Users who intend to add a new antivirus utility to Windows 10 should always uninstall the currently installed antivirus package first.
Norton Antivirus is one utility that many users find comes pre-installed with Windows 10. Thus, users often need to remove it before they add an alternative utility.
Sometimes, you can’t remove an app from the Control Panel for good. This is how you can uninstall Norton Antivirus on Windows 10.
Why won’t Norton let me uninstall it?
There are several reasons why Norton might not allow you to uninstall:
Norton is still running – If Norton is still running in the background, it can block the uninstallation process.
Corrupted installation – If the Norton installation is corrupted, it may prevent you from uninstalling the software.
System restrictions – If your computer is part of a network managed by an administrator, the administrator may have set restrictions that prevent you from uninstalling Norton.
Incorrectly uninstalled previous version – If you previously uninstalled a version of Norton incorrectly, it can leave remnants on your system that prevent you from uninstalling the new version.
The solutions we recommend below should help you resolve this issue quickly.
How can I uninstall Norton on Windows 10?
1. Remove Norton Antivirus with a third-party uninstaller
If you uninstall Norton Antivirus from Programs and Features, the program will be removed, which won’t erase all software residual files and registry entries.
Those leftovers can generate installation issues for replacement antivirus utilities. A third-party uninstaller software or Norton removal tool erases leftover files and registry entries.
The tool is a replacement and a supplement to the built-in functionality in Windows. First, it runs the built-in uninstaller for the desired program and then scans for leftover data.
This is extremely useful when a program won’t uninstall or you have doubts that a program has not been completely uninstalled.
IObit Uninstaller
Erase unwanted and stubborn apps alongside their leftovers with just a few clicks.
2. Uninstall Norton Antivirus via Programs and Features
Press Windows + X, type appwiz.cpl, and hit Enter.
Select the Norton Antivirus software from the program list and click Uninstall/Change.
Click the Yes button to confirm.
A Norton uninstaller window will open that might ask if you want to retain some of the Norton antivirus features. Click No thanks to decline.
Click the Next button on the uninstaller window to remove Norton Antivirus.
Finally, restart Windows after uninstalling Norton Antivirus.
Uninstalling Norton Antivirus via the Control Panel might leave some leftover files behind. As such, check for remaining Norton folders with File Explorer.
Users might find some leftover folders: Norton Antivirus, Norton Personal Firewall, Norton Internet Security, and Norton SystemWorks.
You must manually delete any of the above folders in File Explorer by selecting them and pressing the Delete button.
2. Next, right-click the NrnR.exe and selectRun as administratorto open Norton Antivirus.
3. Click theAgreebutton.
4. Then clickAdvanced Options and select theRemove Onlyoption.
5. Press theRemovebutton to confirm.
6. The utility will then prompt users to restart. Click theRestart Nowbutton to do so.
If you’re looking to uninstall the Norton Antivirus from your Windows 10 device, and cannot do it using Control Panel, we recommend the Norton Remove and Reinstall tool for Windows.
This is a tool specially created by Norton to help you out when you want to remove the software. It completely uninstalls the Norton currently installed and restarts your computer.
By using this tool, you ensure a clean and complete removal of the Norton program from your device, without any leftover files on your device.
If you’re still encountering issues with Norton uninstallation, consider using the Norton Power Eraser to scan for and remove deeply embedded threats that might be interfering with the process.
4. Uninstall Norton Antivirus in Safe Mode
First, hold the Shift key and select the Restart option on Windows 10’s Start menu.
Then users can select a Troubleshoot option after Windows reboots.
Next, select Advanced options to open further options.
Select Startup Settings, and then press theRestart button.
After the restart, press the 4 key to select Enable Safe Mode.
Then, users can remove Norton Antivirus in Safe Mode via Programs and Features.
Lastly, restart Windows 10 after removing Norton Antivirus in Safe Mode.
Usually, the Safe Mode option exists to help you start your PC, bypassing problems that prevent you from booting normally. It is also helpful in this case.
Double-click the downloaded MicrosoftProgram_Install_and_Uninstall.meta.
Press the Next button.
Select the Uninstalling option.
Then select Norton Antivirus on the software list.
Finally, click Next to go through the troubleshooter’s suggested resolutions.
The Program Install and Uninstall troubleshooter helps you automatically repair issues when blocked from installing or removing programs. It also fixes corrupted registry keys.
You can also uninstall it with System Restore by selecting a restore point that predates the software’s installation date. But you’ll also uninstall everything that was installed after that point.
Thus, instead of a System Restore, it is best to use the uninstaller we recommended above or any of these best tools to remove stubborn software. Pay particular attention to processes like the windoc.exe file which could be causing issues with uninstallation.
However, if you have changed your mind and want to give Norton another chance, check out our interesting and detailed review of Norton 360 Deluxe to understand how it can protect all your devices.
So, these are the simplest methods to uninstall Norton Antivirus. Lastly, in the comments section below, you can tell us which one you found the easiest.
Most antivirus programs come with integrated mail support and can scan emails within your existing accounts, regardless of what client you’re using. But, can a firewall block emails?
While this security feature is extremely important, sometimes it can bring further problems. For example, without any apparent reason, the antivirus can block your emails. Or you may struggle with a firewall blocking emails.
Now, it wouldn’t be the first time that a firewall is blocking specific features of an app. Even so, this doesn’t happen to all email clients. Some of them are sufficiently smart not to get blocked by antivirus or firewalls.
So before starting the tweaking with your antivirus, you should consider trying a faster and safer e-mail client that comes with all the necessary tools.
And coming back to our problem, instead of scanning for possible threats, the antivirus or firewall might block emails.
Have a look at other similar issues reported by our readers:
Bitdefender, Norton, Kaspersky, McAfee, AVG Email Shield blocking Outlook emails
Avast Mail Shield blocks email – Users have mostly complained about Avast blocking IMAP email.
Firewall blocking email attachments
Fortinet, Sophos firewall blocking emails
Firewall blocking incoming/outgoing email
In that situation, you need to find a way to re-enable the email client functionality and set a new rule within the antivirus firewall or add an exclusion for the email app you’re using.
These operations can be completed differently depending on the antivirus software that’s being used.
We’ll show you how to check if the firewall is blocking emails as well as what steps to take in order to allow emails through your antivirus’ firewall for the most popular Windows-based security tools.
How do I allow emails through my firewall and antivirus?
1. Fix firewall blocking emails: ESET Antivirus
Open your ESET antivirus.
Click on the Setup button and then on Advanced setup.
Expand Web and email, click Email client protection and expand Email Clients.
From the Email To Scan section, disable Received email, Sent email, and Read email.
Click OK to save the changes and exit the Advanced setup.
If ESET antivirus is blocking your e-mails, you can tweak the scanning settings from the software as indicated in the steps above.
2. Fix firewall blocking emails: Bitdefender
Open the Bitdefender user interface.
From the left panel click on the Protection icon.
Then, access the View Features link.
From the Firewall section, click on the Settings icon.
Go to the Rules tab and click on Add to create a new Firewall exception.
Load the executable file for the Email client and allow access to it.
Complete the other field by using on-screen prompts.
Save your changes and then restart your Windows 10 system.
Remember: on Bitdefender you can also add a website or any other similar source (if, for example, you are using an online Email client) to the Whitelist by following:
From Bitdefender, go to Protection.
Click on Web Protection and from the Settings window click on the Whitelist link.
Just enter the address of the blocked website or webpage and click on Add.
Save your changes in the end and restart your computer.
If Bitdefender is blocking your Outlook client, make sure you add it to the exception list as shown in the steps above.
3. Fix firewall blocking emails: Norton
Launch your Norton app.
From the main user interface, click on the Options button.
Then, access the Email link.
You can now disable the email scanning feature by unchecking the Scan incoming Email and Scan outgoing Email fields.
Save your changes.
These settings will disable email scanning when emails are blocked by Norton without apparent reasons. However, you can try to add a new rule within Firewall, as explained:
Open Norton.
From there click on Advanced.
Select Firewall from the left panel.
Click on the Settings icon from the Application Blocking row.
Select Add application and add the executable file for your email client.
Save everything and enjoy.
When Norton is blocking incoming email, disable the mail scanning feature from Norton as shown in the steps above.
4. Fix firewall blocking emails: Kaspersky
Open Kaspersky and from the upper-right corner click on Settings.
Under Protection, you can select the Mail Anti-Virus option.
Now, from the main window click on the Settings button (located under the Security level).
Switch to the Additional tab and choose how you want to set Kaspersky to scan your emails and your email clients.
Save these changes and enjoy.
Should Kaspersky be blocking the email server tweak its settings for e-mail scanning as shown in the steps above.
From the top-right corner click on the Menu button.
Go to Settings and choose Components.
Scroll down to the Firewall feature and head towards Customize.
Under Network Profiles choose to change the network from Public to Private, or the other way around depending on what’s currently set on your antivirus.
In the end, you should be able to access your emails once again.
6. Fix firewall blocking emails: Avira
On your computer launch the search field – click on the Cortana icon.
In the search field enter Apps & features and click on the result with the same name.
From the Apps & Features window find the Avira entry.
Right-click on Avira and choose Modify followed by Next.
Uncheck the Mail Protection field and save your changes.
For Avira, you should customize the email settings within your email client because Avira cannot scan emails through an encrypted connection.
These settings might depend on each email program but the main idea is to: deactivate the option that uses encrypted SSL/TSL/STARTTLS connections under the incoming and outgoing server protocol.
Additionally, the following ports shouldn’t be used: 25 (SMTP), 143 (IMAP), and 110 (POP3).
7. Fix firewall blocking emails: Avast
Run Avast on your computer.
Click on Menu and select Settings.
Access Components.
Find the Mail Shield entry and access it (click on Customize).
From there you can afterward choose how to configure this scanning engine.
You can disable this shield or you can try to disable parts of it – such as SSL scanning, or sensitivity.
Hopefully, after applying the new settings you will be able to access your emails once more.
In Avast you can add a new Firewall rule for your email client as followed:
Run Avast and go to Protection.
Click on the Firewall entry.
From the bottom of the screen click on Application settings.
Then, click on the New application rule.
Just add the app you want to include in the Firewall exception list.
Avast works on shields and the mail scan feature is integrated within the shield. If the Avast mail shield blocks the email, you need to customize the Avast email shield as shown in the steps above.
In most situations, the steps from above should help you unlock your email messages after the Email app got blocked by your antivirus or firewall.
Whatever problems you would have with your antivirus, you still need to secure your e-mail so you should also take a look at our list of the best e-mail scanning software.
Don’t forget to share your experience and your own observations with us and with other users.
The specified user does not have a valid profile error message typically appears in the context of an application or system that requires a user profile to function correctly.
The system cannot access the user profile required to perform the requested action, thus resulting in a user profile error.
If you have recently encountered the same error, here are a few quick fixes to help resolve the issue.
What causes The specified user does not have a valid profile error?
Corrupted user profile– The user profile may have become corrupted, preventing the system from accessing it correctly.
Missing user profile – The user profile may be missing or deleted, causing the system to throw this error.
Permission issues – The user may not have the necessary permissions to access the profile, or the profile may be protected by permissions that prevent the system from accessing it.
Authentication problems – The user may not be adequately authenticated, preventing the system from accessing the profile.
System or database issues – There may be underlying problems with the system or database that are causing the error.
It is essential to identify the root cause of the error to resolve it correctly. So, with that done, let us explore some resolutions.
How can I fix The specified user does not have a valid profile?
1. Quit the app
Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open the Task Manager.
Under the Process tab, find the application giving you this error, select the process, and click on End Task.
Now go to the Services tab. Look for any services related to the problematic application. Right-click on the service and select Stop.
Close the Task Manager window and restart your computer.
If the specified user does not have a valid profile while trying to start a program, you might be able to fix the issue by disabling the application from the Task Manager.
2. Change Microsoft Store App location
Press Windows + E to open Windows Explorer.
Navigate to the path below: C:\ProgramFiles
Next, right-click the Windows Apps folder and selectProperties.
Open the Security tab and click on the Advanced button.
In the following dialogue box, click on Change beside the Owner section.
Type your username and click on Check names. If found, click on OK.
Click on Apply and then on the OK button to save the changes. Then Close all the security and properties windows.
Open File Explorer and go to the path below. C:\ProgramFiles\WindowsApps
Look for the Windows Store folder. Right-click on the folder, select Cut and paste it into some other folder, such as Documents or any other folder in the C: drive, preferably.
After the file is moved, open the moved folder and click the .exe file to run the program.
If it was a permission-related error, the program should run without any error.
Windows Store apps are, by default, stored in the WindowsApps folder. If you see the error, The specified users does not have a valid profile while launching a Microsoft Store app, the folder may not have the required permission to run the app.
A workaround for this problem is to move the files of the app to a different folder on the hard drive. Begin with accessing the WindowsApp folder.
3. Disable startup apps
Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open the Task Manager.
Go to the Startup tab, select all the apps that have Enabled as the status, and click on Disable.
Now restart your PC. Remember that certain applications aren’t available on this list, so you’ll have to disable them manually.
Press Windows + R, type appwiz.cpl, and hit Enter.
Search for the suspected troublesome app in the app list, click on it, and select Uninstall.
Follow the wizard to complete the uninstallation.
Several users have reported some third-party apps as the cause for The specified user does not have a valid profile error. Users reported the following applications as the potential cause for this error:
CloudPaging Player
Creo Trial (3D CAD software)
Uninstaller software can completely remove any application on your PC without interfering with any other system functionality.
They are specifically created to uninstall stubborn software and have up-to-date tools to detect any lingering files left behind by regular uninstallations.
Some of the best uninstaller software out there also double as optimization tools, allowing you to clean your PC and scan for broken files.
The specified user does not have a valid profile error can be problematic, but you should be able to fix the problem by following one of these solutions.
Please let us know if you have a new solution not listed in this article in the comments below.
After installing the latest Windows 10 updates, many users reported being unable to turn off the password for protected sharing.
Password-protected sharing is a Windows 10 feature that stops other users from accessing shared files, printers, or public folders. Some users reported that the Off button wouldn’t stick when using this feature.
Other users were able to move the button to the Off position but reported that the settings didn’t change after restarting the computer. Here’s a series of solutions that should help you to fix this problem once and for all. If you’re using a newer OS, see how to turn off password protected sharing in Windows 11.
Below are some of the reasons the turn off password protected sharing is not working on your PC:
Wrong settings: If the password-protected sharing is off but still asking for a password, it might be because the registry value is still active. You can fix this quickly by modifying your registry.
Issues with the guest account: In some cases, this problem might be caused by the password in your guest account. The solution to this is to remove the password.
How do I turn off password protected sharing?
1. Turn off Password Protected Sharing from the Control Panel
Click on the Start button and open the Control Panel
Click on the Network and Sharing Center
Click Change advanced sharing settings which you can find in the left side
Click the arrow next to All Networks to expand the section
Select Turn off password protected sharing option under Password protected sharing
Click Save changes.
First, you can try to turn off the Password Protected Sharing from the Control Panel and see if it works properly. If you prefer sharing files through compressed folders, you can also password protect ZIP files in Windows 11 for added control.
2. Remove the Guest account password
Open the Run box by pressing the Windows key + R on your keyboard, and type lusrmgr.msc , and hit Enter.
In the Local Users and Groups box, click Users in the left pane.
Now, right-click Guest and press Set Password…
In the Set Password for Guest box that pops up, you need to leave the New Password and Confirm Password fields empty.
Finally, click OK.
If method 1 does not work, you could have to remove the Guest account password. To do so, follow the steps above.
3. Remove Password Protected Sharing from User Accounts
Open the Run box by pressing the Windows key + R on your keyboard, type control userpasswords2 in the box, and hit Enter.
The User Accounts window will open.
Under the Users for this computer section, select Guest, and click Reset Password…
Leave the New Password and Confirm Password fields empty.
Finally, click OK.
Alternatively, if you’re working with text-based content, you can password protect a Notepad file to prevent unauthorized edits or access.
4. Modify registry entries using the Registry Editor
Press the Windows key + R, type regedit in the box, and hit Enter.
The Registry Editor window will pop up > find this location in the left pane: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Lsa
In the right pane, find the REG_DWORD type registry named everyoneincludeanonymous.
Now, double-click on the registry and set the Value data to 1.
Click OK and go to the next registry location: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\LanmanServer\Parameters
Next, click on the parameters folder and find the REG_DWORD type registry named restrictnullsessaccess.
Double-click on the registry and set the Value data box to 0.
Close the window and restart the computer.
We recommend modifying the registry entries manually, and being very careful while making these changes. A simple mistake could have dramatic impacts on your system.
5. Check the Password never expires on property
Open the Run box by pressing the Windows key + R, type lusrmgr.msc in the box, and hit Enter.
Select Users in the Local Users and Groups window, and right-click Guest > Properties.
In the Guest Properties window that pops up, check the box next to Password never expires.
Click Apply, followed by OK, and reboot your PC.
An alternative solution would be to change the password’s expiry status. For portable data, consider using USB stick password protection tools to secure files outside the network.
If you are able to remove the sharing security password, be aware that public folders and printers are now accessible to other devices. If you still want local protection, here’s how to password protect a folder in Windows 11.
With the launch of the Windows 11 operating system, it is rare for users to face problems while launching programs on their computers.
However, with programs linked to a server, users often encounter the Fatal error occurred while creating a TLS client credentials on their system.
Error messages are usually not very explanatory, especially when they are cryptic. But what is even more frustrating is when the error doesn’t give a hint as to what the problem is.
This guide has been created to help you fix the fatal error that occurred while creating a TLS client credential error without losing your files, documents, and other data.
What is the TLS client credential?
The Transport Layer Security (TLS) is a protocol designed to provide secure communication over the Internet with end-to-end encryption, proof of integrity, and identity verification.
When a TLS connection is established, the server provides a certificate to the client. The client then validates the server’s identity by checking for an Internet security protocol known as Client TLS.
If the certificate doesn’t correspond to the protocol, you get the message Event ID 36871: A fatal error occurred while creating a TLS client credential. The internal error state is 10013.
Why does the error occur while creating a TLS client credential?
The reason behind this error is that the program is a client that needs a connection to a server. Though the internet would be working well, the client would not be able to decipher the code sent by the server.
This indicates an issue with the protocols. The statement of the error also points toward the TLS encryption protocol.
There is a need to decrypt some information that has been encrypted. The challenge is not knowing how to get the data back into a format where it can be read.
You may also encounter the Event ID 36871: A Fatal Error Occurred While Creating An SSL (client or server) Credential. The internal error state is 10011.
However, you don’t have to mistake it with the issue we’re dealing with here because it is a whole different issue that has to do with the email server.
There is also the Event ID 36871: A fatal error occurred while creating a TLS client credential RDP that is triggered because you can’t access the remote desktop from Windows Server 2012.
Many times, this information is stored in the system registry on a Windows computer. Some of the possible workarounds that you can try to fix this error are mentioned below.
What can I do if a fatal error occurs while creating a TLS client credential?
1. Enable the TLS 1.0 and 1.1 Protocols
Press Windows + R keys and type in inetcpl.cpl into the Run dialog window, then hit Enter.
In the Internet Properties window, click on the Advanced tab.
From here, check both Use TLS 1.0 and Use TLS 1.1.
Then, click Apply and OK.
Reboot the device and see if the error persists.
Enabling TLS 1.0 and 1.1 protocols should fix the issue. However, if it does not work for you, move on to the next resolution.
2. Run the Registry Editor
Press Windows + R keys, type regedit, and hit Enter.
On the User Account Control prompt, click Yes.
In the Registry Editor, navigate to the following location: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\SecurityProviders\SCHANNEL\Protocols\TLS 1.2\Client
Go to the right pane, right-click on a free space, and hit New, then DWORD (32-bit) Value.
Name the value DisabledByDefault.
Double-click the value and in the window that pops up, enter 0 for Value Data, then select OK.
In the same way, create another value called Enabled and set the Value data to 1.
Finally, exit the Registry Editor and reboot your PC.
Windows registry is a vital tool that helps you make changes to your computer’s settings. The registry editor’s role is to modify data such as file paths, windows titles, or other OS-critical settings.
The methods used in this guide should be enough to fix a fatal error occurred while creating a TLS client credential. The internal error state is 10013 issue.
TLS can be a pretty buggy sometimes and if you don’t really need it you can disable it all together to stop it from creating any issues.
Avast is a popular antivirus solution and to keep the latest malware and adware out of your system, the virus definition updates automatically. However, several users reported the Virus definitions are not up to date error.
The full error reads:
Virus definitions are not up to date – release date was invalid date
This error can occur due to several reasons including corrupted installation files, a glitch in the antivirus solution or even some Windows issues.
If you are also troubled by this error, here are a few troubleshooting steps to help you resolve the Avast Antivirus not updating problem on your Windows 10 PC.
What can I do if Avast virus definition update failed?
1. Reinstall Avast
Press the Windows key + R.
Type appwiz.cpl and click OK to open Control Panel.
Select Avast from the list.
Click on Remove/Uninstall.
Click on the Uninstall button on the setup screen. Follow on-screen instructions.
Once uninstalled, download the newer version of Avast from the official website and proceed with the installation.
Reinstalling Avast may not be an ideal solution, but you probably have to do it anyway if the built-in repair function fails to repair the software.
In some instances, you may also want to install an older version of the software until the bugs in the latest version are fixed.
Click the Check for updates button. Wait for the process to complete.
If there is an update pending, click on the available option to download and install the update.
Once installed, reboot the computer and check if the error occurs again.
2.1 Update Avast from the Setup screen
Click on Start and type control.
Click on Control Panel to open it.
Go to Programs and select Programs and Features.
Select Avast from the list of installed apps.
Click on Remove/Change.
In the Avast Setup windows, click the Update button.
Click Next and follow on-screen instructions to install updates.
Reboot the computer and check for any improvements.
Make sure to confirm your Avast definition version by going to the Avast website to see if you have the latest version installed.
3. Repair the Avast installation
3.1 Repair avast from the Troubleshooting menu
Open Avast antivirus software.
Click on the Menu icon and select Settings.
Open the General tab.
Click on Troubleshooting.
In the Troubleshooting tab, click on Still having a problem.
Next, click on Repair app.
Click Yes to confirm the action.
3.2 Repair avast from Control Panel
Press the Windows key + R.
Type control and click OK.
In Control Panel, go to Programs, and select Programs and Features.
Select Avast and click Uninstall/Remove.
Click the Repair button.
Click Next and follow the on-screen instructions.
The repair process can take some time. Once the scan is complete, go through the issues, and click on Resolve to fix the problem.
Once the fixes are applied, reboot the computer and relaunch Avast to see if the issue is resolved. This solution can actually fix most Avast problems so try it.
The Avast virus definition update failed issue can occur due to several reasons. However, Avast offers a built-in repair tool to fix common Avast issues.
If the issue persists, uninstall and reinstall the software to fix the problem. If the problem persists, consider choosing a better antivirus with unlimited license that you don’t need to renew.
Did you manage to fix Avast using our solutions? Do you have any other ideas? Share them in a comment below to help other users in the process.
Special occasion warrants special people. And what can be better than a self-designed invitation card asking friends and family to join you in your celebration and make the event even more special?
Check our recommendations for the best invitation software to create wedding, anniversary, and birthday cards like a pro in no time:
Adobe Creative Cloud Express – The best software to make wedding invitations
CorelDraw Graphic Suite – Best wedding invitation software for creating professional invitations
EDraw Max – Excellent software for invitation card design
CardWorks by NCH – DIY wedding invitation software free download
How do I make an electronic wedding invitation for free?
Whether you want to design a wedding invitation or send invites for birthday celebrations, you will need two things: a creative mind and professional invitation design software.
There are many invitation software available that can help you to create professional-looking and stunning cards with a personal touch.
If you don’t want to download any software, you can make use of online invitation makers that are platform-independent and can also be used on a tablet.
What is the best Adobe program to create invitations? If you’re planning on making professional self-designed invitation cards, Adobe Creative Cloud Express is the best tool for the job.
The growing trend of avoiding generic invitation cards has a point if you want to make a statement.
Adobe Creative Cloud Express is a great option even for newbies since it requires the least amount of editing experience. It has a very simple user interface with countless invitation templates to choose from.
You may provide your own narration to introduce the event and enjoy cutting-edge colors and fonts.
There’s also an intuitive toolbar if you’d like to insert a button, video, or background slideshow to stand out from the crowd.
You may even spice up things with perfectly themed music when inspiration strikes. So, with this tool, you get to do more than invite some guests to the big event.
The invitation card may just turn into a huge wow for them, so how could they ever decline it?
Adobe Creative Cloud Express saves you precious time. Just stress less about getting the ideal custom-made invitation and focus on your other planning details and people who deserve your attention.
Adobe Creative Cloud Express
This tool will help you create the most exciting and original invites with minimum effort and knowledge.
If you don’t like the idea of installing software for creating an invitation card, you can always opt for online designing tools.
Canva is among the popular and best web-based software for wedding card design and it will greatly simplify the process.
For creating an invitation card, Canva has tons of ready-made templates that you can select and customize as per your preference.
Canva offers all the essential tools to edit any template including image cropping, adding shapes, and grids, and creating collages, lines, frames, charts, icons, etc.
You can also change the layout, add text, change the background, and upload your own images. Every aspect of the image can be customized by simply double-tapping on the element.
The transparency tool allows you to give depth to your design by adjusting the opacity and transparency. Other notable features offered by Canva include photo enhancer, photo blur, photo vignette, and sticker.
Canva is not just an invitation card designing tool but can be used for any light editing task with ease. Do give Canva a shot and test the feature to see if it is worth your money.
Canva
Shape your special day invitation wholeheartedly with this awesome free design editor.
CorelDRAW – Professional invitation design software (vector-based)
Whenever we talk about graphic and vector designing tools, we simply cannot leave out the ultimate software for invitation card design.
We’re talking about CorelDRAW’s Graphic Suite, of course, an excellent invitation software we cannot stop praising.
CorelDRAW is used by professionals in studios and elsewhere and can be used for anything that requires designing, including invitation cards.
It is a premium and expensive piece of software that cannot be bought separately but as a bundle consisting of 6 tools, fully optimized for Windows and ready to publish to WordPress directly.
CorelDRAW is the ideal professional invitation design software. It offers industry-acclaimed editing tools for graphics, illustration, layout, tracing, photo editing, and more.
It has a new LiveSketch tool if you want to create an illustration on your invitation, and the ability to apply and manage fills and transparencies creates complex layouts and designs.
Furthermore, you can apply custom-built color harmonies, get access to creative vector tools along with over 10000 clip art and 2000 high-resolution images, and more.
CorelDRAW
Creating invitations will be a breeze thanks to the most famous graphics editing software.
EdrawMax – Excellent software for invitation card design
Mostly known for its technical design capacities, EDraw Max will surprise you in this department as well. Apart from organizational charts, science illustrations, floor plans, and network diagrams, it can also be used to create invitations.
The tool comes with over 10,000 built-in shapes and clip art that can be dragged and dropped on templates. You can easily create a custom invitation card using the Business Card type template.
In fact, EDraw Max has plenty of invitation card samples on its website that can be downloaded for inspiration.
Click on the Invitation card icon and start drag-and-drop of basic drawing shapes from the library. You can also add custom images and fill the shapes with color before saving and exporting the file.
Edraw Max is a multi-purpose diagram tool and it can also act as an incredible DIY wedding invitation software. However, it is not free, nor is it cheap.
In fact, it’s quite pricey, which makes it suited for professionals who will use it more often than occasional users.
EdrawMax
Explore a professional tool with 10,000 built-in shapes and clip art & build the perfect invite.
CardWorks by NCH – DIY wedding invitation software free download
NCH Software makes some excellent computer software applications, and we are not surprised to find that NCH software also offers one of the best software for invitation card design.
CardWorks is the company’s lightweight utility that helps business owners create unique and high-quality business cards. It is premium software but can be downloaded for free for non-commercial use.
CardWorks comes loaded with tons of free wedding invitation templates word documents and more ready-made templates that can be edited and customized as per your need.
In fact, CardWorks has a template for every occasion. Plus, you can add text, change fonts, adjust template color settings, and more.
Once the invitation cards are ready, you can export them to a high-resolution PDF and then take a printout or give it to the print house.
CardWorks is low-cost feature-rich software that can be used by any business and doesn’t need any prior knowledge in card designing.
These are some of the best invitation software to create all kinds of invites for your wedding, anniversary as well as public gatherings, and dinner parties.
Some can even be used by a novice, while other tools are more suitable for professionals as they involve a learning curve and are also quite expensive.
If you want to learn to design invitation cards, start with free wedding invitation templates in word documents or take advantage of the free trials.
The only downside to the trial version of any tool is that the results will have a watermark. Do let us know your favorite software for invitation card design in the comments below.
Windows 10 is a cross-platform operating system, meaning that users of Surface Pro tablets also received a free upgrade.
But after upgrading to Windows 10, some users reported that they’re unable to connect to WiFi networks, so, hopefully, this article will help them solve the problem.
How to fix Surface Pro WiFi not Working?
1. Update your drivers
While this may seem like a simple solution, outdated drivers are the main reasons Surface Pro keeps disconnecting from WiFi.
You can update them easily using Windows 10’s built-in tools, but third-party driver updaters are far easier. For example, Outbyte Driver Updater is lightweight, fast, and efficient, all while being a portable program that doesn’t require prior installation.
Simply download it, launch it, let it scan your Surface Pro, and proceed to update and fix any old, missing, or damaged drivers with just one click.
Outbyte Driver Updater
Prevent your Surface Pro from encountering any more similar issues by choosing Outbyte Driver Updater instead of any other similar tool.
Right-click on the Start Menu button and open Command Prompt (Admin).
Type the following command and press Enter: netsh int ip reset
Reboot your PC and check if you can connect to the WiFi network.
If you can, you’re good to go, but if not, type the following commands in the elevated Command Prompt and press Enter after each one: netsh int tcp set heuristics disablednetsh int tcp set global autotuninglevel=disablednetsh int tcp set global rss=enabled
If you are facing Surface Pro 8 or Surface Pro 6 WiFi issues, you can fix it by resetting the TCP/IP stack by following the steps above.
3. Re-configure the WiFi Adapter
Go to Search, type device manager, and open Device Manager.
Right-click on your wireless adapter and go to Properties.
Go to the Power Management tab, uncheck Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power, and click OK.
Modify the default power plan, and switch it from high energy savings to low.
Sometimes, the Surface Pro 3 WiFi issues can be due to wrong power settings. This is especially true if your PC is set to turn off your WiFi adapter to save power.
You can correct this by deactivating the power management feature.
Press the Windows key + I to open the Settings app and select Update & Security.
Click the Troubleshoot option in the left pane and select Additional troubleshooters.
Now, select Internet Connections and click Run the troubleshooter.
If you prefer to use a tool to fix your Wi-Fi issues on your Surface Pro device, you can run the Internet Connections troubleshooter. This is one of the many Windows 10 built-in troubleshooting tools you can use to fix general technical issues.
That would be all. If you’re still unable to connect to the WiFi network, you can wait a bit because maybe Microsoft will deliver the solution through Windows Update.
AMD OverDrive is a software utility from the CPU manufacturer that helps users with overclocking and fan control. It is a handy utility for ADM CPU users as it enables you to push the hardware’s limit.
However, any conflict with the AMD OverDrive software can result in aoddriver2.sys error in Windows PCs.
The error is not limited to any one version of the OS. A good number of users have reported the aoddriver2.sys error resulting in Blue Screen of Death.
The aoddriver2.sys error is a Windows driver that allows the computer to communicate with hardware or connected devices.
In this case, the CPU. The fact that the driver has direct access to the internals of the Windows OS, any conflict between the driver and the hardware can result in a system shutdown.
So, if you are PC also affected by the aoddriver2.sys error, this guide will help you diagnose and fix the issue by yourself, the common problems and solutions to fix the aoddriver2.sys error.
The aoddriver2.sys failed error can be caused by several reasons and one of them being the installation of AMD OverDrive software with an incompatible CPU.
For example, the AMD OverDrive software is not supported by Ryzen series processors; instead, AMD offers an alternative called Ryzen Master Utility.
Now if you happen to install AMD OverDrive on a Ryzen series computer, it is possible that you might be affected by aoddriver2.sys error, which makes running your PC extremely difficult.
Below are the most common aoddriver2.sys error messages displayed:
We highly recommend using a reliable repair tool because it can automatically handle various system crashes and errors.
2. Uninstall the AMD OverDrive program in Safe Mode
2.1 Restart your PC.
From the login screen click on the Power button.
Hold the Shift key and click on Restart.
This can also be done from the Start menu if you are already logged in.
2.2 Repair your PC
If your PC doesn’t restart normally, then Windows will present you with a Recovery screen after two failed restart attempts. From the screen, click onSee Advanced Repair Options to proceed.
2.3 Uninstall AMD OverDrive in Safe mode
First shutdown your PC.
Press the start button and start pressing the F8 key during boot till you see the Recovery screen.
From the Choose an option screen, click Troubleshoot option.
Next, click on Advanced Options.
Under Advanced options section, click on the Startup Settings option.
Click on the Restart button and let the PC restart.
Upon restart, you will see multiple options to startup. Press the #4 key to enable Safe Mode.
Now your PC will restart in Safe Mode. Go to Control Panel.
Then, go to Programs, then Programs and Features.
Find and uninstall AMD OverDrive software.
To get out of the Safe Mode, simply restart your PC.
The aoddriver2.sys error can leave your PC unusable. The error usually puts the system into an endless crashing loop. This problem can be solved by booting the computer into Safe Mode.
Safe Mode in Windows is a diagnostic mode that allows you to fix any software-related problems with your computer. When in Safe Mode, the OS only loads essential system programs during startup.
This way, if a third-party program is making the system crash, you can uninstall it in Safe Mode. There are multiple ways to boot into Safe Mode. I have listed both the methods to access Safe Mode on Windows.
Select CreateaRestore Point option from the search result.
From the System Properties window, click on System Restore button.
A new dialogue box will open. Click on Next.
By default, Windows will show the most recently created restore point.
Check Show more restore points option to view all the available restore points.
Check the date when the restore point was created and select the restore point accordingly.
Click on Scan for affected programs button to check which programs installed on your computer will be uninstalled due to the restore process.
Click on Next to proceed.
Read the confirmation message and if you want to go ahead click Finish.
Windows will restore the system back to when it was working perfectly fine. After the restart check for any improvements.
Windows 10 and earlier version of the OS come with System Restore features that allows you to create a system restore point manually or automatically on your PCs local drive.
The created restore points can be used to restore your PC back to normal in case of a crash or aoddriver2.sys error.
If you can boot into Windows normally, accessing system restore is easy. However, in case the error doesn’t let you log in, then you have to access system restore via Safe Mode. I have listed both the methods below.
Note: Any program installed after the selected restore point was created will be uninstalled during the restore process.
3.2 Access System Restore via Safe Mode
When the PC restarts into Safe Mode with Command Prompt, enter the following command and hit Enter: Rstrui.exe
Now follow the instructions give in Solution 3 – Method 3.1 to known how to proceed with the system restore process.
If you are unable to access the login screen, you can use the System Restore via Safe Mode.
Scroll up and read Solution 2 of this article to know how to boot into Safe Mode with Command Prompt. Once you are in the Safe Mode, do the following.
Note: It is important that you boot into Safe Mode with Command Prompt.
4. Run Windows File Checker
Type cmd in the Cortana/Search bar, right-click on Command Promptand select Run as administrator.
When the Command Prompt opens, type the following command and hit Enter: sfc/scannow
System File Checker will scan the protected system files for any missing or corrupted files and replace them with cached files from the local hard drive.
The process can take a few minutes to an hour depending on your PC.
If you have installed AMD OverDrive on the right-version of the AMD processor and still getting the error, the problem can be with the corrupt or missing system files.
Windows comes with a built-in System File Checker tool to repair missing and corrupted system files. To use System File Checker, run the command prompt as admin.
5. Use a third-party uninstaller tool
It is possible that the AMD OverDrive software may not be visible in the Program and feature screen making the uninstallation process difficult. We recommend using IObit Uninstaller to solve this issue.
IObit Uninstaller is a great software that automatically uninstalls other programs from your computer. Control Panel is not always reliable. There can be programs that aren’t recognized by it on your PC.
Therefore, IObit Uninstaller will make sure to scan and find all the installed software in your system. From there, you can choose which one to uninstall, with just a few clicks.
6. Perform a Clean Install
Now, this is the last thing anyone wants to do. Performing a clean install of Windows OS is a time-consuming process, and you would also need to install all the programs right from scratch again.
To perform a clean install of Windows OS, you need an installation drive or disk. You can easily create a bootable USB flash drive / Disk using the ISO.
You also need to download the Media Creation Tool to install your new Windows on the computer. After installing the new OS, you should not be experiencing any problems with it.
While AMD OverDrive is a handy little utility that allows you to overclock your CPU and also monitor the temperature and speed, it is recommended to stop the use if it causes AODDriver2.SYS BSOD error.
Windows 10 is one of the most-used OS, and for a good reason. However, some users are complaining that the Windows 10 hibernate is not working for some reason.
This can be a serious issue because hibernation, just like the sleep state, helps to conserve energy without losing data. If the Windows 10 hibernate is not working for you, be at ease, as this guide contains the solutions to fix it for good.
Why can’t I hibernate Windows 10?
There are a series of factors that can cause hibernation not to work on your PC. Below are some of them:
Outdated PC: The first thing to check if you are facing this issue is if your PC is outdated. If you are not running the latest version of Windows 10, you need to update your PC to fix this issue.
Wrong power setting: In some cases, you might be experiencing this issue because you made some changes to your power settings. The only solution to this is to reset your power settings to default.
Outdated drivers: If Windows 10 hibernate is not working after an OS update, it might be because your drivers are outdated. Updating your drivers to the latest version should fix this.
How to Fix Windows 10 Hibernate and Sleep Issues
1. Update your computer
As already mentioned, these issues might be fixed as soon as you update the system of your device; in this way, everything will be compatible with Windows 10 thus, all the in-built features will smoothly run, as they were before applying the Windows update.
2. Reset your power plan
Go to your Start Screen and press Windows + R keyboard keys and type control in the Run box. This will launch the Control Panel window.
Choose Power Options, followed by Edit Plan Settings.
From there, select and delete the custom power plan or reset the default power plans featured on your Windows 10 device.
But the first thing to do when noticing hibernate issues is to reset the power plans from your Windows 10 computer or to delete your custom power plan – in case you have created one.
3. Disable active apps and programs
If the problem persists, then open Task Manager by using the Ctrl + Alt + Del keyboard sequence. Then from Task Manager, choose the Startup tab, and from there, just disable all items except your drivers and reboot.
If you still have the same hibernate problems, you might have a compatibility issue. In that matter, you should try to update your display drivers and also the BIOS that is featured on your device.
Basically, after flashing the updates, you should be able to fix the hibernate and sleep problems from your desktop.
So, that was all for now. Try the solutions explained above and see if there are notable results; don’t forget to feedback on your way.
5. Scan your computer for malware
Malware infections may prevent you from using your computer’s hibernate/ sleep feature. Make sure that your machine is malware-free by running a full system scan using your antivirus of choice.
We also recommend you install dedicated antimalware software for an additional layer of security.
That should do for the Windows 10 hibernate not working issue. We believe you should be able to fix this issue provided you follow the steps in this guide.
Many users reported that Windows Photo Gallery is not working on their PC. This is somewhat expected since it’s an older software that isn’t maintained anymore.
Users have reported that Windows Live Photo Gallery fails to start and they are greeted with the Photo Gallery encountered an error loading WLXPhotoLibraryMain.dll and can’t start. Error code 0x8007007e message.
Before we start fixing this error, let’s see what causes it on Windows 10.
Why is Windows Photo Gallery not working?
Missing components – Windows Live Photo Gallery requires MF.dll and MFplat.dll files. This can happen if you’re using Windows 10 N edition or KN version. In case you’re not familiar, that are versions for the European and Korean markets respectively.
Compatibility issues – Windows Photo Gallery is old software, so compatibility issues are expected. Instead, why not use a different photo manager software?
What do I do if Windows Photo Gallery won’t open?
1. Download the Media Feature Pack for Windows 10
Press Windows key + S and type optional. Select Manage optional features.
Click on Add a feature.
Search for Media Feature Pack.
Check it and click on Install.
If you can’t find it on the list, it means that your version of Windows already has it installed.
This is a simple solution, so be sure to try it if Windows Live Photo Gallery is not working.
2. Use a different photo viewer
This is one of the simplest solutions if you’re tired of trying to fix the Windows Live Photo Gallery tool.
There are plenty of photo viewer tools out there that allow you to import, view, filter your photos, and much more.
One variant which we really love is the Adobe Photoshop Lightroom, a complete solution that offers much more than a simple gallery, and its proved to be very stable.
If Photo Gallery not responding, perhaps you should consider an alternative, and currently, there’s no better alternative than Adobe Lightroom.
Here’s what this bad baby can do:
Edit pictures on the go, directly from a mobile, web or desktop application
Includes cloud storage for all of your pictures
Pre-defined tools will aid you in editing
Built for photography, but with a simple and easy to use design
Adobe Lightroom
Adobe Lightroom is a professional photo viewer that can help you organize and edit your photos.
If uTorrent is not uninstalling, we enlisted two ways to remove it. You probably can’t uninstall uTorrent because you don’t have the necessary permissions, or the installer is corrupted. In other cases, uTorrent might be still running in the background or there are some leftovers in the Registry.
How can I uninstall uTorrent?
1. Using the Control Panel
1. Press the Windows key on your keyboard or click on the Start button on your taskbar to open the Search menu.
2. Type control panel in the Searchbar and click on the app from the results.
3. Next, go to Programs and Features.
4. Look for uTorrent in the list and right-click on it.
5. Select Uninstall from the list of available options.
6. Follow the steps to uninstall uTorrent from your PC.
The first and best solution for uninstalling uTorrent is to do so through Control Panel. This built-in tool helps you easily remove any unwanted programs or files from your PC in a few clicks. It is recommended that you try out this method before you test more advanced ones.
If you cannot uninstall uTorrent from the Control Panel in Windows 10, you should try other, more advanced solutions.
2. Using the Windows Settings app
Press Windows + I to open the Settings app, and click on Apps.
Now select Apps & features.
Find uTorrent in the app list, click on it, and finally select Uninstall.
3. Use the uTorrent Uninstaller
Open the File Explorer by pressing Windows + E.
Type the path below in the address bar and hit Enter. %AppData%\uTorrent
Lastly, if you have an Uninstaller.exe file, right-click on it and select Run as administrator.
4. Use a third-party tool
The simplest way to remove the software from your PC is to employ a specialized removal tool.
A famous optimizing software can remove any application with a few clicks. The app recommended below is a multi-functional solution that can do much for your system performance.
So, using it will help you clear unused programs or software files from the system, eliminating clutter and freeing up significant memory.
IObit Uninstaller
With this user-friendly utility, uninstalling stubborn programs and eliminating residues has never been easier.
5. Clean registry entries and manually delete the application
Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
Look for uTorrent under Processes and terminate all related running processes.
In the Windows search bar, type regedit, right-click on the Registry Editor, and select Run as administrator.
Click on the File and then Export to back up the Registry in case of trouble.
Now, press Shift + F to open the elevated Search bar.
Type utorrent and click Find Next. Again, it’s essential not to remove anything unrelated to uTorrent.
Remove all uTorrent entries and close the Registry Editor.
Lastly, restart your PC.
If you have read to this point, you should have succeeded in uninstalling uTorrent from your computer. You should, however, note that not all solutions will work for everybody.
We encourage you to try what seems the most appropriate. Also, note that if you want to use the registry to uninstall uTorrent, we recommend exporting Registry files so that your data is not lost.
Find out how to remove bloatware on Windows 10 by reading our dedicated article. If you want to know more about this application, and why you should remove it, our uTorrent.exe guide is the right place to start.
Finally, in the comments section below, let us know which of these steps is most useful for you.
Sleep Mode is often regarded as one of the most beneficial aspects of the Windows 11 operating system, particularly regarding reducing power usage, so it is an issue if there is no Sleep Mode option.
The mode places your device in a low-power state, turns off the display, and allows you to resume your work from where you left off last time. Because of this, Windows employs Sleep Mode rather than entirely turning off the system to conserve battery life on your device.
Why my computer has no Sleep Mode option?
If your Windows 11 device doesn’t have the Sleep Mode option, there are a few elements to be aware of. The major causes remain the following:
Disabled settings – This should be the most obvious. You may have disabled Sleep Mode on the PC.
Power plan errors – Some users have misconfigured the Power Plan.
Malware – When important Settings fail on a computer, this could be a sign that some malware infects the computer. We always recommend using the best antivirus software.
Laptops are most suited for sleep mode due to their battery life, allowing them to last through brief naps and overnight slumbers.
It should be mentioned that if your computer is left unattended for excessive time, it will shut down. So, let us show you the best solutions.
How can I get back the Sleep Mode on Windows 11?
1. Ensure that Sleep Mode is enabled on your device
Press the Windows key + I to open the Settings app and navigate to System in the left pane followed by Power & battery from the right side.
Now scroll to the Screen and sleep section and manually set the time interval of inactivity after which you want your PC to enter Sleep Mode.
2. Set up a new Power plan
Press the Windows + S key to open the Search bar, then type Choose a power plan and click on the most relevant result.
Now click on Choose when the computer sleeps from the left panel.
Lastly, choose when you want your computer to go into Sleep Mode, then click Save.
3. Perform a virus scan on your PC
Click the carrot arrow from your Taskbar, in the right corner to find the antivirus you have installed, then right-click on it and choose the option that opens the app interface.
Now click on the button that performs a Smart scan or anything similar to a virus scan.
The existence of a virus or malicious software on your computer can prevent your device from entering Sleep Mode.
In case you don’t have antivirus software and want to ensure that your PC is protected around the clock without any effort from your side, we recommend that you try out the powerful TotalAV.
You can also explore the 5 best antivirus software on the market list for a complete list of other useful software options.
This step applies to both users using a laptop or desktop computer. If you don’t have the Sleep Mode in Windows 11, even though all settings are proper, the most likely culprit is the battery itself.
Removing the CMOS battery for 15 minutes and reinserting it to see if the problem has been resolved is recommended. Alternatively, replace the CMOS battery.
If your device’s battery is not replaceable, you can use a third-party app to track how much power it has left before deciding to replace it.
5. Use the Power troubleshooter
Press the Windows key + I to start Settings.
Click on System from the left and select Troubleshoot from the right pane.
Now, choose Other troubleshooters from the menu.
Scroll down until you find the Power troubleshooter and hit the Run button.
Follow the on-screen instructions to finish the procedure.
6. Turn off Screensaver mode
1. Press the Windows + S key to open the Search bar.
2. Type Turn screensaver on or off in the search box.
3. Click on the result.
4. The Screen Saver Settings menu will open. Choose None under Screen Saver.
5. Click OK to apply and save the changes. Now the Screensaver Mode is turned off.
If your Windows 11 won’t go to sleep when you leave it inactive for a specific amount of time, it might be possible that the Screensaver mode is interfering.
When you have Screensaver mode enabled, it keeps your PC open. Thus, disabling it will allow your PC to enter Sleep Mode.
In the comments section below, let us know which solution worked best for you and whether you keep your computer in sleep mode overnight.
We connect various devices to our PCs, such as portable hard drives, flash drives, printers, cameras, and other peripherals, and most of these devices use USB.
Your USB port no longer working in Windows 10 is a common problem. Most users face this after a Windows Update. It might also be caused by drivers or issues with power settings.
Let’s see how you can get rid of this problem and use your USB without issues.
How to fix USB not working on Windows 10?
1. Reinstall device drivers
Download the latest drivers for your USB device and install them.
If there are no new drivers available just continue with the next step.
Open Device Manager.
You can do that by pressing Windows Key + X and choosing Device Manager from the list.
Locate the device driver and right-click it.
Choose Uninstall device to remove the driver.
Restart your computer.
Update drivers automatically
If this method doesn’t work or you do not have the necessary computer skills to update/fix the drivers manually, we strongly suggest doing it automatically by using third-party driver updaters.
The software will automatically scan your computer for new compatible driver versions and update them for you. Moreover, the program will scan both your hardware and software.
2. Change Power Management settings for USB Controller
Open Device Manager.
Find Universal Serial Bus controllers section and expand it.
Right-click each driver named USB Root Hub and select Properties.
Go to Power Management tab.
Make sure that Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power is not checked.
If it’s checked, uncheck it.
Click OK to save the changes.
Repeat the process for all USB Root Hub drivers.
Restart your computer.
If USB is not working on your PC, you can fix it by changing your Power Management settings.
3. Uninstall the USB Controller
Open the Device Manager.
Find Universal Serial Bus controllers and expand it.
Right-click the first driver in the Universal Serial Bus section and click Uninstall.
Repeat the process for all drivers in the Universal Serial Bus section.
Restart your computer.
Many users reported that USB is not working, and to fix this issue, you need to reinstall the USB Controller by doing the following:
4. Turn off fast startup
Open Control Panel and choose Power Options.
On the sidebar on the left, click Choose what the power button does.
Click Change settings that are currently unavailable.
Under the Shutdown settings find the Turn on fast startup and uncheck it.
Now click Save changes and you’re done.
If USB is not working, you need to disable Fast Startup, and you can do so by following these steps:
Some users report that Windows 10 is booting too quickly, and therefore there’s not enough time for external devices to be detected before the system boots.
According to some users, you might be able to fix this problem simply by disabling USB selective suspend feature. To do that, follow these steps:
Open Power Options and click Change plan settings next to your currently selected plan.
Now click on Change advanced power settings.
Navigate to USB settings and set USB selective suspend setting to Disabled.
Click Apply and OK to save changes.
5. Remove your laptop battery
If the USB is not working on your laptop, you might be able to fix this problem by removing your laptop battery.
According to users, many fixed the problem by removing the battery and keeping the power button pressed for 30 seconds or more.
By doing that, you’ll cause your capacitors to discharge completely. Some users are also recommending leaving your laptop turned off without a battery the night before capacitors fully discharge.
After doing that, the problem with the USB should be resolved completely.
6. Modify your registry
Press Windows Key + R and enter regedit.
Now press Enter or click OK.
Optional: Modifying the registry can cause various issues to occur, therefore it’s recommended to back up your registry.
You can do that by clicking File > Export.
Now set Export range as All and choose a safe location.
Enter the desired file name and click on Save.
In case anything goes wrong after modifying your registry, you can simply run this file to restore it to the previous state.
In the left pane, navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/SYSTEMCurrentControl/Set/Control/Class{4d36e965-e325-11ce-bfc1-08002be10318}
The name of the key might be slightly different on your PC, but it should start with 4d36e965, so you’ll easily find it.
In the right pane, locate UpperFilter and LowerFilters and delete them.
If these entries aren’t available, this solution won’t apply to you.
After deleting the files, restart your PC.
According to users, you might be able to fix this problem simply by making a couple of changes in your registry. If USB is not working, you just need to follow these steps:
Once your PC restarts, your USB ports should start working again without any problems.
7. Update your USB Root Hub drivers
Open Device Manager.
Expand Universal Serial Bus controllers section and right-click USB Root Hub.
Choose Update driver from the menu.
Now select Search automatically for updated driver software. Windows will automatically install the necessary drivers.
Repeat these steps for all USB Root Hub devices on your PC.
If USB is not working on your Windows 10 PC, you might be able to fix the problem simply by updating the USB Root Hub driver. This is rather simple to do, follow the steps above.
Drivers can also be updated with the help of specialized s
oftware. After a quick scan, the software will just prompt you with all the drivers you need to update.
8. Install the necessary updates
Open the Settings app.
You can do that quickly by pressing the Windows key + I.
When the Settings app opens, navigate to Update & security section.
Now click on the Check for updates button.
Windows will now check and download available updates.
If USB is not working on Windows 10, you might be able to fix this problem simply by installing the necessary updates.
That’s it; hopefully, one of these workarounds was helpful for you. That said, USB problems aren’t limited to just one version of Windows or one type of device. If you’re running Windows 11, you might be interested in this guide on how to fix USB not recognized issues in Windows 11.
Safeguarding your PC using an antivirus tool is one of the first things you should do, as we are constantly exposed to new threats because of the internet. Microsoft includes the Windows Defender Firewall, as well as Windows Security to protect your PC.
However, there are a bunch of users who have reported that the Windows Defender real-time protection won’t turn on. For users facing the same issue, this guide is just for you. Here, we will give you a bunch of solutions that will help fix the Windows Defender real-time protection that won’t turn on.
Why won’t Windows Defender real-time protection turn on?
We did some careful research and found out some of the most common reasons why Windows Defender real-time protection won’t turn on:
Third-party antivirus installed on your PC: If there is a third-party antivirus installed on your PC, then it could conflict with the Windows Defender and won’t let you use the real-time protection.
Check the Group Policy Settings: In case the Turn off Windows Defender Group Policy setting is enabled then you won’t be able to turn on the real-time protection.
There is some issue with the recently installed Windows update: If you are coming across this issue right after installing a new update on your PC, chances are that the update was buggy.
What can I do if Windows Defender real-time protection won’t turn on?
1. Uninstall any third-party antivirus
Open the Start menu by pressing the Win key.
Open the Control Panel.
Select Programs and Features.
Click on the antivirus tool and select Uninstall from the top.
Follow the on-screen prompts to remove the program from your PC completely.
A third-party antivirus program won’t let you use another antivirus program, or it would interfere with it. In such a case, we would suggest you uninstall any third-party antivirus tool that you have on your PC and then check if you could turn on the real-time protection or not.
2. Check the Group Policy setting
Press the Win + R keys to open the Run dialogue.
Type gpmc.msc and hit the Enter key.
Select Computer Configuration.
Expand Administrative Templates.
Select Windows Components.
Click on Windows Defender Antivirus.
Double-click on Turn off Windows Defender Antivirus policy on the right side.
Select the Disabled option if not selected.
Click Apply and OK.
When you follow the above steps and do as said, you ensure the Windows Defender isn’t disabled on your PC.
If the program is disabled, you won’t be able to use its features, which in our case is to turn on the real-time protection.
Type the below command and press Enter. sfc /scannow
Wait for the process to complete.
Type the below command and press Enter. DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
Once the process completes, restart your PC.
This is one way to fix corrupt or missing system files and fix several associated issues. However, often running SFC and DISM commands doesn’t help fix the corrupt system files; in such a case, we would suggest you make use of a dedicated system fixing tool.
4. Uninstall recently installed Windows update
Press the Win + I keys to open the Settings menu.
Click on Windows Update from the left pane.
Select Update history.
Under Related settings, click on Uninstall updates.
Click on Uninstall to remove the recently installed update.
Often, apart from bringing new features to Windows, the latest Windows update also contains bugs that could cause you several issues, including Windows Defender real-time protection won’t turn on the problem.
In such a case, the best way is to uninstall the recently installed update and see if this fixes the problem or not.
5. Reset Windows
Press the Win + I keys to open the Settings menu.
Select Recovery.
Hit the Reset PC button.
Select the Keep my files option to reset your PC without removing your personal files.
As a last resort, you can opt to reset your PC. Following the above steps would help you reset your PC without deleting your files.
Google Chrome is one of the most used browsers, and just like any other program, opening multiple Chrome windows and tabs can impact the browser’s overall performance. Subsequently, many users see multiple Google Chrome processes in the Task Manager.
But why does Chrome create so many processes in the Task Manager, often more than the number of tabs open? And that sure affects the performance, which becomes profound on a low-configuration PC.
We will show you in this article a few easy steps to help you solve the multiple Google Chrome processes issue, so keep reading.
Why does Chrome have multiple processes in Task Manager?
Google Chrome is designed to run multiple processes in the background to improve performance, stability, and security. In addition, each process is isolated, so if one process crashes, the others will continue to run without disrupting the user.
Here are the main reasons for having multiple processes in Chrome:
Render Process – This process renders web pages in the browser.
GPU Process– This process handles graphic-intensive tasks, such as rendering 3D graphics or playing videos.
Extension Process – Each installed Chrome extension runs in its approach.
Tab Process – Each tab in Chrome runs in its own process, which helps prevent one tab from crashing the entire browser.
Service Worker Process – This process runs background tasks for web applications, such as push notifications or background syncing.
So, you now know the reason behind multiple instances of Google Chrome in the Task Manager. If you were looking to fix things, follow the steps in the next section.
How do I stop Google Chrome from running multiple processes?
1. Use Chrome’s Task Manager
Launch Google Chrome, and press Shift + Esc to open the Task Manager.
Locate the process you don’t want to run anymore, select it, and then click on End process.
Similarly, terminate all non-critical processes to free up memory.
Though not a very effective method, manually terminating processes will come in handy when you want to instantly free up memory if multiple Google Chrome processes are running.
2. Disable background processes in Chrome
Launch Google Chrome, paste the following path in the address bar, and hit Enter: chrome://settings/system
Now, turn off the toggle for the Continue running background apps when Google Chrome is closed option.
If multiple processes run in Google Chrome, disabling the background apps might help. If it doesn’t, try the following method.
3. Change the Google Chrome setup
Right-click on the Google Chrome shortcut and select Properties from the context menu.
Next, go to the Target field in the Shortcut tab and enter the following at the end after a space:--process-per-site
Click on Apply and OK to save the changes and close the window.
4. Close additional tabs
Our last recommendation to stop having so many opened Chrome processes would be to try using fewer tabs opened simultaneously. The more tabs you have open, the more the number of Google Chrome processes in the Task Manager.
Find it challenging to avoid opening multiple tabs. You could try to use bookmarking pages as it will allow more straightforward navigation, given that you can organize them as needed.
5. Limit the extensions to a minimum
Launch Chrome, click on the ellipsis near the top-right, hover the cursor over More tools, and then select Extensions.
Now, click the Remove button under the extension you don’t use anymore.
Again, click Remove in the confirmation prompt.
Similarly, remove the other extensions that you don’t use anymore.
Once done, you wouldn’t see multiple Google Chrome processes running anymore. Their number should have come down by now, thus freeing up system resources.
With this last step, we conclude our list of recommendations to fix things when multiple Google Chrome processes are running in Windows 10/11.
If you are new to the DLSR game, you may have some issues adjusting to your camera. While some users have a hard time using the Nikon camera flash, others complain about Nikon autofocus not working.
The DSLR cameras offer both auto-focusing as well as manual focusing options. However, while trying to learn the basics, you may tweak some settings that will disable the focus feature.
Don’t worry, we’ll show you how to fix autofocus on the Nikon lens. But first things first. You must be wondering why is the autofocus not working on your Nikon.
Why is my Nikon camera not focusing?
Like many other users, you might be wondering what’s one of the most common reasons a DSLR autofocus fails. It can be anything from an unbalanced background contrast to lens or battery issues.
However, most often it’s a question of inadequate settings. One particular model seems to stand out more than others.
In this case, Nikon D5600 focus issues seem to be the most frequest and most of the times, the answer comes from Nikon D5600 autofocus settings.
However, there are many other models impacted. Let’s quick review the most recent issues reported by our users:
Nikon lens not focusing – Especially, Nikon 18-55mm lens autofocus not working
Nikon autofocus motor not working
How do I fix my Nikon autofocus?
Before we dig in, make sure you try out the most common troubleshooting techniques:
→ Turn off your camera for a few seconds. If it has a replaceable battery, remove the battery as well. Leave it idle for a few seconds. Insert the battery and turn on the camera. Check for any improvements.
→ Make sure that the background objects contrast is enough for your camera.
If you have locked focus using the AEL / AFL, the focus feature will not work.
Make sure you click the AE-L and AF-L buttons to unlock focus.
This should help you to resolve the Nikon camera focus issue.
4. Check the lens
If you haven’t locked your focus, the issue could be with the lens.
Remove the lens and inspect it for any scratches from both ends.
Make sure the filters are clean and have no physical issues.
Use a clean cloth to clean the lens. Avoid blowing on the lens.
While reattaching the lens, you should hear a clicking sound after twisting it.
You may also want to check the viewfinder of your DLSR for smudges, oil, or dirt.
Use a piece of cloth to clean the viewfinder. Do not use any solvent to clean the viewfinder.
Despite smartphone cameras offering great image and video quality, the DSLRs are still a favorite for many professionals as well as individuals.
We hope this little troubleshooting guide helps you to fix the Nikon autofocus not working issue by yourself. Should the problem persist, you may need to take the DSLR to the authorized service center.
If so, don’t forget to do a bit of research regarding the Nikon lens autofocus repair cost and see if it is worth it.
cEven though Microsoft Edge is a decent browser, users still prefer exploring the web with different software as the number of features and stabilizability increases. So if you are wondering how to set Chrome as the default browser in Windows 11, we will explore this.
Using a more capable browser can significantly impact how you explore the web, the security level while you do, and many other advantages.
However, changing the default apps for different tasks isn’t always as straightforward as expected in the latest version.
Quick Tip:
An alternative browser worth using as default is Opera due to its faster navigation and cutting-edge features.
You also have customizable tools and app integrations that help you navigate smoothly. For example, there are customizable sidebars, multiple workspaces, or built-in VPN privacy.
Opera One
Enjoy enhanced privacy and personalized browsing with this modern browser.
How can I make Chrome the default browser on Windows 11?
If you currently have Edge or another browser set as default on your Windows 11, other than Chrome, you can easily change it from Apps settings. What you need to do is change the file association settings for all the associated file types and web protocols and set them to open in Chrome.
1. Using the Settings app
1. Click the Start button in the Taskbar.
2. Now select Settings.
3. In the left pane, select Apps. After, from the right pane, choose Default apps.
4. Scroll down and select Google Chrome from the list.
5. Click the first file type on the list. In our case, it’s .htm.
6. Select Google Chrome from the list and click OK.
7. Select the next file type and repeat the steps from above. Do this for all file types that Microsoft Edge or another browser is assigned.
We still aren’t sure why Microsoft changed how settings for default applications work, but you should know that this change affects all applications, not just web browsers.
Even though this option is not accessible as efficiently as in previous versions of Windows, users can customize Windows 11 operability with some cool new extra features that might prove helpful for most users and some beginners.
What other methods can you use to change the default apps? Let us know in the comments below.
Many users have reported the Windows 10 battery icon is missing from the taskbar or completely greyed out. This is especially true after upgrading from an older version of Windows.
This can be frustrating because users frequently check their battery level with the icon. Fortunately, it is an issue that can be fixed, as we will show in the ensuing sections of this guide.
Why has the battery icon disappeared on Windows 10?
Below are some of the factors that can cause the battery icon to go missing on Windows 10:
Corrupt system files: In some cases, this issue might be caused by corrupt system files. You need to repair and restore these files to get past this issue.
Outdated PC: An outdated operating system is another known cause of this issue. Even if the Windows 10 battery icon goes missing after an upgrade, you should try to update your PC if there are available updates.
Outdated drivers: If your battery drivers are outdated, you might experience this issue. The quick way out of this is to update your drivers to the latest version.
Speaking of this issue, below are some of its variations, as reported by users:
Battery icon greyed out Windows 10: This is a very similar issue, and you can apply most of these solutions.
Battery icon missing Windows 7: This also happens on laptops running Windows 7, and most of the following solutions are still valid.
Lenovo battery gauge not showing Windows 10: This problem is more common on Lenovo laptops than on other manufacturers’ machines.
Battery percentage missing Windows 10: Another common problem can be solved with the solutions listed below.
Windows 10 battery icon locked: Another usual problem with laptops running Windows 10.
How can I restore the missing battery icon in Windows 10?
1. Enable the battery icon
Press the Windows key + I to open the Settings app and select the System option.
Select the Notifications & actions option in the left pane.
Now, click Turn system icons on or off.
Toggle the switch for Power forward to enable it.
Next, go back to the Notifications & actions window and click Select which icons appear on the taskbar.
Finally, toggle the switch before Power forward to enable it.
If the Windows 10 battery icon is missing on your taskbar, it might be because the icon is not enabled. You can rectify this by following the steps above.
2. Scan for hardware changes
Press the Windows key, type control, and select Control Panel.
Choose the Hardware and Sound option.
Now, select Add a device.
Wait for the wizard to find your battery and restart your PC.
If you’ve recently replaced your laptop battery, there’s a chance your OS still hasn’t acknowledged it. This might be the reason the Windows 10 battery icon is missing.
So, it’s advisable to quickly scan for hardware changes and let your system recognize the new battery.
3. Run the SFC and DISM scans
Press the Windows key + S, type cmd, and select Run as administrator under Command Prompt.
Type the following command and press Enter: sfc/scannow
Now, wait for the command to finish running. If the SFC scan fails, type the command to finish running and hit Enter: DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
Finally, wait for the command to finish running and restart your computer.
In some cases, the Windows 10 battery icon might be missing because of corrupt system files. The solution to this is to run the built-in repair tools.
4. Update drivers
Press the Windows key + X and select the Device Manager option.
Click the arrow next to the Batteries option and right-click the device there.
Now, select the Update driver option.
Finally, choose the Search automatically for drivers option and install any available updates.
Suppose the Windows 10 battery icon is missing after upgrading from earlier versions like Windows 7 or 8.1. In that case, it might be because your PC still uses drivers designed for the older versions and needs updating.
If the steps above fail to get the latest drivers, you can check the manufacturer’s website for them.
Alternatively, if you don’t want the hassle of updating drivers manually, we suggest doing it automatically using a dedicated driver updater tool.
Right-click the Start Menu, and go to Task Manager.
Now, right-click the Windows Explorer process and select Restart.
Restart your computer.
Another solution that some users reported as potentially helpful is restarting Windows Explorer. It’s fairly easy to restart Windows Explorer in Windows 10, and if you’re unsure how to follow the instructions above.
6. Run Hardware Troubleshooter
Press the Windows key + S, type cmd, and click Run as administrator under Command Prompt.
Type the command below and hit Enter: msdt.exe -id DeviceDiagnostic
Finally, wait for the command to finish running and perform any troubleshooting steps.
If the Windows 10 battery icon is missing, it might be because of some hardware glitches. The best-placed tool to fix this is to run the Hardware and Devices troubleshooter.
Press the Windows key + I and select the Update & Security option.
Click the Check for updates button.
Finally, install the available updates and restart your PC.
Microsoft is continuously improving Windows 10, and these improvements are delivered as updates through the Windows Update feature.
If your PC is outdated, the Windows 10 battery icon might go missing. Hence, you always need to update your device.
8. Update BIOS
Press the Windows key + R, type msinfo32, and click the OK button.
Check your BIOS Version/Date in the right pane.
Finally, check the manufacturer’s website for the latest version of your BIOS.
The BIOS is an essential part of your computer, making communication between the operating system and the hardware components possible. So, if it is outdated, the Windows 10 battery icon might go missing.
The only option here is to update your BIOS to the latest version. It must be noted that you need to be careful while performing this task to avoid causing further problems.
9. Disable and re-enable hardware in Device Manager
Right-click the Start icon and select the Device Manager option.
Expand the Batteries option and right-click each of the devices there.
Now, select the Disable device option.
Click the Yes button to confirm the action.
Next, right-click the devices again and select Enable device.
Another thing to try is disabling and re-enabling the battery hardware and ACPI component. This is a fix that solved the missing battery icon problem for a lot of Windows 10 users.
Sometimes this isn’t enough, and you’ll have to uninstall and re-install them.
That’s about it. Hopefully, you can fix this missing battery icon issue on Windows 10. Just make sure you follow the instructions carefully.
The Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) is an inbuilt command-line tool for Windows devices. It helps users to modify and repair system files and other software-related problems. It helps improve the files used for Windows Setup, Windows PE, and Windows RE.
However, users report that DISM does not support servicing Windows PE errors when using the tool. Also, our readers can check some quick ways to fix DISM error 50 on Windows 11.
Why does DISM not support servicing Windows PE?
The DISM does not support servicing Windows PE with the /Online option is an error that appears on the Administrative Command Prompt when using the DISM command. It indicates DISM cannot service the Windows Preinstallation Environment (PE).
However, some factors that may be responsible for the error are:
Wrong placement of the registry key – Users can run into the DISM does not support servicing Windows PE due to the misplacement of the corresponding registry key. It confuses the DISM command tool, causing it to think you’re running commands on Windows PE and not on the Windows system.
Issues with the input & output flow on your PC – Windows BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) manages the data flow between the operating system and external devices such as hard disks. So, an issue with any BIOS process can cause DISM error 50 on your PC.
User Account-related issues – Encountering the DISM does not support servicing Windows PE error message can be due to problems with a specific user account. When the account logged into your PC isn’t intact or working, it can cause issues with other system components.
Other factors can also cause the DISM error. Nevertheless, we’ll discuss some basic fixes for the error. You can understand the environment involved in this issue by reviewing a clear explanation of what Windows PE is, which helps clarify why DISM behaves differently when it detects WinPE.
What can I do if DISM does not support servicing Windows PE?
Go through the following checks before trying any advanced troubleshooting steps:
Close the Command Prompt and re-run the DISM command.
Reset BIOS – Resetting BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) on your computer will refresh the output/input system to the last saved configuration. It’ll help resolve the error and remove corrupt BIOS components causing the error.
If you can’t get around the error, proceed with the solutions below.
1. Refresh Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM)
Left-click the Start button, type Command Prompt, and select Run as Administrator.
Type the following commands and press Enter: dism.exe /image:C: /cleanup-image /revertpendingactions
Press Windows + R key to open the Run dialog box, type msconfig, and press Enter to start System Configuration.
Select the Boot tab, go to Boot options, check the Safe boot option, then select Minimal.
Click OK to save changes and exit. After restarting the PC, you will enter Safe Mode.
Repeat steps 1-3 to open the Command Prompt, type the following, and press Enter: sfc /scannow
Refreshing the DISM command tool on your PC helps improve its performance and fix background operations causing problems.
As an alternative to the manual procedure above, you can try a third-party repair tool to proceed with this action automatically.
2. Delete the associated Windows PE Registry key
Press Windows + R key to open the Run dialog box, type regedit, and press Enter to open the Registry Editor.
Navigate to the following path: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control
Find the MiniNT folder, right-click on it, and select Permissions from the drop-down menu.
Under Group or user names, click your UserName and check the Allow box next to the Full Control option, then click OK.
Right-click on the MiniNT folder again and choose Delete from the drop-down.
Left-click the Start button, type User Account, and click on it to open the corresponding settings.
Click the Manage another account option and click Add account link.
Go to Other users and select Add someone else to this PC.
Click Users and select the account tagged as a User account managed by the system.
Click More Action, then New User.
Fill in the necessary credentials and click Create to finish the account creation process.
Log in to your PC using the new account and check if the error persists.
The above steps will resolve account-related issues that may cause the DISM error.
However, resetting BIOS is of different steps depending on the manufacturer of your PC. So, we recommend you consult your manufacturer for the steps for your device. You may also read about the DISM has failed error on Windows 11 and how to fix it.
Which solutions worked for you this time? Let us know in the comments area below.
If your Windows 10 PC isn’t detecting your external hard drive, don’t worry. We’ll guide you through some simple and effective troubleshooting steps.
This usually happens because of a problem with your USB connection, power supply, drivers, file system compatibility, or a hard drive malfunction.
Since it can be hard to tell exactly what’s causing the problem, we’ll show you every possible fix. Just go through them one by one until something works.
What can I do if the external hard drive is not showing on Windows 10?
Before you try our recommended solutions, check the cable and test the hard drive on a different PC. If the same problem appears on another PC, the problem is most likely related to your portable hard drive.
1. Manually update your drivers
Press Windows key + X and choose Device Manager from the list.
Locate the Disk drives section and expand it.
Check if any of the listed devices have a yellow exclamation mark next to them. If there is an exclamation mark next to your device, there might be a driver issue. Right-click the device and choose Update Driver.
Select Search automatically for driver software.
2. Change the portable hard drive letter and format it
2.1 Change the drive letter
Press Windows key + X and choose Disk Management from the menu.
Locate your portable hard drive in Disk Management and right-click it. Choose Change Drive Letter and Paths.
A new window will appear, showing you the current letter of your portable hard drive. Click Change and choose a new letter for it. Make sure you select the letter you won’t assign to another drive.
You’ll be presented with a dialog confirming that you wish to change the drive’s letter. Select Yes to change the drive letter.
If Disk Management shows that your portable hard drive is filled with unallocated space, you might want to format your portable hard drive.
2.2 Format the portable drive
NOTE
Formatting a drive will delete all files from it, so make sure that you back up important files first.
Press Windows key + X and choose Disk Management from the menu.
Right-click your portable hard drive and choose Format from the menu.
Enter the label for your hard drive, and choose File system type.
Press OK and wait until your portable hard drive is formatted.
If you want to automate the task a little bit and make this job easier, you can change your portable drive letter with a disk management tool.
3. Use a third-party app to optimize your PC
f your hard drive isn’t showing up, some of your system settings might need adjusting.
You can use Ashampoo WinOptimizer to help clean up and fine-tune your PC. It’s a straightforward tool with features that can make troubleshooting easier.
Go to the One-Click Optimizer under System Maintenance
It looks for things like:
Leftover browsing data
Junk files
Registry clutter
Misconfigured system settings
You can also schedule it to run automatically if you want regular maintenance.
Ashampoo WinOptimizer
Power and efficiency in cleaning and optimizing your PC in a few clicks.
Type the following command and press Enter to open the Hardware and Devices troubleshooter: msdt.exe -id DeviceDiagnostic
Hit Next to start the troubleshooting.
Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the troubleshooting.
Once the troubleshooting process is finished, check if the problem is still there.
5. Uninstall problematic drivers
Right-click the Start button and open Device Manager.
Expand Disk drives, locate your portable hard drive, right-click it, and choose Uninstall device from the menu.
Click Uninstall to remove the driver.
Now click the Scan for hardware changes icon. Windows will install the default drivers for your portable hard drive.
Windows will search for and install the right driver automatically. Once it’s done, check if the issue is resolved.
Also, try updating the Universal Serial Bus Controller driver from the same menu, and check the manufacturer’s website for the latest drivers.
If you prefer an easier method, use a tool like Fortect Driver Updater to update all drivers automatically. It scans your system and installs safe updates from a database of over a million drivers.
Right-click the Start button and select Device Manager.
Locate your portable hard drive, right-click it, and choose Update driver.
Select Browse my computer for driver software.
Select Let me pick from a list of available drivers on my computer.
Now select the Mass Storage Device driver and install it.
After this driver is installed, check and see if the problem is resolved.
We also have to mention that if your hard drive is formatted using Linux or Mac with ext4 or HFS Plus File system type, you won’t be able to access it on Windows 10 until you format it on Windows.
If you have read through it, you should find success using one of the solutions we have provided.
Use the comments section below if you have any information to share or questions.
In a seesaw battle of headlines, Microsoft followed Google’s surprise blog announcement of the company’s new conversational AI platform Bard, with its own surprise announcement of a press event happening at its Redmond campus in Washington.
The timing could be purely coincidental, but the subject matter of each announcement may not be, with Microsoft rumored to go into further detail about its partnership with OpenAI and the integration of its transformer technology into items such as Bing Search.
The event starts at 10AM PT/ 1PM ET on February 7, 2023, and while Microsoft hasn’t officially stated what the event is for, its speculative that it will include conversations regarding ChatGPT as the invites that went out last week to a select few in the press, include a message from company CEO Satya Nadella explaining that they intend to “share some progress on a few exciting projects.”
Microsoft’s new surprise event wedges itself between Google’s press announcement of its Bard AI technology and testing as well as a scheduled event on February 8, 2023, in which the company presumably will explain its AI efforts further.
Microsoft has already announced that it plans to fold ChatGPT into Bing search and previewed what the integration could look like with a few screenshots on the company’s search blog. In addition to Bing, Microsoft has already begun bringing ChatGPT-like functionality to its other software services such as Azure, Word, and Outlook.
Panos Panay, head of Windows and Devices has also mentioned how AI will power Windows development in the future, and we can responsibly expect to see possible ChatGPT integration come to Windows search, among other OS tools.
The next 48 hours should be pretty exciting for anyone invested in commercialized artificial intelligence via natural language queries.
Adobe is one of the largest software companies in the world, offering users a variety of software options that cover almost any creation-related activity. But what is Adobe AIR? In this guide, we’re going to answer that question.
Adobe AIR is what’s known as a runtime engine, or a runtime environment. A runtime engine is a program that other software depends on to run optimally.
So, Adobe AIR is a bit like an engine for running other Adobe software. And speaking of that, what programs use Adobe AIR?
Well, there are numerous rich internet apps that utilize the AIR runtime such as FlickrDesktop Search and FlickrFlipper, ImageDropr, Adobe Media Player, or ReadAir.
Of course, this is just a short selection of software options, but you can find detailed information about a suspected program by doing research online.
As you can see, you do need Adobe AIRfor a wide range of AIR apps (see above). If you try to run certain software with AIR uninstalled, those apps might display an error message.
The Adobe AIR runtime engine is a cross-operating-system runtime that’s compatible with numerous platforms.
Therefore, Adobe Air isn’t just restricted to Windows as developers also utilize it for mobile and Apple Mac software.
The purpose of Adobe AIR is to enable developers to combine Adobe Flash, JavaScript, HTML, ActionScript, and Flex for the deployment of web apps on desktops, laptops, and other devices.
It enables developers to create web apps that you can utilize outside of browsers. Web apps that can be utilized outside of the browser are known as rich internet applications.
What is Adobe AIR on my computer? If you’ve spotted Adobe AIR on your desktop or laptop, then chances are you have some Adobe software that depends on its runtime engine.
If you come across an AdobeARM.exe file on your system, it’s related to Adobe’s automatic update manager. You can learn more about this process and how to handle it by visiting this guide on AdobeARM.exe.
Should I uninstall Adobe Air?
Now, all the information presented above is still available. Adobe AIR used to be all of that and it might still be (for a small percentage of users).
However, the Adobe AIR end of life date is upon us and there’s no way around it. Or is it? We shall see soon enough.
So, to answer your question: can I delete Adobe AIR? Yes, you can. To do so, simply follow the next steps:
Press the Windows key + S keyboard shortcut.
Type apps in the search box that opens.
Click Apps & features to open the window shown directly below.
Next, select Adobe AIR from the list.
Click the Uninstall button for Adobe AIR.
Then click Uninstall on the window that opens to confirm.
You might even find some Adobe programs on your desktop or laptop that you never installed yourself. Also known as PUP, those are programs that come bundled with other programs that need them
Adobe has stopped supporting it since late 2020, just like they did with the Flash Player. And just as you had to remove Flash Player from your PC, you may also need to uninstall and delete Adobe AIR.
It is worth mentioning that Adobe discontinued AIR support for Linux platforms. However, we cannot speak of an Adobe AIR EOL in the conventional way.
In fact, support was not completely abandoned but has rather been passed over to Harman. So, is Adobe AIR safe? We think so.
The Harman company continues to provide both updates in terms of functionalities and support for AIR developers.
FAQ
What is Adobe AIR used for?
Adobe AIR is a runtime engine that allows developers to create cross-platform rich internet applications (RIAs) that run outside of web browsers.
Can I uninstall Adobe AIR from my computer?
Yes, you can uninstall Adobe AIR if you don’t use apps that depend on it. Simply go to Apps & Features and select Uninstall.
Is Adobe AIR still supported?
Adobe stopped supporting AIR in 2020, but Harman now provides updates and ongoing support for the platform.
Do I need Adobe AIR on my computer?
You only need Adobe AIR if you use desktop apps that require it. Otherwise, it can be safely uninstalled.
Overall, Adobe AIR is not essential if you seldom utilize apps that need it. However, users who make use of desktop web apps that might need AIR should keep it to ensure they can still run the apps.
Adobe once announced that there were more than one billion Adobe apps installed on various devices. So, there’s a pretty good chance you might have an AIR app on your system.
Ever since Windows 11 was initially released on the 5th of October 2021, everyone has been patiently waiting for the first feature update for the new OS.
And, for those of you that don’t know, version 22H2 for Windows 11, also known as the 2022 update, has already been released by Microsoft a couple of weeks ago.
However, if you were thinking that this release was going to be a bug-free one, the truth couldn’t be farther from it.
In fact, immediately after the launch of version 22H2, users started assaulting forums and social media platforms, reporting numerous serious problems that came with the new update.
At some point, the Redmond-based tech colossus even blocked updates to version 22H2 because of some of these problems.
We had a look at these problems and now we are going to share them with you, so you know exactly what the 2022 update holds for you.
What bugs does Windows 11 version 22H2 come with?
We already knew that no software rollouts are perfect, and they all come with one or multiple experience-breaking bugs.
However, since Microsoft has put in so much work in Windows 11 recently, users thought that maybe this release wasn’t going to be this buggy.
That being said, version 22H2 came with some pretty serious problems, as you are about to see in this rundown.
Domain join processes may fail with the error 0xaac (2732)
The software giant has explained, domain join operations could just fail on all supported versions of Windows OS.
At first glance, it appears that the culprit is the batch of cumulative updates that were shipped to the operating system in October.
Thus, in other words, the one to blame is the October Patch Tuesday cycle, as they are causing domain join programs on Windows devices.
As a result, affected scenarios include some domain join or re-imaging operations where a PC account was created or pre-staged by a different identity than the identity used to join or re-join the computer to the domain
Keep in mind that, as security experts said, home users are very unlikely to experience the issue, so you can pretty much just carry on doing what you are doing without worries.
Microsoft has reassured customers that it’s already working on additional optimizations that could be part of further Windows updates.
The tech giant also said that KB5020276 is required to understand the designed behavior, mentioning that it has added insights to this KB, and is evaluating whether optimizations can be made in a future Windows Update.
Furthermore, this guidance will be updated once those changes have been released, though no further specifics on these future optimizations have been offered.
Task Manager no longer needed to fix Windows 11 Remote Desktop bug
If you have been using Windows 11 for some time, you know that back in November, Microsoft said that there were issues in its Remote Desktop services as the Remote Desktop Connection Broker was malfunctioning on Windows 11 22H2 systems.
This annoying issue was a result of some bug affecting the Microsoft Terminal Services Client (MSTSC) wherein the mstsc.exe file would stop responding.
Remember that MSTSC is the command line interface that helps manage Remote Desktop Connections by editing existing Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) files.
At the moment when the bug was first documented by Microsoft, the company asked affected users to simply terminate the MSTSC process using Task Manager as a workaround.
Further steps around the issue were also provided by the company which involved disabling the User Datagram Protocol or UDP using the Group Policy (GP) editor.
Two months later, the issue has finally been resolved by the Redmond giant in the latest Windows 11 22H2 KB5022360 update.
Note that the cumulative update also fixes several other bugs and issues, like a searchindexer problem that would cause sign-in and sign-out problems.
You can learn more about everything by visiting the dedicated article we’ve linked above. Also, if you’re not on version 22H2 yet, this update will automatically upgrade you from 21H2.
Start menu and UWP
The Redmond tech giant has now revealed details about a new known issue affecting the most recent Windows versions.
According to Microsoft, customers running Windows 10 and 11, both versions between 20H2 and 22H2, might experience problems with opening the Start menu, Windows Search, and various UWP apps.
Developers were already aware of the issue since the first reports of the situation emerged about a week ago, and now Microsoft has only confirmed it.
Even though users often blame Windows updates for everything wrong in this world, believe it or not, the problem is not related to Windows updates this time.
Microsoft mentioned that the culprit is damaged registry keys or data that affects applications using the Microsoft Office API, such as Barco’s ClickShare.
The company is now investigating the situation and promises to release a fix in one of the upcoming updates.
Meanwhile, we can mitigate the bug by uninstalling apps that integrate with Windows, Microsoft Office, Microsoft Outlook, or Microsoft Calendar.
Microsoft also recommends running several scripts as described in the official troubleshooting guidance or contacting app developers and asking for advice.
We will keep an eye on this resolution and keep you posted once new details are available in this new bug case.
ClickShare causes Office bugs, an unclickable Start menu and taskbar
You should know that, although not publicly disclosed yet, the Redmond company is investigating user reports about an unresponsive start menu or taskbar.
This bug is causing issues where the Start menu, the taskbar, or the Search bar, simply become unclickable, and it’s happening both on Windows 11 22H2 and Windows 10 22H2.
Early investigations show that it is a consequence of conflicts with Barco’s ClickShare app’s Calendar integration, an issue first documented last year.
As you know, ClickShare is pretty popular among users and IT admins due to its wireless conferencing capabilities. People at CLickShare have confirmed that the Redmond giant is now investigating the problem and the issue has been assigned an internal tracking number 41322218.
Apparently, the windows taskbar issue occurs when the User Shell Registry has been modified for some reason, such as Windows updates, changed passwords, any Apps using Microsoft Outlook API or other.
A more in-depth look has revealed that ClickShare does not modify Windows Registry values or permissions from the App.
Thus, the ClickShare app only reads Microsoft Outlook Calendar via the Microsoft Outlook API for the One Click Join feature.
Since this problem is still under investigation, all we have to do now is wait for Microsoft to come up with a tangible solution soon.
System Restore points break apps
The Windows System Restore is a maintenance tool that can save users a lot of time when their computers misbehave.
In fact, Restore points back up mission-critical software bits and pieces that allow restoring the operating system to the working state without clean-installing it and losing data.
That being said, unfortunately for Windows 11 22H2 users, Microsoft has confirmed that using System Restore points on its latest OS might break some apps and cause the This app can’t open error message.
There’s no need to be worried, as not all apps are affected by the problem. According to an official post on the Microsoft Support website, the bug breaks first and third-party applications that use the MSIX Windows app package format.
To give you a few examples of such apps, think of Notepad, Paint, Office, Cortana, and Terminal, among others.
If you have this problem, it will actually result in one or several of the following symptoms:
An error message “This app can’t open” is displayed instead of the app starting.
The app might have multiple entries on the Start menu.
An app may not respond when you try to start the app.
An I/O error may occur, followed by the app not responding, and then the app crashes.
If you try to start the app again, the app now runs.
If by chance, you run into this issue, the Redmond tech giant says that affected customers should try the following to mend the broken apps:
Open the app again
Reinstall the app from the Microsoft Store or the original source
Install available Windows updates
Microsoft is currently working on a permanent fix for this bug as well, so we’re going to keep an eye out for any development in the case.
File Explorer opens up randomly when accessing other apps
Everyone got really excited when they heard that the Windows 11 File Explorer will be getting a tab integration, taking multi-tasking to a whole new level.
However, there’s a catch. The File Explorer tabs integration is buggy, and it could pop up File Explorer when you’re actively using another app.
In fact, there are several posts on the Feedback Hub that confirm the fact that File Explorer will open by itself randomly while another open program is in focus.
Yes, it will do that even when File Explorer is not running. Users reported that opening any other app on top of it, say Edge or Firefox, and leaving it there for a few minutes, will trigger File Explorer to pop up unannounced.
Apparently, Microsoft is already working on a fix for File Explorer’s focus bug, but it’s not yet clear when the fix could arrive. Note that it is actually included in the latest preview builds.
Keep in mind that File Explorer tabs support is at least proof that Microsoft is listening to some of the feedback and is a notable example of how it’s catering to the productivity needs of the users.
We are all now waiting for this to become a much less buggy, much more stable experience for us all. Have you also encountered this bug?
You can’t safely eject media while Task Manger is open
The latest bug in this series will annoy those using the Safely Eject Media feature to the absolute core, from what we can tell from reports.
Just as it was shared by Deskmodder, users running the Windows 11 2022 Update (version 22H2) have a hard time removing USB drives when Task Manager is running.
Thus, instead of disconnecting a media from the computer, Windows 11 hangs for a few seconds and then displays an error with the following message:
Windows can’t stop your device because a program is still using it. Close any programs that might be using the device, and then try again later.
This annoying issue occurs when Task Manager is minimized or running with the Processes tab open, in case you were wondering.
That being said, know that you can easily bypass the issue by switching to another tab or simply exiting Task Manager.
As a matter of fact, some users say that continuous attempts to eject media force Windows 11 to give in, although the problem returns after a system restart.
Through the most recent Patch Tuesday security update release, the one for December 2022, Microsoft has managed to fix another nasty Task Manager issue.
The company has managed to fix a visual bug that was making Task Manager almost unreadable. Certain colors and UI elements were off the pace.
In fact, the Redmond-based tech giant described the issue in detail earlier on its health dashboard and provided a workaround.
You should know that this update addresses a known issue that might affect Task Manager, which might display certain elements in the user interface (UI) in unexpected colors.
Keep in mind that some parts of the UI might not be readable, and this issue might occur if you have to Choose your mode set to Custom in the Personalization/Colors section of the Settings app.
Performance issues on AMD Ryzen 7000 CPUs
With the recent Windows 11 version 22H2 release, it looks like a new problem is bugging the Zen 4-based Ryzen 7000 series CPUs.
You should definitely know that CapFrameX (CFX) has discovered that when a single CCD (CPU Compute Die) on the 16-core Ryzen 9 7950X is active, the configuration is able to outperform the default dual CCD 7950X.
That means that each Zen 4 CCD features eight cores along with its cache, among other things hence essentially, an octa-core Zen 4 CPU is able to beat out the higher core count 16 core variant.
In order to better understand the issue and assess the scenarios affecting the problem, two other instances were tested, and simultaneous multi-threading (SMT) was disabled.
Thus, in a single CCD situation with SMT disabled, the 16-core 32-thread 7950X was now reduced to an eight-core CPU with eight threads.
Also, keep in mind that this does not seem like a one-off case either as other seasoned hardware benchmarkers noticed similar problems on their RTX 4090 test system.
Installation error 0x800f0806
Only a couple of days after the tech giant rolled out the first major update for Windows 11, users were confronted with the first major issue.
Besides the 2022 update causing some pretty nasty problems with Nvidia GPUs, it seems that the installation for the update itself is failing for some people.
Error code 0x800f0806 is all users see when they try to update their Windows 11 version to 22H2. Needless to say that this caught even Redmond developers off guard.
Apparently, you get this error when you try to do an in-place upgrade via Windows Update in Settings due to some compatibility issue or something similar.
That being said, know that a clean install though is seemingly working fine since nobody has complained about it yet.
Before we start, remember that Windows 10 will also receive its very own version 22H2 this month, so we are keeping our eyes peeled.
Nvidia GPU issues
Another major bug discovered in the 22H2 version was affecting Nvidia graphic cards, decreasing frame rates significantly, and resulting in high CPU usage as well.
This problem seems to be related to overlays on games, but you no longer have to worry about it since it has been fixed.
Before that, if you’re playing a game and you want to check its performance, pressing Alt + R to make the GeForce Experience performance overlay show up would have made your game begin to stutter really badly.
That being said, in titles such as God of War, users have reported up to an 87.5% reduction in framerates from bringing up the overlay.
Remote desktop connection issues
According to more reports from regular users and IT admins published on Microsoft’s forums and other social media, Windows 11 has a hard time connecting to remote desktops after upgrading to version 22H2.
Furthermore, symptoms can vary from case to case and include problems with connecting, random disconnections, and freezes.
IT admins can also configure a special Group Policy on affected endpoints by using the Group Policy Management Console (managed devices) or the Group Policy Editor (unmanaged devices) and enabling Turn Off UDP On Client.
Remote Desktop sessions which connect over WAN (wide-area network) might experience poor performance following the application of the below workaround, according to Microsoft.
There is now a workaround provided by Microsoft itself, so you should definitely check that out while the company is working towards fixing the problem.
Microsoft hasn’t yet come up with a fix patch for this problem, so the only option you have is actually rolling back this update.
We will keep you updated and let you know when installing and using Windows 11 version 22H2 is safe to use.
Printing issues
According to a recent post in the official Windows 11 Health Dashboard documentation, we’ve learned that the situation is even worse than we initially thought.
Systems that have already updated and are running Windows 11 2022 (22H2) can encounter problems detecting all the features in printers using Microsoft IPP Class Driver or Universal Print Class Driver.
That being said, if the operating system cannot connect to the printer, it automatically defaults to a standard feature set.
Once the connection is restored, a bug prevents Windows from printing color, two-sided or duplex printing, paper size and type settings, resolutions, and so forth.
Kernel security check failure
You surely know by now that some users have reported seeing the Kernel Security Check Failure error message in the BSOD screen that is caused by some failing processes on their PCs.
That being said, this issue is not the most difficult to solve, thankfully, as we’ve shown you in our dedicated fix article.
The Kernel Security Check Failure error will let you know that some important system files or components failed integrity or compatibility check.
Now, in truth, the easiest way around it is to replace or update these files or components. But you won’t longer have to deal with this problem, according to Microsoft.
Alongside the new features, Windows 11 Dev build 25252 also fixes the problem where network-to-local copying (for example, when copying a file from a network share) was slower than expected from some users.
Microsoft has recently released the final Windows 11 Dev Channel build for Insiders yesterday in the form of build 25267.
You should know that this latest build resolves one of the major issues on Windows 11 22H2 that was causing slowdowns when copying large files over networks.
As we’ve mentioned, this copy kernel issue was apparently affecting local files too, and although it was suspected to be related to the SMB initially, it was later found to be much more deep-rooted.
Now, the Principal Program Manager in the Microsoft Windows Server High Availability and Storage group, has updated the blog post that described the issue.
Thus, know that an updated version of this preview fix is now available in Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 25267.
This version fixed an issue where restartable copies of a file (for example using robocopy) with alternate data streams were hanging frequently in the latest Dev Channel builds.
The Redmond official also mentioned an update as Microsoft had already released an initial fix for the bug in a previous Windows build 25252.
As you would have imagined, this is still in preview and Pyle says that the final fix will be released publicly later in a monthly update.
So, the final fix for Windows 11 22H2 production computer will come in a normal monthly Cumulative Update through Windows Update once validated in Insider builds.
Even though the issue was first suspected to be related to the Server Message Block (SMB) protocol, Microsoft confirmed later that it was a problem somewhere in the kernel.
Thus, local file copy speeds were also affected. Moreover, some users also reported a far worse performance hit than initially thought.
Broken provisioning
Microsoft has recently issued a warning to IT admins who are responsible for deploying Windows updates on their organization’s systems.
Why? Well, the tech giant realized that provisioning is currently broken for Windows 11 22H2 and this can lead to an incomplete, partially configured out-of-box experience.
As if that wasn’t already enough for IT Admins, know that you also run the risk that the systems may even restart unexpectedly.
So, if you are working on anything, kiss all those changes goodbye. However, Windows devices used by users in their homes or small offices are not likely to be affected by this issue.
Some useful advice would be to provision the Windows device before upgrading to Windows 11, version 22H2, this will prevent the issue.
Performance degradation in Windows 11 22H2 when copying large files
Just when you thought this list couldn’t get any longer, we have to report yet another serious problem affecting this version of the latest operating system.
Windows 11 users that have already installed the 2022 Update users can experience up to 40% less throughput over SMB when copying large files weighing several gigabytes or more.
You have to know that this bug does not affect the initial release of Windows 11, so those sticking to the previous release will not experience issues with copying from a remote computer.
The above-mentioned bug is not exclusive to SMB, which means users might notice performance dips even when copying local files.
Furthermore, while the issue was initially thought to be affecting the Server Message Block (SMB) protocol mainly, Microsoft’s Ned Pyle has now confirmed that their initial suspicion was a bit off.
Apparently, the problem is that Windows is actually getting slower in Kernel, nothing to do with SMB or compression.
The company said that to mitigate this issue, you can use file copy tools that do not use cache manager (buffered I/O).
And, while Microsoft is busy investigating the problem and figuring out the fix, affected customers can use robocopy or xcopy with the /J parameter to restore the lost performance.
Gaming issues
No, gaming hasn’t been at all immune from the 2022 feature update as the Redmond company finally acknowledged gaming performance issues on the new Windows version after several user and reviewer complaints.
Surprisingly, just as you would have imagined, this has led Microsoft to put an upgrade block or safeguard hold on all affected devices.
And, while the bug is leading to such problems that have not been fully resolved yet, Microsoft has published an update on the matter partially removing the block.
Starting today, November 22, the safeguard hold with the safeguard ID of 41990091 has been updated to only safeguard Windows devices that have one of the small subsets of games and apps which are still affected by this issue.
How can I roll back the Windows 11 22H2 update?
Press Win + I to access Settings.
Select the Windows Update tab, then click on Advanced options.
Click on Recovery.
Under Recovery options, press the Go back button.
Follow the on-screen instructions.
These are all the documented bugs that are affecting users running the 22H2 version of the Windows 11 operating system.
If you have found any other problems while testing this new version, make sure to report it to Microsoft and in the comments section below.
The installation process for apps and programs on Windows PCs follows a particular order and requires some essential functionality. If these factors are not intact, users may encounter errors when installing an app package.
The Windows Installer error code 2755 is an error that appears when there’s an issue with the installation process. You can also check our article about this Installation Package could not be opened error and the ways to fix it on Windows 11.
What causes the error code 2755?
Windows Installer error code 2755 indicates that the installer has encountered an error when installing the package. It can occur due to many factors impeding the installation process. Some are:
Issues with Windows Installer folder – When the Windows Installer folder is unavailable, it can affect the installation process. It prevents the package from accessing the necessary files and components for installing the .exe app file.
Permission issues – Windows sometimes demands a certain level of privilege before users can make notable changes and additions to the system. So, you can run into errors when installing a program on your computer if there is an irregularity in the permissions.
Virus and Malware – Virus and malware infection on your computer can impede the installation process. It can corrupt the registry files needed for the process, resulting in the Windows Installer Error Code 2755. Check our list to select the best virus-removal tool to cleanse your device.
Issues with the installation setup package – The installation package you’re trying to install may be damaged. So, it can cause the system to be unable to run it, prompting the error message to appear.
Other factors not listed above may be responsible for the error, depending on the circumstances. Nevertheless, we’ll take rib through some general solutions to resolve the error.
How can I fix the error code 2755?
Go through the following checks before proceeding with any advanced troubleshooting steps:
As we are sure you know by now, back in November 2022, Microsoft started enabling its upcoming Windows 11 Moment 3 update for the first time.
Back then, users found traces of the upcoming feature update in Dev Channel builds. Yes, it was also around this same time that Microsoft moved into the Zinc development semester.
We have some information for you today that we’re pretty sure you are going to like, especially if you are a Windows 11 aficionado.
Windows 11 Moment 3 update coming later in 2023
We know that you want to know more, so know that internal test IDs revealed that the Redmond giant had begun enabling Moment 3, and even Moment 4, features in the Dev channel.
Until now, anything and everything around Moment 3 revolved around the Dev Channel. That being said, things are now starting to spill over to the Beta Channel as well, indicating that future Moment 3 features are now moving in slightly closer to the general availability.
Users started posting about this on Twitter after noticing mentions of future Beta channel builds 23141 and 23145 in the recent Beta channel releases.
Tech-savvy users now speculate that the new build numbers are indicative of Windows 11 Moment 3 and that the mentions were found in the Microsoft Symbol Server.
The talk now is that this might actually be hinting at the ongoing debugging and development efforts by the company.
This makes a lot more sense as earlier reports had suggested that Windows 11 22H2 Moment 3 could be out in May this year.
Now, further reports suggest it will be followed by Moment 4 later in the year when Windows 11 version 23H2 will be released.
Be sure to check out all the available information on Windows 11 version 22H2. We can show you how to install it, and also the bugs it still has.
Please keep in mind that it is important to understand that this is only speculation for now until we get official confirmation from Microsoft.
With no exact release date, all that’s left to do now is wait for Microsoft to reveal more information. Leave a comment below informing us about your feelings on the topic.
Most modern wireless printers allow users to print directly from their mobile phones. It makes things all the easier and more seamless. But for many, the printer and phone won’t connect.
This presents a major problem, especially when their idea of getting a wireless printer was to access it directly from the mobile phone. So, let’s find out why it happens and how you can fix things in no time.
Why won’t my phone connect to my printer?
Here are a few reasons your phone and printer won’t connect:
Incorrect network configuration: In several cases, it was an incorrect or invalid network configuration that prevented the connection between the two devices.
Devices on different networks: For users to print from their phones, the devices must be on the same Wi-Fi network. If that’s not the case, it won’t work.
Relevant features are not enabled: Many printers support the Wi-Fi Direct feature, but it’s not turned on by default. So that could be the reason your printer and phone won’t connect.
What can I do if my printer and phone won’t connect?
Before we start making major changes, here are a few quick tricks:
Check whether the printer supports printing via a mobile phone. Though most new models do offer the features, it’s missing in several of the old ones.
Make sure the printer and the phone are on the same Wi-Fi network. If your router supports dual-band, i.e., 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz, it’s all the more important that you verify this.
Restart all three devices, the printer, the phone, and the router, and then try establishing a connection.
If you can’t connect to other devices on the network but just not to your phone, check whether a VPN is enabled. And if that’s the case, ensure that Allow LAN traffic (or a similar feature) is enabled within the VPN app.
Look for a reset button on the printer and hold it for a few seconds to perform a reset. Or you could look through the printer’s manual for the exact steps to reset it.
If these don’t work, head to the solutions listed next.
1. Connect the printer via the IP address
Open your phone, head to the Default Print Service, and choose a printer from the list.
If yours doesn’t appear, click on the ellipsis, and then choose Add printer by IP address.
Enter the IP address for the printer to get things running.
A quick way to fix things when your printer won’t connect to the phone is to establish a connection using the IP address. Though, for older models, connecting a printer via Bluetooth should do fine.
2. Change the network settings
NOTE
You would require a computer to change the network settings for the printer. So make sure you have one on the same network. Also, the steps here are for an HP printer, though the idea remains the same.
Enter the printer’s IP address in a browser to open its settings.
Now, head to the Network tab, choose IPv4 Configuration, and click on Suggest a New Manual IP Address.
Wait for it to apply, then under DNS Address Configuration, choose Manual DNS Server and enter the following:
Manual Preferred DNS Server: 8.8.8.8
Manual Alternate DNS Server: 8.8.4.4
Once done, click on Apply to save the changes, and then try connecting the printer to your phone.
3. Clear print spooler on the phone
Open the Settings on your Android phone, and tap on Apps.
Select the ellipsis at the top right.
Choose Show system apps from the menu.
Locate and tap on Print Spooler.
Now, select Storage.
Finally, tap on both Clear data and Clear cache.
That’s it. In some cases, users could fix things when their printer won’t connect to the phone by clearing the data and cache for Print Spooler. So, make sure you try that.
Apple iPhone users can easily connect to the printer and take prints using the AirPrint functionality. All you have to do is verify that the printer supports it. Check the manual or the official website for the same.
With AirPrint, you can directly print a document in a few seconds. Just tap on the share icon, choose Print, select a compatible printer, and you are good to go.
That’s it! One of the solutions listed here should have helped you get things running when the printer won’t connect to a phone. Also, check the best printers with feeder scanners in the market.
Do tell us which fix worked for you in the comments section below.
Using an email marketing service is paramount for business growth in a lot of sectors. You need fast, easy, and accurate reach to your target audience.
In that respect, Moosend is a popular email marketing tool among eCommerce stores, bloggers, publishers, and small businesses.
What is Moosend and how can it help you?
Moosend is an email marketing tool that offers automation, segmentation and reporting features to help you engage with your clients.
Not only that it tracks your website to supervise the visitors’ behavior, but it comes with wide integration for more than 38 third-party services.
Moreover, you may use Zapier to sync to all eCommerce, CRM, or other software you need in the process.
The UI is extremely friendly, with drag-and-drop functionality and you’ve got more than 75 pre-made email templates to get you started.
But is Moosend the right tool for you or your business? We reviewed this email marketing solution so you can find out!
What are Moosend’s best features?
1. Great selection of templates
Moosend comes with a huge assortment of email templates with a modern design premade for a lot of usage scenarios.
From the left menu, you may choose the domain and type of newsletter and in the main window, you may preview and select the one that better serves your purpose.
There are over 75 there and you will definitely find something to start from and edit it to your needs.
However, you may also use your own. You can import it from an online source by entering the link or HTML code, or directly from your PC.
Nevertheless, after you customize and edit your template, you can save and use it every time you need to.
2. Simple and efficient email campaign editor
It’s essential to have an easy-to-use newsletter editor and the one from Moosend is extremely straightforward.
On the left pane, you’ve got the layouts, items, and settings, in the center you have the actual result and, on the right, there are, of course, all the contextual settings for all the objects you select.
We’ve worked with other such tools, and Moosend doesn’t offer anything out of the ordinary in this aspect.
However, we found it very easy and intuitive to use. All the menus and settings are right where you expect to find them.
You can add lots of free images from Unsplash & Giphy
Whether you’re writing news, products, or events, with Moosend, you will find just the right image to illustrate it.
That’s because it’s connected to Unsplash and Giphy, but you may also get all your images stored in your cloud drives or even point out one with the direct link.
Another interesting feature of the editor is the Personalization Tags you can include in any type of merge field.
If you select the merge tag from the drop-down menu, Moosend will replace it with personalized information for each subscriber to your newsletter.
Another smart block to include is the Countdown Timer. If you have a special time-limited offer, the timer will signal the remaining duration for the offer.
3. Efficient automation feature
The automation features in Moosend are basically limitless. You can personalize virtually any action of your subscribers and perform additional steps to engage them.
This feature is extremely simple to use because it’s designed as a flowchart, but it comes with complex choices and conditions.
Not only that the Automation editor is modern looking and very straightforward, but it is also very efficient.
It’s based on a three steps process, like any logical diagram. You set a trigger such as when someone opens a campaign, then set a condition or filter, and finally, define an action.
A set of actions based on a Yes or No condition
For instance, if someone opens a certain link, wait for a defined period of time, and send a message to the subscriber with an offer to a product connected to that article.
However, the possibilities and combinations of triggers, filters, and actions are only limited to your understanding of the marketing process.
Everything is color coded, easy to comprehend, and structuring the chart can be a really enjoyable task.
Ready-made workflows can be customized quickly
But if you don’t want to take things from scratch, Moosend offers plenty of pre-made such recipes.
There are 18 charts available and ready to be customized based on your needs but at least you have a starting point.
The results of your email campaign are the most important when it comes to discussing its efficiency.
That’s why it’s important to receive accurate reports based on which to shape your future marketing strategy.
With Moosend, you get all the data you need, from clicks on each button, product, and offer but also the numbers of unsubscribers, the region from where they clicked, and lots more information.
Add widgets to customize your reports
Furthermore, you can personalize your reports with a lot of widgets that will filter the exact information you need.
Of course, all the reports can be saved in CVS format to use them further and integrate them into other statistical data.
With Moosend the reports are not limited to performance. For instance, The Track Recipient Activity report displays how each recipient interacted with and reacted to your email marketing campaign.
It alsotracks link clicks with a map that displays your newsletter with bubbles indicating how many times each link has been clicked.
The Track email clients and devices report shows you the different devices, email clients, browsers, and operating systems your recipients use to view your campaigns.
Long story short, every single reporting option is covered and you can personalize it to pinpoint your precise interests.
5. Create landing pages in minutes
You would think that creating a landing page is difficult, but with Moosend, this task is as easy as building a newsletter.
Of course, you get to choose from 38 templates that match the email campaign ones. And the page editor works and looks almost exactly like the one for newsletters.
That can be extremely useful because if you already know how to work with the first one, creating a landing page will be a piece of cake.
All the layouts are flexible to customize from the text font to images, spaces, backgrounds, and every other element.
A neat trick from Moosend is that you can resize the image right there, in the editor, you don’t need to do that before uploading it, a detail that will save you a lot of time.
You can share the landing page and publish it in one go
And once you have done with the layout and content, it’s very easy to share it on social media (Facebook & Twitter) and publish it on Moosend’s platform or on your WordPress website.
For the second option, it’s only a matter of installing the WordPress plugin and managing the inclusion.
6. Huge array of integrations
As we’ve mentioned at the beginning of this review, Moosend offers 38 third-party integrations that cover all possible areas of interest.
The list includes CRM tools, list validation services, platforms for lead generation but also e-commerce, and more.
Integrating an e-commerce platform like Magento, will allow you to get product listings on your newsletters and automate upsells.
Note that when you set up your website in the beginning, if you choose e-commerce, that will also trigger the sales reports features. Otherwise, you won’t get them as you don’t need them in other domains.
How much do I pay for Moosend?
First, you can try Moosend for 30 days as a free trial version and you don’t need to provide any credit card information.
For this option, you get unlimited emails, and automation workflows and you can make one landing page and one form.
If you decide that Moosend is the right thing for you or your business, you can go for a Pro plan and customize it for your number of subscribers.
The lowest Pro plan goes for only $9 per month for a maximum of 500 subscribers but if you choose the annual payment, the rate lowers to $7.
It’s important to note that the Pro plan also comes with an SMTP server.
There is also an Enterprise plan available that you may customize to your exact needs and by completing a preliminary form, you will get a personalized quotation.
Moosend
Create the most engaging newsletters, landing pages, and forms to grow your business!
Some users have been complaining that they see a notification in their Windows Security app that says, Standard hardware security not supported.
At the same time, this error seems to appear even if the device meets the standards for hardware security, and has the latest drivers, Windows updates, and BIOS firmware installed.
What does it mean by standard hardware security not supported?
Having said that, this message occurs when your device does not meet at least one of the requirements of standard hardware security:
The device has TPM 2.0 (security processor), and it’s enabled
Secure boot is enabled
DEP is turned on (Data Execution Prevention)
UEFI MAT ((Unified Extensible Firmware Interface Memory Memory Attributes Table)
CPU Virtualization is enabled
What causes standard hardware security not supported?
So, if you see the Standard hardware security not supported error notification in Windows 11, it could be because:
The minimum requirements for hardware security are not met – It could be possible that the TPM 2.0, secure boot, or virtualization is not enabled in the BIOS settings.
Outdated system drivers – If the drivers are not updated to the latest version, this may trigger the standard hardware security not supported error.
BIOS firmware not updated – Chances are that you see the error notification due to outdated BIOS firmware.
Corrupted Windows update – Sometimes, it could be a corrupted Windows update causing the error.
Recurrent Windows 11 bug – In many cases, it has been reported that the standard hardware security not supported error shows up due to a bug in the OS.
What can I do if standard hardware security is not supported on Windows 11?
Before you move over to the main section to try the primary methods, here are a few quick checks:
However, if none of the above steps help you eliminate the standard hardware security not supported error, we have some expert tips to fix the issue.
1. Enable Data Execution Prevention (DEP)
Press the Win + R keys to open the Run dialogue. Type sysdm.cpl and hit Enter to open System Properties.
Now, select the Advanced tab, and under Performance, click on Settings.
Next, go to the Data Execution Prevention tab, and select Turn on DEP for essential Windows programsand services only option. Press Apply and OK.
Now, restart your PC and check if you could successfully fix the standard hardware security not supported error in Windows 11 or if you still see the notification.
Here, go to CPU settings or System Configuration, look for either Intel Virtualization Technology, Virtualization Technology, VT-x, AMD-V, or SVM, and set it to Enable.
This enables Core isolation in Windows Security.
Next, under the Advance tab, navigate to System Agent Configuration or North Bridge Configuration, and enable VT-d or IOMMU to enable Memory integrity in Windows Security.
Now, enable Intel Platform Trust Technology (PTT) or the AMD equivalent, and the motherboard chipset acts as a TPM. This enables the Security processor in Windows Security.
4. Reregister Windows Security App using PowerShell
Press the Win + R shortcut keys to open the Run console. Type in Powershell, and press the Ctrl + Shift + Enter keys together to launch the elevated Powershell window.
Now, run the below command in the Powershell (Admin) window and hit Enter: PowerShell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Command "& {$manifest = (Get-AppxPackage *Microsoft.Windows.SecHealthUI*).InstallLocation + '\AppxManifest.xml' ; Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register $manifest}"
Once the command executes successfully, close PowerShell and restart the PC. This should help you fix the standard hardware security error in Windows 11.
Download the latest version of the Windows Security app. Now, create a restore point, and then unzip the downloaded ZIP file on the desktop.
Next, press the Win + E keys to open File Explorer, navigate to C:\Windows\System32\SecurityHealth, right-click on the setup file, and select Properties.
Now, follow the below path to change to Administrators, and take ownership of that folder: Properties > Security tab, > Advanced > Owner > Change > Select User or Group > Advanced
In the next window, click on Find Now, go to the Search results, select Administrators, and press OK.
In the Select User or Group dialog, click on Check Names and press OK.
Now, in the Advanced Security Settings window, select Replace owner on sub containers and objects, press Apply and OK to save the changes, and return to the Properties dialog.
Here, under Group or user names, select Administrators, and click on Edit.
Next, in the Permissions window, select Administrators, and check theAllowbox next to Full Control. Press Apply and then OK.
Back in the SecurityHealth folder in the File Explorer window, copy the 1.0.2207.20002-0 folder, and paste it on the Desktop to the SecurityHealth folder.
Now, you can open the folder and run the application Microsoft.SecHealthUI_8wekyb3d8bbwe.appx as an administrator.
Once done, restart your PC, and check if this helps eliminate the standard hardware security error.
Also, you must check if the BIOS is updated. If not, then update the BIOS firmware to the latest version to fix the standard hardware security not supported issue.
Besides, if your device already meets the hardware security standards, you can simply access the BIOS settings, disable the virtualization and enable it again.
If none of the above methods work, you may do a clean install of Windows 11 using a USB, and this should help you get rid of the issue.
For any other queries related to Windows 11 or the Windows Security app, do let us know in the comments section below.
Many users reported Windows can’t connect to a hidden network. While you should be able to connect by entering the correct SSID and password, that won’t always work.
But don’t worry, in this guide, we’ll explain all you need to know to successfully connect to a hidden network on your Windows PC.
How do I fix the hidden WiFi network?
1. Manually connect to the hidden SSID network
Go to Network and Sharing Center.
Select the name of your hidden Wi-Fi connection.
On the Wi-Fi Status box > click on Wireless Properties.
Check the box Connect even if the network is not broadcasting its name.
Sometimes in order to connect to the hidden wireless network, you need to make a few changes to your network connection. To do that, follow the steps described above.
This quick workaround should fix your Wifi hidden network problem, and your computer should automatically connect to your default network.
2. Turn off your Bluetooth
Press Windows Key + I to open the Settings app.
When the Settings app opens, navigate to the Devices section.
Now, select Bluetooth from the menu on the left and disable Bluetooth from the right pane.
After doing that, the Bluetooth will be disabled and you should be able to connect to a hidden WiFi network without any issues.
If you want to quickly disable Bluetooth, you can do it right from the Action Center. To do that, simply follow these steps:
Network and Sharing Center window will now appear. Click on Set up a new connection or network.
Now select Manually connect to a wireless network and click Next.
Enter the required information such as Network name, Security type, and Security Key. Keep in mind that you need to enter the correct information or else you won’t be able to find and access your network.
Also, be sure to enable Connect even if the network is not broadcasting and Start this connection automatically options. Once you’re done, click Next to proceed.
After you enter the necessary information, check if the problem still persists. If the problem is still present, you need to log in to your router and temporarily turn on the SSID broadcasting feature.
Then, connect to your wireless network and turn off SSID broadcasting once again.
Locate your network adapter on the list and double-click it to open its properties.
Navigate to the Power Management tab and uncheck Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power option.
Now click OK to save changes.
After making these changes, your PC should be able to connect to a hidden network without too many issues.
According to users, in order to connect to a hidden network, your network adapter should be prevented from going to sleep. This isn’t hard, and you can change this setting by following the steps described above.
5. Forget the wireless network
Open the list of available networks.
There you should see Hidden network on the list.
Select it and click on Forget.
If you’re having problems connecting to a hidden wireless network, you might be able to fix the problem simply by forgetting the network.
After doing that, manually connect to the hidden network and check if that solves the problem. This is just a workaround, but it works according to users, so we encourage you to try it out.
6. Select the hidden network from the list of networks
Click the WiFi icon on your Taskbar.
A list of available networks will now appear. Select Hidden Network and check the Connect automatically option.
Now click the Connect button.
Enter the name (SSID) of the hidden network. Be sure to enter the correct name or else you won’t be able to connect to the hidden network.
Now enter the password for that network and click Next.
When asked whether you want to make your PC discoverable on the network, click Yes.
Keep in mind to select Yes only if you’re using a home network that you trust.
According to users, you can connect to a hidden WiFi network simply by selecting it from the list of networks. After doing that, you should be able to connect to a hidden network without any issues.
Hidden networks can be useful since they can hide from the public, but any user that has the required information can easily access them.
As you can see, certain issues can occur while trying to connect to a hidden network, but we hope that you managed to solve them using one of our solutions.
The GeForce Experience client by Nvidia is an all-in-one suite covering everything from in-game screenshots to live streams and graphics optimization.
However, GFE won’t do you good if you can’t access it. And Something went wrong, try rebooting your PC error on Nvidia GeForce Experience is a widespread issue bothering many of the community.
We listed some solutions which should help you address this. Check them out below.
How do I fix Something went wrong error in Nvidia GeForce Experience?
1. Run Nvidia GeForce Experience as an administrator
Right-click on the Nvidia GeForce Experience client and open Properties.
Select the Compatibility tab.
Check the Run this program as an administrator box.
Finally, click OK to confirm the changes.
Some features of the app might get limited if you’re not running the application as an administrator. This might be the reason you are experiencing the Nvidia GeForce Experience something went wrong issue with error code 0x0003 or 0x0001.
Therefore, we’ll need you to grant Nvidia GFE administrative permissions. This helped some users on Windows 7, so it might be worth a try on Windows 10.
2. Install the latest GPU drivers
In the Windows Search bar, type Advanced and open View advanced system settings.
Whether you double-checked Device Manager and drivers are seemingly spot on, the generic GPU driver is not what anyone should settle with. They can cause the something went wrong error Nvidia GeForce Experience.
You need to download the latest driver from the official support site and install them. You might also want to block Windows from automatically updating drivers, as this feature is proven to be flawed.
3 Check associated services
Press the Windows key + R, type services.msc, and click OK.
Right-click Nvidia Telemetry Container and choose Properties.
Now, click the Log On tab at the top.
Choose the Local system account.
Next, click the General tab.
Change the Startup type to choose Automatic.
Finally, click the Start button, followed by OK, and restart your PC.
Some users have been able to fix this issue simply by making changes to the properties of the Nvidia Telemetry Container. The major problem with the service is that it won’t start unless you allow it to log in with the local account.
This can cause the something went wrong error Nvidia GeForce Experience. Hence, you need to change its startup type and other properties to fix this issue.
Use the Safe mode from the launch options and recommended settings to remove the current Nvidia driver and GeForce Experience.
Now, click the Clean and restart button and wait for the process to complete.
Finally, download and install the latest driver and stable version of GeForce Experience.
Another effective solution is reinstalling everything remotely associated with Nvidia on your PC. To remove the driver cleanly, you’ll need to run the DDU (Display Driver Uninstaller).
After you’ve cleaned all traces of Nvidia GeForce Experience from your PC, you can safely install the correct version. Also, we suggest preventing Windows 10 from automatically installing drivers by turning off your internet.
This should fix something went wrong on the Nvidia GeForce Experience issue.
5. Try an older version
If none of the previous solutions resolved the issue, you should try rolling back to an older version of GFE. On the other hand, finding an older iteration of the GeForce Experience client isn’t a walk in the park.
Some third-party repositories have them in abundance, but there’s a security question. So, you must ensure you download the app from a safe website.
That is about it for the Nvidia GeForce Experience something went wrong issue. You only need to follow the instructions carefully, and things should be back to normal.
Trying to start The Sims 4, but it won’t launch? Maybe the EA App opens and… nothing. Or worse, you get hit with the “already running” message even though it clearly isn’t.
Don’t stress. This is one of the most common issues in 2025, especially with the new launcher updates and Epic Games compatibility quirks.
Whether it’s a broken mod, stuck background process, or something else entirely, we’ll walk through the most effective ways to fix it, step by step.
How do I Fix Sims 4 if it won’t launch on PC?
1. Force the game to create a new Mods folder
Open File Explorer and go to Documents > Electronic Arts > Sims 4.
Select the Mods folder and press the Ctrl key + C to copy it.
Now, go to the Desktop folder in the left pane and press Ctrl + P to paste the folder.
From here, delete the Mods folder in the Sims 4 folder and start the game. This should force Sim 4 to create a new Mods folder.
Now, open the new and empty Mods folder in the Sim4 folder and the original one on your Desktop on two separate File Explorer windows.
Open one of the folders in the original Mods folder and copy its content.
Then, go to the new and empty Mods folder window and click the New folder icon. Give the folder any name you like.
Paste the files you copied into this new folder.
Now, repeat Steps 6 to 8 for the other folders in the original Mods folder. Note that you don’t need to worry if you don’t have any folder to copy in the original Mods folder.
After copying these folders, you can now copy the other contents of the original Mods folder to the new one at once.
If Sims 4 won’t launch with mods, try disabling a few mods and check if that helps.
2. Delete the Origin cache files
Open File Explorer and follow the path below: C:\Users\<username>\AppData\LocalC:\Users\<username>\AppData\Roaming
If you can’t find the AppData folder there, click the View tab at the top and check the box for Hidden items.
Now, delete the Origin folder there.
If Sims 4 won’t launch on Origin, you may be able to fix the issue by cleaning up the cache files.
3. Repair the game
Open Origin.
Now, go to My GameLibrary
Right-click The Sims 4 and choose the Repair option.
If Sims 4 is not launching, your installation might be damaged, and repairing it can help.
Press Windows key + R and enter msconfig. Now press Enter or click OK.
On the Servicestab, click to select theHide all Microsoft services check box and select Disable all.
On the Startuptab, click Open Task Manager.
Select each startup item and click Disable.
Close Task Manager, then click OKand restart the computer.
Sometimes third-party applications and services can interfere with your game and cause this and other similar issues. Enable startup services and apps one by one until you find the culprit.
Now go to Application Settings and selectOrigin In Game.
Uncheck Origin In Game.
Several users reported that disabling Origin In Game can help if Sims 4 won’t open. This isn’t the only issue, and sometimes Sims 4 won’t download on Origin.
6. Reset your user files
Launch the This PC app on your device.
Go to My Documents.
Locate and open the Electronic Arts folder.
Find The Sims 4 folder, right-click on it and select Copy.
Go to your desktop, right-click on a free space, and select Paste.
Right-click on the copied folder and select Rename.
Change the name of the folder and launch a new game.
Wrapping up
We hope these quick workarounds helped you and that you started the game without any issues. If the game starts but online features like the Gallery do not load, follow our Sims 4 Gallery not working guide for step by step fixes.
This isn’t the only issue, and many reported that The Sims 4 won’t update, but we covered this issue in a separate guide.
OneDrive features a sharing feature that allows you to access any file in your OneDrive from anywhere. This makes it easier for users to access their files or even during a presentation.
Whereas this feature is helpful most of the time, users have since come up to complain about not getting access to the files. To be precise, an error comes up that says Error 0x80070185: The cloud operation was unsuccessful. Find out why this happens and how to fix it here.
Why does the 0x80070185 error occur in OneDrive?
The error 0x80070185 in OneDrive occurs when users try to access shared files. In this scenario, once one user clicks or downloads a shared file, it becomes inaccessible to other users.
Some of the reasons why this happens include:
File size increase – Whenever you open and close a file in One Drive, it increases in size. Although negligible, the file is no longer considered the same as the original, especially if you deleted it from your hard drive.
Cached files – The more you open and close files, the more cache build up. If not deleted, some of the caches can become corrupt and result in the error.
Unstable internet connection – If you’re trying to access files on the cloud with a limited internet connection, you may also get this error.
Change in permissions – If you’re having trouble opening a file shared on OneDrive, it could be because you don’t have permission to access the file or it’s locked.
Corrupt Windows Registry files – If your Registry is corrupted somehow, files in OneDrive may be rendered inaccessible.
Antivirus settings – Sometimes, your firewall or antivirus settings can prevent you from accessing certain files if it is considered a risk to your system.
Insufficient storage – Given that opening the file increases its size, if OneDrive is getting full and you don’t have enough RAM to accommodate it, you may have issues opening it again.
How can I resolve error code 0x80070185 in OneDrive?
Before attempting the slightly complex solutions, try the following:
Ensure that you’re using an updated version of OneDrive. Some older versions that have been superseded by newer ones tend to be a bit buggy.
Check if you have permission to open the shared file. Sometimes, access may be denied, so try contacting the person who created it and ask them for permission.
1. Pause and resume syncing
Launch the OneDrive icon by clicking on the system tray.
Click on Help & Settings in the pop-up menu.
Select Pause syncing and choose a suitable time option for you.
Pausing syncing and resyncing in OneDrive does not delete any files on your computer. It just pauses the process until you decide to resume it again.
When you pause syncing, all changes made to documents or images on your computer since the last time you synchronized with OneDrive are copied to the cloud. It’s useful when you wait for an update to arrive on your computer.
2. Run the Windows Store apps troubleshooter
Hit the Start Menu icon and click on Settings.
Click on System on the left pane, then Troubleshoot on the right pane.
Select Other troubleshooters.
Scroll down, locate Windows Store Apps, and click the Run button.
3. Get more storage
Right-click the OneDrive icon on the Taskbar and click the Gear icon.
Choose the Settings option.
Click the Account tab at the top and check your available storage.
Finally, click the Get more storage option and select your preferred plan.
Once you have acquired more storage, restart OneDrive again and try opening the problematic file again.
BSOD errors are a common occurrence in Windows and prevent the PC from booting the OS. There are several of these, each indicating a major issue with the hardware or software. One such is the Inaccessible Boot Device BSOD error.
The error appears when Windows cannot access the boot device or the system partition. It has, of late, been in the spotlight. The primary reason, the Inaccessible Boot Device stop code has troubled a lot of Windows 11 users. So, let’s find out all about it.
What causes Inaccessible Boot Device?
Here are a few reasons you might be getting the error:
A faulty hard drive: If the hard drive is faulty, you will likely get this error due to the computer’s inability to read the critical files. Often, SSD users are found to be affected by this error.
Problems with the last installed update: For many users, the problem appeared after they updated Windows, pointing to either a bug in the installed version or a change made to the BIOS.
Incompatible hardware: When an incompatible hardware or peripheral is connected to the PC, it could trigger the Inaccessible Boot Device error in Windows.
Overclocking: If not done correctly, overclocking can lead to several errors and even BSODs, including this one.
How do I fix the Inaccessible Boot Device error?
Before we head to the slightly complex solutions, here are a few quick ones to try:
Make sure all the connections are in order, especially the ones to the hard drive. You can try reconnecting it just to be sure.
Remove any recently connected hardware, and check if the Inaccessible Boot Device error stops appearing.
If these don’t work, move to the fixes listed next.
1. Disable VMD in BIOS
Turn off the computer, power it on, and press the F1, F10, F12, or Esc key, depending on the manufacturer, to access the BIOS.
Now, check the VMD feature and make sure it’s disabled.
A user reported that a recent update enabled VMD in the BIOS, and, as a result, the Inaccessible Boot Device BSOD error showed up in Windows. So, make sure to revert the change.
2. Uninstall recent Windows updates
Turn on the computer, and as soon as the display lights up, hold the power button to turn it off. Repeat it twice, and Automatic Repair should kick in on the last attempt.
Once it’s done running, click on Advanced Options.
Now, choose Troubleshoot.
Again, click Advanced options.
Choose the Uninstall Updates entry here.
Select the Uninstall latest quality updates option.
Choose an account and then enter the password for it to continue.
Click the Uninstall quality update button.
Wait for the update to uninstall, and then restart the computer.
While the previous solution looked at a particular change made after the update, there could also be others. And the easiest solution is to uninstall the update and disable Windows Update for a while to prevent the Inaccessible Boot Device error from reappearing.
Paste the following commands individually and press Enter after each to repair the MBR:bootrec /FixMbrbootrec /FixBootbootrec /ScanOsbootrec /RebuildBcd
Once done, restart the computer, and check if you can now boot Windows.
4. Perform a system restore
In the Advanced Options menu that you accessed previously, choose System Restore.
Choose an account from the list and enter the password for it to proceed.
Click on Next.
Select a restore point from the list, and again click Next.
Verify the details, and click Finish to restart the restore process.
Click Yes to confirm.
Once the restore is complete, restart the computer.
A system restore is often very effective against a range of BSOD errors. It primarily helps when you can’t identify what caused the error, which in this case may hold true. If the Inaccessible Boot Device error persists, head to the next solution.
5. Update the drivers
NOTE
To update the drivers, you first have to boot Windows in Safe Mode with Networking and proceed with the steps here.
Press Windows + R to open Run, type devmgmt.msc in the text field, and hit Enter.
Expand the IDE ADA/ATAPI controllers category, right-click on the SATA controller under it, and choose Update driver.
Select Search automatically for drivers and wait for Windows to install the best one.
Similarly, update the other device drivers in Windows.
Drivers play a critical role in the effective functioning of the PC, and if these are outdated or corrupt, you are likely to encounter the Inaccessible Boot Device error. So you must regularly update the drivers.
Remember, sometimes, a driver update, too, can trigger BSODs, so you would have to avoid downloading them. A few users reported every time the Raid driver got installed through Windows Update, the OS would crash with a BSOD.
Update drivers automatically
Searching for drivers on your own can be time-consuming. So, we advise you to use a tool that will do this for you automatically.
This software will allow you to fix the Inaccessible Boot Device error on Windows 10, optimize your computer and enjoy an awesome gaming performance. After several tests, our team concluded that this is the best-automatized solution.
Furthermore, if you want to be constantly aware of your drivers’ actuality or functionality, take action and optimize your computer using powerful software like Fortect Driver Updater.
Fortect Driver Updater
Boost your PC’s health and keep your drivers up to date with Fortect Driver Updater.
Proceed with this solution only if none of the other fixes worked for you since it will clear the data on the drive and require reinstalling Windows. This method will also help if you cannot install Windows on the drive.
Choose Command Prompt from the Advanced Options in the recovery environment.
Paste each of the commands one at a time, and hit Enter after each to convert the disk from MBR to GPT:diskpartlist diskselect disk 1cleanconvert gpt
Once you have completed that part, turn off the computer.
Alternatively, you can automate the whole process by using specialized repair software, such as Fortect. This tool allows you to scan the whole system and repairs any broken files it finds, including essential Windows files that are often the cause of BSOD.
That’s all for the Inaccessible Boot Device BSOD error in Windows, and one of our solutions should have helped fix things. In case the error persists, we recommend you contact Microsoft Support or a professional in your locality.
Chrome has a reputation for fast performance, and it’s optimized to be lightweight and resource-efficient while still providing modern features like tabbed browsing and hardware acceleration.
But, there are times when you may experience a flickering screen in Google Chrome that appears to be happening randomly or when using certain websites. If this sounds familiar, keep reading to find out how you can end the flickering screen.
Why is my Google Chrome screen flickering in Windows 11?
There are various reasons why your Google Chrome screen is flickering in Windows 11. Some of the common causes include:
Outdated driver – The display driver on your computer might be causing the flickering because it’s out of date.
Hardware issues – Another reason why Chrome flickering occurs is due to hardware issues such as low RAM or an underpowered CPU that causes lags or freezes.
Outdated browser – This can cause a problem with the way that Chrome renders elements, such as your web pages and graphics
Improperly configured drivers -If you are using graphics drivers in your system which are not compatible with Google Chrome, then they may cause excessive screen flickering.
Chrome extensions – Some Chrome extensions can find their way to your PC without your permission and may be causing problems with your browser.
Unnecessary programs – If you have many programs installed, some of them might be causing your Google Chrome to flicker in Windows 11 or slow down your PC.
How do I fix Chrome flickering screen on Windows 11?
If you are experiencing a flickering screen in Chrome on Windows, there are a few things that you can try before any advanced troubleshooting:
First, make sure that your monitor is compatible with the resolution of your laptop or desktop.
Ensure you update Google Chrome to make it compatible with Windows 11, which will solve most of your problems regarding Google Chrome flickering in Windows 11.
Try to restart your computer and check if the issue persists.
1. Adjust graphic settings
Hit the Start menu icon and select Settings.
Click on System then select Display.
Navigate to the Scale & layout section, then under Display resolution, click on the drop-down menu and pick a lower resolution setting than your current one.
2. Update graphic drivers
Click on the Windows button, type Device Manager in the search bar, and click Open.
Navigate to Display adapters to expand, right-click on your graphics card and select Update driver.
Select Search automatically for drivers.
The best way to fix Chrome’s flickering screen on Windows 11 is to update your graphic drivers using an automatic tool instead of doing it manually.
Outbyte Driver Updater can help you detect, install, and update your PC’s drivers. It scans for all the drivers that are missing or outdated and then replaces them with the correct versions.
Outbyte Driver Updater
Make the updating process of your drivers easier and more efficient with Outbyte Driver Updater.
Open your Chrome browser and click on the three vertical ellipses at the top right corner.
Select Settings.
Next, click Reset and cleanup,then select Clean up computer on the right.
Hit the Find button next to Find harmful software.
Wait for the scan to finish and remove any recommended software.
To ensure you’re thorough, you must perform a virus scan on your Windows 11. Although Chrome may not find harmful software, there may be malicious code hidden in your system, making your screen flicker. You can also run an antivirus scan using a third-party antivirus solution.
5. Disable hardware acceleration
Open your Chrome browser and click on the three vertical ellipses at the top right corner.
Select Settings.
Navigate to System and on the right pane, toggle off Use hardware acceleration when available.
Open your Chrome browser and click on the three vertical ellipses at the top right corner.
Select Settings.
Next, click on Reset and cleanup then select Restore settings to their original defaults.
Confirm Reset settings in the next dialog box.
If you’ve been experiencing the issue with Chrome flickering in Windows 11, this should help. However, if none works, consider using another browser, such as Opera, and give Chrome a break. Should you face a similar issue in Windows 10, the same steps should apply.
Users also complained of getting a white screen in Chrome. If you encounter a similar issue, we have an expert article with quick fixes. We also have answers for when Chrome fails to load pages, so be sure to check our guide to that effect.
That’s all we had for this article, but continue the conversation in the comment section below with any additional thoughts.
If your phone is not showing up on PC, it usually means the computer isn’t establishing a proper data connection. This can happen with Android phones not connecting to PC via USB due to faulty cables, outdated system software, or connection settings on the computer.
What to do if your phone is connected to the PC but not showing up
After you connect the phone, a notification will appear confirming whether you want to allow the connected device to access data on it. Simply tap Allow.
If you don’t receive it, check the notifications bar, and tap on USB for file transfer, or any similar entry there.
Now, make sure This phone option is selected under USB controlled by, and Transferring files under Use USB for.
2. Enable USB debugging
Open Settings on your Android device, and tap on About phone.
Now, tap on Software information.
Now, tap seven times on Build number.
If required, enter the phone’s PIN to enable developer mode.
Again, go back to Settings, and then tap on Developer options.
Enable the toggle for USB debugging.
Tap OK in the confirmation prompt.
3. Install the MTP USB device driver
3.1 Update the driver manually
Press Windows + X to open the Power User menu, and select Device Manager.
Locate your Android phone under Portable Devices, right-click it, and choose Update driver.
Click Browse my computer for drivers.
Now click on Let me pick from a list of available drivers on my computer.
From the list, choose MTP USB Device and click Next.
After the driver has been installed, your Android device should be recognized.
3.2 Update drivers automatically
Downloading drivers manually is a process that carries the risk of getting the wrong driver installed. This can lead to severe malfunctions in your PC. Thus, we recommend an alternative tool that will do it for you.
The safer and easier way to update drivers on a Windows computer is by using a tool like Fortect Driver Updater that will do the heavy lifting for you.
4. Install the Media Feature Pack
MTP (Media Feature Pack) protocol is related to Windows Media Player, and some versions of Windows 10 don’t have Windows Media Player and support for related technologies such as MTP protocol.
Press Windows + R to open Run, type devmgmt.msc in the text field, and hit Enter.
Locate the phone under Portable Devices, right-click on the device, and then choose Uninstall device.
Click Uninstall in the confirmation prompt that appears.
Once done, remove the phone and then reconnect it to the PC.
Windows will now automatically identify and install the best drivers for it.
6. Delete cache and data for the External Storage and Media Storage app
Open Settings and go to Apps.
Tap the ellipsis near the top-right corner.
Choose Show system apps.
Tap on External Storage.
Now, tap on Storage.
Next, tap on Clear data.
Choose OK to confirm.
Similarly, clear the data for Media Storage.
Once done, restart the phone and then reconnect it to the PC.
7. Check your phone’s sync apps
Some phones have their own PC sync applications. For instance, Samsung hasLink to Windows, and Motorola has Ready For.
Sometimes, these apps might interfere and lead to your phone not showing up in Files. However, it might be recognized in the app itself.
Just open the app and check the file transfer section/ connected devices or something similar.
If you prefer using Windows’ built-in File transfer options, you can uninstall these apps. Once you do this, the phone should show up under Removable devices.
8. Try a Different USB Cable or Port
Some USB cables only support charging, not data transfer. Switch to a certified cable and connect to another USB port on your PC. Avoid using USB hubs as they can cause detection issues.
9. Restart Both Devices
Restarting both your phone and PC can reset the USB connection process. After rebooting, reconnect the cable to check if your phone appears in File Explorer.
10. Update Your PC’s Operating System
Outdated Windows versions can cause phone not recognized by PC problems. Go to Settings → Windows Update and install all pending updates, then reconnect your device.
11. Disable USB Selective Suspend
The USB selective suspend feature can sometimes stop your Samsung phone from showing up on PC.
Press Windows + R, type control panel, and press Enter.
Go to Hardware and Sound → Power Options.
Select Change plan settings → Change advanced power settings.
Expand USB settings → USB selective suspend setting and set it to Disabled.
12. Try Connecting to a Different Computer
If your phone is not connecting to a PC at all, test it on another computer. If it works there, the issue likely lies in your original PC’s configuration.
13. Use a third-party app
On the flip side, if your phone doesn’t have its own app and you tried everything else and still can’t access your files, consider a third-party sync app.
This might make your PC recognize your phone due to its functionalities.
We would recommend the following tool to make sure your PC will always recognize your Android device:
If you’re using a Lumia or similar device and still having connection issues, check out our guide on what to do when Windows 10 laptop doesn’t recognize Lumia for more help.
Tell us which fix worked for you in the comments section below. Also, if you have any other queries, drop them here, and we will get back to you soon.
![A Fatal Error Occurred Creating a TLS Client Credential [Fix]](https://windowsreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Fatal-error-occurred-while-creating-a-TLS-client-credentials.jpg)
![Extend your Reach With Moosend Email Marketing Software [Review]](https://windowsreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Moosend-email-marketing-software-review.jpg)
![Standard Hardware Security Not Supported [Error Fix]](https://windowsreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Untitled-design-2023-02-04T144312.586-min.png)
![[Fixed] NVIDIA GeForce Experience: Something Went Wrong](https://windowsreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/how-to-fix-nvidia-something-went-wrong-1.png)
