The PC generates heat and noise directly proportional to the voltage supplied. So, if your system is too hot or making loud noises from the fans, you need to adjust your GPU. Hence, this article will discuss ways to undervolt a GPU on the PC.
However, undervolting a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) means lowering or reducing the operating voltage your graphics card or video card has access. Although it has some benefits to it:
GPU undervolting minimizes power consumption and load temperature by reducing voltage.
When you undervolt your Graphics processor, it runs without generating excessive heat and lessens the pressure on the GPU power phases. Also, it lowers the voltage output to the GPU at the constant maximum clock speed.
Further, undervolting maintains GPU stability and longevity in lower-end motherboards by not overworking the GPU. Also, it reduces the fan noise on your PC.
The above are a few of the advantages of undervolting. Hence, we will explore the various ways to do it on your GPU below.
How can I undervolt a GPU?
NOTE
Although we don’t recommend third-party software, the ones mentioned below are tested by our experts. Hence, you can safely download and use them for the undervolting purpose.
1. Use MSI Afterburner and Unigine’s Heaven Benchmark
Open the MSI Afterburner software, and you should see a window showing your GPU Speed, Voltage, and Temperature.
Launch Heaven Benchmark, click the Run button on the bottom-left pane, then wait while it loads.
Click the Settings button and uncheck the box for Full-Screen to see the GPU clock speed and temperature during the stress test.
Click on Benchmark in the top-right corner to start testing.
Press Alt + Tab keys to switch to MSI Afterburner while running Benchmark to open them side by side.
In MSI Afterburner, note the maximum GPU clock speed reached and note your GPU Temp.
Switch back to Heaven Benchmark to see if the benchmarking has ended. If it is, note the performance score.
Go to MSI Afterburner and press Ctrl + F keys to open the Fan Curve graph.
With the plot of voltage on the horizontal axis and Clock Speed on the vertical axis, find the point that corresponds to the maximum GPU clock speed you noted earlier on the vertical axis at the left.
After finding the clock speed, look below on the horizon axis to see the voltage corresponding to it.
Figure out the difference in frequencies represented by the red and green lines.
Go to the main window on MSI Afterburner and find Core Clock, input the calculated value, and press Enter. The graph on the fan curve page should drop to the desired frequency range.
Try reducing 50 mV voltage to start undervolting.
Find the square dot corresponding to the voltage you want to get, then drag the square box above to reach the maximum clock speed of your GPU.
Press Shift, select all the areas to the right of the dot, and press Enter to make them straight.
Click on the Apply button on the main screen.
Go to Heaven Benchmark, run the Benchmarking, then note the readings.
Repeat steps 14-17 by lowering the voltage by 50 mV until you reach a low-performance score.
Apply and Save the changes.
You can undervolt your GPU depending on how low you want it to be. So, considering the frequencies you get from the earlier scan, reduce the voltage until you get the desired result.
Filters are a powerful and flexible tool in Microsoft Planner that can help you find exactly what you want. They are a great way to narrow your Planner view and get a more focused view of what’s happening in your business.
You can easily prioritize your tasks and attend to them with the help of filters. But what happens if your filters aren’t working as expected? This article will walk you through the steps of troubleshooting this issue.
What are the ways a filter can be applied in the Planner app?
Microsoft Planner is a powerful project management tool that allows users to create plans, organize tasks and assign them to team members. The app also comes with a filter option that makes it easy for users to find specific tasks or projects
The filtering capability allows you to filter your data in many different ways. Depending on what you’re looking for, you can filter based on various categories such as:
Keyword – This is particularly helpful when looking for a specific task, but the list is vast. The filter will bring up all related keywords, and you choose which ones apply to you.
Date – This is a very handy filter and one of the most commonly used. Date filtering is useful for viewing your tasks over a long period of time and keeping track of what you need to do each day. It’s also helpful for seeing how much time you have left before a deadline or the due date for an activity.
Priorities – Tasks can also be filtered according to their priority level, from low to high. This allows you to never miss a deadline because you can attend to pressing issues in a timely manner.
Labels – Label filtering can be done within tasks to easily keep track and stay organized, especially if one task has lots of activities.
Buckets – This filter is more like labels, but the only difference is that it is more powerful. It allows you to apply multiple filters at the same time. You can group tasks together based on their criteria and then create another filter, say the date or priority filter.
What can I do if filters are not working in Microsoft Planner?
Before you jump to the main solutions, we advise you first to check the following:
Make sure you’re using the latest version of Microsoft Office 365.
Ensure you’re signed into the right account and that the account has permission to view or edit tasks in your workspace. Remember, Microsoft Planner does not work with personal accounts.
Sign out and sign in again as another user (if available).
Check with your organization whether your Microsoft 365 subscription is up-to-date.
Make sure that you’re using a supported filter type. For example, if you have a date range filter set up, ensure that your date range is set up correctly. You cannot filter tasks for a time frame that has already expired.
We all know that Microsoft’s operating systems are far from being 100% safe, and the tech giant is trying to fix tens, maybe even hundreds of vulnerabilities each month.
This month, for example, the tech company addressed a number of 75 CVEs, some of them being under active exploitation in the wild.
Now, users found another weak spot in Microsoft’s defense and have posted warnings about it all over social media platforms.
Did you think using an innocent app such as Snipping Tool was nothing to worry about? Well, you might want to rethink that, as recent information confirms the exact opposite.
Be careful when using the Windows 10&11 Snipping Tool
Yes, we are talking about a newly revealed issue in Microsoft’s image-snipping tools in both Windows 10 and 11, that has been just discovered.
In fact, this discovery was made by one of the people who first reported on a similar problem in Google’s Pixel screenshot tool Markup.
You should know that the reverse engineering researcher David Buchanan posted his findings earlier today on his Twitter account.
holy FUCK.
Windows Snipping Tool is vulnerable to Acropalypse too.
An entirely unrelated codebase.
The same exploit script works with minor changes (the pixel format is RGBA not RGB)
If you didn’t quite get the bigger picture yet, allow us to explain. The post shows that when the user took a screenshot with the Windows 11 Snipping Tool and then saved it, then he could crop the image, save the image to the same file, and show that the cropped data hasn’t been deleted after all.
In more common terms, this vulnerability means that someone could actually bring back the data from the part of the image that was cropped.
And, yes, this can be achieved in mostly the same way the Pixel-based cropped image could be also recovered.
The post’s author also stated that the same exploit script works with minor changes, as the pixel format is RGBA and not RGB.
What is more concerning is what he actually added in a later post, in which he specified that the same issue is found with Microsoft’s Snip & Sketch tool included with Windows 10.
This also applies to the "Snip & Sketch" tool in Windows 10.
What’s important and also interesting at the same time here is that, apparently, this doesn’t happen with the original Windows 10 Snipping Tool.
Please keep in mind that, in theory, these exploits could be used by hackers to reveal previously cut-out sensitive information in images, like passwords, credit card numbers, bank accounts, and more.
Collectively, all these have been dubbed the Acropalypse. Know that Google has since patched this issue in its Pixel phones.
However, we are yet to see a post from Microsoft, acknowledging what happened and saying it is currently working on a solution.
Have you also found evidence of foul play in the Sniping Tool? Share your experience with us in the comments section below.
Net Helpmsg 3547 error is common among Windows users using the Net Helpmsg command. The error code results from problems with the Microsoft Windows operating system, which may be caused by malware or a damaged registry key.
Errors like this can cause your computer to freeze, lock up, or crash. The error may also prevent you from accessing certain websites or online services. Below, we have compiled the top-most rated answers as marked by users to resolve this error.
Why am I getting the Net Helpmsg 3547 error?
Unfortunately, the Net Helpmsg 3547 error message is unclear on the exact cause. If you have recently installed or updated any software or hardware on your PC, this may have caused the issue.
However, from what most users have reported, the Net Helpmsg 3547 error is mostly related to the Windows update service and BITS. Other causes include:
Corrupt service registration – When the service registration is missing or corrupt, the Windows update may fail.
Problem with your Windows version – According to some users, an update to their current Windows copy brought about the Net Helpmsg 3547 error.
How can I fix the Net Helpmsg 3547 error?
1. Restart the Windows update service
Hit the Windows + R keys to open the Run command.
Type services.msc and hit Enter.
Locate Windows update service, double click on it and select Properties.
Navigate to the General tab, under Startup type select Automatic from the drop-down options and click on the Start button.
Next, click Apply and then OK.
2. Check for corrupt system files
Hit the Windows key, type cmd in the search bar, and click Run as administrator.
Type the following commands and press Enter after each one: DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-Image /Restorehealthsfc /scannow
Restart your PC.
The SFC scan will help in troubleshooting this problem and determine what software component failed to install. If it finds that a file in your system needs repair, it will attempt to fix that file automatically.
3. Run the Windows Update troubleshooter
Hit the Windows key and click on Settings.
Click on System and select Troubleshoot.
Navigate to Other troubleshooters.
Click the Run option for the Windows Update troubleshooter.
4. Run the Windows Store apps troubleshooter
Hit the Windows key and click on Settings.
Click on System and select Troubleshoot.
Navigate to Other troubleshooters.
Click the Run option for the Windows Store Apps troubleshooter.
This particular step is for when the service registration is corrupt. This means the files required to run an application cannot be found.
Hit the Windows key, type Control Panel in the search bar, and click Open.
Click on Troubleshooting.
Next, click on Hardware and Sound.
Select Background Intelligent Transfer Service.
Click on Advanced, then check the Apply repairs automatically option and press the Next button.
BITS is the Background Intelligent Transfer Service, a Windows service that allows computers to transfer files to and from other computers asynchronously. It’s designed for large file transfers, such as those for software updates or operating system deployments.
Since it is an essential service in the Windows update process, it is necessary to check for any issues and repair them early enough.
6. Reset Windows update components
Hit the Windows key, type cmd in the search bar, and click Run as administrator.
Type in the following commands and press Enter after each one: net stop wuauservnet stop cryptsvcnet stop bitsnet stop msiserverren %systemroot%\softwaredistribution softwaredistribution.bakren %systemroot%\system32\catroot2 catroot2.baknet start wuauservnet start cryptSvcnet start bitsnet start msiserver
7. Rename the directory folder
Navigate to the following location: C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Network\Downloader
Right-click on Downloader, then select the rename icon. Rename it as Downloader_old.
Once you’re done, restart the BITS service using similar steps in 1 above.
Other errors you may encounter include the NET HELPMSG 2191 and NET HELPMSG 2182 error, so be sure to check out our articles for their fixes.
For further queries, use the comment section, and we’ll get back to you.
We have been looking at a lot of updates recently and today isn’t going to be any different, since Microsoft put out new software for the Release Preview Channel.
Today, we’re going to explore KB5023778 and see what it brings to the most recent Microsoft-designed operating system.
A lot of new features coming to Windows 11
Indeed, Windows Insiders that actively test software on the Release Preview Channel are being updated to Windows 11 version 22H2 22621.1483 (KB5023778).
This build includes more ad notifications in the Start menu for those logged into a Microsoft account with handy reminders such as backup your files with OneDrive.
For the time being, this feature is only available to a small audience right now, and it will deploy more broadly in the coming months.
You should know that some devices might notice different visual treatments as Microsoft gathers the necessary feedback.
Furthermore, the new Bing Chat shortcut experience to Edge arrives in the search box on the taskbar, making it easier for us to access the feature.
That being said, know that Microsoft isn’t only adding new features, it is also removing a lot of the older ones, such as the Remote Mailslot protocol in Windows 11.
We have to remind you about the many new features and improvements added to Microsoft Defender for Endpoint as well.
Let’s take a more in-depth look at the rest of the changelog and see for ourselves what we should expect after installing this update.
The search box on the taskbar will be lighter when you set Windows to a custom color mode. This will occur when you set the Windows mode to dark and the app mode to light in Settings > Personalization > Colors.
This update addresses an issue that affects the combo box in Settings. It fails to show all the available options.
This update addresses an issue that affects Microsoft PowerPoint. It stops responding. This occurs when you use accessibility tools.
This update addresses an issue that affects Microsoft Narrator. It fails to read items in dropdown lists in Microsoft Excel.
This update addresses an issue that affects USB printers. The system classifies them as multimedia devices even though they are not.
This update addresses an issue that affects complexity policy settings for PINs. They are ignored.
This update addresses an issue that affects the Fast Identity Online 2.0 (FIDO2) PIN credential icon. It does not appear on the credentials screen of an external monitor. This occurs when that monitor is attached to a closed laptop.
This update addresses an issue that affects a Clustered Shared Volume (CSV). The CSV fails to come online. This occurs if you enable BitLocker and local CSV managed protectors, and the system recently rotated the BitLocker keys.
This update addresses an issue that affects Active Directory Users & Computers. It stops responding. This occurs when you use TaskPad view to enable or disable many objects at the same time.
The update addresses an issue that affects the Remote Procedure Call Service (rpcss.exe). The issue might cause a race condition between the Distributed Component Object Model (DCOM) and the Microsoft Remote Procedure Call (RPC) endpoint mapper.
This update addresses an issue that affects Microsoft PowerPoint. It stops responding on the Azure Virtual Desktop. This occurs while you are using Think-Cell Features.
This update addresses an issue that affects Windows Search. Windows Search fails inside of Windows container images.
This update affects the Group Policy Editor. It adds Transport Layer Security (TLS) 1.3 to the list of protocols that you can set.
This update affects the Arab Republic of Egypt. The update supports the government’s daylight saving time change order for 2023.
This update affects jscript9Legacy.dll. It adds ITracker and ITrackingService to stop MHTML from not responding.
This update addresses an issue that affects the Microsoft HTML Application Host (HTA). This issue blocks code execution that uses Microsoft HTA. This occurs when you turn on Windows Defender Application Control (WDAC) User Mode Code Integrity (UMCI) enforced mode.
This update affects the Group Policy Management Console. It addresses a scripting error in the Group Policy Preferences window.
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 Desired State Configuration. It loses its previously configured options. This occurs if metaconfig.mof is missing.
This update addresses an issue that affects the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) option 119 – Domain Search Option. The issue stops you from using a connection-specific DNS Suffix Search List.
This update addresses a rare issue that might cause an input destination to be null. This issue might occur when you attempt to convert a physical point to a logical point during hit testing. Because of this, the computer raises a stop error.
This update addresses an issue that affects the Simple Certificate Enrollment Protocol (SCEP) certificate. The system reports some SCEP certificate installations as failed. Instead, the system should report them as pending.
This update addresses an issue that affects the new Windows Runtime (WinRT) API. This issue stops an application from querying for location information using MBIM2.0+.
This update addresses a known issue that affects kiosk device profiles. If you have enabled automatic logon, it might not work. After Autopilot completes provisioning, these devices stay on the credential screen. This issue occurs after you install updates dated January 10, 2023, and later.
This is, folks, what we’re looking at in terms of features in this new update delivered to the Release Preview Channel.
All Insiders have now gained access to it, even though some features are only being rolled out to select Insiders.
What can I do if I can’t install KB5023778?
Press Win+ I to access Settings.
Select the System category and click on Troubleshoot.
Press the Other troubleshooters button.
Press the Run button next to Windows Update.
Make sure to report any other issues you might come across, in order for Microsoft to address and improve the overall OS experience for us all.
This is everything you can expect if you are a Windows 11 Insider on the Release Preview Channel. Leave a comment below if you found any issues since installing this build.
Task Manager already has a “Memory dump” for user mode processes, but this latest build introduces “a set of new developer-focused features in Task Manager to aid the collection of live kernel memory dumps (LKDs).” In order to try it out:
To capture a live kernel memory dump (LKD), go to the Details page in Task Manager, right-click on the System process and the context menu should light up to show “Create live kernel memory dump file” to capture a Full live kernel or Kernel stack memory dumps.
You can head over to the Task Manager settings page to view and/or edit the settings for live kernel memory dumps.
USB4 Settings Page
23419 adds a settings page for USB4 hubs and devices at Settings > Bluetooth & devices > USB > USB4 Hubs and Devices. From this page, you can:
View the tree of connected USB4 hubs and devices.
View attributes and capabilities associated with the USB4 domain.
Copy the details into the clipboard so it can be shared with customer support or system administrators for troubleshooting.
If your system does not support USB4, this settings page will not be displayed.
Bing suggestions for Simplified Chinese IME
Suggestions from the cloud (ie: Bing) are being added to the Simplified Chinese IME candidate window, allowing you to select cloud selections when inputing Simplified Chinese. To turn this feature on, click on the chevron to the right of the IME candidate window and select “try text suggestions from Bing.”
In addition to these new features, 23419 has a number of changes, improvements, and known issues, be sure to check out the Windows Insider blog post for all the details.
Google Chrome is one of the best browsers available for Windows.It’s available on nearly all devices and has many useful features for developers and regular users.
However, the browser is plagued with several errors, including the inability to open full screen. This prevents users from opening the browser in full screen, making viewing problematic.
In this article, we will discuss the common reasons why Chrome doesn’t display full screen and provide you with steps to make Google Chrome go full screen every time.
Why won’t google Chrome go full-screen?
Here are some of the reasons why Chrome won’t go full-screen:
Outdated Browser – Browsers, like all software, are updated regularly to fix errors and improve the app’s functionality. If your PC runs an outdated Google Chrome version, some functionalities may stop working. If this happens, you’ll be unable to go full screen.
Bad Cache or Cookies – Browser cookies are pieces of data stored on the user’s computer that let the server know that the user has returned to the website. This data usually accumulates after a long period and can cause errors if any stored cookies are corrupt.
Wrong Display Configurations – In some cases, you’ll be unable to go full screen due to incorrect display configurations. If you have the wrong display setup on Chrome, you’ll likely be unable to go full screen.
Third-Party Extensions – If you have multiple flashplayers on your system, the extensions will likely conflict. In addition, a corrupted browser extension installed on your PC can prevent Chrome from opening in full screen.
What can I do to make google chrome go full screen every time?
Before we proceed with more advanced troubleshooting techniques, here are a few quick fixes you can attempt:
Restart your PC.
Close and Relaunch Google Chrome.
If the error persists after attempting the above fixes, here are more advanced troubleshooting steps you can attempt:
1. Update Chrome
Press the Windows key, type in Google Chrome, and hit Enter.
Click on the dotted icon in the Chrome app, and click on the Help option.
Click About Google Chrome to open the chrome update tool.
Once you’re in this window, Chrome will automatically check if your browser is up-to-date. If it’s not updated, Chrome will search for and install the latest version of the app.
2. Disable Hardware Acceleration
Press the Windows key, type in Google Chrome, and hit Enter.
In the Google Chrome window, click the dotted icon on the top right pane, and select Settings.
Under the System tab, click the toggle button next to Use Hardware Acceleration When Available to turn it off.
Close Google Chrome and restart your PC.
Enabling the feature can help improve display while doing intensive tasks like gaming but can sometimes mess with the display properties. Also, disabling the feature is one way to enable Google Chrome to open in full screen.
Press the Windows key, type in Google Chrome, and hit Enter.
Click the dotted icon on the top right pane in the next window and select Settings.
Choose the Privacy and Security tab and click on Clear Browsing Data.
Click on Clear data in the next window.
Restart your PC and check if the error persists.
4. Change the Display Configurations
Locate the Google Chrome shortcut on your desktop, right-click it, and click on Properties.
In the popup window, click on the Compatibility tab, and click on Change High DPI Settings.
Check the option of Override High DPI Scaling Behaviour. Scaling Performed By and select Application.
Click on Apply and click OK.
Close the window and restart your device.
Making changes to the display configurations of applications can help you tweak the apps appearance to your preference. In addition, you can also use this method to fix the Chrome app if it’s unable to go full screen.
5. Reset the Chrome Application
Press the Windows key, type in Google Chrome, and hit Enter.
Click the dotted icon in the top right corner and select Settings.
Scroll down till you locate the Reset Settings tab, click on it and click on the Reset settings to their original default.
In the next popup window, click on Reset Settings and wait till the app resets.
Close Google Chrome and restart your PC to see if the error persists.
While using the Google Chrome app, you can make certain changes that affect the regular functionality of the app. When this happens, you’ll want to revert such changes to restore the app to it’s default state.
If you’re unable to open Chrome in full screen, reset the Chrome app, the default configurations could help resolve the error.
6. Uninstall and Reinstall Chrome
Press the Windows key + I to open the Settings app.
Click on Apps and select Installed apps on the left pane.
Click the more icon beside Google Chrome and click Uninstall.
Currently, Google Chrome isn’t available for download on the Microsoft Store. You’ll have to download it manually using another browser. Here’s a complete guide on how to install Google Chrome on Windows.
There are tons of ways to resolve the unable to go full screen in Chrome. In this article, we’ve provided you with the best ways to help you resolve the error.
Hopefully, after reading and implementing the steps in our guide, you should be able to open Google Chrome in full screen.
One of the many announcements to come out of GDC 2023 is that Microsoft will introduce a new developer toolkit that will measure Xbox energy consumption. Microsoft says the toolkit is the first of its kind in the gaming industry, and it hopes developers will use it to find ways to make their games more energy efficient. In its press release Microsoft says,
With a potential reach of over 3.1 billion players worldwide, game creators undoubtedly have potential to have a positive impact. These resources are designed to empower and enable developers to understand energy usage in their games and incorporate efficient strategies to help reduce the carbon impact of games.
Xbox Series XS is the first carbon aware gaming system.
Discord is one of the most popular chat platforms used by gamers. The app is a great communication tool and is a decent alternative to Google Meet and Zoom. However, some of our readers have reported that they get Looks like Discord has crashed unexpectedly error.
In this article, we’ll briefly discuss why you’re experiencing this error and provide you with the steps to help resolve it.
Why do I get Looks like discord has crashed unexpectedly error?
Here are some of the reasons why you’re currently experiencing the Looks like Discord has crashed unexpectedly error:
Corrupt Application files – During the process of launching an application or a forced PC restart, files can get corrupted. When the application’s files get corrupted you can run into errors like looks like Discord has crashed unexpectedly.
Poor Network Connectivity – Connecting to Discord’s servers requires a stable internet connection. If your PC can’t connect to the internet, you’ll be unable to access Discord.
Insufficient RAM – Memory allocation helps your PC manage the amount of RAM used by each application. If you have too many background applications running on your PC, you’ll eventually run out of memory which can trigger errors.
Outdated Application – Like most software, the Discord application is updated regularly to fix bugs and errors. If your version of Discord is outdated, you can trigger the looks like Discord had crashed unexpectedly error.
Outdated OS – If your PC is running an outdated version of your operating system, you’ll likely run into operational errors
What can I do if I get looks like discord has crashed unexpectedly error?
Before we proceed with more advanced troubleshooting techniques, here are a few quick tips you can attempt:
If the error persists after attempting those quick fixes, here are a couple of troubleshooting techniques you can attempt:
1. Close all background applications
Press the Windows key + S, type in Task Manager, and hit Enter or press the Ctrl + shift + Esc keys to open the Task Manager.
Then, click on the Processes tab, and locate unused applications running in the background.
Click on the application and select End task to stop the application from running.
Repeat this process until you’ve closed down all the unnecessary applications on your computer.
2. Delete Temporary files
Press the Windows key + E to open File Explorer.
Navigate to the following path: C:/Windows/Temp
While in the temp folder, press Ctrl + A to highlight all the folders, and press the Shift + Del keys to delete these temp files from your PC permanently.
Restart your PC once the files are completely deleted, and check to see if the error persists.
Press the Windows key + R to open the dialog box. Type in %appdata%/Discord/Cache and hit Enter to navigate to the Discord app’s folder.
While in the Discord folder, press Ctrl + A to highlight all the files, right-click and select Delete.
Wait for Windows to delete the files completely, and close the File Explorer.
Launch the Discord app to check if the error persists.
While running applications, you might run into errors which end up corrupting the app’s folder. When this happens, you’ll find it hard to run the app without hitches.
Deleting the cache data helps revert the application to the default state free of bugs and errors.
4. Disable Hardware Acceleration
Press the Windows key, type in Discord, and hit Enter to open the application.
Then, click the gear icon on the bottom left corner of the window to access the app’s Settings.
Further, click on the Advanced tab and click on Hardware Acceleration to turn it off.
Close the Discord app and relaunch it to see if the error persists.
Hardware Acceleration when enabled can help speed up graphics and animations on your PC. However, it can also have a negative effect on applications like Discord.
Disabling the feature ensures that all your resources are fully optimized and not wasted on a single feature.
Press the Windows key, type in Discord, and hit Enter.
While the Discord app is running, press the Ctrl and R keys simultaneously.
This will automatically restart the Discord app and install any pending updates.
Developers release updates occasionally to help fix bugs and application errors. If there is an existing bug on your Discord’s version, you’ll likely run into errors.
If you run into this error, we have a detailed guide showing you how to fix the Discord won’t update error on Windows.
6. Update Windows
Press the Windows key + I to open the Settings app.
Click on Windows Update and click on Check for updates. Wait for Windows to scan your PC for available updates. If there are any available updates, they’ll be installed automatically.
7. Reinstall Discord
Press the Windows key, type Control Panel, and hit Enter.
In the Control Panel window, click on Uninstall a Program.
Scroll to locate Discord from the list of programs and select Uninstall to delete the application.
Then, click on Uninstall again to confirm the deletion and wait for the program to be removed and close the Control Panel.
Press the Windows key, type in Microsoft Store, and hit Enter.
Locate the search bar in the popup window, type in Discord, and click the app displayed in the search bar.
Click on the Get button to download and install the Discord app on your PC.
Reinstalling Discord is the final step and should be considered only after you’ve attempted all troubleshooting techniques without getting a result.
Fixing the Discord keeps crashing error is relatively easy and can be achieved with little to no stress. Things are no different when it comes to those facing upload issues. Rest assured that you may resolve Discord upload errors with these solutions in no time.
If you’ve got alternative solutions that helped you resolve the error, you can let us know in the comments below.
If you’re using a Sony Digital camera, you’ll most likely have come across an Sr2 file. It’s a pretty usual file format that stores RAW photos captured by the camera.
Also, if you’ve come across an Sr2 file and unsure on how to open it, this article will explain the process.
What is an Sr2 file?
Sr2 stands for Sony RAW 2. It is a raw camera image format by Sony Digital cameras. An Sr2 file protects the integrity of the original, uncompressed image data and renders it exactly as the camera’s sensor acquired it.
Photos captured on Sony Digital cameras are assigned the .sr2 file extension. Sr2 files are also known as CCD – Sensor RAW Data files which indicates that the files are uncompressed and can be processed using the computer.
Due to the RAW state of the files, they can be edited more precisely compared to compressed photographs which are stored at a lower resolution.
How can I open the Sr2 file?
Opening sr2 photo files isn’t as straightforward as opening other image formats like PNG and jpg. You need specially designed software that is compatible with Sony Digital cameras.
In addition, if you attempt to open an the file without the right software, you’ll trigger the Windows cannot open this file error or you’ll receive the message How do you want to open this file?
Hence, we’re going to discuss how you can open an Sr2 file using Microsoft Windows Photos.
1. Open sr2 Files with Microsoft Photos
Double-click on any .sr2 file to see if you have a suitable app to open the it. If you have a compatible file viewer, the image will open immediately.
However, if you don’t have any suitable app, you’ll see the prompt How do you want to open this file or the error Windows cannot open this file. If you don’t have a suitable app, follow the following steps:
Press the Windows key + S, type in Microsoft Store, and hit Enter.
In the Microsoft Store app, click on the search bar, type in Microsoft Photos, and click on the displayed result.
On the Downloads page, click on the Get button to download the app to your PC.
Once the download is complete, click on the .exe file and follow the instructions to complete the app installation.
Then, close the Microsoft Store app.
Locate the file and right-click on it. When the Open with prompt displays, select Microsoft Photos from the list of applications.
Enable the check box next to Always use this app to open .sr2 files.
Click on OK to set Microsoft Photos as the default app to open the files
Once you’re done, all sr2 files stored on your PC will be opened using the Microsoft Photos app exclusively.
Alternatively, you can open the files using third-party viewing software like:
Adobe DNG converter.
Corel Aftershot Pro.
CyberLink PhotoDirector.
XnViewMP.
EZ Freeware Free Opener.
All of the above applications are suitable for opening this file and other formats.
If you’d like to view RAW files in Windows, be sure to read our guide. We provide you with detailed solutions to view such files.
Further, the sr2 extension isn’t the most common image extension, opening it can often become a bit complicated. With the steps listed above, you should be able to open any file on your PC.
If you’ve got other solutions that helped you open an Sr2 file, do let us know in the comments.
Press Windows + R keys to prompt the Run window, type devmgmt.msc, and click OK to open the Device Manager.
Expand the Bluetooth mouse device entry, right-click on the device driver, then select Update driver from the drop-down menu.
Click on Search automatically for the updated driver software option.
Restart your PC and check if the black screen issue persists.
Updating the device driver will install updates for fixing bugs causing the mouse connection issues. Moreover, it installs the latest features to improve the drivers’ performance.
You also have a faster alternative to update your mouse driver, namely specialized third-party software created to detect outdated drivers and update them with the latest versions from a comprehensive database.
Left-click the Start button, type Control Panel, then select it from the result.
Select Hardware and Sound and click on Power Options.
Click the Change plan settings link and select the Change advanced power settings.
Expand USB settings and select USB selective suspend setting. Disable the On battery and Plugged in option.
Select OK and select Apply.
Exit the Control Panel and restart your device.
These steps will resolve battery performance settings that could affect the USB port not detecting peripheral devices like the Mouse dongle. Read about how to get the best power efficiency in Windows 11.
Insert the battery into the mouse correctly and turn on the Onn wireless device.
Press the Windows + I to open the Windows Settings.
Select Bluetooth & devices from the left sidebar and click the Bluetooth toggle to switch it on.
Press and hold the Connect button for 3 to 5 seconds to activate the pairing mode.
Click on the Add device or other device from the right pane of the Bluetooth window and select Bluetooth.
Click the Onn mouse name from the list to connect it.
The Onn Mouses as a fast startup option is default enabled. You should disable the option if there is a connection problem. Also, ensure the device is on the right frequency.
Why is my Onn wireless mouse not connecting?
Different factors can affect your Onn wireless mouse connection. Here are some possible causes:
Dead Battery – The Onn wireless device needs a source of energy, and it may only connect to your PC if the battery is charged and stable.
Wireless network Interference – Interference with other radio frequencies can disrupt the wireless connection causing it to slow down or cause total disconnection.
USB Receiver – Issues with the USB wireless adapter not working can affect the device connection. Also, the dongle is a small device that can be misplaced quickly, causing difficulties with your PC connection.
Driver issues – A missing or corrupt driver can affect the Onn mice connection with the system. Although the Windows plug-and-play features allow auto-driver download, you can also update drivers manually.
If you encounter any problem with these steps, check our more detailed guide on connecting a Bluetooth mouse to the Windows operating system.
The latest Xbox Insider update is now available for the Alpha Skip-Ahead ring. This update (version RS_XBOX_DEV_FLIGHT\25320.1003.230316-2000) is mostly mundane stuff—bug fixes and small improvements users won’t notice.
This preview build does feature one interesting addition to the Xbox user experience, though. And that is the ability to manage subscriptions directly from the Xbox console.
Currently, users can only do this by logging into their Microsoft account on PC or mobile, if for example a user wants to cancel or re-sign up for Xbox Game Pass.
Beginning today, you can now change your plan or update the recurring billing status directly from your console. To get started, head to Settings > Account > Subscriptions.
This will no doubt be a much-welcomed feature once it rolls out to the public.
Visit Xbox Wire for the release notes on the latest build.
Microsoft co-founder and former CEO Bill Gates penned a new piece on his GatesNotes blog where he waxes poetically about the future of artificial intelligence in the wake of OpenAI’s new found success with ChatGPT and AI led chat bots powering dozens of new ventures.
Gates’ work at Microsoft is nothing short of industry leading as he and co-founder Paul Allen helped make graphical user interfaces (GUIs) a ubiquitous concept among laypeople over the past 47 years. With that being said, Gates has been inspired by recent strides in the fundamental development of AI, enough to imagine what it can do to reduce some of the world’s worst inequities, enhance productivity, improve personal health and the healthcare industry, as well as the education sector.
The development of AI is as fundamental as the creation of the microprocessor, the personal computer, the Internet, and the mobile phone. It will change the way people work, learn, travel, get health care, and communicate with each other. Entire industries will reorient around it. Businesses will distinguish themselves by how well they use it.
Gate goes on to not only apply his own definition of AI, but contemplates on how AI will help students succeed at math which will in turn help form the building blocks of improving education overall and result in leveling inequities among Black, Latino, and low-income students.
While the tech industry is currently redefining what AI can do and be classified as, Gates uses a simple rubric that includes, “a model created to solve a specific problem or provide a particular service.” By Gates’ definition, AI has been around for some time and whether the feasts and famines of attention from the tech industry that include the rush to digital personal assistants such as Siri, Alexa, Cortana and Google, as well as older remnants like Microsoft’s famed Clippy.
However, Gates sees AI’s developmental evolution as way to further help productivity, that doesn’t include an animated paper clip in your Office suite such as,
Eventually your main way of controlling a computer will no longer be pointing and clicking or tapping on menus and dialogue boxes. Instead, you’ll be able to write a request in plain English. (And not just English—AIs will understand languages from around the world. In India earlier this year, I met with developers who are working on AIs that will understand many of the languages spoken there.)
Gates goes into further detail about how AI will help create stronger and more relevant personal assistants than what is currently on the market. Another area of concern for Gates is how AI can help to improve health care and the medical field where artificial intelligence can aid doctors become more productive in countries where too few people actually visit healthcare providers by training models to address region specific diseases.
As a philanthropist who’s made it his life goal to eradicate Malaria, Gates is very optimistic about the myriad of ways AI can help in expediting medical breakthroughs, produce AI-powered ultrasounds, track complex medical biological systems, search and target pathogens and more.
There are areas of concern with AI Gates discusses such as difficulties in abstract reasoning that lead to incorrect answers, misunderstanding context, and the potential for nefarious individuals, government bodies or nation-states armed with super intelligent AIs to wreak havoc.
All in all, Gates delivers a thoughtful and optimistic read for anyone interested in the machinations of someone who helped usher in the personal computing revolution, and ends his piece with a few examples of what may be yet to come from AI that include new chip development or AIs developing algorithms for other task specific AIs.
Microsoft has announced the public preview of the Loop app, available on the web, or via Android or iOS apps. Components of the Loop app have been available in preview already (we’re using a Loop component in Teams to track collaboration on some of our posts), but now for the first time organizations will be able to have a single place to create and access Loop components/
So what is Loop?
Microsoft describes Loop as “a transformative co-creation experience that brings together teams, content, and tasks across your tools and devices,” but basically it’s a way to create and share bits of information across Microsoft 365 products including Teams, Outlook, Word, Whiteboard, Planner, and the Loop app itself, for example creating a document snippet can be embedded into a Word doc or an email, with collaborative changes taking place wherever the Loop is embedded. This video explains a bit more:
Microsoft has also built in Microsoft 365 Copilot, the new AI powered feature that brings “next-generation” AI to help with Loop:
Copilot in Loop gives you AI-powered suggestions to help transform the way you create and collaborate. It guides you with prompts like create, brainstorm, blueprint, and describe. Or simply type in a prompt, like “help me create a mission statement.”
To use the Microsoft Loop preview, you need to use a Microsoft 365 account, that is a work/school account, not a personal MSA. Your IT admin also has to enable Loop in Microsoft 365 Admin settings.
File Explorer is the go-to place for organizing and retrieving files and folders stored on the disk drive. Sadly, File Explorer is prone to several issues, including the inability to open on your computer. This hinders the ability to browse files, causing a lot of inconvenience.
Why is File Explorer not opening on Windows?
If File Explorer is not opening on Windows or is taking forever, the corrupt cache is the most probable cause. Here are some other possible reasons:
Misconfigured display settings – Incompatible screen resolution settings on Windows are possible reasons why File Explorer fails to launch.
Malfunctioning third-party antivirus – Third-party antivirus software, especially free ones, interferes with the system and prevents File Explorer from opening on Windows.
Corrupt system files – Corrupt or broken system files cause your PC to behave erratically and can be why you are unable to launch File Explorer.
Excess File Explorer cache – File Explorer cache gets accumulated over time and, if not deleted, grows in size and causes issues in the File Explorer app.
If you are one of those troubled with the File Explorer not opening issue, you are at the right place. Implement the solutions provided in this guide to resolve the underlying problems.
What can I do if File Explorer is not opening?
Before employing the troubleshooting methods listed below, make sure to perform the following actions:
If these preliminary methods didn’t fix the problem, let’s go to the actual solutions to remedy the situation.
1. Restart File Explorer
Use Windows + X shortcut to open the Quick Links menu and select Task Manager.
Look for Windows Explorer in the Processes tab, right-click it, and choose End Task.
Choose File from the top Menu bar and then Run New Task.
Type Explorer or explorer.exe in the command field and press OK.
Windows Explorer is the background app responsible for managing the functionality of File Explorer and related components. File Explorer will not open on your computer if the process encounters a problem; restarting the process will help.
2. Modify the Display settings
Launch the Settings app using the Windows + I shortcut.
Select Display from the right side of the System settings window.
Scroll down to the Scale and layout settings and select the recommended value in the Scale and Display Resolution drop-downs.
If the Scale and layout settings are already set to recommended, choose a different value and then reselect the option recommended for your computer.
Incorrect scale and display resolution for your PC is a very common cause of why Windows is incompetent in performing the intended action.
Hence, restoring the settings to default values is an effective way to fix the File Explorer not opening problem. However, if you are unable to change the screen resolution, check out our dedicated guide.
3. Clear File Explorer History
Press the Windows key to open Start Menu, type folder options in the Search bar, and choose File Explorer Options from the search result section.
In the Folder Options window, look for the Clear File Explorer history option and press the Clear button next to it and press OK to save the changes.
File Explorer stores cache files to respond promptly to your search queries. If these files are not deleted periodically, they accumulate and cause more harm than good.
4. Run SFC and DISM scan
Right-click the Windows icon on the Taskbar and choose Windows Terminal (Admin) option.
Click Yes on the User Account Control (UAC) prompt.
Type or paste the following command and press the Enter key. sfc /scannow
After the SFC scan, execute the following command to run DISM (Deployment Image Servicing and Management) scan. DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth
Do not exit the terminal window until the DISM tool scans the Windows image and repairs it.
If you’re unsure about performing the SFC and DISM scan manually, you can try dedicated software to help you repair corrupt files by automatically replacing them with healthy parts from its online vault.
5. Restore the File Explorer settings
Press the Windows key to open Start Menu, type Folder Options in the Search bar, and choose File Explorer Options from the search result.
Press the Restore Defaults button in the General tab.
Switch to the View tab and press the Reset Folders and Restore Defaults buttons.
Press the OK button to save the changes and exit the window.
6. Reinstall the File Explorer app
Press the Windows key to bring up the Start menu. Type powershell in the search bar and choose Run as Administrator present on the right.
Click the Yes button on the User Action Control pop-up.
Type or paste the following command and hit the Enter key to execute it. Get-AppXPackage Microsoft.WindowsStore | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml"}
Wait until File Explorer, along with other Windows apps, is reinstalled on your computer, and then restart your system. This solution will replace the corrupt or broken installation files if they were the reason why File Explorer was not opening on your PC.
7. Clean boot your computer
Use the Windows + R shortcut to bring up the Run dialog box. Type the following command in the text field and press the OK button. msconfig
In the General tab of the System Configuration window, uncheck the box for the Load startup items and check the Load system services option.
Next, switch to the Services tab, check the Hide all Microsoft services option listed on the bottom left, and press the Disable all button.
Click the OK button to save the changes and restart your computer in the clean boot state.
Now try opening File Explorer on your Windows PC. If you are successful, it means some third-party apps are interfering with the File Explorer functionality. You can refer to this guide to uninstall apps from Windows.
Employ the above-mentioned solutions to repair the File Explorer not opening on your Windows PC issue.
However, if the problem persists or you encounter other issues like the group by option greyed out, you can check out the best File Manager apps for Windows offering better organizational and accessibility features.
If you have any queries or suggestions for us, please write them down in the comments section below.
Netflix has announced 40 more games coming to Netflix Games before the year is out. This in addition to the 55 games that have been made available thus far since Netflix Games launched back in November 2021. Vice President of External Games at Netflix, Leanne Loombe said in a statement,
It’s been a little more than a year since we launched games on Netflix to bring even more entertainment to our members as part of their Netflix subscription. In this short time, we’ve released 55 games, with about 40 more slated for later this year and 70 in development with our partners. That’s in addition to the 16 games currently being developed by our in-house game studios. Our goal is to develop a broad portfolio of games — in different genres and formats — because we believe everyone can find joy in games if they discover the one (or many!) that is right for them.
Among these upcoming games are Valiant Hearts: Coming Home and Mighty Quest: Rogue Palace, both from Ubisoft, and both Monument Valley and Monument Valley 2, among many others.
Monument Valley on PC.
Currently Netflix Games titles are only playable on Android and iOS. Users can only see the games in the Netflix App. However, Netflix is looking to change that in the not-too-distant future as it seeks to diversify its offerings, especially games.
Back in October 2022 the video streaming giant announced that it was “seriously exploring a cloud gaming offering.” The news came at the TechCrunch Disrupt 2022 event, on the heels of Google’s announcement that it would be shutting down Stadia.
Loombe also spoke on this, saying:
We are very early in that side of our journey, but we are very committed to making sure that games can be played wherever you have Netflix. We do believe that cloud gaming will enable us to provide that easy access to games on any screen, be frictionless, and provide that accessibility into gaming experiences. But we do want to be super thoughtful about how we build that and how we bring it to our members, … just like we’re doing for mobile games, we will take it slow.
Google Sheets is a powerful spreadsheet tool that allows you to organize and analyze data. One good feature of Google Sheets is the ability to hide and unhide columns, which makes it easier to focus on specific data. Therefore, we’ll discuss how to hide and unhide columns in Google Sheets.
Why can’t I hide columns in Google Sheets? There could be a few reasons why you’re unable to hide columns in Google Sheets:
Protected file – Google Sheets has a feature that makes it possible to encrypt files. Therefore, it makes file editing and removing columns from the Google sheet impossible for unauthorized users.
Frozen column – If the columns you want to hide are part of a frozen section of the sheet, you won’t have access until you unfreeze them.
The reasons above may vary for different Google Sheet users. Nonetheless, we’ll discuss how to remove columns in Google Sheets.
How can I hide and unhide columns in Google Sheets?
1. Hide a single column in a Google sheet
Right-click the letter at the top of the column you want to hide.
Select the Hide column from the context menu.
To unhide a single column: look for a box with two end arrows where the hidden column is.
Click the box to unhide the column.
The procedure above will hide a single column and can be used to hide and unhide Rows just have to click on the column number.
2. Hide multiple columns
Click the first column to highlight the area you want to hide.
Press the Shift key and select the last column head you want to hide if the cells are continuous.
If the cells are not continuous, click the first column header, press & hold the Ctrl key (Cmd key on Mac), and click on each column you want to hide.
Right-click one of the highlighted columns and select Hide columns A-F from the dropdown menu. The letter A-F represents the range of column letters you want to hide.
The steps above are How to Hide Columns in Google Sheets on Mac and Windows operating systems.
3. How to hide unused columns
Click the first unused column and press the Shift + Ctrl + Right (shift + command + Right Arrow key for Mac users) arrow key to select all the unneeded columns.
Right-click the selected column and click the Hide columns Y-Y to hide the unused columns. Y-Y is the list of columns selected.
Hiding the used columns on a worksheet will make your work professional and organized.
Select all the columns you want to hide specific users.
Click on the data tab and select the Protected sheets and ranges option.
Click the Enter a description bar, type in the description for the range and select the Set permission button.
Select the Only you option if you don’t want others to have access to the columns. You can click the drop-down arrow in front of Only you and select custom to give others access.
Select all the columns in step 1 and hide the columns.
The hidden protected columns will not be accessible to users who don’t have the right to edit the sheet.
5. Hide Columns on iPad, Android, and iPhones
Open Google Sheets and select the worksheet you want to hide the column.
Tap the column letter to select the entire column.
Touch and hold the selected column until the context menu appears.
Click on the three dots and select the Hide column option from the menu.
The above steps allow users running the app on mobile devices and computers to share and edit files on any device.
Bing Translator allows you to translate conversations, speech, and text and listen to their audio translations. However, users report that Bing Translator no longer has audio, meaning they can’t hear the pronunciation of the words. Hence, this article will discuss how to fix the problem and get the audio back.
Many factors can cause the Bing Translator not to have audio. Some notable ones are:
Browser cookies and cache – The browser keeps cookies and cache to help load websites and web apps faster. However, they can become corrupt when kept for a long and cause the browser to malfunction. So, Bing Translator may not have audio if the browser cookies and caches are blocking its functionality.
Issues with Microsoft servers – Since Bing Translator is a Microsoft app, it can be affected by any problems that may arise in the Microsoft server. It can be that the server is undergoing a maintenance session or is down, making it impossible for Bing Translator to interact with it.
Network connection issues – Network-related issues like network congestion can cause problems with how the browser works. It can prevent it from loading web pages completely, causing the audio feature to be unavailable or missing.
Outdated browser – Users complaining that Bing Translator no longer has audio download most likely experience the issue due to an outdated browser. The browser can’t access updates as patches for bugs infecting the current version.
However, you can fix the issue by following the troubleshooting steps we’ll discuss as we go further into the article.
What can I do to get back the Bing Translator audio?
Before proceeding with any advanced steps, we recommend you go through the following:
Restart your PC in Safe Mode, then launch your browser to see if audio is available.
Switch to another browser – Check our detailed guide about the best browsers to download on your PC.
Check Microsoft servers – If there is a Microsoft server issue, you’ll have to wait till it is resolved before you can use the audio feature in Bing Translator.
If you can’t fix the problem, go ahead with the solutions below:
1. Update your browser
Launch the Google Chrome browser on your PC, then click three dots to open the Menu and go to Settings.
Click on About Chrome. Click on Update Google Chrome. If there’s an update available, it’ll update automatically.
Updating the browser will fix bugs causing the Bing Translator not to work correctly and install the latest features to improve its web app’s performance.
2. Clear your browser’s cache and cookies
Launch the Google Chrome browser on your PC, then click three dots to open the Menu. Go to More tools and click Clear browsing data.
Choose a time range and select All time to delete everything. Check the boxes for Cookies, other site data, and Cached images and files, then click Clear data.
Restart your browser and check if the audio is available in Bing Translator.
Clearing your browser caches and cookies will delete the corrupt files impeding its performance.
Late yesterday afternoon (the middle of the night for some of you), Microsoft released another Release Preview build for Windows 11 Insiders, this one coming in at build 22621.1483. This build adds some new features to the Release Preview Channel:
New! This update introduces notifications for Microsoft accounts in the Start menu. This is only available to a small audience right now. It will deploy more broadly in the coming months. Some devices might notice different visual treatments as we gather feedback.
New! Once you have access to the new Bing, the search box on the taskbar will include a button that opens the Bing chat experience in Microsoft Edge. If you don’t have access, the search box on the taskbar will feature a dynamic search highlight button.
New! This update adds many new features and improvements to Microsoft Defender for Endpoint. For more information, see Microsoft Defender for Endpoint.
New! The search box on the taskbar will be lighter when you set Windows to a custom color mode. This will occur when you set the Windows mode to dark and the app mode to light in Settings > Personalization > Colors.
You might already be familiar with Microsoft’s Patch Tuesday, which refers to the Windows updates released every second Tuesday of each month. It’s also referred to as the “B” release internally by Microsoft.
The update often ships with bug fixes, security updates, as well as new features at times. However, Microsoft has announced a significant change made to the schedule. Now, instead of making the release on the second Tuesday of every month, the company has pushed the release date to the last week of every month.
According to Chris Morrissey, Windows and Devices Senior Director of Communications at Microsoft:
Starting in April 2023, we now target optional non-security preview releases for the fourth week of the month. We have found this to be the optimal time for us to publish and for you to consume these updates. That’s two weeks after your latest monthly security update and about two weeks before you’ll see these features become part of the next mandatory cumulative update. We’re excited for this improvement as it is meant to optimize the validation of payloads, improve consistency, and enhance the predictability of your testing, update, and upgrade experience.
Microsoft uses these cumulative updates to test out non-security fixes that are slated to be released to the Windows systems in the next Patch Tuesday release. When the change takes effect next month, the optional non-security preview release will now replace the previous “C” and “D” releases which normally ship during the third and fourth week of every month.
The company will continue providing Out-of-band (OOB) releases when required to patch bugs or vulnerabilities. Share your thoughts with us regarding the change in the release schedule.
YouTube is our go-to entertainment stop on our smart devices. We can listen to songs, watch videos, and whatnot. There are so many things to watch on YouTube, and you can even watch content from different countries, languages, and regions.
One exciting thing that YouTube offers is allowing users to change the audio language on YouTube. Yes. You can easily watch a video in your native language. All you need to do is a few clicks, and you are done. In this guide, we will show you how you can do that. Let us get right into it.
What is YouTube’s multi-language feature?
YouTube has introduced a multi-language feature that allows the creator to upload audio files in different languages to a video.
Viewers can easily watch the content in any language when this is available. This is known as dubbing and is different from a subtitle.
In dubbing, the creator must record audio for their video in a different language. Afterward, they need to upload those audio files to the original video.
One significant advantage of this feature is that it negates the need for the creator to upload different videos in different languages.
Tap on the Settings icon on the top right corner of the screen.
Tap on Audio track on the menu.
Select the language you wish to change the video to.
The above steps are straightforward, and you can easily change the video’s audio. Note that the video must have multiple audio files to change the audio.
If the video does not offer multiple audio tracks, switch to subtitles and, if you encounter the YouTube autotranslate not working issue, use our fixes to restore translations.
2. On desktop
Visit the YouTube website on your browser.
Select the video you wish to stream.
Click the Settings icon.
Choose the Audio track option.
Select the language you wish to view the video in.
That’s it. With just a few clicks, you can change the audio language of the video you are watching. Watching the video in your native language or your familiar language makes watching content much more enjoyable.
Also, reading subtitles isn’t as convenient as watching the video and hearing the audio in your familiar language.
As already mentioned, YouTube lets creators upload videos using the multi-language feature. However, not many use this feature as of yet.
This YouTube multi-language feature supports more than 40 languages, and more languages are expected to be added to this feature.
The audio track list that shows up on a video’s settings depends on how many audio files the creator has uploaded. Our guide lets you fix the YouTube invalid response received error.
Let us know in the comments below if you enjoyed this guide and were able to change the audio language on the video.
If you got yourself a new high-end PC or a laptop, and all you want is a brilliant mouse for it, then it could be a tough ask to decide between a mechanical mouse and an optical mouse. While mechanical mice are devices of the good old days, people still use them to get that retro feel.
However, you wouldn’t want your setup ruined just because you got yourself a mechanical or optical mouse. Didn’t you? In this guide, we will share a complete comparison between a mechanical mouse and an optical mouse. Reading this, you will be able to choose between either of them.
What is a mechanical mouse?
Before going ahead with the comparison, let us first understand what a mechanical mouse is. A mechanical mouse uses mechanical parts such as a ball that rolls on the surface.
The sensors then detect the ball’s movement on the surface and move the cursor on your PC’s screen accordingly.
As you move the mechanical mouse, the sensors constantly track the movement and move the cursor. You should note optical mice almost replace mechanical mice.
A mechanical mouse is wired and sends the signal of the ball’s movement on the surface using the wires to the PC.
Mechanical mice are a bit heavy and contain parts that can easily get damaged and ruin your experience. This is the reason lightweight and less fragile optical mice replace them.
What is an optical mouse?
An optical mouse is an advanced mouse and does not use any tracking ball for it to work. Instead, it uses a light, which reflects on the surface and then is read by the sensors to move the cursor on your screen.
The sensors take thousands of microscopic snapshots of the working surface to move the cursor on the PC screen precisely.
However, some surfaces, such as glass, do not allow the light reflected by the LED to be read by the DSG (Digital Signal Processing) sensors.
Since there isn’t any moving part on an optical mouse, it is easy to manage and does not require any cleaning. In addition, sensing is more precise in an optical mouse than in a mechanical mouse.
Differences between a mechanical mouse and an optical mouse
Mechanical mouse
Optical mouse
Uses a trackball that is used to move the cursor.
Uses LED to move the cursor.
Heavier than an optical mouse.
Lightweight and are available in different shapes and sizes.
Mechanical mice are wired.
Optical mice can be wired and wireless.
Require cleaning to protect it from wear and tear.
Require almost no cleaning and have a better life.
Works even on a rougher surface.
Require a flat surface to work without any issues.
Outdated and are only used as a novelty products.
Replaced mechanical mice because of their advantages.
Mechanical mice are pricey.
Optical mice are cheap.
Advantages of a mechanical mouse
Here are some of the advantages of a mechanical mouse:
Better build quality.
More accuracy.
Can run on a bit rough surface.
A bit more durable as compared to an optical mouse.
That is it from us in this guide. However, if you are a gamer, we have a guide explaining why you should disable the mouse smoothing feature on your PC.
If you have lost your wireless mouse’s receiver and are looking for ways to connect to your PC without it, do not worry. You can check out our guide and easily connect wireless mouse without a USB receiver.
To give input commands to your PC, you need input devices such as a keyboard and mouse. While previously there was only a wired optical mouse, now there are wireless mice as well. Have you ever wondered how does an optical mouse work? Or did this thought ever cross your mind?
If yes, then you are in the right place. In this guide, we will share with you a complete explanation of how an optical mouse work and what the features associated with it are over a wireless mouse. So let us get right into it.
What is an optical mouse?
An optical mouse is an input device that allows you to interact with the contents on your PC. It uses a LED (light emitting diode), an optical sensor, and a DSP (digital signal processor).
An optical uses its sensors to convert the movements on a surface to the direction of a cursor on the computer screen.
The optical mouse shines the light on the surface, and the optical sensor then picks up the reflected light. Thousands of images are taken every second by the optical sensor and sent to the DSP for analysis.
The digital signal processor then understands the images determining whether the mouse has moved. This includes information on whether the mouse moved left or right, up or down, and the speed at which it was moved.
This information is then sent to the computer using the cable or the wireless receiver, which then moves the cursor accordingly.
Advantages of an optical mouse
Here are some of the advantages of using an optical mouse:
No moving parts. So makes it more durable.
Does not require frequent cleaning. This makes it easier to use.
Dirt doesn’t go inside the parts, preventing it from damaging the sensors.
They do not need a unique surface, such as a mouse pad, to work. You can use them on wood or any plain surface. It shouldn’t be glass, though.
They are more precise than mice with a trackball. Trackball mice can get stuck onto the surface if there is dirt or anything. However, that isn’t the case with the optical mouse.
They are ergonomically better as compared to trackball mice.
They are mechanical devices. So, they should be kept away from dust and water.
Although optical mouse work on a wide variety of surfaces, they need to be flat for smooth functioning without disturbance.
If you use a wireless optical mouse, you need to change the batteries frequently.
Wireless optical mice are known to have connectivity issues.
Is an optical mouse better than a wireless mouse?
Well, let us get one thing very clear. Optical mice aren’t only available as a wired mouse. The optical mouse also ships as a wireless mouse.
The technology remains the same, but in wired mice. Although, at the same time, the transfer of information happens through a cable, in wireless optical mice, the transmission occurs via Bluetooth or a wireless receiver.
Here are a few things that will clarify whether the optical mouse is better than a wireless mouse or not.
A wireless mouse allows you to operate it from a distance. While if you have a wired optical mouse, you are restricted to using the mouse till the length of the wire.
A wireless mouse can cost you much more than an optical mouse. However, we have a list of mice you can buy for yourself in 2023.
Wired optical mice are known to offer better accuracy than a wireless mice. However, wireless mice have also evolved and provided better accuracy these days. But if you are a graphics designer or involved in work that requires precision, we suggest you opt for the optical mouse.
If you lose the wireless receiver of your wireless mouse, you won’t be able to use it unless there is a Bluetooth connectivity option. With the wired optical mouse, all you have to take care of is the wires. Until and unless the cables aren’t worn out, the wired optical mouse will work without any issues.
The wireless mouse requires batteries to run. So, you have to incur extra charges to use a wireless mouse.
The above comparison is between a wired optical mouse and a wireless mouse. There are other differences when you compare a laser mouse with an optical mouse.
We hope the above points helped you better understand the difference between an optical and wireless mouse.
Several users have reported coming across a mouse flickering issue in Windows 11. This can be easily fixed by following the solutions mentioned in our guide.
Feel free to let us know in the comments below if you could understand how an optical mouse works.
Several users have reported that when they try to download a game from the Steam client, they encounter the Allocating disk space error. The problem is that Steam takes forever to complete this process, and it isn’t worth waiting for it to finish.
In this guide, we will give you a bunch of solutions that will help you fix the allocating disk space Steam takes forever problem. There are different methods that you can apply and fix this issue. So let us get right through it.
What causes allocating disk space Steam takes forever problem?
After researching the internet and various user reports, we have found out the different reasons that could trigger the allocating disk space Steam takes forever problem.
Downloaded cache: Chances are that the cache files of the game you are downloading or the old cache are causing the issue.
The server is full or problematic: There is a great chance that the server from which the game is getting downloaded is full or has some issues at the moment.
Steam was blocked by Firewall: Many users have reported that they found that Steam was blocked by the Firewall because of which they were coming across the allocating disk space Steam takes forever problem.
Your PC is overclocked: If you have enabled overclocking on your PC, then chances are that it is interfering with the Steam download progress.
Not sufficient privileges: You might not be running Steam with admin privileges because of which it is getting blocked as it does not have sufficient permissions.
Let us now look at the solutions that will help you fix the allocating disk space Steam takes forever problem.
How can I fix the allocating disk space Steam takes forever problem?
1. Change the download server
Open the Steam client.
Click on the Steam button at the top.
Choose Settings.
Switch to the Downloads tab.
Click the drop-down menu under Download Region.
Choose a different server to download from.
Click OK.
Exit Steam client.
Relaunch Steam.
Finish the download of the game.
When you change the download region and download the game, the Steam client uses the fastest server for that region which might not be full and unproblematic.
Change the download region and check if this fixes the allocating disk space Steam takes forever problem.
2. Run Steam client as an admin
Right-click on the Steam client icon.
Select Properties.
Switch to the Compatibility tab.
Check the box for Run this program as an administrator.
Click Apply and OK.
Relaunch Steam client.
Download the game and check if this resolves the issue or not.
Running the program as an admin provides it with all the necessary permissions required to perform various underlying tasks. You should grant admin access only to legit apps such as Steam and check if this fixes the issue.
Do note that you can clear the Steam download cache even if you are stuck with the Allocating disk space error on Steam.
Follow the above steps, clear the Steam cache, and see if this fixes the allocating disk space Steam takes forever problem.
4. Refresh the Steam installation
Right-click on the Steam client icon.
Select the Open file location option.
Select all files and folders inside the Steam folder, except the steamapps.exe folder and Steam.exe file.
Delete everything except the steamapps.exe folder and Steam.exe file.
Open the Steam.exe file.
It will download the Steam client again.
Redownload the game.
Instead of reinstalling the program, you can follow the above steps and refresh the Steam client and check if this fixes the allocating disk space Steam takes forever problem or not.
5. Disable Windows Firewall
Open the Start menu by pressing the Win key.
Open Control Panel.
Click on Windows Defender Firewall.
Click on the Turn Windows Defender Firewall on or off option on the left.
Check the radio button to Turn off Windows Defender Firewall for both Public and Private networks.
Click OK to apply the changes.
Launch the Steam client.
Download the game and check if this fixes the issue or not.
Chances are the Windows Defender Firewall was blocking the Steam client. You can try to disable it and then download the game to see if this fixes the issue.
6. Stop overclocking
Overclocking helps you boost your PC performance to its max limits allowing you to resource-intensive tasks smoothly.
However, overclocking can often lead to system and program crashes, and they can throw up errors such as allocating disk space Steam takes forever problem.
In such a case, we suggest you disable any overclocking software you are using and try downloading the game once again to see if this resolves the issue.
That is it from us in this guide. However, if you are coming across a Steam service error, you should check out our guide that gives solutions to fix the problem.
If you have encountered the DirectX error: setup could not download the file, this guide can help! We will cover all the troubleshooting methods to fix the issues right after discussing the causes of the problem. Let’s get started!
What causes the DirectX error: setup could not download the file?
There could be various reasons for the Direct X error; some of the common ones are mentioned here:
Unstable internet connection – If your internet connection is weak, you might find difficulties installing DirectX. You need to check your internet connection to ensure that’s not the reason.
Runtime files are corrupt – If the runtime files are missing or damaged, you might face this issue.
Outdated or missing Visual C++ Redistributable and NET Framework – If NET Framework or Visual C++ Redistributable software is old or corrupted, you might get this error. You need to repair or reinstall them to fix the issue.
Antivirus interference – Sometimes, your antivirus blocks the installation of certain files. Hence you get this error. To fix it, you must disable the antivirus before installing the software.
What can I do to fix the DirectX error: setup could not download the file?
Before engaging in advanced troubleshooting steps, you should consider performing the following checks:
On the Desktop, right-click and choose New, then click Folder.
Rename this DirectX.
Go to the Downloads folder, and double-click the installer file to run it.
Click Yes.
Click the Browse button to locate the folder.
Select the DirectX folder you created and click OK.
Click OK.
Go to the DirectX folder, locate, right-click DXSETUP.exe, and click Run as administrator.
Follow the onscreen instructions to complete the process.
So, these are methods that you need to follow to fix the DirectX error: setup could not download the file. Try them and let us know what worked for you in the comments section below.
Phil Spencer, the head of Xbox, revealed during an interview with Financial Times that Microsoft’s mobile game store could arrive on iOS and Android devices, as early as 2024.
“We want to be in a position to offer Xbox and content from both us and our third-party partners across any screen where somebody would want to play … Today, we can’t do that on mobile devices but we want to build towards a world that we think will be coming where those devices are opened up.”
The deal, however, depends on regulators’ decision regarding the tech giant’s attempt to purchase Activision Blizzard, as it will rely heavily on games like Call of Duty: Mobile and Candy Crush Saga.
Redmond’s $68.7 billion offer is seen by many, including its biggest competitor Sony, as something that could kill innovation and competition in the market. EU and US regulators have been discussing giving the greenlight, and Microsoft has been trying to win them by announcing plenty of deals that could still keep Activision’s games (like Call of Duty) on competitors’ devices like Nintendo and PlayStation.
“The transaction will improve Microsoft’s ability to create a next generation game store which operates across a range of devices, including mobile as a result of the addition of Activision Blizzard’s content. Building on Activision Blizzard’s existing communities of gamers, Xbox will seek to scale the Xbox Store to mobile, attracting gamers to a new Xbox Mobile Platform.”
What can you do on Microsoft mobile game store on iOS and Android?
Dubbed a next-generation store, Microsoft’s plan to launch an Xbox mobile store wasn’t new. In 2022, just a month after they proposed the acquisition plan, Redmond officials announced that their new mobile store could potentially shake rival Apple and Google’s dominance in mobile gaming.
However, Microsoft would need EU and US regulators to take action against Apple and Google since the two rivals do not allow alternative stores on their devices.
“Shifting consumers away from the Google Play Store and App Store on mobile devices will, however, require a major shift in consumer behavior. Microsoft hopes that by offering well-known and popular content, gamers will be more inclined to try something new.”
As mentioned, Microsoft still relies heavily on Activision’s titles like CoD: Mobile and King’s Candy Crush, and many other titles should be following suit. And, with that said, the proposed Xbox mobile store could also allow devs to run their own app stores within the platform, and this means big news for small & indie game studios.
What do you think about this latest expansion? Let us know in the comments!
If you have encountered fltlib.dll is either not designed for Windows error when the DLL file is not compatible with Windows installed on your PC. In this guide, we will discuss expert-tested ways to fix the error.
What causes the fltlib.dll is either not designed for Windows issue?
There could be various reasons why you see this error; some of the common reasons are:
Malware infection – When your computer is infected with viruses or malware, it could cause the DLL to get corrupted. To remove the infection from your computer, you need to run a malware scan using a reliable antivirus tool.
Deleted accidentally – If you have uninstalled a program that used the dll file, it is possible that the file got deleted. Hence the error.
Bad sector on the hard drive – Bad sectors on the hard drive cause many issues; one such issue could be the DLL file missing.
The DLL file got corrupted – If the DLL file got corrupted or damaged, you might not be able to use the file. So, when you try to launch an app or game that uses the DLL file, you may get the error.
What can I do to fix the fltlib.dll is either not designed for Windows issue?
1. Run SFC and DISM command
Press the Windows key, type CMD, and click Run as administrator.
Type the following command to repair system files and press Enter: sfc/scannow
Then, copy and paste the following commands one by one and press Enter after every command: DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealthDISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealthDISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
Once the command is executed successfully, restart your computer.
If the manual method mentioned above seems tedious, we recommend you try specialized software to perform this job. These tools can scan your device for corrupt or broken OS components and automatically search for healthy files from their online database as replacements.
2. Install Windows updates if pending
Press Windows + I to open the Settings app.
Go to Windows Update and click Check for updates.
If available, click Download and install.
The update will be downloaded and installed in a few minutes.
You need to restart when prompted to complete the process.
3. Run a malware scan
Press the Windows key, type Windows Security, and click Open.
Go to Virus & threat protection, and click Scan options.
Select Full scan and click Scan now.
Once the scan is complete, you need to remove the malicious files if found.
Then, under Windows 11 Installation Media option, click Download Now.
Double-click the mediacreationtool.exe to open the Windows 11 Setup wizard.
Click Accept.
On the Select language and edition page and click Next.
Choose which media to use and click Next.
On the Select a USB flash drive window, click Next.
Then click Finish.
6.2 Install Windows
Restart your computer. When your PC boots up, press F2, F10, or the designated key, depending on your device manufacturer.
In the BIOS, go to the Boot menu and Change the boot order. Select USB flash drive.
When prompted, press any key to continue booting.
Select the language to install and other details on the setup window, then click Next.
Click Install Now to start.
The following window will ask you to enter the product key. Please enter the product key, or you can click; I don’t have a product key option.
On the next page, click Accept. Click Next.
Now choose Custom: Install Windows only(advanced) for a clean installation.
Choose the unallocated space and click Next.
The setup tool will install Windows OS. This might take several minutes; you must wait for the process to finish.
So, these are the methods to fix the fltlib.dll is not designed for Windows issue. But try them and let us know what worked for you in the comments section below.
In the race for popular web browsers, it’s safe to say that Microsoft is falling behind Google Chrome. After all, despite breaking through with Bing AI chatbot, the built-in Edge browser is plagued by a news feed that no one even looks at. In the long run, it takes away its simplicity and drives people even further.
Another case is that some users reported that their Edge browser has been opened automatically despite having another browser as default. One user on Reddit complains that their Edge keeps opening pages they open on Firefox, despite the latter being the default.
When some Windows update is implied, sometimes, it could automatically revert your default browser setting back to Edge. No wonder why some people hate it.
If you could relate to this situation, this article is for you. We’ll be talking about how to permanently use a third-party app called MSEdgeRedirect. As described, it’s a tool that provides resiliency against future changes and passes the command line arguments of Edge processes into your default browser.
How to stop Edge from opening in Firefox
1. Download MSEdgeRedirect from Github. Choose the Stable version.
2. After the download is completed, double-click on the app to install it.
3. Choose Active mode, then Next.
4. Toggle these options, then click Install. In this case, we want to use Google as our default.
5. Click Finish then restart your browser.
Some people also reported that the news feed on Edge is quite annoying. We’ve previously covered simple tips to turn it off, as well as other promoted links on Edge’s homepage.
Do you find these tips helpful? Let us know in the comments!
We’ve received multiple complaints concerning the Acer laptop monitor turning on but getting a black screen. The issue occurs during startup, after sleep, or even when you’re using the laptop. In this guide, we’ll discuss the causes of the Acer laptop’s black screen and some ways to fix it.
Restart your PC and check if it helps resolve the error.
Automatic alternative: If you want to skip manual driver updates, you can use Fortect Driver Updater to scan, detect, and update outdated or missing drivers automatically. This ensures your graphics and other essential hardware components are always using the latest compatible versions, helping prevent black screen issues in the future.
2. Use the Function keys
Unplug all external devices from the PC.
Hold the Power button for 10–15 seconds to ensure the laptop is off. Then, press the Power button to turn on the laptop.
Press the F2, F9, F10, and Enter keys on your keyboard when you see the Acer logo or splash screen appear.
Select Exit, then Yes, and press Enter. The laptop should start and fix the black screen problem.
The above-listed dedicated keys will fix the Acer laptop’s black screen on startup and resolve startup issues grounding its functionality.
Left-click the Start button, type command prompt, and select Run as administrator.
Click Yes on the User Account Control prompt.
Type the following and press Enter: sfc /scannow
Restart your PC to see if the black screen appears.
A System File Checker scan will check and remove corrupt system files on your Acer laptop and allow it to work correctly. Check what to do if nothing happens when you select run as administrator on Windows 10/11.
4. Perform a Hard Reset
A hard reset helps clear temporary hardware glitches that can cause a black screen.
Shut down the laptop completely.
Disconnect the charger and remove the battery (if removable).
Hold the power button for 30 seconds to drain residual power.
Reinsert the battery, connect the charger, and turn on the laptop.
This simple step often resolves black screen issues on Acer laptops caused by static charge buildup.
5. Check the Display Brightness
Sometimes the screen appears black because brightness is set too low.
Press the brightness up key (usually F6 or F7 on Acer laptops) and see if the display becomes visible.
If using an external monitor, adjust brightness through the monitor’s controls.
6. Connect to an External Display
If the built-in screen is faulty, testing with another display can confirm the cause.
Connect your Acer laptop to a monitor or TV via HDMI.
Switch the display output using Windows + P and select Duplicate or Second screen only.
If the external display works, the issue is likely with your laptop’s LCD or internal display cable.
7. Adjust Power Settings
Incorrect sleep or hibernation settings can prevent the display from waking up.
Press Ctrl + Alt + Delete to see if the security screen appears.
If it does, select Task Manager, then go to File > Run new task and type control to open the Control Panel.
Navigate to Power Options and set Turn off the display to a longer duration.
8. Reset BIOS to Default Settings
Corrupted BIOS configurations can cause startup display problems.
Turn off the laptop and press F2 repeatedly during startup to enter BIOS.
Locate the option to Load Setup Defaults (often under the Exit tab).
Save changes and restart the laptop.
If you can’t see the BIOS screen, the issue may be deeper and require professional service.
What causes Acer laptops black screens?
If the Acer laptop is turning on but displaying a black screen, there could be several reasons for this:
Outdated graphics card driver – When the graphics cards running on your laptop are obsolete, they can cause the GPU to show signs of failing, like black screens. Also, If you recently installed a new driver, the black screen can happen due to incompatibility.
Virus and malware infection – The Acer laptop screen can go black while the fan is still running due to virus infection. Viruses and malware impede the functionality of the core features on the laptop, preventing them from responding when required.
Overheating – Your laptop can overheat due to an improper cooling system or poor ventilation inside the laptop case. Also, if you’re using a low-capacity laptop and overwork it, it can go blank till its temperature is down and stable.
These factors can vary on different Acer laptops. Regardless, you can fix them by following some troubleshooting steps enumerated below.
If there’s one thing that keeps people away from Microsoft’s built-in and often-overlooked browser Edge, it’s its interface.
Once you open the browser, by default, you will see dozens of endless news coming your way on the home screen. Ironically, these news pieces are often biased toward a certain political wing, or even rooted in adware promotions, useless marketing deals, and AI-generated articles.
One Reddit user complains that this issue takes away Edge’s simple look and drives people even further from the browser. No one wants to read the news when they open their browser.
“Why is the MS homepage filled with Clickbait Trash articles? Yes, I understand you can edit the topics that appear on the browser tab when you open the new browser. But if you don’t, by default the newsfeed on Edge is like a solid wall of clickbait trash articles. I mean they want people to start using Edge/Bing, but c’mon. I feel like this is a huge part of the reason most people don’t use Edge or Bing”
If you could relate to this problem, then this article is for you. Here’s a workaround for how you can disable the news feed on Edge.
How to disable the news feed on Edge
1. With your Edge open, click on the three dots ➜ Settings.
2. On Start, home, and new tabs, scroll until you find Customize your new tab page layout and content. Click Customize.
3. On the Content dropdown, click Content off.
4. Additionally, you can also turn off other options with these toggles to simplify your Homepage even further.
Sure, Redmond officials have done all they can to make the browser stand out and stand strong against its competitor, Google Chrome, especially with its Bing AI chatbot, but until then, we can see why Edge is not so popular.
Do you find these tips helpful? Let us know in the comments!
Microsoft Teams is a popular teleconferencing app. Initially used for work and school, the app has helped millions of people navigate through this era of a hybrid workforce.
However, some users reported that the app had taken too much of their data. The occurrence is common, especially for those taking calls on their mobile phones with no WiFi or on their desktop PCs using mobile hotspots.
One user on Reddit complains that their daily data usage for Microsoft Teams is ruining his pocket due to limited data since everyone on the calls has their cameras turned on. Telling them to turn their cameras off is also not a good option.
So, what’s the workaround? We can try blocking incoming videos. This way, other participants can still see each other’s faces, but we can’t. In the long run, we can also save a lot of data.
If you could relate to this situation, this article is for you.
How to limit data usage on Microsoft Teams?
1. During the meeting, click More actions (the three dots on top of your screen).
2. Click Turn off incoming videos.
In other news, Microsoft shut down Teams Free (Classic) starting April 12, 2023. That said, you must either pay to move your data or remain on the free tier.
If your data issues are more widespread and your system is consuming too much data, you’ll find our article of much assistance to save up on your data subscription.
We have received reports from some of our readers concerning black screens on laptops while the system is running. This issue prevents you from seeing the content on the screen because it appears blank and dark. So, this article will discuss what to do if the laptop screen goes black but still running.
Numerous factors can cause the laptop screen to go black while running. Some notable ones are:
Two conflicting GPU processors running on the system – Installing two conflicting Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) chips on the same PC can cause black screen issues. Either of the GPUs is supposed to be a standalone processor, so the presence of another processor can affect the graphics performance.
Corrupt or outdated graphics drivers – If your graphics drivers are outdated, they can become corrupt. Hence, they won’t function properly and cause a black screen while gaming.
Issues with external display connections – Connecting to display peripherals or Remote Desktop connections may cause the black screen on your laptop.
Power settings and screen saver settings – This factor is applicable when you leave the laptop unattended for several minutes based on the power settings. Thus, it can cause a black screen with a blinking cursor.
Nonetheless, you can fix the problem by following the fixes outlined below.
What can I do if my laptop screen is black but still running?
Before proceeding with any advanced steps, apply the following:
Tap on the space bar key to wake the computer.
Disconnect other external devices connected to your computer.
Plug the laptop into a stable power source.
Reset display drivers – Press Windows + Ctrl + Shift + B built-in key combinations.
If you’re able to restore the screen display, proceed with the solutions below to fix the problem and prevent reoccurrence:
1. Change the Power Settings
Press Windows + R key to open the Run dialog box, and type powercfg.cpl, then press Enter to open the Power Options.
Click on Change Plan Settings.
Locate the Turn off the display option and set both the On Battery and Plugged In optics to Never.
Go to the Put the computer to sleep option and set the On Battery and Plugged In optics to Never.
Select the Power Options menu and click the Choose what the power buttons do option.
Go to the When I press the power button option and set both the On Battery and Plugged In optics to Nothing.
Save the changes and close the window.
Changing the above Power settings allows the system to retain its display while on battery and plugged in. Further, do not hesitate to read our article on what to do when Windows 11 is showing a black screen after sleep.
2. Update your graphics drivers
Press Windows + R keys to prompt the Run window, type devmgmt.msc, and click OK to open the Device Manager.
Expand the Display adapter entry, right-click on the device driver, then select Update driver from the drop-down menu.
Click on Search automatically for the updated driver software option.
Restart your PC and check if the black screen issue persists.
Updating the graphics drivers will install patches for resolving bugs causing the display error and install the latest features to improve the drivers’ performance.
If you worry about not installing the right graphics driver update or simply don’t want to do the job manually, an automatic alternative might be a handy solution.
A reliable option you can go for is the Outbyte Driver Updater software because it can help you get the newest driver updates for your computer in a minute.
Outbyte Driver Updater
Solve display errors effortlessly by updating your graphics driver with Outbyte Driver Updater.
Press Windows + R key to open the Run dialog box, type taskmgr.exe, and click OK to open Task Manager.
Find the File Explorer app, right-click it, then select End Task from the drop-down menu.
Click on File from the taskbar and select Run new task from the menu.
Type explorer.exe and click OK to restart the File Explorer process on your PC.
Restart your PC and check if the issue continues.
Restarting File Explorer on your PC will stop background activities contributing to the black screen issue. Also, it resolves any cache intervening with the internal features of the laptop and causing the issue.
Press the Windows + I to open the Windows Settings.
Click on the Windows Update category and click on Check for Updates. Wait for the Windows update result and click on Install Update if a Windows update is available.
Updating the Windows OS will install patches for fixing bugs and resolve issues liable to cause the black screen. Read about fixing Windows not connecting to update service if the error occurs on your PC.
5. Run an SFC scan
Left-click the Start button, type Command Prompt, and click the Run as administrator option.
Click Yes on the User Account Control prompt.
Type the following command and press Enter: sfc /scannow
Restart your PC and check if the laptop screen is black but still running error persists.
Running an SFC scan will repair corrupt system files that can impede the display features on your PC. Check our guide for quick fixes if you can’t run Command Prompt as an administrator on Windows 11.
6. Uninstall conflicting graphics drivers
Press Windows + R keys to prompt the Run window, type devmgmt.msc, and click OK to open the Device Manager.
Expand the Display adapter entry, right-click on the device driver, then select Uninstall device from the drop-down menu.
Then click Uninstall to confirm it and restart your PC to take effect.
Also, you can check our list of the best uninstaller software to help remove the device safely from your PC.
In addition, you may be interested in checking out other related issues and ways to fix them. Hence, do not hesitate to explore what to do if you encounter a black screen after the BIOS update here.
Blizzard has once again opened Sanctuary’s doors to intrepid adventurers willing to participate in the open beta of the company’s newest addition to the Diablo IP – Diablo 4.
The open beta has run for three days, during which all of Act 1 could be played to test game systems and servers and for the public to give feedback on bugs.
In an interesting departure from the previous formula, Blizzard has opted for an entirely multiplayer experience where other players can be encountered in the world and take part in events scattered throughout Sanctuary.
How well does Diablo 4 perform?
As stated by Blizzard, the minimum and recommended system requirements are as follows:
Recommended requirements (1080p resolution, medium graphics settings, 60fps)
OS
64-bit Windows 10
64-bit Windows 10
Processor
Intel Core i5-2500K or AMD FX-8100
Intel Core i5-4670K or AMD R3-1300X
Memory
8 GB RAM
16 GB RAM
Graphics
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 660 or AMD Radeon R9 280
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970 or AMD Radeon RX 470
DirectX
Version 12
Version 12
Storage
SSD with 45 GB available space
SSD with 45 GB available space
Internet
Broadband connection
Broadband Connection
The open beta was off to a rocky start, with many players having to sit through long queues and disconnects. These issues have gradually improved as the weekend went on, with players reporting fewer error 34203 messages after following the troubleshooting procedure.
Compared to the closed beta that ran in the latter part of 2022, the game performs much better. Most assets and textures from Act 1 seem finalized. We were able to take advantage of nVidia DLSS during the playthrough, and with it set to the Quality mode, we saw average framerates of 130-144Hz at 3440×1400 resolution for the most part.
Low FPS issues not fixed by our guide are mostly encountered when you change zones and teleport back to town. This can be attributed to either optimization or latency issues. Less frequent, but still worth mentioning, are FPS drops where multiple players are engaged in events.
Whilst many players have reported issues with Diablo 4’s memory usage, we did not suffer from this issue during our playthrough. Memory usage was consistently around 22 GB of DRAM and 10 GB of VRAM.
D4 renders the player’s character in cutscenes, which helps with immersion, but these cutscenes are shown at a locked 60 FPS, which is very obvious when playing on a high refresh rate monitor with a higher FPS.
One area where developers will have to focus is the slow loading of some textures in cutscenes. We’ve had several instances where low-resolution textures are shown in a cutscene, only for the high-res versions to load after a few settings. A drop in FPS usually accompanies this until everything has completely loaded.
More optimization is needed in this area, as we have seen FPS drops during these cutscenes (down to 16 FPS), as well as armor pieces not rendering correctly.
Overall, performance throughout the playthrough has been slightly lower than in Diablo 2 Resurrected, on average achieving 25% fewer FPS. The two share similar implementations of Ray Tracing and HDR calibration and highly detailed textures lighting.
Graphics, Textures, and Models
Living up to the next-gen moniker, Diablo 4 has major improvements over Diablo 3 in all aspects related to graphics and playable characters. You can now customize your character; whilst not something groundbreaking in the modern area, it is a tasteful first for Diablo.
Character details are amazing
NPC/monster models retain enough features to make them recognizable whilst adding a layer of realism that hasn’t been seen in the franchise before.
All the returning monsters are highly detailed versions of their previous selves. The new textures complement the muted color palette, and the dynamic lighting enhances the scenes and ties everything together.
One area where we hope Blizzard will improve is the close-up look of the player’s character, where the skin has a leather appearance and tattoos look more like gloss paint applied over a plastic model. This is best seen in the menu and during character creation. It is important to mention that this isn’t noticeable during regular gameplay.
Differences between the Low / Medium / High graphical presets are minimal, with the game looking stunning on both high and low settings. Keen-eyed players will notice the harder shadows and the lack of tessellation in certain scenarios, but during intense gameplay, these are details that most will never notice.
Graphics levels of detail
Compared to D3’s criticized design, D4 has returned to its dark roots, and it wants you to know it from the opening scenes.
Diablo 4 Level Design
Diablo 4 has taken a completely different route from former entries in the series. Gone are the flat, linear levels focused on advancing the narrative as they’ve been replaced with an open world that merely nudges the player in a particular direction.
This departure is quite noticeable for returning players and will feel natural to MMO aficionados. This choice seems to be the driving force behind the always online gameplay as well, where players are encouraged to party up and work together to do events and defeat world bosses.
A world boss that may creep you out in Diablo 4
Regions are far larger than we’ve seen before, and the open world only amplifies the feeling of exploration. You will take part in events that change parts of the world, making your actions feel impactful.
In Act 1, we traveled from snow-capped frigid peaks to putrid green forests and descended into foul caverns overflowing with Lovecraftian horrors.
Altars, chests, and stashes are scattered throughout the massive world for players to discover. Some of these count towards your area Renown, which is the completion goal for each zone.
To uncover Sanctuary’s hidden secrets, players now have the use of amount. This is again a move lifted straight out of the MMO world, which serves to distance Diablo 4 from the past familiar formula.
Much emphasis has been put on the verticality of D4, where past games had nested levels, the developers opted for larger maps that traverse different elevations by use of the ability to crawl, climb or zip across. The novelty of this level design in a Diablo game is much appreciated, as it sometimes allows for shortcuts in certain locations.
Everywhere you look there is something to draw you in and away from your quest. Be it an ominous shrine in a meadow, a demonic altar covered in viscera, or a howling ghostly figure. Lore books have yet to make an appearance, but the telltale signs are scattered throughout the world. We expect the final release of the game to have many objects of lore for players to discover.
One of the issues we’ve had with the level design during the beta is the repetition of map chunks in dungeons and cellars. Whilst there are many dungeons throughout Sanctuary, there aren’t enough to mask the lack of variation and the repetition of the same pattern, sometimes within the same dungeon only meters apart.
Sound Design
Sound is an integral part of any game, a crucial part that, if overlooked, can ruin the experience and break immersion. Diablo 4 nails sound effects and elevates the environment. Echoing caves, claustrophobic dungeons, demonic muttering, and powerful spells are all part of Diablo 4’s sound stage.
Voice acting is on par with modern games. Most of the time, characters deliver their lines with emotion, which makes them relatable and believable. The accents complement the setting and help immersion.
Playable characters around the Diablo 4 campfire
That being said, we had a few instances where the protagonist (in this case, the Rogue) delivered lines in a flat tone that does not fit with the overall gravitas of the situation. Whilst few, they did stand out.
An aspect that we hope Blizzard changes in the final release of the game is the initiation of dialogues. As the player, you will select a line of dialogue from the list, but this line will not be spoken, yet NPCs will respond to this telepathic exchange without skipping a beat. This might sound like a small thing, but once noticed, it’s hard to get over.
UI and Gameplay
Comparing Diablo 4’s UI with previous installments, at the moment, it’s usable but most certainly unrefined. Menus and UI elements are too clunky and scattered behind multiple menus. This is certainly an effect of trying to implement too many systems.
Even though we only experienced Act 1 during the beta, the story does feel captivating and well-written, but ultimately, it has to constantly battle with the rest of the game for your attention.
Emotes and titles are two such systems inherited from the MMO world. For seasoned Diablo players, these are just more clutter to deal with. This looks like Blizzard is throwing things against the wall to see what sticks.
Diablo 4 inventory
On a more positive note, the gameplay does feel good. Hits weight them, and skill upgrades have an impact. You feel a dagger cutting deep into hell’s minions, and you wield the power of lightning when you cast a spell.
This is where the improved graphics and the powerful sound effects come together. Diablo 4 feels good to play. A much-appreciated side effect of the large, open maps is the lack of loading screens, now only encountered at dungeons’ entrances.
Blizzard always introduced online gameplay with Diablo 3, but this time around, they doubled down on it. Diablo 4 does not have a single-player mode. You will be playing in a world with other players of different levels. This is probably the most divisive aspect of the game.
During our playthrough of the Diablo 4 beta, it happened on multiple occasions that a killing blow or a boss fight was finished by another player who happened to be in the area at the time. Whilst you still get the loot, it goes without saying that this is frustrating.
Fractured Peaks, one of the regions depicted in Diablo 4 beta
The game needs a purely solo experience. Whilst offline mode is essentially off the table by now, we are hoping that Blizzard will consider adding this game mode in the future.
This is the biggest gamble Blizzard took with the newest entry, which is surprising after the release of Diablo Immortal and the backlash received from the fanbase.
Diablo 4 is a noticeable departure from the tried and tested formula of games past. There is no denying that Blizzard pulled all the stops to create a platform to add (and monetize) in the coming decade.
Who is Diablo 4 for?
After 3 days of playing Diablo 4, we are left with the impression that Blizzard is trying to modernize the franchise by implementing too many systems and game mechanics simultaneously. There is no denying that they’ve achieved something truly great here.
A modern game that looks outstanding, plays well and will generate massive profits. But we’re left with the thought that, somehow, Diablo has lost some of its essences.
Diablo 4 looks to be aimed at a new audience more familiar with and accepting of multiplayer experiences and less geared towards a single-player, story-driven game. Maybe fans of the IP might be looking at the past games through rose-tinted glasses, but even so, sometimes less is more, and limitations breed creativity.
Undoubtedly, Diablo 4 will mature and become better with time, as did Diablo 3 before it and countless others before that.
Toshiba laptop’s black screen is a recent issue most users complain about. The problem can occur when the laptop starts or when performing a task, and it happens while the PC is running. However, there are some methods you can use to fix it.
Also, we have a similar guide on HP laptop black screens and detailed solutions to fix the issue.
What causes the Toshiba screen to go black?
Some probable reasons for the Toshiba laptop’s black screen include:
Faulty graphics cards – The graphics cards running the devices on the Toshiba laptop may be faulty due to a corrupt or outdated graphics driver.
Issues with the laptop’s Operating system – If there’s a wrong configuration or other issues with your OS, it can cause Toshiba black screen problems. Also, an outdated OS can cause issues with the display.
Laptop overheating – When the laptop temperature is high above the normal range, it can cause issues with its components, resulting in the Toshiba laptop’s black screen on startup issue.
Hardware issues – The black screen can occur due to hardware issues like loose cables, failing GPUs, bad LCD power converter, and poor backlight.
These factors may vary on different Toshiba laptops. Nonetheless, we’ll discuss some basic steps to fix it below.
What can I do to fix the Toshiba laptop’s black screen?
Before anything, go through the following:
Disconnect external devices and peripherals from the laptop.
Power cycle the laptop.
If the error appears again, proceed with the solutions below:
1. Restart Windows in Safe Mode
Press the Windows + I key to open the Windows Settings app.
Select System and click on Recovery.
Then, click the Restart Now option under Advanced startup.
Click Troubleshoot and select Advanced options.
Click on Startup settings.
Then select Restart now after pressing F4 to Enable Safe Mode.
Restarting the laptop in Safe Mode will resolve startup issues liable to cause the Toshiba laptop black screen on startup. Read our guide on how to fix the Safe Mode not working on Windows 11.
2. Update your graphics drivers
Press Windows + R keys to prompt the Run window, type devmgmt.msc, and click OK to open the Device Manager.
Select the Display adapter entry, right-click on the device driver, then select Update driver from the drop-down menu.
Click on Search automatically for the updated driver software option.
Restart your PC and check if the black screen issue persists.
Updating graphics drivers will fix bugs causing the display error and resolve the Toshiba laptop’s black screen with cursor issue.
The much-anticipated language AI model, GPT-4 has made its debut in Azure’s OpenAI Service in preview. The entry is designed to help users reach their maximum potential by leveraging Azure’s OpenAI Service to build their own apps.
With this launch, Azure customers can apply for access to GPT-4 and use OpenAI’s multi-modal models, that is, GPT-3.5, ChatGPT, and DALL•E 2. The announcement comes a week after OpenAI’s head, Sam Altman announced the availability of the “most capable and aligned model yet” GPT-4.
What’s more, GPT-4 is powered by “Azure’s AI-optimized infrastructure, enterprise-readiness, compliance, data security, and privacy controls, along with many integrations with other Azure services.” Microsoft has indicated that interested users can begin applying for access to GPT-A as early as today, and that billing for the services will officially commence on April 1, 2023.
The charges are as follows:
Microsoft has indicated that:
GPT-4 has the potential to take this experience to a whole new level using its broader knowledge, problem-solving abilities, and domain expertise. With GPT-4 in Azure OpenAI Service, businesses can streamline communications internally as well as with their customers, using a model with additional safety investments to reduce harmful outputs.
By making use of GPT-4’s capabilities companies will be able to enjoy enhanced end-to-end customer experiences. summarized long-form and gain access to helping write software. And finally, the users will also be able to significantly cut down the risk since the tool will help them predict the right tax data.
Microsoft has opened up endless possibilities by making this launch where users can now build new apps and solutions that are unique from other competitors via a no-code approach in Azure OpenAI Studio. What’s more, the approach provides a unique interface where users can customize ChatGPT and even configure its response behavior to align with your company’s values.
The company has further indicated that it intends to build on these capabilities further “to enable our customers to responsibly adopt Azure OpenAI Service to bring real impact.” To this end, Microsoft has ascertained that entry features an additional layer of protection that’s guided by human feedback this way it’s much easier to handle inappropriate inputs.
If you’re one of these people, you may be interested in improving your laptop usage. For example, you could purchase a brand-new Bluetooth keyboard and disable the one your laptop has.
Why would I want to disable my laptop’s keyboard?
Disabling your laptop’s keyboard may seem like a pretty extreme thing to do, but it does have its benefits:
Typing on a laptop keyboard can be difficult –Laptop keyboards aren’t the most spacious as they have to conform to the screen. Desktop keyboards offer the most room and comfort.
Desktop keyboards are typically higher quality – To maintain a low weight, laptops must be made out of lighter material but sacrifice sturdiness. External keyboards don’t have this problem.
The keyboard may be damaged – If the keyboard is damaged, you’re better off getting a new device altogether. If you can’t afford it, getting a Bluetooth keyboard is your other best option.
How can I disable my laptop’s keyboard?
There are various ways you can disable your laptop’s keyboard, and they’re all pretty easy to do. However, we don’t recommend opening your laptop and physically disabling the keyboard.
You could accidentally and permanently damage the internal hardware of your computer. Instead, it’s better if you opt for a software solution.
If you prefer to disable just a few keys instead of the whole thing, be sure to download some keyboard mapping software like KeyMapper.
Of course, you could always connect a Bluetooth keyboard to your laptop without disabling anything. However, Bluetooth devices do come with their own problems.
Additionally, you could go into your computer’s Registry Editor and modify a file in the directory to disable your keyboard.
1. Disable via the Device Manager
Launch the Device Manager from the Windows Search bar.
Expand the Keyboard section on Device Manager. Right-click the internal keyboard.
A new context menu will appear. Select Disable. If that option isn’t available, click Uninstall device instead.
Select File at the top of the Device Manager, then click Exit.
It’s possible that after uninstalling, the Device Manager will automatically detect and reinstall the keyboard if you have the app scan for new hardware.
If this happens, you’ll need to uninstall the laptop’s keyboard again.
2. Disable through the Group Policy Editor
Right-click the Windows Start icon in the lower left-hand menu and select Run. In the window, type in gpedit.msc.
Under Computer Configuration, go to the Device Installation Restrictions folder. You can find it by opening the following folders: Administrative Temples > System > Device Installation.
Right-click Prevent installation of devices not described by other policy settings and select Edit.
In the new window that appears, select Enabled. Click Apply, then OK.
Return to the Device Manager, and like the previous solution, expand Keyboards.
Right-click your laptop’s keyboard and choose Uninstall device.
Restart your computer, and it should be disabled.
The Group Policy Editor isn’t normally available on Windows 11 Home, but it is possible to enable it. Be sure to read our guide on opening Group Policy Editor in Windows 11.
Go to the webpage for the KeyboardLocker app. Select Get in Store app. The Microsoft Store will automatically open, and in this new window, click the Get button.
Open the app when it finishes.
KeyboardLocker opens as a small window. Click Lock to lock your keyboard. Your laptop will not accept input.
Select Unlock to re-enable it.
4. Use the wrong driver
Go to the Device Manager again, expand the Keyboards listing, right-click your device, and select Update driver.
Click Browser my computer for drivers.
On the following page, select Let me pick from a list of available drivers on my computer.
Click the box next to Show compatible hardware. Scroll through the box below and select a manufacturer different from your laptop. When done, choose Next.
The drivers will install automatically. Click Close when done.
Now restart your computer to finish the process.
To undo the process, go back to the Keyboards entry, right-click it, and select Update drivers.
5. Adjust installation settings
Right-click the Windows logo in the lower left-hand corner, choose Run, and type in sysdm.cpl
Go to the Hardware tab and select Device Installation Settings.
On the new window that appears, click No, then Save Changes.
Now open the Device Manager. And like before, uninstall the keyboard from the app.
6. Disable the keyboard via the Command Prompt
Use the Command Prompt on your Windows Search bar and select Run as administrator.
Enter the following command: sc config i8042prt start= disabled
When done, restart your computer.
To re-enable the keyboard, enter the following: sc config i8042prt start= auto
What can I do if my keyboard isn’t working on Windows?
Some of you experience your keyboard suddenly not working for whatever reason. Assuming you don’t have KeyboardLocker accidentally open, you may have a problem with your computer’s BIOS.
To solve this, we recommend connecting an external keyboard and adjusting your machine’s BIOS settings. Specifically, make sure the USB Legacy Support is enabled.
While we have you, we recommend learning how to create a custom keyboard layout on Windows 11. Having different layouts can be useful when adding characters unique to foreign languages.
There are a couple of ways you can do this. You can either go into the Time & language tab in the Settings menu or add them via Windows PowerShell.
Feel free to comment below if you have other keyboard questions. Also, leave comments below about reviews you’d like to see or information on Windows 11 hardware.
NOTE
![Looks Like Discord Has Crashed Unexpectedly [Error Fix]](https://windowsreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/httpswww.hardwarecentric.comwp-contentuploads2022042-Out-of-4-RAM-Slots-Not-Working-1.jpgezimgfmtng3Awebp2Fngcb12Frs3Adevice2Frscb1-1-7-1.jpg)
![How to Connect Your Onn Wireless Mouse [Pairing Guide]](https://windowsreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/httpswww.hardwarecentric.comwp-contentuploads2022042-Out-of-4-RAM-Slots-Not-Working.jpgezimgfmtng3Awebp2Fngcb12Frs3Adevice2Frscb1-1-4.jpg)
![How to Hide & Unhide Columns in Google Sheets [Quick Steps]](https://windowsreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/httpswww.hardwarecentric.comwp-contentuploads2022042-Out-of-4-RAM-Slots-Not-Working.jpgezimgfmtng3Awebp2Fngcb12Frs3Adevice2Frscb1-1-3.jpg)
![How Does an Optical Mouse Work? [vs Wireless]](https://windowsreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/How-Does-an-Optical-Mouse-Work.jpg)
![DirectX Error: Setup could not Download The File [Fixed]](https://windowsreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Setup-could-not-download-the-file.png)
