Latest Xbox App on PC update adds improved filters experience and more

Posted on March 16, 2023 by Radu Tyrsina

Microsoft’s Xbox app team has released a new Xbox app on PC update designed to enhance the gameplay experience. The update features new features like better game discovery, jump back in, and more. Here’s everything you need to know:

First up, the Xbox app team has incorporated a new game collection called Trending for better discoverability. It is in place to help you identify the top 10 games that members in your region are playing.

The team has also promised to update the game collection as possible so that it is easier for gamers to know which games most people are playing. This way they can also participate.

What’s more, the team is also adding a new way through which gamers can find their next favorite game. All you need to do is communicate with the team what you like and the rest will be handled.

According to the Xbox team:

This new “Tell us what you like” guided way to find a game will let you choose options ranging from a genre to a vibe, and then we will show you a small set of game collections based on your choice. You can do this as often as you’d like to get new recommendations.

This release also ships major enhancements to the sidebar. Aside from the recently added pending invites and achievement completion percentage features to the list of your installed games in the sidebar, the tool has also been simplified further. You can use it to quickly jump back into games that you’ve either recently installed or played.

Another notable change is that the game list has been moved to My Library. Additionally, you can now easily sort through your games courtesy of the new improved filter experience.

The experience features various criteria such as number of players, rating, and genre. Of course, this new update builds on previous updates made on the app.

As usual, the Xbox app team asks for feedback regarding how you’ve interacted with the new features. Gamers can contribute through the Feedback Hub, Twitter, or the Xbox Insiders Reddit, to help add to the list of features and fixes they would like to see going forward.

Here’s how you can get your favorite app to feature in the Microsoft Store App Awards 2023

Posted on March 16, 2023 by Radu Tyrsina

For those unfamiliar with the Microsoft Store App Awards, it’s an annual event held by Microsoft to give recognition to apps on Microsoft Store that have displayed “excellence in their user experience, design, quality, and most of all, customer value.”

Microsoft describes the event as “the most anticipated event for the Microsoft Store community”, especially after last year’s event. This year’s Award ceremony is around the corner, and Microsoft is giving both users and enthusiasts a chance to nominate their favorite apps to be featured in the Microsoft Store App Awards 2023.

According to the tech firm:

This is your chance to recognize and showcase the apps that have made your Windows experience unforgettable, and to support the developers who have poured their hearts and souls into making them.

You can nominate your favorite app in the Microsoft Store to feature in the ceremony from March 15 through March 29 via Microsoft Forms. Developers are also encouraged to spread the word and get their users to nominate their apps for the awards.

It should also be noted that the nominated apps must meet the requirements listed below:

– Must be publicly listed in the Microsoft Store on Windows in at least one market by end of March
– Must have 100% functionality on Windows 11, not just on Windows 10
– Must have 3.5 star or higher rating with at least 50 ratings entries
– Must have been published or received significant meaningful updates over the past 12 months

If you are also looking to nominate more than one app, you should ensure that you do this separately for each app so that your vote counts.

Will you be nominating your favorite app to feature in the Awards ceremony? Let us know which app you voted for in the comments.

How to Connect Wireless Mouse to Laptop Without USB Receiver

Posted on March 15, 2023September 24, 2024 by Srishti Sisodia

Today we’ll explain how to connect a wireless mouse to a laptop without a USB receiver. For this to work, your mouse must support Bluetooth. This will enable a connection even if you lose your receiver.

Here’s how to configure it:

How can I connect a wireless mouse without a USB receiver?

First of all, disable airplane mode on your PC and update drivers on your computer.

Now, let’s see how to connect to your mouse without a dongle:

1. Use the Settings app if your mouse has Bluetooth

From the bottom of your USB mouse, turn on the switch to Turn it on.
Press Windows + I to open Settings.
Click Bluetooth & devices.
Now click Add device.
Choose Bluetooth on the Add a device window.
On the next window, click mouse name from the search options.
Once the connection is established, try using the mouse.

2. Use the Logitech unifying receiver if the mouse supports WiFi

Connect the unifying receiver to your computer.
Go to the Logitech Unifying Software page and click Download now.
Double-click the downloaded file to run the setup.
On the Setup window, select I accept the terms of the license agreement and click Install.
Click Finish to complete.
Launch the app and click Next.
Connect the dongle and click Next.
Now follow the onscreen instructions to start the pairing.
Once the new device is detected, you will be prompted to verify that the new device is working correctly. If it is working fine, click Yes and then Next to continue. However, if it is not, then click No, then click Next to restart the process.
If your mouse is paired successfully, then click Finish to close the software.

So, these are steps that you need to follow to connect a wireless mouse without a USB receiver. Try them and let us know what worked for you in the comments section below.

Fix: You Have Been Blocked from Originating Messages

Posted on March 15, 2023February 27, 2024 by Srishti Sisodia

Many users reported You have been blocked from originating messages on their iOS device, and this issue can prevent you from contacting others. This issue can be caused by misconfigured settings on your phone, app interferences, or simply bad coverage. Luckily, we have tested ways to fix it.

Before engaging in troubleshooting steps, try restarting your phone, turn the Airplane mode off and on, restart the messaging app and ask the recipient if they blocked you.

Reinserting the SIM card would also help. You can also try using your SIM on a different phone. Also, check if the message format you’re sending is supported by your carrier.

What can I do to fix the you have blocked from originating messages error?

1. Clear data and cache of the messaging app

On your Android phone, locate the Settings app.
Tap Apps.
On the next page, click App Management.
Scroll and click Messages or the message app name that you are using.
Tap Storage usage.
On the next screen, click Clear data and click OK.
Then tap Clear cache to remove the cache and click OK.

2. Check network settings

2.1 Enable auto network selection

Open Settings, and click Mobile Network.
Tap on the SIM you want to choose the setting for.
If you have a Dual SIM device, select the SIM with issues. If not, then proceed to the next step.
Click Carrier.
Now toggle on the switch for Auto select option to enable automatic selection.
Now toggle on switch for Auto switch data SIM.

2.2 Reset Network settings

Open the Settings app and go to Additional Settings.
Click Back up and reset.
Tap on Reset phone.
Then tap on Reset network settings.
Tap Reset Settings.

3. Update your phone OS

Open the Settings app.
Go to About device.
Scroll to find System Update.
Click Check for updates and if an update is available, download and install it.

4. Reset your phone

Take a backup of your device before performing the below steps. Open Settings and go to Additional Settings.
Click Backup and reset.
Tap on Reset phone.
Now tap the Erase all data option.
Tap Erase data.

If you are using a Giffgaff mobile operator and facing issues while sending messages with error code 38, check out the guide to find the solutions.

We also have a guide on what happens when you block someone on WhatsApp, so don’t miss it. Users also reported Some content in this message has been blocked, but we covered that in another article.

If you have issues with messages, we also have a guide on what to do if RTT randomly turns on, so don’t miss it.

So, these are methods that you can try to fix the you have been blocked from originating messages issue. Try them and let us know what worked for you in the comments section.

You Were Misusing This Feature by Going Too Fast [Fix]

Posted on March 15, 2023August 10, 2025 by Srishti Sisodia

Many users reported It looks like you were misusing this feature by going too fast, you’ve been temporarily blocked from using it on Facebook. This message will prevent you from using the service, but you might be able to fix it with these steps.

Why is my Facebook blocked?

This can happen to due Marketplace listings, or for using a VPN. Password managers can also trigger this error.

How can I fix It looks like you were misusing this feature by going too fast error?

Before we start, if you’re using a VPN, such as Avast, disable it and check if that helps. Alternatively, try using a different browser. Lastly, try using Facebook on your phone as this issue affects PCs mostly.

1. Delete Marketplace listings

Open Facebook and go to Marketplace.
Next, select Selling from the sidebar.
Click on the three dots next to your listing and choose Delete Listing.

This applies if you’ve recently created an ad or updated and ad, especially from a different location.

2. Clear the cache

Click the Menu icon in the top right and choose Delete browsing data.
Set the Time range to All time and make sure all options are checked.
Click on Clear data.

3. Don’t use a password manager

If you’re using a password manager, temporarily disable it.
Try to manually enter or copy-paste your username and password.
Check if you can log in.

According to users, the password manager was copying the login information and signing in the user too quickly which led to You’re temporarily blocked error message.

This isn’t the only issue you can encounter, and many reported Error performing a query on Facebook as well as the infamous Something went wrong Facebook error.

We also have a guide on This content isn’t available right now on Facebook as well as an article on what to do if Facebook is loading slow, so don’t miss them.

So, these are things you need to do to get rid of the It looks like you were misusing this feature by going too fast error message. Try them and let us know what worked in the comments section below.

Low FPS After GPU Upgrade: Causes & How to Fix It

Posted on March 15, 2023April 29, 2024 by Vlad Turiceanu

Graphics cards are one of the most critical components for performing memory-intensive tasks like gaming and rendering. Gamers especially often strive to upgrade their PCs with the latest GPU.

However, some users might experience a drop in FPS after a GPU upgrade, defeating the purpose of upgrading. This article will discuss the causes of low fps and provide steps to fix the error.

What causes low FPS after your GPU upgrade?

If you’re currently experiencing low FPS after a GPU upgrade, here are some of the reasons causing the problem:

Missing drivers – When installing a new operating system, you must install all the drivers needed to run the PC. If your PC still has missing driver components, you will likely experience an FPS drop after a GPU upgrade.
Insufficient RAM – Besides having a killer GPU, games require a minimum RAM to help run the game efficiently. Modern games need at least 16GB of RAM to run efficiently without any performance drop.
Poor cooling systems – Heavy-duty tasks like rendering and gaming use up a lot of resources and often increase the average temperature of the PC. In the absence of a sound cooling system, the CPU will overload, leading to CPU throttling.
External power – Some sets of graphics cards require an external power source to function optimally. If the graphics card doesn’t receive enough power from the cable connector, it automatically lowers your clock speed to prevent hardware problems.

How can I fix low FPS after GPU upgrade?

Before we attempt the troubleshooting techniques, here are a few quick fixes you can test out to see if they resolve your issues:

Ensure the graphics card is plugged in if it has an external power source.
Purchase a decent cooling system.
Restart your PC.

If those quick fixes couldn’t resolve your error, attempt the following advanced troubleshooting techniques:

1. Uninstall the Display drivers

Press the Windows key + S, type in Device Manager, and hit Enter.
In the Device Manager window, locate Display adapters, right-click on the old display driver and select Uninstall device.
Click on Uninstall in the next prompt to confirm the uninstallation.
Wait till the software is completely removed, and close the Device Manager Window.
Restart your PC and check if the error persists.

If you’re upgrading your GPU, you need to eradicate all old display adapters from your PC. Having new and old drivers operating in the same system could lead to errors like low FPS after a GPU upgrade.

2. Update Windows OS

Press the Windows key + I to open the Settings app.
In the Settings app, click on Windows Update tab, and click on Check for Updates. If Windows discovers any update after the search, it’ll be installed automatically.

A computer that runs outdated software is likely to experience bugs and errors. Keeping your PC updated helps keep your PC error-free.

However, some users can trigger the Windows Update not working error while updating their computers. Do well to read our guide on how to resolve it.

3. Disable the Integrated graphics card from the BIOS

Press the Windows key, click the Power icon, and select Restart.
Once the bootup process begins, press the F2, F10, or Esc keys repeatedly immediately to enter the BIOS.
While in the BIOS, click on Advanced, and select Device Configurations.
Select Hybrid Graphics and click Disable.
Click Save, click Save Changes, and exit BIOS.

The integrated graphics card ships with most Windows PCs. It is suitable for average computing but not for users who undertake resource-hogging activities like gaming.

If you upgrade your GPU and the integrated graphics card remains enabled, it can cause low FPS due to conflicting resources among both software.

4. Reinstall the GPU drivers

Press the Windows key, type in Device Manager, and hit Enter.
In the Device Manager window, locate Display adapters, right-click on the specific graphics card and select Uninstall device.
Click on Uninstall in the next prompt to confirm the uninstallation.
Press the Windows key, type in the name of your browser, and hit Enter.
Navigate to the official website of your GPU’s manufacturer, i.e., Nvidia or AMD.
Locate the search bar on the website, type in the graphics card name, and hit Enter.
Select the driver you wish to install and click on Download.
Wait till the file is completely downloaded, and double-click on the just downloaded file to open the installation wizard.
Follow the steps on the installation prompt to complete the driver installation.

In most cases, users are unsure of which drivers to download specifically. Manufacturers like Intel and AMD have an option on the download page that allows the website to determine the drivers compatible with your system.

A drop in FPS after upgrading your GPU can be very frustrating as it entirely defeats the purpose of the GPU upgrade. Luckily, with the steps above, you can rid your PC of this problem.

If you’ve got alternative solutions that helped you resolve low FPS after the GPU upgrade, let us know in the comments below.

Low FPS After CPU Upgrade? Here’s How You Can Quickly Fix It

Posted on March 15, 2023September 29, 2025 by Vlad Turiceanu

If you’re into heavy gaming or rendering, you need a PC wit h a good processor. Users with a lower grade PC often opt to upgrade their CPU to improve performance. However, some of our readers reported low FPS after CPU upgrade.

Hence, we’ll be showing you a list of steps to apply to fix low FPS after a CPU upgrade quickly.

What causes low FPS after a CPU upgrade?

The following are some of the causes of low FPS after CPU upgrade:

Incompatible Drivers – After upgrading your PC, you’ll need to download the appropriate set of drivers that are compatible with your OS. If you install drivers not compatible with the upgraded CPU, you’ll likely experience low FPS.
CPU Bottleneck – Upgrading your PC can lead to a CPU bottleneck. This occurs when the CPU is not fast enough to process the amount of data used by the upgraded GPU. When this happens, your CPU will bottleneck your GPU and reduce performance.
Outdated Graphic Drivers – If you just upgraded your PC, the drivers previously installed on the system would likely be outdated. Running games on outdated graphics drivers can lead to low FPS.
Game DVR – Game DVR is a part of the Xbox game bar used in recording video in the background while you game. It’s a very neat feature that gamers use to capture epic gaming moments. However, this feature can also cause low FPS after upgrading your CPU.

Irrespective of the causes, let’s explore the solutions below.

How can I fix low FPS after the CPU upgrade?

If your PC is experiencing low FPS after upgrading the CPU, follow each of the steps below to resolve the error:

1. Enable XMP

Press the Windows key, click on the Power icon, and select Restart.
Immediately your PC starts booting, press the F2, Del, or F10 keys repeatedly till you enter the BIOS.
While in the BIOS, locate the XMP (Extreme Memory Profile) tab, and click on the tab to enable it.

Enabling XMP pushes your hardware to its full potential ensuring you get the best performance from your computer. When XMP is enabled, your PC will handle heavy tasks like gaming more efficiently.

2. Disable Game DVR

Press the Windows key + G to open the Game Bar.
Click on the Settings button on the right side of the Game Bar.
In the Settings window, click on the Capturing tab. Deselect the checkbox next to Record in the background while I’m playing game.
Close the Settings app and restart your game to see if FPS is still low.

Game DVR is one of the most memory intensive components of the Xbox game bar. If the DVR is enabled, your PC’s performance might drop due to the extensive memory usage of the feature.

Disabling DVR is one of the best ways to ways to resolve FPS drop in Windows.

3. Update your drivers

Press the Windows key + S, type in Device Manager and hit Enter.
In the Device Manager window, locate the Display adapter option, right click on the graphics driver, and select Update driver.
Click on Search automatically for updated drivers software and wait for Windows to complete the search.

If you’re installing the drivers manually, you’ll need to download the drivers from the official Nvidia or AMD website.

Here is a detailed guide on how to update your drivers manually and automatically in Windows 11.

There is also a way of updating your drivers automatically, namely reliable third-party software like Outbyte Driver Updater that locates the latest driver updates from its substantial database.

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4. Upgrade your BIOS

NOTE

The steps to update your BIOS differs depending on the manufacturer. However, you can use the steps below for HP devices.

Go to the HP driver and software download website.
Select Laptop or Desktop, depending on the type of computer you’re using.
Enter the exact serial number or computer model of your device.
Now, choose your OS and OS version, then click on Submit.
Click on All drivers and then expand BIOS to check available updates. Next, click the Download icon.
Install the .exe file and follow the on-screen instructions.
Restart your PC and select Apply Update Now during startup.

We have a detailed guide showing you how to update BIOS on Windows 11. Ensure you read through the article before attempting to update your BIOS.

5. Avoid Overheating or GPU throttle

Overheating is one of the major causes of FPS errors in computers. An overheating PC is likely to experience FPS fluctuations during gaming or rendering.

If your computer is getting too hot, your GPU will throttle down the performance to help stabilize the temperature. This will result in a lower performance of your PC.

Ensure that your computer has good airflow to prevent your PC from overheating leading to FPS drop.

If your PC’s FPS dropped after upgrading your CPU, this article has provided you with the steps needed to help resolve the problem.

If you’ve got alternative solutions that helped you resolve FPS drop, you can let us know in the comments below.

Get ready for the March 2023 Windows 7&8.1 Patch Tuesday updates

Posted on March 15, 2023October 4, 2023 by Alexandru Poloboc

It’s totally understandable that the main focus right now is on Windows 11, but the majority of Windows users still don’t feel like abandoning its predecessor (Windows 10).

Be sure to check out the latest versions of Windows 10, which is 22H2, and also Windows 11, which has also reached version 22H2.

And, as you surely know by now, the Redmond-based tech colossus also releases security updates for some of the obsolete operating systems, during Patch Tuesday.

What this means is that not only Windows 10 and 11 users will receive updates during this time. We’re also looking at Windows 7, Windows 8, and various Server versions as well.

We’ve already presented the 74 new updates that became available, along with the official download links, so all that remains is going a bit more in-depth.

Without any further ado, let’s take a closer look at what Windows 7 and Windows 8 users were given to work with on the March 2023 Patch Tuesday.

What should I expect from this month’s security update release?

The Redmond-based tech colossus has just released Patch Tuesday updates for Windows 8.1, in the form of KB5023765, and Windows 7, in the form of KB5023769.

Keep in mind that they each come with a whole host of improvements and known issues with some pretty neat workarounds.

Also, remember that Microsoft has recently terminated all ESU for both Windows 8.1 and Windows 7 operating systems.

Windows 7

KB5023769

Improvements

The Local Security Authority Subsystem Service (Lsass.exe) might stop responding after System Preparation (sysprep) is run on a domain-joined device.
By order of the Mexican government in October 2022, the United Mexican States will not observe daylight saving time (DST) in 2023. Key changes in the order include the following:
- Updated DST rules for Mountain Standard Time (Mexico) and Central Standard Time (Mexico) to no daylight saving time starting in 2023.
- Changed Chihuahua time zone from (UTC -7:00) Mountain Standard Time (Mexico) to (UTC -6:00) Central Standard Time (Mexico).
- Changed Ojinaga time zone from (UTC -7:00) Mountain Standard Time (Mexico) to (UTC -6:00) Central Standard Time (Mexico)
- Created a new time zone America/Ciudad_Juarez and mapped it to Mountain Standard Time (Mexico).
This update implements the final phase of DCOM hardening as described in KB5004442. This phase removes the ability to disable changes through the registry.

Known issues

After installing this update and restarting your device, you might receive the error, “Failure to configure Windows updates. Reverting Changes. Do not turn off your computer”, and the update might show as Failed in Update History.
After this update or a later Windows update is installed, domain join operations might be unsuccessful and error “0xaac (2732): NERR_AccountReuseBlockedByPolicy” occurs. Additionally, text stating “An account with the same name exists in Active Directory. Re-using the account was blocked by security policy” might be displayed.

[DIRECT DOWNLOAD LINK]

Windows 8.1

KB5023765

Improvements

After applying a Windows update released on or after July 12, 2022, hyperlinks embedded in an Office document that use the search-ms protocol might stop working.
The Local Security Authority Subsystem Service (Lsass.exe) might stop responding after System Preparation (sysprep) is run on a domain-joined device.
By order of the Mexican government in October 2022, the United Mexican States will not observe daylight saving time (DST) in 2023. Key changes in the order include the following:
- Updated DST rules for Mountain Standard Time (Mexico) and Central Standard Time (Mexico) to no daylight saving time starting in 2023.
- Changed Chihuahua time zone from (UTC -7:00) Mountain Standard Time (Mexico) to (UTC -6:00) Central Standard Time (Mexico).
- Changed Ojinaga time zone from (UTC -7:00) Mountain Standard Time (Mexico) to (UTC -6:00) Central Standard Time (Mexico)
- Created a new time zone America/Ciudad_Juarez and mapped it to Mountain Standard Time (Mexico).
This update implements the final phase of DCOM hardening as described in KB5004442. This phase removes the ability to disable changes through the registry.
Known issue resolved: When an existing computer account is reused to join a computer to an Active Directory domain, the join is unsuccessful. Additionally, the following error occurs on devices that have installed Windows updates released on or after October 11, 2022.

[DIRECT DOWNLOAD LINK]

These older, now obsolete versions of the Windows operating system are no longer safe for use, and it is highly recommended you upgrade to a supported version.

And, since the time has come to say goodbye, it is about time you figure out the next steps you will need to take.

Have you encountered any issues after downloading and installing these new security updates for Windows 7 and 8.1?

Share your experience with us in the dedicated comments section located below.

How to Integrate ChatGPT With Google Sheets

Posted on March 15, 2023October 4, 2023 by Sagar Naresh

ChatGPT is a new sensation. It can answer any of your questions, help you solve your math problem, create a script, and the list is endless. What if you could use ChatGPT with Google Sheets? It would make your tasks pretty simpler right?

Well, if that is what you are looking for, then you are in the right place. Because in this guide, we will show you how you can add the ChatGPT Google Sheets extension and use it to your advantage. Let us get right into it.

How can I integrate ChatGPT with Google Sheets?

Well, OpenAI doesn’t have a ChatGPT extension for Google Sheets that you can directly use. However, there are third-party applications that make use of ChatGPT to power Google Sheets.

One such third-party application that we will be focussing on is the GPT for Sheets and Docs extension. Although it does not require you to have any programming language to set up, there are a few steps that you need to follow correctly to use it.

How to add Chat GPT for Sheets and Docs extension?

Launch Google Sheets on your PC.
Click on Extensions.
Select Add-ons.
Choose Get Add-ons.
In the search bar, type GPT for Sheets and Docs and press Enter.
Click on the appropriate extension.
Hit Install and then Continue.
Choose the Google account associated with your Google Sheets.
Tap Allow to grant permission.
Complete the installation.

The above steps add the Chat GPT for Sheets and Docs extension on your Google Sheets. However, you need an OpenAI API key in order to use the Chat GPT function with the extension. That is discussed in the next section.

How to get an OpenAI API Key

Go to the OpenAI website on your browser.
Sign up if you do not have an account.
Login to your account.
Navigate to the OpenAI’s API keys page.
Locate and click on Create new Secret key button at the middle of the page.
A key will be generated.
Tap the green icon to copy the OpenAI API key.

NOTE

You should make sure to keep a secure copy of your OpenAI API key, as it cannot be recovered if lost. Moreover, you should not share your API keys with anyone.

How to use the OpenAI API Key with the ChatGPT extension?

Open the spreadsheet on Google Sheets.
Click on Extensions.
Select GPT for Sheets and Docs extension.
Hit the Set API Key option.
Paste the previously generated OpenAI API key in the API input field.
Tap on Check to verify if it is a valid key or not.
If everything is sorted, you will get a prompt Your OpenAI API key is valid!
Click on the Save API key.

What are the benefits of using Chat GPT for Sheets and Docs extension?

Well, now that you have successfully added the Chat GPT extension for Google Sheets, you should know about a few of the advantages that you can have with it.

Generate text: You can easily ask ChatGPT to generate text for any topic and fill it in without any input from your side. For example, you can ask ChatGPT to write a story about WhatsApp or generate a funny joke. Basically, you can go crazy.
Translate text: Translation also gets easier with the ChatGPT extension. You can use the function to translate words from a different language to your known language.
Extract data: You can easily extract data from another file and ask the ChatGPT extension to extract email addresses, names, phone numbers, or anything from the text or data that you have copied in the Google Sheets.

These are just a few instances where the Chat GPT extension for Google Sheets can come in handy. You can explore the different ways to use this extension to your advantage.

That is it from us in this guide. We have a guide that explains the process of integrating ChatGPT with Slack.

If you use WhatsApp, which you definitely will, then you can check out our guide that explains how you can use ChatGPT with WhatsApp.

There are multiple ChatGPT browser extensions that you can use right now. We have listed some of the best ones in our guide.

For users coming across the We’ve Detected Suspicious Behavior error with ChatGPT, then you should check out our guide and get it fixed.

Also, you can go through our guide that explains to you how you can download ChatGPT and use it locally. We have also explained the benefits of it.

Feel free to let us know in the comments below, if the above steps helped you install the Chat GPT extension for Google Sheets.

Taskbar Disappeared on Windows 10: How to Restore it

Posted on March 15, 2023October 9, 2025 by Sagar Naresh

The taskbar is something that you interact with very frequently on your Windows machine. So what will happen if you are not able to use it? Well, that could be pretty frustrating as you won’t be able to access the apps quickly or even the start menu.

Thankfully, in this guide, we will give you a bunch of solutions that will help you to fix the taskbar that disappeared on Windows 10 problem. Of course, this issue also exists on the Windows 11 PC, but this guide will focus on Windows 10. However, you may also try the solutions on your Windows 11 PC if you encounter a problem.

Why has the taskbar disappeared on Windows 10?

After searching the internet and reports of users facing a similar issue, we have found out some of the common reasons why the taskbar has disappeared on your Windows 10 PC:

The taskbar is hidden: Some third-party customization apps can hide the taskbar automatically, which is why it isn’t appearing for you.
The File Explorer might have crashed: File explorer crashing or having some issues can also hide the taskbar.
Problematic display resolution: Your display resolution is beyond the computer’s original screen dimensions, because of which the taskbar has disappeared on your Windows 10 PC.
Corrupt system files: If some important taskbar-related system files are missing, it could cause several issues including the one at hand.

How can I fix the taskbar that has disappeared on Windows 10 problem?

1. Exit the fullscreen view

Accidentally, you might have pressed the F11 key on your keyboard, and because of this, your PC has gone into fullscreen mode.

You can check that and press the F11 key once again and see if this gets you out of the fullscreen mode and if the taskbar becomes visible or not.

2. Disable the auto-hide option

Press the Win + I keys to open the Settings menu.
Click on Personalization.
Click on Taskbar on the left pane.
Turn off the Automatically hide the taskbar in desktop mode option.

You should check the personalization settings if the auto-hide taskbar option is enabled. If yes, you should disable the auto-hide taskbar in the desktop mode option and check whether this resolves the problem.

3. Restart the File Explorer process

Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc buttons to open the Task Manager.
Right-click on the Windows Explorer process.
Select Restart.

This may sound basic, but this has helped several users fix the taskbar disappearance issue on Windows 10.

Notably, when something happens to the taskbar, it automatically hides everything on your desktop, and you won’t see the taskbar.

4. Update the graphics driver

Press the Win key to open the Start menu.
Open Device Manager.
Expand the Display adapter.
Double-click on your GPU.
Select Update driver.
Hit Search automatically for the drivers option.

Often outdated graphics drivers can cause multiple issues on your PC. For example, one error it could trigger is that the taskbar has disappeared from Windows 10.

While you can go the above route to update your PC, we would advise you to make use of a dedicated driver updater called Outbyte Driver Updater.

With Outbyte Driver Updater, you can update all drivers in one go, perform a scheduled scan, create a driver backup, use it as an efficient download manager, and much more.

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5. Disable tablet mode

Press the Win + I keys to open the Settings menu.
Click on Tablet.
Under the When I use this device as a tablet drop-down, select Don’t switch to tablet mode option.

Once the tablet mode is disabled, you can check if the taskbar is visible to you. If it isn’t, you can go ahead with the next solution.

6. Check the projection settings

Press the Win + P key to open the Project menu.
Make sure that the PC Screen only option is selected.
If the PC Screen only option isn’t selected, then select it.

7. Run an antivirus scan

Press the Win key to open the Start menu.
Type Windows Security and open it.
Select Virus & threat protection.
Click on the Quick Scan button.
Wait for the scan to complete.
Apply the fixes prompted by Windows Security.
You can also hit the Scan options and select Full scan for a deep scan.

Windows Security, although an excellent tool, isn’t as effective as dedicated antivirus tools. In these situations, you should use a reliable antivirus tool to remove specific viruses or malware.

We suggest you check out our guide that lists some of the best antivirus software you can download and protect your PC.

8. Fix corrupt system files

Press the Win key to open the Start menu.
Launch Command Prompt as an admin.
Type the below command and press Enter. sfc /scannow
Wait for the process to complete.
Restart your PC.

SFC Scan is a built-in Microsoft tool. It lets you scan for corrupt or missing system files and fix them without much user input. However, in most cases, these aren’t as effective as dedicated tools.

So, we would suggest you check a system repair tool that can fix corrupt system files, fix system crashes, fix damaged DLLs, remove ransomware or malware, and much more.

That is it from us in this guide.

That is it from us in this guide. Windows 11 users are also facing issues with the taskbar being blank or empty. We have six methods that can help you fix it.

We also have a guide explaining how to remove weather from the taskbar on Windows 10. If the icons are missing on your Windows 11 taskbar, you should check out our guide and resolve the issue.

Feel free to drop a comment if you could fix the taskbar disappearance issue on Windows 10 by following any of the above solutions.

6 Best Defrag Software to Optimize Your Hard Drive

Posted on March 15, 2023March 25, 2024 by Ivan Jenic

If you’re having issues with hard drive clutter, don’t worry, we have a solution for you. The best way to remove HDD clutter is defragmentation; using the best defrag software.

We’re sure many Windows 10 users have asked themselves this question. The quickest and safest way to answer it is to use dedicated software, so this guide will share some of the best options with you.

What is the best defrag program for Windows 10?

IObit Smart Defrag – Great for automation

The main advantage of Smart Defrag is that it can schedule automatic defragments and perform them when the computer is idle.

Smart Defrag is also very good for running a boot-time defrag to remove fragments from locked files. Like Defraggler, Smart Defrag could exclude certain files and folders from defragging or analyzing.

You can also choose to defrag only Windows Metro Apps or skip defragging files larger than a certain size.

You can download Smart Defrag from IObit’s website for free or upgrade to the PRO version to enjoy more powerful functionalities.

Some features of the Iobit Smart Defrag include:

Automated defragmentation
Boot Time Defrag
Game Optimize
Customizable options

IObit Smart Defrag

Keep your PC optimized with advanced and time-efficient features like scheduled defrags.

Free Visit Website

Auslogics Disk Defrag – Great for customizing defrag processes

Auslogics Disk Defrag tool comes in two versions, regular installable software and a portable program that can be used on removable drives.

With Auslogics Disk Defrag, you can move system files to other hard drive locations to improve launch time and boost general system performance.

You can also perform more basic hard disk maintenance tasks, like checking drive errors with chkdsk, optimizing a hard drive, excluding certain files or folders from defragmentation, running idle scans, and more.

Some features of Auslogics Disk Defrag include:

Multiple defragmentation algorithms
Boot Time Defrag
Detailed reporting
Customizable options

Auslogics Disk Defrag

Boost your device’s performance with defragging, maintenance tasks, and more.

Check price Visit Website

Disk Speedup – Robust defrag tool

You can also choose what files or folders you want to defrag with Disk Speedup, or you can run an automatic defrag when the system is idle.

Disk Speedup is very customizable; for example, you can disable defrags if files have fragments smaller than 10MB, more than 3 fragments, or larger than 150MB.

You can also configure this tool to automatically move large files to a different location on the hard drive to improve overall performance.

Disk Speedup has many more interesting options but offers nothing more than the above-listed defrag tools.

Some features of Disk Speedup include:

Intuitive user interface
Quick Scan and Deep Scan
Schedule Optimization
Advanced Optimization

Disk Speedup

Help your PC run faster with simple yet highly customizable defrag & speed enhancing tools.

Free Visit Website

O&O Defrag – Complete commercial defragmenting tool

O&O Defrag gives a quick overview of how your hard drive is used. It allows you to search for files or folders that are taking up needed disk space and slowing down your PC.

This software has a user-friendly interface which is quite the same as Windows Explorer. Thus, it’ll be easy to use and is among the best defrag software options.

O&O Defrag has a special algorithm that puts back again the file fragments. Despite this, you can control defragmentation by creating and manipulating the process settings.

It increases the reading speed (up to 100%) of your computer and the lifespan of your hardware.

Another great feature is that Defrag permanently deletes the free space on your disks, thus preventing the theft of confidential files and documents because it uses another deleting algorithm than Windows, which leaves traces behind it.

It is indeed a very good defragmenter for your PC!

Some features of O&O Defrag include:

Complete automation
Advanced defragmentation algorithms:
SSD optimization
Disk Cleanup

O&O Defrag

Increase the speed of your PC with special defrag algorithms!

Check price Visit Website

CCleaner Defraggler – Excellent free option

Piriform, the developer behind CCleaner, delivers probably the most powerful, free defrag software.

Defraggler is very flexible because it can defrag the data or the free space of an internal or external hard drive. It also has the option of defragmenting specific files or folders on your computer only.

Besides defragmenting, Defraggler can also check for errors on your hard drive, empty the Recycle Bin before defragging, exclude certain files from the defragging process, and more.

All these options make Defraggler an ultimate tool for maintaining and managing your hard drives.

Some features of Defraggler include:

Detailed drive analysis
Quick Defrag
File defragmentation
Customizable options

Defraggler

This intuitive defrag tool maintains your hard drives and keeps your PC running smoothly.

Free trial Visit Website

Puran Defrag – Detailed custom optimizer

Puran Defrag comes with a special, custom optimizer called Puran Intelligent Optimizer. This optimizer helps you move common system files to other locations on a disk to speed up access to them.

The tool offers similar defragging options to other tools in this article. For example, you can perform defragmentation by right-clicking on a folder or file and choosing defrag with Puran Defrag from the context menu.

Puran Defrag uses a specific way of scheduling the defrags; for example, you can set up the defragmentation every hour, when the system is idle, or when the screensaver starts.

Some features of Puran Defrag include:

Multiple defragmentation algorithms
Automatic Defragmentation
Customizable options
Disk Cleanup

⇒ Get Puran Defrag

Does defragging speed up computer?

Defragmentation or defragging is reorganizing the data on a computer’s hard drive so that related files are physically stored closer together, reducing the time it takes for the computer to access them.

Over time, as files are created, modified, and deleted, the data on the hard drive becomes fragmented or scattered in different parts of the disk. For example, when you try to access a fragmented file, the computer has to search through different parts of the disk to find all the pieces of the file, which can slow down performance.

Defragging the hard drive reorganizes the fragmented files, making it easier and faster for the computer to access them. However, the impact on computer speed depends on how fragmented the hard drive was before defragmentation.

If the hard drive is heavily fragmented, defragging can noticeably impact speed. Conversely, if the hard drive was already relatively defragmented, the impact on speed may not be significant. This can be a major factor when the drive is refurbished and sold as a second-hand HDD.

In recent years, defragging has become less necessary as modern operating systems and solid-state drives (SSDs) have improved their file management systems, reducing the amount of fragmentation.

However, some users may still benefit from defragging their hard drives, particularly those using older computers or traditional hard drives.

Is there a good free defragmentation software?

Windows already comes with its free defragmentation software, which you can use to scan and optimize your drivers. For more information, read our how to defrag your drives on Windows 11 guide.

One great feature of this tool is that you can schedule disk defragmentation and let Windows automatically optimize your hard drives.

Remember that the built-in software offers limited functionality, but luckily, there are many great third-party alternatives.

The best defrag software scans your hard drive for junk files and deletes them to free up space.

Formatting your HDD could also save it from a lot of trouble. Check out these best partition managers that do not require formatting the entire disk.

What’s your favorite choice so far? Do share your experience with us by reaching for the comments section below.

Steam Service Error: 4 Methods to get it Working Again

Posted on March 15, 2023October 10, 2025 by Matthew Adams

Some users have posted on support forums about a Steam service error that arises when they try to launch the platform. The error message states:

In order to run Steam properly on this version of Windows, the Steam service component is not working properly on this computer.

Consequently, the Steam client doesn’t start, and users can’t access their games. We can all agree that it is extremely annoying.

In this article, we’ll look at a few solutions to quickly get back into the gaming platform.

Why does a Steam service error appear?

From interactions with users, we figured out that there are many possible reasons why a Steam service error might appear, including:

Server issues – If there is a problem with Steam’s servers, you might experience a service error. This could be due to maintenance, downtime, or unexpected technical issues.
Network connectivity issues – Your computer might be unable to connect to Steam’s servers due to network connectivity problems. This could be due to a firewall, antivirus software, or other network configuration issues.
Corrupted game files – If the game files on your computer are corrupted, you might experience a service error when trying to play a game through Steam.
Outdated software – If your version of Steam or your operating system is outdated, you might experience compatibility issues that lead to service errors.
Hardware issues – If there is a problem with your computer’s hardware, such as a failing hard drive or overheating components, you might experience service errors when using Steam.

How do I fix the Steam service error?

1. Configure Steam to run as an administrator

If you have a desktop shortcut for Steam, right-click it and select the Properties option.
If you don’t have a desktop shortcut for the software, right-click the Steam EXE file within its folder and select Properties. The default folder path for Steam is:
C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam
Select the Compatibility tab, then enable the Run this program as an administrator setting there.
Click the Apply option, and press the OK button.

2. Disable third-party antivirus software

Click on the hidden access arrow in the Taskbar.
Click on your antivirus icon, hover over Avast shields Control and select Disable for 10 minutes (This step varies for different antivirus software).

Disabling the antivirus should be effective in most cases.

However, since you’re prone to cyberattacks when accessing the Internet without a proper shield, we recommend using less restrictive software such as ESET HOME Security Essential instead of disabling your antivirus altogether.

This antivirus solution is created to protect all types of digital activities one may engage in.

Eset HOME Security Essential has a powerful firewall that secures your Internet connection and provides additional shields that ensure safe shopping, banking, and communication experience.

It has multilayered protection that can detect all sorts of threats, including viruses, rootkits, ransomware, worms, spyware, and more.

Do not forget about its high detection rate, which is very likely to block threats before they can cause any damage to your system.

Check out the most amazing features of ESET HOME Security Essential:

User-friendly interface and easy to use
Powerful firewall
Offers protection against rootkits, ransomware, spyware, worms, etc.
High detection rate

ESET HOME Security Essential

Protect your devices and enjoy a safe and unrestrained digital experience.

Free Trial Visit Website

3. Turn off Windows Defender Firewall

In the home screen search box, enter firewall, then click on Window Dedefender Firewall.
Click Turn Windows Defender Firewall on or off on the left of the applet.
Next, select the Turn off Windows Defender Firewall options within Customize Settings.
Click OK to exit.
After that, relaunch Steam.

4. Use Command Prompt

First, right-click your Steam shortcut and select the Open file location option.
Then note down the full folder path for Steam within File Explorer. Alternatively, copy it to the clipboard by pressing the Ctrl + C hotkey.
Open the Run window by pressing Windows key + R.
Enter cmd, and press the Ctrl + Shift + Enter hotkey.
Then enter the full path of Steam followed by /repair in the Command Prompt.
Press the Return key after entering the repair command.

Those are some of the more widely confirmed fixes for the Steam service error. Running Steam as an administrator will often fix the issue. However, some users might need to fix the error with other resolutions.

We also covered Steam error code E20 in one of our previous guides, so don’t miss it.

If none of these work or if you used another way, please let us know in the comments.

Software Reporter Tool High CPU Usage: 5 Ways to Fix it

Posted on March 15, 2023October 4, 2023 by Kazim Ali Alvi

Software Reporter Tool, a critical Chrome process to enhance the user experience, is often responsible for high CPU usage in Windows.

How do I fix high CPU usage with the Software Reporter Tool?

1. Check Chrome settings

Launch Google Chrome, click on the ellipsis near the top-right, and choose Settings from the flyout menu.
Navigate to the System tab from the left and disable the toggle for Continue running background apps when Google Chrome is closed.
Next, head to Reset, clean up and choose Clean up computer.
Finally, uncheck the checkbox for Report details to Google about harmful software, system settings, and processes that were found on your computer during this cleanup.
Once done, restart the browser for the changes to come into effect.

In most cases, this should fix Chrome Software Reporter Tool’s high CPU consumption and get things up and running.

2. Change folder properties

Press Windows + E to open File Explorer, paste the following path in the address bar, and then hit Enter while replacing the Username with the current user account:C:\Users\Username\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data
Right-click on the SWReporter folder, and choose Properties.
Navigate to the Security tab, and click on the Advanced button.
Click on Disable inheritance.
Choose Remove all inherited permissions from this object.
Now, click OK on all windows to save the changes.

After you are done, check whether the Software Reporter Tool’s high disk usage problem is solved. If not, head to the following method.

3. Modify the Registry

Press Windows + R to open Run, type regedit, and hit Enter.
Click Yes in the UAC prompt.
Paste the following in the path in the address bar and hit Enter:HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies
Right-click on Policies, hover the cursor over New, choose Key, and name it Explorer.
Similarly, right-click on Explorer, choose New, select Key from the context menu, and then name it DisallowRun.
Once in the DisallowRun key, right-click on the blank portion, select New, choose String Value, and name it 1.
Double-click on the string, enter Software_Reporter_Tool.exe under Value data and click OK to save the changes.
Finally, restart the computer for the changes to come into effect.

A practical method to combat high CPU usage by software_reporter_tool.exe in Windows is to disable it via the Registry. However, remember to be cautious and follow the steps as it is since a minor lapse could considerably damage the OS and render the PC unusable.

4. Update the browser

Open Chrome, paste the following path in the address bar, and then hit Enter:chrome://settings/help
If an update for the browser is listed, wait for it to download and install.
Once done, relaunch Chrome for the changes to apply.

In some cases, you might be encountering Software Reporter Tool high CPU in Windows 7 and later iterations due to running an older version of the browser, and a simple fix will be to update it.

5. Delete the software_reporter_tool.exe file

NOTE

The paths listed here might be slightly different depending on Notepad’s and Chrome’s versions, but the concept remains the same.

Press Windows + E to open File Explorer, and then navigate the following path:C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\Microsoft.WindowsNotepad_11.2210.5.0_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe\Notepad
Select the Notepad.exe file, and press Ctrl + C to copy it.
Now, head to the following path in File Explorer, where the Username is the current profile:C:\Users\Username\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data
Inside the User Data folder, find the software_reporter_tool.exe file
Paste the Notepad.exe file that you copied earlier.
Now, choose the software_reporter_tool.exe file, and hit Delete.
Finally, rename Notepad.exe to software_reporter_tool.exe, and restart the computer.

That’s all for now! With the Software Reporter Tool’s high CPU usage brought under control, you can now effectively run the PC. While you are at it, check the best Windows settings for improved performance. And do tell us which fix worked in the comments.

How to Fix Steam Downloads That Keep Stopping or Pausing [8 Tested Solutions]

Posted on March 15, 2023June 30, 2025 by Matthew Adams

Steam download randomly stopping can turn a simple game update into a frustrating ordeal. Whether your Steam game stops downloading at 99%, freezes at 0%, or just pauses without warning, this issue often comes from conflicts with third-party software, outdated network drivers, or even your system’s time settings.

In this article, we’ll walk you through the most effective fixes to keep your Steam downloads running smoothly without unexpected stops or stalls.

How do I fix the Steam download if it’s stopping?

How do I fix the Steam download if it’s stopping?

1. Close superfluous programs

Right-click on your Windows Taskbar, then select Task Manager on that menu.
Close all programs listed under apps by selecting them and pressing the End Task button.
Note that some third-party programs might also be listed under Background processes. So, close any programs listed under Background processes also.

2. Clear Steam’s download cache

Hit the Windows key, type Steam, then open the desktop app.
From the upper-left corner of the window, click on Steam.
Now, go to Settings.
Navigate to the Downloads tab.
Press the Clear Download Cache button.
Click OK to confirm.

3. Sync the system clock with a time server

Press the keyboard shortcut Windows + Q.
Enter the keyword date and time in the search box, then click on Change the date and time.
Click on Add clocks for different time zones from the right window pane.
Click on the Internet Time tab, then press the Change settings button.
Select the Synchronize with Internet time-server option, select a server from the drop-down menu, and click Update now.
Click OK to close the window.

This Steam download error can be due to system time and set time zone dependencies. Users can fix that by adjusting the system time to sync with a server. Follow the guidelines above to do that.

4. Update network drivers

Press the Windows key, type Device Manager, then open the first result.
Expand the Network adapters section.
Right-click on your network driver, then click ok Update driver.
Choose to Search automatically for drivers.
You’ll be notified whether or not are any available drivers to update.

Steam might not always be compatible with antiquated network drivers. So, users should check if they need to update their network drivers.

You can also speed up the process by using a reliable driver updater. I recommend Fortect Driver Updater because it scans your PC for outdated drivers and quickly finds the latest driver versions from a massive database.

⇒ Get Fortect Driver Updater

5. Stop the DiagTrack Service

Right-click the Taskbar, then select Task Manager. Or right-click on the Windows menu and select Task Manager.
Select the Services tab.
Then right-click the DiagTrack service and select Stop.
After that, hit the Windows key, type Steam, and open the app.

6. Adjust Steam’s Bandwidth Setting

Use the Windows + S hotkey to open Windows Search.
Search for Steam and open it.
From the top-left corner of the window, click on Steam.
Navigate to Settings.
Click on the Downloads tab.
Checkmark the Limit bandwidth to option.
Type a bandwidth that’s comparable to your connection speed.
Click on Ok.

If setting a bandwidth limit didn’t help, it might be that Steam’s download limit feature isn’t working properly. In that case, you’ll need to troubleshoot the bandwidth cap directly.

7. Reinstall Steam

Use the Windows + E hotkey to open File Explorer.
In the middle search bar, type This PC, then hit the Enter key.
Navigate to Local Disk (C:).
Access Program Files / Program Files (x86).
Open the Steam folder.
Right-click on steamapps, select Copy, then choose another folder to copy steamapps to.
Press Windows + R.
Input appwiz.cpl in the opened text box, and click on OK.
Select Steam and click Uninstall (or Change/Remove).
Restart Windows before reinstalling Steam.
After that, open the Steam download page, then click on Install Steam.
Open the software’s setup wizard to add it to Windows.

8. Change download region

Open Steam and click Steam in the top-left corner.
Select Settings (or Preferences on Mac).
Click on the Downloads tab.
Under Download Region, click the dropdown menu.
Select a different region. Many Steam users on Reddit swear by Frankfurt, Germany.
Click OK and restart Steam.
Try downloading your game again.

To maintain a stable connection that matches your Steam download region, consider using a VPN like ExpressVPN. By connecting to a VPN server in or near Frankfurt, your network traffic aligns with your Steam settings, reducing interruptions caused by routing mismatches or ISP interference.

Why is my Steam download slow?

The Steam download is sluggish for various reasons, most notably because of a server-side problem. Thus, switching the download region sometimes is beneficial.

Also, it may be a generally poor internet connection. This will mean both Steam and other elements running on the network will be slow.

To solve the issue, investigate any local causes, such as faulty cache files or excessive disk utilization.

Also, if Steam appears idle and doesn’t show download progress, this guide on fixing the Steam download not showing progress issue can help restore visibility.

File Association Helper: What is it and how to Remove it

Posted on March 15, 2023October 4, 2023 by Madalina Dinita

File Association Helper is free software that often appears out of nowhere in the Start Menu of Windows computers. As a result, many users think this mysterious software is malware.

The software is compatible with all Windows versions, from Windows XP to Windows 10.

The only downside is that it creates a Windows startup command when installing it and automatically launches every time you boot your PC.

This guide will tell you all you need to know about the File Associate Helper.

What is File Association Helper?

This is a software program that helps manage file associations in Windows. File associations are the links between specific file types and the programs that open them.

For example, a .doc file is typically associated with Microsoft Word, and double-clicking on a .doc file will open it in Microsoft Word.

File Association Helper allows users to view and modify these file associations and add new file types to be associated with specific programs.

This helps if you want to change the default program that opens a particular file type or if you want to open a file type that isn’t associated with any program on your computer.

File Association Helper can also troubleshoot issues with file associations, such as when double-clicking on a file doesn’t open it in the expected program. By checking and modifying file associations, you can ensure that files are opened in the correct program and that your computer runs smoothly.

Can I remove File Association Helper?

Whether you can remove this utility depends on how it was installed on your computer.

If File Association Helper was installed as a standalone program, you could typically uninstall it like any other program through the Control Panel or the Settings app on your computer.

However, removing it may be more complex and recommended if File Association Helper is installed as part of another program or your operating system. Removing File Association Helper could break significant file associations and cause other programs to stop working correctly.

Suppose you need to decide whether you should remove File Association Helper. In that case, it’s best to leave it installed and seek advice from a qualified technician or the support resources for the program or operating system it came with.

How can I remove File Association Helper?

1. Uninstall File Association Helper via Control Panel

Press Windows + R, type control, and hit Enter.
Then go to Uninstall a program.
Locate File Association Helper in the list and select it, then select Uninstall and wait until Windows completely removes FAH from your PC.
Restart your PC.

2. Use a dedicated tool to remove software leftovers

If you performed all the steps after this one, you would have removed 99.9% of all the files and folders left behind by File Association Helper. However, there may be a few files that escaped your scrutiny. You can also use a dedicated software uninstaller to ensure you have removed all of them.

These applications are designed to remove the selected application and all its files and registry entries. As a result, the application will be removed entirely from your PC.

Thus you have a valuable solution that will uninstall any files reminiscent in a few clicks: IObit Uninstaller.

If you want to learn about leftovers, you can learn how to remove software leftovers from your PC.

3. Clean the Registry Editor

Press Windows + R keys, type regedit, and hit Enter.
Locate the following keys and delete them:
- Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\File Association Helper
- Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\File Association Helper

Now that you removed the program, you also need to remove any traces or file changes associated with it.

4. Check all the hidden files and folders

Press Windows + R, type control, and hit Enter.
Navigate to the path below on the Control Panel.
Control Panel\Appearance and Personalization
Then check Show hidden files.
Select the Show hidden files radio button.
Press Windows + E to open File Explorer.
Locate the following folder:
C:\Program Files\File Association Helper
Delete them and then restart your PC.

File Association Helper may have left behind various hidden files and folders. To altogether remove the software, you must delete these files.

5. Empty Temp Folder

Press Windows + R, type %temp%, and hit Enter.
Press Ctrl + A, then press Shift + Del.

The final step is to clean the Temp folder where all the temporary files are stored.

If the system displays an error message when deleting some files, leave them. The files might be in use by Windows services or some running software.

To sum up, File Association Helper is not a malicious program. Instead, it is a third-party file archive software you can easily remove from your PC for good, following the above steps.

How to Easily Change Default Download Location on Windows 10

Posted on March 15, 2023October 4, 2023 by Ivan Jenic

You must have found this guide because you need to know how to change the download location on Windows 10.

In the tutorial below, you’ll learn how easy it is to change the default download location on your Windows 10 PC in only five minutes of your time.

How to change the default download location on Windows 10?

You may use a few methods to change the default download location on Windows 10. These two are the top recommendations, however:

Using the Download settings of File Explorer
Using the Windows Settings app

Also, note that individual browsers may have their default download location settings. And these will override the operating systems’ defaults.

However, regardless of what you opt for, you should get the same results.

What is the default download location for files on Windows?

The default download location for files on Windows is the Downloads folder, typically in the user’s profile folder.

The full path to the folder is usually the path mentioned below, where [username] is the user account’s name.

C:\Users[username]\Downloads

However, the user or software installations can change the location of the Downloads folder.

So, without wasting more time, let’s begin the tutorial and create a new directory for our downloaded items.

How can I change where downloads go on Windows 10?

1. Change the download location via Downloads Properties

Press Windows + E to open File Explorer.
Right-click on Downloads.
Click on Properties.
Press on the Location tab presented on the upper side of that window. Now you should be able to edit the download path. So, click Move to select a new location.
Write the drive where you want your items downloaded and in which folder. Note: If the folder doesn’t exist, after you click on Apply, you will be asked if you want to create that download folder and click OK.
Another Move folder window will appear where you will have to click Yes.
Now, you must click the OK button in the Download Properties window.
Go to the location where you selected to download files and check if Windows has made a Downloads folder there.

Note: Restart your PC if it hasn’t created the Downloads folder, and check again after powering up.

2. Change the download location via Settings

If Windows 10 is your OS of choice, you can also change the download folder save location from the Settings page, from the dedicated Storage section.

1. Press the Windows key on your keyboard to open the Windows search box.
2. Type settings and click on the result.
2. In the Settings app, click on System.
3. Select Storage.
4. Now, click on the option Change where new content is saved.
5. Set your preferred download location for each item category.

Also, you can change the default download location folder where downloads go when the message says you don’t have enough free disk space on the partition.

Now you can download your files or programs in Windows 10 without worrying about the download location. Share your thoughts on this article in the comments below.

Moreover, the location where a Windows 10 update is saved on your computer is tricky, but for that, you can check this guide on where’s the default download folder for the Windows 10 versions.

Finally, feel free to list your suggestions on what we can do to help you further with your Windows 7 or Windows 10 computer.

Microsoft Teams Script Error: 3 Easy Ways to get rid of it

Posted on March 15, 2023October 4, 2023 by Tashreef Shareef

The Windows OS comes pre-installed with several Microsoft apps like Microsoft Edge, Internet Explorer, Windows Store, etc.

Sometimes, while accessing one of these apps, like Microsoft Teams or the web browser, you may encounter the Microsoft Teams an error has occurred in the script on this page error.

Similar issues have been reported in the Microsoft forums as well.

My company migrated to Office 365 last week. I have updated my OneDrive for Business for the version of Office 2016.
But since then, I am not able anymore to sign in to synchronize some sharepoints.

If you are also troubled by this error, here are a couple of troubleshooting tips to help you resolve it in Windows.

Why am I getting Microsoft Teams script error?

From user experience, we figure that there are several reasons why you are experiencing a Microsoft Teams script error. Some of the common reasons include the following:

Outdated browser – When using an outdated web browser, you may encounter script errors while using Microsoft Teams.
Corrupted cache – If the cache on your web browser is corrupted or outdated, it may lead to script errors while using Microsoft Teams.
Third-party plugins – Some third-party plugins, such as ad blockers, antivirus programs, or VPNs, may interfere with Microsoft Teams, causing script errors.
Internet connection – An unstable or poor internet connection can cause script errors while using Microsoft Teams.
Microsoft Teams server issues – Sometimes, Microsoft Teams server issues could cause script errors.

How can I fix the Teams script error?

1. Disable the script error notification

Press Windows Key + R to open Run, type control, and hit Enter to open the Control Panel.
In the Control Panel, click on Network and Internet.
Click on Internet Options.
In the Internet Properties window, click the Advanced tab and uncheck the Display a notification about every script error option.
Ensure Disable script debugging (other) and Disable script debugging (Internet Explorer) options are checked.
Click Apply to save the changes. Finally, click OK to close the window.

If the error message does not hint at any other service interfering with the script or the app, try disabling the scripting error notification in Internet Explorer.

2. Disable third-party services

Press Windows Key + R to open Run. Type msconfig and hit Enter to open System Configuration.
In the System Configuration window, click the Services tab, and at the bottom, check the box for Hide all Microsoft Services.
After that, click the Disable all button. This will disable all non-Microsoft services.
Click the Startup tab., and select Open Task Manager.
In the Task Manager, please select all the apps individually and Disable them in the Startup tab.
Close the Task Manager and go back to System Configuration.
Click Apply and OK.
Restart the computer if prompted to restart.
Check if the error still occurs.

Now you need to figure out the third-party app creating conflict with Microsoft Teams and remove it.

If the issue persists and you still see the script error, try disabling the non-Microsoft service that might be causing the errors.

If the error is resolved, it could be one of the third-party apps causing the issues. Open System Configuration, go to the Service tab, and enable all the services again.

3. Run Scan scripts

Type cmd in Windows search and select Run as administrator.
In the Command Prompt, type the script below and hit Enter:
sfc /scannow
Finally, run the DISM script below:
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

If the issue persists, try to perform a System Restore. This will help you to fix your system without deleting any files.

Microsoft Teams supports remote control for internal and external users and guests during meetings. You have to follow the above steps.

Investing in a top-notch team collaboration platform is crucial in today’s remote work-focused environment.

But if you can’t load Microsoft Teams in your browser due to page script errors or other errors, these are the easiest ways to quickly and safely fix them.

For more suggestions, feel free to access the comments section below.

Monster Hunter World Memory Overrun: 6 Easy Fixes to Use

Posted on March 15, 2023May 15, 2024 by Aleksandar Ognjanovic

Monster Hunter World sometimes suffers from a memory overrun. We explore fixes in this guide.

Monster Hunter: World is a fantastic game in so many regards. It’s immersive, graphically engaging, and set in a beautiful world.

It’s action-packed and supports the co-op mood so that you can slay great monsters with the helping hand of 3 friends. But there’s something wrong, as a simple glimpse at the rating speaks volumes about this game’s core issues.

Namely, the optimization is rather lackluster. This leads to a few fatal errors, and the Memory overrun error with the Err08 code is the worst.

Why does Monster Hunter World memory overrun appear?

Memory overrun errors in Monster Hunter World can occur for several reasons. Here are some common reasons why you might encounter a memory overrun error in Monster Hunter World:

Insufficient system memory – If your computer needs more RAM to run the game, you may encounter memory overrun errors. Monster Hunter World requires at least 8GB of RAM to run smoothly.
Corrupted game files – If the game files are corrupted, it can lead to memory overrun errors.
Outdated drivers – If your graphics card or other drivers need to be updated, it can cause memory overrun errors.
Overclocking – Overclocking your CPU or GPU can cause instability and lead to memory overrun errors.
Background programs – If other programs run in the background and use up system resources, they can cause memory overrun errors.

How can I fix Monster Hunter memory overrun?

Before starting with these solutions, ensure your device meets the minimum requirements. Below are the minimum and recommended requirements.

Minimum

CPU: Intel Core i5-4460, 3.20GHz or AMD FX-6300
RAM: 8 GB
OS: WINDOWS 7, 8, 8.1, 10 (64-bit required)
GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 760 or AMD Radeon R7 260x (VRAM 2GB) Shaders: 5.0
HDD: 20 GB of storage space

Recommended

CPU: Intel Core i7 3770 3.4GHz or Intel Core i3 8350 4GHz or AMD Ryzen 5 1500X
RAM: 8 GB
OS: WINDOWS 7, 8, 8.1, 10 (64-bit required)
GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 (VRAM 3GB) or AMD Radeon RX 570X (VRAM 4GB) Shader: 5.1
HDD: 20 GB of storage space

Reinstall GPU drivers
Increase Virtual memory size
Disable background processes
Update the game
Verify game files
Reinstall the game

1. Reinstall GPU drivers

Press Windows + R and select Device Manager.
Expand the Display adapters section.
Right-click on your GPU and choose Update driver from the contextual menu.
Click Search automatically for drivers.
If there are no updates, right-click again and choose Uninstall device.
Reboot your PC and try again.

The most common reason for memory-related issues in Monster Hunter: World is the GPU driver inadequacy. The problem is quite common and seems to affect Nvidia graphics processors primarily.

That doesn’t mean there are no cases of ATI users with frequent crashes and the Memory overrun fatal error bothering them.

The first thing you can do is go for a simple driver update in the Device Manager. If that doesn’t work, you can reinstall the GPU driver in a similar manner.

If you’re using a dual-GPU platform with integrated and dedicated cards, consider disabling the integrated card and try starting the game.

Alternatively, you could try fixing and updating your drivers with the help of a dedicated third-party tool that will pretty much automate the entire process.

2. Increase Virtual memory size

2.1 Allocate Virtual Memory

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

2.2 Disable the Paging file

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

As we already mentioned, the game has had issues with memory leakage from the start. Albeit, Capcom managed to mitigate it with a few updates, it’s still wreaking havoc on specific configurations.

Memory leakage or irregular memory freeing leads to a ginormous usage of VRAM. And, considering that the VRAM is limited by default, the game might crash, or the whole system will freeze occasionally.

There are two things you can do regarding Virtual memory distribution. First, try them out and look for improvements.

3. Disable background processes

In the Windows Search bar, type msconfig and open System Configuration.
Under the Services tab, check the Hide all Microsoft services box, and click Disable all to disable all active third-party services.
Now, select the Startup tab and go to Open Task Manager.
Prevent all programs from starting with the system and confirm changes.
Restart your PC.

The Task Manager readings for affected users are ludicrous. Extremely high RAM usage leads to complete depletion, leading to crashes. Frequent ones, to be sure.

But what else to say about it if we know that some users pack 16 GB of RAM and still have issues? Nothing much, except to try and reduce every other infraction. And here, we refer to background apps.

If you don’t need to run them, disable them and let the game be the only thing that runs on Windows.

The best way to ensure everything is disabled is by a clean boot sequence where you’ll disable all non-Microsoft services from starting with the system.

Alternatively, you can contact Task Manager and kill off all background applications. Some users resolved the issue by disabling/ uninstalling the Duet Display application, so give that a try, too.

4. Update the game

We also mentioned frequent updates which allegedly dealt with this and similar problems in Monster Hunter: World. A few patches mitigated the game optimization issues.

The stunning fact is that, before updates, users had a hard time getting proper FPS on top-of-the-line GPUs.

Therefore, wait for updates; you should see some performance improvements as soon as they apply. This is done automatically; you must only confirm that your connection is stable.

If there’s no resolution, pressure the developer and hope for the best. Meanwhile, we’ll need to eliminate our possible involvement in this error, so try the last two steps, too.

5. Verify game files

Open Steam‘s Library.
Right-click on Monster Hunter: World and open Properties.
Choose the LOCAL FILES tab, and click the VERIFY THE INTEGRITY OF GAME FILES option.
Restart your PC and start the game from the Steam desktop client.

Before we move to the reinstallation procedure, let’s try and verify the game files via the Steam client. Corruption of the files usually completely shuts down the game, but it might also result in some unexpected errors.

We can’t say this is a way to resolve the Memory overrun fatal error, but it’s a standard solution for all kinds of Steam-based games.

In addition, after you’ve done the integrity check, navigate to drive where the Steam and respective games are installed.

Once there, open the graphics_option_presets.ini file with a text editor. Change the PresetCount value from 4 to 0 and save changes. Repeat this for the graphics_options.ini configuration file.

6. Reinstall the game

Open Steam Library.
Right-click on Monster Hunter: World and uninstall it.
Delete all remaining files in the steamapps folder here:
C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps
Then, reaccess Steam and download the game.

Finally, if none of the previous steps proved successful, we can only suggest reinstalling the game. With this, we cover everything (or at least most of it) which can go wrong on your side.

If you’re still bothered by the Memory overrun fatal error, it’s due to Capcom or Nvidia/ATI and entirely not your fault.

You can go as far as reinstalling the system, but this won’t do much, considering the problem isn’t on your side.

With that said, we can wrap it up. But if you know an alternative solution, please tell us in the comments section. Every help is more than welcome.

0xc000021 Stop Code on Windows: 9 Quick Ways to Fix it

Posted on March 15, 2023April 2, 2024 by Aleksandar Ognjanovic

Windows 10 installation issues or BSoD-inflicting errors are quite rare. However, once you bump into an installation error like 0xc000021a, the problems intensify quickly.

Blue Screens of Death can mean many things but nothing good, so you can rest assured that this is a serious issue.

The gravity of this error means it’s hard to address it, especially if you already formatted your system partition before the error occurred.

We can only suspect the reason for this critical error, so we’ve gathered various solutions below to tick all the boxes.

If you’re stuck with this installation issue and unsure how to move on and resolve it, make sure to check the steps below.

[wr_toc]

What does stop code 0xC000021A mean?

The stop code 0xC000021A means that some corrupt system files are on your PC. It could also denote an incomplete software installation or failed OS upgrade.

This stop code, sometimes referred to as error 0x00021a, prevents users from booting into their PCs normally.

How do I fix the stop code 0xc000021a on Windows 10?

1. Create a bootable drive again with genuine Windows

First things first. If you can, try reinstalling Windows 10 on an alternative PC. That’s the best way to check if your bootable drive is bootable in the first place.

The procedure is the same for both DVD or USB thumb drive, meaning that, if you’re able to boot on at least one PC, the problem lies in the other PC.

In this case the installation drive is probably properly configured and created.

If you’re unable to boot on any given device you’ve tried to, make sure to create the bootable drive with the Windows 10 installation from the scratch and try booting again.

If you’re not sure how to do it properly, follow these steps:

USB

Download the Media Creation Tool.
Plug in the USB flash drive with at least 4 GB.
Run the Media Creation Tool and accept the License Terms.
Choose Create installation media (USB flash drive, DVD, or ISO file) for another PC.
Select the preferred language, architecture, and edition.
Click Next.
Choose USB flash drive and click Next.
Wait until the installer downloads the files and, finally, you’ll have a properly created and configured bootable drive with Windows 10 installation.

DVD

Download the Media Creation Tool.
Run Media Creation Tool and accept the License Terms.
Choose Create installation media (USB flash drive, DVD, or ISO file) for another PC.
Select the preferred language, architecture, and edition.
Click Next.
Select ISO file.
Save the ISO file to a preferred location and wait until the download completes.
Insert DVD and use any third-party burning tool to create the bootable Windows 10 DVD.

2. Run a BSoD fixer

As mentioned before, the cause of this stop error is hard to pinpoint. To gain more time and fix the BSoD quicker, we recommend running a general blue screen troubleshooting tool.

3. Unplug all peripheral devices

Another possible culprit that can certainly cause critical system errors involves peripheral devices. Peripheral devices can occasionally cause a stall in the loading process.

Furthermore, that halt can lead to more than a few errors, including the Blue Screen of Death crash with the 0xc000021a error code that comes along.

So, make sure to leave only the mouse, keyboard and monitor plugged in while booting from USB or DVD.

You should disable everything else just in case one of the secondary devices are preventing the Windows 10 installation process to commence.

On the other hand, if you’re still unable to boot, make sure to check the additional steps.

4. Upgrade via the OS

Download the Media Creation Tool.
Run Media Creation Tool and accept the Licence Terms.
Choose Upgrade this PC and the downloading process should commence.
Once it downloads files, Media Creation will start upgrading.

Some users managed to resolve the issue by installing an older Windows iteration and then upgrading to Windows 10 with the Media Creation Tool.

5. Run SFC

Press the Windows key + S, type cmd, and click Run as administrator under Command Prompt.
Type the Command below and hit Enter: sfc/scannow
Wait for the scanning procedure to end and look for improvements.

Sometimes, the corruption of system files can lead to many problems in many departments and could cause the stop code 21a.

Due to virus infection or integrity issues, certain boot files can get corrupted, which will eventually result in a critical system error, just like the installation error that bears the 0xc000021a code.

There are various ways to address this, but the best way to overcome this and similar issues is to use System File Checker and scan for errors.

In addition, it’s highly recommended to perform a full scan with a third-party antivirus to get rid of the malware infections.

If this isn’t enough, continue with the additional solutions we presented below.

6. Try running DISM scan

Press the Windows key, type cmd, and choose Run as administrator under Command Prompt.
Type the following command and press Enter: DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
The DISM scan will now start. The scan can take about 20 minutes or more, so be patient.

Once the scan is finished, check if the 0xc000021A during Windows 10 installation is still there. If you could not run the SFC scan before, try running it after completing the DISM scan.

Also, if you’re dealing with corruption, check out our complete guide on how to use DISM in Windows 10.

7. Rebuild BCD

Insert the Windows 10 bootable media (USB stick or DVD), and restart your PC.
Set USB/DVD as primary boot device. Either by entering the Boot menu (F10, F11, or F12) or from the BIOS settings.
The loading process of the installation file should commence.
Select the language, time/format, and keyboard input of choice and click the Next button.
Select Repair your computer from the bottom left corner.
Open the Troubleshoot option.
Select Advanced Options.
Open Command Prompt. Select your account and enter the password if asked.
In the command line, type the following commands and press Enter after each:
- bootrec /FixMbr
- bootrec /FixBoot
- bootrec /ScanOs
- bootrec /RebuildBcd
This should finalize the repair procedure, and you should be able to start Windows 10 installation setup just as intended.

In the preferred scenario, after you rebuild BCD, the installation files should load seamlessly, so you can finally move to the reinstallation process.

8. Disable driver signature enforcement

Open Start.
Press and hold Shift, click on the Power button, and select Restart.
Your PC should boot in the Recovery options menu.
Select Troubleshoot.
Choose Advanced options.
Select Startup settings.
Choose Restart.
Once the PC restarts, press F7 to select Disable driver signature enforcement.
Insert the installation media and look for changes.

Disabling of Driver signature enforcement is a security measure that blocks drivers that aren’t digitally signed to run in Windows 10.

9. Check the HDD health

Open This PC or File Explorer.
Right-click on the system partition and open Properties.
Select the Tools tab.
Click on the Error checker tool and wait for the procedure to finish scanning.

However, if you’re more into details, check out our guide for the best HDD health check software for PC users.

We certainly hope that this was a helpful read and that you’ll be able to overcome the installation error with the stop code 0xc000021a in Windows 10.

Also, the BSoD-inflicting errors are quite rare, but to make sure you have the best solutions to fix them, check out our helpful Windows 10 Blue Screen Loop guide.

Additionally, make sure to share your questions or suggestions regarding this and similar installation errors in the comments section below.

Fix: You do not Have Sufficient Privileges to Install

Posted on March 15, 2023October 4, 2023 by Ivan Jenic

Several permission issues have been reported while installing various software on your PC. One such situation is where you get the error message: You do not have sufficient privileges to install the program.

Here’s how one user described the issue on the Microsoft Answers forum:

Hello,
I get this error message when trying to install a Network Connection printer driver.
Installing the USB connection is fine, but the other says I do not have sufficient privileges and I have the highest level of access.

On the other hand, you may still get this error, even after logging in as an administrator. In this tutorial, we’ll show you a handful of solutions to resolve this issue.

What does the You do not have sufficient privileges to install the program error mean?

You do not have sufficient privileges to install the program typically means that the user attempting to install the program does not have the necessary permissions to perform the installation. This can happen due to any of the following factors:

Admin rights – The user account is not logged in as an administrator or does not have administrative privileges.
Problems or security settings – The user account has been restricted by an administrator or security policy, preventing them from installing software.
Firewall settings – The operating system or security software blocks the installation due to security concerns, or the program is not recognized as a trusted application.
Corrupt files – The installer file is corrupt or damaged, preventing it from executing correctly.
Storage issues – The system’s disk space is low or full, preventing installation.
OS version compatibility – The system is running a version of Windows that is not compatible with the program being installed.
Missing components – The installer requires specific system components or prerequisites not installed.

How do I fix the You do not have sufficient privileges to install the program issue?

Before starting with any of these solutions, you should ensure sufficient disk space. If not, you may consider purchasing extra storage. This will help you rule out the chances of the error due to storage space.

1. Run Windows Explorer as an administrator

Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
Now locate the Windows Explorer process, right-click, and choose End Task from the menu.
Now go to File and click Run new task.
Enter explorer and check the Create this task with administrative privileges box. Now click OK.
Install the new program afterward.

2. Use Command Prompt

Press Windows Key + R keys.
Type cmd and then hit the Enter key.
On the CMD window, type the following command and hit Enter:
net user administrator /active:yes
Login to the new administrator account and check if the issue remains.

Note: You can revert the operation by typing net user administrator /active: no in the CMD window.

3. Convert your account to an administrator account

Open the Settings app by pressing Windows + I, and go to the Accounts section.
Go to Family & other people and select your account. Choose Change account type.
Select Administrator and confirm your choice.
Now retry the reinstallation.

4. Disable User Account Control

Press Windows Key + S and type user account control, and select Change User Account Control settings from the list of results.
Move the slider down and click the OK button.

In conclusion, you should be able to fix You do not have sufficient privileges to install the program error using one of our solutions. However, you can share your experience with us by commenting below.

Fix: SanDisk Ultra USB 3.0 Flash Drive not Working

Posted on March 15, 2023October 4, 2023 by Milan Stanojevic

If you found this guide, chances are that your SanDisk Ultra USB 3.0 flash drive is not working. SanDisk Ultra USB 3.0 reduces the time you’ll spend waiting for files to be moved from the flash drive to your computer.

Its transfer speed of up to 130MB/s3 lets you relocate and store files up to ten times faster than USB 2.0 drives.

However, there were times when Windows 10 users reported the SanDisk Ultra USB 3.0 flash drive is not working. Unfortunately, checking for hidden icons won’t solve this problem.

Most commonly, even if the USB is plugged in and the light is on, there is no notification related to the device. In other words, SanDisk is not recognizable.

Fortunately, this article will ensure that you don’t need to worry again about the USB 3.0 flash drive not working issue on your PC.

Why is my SanDisk USB not showing up?

There are several reasons why your SanDisk USB drive may not show up on your computer. Here are some possible causes and solutions:

Drive letter conflict – Sometimes, a drive letter conflict can cause your SanDisk USB drive to not appear on your computer.
USB port issue – There may be an issue with your USB port.
Driver issue – Your SanDisk USB drive may need the correct drivers installed on your computer.
Faulty USB drive: If none of the above is the trigger, your SanDisk USB drive may be faulty.
Corrupt file system or partition – In some cases, the file system or partition on your SanDisk USB drive may become corrupted, causing it to not appear on your computer.

Let us now explore some great solutions.

What can I do if my SanDisk Ultra USB 3.0 flash drive is not working?

Before trying any of the solutions below, double-check that the port works. You may test with a different computer.

1. Use the plug-and-play services option

Press the Windows + R keyboard shortcut.
In the opened window, type services.msc and click on OK.
Scroll down to Plug and Play services and open it.
On the left side, click on Restart the service.
Wait until it is done, then restart your PC.

This option will restart your disk service. So, it enables your computer to recognize and adapt to hardware changes with little or no user input.

2. Remove SanDisk info from the registry

2.1 Backup the Registry Editor

Start by pressing the Windows + R keys.
Type regedit in the opened window and hit Enter.
From the Registry Editor menu, select File and then Export.
Name the file SNDK.reg and save it to your desktop.

The Registry Editor is perhaps the most critical database on Windows 10, hosting all the system settings your PC and apps use to run correctly.

2.2 Delete SanDisk info

Press Windows + R keys.
In the opened window, type regedit and hit Enter.
On the top menu, click on Edit and select Find.
In the pop-up window, type VID_0781 and click Find Next.
After the search, right-click on the highlighted registry key and select Delete.
Press the F3 key to find the following registry key that includes VID_0781.
Right-click the highlighted registry key and select Delete.
Repeat the same procedure until the search returns with No results Found.
After all your registry keys containing VID_0781 have been deleted, please reboot your computer and plug the device into it.

If your SanDisk Ultra USB 3.0 flash drive is not working, this Registry tweak should be a potent fix. This solution has helped users, especially when SanDisk Cruzer blade 16GBis not detected.

3. Uninstall and reinstall SanDisk USB

3.1 Uninstall

Search for Device Manager in Windows’ search and select Device Manager.
Expand the Disk drives section.
Right-click on your SanDisk device and select Uninstall device.

3.2 Reinstall

Reopen Device Manager.
On the top menu, select Action and click on Scan for hardware changes.
This would reload your SanDisk driver.

4. Use a disk partition software

Resolving the SanDisk Ultra USB 3.0 flash drive not working issue is far more efficient if you use disk partition software.

The most important aspect is that this app will simplify your PC disk partition management and make it safer.

Moreover, this will allow you to create, resize, move, merge, or split partitions without worrying about losing data.

Thus, there is no doubt that you should try using disk partition software to have more diversity and maximize your work efficiency.

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As an additional solution, we recommend you update your Windows to its latest version.

You can use many suggestions to fix the SanDisk Ultra USB 3.0 flash drive not working issue. Of course, during our article, were listed the best you can find.

Also, you can always check how to fix USB ports not working on Windows if you encounter similar problems with this device.

Because your opinion is important to us, feel free to share your thoughts regarding what solution worked in your case in the comment section below.

Could not Start Microsoft Bluetooth Stack: 5 Fixes to use

Posted on March 15, 2023September 30, 2025 by Tashreef Shareef

After restarting your Windows computer, you may be unable to start the Bluetooth stack service error due to the Bluetooth control driver malfunctioning. The message can also occur when connecting to another Bluetooth-enabled device.

Several users have reported similar errors in the Microsoft community forum:

I am aunable to transfer imajes via blue tooth to my laptop from my camera – failure reason- this transfer is forbidden by the target device.
I keep on getting BTTray – unable to start the bluetooth stack service after some time on the laptop.

If you are also troubled by this error, here are a couple of troubleshooting tips to help you resolve the unable to start the Bluetooth stack service error in Windows.

Why does Could not start Microsoft Bluetooth stack message appear?

The Could not start Microsoft Bluetooth stack error message typically appears on a Windows computer when there is a Bluetooth driver or service issue.

Here are some possible causes and solutions:

Bluetooth driver issues – The error message may indicate an issue with the Bluetooth driver on your computer.
Bluetooth service issues – The error message may indicate that the Bluetooth service is not running or has stopped.
Other software conflicts – Other software on your computer may conflict with the Bluetooth stack.

Once you know the cause, some of the fixes we explore below could be useful.

How can I fix the Unable to start Bluetooth Stack Service error?

1. Remove the WIDCOMM Bluetooth driver

Press Windows + I to open Settings, then go to Apps.
Click on Apps & features.
Search for the WIDCOMM Bluetooth driver from installed apps.
Click on the WIDCOMM Bluetooth driver and select Remove.
Click Yes to confirm the action.

The WIDCOMM Bluetooth driver by Broadcom in Dell laptops is a known cause of Bluetooth stack service errors. However, several users have reported that removing the driver did help them resolve the error in Windows.

2. Start Bluetooth Support Service

Press Windows Key + R to open Run, then type services.msc and hit Enter.
In the Services window, locate Bluetooth Support Service.
Right-click on Bluetooth Support Service and select Properties.
If the service is running, click Stop.
Click the drop-down menu for Startup Type: and select Automatic.
Click the Start button to start the service again.
Select Apply and OK to save the changes.

If the issue persists, even after restarting the Bluetooth Support Services, do the following:

Press Windows Key + R to open Run, then type services.msc and hit Enter.
In the Services window, locate all the services with Bluetooth in it.
Double-click on the services and click Stop. Make sure the Startup type is set to Automatic.
Click the Start button once again and click OK to save the changes.
Repeat the process with all the Bluetooth-related services.
Close Services and check if the error is resolved.

3. Disable Bttray from Startup

Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open the Task Manager.
In Task Manager, open the Startup tab.
Locate the Bttray or Bluetooth Tray option in the startup apps list.
Select Bttray and click on Disable. This will prevent the app from starting during startup.
Close Task Manager and check if the error is resolved.

4. Update the Bluetooth driver

Unable to start the Bluetooth stack service

Press Windows key + R to open Run, then type devmgmt.msc and hit Enter.
In Device Manager, expand the Bluetooth category, right-click on your computer’s Bluetooth device, and select Update Driver.
Select the Search automatically for drivers option.
Wait for Windows to download and install any pending updates for the Bluetooth device.
Once installed, reboot the computer and check if the unable to start the Bluetooth stack service error is resolved.

You can also try updating your Bluetooth driver automatically using reliable third-party software like Outbyte Driver Updater to find the latest versions from its comprehensive vault.

5. Install Windows updates

Press Windows + I to open the Settings app and click Update & Security.
Download all the pending Windows updates.
Reboot the computer and check for any improvements.

Updating your Windows OS can fix bugs and glitches with the previously installed drivers and other compatibility issues.

The inability to start the Bluetooth stack service error is common to Dell laptops due to the WIDCOMM Bluetooth driver being used to manage the Bluetooth function. However, the driver is known to cause the blue screen of death and other issues during startup.

If removing the WIDCOMM Bluetooth driver did not help, follow the other steps in this article to resolve the issue. If you solved the error using any other method, leave it in the comments, and we will try to update the article.

5 Ways to Fix FPS Drops & Stuttering on Naraka Bladepoint

Posted on March 15, 2023October 4, 2023 by Megan Moore

Naraka Bladepoint is a popular PvP action-adventure game created by 24 Entertainment. However, users have reported experiencing lags and FPS drops in Naraka Bladepoint. Keep reading to find a quick solution to this issue.

The popular battle royale style game is exclusively available across Xbox consoles and Windows devices. Users can purchase Naraka Bladepoint via Steam or the Epic Games Store.

Why is Naraka Bladepoint so laggy?

Here are a few reasons Naraka Bladepoint is laggy:

Unstable Internet connection: A common reason users face the problem is an unstable or slow Internet connection.
Slow Windows performance: If Windows itself is slow, Naraka Bladepoint is bound to be laggy as well.
PC does not meet the minimum game requirements: Whenever you run an app or a game, make sure your PC meets the minimum system requirements. Because if that isn’t the case, you may face performance issues.

Naraka Bladepoint system requirements. — *System Requirements for Naraka Bladepoint*

How do I show FPS in Naraka?

Open Steam and click on Steam to open the menu in the top left corner.
Select Settings.
Click on In-Game, then click on the dropdown menu below In-game FPS counter.
Choose where you would like the FPS counter to be displayed then click OK.

This is how to display the FPS counter if playing Naraka on Steam. If playing on another host client on a PC you can press Windows + G to display the Xbox Game Bar which will display an FPS counter.

How do I fix FPS drops in Naraka Bladepoint?

1. Close background programs

If you have other programs and apps running in the background while gaming, they may impact FPS and cause lagging in Naraka Bladepoint. Open Task Manager to see which programs are consuming a lot of memory and CPU and close them.

Use Task Manager to close background programs to fix fps drops in naraka bladepoint.

Even programs that do not consume a lot of memory might affect FPS performance, especially if you have multiple open. Disabling in-game overlays, like the Discord in-game overlay, will also greatly improve lags and stuttering.

2. Update drivers

Click on Start and search for Control Panel then hit Enter.
Select Hardware and Sound then open Device Manager.
Open the dropdown menu next to Display adapters.
Right-click on your graphics driver and select Update driver.
Select Search automatically for drivers.

Nvidia is constantly releasing updates for its graphics card drivers to optimize gameplay. Check for an update to fix FPS drops in Naraka Bladepoint.

3. Disable Xbox Game Bar

Click on Start and open Settings (or press Windows + I).
Select Gaming then select Xbox Game Bar.
Toggle Xbox Game Bar to Off.

Xbox Game Bar was created to help enhance gaming and updates in Windows, however, it has been reported to hinder AAA games and contribute to FPS drops. Users can also disable Game Mode if turning off the Xbox Game Bar doesn’t help improve FPS.

4. Adjust graphics card settings

Click on Start and search Nvidia Control Panel then hit Enter.
Under 3D Settings, select Manage 3D settings.
Under the Program Settings tab, click the dropdown menu under Select a program to customize and locate Naraka Bladepoint.
Make the following adjustments in the menu under Specify the settings for this program.
- Threaded optimization: On
- Texture filtering – Quality: Performance
- Power management mode: Prefer maximum performance

Adjusting your graphics card setting is a good way to prevent FPS drops and fix lagging. These settings can be adjusted more as needed.

5. Disable full-screen optimization and High DPI

Click on Start and search Naraka Bladepoint then select Open file location.
Right-click on Naraka Bladepoint .exe file and select Properties.
Navigate to the Compatibility tab, then check Disable fullscreen optimizations under Settings.
Select Change high DPI settings.
Under High DPI scaling override check the box next to Override high DPI scaling behavior.
Click OK, then Apply and OK.

High DPI scaling behavior refers to pixel density which is considered high if the display is set to over 96 DPI. However, this depends on your PC’s resolution and screen size.

Many CPU-demanding games like Naraka Bladepoint are affected by full-screen optimization, so disabling this feature may improve FPS. For more information on how to disable full-screen optimization in Windows 10, we offer a guide for that.

How can I increase my FPS in Naraka Bladepoint?

If the above solutions helped with FPS drops, but you still want to improve FPS performance, there are several things to try. Adjusting in-game graphic quality settings and lowering your resolution will help increase FPS.

Users can also configure their PC to prioritize GPU, which may also help improve FPS. For an in-depth guide on how to have the best FPS settings in Windows 11, we have solutions for that as well.

Hopefully, one of the above solutions helped you fix Naraka Bladepoint’s low FPS and lagging. Let us know in the comments below which solution worked for you or if you have another fix to suggest.

Microsoft addressed 74 CVEs through the 2023 March Patch Tuesday

Posted on March 15, 2023October 4, 2023 by Alexandru Poloboc

Spring is officially here, but not everything comes down to flowers and baby rabbits. There are those who eagerly await Microsoft’s Patch Tuesday rollout.

And, as you know, it’s the second Tuesday of the month, which means that Windows users are looking towards the tech giant in hopes that some of the flaws they’ve been struggling with will finally get fixed.

We have already taken the liberty of providing the direct download links for the cumulative updates released today for Windows 7, 8.1, 10, and 11, but now it’s time to talk CVEs again.

For March, Microsoft released 74 new patches, one less than last month, which is still more than some people were expecting for the third month of 2023.

These software updates address CVEs in:

Windows and Windows components
Office and Office Components
Exchange Server
.NET Core and Visual Studio Code
3D Builder and Print 3D
Microsoft Azure and Dynamics 365
Defender for IoT and the Malware Protection Engine
Microsoft Edge (Chromium-based)

You probably want to know more on the matter, so let’s dive right into it and see what all the fuss is about this month.

74 new patches released to fix serious security issues

Let’s just say that February was far from being a busy month for Microsoft, and still, they managed to release a total of 75 updates.

However, it seems that the situation isn’t getting any better, since the tech giant released only one less update this month, for a total of 74.

Please keep in mind that, out of all the patches released today, six are rated Critical, 67 are rated Important, and only one is rated Moderate in severity.

Furthermore, remember that this is one of the largest volumes we’ve seen from Microsoft for a March release in quite some time.

We have to say that it is a bit unusual to see half of the Patch Tuesday release address remote code execution (RCE) bugs.

It’s important to be aware that two of the new CVEs are listed as under active attack at the time of release with one of those also being listed as publicly known.

That being said, let’s take a closer look at some of the more interesting updates for this month, starting with the bugs under active attack.

CVE	Title	Severity	CVSS	Public	Exploited	Type
CVE-2023-23397	Microsoft Outlook Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability	Important	9.1	No	Yes	Spoofing
CVE-2023-24880	Windows SmartScreen Security Feature Bypass Vulnerability	Moderate	5.4	Yes	Yes	SFB
CVE-2023-23392	HTTP Protocol Stack Remote Code Execution Vulnerability	Critical	9.8	No	No	RCE
CVE-2023-23415	Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP) Remote Code Execution Vulnerability	Critical	9.8	No	No	RCE
CVE-2023-21708	Remote Procedure Call Runtime Remote Code Execution Vulnerability	Critical	9.8	No	No	RCE
CVE-2023-23416	Windows Cryptographic Services Remote Code Execution Vulnerability	Critical	8.4	No	No	RCE
CVE-2023-23411	Windows Hyper-V Denial of Service Vulnerability	Critical	6.5	No	No	DoS
CVE-2023-23404	Windows Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol Remote Code Execution Vulnerability	Critical	8.1	No	No	RCE
CVE-2023-1017 *	CERT/CC: TPM2.0 Module Library Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability	Critical	8.8	No	No	EoP
CVE-2023-1018 *	CERT/CC: TPM2.0 Module Library Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability	Critical	8.8	No	No	EoP
CVE-2023-23394	Client Server Run-Time Subsystem (CSRSS) Information Disclosure Vulnerability	Important	5.5	No	No	Info
CVE-2023-23409	Client Server Run-Time Subsystem (CSRSS) Information Disclosure Vulnerability	Important	5.5	No	No	Info
CVE-2023-22490 *	GitHub: CVE-2023-22490 Local clone-based data exfiltration with non-local transports	Important	5.5	No	No	Info
CVE-2023-22743 *	GitHub: CVE-2023-22743 Git for Windows Installer Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability	Important	7.2	No	No	EoP
CVE-2023-23618 *	GitHub: CVE-2023-23618 Git for Windows Remote Code Execution Vulnerability	Important	8.6	No	No	RCE
CVE-2023-23946 *	GitHub: CVE-2023-23946 Git path traversal vulnerability	Important	6.2	No	No	EoP
CVE-2023-23389	Microsoft Defender Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability	Important	6.3	No	No	EoP
CVE-2023-24892	Microsoft Edge (Chromium-based) Webview2 Spoofing Vulnerability	Important	7.1	No	No	Spoofing
CVE-2023-24919	Microsoft Dynamics 365 (on-premises) Cross-site Scripting Vulnerability	Important	5.4	No	No	XSS
CVE-2023-24879	Microsoft Dynamics 365 (on-premises) Cross-site Scripting Vulnerability	Important	5.4	No	No	XSS
CVE-2023-24920	Microsoft Dynamics 365 (on-premises) Cross-site Scripting Vulnerability	Important	5.4	No	No	XSS
CVE-2023-24891	Microsoft Dynamics 365 (on-premises) Cross-site Scripting Vulnerability	Important	5.4	No	No	XSS
CVE-2023-24921	Microsoft Dynamics 365 (on-premises) Cross-site Scripting Vulnerability	Important	4.1	No	No	XSS
CVE-2023-24922	Microsoft Dynamics 365 Information Disclosure Vulnerability	Important	6.5	No	No	Info
CVE-2023-23396	Microsoft Excel Denial of Service Vulnerability	Important	5.5	No	No	DoS
CVE-2023-23399	Microsoft Excel Remote Code Execution Vulnerability	Important	7.8	No	No	RCE
CVE-2023-23398	Microsoft Excel Security Feature Bypass Vulnerability	Important	7.1	No	No	SFB
CVE-2023-24923	Microsoft OneDrive for Android Information Disclosure Vulnerability	Important	5.5	No	No	Info
CVE-2023-24882	Microsoft OneDrive for Android Information Disclosure Vulnerability	Important	5.5	No	No	Info
CVE-2023-24890	Microsoft OneDrive for iOS Security Feature Bypass Vulnerability	Important	4.3	No	No	SFB
CVE-2023-24930	Microsoft OneDrive for MacOS Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability	Important	7.8	No	No	EoP
CVE-2023-24864	Microsoft PostScript and PCL6 Class Printer Driver Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability	Important	8.8	No	No	EoP
CVE-2023-24856	Microsoft PostScript and PCL6 Class Printer Driver Information Disclosure Vulnerability	Important	6.5	No	No	Info
CVE-2023-24857	Microsoft PostScript and PCL6 Class Printer Driver Information Disclosure Vulnerability	Important	6.5	No	No	Info
CVE-2023-24858	Microsoft PostScript and PCL6 Class Printer Driver Information Disclosure Vulnerability	Important	6.5	No	No	Info
CVE-2023-24863	Microsoft PostScript and PCL6 Class Printer Driver Information Disclosure Vulnerability	Important	6.5	No	No	Info
CVE-2023-24865	Microsoft PostScript and PCL6 Class Printer Driver Information Disclosure Vulnerability	Important	6.5	No	No	Info
CVE-2023-24866	Microsoft PostScript and PCL6 Class Printer Driver Information Disclosure Vulnerability	Important	6.5	No	No	Info
CVE-2023-24906	Microsoft PostScript and PCL6 Class Printer Driver Information Disclosure Vulnerability	Important	6.5	No	No	Info
CVE-2023-24870	Microsoft PostScript and PCL6 Class Printer Driver Information Disclosure Vulnerability	Important	6.5	No	No	Info
CVE-2023-24911	Microsoft PostScript and PCL6 Class Printer Driver Information Disclosure Vulnerability	Important	6.5	No	No	Info
CVE-2023-23403	Microsoft PostScript and PCL6 Class Printer Driver Remote Code Execution Vulnerability	Important	8.8	No	No	RCE
CVE-2023-23406	Microsoft PostScript and PCL6 Class Printer Driver Remote Code Execution Vulnerability	Important	8.8	No	No	RCE
CVE-2023-23413	Microsoft PostScript and PCL6 Class Printer Driver Remote Code Execution Vulnerability	Important	8.8	No	No	RCE
CVE-2023-24867	Microsoft PostScript and PCL6 Class Printer Driver Remote Code Execution Vulnerability	Important	8.8	No	No	RCE
CVE-2023-24907	Microsoft PostScript and PCL6 Class Printer Driver Remote Code Execution Vulnerability	Important	8.8	No	No	RCE
CVE-2023-24868	Microsoft PostScript and PCL6 Class Printer Driver Remote Code Execution Vulnerability	Important	8.8	No	No	RCE
CVE-2023-24909	Microsoft PostScript and PCL6 Class Printer Driver Remote Code Execution Vulnerability	Important	8.8	No	No	RCE
CVE-2023-24872	Microsoft PostScript and PCL6 Class Printer Driver Remote Code Execution Vulnerability	Important	8.8	No	No	RCE
CVE-2023-24913	Microsoft PostScript and PCL6 Class Printer Driver Remote Code Execution Vulnerability	Important	8.8	No	No	RCE
CVE-2023-24876	Microsoft PostScript and PCL6 Class Printer Driver Remote Code Execution Vulnerability	Important	8.8	No	No	RCE
CVE-2023-23391	Office for Android Spoofing Vulnerability	Important	5.5	No	No	Spoofing
CVE-2023-23405	Remote Procedure Call Runtime Remote Code Execution Vulnerability	Important	8.1	No	No	RCE
CVE-2023-24908	Remote Procedure Call Runtime Remote Code Execution Vulnerability	Important	8.1	No	No	RCE
CVE-2023-24869	Remote Procedure Call Runtime Remote Code Execution Vulnerability	Important	8.1	No	No	RCE
CVE-2023-23383	Service Fabric Explorer Spoofing Vulnerability	Important	8.2	No	No	Spoofing
CVE-2023-23395	SharePoint Open Redirect Vulnerability	Important	3.1	No	No	Spoofing
CVE-2023-23412	Windows Accounts Picture Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability	Important	7.8	No	No	EoP
CVE-2023-23388	Windows Bluetooth Driver Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability	Important	8.8	No	No	EoP
CVE-2023-24871	Windows Bluetooth Service Remote Code Execution Vulnerability	Important	8.8	No	No	RCE
CVE-2023-23393	Windows BrokerInfrastructure Service Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability	Important	7	No	No	EoP
CVE-2023-23400	Windows DNS Server Remote Code Execution Vulnerability	Important	7.2	No	No	RCE
CVE-2023-24910	Windows Graphics Component Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability	Important	7.8	No	No	EoP
CVE-2023-24861	Windows Graphics Component Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability	Important	7	No	No	EoP
CVE-2023-23410	Windows HTTP.sys Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability	Important	7.8	No	No	EoP
CVE-2023-24859	Windows Internet Key Exchange (IKE) Extension Denial of Service Vulnerability	Important	7.5	No	No	DoS
CVE-2023-23420	Windows Kernel Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability	Important	7.8	No	No	EoP
CVE-2023-23421	Windows Kernel Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability	Important	7.8	No	No	EoP
CVE-2023-23422	Windows Kernel Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability	Important	7.8	No	No	EoP
CVE-2023-23423	Windows Kernel Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability	Important	7.8	No	No	EoP
CVE-2023-23401	Windows Media Remote Code Execution Vulnerability	Important	7.8	No	No	RCE
CVE-2023-23402	Windows Media Remote Code Execution Vulnerability	Important	7.8	No	No	RCE
CVE-2023-23417	Windows Partition Management Driver Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability	Important	7.8	No	No	EoP
CVE-2023-23385	Windows Point-to-Point Protocol over Ethernet (PPPoE) Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability	Important	7	No	No	EoP
CVE-2023-23407	Windows Point-to-Point Protocol over Ethernet (PPPoE) Remote Code Execution Vulnerability	Important	7.1	No	No	RCE
CVE-2023-23414	Windows Point-to-Point Protocol over Ethernet (PPPoE) Remote Code Execution Vulnerability	Important	7.1	No	No	RCE
CVE-2023-23418	Windows Resilient File System (ReFS) Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability	Important	7.8	No	No	EoP
CVE-2023-23419	Windows Resilient File System (ReFS) Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability	Important	7.8	No	No	EoP
CVE-2023-24862	Windows Secure Channel Denial of Service Vulnerability	Important	5.5	No	No	DoS
CVE-2023-23408	Azure Apache Ambari Spoofing Vulnerability	Important	4.5	No	No	Spoofing

Let’s look at CVE-2023-23397 for one second. Even though technically a spoofing bug, experts consider the result of this vulnerability to be an authentication bypass.

Thus, it allows a remote, unauthenticated attacker to access a user’s Net-NTLMv2 hash just by sending a specially crafted e-mail to an affected system.

CVE-2023-23392 could actually allow a remote, unauthenticated attacker to execute code at system level without user interaction.

Know that combination makes this bug wormable, at least through systems that meet the target requirements, and the target system needs to have HTTP/3 enabled and set to use buffered I/O.

There’s a CVSS 9.8 bug in RPC Runtime that also has some wormable potential. That being said, unlike ICMP, it is a good idea to block RPC traffic (specifically TCP port 135) at the perimeter.

Also, there’s a fair amount of Elevation of Privilege (EoP) bugs receiving patches this month, and the majority of these require the attacker to execute their code on a target to escalate privileges.

Moving on to the information disclosure vulnerabilities receiving patches this month, the vast majority simply result in info leaks consisting of unspecified memory contents.

However, there are a couple of exceptions. The bug in Microsoft Dynamics 365 could leak a verbose error message that attackers could use to create malicious payloads.

And, the two bugs in OneDrive for Android could leak certain Android/local URIs that OneDrive can access.

Once again, you will most likely need to get this patch from the Google Play store if you haven’t configured automatic app updates.

We have to point out that there are three additional DoS fixes released this month. There’s no additional info about the patches for Windows Secure Channel or the Internet Key Exchange (IKE) Extension.

On that note, we can expect a successful exploit of these bugs to interfere with authentication processes, so make sure you keep that in mind at all times.

Feel free to check each individual CVE and find out more about what it means, how it manifests, and what scenarios can malicious third parties use to exploit them.

Have you found any other issues after installing this month’s security updates? Share your experience with us in the comments section below.

Satya Nadella reelected as Chairman of Microsoft’s Board of Directors

Posted on March 15, 2023 by Kareem Anderson

After a round of voting, Microsoft’s Board reelects CEO Satya Nadella as Chairman, fills the Lead Independent Director Chair left open by John W. Thompson, as well as announcing new quarterly dividends for shareholders.

Yesterday, Microsoft announced that its Independent Directors had reelected company CEO Satya Nadella as Board Chairman, as well as filling former Chair of the Governance and Nominating Committee John Thompson’s position with Operating Partner at Clayton, Dubilier & Rice, Sandra E. (Sandi) Peterson.

John Thompson, while stepping down, will remain a member of the Governance and Nominating Committee.

Microsoft also announced the appointment of Carlos A. Rodriguez to the Compensation Committee, where he will serve as chair of the committee.

A full breakdown of Microsoft Board is as follows:

The Microsoft Board consists of 12 members: Sandra E. Peterson, Lead Independent Director, Microsoft Corporation; Reid G. Hoffman, General Partner, Greylock Partners; Hugh F. Johnston, Vice Chairman and Chief Financial Officer, PepsiCo, Inc.; Teri L. List, former Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Gap, Inc.; Satya Nadella, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Microsoft Corporation; Penny S. Pritzker, Founder and Chairman, PSP Partners; Carlos A. Rodriguez, Executive Chair, ADP, Inc.; Charles W. Scharf, Chief Executive Officer and President, Wells Fargo & Company; John W. Stanton, Chairman, Trilogy Partnerships; John W. Thompson, Partner, Lightspeed Venture Partners; Emma N. Walmsley, Chief Executive Officer, GSK; and Padmasree Warrior, Founder, President & CEO, Fable Group Inc.

The last bit of news coming out of the election process includes an announcement from the company that starting June 8, 2023, quarterly dividends of $0.68 a share will be payable to shareholders, and shareholders of record could receive the advance as soon as May 18, 2023.

Bootrec /Fixboot Access is Denied: 3 Quick Ways to Fix it

Posted on March 15, 2023October 4, 2023 by Madalina Dinita

Bootrec /Fixboot is a feature that allows you to fix serious issues in Windows that can sometimes result in Bluescreens of Death.

However, this feature can have its own set of issues, such as one where you are not allowed to access it.
If you are getting an error message stating that Bootrec /Fixboot access is denied, then all you need to do is carry on reading this step-by-step article we have written just for you.

Note: Before attempting any of the steps mentioned below, you should create a backup of your data just in case.

If you are looking for a tool that will make that process much more easier, check out this detailed guide.

How do I fix the Bootrec /Fixboot access issue?

1. Bootrec /Fixboot access is denied on GPT Drive

Note: These steps only work on GPT drives.

1.1 Create a bootable USB drive using the Windows Media Creation Tool

Download the Windows Media Creation Tool
Insert a USB Flash drive with at least 8 GB of free space on your PC
Run the Windows Media Creation Tool
Select Create installation media (USB flash drive, DVD, or ISO file) for another PC
Click Next
Select Use the recommended options for this PC
Select USB flash drive
Click Next
Select your flash drive
Click Next
Follow the on-screen instruction until the process is complete

1.2 Use the USB drive to format the system partition

Reboot the PC and use the USB drive to boot from it
Launch the PC, and when the Windows screen appears, select Repair your computer
Select Troubleshoot
Choose Advanced Options
Select Command Prompt
Select diskpart and press Enter
Type in list disk, and press Enter
Find the boot disk, and then type in select disk 0
- This varies whether or not your boot disk is labeled disk 0
Type list volume and press Enter
Pay attention to the volume number of the EFI partition
Type select volume N and press Enter
- This depends on your volume number
Type assign letter=N: and press Enter
- N can be replaced with any drive letter your prefer
- Remember the letter you’ve chosen for later steps
Type Exit and press Enter
- This will make you leave diskpart
Type N:
- This depends on the drive letter you chose
Type format N: /FS:FAT32 and press Enter
Type bcdboot C:windows /s N: /f UEFI and press Enter

2. Run CHKDSK

Reboot the PC and use the USB drive to boot from it
Launch the PC, and when the Windows screen appears, select Repair your computer
Select Troubleshoot
Choose Advanced Options
Select Command Prompt
Type chkdsk c: /r and press Enter
- This applies only if your Windows is installed on the C drive
Allow the process to reboot

3. Reinstall Windows

If none of the steps listed above work, then your ultimate solution is to simply reinstall Windows from scratch.

By following these steps, you will be able to solve any issues you may have with Bootrec /Fixboot, including the one where it says that it is missing.

If you know any other ways of fixing the missing Bootrec /Fixboot issue, leave us a message in the comment section below.

Java Error Code 1603: 6 Easy Solutions That Can Help

Posted on March 15, 2023October 1, 2025 by Matthew Adams

Java plays a vital role on the PC due to several apps relying on it for effective functioning. But when installing or updating Java, many reported getting Error Code 1603.

The message reads, Java update/install did not complete, depending on the operation. Problems with it are common, with many unable to run the Java update installer error. But for now, let’s focus on the Java install did not complete Error code 1603 – Windows 10.

What is Java error code 1603 when installing?

Error code 1603 is a fatal error encountered during installation on the PC. It causes the process to terminate abruptly and can be encountered for several reasons. In the case of Java, here’s why you might get the error:

Java already installed: The most common reason behind Java install exit code 1603 is that the version is already installed on the PC.
A background program is using Java: If a background program uses Java, you may get Error code 1603 while installing it.
Third-party apps creating conflicts: If you have a third-party antivirus installed, it could be identifying Java as malware or PUP (Potentially Unwanted Program) and terminating the installation.

How can I fix Java error code 1603?

Before we head to the slightly complex solutions, try these quick tricks and tips:

Restart the computer and again try installing Java.
Verify whether the version of Java matches the Windows architecture, i.e., 32-bit Java on the 32-bit version of Windows and 64-bit Java on the 64-bit version of Windows.
Run the Java installer with administrative privileges.
For those using LogMeIn or other software for remote access, disable it, and verify whether the Java Error code 1603 is fixed. Though you can enable remote desktop with RDP, it wouldn’t throw the error.
Make sure the drive you are installing it on is not encrypted.
Disable any antivirus installed on the PC and check whether the Java Error code 1603 is resolved. If so, we recommend you switch to a reliable and Windows-friendly antivirus.
Try installing a previous version of Java in case there are compatibility issues with the latest one.

If these don’t work, move to the fixes listed next.

1. Terminate conflicting processes

Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager, and navigate to the Details tab.
Right-click on the conflicting process, and select End task.
Click on End process in the confirmation prompt.
Similarly, disable other conflicting processes as well.

When you get the Java Error code 1603, the installer usually lists the programs using Java in the background. Terminating them and then restarting the installation should get things running.

2. Reinstall the graphics driver

Press Windows + X to open the Power User menu, and select Device Manager.
Expand the Display adapters entry, right-click on the graphics adapter, and select Uninstall device.
Tick the checkbox for Attempt to remove the driver for this device, and then click Uninstall.
Once done, restart the computer, and Windows will automatically install the best available driver.

When getting Java install did not complete Error code 1603 – Windows 10, users reported that reinstalling the graphics driver did the trick. Also, this will work in the case of Java error code 1603 in Windows 7.

2. Use the offline installer

Go to the official website, and click Download Java to get the offline version.
After downloading, run the setup, and click Yes in the UAC prompt.
Now, follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation process.

If you get the Java Error code 1603 on the regular installer, try using the offline one, and verify whether the Java installation error persists.

3. Uninstall the previous Java version first

Download CCleaner Professional for Windows 10.
Open the setup wizard, and follow the on-screen instructions to install the software.
In CCleaner, go to Tools from the navigation pane, select Java from the list of programs, and click on Uninstall.
Choose the appropriate response if a confirmation prompt appears.
Once done, restart the computer for the changes to come into effect, and then run the installer you downloaded earlier.

If you are getting Java install error: Expected or Error code 1603, remove the current version using a reliable Java uninstall tool that will not just remove it but also delete the associated files and Registry entries.

4. Modify Java security settings

Press Windows + R to open Run, type control panel, and hit Enter.
Click on the View by dropdown menu, and choose Small icons.
Click on the Java entry.
Navigate to the Security tab, untick the checkbox for Enable Java content for browser and Web Start applications, and click OK to save the changes.
Restart the computer, then launch the installer again, and it should now run without throwing an error.
Finally, head back to the Java security settings, and tick the checkbox for Enable Java content for browser and Web Start applications.

5. Change the destination folder

Run the Java installer, tick the checkbox for Change destination folder, and click Install.
Now, manually create the same path listed here.
Once done, click on Change.
Navigate the path you created earlier, and click OK to select it.
Click Next to start the installation.

This workaround was shared by a user who encountered the Java Error code 1603 and seemed to work for others.

By now, you should have gotten the error fixed and Java up and running on the PC. Before you leave, discover some quick tips to speed up Windows 10 and make it faster than ever.

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

7 Ways to Fix the Tcpip.sys Blue Screen of Death on Windows 11

Posted on March 15, 2023October 24, 2025 by Madhuparna Roy

Many users have been complaining about a Tcpip.sys BSoD error on their Windows 11 PC when they try to create a hotspot through a VPN connection.

As soon as you connect your other devices to this mobile connection, your PC crashes and reboots with the error message: STOP code: IRQL_UNEXPECTED _VALUE.

What causes the Tcpip.sys BSoD error on Windows 11?

Some of the reasons why you may bump into the Tcpip.sys BSoD error on your Windows 11 PC include:

An issue with a Windows update – Sometimes, a certain Windows update can be the culprit and cause the tcpip.sys error on boot.
A problematic software or service – It could be possible that certain software or a service is causing the issue.
Outdated/corrupted network drivers – One of the major reasons you may notice Black of Screen of Death is corrupted drivers.
A problem with the network adapter – Chances are that you encounter the BSoD error due to a fault in the ethernet or the Wi-Fi adapter.
Improper driver behavior – This means that there could be illegal function calls or actions that might corrupt the system.

Fortunately, we have some solutions to help you fix the dreaded Tcpip.sys BSoD error when trying to switch on your Windows 11 PC.

How do I fix Tcpip sys?

Before you proceed with the below solutions, make sure to apply these steps:

If using a PnP card, place it in a different PCI slot.
When you install Windows 11 next time, as it reaches 60%, unplug your Ethernet cable or the LAN/CAT5/6 cable and see what happens.
If you are upgrading to Windows 11 using an ISO that is leaked, remove the LAN cable for the PC/Laptop or pull out the card from the PC if using the PnP or the PCI card.

However, if all of the above methods don’t help, you may follow the below methods to fix the BSoD error.

1. Uninstall the recent Windows Update

Press the Win + I keys simultaneously to launch the Run console, type appwiz.cpl, and hit Enter.
In the Programs and Features window in the Control Panel, click on View installed updates on the left.
Now, on the right, under Uninstall an update, right-click on the problem update and click on Uninstall.

Once you have uninstalled the update on your Windows 11, restart your PC and check if you still encounter the BSoD (Black Screen of Death) error.

2. Update/rollback the Ethernet/wifi drivers

2.1 Update ethernet/wifi drivers

Open the Run console by pressing the Win + R keys together, type devmgmt.msc, and hit Enter.
Now, in the Device Manager, expand the Network adapters section, right-click on one of the WAN Miniport, and select Update driver.
Next, select Search automatically for drivers and let Windows look up the latest version. Once found, it will automatically install the driver.

Repeat this for all the other WAN Miniports. Once done, restart your PC and the Tcpip.sys BSoD error on Windows 11 should be resolved.

If you want to try a simpler method, you can use an automated program like Outbyte Driver Updater to scan your device for outdated or problematic drivers and instantly update them with the most recent versions from its database.

2.2 Rollback ethernet/wifi drivers

To launch the Run console, press the Win + R keys shortcut keys, type in devmgmt.msc, and hit Enter.
Expand Network adapters, right-click on one of the WAN Miniport, and select Properties.
In the Properties dialog, go to the Driver tab, and click on Roll Back Driver. Repeat this for all the WAN Miniports.

Once you have rolled back the driver update, reboot your PC and check if the Blue Screen of Death error still persists.

3. Run the network adapter troubleshooter

Press the Win + I keys together to launch Windows Settings, click on System on the left, and then click on Troubleshoot.
On the next page, click on Other trouble-shooters.
Next, under Other, go to Network Adapter, and click on Run.
The troubleshooter will now check for any issues, and if any are found, will fix them automatically.

After the Windows troubleshooter has fixed the issue, restart your PC and you should not see the blue screen of death anymore.

4. Reset TCP/IP

Press the Win + R keys at the same time to launch the Run console. Type cmd in the search bar, and press the Ctrl + Shift + Enter keys simultaneously.
This will open the elevated Command Prompt. Now, run the below command and hit Enter: netsh int ip reset
As you see the success message, restart your PC.

You have now successfully reset TCP/IP, which should help you fix the BSoD error on Windows 11.

5. Run the driver verifier tool

Open the Run console by pressing the Win + R keys together, type in cmd and press the Ctrl + Shift + Enter keys simultaneously.
In the Command Prompt (Admin) window, run the below command and hit Enter: verifier
This will open the Driver Verifier Manager. Here, select Create standard settings and press Next.
You can also select Create custom settings to select from predefined settings, or to select individual options.
If you chose Select driver names from a list, select Next, and then select one or more specific drivers.
Next, go to Select drivers to verify, select one of the selection schemes described in the official Microsoft link here, and click on Finish.

Now, restart your PC, and once it starts, check if you still see the blue screen of death error.

6. Uninstall any problematic software

Press the Win + R hotkey, and the Run console will open. Here, type appwiz.cpl and hit Enter to open the Programs and Features window in the Control Panel.
On the right, under Uninstall or change a program, right-click on the problem app and select Uninstall.
Once the app is uninstalled completely, restart your PC.

Now that you have uninstalled the app or program, check if your PC boots up without showing the Tcpip.sys BSoD error or it still appears.

7. Perform a clean boot

To open the Run console, press the Win + R keys together, type msconfig, and hit Enter to open the System Configuration window.
Now, select the Services tab, check the box next to Hide all Microsoft services, and then select Disable all. Press Apply.
Next, go to the Startup tab and click on Open Task Manager.
Next, in the Task Manager, under the Startup tab, select all items except one and click on Disable.
Now, close the Task Manager, press OK in the System Configuration window, and close it too.
Restart your PC in a clean boot environment. If the issue is resolved, it means the one enabled item was causing the issue, and hence, you can remove it from your system.
If the issue still persists, then repeat steps 1 to 5 for all other startup services and troubleshoot accordingly.

Can RAM cause blue screen?

The RAM is one of the most likely factors to trigger a blue screen in Windows. Problems with a single module could cause BSOD errors and even lead to programs crashing. Experts recommend using Memtest86+, an open-source tool, to identify and fix issues with the RAM.

To identify if the RAM is causing the blue screen, you will have to observe what triggers it. If the BSOD appears after launching a specific program or app, that’s probably the culprit. But, if the PC’s performance is affected, and you experience random BSODs, the RAM could be to blame.

Can Windows 11 cause BSoD?

After installing the Insider build version of the Windows 11 OS in the beginning, many users have been facing different issues, including the BSoD error.

With the launch of Windows 11, Microsoft renamed it the Black Screen of Death instead of the usual Blue Screen of Death.

However, Microsoft soon changed the screen color to blue when the PC fails to boot up or when there’s a stop error, as in previous versions of Windows.

The Black Screen of Death error message may usually appear after connecting a new piece of hardware like a USB drive, graphics adapter, etc.

In some cases, you may also encounter TCPIP.sys BSoD error on Windows 11 due to a third-party antivirus, and hence, disabling the software could help fix the issue. Moreover, you can learn how to deal with a similar error, DIRTY_NOWRITE_PAGES_CONGESTION.

However, if you encounter any other Black Screen of Death on your PC, let us know in the comments box below.

Microsoft introduces Azure Firewall Basic

Posted on March 15, 2023 by Radu Tyrsina

Microsoft has officially launched Azure Firewall Basic, a new SKU, designed specifically for small and medium-sized businesses. Since its public preview, it has been met with widespread adoption, with users citing its ease of use and simple setup as top benefits.

Microsoft suggests that customers who intend to use traditional hub-and-spoke network topology with a Firewall on the hub should deploy Azure Firewall in a virtual network. Conversely, customers with large or global network deployments in Azure that require global transit connectivity across Azure regions and premises should opt to deploy Azure Firewall on a virtual hub.

Furthermore, Azure Firewall Basic is super easy to set up, giving you Layer 3–Layer 7 filtering and malicious traffic alerts. It has built-in threat intelligence from Microsoft, so you can trust that you’re safe from any digital shenanigans. Deployment isn’t a problem either – with a few clicks, you’ll be good to go. It’s a cloud-native service that integrates smoothly with other Azure services like Firewall Manager, Azure Monitor, Events Hub, Microsoft Sentinel, and Microsoft Defender for extra protection.

Azure Firewall Basic allows teams to utilize Infrastructure as Code (IaC) by providing native support for configuration via declarative ARM templates. Additionally, popular third-party platforms like Terraform also support IaC for automated deployment. Security across an entire organization can be consistently maintained thanks to Azure Firewall Manager, which provides centralized control over multiple instances and policies.

Furthermore, it is continuously updated with the latest threat intelligence and security updates to make sure it is always secure from potential threats.

Azure Firewall offers three SKUs designed to fit a wide range of customer needs, each optimized for their use cases. For customers requiring the security of highly sensitive applications, such as payment processing, Azure Firewall Premium is recommended. This SKU provides all features of the Azure Firewall Standard, plus the added benefit of advanced threat protection capabilities, such as malware and TLS inspection.

For corporate clients needing to manage peak traffic levels up to 30 Gbps, Azure Firewall Standard is the recommended SKU with enterprise features such as threat intelligence, DNS proxy, custom DNS and web categories. Lastly, Basic is geared towards small business customers who don’t need high throughput speeds of more than 250 Mbps

Xbox Error When Redeeming Codes? 5 Easy Fixes for It

Posted on March 15, 2023October 4, 2025 by Milan Stanojevic

Xbox is one of the most popular gaming platforms, with millions of users worldwide glued to it playing their favorite titles. But, it’s still prone to issues, and Xbox error when redeeming codes seems to affect users the most.

The problem can be encountered both on the console and on Windows. For some users, Xbox freezes when redeeming the code, while others reported that the Xbox gift card code was damaged. Don’t worry! We have got you covered.

Why can’t I redeem an Xbox code?

Here are a few reasons you can’t redeem the Xbox Game Pass code and other ones:

Region-specific restrictions: In most cases, it’s a region-specific restriction to blame if you get an error when redeeming an Xbox code. Certain codes can only be redeemed in specific countries, so make sure to check that.
Trying to redeem an incompatible code: Some codes may be redeemable only with game publishers and not Xbox, and when you try, it will throw an error instead.
Server issues: Oftentimes, it’s a server issue that causes the error. The message usually reads, Something happended at our end when you redeem an Xbox code.
Account suspended: Codes cannot be redeemed on suspended accounts or if you have a due balance, and it may throw the 801650C8 error. Make sure to clear any dues and get the suspension revoked before you proceed.

How do I fix the Xbox error when redeeming a code?

Before we head to the slightly complex solutions, here are a few quick ones to try:

When the Xbox redeem code is stuck on confirm, restart the device, be it a PC or the Xbox console.
Ensure the code is valid and hasn’t expired yet, and that you are typing it correctly. Several users found that re-entering the code a few times does the trick. Simply remove one or more characters, retype them, and try again.
Check the Xbox Status using the official Xbox Live Status page. In case it’s down, wait for the service to be up again before you redeem the code.
Download the Xbox app from App Store on iOS or the Play Store on Android if you get an Xbox error when redeeming the code, and then try again on it.
Make sure the code was purchased in the same region that you are currently based in.
Verify whether your account has been suspended or there is a due balance.
If you cannot redeem an Xbox Game Pass code for a free trial and get an error, remember, you can’t do that if you were previously subscribed to Xbox Game Pass or Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.
Some promo codes need to be activated by the retailer to be redeemed. So, check that.

If none do the trick, move to the fixes listed next.

1. Use the Xbox Windows app

Open the Xbox app on Windows, click on the profile icon, and select Settings. If you don’t have it, download the Xbox app from Microsoft Store.
In the Account tab, click the Redeem button under Redeem a code.
Make sure the location displayed is correct, enter the code in the text field, and click on Next to proceed.
Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the process.

The easiest way out is to redeem Xbox Code on the app. It’s quick and seamless, and the chances of encountering an error are extremely low.

For a complete walkthrough on console, web, and mobile, check this step by step guide on how to redeem a code on Xbox.

2. Redeem the Xbox code on Microsoft Store

Press Windows + S to open Search, type Microsoft Store, and click on the relevant search result.
Click on the profile icon near the top right, and select Redeem code or gift cards.
Enter the code in the text field, then click on Next proceed, and redeem it.

Microsoft Store offers another viable alternative if you get an Xbox error when redeeming a code. Besides, you can also redeem Xbox codes on Microsoft’s official website. This, too, did the trick for some.

3. Change the region on the console

Press the Xbox button on the controller, navigate to the gear icon, and select Settings.
Now, go to System and choose Language & location on the right.
Select Location, and choose your current one or where the code was purchased.
Once you have selected a new location, click on the Restart now button for the changes to come into effect.

Location issues are one of the most common reasons you get an error when redeeming an Xbox code. So, changing the location should work. Also, this will do the trick when the Xbox redeem code game is not showing.

4. Switch to another browser and try incognito mode

If you are trying to redeem the Xbox code from the website, it could be a browser-related problem or one due to a corrupt cache and cookies.

So, we recommend you switch to another browser, preferably Opera, owing to the built-in VPN, which could be used to change the location.

Also, you could try using the Private mode in Opera or the Incognito mode in Chrome to start a fresh session, and it might help in case of an Xbox error when redeeming the code.

5. Contact Xbox Support

In case nothing else works, you could also contact Xbox support. Simply head to the official website, sign in, choose your concern, and then go with the Live Chat option.

The executive on the other end may ask for the code and any other related information and should be able to provide a resolution soon. Many who could not resolve things with the previous fixes got in touch with the support and resolved the problem in no time.

Once done with the solutions here, you shouldn’t get an Xbox error when redeeming the code. Also, for those wondering how you fix This code cannot be redeemed from your country on Xbox; changing the region or using a VPN to match the selected region and current physical location should do.

Also, find out the most played titles on Xbox, and get the best ones today. As for errors, many experienced Xbox error code 80151912 recently, but we have a guide that addresses it.

For any queries or to share a solution not listed here, drop a comment below.

0xc00001 Error in Windows 10: How to Quickly Fix it

Posted on March 15, 2023March 20, 2024 by Milan Stanojevic

We’ve talked recently about issues that Windows 10 users are experiencing and provided a few ways to fix them.

One such example was the unresponsive Taskbar in which we mentioned that in some cases, Windows 10 is not allowing users to properly repair their computer by returning a 0xc00001 error.

Today we’re taking a look at how to resolve this Windows 10 problem.

Usually, the 0xc00001 error code stands for a missing file in the installation media of Windows 10. There is no need to worry about this problem, as it can be easily bypassed.

In some cases, this error is accompanied by BSOD (blue screen of death), but again, there is no need to worry, as it can be easily fixed.

In some cases, you will need a Windows 10 installation disk or USB flash drive in order for this fix to work.

If the following Windows 10 error is rendering your computer unusable:

Your PC needs to be repaired
The application or operating system couldn’t be loaded because a required file is missing or contains errors.
File: windowssystem32windload.efi
File:windowsSyse32windowsload.efi
Error code:0xc0000001

Then the following guide will give you some information about the error and the steps necessary to fix this issue.

How can I fix the Windows 10 error code 0xc00001?

Use a professional application
Create a recovery drive
Advanced startup
Copy the SAM File from the Repair Folder
Run the SFC scan
Check the hard drive
Run the DISM

1. Use a professional application

If you use a professional solution, this will fix the 0xc00001 error code in Windows 10. We recommend you use dedicated software that secures and repairs your operating system.

Your computer will benefit from the removal of any malware threats, you will be notified about dangerous websites, and this app will free up important disk space.

This kind of tool allows your computer to function at maximum performance while it also replaces any damaged Windows files.

2. Create a recovery drive

Open the Search box and search for Recovery drive.
Select Create Recovery Drive, and make sure your USB drive is plugged in.
Tick the Copy the recovery partition from the PC to the recovery drive checkbox.
Follow the wizard.

If you don’t have your Windows 10 install drive, you can easily create a new one on a USB drive from any Windows 10 computer.

More information on creating a system restore USB drive can be found in a help article.

3. Advanced startup

Now that you have your USB recovery drive installation media, you can move on to the next step. Plugin or insert your media and restart your computer.

When you see the Post BIOS message press the Shift and F8 keys to enter the Recovery mode. From here, select See advanced repair option. From here, select Troubleshoot and then go to Advanced options.

From here, you can proceed in one of two ways:

Method 1

Select Automatic Repair and let the install wizard take care of your issues by scanning the system files and replacing them.

This option will work for more errors, not just the 0xc00001error, so it’s good to take notice of it and keep it in mind when repairing Windows 10 computers.

Method 2

Select Command Prompt which will launch the all too familiar CMD. In the console, type in the following commands (keep in mind to press the Return key after each command):

Bootrec /fixmbr
Bootrec / fixboot
Bootrec / rebuildbcd
exit

Now restart your computer and see if the issue is resolved. This should take care of your issues, but if not, open the system in Recovery Mode again and perform another automatic repair.

4. Copy the SAM File from the Repair Folder

Insert your recovery drive and boot from it
Type in cmd in the search bar to open Command Prompt.
If prompted whether you want to overwrite the original file, confirm it (enter Y).

If you’re still unable to login to Windows, try copying the SAM file C:WINDOWSrepair to C:WINDOWSsystem32config

5. Run the SFC scan

Open the Command Prompt.
Enter the following line and press Enter: sfc/scannow
Wait for the process to finish (it’s a lengthy one).
Restart your computer.

The SFC scan is Microsoft’s built-in tool for resolving various problems in Windows. And it can be helpful when dealing with the 0xc00001 error, as well.

6. Check the hard drive

Insert your Windows installation USB or DVD drive.
Click Repair your computer, after selecting the proper language.
Select the drive you have Windows installed on (usually C:/), and click Next.
Choose Command Prompt when the System Recovery Options box appears.
Enter the following line and press Enter: chkdsk C: /f
Wait for the process to finish.

If something’s wrong with your hard drive, you may encounter the error code 0xc00001. So, we’re going to check if your hard drive is okay by following the above-shown steps.

7. Run the DISM

Insert your installation USB or DVD.
Type: DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth /Source:C:RepairSourceWindows /LimitAccess
Be sure to replace the path if your DVD or USB: C: \RepairSource\Windows

Similar to the SFC scan, DISM (Microsoft Windows Deployment Image Servicing and Management) is a built-in tool for dealing with various system errors in Windows.

However, DISM is more powerful than the SFC scan, which means your chances of resolving this problem are bigger with DISM.

You can easily run DISM even if you’re unable to boot your system. If you’re not sure how to do that, just follow these instructions.

This issue is quite similar to error code 0xc0000001 on Windows 11 that we covered recently, so don’t miss that guide for more solutions.

That’s about it for this article, we hope at least one of these solutions helped you deal with this annoying problem. If you have any comments, questions or suggestions, just let us know in the comments down below.

Screen Goes Black When Alt-Tab? How to Stop It

Posted on March 15, 2023October 6, 2025 by Claire Moraa

The Alt-Tab key is used on Windows computers to switch between open applications. It’s a handy keyboard shortcut, but it can sometimes cause problems. Sometimes, the screen goes black when you press the Alt-Tab key.

A common observation for users who reported this issue is that it happened while playing a game. Stay close as we explore some of the top resolutions users report.

Why does my screen go black when I Alt-Tab in Windows 11?

If your screen goes black when you press Alt-Tab keys, below are some possible triggers:

Incorrect display settings – If your monitor is not set with the best display settings, it may lead to a black screen issue on your Windows 11 PC.
Corrupt/outdated video driver – If you’re using an outdated video driver or there is some corruption in it, it can also cause this problem on your PC.
Wrong keyboard settings – If your keyboard settings have been changed or you’re using the wrong keyboard layout, it can cause this problem.
Too many programs – The more programs that are running, the longer it takes to cycle through them all and show them on your screen.
Wrong key combination – You may have accidentally pressed the wrong combination of keys on your keyboard.
Virus infection – Some malware or virus may be installed on your computer, causing this problem.
Old GPU – The GPU is responsible for displaying graphics on your screen. If it’s not powerful enough to handle high-resolution games or apps, then it can cause this issue.
Low memory – If your computer has low memory or RAM and needs more resources, it will temporarily suspend other apps running on the system while loading up another one, hence the black screen issue when pressing the Alt-Tab keys.
App conflicts – You may have installed an application with a hotkey that conflicts with your keystrokes.

How can I fix my screen if it goes black when I press Alt-Tab?

A few workarounds that may work before you attempt the technical solutions include:

Ensure that your power cable is connected properly and that there are no loose connections.
Try unplugging the keyboard and mouse from their USB ports and plugging them back in, preferably in different ports.
Unplug your HDMI and plug it back in. Also, try with another HDMI cable if available.
Close all unnecessary applications. The more programs you have open, the more memory they take, causing your computer to slow down significantly.
Using RAM cleaners, ensure your PC has enough RAM to run multiple programs simultaneously. You can always add more memory if that’s the issue.
Uninstall any programs that you’ve recently installed on your computer, and then try using Alt-Tab again.
Check that your operating system is up-to-date.
Refresh the video driver using the Windows Key + Shift + Ctrl + B shortcut.

1. Adjust your refresh rate

Press Windows + I to open Settings.
Click on System on the left pane, then select Display.
Navigate to Advanced display.
Next, Choose a refresh rate from the drop-down menu.

Your refresh rate is the number of times your display refreshes itself per second. The higher the refresh rate, the better the response rate for your screen. Keep in mind that higher refresh rates work better with powerful GPUs.

If your GPU is old, it may not be able to keep up with the speed and may give birth to more problems, such as screen tearing.

2. Change your graphic settings

Press Windows + I to open Settings.
Click on System on the left pane then select Display.
Under Related settings, click on Graphics.
Select the game/program in question from the list, and click on Options.
Now, choose High performance and click Save.

Note that if the screen goes black when you press Alt-Tab, it’s also possible that your system cannot handle the game’s graphics requirements. Instead of selecting high performance, you should let Windows decide.

3. Update your graphic drivers

Click the Windows button, type Device Manager in the search bar, and click Open.
Navigate to Display adapters to expand, right-click on your graphics card and select Update driver.
Select Search automatically for drivers.

There are many methods to update your graphic drivers manually, but some are too complicated for the average user. This is why we recommend using a dedicated method like Outbyte Driver Updater.

It automatically scans your computer for missing and outdated drivers, then downloads and installs these updates.

Outbyte Driver Updater

If you’re stressed about BSoD errors, update your graphics driver using this specialized tool.

Free Trial Download Now

Updating the graphics driver can also help you fix the Windows 10 Alt Tabbing issue; read this guide to learn about other solutions.

4. Run a virus scan

Press the Windows key, search Windows Security, and click Open.
Select Virus & threat protection.
Next, press Quick scan under Current threats.
If you don’t find any threats, proceed to perform a full scan by clicking on Scan options just below Quick scan.
Click on Full scan then Scan now to perform a deep scan of your PC.
Wait for the process to finish and restart your system.

A black screen on your Windows 11 is nothing strange, so you must be prepared whenever it occurs. If the issue is your graphics card and it can no longer perform optimally, we have an expert list of the best GPUs that guarantee an immersive experience.

You can also disable the Alt-Tab if the black screen occurs frequently.

That’s all we had for this article, but keep the conversation going in the comment section below. Let us know of other keyboard shortcuts that have caused issues with your monitor.

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

Posted on March 15, 2023October 4, 2023 by Madalina Dinita

Yes, you guessed it! The third round of the monthly Patch Tuesday updates of 2023 have arrived, and they bring an entire array of changes for both Windows 10 and Windows 11, regardless of whether it is a newer or an older version.

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

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

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

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

Changes included in the March 2003 Patch Tuesday Updates

Windows 11

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

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

You might also like to know that the 22H2 version of Windows 11, the operating system’s first major update, is out now and you can already install it.

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

Cumulative update name

KB5022836

[DIRECT DOWNLOAD LINK]

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

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

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

Cumulative update name

KB5023696

Improvements and fixes

This update implements phase three of Distributed Component Object Model (DCOM) hardening. See KB5004442. After you install this update, you cannot turn off the changes using the registry key.
This update addresses an issue that affects a computer account and Active Directory. When you reuse an existing computer account to join an Active Directory domain, joining fails. This occurs on devices that have installed Windows updates dated October 11, 2022 or later. The error message is, “Error 0xaac (2732): NERR_AccountReuseBlockedByPolicy: ‘An account with the same name exists in Active Directory. Re-using the account was blocked by security policy.’” For more information, see KB5020276.

Known issues

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

[DIRECT DOWNLOAD LINK]

Windows 10, version 1809

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

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

Cumulative update name

KB5023702

Improvements and fixes:

This update implements phase three of Distributed Component Object Model (DCOM) hardening. See KB5004442. After you install this update, you cannot turn off the changes using the registry key.
This update addresses an issue that affects the registry size. It grows very large. This occurs because the registry entries are not removed when users sign out of an Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD) environment that uses FSlogix.
This update affects the United Mexican States. This update supports the government’s daylight saving time change order for 2023.
This update addresses an issue that might affect lsass.exe. It might stop responding when it sends a Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) query to a domain controller that has a very large LDAP filter.
This update addresses an issue that affects the Local Security Authority Subsystem Service (LSASS). LSASS might stop responding. This occurs after you run Sysprep on a domain-joined machine.
This update addresses an issue that affects a computer account and Active Directory. When you reuse an existing computer account to join an Active Directory domain, joining fails. This occurs on devices that have installed Windows updates dated October 11, 2022 or later. The error message is, “Error 0xaac (2732): NERR_AccountReuseBlockedByPolicy: ‘An account with the same name exists in Active Directory. Re-using the account was blocked by security policy.’” For more information, see KB5020276.
This update addresses an issue that affects the Routing and Remote Access Service (RRAS). RRAS cannot accept any new incoming virtual private network (VPN) connections.
This update addresses an issue that affects Cluster Name Object of Failover Clustering on Azure virtual machines (VM). The issue stops you from repairing it.

Known Issues:

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

[DIRECT DOWNLOAD LINK]

Windows 10, version 1607

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

Cumulative update name

KB5023697

Improvements and fixes

This update implements phase three of Distributed Component Object Model (DCOM) hardening. See KB5004442. After you install this update, you cannot turn off the changes using the registry key.
This update affects the United Mexican States. This update supports the government’s daylight saving time change order for 2023.
This update addresses an issue that affects the Local Security Authority Subsystem Service (LSASS). LSASS might stop responding. This occurs after you run Sysprep on a domain-joined machine.
This update addresses an issue that affects a computer account and Active Directory. When you reuse an existing computer account to join an Active Directory domain, joining fails. This occurs on devices that have installed Windows updates dated October 11, 2022 or later. The error message is, “Error 0xaac (2732): NERR_AccountReuseBlockedByPolicy: ‘An account with the same name exists in Active Directory. Re-using the account was blocked by security policy.’” For more information, see KB5020276.

[DIRECT DOWNLOAD LINK]

This wraps up our brief overview of this month’s Patch Tuesday updates, and we hope that by reading the changelogs above, you will make a more informed decision regarding whether to update or not.

However, keep in mind that if you choose not to update for too long, you will risk exposing yourself to subsequent malware attacks that usually follow the Patch Tuesday updates, called Exploit Wednesday.

However, if you do prefer to wait out until Microsoft fixes the issues detected in this month’s updates, know that you can always choose to delay the Update notification that you get for up to 35 days.

All in all, it is important to remember that the Patch Tuesday updates are released for a reason, so installing them, eventually, is something that you should do.

Was this article helpful to you? Let us know in the comments section below.

Fix: There Was an Error Trying to Load Your Shopping Cart

Posted on March 15, 2023October 4, 2023 by Vlad Turiceanu

Steam is one of the most popular game launchers for PC. The website has an assortment of both free and paid games. While trying to purchase a game, the app is unable to load your shopping cart.

If you’re currently experiencing the unable to load shopping cart error in Steam, this article will provide you with the steps needed to resolve the error.

Why is there an error when loading Steam’s shopping cart?

There are a lot of reasons why you’re experiencing the unable to load shopping cart error in Steam; here are some of the most common causes:

Browser-related issues – If you’re accessing Steam directly from your PC’s browser, you might be unable to load your shopping cart if your browser has a bug or an underlying error.
Corrupt or outdated software – If your Steam client is corrupt or outdated, you will likely encounter a problem while using the application.
Server outages – If you cannot load your shopping cart while using Steam, the server is likely experiencing downtime, and that also affects the payment gateway.
Poor Internet connection – Sometimes, you’ll trigger an error when loading Steam’s shopping cart if you have a poor or unstable internet connection.

Now that we know why this error occurs, let’s apply the solutions below to fix the problem.

What can I do if Steam can’t load the shopping cart?

If you run into an error while loading the shopping cart on Steam, here are a few quick fixes:

Access Steam using a different browser.
Check the Steam server status. If the service is down wait a few minutes and try again.
Fix network congestion.
Close and restart the Steam client.

If those quick fixes couldn’t resolve the error, here are a couple of advanced troubleshooting steps you can attempt.

1. Clear your browser cache and cookies

Launch Chrome.
Navigate to the Settings tab, click on Privacy and security, and locate the option to Clear browsing data.
Click on the option to Clear cache and cookies and click the Clear Data button.
Wait for the process to complete, exit the Settings tab in your browser and try loading your shopping cart again.

Clearing your browser’s cache and cookies helps reset any configurations you might have set while accessing Steam’s website. After clearing the cache and cookies, you’ll access the website like a first-time user.

We have chosen Chrome as an example because it’s the most popular browser, but the procedure is mostly the same on other browsers.

2. Reset the Steam client

Press the Windows key + I to open the Settings app.
Click on Apps, and navigate to the Installed apps tab.
On the right pane, scroll till you locate the Steam client, select the More icon next to the app, and click on the Advanced option.
Click on Reset and click Reset in the mini popup menu.
Close the Settings app and relaunch the Steam client.

Applications can get corrupted due to forced shutdowns, viruses, malware, etc. Resetting the application helps you access the application in its default state.

3. Run Steam as administrator

From your desktop window, locate the Steam app, right-click, and select Properties.
Navigate to the Compatibility tab and click on the checkbox with the option to Run this program as an administrator.
Click the Apply button and close the window.
Relaunch the Steam client.

One of the best ways to help fix the There was an error trying to load your shopping cart code on Steam is to run the program with administrator permissions.

When you provide Steam with administrative privileges, it’ll have access to all the PC’s functionalities needed to resolve to run the program effectively.

If you’re experiencing problems while trying to load your shopping cart on Steam, with the solutions listed above, you should be able to complete your purchase without any further hitches.

Should none of the solutions above work, you’ll have to contact Steam’s customer service. They will provide a detailed explanation of the current problem and its cause.

For any other questions or suggestions, feel free to use the comments section below and let us know about them.

Checking Network Requirements: 4 Ways to Fix your Wi-Fi

Posted on March 15, 2023September 16, 2025 by Vladimir Popescu

Many users have had their computers get stuck showing the message Checking network requirements when trying to connect to their Wi-Fi network.

This issue can appear due to wireless adapter issues, but luckily, there are a couple of methods you can use to fix this issue.

For these reasons, in this guide, we will explore some of the best methods to apply to this situation. Please follow the steps presented in this list carefully to avoid any other issues.

Why is my Wi-Fi showing checking network requirements?

There are several causes for this issue, but the most common ones are the following:

Network glitches – Various issues can appear with your network connection, so be sure to troubleshoot it properly.
Driver issues – Driver incompatibility can cause this problem. To fix it, update the network drivers on your PC.
Antivirus and firewall problems – It’s possible for your antivirus to block Internet or Wi-Fi connection. If that happens, you need to change your settings.

What can I do if my PC is stuck on Checking network requirements?

1. Run the Network adapter troubleshooter

Press the Windows key + I to open the Settings app. After it opens, go to Update & Security.
From the left pane, pick Troubleshoot. Now select Additional troubleshooters.
Select Internet Connections and click on Run the troubleshooter.
Once the troubleshooter is finished, run the Incoming Connections and Network Adapter troubleshooters.

After running the troubleshooter the Checking network requirements can’t connect to this network message should be gone.

2. Update your network adapter driver

NOTE

To complete this step, connect to the Internet via an Ethernet cable.

Press the Windows key + X keys on your keyboard and select Device Manager.
Expand the Network adapters entry and locate the network adapter.
Right-click it and select Update driver.
Click on Search automatically for drivers.
Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation of your new driver.

Alternatively, you’ll need to download the necessary drivers manually from the manufacturer’s website. To do this, you can use an Ethernet connection or a different device.

If you’re using a different device, download the drivers and then transfer the setup file to your PC. You can download the drivers by following these steps:

We understand if this process seems twisted and tech-wise, so you have another choice that can update the network drivers fully automatically.

Outbyte Driver Updater is the right solution that will update or find network drivers on your PC in a short time.

⇒ Get Outbyte Driver Updater

Visit your wireless adapter manufacturer’s website.
Select your model on the list.
Go to the Driver section, locate the latest driver and click on Download.
Once the driver is downloaded, run the setup file to install it.

If WiFi is checking network requirements forever it’s rather likely that you’re dealing with driver issue, so be sure to update them.

3. Temporarily deactivate your antivirus and firewall protection

NOTE

These steps apply only if you’re using the default antivirus and firewall. If you’re using third-party security software, the steps will be different.

Press Windows key + S and enter windows security. Choose Windows Security from the list.
In the left pane, navigate to Virus & threat protection. In the right pane, click on Manage settings.
Disable all options.
Next, go to Firewall & network protection and choose the active connection.
Disable Windows Firewall.

After disabling the antivirus and firewall, check if the problem is still there. Keep in mind that disabling your protection comes with major security risks, so be sure to enable it as soon as you check for issues.

4. Run networking commands inside PowerShell

Press Windows key + X and choose Windows PowerShell (Admin) from the list.
Inside the PowerShell window – run these commands and press Enter after each of them:
netsh winsock reset netsh int ip reset ipconfig /release ipconfig /renew ipconfig /flushdns
After you’ve run all of these commands, close PowerShell and try to connect to the network again.

Users reported endless checking of network requirements while using phone hotspots, but hopefully, this solution should help you fix that.

In today’s fix article, we explored the best methods to deal with the Checking for requirements issue when trying to connect to a Wi-Fi network.

This isn’t the only issue you can encounter, and we already covered Windows Wireless Service is not running message in a separate guide, so be sure to check it.

Please let us know if this guide helped you by using the comment section below.

HP Laptop Black Screen: Causes & How to Fix It

Posted on March 15, 2023October 4, 2023 by Claire Moraa

You may have faced a black screen problem if you have an HP laptop. HP laptops are one of the most popular brands of computers but not without their fair share of ups and downs. Your HP laptop’s screen may go black after login or any other time.

Although this can be mind-boggling, the good news is that there are many ways by which you can troubleshoot this issue. You can get rid of it permanently so that you can use your laptop again without any issues. Below, we unpack the options available to fix this black screen.

Why is my HP laptop turning on, but the screen is black?

If the HP laptop is turning on and the screen is black, there could be several reasons for this:

Faulty monitor – If your HP laptop turns on, but the screen does not respond to any input, it could be a faulty monitor.
Incompatible driver – If you’ve recently installed a new driver, the HP laptop may detect it, but the screen remains black due to incompatibility between the display driver and the hardware.
Loose connection – It is possible that the video cable connecting the display device to your computer is loose or disconnected from both devices. This can prevent your laptop from powering up properly and displaying an image on its screen.
Hardware failure – If your laptop still boots up and you can hear sounds from inside, you may have a bad motherboard.
New programs – If you have recently installed new programs or experienced an HP laptop black screen after a Windows update, they may be causing issues with powering up your HP laptop.
Defective display cable – Some models of HP laptops have a separate video cable that connects to the monitor. The video cable may be damaged or defective, and this can cause the monitor to stop working properly.
Overheating – Laptops usually overheat because of an improper cooling system or poor ventilation inside the laptop case.
Faulty GPU – If your HP laptop has a dedicated GPU, it could be faulty and need replacing.

How do I fix a black screen on my HP laptop?

We recommend that you start with these basic troubleshooting steps before moving to the somewhat technical solutions:

Check the HDMI or video cable for any damage. It’s normal for such to experience wear and tear over time.
Try with another HDMI cable to verify if the previous one is faulty.
Try to remove the battery and then plug in the power supply. After that, press the Power button for 30 seconds and then press it again.
Remove the RAM and replace it to ensure it is properly seated.
Connect via an external monitor and see if the issue persists. Beware that your laptop may fail to detect your monitor.
If you have installed an update recently or added new hardware to your computer, try uninstalling or removing these items. Sometimes when you install updates or new hardware, they can conflict with each other and cause problems with how Windows works.
Refresh your display drivers using the Windows shortcut Win + Ctrl + Shift + B.

1. Restart Windows File Explorer

Enter into Safe Mode first.
Right-click on your Taskbar and select Task Manager to open.
Locate Windows File Explorer, right-click, then select End task.
Click on File in the top left corner and select Run new task.
In the dialog box that appears, enter explorer.exe to restart File Explorer.

2. Rollback previous display drivers

Still in Safe Mode, click the Search icon, type Device Manager in the search bar, and click Open.
Navigate to Display adapters to expand, right-click on your graphics card and select Properties.
Click on the Driver tab, and select Roll Back Driver.
Select a reason for rolling back in the next prompt, then click Yes.
Restart your PC, and the previously installed drivers for your device will be loaded.

3. Perform a System Restore

Press the Windows + R keys, type rstui, and hit Enter.
Select the restore point you wish to revert to and click Next.
Now click on Finish.

This step will only work if you had created a restore point beforehand. If not, skip this step, as you’ll have no previous state to roll back to.

Other issues you may experience include an HP laptop black screen with a cursor but worry not, as we have already covered ways to bypass this error.

Your laptop may also have served its purpose, and it’s time for a new one. To that effect, we have an excellent recommendation for HP laptops with excellent battery life and other noteworthy features.

Let us know if you have been able to resolve this issue in the comment section below.

How can I connect a wireless mouse without a USB receiver?

1. Use the Settings app if your mouse has Bluetooth

2. Use the Logitech unifying receiver if the mouse supports WiFi

What can I do to fix the you have blocked from originating messages error?

1. Clear data and cache of the messaging app

2. Check network settings

2.1 Enable auto network selection

2.2 Reset Network settings

3. Update your phone OS

4. Reset your phone

How can I fix It looks like you were misusing this feature by going too fast error?

1. Delete Marketplace listings

2. Clear the cache

3. Don’t use a password manager

What causes low FPS after your GPU upgrade?

How can I fix low FPS after GPU upgrade?

1. Uninstall the Display drivers

2. Update Windows OS

3. Disable the Integrated graphics card from the BIOS

4. Reinstall the GPU drivers

What causes low FPS after a CPU upgrade?

How can I fix low FPS after the CPU upgrade?

1. Enable XMP

2. Disable Game DVR

3. Update your drivers

Outbyte Driver Updater

4. Upgrade your BIOS

5. Avoid Overheating or GPU throttle

What should I expect from this month’s security update release?

Windows 7

Improvements

Known issues

Windows 8.1

Improvements

How can I integrate ChatGPT with Google Sheets?

How to add Chat GPT for Sheets and Docs extension?

How to get an OpenAI API Key

How to use the OpenAI API Key with the ChatGPT extension?

What are the benefits of using Chat GPT for Sheets and Docs extension?

Why has the taskbar disappeared on Windows 10?

How can I fix the taskbar that has disappeared on Windows 10 problem?

1. Exit the fullscreen view

2. Disable the auto-hide option

3. Restart the File Explorer process

4. Update the graphics driver

Outbyte Driver Updater

5. Disable tablet mode

6. Check the projection settings

7. Run an antivirus scan

8. Fix corrupt system files

What is the best defrag program for Windows 10?

IObit Smart Defrag – Great for automation

IObit Smart Defrag

Auslogics Disk Defrag – Great for customizing defrag processes

Auslogics Disk Defrag

Disk Speedup – Robust defrag tool

Disk Speedup

O&O Defrag – Complete commercial defragmenting tool

O&O Defrag

CCleaner Defraggler – Excellent free option

Defraggler

Puran Defrag – Detailed custom optimizer

Does defragging speed up computer?

Is there a good free defragmentation software?

Why does a Steam service error appear?

How do I fix the Steam service error?

1. Configure Steam to run as an administrator

2. Disable third-party antivirus software

ESET HOME Security Essential

3. Turn off Windows Defender Firewall

4. Use Command Prompt

How do I fix high CPU usage with the Software Reporter Tool?

1. Check Chrome settings

2. Change folder properties

3. Modify the Registry

4. Update the browser

5. Delete the software_reporter_tool.exe file

How do I fix the Steam download if it’s stopping?

Table of contents

1. Close superfluous programs