problematic – The keyboard driver might be missing some important files or the files are corrupt because of which the arrow keys are not working in Microsoft Teams.
  • Microsoft Teams cache is the culprit – Corrupt cache files for any program can always cause multiple issues on your PC, one of which is the problem at hand.
  • Some files are missing from your PC – There could be chances that some third-party programs have replaced files related to Microsoft Teams on your PC.

Let us now check out the solutions that will help you to resolve the arrow keys not working in Microsoft Teams problem.

What can I do if the arrow keys are not working in Microsoft Teams?

Before applying the solutions let us perform some quick checks and check if this fixes the issue or not.

  • Restart your computer and check if this fixes the issue. If it does, then it was a temporary glitch.
  • Restart Microsoft Teams and check if the problem is resolved or not.
  • Make sure you have the latest version of Microsoft Teams. You can check that in the About Teams menu from its settings.
  • Clean the arrow keys with a brush or a cloth and check if this works.
  • Check if the arrow keys are working on other programs or not. If not, then there is some issue with your keyboard.

Now let us jump to the advanced solutions and resolve the problem. You can also check this guide on fixing arrow keys not working on your keyboard to rule out system level problems before focusing only on Microsoft Teams.

1. Reinstall Microsoft Teams

  1. Press the Win + I key to open the Settings menu.
  2. Click on Apps from the left pane.
  3. Select Installed apps.
  4. Locate Microsoft Teams and click on the 3-dot menu.
  5. Select Uninstall.
  6. Visit the official website and download the program.
  7. Install and launch the program and check if the issue exists or not.

Reinstalling Microsoft Teams will help replace the files that are problematic or are causing problems. Simply follow the above steps and reinstall the program and check if this fixes the issue or not.

2. Clear the Microsoft Teams cache

  1. Close all instances of Microsoft Teams.
  2. Press the Win + R keys to open the Run dialogue.
  3. Type the below command and press Enter:%appdata%\Microsoft\Teams
  4. Press Ctrl + A to select all files and press the Del button to delete all selected files.
  5. Restart Microsoft Teams.

The above two ways will help you get rid of the Microsoft Teams cache files that could be causing the arrow keys to not work with the program.

3. Update the keyboard driver

  1. Press the Win key to open the Start menu.
  2. Type Device Manager and open it.
  3. Expand the Keyboards section.
  4. Double-click on your keyboard to open it.
  5. Switch to the Driver tab.
  6. Click on Update driver.
  7. Select Search automatically for drivers option.
  8. Restart your computer.

4. Repair/reset the Microsoft Teams app

  1. Press Win + I keys to open the Settings menu.
  2. Click on Apps on the left pane.
  3. Select Installed apps.
  4. Hit the 3-dot menu icon and select Advanced options.
  5. Scroll down and hit the Repair button and after the process, check if the arrow keys are working.
  6. If they still don’t, repeat the steps and click on the Reset button instead.

That is it from us in this guide. If you want to know how you can use Microsoft Teams Organization Chart, then refer to our dedicated guide and learn the steps.

Feel free to let us know in the comments below, which one of the above solutions resolved the problem for you.

Google Docs offline might be coming to Microsoft Edge

Good news for Windows users this week. Patch Tuesday updates are here and they brought with them a lot of Security updates for your PC. Among other features, Bluetooth Low Energy Audio is also on all Windows 11 PCs right now, so your wireless devices will last longer than ever.

On another hand, it seems that Edge users might be getting some exciting features as well. As spotted by Windows enthusiast @Leopeva64, Google Docs offline might be coming to Microsoft Edge very soon.

The “Google Docs Offline” extension has been automatically installed on one of my devices on Edge Canary, I checked on Dev, Beta and Stable and the extension is not installed on any of those versions, so it looks like this is another experiment on Canary.

@leopeva64

While we don’t know if this feature is going to make it in the final release, or if it’s going to be released soon, it is an exciting feature. Especially if your work day by day requires you to use Google Docs, Edge might be the best way to use them. So Microsoft could have a winning feature here.

How to enable Google Docs offline in Microsoft Edge

It looks like you can enable the feature very easily.

  1. Open your Microsoft Edge, go to Settings and more, and select Extensions.edge google docs offline
  2. Once you’re there, go to From other sources, and turn on Google Docs Offline.edge google docs offline

As per @Leopeva64, the feature is only available on Microsoft Edge Canary, so it’s not available to the general public yet, but these steps should come in handy for when it will be.

Edge has been getting a lot of improvements lately. For example, in Edge, you can now get Bing’s input on images, in a feature that is absolutely amazing.

You can just upload images in Bing Chat, and the AI tool will give you its input on them, as well as recommend suggestions and ideas.

And it’s also good to know that Copilot is coming to Windows 11 soon. So it might be possible that Edge will also benefit from it. Slowly, but surely, Edge lives up to its potential, so it’s exciting to be an Edge user right now.

What do you think about it? Are you using Edge? Are you excited about this new feature coming to it soon? Be sure to let us know your opinions and ideas in the comment sections below.

LongMem is Microsoft’s answer for unlimited context length

Microsoft has been at the forefront of AI education, and AI tools, in general. Copilot is coming to Windows 11 very soon, as part of Windows updates. AI is making its way into Microsoft Teams, with an intelligent recap helping people work easier.

Bing is also one of the most exciting AI tools around, and its features allow you to optimize both your work and the way you navigate the Internet.

But earlier this week, Microsoft also unveiled that Orca 13B will soon become open source. Orca 13B is a small AI model that performs at the same quality and speed as the other AI models, such as ChatGPT.

Now, in the battle of AIs and AI research, Microsoft is coming up with LongMem, a hypothetical framework and AI language model.

According to this Reddit thread, LongMem allows for unlimited context length at a reduced GPU, and CPU memory usage. All of these are done at a faster speed.

Is LongMem the Microsoft answer for unlimited context length?

Well, to understand what it means to have an unlimited context length, we first need to understand what does context length mean?

Context length refers to the number of tokens (words, signs, etc) permitted by a model, its input and output, and yours as well.microsoft longmem

For example, ChatGPT has a limited number of tokens which means its context length is limited as well. As soon as ChatGPT passes that limit, then all the continuous interaction that you had with it up to that point, will lose all significance. Or better said, it will reset.

So if you’re starting a conversation with ChatGPT on the subject of Windows, and that conversation lasts more than the limited context length, then the AI tool will lose the context, and will either start to deviate from the subject, or the whole conversation will reset.

An unlimited context length will make sure that won’t happen, and the AI model will continue to answer you on the subject, while also learning and adapting information as you talk to it about Windows.

That means the AI model will also personalize the conversation according to your input, hence the need for the context to have an unlimited length.

How does LongMem work?

Microsoft promises just that with their new research on the framework, LongMem. LongMem would enable large language models to memorize long-term contexts and utilize long-term memory at the reduced CPU power.

The framework consists of a frozen large language model as the memory encoder, a residual side network as the memory retriever and reader, and a cached memory bank that stores key-value pairs from past contexts.

In the research done by Microsoft, experiments show that LongMem outperforms baselines on long-text language modeling, long-context understanding, and memory-augmented in-context learning tasks. Plus, long-term memory allows it to utilize more demonstration examples for better learning.

And the good news is that LongMem will be open-source. So you will be able to study it and learn how to implement the framework in your own AI model. You can check its GitHub profile here.

And if you’re interested to read the whole research paper on the framework, head over here and check it out.

What do you think about this new technological breakthrough? Will it revolutionize the way AI models work? Be sure to let us know your thoughts and opinions below.

Msdt.exe: What is it & How to Fix its Errors

It’s not uncommon to encounter msdt.exe errors upon starting up MSDN Disc 3712. These errors are typically the result of a damaged, infected, or absent executable file. To remedy this issue, consider replacing the problematic EXE file with a new one.

In our prior guide, we delved into the reasons behind how to remove Msdtc.exe. Today, we find ourselves in a similar situation.

However, it is crucial to identify its underlying cause before we can address the issue at hand.

What is msdt.exe?

The msdt.exe file is an essential software component of the Windows OS, which can be found in the System32 folder. If you spot it elsewhere, it might be a red flag for malware, and you should have your security software scan it.

The Diagnostics Troubleshooting Wizard process is one of the crucial components of Windows files that trigger the Microsoft Distributed Transaction Service.

How can I fix msdt.exe errors?

1. Use Windows Update

  1. On your home screen search bar type update Windows and click Open.
  2. Now click on Check for updates.
  3. Wait patiently as the update process is ongoing.

2. Run System File Checker

  1. On your home screen type in cmd inside the search bar and Run as administrator.
  2. Next if the UAC screen pops up click Yes.
  3. Type the following command and press Enter: sfc /scannow
  4. While the SFC will scan for msdt.exe issues, follow the on-screen commands and kindly wait until the process is done.
  5. Lastly, if the following commands didn’t work, run the following commands one by one:
    DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth
    DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth
    DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

After both SFC and DISM scans are finished, check if the problem is still there.

If the Windows scan didn’t solve your file error, we suggest you use a forecast repair tool and solve any damaged files in your PC.

3. Perform System Restore

  1. Hold down the Windows + R keys to open it, input this rstrui in the Run text box and click OK.
  2. The System Restore Window might include Choose a different restore point. Choose it and click Next. 
  3. Check the Show more restore points checkbox to see a complete list of dates.
  4. Click the Next button and then click Finish to confirm your restore point. 

At this point, your computer will restart normally and boot up with a restored version of Windows, and the msdt.exe error should be handled.

We sincerely hope that our all-inclusive guide has provided you with valuable insights to alleviate your concerns. Dealing with this issue may not be as daunting as it initially appears.

If you encounter any additional issues, we suggest consulting our comprehensive manual on MSDTC encountered an error. This handbook provides comparable solutions to resolve your predicament.

Your input on this matter is greatly valued, and we are eager to hear your perspective. Feel free to leave a comment below and share your thoughts with us.

What is Musallat.exe & How to Quickly Get Rid of It

The MusaLLaT.exe file is classified as a Trojan virus, malicious software that can carry out numerous harmful activities on a compromised computer.

These nefarious deeds can range from stealing confidential data to deploying other types of malware and even granting unauthorized access and control of the targeted system to cyber criminals.

In our previous guide, we explored how to remove filerepmalware. Presently, we face a comparable predicament again.

Nevertheless, before tackling the problem at hand, it is imperative first to recognize its root cause.

What is Musallat.exe?

The MusaLLaT.exe file has been identified as a noxious program commonly employed by Trojan malware to execute an array of malicious activities.

If you don’t delete this file, your computer may be at risk of remote access and various other security threats.

How can I get rid of musallat.exe?

1. Uninstall malicious software

  1. On your home screen, click on the Start icon and select Settings.
  2. Now select Apps and next choose Apps & Features.
  3. Locate the malicious apps under the Apps list at the far right, click on the three dots and Uninstall them.
  4. Lastly, reboot your system.

2. Scan your PC with Windows Defender

  1. Select Start on your home screen and click on Settings.
  2. Now click on Privacy & Security, then select Windows Security.

  3. Next click Virus & threat protection.

  4. Lastly, click on Quick scan to perform a scan on your PC.

We trust that our comprehensive manual has been of great help in addressing your worries. It’s quite apparent that tackling this problem is not as overwhelming as one might think at first glance.

If you face any further complications, we recommend referring to our extensive handbook on how to get rid of DismHost.exe. This guide presents similar remedies to tackle your problem.

We highly appreciate your contribution regarding this matter and are keenly interested in knowing your viewpoint. Feel free to leave a comment below and express your feedback with us.

WindowsApps Folder: How to Find & Access It

The WindowsApps folder is hidden in the C:\Program Files directory on Windows OS. It contains the installation files for apps installed from the Microsoft Store.

However, users encounter issues finding the WindowsApps folder. This article will show you how to access the WindowsApps folder on Windows 11.

How do I find and access the WindowsApps folder?

1. Access the WindowsApps folder via File Explorer

  1. Press the Windows + E key to open File Explorer.
  2. Go to the C:\Program Files directory and click the View tab on the File Explorer ribbon.
  3. Navigate to the Show/hide section, and click on the box in front of the Hidden items to show hidden folders.
  4. Navigate to the WindowsApps folder, right-click on the folder, and select Properties from the drop-down.
  5. Click on the Security tab at the top of the newly opened window. Tap on the Advanced button in the bottom right corner of the window.
  6. Select the Change option on the Advanced Security Setting for WindowsApps.
  7. Click on the Enter Name to select bar, type in your Windows Username, select the Check Name button, and then click OK.
  8. Your username will appear next to the Owner. Check the box next to Replace owner sub-containers and object, then click OK to apply the changes.
  9. Now you will have permission to open and edit the WindowsApps folder.

Using the above-stated steps will require the use of a Microsoft account to be able to change the folder ownership.

You can check our guide on why Windows File Explorer keeps crashing and how to fix it if it occurs on your PC.

2. Access the WindowsApps folder via a PowerShell Command

  1. Left-click the Start button, type powershell, and click Run as administrator.
  2. Click Yes on the User Account Control prompt.
  3. Copy and paste the following lines and press Enter: takeown /f “C:\Program Files\WindowsApps” /r

The PowerShell command to find and access the WindowsApps folder is direct, advanced, and useful when other methods fail. This will provide Windows apps folder permissions.

However, if you experience issues using PowerShell, read on how to fix PowerShell not opening on your PC.

3. Access the WindowsApps folder via Registry

  1. Download the Take ownership registry file from Revo.
  2. Unzip the File and open the Add Take Ownership to Context menu registry file.
  3. On the following page, select Yes to add it to the registry.
  4. Click OK to close the popup and go to the C:\Program Files directory.
  5. Right-click on the WindowsApps folder and click on Take Ownership from the drop-down menu.
  6. You must give Account Control Administrator permission for the Registry file to work.

After trying the above steps, utilizing the Registry Hack may be the last resort. You can also learn how to use the Registry Hack to customize your Windows OS.

You should know that this guide will also help you access the WindowsApps folder on Windows 10 as well because the methods are identical.

Can I move the WindowsApps folder to another drive?

You can move the WindowsApps folder to another drive using File Explorer. Just cut and paste it to the desired drive on the other drive.

Ensure you have permission to move the folder and that you are not moving it to a read-only location.

Remember that if the folder contains any applications or programs, those applications or programs may no longer function once you move the WindowsApps folder to a new drive.

Alternatively, you can read about how to perform a Windows app cleanup to create more space on your device.

Also, you may our guide on ways to get back the missing WindowsApps folder on Windows 11 for more information.

Use the comments section below if you have any questions or other solutions to this problem.

What is Fontdrvhost.exe & How to Stop its High Disk Usage

It’s not uncommon for certain Windows processes, such as fontdrvhost.exe, to occasionally take up a large amount of computer resources. Uncommonly, this behavior is normal. Programs with high resource demands, like video editors or IDEs, are often known for their insatiable appetite for system resources.

In a previous guide, we delved into deactivating the Dllhost.exe COM surrogate. Today, we find ourselves in a similar situation once more.

However, before we can address the issue at hand, we must identify its underlying cause.

What is fontdrvhost.exe?

The fontdrvhost.exe is an executable file that falls under the Usermode Font Driver Host process, a component of the Microsoft Windows Operating System Software created by the software development team at Microsoft.

When considering the significance of the fontdrvhost.exe process on a Windows Operating System, it is essential to exercise caution when attempting to delete it. In some cases, this process may be utilizing excessive CPU or GPU resources.

Additionally, if it happens to be malicious software or a virus, it could be operating in the background without your knowledge. Therefore, one must exercise vigilance before taking any action against this process.

How can I stop fontdrvhost.exe high disk usage?

1. Update Windows

  1. On your home screen search, bar type update Windows and click Open.
  2. Now click on Check for updates.
  3.  Be patient while Windows checks and downloads available updates.

2. Disable it via Task Manager

  1. Hold down Ctrl+Shift+Esc to launch the Task Manager.
  2. Switch to the Details tab.
  3. Locate Details from the list, now choose the process and right-click and select End task.
  4. Lastly, reboot your PC.

3. Run the system file checker

  1. Hold the Windows + X keys together and choose Windows PowerShell (Admin) from the list of options.
  2. When the UAC pops up, click Yes.
  3. Type the following command and press Enter: sfc /scannow
  4. Type the following command and press Enter: Repair-WindowsImage -Online -RestoreHealth
  5. Finally, restart your system.

4. Uninstall conflicting software

  1. Hold the Windows + R keys at the same time to open the Run window.
  2. Type appwiz.cpl and click OK.
  3. Immediately the Programs and Features page has popped up, right-click the suspected apps and uninstall them.
  4. Restart your system.

We hope that our guide has provided valuable assistance in addressing your concern. Resolving this issue is not as daunting as it may initially seem.

If you encounter any additional obstacles, we suggest consulting our comprehensive guidebook on how to disable Windows 11 services. This manual offers comparable solutions to address your issue.

We value your input on this topic and are eager to hear your thoughts. Please don’t hesitate to comment below and share your feedback with us.

KB5027231: Patch Tuesday comes with Security updates for you

It’s that time of the month again. You guessed it. Patch Tuesday has arrived with some important security updates for Windows 11.

According to the Redmond-based tech giant, the KB5027231 specifically addresses security issues on your Windows 11, including improving on KB5026446‘s features on security.

It’s worth noting that this update focuses on no less than 73 CVEs that are either critical to moderate, and also offers support to 22 non-Microsoft CVEs, especially for Chrome and GitHub.

Fortunately, none of them is actively exploited at the moment, so you can catch your breath if you haven’t updated your Windows 11.

KB5027231: Here’s the complete list of CVEs Microsoft addressed on Patch Tuesday

Some of the most important CVEs addressed in this security update focus on critical CVEs that attack Visual Studio’s Net Framework, as well as Microsoft SharePoint Servers.

There is a particular CVE that is highly prone to attacks, CVE-2023-32013, and it concerns Windows Hyper-V Denial of Service, so you might want to update your system if it’s in your target.KB5027231

Here’s the complete list of CVEs Microsoft addressed on Patch Tuesday.

TagCVEBase ScoreCVSS VectorExploitabilityFAQs?Workarounds?Mitigations?
Azure DevOpsCVE-2023-215657.1CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:L/A:N/E:U/RL:O/RC:CExploitation Less LikelyYesNoNo
Azure DevOpsCVE-2023-215695.5CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L/E:U/RL:O/RC:CExploitation Less LikelyYesNoNo
.NET and Visual StudioCVE-2023-248957.8CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:U/RL:O/RC:CExploitation Less LikelyYesNoNo
Microsoft DynamicsCVE-2023-248965.4CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N/E:U/RL:O/RC:CExploitation Less LikelyYesNoNo
.NET and Visual StudioCVE-2023-248977.8CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:U/RL:O/RC:CExploitation Less LikelyYesNoNo
.NET and Visual StudioCVE-2023-249368.1CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:U/RL:O/RC:CExploitation Less LikelyYesNoNo
Windows CryptoAPICVE-2023-249376.5CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H/E:U/RL:O/RC:CExploitation Less LikelyNoNoNo
Windows CryptoAPICVE-2023-249386.5CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H/E:U/RL:O/RC:CExploitation Less LikelyNoNoNo
Microsoft Exchange ServerCVE-2023-283108.0CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:U/RL:O/RC:CExploitation More LikelyYesNoNo
.NET FrameworkCVE-2023-293267.8CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:U/RL:O/RC:CExploitation Less LikelyYesNoNo
.NET CoreCVE-2023-293317.5CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H/E:P/RL:O/RC:CExploitation Less LikelyNoNoNo
NuGet ClientCVE-2023-293377.1CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:U/RL:O/RC:CExploitation Less LikelyYesNoNo
Microsoft Edge (Chromium-based)CVE-2023-293456.1CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N/E:U/RL:O/RC:CExploitation Less LikelyYesNoNo
Windows NTFSCVE-2023-293467.8CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:U/RL:O/RC:CExploitation Less LikelyYesNoNo
Windows Group PolicyCVE-2023-293518.1CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:H/E:U/RL:O/RC:CExploitation Less LikelyYesNoNo
Remote Desktop ClientCVE-2023-293526.5CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N/E:U/RL:O/RC:CExploitation Less LikelyYesNoNo
SysInternalsCVE-2023-293535.5CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H/E:U/RL:O/RC:CExploitation Less LikelyYesNoNo
Windows DHCP ServerCVE-2023-293555.3CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N/E:U/RL:O/RC:CExploitation Less LikelyYesNoYes
Microsoft Office SharePointCVE-2023-293579.8CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:U/RL:O/RC:CExploitation More LikelyYesNoYes
Windows GDICVE-2023-293587.8CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:U/RL:O/RC:CExploitation More LikelyYesNoNo
Windows Win32KCVE-2023-293597.8CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:U/RL:O/RC:CExploitation More LikelyYesNoNo
Windows TPM Device DriverCVE-2023-293607.8CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:U/RL:O/RC:CExploitation More LikelyYesNoNo
Windows Cloud Files Mini Filter DriverCVE-2023-293617.0CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:U/RL:O/RC:CExploitation More LikelyYesNoNo
Remote Desktop ClientCVE-2023-293628.8CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:U/RL:O/RC:CExploitation Less LikelyYesNoNo
Windows PGMCVE-2023-293639.8CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:U/RL:O/RC:CExploitation Less LikelyYesNoYes
Windows Authentication MethodsCVE-2023-293647.0CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:P/RL:O/RC:CExploitation Less LikelyYesNoNo
Microsoft Windows Codecs LibraryCVE-2023-293657.8CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:U/RL:O/RC:CExploitation Less LikelyYesNoNo
Windows Geolocation ServiceCVE-2023-293667.8CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:U/RL:O/RC:CExploitation Less LikelyYesNoNo
Windows OLECVE-2023-293677.8CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:U/RL:O/RC:CExploitation Less LikelyYesNoNo
Windows FilteringCVE-2023-293687.0CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:U/RL:O/RC:CExploitation Less LikelyYesNoNo
Windows Remote Procedure Call RuntimeCVE-2023-293696.5CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H/E:U/RL:O/RC:CExploitation Less LikelyNoNoNo
Microsoft Windows Codecs LibraryCVE-2023-293707.8CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:U/RL:O/RC:CExploitation Less LikelyYesNoNo
Windows Win32KCVE-2023-293717.8CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:U/RL:O/RC:CExploitation More LikelyYesNoNo
Microsoft WDAC OLE DB provider for SQLCVE-2023-293728.8CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:U/RL:O/RC:CExploitation Less LikelyYesNoNo
Windows ODBC DriverCVE-2023-293738.8CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:U/RL:O/RC:CExploitation Less LikelyYesNoNo
Windows Resilient File System (ReFS)CVE-2023-320087.8CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:U/RL:O/RC:CExploitation Less LikelyYesNoNo
Windows Collaborative Translation FrameworkCVE-2023-320098.8CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:U/RL:O/RC:CExploitation Less LikelyYesNoNo
Windows Bus Filter DriverCVE-2023-320107.0CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:U/RL:O/RC:CExploitation Less LikelyYesNoNo
Windows iSCSICVE-2023-320117.5CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H/E:U/RL:O/RC:CExploitation Less LikelyNoNoNo
Windows Container Manager ServiceCVE-2023-320126.3CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:H/E:U/RL:O/RC:CExploitation Less LikelyYesNoNo
Windows Hyper-VCVE-2023-320136.5CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H/E:U/RL:O/RC:CExploitation Less LikelyYesNoNo
Windows PGMCVE-2023-320149.8CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:U/RL:O/RC:CExploitation Less LikelyYesNoYes
Windows PGMCVE-2023-320159.8CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:U/RL:O/RC:CExploitation Less LikelyYesNoYes
Windows InstallerCVE-2023-320165.5CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N/E:U/RL:O/RC:CExploitation Less LikelyYesNoNo
Microsoft Printer DriversCVE-2023-320177.8CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:U/RL:O/RC:CExploitation Less LikelyYesNoNo
Windows HelloCVE-2023-320187.8CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:U/RL:O/RC:CExploitation Less LikelyYesNoNo
Windows KernelCVE-2023-320194.7CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N/E:U/RL:O/RC:CExploitation Less LikelyYesNoNo
Role: DNS ServerCVE-2023-320203.7CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N/E:U/RL:O/RC:CExploitation Less LikelyYesNoNo
Windows SMBCVE-2023-320217.1CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:H/E:U/RL:O/RC:CExploitation Less LikelyYesNoYes
Windows Server ServiceCVE-2023-320227.6CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:H/E:U/RL:O/RC:CExploitation Less LikelyYesNoYes
Microsoft Power AppsCVE-2023-320243.0CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:N/A:N/E:U/RL:O/RC:CExploitation Less LikelyYesNoNo
Microsoft Office ExcelCVE-2023-320297.8CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:U/RL:O/RC:CExploitation Less LikelyYesNoNo
.NET and Visual StudioCVE-2023-320307.5CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H/E:P/RL:O/RC:CExploitation Less LikelyNoNoNo
Microsoft Exchange ServerCVE-2023-320318.8CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:U/RL:O/RC:CExploitation More LikelyYesNoNo
.NET and Visual StudioCVE-2023-320326.5CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:H/A:H/E:P/RL:O/RC:CExploitation Less LikelyYesNoNo
.NET and Visual StudioCVE-2023-331267.3CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:P/RL:O/RC:CExploitation Less LikelyYesNoNo
.NET and Visual StudioCVE-2023-331278.1CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:P/RL:O/RC:CExploitation Less LikelyYesNoNo
.NET and Visual StudioCVE-2023-331287.3CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:P/RL:O/RC:CExploitation Less LikelyYesNoNo
Microsoft Office SharePointCVE-2023-331296.5CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H/E:U/RL:O/RC:CExploitation Less LikelyYesNoNo
Microsoft Office SharePointCVE-2023-331307.3CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N/E:U/RL:O/RC:CExploitation Less LikelyYesNoNo
Microsoft Office OutlookCVE-2023-331318.8CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:U/RL:O/RC:CExploitation Less LikelyYesNoNo
Microsoft Office SharePointCVE-2023-331326.3CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:L/A:N/E:U/RL:O/RC:CExploitation Less LikelyYesNoNo
Microsoft Office ExcelCVE-2023-331337.8CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:U/RL:O/RC:CExploitation Less LikelyYesNoNo
.NET and Visual StudioCVE-2023-331357.3CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:P/RL:O/RC:CExploitation Less LikelyYesNoNo
Microsoft Office ExcelCVE-2023-331377.8CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:U/RL:O/RC:CExploitation Less LikelyYesNoNo
Visual StudioCVE-2023-331395.5CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N/E:P/RL:O/RC:CExploitation Less LikelyYesNoNo
Microsoft Office OneNoteCVE-2023-331406.5CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N/E:U/RL:O/RC:CExploitation Less LikelyYesNoNo
ASP .NETCVE-2023-331417.5CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H/E:P/RL:O/RC:CExploitation Less LikelyNoNoNo
Microsoft Office SharePointCVE-2023-331426.5CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N/E:U/RL:O/RC:CExploitation Less LikelyYesNoNo
Microsoft Edge (Chromium-based)CVE-2023-331437.5CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:H/E:U/RL:O/RC:CExploitation Less LikelyYesNoNo
Visual Studio CodeCVE-2023-331445.0CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N/E:P/RL:O/RC:CExploitation Less LikelyYesNoNo
Microsoft Edge (Chromium-based)CVE-2023-331456.5CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N/E:U/RL:O/RC:CExploitation Less LikelyYesNoNo
Microsoft OfficeCVE-2023-331467.8CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:U/RL:O/RC:CExploitation Less LikelyYesNoNo

On the other hand, the updates also add support for Bluetooth Low Energy audio. If you remember, this particular feature will let you use your wireless Bluetooth headphones much longer while providing the same audio quality.

The technology doesn’t take a lot of your devices’ battery, allowing for a sustainable way to enjoy your music, podcasts, and whatever you’re listening to.

Here’s the list of the other improvements coming to Windows 11 with this new update.

Improvements

  • This update addresses a known issue that affects 32-bit apps that are large address aware and use the CopyFile API. You might have issues when you save, copy, or attach files. If you use some commercial or enterprise security software that uses extended file attributes, this issue will likely affect you. For Microsoft Office apps, this issue only affects the 32-bit versions. You might receive the error, “Document not saved.” 
  • This update addresses a compatibility issue. The issue occurs because of unsupported use of the registry.
  • This update addresses an issue that affects the Windows Kernel. This issue is related to CVE-2023-32019. To learn more, see KB5028407.

What do you think about these Patch Tuesday updates? Be sure to let us know in the comments section below.

Microsoft rolls out fixes for 69 CVEs through the June 2023 Patch Tuesday

It’s June and we are already enjoying the summer, but Windows users are also looking towards Microsoft, in hopes that some of the flaws they’ve been struggling with will finally get fixed.

We’ve already provided the direct download links for the cumulative updates released today for Windows 10 and 11, but now it’s time to talk about Critical Vulnerabilities and Exposures again.

This month, the Redmond-based tech giant released 69 new patches, which is a lot more than some people were expecting in the middle of the summer.

These software updates address CVEs in:

  • Microsoft Windows and Windows Components
  • Office and Office Components
  • Exchange Server
  • Microsoft Edge (Chromium-based)
  • SharePoint Server
  • .NET and Visual Studio
  • Microsoft Teams; Azure DevOps
  • Microsoft Dynamics
  • Remote Desktop Client

We’re going to take a more in-depth look at this release and see exactly what vulnerabilities we can scratch off our lists.

Microsoft managed to eliminate 69 OS vulnerabilities

It goes without saying that this isn’t either one of the busiest or the lightest months for Microsoft security experts.

You might like to know that, out of the 69 new CVEs released, six are rated Critical, 62 are rated Important, and one is rated Moderate in severity.

Notably, this volume of fixes is a bit larger than what we all expected for June, but not extraordinary, so there’s no need to worry.

It’s important to know that none of the new bugs patched this month are listed as publicly known or under active attack at the time of release.

CVETitleSeverityCVSSPublicExploitedType
CVE-2023-24897.NET, .NET Framework, and Visual Studio Remote Code Execution VulnerabilityCritical7.8NoNoRCE
CVE-2023-29357Microsoft SharePoint Server Elevation of Privilege VulnerabilityCritical9.8NoNoEoP
CVE-2023-32013Windows Hyper-V Denial of Service VulnerabilityCritical6.5NoNoDoS
CVE-2023-29363Windows Pragmatic General Multicast (PGM) Remote Code Execution VulnerabilityCritical9.8NoNoRCE
CVE-2023-32014Windows Pragmatic General Multicast (PGM) Remote Code Execution VulnerabilityCritical9.8NoNoRCE
CVE-2023-32015Windows Pragmatic General Multicast (PGM) Remote Code Execution VulnerabilityCritical9.8NoNoRCE
CVE-2023-32030.NET and Visual Studio Denial of Service VulnerabilityImportant7.5NoNoDoS
CVE-2023-32032.NET and Visual Studio Elevation of Privilege VulnerabilityImportant6.5NoNoEoP
CVE-2023-33135.NET and Visual Studio Elevation of Privilege VulnerabilityImportant7.3NoNoEoP
CVE-2023-33126.NET and Visual Studio Remote Code Execution VulnerabilityImportant7.3NoNoRCE
CVE-2023-33128.NET and Visual Studio Remote Code Execution VulnerabilityImportant7.3NoNoRCE
CVE-2023-29331.NET Denial of Service VulnerabilityImportant7.5NoNoDoS
CVE-2023-29326.NET Framework Remote Code Execution VulnerabilityImportant7.8NoNoRCE
CVE-2023-24895.NET, .NET Framework, and Visual Studio Remote Code Execution VulnerabilityImportant7.8NoNoRCE
CVE-2023-27909 *AutoDesk: CVE-2023-27909 Out-Of-Bounds Write Vulnerability in Autodesk® FBX® SDK 2020 or priorImportant7.8NoNoRCE
CVE-2023-27910 *AutoDesk: CVE-2023-27910 stack buffer overflow vulnerability in Autodesk® FBX® SDK 2020 or priorImportant7.8NoNoRCE
CVE-2023-27911 *AutoDesk: CVE-2023-27911 Heap buffer overflow vulnerability in Autodesk® FBX® SDK 2020 or priorImportant7.8NoNoRCE
CVE-2023-21565Azure DevOps Server Spoofing VulnerabilityImportant7.1NoNoSpoofing
CVE-2023-21569Azure DevOps Server Spoofing VulnerabilityImportant5.5NoNoSpoofing
CVE-2023-29355DHCP Server Service Information Disclosure VulnerabilityImportant5.3NoNoInfo
CVE-2023-25652 *GitHub: CVE-2023-25652 “git apply –reject” partially-controlled arbitrary file writeImportant7.5NoNoN/A
CVE-2023-25815 *GitHub: CVE-2023-25815 Git looks for localized messages in an unprivileged placeImportant3.3NoNoN/A
CVE-2023-29007 *GitHub: CVE-2023-29007 Arbitrary configuration injection via `git submodule deinit`Important7.8NoNoN/A
CVE-2023-29011 *GitHub: CVE-2023-29011 The config file of `connect.exe` is susceptible to malicious placingImportant7.5NoNoN/A
CVE-2023-29012 *GitHub: CVE-2023-29012 Git CMD erroneously executes `doskey.exe` in current directory, if it existsImportant7.2NoNoN/A
CVE-2023-29367iSCSI Target WMI Provider Remote Code Execution VulnerabilityImportant7.8NoNoRCE
CVE-2023-24896Microsoft Dynamics 365 (on-premises) Cross-site Scripting VulnerabilityImportant5.4NoNoXSS
CVE-2023-33145Microsoft Edge (Chromium-based) Information Disclosure VulnerabilityImportant6.5NoNoInfo
CVE-2023-32029Microsoft Excel Remote Code Execution VulnerabilityImportant7.8NoNoRCE
CVE-2023-33133Microsoft Excel Remote Code Execution VulnerabilityImportant7.8NoNoRCE
CVE-2023-33137Microsoft Excel Remote Code Execution VulnerabilityImportant7.8NoNoRCE
CVE-2023-28310Microsoft Exchange Server Remote Code Execution VulnerabilityImportant8NoNoRCE
CVE-2023-32031Microsoft Exchange Server Remote Code Execution VulnerabilityImportant8.8NoNoRCE
CVE-2023-29373Microsoft ODBC Driver Remote Code Execution VulnerabilityImportant8.8NoNoRCE
CVE-2023-33146Microsoft Office Remote Code Execution VulnerabilityImportant7.8NoNoRCE
CVE-2023-33140Microsoft OneNote Spoofing VulnerabilityImportant6.5NoNoSpoofing
CVE-2023-33131Microsoft Outlook Spoofing VulnerabilityImportant6.5NoNoSpoofing
CVE-2023-32017Microsoft PostScript Printer Driver Remote Code Execution VulnerabilityImportant7.8NoNoRCE
CVE-2023-32024Microsoft Power Apps Spoofing VulnerabilityImportant3NoNoSpoofing
CVE-2023-33129Microsoft SharePoint Denial of Service VulnerabilityImportant6.5NoNoDoS
CVE-2023-33142Microsoft SharePoint Server Elevation of Privilege VulnerabilityImportant6.5NoNoEoP
CVE-2023-33130Microsoft SharePoint Server Spoofing VulnerabilityImportant7.3NoNoSpoofing
CVE-2023-33132Microsoft SharePoint Server Spoofing VulnerabilityImportant6.3NoNoSpoofing
CVE-2023-29372Microsoft WDAC OLE DB provider for SQL Server Remote Code Execution VulnerabilityImportant8.8NoNoRCE
CVE-2023-29346NTFS Elevation of Privilege VulnerabilityImportant7.8NoNoEoP
CVE-2023-29337NuGet Client Remote Code Execution VulnerabilityImportant7.1NoNoRCE
CVE-2023-29362Remote Desktop Client Remote Code Execution VulnerabilityImportant8.8NoNoRCE
CVE-2023-29369Remote Procedure Call Runtime Denial of Service VulnerabilityImportant6.5NoNoDoS
CVE-2023-29353Sysinternals Process Monitor for Windows Denial of Service VulnerabilityImportant5.5NoNoDoS
CVE-2023-33144Visual Studio Code Spoofing VulnerabilityImportant5NoNoSpoofing
CVE-2023-33139Visual Studio Information Disclosure VulnerabilityImportant7.8NoNoInfo
CVE-2023-29359Win32k Elevation of Privilege VulnerabilityImportant7.8NoNoEoP
CVE-2023-29364Windows Authentication Elevation of Privilege VulnerabilityImportant7NoNoEoP
CVE-2023-32010Windows Bus Filter Driver Elevation of Privilege VulnerabilityImportant7NoNoEoP
CVE-2023-29361Windows Cloud Files Mini Filter Driver Elevation of Privilege VulnerabilityImportant7NoNoEoP
CVE-2023-32009Windows Collaborative Translation Framework Elevation of Privilege VulnerabilityImportant8.8NoNoEoP
CVE-2023-32012Windows Container Manager Service Elevation of Privilege VulnerabilityImportant6.3NoNoEoP
CVE-2023-24937Windows CryptoAPI Denial of Service VulnerabilityImportant5.5NoNoDoS
CVE-2023-24938Windows CryptoAPI Denial of Service VulnerabilityImportant5.5NoNoDoS
CVE-2023-32020Windows DNS Spoofing VulnerabilityImportant3.7NoNoSpoofing
CVE-2023-29358Windows GDI Elevation of Privilege VulnerabilityImportant7.8NoNoEoP
CVE-2023-29366Windows Geolocation Service Remote Code Execution VulnerabilityImportant7.8NoNoRCE
CVE-2023-29351Windows Group Policy Elevation of Privilege VulnerabilityImportant8.1NoNoEoP
CVE-2023-32018Windows Hello Remote Code Execution VulnerabilityImportant7.8NoNoRCE
CVE-2023-32016Windows Installer Information Disclosure VulnerabilityImportant5.5NoNoInfo
CVE-2023-32011Windows iSCSI Discovery Service Denial of Service VulnerabilityImportant7.5NoNoDoS
CVE-2023-32019Windows Kernel Information Disclosure VulnerabilityImportant4.7NoNoInfo
CVE-2023-29365Windows Media Remote Code Execution VulnerabilityImportant7.8NoNoRCE
CVE-2023-29370Windows Media Remote Code Execution VulnerabilityImportant7.8NoNoRCE
CVE-2023-29352Windows Remote Desktop Security Feature Bypass VulnerabilityImportant6.5NoNoSFB
CVE-2023-32008Windows Resilient File System (ReFS) Remote Code Execution VulnerabilityImportant7.8NoNoRCE
CVE-2023-32022Windows Server Service Security Feature Bypass VulnerabilityImportant7.6NoNoSFB
CVE-2023-32021Windows SMB Witness Service Security Feature Bypass VulnerabilityImportant7.1NoNoSFB
CVE-2023-29368Windows TCP/IP Driver Elevation of Privilege VulnerabilityImportant7NoNoEoP
CVE-2023-29360Windows TPM Device Driver Elevation of Privilege VulnerabilityImportant7.8NoNoEoP
CVE-2023-29371Windows Win32k Elevation of Privilege VulnerabilityImportant7.8NoNoEoP
CVE-2023-33141Yet Another Reverse Proxy (YARP) Denial of Service VulnerabilityImportant7.5NoNoDoS
CVE-2023-24936.NET, .NET Framework, and Visual Studio Remote Code Execution VulnerabilityModerate8.1NoNoRCE
CVE-2023-33143Microsoft Edge (Chromium-based) Elevation of Privilege VulnerabilityModerate7.5NoNoEoP
CVE-2023-29345Microsoft Edge (Chromium-based) Security Feature Bypass VulnerabilityLow6.1NoNoSFB
CVE-2023-3079 *Chromium: CVE-2023-3079 Type Confusion in V8HighN/ANoYesRCE
CVE-2023-2929 *Chromium: CVE-2023-2929 Out of bounds write in SwiftshaderHighN/ANoNoRCE
CVE-2023-2930 *Chromium: CVE-2023-2930 Use after free in ExtensionsHighN/ANoNoRCE
CVE-2023-2931 *Chromium: CVE-2023-2931 Use after free in PDFHighN/ANoNoRCE
CVE-2023-2932 *Chromium: CVE-2023-2932 Use after free in PDFHighN/ANoNoRCE
CVE-2023-2933 *Chromium: CVE-2023-2933 Use after free in PDFHighN/ANoNoRCE
CVE-2023-2934 *Chromium: CVE-2023-2934 Out of bounds memory access in MojoHighN/ANoNoRCE
CVE-2023-2935 *Chromium: CVE-2023-2935 Type Confusion in V8HighN/ANoNoRCE
CVE-2023-2936 *Chromium: CVE-2023-2936 Type Confusion in V8HighN/ANoNoRCE
CVE-2023-2937 *Chromium: CVE-2023-2937 Inappropriate implementation in Picture In PictureMediumN/ANoNoN/A
CVE-2023-2938 *Chromium: CVE-2023-2938 Inappropriate implementation in Picture In PictureMediumN/ANoNoN/A
CVE-2023-2939 *Chromium: CVE-2023-2939 Insufficient data validation in InstallerMediumN/ANoNoN/A
CVE-2023-2940 *Chromium: CVE-2023-2940 Inappropriate implementation in DownloadsMediumN/ANoNoN/A
CVE-2023-2941 *Chromium: CVE-2023-2941 Inappropriate implementation in Extensions APILowN/ANoNoN/A

Let’s talk about CVE-2023-32031 for a second. This vulnerability, in case you didn’t already know, is actually a bypass of both CVE-2022-41082 and CVE-2023-21529.

Remember that the former was listed as being under active exploit, and this specific flaw exists within the Command class.

The issue started from the lack of proper validation of user-supplied data, which can result in the deserialization of untrusted data.

Even though this does require the attacker to have an account on the Exchange server, successful exploitation could lead to executing code with SYSTEM privileges.

Looking at CVE-2023-29363/32014/32015, we can tell that these three bugs look identical on paper, and all are listed as a CVSS 9.8.

They allowed a remote, unauthenticated attacker to execute code on an affected system where the message queuing service is running in a Pragmatic General Multicast (PGM) Server environment.

While not enabled by default, PGM isn’t an uncommon configuration, so we do hope these bugs get fixed before any active exploitation starts.

There are only two other Critical-rated bugs in this month’s release, with the first appearing to be all supported versions of .NET, .NET Framework, and Visual Studio.

In fact, it’s an open-and-own sort of exploit, but judging by the Critical rating, it appears there are no warning dialogs when opening the dodgy file.

The second Critical-rated fix for June addresses a Denial-of-Service (DoS) bug in the Hyper-V server, so the Critical rating implies a guest OS could potentially shut down the host OS, or at least cause some form of a DoS condition.

The June 2023 Patch Tuesday rollout includes fixes for four security feature bypass (SFB) bugs, and two of these involve bypassing the check RPC procedure.

If left unchecked, they could allow the execution of RCE procedures that should otherwise be restricted when making calls to an SMB server.

Know that the bug in the RDP requires someone open a specially crafted file, but if they can convince the user to take that action, the attacker could bypass certificate or private key authentication when establishing a remote desktop protocol session.

Let’s also mention the final SFB patch, which is the Low-severity bug in Edge that could allow attackers to bypass the permissions dialog feature when clicking on a URL.

Going through the remaining DoS fixes for June, the vast majority offer no additional details, so it’s not clear whether an attack would only impact the component or the entire system.

These above-mentioned bugs in the CryptoAPI service may impact authentication actions, but that’s just speculation based on the component.

Was this article helpful to you? Share your opinion in the comments section below.

What is Useroobebroker.exe & Should You Disable It?

Have you ever opened Task Manager on a Windows computer and noticed the UserOOBEBroker.exe process running? Many people encounter this process when their system is running slowly or when applications become unresponsive, leading them to disable it in an attempt to fix the issue.

In an earlier guide, we discussed the steps to disable usocoreworker.exe. Presently, we face a comparable predicament once again.

Before tackling the problem at hand, it is crucial to pinpoint the root cause.

What is Useroobebroker.exe?

Microsoft has developed an executable file called UserOOBEBroker.exe, a critical component of Windows 11.

This file comes pre-installed with the Windows Modules Installer Worker in Windows 11 and is used to manage the Out of Box Experience (OOBE).

Should I disable Useroobebroker.exe?

The User OOBE Broker is a harmless program that poses no threat to your system’s security. Nevertheless, there have been reports of some users experiencing high CPU usage due to the program running in the background.

If you’re experiencing a problem with the User OOBE Broker, there’s a solution that involves disabling it. Keep reading to learn how to disable it and resolve the issue.

How can I disable Useroobebroker.exe?

1. Via Settings

  1. Hold the Windows + I keys together to open Settings.
  2. Click System, and now locate Notifications.

  3. Uncheck the Show Me the Windows welcome experience after updates and occasionally when I sign in to highlight what’s new and suggested box.

2. Via Task Manager

  1. Hold down Ctrl+Shift+Esc to launch the Task Manager.
  2. Switch to the Details tab.

  3. Locate Details from the list, now choose the process and right-click and select End task.

  4. Restart your system.

After doing that, check if the problem is resolved.

3. Create a new user profile in Windows

  1. Click on Start on your home screen and select Settings. 
  2. Scroll down to Accounts and click on Family & other users.
  3. Under Other users and Add other user, choose to Add account.
  4. Enter that person’s Microsoft account information or click on I don’t have this person’s sign-in information and follow the prompts.
  5. Select Add a user without a Microsoft account and set your username and password for the new account.

We trust that this guide has been of great help in tackling your concern. Finding a solution to this problem is not as overwhelming as it may appear at first glance.

If you face any further hurdles, we recommend referring to our extensive guidebook on Windows 11 services to disable. This handbook could provide you with similar remedies to tackle your problem.

To learn moe about this subject matter, we have a great guide on User OOBE Broker, so don’t miss it.

We highly appreciate your viewpoint on this matter and would love to hear your perspective. Please feel free to share your feedback with us by leaving a comment below.

Windows 10 & 11 June Patch Tuesday [DIRECT DOWNLOAD LINKS]

As you probably guessed by now, the sixth round of the monthly Patch Tuesday updates of 2023 have finally arrived.

This update package brings an entire array of changes for both Windows 10 and Windows 11, regardless of whether it is a newer or an older version.

The June 2023 Patch Tuesday updates are expected to fix some of the issues that were still pending, and in the article below we will be looking to see exactly what we get.

We’ve included detailed changelogs for each cumulative update, and we will also be providing you with direct download links from Microsoft’s Windows Update Catalog, so you know that they are secure.

Alternatively, you can always use other methods to get the latest updates, including:

  • The Windows Update menu on your OS
  • The WSUS (Windows Server Update Service)
  • Group Policies set up by your admins if you’re part of a larger network.

Changes included in the June 2023 Patch Tuesday Updates

Windows 11

As most of you know by now, Microsoft released its latest operating system, Windows 11, on the 5th of October, 2021.

Five months after the general rollout, the new OS seems to become increasingly stable and far less buggy than we’ve gotten used to.

You might also like to know that the 22H2 version of Windows 11, the operating system’s first major update, has already been declared feature complete.

It will, most likely, come in the first half of the year, so we might just get it until the summer. Of course, there is a possibility that the Redmond tech giant could postpone to the third, or fourth quarter.

Cumulative update name

KB5027223 

Improvements & fixes

  • This update addresses a known issue that affects 32-bit apps that are large address aware and use the CopyFile API. You might have issues when you save, copy, or attach files. If you use some commercial or enterprise security software that uses extended file attributes, this issue will likely affect you. For Microsoft Office apps, this issue only affects the 32-bit versions. You might receive the error, “Document not saved.”
  • This update addresses a compatibility issue. The issue occurs because of unsupported use of the registry.
  • This update addresses an issue that affects the Windows Kernel. This issue is related to CVE-2023-32019. To learn more, see KB5028407.

Known issues

  • After installing this or later updates, Windows devices with some third-party UI customization apps might not start up. These third-party apps might cause errors with explorer.exe that might repeat multiple times in a loop. The known affected third-party UI customization apps are ExplorerPatcher and StartAllBack. These types of apps often use unsupported methods to achieve their customization and as a result can have unintended results on your Windows device.

[DIRECT DOWNLOAD LINK]

Windows 10 versions 21H2, 21H1, and 20H2

Windows 10 v21H2 is the latest major version of Windows 10, and as such has the most experimental features on it.

Fortunately, most bugs that were first present when it was first made available have been weeded out, and this version of Windows 10 is far more stable.

Cumulative update name

KB5027215

Improvements & fixes

  • This update addresses a known issue that affects 32-bit apps that are large address aware and use the CopyFile API. You might have issues when you save, copy, or attach files. If you use some commercial or enterprise security software that uses extended file attributes, this issue will likely affect you. For Microsoft Office apps, this issue only affects the 32-bit versions. You might receive the error, “Document not saved.”
  • This update addresses an issue that affects the Windows Kernel. This issue is related to CVE-2023-32019. To learn more, see KB5028407.

Known issues

  • Devices with Windows installations created from custom offline media or custom ISO image might have Microsoft Edge Legacy removed by this update, but not automatically replaced by the new Microsoft Edge. This issue is only encountered when custom offline media or ISO images are created by slipstreaming this update into the image without having first installed the standalone servicing stack update (SSU) released March 29, 2021 or later.

[DIRECT DOWNLOAD LINK]

Windows 10, version 1809

This version of the OS is outdated and will no longer receive any updates from the tech company. Users that are still running this old version on their devices are strongly advised to choose a more recent one to update to.

If you still want to use Windows 10 and are not willing to upgrade to 11, you don’t have to do so right away. After all, Microsoft announced that the support for Windows 10 will go on until 2025.

Cumulative update name

KB5027222 

Improvements and fixes:

  • This update addresses an issue that affects the Storage Spaces Direct (S2D) cluster. It might not come online. This occurs after a periodic password rollover. The error code is 1326.
  • This update addresses an issue that affects the Appx State Repository. When you remove a user profile, the cleanup is incomplete. Because of this, its database grows as time passes. This growth might cause delays when users sign in to multi-user environments like FSLogix.
  • This update addresses an issue that affects the Windows Remote Management (WinRM) client. The client returns an HTTP server error status (500). This error occurs when it runs a transfer job in the Storage Migration Service.
  • This update addresses an issue that affects signed Windows Defender Application Control (WDAC) policies. They are not applied to the Secure Kernel. This occurs when you enable Secure Boot.
  • This update addresses an issue that might affect the Local Security Authority Subsystem Service (LSASS). It might close sporadically. The system logs the exception 0xc0000710 in the Application Error event 1000. Because of this, the domain controller restarts unexpectedly. This issue affects read-only DCs (RODC) that also run Microsoft Defender Advanced Threat Protection (ATP). 
  • This update addresses an issue that affects the Windows Kernel. This issue is related to CVE-2023-32019. To learn more, see KB5028407.

Known Issues:

  •  After installing KB5001342 or later, the Cluster Service might fail to start because a Cluster Network Driver is not found.

[DIRECT DOWNLOAD LINK]

Windows 10, version 1607

Note: Windows 10, version 1607 has reached the end of service for all of its available editions. Update to the latest version of Windows 10 in order to keep your system protected.

Cumulative update name

KB5027219 

Improvements and fixes

  • This update addresses an issue that might cause a memory leak. The leak might occur during prolonged Remote Desktop audio redirection.
  • This update addresses an issue that affects the Windows Kernel. This issue is related to CVE-2023-32019. To learn more, see KB5028407. 

[DIRECT DOWNLOAD LINK]


Have you already downloaded the security updates for your version of the Windows operating system? Let us know in the comments section below.

What is Wermgr.exe & How to Quickly Disable It

The wermgr.exe is a helpful error reporting service that sends error logs to Microsoft. This executable also notifies you when there’s an issue with the operating system or a program.

We previously covered how to disable the Windows error reporting service in our guide, and now we find ourselves in a similar situation.

However, it’s essential to identify the underlying issue before addressing the problem.

What is the Wermgr.exe process?

The wermgr.exe executable is a crucial component of the Windows Error Reporting Manager. Its primary function is to manage the errors that occur within the Windows operating system.

It is used to identify and report any crashes or errors to determine the root cause of your program’s failure.

Should I disable the wermgr.exe?

It’s recommended to keep this process enabled, as disabling it may lead to certain Windows components malfunctioning.

It’s important to ensure the smooth functioning of all aspects of the operating system. Therefore it should remain enabled.

How can I disable wermgr.exe?

1. Use the Services window 

  1. Hold the Windows + R keys together to open up a Run window.
  2. Type services.msc and click OK to open the Services screen.
  3. In the services screen, scroll down and locate Windows Error Reporting Service. Now, right-click on it and choose Properties.
  4. Next change the Startup Type from Automatic to Manual.
  5. After configuring the Startup Type to Manual, it is recommended that you Reboot your system. Following this, a check of the Task Manager should reveal the absence of wermgr.exe.

2. Use Registry Editor

  1. On your home screen type in regedit in the search bar and click Open.
  2. The moment the UAC pops up click Yes.
  3. Next, locate the following path HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Error Reporting
  4. Now, shift to the right panel and find Disabled.
  5. Double-click on the Disabled DWORD key and change the value from 0 to 1. Then save it by clicking OK.

After making these changes, the wermgr.exe will be disabled.

We hope this guide has provided you with the necessary assistance to address your concern. Resolving this issue is not as daunting as it may initially seem.

If you encounter any additional challenges, we suggest looking at our comprehensive manual on Windows 11 error logs. This guide may offer comparable solutions to address your issue.

We value your opinion on this topic and would be delighted to hear your thoughts. Kindly share your feedback by leaving a comment below.

Fix: Microsoft Visual C++ 14.0 or Greater is Required

Based on users on various platforms, it has been reported that an error message reading Microsoft Visual C++ 14.0 or greater is required pops up frequently during the installation of Python and Word Cloud.

The current situation is similar to the Microsoft Visual C++ Runtime error we discussed in our guide.

However, before delving into the problem, it is imperative to understand its root cause.

What causes Microsoft Visual C++14.0 or greater is required error?

The following reasons are the causes of Microsoft Visual C++ 14.0 or greater is required error:

  • Missing visual C++ components – The Visual C++ segment might prompt this error.

How do I fix Microsoft Visual C++ 14.0 or greater is required error?

1. Download the latest Visual C++ redistributable packages

  1. Visit the website to download the current version.
  2. Click on Visual Studio 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2022.
  3. Lastly, choose the specific package for your system, and once you have downloaded it and completed the installation process, Restart your PC.

2. Modify build tools installation

  1. Open up the Visual Studio Installer.
  2. Locate the Visual Studio Build Tools and click Modify.


  3. Add a checkmark to Visual C++ build tools and then click Modify in the bottom right to install them.

3. Get the Microsoft C++ Build Tools

  1. Visit this link and install the Microsoft C++ build tools.
  2. After installing the software, follow the steps.
  3. Finally, choose the specific package for your device once you have downloaded it and completed the installation process.
  4. Restart your PC.

We trust that this guide has offered essential support to address your issue. As you may have observed, fixing this matter is not as intimidating as it might appear at first sight.

If you encounter any further difficulties, we recommend checking out our guide on the can’t Install Microsoft Visual C++ 2015 Redistributable. This resource could provide similar remedies to your problem.

We would love to hear your thoughts on the matter, so please drop a comment below and let us know which solution you found to be the most impactful. Your feedback is highly valued.

Microsoft testing image recognition and visual search in Bing Chat

Microsoft is currently conducting tests on image recognition and visual search capabilities within its Bing Chat platform. This new feature allows users to upload an image and ask Bing Chat questions related to that specific image, providing a more interactive search experience.

The image recognition and visual search functionality known as visual search, already exist within Bing Image search. However, Microsoft is now extending these capabilities to its chat platform to enhance user engagement and provide more comprehensive search results.

According to Microsoft’s Advertising and Web Services CEO, Mikhail Parakhin, the testing phase is currently limited to 5% of all searches. Parakhin recently shared this information multiple times on Twitter, stating, “We are flighting at 5% right now, if all goes well – will keep increasing.” He emphasized the importance of ensuring safety and maintaining the quality of regular chat interactions before rolling out the feature to a broader audience. Parakhin also mentioned that the initial flight for image recognition is underway, and as confidence in its quality and safety grows, the feature will be made available to a wider user base.

While the image recognition and visual search feature are in progress, Bing is also working on separate plugin functionalities. Parakhin expressed hope that the plugins will begin their testing phase within a matter of weeks, indicating Microsoft’s commitment to expanding the capabilities of Bing Chat even further.

By introducing image recognition and visual search to Bing Chat, Microsoft aims to provide users with a more interactive and immersive search experience. As the testing phase progresses and the feature proves to be safe and reliable, users can expect a broader rollout in the future, enabling them to explore and discover information in a more visually driven manner.

Via: Search Engine Roundtable

What is Devicecensus.exe & What Does It Do?

For Windows to control more than half of the market share, it is doing a good job. That being said, to provide excellent services continuously, Microsoft needs feedback from its users. That’s why processes such as wsqmcons.exe exist.

But, it is not the only process that monitors and collects information about you to report to Microsoft. Devicecensus.exe is yet another process that shares similar roles. Data collection is a touchy subject, so let’s break it down for you on what it does.

What is Device Census Windows 11?

From the name, a quick guess could lead you to believe it is a Microsoft process aimed at counting the number of users running Windows devices. 

In fact, from the community forum discussion, a user was curious about the devicecensus.exe process when they spotted it in the Task Manager. 

I opened Task Manager one day, and I noticed two never-before-seen executables running, under the name “Device Census.” They disappeared before I could click on them. Is this how Microsoft counts Windows 10 users or is it something else? This isn’t really a “need to know” question, just curious.

Another user got notifications that the application was requesting permission to use the webcam without authorization. To add salt to the injury, Windows Defender gave the green light that it was a safe application.

I have this app trying to activate my webcam without authorization, and it getting detected as no problem with antivirus.

First things first, the devicecensus.exe is a legitimate Windows file. You’ll most likely find it in the following location: C:\Windows\System32

With that out of the way, it is an important Windows 11 program that collects information about your device and then reports back to Microsoft to check for compatibility with the most suitable build.

What does devicecensus.exe do?

The tool checks your computer’s hardware and software and then reports back to Microsoft on the compatibility status of your PC with the latest version of Windows.

This data is collected to provide Microsoft with feedback on where and how their products are being used.

The data collected includes:

  • Device ID, Device Model, and Device Manufacturer
  • Device type (desktop or mobile) and whether it is a physical device or virtual machine
  • Information about the operating system version (OS version), OS language, screen resolution, and bit system
  • Device’s network connectivity status

It has probably never crossed your mind that Microsoft tailors Windows updates for your PC based on your hardware configurations.

This application aims to gather information about your hardware and software. Microsoft can then determine whether there are any incompatibilities between the software and your current version of Windows.

Data collected by this service is telemetry. This type of analytics logs information about how well an app or system works. It is useful in analyzing usage trends and identifying problems with apps or systems.

This service helps Microsoft improve the quality of its products and services by collecting diagnostics information on the device.

Is devicecensus.exe safe?

A major concern is that sometimes Windows 11 telemetry registers high CPU usage. This is not its default behavior, so if you notice high spikes, it may have been infected by a virus.

You should run a system scan just to be sure. Ensure you employ a third-party antivirus as Windows Security may not have advanced features to catch wind of notorious malware that camouflages as the real thing.

You can also stop the process from Task Scheduler, but we recommend you don’t. That’s it from us, and hopefully, you now know how you receive builds to your device.

For any further suggestions or thoughts, leave a comment down below.

Dell USB Ports Not Working? Fix Them in 7 Quick Steps

USB is a common standard for connecting external devices to computers. However, sometimes it may not work as expected. This applies to all devices you can connect a USB with but for today, we shall be looking at a particular case of Dell USB ports not working.

You may face this issue when you try to connect a USB device to your Dell laptop. It may be a simple or complex issue, but this all depends on the reason behind the problem. Let’s now have a look at possible causes and their resolutions.

Why is USB not working on a Dell laptop?

When a USB device is plugged into a computer, it automatically recognizes the device and installs the necessary drivers. 

If you are using a Dell laptop and the USB device is not working, there could be several reasons why this is happening.

  • Damaged cable/device – If the cable has become damaged or bent at some point, this can affect the connection between your computer and your external device. Also, if your USB device is not recognized, it’s possible it is faulty.
  • USB port is damaged or broken – Your USB ports may have been damaged over time, or you recently plugged in another device that caused the damage.
  • Compatibility issues – USB ports on your computer may stop working when you upgrade the Windows operating system. This can happen if the USB controller driver is incompatible with the new version of Windows.
  • Virus attack – If your system is infected with a virus, it can also cause problems with your USB ports.
  • Wrong port – If you have plugged it into the wrong port, or the USB port is blocked by an admin, this can cause problems in the connectivity of your device. Some USB devices are strict on the type of USB port that can be used.
  • Dell BIOS update failure – Some systems that an unauthorized technician has serviced may have their BIOS corrupted, and it can cause your USB ports not to work. 
  • Outdated/incompatible drivers – If your USB device does not have the correct devices installed, it won’t function. Third-party device drivers can also cause problems with USB ports on Dell laptops.

What can I do if the USB ports on my Dell laptop are not working?

Before any complex solutions, attempt the following preliminary checks:

  • Disconnect other peripherals and only connect the one experiencing problems.
  • Examine your USB cable and ports for any physical damage.
  • If you have a USB hub, plug your device into that and see if it works. If it does, then there’s a problem with the laptop port.
  • If available, try connecting the same device to another computer or another port on your Dell laptop. 
  • Run the compatibility troubleshooter.
  • Ensure all your drivers are updated.
  • Run Windows updates to solve any compatibility issues.
  • Start your Dell laptop in Safe Mode and try the USB ports again.
  • Restart your PC and check if the issue persists.

1. Use Dell’s test utility

  1. Navigate to your browser, and download the SupportAssist tool for PCs and tablets.
  2. Open the exe file and follow the on-screen prompts to install it.
  3. Once installed, launch and click on Start Now to start running the tests.

These tests are especially important when all USB ports are not working, and you can’t navigate with your mouse or keyboard because they, too, depend on the USB ports.

2. Scan for hardware changes

  1. Hit the Windows key, type Device Manager in the search bar, and click Open.device manager w11
  2. Click on Action on the menu bar then select Scan for hardware changes.
  3. Windows will then scan for any missing components and reinstall them to make them responsive again.

3. Reinstall the Dell USB drivers

  1. Hit the Windows key, type Device Manager in the search bar, and click Open.device manager w11
  2. Navigate to your hardware device section (in this case Universal Serial Bus), right-click on your device then select Uninstall device.
  3. Click on Uninstall in the next pop-up box.
  4. Restart your device, and your drivers will automatically be installed.

It’s more likely to install the right USB driver version using tailored software that will take care of any driver matters automatically.

All you have to do is download it, launch the tool, and scan all the drivers from your PC that needs more support.

4. Run the hardware and devices troubleshooter

  1. Hit the Windows key, type cmd, and select Run as administrator.cmd-run-admin-w11 unexpected kernel mode trap windows 11
  2. Type the following command and hit Enter:msdt.exe -id DeviceDiagnostic
  3. In the Hardware and Devices dialog that appears, click Next.
  4. The tool will start scanning for any problems with your hardware and recommend a fix. After it is done, try again and check if the error persists.

5. Reset BIOS

  1. Restart your PC.
  2. While the PC boots, keep pressing F2 to access BIOS.
  3. Go to the Exit section and choose Restore Defaults.
  4. Save changes and restart your PC.

6. Perform a System Restore 

  1. Press the Windows + R keys, type rstui, and hit Enter.
  2. The System Restore window will open. Click on Next.
  3. Select the restore point you wish to revert to and click on Next.
  4. Now click on Finish.

7. Reset Windows

  1. Press the Windows key, type cmd, then click on Run as administrator.cmd-run-admin-w11 unexpected kernel mode trap windows 11
  2. In the opened window, type the following command, then hit the Enter button: systemreset -factoryreset

The two last steps will help resolve any issues with software compatibility. Sometimes, programs on your PC cause conflicts with devices, so restoring to an earlier time or resetting your Dell PC can solve such issues.

Other times, your USB ports may not be working after a power surge, so don’t hesitate to check out our article on how to resolve it.

There you have it. Hopefully, this article sums up how to fix your Dell USB ports not working issue.

For any additional comments on this topic, let us know in the comment section below.

Microsoft starts watermarking Bing Image Creator generated images

At the beginning of this year, Microsoft shifted its focus to generative AI, which led to the debut of the new Bing, Later on in March, the company released Bing Image Creator in creator mode that OpenAI’s DALL∙E model powers to enhance the new Bing and Edge preview experience by providing users with better search, complete answers, a new chat experience, and the ability to create content.

Bing Image Creator essentially lets users create images using their own words. Microsoft indicated that the addition will accelerate the comprehension rate as the human brain processes images 60,000 times faster than texts.

At OnMSFT, we’ve been using the tool to generate some of our featured images(with attribution, of course), but still, there hasn’t been an easy way for one to tell an image has been created by leveraging AI capabilities. However, last month, during Microsoft’s annual developer conference, Build 2023, the company announced that it was working on elaborate measures to ensure that it would be easier for users to identify AI-generated content from Bing Image Creator and Microsoft Designer.

For those unfamiliar with Microsoft Designer, it’s an artificially intelligent social media platform that can generate online content such as social media posts, greeting cards, branding, alerts, promotions, and more. It was first teased in 2022 and shipped to preview earlier this year in January.

And is at now seems. Microsoft has started rolling out these changes to users. Earlier today, while generating an image for a post I was working on, I noticed a subtle Bing icon at the bottom of the image. This clearly indicates that Microsoft is now watermarking Bing Image Creator generated images with metadata indicating their original source. I can’t say the same about Microsoft Designer since it still works as before (no watermark), at least for me.

Here’s an illustration of how a Bing Image Creator generated image looks like now:

Microsoft Logo Bing Image Creator

Moving on, it would still be easy for anyone to generate an image using the tool, crop out the metadata and use it elsewhere as their own. Perhaps, Microsoft could be working on a better way to implement this feature. We invite you to check out our expert guide on generating and editing Bing Image Creator images within Microsoft Edge.

Event ID: 10036 Distributed COM [Fix]

The event ID 10036 is a Windows server issue whereby as soon as you install Microsoft updates, you’ll notice a spike in this error. It is accompanied by a message that says the server-side authentication level policy does not allow the user to activate DCOM server.

From face value, it seems that the updates are the cause behind this error, but as we dig deeper, you’ll find out that it’s more complicated. Let’s have a closer look at what this means.

What is DistributedCOM error 10036?

Distributed COM (DCOM) is an application programming interface that allows software components to communicate over a network. 

You may have encountered a problem while trying to install Windows updates because the updates are corrupt or there are problems with your network configuration settings.

It is why we recommend that you won’t be quick to install updates as soon as they are released.

Now, for the DistributedCOM error 10036, you’ll likely spot it on your Windows server right after installing an update. It further details that the user cannot activate the DCOM server despite being a domain administrator. 

You’ll be prompted to raiseactivationauthenticationlevel to make any changes.

This is very strange behavior and could happen due to one of the following reasons:

  • Lack of permissions on the target computer – If you’re trying to start a service remotely and do not have sufficient permissions on the target computer, this will cause an error. 
  • Wrong permissions – If you don’t have permission to access certain resources such as files or registry keys, it can also cause errors like DistributedCOM error 10036.

How do I resolve event ID 10036?

Attempt the following basic checks before any advanced troubleshooting:

  • Log off and back on as an administrator.
  • Ensure you have installed all the required software updates on your server.
  • Try restarting the DistributedCOM service and see if this fixes your issue.

1. Uninstall the recent Windows update

  1. Hit the Windows key and select Settings.settings windows 11
  2. Click on Windows Update and select Update history on the right pane.update-history restart to repair drive errors
  3. Scroll down, and under Related settings, click on Uninstall updates.uninstall-updates-w11 computer-recognize-logitech-unifying-receiver
  4. This will take you to the most recent installed updates.
  5. Select the topmost update and click on Uninstall.uninstall-update-latest computer-recognize-logitech-unifying-receiver
  6. Restart your PC and check if the problem persists.

Since most of the reports indicate that a patch-related update is causing this issue, uninstalling it should fix the issue, but if it doesn’t, proceed to the next step.

2. Disable Registry key

  1. Hit the Windows + R keys to open the Run command.
  2. Type regedit in the dialog box and hit Enter.
  3. Navigate to the following location. Note that this registry key does not exist by default, so you will have to create it. You can do so by right-clicking on Ole and adding a new string: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Ole\AppCompat
  4. Next, on the right side, click on an empty space and add a New DWORD (32-bit), then name it as RequireIntegrityActivationAuthenticationLevel.
  5. Double-click on it, and under the Value data, set it to 0 to disable it.

Since a significant number of users upvoted this as the best solution to resolve the event ID 10036 error, you may have to edit the registry. It appears that Microsoft applied some hardening changes to Windows updates after discovering a vulnerability.

Editing the registry will disable the hardening and possibly eliminate the error. To cushion you against any after-effects, we recommend you quickly backup your registry or create a restore point. 

If it doesn’t work out, no damage will be done, and you can revert to your earlier position. You should also keep checking for new updates, as such vulnerabilities that require hardening are usually catastrophic.

You may also run into another event ID 5145 error, so don’t hesitate to check out our guide on how to fix it.

And with that, we sign out here but let us know of any other worthy solution you may have encountered for this error in the comment section below.

Runtime Error 3706: Provider Cannot be Found [Fix]

The runtime error 3706 occurs when users try to run some codes using VBA. This frustrating error can be due to minor issues with your code when referencing a provider.

If you are also dealing with this issue, this guide will show you how to fix it, just like we did with the runtime error 438.

Why am I getting the runtime error 3706?

The major cause of this error is if some of the details in your code are incorrect. An example is if you provided the wrong OLEDB version in your code.

So, majorly, this error is usually down to minor issues with your code and can be fixed by making the little changes required.

How can I fix the runtime error 3706?

1. Ensure the details are correct

The only solution to this issue is to make sure the details provided in your code are correct and updated.

For example, you might need to confirm the version of your MS Office on which the script is running if you are using the latest versions of Microsoft Office.

What’s more, you might need to change the OLEDB version from 12.0 to 16.0 if you are using the latest versions of Excel, like 2019.

Another thing to note is that you need to make sure your Version, driver type, and Extended Properties are correct. An example is the code shown in the image below that gave this error as reported by a user on Stack Overflow:

mistake runtime error 3706

The solution to this was just to change the Version to 12, the driver to ACE from Jet, the Extended Properties to Excel 12.0, and some other minor changes made to the code, as shown below:

correction

So, these little parameters are important to eliminate this runtime error 3706.

2. Use the latest version of Oracle

Sometimes, this runtime error 3706 can be due to an outdated Oracle client version. You need to check with your client to confirm the version and get the latest one available to prevent issues.

We can now conclude this guide on how to fix this runtime error for good on VBA. This issue is majorly down to minor issues with the details provided in your code.

Correcting these details accordingly should solve this effortlessly. If you are dealing with another issue like runtime error 3709, check our detailed guide to fix it.

Feel free to let us know in the comments below if you could solve this problem.

Windows 10 version 21H2 hits end of servicing

June 13 marked Windows 10 version 21H2 end of servicing date. If your device runs on this operating system, you’ll probably need to upgrade to a newer OS. Especially if you want to continue receiving regular security and feature updates.

According to Microsoft:

Starting today, June 13, 2023, Home, Pro, Pro Education, and Pro for Workstations editions of Windows 10, version 21H2 have reached end of servicing. The June 2023 security update – released June 13, 2023 – is the last update available for these versions. Devices running these versions will no longer receive monthly security and preview updates containing protections from the latest security threats.

The following Windows 10 21H2 editions have reached end of servicing:

  • Windows 10 Home, version 21H2
  • Windows 10 Pro, version 21H2
  • Windows 10 Pro Education, version 21H2
  • Windows 10 Pro for Workstations, version 21H2

Windows 10 version 21H2 started rolling out to users in November 2021. And now, it’s reached its end-of-support date. To continue receiving security and feature updates, you’ll need to upgrade to Windows 10 version 22H2 or even Windows 11 as long as your device meets the set minimum requirements.

Previously, Microsoft had indicated that it will automatically update users of Windows 10 21H1 to a supported version of Windows, ensuring that their devices remain secure and continue to receive security updates.

Not very many users have been able to upgrade their devices to Windows 11 from Windows 10 because of the strict system requirements. Windows 10 is set to hit its end-of-support date on October 14, 2025. Microsoft has even stopped selling licenses for its Home and Pro editions.

How to download & play Mirror’s Edge on Windows 11

Mirror’s Edge is one of those video games that stay with you for a long time after you play it. It was released in 2009, to moderate reception, but its legacy has grown over time. At release, it was available for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and Microsoft Windows as well.

A prequel was also released some years later, Mirror’s Edge Catalyst, which further expanded the story and the gameplay.

And speaking of gameplay, this was the factor that made Mirror’s Edge a cult video game. Aside from its amazing artwork, and overall cyberpunk story, Mirror’s Edge is still played today. It has a strong community online, with people discovering and rediscovering the game.

People everywhere are playing it for the first time, including this Reddit user who wondered how can Mirror’s Edge be played on Windows 11.

And yes, the answer is that you can definitely play Mirror’s Edge on Windows 11, and it runs quite smoothly, according to the other users’ input on the Reddit thread.

Follow along and we’ll show you where to download Mirror’s Edge from and how to install it and play it.

Here’s how to download & play Mirror’s Edge on Windows 11

First, you need to know that you can download Mirror’s Edge from multiple platforms. You can choose to download it from Steam, or you can choose to download it from GOG.COM.

Both platforms work just fine, and there is no difference when it comes to actually playing the game. Of course, you should be aware of the price, but basically, other than the price, this video game will run just fine on Windows 11.

Download Mirror’s Edge from Steam

  1. If you already are a Steam user, go to Mirror’s Edge Steam page.
  2. You have two options: you can either buy it one time, or you can download it as part of your Steam subscription.

You should be able to play it without any issues, directly from Steam. However, if any issues come up, note them down, and look for a solution.

On the Reddit thread, some users encountered some issues that prevented them from playing the game on Windows 11. But it’s not a general thing, so your system might as well run it without any problems.

Download Mirror’s Edge from GOG

  1. You can buy the game from GOG on this page.
  2. Once you’re on the page, click on Add to cart to buy it.mirror's edge windows 11

If you choose to buy it from GOG, the platform will prompt you to install its app, and you can run it from there.

Similar to Steam, running Mirror’s Edge from GOG should be without any issues, as the platform automatically makes older video games compatible with the newer Windows versions. You should be able to enjoy it without being interrupted.

However, if by some means, you do encounter a bug that prevents you from running it, run a compatibility check.

You can do that by right click MirrorsEdge.com, selecting Properties, going to the Compatibility pane, and selecting any previous Windows versions to run this game.

Playing it will be another fun thing to do. You should know that Mirror’s Edge is a first-person platform game, so expect to move a lot, jump a lot, and avoid obstacles and enemies.

You’ll find the story compelling, and the gameplay even more fun.

What do you think? Have you heard of this game? Have you played it before? Be sure to let us know your experience with it in the comments section below.

And we also welcome you on the Nostalgia lane with this one. Have fun!

Microsoft roadmap: What’s next for the Halo franchise?

The Xbox Games Showcase 2023 and Starfield Direct event happened this week, and needless to say, the news is exciting. Starfield is coming to Windows PCs and Xbox, and while the video game will eat a lot of your storage space, it’s actually moderate on the system requirements.

Video games such as Forza Horizon, and the hotly awaited Senua II are also coming to Xbox soon, and on the newly announced Game Pass for NVIDIA GeForce Now. This means you will be able to play them on any device that GeForce Now streams to.

You’ll be able to play video games on low-spec PCs, Macs, Chromebooks, mobile devices, TVs, and more. It would be nice if a new game from the Halo franchise would be there, but no. Unfortunately, at this year’s event, any news from Halo was non-existent.

We’re not the only ones who’ve noticed it, because fans of the beloved franchise are asking themselves the same. Has Microsoft forgotten about Halo? Well, kind of. Not entirely, but kind of.

What are the Halo franchise’s future plans?

As well all know, Halo Infinite was released almost 2 years ago, in 2021, 20 years after the first Halo game. The video game was well received, with some even calling it a return to the form for the series. Commercially, it had a lot of success, and by January 2022, a month after its release, Halo Infinite crossed the 20 million players mark.

Microsoft released a roadmap for Halo Infinite for the Fall/Winter seasons, and they managed to add a lot of new features, new maps, new weapons, and even new story plots in a couple of patches that felt like expansions.halo future plans

But ever since, there were no news about Halo from Microsoft. With Halo Infinite released, and the new Xbox consoles already out, it’s no wonder people are asking if there is any new Halo game in sight.

And apparently, there is a roadmap for Halo. Xbox CEO Phil Spencer and Xbox Game Studios head Matt Booty were live on a Giant Bomb live stream on all things Xbox, and they actually confirmed something is brewing for Halo.

There’s a pretty good roadmap, you start to think about the future of Halo, what does that roadmap look like.

Matt Booty, Xbox

So, while we don’t know anything yet, it seems a lot of things are coming for Halo. We can only take a guess. However, based on how things look right now, a new Halo game will be similar to Halo Infinite, story-wise.

But the period of remakes is upon us. For Playstation, Konami is reviving and remaking the beloved Silent Hill 2, more than 20 years after the video game was released.

Can we hope for a remake of Halo: Combat Evolved from Microsoft and 343 Industries? It would be very interesting to see how can they capture the magic and thrill of the first game. Will Bungie join in and work on it too?

Truth is, we can only hope.

What do you think? Are you excited about the future of Halo? Or mad at Microsoft for not focusing on it? Be sure to let us know in the comments section below.

Winbox not Working on Windows 10? How to Fix it

Winbox is used by Windows users to monitor traffic of every interface or firewall rule in real-time. In some cases, the app fails to start and prevents users from accessing Winbox’s features and functionality.

If your Winbox app is not working, stick around; this article will briefly discuss some common causes of the error and provide steps to help you fix it.

Why is Winbox not working on Windows 10?

The following are some of the most common reasons why Winbox is not working on Windows 10:

  • Firewall and antivirus restrictions – Firewall and antivirus software often restrict certain Windows apps and features from functioning; this can prevent the Winbox app from operating.
  • Outdated software – Winbox like most software is updated occasionally to fix errors and bugs, if you’re running an outdated version of the software, it can prevent the app from working correctly.
  • Poor network connection – If you have an unstable internet connection, it can lead to errors while launching Winbox. 
  • Multiple Virtual Network Interfaces – If you have multiple network interfaces on your OS, Winbox gets confused and can take a while to connect; this can be the reason triggering the Winbox not working error.

What can I do if Winbox is not working on Windows 10?

Before we proceed with more advanced solutions, here are a couple of quick fixes you can attempt:

  • Restart your PC.
  • Fix network congestion.
  • Connect to a different router.
  • Run Winbox as an administrator – Winbox might need admin privileges to perform some actions, if the app doesn’t have such permissions, it can lead to the Winbox not working error.
  • Ensure Winbox is running the latest version

If the Winbox not working error persists after attempting those fixes, here are advanced troubleshooting solutions to help you fix the error:

1. Disable Antivirus Software

  1. Press Windows + I to open the Settings app
  2. In the Settings app, click Update and Security, and select the Windows Security tab. 
  3. Further, click on Virus and Threat Protection, and click Manage Settings.
  4. In the next window, click the toggle button next to Real-Time Protection to turn off the feature. (You can also disable more options in this tab).
  5. Close the Windows Security window and restart your PC to check if the error is resolved. 

Antivirus software protects your PC from harmful files and applications but can also infringe on the normal functionality of Windows.

Further, you can temporarily disable your antivirus software to check if it’ll fix Winbox not working.

2. Temporarily Disable Firewall

  1. Press the Windows key, type Control Panel in the search bar, and hit Enter.
  2. In the Control Panel, click on the System and Security tab and select Windows Defender Firewall. 
  3. In the next window, click the Turn Windows Firewall On or Off on the left pane.
  4. Then, click Turn off Windows Firewall (not recommended) under the Public Network Settings section.
  5. Then, click OK to confirm your changes and exit the Control Panel.

The Windows Firewall helps protect your PC from harmful connections, but can also restrict the functionality of legit applications. In addition, you can disable the firewall to check if it’ll fix the error, and re-enable it.

3. Disable Virtual Network Interfaces

  1. Press the Windows key, type Control Panel and hit Enter.
  2. In the Control Panel window, click Network and Internet, and select Advanced network settings on the right pane.
  3. Then, locate the installed Virtual Network Adapters under the Network Adapters section and click the Disable button to turn off the network.
  4. Close the Control Panel and check if the Winbox error is fixed.

Virtual network Adapters are added to your PC when you install virtualization software; however, such Adapters can conflict with Winbox, causing the app to stop functioning. Disabling the Adapters can help fix the error.

Winbox is a very decent traffic monitoring tool utilized by most Windows users. Thus, if the app stops working, it’s most likely you have a faulty internet connection or the software is being blocked by a Windows security feature. 

Nevertheless, by applying the steps listed in this article, you should get your Winbox app up and running in no time.

How to Reset Excel to Default Settings: Quickest Ways

If you’d like to reset Excel to default settings the process is pretty simple, especially if you don’t want to reinstall the app. However, we have the most effective solutions to do that below.

How can I reset Excel to default settings?

1. Reset individual menus

  1. Open Microsoft Excel.
  2. Click on the Tools menu and then click Customize.
  3. Right-click the menu you want to restore and then click the Reset button.
  4. This will restore the menu to its original settings.
  5. Repeat this procedure to reset all the menus which will restore Microsoft Excel to its default settings.

This is the most simple and quick option to reset Microsoft Excel. It is also the most convenient way since you might not want to reset all the Excel settings.

2. Reset the app using the Registry

  1. Press the Windows key + R to open the dialog box, type regedit in the search bar, and hit Enter to open the Registry Console.
  2. Navigate to the following registry path HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Excel
  3. It’s important to note that the version number (16.0) varies according to the Excel version installed on your PC. Sometimes, 12.0, 13.0, 14.0, or 15.0.
  4. On the left pane, click on the Excel registry key and locate the Options registry key.
  5. Right-click on the options registry key and select Delete.

This registry key stores all the Excel customizations made by the user; deleting the key would remove all customizations made by the user and restore the application to its default settings.

3. Using PowerShell

  1. Press the Windows key, type PowerShell in the search bar, right-click on the result, and select Run as Administrator to open PowerShell in elevated mode.
  2. Copy and paste the following command in the PowerShell window and hit Enter: Remove-Item -Path HKCU:\Software\Microsoft\Office\<Version>\Excel -Recurse
  3. However, you’ll have to replace the Version with the actual version of your Office 365 software, i.e., 16.0, 15.0, etc.
  4. Close the PowerShell window and check if Excel is back to default configurations.

4. Repair and Reset Microsoft Office 

  1. Press the Windows key + R, type appwiz.cpl in the dialog box, and hit Enter.
  2. Under the Programs and Features section, locate MS Office, click on it, and select Change.
  3. In the popup window, click Quick Repair to restore Excel to default settings. 
  4. If Quick Repair doesn’t fix the issue, select the Online Repair option and follow the onscreen instructions to complete the repair.

Another way to reset Microsoft Excel to default settings is to reset the Microsoft Office application. A reset will delete all the stored data and configuration and relaunch the app in its default state.

5. Reinstall Microsoft Office

  1. Press the Windows key, type the name of your browser, and hit Enter.
  2. Navigate to the Microsoft Support and Recovery Assistant (SARA) page and download the SetupProd OffScrub tool.
  3. Once the file is downloaded, double-click the SetupProd_OffScrub.exe file and follow the onscreen instructions to complete the installation.
  4. After the installation, click Yes in the user account control window. The tool will automatically start troubleshooting Microsoft Office in a new window.
  5. In the new window, click the checkbox next to Microsoft Office, and click Next to initiate the installation.
  6. Once the installation is complete, restart your PC.
  7. When your PC restarts, you’ll need to download the Office application from the Microsoft website.
  8. Once the file is downloaded, double-click the .exe file to run the installer and follow the onscreen instructions to complete the installation.
  9. Once the installation is complete, all Office applications will revert to default settings.

Reinstalling Microsoft Excel is usually the go-to option to reset an application to its default state. Once you uninstall the app, all the saved data and configurations are removed, at the next installation, the app will be installed in its default state.

Resetting Excel might be necessary, especially if you encounter larger issues, such as when Microsoft Excel cannot paste the data into the worksheet. You can also learn how to make an attendance sheet easily or turn off AutoSave.

If you’ve made customizations to the Excel app and want to remove them, you’d have to revert the Excel application to its default state. This article has provided the steps to reset Excel to default settings.

0x8004deea Error Code: OneDrive Can’t Sync [Fix]

OneDrive is one of the most popular virtual file share and collaborative services available to Office 365 users. However, the app is plagued by security and administrative issues, which leads to a persistent sync error.

The 0x8004deea error code prevents users from accessing OneDrive’s syncing functionalities. If you’re currently experiencing this error, read through this article which provides the steps to help fix the 0x8004deea error code.

What causes the Onedrive 0x8004deea error code?

Here are some of the common causes of the 0x8004deea error code:

  • Inadequate access – Most companies structure their networks in a way that prevents all users from having equal access. The 0x8004deea error can be triggered if you don’t have the right permissions to sync files on your PC.
  • Faulty software: If your OneDrive software is corrupt or outdated, it can lead to potential operational errors like the 0x8004deea.
  • Server downtime: During server maintenance, users are unable to access the website or app under maintenance. If you’re getting the 0x8004deea error code, Microsoft’s servers might be under maintenance.
  • Location restrictions: In very rare cases, users in specific locations have reported that they’re unable to sync files. 

How can I fix the Onedrive 0x8004deea error code?

Before we proceed with more advanced solutions, here are a couple of quick fixes you can attempt:

1. Unlink your PC

  1. Click on the OneDrive icon at the bottom of the Desktop Taskbar to open OneDrive.
  2. Then, click on Help and Settings and select Settings.
  3. Click on Unlink this PC and repeat the step to relink the PC.

Unlinking your PC will refresh the sync portal with your registry key, allowing you to bypass the sync issue in OneDrive.

2. Reset OneDrive

  1. Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box, type in wsreset.exe, and click OK.
  2. This will open a blank command prompt window; the window will close automatically after about ten seconds. 
  3. Check to see if OneDrive is now syncing files.
  4. If the error persists, copy and paste the following into the run dialog box and click OK: %localappdata%\Microsoft\OneDrive\onedrive.exe /reset
  5. Then, press the Windows key, type OneDrive, and hit Enter to launch the app manually.

Resetting OneDrive deletes the DAT file and stores the settings on the disk. Once OneDrive restarts, it checks the registry to see if the reset has occurred and then rebuilds the DAT file. This can help fix errors like the 0x8004deea.

3. Reinstall OneDrive

  1. Press the Windows key + I to open the Settings app.
  2. Click on Apps and select Installed Apps.
  3. On the right pane, click the search bar, and type OneDrive. Click on the displayed result and select Uninstall.
  4. Once the app is uninstalled, press the Windows key, type Microsoft Store and hit Enter.
  5. Then, locate the search bar in the Microsoft Store window, and type in OneDrive.
  6. Now, click on the OneDrive application and click the Get button.
  7. Wait till the app is installed and launch it to check if the error is fixed.

4. Delete the OneDrive registry keyset

  1. Press the Windows key + R, type regedit in the dialog box, and hit Enter to open the Registry Editor.
  2. In the Windows Registry, copy and paste the following command into the search bar of the editor, and hit Enter: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\OneDrive
  3. Click Edit and select New. Click on Key and save the new key name as AllowTenantList.
  4. Once the new Key opens, right-click and select New. Click on String Value, and type out your tenant ID, which can be found on Azure AD.
  5. Then, close the Registry Editor and check if the error is fixed.

If you’re still unable to sync your files due to the 0x8004deea, your last option is to delete the entire OneDrive registry keyset and create new ones. This method is pretty effective and often resolves the error for many users.

If OneDrive can’t sync, the entire app functionality is rendered useless. Luckily, this article has provided the necessary steps to help you resolve the OneDrive 0x8004deea error code.

If you’ve got alternative solutions that helped you fix the 0x8004deea error in the past, please drop them in the comments below.

0xe0000024: How to Fix This OneNote Sync Error

Mac and Windows users have reported the 0xe0000024 error, which is usually triggered after the OneNote app fails to sync with their notebook, iPad, or iPhone.

The error can be triggered by several reasons, which we’ll discuss briefly, and proffer solutions you can apply to help you resolve the 0xe0000024 error.

What causes the 0xe0000024 error?

Here are some of the common causes of the 0xe0000024 error:

  • Missing SkyDriveAuthenticationProvider key – Most users reported that they noticed the 0xe0000024 error after installing the Live-ID Sign-In Assistant; it is likely caused by a conflict with OneDrive. If OneDrive and OneNote are not configured correctly in the registry, they’ll be unable to coexist.
  • Credential conflicts with OneDrive – On Most Windows PCs, especially Windows 10, the 0xe0000024 error is usually caused by conflicts between OneDrive and OneNote. This is because both apps utilize the sync feature and can sometimes clash with each other.
  • Corrupt or outdated application – The developer releases updates to fix bugs and errors in apps. If the OneNote app is corrupt or isn’t updated to its latest version, it can lead to the 0xe0000024 error.
  • Intranet site is blocked for security reasons – If you’re trying to sync to a local SharePoint server, you might encounter this error because Windows usually blocks intranet communications. 

How can I fix the 0xe0000024 sync error in Onenote?

Before we proceed with more advanced solutions, here are a couple of preliminary fixes you should attempt:

  • Check if the OneDrive servers are experiencing downtime.
  • Open the OneNote web client without closing the app.
  • Fix network congestion.

If the error remains unfixed, the following are more advanced troubleshooting steps to help you fix the 0xe0000024 error:

1. Remove all Generic Credentials

  1. Press the Windows key, type Credential Manager, and hit Enter.
  2. Click on the Windows Credentials tab at the top of the window, and locate the list of Generic Credentials at the bottom.
  3. Click the down arrow next to OneDrive’s associated credentials, and click Remove to delete the credentials.
  4. Launch the OneNote app by clicking the desktop icon and then press the Shift + F9 keys to sync your notebook.

Stored credentials help users sign in to websites faster; however, if there is a problem with the Credential Manager can prevent OneNote from functioning correctly. 

2. Update the OneNote app

  1. Press the Windows key, type OneNote, and hit Enter to launch the OneNote app.
  2. Click on File at the top of the window and select Account on the left pane.
  3. Click Update Options next to Office Updates. Then, select Update Now from the drop-down menu.
  4. Restart your PC and check if the error persists.

Once developers discover a bug in the software, they release a patch to fix it; if a bug causes the 0xe0000024 sync error, updating the OneNote app can help fix it.

3. Add your SharePoint Server to Intranet Sites

  1. Press the Windows key, type Internet Options, and hit Enter.
  2. Then, navigate to the Security tab and select Local intranet under the Select a zone to view or change security section.
  3. Further, click on Sites and select Automatically detect intranet network, and click OK.
  4. Alternatively, click the Advanced button and add your SharePoint URL under Add this website to the zone.
  5. Now, click Add and restart your PC to check if the error is fixed.

If you’re using OneNote on the intranet, a security issue could prevent your files from syncing. Adding your SharePoint server to your local intranet sites can help fix the error.

4. Open the Notebook in OneDrive

  1. Close all the open notebooks in the OneNote app.
  2. Navigate to File at the top menu, and select Info.
  3. Click the Settings button next to each open notebook, then select Close from the drop-down menu.
  4. Close OneNote and sign in to your OneDrive Account.
  5. Open your notebook, Click on File, then select Edit in Desktop App to open the notebook in the app.
  6. Press Shift + F9 to sync your notebook.

5. Create a SkyDriveAuthenticationProvider key.

  1. Press the Windows key, type regedit in the search box, and hit Enter to open the Registry Editor.
  2. Depending on your OS architecture, you’ll need to navigate to the following paths:
    • x32 – Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Office
    • x64 – Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office
  3. Then, click the arrow next to your Office version, e.g., 16.0, 15.0, 14.0, etc., then click the arrow next to Common and select Internet.
  4. Right-click on the right pane and hover on New. Select String Value, and name the string SkyDriveAuthenticationProvider.
  5. Then, right-click on the newly created string and select Modify.
  6. Further, type idcrldisable in the Value Data box, and click OK.
  7. Restart your PC, and check if the 0xE0000024 error is fixed.

Installing the Live ID Sign-In assistant can sometimes cause a conflict with OneDrive. To avoid conflicts with OneDrive, you’ll need to create a unique SkyDriveAuthenticationProvider key in the registry editor.

OneNote is an essential application for Windows and Mac users alike. If you’ve been unable to sync with your devices, we hope the steps in this article will help you fix OneNote sync errors.

If you’ve got alternative steps to fix the 0xe0000024 error, let us know by dropping a comment below.

Runtime Error 438: Object Doesn’t Support Property [Fix]

The runtime error 438 error on Microsoft Visual Basic (VBA) is one of the most annoying issues users encounter. Like other runtime errors like 3706, it stops you from executing your code on VBA.

Fortunately, as daunting as the issue looks, it is not the most difficult to fix, as shown in the ensuing sections of this detailed guide.

What does object doesn’t support property or method mean in Excel?

There are different objects you can use in VBA, and they all have properties and methods that are compatible with them.

However, if you try to use a property or method that is not supported by a particular method, you get the VBA runtime 438, which denotes that the property you are trying to use does not apply to the select object.

It must also be noted that this can sometimes be a false positive from a third-party antivirus. So, if you are sure you selected the correct property and method, you might need to disable or uninstall your antivirus.

How can I fix runtime error 438?

1. Use the right properties and methods

The easiest way to fix runtime error 438 is to use the properties and methods supported by the object you are using. If you can’t determine this yourself, press the dot after defining an object.

This will show the list of all properties and methods compatible with it. Another option is to press F2 to bring up the object browser. This will also list the properties that are applicable to an object.

2. Uninstall the Microsoft Works add-in

  1. Press the Windows key + R, type control, and click the OK button.
    control runtime error 438
  2. Select Uninstall a program under the Programs option.
    uninstall a
  3. Now, right-click Microsoft Works and select the Uninstall option.
    uninstall
  4. Finally, follow the onscreen instructions to complete the process and try running your VBA code again.

In some cases, the runtime error 438 might be due to issues with some of your Excel add-ins, like Microsoft Works. The best thing to do here is to uninstall these plugins and check if the error persists.

3. Scan for malware

  1. Press the Windows key, type virus, and select Virus & threat protection.
    virus runtime error 438
  2. Click the Scan options link.
    scan options
  3. Now, select your preferred scan option.
  4. Finally, click the Scan now button.
    scan now

If you are sure that your wrong properties or methods are not the cause of the runtime error 438, then it might be due to the activity of viruses on your PC.

You should use the Full Scan option or Microsoft Defender (Offline) to get rid of them. Alternatively, you can use a dedicated antivirus in TotalAV.

This special software will scan the most hidden corner of your PC and eliminate even the most stubborn malware before it can cause problems.

4. Reinstall drivers

  1. Press the Windows key + X and select the Device Manager option.
    device manager
  2. Double-click any of the sections to expand it, and right-click each of the devices under it.
  3. Now, select the Uninstall device option.
    uninstall device runtime error 438
  4. Finally, click the Uninstall button to confirm the action.
    uninstall button

Some users have found this runtime error 438 due to problems with drivers for devices like your display adapter. To fix this, uninstall the affected driver and restart your PC.

5. Uninstall third-party antivirus

  1. Press the Windows key + I and select the Apps option in the left pane.
  2. Select the Apps & features option.
    app and runtime error 438
  3. Now, click the vertical dots before the antivirus.
  4. Finally, select the Uninstall option and follow the onscreen instructions to complete the process.
    uninstall settings

At times, the runtime error 438 might be a false alarm by your third-party antivirus. Also, the security software might be messing with your code for some reason.

In this case, you must uninstall the antivirus and use Microsoft Defender instead.

With this, we can now conclude this detailed guide on the VBA runtime error 438. All that is left for you is to follow the instructions therein, and the issue should be history.

If you are facing other issues like runtime error 3709, check our detailed guide to fix it quickly.

Feel free to let us know the solution that helped you fix this issue in the comments below.

Netadaptercx.sys BSoD: 4 Ways to Fix It

BSoD crashes are pretty common among Windows users. Some of our readers have complained they get the netadaptercx.sys error as the cause of their BSoD crashes.

Hence, we’ve prepared a guide that briefly discusses the netadaptercx.sys file and provide steps to fix the BSoD error.

What is the netadaptercx.sys?

Netadaptercx.sys, also known as a Network Adapter Class Extension for a WDF file, was created by Microsoft to facilitate the development of the Microsoft Windows OS. It is a system driver file usually located in the System32 folder.

The netadaptercx.sys being a system file, is an essential file that helps your PC establish internet connectivity.

How can I fix the netadaptercx.sys?

Before we proceed with more advanced solutions, here are a couple of quick fixes you can attempt:

  • Restart your PC.
  • Close unnecessary background applications in the Task Manager.
  • Update Windows OS.

If the error persists, the following are ways you can apply to fix the netadaptercx.sys BSOD error:

1. Update your drivers

  1. Press the Windows key + S, type in Device Manager, and hit Enter.
  2. In the Device Manager window, scroll through the list of drivers, and check to see if there is a yellow alert symbol next to the option.
  3. Right-click on the driver, and select Update driver.
  4. In the next window, click Search automatically for updated driver software, and follow the prompts to complete the update.
  5. Once you’ve updated all the Drivers, restart your PC and check if the error is resolved.

Drivers are an essential component of the Windows OS; running an outdated version is likely to trigger errors like the netadaptercx.sys BSOD. You can update the drivers using the Windows update tool or download and install them from the manufacturer’s website.

2. Run SFC and DISM scans

  1.  Press the Windows key, type in CMD, right-click on the displayed result, and select Run as Administrator.
  2. Click Yes to grant the app administrative access in the User Account Control window.
  3. Once the command prompt opens, type the following, and hit Enter: sfc /scannow
  4. After entering the command, type the following, and hit Enter: DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-Image / Restorehealth
  5. Close the command prompt and restart your computer. 

An SFC scan helps in repairing corrupt or damaged system files. If the netadaptercx.sys error is caused by corrupt system files; you can utilize the System File Checker to fix the error.

On the other hand, it’s more recommended to use a verified PC repair application that can entirely scan your Windows OS and fix problematic files that cause BSOD errors.

3. Scan for Malware

  1. Press the Windows key, type in Windows Security, and hit Enter.
  2. In the next window, click on Virus & Threat Protection, and click Scan Options under the Current Threats option.
  3. Then, select Full Scan from the Scan Options menu and click the Scan Now button to initiate the virus scan.
  4. Further, wait for the scan to complete, restart your PC and check if the error is fixed.

Windows errors are usually associated with viruses and malware; if you’re experiencing a BSOD error, your PC is likely infected with a virus. Also, ensure you utilize the Windows security tool or third-party antivirus software to protect your PC from malicious files and apps.

4. Run a System Restore

  1. Left-click the Start menu, type restore and click Create a restore point.
  2. Then, select System Properties and choose System Restore button.
  3. In the Restore Files and Settings box, click Next.
  4. In the next window, select the Restore Point to which you wish to restore your PC, and click Next.
  5. Then, click Finish to complete the system restore.

If you’re about to make a significant change to your OS, it’s recommended to create a restore point you can fall back to in case you run into errors.

Conclusion

Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) errors are common among Windows users and are easy to fix. With the steps listed in this guide, you should be able to fix the netadaptercx.sys BSOD error.

0x8007018b Error Code: How to Fix This OneDrive Issue

OneDrive allows users to sync their files to the cloud. Users might attempt to move or delete files; this leads to errors as OneDrive prevents users from carrying out file operations during syncing.

If you’re experiencing the 0x8007018b error code on OneDrive, this article will briefly discuss the causes of the error and provide steps to help you fix it.

What causes the 0x8007018b error code?

Here are some of the most common causes of the 0x8007018b error code:

  • Sync in Progress – Most times, users often trigger the 0x8007018b error if they attempt file operations like deleting, renaming, or moving, during syncing. 
  • Faulty Application – If the OneDrive app is faulty or has corrupt files, it can trigger syncing errors like the 0x8007018b.

How can I fix the 0x8007018b error code in OneDrive?

Before anything, apply the following checks:

  • Wait for the Sync to complete – Once OneDrive has completed the syncing process, actions such as renaming or file removal can be attempted without triggering the 0x8007018b error code.

The following are a couple of ways you can fix the 0x8007018b error in OneDrive:

1. Reset OneDrive

  1. Press the Windows key + R to open the dialog box, copy and paste the following command, and hit Enter: %localappdata%\Microsoft\OneDrive\onedrive.exe /reset
  2. After a few minutes, relaunch OneDrive by clicking on the Desktop icon.
  3. If OneDrive doesn’t launch, copy and paste the following command in the Run dialog box: %localappdata%\Microsoft\OneDrive\onedrive.exe
  4. Open the app and check if the 0x8007018b is resolved.

Resetting the OneDrive app deletes all the settings and configurations made by the user and restores the app to its default state. If the 0x8007018b error was caused by a faulty OneDrive configuration, resetting the app will help fix the error.

2. Reinstall OneDrive

  1. Press the Windows key + I to open the Settings app.
  2. Click on Apps and select Installed Apps.
  3. Click on the search bar on the right pane, and type OneDrive. Select the displayed option in the search results, and click Uninstall.
  4. Once the uninstallation is complete, close the Settings app.
  5. Launch your browser, navigate to the OneDrive webpage, and click Download.
  6. Double-click on the Installer once the download is complete, and follow the onscreen instructions to complete the OneDrive installation.
  7. After successfully installing the app, launch OneDrive to check if the error is fixed.

If the OneDrive app is corrupt, it can lead to several operational errors. However, reinstalling the app deletes all previous app data and restores it to its default state.

OneDrive errors are common among Windows users; fixing the errors is also quite simple and straightforward. With the steps outlined in this article, you should be able to fix the 0x8007018b error.

Feel free to leave questions and suggestions in the comments section if you have any, concerning this guide.

0x800b010e Error in Windows 10 & 11: How to Fix it

The 0x800b010e is a common error that occurs on Windows. It can be triggered for various reasons, but it is usually attributed to corrupt system files or registry issues.

In this article, we’ll briefly discuss some of the most common causes of the 0x800b010e error and proffer solutions you can apply to fix it.

What causes the 0x800b010e error?

The 0x800b010e error is often caused by:

  • Registry issues: If you noticed the 0x800b010e error after making changes to the Windows registry, it’s likely you’ve damaged the Windows registry or made some incorrect entries.
  • Wrong System Configurations: In an attempt to personalize or customize your PC, you’ll tamper with Windows’ default settings, leading to errors if you make the wrong changes.
  • Corrupt system files: Windows errors are usually attributed to corrupt system files in the OS. If any of your PC’s system files are corrupt, it can cause the 0x800b010e error.
  • Hardware malfunction: In rare cases, you can experience the 0x800b010e error after a hardware malfunction. If so, you must visit a technician to help fix the damaged hardware.

How can I fix the 0x800b010e error in Windows?

The following are a couple of ways you can fix the 0x800b010e error in Windows:

1. Run an SFC and DISM scans

  1. Press the Windows key, type in CMD, right-click on the displayed result, and select Run as Administrator.
  2. Click Yes to grant the app administrative access in the User Account Control window.
  3. Once the command prompt opens, type the following, and hit Enter: sfc /scannow
  4. After entering the command, type the following, and hit Enter: DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-Image / Restorehealth
  5. Close the command prompt and restart your computer. 

Corrupt system files are some of the common causes of Windows-based errors. Running an SFC and DISM Scan is one of the best ways to fix the 0x800b010e error.

Besides this, there is a specialized PC repair solution you can make use of to solve broken Windows files or registry issues.

2. Run Checkdisk

  1. Press the Windows key, type cmd, right-click the displayed option, and select Run as Administrator.
  2. Click Yes in the User Account Control window to grant administrative privileges.
  3. Type the following command prompt, and hit Enter: chkdsk /r or chkdsk /f /r
  4. Wait till the repair is complete and close the command prompt.
  5. Check to see if the error is fixed.

CHKDSK (check disk) scans your PC for file system errors. If corrupt files are existing on your hard drive, the CHKDSK command will identify and repair such errors.

3. Temporarily turn off the Firewall

  1. Press the Windows key + I to open the Settings app.
  2. Click on Privacy and Security and select Windows Security.
  3. Click on Firewall & Network Protection to open the Windows Security Settings.
  4. Select any of the following network profiles – Domain, Private, or Public.
  5. Under the Microsoft Defender Firewall, click the toggle button to turn it on or off.

Turning off Microsoft Defender Firewall could make your device (and network, if you have one) more vulnerable to unauthorized access.

If you’d like to use an app that’s being blocked by Firewall, you can allow it through the firewall instead of turning the firewall off.

4. Perform a clean boot

  1. Press the Windows key + R, type in msconfig, and hit Enter to open the System Configuration window.
  2. In the next window, navigate to the Services tab.
  3. Scroll down and check the box next to the Hide all Microsoft services box, then click on Disable all.
  4. Navigate to the Startup tab, and click on Open Task Manager.
  5. In the Task Manager window, right-click on every available entry, and select Disable.
  6. While in the System Configuration window, navigate to the Boot tab, and check the box next to Safe Boot.
  7. Click Apply and click OK.
  8. Restart your PC and check if the error is resolved.

A clean boot starts up your PC with a minimalist set of drivers, applications, and services; if the 0x800b010e error is caused by third-party apps, a clean boot can help you identify and resolve such errors.

5. Run a System Restore

  1. Left-click the Start menu, type restore and click Create a restore point.
  2. Select System Properties and choose System Restore button.
  3. In the Restore Files and Settings box, click Next.
  4. In the next window, select the Restore Point to which you wish to restore your PC, and click Next.
  5. Then, click Finish to complete the system restore.

If you make constant changes to your OS, you should regularly create restore points in case you accidentally trigger an error. If you noticed the 0x800b010e error after a change in configurations, you could run a system restore to revert your PC to an earlier state.

Hopefully, after reading and implementing the solutions, you’ve been able to solve the 0x800b010e error. 

We’d love to know which solutions worked for you; feel free to comment below.

Printer Status Unknown: 4 Ways to Fix This Error

While using your HP printer, you might run into the Printer’s unknown status error. This error is common among Windows users and indicates that the HP Smart app cannot communicate with the Printer.

If you’re currently experiencing the printer status unknown error, stick around. In this article, we’ll provide steps to help you resolve the error.

Why is the printer status unknown?

Here are some of the most common causes of the printer status unknown error:

  • Windows Updates: Most users have reported several errors after running the Windows update. If you just update your OS, it can lead to several printer errors.
  • Antivirus Restrictions: Third-party antivirus software often has certain features preventing Windows apps from functioning correctly. If the antivirus app is interfering with the Printer, it can cause the printer status to be unknown.
  • Outdated Firmware: HP Printers have specific firmware that enables the Printer to communicate with your PC. If the firmware is outdated, it can cause the printer status unknown error.
  • Corrupt Driver Files: Printers utilize drivers that allow them to function correctly. If the drivers are corrupt, it can lead to printer errors. 

How can I fix the printer status unknown error?

Before we proceed with more advanced solutions, here are a couple of quick fixes you can attempt to help you fix the printer status unknown error:

  • Restart your PC.
  • Reboot your Printer.
  • Get your Printer online
  • Unplug your Printer and plug it back.

1. Update your Printer’s Firmware

  1. Press the Windows key, type the name of your browser in the search bar, and hit Enter.
  2. Navigate to the Software and Driver Downloads page on HP’s website and click the Printer option.
  3. Type in your Printer’s name or model number in the dialog box, and select Submit.
  4. Click on the Firmware section to expand it, and select the latest version available for your computer.
  5. Press the Windows key + E to open File Explorer.
  6. Locate the newly downloaded file and unzip it. You’ll need extraction software to unzip files in Windows.
  7. In the extracted file, open the attached PDF to learn how to install the firmware upgrade.

HP occasionally releases firmware updates for its printers, fixing errors and bugs and helping you get the most out of your Printer. If the firmware is outdated, it can lead to errors like printer status unknown.

2. Reset the HP Smart app

  1. Press the Windows key + I to open the Settings app.
  2. Click on Apps and select Installed Apps.
  3. Locate HP Smart, click on the displayed result (HP Smart), and select Advanced Options.
  4. In the next window, scroll down to locate the Reset button, and click on it to reset the HP Smart app.

Windows has a built-in repair tool that diagnoses and fixes malfunctioning applications. If your PC doesn’t recognize your Printer, you can fix the error by resetting the app.

3. Reinstall the HP Smart application

  1. Press the Windows key, type HP Smart in the search bar, and select Uninstall below the HP Smart app.
  2. In the popup window, select Uninstall to remove all HP Smart data from your PC.
  3. Reboot your PC and navigate to the official HP website to download the HP Smart Setup file.
  4. Reinstall the app, add your printer to the HP Smart app, and check if the error is fixed.

The HP Smart app is HP’s primary software for managing printer operations. If the app is corrupt, it can lead to the printer status unknown error; reinstalling the app, the app can help resolve the error.

4. Reinstall your printer

  1. Press the Windows key + I to open the Settings app.
  2. Click Bluetooth and Devices and select Printers and Scanners in the next window.
  3. Click on the affected Printer, select Remove and click Yes in the confirmation prompt.
  4. Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box, type printui.exe in the dialog box, and hit Enter.
  5. Navigate to the Drivers tab, select the Printer’s driver, and select Remove.
  6. In the next window, choose Remove driver and driver package, and select OK.
  7. Click Yes in the popup window to remove the driver packages from your PC.
  8. Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box, paste c:\programdata and hit Enter.
  9. Locate the HP or Hewlett-Packard folders, click on them, and delete the printer subfolder and any related printer files.
  10. Restart your PC and reconnect the printer to your PC.

If the Printer itself is corrupt, e.g., drivers, files, app data, etc., it can lead to printer errors like unknown printer status. In such cases, you’ll have to reinstall the Printer to help you fix the error. 

Printer errors can get annoying and frustrating if you don’t know the causes and how to resolve them. Luckily, in this guide, we’ve provided X ways to help you fix the error.

However, if the error persists after attempting all the steps, get in touch with an HP agent or visit the nearest HP service center near you.

Zoom Error Code 300: How to Fix it

Some of our readers recently reported encountering Zoom error code 300 while attempting to sign in to their Zoom account. Other users around the world have reported similar issues in the Zoom forum.

If you have been experiencing difficulties hosting or joining a Zoom meeting due to this Zoom error code 300 issue, we have gathered some potential fixes to troubleshoot the problem in this article.

What causes the Zoom error code 300?

The Zoom error code 300 has majorly been reported to have been caused by invalid login parameters. However, there are still a few other reasons that could have triggered this error message:

  • Zoom server issues – There’s a possibility that the Zoom server is under maintenance due to server downtime. This may have triggered the Zoom error code 300 message.
  • Add-in interference – The Zoom app has been integrated with the Outlook add-in. Although this is a great feature, interference from the add-in may have caused the error.
  • Abrupt shutdown – At other times, this error can be triggered by suspended activities on the Zoom app due to an abrupt shutdown.
  • Network issues – If your network connection is not stable or fast enough, it may cause the Zoom app not to work properly.

How can I fix the Zoom error code 300?

1. Re-sync your Google & Zoom account

  1. Press the Start button, type Zoom in the Search box, and launch it.
  2. Click on the profile icon at the top-right corner of the Zoom app and click on the Sign-Out option in the menu.
  3. Now, quit the Zoom app and relaunch it.
  4. Click on the Sign-in button.
  5. Select the Google option and sign in using your Google credentials.

You can try to sync your account by logging into the Zoom platform and linking your Google account. Re-syncing the account should fix the issue.

2. Clear your Zoom cache and cookies

2.1 Clear Zoom cache and cookies on a Web browser (Chrome)

  1. Open Google Chrome. Click the three dots icon to open the menu, click More Tools, and select Clear browsing data.
  2. Select Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files too. Now, click on Clear data.

2.2 Clear Zoom cache and cookies on Windows

  1. Press the Windows + E keys to open File Explorer.
  2. Now, navigate to the following path: C:/Users/Username/AppData/Roaming/Zoom
  3. Right-click on the data folder and click on Delete.

The Zoom app loads speedily due to cached files. However, this takes up a lot of space on the computer and makes pages take longer to load. To fix the Zoom error code 300, you can delete these files using the steps provided above.

3. Reinstall the Zoom app

  1. Press the Windows + I keys to open Settings.
  2. Then, select the Apps option and click on Installed Apps.
  3. Locate the Zoom app, click the options icon beside it, and click on the Uninstall button.
  4. Then, click Uninstall again to confirm the process.
  5. Finally, download and install the Zoom app from the official website.

If all the fixes above do not fix the Zoom error code 300, try to reinstall the app to fix it.

You should also:

  • Ensure you enter the correct login parameters.
  • Check the speed of your Internet connection using the Speed test website on the web browser.
  • Make sure your computer is connected to an uninterrupted power supply.
  • Check the official Zoom server status website to know if the platform is functioning.

That’s it for how to fix Zoom error code 300. Hopefully, one of the fixes provided in this guide will help resolve the error code.

If the error persists, you can submit a request to Zoom Support for assistance on how to troubleshoot the issue.

Also relative to this issue is Zoom error code 100000502, you can explore our dedicated guide to fix the issue. We also have a guide dedicated to solving Zoom 3003 error – meeting host error.

If you have any questions or suggestions on how to fix this issue, do not hesitate to use the comments section below.