Learning how to prevent users from installing software on Windows 10 is easy enough, and it will take only a few minutes of your time. So, read this tutorial to the end, and you will become an expert in adding Windows restrictions in no time.
How can I prevent other users from installing programs on my PC?
1. Use AppLocker
Press the Windows + R key combination to open the Run console.
Type gpedit.msc and press Enter.
Now, expand Windows Settings from the left, go to Security Settings, and double-click on Application Control Policies.
Next, double-click or tap on the AppLocker file.
Now you should have there a few categories and depending on what you want to restrict you should choose accordingly but, in our case, we will need to right-click on the Package app Rules and select Create New Rule.
Now you should have in front of you the Create Executable Rules window; click Next.
From the Permissions page, choose the Deny feature in order to prevent users from installing software and also select the User or the group that will have this restriction.
Left-click or tap on the Next button after you finish.
You should now have the Conditions window in front of you.
You can choose your restrictions according to three conditions:
Publisher: This will restrict the software installation for a certain amount of apps that are signed by the publisher.
Path: Create this rule of restriction only for a specific folder path, everything outside the specified folder will not be affected by this rule.
File hash: You can create a rule for an application that is not signed. Note: In this tutorial we have selected the Publisher restriction feature.
Left-click or tap on the Next button.
Now, click on the Browser.. button under the Reference file: topic and select the type of app that you would wish to block. (this restriction will block all apps that are similar to the reference one you selected). Note: Go to a folder with an app that you wish to block and select it from there. You can either select the app installer or select the installed app as a reference point.
Now left click or tap on the Next button.
Left-click or tap on the Create button to create the rule that prevents users from installing software in Windows 8.1 and Windows 10
Close all the windows you have opened, log in with the user you set the restriction for and try installing an app to see if it works.
2. Block user installation rights
Type gpedit.msc in the Search Windows box and open the Group Policy Editor.
Go to Computer Configuration, then to Administrative templates, access Windows Components and doube-click on Windows Installer.
On the right, right-click on Allow user control over installs and select Edit.
Now, select Enabled, customize your settings, and choose from For non-managed applications only/ Always/ Never and hit the OK button when done.
3. Use standard user accounts
Another quick way to prevent other users from installing software on your PC is using standard user accounts.
In this manner, only the Administrator account can install and remove apps and programs on the PC.
4. Use a dedicated tool
WinGuard Pro is a very useful program that allows you to password-lock your apps and programs. With the help of this tool, you can easily disable software installation and download processes and block other users from running .exe files.
Now that you know the basics of setting the restriction levels for a specific user or a user group, you can go and modify or create new permission rules and customize them as you wish. Please write us below if something is unclear or if you need further assistance on this subject.
Tabletop Simulator is a game that allows players to create digital versions of tabletop games like Chess and poker. Steam users, however, have reported a debilitating error that won’t let them launch the title.
The game will immediately crash upon startup, making it unplayable. This is a debilitating error that fortunately is pretty easy to fix.
What causes the game to crash on startup?
Before going into the reasons behind the error, it’s important to first understand why it happens. That way, if it does happen again, you recognize the issues and can more easily address them.
Your game files are corrupted: Corrupt games will not work properly and cause many other problems, not just crashing on startup. It’s important that you clear out those files to repair them.
The computer’s antivirus software is interrupting the game: Overzealous security software can block certain apps from running. It’s recommended you add an exception to the game.
The security settings are set too high: You should lower your internet’s security options to allow Steam to function properly.
There was a Steam disk write error: This can happen during installation. If this happens, you’ll need to uninstall Tabletop Simulator, then reinstall it.
How can I stop Tabletop Simulator from crashing on startup?
There are a ton of fixes for this game crashing on startup; some of them are easy to do while others are more complex and take a bit longer to complete. The longer solutions should be considered only after the easy fixes don’t pan out:
Restart both the Steam launcher and your computer, one after the other. Most of the time, this is all you need to do.
Make sure your drivers are up to date. Not doing so can cause compatibility problems, negatively affecting software performance.
Also, be sure to update Steam regularly. Valve is consistently rolling fixes and patches for its platform.
If you’re using MSI Afterburner or similar software to overclock your computer, turn it off. Some users have discovered apps like Afterburner can interfere with a game’s performance.
1. Verify the integrity of the game’s cache
Open the Steam launcher and go to your Library.
Right-click Tabletop Simulator, then click Properties in the context menu.
In Properties, go to Local Files and select Verify integrity of game files.
Give Steam enough time to verify the files. It may take several minutes.
2. Adjust launch options
Go back to the Properties window of Tabletop Simulator from the previous solution.
Stay on the General tab and locate Launch Options.
In Launch Options, enter the following modification: -screen-fullscreen 0 -screen-width 1920 -screen-height 1080
This will cause Tabletop Simulator to open with those parameters.
3. Uninstall and reinstall Microsoft Visual C++ 2012
Expand the Windows Search bar and type in appwiz.cpl. Click the Control Panel item that appears.
Scroll down until you locate Microsoft Visual C++ 2012 Redistributable x64 and x86.
Right-click and select Uninstall for both of them.
Now go to Microsoft’s Download Center and download Visual C++ Redistributable for Visual Studio 2012 Update 4.
Download both the x64 and x86 versions.
Once downloaded, go to the file’s location on your computer and run it to begin the installation.
4. Add firewall exceptions
Open the Windows Control Panel and select Windows Defender Firewall. If you don’t see it, change the View By option to Large Icons.
In this new section, click Allow an app or feature through Windows Defender Firewall on the left-hand side.
Click the Change settings button at the top, then Allow another app at the bottom.
In the new window, click Browse.
Locate Tabletop Simulator in your computer’s C drive. It should be under the following directory: C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common
Once you found the file, double-click it then select the Add button to make an exception for it in Windows Defender Firewall.
5. Disable fullscreen optimization
Go to the following directory and locate Tabletop Simulator: C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common
Right-click the game, then select Properties.
In the new window, go to the Compatibility tab.
Check the box next to Disable fullscreen optimizations. Click Apply then OK.
Yes, there are several fixes for downloading errors, but there are two that we want to highlight in particular. One is what to do if the download queue keeps changing.
What happens is one game will begin downloading, but then suddenly changes to another interrupting the first one. Fixing this involves deleting the Steam download cache.
The other fix is what to do when game downloads aren’t progressing. We recommend stopping the download if you can, and then immediately update Steam.
Feel free to comment below if you have questions about addressing Steam problems. Also, leave comments about guides you want or information on other gaming issues.
Please note that paid security updates for Windows 7 via Extended Security Updates (ESUs) are coming to an end tomorrow, January 10, 2023.
Consider upgrading from Windows 7 to a supported version
This is actually really serious, so anyone still running this system should upgrade to Windows 10 soon to remain safe.
Keep in mind that free Windows 7 updates stopped being issued in 2020 but due to its popularity, Microsoft decided to offer Windows 7 ESUs for a price that extended security updates until now.
Furthermore, users that bought the extended support got updates delivered each month through Patch Tuesday when other versions of Windows were updated.
Unlike newer versions, however, Windows 7 ESU only received security updates, but not feature updates, due to the fact that it is pretty old now.
The last Patch Tuesday update for it will be released tomorrow but afterward, you need to upgrade to one of the supported versions.
And, with Windows 8.1 support ending this week as well, you’ll need to move to Windows 10 or the newer Windows 11.
For PCs that don’t support those versions of Windows, running Linux is also an option you might consider.
In case you didn’t know, Linux Mint 21.1 came out just before Christmas and it looks a lot like Windows 7 so it may be a good option if Windows 10 is off-limits.
Also, keeping updates coming for Windows 7 is something Microsoft doesn’t really want to do, as it’d much prefer to see users upgrade to newer versions of Windows.
Just to give you a basic idea, in order to make it worth its time to keep Windows 7 supported, users had to buy Windows 7 ESU SKUs each year in 2020, 2021, and 2022 if they wanted updates.
Additionally, just if that wasn’t bad enough, if you decided you want this in the second or third year, you had to pay for prior ESU years too.
To conclude, since the Redmond-based tech company is ending support for Windows 7 ESU tomorrow, please consider updating to a newer, supported version of the OS.
Taking into consideration the huge amount of cyberattacks happening lately, you should not take this advice lightly at all.
What version of Windows have yhou decided to migrate to from Windows 7? Share your opinions with us in the comments section below.
Looking for the best hidden object games (HOGs) on PC? These games are perfect for puzzle lovers who enjoy solving mysteries, uncovering secrets, and spotting clues in richly illustrated scenes. Whether you’re new to the genre or a seasoned detective, there’s something here for everyone, including free hidden object game downloads.
Mysteryville drops you into a quiet town where strange disappearances are stirring up panic. You play as a journalist investigating a case that quickly turns out to be much deeper than it seems. The puzzles are packed into vibrant scenes, and you’ll find yourself drawn into the quirky atmosphere from the start.
The game is ideal for players who enjoy straightforward detective plots mixed with colorful visuals and light humor. It’s easy to jump into but keeps you curious with every clue you find. The multilingual support is a bonus if you want to play in your native language or practice another one.
Step into a mythical world to rescue a kidnapped friend in The Secret Order. This hidden object game offers:
34 challenging minigames and 18 hidden object scenes
Beautiful hand-painted artwork
A deep, captivating storyline
The Secret Order takes you on a time-traveling quest filled with ancient artifacts, lost civilizations, and a bit of dragon lore. The game world is fully fleshed out, with each chapter offering new puzzles, characters, and beautifully illustrated scenes.
If you enjoy fantasy games with a strong story arc, this one’s for you. The hidden object scenes are smartly integrated into the narrative, and the balance between puzzles and story makes the experience feel like a fully interactive novel. It’s available on Steam and runs smoothly on most PCs.
Available on Steam, it’s perfect for players who love immersive fantasy adventures with rich puzzles.
Chase an undead pirate in this gripping hidden object adventure. Key features include:
Three difficulty modes to suit all players
Multiple player profiles
A rich, atmospheric story
Developed by Artifex Mundi, this game blends casual gameplay with a mysterious pirate plot. Nightmares from the Deep throws you into a supernatural pirate tale where you’re chasing down an undead sea captain who’s just come back to life. The game combines ghostly lore, hidden treasures, and detailed environments to create a moody, engaging experience.
What stands out here is the atmosphere. The game is darker but still approachable, with plenty of hidden object scenes that don’t feel repetitive. Whether you’re in it for the story or just want a bit of a challenge, the difficulty settings let you tailor the gameplay to your style.
Lightweight games compatible with Windows XP and newer
Built-in strategy guides and bonus content
Casual gameplay with engaging stories
The Awakening series follows Princess Sophia on her journey through a magical world filled with talking owls, enchanted castles, and ancient riddles. Each game offers a mix of mini-games, puzzles, and hidden object scenes with a soft, storybook style.
If you’re looking for relaxing gameplay that still keeps you thinking, this series is a solid pick. It’s especially beginner-friendly thanks to the built-in hints and guides. You can play them in order for the full story, or jump into any title without missing too much.
This series is excellent for beginners and fans of fairy tale adventures.
Family-friendly gameplay inspired by the hit Disney movie
Zootopia: Crime Files is perfect for players who want a light, fun hidden object game with familiar faces. You’ll join Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde as they crack open cases all around the city, each one offering new scenes and puzzles.
The game sticks closely to the tone of the movie, which means it’s playful and easy to follow, but still has enough going on to keep older players engaged. The visuals are sharp, the characters are well-animated, and the clues come together in satisfying ways. It’s a great pick for fans of the film or families playing together.
Living Legends: Bound by Wishes leans into the darker side of fairy tales. You arrive in a town that’s been twisted by the power of wishes, and as you investigate, the story unravels into something more personal and intense.
The puzzles are layered and rewarding, with scenes that push you to really pay attention. The visuals and audio do a lot of heavy lifting here, creating a moody but beautiful world that pulls you in. If you prefer your hidden object games to feel more like a novel, this is one of the most polished options around.
Highly rated for its story-driven gameplay and immersive experience.
Final Thoughts
Whether you want to download free hidden object games for PC or invest in story-rich premium titles, there’s no shortage of compelling adventures. From haunted houses to bustling cities, hidden object games deliver hours of relaxing, mind-stimulating fun.
Skype is an almost perfect VoIP software. You can make voice and video calls, conference calls, and voice and text chats over the internet.
You can even create private groups and use them as a productivity tool to keep your entire team on the same page. It is easy, fast, and reliable.
Remember, how I said almost perfect? Right, Skype for some privacy reasons does not offer the ability to record video or voice calls and save them locally.
The built-in Skype recorder saves the recorded files in the cloud, alerts every participant about the call being recorded, and posts the recording on the chat screen giving everyone access to the recording.
While Skype may have privacy concerns to blame for, not having an offline recording tool is almost a deal-breaker for many.
Fortunately, many third-party Skype recorders allow you to record voice and video calls with a click of a button.
Whether you want to record personal conversations or professional work-related conversations, recording calls can help you in many ways including legal issues.
In this article, we take a look at the best Skype recorder tool for Windows 10. These tools have been considered best keeping the ease of use and features on offer in mind. So, let’s get started.
What are the best tools to record Skype conversations?
AthTek Skype Recorder is a certified software created with the mission to help anyone to record interactions while using Skype. If you need professional help with Skype recording, this solution is probably the best choice.
Assuming you’re a recurrent user of Skype for video and audio calls, this software can help with any recording services you may need. For example, it’s possible to record video or audio with one click using the extremely simple interface.
Furthermore, the features are not very consistent but come with very practical benefits. You can record video calls automatically at high quality on both sides, and use the parental control function or advanced FTW uploader.
More so, with this easy-to-use platform, you are able to organize the call recordings and easily find any file you need. Hence the recorded calls can be found by using built-in tools, like recent audio calls or Skype calls.
Talking about tools, it includes simple buttons for the main functionalities like starting audio and video call recording, or settings configurations.
All in all, choosing this practical software means full support regarding your online meetings using Skype. Assuring the needed quality and simple usability, you can enjoy your recordings stress-free.
Athtek Skype Recorder
Record your meetings without any glitches or sound difficulties using this certified Skype recorder tool.
MP3 Skype Recorder as the name suggests is an audio recorder for Skype calls. It is available in both free and Pro versions and can only record voice calls.
MP3 Skype Recorder free version has all the features except the ability to turn off call recording alerts and one-click management of recordings, and of course, it is not for commercial use.
MP3 Skype Recorder is compatible with all versions of Windows from Windows 7 to Windows 10. The software once installed, automatically starts recording incoming and outgoing Skype calls. All the recorded files are stored on the local drive.
The app sits in the system tray monitoring your Skype call activity. It can record multiple calls simultaneously and save each conversation as a separate audio file.
All the recorded files are stored in MP3 formats for easier access and playability across devices. It can also record P2P, SkypeOut calls, and calls made to Skype online numbers.
You can manually turn on and off MP3 Skype Recorder. The user interface is simple and offers all the information on the main page. You can customize the Recorder launch option, Recording Settings, and Notification settings as per your preference.
By default MP3 Skype Recorder stores all the recordings in the installation folder, which you can change to a different location if needed.
TalkHelper is a powerful Skyper recorder tool and is focused on business users. It is a premium utility, but you can test the software using the free trial. The free trial has no limitations on the features.
It is a lightweight recorder and has little to no impact on system performance. The user interface is simple and clean.
Using TalkHelper, you can record voice calls as well as video calls. It also allows you to save and manage voicemails from Skype.
TalkHelper records high-quality video calls along with screen shares and stores them in AVI files with XVID codec support on your computer. The audio calls, on the other hand, can be saved in MP3 or WAV format with stereo and mono options supported.
With TalkHelper you can save voicemails and video messages directly to your computer. The recorder automatically starts recording all the voice and video calls as soon as they are connected. Although, you can disable the recording feature manually.
All the call recordings are shown under the Call Recording section. You can sort the call recordings based on time. Other basic features in TalkHelper include the ability to play/pause recordings, delete the recording and open them in the folder.
TalkHelper is well served for business users who can make use of the software’s capabilities and justify the price tag which is not cheap from any angle. You can download the trial version to evaluate all the features it has on offer before making a commitment.
Evaer is a Skype recording tool that can record Skype video calls, audio interviews, conferences, podcasts, and family calls. The recorded calls are saved in MP4 and AVI format for easier accessibility.
Evaer directly records the video calls data and does not act as a screen recorder hence retaining the highest video quality possible. It can record up to 10-way Skype group video calls.
All the recorded calls are saved in the local drive. You can record calls in 240p to 1080p Full HD resolution with a 4:3 / 16:9 aspect ratio.
With Evaer Pro you can change location video position in PIP mode (Picture-in-Picture), exchange video position, and dynamically switch the video during Skype calls.
One interesting feature of Evaer is the ability to use it as an answering machine for incoming Skype video and voice calls.
Evaer comes in two premium versions. The Standard version costs $19.95, and the Professional version costs $29.95. The Pro version offers some additional features such as the ability to dynamically switch the video while recording and exchange of video positions.
You can test the software by downloading the limited trial version.
Pamela is a feature-rich call recorder for Skype and comes in both free and paid versions. The free version is limited by features. You can only take 5 minutes of video and 15 minutes of audio recording.
It also does not support automatic call recording and other advanced features. The Pro, Call Recorder, and Business versions do not have these restrictions.
The user interface is clean and simple. The recent recordings appear under the Voice mail, Skype Recording, or Custom recording section.
Pamela allows you to record Skype video and audio calls automatically and save it locally on your computer drive. It can also record Skype chats and manage conference calls. The recorded calls are saved in WAV or MP3 format.
If you want to use Skype for professional and business use, Pamela offers Answer Machine and Play sound during calls features. Auto Chat reply feature replies with pre-recorded text messages as replies to customers.
Other features offered by Pamela include email forwarding, blogging and podcasting options, Skype call scheduler, birthday reminder, and contact customization.
Pamela is targeted at the business user who uses Skype for customer service purposes. However, for casual users, the limitations on call recording in the free version can feel limited.
DVDSoft Skype Recorder is a completely free voice recorder for Skype that comes with no limitations. It can record Skype video and audio calls in picture-in-picture mode. You can also record only the video of the other sides and only audio of all sides.
The user interface is intuitive making the software easy to use. To start recording, specify the mode, choose the output folder and click on Start.
The video and audio files are recorded in MP4 and MP3 formats and saved on a local drive.
DVDSoft Skype Recorder is completely free to download and use and has no limitations on the available feature.
Although, it does not have the advanced feature offered by software like Pamela, for casual users it is more than enough.
In addition, you can enjoy the advantages of high-quality video and audio recording, low CPU demands, or live broadcast recording.
Therefore, you don’t need extra libraries for this recording tool, plus it comes with a very simplistic interface to use so anybody can record meetings effortlessly.
If you don’t want to install a third-party recording tool, Skype has a built-in call recorder that allows you to record both video and audio calls.
You can only record Skype to Skype calls as of now. To record any call, once the call is connected, click the + icon and select Start Recording.
Skype will immediately start recording your call and also alert other people on the call that the call is currently being recorded by showing a recording icon beside the user profile.
You can either manually stop the recording or the recording will end once you end the call. The recorded call will be saved to the cloud. The recording will be available for download for every participant of that conversation.
Hence you can benefit from the Skype recording option and capture any video call that you need to keep stored on your PC.
The recording tools market is saturated. Hence we created this guide to save you from the hassle of trying every single recording software to find the one that works for you.
Go through the features of the recommended software and depending on your requirement, download and install any Skyper recorder tool as a free trial. You can purchase the license to unlock advanced features for your business.
If you got locked out of your Windows Server system, you would probably be looking for a way to get in. It happens that in an attempt to secure our computer system we tend to use an extra secure and complicated password to provide extra security for the system.
However, if you have newly changed the password and forgot to take a note, you are in trouble.
Fortunately, there are several ways through which you can reset Windows Server 2003/2008/2012/2016 passwords. You can use a Windows Server Setup Disk to gain access and reset the password.
If you don’t have a setup disk, you would probably need to use any of the third-party software to reset the Windows Server password.
We have already shared a way to reset the Windows server password using the setup disk.
In this article, we take a look at the best software to reset the Windows Server password on your PC. Most of the recovery software for Windows servers are premium programs. But, you can download the trial version to be sure of its working capabilities before making a purchase.
What are the best software to reset Windows Server password?
Passware Kit Standard is a premium password recovery tool that can help you to reset your Windows Server administrator password. It is a multi-purpose tool and can do more than just Windows Server password reset.
You can use it to recover passwords for MS Office documents, PDF files, financial databases, email accounts, and over 130+ file types.
Your recovered passwords are automatically saved in a password history tab. You can easily reaccess them from the Passware UI.
Passware Kit Standard supports both CPU and Hardware acceleration and is compatible with AMD and NVIDIA GPUs.
To reset the Windows Server password for both Local and Admin, you need to create a bootable CD/ USB flash drive using the Passware ISO. After creating a bootable Flash drive, insert the USB drive into your PC’s USB port and boot from the drive.
Follow the on-screen instructions to reset the Windows server password. That’s it. You have successfully recovered the Windows server password using Passware Kit.
Other key features of Passware include:
Capable to decrypt data from mobile devices
Hardware acceleration
Live memory analysis
Passware Kit Standard is a paid service, but it comes with a money-back guarantee if you are not satisfied with its performance.
Passware Kit Standard
Put your trust in password reset software that combines versatility with advanced technology.
Windows Server Password Reset is a high-quality software created to reset the login password of the Windows Server.
You can use this tool for resetting Windows administrator account passwords even in the most difficult cases, like when the Windows Server setup disk is not available.
This intelligent tool allows you to reset the passwords of servers working as Domain Controllers. If you need to change the Windows Server password with RAID configuration, this software can help you perform this action easily.
Windows Server Password Reset has an intuitive UI, suitable for users of all levels. It guides you through the recovery process, you don’t need additional help.
An important characteristic of this tool is that it supports Legacy BIOS as well as UEFI, which means that it allows you to reset forgotten passwords installed in the Unified Extensible Firmware Interface mode.
Other key features of Stellar Password Recovery for Windows servers include:
Supports Windows Server 2019, 2016, 2012, 2008, 2003 and 2000
Simple user interface
Easy to install and configure
In terms of accessibility, the software has multiple language support for English, French, German, Italian, and Spanish.
Windows Server Password Reset
Get your hands on the most powerful software for resetting passwords for Windows Server!
Lazesoft Recover My Password Server Edition as the name suggests is a password resetting tool compatible with Windows Server 2003/ 2008 / 2012/ 2016 version and can help you in resetting the password for both local and administrator account that too without re-installing the OS all again.
Similar to Passware, this tool requires the user to create a bootable flash drive or CD using the ISO file to reset the password. Some of the features of Lazesoft Recover My Password Server Edition include the ability to detect multiple operating systems, unlock user accounts, disable the password expiry option, and more.
In addition, it can also be used to recover Windows 10 and 8 OS’s OEM product keys from BIOS, although you probably won’t need that since Windows 10 running devices have their product keys bound to the motherboard itself.
The user interface is nothing fancy but gets the job done. After booting from the flash drive, select the operating system you want to reset the password for. In this case, it is Windows server edition, and clicks Next.
Lazesoft Recover My Password Server Edition will display all the user accounts created on this computer. Select the one that you want to reset the password for and click next.
Click on the Reset/Unlock button to reset the password. Click on Finish to restart the system. Make sure you remove the USB drive / CD from the computer.
Other key features of Lazesoft Recover My Password Server Edition include:
Support for removable media
Free technical support
Compatible with 32-bit and 65-bit Windows
You can now log in to the Windows server as admin and set a new password and note it down as well. The software can be used for commercial purposes making the price tag affordable.
PCUnlocker is a software utility that allows you to reset forgotten passwords for Windows administrators and users’ accounts. The software comes in three versions namely PCUnlocker Standard, Professional, and Enterprise.
While the PCUnlocker Standard version which is the cheapest of the three is good for resetting Windows administrator and user account passwords, to reset the Windows server password, you need to use the PCUnlocker Professional version, which is slightly expensive.
PCUnlocker Professional comes with all the features of the standard version along with support for the Windows server 2000 – 2016 version. To use PCUnlocker Professional, you need a CD / USB flash drive to create a bootable USB drive using the PCUnlocker ISO.
Insert the bootable USB flash drive into your computer and restart the PC. Make sure you boot from the USB flash drive / CD. If you don’t know how to do it, check how to change the boot drive in BIOS for your computer.
From the PCUnlocker Professional window, select the recovery mode. In this case, select Reset Local Admin/User Password.
PCUnlocker Professional will list all the user accounts associated with the administrator and the computer for the Windows Server edition. Select the account you want to reset the password for and click on the Reset Password button.
Other key features of PC Unlocker Professional include:
Reset passwords with a bootable C, USB drive, or network over PXE
Mount virtual hard disk
Supports RAID/SCSI/SATA drives and FAT16, FAT32, NTFS, and NTFS5 file systems
After the password is reset, close the PCUnlocker Professional window and restart your computer. You can set a new password for your Windows Server account after logging in to your PC.
Windows Password Recovery Advanced from iSeePassword is another Windows Server password reset software to consider. The software is compatible with both Windows and Windows Server versions.
It is premium software but has only one plan on offer. Using the tool you can easily reset forgotten or lost local administrator passwords instantly. You can also remove the Domain administrator password as well as create a new administrator account if needed.
The working of Windows Password Recovery Advanced is similar to that of other earlier-mentioned reset software. The only difference here is this tool allows you to create a password reset CD/USB flash drive directly from its interface.
To reset the password, download and install Windows Password Recovery Advanced on any computer. Run the program and select your USB flash drive / CD under Create a password reset USB flash drive or CD/DVD option.
Click on Burn USB / Burn CD /DVD button to create a bootable flash drive. Remove the USB flash drive and connect it to the PC with the Administrator password lock.
Make sure you boot from the bootable USB flash drive by changing the boot drive from BIOS.
Wait for the Windows Password Recovery Advanced to run. It will show all the user accounts associated with the computer. Select the user account to reset and click on the Reset Password button.
Other key features of Windows Password Recovery advanced include:
Create password resets on removable media
Support for creating new local accounts
Support for Windows Server 2008/2003/2000
After successfully resetting the password for Windows Server, restart the PC without a bootable USB flash drive.
Being locked out from a Windows Server account is scary as the OS is used as a business solution. Fortunately, one of the Windows server password reset tools in this list should be able to help you to solve this issue.
While it is only clever to use the most complicated password to protect your user account against hackers and other threats, it is sensible to use a password manager to organize all your passwords in one place securely.
We’d like to hear more about your opinion on this matter so please leave us a comment in the section below.
Can you bypass administrator password Windows 10??
How do I change administrator password without administrative privileges?
In order to perform this action correctly, we recommend you to follow our user-friendly guide on what you can do if you forgot your Windows 10 admin password.
Despite the fact that internet access has become a necessity in today’s world, ensuring connection with all the devices we have can be a difficult task.
Especially in countries where public Wi-Fi services are yet to be established. That’s why having the best possible Wi-Fi hotspot software on your Windows 10 PC or laptop is important.
Having the internet on all devices is a prerequisite as most devices nowadays come with an inbuilt Wi-Fi feature, sharing the internet via a Wi-Fi hotspot is what makes life fun and easier.
While Android-powered smartphones offer internet sharing options directly via Wi-Fi hotspots, a Windows PC, on the other hand, offers no such options.
This makes it even more challenging in places where you have a limited option of mobile phone internet.
Most of us have been made to believe that only Wi-Fi routers can create Wi-Fi hotspots in public. This is not true.
Technology has evolved and we now have some cool software that can do exactly that.
In this article, we’re going to introduce you to the top 5 best Wi-Fi hotspot software you can install to turn your Windows 10 PC into a Wi-Fi hotspot.
What are the best free Wi-Fi hotspot software for Windows 10?
There are many solutions to a hotspot on the market today, but Connectify has garnered a good audience due to its performance and simple interface.
This software is not free, but if can pinch yourself a little bit and buy it, you will surely get what you pay for. This software allows you to turn your laptop or PC into a virtual Wi-Fi router.
You can then use your laptop to share the internet with any nearby device. And if you have a USB to access the internet, you can even share your internet with your neighbors and friends.
All you have to do is request the internet for one device, and then use Connectify to covertly share it with your other devices.
Another advantage of Connectify is that you can boost the Wi-Fi range with your Virtual Router PRO and share Tethered connections, 3G, and 4G networks.
Connectify Hotspotis great when traveling – if you are in a hotel or an airplane that charges an Internet fee per device, all you have to do is buy Internet for your laptop and then use the software to covertly share it to your other devices.
Connectify Hotspot also features a strong and intelligent ad blocker that will save bandwidth (up to 55% according to their tests), time, and battery life for the devices connected to your hotspot.
And if you want to have fun – you can use emojis in the hotspot name – see the screenshot above. Don’t worry if you’re not that good with English – the software is available in 10 international languages.
We recommend you use the hotspot+signal boost combo in order to make your PC or laptop a real Wi-Fi router.
Even if you can possibly have some proximity data transfer issues, if you have multiple devices connected to your PC nearby, they should access the internet with blazing speed.
Connectify
Connect all of your devices to the Internet to eliminate network compatibility difficulties with Connectify Hotspot.
MHotSpot is a great tool that works as an internet source and effectively converts your Windows 10 device to an efficient Wi-Fi hotspot.
This software provides a friendly user interface and is also available for download at no cost.
And just like the conventional router, MHotSpot can perform many tasks and you can also customize it to your preferences.
You can assign a password, select the maximum count of clients, name the hotspot, select the internet source, and much more.
Covering only 400KB of your computer’s disk space, MHotSpot is relatively smaller than the other hotspot software. This makes it easier to download even when your internet connection is limited.
It can be shared by up to 10 users but in case you don’t want to share with many clients, you can adjust the settings to restrict the number of devices that can access your hotspot.
The other good thing about MHotSpot is that it can track all the details about the users connected to it, including their internet usage, so you can easily use it to monitor internet consumption.
MHotSpot is compatible with Windows 10 as well as all the other versions of Windows.
MyPublicWifi is another handy tool that turns your laptop into a Wi-Fi wireless access point. It is free to download and can perform many functions apart from sharing the internet.
It has a strong firewall that can be used to restrict user access to specific servers. You can also use the software to prevent some internet services such as file-sharing programs.
In addition to that, you can use MyPublicWifi to track and record all the visited URL pages on your Virtual Wi-Fi hotspot.
The Wi-Fi security feature uses WPA2 encryption and you can only set a password that is at least 8 characters long. You can also give your wireless network the name of your choice.
When sharing the internet, the software displays the device names, IP addresses, and the Media Access Control (MAC) of all the connected devices.
You can also use MyPublicWifi to check the browsing history of every device connected to this network.
It is compatible with Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 10.
This intelligent WiFi management tool is suitable to support multiple businesses and vendors with guest Wi-Fi hotspot access or hotel WiFi internet.
You can use this Hotspot software directly on the cloud with on-premise servers, plus access to unlimited bandwidth for all types of businesses.
This multi-vendor WiFi system can offer complete branded features. For example, it runs on your domain and also comes with free/paid Wi-Fi including vouchers, video ads, surveys, and social.
Moreover, it’s likely to benefit from the software version and cloud version at the same time. With the HotSpot software, you can install it on your PC with one payment and control the entire local network.
Plus, all your network data is stored locally, yet with low latency time. It’s also perfectly suited for mid-sized hotels in physical locations.
You can benefit from strong WiFi features for all personal and professional needs, plus easy setup with tech assistance and setup guides for hardware.
Concluding here, you should go for the Cloud Wi-fi subscription to get a cloud platform managed by Antamedia, new generation software with routers, no server hardware costs, or support for controllers.
HostedNetworkStarter is the simplest tool for sharing networks available to date. It is a free utility tool developed by Norsoft for creating a Wi-Fi hotspot.
The good thing about this tool is that it is portable, and you can store it in your USB device to use it elsewhere.
With the Wi-Fi hotspot created by this tool, you can allow any nearby device to access the internet connection available on your laptop or PC.
Hosted Network Starter supports Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 10 with 32 or 64-bit computers. However, there is no support for Wi-Fi-hosted networks in older versions of Windows.
Unlike other programs, HostedNetworkStarter does not require any installation process or any complicated process.
To start using it, all you have to do is run the executable file.
After running it, a ‘Hosted Network’ option will open which will allow you to choose your desired settings for hotspot configuration.
After choosing the desired settings which include your desired hotspot name and the network key, press the start button to start the Wi-Fi hotspot.
OSTotoHotspot is the most widely used hotspot software on the market today. This software is completely free to use and its simplicity makes it very popular.
The unique thing about this tool is that despite being available at no extra cost, it has no advertisements or other annoying popups that plague most applications these days.
The installation process is very easy and you can turn your Windows computer into a hotspot with just a single click.
Another important feature is that you can use this tool to easily manage all the devices connected to your hotspot.
The software is also very secure and comes with password protection that prevents unauthorized access to Wi-Fi.
It’s well compatible with Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, and Windows 10.
But eventually, the charge will run low, putting you back in the same spot.
However, there are some tricks you can try that will keep your laptop humming. In this roundup, we will show you how you can easily charge your laptop without your charger, regardless of its brand.
Thus, you will be able to charge a Lenovo, HP, Dell, Asus, Acer, or even Microsoft Surface laptop without charger.
Can I use any charger to charge my laptop?
Not really, voltage and port requirements need to match. You can, of course, use an adapter but it won’t work on its own.
For instance, if you want to charge a laptop with HDMI, you’ll need an HDMI to USB-C adapter. The good news is that most USB-C power outputs are interchangeable.
If you want to know how to turn on a dead laptop without a charger, we’ve got some quick and easy methods for you.
The easiest way to do it is with a universal laptop charger or a universal adapter.
Remember to always check the voltage, no matter the charging solution. If that doesn’t suit you, charge your laptop from a car battery or use an external battery charger.
How can I charge my laptop without a charger?
1. Use a universal adapter
A universal adapter is perhaps the most common solution to your battery woes. These universal chargers come with multiple tips so it’s likely you’ll find one that will fit in your laptop’s charging port.
You can even buy individual tips separately. Some universal adapters even have the ability to charge your laptop from a car or from other 12V DC power points.
When plugged in, the adapter will not only power the laptop but charge it as well
However, if put in the wrong way, tips can cause improper voltage and damage to your laptop.
2. Use a power bank
Nowadays indispensable, the power bank is a useful piece of equipment to keep at hand. Just like you would charge your phone with it, you can use the power bank to charge your laptop if you lost or forget the charger at home.
There are a few things to keep in mind, though:
Your laptop must be equipped with USB-C ports (While most are, some older generations of USB-C laptops may not support this function.)
Your power bank must support at least 12v in output power (which is recommended for laptops).
The best part is that you needn’t connect the power bank to a power source as it will do just fine on its own as long as it is charged itself.
3. Use a Car Battery
If you are the kind of traveler who spends most of the time on the road than in the office, then you can use the car battery to charge your laptop.
Wiring the laptop directly to the battery can be tricky since most modern laptops have battery voltages ranging from 8V and above, while most car batteries are rated at 12V.
Even so, there are ways that you can ‘hotwire’ a laptop to a car battery even if the voltage is less than 12V. However, it’s important to be cautious as you could wind up with a dead car battery or damage the laptop in the process.
The most efficient way to adapt the power from a car battery to power or charge a laptop is by use of an inverter. Various inverters exist and are capable of generating AC current from a DC source with output power ranging from 12-24V.
When you have the inverter, you can certainly use your car’s cigarette lighter to charge your laptop. To do so, follow these 3 simple steps:
Plug the inverter right into your car’s cigarette lighter socket.
Now, plug the laptop’s AC adapter into the inverter.
If you’re one of the lucky ones that have a USB type C on your laptop, then you don’t have to worry anymore.
USB type-A port only allows for data transfer and power output, but not input. With the introduction of USB type B and, most importantly, type C, not only fast data transfers are allowed but also power input and output.
So, if you lost your laptop charger, you have a couple of options. The first one is to charge your USB C laptop from a power bank.
Also, a big power bank can supply a lot of juice to your laptop and it is also portable, so you can take it with you everywhere you go.
Another solution is to use a USB C power adapter. Modern laptops come with those in the box, but if you don’t have one, buy it along with a good USB C to USB C cable.
Learn the exact steps to turn on USB-C charging and avoid compatibility issues in this guide: Enable USB-C Charging.
The last solution, as silly as it may sound, is to use your phone to charge the laptop. Yes, you won’t get much of anything and yes, it won’t last too long, but in the urgent case when you need just 10 more minutes to save a document or send an email, this works.
You just need a phone with USB C and a USB C to USB C cable. Connect your phone and the laptop with the cable and in the USB options on your phone choose ‘supply power to the other connected device’.
That’s it. Your phone should now, for a very limited time, charge your laptop.
While the methods described above might provide a solution for charging your laptop when you don’t have a charger, keep in mind that they cost money, and require an advance purchase.
In all cases, it is economical and safer to buy a laptop charger.
Per the source, Microsoft plans to leverage this new platform to make major announcements regarding upcoming games regularly. This new showcase will not affect the roles played by both E3 and Game Awards, only that it will be used to make announcements at regular intervals thus keeping Xbox fans on new releases made rather than having them wait. Microsoft had promised Xbox fans more gaming news soon after its disappointing Games Awards presence and this could be the beginning of it fulfilling this promise.
The Developer_Direct showcase will reportedly take place on January 25 at 12 PM PT and will be streaming live on Xbox’s official channels, that is, YouTube and Twitch. It’ll be hosted by both Xbox and Bethesda, where they will likely have discussions and showcase entries like Redfall, Minecraft Legends, as well as Forza Motorsport.
Developer_Direct won’t be as comprehensive as the Games Award or E3, instead, it will only focus on a handful of exclusive entries. The source has also disclosed that Starfield might not be part of the entries released during the showcase, besides, there was an indication that it was set to be released during the International Day of Human Flight.
If you’re stuck wondering how to remove highlights in Word, especially those stubborn ones that just won’t go away, don’t worry, you’re not the only one. Sometimes Word gets glitchy, or you might’ve used background color instead of real highlighting.
In this guide, I’ll walk you through exactly how to fix it.
We’ll also cover a quick copy and paste highlight remover trick that actually works, and what to do when the Word highlight cannot be removed, no matter what you try. Let’s get into it.
How to remove highlights in Word?
1. Select the No color option for highlighting
Select the highlighted text.
Now click the Highlight icon in the toolbar. Next, choose No color.
After that, the highlight will be gone.
This is the proper way to remove a highlight in Word, but if it doesn’t work, feel free to try our other solutions.
2. Select the Clear Formatting option
NOTE
This solution works if the “highlighted” text has a background color assigned to it. It won’t remove the actual highlight, just the background color.
Select the highlighted text.
Next, click on the Clear all formatting icon.
After that, the highlighted text will be gone.
This isn’t the best method to remove highlight in Word, but it’s worth trying out.
3. Select No Color for background color
NOTE
This method will remove the background color that works as a highlight, not the actual highlight.
Select the shaded text that is seemingly highlighted.
Now choose the No Color option to remove the shading.
The highlight should now be removed.
4. Cut and paste the text back into the document
Select the highlighted text to copy and press Ctrl + C.
Press the Ctrl + X hotkey to cut the text from the document.
Then place the cursor at the position in the document where you need to paste the text.
Expand the Paste option and select the Paste Special option. Alternatively, you can use Ctrl + Alt + V shortcut.
Select the Unformatted Text option and click OK.
If you can’t remove highlighting in Word, pasting the unformatted text is a quick and simple workaround.
Click the arrow on the Paste button to select the Set Default Paste option.
Scroll down to the Cut, copy, and paste options.
Then select Keep Text Only on the Pasting within the same document drop-down menu. Lastly, click the OK button.
NOTE
This method is used to automate the steps from the previous solution, so you won’t have to manually select special paste every time.
What to do when you can’t remove highlight in Word
Even though the above-mentioned options usually work, if you’re still having trouble consider:
Opening the document in Safe mode (press the Ctrl as you open it)
While in the document, go to File> Info and if you see “Incompatibility Mode”, hit the “Convert” button
Select and copy all text and paste it into a new Word document file and try to remove the highlights from there (might help if the doc has limited permissions)
Try opening the doc with another word processor such as WPS Office and use its highlight removal tools
Most software packages are typically restricted to opening one or two types of files but support numerous formats for their file types. For example, most photo editors open JPG, PNG, GIF, BMP, TIFF, and other image formats.
Universal file openers (UFOs) are rare software that open (or display) various file types. They are programs that support a universal range of file types and most of their various file formats.
Furthermore, with a universal file opener installed, you won’t need many programs to open alternative file types. These are some of the best software with which to open all kinds of files.
What is the best universal file opener software for your PC?
When it comes to archiving files of all formats, no software tool is better than WinZip.
As a testimony to that matter, WinZip can open the following file format types in Windows 10: RAR, ZIP, ZIPX, 7Z, GZ, ISO, TAR GZ, TAR, IMG, TGZ, GZP, and XZ files. As for Mac, WinZip can manage RAR and ZIP files.
Besides the incredible versatility in terms of supported file formats, WinZip is an excellent overall file compressor, unzipper, encryption tool, password-protector, and transfer tool.
More so, this professional software is incredibly lightweight, integrates seamlessly with your Windows 10, and is accessible to users of all experience levels.
Here are some of the perks of using WinZip:
A universal archive opener
Lightweight and easy-to-use
You can try it before you buy it
Works on both Windows and Mac
WinZip
The best software solution that can open all types of archive formats is now available at a special price for a limited time only.
File Viewer Plus is a UFO with which you can open more than 300 file formats. This flexible file viewer also has a batch conversion utility for converting files to alternative formats.
File Viewer Plus users can open various file types, such as presentation, text, spreadsheet, video, audio, archive, email, web, PDF, and source code.
The great thing about File Viewer Plus is that it’s a little more than just a file viewer; you can also edit text, web, spreadsheet, and image files.
FVP includes a few image-editing options for cropping, borders, color adjustment, and quick effects, and the software is also a relatively basic word processor and spreadsheet application.
As mentioned, File Viewer Plus is a batch file converter, and you can also utilize it to extract archive files, such as ZIP, RAR, 7Z, TAZ, etc.
File Viewer Plus
Try this flexible file opener that can support more than 300 file formats.
File Viewer Lite is the same publisher’s freeware alternative to File Viewer Plus 3. As such, this software is a file viewer only.
File Viewer Lite natively supports over 150 file formats for various file types. You can open documents, audio, presentations, fonts, web pages, images, camera RAW files, spreadsheets, video, and audio file types with this universal file opener.
The software provides alternative native, hex, text, and icon views for file contents and additional file info that you can export to text files. File Identifier, which identifies unknown file types, is bundled with File Viewer Lite.
Universal Viewer is an intuitive universal file opener that can open most file types and formats.
There is little difference between them, except that the Pro version includes image conversion options, supports RAW images, and consists of a preinstalled PDF plugin.
Note that the freeware version doesn’t open MS Office documents with formatting included unless you have MS Office or one of the program’s Lister plug-ins installed. You can click Zip package on this page to download the freeware Universal Viewer.
Universal Viewer users can open an extensive range of image, audio, and video formats along with spreadsheets, PDFs, text documents, and web file types, but the software doesn’t support presentation files.
However, you can extend the software’s file type support with Lister plug-ins.
The software provides users with various viewing modes, including word wrap and encoding for text and center pictures and EXIF images. The viewer includes flips, rotate, grayscale, and sepia image-editing options.
Another good thing about UV is that it includes extensive UI, hotkey, and file display customization options on its settings window.
Ultra File Opener is software that supports more than 500 file formats. The software is compatible with 32 and 64-bit Windows platforms from XP up to 10.
This universal file opener supports various formats for text, image, audio, video, and archive file types. However, you can’t open spreadsheets, PDFs, web, or presentation files with Ultra File Opener.
This program opens fewer types of files than some alternatives, but it includes a few handy extra tools.
For instance, you can extract archive files with the software and convert file formats, and it includes a download manager with which users can resume downloads.
Furthermore, Ultra File Opener also provides extensive print settings for text and image documents with photo-printing templates included.
Those are four universal file viewers for Windows with which you can open many file formats for most file types like the hat, SDR, ENC, PA, and PIB formats, and they also include some handy additional options and tools.
WinZip is the best of the bunch as it includes more extensive editing options for text, spreadsheets, and image files than the others.
Aside from the above-listed UFO software, you can open numerous file types and formats with the DocsPal web app.
If you are suddenly encountering the server not found in Kerberos database error, you should not worry. You are not only the person encountering this problem. Right now, Kerberos is the default authorization technology used by Microsoft Windows. But you also may see its usage on macOS, UNIX, Linux, etc.
Usually, any problems or exceptions with this technology happen mostly due to some things that need to be corrected. If you are interested, learn about the browsers that support Kerberos Authentication.
What causes the server not found in the Kerberos database?
When you face any problem with Kerberos authorization and get the error message we have been talking about, it may be due to the following reasons:
Incorrect host: Usually, the Kerberos is hugely dependent on the host names. If something is wrong, you will get a server not found error.
Incorrect mapping: If mapping is not configured correctly, you may get this error.
Invalid Service Principal Name: Service principal names are important as they work as unique identifiers. So, any problem with these names may bring various errors like server not found.
DNS Lookup issues: DNS is another important factor. If the system fails to resolve any hostname or domain name required to operate the service normally, server not found in Kerberos database may occur.
What can I do if the server is not found in the Kerberos database?
Before trying the actual methods, we suggest you do the following things:
Make sure the connection is stable.
Ensure that you are not using a very old version of Windows.
After ensuring the above things, follow these methods one by one to solve the server not found in the Kerberos database.
1. Add correct PowerShell hosts
Open vRO or any similar tool.
Go to Add a PowerShell host.
Provide correct information, including host IP, port, credentials, etc.
Add the host.
In this example, we have used vRO, a tool for VMware. If it is not available for you, you can find relevant options or use some specific commands to add the PowerShell hosts.
2. Use the correct DNS
Open the command tool you prefer.
Use the following command format to set DNS: vracli network dns set --servers DNS1,DNS2
You also make sure that the IP and hostnames are correct on the Hosts file. In Windows, the file can be found in: C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc
If you need to correct the values on the host file, you must have administrative rights. This method is helpful if you face the server not found in Kerberos database error when joining the client to a domain.
Use the following command format to set a service principal: setspn -s service/name hostname
An example can be: setspn -a host/something.com someuser
After setting the correct service principal name, you can try again. You should no longer encounter errors like server not found in Kerberos database (7) – unknown_server or similar problems.
4. Generate mapping in the correct way
Open PowerShell like before.
Use the following format for the command you are going to use: ksetup /mapuser username@realm
Make sure to replace the username and the realm name. For example, the command can be like this:
This command will generate Keytab and the mapping. It helps to troubleshoot the server not found in the Kerberos database on Windows, Linux for SQL servers, or other services.
The problem we are trying to troubleshoot is not like many other problems. The solutions may vary depending on the services and situations. For example, you may get the server not found in Kerberos database error while using Kerberos authentication to connect to an SQL server or using SSSD, etc.
So, if the suggestions mentioned above don’t solve it, we suggest you contact the relevant technical support team. It will ensure you get the best solution based on your situation.
This article has covered the most working methods to fix the server not found Kerberos database. If you have any other methods, you can let us know in the comment box.
You probably want to clear out your music library because it helps remove unwanted batches of music downloads or to establish a new library. Hence, we’ll go through how to delete the iTunes library from the PC.
Does deleting the iTunes library delete it from your computer?
Many users are curious whether deleting the iTunes library deletes the iTunes app from their computer. The short answer is no. Deleting the iTunes library doesn’t affect its client on your PC.
However, deleting the iTunes library will remove all your music, playlists, and other items available in your iTunes library.
Also, clearing out your iTunes library doesn’t affect your purchase rights on your items. You can easily download them or create a backup copy for your iTunes library somewhere.
In short, deleting your iTunes library doesn’t delete its app from your PC. Instead, it is a way to remove unwanted or clogged libraries without using software to fix your iTunes library on Windows 11.
How do I delete the iTunes music library from my computer?
Before proceeding, we recommend you check our guide on how to find and change iTunes backup location in Windows 11. It’ll help keep the library and other iTunes items intact if you encounter problems with the library delete process.
Follow the steps below to delete the iTunes music library from your PC.
1. Delete or rename the iTunes library files
1.1 On Windows
Close the iTunes app on your computer and press Windows + E key to open File Explorer.
Navigate to the Music folder, then click on the iTunes folder.
Delete the iTunes Library.itl and iTunes Music Library.xml files in the folder.
Restart iTunes and check if you have successfully cleared the library.
Deleting the iTunes Library.itl and iTunes Music Library.xml files will remove their properties on the app. Check how to fix the PC not authorized to run iTunes error if you run into it on your computer.
Renaming the iTunes Library.itl and iTunes Music Library.xml into iTunes Library.old and iTunes Music Library.old instead of just deleting them will have the same effect.
When you restart the app, it will automatically generate new library files.
1.2 On Mac
Close the iTunes app on your Mac, click on Go at the top bar of the screen, then click on Home.
Double-click the Music folder and click on iTunes.
Find and delete the iTunes Library.itl and iTunes Music Library.xml.
Launch iTunes and check if you have successfully cleared the library.
The steps will delete the iTunes library from your MacBook, and when you start the app again, it will generate new library files.
As on Windows, if you rename the iTunes Library.itl and iTunes Music Library.xml into iTunes Library.old and iTunes Music Library.old instead of just deleting them will have the same effect.
If you have found the event ID 4768, it means there was a failed attempt to validate a credential of an account. This article will help you to fix this problem.
Windows Event Viewer can store a lot of event information, including some very important security events. It helps a lot to troubleshoot various problems. A lot of users have been seeing the event ID 4768 with the message Kerberos Authentication Ticket Requested.
To solve this issue, you can follow some specific tricks. But knowing the reasons should be your first priority as it will help a lot in the troubleshooting steps.
What causes the event ID 4768?
Before going through the solution, you should know about the reasons. Usually, this problem occurs due to the following things:
A problem with Microsoft Windows: Sometimes, the Windows server may have a known bug that may prevent some users from authenticating using the Kerberos database, and that creates the event ID 4768.
Misconfiguration: Any misconfiguration on the Windows server also may trigger this problem.
Problematic update: If you start seeing that event ID after installing an update, it is most likely that the update was problematic.
How can you solve event ID 4768?
Before trying to troubleshoot this problem, we suggest you do the following things to avoid any unwanted hassles:
In recent days, people have been facing the event ID 4768 with a message Kerberos authentication ticket (TGT) was requested. Installing that specific patch should fix the problem. However, if not, search for the news if there are any other updates like KB5016693 that may help.
For example, in the past, we saw the updates KB4015547 and KB4015550 fixed a lot of issues.
We also saw that last November, Microsoft released an update that solved Windows Kerberos issues. So, these updates are important.
2. Uninstall problematic update
Open the Start Menu, type the control panel, and hit Enter.
Go to Uninstall a program.
Click on View installed updates.
Uninstall the problematic update.
This method helps when you start facing this problem after installing an update.
3. Use a Firewall
In Control Panel, go to System and Security.
Then, go to Windows Defender Firewall.
Go to Advanced settings.
Configure inbound and outbound rules.
If you are using anything else to prevent unwanted inbound requests, we strongly suggest you use the firewall instead. You can easily apply inbound and outbound rules on a Windows server. For specific users, it has fixed the event ID 4768. It also may work for you as well.
4. Enable VPN
You also can consider configuring a VPN connection for other users in your system. So, when they try to access your system, they must use a VPN to access the local network first.
In this case, Kerberos authentication can be able to verify the credentials without any other problems, and no event ID 4768 will be stored. However, this method applies to specific situations only.
This article has explained how you can solve the event ID 4768 critical security error on Windows and Windows servers. If you have any other ideas that may help others, feel free to let us know in the comment box.
Are you a fan of Final Fantasy XIV by Square Enix and you are getting an error code 601 when trying to make a payment on the mog station using your debit/credit card?
This appears to be a common issue reported by many game lovers quite often on different forums. It’s similar to the error code i2501 reported by users while making payments.
Why is my Square Enix confirmation code not working?
Error 601 usually appears during purchase. It means that your payment is rejected even before it reaches the Square Enix servers.
Some of the reasons why you may encounter Square Enix error 601 are:
Insufficient funds in the account –You may encounter a payment error if there are not enough funds in the account.
A temporary issue with your card or bank –Sometimes, payment errors may show up due to a temporary glitch with the debit/credit card or the bank.
Recurring payments not allowed –If the card does not grant permission for recurring payments.
Incorrect card details –If you entered the incorrect card details, mog station would decline your payment.
Conflicts with the browser addons or extensions –It could be possible that the Square Enix error 601 shows up due to interference caused by the browser addons or extensions.
If using VPN or proxy –If using a VPN or proxy on your system, it can interfere with the payment process.
How do I fix Square Enix error code 601?
Before you proceed with the primary troubleshooting methods, you may want to try a few preliminary checks to rule out other possibilities:
Check if your internet connection is up and running.
Being affected by high FPS drops is one of the most annoying experiences you can have as a gamer.
Why does my FPS keep dropping in games? Common causes of FPS drops include:
Problems with drivers – Outdated or corrupted GPU drivers often cause FPS drops. Updating the GPU drivers usually fixes this.
Overheating – When components overheat, performance decreases.
Connection issues – A good internet connection is essential for online gaming.
How do I fix FPS drops in games?
Before starting any advanced procedures, you should:
Check if the Internet connection is running optimally. You’ll need less than 50 ms to enjoy the online sessions seamlessly.
Ensure that the system requirements are met. To run the game and expect peak performance, you should concentrate on the column called Recommended Requirements.
1. Change the game’s graphic settings
GTA 5 in-game graphics settings
Not all graphics settings found in modern games will work for every configuration out there. So, if you have slight issues with your FPS drops, make sure to change the graphics options.
Disabling Shadow Quality and Anti-aliasing is always good for starters. Also, the VSync option will considerably affect your GPU’s capabilities.
Other settings like Texture Quality, Shader Quality, Particles Quality, etc. are other options that need to be set on lower levels to reduce the FPS drop levels.
Try different variations until you find the one that optimizes performance and quality while keeping acceptable FPS levels.
NOTE
It is important to know that changing these settings to a lower level will affect the quality of the image but will increase the FPS.
It all depends on your configuration and the ways the game is or isn’t optimized for that configuration. Sometimes even the top-notch PCs running a game will give you a hard time due to the badly optimized game engine.
2. Turn Off Game DVR
⚠️ Warning: Editing the Windows Registry can be risky. Make sure to back up your registry settings before making any changes.
Press Win + R to open the Run dialog box.
Typeregedit and clickOK to open the Registry Editor.
Navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USERSystemGameConfigStore.
Right-click on GameDVR_Enabled and select Modify.
Change the Value data to 0.
Click OK and close the Registry Editor.
Restart your computer for the changes to take effect.
Try again to run the game that has given you headaches with the FPS.
3. Update the GPU drivers
3.1. Use Device Manager
Click the Start button and select Settings from the menu that opens.
Choose System.
Select About from the left pane.
Click on Advanced system settings.
Switch to the Hardware tab and open Device Installation Settings.
Select No in the dialog box that appears.
Hit theSave changes button.
Right-click the Start button, and select Device Manager.
Expand Display adapters.
Right-click on your GPU in the list and open Properties.
Under the Driver tab, click on Roll-back driver.
Restart your PC and check whether the issue persists.
If the Windows 10 Update feature forcibly installs another version, you can roll back the drivers and disable the automatic driver updating by following the steps above.
This should fix FPS drops and stuttering in your favorite PC games. Do ensure that after you make the changes, you restart your PC and check if things work properly.
Automated driver updating software makes this task much easier. A professional tool, such as Fortect Driver Updater is able to scan for, download, and install any outdated drivers it will find. So you will be able to return to your game in no time.
GPU drivers are a sensitive subject, especially on Windows 10 where the Windows Update feature manages drivers.
Most of the time, the generic driver won’t suffice, and we are all well aware that even the top-notch GPU will fail miserably without the proper software support.
In most scenarios, you’ll need the latest drivers provided by the OEM, but that’s not a rule. Some users resolved the GPU throttling and high FPS drops by installing an older driver’s version.
So, sadly, you have to spend some time experimenting with the available drivers until you find the right driver for your GPU.
These are the official support sites for major OEMs:
Find any programs or processes that can affect the PC performance, right-click on them and select End task.
Certain background programs are known for resource-hogging, making them quite unwelcome while gaming. Disabling their respective background processes should improve the in-game performance and reduce FPS drops.
Here’s the list of programs you should avoid while gaming:
VoIP programs like Skype
Peer-2-peer applications like uTorrent
Download managers
Browsers (Google Chrome especially)
Recording and live-streaming software
If you’re running a powerful enough PC, the majority of background applications won’t affect the framerate. The ones we enlisted are throttling your bandwidth which can be a problem, for multiplayer, connection-dependent games.
4.2. De-activate the Xbox Game bar
Press the Windows + I to open the Settings app.
Open Gaming.
Click on the Xbox Game Bar option from the left pane.
Toggle off the Xbox Game Bar option from the right pane.
Our research suggested that the FPS improved after disabling the Xbox Game Bar in Windows. You can do that easily by following the steps above.
However, you should know that some games use Game Bar for game invites so you might want to enable it back if you want to use the feature.
5. Modify the system’s power settings
Press the Win key to open the Start menu.
Type power in Windows Search and select Power & sleep settings.
Click on Additional power settings.
Select High performance.
Close the window.
6. Turn on the Game Mode
Start the Settings app by pressing the Windows + I.
Click the Gaming option.
Select the Game Mode option from the left pane.
Toggle it to On.
The Game Mode setting is turned on by default in Windows 10, but sometimes, you can find it turned off for some reason. The simple steps above will help you easily turn on the Game Mode, which will help you achieve a steadier framerate during your play.
7. Scan for HDD errors
Open the Start menu by pressing the Win button.
Type command prompt and click on Run as administrator.
Type the following command and press Enter: chkdsk /f C:
Replace C: with other partition letters if it’s named differently.
If chkdsk is giving you headaches, check out our guide on how to fix chkdsk and go through with the scanning process.
8. Check the temperature of your system
Overheating. There’s no single hardware-related problem that is a bigger threat to your PC than this element. Since today we’re discussing FPS spikes and sudden drops, overheating is probably the biggest suspect for the issue at hand.
Let’s imagine a common scenario: you start the game after the PC was idle, the game works great until some time, and then the FPS goes haywire. This is often due to the CPU and/or GPU overheating and thus underperforming.
To self-preserve themselves under the intense heat and avoid malfunctions, the main PC components start working slower. Finally, your PC should shut down forcibly if the temperatures pass the allowed limits.
So, for starters, make sure to acquire proper temperature monitoring software like CoreTemp. Above 90-95 degrees Celsius, you will start experiencing performance drops and, in the worst-case scenario, critical hardware damage.
How can I improve the cooling system and reduce the temperatures while gaming?
Firstly, you’ll need to get your hands dirty and clean the inside of your PC casing. The special focus should be on the exhaust and coolers.
Additionally, replacing the thermal paste should be done regularly, especially if you’re an avid gamer.
The paste that acts as a conductor tends to lose its functionality after a few months of usage, so make sure to apply a new layer accordingly.
NOTE
If you’re unsure how to change the thermal paste, taking your PC to an authorized computer shop is recommended to avoid causing any issues.
Furthermore, it doesn’t hurt to add some extra fans and improve the cooling of the unit. However, double-check the PSU capabilities before doing so.
If you still experience the problem first-hand, we have an article on what to do if your laptop is overheating and solve the issue before it’s too late.
9. Defragment your HDD
Press the Windows + E to start File Explorer.
Click on This PC.
Right-click on any partition and open Properties.
Select the Tools toolbar.
Click on the Optimize button below.
Analyze and defragment partitions individually if needed.
As you might expect, the efficiency of how your complex drive works is another essential part that will undoubtedly affect the overall gaming performance.
A hard drive is probably the most prone to malfunctions, and it’ll, compared to a CPU or GPU, lose its initial performance values over time.
This applies only to physical drives, not SSDs, so if you have the latter, go past this solution. If you’re interested in improving the reading scores of your hard drive, you can invest in a good SSD.
You can use alternative software if you don’t want to use the defragmentation tool included with Windows 10. Look at this great list, including our best tune-up utilities, and choose the one that fits you best.
10. Reinstall the game
Click the Start button in Windows and select Settings.
Choose the Apps option from the list.
Click on your game, and press the Uninstall button.
Reinstall the game from the installer file or media.
Finally, if none of the previous steps helped you by eliminating or at least reducing the in-game FPS, we advise you to reinstall the game.
Select a solid or static background wallpaper from the drop down menu.
One user suggested that setting up a solid wallpaper removes the FPS drop issue for games on their PC. This has notably helped several users fix the problem.
How do I fix Nvidia FPS drops quickly?
Press the Windows + R keys to open the Run dialogue.
Type in msconfig and press Enter.
Switch to the Services tab.
Check the Hide all Microsoft services box and hit the Disable allbutton.
Enable only Nvidia-related services.
Restart your PC.
If you’re using legacy GPU, make sure to install legacy drivers. It’s not of the utmost importance for those to support Windows 10. Sometimes they’ll work regardless.
How to avoid FPS drops in games?
If you managed to fix the problem with the spike FPS drops, you might also consider our tips on how to stay away from this problem in the future.
➡ Invest in a powerful GPU or choose the e-GPU route
When you use a single email account, it is easy to manage it using the official app. It becomes difficult when you have to manage multiple email accounts. This is where an email app comes in handy. You can set up email in the Outlook for Android app and manage multiple email accounts from one place.
Set up email in Outlook app on Android
Here is how you can set up email in Outlook for app.
Some smartphone companies such as Samsung ship few of their models with the Outlook app preloaded. You can open it after installing any pending app update.
2. Tap on add account to add your existing email to the Outlook app.
If you looking to create a new email account and use it on the email app then tap on create new account.
3. The Outlook app will detect any Google or Microsoft accounts used on the device. Tick the boxes for selecting the account and then tap on Continue to proceed.
Sometimes it may fail to detect accounts, then you can add an email account manually by tapping skip this account.
4. Now enter your password of the selected email accounts and then tap sign in to move forward.
5. You can either add another email account or tap maybe later to skip the process for now. You can add more email accounts later which will learn to do in the next section.
6. The inbox and other sections of your email account will appear after you have successfully set up email in Outlook for Android app. You can use it to draft, recieve and manage your emails from the app.
Add another account to the Outlook app for Android
We get the option to add another account while setting up Outlook. However we often leave it for later to understand the email client better before putting adding more accounts. Let us learn to add another account in the Outlook app for Android and here how it is done.
1. Tap on the thumbnail next to where Inbox is written. It will open up the sidebar menu from the left side.
2. Find and tap on the gear icon at the bottom of the menu. This will take you to the settings section.
3. Select ADD EMAIL ACCOUNT under the Email Accounts section, showing your existing email accounts.
4. A prompt will appear at the bottom. Select one option and move to the next step.
Add an email from a supported provider and tap continue to move forward
5. Fill in your password if its from Outlook or Hotmail.
Email accounts from other providers will open in the browser to confirm a password for adding to the Outlook app.
6. Access your email accounts by tapping on the home button at the top.
Delete email account from the Outlook app
Want to remove an email account from the Outlook app? then you can do it easily in this manner.
1. Head to the settings section.
2. Select the email account from the Email Accounts section.
3. Scroll down in Account Info and tap Delete Account.
4. Select delete in the confirmation prompt to permanently delete the email account from the Outlook app.
You can always add the email accounts back as we did in the last section. Outlook lets you add up to 15 Non-Microsoft email accounts with respect to the available cloud space for the account. There is no limit for Microsoft Sync Technology based(basically Outlook and Hotmail) but it will depend on the available space for your account.
When you plug a new device into your PC, sometimes it doesn’t function as you expect. The Microsoft Support Diagnostic Tool (MSDT) can help you on Windows 11.
The tool activates troubleshooting packs already installed on Windows to detect and fix issues with hardware and devices.
Activate MSDT on Windows 11
To activate the tool, here’s what you need to do.
Open Run or Command Prompt and enter this command: msdt.exe -id DeviceDiagnostic
At the first menu, you can click to Apply repairs automatically, otherwise, click Next.
Pick a device to troubleshoot and click Next.
Windows will provide you with a notification of what the fix is for the issue which you can click to confirm or deny.
The fix will be applied and you can click View detailed information or give Microsoft feedback, otherwise, click Close.
Have you ever tried to share a large file only to get an error message that the file is too large to send as an email attachment? This can be very frustrating and happens typically when you try to share a file whose size exceeds the maximum limit allowed by the service provider.
While email attachment is the most preferred method of sending files, it’s subject to size restrictions. It’s also not the best collaboration tool, as it does not allow multiple people to work on the same file simultaneously.
Instead of cramming email inboxes with attachments that take time to open, you can use a variety of file-sharing tools that come with advanced features, including storage facilities.
These tools make it easy to share large files with your friends and colleagues while allowing you to access the files on any device remotely.
We have compiled a list of the best file-sharing tools for Windows 10 that will allow you to share and manage large files and documents securely.
The list includes completely free tools that let you transfer large amounts of files without reducing their quality in any way. We also cover professional tools you can integrate within your business to facilitate easier file transfer among your teammates and customers.
Sharing files electronically and being able to send/receive data easily has become crucial in our daily lives.
WinZip offers great features to connect with OneDrive, Dropbox, Google Drive, Facebook, Twitter, and Linkedin.
Sharing files with WinZip is quite easy; you only need to select the files you want to share, compress, and email them.
Winzip is well known for its quality file compression features. Winzip can compress any file, including text, images, audio, video, etc.
The compression reduces your files’ initial size, making them easier to share. Often, when you deal with large amounts of data, you won’t be able to share it in one session, but compressing them will allow you to. Not only can Winzip help you compress files, but it also lets you open already compressed ones. None of these two processes negatively affects the quality of your files.
Winzip also doubles as a media file manager that lets you securely access all your image files. You can also use it to convert, resize, and crop your images. Some editing features can be applied in bulk, saving a lot of time.
The Pro version of Winzip comes with an integrated backup feature. This can help you create regular backups of your designated data to restore it in case of malicious attacks or other data loss problems.
Other key features include:
File management
Disk cleaner feature
Cloud NAS drive support
Filtering options to navigate through your files easily
Winzip is a powerful free file compression and file-sharing software for Windows 10 that lets you compress and manage all your files. You can buy a license if you need additional features like the backup one.
Winzip
Get WinZip and share files, music, or images on Facebook, Dropbox, or even Google Drive in just a few clicks.
SugarSync provides file sharing and cloud storage capabilities, allowing users to browse, back up, access, and sync files online. You can collaborate on the shared folders, share public links to your files, apply for folder permissions, and sync folders across teams.
Sharing large files and folders is incredibly easy. Just generate a public link for any folder or file and share it with your team. When a team member or a recipient clicks the link, they can download the contents without registration.
The permission feature allows you to share a file as read-only so the recipient can view the file but cannot edit it.
Sugar Sync has a strict privacy policy in place. They use both TLS (Transport Layer Security) and 256-bit AES encryption. The first guarantees no data is leaked during transfer, and the second protects your files while they are already in the cloud.
On top of that, it has a real-time automatic backup feature that lets you restore your files without any data loss.
Sugar Sync lets you set up permissions for sharing, so you can decide exactly who will access your files and also decide what they can and can not do.
For example, you can set your files as read-only for certain users, while others can change/add new files.
In case you experience a bad connection, this service has you covered. It automatically syncs all data within the cloud, allowing you to access it even when offline. Once your connection is restored, everything you worked on is updated and added to the cloud.
Other key features include:
Mobile apps for Android and iOS
Data restore
File version control
Sugar Sync is a subscription-based service with monthly charges. Multiple plans are available at different rates, depending on the storage size you need. All plans come with a 30-day free trial.
Sugar Sync
Share files, set recipient permissions, restore your data, and get offline access to your files.
Box offers robust file-sharing services, allowing users to share files from anywhere and keep them in sync with their teammates.
Once you share presentations, links, and photos, the recipient receives the files from their browser. The personal plan allows you to upload up to 250MB, and you are allocated 10GB of personal storage.
In addition to file sharing and storage, Box offers email notifications and real-time updates that let users know when a team member uploads or comments on an important document.
This Windows file-sharing software is a great choice if you are concerned about the privacy and security of your data. Box lets you set up user permissions and create a strong authentication process. On top of that, each file is encrypted with AES 256-bit encryption.
Box aims to be used both as a personal and professional tool which is why it has a great compliance policy in place. It meets all the global requirements so you will not face any legal issues.
This service is a great collaboration tool that offers advanced file-sharing features that go beyond storage and sorting. It is in fact one of the best file transfer apps for Windows 10 when it comes to collaboration. It provides a centralized workspace where all users can communicate, share, and edit the data.
Other key features include:
Integrates with Zoom, Slack, Office 365, and many more
Real-time sync
Compatible with mobile devices
Box is a subscription-based service. You can opt for a monthly fee or for an annual fee. There are various plans available depending on the number of users and storage space.
Dropbox is arguably one of the most advanced cloud storage and file-sharing tools available. It offers seamless file synchronization with support for multiple platforms, including Windows, Linux, Mac, Android, and iOS.
Collaboration is easy and straightforward. All you have to do is create a shared folder and add people to it. The shared folder will appear in the Dropbox of all the members you added, and they will be able to view, edit, organize, or delete the files within it.
Dropbox also allows you to create a link to a file or folder to share the files with non-Dropbox users. In addition, it syncs the files to your Dropbox account so you can access them remotely.
It is well established that security is one of the critical factors to consider when looking for the best file-sharing software for Windows 10. It has an up-to-standard multi-layered encryption system that ensures no one can access your files without your permission.
Besides that, if you have admin permissions to your Dropbox, you can control the other users’ access by setting up passwords, email verifications, approved viewer lists, and expiration dates.
This file-sharing app lets you thoroughly organize your files into folders and subfolders so you can facilitate your own and your peer’s access to the information that’s been shared.
Other key features of Dropbox include:
Data recovery
Team management options
Support for electronic signatures
Dropbox has a free plan that provides 2GB encrypted storage space for one user and can be used on a maximum of 3 devices. You can use it to store your files and passwords.
The premium plans available come with additional storage space and with no limit on the number of devices, as well as other additional perks.
Dropmark offers easy collaboration and file sharing in the cloud and comes with drag-and-drop functionality that allows users to easily transfer files from desktop to browser.
You can invite your friends to view, organize files, and collaborate privately with shareable short links.
The program gives users diverse options to share and organize files. You can even create custom playlists by dragging audio or video from YouTube, SoundCloud, Vimeo, or even from your desktop.
With Dropmark you can organize your data in collections. Not only does it make it easier to manage and navigate, but you can also set particular access permission for each of your collections.
Dropmark is also a great collaboration tool and it comes with an integrated comments feature that’s great for giving feedback, setting reminders, and discussing each detail of your project.
On top of that, it facilitates sharing files at a professional level with the slideshow mode. Dropmark automatically creates your presentation with the files in your collection, saving you a lot of time.
Another great benefit that goes beyond sharing and collaborating is the notification feature. You can set it up according to your needs to make sure you don’t miss any important updates.
Other key features include:
Can add tags to files for better filtering
Powerful import tool
Stacks feature
Dropmark is a subscription-based service. It has a free trial version that does not expire. It includes the basic features and can be a good option if you do not have enterprise-level requirements. It also has multiple pro plans for solo users, small businesses, and big organizations.
Google Drive is one of the most popular file transfer and collaboration tools in the world today. Google Drive allows you to create new documents, spreadsheets, and presentations, and share them with anyone. It offers real-time collaboration and allows users to see changes as they appear.
Google Drive keeps track of every change you make so you can create a new revision to save forever or look back as far as 30 days. Google Drive is free to use and it offers a generous 15GB of free storage.
This is another user favorite as it provides an extensive set of features and integrates with tons of already existing tools.
First and foremost, Google Drive is a great document and sheet collaboration tool. It is web-based with real-time sync and automatic backups.
All users that have access to a Google Drive file, can see real-time changes, essentially accessing the exact same version of the file at hand.
Google Drive is one of the fastest file-sharing software available that supports over 100 file types including PDFs, CAD files, images, and videos. It can be used for all types of users, both for personal and professional purposes.
The software lets users assign tasks, add comments, set up permissions, create and share presentations, and many more.
Other key features include:
AI-powered search technology
Supports offline access
Data loss prevention
Google Drive is one of the best file-sharing software for Windows 10 users. It is highly versatile, giving you the option to access it in the browser of your choice, or by using the desktop or mobile app.
WeTransfer is an incredibly simple and fast file transfer solution that allows users to transfer large files at once. You can easily share large files of up to 10GB without the need for prior registrations.
Your selected files are securely uploaded to a secure WeTransfer server after which you can add the recipient’s name, email, and a custom message.
Once uploading is complete, you finish the process by clicking on the Transfer button. WeTransfer is available in both free and paid packages. However, the free package only allows you to transfer files of up to 2GB.
We Transfer Pro lets you organize your files in versatile collections. What stands out about this app is that it lets you include various file types within one collection. You can add videos, images, links, and text documents under one collection that covers a certain theme or subject. It can be an excellent method to create inspiration boards and gather all the resources you need for your projects in one place.
Another feature worth mentioning is the Paste tool. It is a modern, easy-to-use presentation creator that lets you build quick presentations based on preset templates. You can save your final slides as PowerPoint, PDF, or even as a link.
Other key features provided by WeTransfer include:
Tracks downloads
Lets you edit the transfer
Set time limits
You can use WeTransfer for free, but it places some limitations on the size of your files. If you want to send larger files, you can get a pro subscription.
SendThisFile is a powerful tool that you can use to increase your business productivity by sending large files to multiple clients.
The tool also allows users to integrate powerful business features like Outlook plugin integration that further enhances your business productivity.
SendThisFile uses 128-bit TLS end-to-end encryption and 256-bit AES encryption to ensure your files are only accessible to you and your recipients.
This service does not restrict the format of the files you can send. On top of that, it does not change your files in any way, so there’s no impact on the quality of your files.
You can also see the status of your transfer with the Track and Monitor feature. This is only available to pro users and lets users progressively see if their files have been sent, received, or expired.
Other key features include:
Embeddable within your website
Password protection
Regulatory compliance
The ability to share large files and the integration features give it an edge against the competition. It offers a 15-day free trial, and in this period, you can send unlimited files to as many clients as you want up to 50 GB of encrypted bandwidth.
However, you’ll need to subscribe to the premium package after the trial to keep things flowing.
DropSend is a file-sharing tool ideal for sending PDFs, JPGs, and MP3s quickly and securely. The tool allows you to share large files of up to 4GB, and it doesn’t require any software installation. In addition to sharing, it allows you to back up all the information in the cloud so you can access it anywhere.
Whenever you send a file, it’s recorded in the sent folder so you can easily track all your sent items. You can send more than one file at a time, and once the recipient clicks the link in the email, they can access the file without the need to register for a DropSend account.
This tool keeps your data safe from any leakage. Drop Send is equipped with top-level 256-AES encryption so you are sure that only the people that have your permission will be able to access the files you send.
DropSend has an online storage library, similar to a cloud, where you can safely store all your files. To send them, just access the online storage and select what you want to send and the recipient’s email.
Other key features include:
Compatible with all devices
Online backup
Data archiving tool
DropSend has various subscription plans available, depending on how much storage space you need. You can either pay monthly or annually.
TransferBigFiles is the best solution to transfer large files that cannot be transferred as email attachments.
Simplicity is what makes this tool unique. All you have to do is visit their homepage and create a free account.
Then, drag and drop a large file or a folder up to 20 GB. The program instantly uploads the files to a safe and secure server.
Once uploading is complete, you can add the recipient’s name, email address, and an optional custom message. Finally, click ‘Send’ and you are done.
TransferBigFiles lets you create customizable download pages. This is great if you want to work at a professional level and create pages that match your branding.
With TransferBigFiles you are always sure that your recipients get your message. Not only does it notify you when the message is received, but also when your recipient also downloads the content of your email.
The software also helps you keep your inbox in check. It lets you add your recipients as contacts and create subcategories with the Add Group button.
Other key features include:
User management features
Upload widgets for your site or blog
Password protection
TransferBigFiles has a free version with some limitations but allows you to manage your transfer history and safely send and receive files with SSL encryption. You can also get one of the 3 subscription plans that charge based on your storage size and other additional features.
Smash is an online file transfer service that lets users send files without setting a size limit. It comes with transfer management features like real-time tracking and history of transfers.
This service includes multiple versatile plans and features, making it suitable for personal and professional use.
Users of Smash can share their files by email or by link. They could customize the sharing link and generate previews of media files. For security reasons, all transfers have an expiration date.
Regarding tracking, Smash has up-to-date notifications that let you know when the transfer process is complete and when the recipient downloads the files.
On top of that, Smash offers customization tools for professional users. If you use file-sharing in your business, you can make great use of these tools. You can add the logo of your company to the transfer page. You can add photo or video backgrounds and create brand-specific transfer links.
When it comes to privacy and security, Smash is GDPR compliant and encrypts files at transit and rest with AES 256 bit. Additionally, users can customize the validity period of the transfers and password-protect them.
Other key features include:
Permission management
Multi-team administration
Mobile apps
Priority email support
Smash has a free plan and 3 subscription-based plans. The free plan includes the no-size limit feature, but when transfers surpass the 2GB limit, they don’t have priority. This means they are in the waiting line on the server, and your recipient may have to wait a little longer. All pro plans prioritize all transfers without this limit and include additional features like the history of transfers and transfer customization.
Jumbomail is another versatile file transfer tool that enables users to send large files without compromising quality.
It is an email-based service with simple and straightforward transfer and download pages. You can get started right away and fill in the recipient’s email address, add your files and message, and wait for the process to complete.
When receiving files, users get a simple download page where they can select whether they want to download all the files or select specific files.
You can send up to 20GB of files with Jumbomail without limitation on the number of files. Unlike most file transfer services, Jumbomail lets you keep your files for up to 6 months with an upload code.
On top of that, subscribers can save their files indefinitely on the Jumbomail servers. You can also use it as a file management system and generate transfers easier and quicker.
When you transfer media files, Jumbo generates a preview in the style of a gallery where the recipient can see all the transfer contents before they start the download process.
Jumbomail lets recipients leave comments in the transfer or add comments to specific files. This makes for quicker and greater collaboration.
Other key features include:
Personal and professional signature support
Personal branding options
Embeddable
Jumbomail comes with a free plan as well as several subscription-based plans. The free plan lets you send up to 2GB of files and keeps them up for seven days.
Send Anywhere is a file transfer application that aims to simplify and speed up the whole process.
It has a one-on-one option that generates a 6-digit code. The sender will have to give that code to the recipient to enter it into the platform. This method has a significant impact on the transfer rate, making Send Anywhere one of the fastest file transfer software for Windows 10.
The recipient does not need to register or install the app to be able to download the files. Users can also send files directly without the key to the most used devices.
The files that are sent with the key code do not stay on the servers. After they are received, they are permanently removed from Send Anywhere.
If you use a share link, the files will be up for up to 48 hours. You have the option to delete the link before that.
You also have the option to create a file link, which is more suitable if you need to send files to a larger group of people.
Send Anywhere does not send emails in the same way other similar services do, but it has a Chrome extension and Outlook add-ons that allow you to create large attachments to your emails and send them directly from your provider.
Send Anywhere does not have a size limit when it comes to one-on-one transfers (those with the security key). The other two options have a maximum limit of 10GB.
Other key features include:
End-to-end encryption
Compatible with all devices and can also be used in-browser
Facilitates email and social media sharing
Send Anywhere is one of the best file transfer apps and is completely free of charge. It is compatible with all major operating systems. You can also integrate it within Outlook 365 or even use it as a WordPress plugin.
If you were wondering how to share that large video file, now start acting as the tools discussed above have the capability to transfer large video files and other media files, including documents and images.
We suggested various options, including reliable file compression tools and full-featured transfer services that assist you throughout the process.
Some of these tools are very simple to use and do not require any registration. Others will offer you free cloud storage and remote access. So, which is your favorite on the list? Share with us in the comment section below.
If you want to share files locally, you don’t need any special tools, you just need to connect two Windows 11 PCs, and that’s it.
If you want to keep up with what’s new in the field or need more recommendations, check our File sharing hub.
Adobe Photoshop is arguably one of the best photo editing apps available. If Photoshop is crashing on your Windows 11 PC, we’ve provided you with a detailed guide to help you resolve the error.
Does Adobe Photoshop 2022 work on Windows 11?
The short answer is yes, Adobe Photoshop 2022 works fine on Windows 11. But you will run into several errors if you’re running an outdated version of Photoshop on Windows 11.
Of course, Photoshop has its own system requirements and if your PC doesn’t meet them, you won’t be able to run the app, regardless of the OS.
Why Photoshop 2022 is not working in Windows 11?
Insufficient resources – Many users find that there is not enough RAM for Photoshop to run properly resulting in a crash. Also, meeting other system requirements is a challenge.
Outdated Photoshop version – If you’re not running the latest version of Photoshop, the application might fail to execute.
Misconfiguration – Photoshop requires specific settings to function properly. So, an improper configuration may lead to a Photoshop crash when trying to print or in other circumstances.
Outdated Graphics card – Photoshop is an extremely graphics-intensive application; if your PC is running an outdated graphics card, Photoshop might fail to launch.
Now that we know the possible causes of Photoshop crashing on Windows 11, let’s fix it using the solutions below.
How can I fix Photoshop if it is crashing on Windows 11?
Before we proceed to advanced troubleshooting techniques, here are some quick tips you can attempt to fix Photoshop crashing:
Another option you can choose to update your graphics card is using dedicated software to locate automatically the latest updates.
2. Run an SFC Scan
In the Windows search bar, type in command prompt, and select Run as Administrator.
On the User Account Control prompt, click Yes.
Type the following command and click Enter: SFC /scannow
Restart your PC.
In rare cases, you might run into Windows resource protection error while trying to run an SFC scan. This error prevents the system utility checker from operating properly.
Tap on Edit on the Menu bar, then hover over Preferences and select Performance.
In the Graphics Processor Settings, uncheck the Use Graphics Processor option, and click on OK to save your changes.
Close and reopen Adobe Photoshop.
Nvidia graphics card users can experience the You do not have the privilege to select the graphics processor in this menu error. It usually happens when Windows cannot select the graphics processor.
4. Reset Photoshop Preferences
Launch Adobe Photoshop.
Press Ctrl + K to open the Preferences.
Navigate to the General tab on the left pane and select Reset Preferences On Quit.
Press OK when you receive the warning message and close Adobe Photoshop.
Once you close the app, all settings and configurations will return to the default state.
5. Disable third-party plugins
Type adobe photoshop in the Windows Search bar. Press and hold the Shift key and select Adobe Photoshop CC.exe from the search results.
In some cases, an additional prompt will be displayed Skip loading optional and third-party plug-ins? Select Yes.
This will open Photoshop without any third-party plugins.
If it’s working fine, then uninstall the plugins one by one until you find the culprit.
If you’re still getting a crash message when you launch Photoshop 2022 on Windows 11, ensure you follow our detailed guide, with a little luck, you should get the app up and running in no time.
Have you ever opened a site, any actually, and been served with ads that promote products from the same site you visited moments or days back?
Although cookies have a part to play in retargeting or ad stalking if you like, they don’t explain why such ads follow us around from one site to another.
There’s much that goes on in terms of programmatic advertising and your search engine provider.
Nobody likes being stalked or their sensitive data being shared or even sold to third parties who use it for their marketing activities.
This is why privacy software tools step in – to ensure you are safe (even if it’s not 100 percent) from online stalkers, hackers, and threats like viruses and malware.
More so, you may be concerned about visual hacking so you need privacy screen filters solutions to protect your work against such serious scenarios.
Laptopprivacy software can be categorized into VPNs, password managers, privacy search engines, privacy browsers, DNS name servers, and spyware removal tools.
We’ll check out some of the best laptop privacy software solutions you can use today by category, so you can cherry-pick which ones you’re ready to use to protect yourself and your data.
What are the best laptop security and privacy software?
Private Internet Access (PIA) is a great VPN tool to use as it offers what you are looking for – privacy and ease of use.
The first notable thing about PIA is the company’s strict no-logs policy. Use this VPN service and your current geographic location, destination IP address, and online activity will remain private.
Developed by Kape Technologies, a dominant player in security, it lets you pay with Bitcoin if your wish is to stay anonymous.
Keep in mind that Private Internet Access offers native app support for every single popular device platform, including Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, and Linux.
Their apps are simple enough for newbies, yet ideal for power users looking for advanced functionality as well.
It also supports connecting up to ten devices simultaneously. That’s a clear improvement over the industry standard of five.
A quick list of great features PIA brings to the table:
It protects your privacy on a multi-platform solution, with features such as 256-bit encryption technology, hiding your IP, and WiFi protection (in public areas).
Also, it offers multiplatform apps for all your devices, security for your online transactions, and conversations, plus access to countless servers in over 80 countries of the world.
The benefits of using this VPN include the highest speeds and ad/malware blocking.
Moreover, you can access restricted content from sites like Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime, and others, while protecting your laptop and all other devices.
CyberGhost has a strict no-logs policy. Whenever the user connects to one of the servers, not even the CyberGhost knows what you are doing online.
Also, your anonymity is enhanced thanks to an automatic trigger. Even the slightest problem with the Internet connection enables the CyberGhost VPN kill switch.
Cyber Ghost
Assure your computer privacy instantly with this leading VPN protection software.
As one of the top laptop privacy software tools to use today, this Tefincom & Co., S.A. VPN offers double VPN combinations to encrypt your Internet traffic.
Also, it secures streaming with SmartPlay technology and has CyberSec technology to keep you safe from intrusive ads and malware.
NordVPN has a network of more than 5400 servers in 59 countries worldwide, and the best part is you get a dedicated IP address so you can connect better and have a faster VPN experience.
Your information is protected from hackers and from being served with ads or phony websites.
Additionally, you can use this VPN solution for all personal devices in case you’re a versatile user and need Windows, macOS, or even Linux protection.
Therefore, real Internet privacy is just a click away. NordVPN hides your IP address, so no one else can see which websites you visit or what files you download.
NordVPN
Get rid of annoying ads now and encrypt your online traces with this superior VPN.
This is the best antimalware protection for your home. If you have a business, you can use it too.
Its features include real-time protection layers like web protection, detection of fingerprinting attempts, and blocking attempts to abuse vulnerabilities.
Also, they include anomaly detection through machine learning, smart technology to break the attack chain, and behavior monitoring, among others.
More so, you can use this software as a next-gen VPN solution and secure your browsing activity with high-end encryption. If you consider this option you will take advantage of powerful Wi-fi connection security and fast-speed internet.
To conclude here, this software covers all security needs with its highest virus detection, cleaning your PC, and protecting you from online scammers all around.
Malwarebytes
Benefit from unbreakable privacy instantly with this trusted threat-removing program.
A password manager is a good laptop privacy software to have in order to stay secure online, especially if you pair it with two-factor authentication.
Most of them work in similar ways, but you need to look out for strong security, an easy user experience, function, and price.
With LastPass, you get end-to-end encryption for your devices in such a way that even the software itself cannot see your passwords.
Moreover, let’s admit that life is happening pretty much online and we need strong password security for the digital area. You can set up your password on auto-pilot and access it whenever you need it.
Hence, you can secure all your data from online shopping, store digital records like memberships plus generate strong and hack-proof passwords.
LastPass
Carefully protect your sensitive data and loved ones using this password security platform on your PC.
This password manager lets you store information from your account details, passwords, banking information, and much more, with auto-filling functionality once your details are stored.
It also comes with TouchID which uses your fingerprint for access; this is an added layer of security in itself.
The tool has an audit function that alerts you of weak passwords and gives you stronger replacement options.
In addition, this password manager is trusted by 100.000 businesses due to its powerful security and convenience. You can manage your accounts easily and log in instantly on the web.
Hence this solution represents a real necessity for everyone in terms of managing passwords online, thus don’t second think about it. Secure your web accounts today.
1Password
Ensure password management service to safely store your login.
This VPN is one of the best you can use for free, and get premium services like AES 256-bit encryption, zero log policy, plus private access to the Internet, social networks, and video streaming.
Its protocol is patented and integrated by 70 percent of the world’s largest security companies and is a top VPN in performance with thousands of servers globally.
As one of the best laptop privacy software tools, this AnchorFree VPN solution lets you browse safely as it protects your identity and encrypts your data, whether you’re at home or in public.
You can always enjoy secure access to your favorite apps and sites from any location.
Hotspot Shield
Take advantage of this free VPN tool for strong online encryption to always be rested about your data.
This is a DNS name server from Cisco whose unique offering features include three tiers of service with varying filtering and security levels and anti-phishing protection.
You can safeguard your family against restricted content thanks to its parental and content filtering options available for every device.
This software makes your internet access even faster because it shortens the routes between every network and its data centers.
With the OpenDNS app, you can block more than seven million malicious areas and IPs while successfully delivering excellent performance.
Spyware plants itself in your laptop’s system so as to collect information about you without your knowledge.
It can come in from a software download or email attachment. Then, it steals your browsing data and monitors your keystrokes thus picking up on your passwords and other sensitive information.
Once installed, SuperAntispyware can run a full scan or select what you want to be scanned including zip folders, websites, and even downloads.
It finds and removes malicious content, not just spyware, but also malware, viruses, Trojans, keyloggers, and rootkits.
A privacy search engine is free, simple, and doesn’t require you to buy or install anything.
DuckDuckGo protects your searches and stops search leakage so that the sites you visit won’t know what you searched for, and your IP address won’t be sent to the search engine or browser user agent.
The encrypted version also preserves your privacy, plus it has a password-protected cloud save setting so you can create search policies, and sync them across your devices.
DuckDuckGo has a strong policy that doesn’t collect or share any of your personal information so you can browse the internet safely.
Playing the Minecraft game on your PC is best when you have a maximized screen size that makes gaming more visible and enjoyable.
However, some players complain that Minecraft can’t maximize windows, restricting the game to a small part of the screen.
Why can’t I maximize my Minecraft window?
Minecraft not maximizing the window means you can’t resize the game screen to a bigger scale. It prevents players from resizing or maximizing the window, leaving them only the option to play in a small window or full screen.
Furthermore, being unable to resize or maximize the Minecraft window on your PC can be due to several reasons. It can range from problems with Minecraft to problems with your PC. Some are:
Conflicting software on your computer – The Minecraft game not working or malfunctioning on your PC can occur if it conflicts with other software. Apps with DVR features can impede the display components of Minecraft, resulting in the issue.
Force resolution option checked – Minecraft not being able to maximize the window can occur when there is an issue with the display settings. Settings like Force resolution can make it impossible to resize the screen if it is checked.
Issues with the Minecraft app – Many problems may occur with the app. It can be corrupted chunks in Minecraft, missing installation files, or outdated app issues. These problems can result in Minecraft being unresponsive when asked to resize.
These causes may differ in various devices. You can fix the error by troubleshooting your system and the game.
How do I fix Minecraft if I can’t maximize window?
Press Windows + R keys to open the Run dialog box, type devmgmt.msc, and click OK.
Click the Display Adapters, select the driver, and select the Update driver.
Click the Search automatically for drivers option.
Restart your PC and launch Minecraft to check if the issue persists.
The graphics driver update will fix bugs affecting its display and install the latest features to improve game performance. Read our detailed article for updating graphics drivers on Windows 11 if you have any issues.
Suppose you want to try another method of updating your drivers. In that case, you can use a specialized tool to execute this process automatically by scanning your PC and locating the latest updates from its database.
In conclusion, these solutions should help you maximize the Minecraft window without a problem. Please tell us which of these worked best for you in the comments section.
Backing up your files is important, and just as you back up your computer files, you should do the same with the files on your phone.
This doesn’t have to be a long and tedious process, and to make this process a lot faster, today we’re going to show you the best Androidbackup software for PC.
If you’re looking for and Androidbackup software for PC, then Syncios Mobile Data Transfer might be what you need. This software supports both Android and iOS devices, so it’s a universal backup tool.
Using Syncios Mobile Data Transfer you can transfer your contacts, videos, photos, SMS messages, apps, WhatsApp data, and other data with ease.
Regarding data transfer, you can transfer data from Android to Android, but you can also transfer almost all files between different platforms.
The software also allows you to back up your data from Android to PC with just a single click. Of course, you can also restore your backup to a new phone just as easily.
Syncios Mobile Data Transfer is a great tool and will be a perfect choice if you want to back up your Android device to your PC or to another phone.
Syncios Mobile Data Transfer features:
Ability to back up contacts, messages, pictures, videos, music, call logs, apps, and other data
Can back up files to your PC in a single click
Ability to transfer files from iOS to Android and vice versa
Can restore the phone from iTunes/iCloud backup
Available for both Mac and PC
Syncios Mobile Data Transfer
This app will let you back up your phone to your PC with just a single click.
Another great Androidbackup software for PC is Dr.Fone – Phone Backup. This software will allow you to back up your call history, calendar, gallery, contacts, applications, and application data with ease.
The software is simple to use, and you can back up your files with a single click. Before backing up files, you can preview them and choose the files that you want to restore.
It’s important to mention that you can back up your data to other Android or iOS devices. The software can restore your iCloud/iTunes backup to Android, which is also a plus.
In addition to local backup, you can back up your data to Google cloud, which might come in handy for some.
Overall, Dr.Fone – Phone Backup is incredibly simple to use, and it’s perfect if you want a simple Androidbackup software that everyone can use.
Dr.Fone – Phone Backup features:
Incredibly simple to use
Can back up call history, calendar, gallery, contacts, applications, and other data
Ability to preview files before backing them up
Can back up files to other Android or iOS devices
Ability to restore backups from iCloud/iTunes to Android
Dr. Fone – Phone Backup
Dr. Fone – Phone Backup is a simple but powerful backup software for your Android device.
If you’re looking for Androidbackup software, you might want to consider using SyncDroid. The software allows you to transfer contacts, photos, call logs, messages, and other data from your phone.
Of course, you can also transfer files from your PC to your phone. It’s important to mention that phone to phone transfer is available, and you can even transfer files between different platforms.
The software has an incredibly simple user interface, and you can back up data with a single click. The software also has its file explorer, allowing you to view all your files and directories.
A video download feature is also available, so you can download files from various websites and there’s also a file converter, so you can easily convert those files to a compatible format.
SyncDroid is simple to use, and it’s a perfect tool if you want to back up phone data to your PC or to a different phone.
SyncDroid features:
Can back up photos, music, videos, messages, apps, call history, contacts, and other data
Very simple to use
Ability to transfer data from phone to phone
Can transfer data from iOS to Android and vice versa
Another useful Androidbackup software for PC is MOBILedit. The software allows you to manage your files, contacts, and messages with ease.
The application has a sleek and simple user interface, so you can easily find your backups, apps, pictures, and other software.
MOBILedit allows you to manage contacts with ease on your phone, and you can add new contacts or remove duplicates from your phone.
Regarding the backup, the software will automatically create a backup of your Android device as you use the software. In addition to Android, older phones with Bluetooth or IrDA are also supported.
MOBILedit also supports cloud backup, and it offers many additional features, but with its extensive support for older phones, it’s one of the more advanced backup software on the market.
MOBILedit features:
Ability to manage contacts, files, and messages with ease
Support for Android, iPhone, Symbian, and many other phones
If you’re looking for Androidbackup software for your PC, then MobiKin might be just what you need. The software has a simple and friendly interface, and you can back up your phone with a single click.
Using this application you can easily back up your contacts, text messages, call logs, apps, photos, music, and other important data. Regarding the backup, you can perform it via Wi-Fi or by using a USB cable.
The software allows you to install or uninstall APK files on your phone from your computer, which might come in handy. The contact management feature is also available, so you can easily manage your contacts.
You can export contacts in HTML, VCF, CSV, BAK, Outlook, or XML format or important contacts in BAK, XML, Outlook, or VCF format from your PC to Android.
Overall, MobiKin is a simple but powerful Androidbackup software, so you might want to consider it.
MobiKin features:
Simple and friendly interface that lets you back up your phone with a single click
Ability to back up contacts, text messages, call logs, apps, photos, and other data
Backing up files from your Androidphone to your PC doesn’t have to be hard, and we hope that you found a suitable application that can help you with that in this article.
Overclocking is a process of changing the default frequency of a certain component, most commonly a processor or a graphics card. Many users overclock their components in order to achieve better performance, and if you’re planning to do some overclocking, you might want to have a look at our list of best overclocking software for Windows 10.
We must mention that overclocking is an advanced process, and even though overclocking can improve your performance, it can also cause overheating issues and permanently damage your processor or graphics card if you’re not careful.
If you decide to overclock your components, make sure you have a good cooling system that can keep your components from overheating. One additional piece of advice when overclocking is to gradually increase the clock rate of your component and monitor the temperature in order to avoid causing any serious damage.
Increasing your hardware performance through overclocking sounds appealing, but bear in mind that overclocking is a complex, potentially dangerous process, therefore if you decide to overclock your components, just be aware that you’re doing it at your own risk. That said, let’s see some of the best overclocking software for Windows 10.
What is the best software to overclock your Windows PC?
MSI Afterburner is rather similar to EVGA Precision X 16, but unlike EVGA Precision, MSI Afterburner supports both AMD and NVIDIA graphic cards, which is a major plus.
MSI Afterburner comes with a simple and easy-to-use user interface with all standard overclocking settings, such as GPU clock frequency, voltage, and fan speed available at your fingertips. This application comes with a hardware monitor, so you can easily see how your changes are affecting your computer in real time.
If you want, you can even display this information while playing video games, thus keeping a close eye on any potential problems. Speaking of games, MSI Afterburner comes with an in-game FPS counter, so you can easily measure the difference in performance.
More so, this software provides the necessary tools to overclock your graphic card settings without complications. So you don’t have to worry about overusing system components. In fact, you can use power limit feature in Afterburner to protect your GPU from damage.
Therefore, using this program, you can increase your PC performance by challenging hardware components, improving gaming FPS and monitor hardware to exceed hardware limitations safely.
AMD Ryzen Master is a handy tool for overclocking the hardware components in order to increase the performance of your PC.
This utility tool created by AMD Ryzen can help every user with detailed information regarding processor or graphics card performance. Hence, it’s a platform that shows you the complexity of data about your components, like temperature, CPU clock speed, or CPU voltage.
Other features are included in the advanced view of AMD Ryzen Master, allowing you to store 4 user profile configurations of both Ryzen CPU and integrated Radeon graphics memory. So, it’s possible to adjust the performance for the active cores, integrated GPU graphics frequency, or personalize memory timings.
You can thus utilize your computer resources wisely by checking the status and overclock afterward safely. More so, with the basic view interface, you’re able to overclock the CPU automatically.
That being said, you can personalize your system performance settings how you like with AMD Master Utility and easily boost your PC capabilities.
EVGA Precision X1 is probably the most-known overclocking software in the gaming community. In order to use this tool, you’ll need an NVIDIA graphic card such as GeForce GTX TITAN, 900, 700, or 600. Unfortunately, PrecisionX 16 isn’t compatible with AMD graphic cards, one of its most significant drawbacks.
EVGA Precision X1 supports Microsoft DirectX 12 API, and it allows you to change GPU clock offset as well as memory clock offset. In addition to overclocking your GPU, this tool allows you to overclock your refresh rate, set up up to 10 different overclocking profiles, and switch seamlessly between them.
EVGA Precision X1 comes with a simple and attractive visual interface that allows you to easily overclock your NVIDIA graphic card and achieve maximum performance.
In addition, with the new codebase and features, you can have powerful services like multi-GPU fan control to adjust fan speed, or RGB LED control for your graphics card for a unique performance.
You can also benefit from useful traits such as brand new GUI, wattage monitoring, a new OC scanner for stable overclocking, GPU clock and voltage clock, and support for GeForce RTX and GTX graphic cards.
All in all, using this software to overclock your system will provide genuine help to scan and increase your system exponentially.
Before you start overclocking, it’s crucial that you know all the necessary information regarding your components. Two tools that can provide you with this information are CPU-Z and GPU-Z. These aren’t overclocking tools, but they provide you with so much useful information therefore we had to include them on our list.
CPU–Z will give you all the necessary information regarding your processor such as a multiplier, voltage, etc. In addition, this tool can give you some information regarding your motherboard, memory, and even your graphics card. Even if you don’t plan to overclock your device, CPU-Z is one of those must-have tools.
GPU-Z is rather similar to CPU-Z since it gives you all the necessary information regarding your graphics card. Using this tool, you can see your GPU clock, memory clock, memory size, and even your GPU temperature. It’s a perfect tool for both users who want to overclock their graphic card or just learn more about it.
With that being said, you should consider such practical tools if you need an overview of PC hardware components and how it changes your system performance.
ASUS GPU Tweak II is rather similar to tools such as MSI Afterburner and EVGA Precision X 16. This application comes with a simple and visually appealing interface that allows you to easily change your graphic card’s core clock, voltage, or memory clock just by moving the corresponding sliders.
The tool also gives you the opportunity to overclock PC resources for gaming purposes, so the FPS will gradually increase for amazing graphics and speed performance. You have as well the Game Mode which can be very useful to customize the resources effortlessly.
Moreover, this multi-purpose software has integrated multiple modes you can choose from. These are overclocking mode, gaming, silent, or my profile mode. Each can set up your PC according to your activities and deliver high-quality hardware results.
The functionalities are at your disposal, impacting processes like visual graphics, system services, and memory defragmentation to boost your system while playing the most required games.
Therefore, with this dedicated platform, you will get a detailed intuitive interface and access to system functionalities with one click, even while you play.
SAPPHIRE TriXX Utility is designed for overclocking AMD graphic cards and it supports a wide range of AMD graphic cards from older Radeon HD 5000 series up to Radeon R9 and R9 FURY series.
Regarding the features, this tool will allow you to easily change the GPU core clock, voltage, or video card memory clock in order to achieve maximum performance. SAPPHIRE TriXX Utility comes with Hardware Monitor that will show you how overclocking is affecting your computer in real-time which is always a useful option to have.
With SAPPHIRE TriXX Utility you can adjust graphic card fan settings and save up to four different overclocking profiles. We also have to mention that this application has full support for CrossFireX.
In addition, it’s possible to switch the Bios view between the primary Bios and the second one using specific settings.
Of course, you can monitor hardware processes and see real-time key information about graphics cards and overclocking features to improve your in-game experience.
These tools are a bit more advanced and designed for more serious users. We must mention that CPU-Tweaker works only with processors with embedded memory controllers, such as AMD Phenom or Intel Core i3, i5, or i7. If you don’t own one of these processors, but you still want to overclock your RAM, we suggest you try MemSet.
If you own one of the supported processors, you can overclock both your memory and CPU just by using CPU-Tweaker, so there’s no need to install them both. These tools might not offer the most user-friendly interface, but instead, they offer more advanced features.
Plus, this detailed CPU information offered by this program can help you to better know your processor performance and be aware of limitations or improvements you have to make.
However, you must know that it doesn’t come with tutorials or technical guidance and if you’re not familiar with hardware specifications, it will take time to inform.
Thus you can take advantage of this program to always be informed regarding system essential data like CPU, motherboard, or memory frequency.
NVIDIA Inspector is a tool designed to display graphic card information to the user, but this tool can also be used for overclocking. Recently we wrote about overclocking your GPU with NVIDIA Inspector, so if you need more information go ahead and check that article.
This software can be of great help regarding driver and hardware information about GeForce graphics cards, plus overclocking your GPU and setting up the fan speed. At the same time, you can see data about memory clock speed.
Regarding the features, this platform has plenty of useful traits that can assist your computer such as showing power usage in watts, thermal limit status monitoring, encoder, and decoder usage, reliability voltage limit status, and so on.
More so, you have an intuitive user interface and it can rely specifically on NVIDIA drivers on your PC. Plus, you can choose between two versions, each of them working with different versions of the .NET Framework.
Lastly, with this detailed data software, you can have an overview of your system capabilities and always be updated with the hardware components’ status.
Overclocking your hardware comes with certain risks, and in order to avoid those risks, make sure to check your system temperature with tools such as HWmonitor. In addition, it’s always good to test your system stability with tools such as Prime95, Memtest86+, and 3DMark if you decide to overclock your components.
Overclocking can improve the performance of your hardware, and since most of these tools offer a simple user interface, you easily get the most out of your processor or graphics card. Bear in mind that overclocking can be potentially dangerous, and if you’re not careful you can cause permanent damage to your computer, so please, be extra cautious if you decide to use any of these tools.
Remote control software, otherwise known as remote desktop applications, enables users to remotely access one PC from another system or device.
That could be another desktop, laptop, tablet, or even mobile which effectively becomes a remote control for the other PC.
It’s based on a client/server (or host) model with the remote control device is the client and the remote PC, the host.
How can remote desktop software help me?
This software is especially important for IT support and administration because they facilitate remote troubleshooting.
If you need to change some settings quickly on an endpoint within your network, these tools will ensure quick connection and fast action.
Windows has its own Remote Desktop Connection tool. However, the server part of Remote Desktop is only included in the Professional and Enterprise editions.
So, if you don’t have one of those editions, these are some of the best remote desktop software for Windows.
Which is the best Windows 10 remote control software?
SetMe is currently the best all-round remote control software for Windows, especially for businesses that require a remote support solution.
It’s very easy to use, on both the technician and client sides. The remote user simply runs the lightweight client app and provides the technician with a 6-digit client ID. The technician then enters this into the SetMe Expert Console to connect to the remote computer.
During a session, you can also configure unattended access to the remote computer for maintenance and support, without requiring the end user to be present.
SetMe works great in poor network conditions and allows technicians to automatically reconnect after a network interruption or reboot. What’s more, you can perform reboots and shutdowns remotely. This includes booting in Safe Mode for troubleshooting purposes.
SetMe also boasts a fast and intuitive file transfer that lets you copy/paste and drag-and-drop files. You can even drag-and-drop files between multiple remote computers.
Other notable features:
Displays detailed connection and system statuses for each remote PC.
Instant response time, minimal lag when connecting remote computers.
The support technician can work as admin in any scenario.
Session can remain active for up to 3 days when idle.
Intuitive remote desktop toolbar: Includes easy screenshots and screen recording, and chat window.
Parallels Access is an amazing tool that is especially handy when it comes to small-resolution screens.
You can access your computer/computers from your phone whenever you are located. The most important thing is that you have access to absolutely all your computer files and apps, even from your phone.
This can be quite handy, especially when you need to access some files that are not readable by your phone OS, but you need to perform a specific action on them.
The app allows you to focus on the action you perform, as Parallels Access provides you a real focus on the apps you are clicking.
You won’t just have your PC screen on your mobile device screen; thus, you won’t have to try to zoom in with your fingers in order to click a small icon.
We strongly recommend you to try this remote desktop software.
Let’s see some of its key features:
Access your computer/computers from your phone
Allows access to all your computer files and apps
Great usability, especially for access on mobile devices
Easy to set up and use, without any guidance
Secure and reliable
Parallels Access
Never worry about your device not being compatible with remote control software. Try Parallels Access today.
Radmin Remote offers high-speed communication between a remote computer and multiple client computers and allows you to use it for telecommuting, demos, and IT support.
We have to mention that this software is developed for Windows PCs. Radmin viewer has a decent box and very interesting sharing tools like a two-way clipboard.
It also supports chat conversations between the host and the viewer. Its dual-paned file-transfer tool is standard for remote access software.
The video connection runs smoothly, and you can easily manipulate programs with the same quality you’d find while sitting at the remote computer.
Radmin also provides excellent security by implementing 256-bit encryption. This feature allows you to keep the data exchange safe, above the standard used by others.
It also lets you secure the remote PC by enabling the blank screen function and keyboard locking. In addition to IP filtering, it has the option to limit access to parts of your remote computer.
This is especially useful when running a demo or allowing someone else to access your computer remotely, such as to perform tech support or to participate in a web conference.
Let’s go through some of its most important features:
Mikogo is the best free remote control software for presentations, tech support, and web conferencing.
You can run the software by setting up an account on the Mikogo website and then click the Download button on the link below to save the software’s setup.
There’s also a Professional paid version that can include up to 25 participants in a session.
Mikogo has extensive desktop-sharing options and a great HTML viewer to help users share a PC or Mac with numerous participants.
The software includes built-in voice and video conferencing options and a session scheduler with which users can send out multiple invites and schedule meetings in advance.
Its multi-user Whiteboard that enables participants to draw on screen comes in handy for presentations. You can record sessions with Mikogo’s screen recorder tool.
The software’s also compatible with most platforms has a switch presenter and includes file transfer and chat options.
This is one of the best programs for setting up remote desktop connections for multiple participants.
Take a look at its best features:
Multi-user whiteboard
Can include up to 25 participants in a session
Can send out multiple invites and schedule meetings in advance
Extensive desktop-sharing options
Remote desktop connections for multiple participants
The list of free remote control software solutions would be incomplete without TeamViewer. It needs no introduction.
It’s a multi-platform software program compatible with Android, iOS, Linux, and Mac OS X so that users can connect to remote computers with tablets or mobiles.
It’s freely available software that you can add to Windows by pressing the Download TeamViewer button on the link below or adding the app to mobiles from this Microsoft Store page.
TeamViewer has a straightforward setup with minimal system configuration required.
Once up and running, TeamViewer enables you to directly access a remote computer almost as a primary user would.
Alternatively, clients can be granted only more limited remote control sessions for things such as file transfers. The software has a convenient drag and drops UI for direct file transfer from host to client.
The program enables you to remotely access any number of computers from an administrative portal, whilst most alternative software only provides remote access to a maximum of 10 to 25 endpoints.
TeamViewer also has multi-monitor support so you can navigate between multiple VDUs. In addition, it includes remote printing, scheduling, Wake-on-LAN, remote update, and session recording options.
As such, TeamViewer probably has all the options most will need from a remote desktop application.
Looking for an alternative to other free remote control software? SupRemo is exactly what you need. This is a reliable, fully secured, and really affordable remote control tool.
No matter what device you use, SupRemo is fully compatible with most phones, tablets, PCs, and laptops. You can use it from your Linux, Android, iOS, macOS, and obviously, Windows.
Control your devices remotely from anywhere in the world in the most secure and accessible way, because SupRemo is completely free for non-professional and/or non-continuous use.
Are you part of a company? You can also upgrade to one of the quarterly and annual business plans then. These plans will be modulated according to the number of simultaneous sessions required.
What’s even better is that all the licenses allow unlimited installation to an infinite number of devices. There is no actual limit of endpoints where you can install the license.
This means that you can use your license on multiple devices since what really matters is the number of simultaneous connections.
They are also priced from $6/month, per user, if you want to perform multiple simultaneous screen-sharing sessions.
Thanks to SupRemo’s powerful features, you will be able to work freely and securely:
Allowed ID and Installation as a Service allow companies to connect remotely without the need for an individual in front of the screen
Encrypted connections that will secure data during the session
Chat for interacting and communicating between the two connected people
Automatic update whenever a newer version of the software is available
Online Reports that give statistics and data about the connections
Remote printing and transfer of data between the two devices
Customization of the interface that allows you to insert your own brand, info, and references
Splashtop is another multi-platform program for Windows, Mac OS X, iOS, and Linux. It enables you to turn your Windows mobile into a desktop remote control.
Splashtop has an annual subscription fee that’s still good value compared with some alternatives such as LogMeIn.
The Splashtop Personal app for Windows devices is freely available, and that also has an Anywhere Access Pack upgrade for Splashtop’s global server infrastructure.
Splashtop is a high-performance remote desktop software that has top-notch audio and video streaming at 30 frames per second.
As such, Splashtop is especially strong for media streaming from remote devices and can deliver 3D gaming.
With this software, you can access pretty much any file or app on a remote PC, but it lacks TeamViewer’s drag-and-drop support.
Splashtop’s installation and setup are also very quick and straightforward. The business version includes extra remote print, annotation and remote wake, chat, user management, and file transfer options.
Consider some of its most important features below:
LogMeIn is one of the most reliable remote access applications for Windows, Mac OS X, Android, and iOS. So, it’s another cross-platform program that you can use with alternative devices.
LogMeIn has three versions with annual subscription fees so it’s pretty flexible for various needs.
This is one of the fastest remote desktop applications that have very little lag when streaming. LogMeIn enables you to drag and drop files from host to client, or vice-versa, for easy file transfer.
The software has remote printing options so that you can print from your desktop. It supports a multi-monitor display so the client can view multiple VDUs and dynamic IPs.
LogMeIn also provides one TB of storage for Pro subscriptions with which you can store, share and access documents. LogMeIn’s shared Whiteboard is another novelty that enables users to draw freehand pictures on the host.
So LogMeIn certainly has extensive configuration settings and a few options that aren’t included in many alternatives.
VNC Connect is a remote desktop software based on the Virtual Network Computing protocol.
This software works across multiple platforms and provides both direct and cloud remote access connectivity. It has Home, Professional, and Enterprise versions.
The VNC Connect Professional and Enterprise versions have annual subscriptions.
Although it doesn’t have the most straightforward setup and configuration, VNC Connect is certainly versatile remote desktop software with a good set of security options.
For example, it includes IP filtering, keyboard locking, and inactivity time-out features. The Enterprise version has direct TCP compatibility and enables users to create virtual desktops in Linux.
Both the Pro and Enterprise editions include chat, remote printing, and file transfer tools.
Take a look at some of its most important features below:
GoToMyPC is a remote desktop software that’s quick and easy to set up and optimized for speed with minimal lag.
It has Personal, Pro, and Corporate versions that have monthly subscriptions. There’s also a portable version of the software for USB drives.
All the versions give you unlimited remote access, remote printing, and file transfer & sync options. It’s compatible with multiple platforms so you can set up desktop remote controllers for Windows with various devices.
The software boasts multi-monitor support, remote printing, dynamic IP support, chat, and guest invite options.
However, GoToMyPC’s greatest novelty is the remote desktop shortcut you can add to the desktop.
The program’s usage reports for sessions also come in handy.
Let’s go through some of its key features:
Unlimited remote access, remote printing, and file transfer and sync options
Compatible with multiple platforms
Available as a portable app
Multi-monitor support
Dynamic IP support, chat, and guest invite options
If you want an app that’s accessible to anyone, whether a family member, your team, or for personal use, go for AnyDesk.
You’ll see just how easy it is to access a working computer remotely and continue working on the same documents or collaborate with several people or transfer files securely.
The software uses strong encryption standards to block unauthorized access and ensure a safe connection for all parties involved.
Besides, the app uses native clients for all major platforms, so you can access a desktop remotely whether from a laptop, a mobile, or a Raspberry Pi.
The tool comes in two different plans, depending on the number of users that need to access it simultaneously.
Here are some of its best features:
Access a desktop PC from any device, including mobiles and Raspberry Pi
Microsoft debuted a new facial recognition and fingerprint reading feature on Windows 10. The feature allows amazing new applications, the most notable of which is the ability to sign in to your Windows PC by just allowing the Windows Hello feature to scan your face, iris, or read your fingerprint.
As a result of the new feature, users can now log into their PCs without the need to type in any password. This significantly reduces the risk of unauthorized people logging into your computer systems.
Windows Hello also enables you to lock your PC remotely using companion devices like tablets and smartphones. You can also use Windows Hello to sign into mobile devices, online accounts, and services, as well as apps.
According to Microsoft, the new Windows Hello feature has enabled enterprise-level security on personal computers. But because the new Windows Hello feature requires certain hardware features, like a biometrically enabled, deep sensing camera and fingerprint readers, not all PCs can harness the power and features availed by this feature. Today we review the few that do.
This is a pretty-looking convertible PC that has very few flaws. It is a great business PC for the money and represents the brave new ethos HP has followed with their PCs over the last few years. The design of its PCs and desktops had started to tire and the brand had become somewhat predictable. A 360-degree hinge means the PC can be positioned according to whatever suits your mood that day, in a typical hybrid PC style.
The HP Spectre x360 isn’t cheap in both looks and price. If buying from the HP site, the laptop can be configured with up to 12GB of RAM and 1TB PCIe SSD. The display is a touch-sensitive 15.6-inch with a 3,840×2,160 resolution, while the processor is the highly capable Intel Core i7-7500U. With USB-A 3.1, and an SD card slot, the storage can be expanded further.
The large high-definition display, powerful engine, as well as many multimedia features, including Windows Hello, can’t be too kind to the battery. But, with up to 10 hrs of video streaming use, the battery is remarkably powerful. The keyboard, on the other hand, has fantastic travel and the touchpad is highly responsive.
Dell PCs are noted for their dependable performance specs. While this PC may not have the brute gaming power of some of the Windows PCs on this list, it still packs quite a punch and manages to meet the needs of a sizable market. Being a Dell laptop, you will expect this to be a good business PC, and it is.
To go with the Windows Hello feature that business users are sure to find useful is a 15-inch display, a slim, eye-catching design, a super-fast Core i7-7700HQ processor, lots of expandable storage, as well as a 720p HD widescreen webcam. The keyboard is spacious and comfortable with great key travel.
Like the Acer Aspire V 17 Nitro reviewed above, this is a gaming PC that seemed as if designed not entirely for the narrower gaming market, but for the larger PC market. Its sleek design spots the mandatory dash of color you get with gaming notebooks, yet has enough sophistication for the business user looking for raw processing power.
The Alienware 15 R4 is the latest in a line of gaming PCs noted for their power and sheer good looks. But with the toned-down lighting and smaller display, the designers intentionally steered the PC towards a more rounded design.
Under the hood, there is a 10th generation Intel processor aided by Nvidia’s GeForce RTX 3060 6GB GDDR6 that you can upgrade to 32GB, and a 512 GB sized hard drive. The Windows Hello feature is paired with the Tobii EyeX Lite eye-tracking software for a not entirely hands-free but truly immersive computing experience.
Not quite a laptop and more a tablet, although Microsoft calls it ‘the ultimate laptop’, the Microsoft Surface Pro is a 2-in-1 device that can switch modes between typing and drawing and, if you like, between work and play.
Besides Windows Hello, the Microsoft Surface Pro packs in some very impressive features including a powerful Intel Core i5 processor (a 7th generation processor is available on the hybrid version), 8G of memory, 256G hard drive, and a vibrant 12.3” PixelSense™ touchscreen display.
The Microsoft Surface Pro can switch from laptop mode by engaging the built-in kickstand and snapping on the new Surface Pro Signature Type Cover keyboard, which you have to buy separately.
By lowering the kickstand and removing the keyboard you will switch the Surface Pro to studio mode where you can use the new Surface Pen to draw or write with your free hand. You can completely close in the kickstand to convert the Surface Pro into a standalone Intel tablet.
Although a gaming laptop, the Acer Aspire V 17 Nitro still looks professional enough to still take to the office. The designers ditched the standard dragon-themed design with lots of brightly colored flashing lights that you get with gaming PCs. But they still retained a gamer-friendly powerful engine that’s as good as it gets.
Not sure what is more impressive, the fact it looks nothing like a gaming laptop when it clearly has the engine for it. Or that it has all the office tools you wouldn’t normally care for in a gaming PC. The Windows Hello support certainly marries well with the Tobii eye-tracking IR camera embedded in the notebook. Added to that are a solid aluminum chassis, USB 3.0 ports as well as Ethernet and headphone jacks, a responsive 4.1 x 3.0 trackpad, and numerous other cool features.
Although Windows Hello does not always recognize your face, one thing I like about it is its interactive nature. The software will give you tips on how to adjust your head so it can read your facial features more accurately. After factoring in the Acer Aspire V17 Nitro PC’s 17-inch high-resolution display, what you get is a truly immersive multimedia experience.
If Lenovo is to jump on any new technology on any of its laptops you would expect it to be on its Yoga line of convertible PCs, which has long emphasized versatility and cutting-edge design. The Yoga PCs are hybrids with screens that can be flipped into four different configurations.
The Yoga 720 15 has a 15-inch IPS touchscreen with an impressive resolution of 3,840×2,160 pixels. Remarkably, the PC almost has no bezel and the screen seems to stretch right to the edge and flash with the laptop lid.
Besides the Windows Hello facial recognition functionality, the screen also supports Lenovo’s Active Pen which allows for writing and drawing on the screen. All these ultra-modern design smarts will seem like a wasted effort on a slow processor. For that, Lenovo powered the PC with a Core i7 processor and an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 graphics card to really bring out all the good you can get from such an impressive display.
Slim, lightweight, and powerful is a notebook attribute that hasn’t always been achievable or at least one that PC makers have bothered too much about. But, with the market increasingly shifting towards hybrid, super-fast convertible machines, we have seen more and more PC makers gravitating towards lighter machines with, powerful processors, immersive displays, and wider input options.
The Samsung Notebook 9 is a fine PC with its discrete graphics, Windows Precision touchpad, spill-resistant backlit keyboard, and an excellent battery that you can charge really fast through the USB-C port. Other notable specs include a Core i7 Intel processor, 256GB SSD, and a 2GB Nvidia GeForce 940MX graphics processor.
Although it does not have a touchscreen display, added to its Windows Hello support is a fingerprint reader and other utility features that make this one of the most capable performance PCs on the market.
Lenovo Think Pad E15 is a powerful business laptop with an Intel i5-10210U processor and 16GB RAM.
This laptop is a great portable option because it has a long average battery life of up to 11 hours and is fairly lightweight. The case is solid with a modern-looking, minimalistic design.
It is a 15.6 inches laptop with an anti-glare screen that has the capacity to show 1080p Full HD graphics.
Think Pad E15 is suitable for demanding tasks as it is equipped with 16GB DDR4 RAM memory and 1TB SSD that ensure fast response rates and smooth multitasking.
In terms of graphics, it has an Intel UHD Graphics processor which is powerful and ensures quality performance. While it is not the optimal choice when it comes to gaming, it still provides quality performance for video editing, media streaming, and business-related activities.
Lenovo Think Pad E 15 offers good performance at a very good price. It is sold with the Windows Business OS and is well-optimized for Windows Hello.
HP Envy 15t Touch RealSense – All-metal encasement
The HP Envy series isn’t as upmarket as it used to be or not nearly as premium as the iconic brand’s Spectre line. But for the lackluster display, in the all-metal encasement, Intel Core i7-6500U engine, 8GB of memory, and sleek design you have a workhorse PC that’s not a bad option if you are spoiling for a way to throw some cash around.
The laptop’s round hinge that props the keyboard up as you open the laptop is a nice touch. It will elevate the keyboard by a few degrees, which is convenient if you are typing on a flat surface. The build quality is robust. And with the Windows Hello support making up for the somewhat disappointing display, this would be a good choice for a business PC.
Another great laptop that works with Windows Hello is Huawei MateBook X Pro. This model comes with a tiny bezel and a 91% screen-to-body ratio. The device has a 13.9-inch, 3K LTPS, 260 PPI, and 3000×2000 resolution display.
Speaking of display specs, the display supports a 100% sRGB color gamut, 450 nits brightness, and 1500:1 contrast ratio. It’s worth mentioning that this device has a 10-point Corning Gorilla touchscreen display. The device has an Intel Core i7 CPU and GeForce MX150 GPU with 2GB GDDR5 memory.
As for memory, the device has 16GB LPDDR3 2133MHz RAM, and 512GB SSD. As for ports, the device has a 3.5mm audio jack, a single USB-C port for data transfer and charging, Thunderbolt 3 port for data transfer and charging, as well as a single USB-A port.
Huawei MateBook X Pro has a 57.4 Wh battery that can last up to 12 hours, which should be enough for most of your needs. It’s worth mentioning that this laptop has a hidden webcam that pops up only when you need it, so you won’t have to worry about your privacy.
Overall, Huawei MateBook X Pro offers great design and performance, and if you’re looking for a laptop that will work with Windows Hello, this might be the perfect model for you.
Overview:
9-inch, 3K LTPS, 10-point touchscreen display
91% screen-to-body ratio
Core i7 CPU
GeForce MX150 GPU with 2GB GDDR5
16GB LPDDR3 2133MHz RAM
512GB SSD
Audio jack, USB-C port, Thunderbolt 3 port, and USB-A port
When you look at it from a gaming perspective, the Windows Hello feature isn’t a terribly bad one to have on a PC. But, as a gaming PC and especially considering its hefty price tag, this Asus ROG G771JM perhaps won’t give you enough bang for your buck.
It is an early entry to the 4,000-resolution display gaming PC space, which also explains why the screen isn’t touch-ready. But given the hulking 17.5-inch, beastly appearance, and various gaming shortcuts and features, this is a decent enough gaming PC. And with the Intel Core i7, 4th generation 940MX processor, the PC packs as much power as other gaming PCs in this class
The list of PCs that support Windows Hello is, admittedly, longer than this. And even those we have not reviewed here are all great PCs. If anything, the list is set to grow even longer as PC manufacturers look to improve the experience users have with their machines.
This specific deal is part of our bigger selection of thebest laptop deals you can find. You might also want to check out our dedicated Black Friday hub for tech deals.
Email privacy is a big issue in the current digital dispensation. There are many hackers who develop viruses trying to infect users and steal their data. Most times, the hackers send out messages using your email and defraud your contacts under the guise of your name, while others seek money in return.
Once your email is hacked, they can reset your passwords from your social media profiles to bank accounts, and others. This is the case especially if you use one password for everything. This is why having the best email privacy software is good, besides having a strong and unique password.
Check out the top favorite email privacy software which will help you secure your email account with encryption, auto self-destruction, anonymity, and much more.
What are the best email privacy software you can use?
Hushmail is a groundbreaking email client that features top-notch encrypting of all conversations and messages. It is so secure that it even meets all HIPAA standards worldwide.
While admittedly it is a bit more limited compared to the entries in our list in terms of what it is used for, this doesn’t make Hushmail any less efficient.
On the contrary, if you work in the medical business and your client’s information is your number one priority, then no program gets closer to perfection than this.
Every Hushmail customer gets a secure email account with built-in encryption. Send and receive encrypted emails on the web and using our free iPhone app.
Additionally, you don’t need to worry about emailing data to customers that use common email clients such as Yahoo or Gmail.
For your clients who use traditional email services, you can send secure messages protected with a passphrase or security question.
Finally, medical forms are now a breeze to construct, since the service provides a wide range of customizable templates which you can modify simply through drag-and-drop actions.
Here are some of its main features:
Encrypted mail
Access the account using Outlook, Apple Mail, or Android
Use your own domain or use an existing one
Private message center
Electronic signatures
Users can benefit from this service via a subscription. Hushmail offers various plans for multiple areas of activity, such as healthcare or business, but users can also create their own custom plans and only include the exact features they need.
This email privacy software is available for free with 500 MB storage, though paid accounts come with 1GB storage, you don’t need an account to use it.
If you need to send encrypted messages to a non-ProtonMail user, you’ll also need to have a password that decrypts the message and share this with the recipient.
It will receive a link to the website where it’ll enter the password and decrypt the email.
The good thing about ProtonMail is it is easy to use and doesn’t need any installation.
Its servers are in Switzerland, which means they cannot create a backdoor to give access to any government authority so your data is safe.
ProtonMail also has no access to decrypted data or decryption passwords so even if they were asked to give out your data, they can only give it in encrypted form.
Additionally, all messages are stored and transmitted when they’re encrypted.
Your user account is also anonymous, plus you don’t need to share personal details to have an account, and your user activity and metadata are not stored in ProtonMail.
You can also set your messages to self-destruct, even for messages sent to non-ProtonMail users.
However, ProtonMail servers usually reach capacity, and when they do, they’re not open to more users until they can be accommodated.
Other key features of ProtonMail include:
Compatible with all major platforms
Encrypted contacts
Open source
If you forget your password, it cannot be restored for you, in which case you have to create a new account or reset it and lose all stored emails.
The Echoworx Email Encryption solution is great for any organization, no matter the size because you can implement it quickly without any installation.
When you send an email, you can flag it for encryption and it goes to an Email Encryption Engine that applies it. And you have all the industry standard types of encryption, including TLS, PGP, S/MIME, PDF.
After the email gets encrypted, if you set it through the Portal, you get a notification to see if it was modified or accessed and that makes it completely secure.
That way, you get complete control over the outbound emails that leave your organization, no matter the encryption type and recipient.
Moreover, Echoworx is compatible with any SEG, DLP, SIEM, or workflow, so the IT department won’t have any headaches with the implementation.
Also there are no hardware requirements and the interface is very easy to use with only minimal training required.
We also need to mention that the service works with any email systems you have implemented in your network or organization.
The key features of Echoworx include:
Advanced encryption methods
SEG, DLP, SIEM, or any workflow compatibility
Covers all departments and services across all delivery methods
Extended certifications including SOC2 Audit, PCI DSS Level 1 Certification, CCS G-Cloud 13, and Microsoft and Apple Root Member Certifications
You can set up a meeting with Echoworx and a representative will help you go through with all the implementation process for your organization, including the transition process from a different service.
Echoworx
Keep your organization’s email safely encrypted and get complete control over your messages.
This email privacy software was founded in 2013 by Bjarni Einarsson, Smari McCarthy, and Brennan Novak. It is available for free, and you don’t have to have an account to use it.
However, if you’d like to send an encrypted email to someone else, you (the user) have to have the recipient’s public key as this tool operates with private-public key cryptography.
Among its features is multi-platform support including Windows, and you can download it to your computer, but it only functions as an email client, not an email server.
This means you can read write and send emails, compared to email servers that receive emails from the client and transmit them to recipients – they list users and store emails.
Mailpile is a decentralized tool, which makes it even harder to take down, but you can use it with existing mail servers including Gmail, Yahoo! Mail, and others.
Your email is stored in encrypted form, and you can search through your emails the same way you would with your regular email provider.
Other key features of Mailpile include:
Powerful search and tagging
Adblocker
Open source
It also lets you store emails on a USB storage, in the cloud, or on your computer, but you need to have a computer or server running it to check your emails. It also doesn’t issue email addresses.
Founded in 2011 by Matthias Pfau and Arne Mohle, this free email privacy software, which comes with 1GB of storage, doesn’t require you to have an account.
If you want to send an encrypted message to a recipient who doesn’t use Tutanota, you’ll need a password to decrypt it and communicate the same to the recipient.
The recipient will receive a link to Tutanota’s website where the password is entered to decrypt the email message.
Tutanota has servers located in Germany and is open source but unlike other secure email services.
It encrypts not only the messages, but also subject lines, and attachments, with end-to-end encryption meaning the messages are encrypted from the time you send them to when they’re received.
You need not install the software, plus you can use it the same way you use your regular mail.
Still, you have to use tutanota.de email addresses, though the developers are working on adding more domains.
You can pay to use your own domain names too.
Other key features of Tutanota include:
Compatible with all devices, with dedicated mobile apps
Encrypted calendar
Open source
GDPR-compliant
The downside is this email privacy software has no way to recover lost passwords.
This is another free email privacy software, founded in 2012, and also doesn’t require you to have an account to use it.
To send encrypted emails, you also need a public key of the recipient, or your own private encryption key to decrypt the message.
Among the notable features is its open-source cryptography, security audits, and easy installation as a browser extension for Chrome or Mozilla. It works with existing email providers like Gmail, Outlook, and Yahoo! Mail among others.
You also get a three-digit security token with a color generated when installing the software, so if you use an incorrect digit or color, users know the service isn’t safe.
The downside is you cannot recover lost passwords, and cannot check emails on a third-party computer.
Other key features of Mailvelope include:
Google Workspace integration for the business plan
GnuPG integration
USB token support
Open source license
You have to write messages in a separate window before encrypting them so that the email provider doesn’t have access to the message.
Thunderbird is a free email app that allows you to receive and send encrypted emails that only you and the recipient can read by using the Enigmail plugin.
This email privacy software makes email better, faster, and safer for you.
At its heart is an open-source development process driven by thousands of developers and security experts across the globe.
Features include a mail account setup wizard with which you need to know your IMAP, SMTP, and SSL/TLS settings.
It will then give your name, email address, and password. After that, the mail wizardry will find your email settings for you.
Also included are personalized email addresses, a one-click address book, attachment reminder that looks for attachments and reminds you to add before hitting send.
It has a multiple-channel chat to enjoy real-time conversations with your contacts, tabbed emails, web search without leaving Thunderbird, a Quick filter toolbar to filter emails faster, search tools, and messaging archive among others.
In terms of security, Thunderbird offers support for privacy and remote image protection, blocking remote images in emails.
Other key features of Thunderbird include:
Simple UI
Attachment reminder
Tabbed email
Advanced search and tagging
Thunderbird also includes phishing protection, automated updates of the system, and spam filtering to keep out junk mail.
Creating unique music videos is a challenging task, but animating the beat of a sound might be the winning ticket to your viewers’ hearts.
Therefore, don’t hesitate to check out the best audio spectrum visualizer software that you can get today.
Well, creating an audio spectrum shouldn’t be time-consuming. However, the results may be breathtaking. This spectrum comes as a visual representation of a sound that is getting data from the beat or frequency of the sound.
If that’s what you had in mind, you’ve come to the right place. Just make a choice to amaze your viewers.
What’s the best audio spectrum visualizer software to try out?
If you are looking for an audio spectrum visualizer software tool that offers hassle-free features, there’s no better choice than Adobe After Effects.
Adobe After Effects is known as a reputable digital visual effects application, so be sure that it’s up for the task.
In order to successfully add the audio spectrum effect you’re craving, first create a new composition, import the music file in your project window and look for the Audio Spectrum effect.
Bars, analog lines, analog dots – you name the effect – are all ready to allow the viewers to get a sense of how the sound is evolving, for a greater overall impact.
Best of all, that’s only a small part of everything that can do with your videos in Adobe After Effects.
Removing objects from clips, adding impressive intros, and transitions, and combining videos/images into masterpieces are all possible.
This tool has an impressive set of highly realistic effects that you can include in your videos. With After Effects, you can create rain effects, add immersive audio tracks, and more.
It supports advanced animation creation with keyframes or expressions. Moreover, if you need a little bit of help, the tool also has tons of pre-made animated templates.
Here are some of the key features:
Wide range of exciting effects to choose from
Immersive Virtual Reality titling and graphics to use on any project
Included VR Converter and VR Comp Editor
It works seamlessly with other Adobe apps you may use
Adobe After Effects is available as a standalone product or as part of the Creative Cloud. You can try it out for free for 7 days.
Adobe After Effects
This amazing software allows you to use the built-in spectrum visualizer with just a few clicks of the mouse, and no interruptions.
Renderforest Music Visualizer brings in a three-step video creation process. It is great for those that need to gather inspiration from pre-made templates.
You can get started by picking one of the pre-made templates and editing it to perfectly fit your style.
This online visualizer offers plenty of options, including YouTube Channel Visualizer, and Album Promo Visualizer where you can enter the artist’s name, and track title, and insert quick links to audio streaming platforms.
Users can also pick less specific visualizers such as turntable visualizers, various beats visualizers, and more. You can find pretty much any type of visual to match all musical genres and artistic styles.
After you pick your basic template, you can enter the intuitive editor and change up the text, and colors, add or remove certain images, insert new objects, and more.
This browser-based application lets you export directly to your sharing platform of choice and offers various tips and tricks on how to create and edit your videos based on where you want to share them.
This online music visualizer only supports classic bars and lines, yet it might be enough for some of you. You may also take advantage of the Audio React Visualizer.
That’s an amazing template for making outstanding music videos that you may easily promote on Vimeo, YouTube, and any other video service you fancy using.
Moreover, by using Renderforest Music Visualizer, you can also enjoy other various features like in-text effects, green screen removal, and picture-in-picture, so it looks like a pretty decent package, right?
List of key features:
Multiple visualization templates with text or photo holders
User-friendly way of editing all your videos
It sends you an email with the created music visualization video
Renderforest Music Visualizer is a free service has a free version that gives you access to over 200k stock videos and lets you create videos that are up to 3 minutes long.
Along with that, it also has premium plans which let you create HD videos and offer additional features such as access to commercial music tracks and let you create longer videos.
Renderforest Music Visualizer
Enjoy editing all your videos and use multiple templates with this great app.
If you are looking for a trimmer to adjust your video content, MotionBox is the best solution for you.
With easy steps to help you with after-effects and plenty of templates, you can highlight your favorite part of the video on the spot.
With this amazing tool, you can also convert your podcasts into videos, by choosing from the selection of premade video templates and animations.
Easily create stunning social media posts and have your audience engaged with your content constantly.
Story Creator allows you to add remarkable visualizers, waveforms, and audio spectrums online. In just a few clicks, you can easily add these components using this user-friendly online movie editor.
Remember that you may watermark your one-of-a-kind works to create an awesome portfolio that you can share freely online and offline.
List of key features:
Best for beginners and professionals
Customizable subtitles, overlay videos, collaborative video editing
Announcement maker, resize GIFs, clubhouse video maker
Story Creator to add audio spectrum visualizer
MotionBox is an all-in-one video solution that does not require any prior knowledge to use. Simple tutorials will assist you along the way, and the collaboration function allows you to work in groups to reach your goals.
Motionbox
Trim, overlay, and convert podcasts using a single tool to apply after-effects to your video, quickly and easily!
This program can help you edit video files and create amazing videos while using a comprehensive suite of video editing tools.
Visual effects are split into five categories: color correction, object transformation, object filters, transition effects, and special fx, not to mention that the spectrum feature displays the sounds within a set color range.
If you want to truly impress viewers, there’s also an Audio Abstraction option that generates colorful abstract shapes based on the music you choose.
Finally, remember that you can add export videos in high resolution to your accounts on social media directly from the software, so share your work!
This video editing software also includes chroma key tools to remove and replace background images.
As mentioned, you can upload your own video materials and overlay multiple images and video files to create unique visual effects.
List of key features:
Simple, user-friendly interface
Motion tracking features for registering and tracking movements of objects in videos
Included DVD burning tool to burn the results of your work to optical discs
Microsoft Windows XP SP3, Vista, and Windows compatibility
VSDC Video Editor has a free version, as well as a professional version that includes a larger set of features.
Does a dragon emerge from nowhere, blowing flames and letting viewers catch a glimpse of your logo sound appealing enough?
What about a digital glitch animation for your Youtube channel?
A preset pack with an impressive collection of music visualization templates is available in Videobolt Music Visualizer, so you can’t go wrong with it if diversity means a lot to you.
Moreover, chances are you’ll find the procedure extremely intuitive. Just select a music visualization template and hit the Edit button below it to start working on your next project.
The platform offers visualizer templates for multiple different music genres and various art styles.
You can find minimalistic, vintage, grunge, box visualizations, 3D motion graphics, and more.
The tool offers support for social media publishing in various formats and resolutions, including full HD, 1440p, and 4K.
One video material supports up to 120 minutes of audio, so you can create mixes and audio compilations ready to be uploaded to a video-sharing website.
List of key features:
It customizes high-quality intro/outro animations
It lets you add cinematic titles
Creates promotional slideshows with ease
Videobolt has both free and premium plans. The free version offers enough features for you to get started. The only drawback is that it only allows you to create 15-second visualizers.
Do you love to sing and are looking for software for learning how to sing? Whether you’re an amateur or a pro, and you just want to sing better, you’re in for a real treat
This article lists some of the best software for learning how to sing, so you can both enjoy the moment, and improve on your vocals in no time.
Like any other skill, singing requires regular practice, and it has a lot of room for improvement. Most great artists are also regularly looking for new techniques for singing and better voice control, as they work on the perfect pitch, tone, and time to hit the high notes.
However, becoming an accomplished singer isn’t a walk in the park – it takes time – but you can hear your improvements within a few lessons of starting the practice.
This software for learning how to sing also helps you learn the correct and basic methods to build your singing expertise, correct bad habits from lack of training, develop your potential, access professional lessons, and more.
When looking for the best software for learning how to sing, consider one that matches your learning style, is affordable for you, is easy to understand yet thorough, and has a variety of features for learning success.
They must also include written and audio materials for studying, be appropriate for your level of experience, provides several warm-up exercises, and offers voice feedback that lets you know about your singing and areas of improvement.
What software to use for singing?
Whether you are a beginner that wants to learn singing or a professional that wants to improve it, you can use specialized tools that can help you learn to listen to your own voice and correct the notes that might be out of key.
Thanks to the advanced features that a dedicated program offers, you can adjust your vocal cords and your vocal timbre, master breathing, and gradually perfect it.
What are the best Windows 10 tools to learn how to sing?
This singing hub is very suitable to help you learn how to sing like a professional and discover your own voice.
You can start using this resourceful software and benefit from every functionality designed to help you train your vocal skills. Every asset is extremely useful for better singing and daily practice.
To give you an example, there are instruments specially for voice discovery. You can do vocal range tests or pitch accuracy and training sessions to become a better singer every day.
With vocal pitch training, you can improve the pitch of your voice and extend the vocal range by singing in tune with a melody. This feature is a game that gives you pitch-tailored melodies to practice and grows the level once you sing correctly.
In addition, this software pick what songs are suited for your voice. Testing your vocal range can provide specific songs that are suited to your natural voice and skills.
Other functionalities to help you improve your singing voice are voice type search presets, database analysis of famous singer vocal ranges, song-book for your repertoire, statistics section, and so on.
Hence, the Singing Carrots tool is specially created for all types of singers and contains valuable resources and lessons to help you sing better.
Singing Carrots
Find your own natural voice and practice singing daily with this resourceful vocal singing tool.
The full name of the program is Singing for the Stars: A Complete Program for Training Your Voice, and just like the label, this set consists of a book and 2 CDs that have pretty much everything you need to train your voice at home.
While normally voice training is one of those areas that demand the services and assistance of an effective teacher, you can forget about the expensive vocal coach, as all you need is a PC to read the CDs.
Of course, having the determination to not give up if you notice that your first vocalizations sound more disturbing than beautiful can also help in the long run.
Seth Riggs is a pioneer of Speech Level Singing, and because of this we highly recommend this book and CD set for any new beginner singers!
Singing for the Stars is a fantastic place for beginners to start learning, for old-timers that need material for warm-ups and refreshers, and it’s at a fantastic price as well.
Singing for the Stars
Have a try with this singing program created by a professional vocal coach who trained many famous singers.
If you want to learn how to sing while learning theory and comprehensive ear training, this is the best software for learning how to sing for any singer, whether a newbie or a pro.
The tool comes with two main courses with more than 2000 exercises you can use to sight-sing, train your ears, and rhythmic studies from beginner to advanced stages, and as you progress, it raises the difficulty level automatically to match your skills.
You can easily track your progress while noting your areas of strength and/or those that need improvements, review results by lesson or by day, then customize the lessons to work on the weak areas.
This tool is used by thousands of music schools worldwide, with music theory, ear training, and musicianship courses at most levels.
It also features EarMaster Cloud, a solution that gives both students and teachers access on any device, plus sharing assignments and syncing results over the cloud.
You can choose to use the unlimited free version with the first lessons of the beginner’s course and customized interval identification exercises plus chord identification, or progress and upgrade to the Pro version to unlock more features.
Other features include a mic test assistant, revised general and jazz workshops, revised lesson introduction screen, instrumental profiles, tempo presets, advanced statistics, voice detection algorithm, on-screen instruments like piano/guitar/bass/violin/cello/banjo and more, and interactive courses that cover all music theory fundamentals.
EarMaster
Train your singing voice and learn music theory exponentially using this detailed singing tool.
This is the most comprehensive software for learning how to sing and is also the first and only fully mobile vocal training and lessons program that works from any device – tablet, phone, laptop, and desktop computer.
It is easy to use and helps you increase your vocal range, power, tone, and pitch, or just warm up for a show, practice your songs, and train with vocal coaches so you can sing stronger and with a connected voice, learn pitch and harmony, plus much more.
Among the tasks you can fulfill with this software include pitch training, storing recordings for your warm-ups or workouts and evaluations in the vocal journal, practicing alone, record your songs.
You can also share with friends and teachers using the vocal recorder, and access a library of training and video tutorials that are fun and informative so you can learn vocal technique, health, and performance.
Its key features include a spectrogram analysis tool, pitch training program, online vocal lessons and training, karaoke and key change exporter, how-to videos, access to vocal experts, and an e-library for artist development.
This software for learning how to sing allows you to see your voice via your computer screen and uses pitch analysis algorithms to give you results as you sing via a variety of displays, which show aspects of your voice.
You not only get to sing better using this vocal training software but also see the acoustic characteristics of your voice as you sing and listen to it as it is replayed. This is good for practice as it shows how you are maintaining pitch, volume, or vocal color.
The tool gives you real-time visual feedback on your pitch and vocal timbre, showing you what your voice actually does as you sing, and you can check up on your loudness, vibrato, or overtones.
Its virtual keyboard also lets you play by clicking keys with your mouse or using keyboard shortcuts so if you don’t have a piano or keyboard to help you practice singing, this comes in handy for a pitch cue.
These picks are the best software to learn how to sing by yourself, without a teacher. Do you know other apps? Let us know and we’ll add it to our list.
Since well begun is half done, our readers recommendSinging Carrots (no. 1) to be the best in this niche. You’ll not only practice, but the AI, and the constant updates, allows you to test your vocalisation and give you hits and feedbacks while monitoring your performances.
The best software to open PKG files on a PC are WinRAR and WinZip. Today, we’ll walk you through the process of opening a package file and tell you all you need to know about these 2 apps so you can easily decide which one’s the best for you.
What is the best software to open .pkg files on Windows 10?
This software can open over 100 different file formats, .pkg included, alongside other popular formats such as ZIP, RAR, JAR, and ACE. You can open an extract multiple files at the same time.
Furthermore, WinRAR has a limited built-in text editor which allows you to edit some information and change some proprietary data contained in the file format.
Download and install the PKG file opener of your choice. We’ll use WinRAR for this example.
Navigate to the package file (e.g., .zip, .rar, .tar, .7z) on your computer.
Right-Click the Package File and choose Open with WinRAR.
You will see a list of files and folders contained within the archive. Double-click on it to View the PKG file without saving it on your computer. Or hit the Extract to… button if you want to save it.
In conclusion, you can make use of any of the software we mentioned above to open .pkg files. If you do know of any software which we did not mention, feel free to let us know by commenting below.
Shutting down the computer after usage is a regular task performed almost daily. Not just that helps in saving electricity but also gives the computer’s components much-needed rest to ensure their longevity and optimal performance.
Such a critical functionality of properly shutting down the PC is hardly appreciated by any user; well until the computer does not shut down at command. In case your system is also exhibiting such a peculiar issue, you have landed at the right place.
If the problem is software-based, finding a solution is relatively quick and easy. Fortunately, there are some quick fixes that can be used to resolve Windows 11 not shutting down.
Why is my Windows 11 computer not shutting down?
There could be more than one reason for your Windows 11 computer not shutting down properly. It could be third-party software installed on the system preventing the shutdown or perhaps a recently installed update might be causing the issue.
In case you are on a mobile device the Fast Startup functionality of your machine could also be the culprit behind it. As mentioned earlier, there can be a lot of possibilities.
Although fixing the issue is relatively easy, every solution requires you to have a different approach. Hence, there is a possibility you might need to perform multiple solutions in order to completely fix the problem.
Moreover, if you have just shifted from macOS devices to Windows devices, note that they are configured to Do Nothing even if the physical Power button is pressed. If that is the case, it is a very quick and easy fix that requires just a couple of seconds.
How do I fix Windows 11 not shutting down?
1. Change your Power settings
First, press the Windows+R shortcut on your keyboard to open the Run Command utility. Next, type control and press the OK button to launch Control Panel.
Now from the Control Panel window, click on the Power Options tile.
After that, click on the Choose what the power buttons do option present on the top left section of the Power Options window.
Next, click on the drop-down menu following the When I press the power button field and choose the Shut down option.
Select the Shut down option from the drop-down menu present under the Plugged in column as well.
Finally, click on the Save changes button to apply the settings.
Keep in mind that this setting only impacts the physical Power button on your device and has no impact whatsoever on the Power menu present in the Start Menu of your device.
2. Roll back recent Windows updates
NOTE
This method is only effective if you have recently received an update after which you have started noticing the issue. If the problem predates the update, this might not be the most effective solution.
Click on the Start Menu icon present on the taskbar. Next, click on the Settings option from the flyout.
After that, click on the Windows Update tab from the left panel of the Settings window. Then, click on the Update history tile present to the right of the window.
Now, scroll down and and click on the Uninstall updates tile present under the Related settings section. This will open a separate window on your screen.
From the separate window, click on the most recently installed update. Then, click on the Uninstall button present on the window.
Once uninstalled, restart your computer from the Start Menu and then try shutting down your computer. Your issue should be resolved.
3. Disable the Fast Startup functionality
Click the Search icon present on the taskbar of the computer. Next, type Control in the search box and click on the Control Panel tile from the search results to open the Control Panel.
Next, click on the Power Options tile from the grid of options.
After that, click on the Choose what closind the lid does from the top left section of the window.
Then, click on the Change settings that are currently unavailable option present on the page.
Now, uncheck the Turn on fast startup (recommended) option present under the Shutdown settings section. Then, click on the Save changes option to apply the settings.
Finally, restart your computer from the Start Menu.
As the name suggests, the Fast Startup feature enables your computer to boot up faster. However, at times, it interferes and prevents the computer from properly shutting down.
If you have a desktop computer and noticing the fans and lights of some components remaining on even after the shutdown, disabling the Fast Startup feature should definitely work for you.
4. Run the Windows Update Troubleshooter
To do so, click the Start Menu icon present on the taskbar of the computer. Then, click on the Settings option to launch the Settings app.
Then, click on the System tab present on the left panel of the window. Next, click on the Troubleshoot tile present to the right of the window.
After that, click on the Other troubleshooters tile.
Finally, locate the Windows Update tile and click on the Run button present on it to run the troubleshooter. Then, perform the actions if and when suggested by Windows to rectifiy the issue.
Windows Update troubleshooter will effectively resolve the current issue if it is caused due to abnormally behaving Windows Update client.
5. Run SFC (System File Checker) command
Press the Windows+X shorcut on your keyboard. This will open a a flyout menu from the Start Menu icon.
Next, click on the Windows Terminal (Admin) option present on the flyout. This will bring up and UAC window on your screen.
From the UAC (User Account Control) window enter the credentials for an admin account in case not logged in from one. Otherwise, click on the Yes button to launch the Windows Terminal.
Then, click on the carat icon (downward arrow) and select the Command Prompt option. Alternatively, you can also press Ctrl+Shift+2 shortcut to open an elevated Command Prompt tab.
Next, on the Command Prompt window, type or copy+paste the following command to run the system file checker. It might take a while for the command to run, wait till the process is completed.
sfc/ SCANNOW
After the process is completed, you may receive one of the folllowing messages:
Windows Resource Protection did not find any integrity violations.
Windows Resource Protection could not perform the requested operation.
Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files and successfully repaired them. Details are included in the CBS.Log %WinDir%\Logs\CBS\CBS.log
Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files but was unable to fix some of them. Details are included in the CBS.Log %WinDir%\Logs\CBS\CBS.log
In case you receive the last message from the list, you will have to manually find the file that is corrupted from the sfc file log and source a known good copy of the file from another system running the same version of Windows.
Otherwise, restart the machine from the Start Menu and check if the issue has been resolved.
SFC scanner will be able to detect and repair any corrupted and/or damaged system files. In case you have created system restore points, there is a possibility you might encounter the same issue again.
System installation files can be restored with the DISM command. To know more about it, do check out our ultimate guide on DISM commands.
6. Run chkdsk command
First, press Windows+X shortcut on your keyboard. This will open a flyout from the Start Menu icon. Next, click on the Windows Terminal (Admin) option from the list.
Then, either enter the admin credentials on the UAC window or simply click on the Yes button if you are already logged in with an admin user account.
Next, from the Windows Terminal window, click on the carat icon (downward arrow), and choose the Command Prompt option.
After that, type or copy+paste the following command and hit Enter to run the scan:
chkdsk /f <your windows installer drive letter>:
Now, restart the system from the Start Menu as chkdsk will scan and fix errors on your drive at the time of booting up.
The chkdsk command will check for any bad sectors on your hard drive and fix them before booting up. Once the computer boots up, try shutting it down to check if it resolved the issue.
7. Run System Restore
To run a system restore, click on the Start Menu icon present on the task bar and choose the Settings option from the flyout. Alternatively, press the Windows+I shortcut on your keyboard to launch the app.
After that, click on the System tab present on the left panel of the screen. Next, click on the About tile from the right section of the window.
Now, click on the System Protection option from the Related links section. This will open a separate window on your screen.
From the opened window, click on the System Restore option.
Next, either choose the Recommended restore option by clicking on the radio button preceeding the option to undo the most recent change. Otherwise, select the Choose a different restore point option to manually choose the point to roll back the system. Then, click on the Next button to proceed further.
If you have chosen to manually select a restore point, click to select the desired restore point for you system and click on the Next button.
On the next screen, Windows will display the drives that will be impacted from the system restore. To see a complete list of affected programs click on the Scan for affected programs option. Finally, to restore the system click on the Finish button to start the process.
System restore usually is very effective since every time the system undergoes a major scheduled upgrade or a new software install, a system restore point is created to help the user rolling back to in case anything goes wrong.
8. Reset your PC
First, launch the Settings app from the Start Menu of your Windows 11 computer.
Next, click on the System tab from the left panel of the window and then click on the Recovery tile present to the right of the Settings window.
After that, click on the Reset PC button located under the Recovery options section. This action will open a separate window on your screen.
Then, to continue enjoying your personal files as is and only reset the system settings and apps, choose the Keep everything option. Otherwise, click on the Remove everything option.
Now, to reinstall system files, Windows can either download them from Microsoft server or use the locally present files on the system. Choose the preferred option by clicking on it.
On the next screen, Windows will list down the current settings for resetting the PC. To proceed, click on the Next button present on the window.
Finally, click on the Reset button to reset your computer. Please remember your machine might restart several times during the process, which is a normal behavior while resetting.
As the name suggests, resetting the PC completely reinstalls system files and apps. This will most likely fix the issue even if all else fails.
Never turning off the computer means giving no rest to the RAM, storage devices, system caches, and other critical components of the machine that exposes them to extreme stress.
In the event of extended usage, the physical components of the computer might throttle their performance to control the heat expelled by them, which directly impacts the performance and in turn, will unnecessarily make the computer seem laggy.
Extended periods of usage may result in abnormally high usage of critical components
Moreover, such kind of usage might also affect the longevity of components and they might give out sooner than expected.
Thus, it is not at all recommended to never shut down your PC in order to maintain the system health, both physically and logically.
How to force shutdown my Windows 11 computer?
For starters, on a laptop, hold the physical Power switch for 5 or more seconds and it will instantly turn off the PC. Whilst this holds true on traditional desktop computers, you can also kill power by pulling the plug on it.
However, shutting down this way is not recommended at all since it doesn’t allow the machine to prep itself for the shutdown and might corrupt or damage a system file and you might also lose any unsaved data.
The computer not shutting down definitely is a bit worrisome. Though with the solutions listed here you will surely be able to restore the functionality.
In case you still have some questions or even suggestions for us, do not hesitate to let us know in the comments section below, and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.
Keynote is the presentation software included with Apple’s office suite. The application is Apple’s alternative to MS PowerPoint. However, Windows doesn’t support Keynote’s KEY file format.
Consequently, there is hardly any Windows software compatible with that format type. This doesn’t mean you can’t open Keynote presentations in Windows, but most users convert them to a compatible format.
How can I open KEY files on a PC?
1. Open Key files with PowerPoint or LibreOffice Impress
A great and easy way of opening KEY file presentations is to use good old Microsoft PowerPoint or the free LibreOffice Impress app. In fact, nowadays, any presentation software can be used to open KEY files.
Unfortunately, not all the programs will use all the features of the original KEY presentation. You may lose the formatting and if you had any transition effects they might be also lost.
However, any of these programs, including PowerPoint and Impress will allow you to open, start the presentation, or even save the KEY files.
You can save them but, of course, you won’t be able to do that in the original format. Microsoft PowerPoint will save the file as a PPT or PPTX format while LibreOffice Impress will offer the ODP and ODPX formats additionally.
After you edit the KEY presentation, all you need to do is to save the file by selecting the Save option in both apps and choose the format you want to use with the presentation.
These great tools are also great for converting the files before sending the presentations to someone who doesn’t have a Mac computer but as mentioned earlier, they will lose formatting and effects so edit them before sending.
Microsoft Powerpoint
Microsoft Powerpoint is the best presentation software on the market and it can also be used to open KEY files.
There are, however, a few universal file opener programs that open loads of format types. The File Viewer Lite software opens more than 150 format types, and that includes Keynote’s KEY files!
You can open the Keynote presentations with that software, but it doesn’t include any editing options. File Viewer Lite is also freeware that’s compatible with Windows platforms from XP up.
You can check out File Viewer Lite on this website page. Press the Download Now button there to save the software’s setup wizard, and then open its installer.
If the KEY presentation is on a Mac, save it to a USB flash drive; and move the file to a Windows folder.
File Viewer Lite supports drag and drop so that you can drag Keynote files from File Explorer (or the desktop) onto the software’s window to open them in FVL.
Open the iCloud page and click the Create yours now link to set up an Apple ID.
Add the iCloud software to Windows from the Apple support page. Click the Download button to save iCloud for Windows’ setup wizard to a folder, and then open the installer to install the software.
Select the iCloud Drive check box, and press theApply button. You can also select the Photos, Mail, and Bookmarks options.
Enter your Apple ID at the iCloud.com sign-in page.
Click the Keynote icon to open the web app.
Click the gear button at the top of Keynote to open a menu. Select the Upload Presentation option on that menu.
Browse to the folder that includes the Keynote file, select it, and press the Open button to open the Keynote presentation in the web app.
To open and edit a Keynote presentation with more Windows software, you’ll probably need to convert its format type. However, you can still edit KEY presentations in Windows with Apple’s iCloud.
ICloud is a range of cloud-based services that includes the Keynote, Pages, and Numbers web apps. As such, you can set up an iCloud account and open and edit a KEY file in a Windows browser.
Press the Choose Files button, and then select a KEY presentation to convert to PPT.
Select the PPT format type from the Convert files to the drop-down menu.
Enter an email address to send the PPT file.
Press the Convert button.
Open your ZAMZAR email, which will include a link to the PPT file. Then you can save the presentation to your hard drive.
Open the Zamzar page to convert KEY files to PDFs with ZAMZAR. Converting them to Portable Document Format is almost entirely the same, except that you select PDF from the Convert files to drop-down menu.
Thereafter, you can open the Keynote presentation in PowerPoint and Adobe Acrobat or other slideshow and PDF software.
Converting files to alternative formats is the usual way to open documents, presentations, and images that Windows doesn’t widely support. Of course, you’re not exactly opening a KEY file by changing its format.
However, converting presentation and text document files to alternative formats doesn’t usually have much impact on their formatting.
If you need to edit a Keynote file, PowerPoint’s PPT is probably the best format to convert it to as that’s more widely supported by Windows presentation applications.
PDF is one of the best universal file formats, but most PDF viewer software doesn’t include editing options. You can convert KEY files to both PPT and PDF formats with the ZAMZAR web tool as follows.
5. Convert the presentation to ZIP format
First, click the File Explorer button on the Windows 10 taskbar.
Open the folder that includes the Keynote presentation.
Select the File name extensions option on the View tab if it’s not already selected. Then the Keynote file title should include KEY at the end of it.
Right-click the KEY file and select Rename.
Replace the KEY format at the end of the file title with ZIP. You can keep the rest of the title exactly the same.
A Rename dialog box window will then open. Press the Yes button to alter the filename’s extension.
The former KEY file will now be a compressed ZIP. Click the Keynote ZIP to open its content.
Open the ZIP’s Picture folder. That includes images for all the presentation slides.
Now you can open each presentation slide in image viewer software.
The ZIP might also include a Preview file that you can double-click to open a Keynote presentation preview.
ZIP is a compressed archive format that you can convert KEYs to. You can preview the contents of a Keynote presentation by converting KEY files to ZIP format.
Want to explore more file types that Windows can’t open natively? Check out our complete guide on how to open RPT files for clear steps and tools to view, c_
Any of the solutions you would choose, you will get perfect access to your KEY files and even edit them. If you have any other ideas don’t hesitate to bring them forward in our comments section below.
My introduction to Android emulators came while looking for a way to install WhatsApp on PC way back in 2013. However, Android emulators have evolved for the better in the last few years. From being clunky and big messy resource hogs, Android emulators today have become productivity tools.
Whether you want to install an Android app or play Android games on a PC, emulators are the best way. Even developers who want to test their app on different devices before making it public can use the software as it allows you to emulate the app on different screen resolutions and Android versions on a PC.
Some of the well-known Android emulators are BlueStacks and Nox Player. Apart from the two, there are many other emulators that you can install and run your favorite Android apps on a PC.
In this article, we look at the best Android emulators for gaming to install and play Android games on your PC.
What are the best Android emulators for playing games on PC?
We cannot talk about Android emulators without mentioning LDPlayer. This awesome software has all the gamer-oriented features you’d need.
Whether you’re using an Intel CPU or an AMD one, coupled with any GPU and RAM, LDPlayer will make the most out of your configuration and optimize the games for the best performance.
Feel the experience of Android gaming on PC, having access to a bigger display, better resolution, and a huge increase in FPS thanks to the beefy computer specs.
Gain the upper edge on your enemies in online games with the precision of a mouse and all the keys of your keyboard at your disposal.
Open several games at once on your computer screen, and run macros and scripts to help you do actions in an instant.
LDPlayer has a great library of games that can be played single-player or multiplayer, such as Mobile Legends, Player Unknown Mobile, Brawl Stars, and many others.
Additionally, their library constantly expands with the newest titles as soon as they are released to the public.
The software is available for free, and it comes in 32-bit versions and 64-bit versions. You can also download it through Google Drive if you wish. Accessibility is not a problem when it comes to LDPlayer.
Here are some of LDPlayer’s main features:
Custom controls
Multi-instance and sync
Create macros and scripts
Enhanced graphics and increased FPS
LDPlayer
LDPlayer is an awesome Android emulator that will let you play your favorite games on a computer.
BlueStacks is one of the first Android emulators that allowed Android users to play Android games on PC. It is also one of the most popular free Android emulators, with a built-in app store and tons of gamer-friendly features.
The latest version of BlueStacks 4 comes with a new and improved UI and faster performance, bringing distraction-free mobile gaming to your PC.
The user interface is simple and customizable. The developers have added core game-playing functions as part of the UI, which allows you to switch modes and run add-ons like BlueStacks Store and Quests only when required, resulting in minimal impact on system performance.
BlueStacks allows the users to manage key controls in the Game Control Windows. The key controls are divided into categories, and you can change the controls based on your preference.
One interesting feature in BlueStacks is that you can play games from multiple Google Play Accounts simultaneously, which is a grey area in the gaming world but benefits the player in RPG-style games.
BlueStacks runs on Android 7.1.2 Nougat out of the box and comes with Hyper-G Graphics for better gaming performance with low-latency gaming sessions.
On the flip side, BlueStacks works best on systems equipped with mid-range hardware. It also feels sluggish at times thanks to the sponsored ads that appear every now and then. You can test the emulator by downloading it from the official website.
Bluestacks
Try Bluestacks to emulate your games from Android on the PC with enhanced gaming features.
NoxPlayer 6 is the latest version of the popular Android emulator from Bignox. The developers promote it as the perfect Android emulator to play mobile games on PC.
NoxPlayer has been targeted at mobile gamers who like to play Android games on PC for more precise control over the gameplay. It supports keyboard controls as well as GamePad (Joystick) for gameplay controls.
Unlike BlueStacks, NoxPlayer is entirely free of sponsored ads, making it a distraction-free emulator with one less annoying thing to deal with.
NoxPlayer runs on an older version of Android, but that doesn’t stop it from offering a seamless gaming experience. It can run any Android game and clock up to 60 FPS offering a PC gaming-like experience from an Android game.
NoxPlayer supports keyboard controls, gamepads, script recording, and multiple instances of gameplay that allow you to play games in multiple windows simultaneously.
The user interface is as simple as it can get. You can download apps and games from the Google Play Store directly or download the APK file from third-party sources and move it to NoxPlayer by drag-and-drop.
For customization, jump into the Settings tab. Here, you can play with General, Advanced, Property, Shortcut, and Interface settings.
The advanced settings allow you to tweak performance settings, startup settings to change the display resolution and display mode, and graphics rendering settings. You can also adjust the FPS setting from 20 FPS to 60 FPS.
NoxPlayer is an excellent Android emulator, but that doesn’t mean it is perfect. For instance, it can load your system, leaving little resources for other apps to run in the background. It also runs on an older version of Android 5.1 Lollipop, while BlueStacks has the relatively new Android 7.1 Nougat.
That said, if you have a PC or Mac with a decent configuration, NoxPlayer is definitely worth a shot.
NoxPlayer
Get precise control over the gameplay with the NoxPlayer emulator.
Memu Play is a relatively new Android emulator and is targeted at users who want to play Android games on a PC. It comes with all the essential features of an Android emulator allowing you to play Android games on a big screen with the flexibility of the keyboard game controls.
The performance of Memu Play is similar to what we have seen with NoxPlayer. It works on both Nvidia and AMD graphic chipsets allowing you to take full advantage of games like PUBG Mobile and Free Fire Battleground.
With the Multi-instance feature, you can play the same game on multiple accounts or multiple different games simultaneously with a split window.
It has a wealth of keyboard mapping options to improve the gameplay experience. In addition, you can customize the mouse, use a gamepad instead of a keyboard, and play background music if needed.
Like NoxPlayer, Memu allows you to download apps from the Google Play Store app in the Android emulator or simply drag-and-drop the Android APK files onto the emulator for installation.
You can also set your virtual location on Google Maps, making accessing geo-restricted apps and games easy.
The only downside to the Memu player is the Android 5.1 Lollipop version it runs on. Some of the latest games may require a new version of Android devices to work, which puts them at a disadvantage. Nonetheless, Memu is still a solid contender for the best Android emulator for gaming on PC.
Ko Player is yet another free Android emulator that is also focused on the Android gaming community. It supports multi-instance gameplay, keyboard mapping options, and the ability to record gameplay built-in.
Ko Player support Intel and AMD processors. The apps and games can be installed using APK files through drag-and-drop functionality. You can also download apps and games using the integrated Google Play app as well. The display resolution adapts to the game window offering crisp and clear gameplay.
For controls, you can use a keyboard and mouse or a gamepad. If you want to record and share your gameplay online, Ko Player comes with a built-in gameplay recording feature with integrated social media sharing options.
What’s not so good about Ko Player is the occasional lag issues. At times, the emulator may abruptly close forcing you to restart the emulator again.
Genymotion, being an Android emulator, is popular among Android app developers. If you are an Android developer looking for an easy-to-set-up and use tool to test your apps on different virtual Android environments, Genymotion is a good choice.
It is a premium software, but you can download the trial version for evaluation. It is a cross-plat software and compatible with Android SDK and Android Studio.
You can test your apps on broader virtual devices running Android 4.1 to Android 8.0 Oreo. Thanks to the full set of hardware sensor support in the emulator, you can simulate every aspect of the app. The ADB access allows easy compatibility with a testing framework such as Robtium, Espresso, etc.
Some of the advanced features in Genymotion include Kiosk Mode, which lets visitors test the app on your website without downloading it.
Genymotion is the best Android emulator for developers. It offers everything in one place and helps you speed up Android development and automated tests.
GameLoop is a leading Android emulator for PC developed by Tencent, who also created PUBG gameplay. Within this platform, you can play amazing Android games and meet new gaming buddies.
This software can offer an expansive library of games from Android right on your PC. Depending on your preferences, it’s the perfect place to take breath-taking gameplay from mobile and enjoy it at high quality on a desktop.
To exemplify, the program offers you practical features to integrate the game perfectly on your computer. Some of them are smart control, keymapping, anti-cheating system, and master game category.
With this all-rounded platform, you can enjoy every Android game on a bigger screen to enhance your gaming experience instantly, plus high performance with AOW engine support.
Therefore, there are various games you can play like PUBG Mobile, Call of Duty Mobile, Arena of Valor, League of Legends, and many more. With all this assured, you can also invite friends to follow you and experience excellent gaming sessions together.
Thus if you desire to meet your favored characters and game worlds using an efficient emulator platform, try to see the results for yourself.
Android emulators make it easy to play multiplayer games on a PC with better controls from the keyboard or Gamepad and benefit from a large screen.
It also helps if your Android smartphone cannot run the latest game titles due to hardware limitations. You can download the Android emulator on your PC and effortlessly play any game with max settings.
If you want to share your gameplay on YouTube and other streaming services, check for the built-in screen recording feature in the emulator. If not, check out our best game recording software for YouTube article that features free and paid gameplay recording software for PC.
Many users have complained about getting an error saying another operation on Google Chrome is in progress when they try to update or use Chrome.
It means that your browser is busy with some tasks and cannot perform the assigned task. Well, it is frustrating to get stuck like this. But fortunately, it is fixable.
Here in this blog, we will discuss all the potential fixes right after talking about the causes of the issue.
What causes another operation on Google Chrome is in progress?
There can be several reasons for the issue to occur; some of the popular ones are:
Unstable internet connection – If your internet connection is slow, your Google Chrome might not perform the task. Check your internet connection; if it is not working as it should, contact your ISP.
Numerous tabs opened – If you have many tabs opened on Chrome, it could make the browser run slow. Hence the error.
Unwanted extensions active – Extensions are pretty helpful, but when you have many of them involved, it could affect the browser’s performance. Remove the unnecessary extensions to fix the issue.
Several programs running on your PC – If you have a lot of programs running on your computer, it could slow the PC. It can also affect your browser performance.
What can I do to fix another operation on Google Chrome is in progress?
Before moving to the troubleshooting steps, go through these preliminary checks:
Press the Windows key, type Windows Security and click Open.
Now go to Firewall and network protection. Click Allow an app through firewall.
Check the list to see if Google Chrome is present or is allowed.
Click Change Settings.
If Google Chrome is present in the list but not marked, place a checkmark beside it and for Private & Public.
If Google Chrome is not present, click Allow another app.
On the next page, select Browse.
Choose the app and click Open.
Then click Add.
Click OK to complete.
5. Check for malware
Press the Windows key, type Windows Security and click Open.
Go to Virus & threat protection.
Click Scan options.
Now choose Full scan and click Scan now.
The scan will take some time. Once done, it will show you malicious files if present. Delete them and try to use Chrome again.
6. Contact Google Support
If nothing has worked for you, we advise you to contact Google Support. Explain the case and the measures you have taken. This will help them assist you better.
So, these are the steps you can take to fix another operation on Google Chrome is in progress error. Try them and let us know what worked for you in the comments below.
If you use a USB stick in public places or on shared workstations, it is a good idea to protect your privacy. For this purpose, you can hide the files on the stick from prying eyes.
To do this, you need to encrypt your USB stick. In this way, other people won’t be able to see what files and folders you stored on the device. On the other hand, you’ll be able to access the respective files by entering a security password.
To protect the data stored on a USB stick, you can use programs that hide all the files in a single secret file. The secret file can only be unlocked with that specific program.
Here are 5 programs that you can use to hide the files stored on your pen drive.
Folder Lock offers speed and simplicity by encrypting files on the fly. It does that simply by copying files into digital “lockers” protected by 256-bit AES encryption. Lockers can then be backed up online, password-protected, or stored in portable devices.
You can upload files to third-party cloud services like Dropbox or host them on the Folder Lock cloud server for an additional fee. There is also a function that permanently deletes files from the user’s hard disk.
Folder Lock can back up your files in real-time, it protects portable units, destroys files and drives, and cleans your file history. Folder Lock is one of the most popular file security applications with more than 25 million users. It works on 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista, and XP.
Folder Lock has plenty of useful features:
Lock files and folders – Hide private images, documents, and videos with just one click.
Encrypt files – Encrypt sensitive files and folders in on-the-fly lockers. Lockers are portable.
Backup lockers – Backup and synchronize securely encrypted file lockers to ensure cloud.
Portable lockers – Create portable self-executable cabinets for USB drives, CD / DVDs, and emails.
Make Wallets – Make digital wallets to securely save real-life cards such as credit cards and SSNs.
Shred file – Permanently delete files on your computer so they are unrecoverable.
Hide your files and documents
To hide your files, follow these steps:
Click on the ‘Folders Lock’ button located at the top left in Folder Lock.
Click on the ‘Add Items to Lock‘ button which displays a drop-down menu.
From this menu, you have the option to add files, folders, or units. Using this Folder Lock option, you can hide images, hide videos, hide PDF documents, hide spreadsheets, hide Word files and hide many other file formats.
Encrypt files
File encryption requires creating a locker. To create a locker, follow these steps:
Click on the ‘Encrypt File’ button located at the upper left corner
Press ‘Create Locker’ button, assign a label to the locker,
Set a password for your locker
Customize your locker, choosing the type and size.
Hence, all you have to do is drag and drop files to encrypt them. This option will allow you to block and encrypt images, videos, documents, folders, spreadsheets, Office files, and any other file format that you want to encrypt.
Password protect images and videos
Encryption will provide you with unbreakable security that uses AES-256-bit encryption to keep files safe. On the other hand, file locking provides quick and effective locking. This allows you to protect the most frequently accessed files on your USB pen drive.
Whatever the option you choose for files, both of these options allow you to password-protect your files, folders, images, videos, documents, Word files, Excel files, and virtually any type of file that you can protect with a password.
Folder Lock
Use your USB risk-free with advanced encryption & password protection.
TheDoGoodSoft USB Encryptor is another good option for securing your data. It uses flash encryption which has no restriction on file size, it is great for large amounts of data.
It is very easy to use and manage. You don’t even need to install the software. Once you get the package, just unzip the ude.exe file and then copy it into your disk/drive. Open it, click Flash Encrypt, and set a password. The uninstallation is just as simple, you just have to delete ude.exe from the folder you located it in.
You can also create Read-Only encryption if you want to allow access to the content of your folders. Other users will be able to view the information, but they cannot change it in any way shape, or form (delete, copy, change).
In order to be able to run the software, your system needs to meet the following requirements: an Intel or compatible X86 processor, 256MB memory, 1GB of free disk space, and a monitor of 1024×768 or higher resolution.
If you are familiar with diamond-encrypted files and folders, rest assured this tool is a great help.
Diamond Encryption is a high-security encryption method that is ideal for sensitive data and folders. The files and folders that have been diamond-encrypted cannot be decrypted without the right password.
You can diamond-encrypt when you start USB Encryptor, choose a file or folder from the file list, and then press the Diamond-Encrypt button. Enter your password and then click OK. You must remember your password or you will be unable to access those files.
Other key features of DoGoodSoft USB Encryptor include:
Read-only encryption
Portable software requires no installation
One license secures up to 10 devices
The software can be used on Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 7/Vista/XPV7.30.
DoGoodSoft USB Encryptor
Keep your data safe with easy, yet extremely safe encryption.
Gilisoft is another encryption tool that allows users to password-protect their data.
The encryption process is simple, users are just required to follow a few simple and intuitive steps.
Make sure you install your Gilisoft USB encryption package and insert a USB drive.
Then, open the UI. You will get a dropdown list of multiple connected devices. Select your USB flash drive, and then you can create a secure area.
Now you will have to set up a password. Click ok, enable password protection and your drive is secured.
Remembering the password is critical if you want to retrieve the files you encrypted!
The software is compatible with Windows operating systems, starting with Windows 2000. It supports both 32 and 64-bit builds for more recent versions of the OS.
Once this process is finished, no one can access your data without a password. The security system can reportedly fully protect against any leaks and privacy breaches.
The software can be used to secure any kind of portable media like USB flash drives, Thumb Drives, Memory Sticks, Memory Cards, Pen Drives, and Jump Drives.
Other key features of Gilisoft USB Encryption include:
Simple and modern user interface
Dedicated security and encryption guides on the official website
Can encrypt whole storage devices or specifics files or folders
An added benefit of this service is that, once you get a license, you get a lifetime of free upgrades. This is great because you are always given the best up-to-date security without touching your wallet.
Gilisoft USB Encryption
Get a lifetime of highly advanced encryption to keep your data safe forever.
When you connect a USB drive to your computer, the antivirus already installed automatically scans and prevents the spread of autorun viruses. In other words, it’s just like an offline antivirus that automatically detects and removes autorun viruses.
Dynamikode USB Security Suite checks the activities running on the USB drive at all times. It basically continues to keep an eye on what people and other programs do on your computer.
How does it do that? With the activity recorder as disconnection, copying, deleting, renaming with date and time. This is a useful and easy-to-use tool to protect your computer from threats via USB.
The tool also includes an activity logger that provides a report on all recent changes that happened to your USB ports.
This includes logging whenever a new device is connected, as well as disconnected, file changes of any type (copy/delete/paste/rename).
Besides protecting your USB flash drives, the tool is also securing your ports which is great in case someone tries to copy data from the computer on their phone.
Users can also disable USB ports which means that no one without permission will be able to connect a USB device to your PC.
Dynamikode USB Security Suite is compatible with Windows operating systems starting with Windows XP. It supports both 32-bit and 64-bit builds.
Main features include:
It does not slow down your computer.
There are customizable settings.
It can disable the USB ports and block the use of USB drives on your system
To function properly, the tool requires a RAM memory of 512 MB or higher and a processor of at least 1GHz.
To protect the data of a USB stick or a pen drive, you can use the free VeraCrypt program. It can hide the stick’s contents in a single secret file, which can only be unlocked with the program.
The software combines different standards and encryption algorithms together. The security tool allows maximum protection of 2 GB of data. VeraCrypt also gives you the possibility to encrypt the entire hard disk or USB stick.
You can download the program to an external storage device. This software requires administrator rights to work. This means that you cannot use VeraCrypt to open encrypted files on other computers.
In order to maintain good performance, VeraCrypt uses parallelization and pipelining in order to allow fast read and write rates.
Other key features of VeraCrypt include:
GUI available in several different languages
Compatible with multiple file systems
Easy to use GUI, with instructional prompts for each encryption step
VeraCrypt is compatible with Windows operating systems, as well as with macOS and Linux-operated computers.
Rohos Mini is one of the most popular USB encryption programs and does not require any special authorization.
It is a simple, yet powerful encryption software that can help users secure their flash drive data.
The software comes with an intuitive user interface that lets users create passwords for their USB flash drives.
It can also create hidden and encrypted disk partitions that cannot be accessed without permission.
The tool automatically detects any device connected to your USB ports and displays it in a list in its main window.
Users can easily change flash drive properties and add/change the password in just a few clicks.
Rohos Mini Drive has both portable and installable versions. You can either add it directly to your USB device or install it on your PC.
Other key features of Rohos Mini Drive include:
Browser security and encryption
NIST-compliant encryption standards
Compatible with Windows 32-bit and 64-bit builds
Rohos Mini Drive has a free limited version and a premium version.
The key difference between the two is that the free version places limitations on how much data you can secure- users can encrypt a maximum of 8 GB.
An element not to be overlooked of Rohos Mini Drive is accessibility. In fact, you can open the security tool from any computer. To use it, simply download the tool on the USB stick.
An alternative and very simple solution to protect the data saved on your USB drive is to use 7-Zip. This is one of the most popular file compression programs compatible with Windows 10.
To use this software, simply select the file in the external storage unit, press the right mouse button or touchpad, and then click, among the various items, on “Add to archive“.
Next, you will have to look for the “Encryption” box, hit Enter, enter the protection password, and press “OK”.
This software has a high compression ratio in 7z format, using LZMA and LZMA 2 compression.
It supports multiple archive formats including 6z, XS< BZIP2, GZIP, ZIP, TAr, and WIM.
Besides archiving and password protection features, 7zip also secures your data with AES-256 encryption.
Other key features of 7zip include:
Compatible with 64-bit and 32-bit builds
Recovery options for corrupted archives
Supports extremely large file sizes
The software is compatible with Windows operating systems starting with Windows 2000.
USB privacy software solutions offer a convenient and reliable method of securing USB flash drives against unauthorized access. As discussed above, there are plenty of such tools on the market.
Take them all for a spin and mention your favorite(s) in the comments below.
Guitar recording software tools are a must-have for musicians who wish to create great guitar tones when looking to make the next big hit. Recording your guitar is also a great way to have others listen to you drop a solo as well as to spot weaknesses in your skills.
Also known as DAW solutions (Digital Audio Workstations), the tools on this list don’t lack anything when it comes to guitar recording, so they can be your secret weapon in your quest to become the next Jimi Hendrix.
There are numerous options with a majority being straightforward meaning users can use them without undergoing tiring tutorials. Well, developers have been constantly improving these programs so nowadays, this software has become a must-have in both home and commercial studios.
As it’s the norm when we come to digital music tools, there’s no correct or wrong answer. Rather, guitarists should focus on getting audio recording software that best serves their needs. That’s because what works for one musician doesn’t necessarily work for their peer. Above all, you should selectsoftware that’s intuitive and rich enough to help accomplish your goals.
That said, our team has done some of the heavy liftings and come up with a shortlist of some of the very best recording software.
Magix Music Maker is an innovative guitar amplifier and it grabs the headlines in this immensely popular recording software.
This means you can record, distort, amplify, and even alter the tone of your recordings as desired. The other big news is the simplicity of recording your own music: You simply connect your guitar and you’re primed to record in gold-standard studio quality.
The rich audio effects also prove extremely useful when developing your own music styles and or mixing and give you room to freely express your talent. Plus you can choose to add your guitar music to the over 100 included styles.
Like in the rest top-ranked recording applications, you can easily share your latest production with the world from the sharing tool.
On the same note, you can have the helpful music maker community critiquing your work and get free expert advice on how to up your game.
Lastly, the included mastering tools enable you to work with higher precision when refining your final product.
Magix Music Maker
Need music editing and recording software? With Magix, you can produce your guitar songs like a pro.
It may not be easy to get a professional guitar sound from scratch, but you can use leading software like WavePad Audio Editing. With this option, your music tracks can evolve due to rich editing tools.
With this very easy software, you have the possibility to edit guitar songs and feel like in your own studio, producing cutting-edge music sounds. Whether you need to amplify or normalize your recordings it is possible to make them sound professionally good.
According to your music style and genre, amplify or add great music effects on tracks seamlessly. The benefits you can capitalize on are included in a very friendly platform that can help you to record and edit your guitar.
As said before, this audio editing software has included basic functionality like inserting, cutting, deleting, trimming, compression, and more. Using this solution you can polish your art until it is complete and impressive.
Moreover, you can learn to master guitar editing by improving your skills and understanding complex features like a batch processing to use effects, noise reduction, or virtual studio technology DLL for additional effects.
To discover the plethora of functions of this great software, you only have to dive into your guitar repertoire and start producing mind-blowing tracks.
WavePad Audio Editing
Take your guitar recording above anyone’s expectations using this NCH software.
Formerly known as Sonar, Cakewalk by Bandlab comes with a massive library of loops, riffs, and more, and so it’s the way to go if you want to awe with killer guitar tracks.
The precision audio technology, effective resampling, workflow-enhancing efficiency, monitoring options, and best-in-class mix editor guarantee raucous tunes every time.
And it’s a great software even for starters considering that setup, configuration, and program use are all straightforward.
On the other hand, experienced artists have mentioned that the latest release is super powerful and preferable even for recording live situations.
The other highlight is the program’s premium guitar effects and real-time automatic pitch correction which are sure to help make a masterpiece.
Whether you have a rock star acoustic or electric guitar, Cakewalk by Bandlab’s award-winning features is simply irresistible.
Even more amazing, the award-winning recording software is 100% free.
Cubase is regarded as one of the most robust guitar recording software packages globally and with good reason:
It offers a tremendous collection of flexible tools to allow you to record or edit your previous recordings quickly and intuitively.
The application further supplements this with an array of powerful effects and tons of dynamic sounds all of which are easy to apply.
To cap what is a very well-thought-out recording tool, Cubase’s amp simulations, and vocal alignment panels intelligently determine the greatest guitar sound.
Whether you’re a skilled professional or a beginner, Cubase is endowed with all you may need to turn your fledgling hobby into hit music.
Cubase is available in three versions: Elements, artist, and the all-powerful Pro all sharing the same pristine quality and crucially, ease of use.
Audacity also made the grade mainly courtesy of its amazing live recording and easy-to-invoke effects.
As such, you can record the best live guitar after setting the optimal recording speed or pitch of your recording.
Not one to lag behind, the software comes with its healthy assembly of top-notch functions, some of them very advanced.
For example, it allows you to export your inspiration recordings in myriad file formats, including sending several files simultaneously.
In like manner, the program has one of the very best sound qualities as a result of its exceptional resampling and dithering.
Also timely is the timer record. For starters, this enables the musician to schedule when to start and end his/her recording and additionally set audacity to automatically save the project or export it to a selected audio format.
The program’s punch and roll record feature has also won a lot of praise. You see, this feature enables recorders to correct errors made during the course of recording easily.
You can pause, back up over an error, and continue recording. The end product is one track with zero mistakes and is properly timed.
Long story short, considering it’s free, Audacity’s quality is beautiful music to enthusiasts’ ears.
So, the above are our nominees for the best software for guitar recording. We love their intuitiveness, their versatility, and the avalanche of features.
Now it’s you to pick and download the program that you feel will best serve your interests.
Please do and let us know your favored option in the comments section below.
Step into a mythical world to rescue a kidnapped friend in The Secret Order. This hidden object game offers:
Chase an undead pirate in this gripping hidden object adventure. Key features include:
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