7 Best USB-C Extension Cables for Your Gadgets

Posted on by Milan Stanojevic

Since the USB-C cable was introduced to the market, it came with good tidings and has been a favorite amongst users.

With this connector, you can say goodbye to the frustrations of wrong plugging in due to different orientations. Type-C is a reversible connector that lets you plug in from either direction. So you’ll never get it wrong again.

Should I use an extension cable?

Ideally, you should have a long enough cable for your device to reach wherever you want but sometimes, it’s better to extend the one you already have.

Most modern devices and computers today are fitted with the type-C port. This is how you can plug in and enjoy fast data transmission and file transfers, plus high-powered, super-fast charging for your other gadgets.

These devices usually come packaged with their own Type-C cables. But sometimes you can either misplace it, or it gets broken for whatever reason. Or maybe you just want a longer one for use.

The quality and build of the cable you pick will also determine how long it stays without getting broken, plus whether it is resistant to hazards such as heat, corrosion, and other things that may cause damage.

If you’re looking for the best USB-C extension cable to add to your accessories, here are the top 7 picks we recommend.

What are the best USB-C extension cables today?

Note icon NOTE
The cables listed here have been tested by our experts and were found to be of superior build and quality. Choose one that best fits your budget and requirement, and you won’t regret the purchase.

Faracent USB Type C Extension Cable – Highly versatile

  • Wide compatibility coverage (Macbook, Nintendo Switch, and more)
  • Support for USB/SD/TF cards
  • Fast data transfers
  • Fast charging-enabled
  • Does not work with any Thunderbolt 3 items
Check price

If you want to add a few more inches to your current USB cable, this extender with USB 3.1 Type C support may be just what you need.

Highly versatile, the cable does a great job on a wide range of devices, including Lumia 950, Nintendo Switch, Google Chromebook, Macbook, and more.

Moreover, its charging speed is fast, and so are the data transfers performed with this cool accessory.

Stouchi USB C Extension Cable 6FT – Ideal for great speed

  • Supports 4K audio/video rendering
  • Fast transfer speeds
  • Cross-device compatibility
  • 6FT long for more accessibility
  • Does not support any Thunderbolt 3-based products
Check price

Stouchi aims to impress with this 6FT long extension cable that takes transfer speed and stability to a new level.

It even supports 4K video and audio signal, and its USB-C port gives it the right amount of flexibility to match all your favorite devices, from your smartphone to your Nintendo Switch console, without ignoring all the other cool gadgets you may have on your repertories such as a Chromebook, a Macbook and many more.

For charging, data syncing, or data transfers, this extension cable can do it all at great speed.

DISDIM USB C Extension Adapter Cable – Plag-and-play-based design

  • Thunderbolt 3 support
  • Fast charging technology
  • Quality and durable material
  • Wide compatibility
  • No known issues
Check price

Unlike the previous products on our list, this extension cable provides full Thunderbolt 3 support and covers a wide range of compatible devices, from smartphones to notebooks and consoles.

Its easy-to-use, plag-and-play-based design combined with its durability will make sure you will enjoy this pure copper wire for a long time.

And it does not stop there: the cable is dust-free and tangle-free with a built-in aluminum foil and textile mesh layer that give the most efficient anti-interference effect.

Fast charging and stable data transfers are also part of the deal.

RIITOP USB C Extension Cable – 4K video support

  • Fast charging and data transfers
  • Durable material (nylon plus aluminum-alloy)
  • Cross-device compatibility
  • 4K video support
  • Does not support Apple Multi-Media Adapter
Check price

The RIITOP USB-C Extension Cable is a strong candidate if you’re looking for an extension cable that can match a wide palette of devices.

The cable thicks many boxes, including 4K video support, impressive data transfer speeds, and fast charging technology support.

To top it all, its nylon-braided cord and aluminum-alloy connector ensure its durability for you to enjoy it for a long time.

RIITOP USB C Extension Cable Short (2FT) – Scalable power charging

  • Cross-device compatibility
  • Supports Data/Video/Audio transfers
  • Quality durable materials
  • Fast charging technology
  • Does not support the Apple Multi-Media Adapter
Check price

This USB-C extension cable is compatible with most major devices, such as tablets, smartphones, and computers, with a USB 3.1 super-speed data transfer of up to 10Gbps.

It has a reversible design type-C connector plug that supports scalable power charging.

Features include a USB 3.1 type-C male-to-female extension cable cord, wire specification of tin-coated copper 16-core cable with an outer PVC mold, and it is 3ft (or 1m) long.

Qicheng&Start USB-C extension cable – Protects laptop’s USB-C interface

best USB-C extension cable

This is the best USB-C extension cable for superfast data syncing of up to 10Gbps, HDMI/VGA, and other signal transmissions, plus it protects your laptop’s USB-C interface.

Features include a USB 3.1 type-C male to USB-C female connection cable, with a length of 2ft, and compatibility with smartphones, laptops, and tablets.

⇒ Check price on Amazon

CableCreation USB-C extension cable – Compact choice

best USB-C extension cable

This cable features a USB 3.1 type-C male to type-C female connector, a gold-plated male plug with a gold-plated shell for guaranteed contact with your device, and delivers data speeds of up to 10Gbps.

It is lightweight, portable, and compact, so you can move with it anywhere, plus, its bi-direction lets you enjoy limitless data transfer as both sides can be either host or target.

The cable is compatible with most major devices, such as tablets, smartphones, and computers. Still, it may not work for extending original type-C cables for charging type-C phones because of voltage issues.

It comes with a brand guarantee of focus on ideal design and quality, plus a lifetime warranty, and you can get it in either black, blue, red, or rose gold colors.

⇒ Check price on Amazon

These are the best USB-C extension cables for daily use and can be connected to most devices. So get one today!

Also, don’t forget to check our curated list of the best USB-C hubs in the market.

Have you found your favorite choice for the best Windows USB-C extension cable? Let us know in the comments section below.

Fix: Two Finger Scroll is Not Working on Windows 11

Posted on by Vladimir Popescu

If your touchpad is broken, it’s one of the most frustrating things to deal with. Everyone relies on their laptop’s touchpad to navigate the user interface and interact with applications. And when the two-finger scroll is not working in Windows 11, it’s not that tricky to fix.

In case the touchpad is not working, it could be a hardware problem or driver issue to blame, but when specific functionalities like two-finger scrolling fail to work, we need to follow a slightly different approach. Let’s find out!

Why is the touchpad scroll not working in Windows 11?

There is a possibility that the scroll and motion features will not operate properly for you. Touchpad problems in laptops are most often the result of changes to the settings.

Microsoft specialists have determined that driver incompatibilities play a significant part in these problems. The other main causes include:

  • Settings might not be enabled – Some laptops have a feature that disables the touchpad when an external mouse is plugged in.
  • Accumulated dust and other debris – This can physically block the pointer’s movement.
  • Faulty hardware – A loose connection or damaged circuits could cause this problem.
  • Touchpad software problems – These are rare, but they do occur. If you have updated your operating system recently, it’s possible that this is the root of the problem. This also leads to a situation where the touchpad clicks but doesn’t move.
  • Scrolling options might not be adjusted – The touchpad might not be properly configured.

If you are using an external mouse and it is also not working, then you should check the complete guide for the mouse not working in Windows 11.

As we know the common causes of the touchpad scroll not working on Windows 11, let’s move toward the solutions now.

What can I do if the touchpad scroll is not working on Windows 11?

Before moving to the detailed solutions, there are some quick checks and troubleshooting steps that you can follow:

  • Reboot the computer and check if the touchpad scroll is working.
  • If you are using a mouse, unplug it and check if the touchpad starts working.
  • Make sure that the touchpad has not had some hardware issues.

After these preliminary checks, let’s move toward the detailed solutions below.

1. Check if the touchpad is enabled

  1. Click the Windows icon at the bottom of the taskbar and select the Settings option from the menu.
  2. Find the Bluetooth & Devices from the sidebar menu and click it.
  3. Now on the right pane, look for the Touchpad.
  4. Make sure that the Touchpad toggle option is On.

If the touchpad scroll is not working in Excel or other applications, make sure the touchpad is enabled. Also, find out how to get your cursor back if it disappears randomly.

2. Update your Touchpad drivers

  1. Right-click on the Window icon at the taskbar and click Device Manager.
  2. Expand the Mice and other pointing devices option. Now you can see your TouchPad device name.
  3. Right-click the HID-compliant mouse and click Update Driver.
  4. Click Search automatically for drivers.

Incompatibilities between drivers are the root cause of Windows 11 touchpad issues in most situations. 

As a result, you need to ensure that each of them has the most recent version, which is a source of reassurance since Windows 11 will handle this process automatically.

If you’re looking for another way to update your Touchpad drivers, then you can count on Outbyte Driver Updater as it’s an automatic tool.

This program scans your device for missing and outdated drivers and detects from its database the latest and most accurate updates.

Outbyte Driver Updater

Top-quality software that works efficiently when it comes to updating your drivers.
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3. Change the mouse pointer type

  1. Click on the Search icon on the Taskbar. Search for the Control Panel and click on it.
  2. Click on the Mouse option.
  3. Navigate to the Pointers tab.
  4. From the Scheme section from the Windows Black (system scheme) option from the dropdown. Click on Apply and then OK to confirm the settings.

Some users claim that when the two finger touchpad scroll is not working in Windows 11 on Lenovo, it may be fixed by selecting a different mouse pointer.

In Windows 11, the above-mentioned is the procedure for changing the pointer that appears on the mouse.

After changing the mouse pointer type, some users experience the problem of the mouse cursor jumping around the screen. If so, check our guide to fix the mouse cursor jumping around in Windows 11.

4. Enable the Scroll & zoom option

  1. Click the Windows icon, then click on the Settings option.
  2. Find the Bluetooth & devices in the right sidebar and click on it.
  3. Now on the right pane, look for the Touchpad option and click on it.
  4. Locate Scroll & zoom and click it. After that, enable the option labeled Drag two fingers to Scroll, and other options here.

It is fairly obvious how simple it is for you to activate this option. You can now test whether this has resolved the issue with the two-finger scroll not functioning. 

If you want to see some more Windows 11 gestures, then check out the article on Windows 11 gestures.

It is probably a good idea to restart the computer immediately, just in case anything goes wrong. If it wasn’t successful, you should go on to the next approach.

5. Reset your touchpad settings

  1. Click the Windows icon at the bottom of the taskbar, navigate, and click on the Settings option.
  2. Find the Bluetooth & Devices in the right sidebar and click on it.
  3. Now on the right pane, look for the Touchpad option and click on it.
  4. Now click Reset, and your Touchpad settings will be reset.

Windows computers and gadgets might run into issues from time to time, and figuring out the problem can be quite challenging for users. 

The specialists who work on Microsoft Windows noticed this. Therefore, they included the Reset option for certain hardware devices, which should do the trick when two finger scroll is not working in Windows 11.

The touchpad settings will be restored to their original state after a reset, eliminating any possibility of future issues.

How do I make my touchpad scroll with two fingers?

  1. Press Windows + I to open Settings, go to Bluetooth and devices from the navigation pane, and click on Touchpad.touchpad
  2. Click on Scroll & zoom.scroll & zoom
  3. Now, tick the checkbox for Drag two fingers to scroll.drag two fingers to scroll
  4. You can now easily scroll up and down with two fingers using the touchpad.

The approaches mentioned above will resolve the issue if the touchpad scroll is not working on Dell or other devices, and you can get it running in no time.

Sometimes, it’s a hardware issue as well. If this is the case, you need to buy a new one. So, check the best touchpads for Windows PC.

Do let us know in the comment section below if you have any further questions or want us to give solutions to some other problems too.

How to Use Traceroute (Tracert) on Windows

Posted on by Henderson Jayden Harper

Traceroute cmd is a tool for tracing the path of a network on a computer. It is most effective when there is a connection problem on the computer to see the exact place where the problem is occurring.

So, in this article, we will cover what the traceroute command does and how to use it.

What is the traceroute command?

The Traceroute command in Windows identifies and tracks network problems such as packet loss, delayed response time, etc. It functions as a tracing system to check the connection from one network to another.

Furthermore, Traceroute is effective when on a computer network that’s not functioning as it’ll be more evident. So, running Traceroute should be done when you’re experiencing problems with your internet connection.

We have a detailed guide on the best visual traceroute freeware for Windows 11.

What is tracert VS traceroute?

Many users believe the traceroute command and tracert cmd are the same. They have the same functions but differ in the way they operate.

However, the Tracert Windows tool determines the route or path a network takes to a destination. It sends ICMP packets to the destination, using varying IP Time-To-Live (TTL) values to specify routes.

The differences between the two are:

  • The Tracert command shows the details of a packet’s route from your computer to your specified destination. Conversely, the Traceroute command records and traces the internet route between a computer and a destination computer.
  • Another notable difference is the Operating System the two commands are applicable. Tracert is available on Windows and is also termed Traceroute on Unix-Linux Operating Systems, including Mac OS X.

Now that we know what Tracert and Traceroute commands are all about, let’s see how they are used.

How do I use Traceroute cmd (Tracert) on Windows?

  1. Press Windows + R key to open the Run dialog box, type cmd, then press Enter to open Command Prompt.Open CMD to use Traceroute
  2. Type tracert, followed by the destination (An IP Address or a Domain Name), and press Enter. E.g tracert www.windowsreport.cominput the command to launch Traceroute
  3. After running the command, it will return a list of the connections on the path and the speed.

On a Unix/Linux system, you will use traceroute instead of tracert, and the syntax is the same.

Further, our readers can check our guide on the network packet loss monitoring tools to use. Also, we have a detailed review of the best bandwidth monitoring tools for Windows 11.

Conclusively, you can drop your suggestions or questions about this guide on the traceroute cmd command in the comments section.

10 Easy Fixes to Apply if Browser Is Slow on Windows 10

Posted on by Hasibul Kabir

Is your browser running slow on Windows 10 even though the internet is fast and stable? If yes, this article will help you get rid of the situation.

Slow browser issue is a generic term. It may include several situations, such as a slow browser but fast internet speed. Also, slow or laggy typing experience, poor download speed, very slow or not responding, and taking a long time to load pages on a web browser in Windows 10 are very common issues.

Why are all my browsers slow?

A web browser on your PC may get slower for various reasons. Since you want an answer to this question: How do I speed up my browser in Windows 10? dig deeper, and you will end up finding these as the most significant reasons behind this problem:

  • Low memory capacity – Modern web browsers, especially Chrome, demands a lot more RAM, which makes it slower on low-end computers.
  • Unstable Windows version – You often may notice slow browser issues after installing an update
  • Too many background tasks – Too much active background processes may take a lot of RAM and CPU power, which gives your browser less room to utilize the computing power.
  • Driver issue – Outdated or incompatible drivers are also responsible.
  • Problematic graphics card – If the GPU is very old or problematic, the modern browser may face problems in rendering web pages correctly.
  • Corrupted and temporary files – These unnecessary or problematic files can slow down all web browsers on your PC.
  • Registry issues – Too many problems in the registry also can slow down your computer a lot.
  • Improper power settings: If it is a laptop, always running on the low-performance mode will affect the browser speed.
  • Old or less powerful CPU – Low-end or very old PCs will not deliver the expected experience.

How do I fix a slow browser on Windows 10?

There are several things to do to solve slow browser problems. However, before that, you must do the following things as strict requirements.

  • Update Windows if it has not been updated for a long.
  • Restart your PC.
  • Powercycle your modem or router.
  • Make sure nothing is being downloaded in the background.
  • Make sure your system drive/local disk C has enough free space.

After doing these things, you can proceed to follow these methods to speed up your web browser experience on your PC:

1. End resource-hungry background tasks

  1. Press Win + X on the keyboard and click on Task Manager.
  2. Go to the Processes tab if it is not opened by default.
  3. Select the most CPU or memory hungry process and click on End Task.ending epicgameslauncher process windows task manager

After ending these processes, you will immediately notice performance improvements.

2. Disable the startup items

  1. Open the Task Manager again.
  2. Go to the Startup tab.
  3. Select your preferred item and click on Disable.disabling startup items task manager
  4. Do this for all unnecessary startup items.
  5. Restart your PC.

Now, it should improve the slow browser situations on Windows 10.

3. Update the drivers

  1. Open the Start Menu, type device manage, and hit Enter.
  2. Right-click on a driver and choose Update driver.updating network driver windows 11 device manager
  3. Click on Search automatically for drivers and follow the on-screen steps.search automatically for drivers
  4. Do this for all drivers, especially the Display and Network Adapter.

Manually updating drivers may take time. Moreover, Windows Device Manager cannot often find the most appropriate drivers. So, we suggest a tailored driver update solution.

This tool can automatically detect and update outdated drivers with just a single click. In addition, it can do this thing automatically according to your own schedule preference.

Outbyte Driver Updater

The most helpful driver app that can automatically locate the latest updates.
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4. Disable the firewall

  1. Open the Start Menu, type Control Panel and press Enter.
  2. Go to System and Security.clicking on system & security
  3. Click on Windows Defender Firewall.clicking on windows defender firewall
  4. Click on Turn Windows Defender Firewall on or off.click turn off windows firewall
  5. Mark Tun Off Windows Defender Firewall for both private and public networks.turning off windows firewall
  6. Restart your PC.

5. Disable the extensions on your browser

5.1 Disable the extensions on Chrome

  1. Open the Google Chrome browser if it is experiencing slow response issues.
  2. Type the following address on the address bar and press Enter: chrome://extensions/
  3. Toggle the switch off for the extensions you want to disable.disabling chrome extensions
  4. Relaunch the browser.

5.2 Disable addons on Firefox

  1. Open Firefox.
  2. Go to the following location similarly you did on Chrome: about:addons
  3. Click on Extensions and disable the items by tweaking the correct switch.disabling firefox extensions add-ons

Due to problematic extensions, Firefox may become too slow for you. Turning off these add-ons will definitely help.

5.3 Disable the extensions on Edge

  1. Open Microsoft Edge.
  2. Go to the following address using the address bar: edge://extensions/
  3. Toggle off the extensions you want by tweaking the switch.disabling edge extension

Your web browser may often response slow, or you may get a slow or laggy typing experience. Disabling extensions will give you relief from this type of problem.

6. Update the browser

6.1 Update Chrome

  1. Open the Google Chrome.
  2. Go to the following location: chrome://settings/help
  3. It will check for the update and install any available one automatically.updating-chrome Google Chrome not responding
  4. Relaunch Chrome.

6.2 Update Firefox

  1. Click on three vertical lines and go to Help.going to help of Firefox
  2. Go to About Firefox.clicking about firefox
  3. It will update Firefox automatically.

6.3 Update Edge

  1. Using the address bar on Edge, go to the following location: edge://settings/help
  2. It will automatically update your browser.
  3. When finished, click on Restart to relaunch Microsoft Edge.clicking restart edge update

Updating helps when your Edge or other browsers are very slow due to incompatibility issues.

7. Clean unnecessary files

  1. Download CCleaner and install it on your PC.
  2. Open CCleaner.
  3. Go to Custom Clean.
  4. Select the things you want to clean.
  5. Click on Analyze.
  6. At last, click on Run Cleaner.clicking run cleaner ccleaner
  7. Wait for a bit to complete the process.
  8. Restart your PC.

While choosing what to clean, you can uncheck browser history and cookies. Otherwise, you may lose your browsing history permanently, and also you will need to log in to various websites again.

Cleaning the rest of the other things is sufficient to solve slow browser issues. If it still remains slow, consider cleaning the cookies too. Doing this solves slow browser issues like Chrome lagging problems.

8. Repair the Registry

  1. On CCleaner, go to Registry.
  2. Click on the Scan for Issues.clicking scan for issues registry ccleaner
  3. Click on Review selected issues.
  4. You can now take a backup or ignore the pop-up by clicking on No.
  5. Click on Fix All Selected Issues.fixing registry ccleaner
  6. Restart Windows 10.

You also may see these tips to fix corrupted registry issues. It helps speed up web browsers and other programs’ performance on your PC.

9. Uninstall problematic update

  1. Open Control Panel, as shown before.
  2. Click on Uninstall a program under Programs.going uninstall program control panel
  3. Click on View installed updates.clicking view installed updates uninstall or change a program control panel
  4. Next, uninstall the recent update that has caused the browser slow issues.

After uninstalling a Windows update, don’t forget to restart your PC. Then, start using your browser and see if it has restored the performance.

10. Switch to a faster web browser

  1. Download a faster browser like Opera One.
  2. Install it on your PC and start using it.

Opera One is an excellent web browser available on all major platforms. Being Chromium-based, it has no compatibility issues. Yet, it is not as heavy as Chrome.

opera-desktop-browser

This browser has no Google influence and can load a web page significantly faster. Moreover, Opera One supports Chrome extensions to enhance your experience.

Hence, it is the most appropriate alternative if you have a very slow experience loading pages on your current web browser.

Which browser is faster for Windows 10?

Opera, undoubtedly, is the fastest browser for Windows 10 and other iterations of the OS, though Chrome, Edge, and Firefox don’t lag far behind.

Of late, Brave, one of the secure browsers with a built-in adblocker, has made it to the list of high-speed browsers for Windows. So, you might give it a try as well. For more options, check our curated list of the fastest browsers.

Which browser is easiest on the CPU?

For lightweight browsers, your primary choice should be Opera, owing to its plethora of features and relative ease of functioning without hogging the system’s resources.

Other options include Vivaldi, another browser that is easy on the CPU, Midori, an open-source option, or UR Browser, for a safe experience.

In this era, a PC with a dual-core processor is not a good thing on a very old machine. If the CPU is 10/12 generations older, it may not handle a modern web browser well.

In this case, you should consider upgrading to the most recent hardware to match the performance compatibility with modern web browsers.

Also, you can consider reconfiguring your partition to increase the system drive space. Or free up space manually by deleting unnecessary files. Additionally, you can run DISM commands or do a system restore.

It will help to solve slow browser issues like slow download speed problems even though the internet is fast enough.

This article has showcased the most effective methods to solve slow browser problems in Windows 10 computers. If you have any suggestions that may help others, feel free to include them in the comments.

Show My Computer On Desktop on Windows 11: Quick Guide

Posted on by Henderson Jayden Harper

Having your app icons, files, and folders added to your desktop makes them available on the first screen on your PC. It aids productive use and easy access to the item. Hence, you can show My Computer on the desktop alongside other programs.

Table of contents

Why is my PC not showing desktop icons?

The PC not showing desktop icons can occur for many underlying reasons. Disabling the visibility of desktop icon settings. You can turn on the option to access the feature.

Other factors that can cause my desktop icons to be missing or not showing are:

  • Show desktop items is disabled – To enable the desktop icons on your desktop, right-click on a free space on your desktop, hover over the View option, and check the Show desktop icons feature.
  • Running on the Tablet mode – Enabling the Tablet mode on your PC can cause issues with your desktop icons showing. It affects the display of desktop icons and changes core display settings.
  • Corrupt icon cache – A corrupt desktop icon on Windows will prevent it from working or showing on the computer. It compromises Windows canvas for rendering icons and impedes its processing.
  • Bugs-related issues and corrupt system files – Bugs from outdated Operating systems can cause the desktop icons not to show. Also, having corrupt system files in your computer can infect its display properties.

The above factors can be fixed by troubleshooting your PC and applying the solutions below.

How can I show My computer on the desktop in Windows 11?

1. Personalize the Desktop menu

  1. Right-click on the Desktop and select Personalize from the drop-down.
    personalize desktop settings
  2. Go to the Themes tab in the left pane. Under Related Settings, click on the Desktop icon settings.
    Desktop icons settings
  3. Check the box for Computer on the next page. Uncheck the Allow themes to change desktop icons. It prevents in-built system themes from hiding the Desktop icons.
    Enable my computer in Desktop
  4. Click the Apply button and OK to make this change to your PC.

Setting a personalized icon in the Desktop menu allows you to create icons from your File Explorer.

2. Create a shortcut on the Desktop

  1. Press Windows + D key to prompt the Show Desktop Menu.
  2. Right-click on your Desktop, select New from the drop-down menu, then click on the Shortcut option in the submenu drop-down.
    desktop shortcut
  3. Type %windir%\explorer.exe in the text bar and click on the Next button.
    input My computer
  4. Input This PC as the name and click the Finish button to complete the shortcut creation.
    Type This PC to create My computer on desktop
  5. Right-click on the Shortcut and select Properties from the drop-down.
    My computer's properties
  6. Go to the Shortcut tab and click on the Change Icon… button.
    Change icon for My computer on desktop
  7. Enter the following path in the text bar and click on the OK button: %windir%\System32\imageres.dll
  8. Locate This PC icon in the list, click on it, then the OK button.
  9. Click Apply, and then on OK to create the shortcut in Desktop.

Creating a shortcut for This PC will show it on your desktop and create a quick access icon where you can easily navigate This PC files.

Check our guide for fixing my desktop shortcuts not working on Windows 11 if you have issues using the shortcut.

3. Show My Computer on the desktop via the Group Policy Editor

  1. Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog box, type gpedit.msc, and click OK to launch the Local Group Policy Editor.
  2. Expand the User Configuration folder and then expand the folder Administrative Templates.
  3. Expand the Desktop folder and double-click on the Desktop subfolder.
    gpedit- doubleclick desktop folder
  4. In the right pane, click on Disable all items.
  5. Tick the radio button for Not Configured, click on the Apply button, and then on OK.
    select not configured

The above steps will configure your system to show the icons on your Desktop.

4. Rebuild This PC icon cache

  1. Left-click the Start button, type command prompt, and click Run as administrator.
  2. Click Yes on the User Account Control prompt.
  3. Type the following commands and press Enter after each command:
    • taskkill /F /IM explorer.exe
      cd /d %userprofile%\AppData\Local
      attrib –h IconCache.db
      del IconCache.db
      start explorer.exe
      use CMD to display MyComputer
  4. Restart your PC.

Rebuilding This PC cache will refactor the icon’s cache and properties to help it show on My desktop. It fixes any disruptions that may cause it not to show.

So, this is how to put This PC on desktop in Windows 11. The solutions above will also help you show My Computer icon on the desktop on Windows 10, but make sure that the Show desktop icons option is enabled.

However, you can encounter issues with the desktop icons being too big in Windows 11 and unnecessarily taking up space.

In addition, we have a detailed guide on fixing Desktop Icons flashing on Windows 11. Also, our readers may be interested in our article about how to bring back old desktop icons on Windows 11.

For further questions or suggestions, kindly drop them in the comments section.

How to Force Open Links in Google Chrome and Not Microsoft Edge

Posted on by Sagar Naresh

While Windows 11 is all great in terms of efficiency and performance, Microsoft has gone one step ahead in forcing users to use its Edge browser for almost everything. They have buried the option to change the default browser under different settings. We have a guide to help you change the browser in Windows 11.

Even if you change the default browser, certain aspects of the OS will force open the link in Microsoft Edge. This guide will guide you on how to open links in Google Chrome and not Microsoft Edge. So let us get right into it.

How can I open links in Google Chrome and not Microsoft Edge?

1. Use MSEdgeRedirect

  1. Download and install MSEdgeRedirect from GitHub.
  2. Open the installer and accept the agreement.
  3. Click on Next.
  4. Choose between Service mode or Active mode to continue.
    • Service mode: Runs without admin rights.
    • Active mode: Requires admin rights to run.
  5. If you decide to go ahead with the Service mode, select the below options:
    • Redirect PDFs to Choose your favorite PDF reader
    • Replace Bing Search Results with: Choose your browser
    • Replace Weather Results with: Choose your browser
  6. If you choose to go ahead with Active mode, select your favorite browser for the below options:
    • Bing Search
    • Bing Images
    • MSN News
    • MSN Weather
    • PDF Viewer
    • Windows Store ‘Apps’: Check the box
  7. Click on Install.
  8. Press the Win + I keys to open Settings.
  9. Click on Apps.
  10. Select Default apps.
  11. Locate your favorite browser and click on it.
  12. Select the option Set default.

Following the above steps, you can redirect any link to your favorite browser without interference from Microsoft Edge.

Do note that you need to select your favorite browser, in our case, Google Chrome, as your default browser to redirect all links to Chrome successfully.

If you are confused about which browser to choose from, you should definitely check out our guide, which lists some of the best browsers you can use on your Windows PC.

2. Use Chrometana Pro extension

  1. Launch Google Chrome.
  2. Head to the Chrome Web Store.
  3. Search for Chrometana Pro extension.
  4. Click on Add to Chrome.
  5. Select Add extension.
  6. Click on the extension icon to configure it.
  7. You can redirect Bing search queries to Google, DuckDuckGo, Yahoo, or Baidu, or even set a custom one.

Microsoft forces users to use Bing to browse the search results when using Windows search. The best part is that you can use the Chrometana Pro extension to redirect the search queries from Bing to Google or any other browser.

These two ways will help you open links in Google Chrome and not Microsoft Edge. Do note that you can choose other browsers as well; it is just that we have chosen Google Chrome as the matter of this discussion.

If you are using a low-end or an old PC and looking for browsers that will eat up less RAM, we suggest you check out our guide that lists some of the tested browsers that are light on resources.

We also have a guide that will give you two ways to set Google Chrome as your default browser on your Windows 11 PC.

Feel free to let us know in the comments below if you face any issues while following the above steps to open links in Google Chrome, not Microsoft Edge.

G-Sync not Working: 5 Solutions That Will Help You

Posted on by Milan Stanojevic

Gamers, let us discuss the problem of G-sync not working. We will also discuss some common causes and the best possible solutions.

PC gaming has become a recreational activity where players compete against each other to achieve the best performance and results.

If you’re a gamer and want to achieve maximum performance and the best image quality, then you are most likely using the Nvidia G-Sync technology.

Although this technology can prevent screen tearing during gameplay sessions, many users reported that G-Sync isn’t working in Windows 10, so let’s see if we can fix that problem.

Note: To get the best out of the tech, you should use G-sync-compatible monitors.

Why is G-Sync not working?

From the experience of users who have had issues with G-Sync not working, we have come up with the most common causes. These include:

  • Problems with settings – In some cases, it could be a minor setting configuration that has hindered it from not working.
  • Outdated drivers – When drivers are obsolete or inadequate, they also could trigger problems with G-sync.
  • Hardware issues – The most common of these are RAM issues. You may need to change your RAM to get it working correctly.

While this is not an exhaustive list, it makes up most of the common culprits. So now, let us discuss solutions.

How can I fix G-Sync if it’s not working?

  1. Change V-Sync settings
  2. Install the latest drivers
  3. Check out the older driver
  4. Reset Windows 10
  5. Install the latest OS updates

1. Change V-Sync settings

  1. Right-click the desktop and select Nvidia Control Panel.
    g sync not working
  2. Go to Manage 3D settings in the left panel.
  3. Navigate to the Global Settings tab, locate the Vertical sync option, set this option to On, and click Apply to save changes.
    g sync not working
  4. You can also turn on Vertical sync for applications experiencing screen tearing from the Program Settings tab.
  5. After making these changes, restart your PC.

You can change the V-Sync settings if G-Sync isn’t working correctly on your Windows 10 PC. However, according to users, you need to turn on V-Sync to fix this problem.

As you can see, you can quickly fix this problem by turning on V-Sync in Nvidia Control Panel.

You need to disable V-Sync in your game and keep it enabled only in the Nvidia Control Panel.

2. Install the latest drivers

Many users reported solving the G-Sync problem after manually downloading and installing the latest Nvidia drivers.

If you don’t want the hassle of updating drivers manually, we suggest doing it automatically using trusted software.

3. Check out the older driver

  1. Press Windows + X and select Device Manager to open it.
  2. In the Device Manager window, scroll down and expand Display adapters.
  3. Right-click on the Nvidia driver, select Properties, click on the Driver tab and click the Roll Back Driver button.
    g sync not working
  4. Follow the instructions to complete the process.

Although this solution works for some users, we have to mention that it’s not perfect, as some users have experienced crashes with your Nvidia driver.

Users reported that they couldn’t watch videos on a second monitor after installing older drivers, so if you need to use two or more monitors, you might want to skip this solution.

4. Reset Windows 10

  1. Press Windows + I to open Settings, then click on the Update & Security option.
  2. Go to the Recovery tab, and click on the Get started button in the Reset this PC section.
    g sync not working
  3. Select Keep my files and follow the on-screen instructions to reset your PC.

A few users reported fixing problems with G-Sync not working on Windows 10 by performing a Windows 10 reset.

Resetting Windows 10 will delete all installed applications and files from your primary partition, so you might want to use this solution as a last resort.

5. Install the latest OS updates

  1. Open the Settings app using Windows + I, then click Update & Security.
  2. Click on Check for updates and install any updates found.

Problems with G-Sync can cause screen tearing and lead to reduced performance. If you’re a gamer with G-Sync problems, we strongly suggest you try out some of our solutions.

These solutions will come in handy for cases of G-Sync not working in fullscreen, with two monitors on HDMI or a FreeSync monitor.

If you have other suggestions or questions, don’t hesitate to leave them in the comments below.

How to Fix a Raw Drive Without Format [5 Easy Ways]

Posted on by Sagar Naresh

When your external hard drive or other storage becomes RAW, you won’t be able to access the files. If you try to open the files, you will be treated with an error message The file or directory is corrupted and unreadable, or You need to format the disk in drive before you can use it. Do you want to format it?

If you try to use some methods to access the files, you may lose the files altogether. It is where this guide comes into play because here, we will give you a bunch of methods that will help you with your query about how to fix raw drive without format. So let us get right into it.

Why has my external hard drive become RAW?

We researched the internet and found some of the most common reasons that would cause the external hard drive to become RAW.

  • You unsafely ejected your hard drive: There is a safely eject hard drive option available at the bottom taskbar that lets you remove the HDD without causing any issues. Not doing so can easily corrupt all the files or also cause the external hard drive to become RAW.
  • Issues because of a power outage: Because of a power outage or any other sudden failure also, the hard drive can turn into the RAW format.
  • The disk is formatted wrongly: If you do not format the disk or it has been wrongly formatted then also the external hard drive or other storage can become RAW.
  • Virus or malware attack: Of course, a virus or malware attack can not only cause issues while accessing the files inside the hard drive, but it can change the format of the hard drive altogether.
  • The external disk contains bad sectors: The disk area that is storing all of your files might contain bad sectors and the drive isn’t getting recognized by the system.

How can I fix the RAW drive without format?

1. Change the drive letter

  1. Open the Start menu by pressing the Win key.
  2. Type Create and format hard drive partitions and open it.
  3. Right-click on the drive and select Change Drive Letter and Path.
  4. Click on Change.
  5. Select the drive letter from the Assign the Following Drive Letter.
  6. Click on OK.
  7. A pop-up may appear Some programs that rely on drive letters might not run correctly. Do you want to continue? Select Yes.

2. Convert RAW to NTFS using CMD

  1. Press the Win key to open the Start menu.
  2. Open the command prompt as an administrator.
  3. Type the below command and press Enter. Diskpart
  4. Execute the below command. S: /FS :NTFS (S is the drive letter of your hard drive. If it is different, then you should type that)

If you do not wish to format the RAW drive, then you can use the above commands and convert your RAW drive into NTFS.

Do note that you should first restore data from the RAW drive before formatting it using the above commands.

3. Scan your PC for virus

  1. Open the Start menu by pressing the Win key.
  2. Type Windows Security.
  3. Click on Virus & threat protection.
  4. Select Quick scan.
  5. You can hit the Scan options and select Full scan for a deep scan.

We have shown the above steps for the in-built Windows Security antivirus tool. However, this isn’t as effective in most cases as other dedicated antivirus software.

In such a case, you should use a third-party antivirus tool to do the same. Again, we would suggest you check out our guide, which lists some of the best and tested antivirus tools that you can download for your PC and keep protected.

4. Repair bad sectors in the hard drive

4.1 Use CheckDisk utility

  1. Open the Start menu by pressing the Win key.
  2. Type Windows PowerShell and open it as an admin.
  3. Type the below command and press Enter. chkdsk D: /f /r (Make sure to replace the drive letter D with the drive letter of your external hard drive)
  4. Restart your PC.

4.2 Use Repair-Volume

  1. Open the Start menu by pressing the Win key.
  2. Type Windows PowerShell and open it as an admin.
  3. Type the below command and press Enter. Repair-Volume -DriveLetter D -OfflineScanAndFix (Replace the drive letter D with the drive letter of your external hard drive)
  4. After the fix is complete, restart your PC.

5. Run SFC Scan

  1. Press the Win key to open the Start menu.
  2. Open the command prompt as an administrator.
  3. Type the below command and press Enter. sfc /scannow
  4. Restart your PC.

You can use the Windows in-built tool called SFC Scan to fix the corrupt system files as often these could lead to several issues, including the one at hand, and it can help you fix the RAW external hard drive without formatting.

That is it from us in this guide. If your external hard drive is not showing up on the Windows PC, you should check out our guide, which will help you resolve the problem.

Often you will come across an error where your PC will say that the drive letter is not available. This issue is prominent in Windows 11; our guide will help you resolve the problem.

We also have a guide that comprehensively explains HDD failure, the main symptoms, and what you can do to fix it.

Feel free to let us know in the comments below which solutions helped you resolve your query on how to fix the RAW drive without format.

Xbox game pass slaughter game sales, says Microsoft

Posted on by Rafly Gilang

In 2018, Xbox boss Phil Spencer believed in his Game Pass subscription program. He said that it would not cause a decline in sales and do nothing but boost the number.

His logic? Well, he was sure that it would be an efficient means of advertising the promoted games because they would recommend their peers to purchase them in full after spending just $10. 

Fast forward to 2022, what happened on the field isn’t actually like that.

How bad does the Xbox Game Pass cause sales decline?

In a recent internal investigation launched by the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) amidst Microsoft’s attempt to acquire Activision, Xbox Game Pass contributed to the sales decline of video games because more people aren’t looking to own the full game anymore. 

The report also adds that 12 months after the game’s addition to the Game pass, the sales would decline. 

“Microsoft submitted figures on the gamers who spent at least [reduced]% of their total game-time on Halo Infinite in the month following release. According to Microsoft, these figures show that while these gamers’ total game-time increases as a result of their engagement with the new Halo release, both B2P game-time on other games and Game Pass game-time fall.”

The cost of an Xbox Game Pass varies in each region, but generally, it costs as little as $10/month for PC with the first month for $1, $10 for console, and $15 for a gold subscription with EA Play. For comparison, the cost to fully purchase a triple-A title on Xbox can be as high as $60 to $70. 

The news comes amidst Microsoft’s latest attempt to acquire Activision for almost $70 billion, which went sideways last year. CMA experts believe that the deal could stifle competition in cloud gaming and eventually bring more bad than good to the gamers as there will be fewer choices made by the tech giant. 

What do you think about the future of the Xbox Game Pass subscription service? Let us know in the comments!

Fix: Local Security Policy Missing in Windows 10

Posted on by Sagar Naresh

Using the Local Security Policy console, you can set up security policies for computers or groups of computers available on your network. However, multiple user reports confirm that the Local Security Policy is missing on their Windows 10 PC.

This could be a problem, especially in the Home versions of the Windows OS. In this guide, we will show you how to add the Local Security Policy in Windows 10 and all the different ways you can open it. So let us get right into it.

Why is Local Security Policy missing in Windows 10?

If you are using Windows 10 and when you try to open the Local Security Policy, you get an error Windows 10 can’t find secpol.msc. This is because you are using the Home edition of Windows 10 on your PC.

Since it is an advanced feature and a part of the Group Policy Editor that lets admins administer or manage different security parameters of the host computers, Microsoft did not include this in the Home editions of Windows 10 or 11.

The Local Security Policy module, or often the entire Group Policy Editor, is only available in Windows 10 Enterprise, Pro, and Education editions. If you wish to access Local Security Policy in Windows 10 Home edition, you have manually enabled it.

How can I enable Local Security Policy in Windows 10?

1. Run a few commands

  1. Press the Win key to open the Start menu.
  2. Open Command Prompt as an admin.
  3. Type the below commands one by one and press Enter after each one. FOR %F IN ("%SystemRoot%\servicing\Packages\Microsoft-Windows-GroupPolicy-ClientTools-Package~*.mum") DO ( DISM /Online /NoRestart /Add-Package:"%F" ) FOR %F IN ("%SystemRoot%\servicing\Packages\Microsoft-Windows-GroupPolicy-ClientExtensions-Package~*.mum") DO ( DISM /Online /NoRestart /Add-Package:"%F" )
  4. Restart your PC.

2. Use a script

  1. Download the SecPol script.
  2. Right-click on the downloaded file and extract it.
  3. Make sure that you are connected to the internet.
  4. Open the folder and right-click on the gpedit-enabler.bat file.
  5. Select the Run as administrator option.
  6. A command prompt will open and will install the required files automatically on your PC.
  7. When the Press any key to continue message shows in the command prompt, press any key to exit CMD.
  8. Restart your PC.

3. Upgrade to Windows 10 Pro

  1. Press Win + I keys to open the Settings menu.
  2. Select Update & Security.
  3. Click on Activation on the left pane.
  4. Select the Go to Store option.
  5. Purchase the Pro version of Windows 10.
  6. After the system is upgraded, you will have Group Policy Editor natively.

How can I open Local Security Policy on Windows 10?

1. Use the Run dialogue

  1. Press Win + R keys to open the Run dialogue.
  2. Type secpol.msc and press Enter.
  3. Local Security Policy will open.

2. Use the Control Panel

  1. Press the Win key to open the Start menu.
  2. Open Control Panel.control pane
  3. Switch to Small icons under the View by option.
  4. Click on Windows Tools.
  5. Select Local Security Policy.

3. Use Command Prompt

  1. Press the Win key to open the Start menu.
  2. Open Command Prompt as an admin.
  3. Type the below command and press Enter. secpol

4. Use Task Manager

  1. Press the Win key to open the Start menu.
  2. Type Task Manager and open it.
  3. Click on File.
  4. Select Run new task.
  5. Type secpol.msc in the Create new task window.

5. Use File Explorer

  1. Press Win + E keys to open File Explorer.
  2. Type secpol.msc in the address bar and press Enter.
  3. The Local Security Policy will open.

These are the different ways to open Local Security Policy on your Windows 10 PC. Do note that you will be able to access the Local Security Policy only when you have added it following the methods mentioned above.

We have listed many ways to open the Group Policy Editor on a Windows 11 PC. The guide also mentioned enabling it in case you use the Home edition of Windows 11.

For users looking for ways to resolve the Group Policy Editor error on their Windows 10 PC or laptop, we have a bunch of solutions to help you resolve the issue.

If Local Security Policy is missing on your Windows 11 PC, you should check out our guide and enable it.

Feel free to let us know in the comments below if this guide helped you resolve the Local Security Policy missing on Windows 10.

Windows Settings Freezes or Hangs? 5 Ways to Fix it

Posted on by Claire Moraa

Sometimes, when you try to access the display settings, the page hangs or freezes on your Windows computer. The annoying thing that you would notice is that other components work perfectly fine. Does this sound like a familiar experience to you?

If you’re unlucky, your cursor may freeze and disappear, making it extremely difficult to navigate your computer. Today, we shall explore why your display settings freeze and how to fix the issue.

Why do my display settings keep freezing?

If you are trying to access the display settings on your Windows device but keep ending up with a frozen screen, let’s get to the root of the problem. Here are some reasons why it happens:

  • Faulty drivers – This is a very common cause of display settings freezing. It can also cause Windows 11 random crashes. The easiest way to check if it’s your driver causing the problem is by uninstalling it and then reinstalling it. 
  • Corrupted system files – System files are the most important parts of your PC. They include the operating system, program files, and every component that makes up your computer. They’re also the most vulnerable to damage or corruption.
  • Virus/malware – Your computer may have a virus. Malware or viruses can be installed on your computer when you visit untrusted websites, open spam emails, or share files with other users. You need to have an antivirus program to protect your system from viruses and other malicious programs that may try to damage it.
  • Corrupted updates – Sometimes, when installing an update, something goes wrong, causing your Windows display settings to hang or stop working properly. To fix this problem, uninstall the update that caused it.
  • Startup programs – If your display settings are constantly freezing, one of the programs on your computer is likely causing them to do so. You can fix this issue by disabling some startup programs or installing a startup manager. 

How can I fix the display settings not opening?

1. Disable Startup programs

  1. Click on the Windows button, type Task Manager in the search bar, and click Open.
  2. Select the Startup tab and hit Disable all.
  3. You can return and enable them one by one until you find the culprit.

2. Update graphic drivers

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

If you want to make this whole process easier, a third-party tool can help you streamline it, as it will scan and detect outdated drivers, and replace them with the latest versions. It also has an automatic update feature that continuously scans for driver updates and notifies you if an installed one goes out of date. This ensures your system is always secure and greatly reduces the risk of errors.

⇒ Get Fortect Driver Updater

3. Run a virus scan 

  1. Press the Windows key, search Windows Security and click Open.
  2. Select Virus & threat protection.
  3. Next, press Quick scan under Current threats.
  4. Wait for the process to finish and restart your system.

4. Execute the DISM and SFC commands

  1. Hit the Windows key, type cmd in the search bar and select Run as administrator.
  2. Enter the following command: DISM.exe /Online /Restorehealth 
  3. Allow for the command to be executed then type in the next one: sfc /scannowrun command to find issues with gpu.

5. Uninstall recent Windows updates

  1. Press the Windows + I keys simultaneously to open Settings.settings windows 11
  2. Navigate to Windows Updates then Go to Update history.
  3. Click on Uninstall updates.uninstall-updates-w11 computer-recognize-logitech-unifying-receiver
  4. Select the most recent update, then click Uninstall.

You can also:

  • Close any background programs that may be taking up memory space. You may also need to run disk cleanup to clear storage space.
  • Restart your PC. 

What is the shortcut to reset the monitor?

You can easily restart the graphics driver using the Ctrl + Shift + B keyboard shortcut, followed by a beep, indicating that the process was completed successfully.

For the display parameters, you will have to reset them manually via the Settings app, but it shouldn’t take much time. If you face major black screen issues and want to reset the monitor and other settings, reinstalling Windows is the best solution.

That’s how you solve the issue when your Windows display settings hang, won’t load, or tend to freeze. If your OS is constantly experiencing performance issues, we have tips on how to make your Windows 11 faster and more responsive.

Alternatively, you can opt for Windows optimizer software which will do the job automatically.

Don’t let the Windows Settings scrolling bug annoy you any longer. Discover solutions to put an end to it.

Leave a comment down below on the solution that worked out for you.

Steam Deck Fatal Error [Causes & Easy Fixes]

Posted on by Henderson Jayden Harper

Steam Deck is a great portable game console. However, users report the Steam Deck fatal error they encounter when using the handheld device, preventing them from accessing their games.

Also, users complain about running into Steam needing to be online to update error.

What is a fatal error?

A fatal error is an error that appears on a device for numerous reasons, causing your program to terminate without prior warning or saving its state. It stops a program from running due to faulty hardware, bugs, viruses, and other issues.

The error message reads Fatal Error: Steam must be online to update. Please confirm your network connection and try again.

However, encountering the fatal error on Steam Deck returns halts any activity on the program.

What causes fatal errors in Steam Deck?

Some common causes include:

  • Network connection issues – When not connected to a stable and fast network connection, it can prevent the device from connecting to Steam servers and result in a Fatal error.
  • Issues with Steam servers – Without access to the Steam servers, you can run into the Fatal error on Steam Deck because they cannot be reached.
  • Corrupt game files in the Steam library – Some of your installed games in the Steam library on the Deck can be corrupted or compromised, resulting in a Fatal Error.

The factors responsible for the Fatal error in Steam Deck may vary depending on the device. Nonetheless, we’ll take you through some fixes to resolve the error.

How do I fix the Steam Deck fatal error?

Before trying any advanced steps for the error, proceed with the following:

  • Check your network connection and restart your router.
  • Check Steam’s official Twitter page to check if there’s any update regarding the server.
  • Restart the Steam Deck handheld a few times and check if the Fatal error persists.

If you still have this problem after the preliminary checks above, try the solutions below to fix it.

1. Use your Android phone’s mobile tethering

Note icon NOTE
This solution will only work with Android devices that come with USB tethering functionality.
  1. Connect your Android phone with Steam Deck with a USB-C cable (preferably the one that came with your smartphone).
  2. On your phone, go to Settings and access the About phone menu and tap the build number 5 times to activate the developer options.
  3. Go back to Settings, access Developer options, tap on USB or Default USB configuration, and check the USB tethering option.
  4. Next, go back to Settings tap the Connected devices, select USB, tap on This device, then click USB tethering.

This way, your Steam Deck will be able to use your phone’s internet connection and will be able to go through with the update.

2. Use a keyboard

Note icon NOTE
For this, you will need either a USB-C keyboard or a normal keyboard with a USB-C adapter.
  1. Connect the keyboard to the USB-C port of your Steam Deck.
  2. Press Ctrl + Alt + F4 on your keyboard.
  3. In the login screen type deck for the Username and no password and press Enter.
  4. Now, type steamos-session-select plasma and press Enter.
  5. Turn off Steam Deck by pressing the Power button.
  6. Press the power button to turn it back on, and it should boot up in Desktop mode.
  7. Reconnect to the internet and switch back to Steam OS this time will boot normally.

3. Update Steam Deck firmware

  1. Press the Steam button on your Steam Deck to open the Steam Menu and click Settings.steam deck seetings
  2. Click on Settings and navigate to System. Click on Check For Updates on the right. If there’s an update available, click the Apply button to install it.check for updates on Steam deck
  3. Once the update is complete, click on the Restart button to incorporate the updates into the Steam Deck device.

Updating the Steam Deck will install the latest patches for fixing bugs and improving its overall performance. It will resolve the Fatal error. You can read our guide on updating the Steam Deck Software for more details.

4. Verify the integrity of your game files

  1. Power on your Steam Deck and go to the Deck Library.Deck Library
  2. Right-click on the game prompting the fatal error, and select Properties from the drop-down.
  3. Click on Local files and click the Verify integrity of game files button.Verify game integrity on steram deck
  4. Wait for the process to complete and check if it returns any error. Try launching the game and see if it prompts the Fatal Error.

Verifying your game files will resolve issues with poorly installed games. Read what to do if you can’t verify game files integrity on Steam.

5. Factory reset Steam Deck

  1. Press the Steam button on your Steam Deck to open the Steam Menu and click Settings.steam deck seetings
  2. Navigate to the System tab and select Factory Reset. Follow the onscreen prompts to finish the resetting process.steam deck factory reset

Resetting the Steam Deck handheld will clear any corrupt files and apps that may cause the Fatal error to occur.

Also, our readers can check how to run Android apps on Steam Deck in a few steps.

For more questions or suggestions on this guide, kindly use the comments below.

6 Best Software to Create Multiboot USB Flash

Posted on by Tashreef Shareef

Creating a bootable USB drive is easy, but what if you need multiple operating systems on one drive? Multiboot USB software simplifies this by allowing you to install and manage several OS on a single USB. 

Check out our carefully reviewed multiboot USB software list:

What is the top software to create multiboot USB drives?

1. Ventoy – The most popular option

Ventoy lets you create multiboot USB drives by dragging and dropping ISOs onto your drive. 

It supports both UEFI and Legacy boot modes, and you can store multiple operating systems on the same drive without needing to reformat. 

It’s a practical option for quickly testing or using different operating systems.

Pros:

  • Drag-and-drop setup
  • Supports multiple OS formats (ISO, WIM, IMG)
  • UEFI and Legacy boot support
  • Allows file storage alongside OS installations

Cons:

  • Limited customization options
  • Initial setup may confuse beginners

⇒ Get Ventoy

2. Easy2Boot – Has 3 multiboot systems

Easy2Boot provides flexibility with three boot menu systems: Grub4Dos, GrubFM, and Ventoy.

It’s useful for more advanced users who need precise control over their multiboot setups. 

It supports a wide range of OS formats and boot types, but the setup can be more complex compared to simpler tools.

Pros:

  • Multiple boot menu options
  • Supports many file formats (ISO, WIM, VHD)
  • Works with both UEFI and Legacy boot
  • Can store files alongside OSes

Cons:

  • More complex setup process
  • Not ideal for beginners

⇒ Get Easy2Boot

3. YUMI – Simplest to use

YUMI is a simple tool for creating multiboot USB drives, requiring minimal setup. It’s portable, so no installation is needed. 

You can add one operating system at a time. The process is straightforward, but you can’t add multiple at the same time.

It’s a good choice for basic multiboot tasks but lacks some advanced features.

Pros:

  • Simple and easy to use
  • No installation required (portable)
  • Supports a variety of OSes
  • Works with FAT32 and NTFS

Cons:

  • Can’t add multiple OSes at once
  • Lacks advanced features

⇒ Get YUMI

4. AIO Boot – Supports various bootloaders

AIO Boot supports multiple bootloaders, including Grub2, Clover, and rEFInd, making it versatile for custom setups. 

It works with both UEFI and Legacy boot modes and supports many file formats. 

While it’s a powerful tool, its setup process is more involved and might require technical know-how.

Pros:

  • Supports multiple bootloaders (Grub2, Clover, rEFInd)
  • Works with UEFI and Legacy boot
  • Supports many file formats (ISO, WIM, VHD)
  • Secure Boot support

Cons:

  • Setup is complicated
  • Discontinued with limited updates

⇒ Get AIO Boot

5. Sardu – Supports antivirus boot creation

Sardu lets you create multiboot USB drives with a range of OSes and utility tools, including antivirus software. 

The free version covers basic functionality, but the premium version offers additional features like automatic updates and direct ISO downloads. 

It’s a good option for creating recovery and tool-focused drives.

Pros:

  • Supports Windows and Linux
  • Can include antivirus and utility tools
  • Free version works well for basic tasks

Cons:

  • Limited to FAT32 file system
  • Premium version needed for advanced features

⇒ Download Sardu

6. WinDiskWriter – Quick tool for creating Windows USB drives

WinDiskWriter is designed for quickly creating bootable USB drives for Windows installations.

It supports ISO and WIM files and is fast and easy to use. However, it only works with Windows OSes and does not support Linux or other operating systems.

Pros:

  • Quick for Windows setups
  • Supports ISO and WIM files
  • Easy to use

Cons:

  • No support for Linux or other OSes
  • Limited to Windows OS

⇒ GetWinDiskWriter

Multiboot USB drives are not just for installing operating systems but can also be used to create a rescue USB drive to repair your system in case of system failure.

While you can use any bootable USB creator software, Multiboot Creators provide the flexibility of adding all kinds of tools on a single USB drive.

Some important tools in a multiboot USB drive include an antivirus program, partition manager, Linux, and Windows OS, network diagnosis tools and rescue disk, etc.

To learn more about these tools, visit our guide the best bootable pendrive software.

Have you tried any other multiboot USB creator not mentioned in this list? Do let us know in the comments below.

Improve PC Performance on Windows 10 [Must-Try Tips]

Posted on by Matthew Adams

Windows 10 and a multitude of third-party apps include system optimization tools. Those tools enable you to improve your PC performance on Windows 10 and fix system errors that might undermine the OS.

So to give your PC a boost, you should make the most of these tools. While this sounds simple, you still need a detailed guide to walk you through the process of optimizing your system.

Why is my Windows 10 so slow and laggy?

Many factors can make your Windows 10 slow and laggy over time. Listed below are some of the principal reasons:

  • Outdated PC: If your operating system is outdated, your PC is likely to get slower. You can boost your PC performance by updating Windows 10 to the latest version.
  • Too many apps opened: Sometimes, your PC might lag because you have too many unnecessary apps opened. Closing this app should restore normalcy here.
  • Presence of malware: Another possible reason for this issue is the presence of viruses on your PC. Running a malware scan with Microsoft Defender or third-party antivirus software should do the trick.

How can I improve PC performance on Windows 10?

1. Check the RAM usage and close the background processes

  1. Right-click the taskbar and select Task Manager.
    speed up windows 10 task manager
  2. To check RAM usage, select the Performance tab on the Task Manager window as shown below (that includes a Memory graph that shows you the amount of RAM in use).
  3. Click the Processes tab. That shows your software open on the taskbar and background processes.
  4. Select background processes there and press their End task button to close them (do not close the more essential processes listed under Windows processes).

RAM is perhaps the most crucial system resource. This is the amount of temporary storage a PC has for software.

All software needs at least a little RAM, and many open programs and background processes will overstretch system resources. For example, new Windows games are generally the most resource-hungry software.

So, to improve your PC performance for Windows 10 gaming, you need to reduce your PC RAM usage.

Don’t forget that disabling browser extensions, apps, and plug-ins will also save some RAM.

2. Run the System File Checker

  1. Press the Windows key, type cmd, and select Run as administrator under Command Prompt.
    cmd admin improve pc performance windows 10
  2. Type the command below and hit Enter to run it: sfc/scannowsfc scan
  3. Then, finally, wait for the command to finish running.

The System File Checker is a somewhat overlooked maintenance tool that can fix corrupt system files. So, the SFC scan should be your go-to option to speed up Windows 10 with one command.

3. Use a third-party software

One of the best ways to improve performance in Windows 10 is to use a reliable third-party optimization tool.

While some optimizations could be done manually, they require a certain degree of skill and experience to pull off. Otherwise, you might end up damaging your PC instead of repairing it.

Remember that the best Windows 10 optimizer software comes with PC cleaning features, speed boosters, and integrated performance monitors.

On top of that, many of these tools allow you to create backups of your registries before fixing them, ensuring that no damage is done to your PC.

You can also use these utilities to manage your disks. They typically include disk defragmentation tools and disk backup and restore options.

4. Remove the Startup items

  1. Open the Task Manager as before.
  2. Now click the Startup tab to open a list of your startup software as below.
  3. Right-click each startup item and select the Disable option.
    disable

You can save RAM and speed up the Windows 10 startup by removing startup software. Those are programs that open automatically during the Windows startup.

5. Update the drives with third-party software

Antiquated drivers can slow down desktops and laptops, and some hardware devices might not work correctly without the most updated drivers.

True, Windows Update automatically updates essential drivers, but that doesn’t guarantee it will update all of them. As such, you can check and update drivers with the Device Manager in Windows.

However, there are various third-party driver updating programs that identify and update outdated drivers automatically.

    6. Speed up the Windows 10 Boot

  1. 1. In the Windows search box type Control Panel and hit Enter.

  2. 2. Click on System.

    improve pc performance system

  3. 3. Now select Power & sleep and click on Additional power settings.

    improve pc performance power

  4. 4. Click Choose what the power buttons do on the left of the tab.

    improve pc performance buttons

  5. 5. The System Settings tab includes a Turn on fast startup option. If that option is grayed out, select Change settings that are currently unavailable.

    improve pc performance windows settings

  6. 6. Click the Turn on fast startup checkbox to select that option.

  7. 7. Press the Save Changes button to apply the new setting.

    improve pc performance startup

  8. 8. Press the Windows key + R keyboard shortcut and enter msconfig to access System Configuration.

    improve pc performance optimize

  9. 9. Click the Boot tab to open the settings.

  10. 10. Select the No GUI boot option to remove the Windows welcome screen.

    improve pc performance

  11. 11. Press Apply and then click OK to save the settings.

  12. 12. Restart Windows to apply the new MSconfig settings.

If Windows 10 takes a while to boot up fully, you can speed it up to improve PC performance. You can boost the startup with the Turn on fast startup option and the MSConfig tool included in Windows.

7. Adjust the Performance options

  1. Press the Windows key + R hotkey, tap in sysdm.cpl, and press Enter.
    sysdm improve pc performance windows 10
  2. Now, click the Advanced tab on the System Properties window and press the Settings button.
    advanced settings
  3. The Visual Effects tab lists all the effects, which will probably be selected by default.
  4. Selecting the Adjust for best performance option will deselect all the effect settings.
    adjust for best
  5. Finally, press the Apply and OK buttons to confirm the new settings.

Windows 10 also has a Performance Options window from which you can adjust the platform’s visual effects.

The snazzy effects might add a little extra gloss to Windows, but it also need extra system resources.

If your desktop or laptop has more limited RAM, you might switch some effects off to speed it up. Find out more about the sysdm.cpl tool and how to use it in our comprehensive article.

8. Check for low disk space

  1. Click the File Explorer button on the taskbar.
  2. Then select This PC which shows you the devices and drives and how much free HDD you have as below.
  3. You can use a more detailed disk analyzer tool by adding CCleaner to Windows 10. Then open that software, click Tools, and select Disk Analyzer.
  4. You can select to scan for more specific file categories to see what file formats are taking up the most HDD space. Alternatively, you could select the Everything checkbox and press the Analyze button.
  5. Click the Cleaner button at the top left of CCleaner to open its HDD cleaner tool.
  6. You can select to scan for various Windows and third-party software junk files by clicking their corresponding checkboxes. As such, CCleaner is much more flexible than the Disk Clean-up tool.
  7. Press the Scan button to scan for items to delete. Then CCleaner will show you what it will erase and how much storage space will save.
  8. Press the Run Cleaner button to erase the files.
  9. Removing software is the best way to free up HDD space. Click Tools and select Uninstall.
  10. You can select the software there and press the Uninstall button to remove programs.

That is how to clean up your computer to run faster Windows 10. Almost every PC optimization utility comes with a hard disk cleaner, and Windows also has its own Disk Clean-up tool to delete junk files with.

HDD cleaners are essential tools, as overly full hard disks can slow things down. In addition, virtual memory combines RAM and hard disk space, so a full hard disk restricts the amount of virtual memory.

In addition, erasing junk files will give you more space for software and your own documents, photos, MP3s, videos, etc.

The solution above shows you how you can check for low HDD space and erase junk files with CCleaner, which has better options than the Disk Clean-up tool.

9. Run the System Maintenance Troubleshooter

  1. In the Windows search box, type Control Panel and press Enter.
  2. Then, click on System and Security and select Security and maintenance.security and maintenance control panel
  3. Click on Maintenance.
    maintenance
  4. Click on Start maintenance with the windows defender shield icon next to it.
    start maintenance
  5. Wait for the process to finish.

The System Maintenance troubleshooter is another handy tool that can boost PC performance. This deletes unused shortcuts and files and fulfills other maintenance duties.

For example, running the tool can fix the troubleshooting history that’s taking up disk space.

10. Speed up context menus

  1. Press the Windows key + R, type regedit, and click OK.
    regedit
  2. Navigate to this registry key: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop
  3. Double-click MenuShowDelay.
    menu show
  4. Set the Value data to something like 270.
  5. Finally, click the OK button.
    value data

This is a basic registry tweak. Adjusting the MenuShowDelay string can minimize the delay before a context menu opens. By default, that string has a 400-millisecond delay.

Those are a few best ways to improve your PC performance on Windows 10.

There’s no essential requirement for extra third-party software, but freeware programs such as Outbyte Driver Updater and CCleaner have better options for updating drivers and deleting junk files.

However, Windows 10 already has the more essential maintenance tools and options you’ll need.

If you need a list of the best Windows utilities to tune up your PC, check our detailed guide for the top options.

If you have any more tips or questions about the subject, please share them in the comments section below.

Fix: This Screensaver Requires the Adobe Flash Player

Posted on by Milan Stanojevic

The screensaver is an excellent addition that helps personalize the device, and many have become fond of it using the same screensaver for years.

Since Flash is no longer available, many users reported that their screensaver has also stopped working, creating frustration and discomfort.

This guide will show you how to get rid of this screensaver requires the Adobe Flash Player for Internet Explorer error message on your PC.

How can I fix This screensaver requires the Adobe Flash Player for Internet Explorer?

1. Use the built-in screensaver in Windows 10

  1. Press the Windows key + S, type screensaver, and select Change screen saver from the results list.
  2. Open the Screen saver menu and select one of the available screensavers.
  3. Finally, click on Apply and OK to save changes.

Thankfully, Windows 10 comes with a built-in screensaver option. You can either choose from the existing options or upload different pictures and create one.

You will have 6 available options at your disposal, and you can change the settings as needed to ensure that the final result is satisfactory.

2. Use a specialized app

We know that change is not always easy or received with open arms, but in this case, since Flash is no longer supported in Windows 10, using the old screensaver based on it is no longer an option.

Thankfully, there is specialized software available that offers you an impressive number of screensavers that you can install on your device.

One such tool we have tested, and we recommend you give it a try, is DeskScapes. It’s easy to install and to start using.

3. Check for the newer version of the screensaver

If the Flash screensaver is not working, your best choice of action is to replace it. However, some well-known screensavers are getting updated to work without Flash.

If your favorite screensaver isn’t working, check the development page. You will see if the developers are working on a new version.

Keep in mind that this applies only to newer screensavers. If you’re using a screensaver five or more years old, it’s likely that it won’t get updated.

As shown in this article, although letting go of the old screensaver may not be comfortable, using a new one is a simple process.

By following any of our suggestions, you can fix this this screensaver requires the Adobe Flash Player for Internet Explorer easily on your PC.

If you need a list of the best aesthetic screensavers for Windows 10, check our detailed guide for the top options. We also have a guide that explores if it’s possible to download Adobe Flash Player for Windows 10, so don’t miss it.

Feel free to let us know if you have any suggestions or recommendations in the comments below.

The Remote Connection was not Made: 9 Ways to Resolve it

Posted on by Matthew Adams

VPNs (Virtual Private Networks) are tools that make it harder for outside entities to track your browsing behavior while circumventing censorship. While many users use VPNs relatively quickly, some complain that the remote connection was not made.

This issue can be frustrating, but it is not the most difficult to solve, as we will show in this guide.

What caused The remote connection was not made because the name of the remote access server did not resolve?

Several factors can cause the remote connection was not made error message. Below are some of the notable causes:

  • Issues with third-party apps: One of the first things to check is if there is no third-party app messing with your VPN. You can verify this by performing a clean boot and removing any faulty app on your PC.
  • Antivirus interference: At times, the connection to the remote computer cannot be established error message can happen because your antivirus or firewall is blocking the connection. Disabling the two security features temporarily should fix the issue.
  • Wrong hostname: Sometimes, you might encounter this error if you enter the wrong hostname. So, ensure that the hostname you entered is correct.

Speaking of this problem, here are some similar errors that users reported:

  • The remote connection was not made because the attempted VPN tunnels failed Windows 10, Windows 11, and L2TP/IPsec: This is another variation of this problem. If you encounter this issue, try disabling your antivirus or firewall and check if that helps.
  • A connection to the remote access was not made because the modem was not found: According to users, this error can appear due to your DNS, so try changing your DNS settings and check if that solves the problem.
  • The remote connection was not made error 800, 868: There are various error codes that can appear alongside this message. However, you should be able to fix them using one of our solutions.
  • The remote connection was denied, has timed out, was interrupted, and is reconnecting: This issue can be caused by your configuration. To fix the problem, check the configuration and see if that helps.
  • The remote connection was denied because the username and password on the Mikrotik router: Make sure you entered the correct credentials.

How can I fix The remote connection was not made because the name of the remote access server did not resolve?

1. Double-check the Hostname

First, double-check that you’re entering the correct hostname.

The hostname is the device’s name that configures the remote access, as explained above. Check the name and make sure it matches the Hostname in your remote access connection.

Ensure there are no typos in the hostname entered to connect with VPN. Alternatively, you can establish a VPN connection with your server IP address.

2. Use a reliable VPN to create a remote connection

  1. Download and install ExpressVPN.
  2. Launch it from the Start Menu.
  3. Tweak your connection preferences.

VPNs are beneficial, and more often than not, you will eventually have to resort to using one.

Several benefits come with a good VPN.

First and foremost, they ensure your connection is private and protect sensitive data about your identity, location, and browsing activity.

Secondly, they can help boost your connection for gaming or help you access the geo-restricted content on streaming platforms.

Unfortunately, if the VPN you use is not completely up-to-date or set up faulty, you may experience errors like this Remote access connection.

VPN software is quite similar in settings, so you can follow this guide even if you use something else.

If you have a VPN that automatically connects to a server, try manually changing to a different server and see if the problem persists.

ExpressVPN

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3. Flush the DNS and reset Winstock

  1. Press the Windows key, type cmd, and select Run as administrator under Command Prompt.
  2. Run the following commands one by one: ipconfig /flushdnsipconfig /registerdns ipconfig /release ipconfig /renew netsh winsock reset

Flushing the DNS (Domain Name System) and resetting network settings are some of the most effective fixes for this VPN error. After running these commands, check if the problem is resolved.

4. Disable your firewall

  1. Press the Windows key + S, type firewall, and choose Windows Defender Firewall from the list.
  2. Select Turn Windows Defender Firewall on or off in the left pane.
  3. Now, select Turn off Windows Defender Firewall (not recommended) for both Private and Public networks and click OK to save changes.

A firewall is a great security feature, but sometimes your firewall can cause The remote connection was not made error to appear. If you encounter this issue, you might have to temporarily disable your firewall.

If the problem doesn’t appear after doing this, your firewall isn’t correctly configured. Therefore, you need to enable your firewall and check your configuration to fix it.

5. Change your DNS

  1. Right-click the network icon on your Taskbar and select your network from the menu.
  2. Now click on the Change adapter options.
  3. A list of all network connections on your PC will now appear. Next, right-click your network connection and choose Properties.
  4. Select Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) and click Properties.
  5. Now select Use the following DNS server addresses and enter 8.8.8.8 as Preferred DNS server and 8.8.4.4 as Alternate DNS server.
  6. Now, click OK to save changes.

After doing that, you’ll use Google’s DNS, and the issue should be resolved. If you want, you can also use OpenDNS or any other DNS by using this method.

6. Restart RasMan process

  1. Press the Windows key + S, type cmd, and select Run as administrator under Command Prompt.
    cmd adminthe remote connection was not made
  2. Type the following commands and hit Enter after each: net stop RasMannet start net start RasMannet

Many users reported that The remote connection was not made error message can occur due to RasMan process. To fix the problem, it’s required that you restart this process.

After running these two commands, the RasMan process will restart, and the issue should be resolved entirely.

7. Disable third-party antivirus software

If you keep getting The remote connection was not made an error message the problem might be your antivirus. Third-party antivirus tools can sometimes interfere with Windows and cause this and other errors to occur.

To fix the problem, you need to disable certain antivirus features and check if that helps. For example, you might have to disable your antivirus if the issue is still temporary.

If this fixes the issue, you might have to remove the security software and use another. Many options are available so that you can find the best antivirus software for your particular needs.

8. Disable your proxy

  1. Press the Windows key + I to open the Settings app and select Network & Internet.
  2. Select Proxy from the menu on the left, and in the right pane, disable all options.

Many users use proxy to protect their privacy online, but sometimes your proxy can cause The remote connection was not made an error to appear. To fix the problem, it’s advised to disable your proxy.

9. Perform a clean boot

  1. Press the Windows key + R, type msconfig, and click OK.
  2. Select the Services tab, check the Hide all Microsoft services box, and click the Disable all button.
  3. Navigate to the Startup tab and click Open Task Manager.
  4. Right-click each entry on the newly opened Task Manager window and choose Disable.
  5. Once you disable all startup apps, go back to the System Configuration window and click Apply, followed by OK.
  6. Finally, restart your PC.

Sometimes third-party applications or services can interfere with Windows and cause this and other errors to appear. It would be best to start your PC in Clean boot mode to fix the problem.

Once your PC restarts, check if the problem is still there. If not, you need to enable disabled services and apps one by one until you find the cause.

Once you find the problematic application, you must remove it from your Windows 10 PC.

These are tested solutions to get back on your remote desktop connection. In addition, there are several ways you can connect from one device to another and control a PC through another PC.

You could use Windows 10’s built-in Remote Desktop feature or a third-party remote access tool such as TeamViewer.

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

Edge Collections not Syncing: 3 Ways to get Them Working

Posted on by Loredana Harsana

In this guide, we explore the issue of Edge collections not syncing.

Microsoft Edge has quickly become one of the most powerful web browsers available. The various features and performance awards that it earns regularly are impressive, but one, in particular, stands out for users who need to interact with more devices.

Without a doubt, we’re referring to the Microsoft Edge sync feature, a useful tool that makes our lives substantially more accessible.

Without further ado, here’s how to fix Collections syncing in Microsoft Edge on desktops and smartphones.

Why are Edge Collections not syncing?

There could be several reasons why Edge Collections are not syncing, including the following:

  • Sync is not turned on – Make sure that sync is turned on for Edge Collections in your browser settings.
  • Internet connection issues – Check that you have a stable internet connection, as syncing requires an active connection.
  • Outdated browser or OS – Ensure that you are running the latest version of Edge and that your OS is up to date.
  • Sync conflicts – If you have changed Edge Collections on multiple devices, there may be conflicts preventing syncing. 
  • Server issues – There could be server issues preventing sync from occurring. 

Once we have an excellent comprehension of a possible cause, it is time to visit the top recommended solutions.

What can I do if Collections aren’t syncing in Windows 11?

1. Sign in with a local account

  1. Press the Windows key + I to open the Settings app, and navigate to Accounts in the left panel, followed by Your info from the right side.acc-info edge collections not syncing
  2. Now scroll down until you meet the Sign in with a local account instead option and click on it.local-acc edge collections not syncing
  3. Choose your Microsoft account, enter your password, then restart your computer to apply the changes made.

You can also test whether the Collections feature is syncing with your devices after you log into the same local account on all your other devices.

2. Enable Collections syncing from Edge

  1. Enter Edge, click on your icon, then choose Manage profile settings under the drop-down panel.sync-manage edge collections not syncing
  2. Now click on the Sync option, scroll down until you meet the Collections option, and switch on the toggle next to it.sync-on edge collections not syncing

Restart Edge, then test whether Collections syncing is working correctly on all your devices. Again, don’t forget to be logged in with the same account everywhere.

3. Restart the SettingsSyncHost.exe process

  1. Press the CTRL + ALT + DELETE buttons on your keyboard simultaneously, then click on Task Manager to open it.task-manager-home edge collections not syncing
  2. Now search for the SettingsSyncHost.exe process, click on it, and choose End task.end-task edge collections not syncing
  3. Click on File on the top, choose the Run new task option, type in SettingsSyncHost.exe, then hit Enter to restart the process.new-task edge collections not syncing

It is possible that the SettingsSyncHost.exe process itself is not functioning correctly in some instances. Thus ending the task and restarting it will give it a fresh start and remove any errors along the way.

In conclusion, Edge Collections can help organize and manage your browsing activities. However, when they fail to sync correctly, it can be frustrating and lead to losing important data.

By following the three methods outlined in this article, you can synch your Edge Collections again in no time.

CCleaner not Installing: 7 Solutions to Make it Work Again

Posted on by Madalina Dinita

CCleaner is one of the most popular programs for cleaning and optimizing a computer. Although it has a free version, this program offers the facilities of the most expensive programs of its kind.

It keeps your computer clean and increases its operating speed by deleting temporary files and browser caches and fixing DLLs and the registry. In addition, it has different functions to customize and optimize your computer: Duplicate Finder, Disk Analyzer, Startup, System Restore, and many more.

Many users complain they cannot start the installation due to the following error Windows cannot access the specified device, path, or file. This is because you may not have the appropriate permissions to access the item.

Let us discuss some causes and the most reliable solutions.

Why is CCleaner not installing?

There could be a variety of reasons why CCleaner is not installing, including the following:

  • Corrupted installation file – CCleaner may not be installing because the installation file may be corrupt. For example, a bad download, a virus infection, or an interrupted download process can corrupt the file. 
  • Lack of administrative privileges – You must have administrative privileges on your computer to install CCleaner. This is because the installation process requires permissions only an administrator can grant. 
  • Conflicting software – CCleaner may not install if there is conflicting software on your computer. Antivirus software, firewalls, or other system utilities may interfere with the installation process. 
  • Insufficient disk space – CCleaner may not install if your computer has low disk space. This is because the installation requires a certain amount of free space on your hard drive. 

CCleaner is a great application; however, many users reported that the CCleaner installer doesn’t work on their PC. Not being able to install CCleaner can be a problem, and speaking of problems, users reported the following issues as well:

  • CCleaner This app can’t run on this PC – This is a relatively common problem, and we already covered the similar issue in our This app can’t run on this PC article, so you might want to check it out for more in-depth solutions.
  • CCleaner installer has stopped working, not working, won’t run – Many issues can occur and prevent you from installing CCleaner. If you encounter any problems, ensure you have the necessary permissions.
  • CCleaner this installer requires you to be logged in as an administrator – Sometimes, this error can occur if you don’t have administrative privileges on your PC. However, you can fix this simply by running the setup file as the administrator.

Below we go through some of the most recommended solutions.

What can I do if CCleaner is not installing?

1. Check and disable your antivirus

  1. Click on the hidden access arrow in the Taskbar.
    ccleaner not installing
  2. Click on your antivirus icon, hover over Avast shields Control and select Disable for 10 minutes (This step varies for different antivirus software).

Sometimes your antivirus can prevent you from installing certain applications, and to fix that, you might have to disable certain antivirus features and see if that helps.

If disabling the features doesn’t work, you might temporarily have to disable your entire antivirus. Once you do that, try to install it again and check if that solves the issue.

What we recommend you do in this particular case to fix the issue is to remove your antivirus software and install another option that won’t interfere with other apps on your PC.

Thankfully, you can find plenty of good antivirus software that can protect your device without affecting other apps or using too many CPU resources.

If you are unsure which one will work best for you, we recommend getting an antivirus with a trial version. This will allow testing the software for free, so you won’t be stuck with a subscription you’re not completely satisfied with.

2. Check your permissions

  1. Right-click on the file and select Properties.
    ccleaner not installing
  2. Now click the Security tab, select your name from the Group or user names tab, and click on the Edit button.
    ccleaner not installing
  3. All you have to do here is to check the Full Control, then click on Apply, and you can work with that file.

3. Reinstall CCleaner

  1. Head to the location where you typically store your applications. Typically a local disk such as the path below:
    C:\ Program Files
  2. See if you have any CCleaner folder and open it.
  3. If you have an uninstaller wizard in the folder, open it and follow the prompts to uninstall the current version of CCleaner.
  4. Wait for the process to complete, check if you still have the CCleaner folder in Program Files, and delete it.
  5. Head to the CCleaner website and download the installer.
  6. Follow the prompts and complete the installation.
Note icon NOTE
If CCleaner has previously been uninstalled from your PC, you may not have the uninstaller file in Program Files, but it’s still possible to have other leftover files. In this case, skip Step 3 and delete your files.

According to users that claim to have this issue, the installation process was finished without any problems after removing junk files.

If you are unsure where your leftover files may be or how to ensure they’re completely gone, check the following solution for more in-depth information on this topic.

4. Remove all CCleaner files

Many users reported that they could not install a new version of CCleaner on their PC. This can occur if you have files from the previous version of it that is still on your PC.

To fix this problem, it’s advised to remove any leftover files and registry entries from your PC. This is a tedious task if you plan to do it manually, so it’s always better to use an automated solution.

Many great applications can easily remove leftover files, thus eliminating any trace of the selected program from your PC.

Uninstaller software is configured only to remove the apps you select. They do not affect anything else on your system, so they are completely safe.

Many uninstallers are also equipped with optimization tools that help clean your PC of broken files, registry entries, cluttered browser caches, and more.

If you want an all-in-one solution, we recommend checking all the best options available to see what they offer.

5. Rename the installation file

According to users, sometimes the CCleaner installer won’t work due to the name of their installation file. This is a strange problem, but you need to find your setup file and rename it to fix it.

Simply rename the setup file to CCleaner or Setup and try to install the application again.

After doing that, the problem should be resolved entirely, and CCleaner will start installing. This is a simple workaround, but it works according to some users, so we suggest you try it out.

6. Run the setup as an administrator

  1. Right-click on the installation.
  2. Select the option to Run as administrator.
    ccleaner not installing
  3. Click to confirm your choice, then follow the wizard.

Sometimes this problem can occur if you don’t have the necessary privileges to install the application. You can fix that simply by trying to install CCleaner as administrator.

After doing that, the setup should start with administrative privileges, and you should be able to install CCleaner without any problems.

7. Check if CCleaner is already running

  1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
  2. When Task Manager opens, locate CCleaner on the list of running applications, right-click it, and choose End Task from the menu.
  3. Reinstall the application.

If you can’t install CCleaner on your PC, the problem might be caused by a background process. Several users reported that CCleaner keeps running in the background, and that can prevent the installation from running.

To fix this issue, you must ensure that CCleaner is completely closed. To do that, close all CCleaner windows on your PC and check if that solves the problem.

If none of these methods work, we recommend you scan your computer with a good antivirus program or contact the Support department of the developers.

But we are confident you should resolve the issue using one of the recommended solutions.

Lastly, let us know in the comments below what worked for you.

Asus Router Port Forwarding not Working: 4 Ways to Enable it

Posted on by Vlad Turiceanu

Asus routers are known for their robust features and performance, but sometimes, users may encounter issues like Asus router port forwarding not working.

This can prevent you from accessing certain services or applications that require specific ports to be open. This article will discuss the common reasons port forwarding may not work on your Asus router and provide several solutions to enable it.

Understanding and resolving port forwarding issues on your Asus router can significantly improve your online experience, whether you are trying to host a game server or access a device remotely.

Why is port forwarding not working?

There could be several reasons port forwarding is not working on your Asus computer. Some common causes include:

  • Incorrect port forwarding rules – Incorrectly configured port forwarding rules can prevent the router from forwarding traffic to the intended destination.
  • Firewall settings – The firewall settings on your computer or router can block incoming traffic, preventing port forwarding from working.
  • ISP restrictions – Some ISPs may block specific ports or restrict incoming traffic, preventing port forwarding from working.
  • Outdated firmware – Outdated firmware can cause compatibility issues with the router, preventing port forwarding from working.
  • Network congestion – A congested network can cause slow or dropped packets, preventing port forwarding from working.

Regardless of the cause, it would be best if you went through some of the effective fixes we suggest in the next section.

How can I fix the Asus router port forwarding if it’s not working?

Before going into any solutions, check with your ISP. Some ISPs may block specific ports or restrict incoming traffic, preventing port forwarding from working. Check with your ISP to see if they are blocking the ports you are trying to forward.

Also, restart the router. A restart will force the device to correctly shutdown, and this could fix little problems.

1. Turn off UPnP

  1. Launch your browser and input the router’s IP address in the address bar to open the router’s web interface, then log in using your administrator username and password.
    asus router port forwarding not working
  2. Under Advanced settings, select WAN.
    asus router port forwarding not working
  3. Change the setting for UPnP to No. This will disable the UPnP feature on your router.
  4. After disabling UPnP, click Save or Apply to save the changes.
  5. Finally, to complete the process, restart your router by unplugging it from the power source, waiting a few seconds, and then plugging it back in.

2. Update the firmware

  1. Launch your browser and input the router’s IP address in the address bar to open the router’s web interface, then log in using your administrator username and password.asus router port forwarding not working
  2. Click on the Firmware Upgrade menu, select Check if there is no ready upgrade, or the Firmware Upgrade button if one is available.
    asus router port forwarding not working
  3. Once the Upgrade has been downloaded, go back to the Firmware Upgrade menu and click on Upload.
  4. Follow the on-screen instructions to install the firmware. This process may take several minutes.
  5. Lastly, restart the router by unplugging it from the power source, waiting a few seconds, and then plugging it back in.

3. Enable port forwarding

  1. Launch your browser and input the router’s IP address in the address bar to open the router’s web interface, then log in using your administrator username and password.asus router port forwarding not working
  2. On the left pane under Advanced Settings, click on WAN.
  3. Click Yes under Enable Port Forwarding. then leave the Source Target field blank, and finally, click the Apply button.

4. Factory reset your ASUS router

As a last resort, users describe removing all their port forwards, saving their configuration settings, and eventually performing a factory reset.

You could do the same. Then, reload your saved configuration file, re-add the port forwards you had in mind, and check if the issue persists.

If you want software that can automatically configure your router, look at this list with our top picks and choose the one that’s right for you.

Should I enable port forwarding on my router?

Whether you should enable port forwarding on your router depends on your specific needs and requirements. Here are some of the pros of allowing port forwarding:

  • Improved accessibility – It can allow access to specific services or applications hosted on a device on your network.
  • Improved online gaming experience – It can enhance your online gaming experience. Allowing game servers to communicate with your device.
  • Better remote access – It enhances remote access to devices by allowing you to access them from anywhere on the internet.
  • Improved security – Port forwarding can also enhance the security of your network by only allowing incoming traffic to specific ports, reducing the risk of unauthorized access.
  • Improved device functionality – Port forwarding can also enhance the functionality of specific devices by allowing them to communicate with other devices on your network.

Hopefully, issues like this will not come up often. However, when they do, remember this remains a great place to find easy solutions.

Microsoft Viva Engage: How to use Insights & Goals

Posted on by Rafly Gilang

Over a decade ago, Microsoft purchased Yammer for over $1 billion, then included it in all enterprise plans of Microsoft 365 and Teams. Now, the social networking service, which sometimes is barred by error on Chrome, is being retired and integrated into its employee experience platforms, Viva and Viva Engange. 

Starting March 2023, the total rebrand comes to its full circle. The tech giant launched Viva in February 2021 as a platform living inside Microsoft Teams and its answer to the challenge of the growing hybrid workforce.

Confusing? We’d think so too. After all, why does Microsoft have two apps of practically the same service? To answer that, throughout 2023, Microsoft will impose several drastic changes by changing the existing Yammer mobile and web app to Viva Engage. 

“In the coming year, all of Yammer will become Viva Engage, retiring the Yammer brand. In addition, we’ll continue to enhance Viva Engage with new capabilities that spur leadership engagement, authentic expression, events, and knowledge discovery, including new experiences rolling out today.”

All the power of Yammer is coming to Viva, which means there will be no changes to the features and current pricing plans. Viva is currently living inside all Microsoft 365 and Office 365 plans for the enterprise. For $9 per user/month, organizations can access Viva’s additional services such as Connections, Engage, Learning, Insights, Topics, Goals, and Sales.

Viva Insight, which also lives inside Microsoft Teams, pans out personalized insights to help you finish your next task and build better work habits by aggregating data from emails, meetings, calls, and chats in one go. 

With Goals, organizations can align their members to their strategies by mapping out all the key objectives required to achieve the results, in a place where everyone can see. 

How can I use Insight & Goals in Microsoft Viva Engage?

1. Ask your organization’s administrator whether your company collaborates on Microsoft Viva. Check on Viva’s price plans here ➜ Buy now.

2. Depending on the plan, all the features will be inside Microsoft Teams. Only Viva Suite users get access to Insight & Goals. Click on Insight on your left screen. 

3. Or, click on Goals, which also is on your left screen.

Additionally, the new Viva also means a worldwide rollout for the Viva suite and Microsoft Viva Topics customers for features that were only available on Engage back then. Those features include AMA events, a campaign planner, AI-powered learning tool Answer, and advanced analytics. 

Are you excited about this rollout? Let us know in the comments!

Hearthstone not Responding: Repair it With These 7 Fixes

Posted on by Milan Stanojevic

Hearthstone is currently one of the most popular trading card games on PC, but users report having issues with Hearthstone and Windows 10. In some cases, Hearthstone is not responding.

Here we will cover some of the most common issues and try to resolve them. For example, users have reported having game lagging and black screen issues, so let’s see if we can fix them.

Why am I stuck at the loading screen of Hearthstone?

You are stuck at the loading screen in Hearthstone for many reasons. Some common causes include:

  • Network connection issues – A weak or unstable network connection can cause problems loading the game.
  • Outdated drivers – Outdated drivers can cause compatibility issues with the game, causing it to get stuck at the loading screen.
  • Incompatible software – Other software running on your device may conflict with Hearthstone, causing it to get stuck at the loading screen.
  • Corrupted game files – Corrupted game files can cause issues when loading the game, leading to it getting stuck at the loading screen.
  • System compatibility issues – If your device does not meet the system requirements for Hearthstone, it may get stuck at the loading screen.

What are other common Hearthstone problems?

Here are some common Hearthstone issues that users reported:

  • Hearthstone not working on PC – The most likely cause is your drivers. First, update your display drivers to the latest version and check if that solves the problem.
  • Hearthstone connection, lag issues, latency issues PC – Can be caused by your DNS, but you can fix them by switching to Google’s DNS. You can also try restarting your router.
  • Hearthstone not loading – Your antivirus usually causes this, so be sure to add Hearthstone to the list of exceptions.
  • Hearthstone fps, freezing issues – The issue might be the process priority or affinity. You can fix this right from Task Manager.
  • Hearthstone startup issues and launch problems – If this happens, ensure you use a dedicated GPU. You might have to disable the built-in GPU from BIOS to fix this issue.

With that out of the way, below are our top recommended fixes.

How can I fix Hearthstone if it’s not responding?

Before you try any of the solutions listed below, restart your device and reboot your router. Connection issues are a significant trigger, and these two steps may be necessary for removing processes that spoil the connection.

1. Keep your display drivers up to date

Many users have reported stuttering issues on Windows 10, and it has been reported that updating your display drivers to the latest version fixes these issues.

Nvidia users have confirmed that the latest drivers are fixing the stuttering problems, but it won’t hurt to update your drivers if you’re an AMD user.

We recommend Outbyte Driver Updater to download all outdated drivers on your PC automatically. The process is automatic and a lot safer than looking for drivers yourself.

Start by downloading and installing this great tool. After the installation, the software will start automatically and look for driver issues or updates for your system.

The result will come after a few seconds in the form of a list with recommended drivers to update.

The rest is a formality; you have to click on the Update All button to install all the drivers at once or check the individual boxes for each driver to install them separately.

Outbyte Driver Updater

Using Outbyte Driver Updater, you will solve the Hearthstone problem and return to what’s important: playing the game!
Free trial Visit website

2. Check your antivirus and disable it

  1. Click on the hidden access arrow in the Taskbar.
    hearthstone not responding
  2. Click on your antivirus icon, hover over Avast shields Control and select Disable for 10 minutes (This step varies for different antivirus software).

If you’re having Hearthstone issues on your PC, your antivirus may be the cause. Unfortunately, sometimes a third-party antivirus can interfere with your system, and that will cause this and many other errors to occur.

Apart from disabling the antivirus, you may ensure that Hearthstone is added to the list of exceptions in your antivirus and firewall.

However, if disabling the antivirus doesn’t help, your next step would be to uninstall your antivirus. Several users reported that removing their antivirus solved the issue, so try that.

A couple of users reported that McAfee caused this problem. Once the antivirus is removed, check if the problem is still there.

If removing the antivirus solves the problem, you should consider switching to a different antivirus solution.

The best antiviruses compatible with Windows 10 PCs will protect your system in real time without causing any errors.

3. Add Hearthstone to the Windows Defender Exclusions list

  1. Press the Windows Key + I to open the Settings app.
  2. Go to the Update & Security section.
  3. Select Windows Defender from the menu on the left and choose Open Windows Defender Security Center from the right pane.
    Hearthstone freezing issues
  4. Go to the Virus & threat protection.
  5. Navigate to Virus & threat protection settings.
  6. Select Add or remove exclusions.
  7. Click Add an exclusion, select Folder, and choose Hearthstone’s directory.

Check if the issue of Hearthstone not responding is resolved.

4. Delete the Hearthstone folder from AppData

  1. Press Windows Key + R, type %localappdata%, and press Enter.
    Hearthstone not loading
  2. Go to the BlizzardHearthstone directory.
  3. Delete the Hearthstone folder, or move it to your Desktop or any other location.
  4. Start the game now and see if the stuttering issues persist.

5. Disable Switchable graphics from BIOS

  1. When your computer boots, keep pressing Delete, F2, or F12 to enter BIOS.
  2. Locate the Switchable graphics and turn them off.
    hearthstone not responding
  3. Make sure that you save the changes.

Note: This solution only works if you have both integrated and dedicated graphics cards.

6. Use Google DNS

  1. Click the network icon on your Taskbar and select your network.
    Hearthstone fps issues
  2. Select Change adapter options.
  3. Right-click your network connection and choose Properties.
    Hearthstone not working on PC
  4. Select Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) and click the Properties button.
    Hearthstone not working on PC
  5. Select Use the following DNS server addresses. Be sure to enter 8.8.8.8 as the Preferred and 8.8.4.4 as the Alternate DNS server. Click OK to save the changes.
    Hearthstone connection issues PC

Note: Keep in mind that switching to Google’s DNS can cause some latency issues, but that won’t be a problem for a game such as Hearthstone.

7. Change Hearthstone’s priority and affinity

  1. Start Hearthstone, and press Alt + Tab to minimize the game.
  2. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open the Task Manager, go to the Details tab, and locate Hearthstone on the list.
  3. Right-click Hearthstone and, choose Set priority, set any other value higher than normal (some users even suggest using Realtime value, but that might cause issues on your PC).
    Hearthstone fps issues
  4. Right-click the Hearthstone process again and choose Set affinity.
    Hearthstone startup issues
  5. Ensure only the CPU 0 is checked and disable all the rest. Click OK.
    Hearthstone not working on PC

Note: Keep in mind that this is just a workaround, so you’ll have to repeat it every time you want to start Hearthstone.

Hearthstone is a great, widely-popular game, so that possible issues could spoil users’ experience. The Hearthstone not responding is one such issue.

However, we hope this article helped you solve all your problems with Hearthstone and that you can play the game without any interruptions now.

If you have any comments or questions, leave us a line in the comments section below.

NordVPN Not Working on Windows 11: 4 Easy Ways to Fix It

Posted on by Alexandru Poloboc

Many applications have issues with the latest version of Windows, and many reported that NordVPN is not working on Windows 11.

If this happens, NordVPN won’t connect and you won’t be able to protect your privacy. In this article, we will show you how to fix this issue for good. But first, let’s see what are the reasons for this problem and try to understand the issue.

Why is NordVPN not working on my Windows 11 PC?

The problem is that NordVPN can’t connect to the NordLynx adapter and which is a VPN protocol that helps improve the connection to a server. Additional causes include:

  • Compatibility issues – Certain software might not be fully compatible with Windows 11 yet, and that can lead to issues such as this one.
  • Tunnel drivers – Issues with drivers can cause this problem. If that happens, you need to remove and manually install drivers.
  • Registry issues – Sometimes registry keys will interfere with your software, and to fix that you’ll need to manually remove them using Registry Editor.

In addition to that, the users reported other issues with NordVPN software on Windows 11 and these are as follows:

  • Failed to turn on NordLynx Windows 11 (NordLynx adapter can’t be reached Windows 11)
  • NordVPN won’t open Windows 11
  • Can’t add NordVPN to Windows 11
  • NordLynx tunnel Windows 11 unreachable
  • NordVPN not working after the update to Windows 11

However, you can still go through our list including the best VPNs that work on Windows 11, and choose the right one for your needs.

Other reliable VPNs for Windows 11 that you can trust

Rest assured that there are alternatives to this VPN software if you just can’t get it to function on Windows 11.

Hence, if you tried to fix NordVPN multiple times and it doesn’t work, consider the following market-leading VPN apps that are compatible with your Windows 11 PC:

➡️ Private Internet Access – The highest VPN servers you can connect to increase your Internet speed

➡️ Surfshark – Affordable price and access to unlimited devices to fast VPN servers

➡️ ExpressVPN – Extensive server network in 90 different regions

➡️ CyberGhost – Comprehensive anonymity tools with 100% digital privacy

➡️ IP Vanish – Extremely secure VPN connection with WireGuard fast speeds

All being said, you can opt-in for any other professional VPN from here and get full privacy on your Windows 11 device.

How can I fix NordVPN not working on Windows 11?

1. Run the app in Compatibility mode

  1. Press the Windows key + E to start a File Explorer window and navigate to the NordVPN installation folder. You should find it in the Program Files folder.
  2. Right-click on the executable file and select Properties from the menu.
  3. Now, move to the Compatibility tab, check the box for Run this program in compatibility mode and select Windows 7 from the list.
  4. Click on Apply, then OK and see if the app works fine now.

Some of our readers reported that running NordVPN in Compatibility mode fixed the problem for them so you should definitely try it.

However, this solution doesn’t work for all users and if you’re one of them, move to the next.

2. Change the VPN settings

  1. Click on the gear icon found in the top right corner of the NordVPN app.
  2. Select the Auto Connect option from the left side menu.
  3. Disable the Choose a VPN protocol and server automatically setting.
  4. Click the toogle and choose the OpenVPN (TCP) protocol.

As you can see, it is extremely easy to change this option, and it fixes the NordVPN problem on Windows 11, so make sure to perform this procedure as fast as possible.

3. Reinstall the tunnel drivers

  1. Click the Search icon from the taskbar, type device manager, and open the app from the results.
  2. Expand the Network adapters section, right-click NordVPN Tunneling, and select Uninstall device.
  3. Close the window, click the Search icon again, type control panel and select the app from the results.
  4. Now, click on the Uninstall a program option.
  5. Look for NordVPN Network TUN, right click it and select Uninstall.
  6. After uninstalling the program, restart your PC.
  7. Download the latest NordVPN TUN drivers and install them.

If the step was not too detailed, you may check our guide on how to update your drivers on Windows 11 for more information.

This will be also useful for the next step when you will need to uninstall and reinstall NordVPN.

4. Reinstall NordVPN

  1. Click the Search icon, type control panel, and select the app from the results.
  2. Choose the Uninstall a program option.
  3. Find NordVPN in the list of apps, right click on it and select Uninstall.
  4. After finishing the uninstallation, close the window, press the Windows key + R to start Run, type regedit and press Enter or click OK.
  5. Click on the Edit tab and select Find.
  6. Type NordVPN in the Seach tab and click on Find Next, then delete all the keys associated with the VPN.
  7. Restart your PC and install a fresh copy of NordVPN.

Before starting the application, you need to back up your registry like this:

  1. Open Registry Editor.
  2. Search for NordVPN.
  3. Right-click the keys that contain NordVPN and choose Export.
  4. Name the file and choose a save location. Click on Save.
  5. Repeat these steps for all the keys that contain NordVPN.
  6. Start NordVPN again.

In case the problem appears again, simply run exported reg files to fix the problem.

If you don’t feel confident about manually removing the keys from the Registry, it’s a lot safer to use a dedicated repair tool.

It will do the job a lot faster and it will make sure that there are no leftovers after uninstalling NordVPN.

So there finally is a way that we can get NordVPN to function on the new OS. It’s a bit of a tricky process, but nothing out of the ordinary, even by Microsoft standards.

This solution is the quickest way to access the NordLynx protocol, and it spares you the trouble of having to re-image Windows again.

There are, more than likely, other VPN providers that can still offer their services, even on the new developers’ build of Windows 11, but these are the most popular and sought-after.

Remember that, as we mentioned above, NordVPN still works for some users, so you can also go ahead and give that a try. .

Have you tried Windows 11? If so, what VPN works for you on the new OS? Let us know in the comments section below.

Xbox Friend List Disappeared: How to Finally Fix It

Posted on by Henderson Jayden Harper

Xbox Live Friend lists allow users to add, follow, and keep up with players via messaging and games and view their activity feed.

Sadly, some complain that their Xbox Friends list disappeared from their PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X consoles. This is still a common issue in 2024.

Why can’t I see my friends online on Xbox One?

Xbox Friends list not showing can occur in various instances. It can be that the user can’t see anyone on the Friends list, while some can see a few friends, but their complete list of friends is not showing.

Furthermore, the Xbox One and Xbox Series X consoles not showing friends on the Xbox Live Friends list can be due to many factors. Some factors that may be responsible for the error are:

  • Xbox server issues – When Xbox servers are down or not running as they should, it can affect the console’s abilities and it can cause problems accessing its Friends list.
  • Network connection issues – Users can encounter problems accessing their Friends list due to network connection problems on the Xbox console or app.
  • Bug-related and other Xbox issues – The Xbox app on your device may be affected by bugs, causing it to malfunction. Also, startup errors on the Xbox console can cause the Friends list not to appear.

What can I do if my Xbox friend list disappeared?

1. Power cycle your Xbox console

  1. Press the Power button on the Xbox console for ten seconds to remove any residual energy.Press Xbox power button
  2. Unplug the power cable from the console and wait for 1–2 minutes.
  3. Connect the power cable back into the console and press the Power button to turn it on.
  4. After the Xbox is fully booted, try to access your friends list and see if it appears.

Power cycling the Xbox console will fix startup errors causing activity problems.

2. Restart Windows in Safe Mode

  1. Click the Start button and select Settings.
  2. Choose Update & Security.
  3. Click on Recovery from the left pane, then click on Restart now under Advanced startup.
  4. After rebooting, you will get the Advanced Recovery Options page.
  5. Click on Troubleshoot, then select the Advanced options.WinRE troubleshoot
  6. Click on Startup Settings.Click the startup settings
  7. Press 4 to Enable Safe Mode and select Restart.Press 4 to Enable Safe Mode

Restarting Windows in Safe Mode will resolve startup issues that may affect the Xbox app on your PC.

3. Check your Friends list online

  1. Launch a browser on your PC.
  2. Go to Xbox.com and sign in with your Xbox Live login credential.
  3. Click on your Profile icon.Go to your Xbox profile
  4. Select Friends. Check if your Friends list appears and is complete.Select your Xbox friend list

Microsoft allows users to add to remove friends and interact with their friends list via their Xbox Live account online. We recommend you check your friends list online to know if the problem comes from the Xbox app or console.

4. Reset the Xbox console

  1. Power on your Xbox console and press the Xbox button on the controller to prompt the guide overlay.
  2. Select the System menu and click on Settings.Xbox settings
  3. Click on System to expand it and select Console info from the drop-down.Locate your Console info
  4. Click on Reset Console.
  5. Choose between Remove everything or Reset and keep my games & apps.Click on reset console

The Remove everything will delete all data and games, while the Reset console option will restore default factory settings.

You can also:

  • Fix network congestion on your PC. Restarting your router might help as well.
  • Restart your PC, Xbox One, or Xbox Series X console.
  • Check the Xbox server’s status: Users can experience issues with Xbox servers when a maintenance session occurs or the servers are down. You can visit the Xbox server status page to check for any updates.

Check our article on fixing the Xbox controller that is detected but not working if you have an issue with it.

Alternatively, our readers can check our guide about Xbox Live Networking Service missing and how to fix it. Likewise, you can read our guide if you cannot sign in to the Xbox account on your PC.

Nonetheless, you can check what to do if you can’t add a user to a friends list on Xbox or alternatively, add your Xbox friends on your PS5.

We hope you know what to do if your Xbox friend list disappears again. If you have further questions or suggestions, kindly drop them in the comments section.

How to Run Old Games on Windows 10: 6 Easy Ways to do it

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

We all get nostalgic sometimes, and we remember the games we used to play on our old PC, but can we still play them on Windows 10?

The answer is affirmative, but the process is not always straightforward. This guide will show the steps you need to follow to enjoy your favorite classic games on your Windows 10 PC.

Is there a way to play old PC games?

What you can do to see whether you can run old games in Windows 10 is make sure you follow these general guidelines:

  • Run the game as administrator: Some old games will run naturally on Windows 10. First, however, you need to run the executable file as an admin.
  • Enable compatibility mode: Windows 10 has a feature that allows you to run games in the compatibility mode of an older OS. Hence, you can use this feature if you have an old game from your previous OS.
  • Use DOSBox for really old Dos games: If you are looking for how to run old Dos games on Windows 10, this should be your preferred option. This is because DOSBox is an old PC game emulator that allows you to run your Dos games on any PC.
  • Try using a virtual machine: This involves using a virtual machine to run an older operating system on Windows 10. You can run your old game in the virtual machine window.
  • Run the program troubleshooter on the game: Another excellent feature of Windows 10 is the program compatibility troubleshooter. This helps you diagnose compatibility issues and reset some crucial features needed to run your old game.

How can I run old games on Windows 10?

1. Run the game as admin

  1. Right-click the game’s executable file or shortcut and select the Properties option.
    properties run old games on Windows 10
  2. Click the Compatibility tab at the top.
  3. Now, check the box for Run this program as an administrator.
  4. Finally, click the Apply button, followed by OK to save the changes.
    run as admin

The first thing to do it run your old games on Windows 10 is to start their shortcuts or executable files as admin. With this, the game will have the required privileges to run successfully.

2. Run Old Games in Compatibility Mode

    The most recommended method to play old PC games on your Windows 10 device is to use the Compatibility Mode setting. It is easier than having to run the game as an Administrator every time you open it.

    From the Compatibility menu, you can also enable the following settings: reduced color mode, running in 640 x 480 resolution, running the program as an Admin and registering the program for restart.

  1. 1. Navigate to desktop shortcut of your game or to its .exe file in the installation folder.

  2. 2. Right-click on the .exe file to bring up a menu.

  3. 3. In the menu, click on Properties.

    how to play old games on windows 10 properties

  4. 4. Navigate to the Compatibility tab in the upper side of the window.

    compatibility tab how to play old pc games on windows 10

  5. 5. Here you can find the Compatibility Mode section.

    how to play old pc games on windows 10 compatibility mode run

  6. 6. Check the box below this section and select from the drop-down menu which OS you want to run the game to run in compatibility mode for.

  7. 7. Click on Apply and OK to save the changes.

3. Use the Programs compatibility troubleshooter

  1. Press the Windows key, type program compatibility, and select Run programs made for older versions of Windows.
    compatibility
  2. Select the Advanced option.
    advanced how to run old games on Windows 10
  3. Now, choose Run as administrator and click the Next button.
    run next
  4. Wait for the scan to complete, and select Not Listed, followed by the Next option if your game is not among the listed files.
  5. Next, select your game’s executable file or shortcut.
  6. Finally, click Try recommended settings and follow the onscreen instructions to complete the process.

You should use the program compatibility troubleshooter if you still can’t run your old games on Windows 10 after the two methods above. This will help eliminate any compatibility issue that is blocking the game.

4. Try different compatibility settings

  1. Right-click the game’s executable file or shortcut and select Properties.
    properties run old games on Windows 10
  2. Click the Compatibility tab at the top.
    compatibility feature
  3. Now, enable the options below one after another and check if the problem is solved:
    • Reduce color mode
    • Run in 640×480 screen resolution
    • Disable display scaling on high DPI settings

Another excellent way of running your old games on Windows 10 is to try different compatibility settings. This is because one of the high compatibility settings on your PC might prevent you from playing the old game.

5. Disable driver Signature Enforcement

  1. Press the Windows key + I and select the Update & Security option.
    update and security how to run old games on Windows 10
  2. Select the Recovery tab in the left pane and click the Restart now button under Advanced startup.
    restart now
  3. When your PC restarts, choose Troubleshoot > Advanced options.
    advanced options
  4. Now, select Startup Settings.
    startup settings how to run old games on Windows 10
  5. Next, click the Restart button.
    restart how to run old games on Windows 10
  6. Finally, press 7 or F7 when your PC restarts to Disable driver signature enforcement.
    disable driver

The driver signature enforcement feature protects your PC from installing unsigned drivers. However, these latest drivers might prevent your old games from running on Windows 10.

So, you need to disable this feature and check if you can run your games. The only downside is that your PC will be a bit vulnerable. But it might be a temporary tradeoff that is worth it, depending on how much you want to play your favorite classic game.

6. Use a Virtual Machine or Emulator

If you still can’t run your old games after applying the solutions above, you should try using a Virtual Machine. With this, you can create a Windows XP mode on your PC and play the game on the window.

This method is helpful if you want to know how to play old 90s games on Windows 10. However, there is a caveat here as the success of the whole thing depends on the effectiveness of the Virtual Machine app.

Also, most VMs boast limited hardware support, which can affect your gaming.

Lastly, if you want to run old Dos games, the best thing to do is to use DOSBox. This free application will allow you to run Dos games and apps on your PC without issues.

Note icon NOTE
Note: If your games use SafeDisc or SecuROM DRM, Windows 10 won’t run them properly. In order words, due to digital rights management schemes, some older games on CDs or DVDs will be affected by installation issues on the latest Windows OS version.

With this, we can conclude this guide on how to run old games on Windows 10. We believe you now have everything to achieve this feat effortlessly.

Feel free to let us know in the comments below if you have any other suggestions.

Cowin Headphones not Working: Use These 5 Solutions

Posted on by Milan Stanojevic

Bluetooth headphones are praised for their ability to deliver quality sound without cables, so the headphones industry has embraced this technology and has started producing it on a scale.

Considering the balance between price and performance, you can easily understand why Cowin Bluetooth headphones are so popular among users.

If you have a pair of Cowin headphones but are experiencing some troubles with them, this guide is for you. This post will list several solutions and suggestions to help you fix your problem.

Why are my Cowin headphones not working?

There could be many reasons why your Cowin headphones are not working, including the following:

  • Battery issues – Ensure your headphones are fully charged and that the battery is not damaged.
  • Connectivity issues – If your headphones are not paired correctly with the device you want to use them with, they will not work.
  • Damaged or loose Cables – Check to see if any cables are damaged or not connected correctly because they may trigger this problem.
  • Volume Control – If the volume is not turned up on both the device and the headphones, you may not know if it is responding.
  • Audio Settings – Verify that the audio settings on your device are not set to mute or low volume.

With the common causes out of the way, the solutions below should come in handy.

How do I fix Cowin headphones if they are not working?

Before going into these solutions, you should check if the problem is from the PC or the Bluetooth. You should see if any Bluetooth devices can be connected to your computer.

If you cannot connect other Bluetooth devices to your PC, the issue is not with your headphones; it is a Bluetooth issue with your computer. Also, you should check if your Cowin headphones work on another device.

Also, it would be best to verify that you are not already connected to a different device. Because if your headphones still do not connect, it might be that they are connected to another device.

  1. Use a third-party software
  2. Verify the headphones pair
  3. Reset your Cowin Bluetooth headphones
  4. Use the Hardware and device troubleshooter
  5. Restart your Bluetooth service

1. Use a third-party software

updated outdated drivers

Connection issues can sometimes happen due to outdated drivers. To ensure they are up to date, we recommend using a dedicated tool.

In that matter, after several tests made by our team, we strongly recommend using DriverFrix.

The program will automatically scan your PC for outdated drivers, check your installed driver versions against its cloud database of the latest versions, and recommend proper updates.

Once the scan process is completed, you will get a report on all problem drivers on your PC. Review the list and see if you want to update each driver individually or all at once.

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2. Verify the headphones pair

  1. Turn the Cowin headphones into BT (Bluetooth) or NC (Bluetooth Noise Cancelling) mode.
  2. Turn on your computer and open Settings by pressing Windows + I. Now select Devices.
    cowin headphones not working
  3. Click on Bluetooth & other devices and turn on the Bluetooth toggle switch.bluetooth on
  4. Navigate to Add Bluetooth or other device button.add bluetooth or other device
  5. Choose your Cowin headphones from the list of devices.
  6. Click the Connect button to pair, and then click the Done button.

3. Reset your Cowin Bluetooth headphones

  1. Remove the battery cover on the left earcup by using the finger slot on top of the battery cover under the base of the headband.
  2. Quickly remove the battery by using the finger slot provided.
  3. Reinsert the battery.
  4. Reverse the process, ensuring the battery cover is put back in the same orientation as when it was removed.

4. Use the Hardware and device troubleshooter

  1. Type troubleshoot in the search box and press Enter.troubleshoot
  2. In the Troubleshooting window, go to Find and fix other problems and choose Hardware and Devices.
    troubleshoot hardware and devices
  3. Click on Run the troubleshooter and click Next to run the troubleshooter.
  4. Follow the on-screen directions to complete the task.

5. Restart your Bluetooth service

  1. Press the Windows and R keys at the same time.
  2. Type services.msc and press Enter.
    services.msc
  3. Right-click on Bluetooth Support Service and click Restart.restart Bluetooth support service
  4. Right-click on the Bluetooth service again and click on Properties.
  5. Set the Startup type to Automatic and then click OK.start up type automatic
  6. Reboot your computer and try to connect your Cowin headphones again.

Hopefully, the solutions helped you to fix your Cowin headphones problems. Please comment below if you have other troubleshooting methods to fix this issue.

Visio Not Installing: 4 Methods You Can Use to Fix It

Posted on by Matthew Adams

Microsoft Visio Pro is diagram software for users to set up flowcharts based on real-time data. However, Visio can throw up a few setup error messages when users try to install it.

Visio installation errors often arise due to compatibility issues between Visio and 32 & 64-bit MS Office suite versions.

Why is Visio not installing?

From experience with users, we figure there are a couple of reasons for Visio not installing:

  • Insufficient System Requirements -Visio may not install if your system does not meet the minimum requirements.
  • Software Conflicts – The installation process may be blocked if there are conflicts with other installed software on your system. 
  • Corrupted Installation File – If the installation file for Visio is corrupt, the installation process may fail. 
  • Licensing Issues – The installation may fail if you do not have a valid license for Visio. 
  • Malware or Virus – Malware or virus infections on your system may cause installation errors.
  • Disk Space – If your system does not have enough disk space, Visio may not install.
  • Windows Updates – Ensure that your system has installed the latest updates, and an outdated operating system may cause issues during installation.
  • User Account Control (UAC) – The User Account Control settings on your system may be blocking the installation of Visio. 

Once you know the cause, it is easier to know what action to take. So we will explore some of the best solutions you may explore.

What can I do if Visio is not installing?

Before going into any solutions, you may consider using an alternative. That being the case, there is no better option for you than Adobe Illustrator, an industry-standard in the world of vector-based imagery.

With the help of this tool, you can easily create diagrams, flowcharts, and pretty much any other graphic design elements.

The final results can then be easily exported both for use in other programs, as well as in printing. The best part is that this program can now be tested for free for 7 days, so don’t miss out on this chance!

Therefore, you will not regret using this alternative for creating great graphs or any other visuals you may think of.

⇒ Get Adobe Illustrator

1. Uninstall conflicting apps

  1. Press Windows + R, type appwiz.cpl, and hit Enter.
    visio not installing
  2. Please search for the conflicting app in the app list, click on it, then click on the Uninstall button.
  3. Follow the wizard to complete the uninstall process. Then check if you can now install Visio.

Conflicting apps would make it impossible to install Visio, so you may consider uninstalling them.

2. Repair corrupted files

  1. Press the Windows + X keys and select Command Prompt (Admin).
    visio not installing
  2. Type the script below and hit Enter:
    sfc /scannow
  3. Wait for the scan to complete, then retry the installation.

3. Delete Office 15 Click-to-Run registry keys

  1. Type create a restore point in Windows 10’s search box and select Create a restore point.
  2. Press the Create button.
    visio not installing
  3. Enter a title for the restore point, and click the Create button.
  4. Users can then roll back Windows 10 with that restore point to undo registry changes if required.
  5. Press the Windows key + R hotkey to launch the Run accessory.
  6. Enter regedit in the text box, and click the OK button.
    visio not installing
  7. Next, go to this registry path:
    Computer\HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Installer\Products
  8. Then right-click the registry keys that begin with 00005 and select the Delete option.
  9. The registry keys should include Office 15 Click-to-Run ProductName DWORDs in them.
  10. Close the Registry Editor, and then try installing Microsoft Visio again.

Another Visio setup error message states: We can’t install the 64-bit version of Office because we found the following 32-bit programs on your PC: Office 15 Click-to-Run Extensibility Component.

Users have confirmed they’ve fixed that error by deleting some registry keys, by setting up a System Restore point.

4. Uninstall Office Language Package

  1. Press the Windows key + S hotkey.
  2. Enter add in the search box, and click Add or remove programs.
    visio not installing
  3. Select any foreign Microsoft Office language packs listed in that window. Don’t uninstall English language packs.
  4. Click the Uninstall button to remove the language pack. Removing Office from your computer uninstall message pops up, but that doesn’t mean it’s uninstalling the suite.
  5. After that, restart Windows and try installing Visio.
  6. Then users can also reinstall the language packs they uninstalled with the language accessory pack.

A Couldn’t stream Office error message pops up for some users when they try to install Visio. Following the steps above should fix the problem in no time.

So, that’s how users can quickly fix some Visio install errors in Windows 10. Users can also resolve Visio install issues with the Office Deployment Tool.

This enables users to set up custom Office software installations with its Configuration XML file. Please let us know how it all worked in the comment below.

0x80072f8f – 0x20000 Media Creation Tool Error [Fix]

Posted on by Kazim Ali Alvi

Upgrading your Windows computer should be a straightforward process, but sometimes an error code like “0x80072f8f – 0x20000” can pop up and make things confusing. This error might happen because of simple things like your computer’s clock being set to the wrong time, or more complex issues like conflicts with other programs on your computer.

Don’t worry, though! This guide is here to help you understand what’s causing the error and how to fix it. Whether you’re using Windows 10 or Windows 7, the solutions provided here are easy to follow and will get you back on track with your Windows upgrade.

?What causes error code 0x80072f8f – 0x20000?

There are multiple causes for this error, with these being the most common ones:

  • TLS 1.2 turned off – It happens because the Media Creation Tool uses a specific security protocol called TLS 1.2, but this protocol is turned off by default on Windows 7,8 and Windows 10 computers. In simpler terms, the tool is trying to use a security feature that’s not enabled on your computer, causing the error.
  • Lack of privileges – Certain tools require administrative privileges, and to use them you need to make apps run as admin.
  • App conflicts – Third-party applications can sometimes come into conflict with Media Creation Tool and cause this problem. If that’s the case, you need to find and uninstall those programs.
  • Corrupted cache files – Sometimes installation cache can get corrupted. If that happens, deleting the SoftwareDistribution directory might help.

If you have these problems and you’re getting an error message when trying to run Media Creation Tool stating that There was a problem running this tool, check the tested fixes below.

How do I fix error code 0x80072f8f – 0x20000?

1. Run the Media Creation tool as an administrator ✅

  1. 1. Locate and navigate to the folder where the Media Creation Tool is stored.

  2. 2. Right-click on it to open the context menu.

  3. 3. Select Run as administrator from the context menu.

    Run as administrator to fix error code 0x80072f8f 0x20000

  4. 4. Click Yes in the UAC (User Account Control) prompt.

  5. 5. Check if the issue persists.

    6. If you are not running the Media Creation tool with administrative privileges, there’s a chance that you are encountering the error code 0x80072f8f – 0x20000 because of that.

    Therefore, manually running it as an admin is likely to fix the issue.

If this method doesn’t work in Windows 10, head to the next one.

2. Enable TLS 1.2 using the Registry

Enabling Transport Layer Security (TLS) 1.2 in Windows 7,8 and 10 is essential for secure network communication. This guide, requiring administrative access, will lead you through the process using the Windows Registry Editor. Care must be taken, as incorrect changes to the registry can cause system issues.

Note icon NOTE
The steps provided for enabling TLS 1.2 using the Registry Editor are generally applicable to Windows 7 and 8 as well. The process of navigating the registry and creating the necessary keys and values is consistent across different versions of Windows, including Windows 7.

Step 1: Open the Registry Editor

  • Press the Windows Key + R on your keyboard to open the Run dialog box.
  • Type regedit and press Enter.
  • If prompted by User Account Control, click Yes to allow the Registry Editor to make changes to your device.

Step 2: Navigate to the TLS 1.2 Key

  • In the Registry Editor, navigate to the following path: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\SecurityProviders\SCHANNEL\Protocols
  • Right-click on the Protocols folder, select New, and then Key.
  • Name the new key TLS 1.2.

Step 3: Create Client and Server Keys

  • Right-click on the TLS 1.2 key, select New, and then Key.
  • Name this new key Client.
  • Repeat the process to create another key under TLS 1.2 and name it Server.

Step 4: Configure Client and Server Keys

  • Select the Client key, right-click in the right pane, select New, and then DWORD (32-bit) Value.
  • Name the new DWORD DisabledByDefault.
  • Double-click DisabledByDefault and set its value to 0.
  • Right-click in the right pane again, select New, and then DWORD (32-bit) Value.
  • Name this new DWORD Enabled.
  • Double-click Enabled and set its value to 1.
  • Repeat these steps for the Server key.

Step 5: Close the Registry Editor and Restart

  • Close the Registry Editor.
  • Restart your computer to apply the changes.

Enabling TLS 1.2 in Windows 10 through the Registry Editor is a straightforward process that will help you get rid of 0x80072f8f – 0x20000 Media Creation Tool Error. If this does not solve your issue, please continue with the following fixing method.

3. Perform a Clean Boot

  1. Type MSConfig in the Start search and select System Configuration.
  2. In the General tab, select Selective Startup.
  3. Check Load System Services.
  4. Click the Services tab and choose to Hide All Microsoft Services.
  5. Select Disable All. 
  6. Click Apply and OK and restart the computer.

If the problem does not appear with a clean boot, you may now try to locate the culprit program or service.

The simplest method to handle this is using a third-party specialized removal application to remove stubborn apps while in Clean Boot mode.

Otherwise, you could also utilize an automatic PC repair method that is capable of cleaning the Windows OS and thus restoring your system files. Such software is designed to detect various system issues and repair them quickly with its patented technology. This way, you can get rid of such Media Creation errors.

4. Check your date and time

  1. Right-click the clock in the bottom right. Choose Adjust date/time.
  2. Disable Set time automatically.
  3. Wait for a few moments and then enable it again.

5. Clear the software distribution folder

  1. Press Windows + R to launch the Run command.
  2. Paste the following path in the text field, and either click OK or hit Enter to launch the Software Distribution folder. C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\DownloadSoftware Distribution folder
  3. Press Ctrl + A to select all the files.
  4. Then, right-click on them, and select Delete from the context menu. Alternatively, you can pick them up and hit the Delete key.Delete files to fix error code 0x80072f8f 0x20000
  5. Once done, press Windows + S to launch the Search menu, enter Command Prompt in the text field, and then click on Run as administrator at the right.Command prompt
  6. Click Yes in the UAC prompt that appears.Click Yes
  7. Paste the following command and hit Enter: wuauclt.exe /updatenowExecute command to fix error code 0x80072f8f 0x20000

After following these steps, restart the computer for the changes to effect, and check if the error code 0x80072f8f – 0x20000 is fixed.

Nite than cleaning up the software distribution folder can also help with Media Creation Tool’s refusal to update your PC.

6. Modify the registry

  1. Press Windows + R to launch the Run command dialog box, type Regedit in the text field, and click on OK to launch the Registry Editor.regedit to fix error code 0x80072f8f 0x20000
  2. Click Yes in the UAC prompt that pops up.Yes
  3. Paste the following path in the address bar at the top, and hit Enter: Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\WindowsUpdate\Auto UpdatePaste path
  4. Now, right-click on the empty portion on the right, hover the cursor over New, select DWORD (32-bit) Value from the context menu, and name it AllowOSUpgrade.Create entry
  5. Double-click on the key you just created to change its value.Modify to fix error code 0x80072f8f 0x20000
  6. Finally, enter 1 under Value data and click on OK at the bottom to save the changes.Value data

This registry fix has helped many users eliminate the error code 0x80072f8f – 0x20000, so try it in Windows 10. In all likelihood, the error should be fixed after this.

7. Uninstall antivirus or other conflicting apps

  1. Press the Windows key + X and select Apps and Features from the menu.
    Apps and Features - pale moon not playing videos
  2. Then, select your antivirus software and click on Uninstall.
  3. Follow the instructions on the screen to remove it.
  4. After removing the software, try to perform the upgrade again.

If you remove your antivirus, you can take a look at these best and most reliable antiviruses for Windows.

Error code 0x80072f8f – 0x20000 is a common issue and it can lead to Windows installation fails, so it’s important that you fix it.

Please tell us which fix worked and the iteration of Windows on which you were facing the problem in the comments section below.

How to Disable Network Adapter on Windows 11: 5 Easy Ways

Posted on by Henderson Jayden Harper

A network adapter is a hardware component that allows a computer or other device to connect to a network. Disabling it on Windows 11 can help troubleshoot network connectivity issues or security reasons.

We will guide you through how to disable Network Adapter on Windows 11. Also, users can read how to fix Network Adapter drivers that not be found on their Windows devices.

Can I find hidden network adapters on my PC?

Yes, it is possible to find hidden network adapters on your PC. Hidden Network Adapters are usually those that are not currently in use or those that are not visible in the Device Manager.

Finding hidden Network Adapters on your PC can be a tool for troubleshooting network issues and identifying potential security vulnerabilities. To find hidden Network Adapters, you can follow these steps:

  1. Press the Windows + X button, navigate to the Device Manager, and open it.
  2. Further, select the View tab from the windows and select Show hidden devices.
  3. Expand the Network Adapter category. All the hidden Network Adapters on your PC will grey out.

Hidden network adapters can be hidden intentionally by the system administrator or device manufacturer, so enabling them may cause compatibility or security issues.

How can I disable the network adapter on Windows 11?

1. Use Windows Settings

  1. Press the Windows + I to open the Windows Settings.
  2. Navigate to Network & Internet category and select the Advanced network settings from the right pane.
  3. Then, select the Disable button for the Network Adapter you wish to disable from the list.
  4. Close the Settings window and rest your PC.

The Windows settings have an in-built option that allows the user to view and disable the network adapter in Windows. Read about how you can fix Device Manager keeps refreshing in Windows.

2. Disable the Network Connections folder

  1. Click on the Search icon, type Network Connections in the search box, and select the View network connections option.
  2. Then, right-click on the Network Adapter you want to disable in the View network connection folder and select Disable from the pop-up menu.
  3. Close the window and restart your PC to turn off Network Adapter.

The Network Connections folder is a Microsoft Windows OS folder that allows users to manage their network connections.

3. Use Command Prompt

  1. Press the Windows button, type cmd, and select Run as administrator.
  2. Input the following command and press Enter to view Network Adapter list on your PC: netsh interface show interface
  3. Type the following command with the name of the network adapter you want to disable and press Enter: netsh interface set interface "YOUR ADAPTER NAME" disable

Users input the name of the network adapter they wish to disable into the YOUR ADAPTER NAME. Check our guide on how to fix Command Prompt not working on your PC.

4. Use Device Manager

  1. Press the Windows + X button and select Device Manager from the list.
  2. Click on the drop-down button on the Network Adapter category to expand it. Right-click on the network adapter you want to disable.
  3. Then select Disable device from the context menu.

Microsoft device manager provides a centralized interface for controlling the various devices allowing users to enable and disable a Network Adapter.

5. Disable a network connection in PowerShell

  1. Press the Windows button, type PowerShell, and select Run as administrator from the right pane to open the PowerShell.
  2. Type the following command and press Enter to identify the name of the adapter you wish to disable: Get-NetAdapter | format-table
  3.  Type the following command with the name of the network adapter you want to disable and press Enter: Disable-NetAdapter -Name "YOUR-ADAPTER-NAME" -Confirm:$false 
  4. Close the PowerShell and restart your device.

PowerShell provides access to system functions and services to view, enable and disable network adapters.

Alternatively, you can read how to fix the network adapter that is missing on your device and how to get network settings from your router.

In conclusion, this article should help you to disable Network adapters on Windows 11. Should you have further questions or suggestions, kindly drop them in the comments section.

How to Reduce Heat in Windows 10 Laptop With 5 Easy Methods

Posted on by Aleksandar Ognjanovic

Besides the reduced hardware capabilities, the cooling system is that reduces heat in Windows 10 is the most common shortcoming a laptop user will encounter over the years of use.

And you’ll know when the overheating becomes an issue, as the laptop will suddenly shut down to prevent critical damage to hardware components.

To address this common issue which can cause many major problems if neglected, we prepared a few tips you can use to reduce heat in Windows 10 quickly.

Why is my Windows 10 laptop overheating?

Several factors can cause your Windows 10 laptop to overheat. Below are some of the prominent causes of overheating:

  • Accumulation of dirt: When dirt accumulates on your fan vent, it is likely to cause overheating. This is because it blocks the fan from blowing out the heat and circulation of cool air. In this case, you need to blow out the dirt in the vent.
  • Too many running apps: It is one thing to multitask on your PC; it is another to have too many unnecessary apps open. The latter uses too many resources leading to overheating. Closing these apps should reduce the heat in your Windows 10 laptop.
  • Faulty fan: Sometimes, the overheating issue is caused by a faulty fan or two. Also, it might be down to insufficient cooling. You need to repair or replace the faulty fan or get a cooling pad for your PC to normalize the temperature.
  • Presence of malware: This problem can sometimes be due to viruses using your PC resources in the background. You need to run a deep virus scan with Microsoft Defender or one of the best third-party antiviruses for Windows 10 to eliminate the malware.

Can overheating destroy your laptop?

Overheating can destroy your PC if left unattended. If your processor overheats, it can slow down your PC considerably and sometimes lead to an automatic shutdown.

If the issue persists, it can lead to more severe damage to some components. Also, overheating can lead to reduced battery life and complete battery damage.

Hence, it would be best if you always took the necessary precautions to reduce the heat in your Windows 10 laptop.

How can I reduce heat in Windows 10 laptop?

1. Clean the vents

The first thing you need to do is to clean your PC thoroughly. Check the vents for accumulated dirt and dust.

You can use an air blower to suck out the vents’ dirt, preventing the heat from going out. This should reduce the heat in your Windows 10 laptop.

Lastly, ensure you use your PC on an elevated and hard surface. This will leave space for the fan vents to dissipate heat and circulate cool air.

2. Limit high-intensity processes

Laptops have different specs suitable to different tasks. If you are using a low-end laptop for high-intensity tasks like gaming, it is likely to overheat.

Also, having too many apps and processes running simultaneously is not advisable. It would be best if you only opened the apps you need at a particular time.

Moreover, you shouldn’t open two or more high-intensity tasks simultaneously, as this will take a toll on your PC. To close apps and processes you are not using, follow the steps below:

  1. Right-click on the Taskbar and open Task Manager.
    laptop overheating windows 10
  2. In the processes tab, right-click any unnecessary process and select End task.
    end task how to reduce heat windows 10 laptop
  3. Click the Startup tab at the top.
  4. Now, right-click each app and select the Disable option.
    disable
  5. Finally, restart your PC and check if this reduces the heat in your Windows 10 laptop.

3. Use a cooling pad

In some cases, the overheating in your laptop is caused by an insufficient cooling system. This might be because one of your fans is faulty or the system is not enough to handle the heat dissipated from the rigors of your activities.

In this case, you need to invest in a cooling pad. This will complement your PC’s cooling system and considerably reduce the heat in your Windows 10 laptop.

4. Reduce processor temperature

  1. Press the Windows key, type power plan, and select Edit power plan.
    edit power plan
  2. Click Change advanced power plan.
    change advanced how to reduce heat windows 10 laptop
  3. Click the Processor power management option and set the values according to your requirements.
    processor

Most times, we don’t fully use the maximum capacity of our processor. So, there is no need to set it to top performance.

In some cases, about 20% reduction might help reduce the heat in your Windows 10 laptop. Hence, you might want to make the changes.

5. Track CPU temperature in real-time

This solution is more of a prevention than a cure. If you can monitor your PC temperature in real-time, you can close the process or app causing the temperature increase.

To do so, you need to use one of the best third-party temperature monitoring software. Most of this software is free and easy to use.

So, you can employ them to monitor and reduce the heat in your Windows 10 laptop.

That should do it. If you’re still having issues, we recommend contacting the responsible support or taking it for repair. Either way, don’t use it if it keeps shutting down, as this is a particular shortcut to much more significant issues.

Don’t forget to share your thoughts or ask questions in the comments below. We’ll be glad to help you.

7 Best Anti Tracking Software to Protect Your Online Privacy

Posted on by Ivan Jenic

Do you want the best anti-tracking software to stop others from keeping tabs on your Internet activity? We have compiled the best for securing your data.

Nowadays, Internet privacy has become important as many Internet users prefer to surf the Internet anonymously.

This is partly due to various governments’ censorship of Internet content available. They have enacted laws that enable them to gather information about your Internet activities.

Advertisers may also use your Internet activity to identify you from their list of visitors, with them spamming your email with targeted adverts.

However, Windows users search for privacy tools that keep them secure and their information private.

What does anti-tracking software do?

There is a long list of the merits of using anti-tracking tools. They play an essential role in the following:

  • Tracker disabling – Trackers are disabled by the anti-tracking application, which also prevents them from sharing your data with their servers.
  • Data theft prevention – Because they ensure that your data can no longer be tracked, your data is more secure and can not be stolen.
  • Improves the online experience – Because they block tracking ads, you get better value from your online time.
  • Prevents fingerprinting – In digital fingerprinting, a distant website or service collects tidbits of data about a user’s computer. This can be blocked using anti-tracking tools.

That said, let us now introduce you to some of the best anti-tracking software for Windows.

What is the best anti-track software available?

Incogni – Fully automated

Incogni is a software solution that assists users in removing their personal information from the databases of hundreds of data brokers.

But exactly how does Incogni operate? Data brokers gather your personal information and sell it to other businesses. Incogni negotiates with data brokers on your behalf to get your information permanently removed, immediately enhancing your privacy.

This tool keeps your identity safe from numerous digital threats, including hackers, phishing sites, invasive shadow profiles, and other cyber-attacks.

It is an affordable, efficient and completely automated application with a user-friendly interface that saves you a significant amount of time and effort, making it a reliable program for your online privacy and safety.

Key features that Incogni brings to the table:

  • Covers all broker types
  • Substantial time saver
  • Easy usage
  • Affordable pricing

Incogni

Let Incogni keep your identity safe and remove sensitive information from multiple databases.
Check price Visit Website

DeleteMe – Outstanding support

DeleteMe is a very efficient software designed to remove users’ information from search results to ensure their right to own and manage their personal information.

You can simply submit a request for personal data deletion from search engines, and the software’s experts take care of it by finding the data and completely erasing it from the sources.

DeleteMe provides you with an exhaustive report of the removal procedure in 7 days to overview the course of action.

On top of that, this program will remove your personal information every 3 months which increases your online safety and security.

Key features that DeleteMe brings to the table:

  • Detailed and accurate report
  • Great customer service
  • Friendly user interface

DeleteMe

Improve your security and privacy and let DeleteMe remove your information from data brokers.
Check price Visit Website

ExpressVPN – Best DNS leak protection

When using ExpressVPN anti-tracking software, a kill switch will terminate the connection if the VPN fails or is disconnected. Security features include 256-bit encryption and DNS leak protection.

The automatic kill switch is an excellent feature of ExpressVPN for protecting your privacy while using the service.

Also, ExpressVPN conceals your IP address and prevents data leaks. Hence, tracking is impossible. Furthermore, the tool strictly adheres to a no-logs policy. This means that they do not keep track of the IP addresses of their users.

You can install the ExpressVPN client on unlimited devices with an ExpressVPN license, but you can only use five at once.

Lastly, installing the VPN on a router may be simpler so that all connected devices are automatically protected with anti-tracking and anti-hacking Wi-Fi protection.

Key features that ExpressVPN brings to the table:

  • No activity or connection logs
  • Own DNS servers for name resolution
  • Industry-leading AES encryption (256-bit)
  • Robust VPN protocols, including OpenVPN, IKEv2, and Lightway
  • DNS leak protection, WLAN protection
  • Trusted Server technology

ExpressVPN

Leading service expert that protects you against tracking and hacking and prevents DND leaks.
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NordVPN – Threat Protection – Fast and stable connection

NordVPN Threat Protection is a newly developed feature of NordVPN service that promises to maintain your online experience safe and secure.

You don’t necessarily need to connect to a VPN server for this feature to work, all you have to do it to enable it from the settings.

NordVPN Threat Protection protects your computer from ads, trackers, malware, and other possible threats to ensure your browsing activity isn’t tracked.

Moreover, you don’t have to worry about accessing malicious websites because this reliable feature will instantly counterbalance all cyber threats before they can even do damage to your PC.

Key features that NordVPN brings to the table:

  • Secure and private access to the internet
  • Fast and strong connection
  • Intrusive ads neutralizer

NordVPN – Threat Protection

Keep malware, intrusive ads, and trackers away from your computer with this great tool.
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Private Internet Access – Top-notch encryption

Concerning privacy, Private Internet Access (PIA) is hard to beat. Kape Technologies, the parent company of this VPN, is a leader in security.

PIA supports some of the most popular encryption techniques, including AES-256. For those unfamiliar with the term, this encryption standard is considered military-grade.

After all, it is used in top military and commercial applications worldwide. Furthermore, there’s a built-in Kill Switch to take into consideration.

Finally, this system immediately disconnects your computer from the Internet if the connection to the VPN fails.

Key features that Private Internet Access brings to the table:

  • Zero IP and DNS leaks
  • Incredible speeds for P2P torrenting
  • Browser extensions for Chrome, Opera, and Firefox
  • Support for Netflix and other popular streaming services
  • Multiple payment methods, including American Express and Zcash
  • Generous 30-day money-back guarantee if you change your mind

Private Internet Access

PIA is an excellent VPN with quality features to stop tracking. Currently available at a major discount!
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Avast AntiTrack – Best anti-tracking measures

anti tracking software

This software developed by the antivirus software giant Avast is one of the best software to stop tracking on your computer.

Avast AntiTrack helps you to keep your IP address private by hiding your IP when surfing the Internet.

Additionally, the software alerts users when they are being tracked and automatically detects the trackers. Especially since many online advertisers utilize your Internet activity to send annoying targeted ads.

Hence, Avast anti-track software helps to disguise your Internet activities so that you don’t receive spam messages.

Moreover, Avast also erases your browser history after browsing to keep your activity secret.

Key features that Avast AntiTrack brings to the table:

  • Connection encryption
  • Digital fingerprint masking
  • PC performance boosting
  • Ads blocking

⇒ Get Avast AntiTrack

Privoxy – Best to manipulate tracking cookies

anti tracking software

Privoxy is a popular web proxy tool with many powerful features. Firstly, one significant advantage of this software is its compatibility with numerous web browsers.

Also, you can easily embed the tool into any web browser and run the browser traffic through the tool.

Additionally, Privoxy is free to use and is very efficient in blocking both targeted and regular ads; another perk for the software is that it can keep your browsing anonymous.

Even more, it has an anti-track tool that helps to filter traffic and block trackers and other bugs.

Privoxy also enables users’ complete control; you can change the privacy settings and customize it to your preference.

Meanwhile, this software is ranked among the best software to stop tracking. Also, it is free to download and use.

Key features that Privoxy brings to the table:

  • Advanced filtering capabilities
  • Access control
  • Efficient ad blocking
  • Built-in browser-based configuration

⇒ Get Privoxy

Tor Browser – Native private browsing

anti tracking software

When it comes to anonymous browsing, Tor Browser is probably the most popular browser available.

The software hides your information by bouncing your connection through many encrypted internet points, making it difficult to determine your exact browsing location.

Additionally, Tor Browser is user-friendly and has a similar interface to Mozilla Firefox. There is also a tutorial that guides users through using it effectively.

Finally, we recommend it if you don’t want to go through the complex route of conventional VPN and antivirus solutions.

Key features that Tor Browser brings to the table:

  • Auto browsing history deletion
  • Traffic encryption
  • IP address masking
  • Cross-Platform availability

⇒ Get Tor Browser

In conclusion, any of the best software to stop tracking we mentioned above are ideal for protecting your Internet privacy.

However, while some are free, others are available at a premium price.

Have you used any of the software we mentioned above? Or do you know of any software which should make the list?

Feel free to share your experience with us in the comments below.

Microsoft Office Activation Wizard: All you Need to Know

Posted on by Madalina Dinita

If you have been using Microsoft Office without activating it, then the Microsoft Office Activation Wizard pops up every time you open the product.

And it persists until you take steps to activate your copy of Microsoft Office. Also, most of the features will be disabled till you eliminate the tool. This guide will walk you through everything you need about the Activation Wizard.

What is Microsoft Office Activation Wizard?

The Activation Wizard is a tool added to Office by Microsoft to help simplify the process of legitimately licensing the various Office versions.

The company asks that you activate your copy of the product to verify the legitimacy of your installation.

How do I get rid of Microsoft Office Activation Wizard?

1. Activate MS Office

  1. Purchase a product on Microsoft Store or any other retailer.
  2. Launch any Microsoft product. We are using MS Word as an example.
  3. Next, click the File option at the top.
    file microsoft office activation wizard
  4. Click More > Account in the left pane.
    account more
  5. Now, click the Activate Product Key option.
  6. Finally, enter your product key and click the Next button to complete the process.

The easiest way to get rid of the Microsoft Office Activation Wizard is to activate your Office product. Unfortunately, this will eliminate the tool for good.

If the wizard pops up before accessing the product, it will allow you to activate it.

2. Uninstall MS Office

  1. Press the Windows key + R, type appwiz.cpl, and click OK.
    appwiz.cpl
  2. Now, right-click your Microsoft Office product, select Uninstall, and follow the onscreen instructions to complete the removal process.
    uninstall control microsoft office activation wizard
  3. If you can’t find Office in step 2, press the Windows key + I and select the Apps option.
    apps
  4. Next, select your Office package and click the Uninstall button.
    uninstall microsoft office activation wizard
  5. Finally, follow the onscreen instructions to complete the process.

The installation might be faulty if the Microsoft Office Activation Wizard pops up on your PC after activating your product. The solution is to uninstall, reinstall, and reactivate your Office product.

That should do it. With the tips in this guide, you should be able to eliminate the pop-up in your Office products.

If Microsoft Word says your product isn’t activated despite activating it, check our detailed guide to fix it.

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

Xbox February Update goes live today

Posted on by Robert Collins

This month’s Xbox update is now live. The centerpiece of the February update is the suite of sustainability features now available for the mainstream of Xbox consoles.

Among these features are carbon aware game downloads and updates. Also, all Xbox consoles are now set to Shutdown mode by default. Shutdown mode cuts energy use by up to 20 times the amount compared to Sleep power mode. Of course, users can manually set to whatever power options suits their needs at any time. These features were previously rolled out to members of the Xbox Insiders Program.

Below are some of the other changes coming with the Xbox February Update.

Hide game art when selecting tiles on Home

This option does pretty much what it states: it hides game art when navigating away from the Home screen. This means game art will no longer replace the Home background when a game tile is selected, making navigation less distracting.

Users can set this by going to Settings > General >  Personalization > My background > Solid color and game art. Toggle the use game art button on the bottom right of the screen.

Use Google Home to turn your phone into a touch remote for your Xbox

Interestingly, Xbox has partnered with Google to enable users of the Google Home app to add their Xbox console. This allows users with Google Home on their smart phone to use the touch screen as a remote control to turn the Xbox on or off, navigate on-screen, control media playback, record game clips and more.

Experimental party features

Random users will be able to try out some experimental features that should make it easier to jump back into a party with friends. To get started go to the “Parties & Chat” tab in the Xbox Guide. Then click “Party History” to see a list of previous parties.

Wrap up

It’s nice to see the Xbox team keeps finding cool new features and ideas to implement to make the Xbox OS better. What are your thoughts on this month’s Xbox update? Feel free to share them down in the comments.

Xbox App Crashing / Not Opening in Windows 11

Posted on by Henderson Jayden Harper

Xbox is a popular console on the market, and it’s been around for a long time. The introduction of the Xbox app for Windows makes the games more accessible to users who don’t have a console. However, some of our readers complain about the Xbox app crashing on Windows 11.

Table of contents

Does the Xbox app work with Windows 11?

The Xbox app supports and works with Windows, turning your PC into an Xbox One console where you can access your games. It offers the same functionality and gaming quality as using the Xbox console.

Furthermore, some benefits come with using the Xbox app on Windows 11. It allows players to access the PC Game Pass on their PCs. Also, you can share, capture, and control your PC using Xbox Game Bar.

Moreover, the Xbox app on Windows allows you to launch games on your PC and play with your favorite Xbox accessories. So, the Xbox app works with Windows 11.

Why is my Xbox app crashing on Windows 11?

Several factors can cause the Xbox app to crash on Windows 11. Some are:

  • System requirements issues – The Xbox app has system requirements like any other. So, you can experience the Xbox app crashing if your PC doesn’t meet the system requirements.
  • Corrupt Xbox app on your PC – When the Xbox app installed on your PC is not corrupt or compromised, it can cause it to crash or not open on your PC.
  • Outdated Xbox app – Microsoft releases updates to fix bugs causing issues in the Xbox app previous versions and improve its performance. So, not updating the Xbox app on Windows 11 can result in some problems.

However, the causes of the Xbox app crashing or not running in Windows 11 can vary on different PCs. Nonetheless, we’ll take you through some essential fixes.

How to fix the Xbox app crashing or not opening on Windows 11

Go through the following preliminary checks before trying any advanced troubleshooting steps:

If these preliminary steps didn’t help you fix the problem, try the solutions below.

1. Restart the Xbox services and Gaming Services

  1. Left-click the Start button, type Services, and then click Open.
  2. Locate the Gaming Services, right-click on them, and select Restart from the drop-down.
    restart gaming services
  3. Locate all the Xbox services in the list, right-click them, and select Restart from the drop-down.
    restart xbox services

Restarting Xbox Services and Gaming Services on your PC will fix any activities impeding its processes. Read how to download the Xbox gaming services app on your PC.

2. Run Windows Store Troubleshooter

  1. Press Windows + I key to launch the Windows Settings app.
  2. Click on System and select Troubleshoot.
    Settings troubleshoot
  3. Select Other troubleshooters.
    other troubleshooters
  4. Locate the Windows Store Apps and click the Run button beside it.
    troublshoot windows store apps
  5. Afterward, launch the Xbox app and check if it works properly.

The Windows Apps Troubleshooter will resolve issues with Windows Store apps causing the Xbox app to crash.

3. Update the Xbox app

  1. Left-click the Start button, type Microsoft store and click Open.
  2. Click on Library in the bottom left corner, then select Get Updates.
    Microsoft store library
  3. Check if any update is available, then download and install the update.
    Microsoft store get update
  4. Restart the Xbox app on your PC to check if it opens or launches.

Updating the Xbox app will install the patches and updates needed to fix bugs and improve its functionality.

Also, some users experience the Xbox app not launching games in Windows 11 for some reason.

Read about fixing Windows not connecting to update service if the error occurs on your PC.

Further, we have a detailed guide on what to do if you can’t send messages on Windows 10/11 Xbox app or Xbox One.

Conclusively, check how to fix the Xbox app not downloading or installing on Windows 11.

If you have further queries or questions and suggestions about this guide, kindly drop them in the comments section.

What is Event ID 4769 & How to Fix It?

Posted on by Claire Moraa

The Event ID 4769 Kerberoasting is a security alert. This event can be used to detect the presence of malicious users who are attempting to use Kerberos to impersonate another user or service.

It is generated every time a DC is contacted to validate the security token. The Kerberos authentication protocol is used to prove the identity of a client who wants to access a network resource on behalf of an end user. So, if you spot this particular Event ID, here is what you should do.

What causes the Event ID 4769?

This event indicates that the server attempted to request a Kerberos service ticket for the user account specified in the Event ID. Usually, the user’s security token was sent to a domain controller (DC) for validation. 

This can happen because the requested user account is not in the domain or because of an error in the KDC database. Other reasons include:

  • Server has an expired database entry – This event is logged when a client tries to connect to a server using Kerberos authentication. The KDC cannot verify that it is still in possession of a valid TGT ticket for the client.
  • Client has an expired entry in the database – When a client’s entry has expired, Kerberos failure audit Event ID 4769 0x17 will be recorded. This happens when a client computer cannot renew its ticket-granting ticket (TGT).
  • Multiple entries – A Kerberos ticket is generated for each principal to identify the user (or service) when they connect to other computers on the network. This ticket contains information about what services they can use and what they have access to after they log in. 
  • Unsupported protocol version – When a client tries to connect to a server using an old protocol version, the Kerberos failure audit event 4769 is logged in. The server will reject the login attempt because the client may be using an outdated version of Kerberos. It’s also possible that the user is attempting to log in with a compromised account.
  • Weak passwords – An Event ID 4769 Kerberoasting occurs when a malicious entity obtains and uses the victim’s Kerberos tickets. A user may be performing a brute-force attack on the service principal names of a domain controller or was able to obtain and decrypt the target’s encrypted ticket-granting ticket (TGT).

How can I fix Event ID 4769?

1. Raise the authentication level

  1. Hit the Windows + R keys to open the Run command.
  2. Type gpedit.msc in the dialog box and hit Enter to open the Group Policy Editor.run gpedit command
  3. Navigate to the following location: Computer Configuration/Windows Settings/ Security Settings/Local Policies/Security Options
  4. Locate Network security: Configure encryption types allowed for Kerberos and double-click on it.
  5. Under the Local Security Settings tab, select AES256_HMAC_SHA1, then select Apply and OK.

It is important to change the Event ID 4769 ticket encryption type. This is because the authentication level of your encryption algorithm determines the strength of your password. The stronger the password, the more difficult it is for someone to hack into your online accounts.

2. Enable auditing

  1. Hit the Windows key, type Powershell in the search bar, and click Run as administrator.
  2. Type the following command and hit Enter: auditpol /set /subcategory:”logon” /failure:enable

If you have enabled Kerberos auditing, you can see this event. When unauthorized users attempt to log in, you’ll get a notification. It will also list the error code for users trying to obtain tickets using the credentials of other users or services in your environment. 

You can then take the necessary steps to block the users. This is especially important for the Event ID 4769 failure code 0x1b. Such errors can be hard to detect as they do not pass through client-server authentication.

3. Reset Kerberos password

Kerberoasting is a technique to harvest Kerberos tickets from Windows domain controllers. It’s one of the most effective ways to gain elevated privileges in a domain environment.

To resolve this issue, you must reset the user’s password in Active Directory Users and Computers (ADUC). Usually, these are privileges exclusive to the administrator, so you need to get in touch and request a password reset.

You may also encounter the Event ID 4771 error where Kerberos pre-authentication has failed, so don’t hesitate to check out our guide for more.

Let us know if you have been able to solve this error in the comment section below.

Check out the February 2023 Adobe Patch Tuesday updates

Posted on by Alexandru Poloboc

We’re pretty sure that many of you have been anxiously waiting for the Adobe Patch Tuesday rollout, and we’re here to make it a bit easier for you to find what you’re looking for.

As you know by now, Microsoft isn’t the only company that has such a rollout on a monthly basis, so in this article, we’re going to talk about Adobe and some of the patches for their products.

And, as we do every month, we will also include links to the download source, so you don’t have to scour the internet to find them.

28 CVEs got addressed this month by Adobe

Before we begin, however, let’s also take a look at what happened in January 2023, when Adobe released 29 CVEs in four patches for Adobe Acrobat and Reader, InDesign, InCopy, and Adobe Dimension.

The highlight of last month’s release was definitely the Reader update which addressed a combination of 15 CVEs, eight of which were ranked Critical in severity.

It should absolutely go without saying that the most severe of these could allow code execution if an attacker convinces a target to open a specially crafted PDF document.

Now that that’s out of the way, let’s get back to the present and explore what the company has prepared for its users as a part of the February batch of patches.

This month, February 2023, we are looking at security fixes for software such as Adobe Photoshop, Substance 3D Stager, Animate, InDesign, Bridge, FrameMaker, Connect, and After Effects.

Photoshop

Without any doubt one of the most used media editing platforms, Adobe makes sure Photoshop is always up to standards.

The PhotoShop patch fixes five bugs, three of which are rated Critical, and an attacker could get arbitrary code execution if they can convince a user on an affected system to open a malicious file

Affected versions

ProductAffected versionPlatform
Photoshop 202223.5.3 and earlier versions     Windows and macOS
Photoshop 202324.1 and earlier versionsWindows and macOS

Premier Rush

Don’t think we’re out of the woods just yet, as malicious third parties also target other Adobe-designed applications at the same time.

Thus, this is the same scenario for Premier Rush, which corrects two Critical-rated code execution bugs. so keep that in mind as well.

Affected versions

ProductVersionPlatform
Adobe Premiere Rush2.6 and earlier versions      Windows

Animate

If you are an Adobe Animate user, then you have to consider the possibility that your favorite software has been compromised as well.

Yes, as Adobe mentioned on the support page, the Animate patch also fixes three similar critical code execution bugs.

Affected versions

ProductVersionPlatform
Adobe Animate 202222.0.8 and earlier versionsWindows and macOS
Adobe Animate 202323.0.0 and earlier versionsWindows and macOS

Bridge

This one is a bit worse than everything we have presented so far, so please be mindful if you are an Adobe Bridge user.

Security experts emphasized that the fix for Adobe Bridge fixes five Critical-rated code execution bugs plus two memory leaks

Affected versions

ProductVersionPlatform
Adobe Bridge  12.0.3 and earlier versions Windows  and macOS
Adobe Bridge  13.0.1 and earlier versions Windows  and macOS

After Effects

There are a lot of us that rely on Adobe’s After Effects for perfecting our products, but this software isn’t immune to attacks.

In fact, After Effects also has a memory leak to go along with three code execution bugs, just as some of its Adobe brothers do.

Affected versions

ProductVersionPlatform
Adobe After Effects23.1 and earlier versions     Windows and macOS
Adobe After Effects22.6.3 and earlier versions     Windows and macOS

Frame Maker

Yes, there still are apps from Adobe that are going through the same ordeal, so the company had to do something quickly.

Thus, the patch for FrameMaker also contains a mix of code execution and memory leak fixes, so the security patch is more than welcome.

Affected versions

ProductVersionPlatform
Adobe FrameMaker2020 Release Update 4 and earlier    
  
Windows
Adobe FrameMaker2022 Release
    		Windows

This is the first time we mention Adobe Connect in such an article, but the company had to take some immediate measures.

Note that the patch for Adobe Connect fixes a security feature bypass bug, although the company doesn’t provide any further info on what’s being bypassed.

Affected versions

ProductVersionPlatform
Adobe Connect11.4.5  and earlier versions            All
Adobe Connect12.1.5  and earlier versions    All

InDesign

Please keep in mind that the fix for InDesign corrects a denial of service caused by a NULL pointer deref, just in case you didn’t know.

Submit a support ticket to Adobe if you still experience problems after downloading and installing these security updates.

Affected versions

ProductAffected versionPlatform
Adobe InDesignID18.1 and earlier version.Windows and macOS 
Adobe InDesignID17.4 and earlier version.                                         Windows and macOS 

Last, but not least, the fix for Adobe Substance 3D Stager doesn’t actually address any new CVEs, so there’s no need to worry.

That being said, Adobe is updating third-party libraries used by the 3D modeling tool, so there’s another detail to look forward to.

Experts say none of the bugs fixed by Adobe this month are listed as publicly known or under active attack at the time of release.

Have you found any other issues after downloading and installing these updates? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section below.

Fix: Mouse Cursor Gets Stuck in the Corner of the Screen

Posted on by Loredana Harsana

Is your mouse stuck in the corner? Many users, particularly those using laptops and notebooks, experienced this problem, and in today’s guide, we’ll try to fix this issue, so let’s get started.

Why is my mouse stuck in a corner?

Problems with your mouse connection or hardware malfunction are the most common culprits. In some instances, outdated drivers can cause this problem as well.

What can I do if the mouse is stuck in a corner?

Before we move to the slightly complex solutions, press the Function key and F5, F7, F8, or F9 and check if it helps. You can also use a different USB port or mouse pad.

1. Update drivers

  1. Right-click the windows start button and then select Device Manager.Start device manager - mouse stuck in corner
  2. Expand Mice and other pointing devices and then right-click on your Mouse driver.Mouse Driver
  3. Click Update driver and then select Search automatically for drivers.Search automatically for driver
  4. Follow the on-screen instructions to install the update. 

Drivers are essential for a smooth operating system, especially regarding your mouse. A specialized tool, such as Fortect Driver Updater, can help you update all your drivers and provide long-term maintenance so you make sure no issues arise due to malfunctioning or outdated drivers.

⇒ Fortect Driver Updater

2. Fix mouse settings

  1. Click on the Windows Start button, type Control Panel, and then launch it.windows start - mouse stuck in corner
  2. Select Mouse from the menu.Control panel
  3. Click on the Pointer Options tab at the top.
  4. Confirm that all settings are correct. Pointer options

Once done, verify whether the mouse corner is still stuck in the corner. If yes, consider enabling the ease cursor movement between displays option, especially if working on multiple displays.

3. Enable the trackpad

  1. Go to the Start button, type Mouse in the search bar, and then select Mouse settings.Start mouse settings - mouse stuck in corner
  2. Click on Additional mouse settings.Additional Mouse Settings
  3. Under the Hardware tab, ensure that your mouse is working properly.Mouse harware tab - mouse stuck in corner

4. Check for malware on your computer

  1. Press the Windows + I key combination to launch Settings.
  2. Select Update & Security from the Settings menu.Update and security
  3. Click on Windows Security on the left-hand side and then select Virus & threat protection.Windows malware detection - mouse stuck in corner
  4. Select Quick scan to check for malware.

If it was malware responsible for your mouse cursor stuck in a corner, things should now work fine.

How do I know if my mouse is broken?

If the mouse is not working, turn it on and replace the batteries. Check whether all the buttons work, including the scroll wheel. Also, you can connect the mouse to other PCs or update the mouse drivers just to be sure.

If nothing works, check whether the laser under the mouse emits light. If not, the mouse is most likely broken, and you will need to replace it.

What are the best external mice to pick from?

Many models are available on the market, and picking the best isn’t always easy. Luckily our best computer mice guide should be able to help you with that.

In it, you’ll be able to find a suitable mouse for every budget, so be sure to check it out.

The freezing of mouse cursors is a relatively typical issue that users encounter. The solutions above can be examined individually to determine which works best for your PC.

This isn’t the only issue you can encounter, and many reported that the mouse pointer disappears. The problem is also present on laptops, and we covered it in our cursor disappeared on the laptop guide.

If the issue is still present, it’s possible that the mouse keeps freezing or that your mouse is lagging. Luckily, we tackled these issues in separate guides.

Hopefully, you’ve already found a solution to the mouse problem.