Fix the Windows Update Error 0x80070643 (Windows Defender)

Posted on December 27, 2022October 24, 2025 by Madalina Dinita

Users complain that the Windows Defender update fails to install due to the 0x80070643 error code. The error is likely caused by malware, file corruption, driver malfunction, or even improper system settings.

The full error message states: There were problems installing some updates, but we’ll try again later. If you keep seeing this, and want to search the web or contact support for information, this may help. Definition Update for Windows Defender – Error 0x80070643.

If you encountered the 0x80070643 error on Windows 11, check out our dedicated guide for more help.

How do I fix the Windows Defender 0x80070643 error?

1. Use antivirus removal tools

When you uninstall a third-party antivirus using the Uninstall option from Control Panel, some files might remain undetected, preventing you from running and updating Windows Defender.

Even if you uninstalled your previous antivirus and have been using Windows Defender for quite some time without any problems, you’re not safe.

The remnants of your previous antivirus may now be causing the 0x80070643 Windows Defender error, and since they are hard to remove manually, you need to deal with them some other way.

This is where uninstaller software comes in handy to remove your antivirus or any leftover files. It is specially designed to remove the selected application and all its files and registry entries, leaving a clean space.

Completely uninstall your old antivirus programs, restart your computer, and Windows Defender should be able to install the latest updates.

2. Check your system files

Press Windows Key + X and choose Command Prompt (Admin) from the menu.
You can also use PowerShell (Admin).
Type the following command and hit Enter: sfc /scannow

The System File Checker tool repairs corruption in system files. Use this tool to verify whether Windows Defender is corrupted, which could explain why you can’t install the updates.

To perform an SFC scan, you need to do the following:

If you can’t run the SFC scan or if SFC didn’t solve the problem, you might have to use a DISM scan instead. To do that, follow these steps:

Start Command Prompt as administrator.
Now run the following command and press Enter: DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
DISM scan will now start.
Remember that this scan can take up to 20 minutes or more, so don’t interrupt it.

Once the DISM scan is finished, check if the problem is resolved. If the issue persists, or if you couldn’t run an SFC scan before, try rerunning the SFC scan and check if that solves the problem.

3. Perform a Clean boot

Press the Windows Key + R and enter msconfig.
Press Enter or click OK.
The System Configuration window will now appear.
Go to the Services tab and check to Hide all Microsoft services.
Now click Disable all button.
Go to the Startup tab and click Open Task Manager.
- A list of startup applications will now appear.
Please select the first item on the list, right-click it and choose Disable from the menu.
Now repeat this step for all startup applications.
Once you disable all startup applications, close Task Manager and return to the System Configuration window.
Click Apply and OK to save changes and restart your PC.
Once your PC restarts, check if the problem still appears.
- If not, go back and enable disabled apps and services one by one until you find the one causing the issue.
When you find it, delete or disable it, and the problem will be permanently resolved.

Third-party applications can sometimes interfere with Windows and cause Windows Defender update to fail and the Windows Update error 0x80070643 to appear. You might be able to fix it by performing a Clean boot.

4. Use a third-party antivirus software

If you want to avoid all the problems related to Windows Defender, you can switch to a better security tool, such as third-party antivirus software.

Not only will this software do a better job at protecting your data from being stolen or stopping any virus from infecting your device. It should also have no errors or glitches.

You will also benefit from other useful features that protect your PC and allow you to browse the internet carelessly and without worry.

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5. Restart the Security Center Service

Press Windows key + R and launch run.
Type services.msc and hit Enter.
In the Services tab, search for Security Center.
Right-click on Security Center, then click on Restart.

6. Perform a final manual update

Go to Microsoft’s Malware Protection Center portal.
Follow the instructions to download and install the Antimalware, antispyware updates, and Network Inspection System updates available for your system.

NOTE

The manual ADL packageu00a0update installs silently. To ensure the manual update worked correctly, check with the Windows Defender Client UI to see if it reports the latest threat definition version.

7. Disable .NET Framework

Press the Windows Key + S and enter features.
Select Turn Windows features on or off.
When the Windows Features window opens, disable Windows Communication Foundation HTTP Activation and Windows Communication Foundation Non-HTTP Activation.
Now click OK to save the changes.
Restart your PC and check if the problem is solved.

According to people, sometimes .NET Framework can cause problems with Windows Defender updates. However, you might be able to fix this problem simply by disabling it.

Several users suggest repairing your .NET Framework installation as a potential solution, so you might want to try that as well.

8. Check for updates from Windows Defender

Press Windows Key + I to quickly open the Settings app.
Go to the Update & Security section.
In the left pane, select Windows Defender and then click the Open Windows Defender Security Center button.
Then, go to Virus & threat protection section.
Now go to Protection updates.
Click the Check for updates button.

Windows Defender will now download the available updates. In addition, several users reported that this method fixes the kb2267602 error 0x80070643 for them, so feel free to try it out.

If you’re having problems with downloading updates, you might be able to fix the problem by trying to download updates directly from Windows Defender.

9. Reset Windows Update components

Start Command Prompt as administrator.
Now enter the following commands:
net stop wuauserv net stop cryptSvc net stop bits net stop msiserver ren C:WindowsSoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old ren C:WindowsSystem32catroot2 Catroot2.old net start wuauserv net start cryptSvc net start bits net start msiserver

Sometimes there might be a bug with Windows Update components, which can cause the Windows Update error 0x80070643 error to appear. You might be able to fix the problem by running several CMD commands.

By running these commands, you’ll stop all services associated with the Windows Update, rename the affected directories and then restart the services. This is a simple solution, so feel free to try it out.

What are some common Windows Defender issues?

Windows Defender offers solid protection, but if you want to keep your Windows 10 PC protected, it’s important to update Windows Defender regularly.

Unfortunately, update issues can occur, and speaking of cases, these are some of the common problems that users reported:

Windows Defender update failed – If the Windows Defender update fails, the issue might be a third-party antivirus tool. If your previous antivirus isn’t completely removed, sometimes leftover files can interfere with Windows Defender and cause this issue to appear. To fix it, remove any leftover files.
Windows Defender update stuck – Sometimes, your Windows Defender can get stuck during the update process. If this happens, be sure to repair your system files using both SFC and DISM scans.
Windows Defender update connection failed – If you get this error message while trying to update Windows Defender, your third-party firewall might be an issue, so be sure to disable it or uninstall it.
Windows Defender update won’t install – If the Windows Defender update doesn’t install, the issue might be a problematic application. However, you can fix the problem simply by performing a Clean boot.
Windows Defender not getting updated / security intelligence update error – Several users claim that Windows Update components can cause this issue, so try resetting them and check if that solves the problem.

We’ve written extensively about Defender update problems before. So bookmark our article on what to do if Windows Defender won’t update in case you need it later.

We hope these fixes work for you in solving the Windows Update error 0x80070643, related to Windows Defender.

If you’ve found other workarounds for the Windows Defender 0x80070643 issue, tell us more about your experience in the comment section below.

Bluestacks: Your Device Isn’t Compatible with This Version [Fixed]

Posted on December 27, 2022September 29, 2025 by Milan Stanojevic

One of the most popular Android emulators on the market is Bluestacks, but many users reported an app incompatibility error stating that your device isn’t compatible with this version in Bluestacks.

This happens when trying to run certain applications or games and obviously, it can be a problem as it will prevent you from doing so.

Don’t worry, in today’s article, we’re going to show you how to fix your device isn’t compatible with this version in Bluestacks error.

Why BlueStacks is not compatible with my device?

Now, this isn’t the only issue that users are dealing with. In fact, there are various problems that can appear in Bluestacks, and here are some similar anomalies that users reported:

Your device isn’t compatible with this version Bluestacks PUBG, Fortnite – The Bluestacks game not compatible issue is usually caused by your settings. To fix it, increase the number of cores and amount of RAM in Bluestacks settings.
Your device is not supported Mobile Bluestacks, at the moment PUBG Bluestacks – In order to run certain games, you’ll need to have a 64-bit version of Bluestacks installed. A 64-bit version offers better performance by better utilizing your hardware, so be sure to switch to the 64-bit version as soon as you can.
Bluestacks device not compatible Pokemon Go – If certain applications aren’t supported, you can maybe avoid this issue simply by downloading the application from a third-party source.
Bluestacks this app is incompatible with your tablet – Sometimes you might not have the latest version of Bluestacks installed, and that can cause the Bluestacks app not compatible issue.
Your device isn’t compatible with this version emulator (Bluestacks Nikke, Genshin Impact)
Bluestacks 5, 4, 10 your device isn’t compatible with this version

How do I fix the Device not compatible error in Bluestacks?

Change the engine settings
Install the 64-bit version of Bluestacks
Try downloading the APK file from a third-party source
Delete the data and cache for Google Play Store
Install the latest version of Bluestacks
Reinstall Bluestacks
Try a different emulator

1. Change the engine settings

Open Bluestacks.
Navigate to Settings, and select Engine.
Change the number of cores to 4, and change the memory to at least 3GB.
Next, check the option Use advanced graphics mode.
Save changes and check if that solves your problem.

Sometimes you might get a Device not compatible message in Bluestacks due to your settings, and this can prevent you from running certain applications and games.

However, you can fix this problem simply by making a couple of adjustments, just follow the above steps to quickly solve this issue.

If you encounter a Bluestacks black screen on your PC, just follow our detailed guide and fix it in no time.

2. Install the 64-bit version of Bluestacks

Many users reported Device not compatible message while trying to run Fortnite in Bluestacks. It turns out that in order to run Fortnite, you need to have a 64-bit version of Bluestacks installed.

In case you don’t know, most software comes in 32-bit and 64-bit versions, and if you have a 64-bit processor, which you most likely do, it’s advised to use a 64-bit version of Bluestacks.

The 64-bit version will make better use of your hardware and CPU and bring you improved performance, so there’s no reason not to use it.

After you switch to the 64-bit version of Bluestacks, try running Fortnite again and check if the problem is still there.

3. Try downloading the APK file from a third-party source

If you’re getting Device not compatible message in Bluestacks, the problem might be related to the application you’re trying to run. Some applications won’t be able to run or download on Bluestacks at all.

However, you can always circumvent this problem simply by downloading the APK file from a different source.

There are many third-party websites that host APK files, so download the application from one of these websites and run the APK file that you’ve downloaded in Bluestacks.

You should then just install the application and the problem should be resolved.

4. Delete the data and cache for Google Play Store

Navigate to the System app in Bluestacks.
Go to the Apps and select All.
Select Google Play Store, and click Clear data.
After doing that, repeat the previous step for Google Play Services.

According to users, one way to fix this problem is to delete data and cache for Google Play Store.

Sometimes your cache can become corrupted and that can interfere with the application download. To fix this problem, you just need to clear the cache by following the above steps.

Once you clear the cache and data for both applications, check if the problem is still there. Alternatively, you can download HD GuestCommandRunner from Bluestacks and use it to clean the cache.

Also, find the quickest solutions to the Latest version already installed error in our comprehensive guide.

5. Install the latest version of Bluestacks

If you’re getting a Device not compatible error in Bluestacks, it’s possible that the issue is caused by an outdated version of Bluestacks.

The older version might have certain bugs, or they might not support the latest features, and that can lead to this and many other errors. To fix this issue, update Bluestacks to the latest version.

After updating your application to the latest version, try running the app that is giving you this error and check if that solves the problem.

6. Reinstall Bluestacks

To manually uninstall Bluestacks, open Control Panel and click on the Programs icon.
Select Uninstall a program.
Find Bluestacks in the program list and double-click it.
If an Are you sure you want to uninstall? dialog box will show up, select Yes and wait for the process to complete
When the uninstallation is finished, you will receive a The product has been successfully uninstalled prompt.

At this point, there is a possibility that some empty files or the installation wizard are still on your computer.

The Device not compatible error may appear because your Bluestacks installation files are corrupted, in which case we recommend a full reinstallation of the software.

This can step in the way if you want to reinstall the program, and it is also unnecessarily using resources. To make sure that everything related to the Bluestacks software is removed from your computer:

In your main drive (the one where Windows OS is installed) head to the ProgramData folder. The folder may be hidden, in which case you will have to manually type the location of your main drive and the name of the folder into the location tab, for example, if your main drive is C, then you will type: C:ProgramData.
Find the Bluestacks Setup folder and delete it.
Open the Run command prompt by pressing Windows key+R or by typing Run in the Windows Search Box.
Type %temp%, and click Ok.
Delete everything in the Temp folder.

Now the uninstallation is fully completed, we can proceed to reinstall Bluestacks:

Head to the Bluestacks’ homepage.
Click on the Download Bluestacks button.
Open the installation wizard.
Click the Install now button.
When the installation is complete, the user interface will open automatically.

7. Try a different emulator

If you simply cannot shake off the Bluestacks device not compatible error, consider a different option. Which app can I use instead of BlueStacks? Here’s the big question and obviously, the big answer will follow.

If we had to pick a solid Bluestacks alternative, we would recommend trying out LDPlayer.

It allows you to play mobile games on a PC without facing any issues, at a higher speed compared to a phone or tablet.

This great emulator comes both with Google Play Store and its own LD Store, plus itt has a very straightforward, easy-to-use UI.

⇒ Get LDPlayer

Bluestacks is a great application overall, but Device not compatible message can be a problem for some users.

This issue is usually caused by your settings, but we hope that you managed to solve this problem by using one of our solutions.

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

How to Enable Num Lock on Startup in Windows 10 [Quick Guide]

Posted on December 27, 2022October 4, 2023 by Ivan Jenic

If your Microsoft Account password contains numbers, you might want to use a numeric part of your keyboard while you’re typing your password on login.

The NumLock is one of the NumPad keys usually found on the right side of normal-sized keyboards. However, some smaller keyboards or laptops have the NumPad integrated into their main keys.

Either way, the NumPad is an optional set of keys that is turned off by default, and needs to be activated to function on Windows 10.

But, since NumLock isn’t enabled by default when you start your computer, you won’t be able to use it to type your password. And in this article, we’re going to show you how to easily change that.

How can I enable NumLock on Windows 10 startup?

1. Enable NumLock and restart the computer

While on Lock Screen, press the NumLock key on your keyboard to enable it.
Reboot the system from the power button on the Lock Screen.
When you turn on your system once again the NumLock should be enabled.

That’s how to enable NumLock on your Lock screen without any Registry hacks.

But if this for some reason doesn’t work for you, or you find it boring to restart your computer every time you need to enter a password, you can try with the registry hack listed below.

If you need additional info, check this article about enabling NumLock on your Logon and Lock screen.

2. Enable NumLock with a Registry tweak

Go to Search, type regedit, and open Registry Editor.
Navigate to the following path: HKEY_USERS\DEFAULT\Control Panel\Keyboard
Find the string value named InitialKeyboardIndicators and set its value to 80000002.
Click OK and close the Registry Editor.

To permanently enable NumLock on Lock Screen perform the registry edit above.

If you can’t edit your Registry, follow the simple steps in this guide about editing regedit and make your registry tweaks with ease.

3. Disable Fast Startup

Go to Start, then Control Panel and Power Options.
Click on Choose what the power buttons do.
Select the option Change settings that are currently unavailable.
Uncheck the Turn on Fast Startup check box.

If the two methods listed above didn’t help you, this means that you also need to turn off Fast Startup. The reason for this is that the Fast Startup settings may override your recent changes.

Here are the steps to follow in order to disable Fast Startup:

To to the Control Panel.
Next, go to Hardware and Sound.
Select Power Options.
Then Choose what the power buttons do.
Then, toggle Turn of fast startup (recommended) and click Save Changes.

One other solution would be to turn off the fast startup from the power options. It’s quite simple to do if you follow the steps above.

Is your Windows not letting you turn off the Fast Startup for some reason? Learn what to do in this guide dedicated to disabling Windows Fast Startup.

That’s all, after using these simple methods, the NumLock of your keyboard will be enabled by default every time you start your machine.

I have to mention that this tweak also works in previous versions of Windows, like Windows 7. If you’re performing this tweak in Windows 7, set the value of InitialKeyboardIndicators to 2, instead of 80000002 (For Windows 8, it’s 80000002, as well).

If you have any other Windows 10-related issues you can check for the solution in our Windows 10 Fix section.

Additionally, you can check more information about key-related problems on our great guide about enabling Caps lock, Num lock, and Scroll Lock on Windows 10.

For more suggestions or questions, reach for the comments section below and we’ll surely take a look.

0x800707e7 – 0x3000d Error: What is it & How to Fix it

Posted on December 27, 2022October 4, 2023 by Madhuparna Roy

You are not alone if you are trying to upgrade to Windows 11 but getting the 0x800707E7 – 0X3000D error.

As the upgrade reaches a certain percentage, the system restarts again, rolls back to the previous Windows version, and shows the following error code, 0x800707E7 – 0X3000D.

What causes Windows 11 update error 0x800707e7?

Some of the reasons that we have identified that may trigger the Windows 11 upgrade error 0x800707E7 are as below:

Services and startup items – Certain services, and startup items like trace sessions or apps may interfere with the update causing the issue.
Conflicting external devices – Sometimes, connected peripherals like a USB, pen drive, or keyboard may interrupt the upgrade process, thus, showing the 0x800707E7 error.
Problematic software/applications – It could be possible that a certain third-party app or software may be the reason behind the error.
Outdated drivers – If the system drivers are not updated, it can trigger the 0x800707E7 error.
Corrupted system files – Broken or damaged system files are often the reason behind many errors including the Windows 11 upgrade error.
Faulty or too many user profiles – Chances are that you have redundant or corrupt user profiles that may create a conflict with the process.
Incorrect path of the index location – Sometimes, even the index location path may trigger the 0x800707e7-0x3000d error.

How do I fix Windows 11 update error 0x800707e7-0x3000d?

You can try some of the preliminary checks to possibly fix the issue:

Run Windows troubleshooter to detect and fix the issue automatically.
Disable and remove conflicting external devices.
Uninstall problematic software and applications.
Disconnect the LAN cable to stop downloading updates.
Disable the services and startup items.

However, if none of the above methods work, we have some effective solutions to help you fix the 0x800707e7-0x3000d error during the Windows 11 upgrade.

1. Disable Trace Session

Press the Win + R keys simultaneously to launch the Run console, type performance.exe, and hit Enter to open the Performance Monitor.
On the left, expand the Data Collector Sets section, and select Startup Event Trace Sessions.
Now, on the right, look for NPETraceSession, right-click on it, and select Properties.
In the Properties dialog, go to the Trace Session tab, and uncheck the box next to Enabled. Press Apply and then OK to save changes.

Now, restart your PC and check if you can now upgrade to Windows 11 without the 0x800707e7 error.

2. Delete unrecognized user profiles

Open the Run dialog by pressing the Win + R keys together. Type sysdm.cpl and hit Enter to launch the System Properties window.
Next, select the Advanced tab, and under User Profiles, click on Settings.
Now, in the User Profiles dialog, look for any unknown profiles. If you find any, select the profile and press the Delete button.
Press Yes in the prompt to confirm.
Repeat the process for any other unknown user profile.

Once done, press OK to exit, reboot your PC, and you should not encounter the 0x800707E7 – 0X3000D error anymore.

3. Remove the corrupted user profile from the registry editor

NOTE

Before making any changes to the registry editor, make sure to create a backup of the registry settings. This will help you recover any data that may be lost during the process.

To open the Run console, press the Win + R shortcut keys, type in regedit in the search bar, and hit Enter to launch Registry Editor.
In the Registry Editor window, navigate to the below path: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList
Now, under the ProfileList key on the left, select the user profile, and on the right, look for the ProfileImagePath string value.
Under Data you should see the profile name that can help you identify if it’s an unknown account. If it is, delete the associated registry key under ProfileList.
You should also delete any key under ProfileList with a .bak extension.
Now, navigate to the below path and repeat Steps 3 to 5 for this as well: Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList

Once you have successfully deleted the unknown user profiles, restart your PC and check if the issue is resolved or if it still persists.

4. Uninstall conflicting software

Press the Win + I keys together to launch Windows Settings. Click on Apps on the left and then click on Apps & features on the right.
On the next screen, go to the right, and under the App list, look for the problematic app. It’s usually Microsoft’s Zune Software or the Kaspersky Antivirus.
Go to the app, click on the three dots next to it, and select Uninstall.
Press Uninstall again to confirm.

Once the software is completely uninstalled, reboot your computer and check if the 0x800707e7 is gone.

5. Set the Indexing Location to the default path

Go to Windows Search, type Indexing Options in the search bar, and click on the result.
In the Indexing Options dialog, click on Advanced.
Next, in the Advanced Options window, under Index Settings, go to Index Location. Here, check if the path is set to C:\ProgramData\Microsoft $set index location to C:\ProgramData\Microsoft$
If not, then click on Select new, and then set the path to C:\ProgramData\Microsoft. Press OK.

Once done, restart your PC, try upgrading to Windows 11 and check if you still encounter the 0x800707e7 error.

Alternatively, you can also reset the Windows update components following the process mentioned in our detailed post, which is also applicable to the 0x800707e7 error.

However, if all of the above methods fail to work, you may refer to our guide on how to perform a repair upgrade (also applicable to Windows 11) to fix the issue.

For any other queries on Windows 11 upgrade issues, do leave a message in the comments box below.

How to Fix Double NAT and What is it?

Posted on December 27, 2022October 16, 2025 by Vlad Constantinescu

If you’ve recently upgraded your Internet connection and have two routers instead of one, it’s highly likely that you’re double NAT-ing. As a novice PC user, that shouldn’t bother you too much.

Some even say that double NAT-ing is even more secure than its singular version. However, if you’re not exactly tech-savvy, you may already have a lot of questions.

You can try to use a powerful VPN service to resolve the NAT issue once and for all, making this option the easiest, but it might not be useful for all users, depending on their network setup and expectations.

In other cases, users have encountered NAT issues while using their PS4 system, which can of course cause a wide range of issues, especially if you have waited for a long time to play a game.

What is double NAT?

To put it simply, double NAT is the situation when you connect to the Internet through two routers. So, you connect to your router, which is behind another router. Thus, you are part of two different private networks, which might seem ideal but it isn’t.

This situation is very frequent whenever your ISP enforces the use of a proprietary router. The ISP-provided router might not be exactly powerful, so you buy an additional one, which is more to your liking.

Due to your ISP’s policy, you are now double NAT-ing, which restricts you in a bunch of ways. For instance, port forwarding becomes a distant memory, since it’s so challenging, if not downright impossible in this situation.

Sure, you could just remove the ISP-provided router, but some companies insist on you using their hardware. A more complicated situation is when you’re using fiber optics and your ISP’s router acts as a signal converter.

For many users, double NAT isn’t a problem. But it can become troublesome if you play online games, want to forward some ports on your router, use UPnP or rely on IP address assignments.

How to fix double NAT

1. Remove ISP router from the network

Unplug and disconnect your ISP router
Plug the network cable into the WAN port of your personal router
Access your personal device’s interface and reconfigure it accordingly

You might need to change the way your modem handles the Internet connection. For instance, if your router only distributed dynamic IPs, you might need to change its settings so it can fill in the ISP modem’s position.

Double NAT can cause major issues for online gaming, port forwarding, or UPnP functions. To improve your connection stability and remove these restrictions, you can also learn how to change NAT type on Windows 11 for a smoother multiplayer experience.

2. Enable Bridge mode on your ISP router

Call your ISP
Ask them to put their router in Bridge mode
Reconfigure your personal router as needed

You will need to configure your router so it can distribute the traffic that previously ran through the first device. For instance, if the ISP router was configured for PPPoE and your personal device was in dynamic IP distribution mode, you will have to move the PPPoE settings on your personal router.

Explanation: When you put the ISP router in bridge mode, it disables the NAT feature on it. Thus, it starts functioning as a DHCP server and stops generating IP conflicts.

More so, if it’s a wireless-enabled router, it will lose its Wi-Fi capabilities and you won’t be able to access it on your network using the default gateway address.

If none of these solutions is good for you, here are a few ways you can circumvent double NAT.

How to port forward through double NAT

1. Use DMZ to forward connections

Log into your second router (the one farthest from the Internet/closer to your PC)
On the status page, locate the WAN/IP address and note it down
Log into the first router (use Wi-Fi or plug your PC directly to its WAN port)
Locate the DMZ page (if supported)
Enable DMZ and type the IP you’ve previously noted from the second router
Save the settings

Note that you should configure the second router in such a manner that its WAN address doesn’t change (static IP). If you use it in DHCP mode, its IP will definitely change at some point, which will render the DMZ IP you used in the first router useless.

2. Use double router port forwarding

Log into your first router (use Wi-Fi or plug your PC straight into the WAN port)
Forward ports to your second router’s external IP address
Log into your second router
Forward ports to the device where you want to run the program/service (game server, mail server, etc)
Configure a static address for every device you want to forward ports to
Make sure that the second router has a static IP address

If you’re not sure about setting static IP addresses for network devices, we’re going to show you how in the following section.

3. Set up a static IP address on Windows 10

Press the Win key on your keyboard
Type cmd and hit Enter
In the Command Prompt type ipconfig /all and hit Enter on your keyboard
Locate your main network adapter
Note down its IPv4 Address, Subnet Mask, and DNS Servers* (check the screenshot)
Close the Command Prompt window
Check your router’s status page to view the DNS servers if ipconfig /all shows the same value as Default Gateway
Access the Windows 10 Settings app
Choose Network & Internet
Click the Change adapter options button
Right-click the main adapter that you’ve used in the CMD steps above and choose Properties
Select Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) from the list
Click the Properties button
Take a screenshot of the current configuration displayed in the new window
Click the Use the following IP address radio button
Choose an IP address for your PC (should be similar to the CMD IP above**, only the last set of digits should be different, between 1-254)
Type the Subnet Mask and Default Gateway exactly as they appeared in the CMD window
Click the Use the following DNS server addresses radio button
Type the two DNS servers as they appear in your router’s status page
Click OK

* – if you see the same DNS server as the Default Gateway, you will need to check the DNS servers displayed on your router’s status page. Alternatively, you can call your ISP and ask them what DNS servers they use, and they should be able to provide you with this information.
** – if the IP you saw in CMD is, for instance, 192.168.0.108 (our case), you can change it to any other IP like 192.168.0.xxx, where xxx = any number between 1 and 254, except 108.

If your Internet connection doesn’t work after you went through all these steps, it can be one of two things:

You chose an invalid IP address (the same as your router’s or not in the same range)
The DNS servers are wrong, in which case you’ll have to call your ISP and ask them to tell you what DNS servers to use

Bypass or disable double NAT, ultimately it’s a matter of choice

If you’re unfortunate enough to be trapped behind the double NAT wall, it can be quite difficult to bypass this situation if you’re a novice. However, if you follow our extensive guide, you should have no trouble.

Regardless of whether you want to eliminate Double NAT or just bypass it through various means, our guide should have you covered. Make sure you follow our instructions accordingly and not skip any step.

Fix: My Computer Won’t Let Me Type in My Password [WiFi, Login Screen]

Posted on December 27, 2022October 4, 2023 by Milan Stanojevic

Users of the Windows operating system keep asking what they need to do when they can’t type passwords. Some can’t even type in the Command Prompt.

If your computer won’t let you type in your password, be it a WiFi one or simply a log-in one, you’re pretty much locked out.

Why can’t I type my Wifi password on my laptop? Well, that’s the big question and that’s exactly what we shall try to answer.

Why won’t my computer allow me to type in my password?

Some of the known causes include installation issues, or hardware-related errors, which can either be resolved by a quick hard reset or by troubleshooting the hardware and devices you may be using.

However, sometimes performing a hard reset or using the troubleshooter may not yield the desired results, but we’ve compiled a set of solutions that you can try and see if it helps.

What’s more, the issue can take more than one shape. Let’s have a look at commonly reported problems related to password insertion in the Windows OS:

Can’t type Wifi password Windows 10
Can’t type Wifi password Windows 11
My laptop won’t let me type my password – My Dell, HP, Lenovo will not let me type in my password
Can’t type in Windows 10 search bar and Wifi password
Unable to type password at login screen Windows 10, Windows 7
Windows 10 can’t type PIN
Keyboard not working cannot enter password (in Windows 11)
User name and password boxes do not appear when signing into Windows
Wifi password can’t type letters

How do I fix my WiFi password not typing in Windows 10 and 11?

? One of the ways to quickly help when you can’t type passwords in Windows 10 is to perform a hard reset. To do that, hold down the power button for about thirty seconds to shut down the computer.

? You can also check the hardware and devices troubleshooter and see what it lists as potential causes for the issue.

? Another solution you can try real quick is to replace your keyboard, use a different one, or alternatively boot up, then unplug your keyboard from the port and plug it back in.

If these general troubleshooting fixes don’t resolve the problem, try the other specific solutions below.

1. Use Ease of Access to get the on-screen keyboard

In the login screen, click the Ease of access icon.
Click the On-screen keyboard.
Enter the password using the screen keyboard to sign in.
If you are able to sign in, try uninstalling the keyboard driver by following the steps below and checking if it helps.
On the on-screen keyboard, click the Windows + X shortcut.
Select Device Manager.
In the Device Manager, expand the Keyboard and uninstall the driver.
Finally, restart the computer.

if you need more help fixing a keyboard driver error in Windows 10, don’t worry we got your back. Also, if you’re using a USB keyboard, try connecting it to a different USB port and see if it helps.

2. Disable Toggle and Sticky keys

Sometimes Sticky Keys could hinder you from typing your password, so you may need to disable the function. To do this:

Click Start and choose Settings.
Next, select Ease of Access.
Click Keyboard and find Toggle Keys.
Slide it left to turn it off.
Then, find Sticky Keys and do the same.

3. Create a new user account

You can create a new user profile then change settings to administrator privileges, and check if the problem persists. To do this:

Click Start and select Settings.
Then, go to Accounts.
Under Other people, click Family and other people.
Fill in the form with the username and password. Your new user account will be created.
Click on Change account type.
Click the drop-down arrow and choose Administrator to set the account to administrator level.
Restart your computer.
Login to the new account you just created.

If the keyboard works, then it may mean your other user profile is corrupted.

You can try the following in case of a corrupted user profile:

On your new account, use it to downgrade your usual account.
Click Apply or Ok.
Raise back your old account to its default admin level.
Rinse and repeat a few times as this will help to remove any corruption.
Leave your account on as Administrator.

4. Boot in Safe Mode

Safe mode starts up your computer with limited files and drivers but Windows will still run. If you still can’t type passwords in Windows 10, check whether it occurs while your computer is in Safe mode.

Follow these steps to start your computer in Safe Mode:

Click on the Start button and select Settings.
When the Settings box opens up, click Update & Security.
Select Recovery from the left pane.
Go to Advanced startup and click Restart now.
Select Troubleshoot from the choose an option screen, then click Advanced options.
Go to Startup Settings and click Restart.
Once your computer restarts, a list of options will come up.
Choose 4 or F4 to start your computer in Safe Mode.

If the issue isn’t there while in Safe mode, then your default settings and basic drivers are not contributing to the issue.

If it persists in Safe Mode, then your drivers have a problem, so you can update the chipset drivers and see if it goes away.

5. Perform Automatic Repair

Insert a USB or DVD and restart your computer.
Press F12 on your computer to open Windows Setup.
Select the drive you inserted your USB or DVD into.
Click Next and choose to Repair your computer.
A blue screen will come up with different options. Select Troubleshoot.
Select Advanced options.
Finally, choose Startup/Automatic Repair from the Advanced boot option.

The Windows Recovery tool can fix certain system problems by scanning your computer for the problem, then trying to fix it so your computer can start and run correctly.

Once the repair is complete, try typing your password again to see whether the issue persists.

6. Reinstall Windows

Download the media creation tool from the Microsoft website and then run it.
Select Create installation media for another PC.
Choose a language, edition, and architecture (64-bit or 32-bit).
Follow the steps to create installation media, and then select Finish.
Connect the installation media you created to your non-functional PC, and then turn it on.
Enter your language and other preferences, and then select Next. If you’re not seeing the setup screen, your PC might not be set up to boot from a drive. Check your PC manufacturer’s website for info on how to change your PC’s boot order, and then try again.
Click Install now.
On the Enter the product key to activate Windows page, enter a product key if you have one. If you upgraded to Windows 10 for free or bought and activated Windows 10 from the Microsoft Store, select Skip and Windows will automatically activate later.
On the License terms page, select I accept the license terms (if you agree to them), then select Next.
On the Which type of installation do you want? page, select Custom.
On the Where do you want to install Windows? page, select a partition, select a formatting option (if necessary), and then follow the instructions.
Once you finish formatting select Next.

Follow the rest of the setup instructions to finish installing Windows 10.

Did any of these solutions help? Let us know in the comments section below.

FIXED: Slack Notifications not Popping Up on Windows 10

Posted on December 27, 2022October 4, 2023 by Aleksandar Ognjanovic

Slack is, in the opinion of many professionals, the best team collaboration service at the moment. The overall usability is followed by the intuitive design and worthy premium features for the ones who need more.

The only major dealbreaker might be the fact it’s a cloud-based service, so it stores all user data on Slack’s servers.

Of course, there are also minor issues and one we’ll try and resolve today are Slack pop-up notifications which are not working for some users.

How do I get Slack pop-up notifications working on Windows?

1. Read all messages and make sure desktop notifications are enabled

Open Slack.
Roam through all channels to check all unread messages.
Now, press Ctrl + Comma to open Preferences.
Choose Notifications from the left pane.
Enable all notifications and disable the Do not disturb mode.
Now, under the Deliver notifications via… drop-down menu, select either Windows native notifications or Built-in notifications.
Open individual channels, click on the cog icon and open Notification preferences.
Make sure notifications are enabled for Desktop.
Exit Preferences and restart Slack.

Now check if your Slack notifications are working properly.

2. Clear application cache

Slack client for Desktop

Open Slack.
Click on the hamburger menu in the top left corner and choose Help > Troubleshooting > Clear cache and Restart.
You can repeat the action and clear app’s data as well.

Slack UWP from Microsoft Store

Open Start.
Right-click on the Slack app and choose More > App settings from the contextual menu.
Try firstly with the Repair and, if it doesn’t work, go for the Reset option.

After that, notifications should come through without any issues. On the other hand, if you’re still having problems with Slack notifications not working, feel free to continue to next troubleshooting step.

3. Check system settings

Press Windows key + I to summon the Settings app.
Open System.
Choose Notifications & actions from the left pane.
Scroll down until you reach Slack and toggle notifications On.

After enabling notifications, check if the Slack notifications are working properly.

4. Reinstall Slack

Finally, if none of the previous steps worked for you, consider reinstalling Slack for Desktop (better choice than UWP in our opinion) and stick with it.

With that said, we can conclude this article. In case you have any alternative solutions or additional questions we forgot to answer, feel free to tell us in the comments section.

GTA V Not Saving Graphics Settings: 4 Simple Solutions

Posted on December 27, 2022October 4, 2023 by Loredana Harsana

GTA V is one of the best games for PC and was one of the most successful releases in the GTA series. Though many users reported that GTA V was not saving graphics settings on the PC.

The problem was usually not in the game but in the game files, and it shouldn’t take you more than a few minutes to get things up and running. So, let’s find out!

Why is GTA V not saving my graphics settings?

Here are a few reasons GTA V is not saving settings:

Game files – If the game files are corrupt, it will lead to issues saving the game settings on the relevant file.
Third-party apps triggering conflicts – Several third-party applications, usually antivirus and firewalls, create conflicts, and as a result, the graphics settings are not saving.
Issues with the game installation – In many cases, users reported that an improper or incomplete game installation could trigger this and other errors in GTA V.
Misconfigured file permissions – Another reason why GTA V settings are not saving is when the relevant files are set to Read-only.

What do I do if GTA V is not saving my graphics settings?

Before heading to the slightly complex solutions, we recommend you give these quick ones a try:

Restart the computer.
Launch the game in single-player mode, modify the desired settings, apply them, and verify whether GTA V is now saving graphics settings. Many users were also able to save the settings in story mode.
Disable the installed third-party antivirus, if any, and verify whether the problem is resolved. In case it is, we recommend you switch to a more effective and reliable antivirus.
A user also pointed out that switching to Windowed mode, saving the changes, and then reverting to full-screen mode should do the trick. So make sure you try it.

If these don’t work, the ones listed next surely would.

1. Run benchmark before saving settings

This is rather a workaround than an actual solution, but it works fine for most users. All you have to do is reconfigure the desired graphics settings and then hit the Tab key to run benchmark tests before saving the changes.

run benchmark tests to fix gta v not saving graphics settings

Once done, verify whether GTA V is still not saving settings. If that’s the case, head to the next solution.

2. Delete game files

Another quick solution is to delete the relevant game files which might be corrupt. Press Windows + E to open File Explorer, and then navigate the following path and choose your current profile:Documents\Rockstar Games\GTA V\Profiles

Once there, delete the pc_settings.bin and cfg.dat files. Now, head to:Documents\Rockstar Games\GTAV\

Select your current profile and delete the settings.xml file. All that’s left to do is restart the computer for the changes to come into effect, and you should now be able to save graphics settings in GTA V.

3. Reconfigure permissions

Press Windows + E to open File Explorer, paste the following path in the address bar, and hit Enter:Documents\Rockstar Games\GTAV\Profiles
Now, choose the current profile, right-click on the settings.xml file, and select Properties.
Uncheck the box for Read-only next to Attributes, and then click OK to save the changes.

4. Reinstall GTA V

Press Windows + R to open Run, type appwiz.cpl in the text field, and hit Enter.
Select GTA V from the apps listed here, and click on Uninstall.
Now, follow the on-screen instructions to complete the process.

That’s it! If nothing so far has worked, the last option is to reinstall GTA V, and the game will now save graphics settings. Also, try using an uninstaller software to effectively delete all the related game files and Registry entries.

And once you have managed to get things running, find out how to improve the gaming performance in Windows.

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

EarTrumpet for Windows 11: How to Download, Install & Use

Posted on December 27, 2022October 4, 2023 by Milan Stanojevic

Let us discuss EarTrumpet as relating to Windows 11.

Windows 11 brought some improvements in terms of visual interface, and we can all agree that the new UI looks great.

However, not all changes are for the better; some features have been moved to different locations and are now harder to access.

This applies especially to volume mixers, and while this option was easy to open in the earlier versions, that’s not the case anymore.

However, there are third-party solutions that can help you with that. In today’s guide, we’ll take a closer look at EarTrumpet on Windows 11 and show you what it can do.

Will EarTrumpet work with Windows 11?

EarTrumpet is a third-party application that allows users to manage audio volume on Windows 10 devices. It is also a helpful app that can be downloaded from the Windows Store and will work on Windows 11.

It comes with the following features:

Controls for modern and classic app volumes.
Support for moving apps between your playback devices.
A Feedback Hub integration
Two-click default audio device controls

Let us explore how this app works.

What is EarTrumpet and how does it work?

EarTrumpet is a third-party application for Windows that allows users to easily manage the volume levels of individual apps and system sounds.

It provides a convenient way to adjust the volume of specific apps or system sounds, rather than changing the overall system volume or using the built-in volume mixer.

You may use EarTrumpet by downloading and installing the program from the EarTrumpet website or the Microsoft Store. After installation, open EarTrumpet by selecting the speaker icon in the system tray.

This will open a volume control panel that displays all the active audio sources on your system, including apps and system sounds. You can adjust the volume levels for each audio source individually by clicking and dragging the slider for that source.

EarTrumpet also provides additional features, such as muting specific audio sources, switching between audio devices, and adjusting the default audio device.

You may access these capabilities by choosing EarTrumpet Settings from the context menu after right-clicking on the speaker icon in the system tray.

How to install EarTrumpet?

Click the Microsoft Store icon in the Taskbar.
When the Microsoft Store app opens, search for eartrumpet. Select EarTrumpet from the list of results.
Now click the Free button to start the download.
Wait while the app is being downloaded.
Once the process is finished, click Open to start the software.

To learn more about the new store, we suggest reading our in-depth look at the new Microsoft Store in Windows 11.

Why is my EarTrumpet icon missing?

There are a few possible reasons why the EarTrumpet icon might be missing from your system tray:

EarTrumpet may not be installed on your system – To check if EarTrumpet is installed, you can try searching for it in the Start menu or by looking for it in the list of installed programs in the Control Panel.
EarTrumpet bad configurations – It may not be configured to show up in the system tray. Also, if the Run this program in compatibility mode for option is not turned on, the icon may be missing.
Hidden icon – In some cases, it may simply be hidden from view in the system tray. You will need to force-show hidden icons in the system tray in such a case.
Problem with the EarTrumpet program – If none of the above, you can suspect a corrupt file that needs to be uninstalled and reinstalled.

Does EarTrumpet start automatically with Windows?

Yes, it does even though this is a Universal app. Hence, you won’t have to launch it manually whenever you want to use it.

However, there’s no option to prevent automatic startup from the settings, and if you want to disable it, the only way to do it is from the Startup tab in Task Manager.

If you want to mute programs in Windows or control the sound levels of individual apps, EarTrumpet is a must-have.

Although Windows 11 has this feature, it’s not as straightforward to use as the one from the previous versions. So, it’s no wonder many users are going for third-party solutions.

What software do you use to adjust the application volume level on your PC? Let us know in the comments section below.

Why is Firefox So Slow & How to Make It Run Faster

Posted on December 27, 2022October 21, 2025 by Milan Stanojevic

Firefox is one of the most popular browsers on all platforms, but despite its massive popularity, it still has specific issues on Windows 10 and 11. Believe it or not, Firefox can be slow even this year.

Many users complain that Firefox is lagging on their devices, which can be a significant problem if you use it as a default browser.

So, in this article, we’re guiding you through the few solutions available to fix this issue.

Why is Firefox so slow?

There are many possible reasons behind a slow browser, but the most common ones seem to be the following:

Outdated version – If Firefox is operating slowly for you, you should first check to see if there are any updates available. If you keep your browser’s version up to date, you’ll be able to remove several potential reasons for the delay.
Hardware acceleration – Hardware acceleration can improve speed. But, if you have driver problems or have a specific GPU configuration, it may create latency instead. Firefox may run more quickly by disabling the hardware acceleration feature.
The browser theme – You can use a custom theme in Firefox, but doing so may sometimes slow down the browser’s performance. To determine whether or not there is a change, you should revert to the Default theme.
Third-party antivirus – There is some evidence to suggest that using an external antivirus application such as Avast might make Firefox perform more slowly. Instead, check out our best antiviruses that are compatible with Windows 10/11.

But remember that your case can be caused by a different reason, such as too much cache and cookies or faulty add-ons. Nonetheless, we will try to address every instance and provide efficient solutions.

How can I fix Firefox if it’s slow?

Before going through these solutions, you may consider using a different browser that is even lighter than Firefox, and we recommend Opera GX.

The browser has built-in CPU, and RAM limiter features to improve response rates even more. They are easy to enable/disable in just one click and contribute a ton to performance.

The browser won’t use resources to load ads if you enable the built-in adblocker. The transition should be seamless because Opera GX has a modern, intuitive UI with familiar controls.

Opera GX

Transfer all your data to Opera GX and enjoy seamless browsing with minimal resource impact.

Free Visit website

1. Change your power settings to High Performance

If Firefox’s startup is slow on Windows 10, press the Windows key + S and enter power plan. Select Choose a power plan from the results.
Once the Power Options window opens, select the High-Performance profile and save the changes.

We must mention that switching to a High-Performance mode will drain your battery faster due to increased power consumption, but Firefox should be working without any slowdowns.

Moreover, an even more performance-focused mode that you can enter in Windows 10 will allow you to use your PC in peak conditions.

2. Check if Firefox is up to date

If Firefox is running slow on Windows 10, click on the menu icon from the top right corner and select Settings.
Next, type update inside the Settings’ search bar and click on the Check for updates button.

If Firefox is slow on your PC, the problem might be a particular bug. To avoid Firefox bugs, it’s advised to update your Firefox to the latest version.

In most cases, Firefox will perform the update automatically, but you can always check for updates manually from Firefox.

3. Switch to a different theme

Open Firefox, click the Menu button in the top right corner, and choose Add-ons and themes.
Select Themes and try to find a simple theme that won’t use too much of your resources and install it.

This is a potential workaround, but a few users reported that it works for them, so you might want to try it.

4. Change the accesibility.force feature

In the address bar of Firefox, enter about:config and press Enter.
Search for accessibility.force_disabled and set its value to 1 by clicking on the edit icon on the right side. This way, the Firefox is slow on Windows 10 issue will be resolved.

After enabling this option, check if the problem with Firefox is resolved.

5. Check your antivirus

You can try to disable your antivirus while browsing on Firefox, but that will expose you to online threats.

Alternatively, you might have to uninstall your antivirus to fix the problem. For example, many users reported issues with Norton antivirus.

We encourage you to check out our guide on removing Norton Antivirus to ensure it’s completely removed.

If you are considering switching to a more effective antivirus, visit our best antivirus programs for browsing article for suggestions.

6. Clear your browsing data

Tap on the menu icon from the top right corner and select Settings.
Now type clear inside the search bar and select Clear Data.
From the Clear Data window, select all the boxes and click Clear.

If you’re looking for a browser with great functionality that won’t slow down your PC, you might want to try Opera One.

7. Disable add-ons

Open Firefox and click on the menu icon followed by Add ons and themes.
Click on Extensions and toggle off your extensions to speed up the browser.

Some add-ons can cause specific websites like YouTube to slow down your Firefox browser because of compatibility issues. It can be pretty frustrating when Firefox is running slow on Windows 10 or 11, but hopefully, some of our solutions might be helpful to you.

After all, Firefox is a great web browser, but sometimes you can experience slowdowns while using it. If you’re having more problems, you should check out our Firefox issues guide to see how to fix them.

Did you find a solution to this problem on your own? Then, please share it with us in the comments section below.

FIX: We’re Having Trouble Converting Your PDF to Word

Posted on December 27, 2022October 4, 2023 by Madalina Dinita

Ever since 2013, Microsoft has offered us the possibility to edit PDFs in Word. With just by a simple press of a button in the File section, you can load any PDF and edit it as if it were a Word file.

But there are a few mishaps that may happen when doing this, like being unable to convert Word to PDF in Windows 10, or one of the most known which is Sorry we’re having trouble converting your PDF to a Word document error.

This can be a big problem, and in this guide, we’ll answer your questions on why your PDF is not converting to Word.

What can I do if PDF is not converting to Word correctly?

1. Download the latest Adobe Acrobat version

Before going along with any of the actual troubleshooting steps, make sure that the problem isn’t actually just you having an old version of your PDF reader.

If PDF to Word is not converting properly, be sure to download the latest version of Adobe Acrobat and check if that solves the problem.

Adobe Acrobat’s best features:

Create PDFs
Advanced PDF editing tools
PDF Conversion
Ability to sign PDFs
Text recognition

Adobe Acrobat

Create and edit your PDFs and convert them to Word and many other formats with this great tool.

Free Trial Visit Website

2. Retain the format

Open Adobe Acrobat, and click on the Preferences tab.
Go to Converting from PDF and select Word document.
Click on the Retain page layout.
Select the OK button and that’s it.

Your document might look perfect in any desktop PDF reader, given the fact that the reader will automatically use the correct fonts available on your local machine.

However, your PDF reader may still need to substitute the missing fonts with different ones if you do not export the correct layout.

After doing that, check if Sorry we’re having trouble converting your PDF to a Word document error is gone.

3. Proof your PDF

Repair missing formatting.
Fix any line breaks.
Look for incorrect words.
Fix instances of multiple spaces.
Use common fonts.
Don’t use poor-quality images or scans.

If PDF to Word is not converting properly, be sure to follow the guides from above in order to fix the problem and can also check our guide for the best PDF to Word converters.

Additional tips:

When using the Export PDF service by Adobe, make sure you use the supported type of browser.

For Microsoft Windows 10 you should be using Internet Explorer 11, Microsoft Edge, Chrome, or Firefox. Try saving the PDF file under the PDF/X standards, as this might fix your problem.

There you go, these are just a couple of solutions that might help you fix the Sorry we’re having trouble converting your PDF to a Word document error.

Fix: Activation Error Code 0xc004f034 on Windows 10 & 11

Posted on December 27, 2022October 4, 2023 by Ivan Jenic

After the upgrade from Windows 7 or Windows 8, your copy of Windows 10 should be activated and genuine. But, some users report that they received an activation error 0xc004f034, which is one of the common Windows activation errors.

We prepared a list of possible solutions for this problem and hope at least one will help you activate Windows 10.

Why does error 0xc004f03 occur on Windows?

Error 0xc004f034 is not some critical error that tells you that you won’t be able to install and activate Windows 10.

It’s just Microsoft’s message saying that Microsoft’s servers are not accessible at the moment.

It was especially the case in the first couple of days of system availability because servers were overloaded due to huge downloads, but it could eventually happen even now.

But you don’t have to worry about it because the problem will solve itself, you have to wait until the servers are available again, and you won’t have any problems activating your operating system.

On the other hand, if you don’t want to wait, you can do a couple of things to force the activation of Windows 10 right now.

How can I fix error 0xc004f034?

1. Create .BAT activation file

Log into Windows 10 with your Microsoft Account, which has administrative rights.
Right-click on desktop, create a text file and name it ActivateWindows10.txt.
Open the file and post the following into Notepad:
- @echo off
  :loop
  cscript /nologo slmgr.vbs /ato
  if errorlevel 0 goto end
  goto loop
  :end
  echo Activation was successful. Press any key to close this window.
  pause>nul
  exit
Save the file in .BAT format as Windows10Activation.BAT.
Now click on the file to run the script.
Check if your Windows 10 is now activated.

So the first solution that could solve the error 0xc004f034 kms is creating a .BAT activation file in Notepad and executing it to get your Windows 10 activated.

2. Click Activate button multiple times

Press the Windows key + I and choose Update & Security.
Select the Activation option in the left pane.
Now, click the Activate button multiple times.

If the .BAT solution didn’t work, you could try the solution above. Issues with the activation servers can cause this problem.

Many people are reporting that this worked for them and that they could activate Windows 10 after hundreds of clicks on the Activation button.

3. Run the Activation troubleshooter

1. Press the Windows key + I to open the Settings app and select the Update & Security option.
2. Click the Activation option in the left pane.
3. Now, choose the Troubleshoot option and follow the onscreen instructions.

4. Disable your antivirus, firewall, and VPN

If you’re using one or all of these tools, temporarily disable them while updating your operating system. Keep them turned off during the activation phase as well.

5. Use the Run SLUI 4 command

Open a new Run window and type SLUI 4 > hit Enter.
A new Windows 10 activation error should appear on the screen. Simply select your country and hit Next.
Follow the on-screen instructions and call one of the numbers available to contact Microsoft Support.

This solution is particularly useful if incorrect PC settings, hardware issues, and other problems on your end triggered your activation issue.

That’s it. We hope you can activate your Windows 10 after running some of these fixes. As mentioned, you may not need to do anything, as the activation process will be available once Microsoft’s servers are accessible again.

If you are facing other issues like Activation Error 0xc03f6506, check our detailed guide to fix it effortlessly.

But if you still cannot activate your Windows 10, tell us in the comment section below. We’ll try to find another solution for you.

Can’t Decrypt Files on Windows 10: 5 Ways to Unencrypt Them

Posted on December 27, 2022June 13, 2025 by Ivan Jenic

If you can’t decrypt files on Windows 10, here is all you should know.

Encryption is great if you have the key and can decrypt the file back using the said key. If not, you will find yourself in the same boat as those whom you wanted not to have access to your files or folders.

Fortunately, Windows 10 provides a robust encryption feature to decrypt your files without much fuss.

But then, there are also times when things do go wrong when even the right keys fail to decrypt an encrypted file. Here is what you can do if you face such a situation.

Why can’t I decrypt files in Windows 10?

From user experience, we gather that a few factors may cause this problem on Windows 10. Here are some you should take note of:

Malware – A malware attack is a significant reason why decrypting may be impossible. We recommend using the best antivirus software on your devices.
Incorrect decryption method – Make sure you are using the correct decryption method. Depending on the encryption type, you may need a specific tool or software to decrypt the files.
Incorrect password – If you use a password to decrypt the files, ensure you enter the correct password. If you have forgotten the password, it may not be possible to decrypt the files.
Damaged or corrupt files – If the encrypted files are damaged or corrupt, you may be unable to decrypt them. In this case, you may need to try repairing the files or using a data recovery tool to retrieve the data.
Outdated encryption method – If the encrypted files were created using an outdated encryption method, you might not have access to the necessary tools or software to decrypt them.
Encryption key not available – Some encryption methods use an encryption key that must be kept secret to decrypt the files. If the key is unavailable, decrypting the files may not be possible.

Now let us show you how to scale through decryption problems on windows 10.

What can I do if I can’t decrypt files on Windows 10?

Before you go into any fixes, try the following:

Check the encryption settings – Make sure that the file you are trying to decrypt was encrypted using a method that you have the necessary keys or credentials to decrypt.
Contact the sender – If the file was sent to you by someone else, you might be able to get help from the sender. For example, they may have the necessary keys or credentials to decrypt the file or be able to provide you with additional information about the encryption method used.

1. Run a full system scan

Type Windows Security in the Search bar, and click on the relevant search result.
Now, click on Virus & threat protection here.
Click on Scan options.
Finally, select Full scan and click on the Scan now button at the bottom.

One of the most common reasons when you get stuck trying to decrypt a file is when there is a malware attack. Failing to decrypt files that have been encrypted happens to be the most common sign of a malware or ransomware attack.

If you suspect that the file may have been encrypted by malware, it is essential to scan your system for malware and remove any threats that are found. Once the malware has been removed, you may be able to decrypt the file.

Also, there usually would be a mail or an intimation using any other means asking for a ransom to decrypt the files if it indeed is ransomware that is the culprit.

One way to rule out the chances of a ransomware attack is to have Microsoft Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool check your system. MSRT is already part of the monthly Windows Update, which means it should already be a part of your system if you update regularly.

Else, you can also download it from Microsoft as a standalone tool. It is highly recommended to scan your PC with the MSRT to help eliminate the chances of a malware or virus attack.

2. Use a decryption tool

You may need a specific encryption software or password to decrypt the file. Decryption tools are software programs that are used to decrypt encrypted data. They use algorithms to reverse the encryption process and decode the encrypted data.

The specific algorithm will depend on the encryption used to encrypt the data. You will typically need to enter the correct decryption key or password to use a decryption tool.

Any of our recommended decryption software may help you resolve the issue.

3. Repair damaged or corrupted files

3.1 Run System File Checker

Press the Windows key to open the Windows Search box.
Type cmd in the search box and click on Run as Administrator to open an elevated Command Prompt window.
Lastly, input the following command and hit Enter:
sfc /scannow

3.2 Use the DISM tool

Press the Windows key + X and click on Windows PowerShell (Admin) or Command Prompt (Admin) to open the app with administrative privileges.
Type/paste the following command and press Enter:
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
The repair process can take 10 minutes or more, so be patient and don’t interrupt it.
Finally, after the DISM tool repairs your files, restart your PC.

4. Try decrypting using a different user account

Press Windows + I and click on Accounts.
Select Family & other people from the options on the left, then select the Add someone else to this PC option towards the bottom.
In the window that pops up, select I don’t have this person’s sign-in information.
Lastly, on the next page, select Add a user without a Microsoft account, and follow on-screen instructions, like adding a username and password.

To repair system files, you can also rely on specialized third-party tools, such as Fortect. With just a few clicks, you can have the app scan your system, identify the problematic files, and repair them.

⇒ Fortect

5. Change account type to an administrator account

Press Windows + I and click on Accounts.
On the left pane, select Family & other people.
Now, on the right, select the account owner name and select Change account type.
Finally, under Account Type, select Administrator and click OK.

In conclusion, if you cannot decrypt files in Windows 10, it may be helpful to seek assistance from a technical support professional or the manufacturer of the encryption software.

However, you should find luck using any solutions discussed in this guide.

Lastly, please, tell us what worked for you in the comments below.

Fix Wacom Error: No Device Connected on Windows 10

Posted on December 27, 2022September 26, 2025 by Vlad Turiceanu

If you have a Wacom tablet, and you get the error message Your device is not connected to your computer, don’t be alarmed. This is a pretty common issue that affects a lot of Windows 10 users.

First, we recommend that you check your hardware to see if there’s a problem there.

Make sure that your tablet is properly connected, check the USB ports on your PC, plug your tablet into a different port and if you have the means, connect your Wacom device to a different computer.

If all these preliminary checks don’t have a positive result, then we can try some more in-depth solutions.

Although it’s a pretty annoying problem, the fix is not as hard as it seems. Today we’ll take a look at how to solve it. For more information, follow the steps below.

What can I do if my Wacom tablet is not connecting?

1. Restart Wacom Services

services.msc wacom tablet can't connect to windows 10

Press the Windows key + R to open Run.
Type services.msc, and hit Enter.
Scroll down and find the Wacom service. Usually it’s called TabletServiceWacom, but in your case it may be Wacom Professional Service or Wacom Consumer Service.
Right-click it, and select Restart.

After the process finishes, reconnect your tablet and see if that solved the Wacom tablet not connecting problem.

2. Update/Re-install Wacom drivers

Press the Windows key + R to open Run.
Type devmgmt.msc, and hit Enter.
In Device Manager go to Human Interface Devices, and expand it.
Your Wacom device should be listed there. Right-click it, and choose Update driver.
In the next window select Search automatically for updated driver software.
After the process is finished, Restart your PC.

In many cases, the issue is caused by faulty drivers. Updating or re-installing them could solve the problem.

If after the restart your still having the same problem, we recommend that in step 4 to choose Uninstall device instead of Update driver and follow the steps in the uninstaller.

In case the drivers are outdated or missing, we recommend you an automatic repair tool to do the job for you. Outbyte Driver Updater is an automated driver updater that can replace corrupted or damaged files, and restore your registry.

⇒ Get Outbyte Driver Updater

3. Install the first driver version that supports your model

Press the Windows key + R to open Run.
Type devmgmt.msc, and hit Enter.
In Device Manager go to Human Interface Devices, and expand it.
Your Wacom device should be listed there. Right-click it, and choose Uninstall Device.
Restart your PC, but don’t connect your tablet.
Download the first driver version that supports your model.
Install it, and connect your Wacom device.

Sometimes, updated drivers can be inconsistent, especially if there are some major changes involved. A solid fix confirmed by users is to install the first driver that works properly for your model.

Now the device should work properly. As a side solution, you can try reinstalling the Visual C++ Redistributable Packages from the official Microsoft site to see if that solves the issue.

4. Disable the Windows Ink option

Go to the Start Menu.
Choose Wacom.
Navigate to Wacom preferences and then to the Pen or Mapping tabs.
Go to the Details Penmode window and uncheck the Use Windows Ink.

Start Wacom and see if the problem was solved. This worked for some of the users so make sure you try it out.

Hope that these solutions helped you get pass the error message. If you have any more questions on how to connect a Wacom tablet to your Windows 10 PC, feel free to share them in the comments section below.

How to Connect a Projector to Windows 10 [Step-by-Step]

Posted on December 27, 2022May 19, 2025 by Ivan Jenic

Need to connect a projector to your Windows 10 PC? We’ll show you how to do it step by step. Just make sure your ports match (HDMI, VGA, or DisplayPort), or use an adapter.

Most projectors work plug-and-play, but you can install drivers if needed. For older models, check the manufacturer’s site. And if you’re shopping for one, see our picks for 360-degree projectors.

Let’s get to the good part.

How do I connect my Windows laptop to a projector?

1. How to connect your projector to a Windows 10 computer

Make sure that the projector is powered On and connect the video cable to the PC in the appropriate port.
Press the Windows key + P and choose one of the following options:
- Duplicate These Displays – This option shows the exact same image on your regular monitor and on the projected screen
- Extend These Displays – This option stretches Windows to fit across both screens
- Show only on 1 – Choose this before you’re ready to show off your presentation. Then switch to Duplicate These Displays
- Show Only on 2 – Choose this to show only the second display, which is useful when hooking up a tablet to a TV for watching movies in a dark room
Click Apply to save your settings.

2. How to connect a laptop to a projector using HDMI to VGA cable

What if the technical configuration available forces you to connect your computer to a projector using an HDMI to VGA cable? How do you connect a laptop that has no VGA port to a projector?

If one of your devices has an HDMI port, while the other sports only a VGA port, then you’ll need an HDMI to VGA converter to connect your laptop to your projector.

Connect the converter to your laptop, and then connect the projector to the converter and you’re done.

That’s it, you now know how to connect and adjust your projector and Windows 10 computer, and you can get ready for the presentation. If you have any comments or suggestions, reach for the comments section, below.

3. How to connect a projector via wireless display

Click the Start button and go to Settings.
Choose System, and then select Display.
Click on Connect to a wireless display.
A new window will appear on the right side of the screen displaying all wireless devices found.
Select the projector that you want to connect to, and you’re done.

It is worth mentioning that you don’t need a cable to connect your Windows 10 computer to a projector. If both devices support Miracast, you can simply select the option ‘Connect to a wireless display’ choose a projector and then the projector will mirror your computer’s screen.

Speaking of Miracast, we have dedicated a series of articles to this tool. Check them out to better understand what Miracast is, how to use it and how to fix various issues that may occur during usage:

4. Connect your computer to a projector on Bluetooth

Click the Start button and choose Settings.
Choose Devices and click on Add Bluetooth or other device. Also, ensure that Bluetooth connectivity is turned on for both devices.
Select your projector and follow the on-screen instructions to link the two.

Of course, if both your computer and projector support Bluetooth technology, you can also use this method to connect the two.

What do I do if Windows 10 doesn’t recognize my projector?

If Windows 10 doesn’t recognize or detect your projector, there is probably a problem with the connection itself or the drivers.

Make sure that you connected the projector to the correct port in the PC or laptop and if you’re using a converter, test it to see if it works with another video device such as an external monitor.

If the connection is not the problem, check if you have the correct drivers installed for the projector.

Alright, so this is how you can get your computer to display on a projector and also fix potential issues along the way. Here’s how you can connect a projector to Windows 11.

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

Kindle Paperwhite won’t connect to Wi-Fi? 6 Steps to fix it

Posted on December 27, 2022October 4, 2023 by Tashreef Shareef

Kindle Paperwhite is a popular E-reader device that comes with WiFi and, in instances, cellular connectivity features. However, at times the device may fail to connect to WiFi.

Several users have reported saying their Kindle Paperwhite won’t connect to WiFi.

If you are experiencing similar issues, this could be due to network issues, software glitches, or even hardware faults.

In this article, we have listed a couple of troubleshooting steps to help you resolve the Kindle Paperwhite that won’t connect to the Wi-Fi problem in five easy steps.

How can I fix the Kindle Paperwhite WiFi error?

1. Perform a power cycle

Press and hold the power button until either a power dialogue box appears or the screen goes blank.
Continue holding the power button for another 40 seconds and then release it.
Leave the device idle for a few minutes.
Press and hold the power button once again to power the device.
Try connecting to the WiFi network to see if the problem is resolved.

Restarting your Kindle device at times can fix intermittent issues such as slow devices or poor connectivity.

2. Check your home network for issues

Try connecting your smartphone or device to the WiFi network.
If other devices in your home can access the network, skip to other steps.
If the connectivity issue occurs on other devices as well, restart your home network.

Restart your home network

Power off your modem and WiFi router.
Disconnect the power cable from the wall outlet.
Leave the device idle for a few minutes.
Reconnect the power cord and turn it on.
Wait till all the LED indicators on the router stop blinking.
Try connecting your Kindle Paperwhite to see if the error is resolved.

If the issue persists, check if the Airplane mode is turned on. Your device disables all the connectivity options when Airplane mode is on. Try disabling the Airplane mode and check again.

3. Connect to a 2.4 GHz band

Open your router admin dashboard.
Disable the 5GHz channel.
Reboot the router.
Connect your Kindle to the 2.4GHz network.
Once connected, enable the 5GHz band again but do not reboot the router this time.
If this works, your Kindle is facing issues connecting to a 5GHz band.

Change the Authentication Type on your router.

Open your Router admin dashboard.
Refer to the owner’s manual to find the Authentication Type setting.
Change the Authentication Type from WPA2-PSK to WPA-PSK/WPA2-PSK.
Save the changes and exit the dashboard.
Try connecting your Kindle device again to see if the issue is resolved.

Check if your device is blocked

Routers allow users to block devices from their WiFi gateway.
Check if you have accidentally blocked your Kindle device.
Unblock the device to connect to the WiFi again.

4. Manually update Kindle Paperwhite software

Note: Follow these steps if your Kindle Paperwhite is not downloading the latest updates automatically.

Open Setting on your Kindle device.
Tap the three dots in the upper right corner.
Select Device info.
Note down the software version.
Now head over to the Kindle Software Updates page using your computer.
Download the latest version for Kindle Paperwhite. Make sure you are downloading a newer version than the one already installed on your device. If not, skip this step.

Update Kindle Paperwhite manually

Connect your Kindle device to the computer.
Move the downloaded file to the Kindle drive.
Once the file is transferred, eject the device and disconnect the charging cable.
On your Kindle device, tap on Menu.
Open Settings.
Tap on Menu and select Update Your Kindle.
Tap OK to perform the updates.
Kindle will show Your Kindle is Updating message.

The update may take a few minutes to install. However, don’t try to boot or use the device until the update is successful. At times, it may take more time than usual.

5. Reset to factory default

Note: Resetting your device will delete all the data stored in the device. Create a backup before proceeding with the steps below.

Tap on Settings from the home screen.
Tap the Menu
Select Reset Device.
Tap Yes when the warning message appears to confirm the action.

Your Kindle Paperwhite will reset in a few minutes. Once done, you may have to re-register the device with Amazon and download your Kindle e-books and other content from the Cloud using your Amazon account.

6. Forget the WiFi network on Kindle Paperwhite.

From the home screen, tap on Menu.
Open Settings.
Tap on WiFi Networks.
Locate and tap on the network that has a checkmark on it.
Tap on Forget.
Search for the network again and select the network from the list.

The Kindle Paperwhite won’t connect to the WiFi problem can occur due to many reasons. Begin with performing a power cycle, change Authentication Type and band speed on the router, and as a last restore reset the device.

Fix: Windows 10 & 11 Computer Goes to Sleep Too Fast [Tested]

Posted on December 27, 2022October 13, 2025 by Milan Stanojevic

If your Windows 10 computer goes to sleep too fast, it could be happening for several reasons, among them the lockout feature that ensures your computer is locked or sleeps when unattended, or your screensaver settings, and other issues like outdated drivers.

Your computer goes into sleep mode based on the power management, which caters both for your security and saving power, but sometimes sleep mode also causes issues as you work.

This post will guide you through a series of solutions and troubleshooting fixes that will help you when Windows 10 goes to sleep too fast.

What to do if computer goes to sleep too quickly?

Run the Power troubleshooter
Create your own custom power plans
Update your graphics card drivers
Control sleep/lockout mode
Use the power button to go to instant sleep
Check Screensaver Settings
Change System unattended sleep timeout
Perform a clean boot
Change Power options settings
Change the time when the display turns off when your PC is locked
Change the Lock screen timeout using Command Prompt

1. Run the Power troubleshooter

Click Start and select Control Panel
Click View by and change to Large Icons
Double click Troubleshooting
Click View all on the left pane
Click Power and select Next to run the troubleshooter
Follow on-screen instructions to complete the process, then restart your computer

2. Create your own custom power plans

Click Start and select Control Panel
Click Hardware and Sound
Click Power options
Click Create a power plan
Go to Plan Name and give a name to your custom power plan then click Next to configure the time settings.

3. Update your graphics card drivers

Driver updates for Windows 10 are automatically downloaded and installed through Windows Update. To do this:

Right click Start and select Device Manager
Expand Display adapters category
Right-click and select Update Driver
Select Search automatically for updated driver software. If Windows doesn’t find a new driver, you can try looking for one on the device manufacturer’s website and follow their instructions.

NOTE

You can also try reinstalling the driver by right-clicking Start> Device Manager> right-click graphics card>select Uninstall. Restart your computer and Windows will attempt to reinstall the driver.

In addition, it exists another method to update your graphic drivers more efficiently, and namely using dedicated software like Outbyte Driver Updater.

With this third-party solution, you can update the right drivers automatically without harming your system even more.

4. Control sleep/lockout mode

Click Start and select Settings
Click System
Click Power & Sleep
Configure the time out for your screen as well as sleep timing. Usually, the default is set to 10 minutes for screen timeout and 30 minutes for sleep mode.

5. Use the power button to go to instant sleep

If you don’t want your computer to go to sleep on its own but want to do it manually, you can change the settings to ensure the power button is used for sleep mode. To do this:

Click Start and select Settings
Click System
Select Power and Sleep
Click Related Settings
Click Additional Power Settings
Click Choose What the Power button does
Select Sleep instead of Shutdown

This helps you save more power otherwise your computer waits for 10 minutes to turn off the screen, and another 30 minutes to go to sleep. Sleep mode uses very little power, and your computer will start up faster, so you can instantly resume your work from you left off. If you have a low battery, Windows will save all your work, and turn off the machine.

6. Check Screensaver Settings

Click Start and select Settings
Search for Screensaver
Find the search result that reads: Turn screen saver on or off

NOTE

Whether or not you use a screensaver, the time value locks the screen, so you can set it to None and ensure the checkbox is unselected such that it won’t need a password.

7. Change System unattended sleep timeout

If the screensaver settings solution doesn’t work when Windows 10 goes to sleep too fast, check the System’s unattended sleep timeout settings. To do this:

Ensure you have admin permissions for this as you’ll also be editing registry settings
Right click Start and select Run
Type regedit and press Enter

There is insufficient disk space to complete operation

Go to this registry key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Power\PowerSettings\238C9FA8-0AAD-41ED-83F4-97BE242C8F20\7bc4a2f9-d8fc-4469-b07b-33eb785aaca0
Double click Attributes
Enter the value as 2
Exit the Registry Editor
Click Start and select Settings
Search for Power Plan
Select Edit Power plan from the search results
Open the Change advanced power settings link
Go to Sleep
Select System Unattended sleep timeout and change to 10 minutes

8. Perform a clean boot

If Windows 10 goes to sleep too fast even after trying the above solutions, perform a clean boot to eliminate software conflicts that happen when you install a program or update or run a program in Windows. To do this:

Click start and type msconfig then select System Configuration from the search results.
On the Services tab of the System Configuration dialog box, tap or click to select the Hide all Microsoft services check box and click Disable all.
On the Startup tab of the System Configuration dialog box, tap or click Open Task Manager
On the Startup tab in Task Manager, for each startup item, select the item and then click Disable.
Close Task Manager.
On the Startup tab of the System Configuration dialog box, click OK, and then restart the computer.

9. Change Power options settings

Click Start and select control panel
Click Hardware and sound
Select Power options
Go to Screen and Sleep section
Click Never for When plugged in, turn off after (instead of a fixed time)
In the battery power section under Screen and Sleep, 5 to 10 minutes is ideal for most people

10. Change the time when the display turns off when your PC is locked

Right click Start and select Run
Type regedit and press enter
Go to this path: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Power\PowerSettings\7516b95f-f776-4464-8c53-06167f40cc99\8EC4B3A5-6868-48c2-BE75-4F3044BE88A7
On the right side, double-click the Attributes DWORD.
Change the value from 1 to 2.
Click OK.

Note: These steps enable the Console lock display off timeout. To customize this option at any time, do this:

Right click Start and select Power Options.
Click the Change plan settings link for the selected plan.
Click the Change advanced power settings link.
On Advanced settings, scroll down and expand the Display settings.
You should now see the Console lock display off timeout option, double-click to expand.
Change the default time of 1 minute to the time you want, in minutes.
Click Apply.
Click OK to complete the task.

11. Change the Lock screen timeout using Command Prompt

Type CMD in the search box, then right click Command Prompt and select Run as administrator
Type the following command and press enter: powercfg.exe /SETACVALUEINDEX SCHEME_CURRENT SUB_VIDEO VIDEOCONLOCK 60

Note: You must change “60” in the command line with the timeout time you want to use, in seconds. For example, if you want the screen to turn on for 5 minutes, use 300 at the end of the command.

Type the following command and press enter: powercfg.exe /SETACTIVE SCHEME_CURRENT
Use the Windows key + L keyboard shortcut to lock your PC and see if the new settings work.

The command in the second step will work when your computer is using AC power. Replace /SETACVALUEINDEX for /SETDCVALUEINDEX if you want to change the timeout setting on your laptop or tablet running on battery.

Let us know if any of these solutions worked by leaving a comment in the section below.

5 Easy Fixes for Laptop Headphone Jack not Working

Posted on December 27, 2022April 17, 2024 by Matthew Adams

The audio jack is the connector point between the audio devices and the PC. While it’s definitely important, users reported laptop headphone jack not working issues on numerous occasions.

When that happens, connected headphones and speakers will have no sound. So if it suddenly stopped working, you’ll obviously want to know how to fix the headphone jack on your laptop.

In order to do just that, let’s see why this happens in the first place.

Why isn’t my headphone jack working on my laptop?

From deprecated audio drivers to improper sound configuration or hardware glitches, there can be many culprits responsible for the laptop headphone jack not working.

Is the headphone jack repairable in a laptop? It can be with a few troubleshooting tips.

While we’re at it, let’s see what you can be up against. Don’t worry though, these simple, yet highly effective fixes should do the trick in all these situations, as follows:

Laptop earphone jack not working
Laptop 3.5 mm jack not working
Headphone socket not working on laptop
Laptop speakers and headphone jack not working
Laptop headphone jack not working Windows 10, 11, 7, 8, 8.1
HP, Dell, Asus laptop headphone jack not working Windows 10
Laptop headphone jack not working one side
Laptop headphone jack not working properly

How do I get my headphone jack to work on my laptop?

If the sound suddenly goes off with speakers or headphones connected, first reinsert the audio device in the audio jack.

Unplug the device, clean the plug, and restart Windows.
Reinsert the headphones or speakers into the desktop’s or laptop’s audio jack after the restart.

1. Update the sound card driver

Press the Win key + X hotkey to open the Win + X menu. You can select to open Device Manager from there.
First, select Sound, video, and game controllers in Device Manager.
Then you can right-click your sound card and select Update Driver Software.
Select Search automatically for updated driver software to scan for driver updates. If Windows finds any updates, it will automatically download them.
Even if Windows doesn’t find any driver updates, it might still be worth checking for sound card driver updates on the device manufacturer’s website.
If you can’t update the driver, reinstall it instead to kick-start it. You can do that by right-clicking the sound card in Device Manager and selecting Uninstall.
Now when you restart your desktop or laptop, Windows will automatically reinstall the sound driver.

The second method, which happens to be our method of choice as well, consists of using a specialized third-party tool for the job. It’s simpler, more efficient, and hassle-free.

2. Run the sound troubleshooter

Right-click the speaker icon on your system tray to open the context menu. There you can select Troubleshoot sound problems to open the troubleshooter in the snapshot below.
If you can’t find that option on the speaker context menu, click the Cortana button on the taskbar and enter sound troubleshooter. Then select to open Find and fix audio playback.
Click Advanced and select Apply repairs automatically.
Press the Next button to run the sound troubleshooter.

Keep in mind that Windows has numerous troubleshooters that can fix software or hardware issues.

3. Enable audio for the line-in connection

Click the Cortana button on the taskbar, and then enter audio devices in the search box.
Select Manage audio devices to open the window below.
Click the Playback tab, select Speakers (or another external audio device), and press the Properties button.
Next, select the Levels tab, and then you can press Mute under Line in to enable line-in connection sound.

4. Turn off Sound Enhancements

Enter audio devices in the Cortana search box. Select Manage audio devices to open the window below.

Now you can right-click the headphones or speakers plugged into the audio jack and select Properties.
Select the Enhancements tab shown in the snapshot below.

Deselect the Disable all sound effects option there. Alternatively, you can manually deselect the selected sound enhancement checkboxes.
Press the Apply > OK buttons on the window.

Windows 10 has sound enhancements that supposedly enhance the audio effects. However, they can also be an audio hindrance. So it might be worth trying this solution.

5. Check the default playback device

Open the Sound window by entering ‘audio devices’ in the Cortana search box. Click Manage audio devices to open further options.
Now click the Playback tab to open a list of connected audio devices. Select the device plugged into the audio jack, and click the Set default button.
Press the Apply > OK buttons to confirm the new default setting.

This step is useful if the headphones or speakers plugged into the audio jack have not automatically been set as the default device.

Those are a few ways you can fix an audio jack that stops working. If none of the above suggestions fix it, then your audio device’s jack might require repairs or replacement.

If the speakers or headphones are still within warranty, return them to the manufacturer for repairs. Let us know how did the troubleshooting work for you by reaching for the comments section below.

Fix: Airplane Mode Not Showing / Greyed Out in Windows 10

Posted on December 27, 2022October 23, 2025 by Ivan Jenic

Airplane mode not showing up or is greyed out (so unusable) in Windows 11? We’ll show you how to fix it. Follow the steps below and you’ll be able to use it within minutes.

How do I fix Airplane Mode Greyed Out in Windows 10?

1. Try using keyboard shortcuts to disable Airplane mode

Press Fn + key with radio tower (for some users it’s PrtScr key, it might be a different key on your computer).
You might have to hold those keys for a few seconds.
If this shortcut works you should see Airplane mode turned off message on your screen.

2. Change network adapter properties

Press Windows Key + X and choose Device Manager from the list of options.
When Device Manager opens go to the Network Adapter section and expand it.
Find your wireless adapter, right-click and choose Properties.
When Properties window shows up to go to the Power Management tab and uncheck Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power.
Then click OK to save changes.

If the above-mentioned solutions weren’t helpful, you can try changing your network adapter settings.

3. Update your network adapter drivers

Open Device Manager and go to the Network adapters section.
Expand it and find your network adapter.
Right-click and choose Update Driver Software.
Choose Search automatically for updated driver software option.
Wait for the process to complete.

If updating drivers via Device Manager fails, try using a specialized tool like Fortect Driver Updater. This app scans your PC, identifies outdated drivers, and updates them automatically.

You can also enable automatic updates whenever new hardware is installed.

⇒ Get Fortect Driver Updater

4. Disable and enable network connection

Go to the Settings app.
When Settings app opens go to Network & Internet category.
On the left pane choose Wi-Fi.
Now on the right pane look for Change adapter options. Click it.
This will open a new window.
Locate your wireless connection, right-click it and choose Disable.
Now right click your wireless connection again, and this time choose Enable.

The next thing we’re going to try is disabling the network connection and enabling it again. If changing the network adapter settings and disabling the network connection didn’t work, try our next solution.

5. Uninstall the wireless adapter

Open Device Manager and find your wireless adapter.
Right-click it and choose Uninstall device.
When the confirmation dialog shows click Uninstall.
After the uninstallation process is complete Windows 10 will install its default wireless driver.
Now you just need to restart your computer in order for changes to take effect.

Another thing you can try to solve the problem with Airplane mode in Windows 10 is to uninstall the wireless adapter driver.

6. Perform a clean boot

Press Windows Key + R and enter msconfig.
Now click OK or press Enter.
System Configuration window will now open.
Go to the Services tab and check Hide all Microsoft services.
Now click Disable all button.
Go to Startup tab and click Open Task Manager.
- When Task Manager opens, you’ll see a list of startup applications.
Select the first item on the list, right-click it and choose Disable from the menu.
Repeat this step for all startup applications on the list.
Go back to System Configuration window and click Apply and OK to save changes.
Restart your PC.

According to users, sometimes a third-party application can cause this problem to occur. To fix the issue, it’s advised to disable all startup applications and services.

Once your PC restarts, check if the problem is still there. If not, you can enable applications and services one by one until you find the application that is causing the problem.

Keep in mind that you’ll need to restart your PC every time after enabling an application in order to apply changes. Once you find the problematic application, it’s advised to remove it.

There are several ways to do that, but if you want to completely remove the application, including all of its files and registry entries, we suggest that you use uninstaller software

7. Disable radio switch device

Open Device Manager.
Expand HID Interface Device section and right-click Radio Switch Device.
Choose Disable device from the menu.
When the confirmation menu appears, click Yes.

According to users, Airplane mode errors can occur due to certain devices, such as the Radio Switch Device. To temporarily fix the issue, it’s advised to find and disable those devices.

8. Change your adapter settings

Open Device Manager and locate your wireless adapter.
Double-click it to open its properties.
When Properties window opens, go to Advanced tab.
Select 802.11n Channel Width for band 2.4 from the list and set its value to 20MHz Only.
Now click Apply and OK to save changes.

According to users, you might be able to fix Airplane Mode being greyed out on Windows 10 by changing a couple of network adapter settings. After making these changes, check if the Airplane mode errors are resolved.

9. Check your BIOS

While your system boots press F2 or Del to enter BIOS.
If you don’t know which key to use to enter BIOS, check your motherboard manual.
Now go to Onboard Device Configuration and enable Onboard WLAN/WiMax feature.

If you want to know more about the BIOS update, we advise you to check our useful article dedicated to flashing BIOS on your PC.

That’s it, after performing some of these solutions, your Airplane Mode shouldn’t be greyed out anymore. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, just write them down in the comments, below.

TIF Viewer for Windows 10 & How to Open TIF Files

Posted on December 27, 2022March 4, 2024 by Milan Stanojevic

A TIF file or TIFF file extension is short for Tagged Image Format, which stores high-quality graphics, and supports lossless compression.

The easiest way to open a TIFF is to drag and drop it to the Photos app in Windows or, if its the default image viewer, just double click the TIFF file.

How do I open .tif files without compromising on quality?

1. Opening .tif files to view

There are various apps that can be used to open .tif files in Windows 10, but if you just want to view it, you can opt for a photo viewer such as the default, built-in Windows Photo viewer or the Photos app.

2. Use a file or image converter

Adobe Acrobat DC

You might encounter difficulties while opening .tif files in the built-in Windows Photo Viewer or Windows Photos App.

If you want to avoid any headaches and open your .tif files with a simple double-click, Adobe Acrobat DC is the right tool for you.

Not only that, but you can also use it to convert .tif files to a different format or PDFs to .tif files. All you need to do is hit the Save As button and select the format you want to use.

⇒ Get Adobe Acrobat DC

Another great software to open .tif files that you can use is:

File Viewer Plus (suggested)

We highly recommend downloading File Viewer Plus. It is an extremely powerful tool that opens more than 300 file types and also lets you edit them directly in its interface.

You will easily open, edit, and convert to other formats of your .tif files without any problems.

⇒ Get File Viewer Plus 4

Other photo viewer apps you can use include:

Irfanview

Irfanview is one of the most popularly used and best photo viewer software you can get. It is small, super-fast, and compact, plus if you’re a beginner, it is so simple to use.

Professionals can also take advantage of this powerful tool, which, unlike other photo viewers, is built to create new, unique, and interesting features for your graphics.

It is actually the first photo viewer globally that delivers multipage TIF support. Plus it comes completely free of charge if not used for commercial purposes.

⇒ Get Irfanview

XnView

This is also one of the best Windows photo viewer software used in the world that can also convert images as it supports over 500 image formats. You can also edit images and export over 70 image formats.

It has unrivaled compatibility in terms of format support, which includes animated still formats.

⇒ Get XNView

3. Opening .tif files to edit

If you’re looking to edit the .tif file, whether it is in a different format, you can convert it without having to install a photo editing program for the TIF format.

One of the photo editing tools you can use for free is GIMP.

This is a free photo editing software with sophisticated editing tools to create stunning and visually appealing photos in your library though it requires some extra skills to use.

You can also use Adobe Photoshop, though it isn’t free. For GeoTIFF files, you can open them with GDAL, Geosoft Oasis Montaj, MathWorks’ MATLAB, and ESRI ArcGIS desktop software.

4. How to open .tif files in Windows 10?

With an image viewer or photo editor that supports .tif files, you can simply open the file in the program itself, and then save the .tif file in a different image format.

This is done by clicking File and selecting Save As. You can also use file converters that convert one image file format to another like .tif files.

If you cannot use an image or graphic file because the format is not supported, try a file converter software for images.

Do you use .tif files? Share with us how you open them by leaving a comment in the section below.

Adobe Premiere Pro not Exporting Full Video? How We Fixed it

Posted on December 27, 2022October 4, 2023 by Tashreef Shareef

Adobe Premiere Pro has become an industry standard when it comes to video editing, but many users reported that Adobe Premiere does not export video.

This can be a big problem, and that’s why we have found the best solutions for you to solve this problem easily, so keep reading.

What can I do if Premiere Pro is not exporting any video?

1. Install the latest Premiere Pro updates

Before proceeding with any troubleshooting steps, ensure the root of the problem isn’t just you having an outdated version of Adobe Premiere Pro.

Remember that Adobe constantly updates its software, meaning your current version is most likely dated by now.

That being said, make sure you have the latest version installed, only go for the troubleshooting steps afterward.

Additionally, you should install the newest software updates and get brand-new features of Adobe Premiere Pro.

2. Restart your PC

You would be surprised to know how often the errors can be solved with a simple computer restart.

Restarting your computer is always the first thing you should do after encountering an error and before applying any other fixes.

3. Ensure that you have enough storage space

If Adobe Premiere does not export video, it’s possible that you don’t have enough storage space. To fix this issue, try freeing up some space and try again.

The error may also occur if you are using an external hard drive as a storage device for exported videos. Try to export the videos to the internal hard drive and see if it is resolved.

This is particularly helpful if you get Disk Full, I/O Error, or Invalid output drive errors.

4. Close the other programs

If you are getting Unable to save file. Destination file is in use by Premiere, or destination file is in use by Adobe Media Encoder error, then look for any other application that might be using the destination file.

If you have other programs using the same file or trying to access the location, close the program and relaunch Adobe Premiere Pro.

5. Change the rendering optimization preferences

Launch Premiere Pro.
Go to Edit, and select Preferences.
Click Optimize rendering for, and select Memory.
Click OK to save the changes.
Close Premiere Pro and reopen the project for changes to take effect.

If Adobe Premiere does not export video, the issue might be related to virtual memory. You can fix this by changing the rendering optimization preference from Performance to Memory.

6. Check for Folder permission

Go to the folder location where the exports are saved.
Right-click on the Folder, and select Properties.
Open the Security tab, and click on Edit.
Under Group or user names, look for your username. If not found click on Add.
Enter your username, and click Check Names.
Click OK to add the user.
Under the Permissions for username check the Full Control option.
Click on Apply, and press OK to save changes.

If you are writing into a folder without appropriate permission, you may encounter Unable to create or open output file error. To fix this, you must take full control of the said folder.

Adobe Premiere Pro does not require Full Control on any location but only permission for reading and writing. However, providing Full Control permission can resolve permission-related errors.

7. Change the codec format

Open Export Settings.
For Format: click on Drop-down menu, and select QuickTime or None.
For Video Codec select Photo – JPEG from the drop-down menu.
After that, try to export the video.

By default, Premiere Pro uses h.264 or MPEG codec format for rendering videos. However, due to compression issues, you may get the following message error:

Codec compression error. This codec may be unable to support the requested frame size, or there may be a hardware or memory problem error.

To fix this, try to change the codec format as explained above.

8. Check Media for file corruption

If Adobe Premiere does not export video, some project frames may be corrupt.

One way to fix this is to disable all tracks but one and export the video. Do this for all the tracks until you can recreate the exporting error.

If found, save the project with a different name and export the project by removing the problematic frame or track.

After that, please create a new project, open the problematic track or frame, and save it with a new name. Open the exported video import the newly saved corrupt frame and insert it into the completed project.

Export the video, and you should be able to render it without any error.

Our guide on how to fix the Adobe Media Encoder not installed error may provide further solutions so check it out.

These are some solutions you can try if Adobe Premiere does not export video. Be sure to try them, and let us know which fix worked for you in the comments.

The PC Must Support TPM 2.0: How to fix This Error

Posted on December 27, 2022April 3, 2024 by Vlad Turiceanu

The PC must support TPM 2.0 is one of the most common errors users encounter when trying to update or upgrade to Windows 11. This can be frustrating, as some users feel their PCs meet the requirement but still get the error.

If you are getting this error, we will show you the best ways to fix it and make the upgrade in this guide.

What is TPM 2.0?

TPM 2.0 is a core part of your PC located on your motherboard. This small chip provides security features at the hardware level.

It generates the cryptographic keys used in the authentication of your PC. The TPM 2.0 works in a way that makes it difficult for malicious people to attack your PC.

This chip communicates with the security features when you turn on your PC. It then generates an unchangeable cryptographic key, which will be checked. If the authentication is successful, your PC boot up, and if it fails, it won’t startup.

How do I fix the TPM 2.0 error in Windows 11?

1. Check if the PC has TPM 2.0

Press the Windows key + R, type tpm.msc, and click OK.
Check under the Status section to see if your TPM is ready to use.
Also, check the Specification Version under TPM Manufacturer Information for your TPM type.

The first thing you need to do is to check if your PC supports TPM 2.0 to update to Windows 11. If the specification version is below 2.0, your PC does not meet the requirement to install Windows 11.

However, you can proceed to the ensuing solutions to still install the OS. Also, if Status states that a compatible TPM cannot be found, you need to enable it in the BIOS.

2. Reinstall TPM drivers

Press the Windows key + X and select the Device Manager option.
Double-click the Security devices option and right-click your TPM device.
Now, click the Uninstall device option.
Finally, click the Uninstall button to confirm the action and restart your PC.

If you are sure your PC meets the requirements and you are getting the PC must support TPM 2.0 prompt, it might be due to issues with the TPM drivers. The solution here is to uninstall and reinstall the drivers.

3. Clear the TPM keys

Press the Windows key + R, type tpm.msc, and click OK.
Click the Clear TPM option in the right pane.
Finally, click the Restart button to confirm the action and follow the onscreen prompts after your PC restarts.

If you are getting the Valorant needs TPM 2.0 error on Windows 11 or you can’t update your PC, it might be because of faulty keys. Clearing the keys and allowing your PC to generate new ones should restore normalcy here.

4. Bypass TPM requirements

1. Press the Windows key + R, type regedit and click OK.
2. Navigate to the following path in the left pane:Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\Setup\MoSetup
3. Right-click the space in the right pane and choose New > DWORD (32-bit) Value.
4. Type AllowUpgradesWithUnsupportedTPMOrCPU as the name of the new value and hit Enter.
5. Double-click the value that you just created.
6. Set its Value data to 1 and click OK to save the changes.

If you are dealing with the PC must support 2.0 or Safe boot to upgrade to Windows 11, and your PC does not meet the requirement, this method will allow you to bypass the TPM check. This is the recommended method by Microsoft, so you should feel safe using it.

You can check our detailed guide for more ways to install Windows 11 without TPM.

5. Use a TPM 2.0-supported motherboard

If you still can’t install Windows 11 because your PC does not support TPM 2.0, you need to go for broke and get a motherboard that supports the feature.

This will get rid of the problem altogether. Check our detailed guide for a list of the best TPM 2.0 motherboards.

How do I get TPM 2.0 in BIOS?

While your system boots, keep pressing the Del key.
Click the Advanced tab at the top.
Now, choose PCH-FW Configuration.
Click the dropdown before PTT and set it to Enable.
Next, click the OK button to confirm the action.
Finally, press F10 to save the changes and restart your PC.

Enabling TPM 2.0 in BIOS depends on your motherboard and your PC model. The method above ASUS PCs using the Inter motherboard.

For ways to enable TPM 2.0 on different PCs and motherboards, check our excellent guide on the topic.

With this, we can conclude this article on the PC must support the TPM 2.0 prompt. We believe you now have everything to tackle this issue and update or upgrade your PC to Windows 11 effortlessly.

If you want to know how to install Windows 11 on an unsupported CPU, check our detailed guide for the easiest methods to do it.

To learn why TPM is necessary for Windows 11, we have a great guide on TPM on Windows 11, so don’t miss it.

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

How to Download & Install Realtek Bluetooth 5.0 Drivers

Posted on December 27, 2022July 24, 2025 by Sagar Naresh

Are you looking to download and install the Realtek Bluetooth 5.0 driver on your Windows 10, Windows 11, and Windows 7 PC, but could not find a straightforward guide? Look no further.

Because in this guide will give you a complete guide that will help you download and install the Realtek Bluetooth 5.0 drivers on your Windows PC. Installing and downloading a Realtek driver is the same as installing any other program. Let us get right into it.

How can I download and install Realtek Bluetooth 5.0 drivers on Windows 11, 10 & 7?

How can I download and install Realtek Bluetooth 5.0 drivers on Windows 11, 10 & 7?

1. Download and Install Realtek Bluetooth 5.0 driver on Windows 11

1.1 Official website

Open Realtek’s official website.
Select the sub-category.
Click the Software button next to the Realtek Bluetooth 5.0 driver.
Click the Download button.
Install the EXE file.
Restart the PC to apply the changes.

You can download the latest version of the Realtek Bluetooth driver from the official website. Alternatively, we have a guide for using a third-party source.

1.2 Use a dedicated tool

Download Fortect Driver Updater.
Install the program on your PC.
Open the program.
The tool will automatically scan for missing or outdated software.
Select all the drivers that you wish to download or upgrade, which in our case is the Realtek Bluetooth 5.0 driver.
Hit the Update button at the top.
Wait for the program to download and upgrade all the drivers.
Restart your PC for the changes to take effect.

Fortect Driver Updater is our recommended tool to upgrade or download missing drivers on your PC. It is an efficient tool that will help you to get everything done with just a few clicks.

Apart from updating drivers, you can use Fortect Driver Updater to schedule automatic scans, create software backups, and much more.

⇒ Get Fortect Driver Updater

1.3 Third-party source

Visit the Driverpack website.
Click on the Driver Search button at the top.
Search for Realtek Bluetooth 5.0 Adapter drivers and press the Find button.
Select Windows 11 from the drop-down menu if you wish to install the driver on your Windows 11 PC.
- x86 means 32-bit
- x64 means 64-bit
Hit the Download driver button.
Launch the EXE file that you have downloaded.
Follow the onscreen prompts to install the program on your PC.

1.4 Update via Device Manager

Open the Start menu.
Open Device Manager.
Expand Network adapters.
Find the Realtek Bluetooth 5.0 adapter.
Right-click on it and select the Update driver option.
Follow the on-screen prompts and download the file.

2. Download and Install Realtek Bluetooth 5.0 driver on Windows 10

2.1 Official website

Visit Realtek’s official website.
Select the sub-category.
Click the Software button next to the Realtek Bluetooth 5.0 driver.
Hit the Download button.
Install the EXE file.
Restart your PC.

You can download the latest version of the Realtek Bluetooth 5.0 driver from the official website by following the above steps on your Windows 10 PC or you can also use the Driverpack website, as described above.

2.2 Use a dedicated tool

Download Fortect Driver Updater.
Install the program on your Windows 10 PC.
Launch the program.
The tool will automatically scan for missing or outdated software.
Select all the drivers that you wish to download or upgrade, which in our case is the Realtek Bluetooth 5.0 driver.
Hit the Update button.
Wait for the program to download and upgrade all the drivers.
Finally, restart your PC.

2.3 Use Device Manager

Open the Start menu.
Open Device Manager.
Expand Network adapters.
Find the Realtek Bluetooth 5.0 adapter.
Right-click on it and select the Update driver software option.
Follow the on-screen prompts and download the file.

3. Download and Install Realtek Bluetooth 5.0 driver on Windows 7

3.1 Official website

Visit Realtek’s official website in your browser.
Select the sub-category.
Click the Software button next to the Realtek Bluetooth 5.0 driver.
Hit the Download button.
Install the EXE file.
Restart the PC to apply the changes.

3.2 Use a dedicated tool

Download Fortect Driver Updater.
Install the program.
Launch the program.
The tool will automatically scan for missing or outdated software.
Select all the drivers that you wish to download or upgrade, which in our case is the Realtek Bluetooth 5.0 driver.
Hit the Update button at the top.
Wait for the program to download and upgrade all the drivers.
Restart your PC.

3.3 Use Device Manager

Open the Start menu.
Open Device Manager.
Expand Network adapters.
Find the Realtek Bluetooth 5.0 adapter.
Right-click on it and select the Update driver software option.
Follow the on-screen prompts and download the file.

That is it from us in this guide. Updating drivers is also pretty easy, and you can make use of any of the listed driver updaters in our guide of the 10 best driver updaters that will facilitate the updating process.

For Realtek audio driver issue, you can check out our guide that mentions some solutions to fix Realtek audio driver missing problems.

You also might be interested how to pair multiple Bluetooth devices in Windows.

Let us know in the comments below, which one of the above solutions you followed to download the Realtek Bluetooth 5.0 driver on your Windows 11, 10, or Windows 7 PC.

Fix: Windows 10 Activation Error 0xc004f074 [5 Quick Ways]

Posted on December 27, 2022November 4, 2024 by Ivan Jenic

Some users got the error code 0xc004f074 when trying to activate Windows after upgrading. If you’re currently dealing with this problem, we’ll help you sort it out.

So, without further delay, here are the steps to eliminate the error 0xc004f074 and activate your product.

How can I fix error 0xc004f074 in Windows 10?

1. Use the slmgr.vbs command

1. Press the Windows key + S, type cmd, and select Run as administrator under Command Prompt.
2. Type the command (Replace the Y letters in the code with your 25-number product key number) below and hit Enter: slmgr.vbs –ipk YYYYY- YYYYY - YYYYY - YYYYY - YYYYY
3. Now, type the command below and hit Enter: slmgr.vbs –ato
4. Finally, reboot the computer and see if your device gives you the same error.

If you are getting we can’t activate Windows 10 on this device with error code 0xc004f074 on your PC, the slmgr.vbr command should help you fix it.

2. Use the Slui 3 command

Press the Windows key + R, type slui 3, and click OK.
Write your product key in the window that appears.
Now, click the Next button.
Finally, restart your PC and check if the issue persists.

If you are getting the error code 0xc00f074 on office 2014, 2016 or while trying to activate your PC, you should try using the above command.

3. Run an SFC scan

Open the Command Prompt with administrative rights.
Type the command below and hit Enter: sfc /scannow
Wait for the command to finish running and restart your PC.

That is how to replace and fix the system files that might cause the can’t activate Windows 10 error code 0xc004f074 without a product key but with a digital license.

4. Run the Update and Activation Troubleshooters

Press the Windows keys + I to open the Settings app and select Update & Security.
Click Troubleshoot in the left pane and select Additional troubleshooters.
Now, select Windows Update and click the Run the troubleshooter button.
If this does not fix the issue, go back to the Update & Security window and select Activation in the left pane.
Finally, click the Troubleshoot option and apply any recommendation by the tool.

If you are facing the error code 0xc004f074 on Windows 7, 8, and server 2019 after installing an update, running the Windows update troubleshooter might help you.

On the other hand, the Windows Activation troubleshooter is your best bet for most activation issues.

5. Contact Microsoft Support

Try calling the Microsoft support team and tell them what the error you are getting and ask them to change your product key is. In some cases, when you try to use the product key too many times, it will get blocked by the server.

In this case, you need to reset the product key with the help of Microsoft’s support team.

So, the methods above should help you solve your issue with the error code 0xc004f074 to activate your Windows 8 or Windows 10 operating system.

If you want to know how to fix the Windows 10 activation error 0xc03f6506 instead, check our excellent guide for easy steps.

If you have any additional questions regarding this issue, let us know in the comments below.

6 Best Bass Booster Software for Windows 10 PC in 2026

Posted on December 27, 2022October 6, 2025 by Milan Stanojevic

In this article, we will explore the best Bass booster for PC and other platforms that allow you to tweak the sound features. With a special focus on boosting bass sound software solutions.

Audio boosters in general are a great way of increasing your system’s audio capabilities without the need to invest large sums of money into sophisticated audio peripherals.

Due to technology, we can even create virtual surround audio, which will make it seem there are more speakers around you than there actually are.

Whether you listen to music, play games or create content these software solutions will only boost your capabilities and your listening experience.

These tools should help you manipulate and tweak the bass to your taste. If you have a genuine interest in making the best of your playback devices and getting the most vibrant bass output, check the solutions below.

What are the best bass boosting tools for Windows 10?

Boom 3D (Recommended) – Best all around

Boom 3D is, for all intents and purposes, probably the tool that brings the best bang for the buck, as it is pretty cheap to cover two major OS platforms.

It’s an amazing, feature-rich software solution for all of you that want an immersive sound experience on Windows 10 with bass-boosting capabilities. It’s not only a great tool for music playback, but Boom 3D is also great for gaming and home theater setups.

With its specific approach to realistic surround sound and 31 equalizer presets, along with audio fidelity, this tool will make the media intake a completely enhanced experience.

Whether you work in a music studio or you just enjoy listening to good quality music casually, this software should not be missing from your PC. The surround-sound system, paired with good speaker placement or headphones will result in an immersive and realistic experience.

But that’s not the only good feature you’ll find. There are more, and all of them serve the purpose of entertaining you, the customer, with the best and highest quality sound on the market.

The most distinctive features of Boom 3D are:

3D Surround
Vivid and Vibrant audio reproduction
31 Band Equalizer Presets
Ambient and Spatial sound enhancements
The feature-rich audio player that’s available on Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS.

This is an amazing package and we suggest giving it a try as there’s a 30-day trial period. After that, you can purchase it for quite a low price.

Boom 3D

Listen to the best audio quality, enhance your music with cool equalizers with Boom 3D

Free trial Visit webiste

Equalizer APO – Low CPU Usage

Equalizer APO is one of the best equalizers for tweaking your audio experience to the smallest details. It is a very reliable tool and you can use it in conjunction with Room EQ Wizard.

This allows you to easily read its filter text file format. This tool also has a very useful UI add-on called Peace GUI.

Equalizer APO can significantly enhance and improve the quality of your sound. Once it’s installed, it can be configured by accessing its configuration TXT file found in the installation folder on your Windows 10 PC.

Here are the key features of Equalizer APO:

Virtually unlimited number of filters
Incredible bass-boost capabilities
Works on any number of channels
Very low latency, which makes it suited for interactive applications
Low CPU usage
Modular graphical user interface
VST plugin support
Integrates into Voicemeeter

Equalizer APO also offers you the possibility to transform its look by installing Peace GUI, which makes it even easier to use and adds audio mixing tools to your PC.

Using Peace GUI with Equalizer APO offers you other very important options:

Effects panel – balance, cross-feeding, delay
Graph window
You can save configurations and activate them by a simple click/hotkey or desktop shortcut
Up to 31 gain dB Equalizer sliders per channel/speaker
9 speakers support (all, stereo, 5.1 and 7.1)
Filter frequencies, dB gains, filter qualities can all be changed per slider
Filters: peak, low/high pass and shelf, bend, notch, and all pass
Pre amplifying dB values for volume control (per channel/speaker)
Graph of your filters (transfer function) per speaker

To get everything set up, you want to first install Equalizer APO and then install Peace GUI. Your antivirus may detect a virus in the PeaceSetup file. You don’t have to worry because this is only a false positive.

You can check out the step-by-step guide for install instructions and configuration here.

⇒ Get Equalizer APO

FX Sound – Real-time audio enhancement

FX Sound, formerly known as DFX Audio Enhancer, is one of the world’s most popular PC multimedia software accessory.

This tool enhances the sound of most online music and video content – Youtube, Pandora, Spotify – and also runs real-time audio enhancement on a variety of players including iTunes, Windows Media Player, and Winamp.

FX Sound has a completely overhauled user interface compared to DFX allowing you to have a highly intuitive and aesthetically pleasing experience while using it.

If you own an average quality set of PC speakers – that has stopped you from experiencing your music fully – and you don’t want to spend a lot of money on a quality audio system, then FX Sound is a cheaper alternative.

It transforms the way you listen to songs into a top-of-the-range listening experience. This software is very simple and easy to use, it runs in the background and it has a huge impact on your music.

Here are the key features of FX Sound key:

7.1 Surround Sound
High definition music optimization without playback delay
Optimization for low quality tracks even – YouTube, Spotify, and Pandora
You can erase audio compression – MP3s are heavily compressed to reduce file size but this also affects sound quality
Deep Bass and Upper Bass Adjustment
Lower-midrange adjustments
Fidelity and ambiance adjustments
Dynamic Range
You can easily create and save your own presets.

Previous users of DFX can upgrade to Fx Sound Premium with a discount. You can try FX Sound as a 7 free day trial. You can also buy FX Sound Premium and enjoy extra options and settings.

⇒ Get FX Sound

Bass Treble Booster – Intuitive interface

Bass Treble Booster is a shareware (free to try) licensed program that has a very easy to understand interface. You can easily adjust the sounds coming out of your Windows 10 PC to any frequency you desire.

It is not as powerful as FX Sound when it comes to the range of frequencies it can operate changes on but it makes a viable option for users that need a simpler alternative.

It has the ability to losslessly increase the volume of your music, apply different settings to the bass, and treble using its custom presets, and convert audio files to your desired file type.

The Bass Treble Booster key features include:

You can change low, medium and high frequencies (ranges from 30 to 19Khz)
Audio conversion with batch processing capabilities (MP3, FLAC, WAV, OGG, WMA, APE, AAC, WV, AIFF, M4A )
‘Return to default settings’ option
15 frequency settings
Low size file (1,47 MB)
Drag and drop support
You can save all EQ settings created
You can create playlists

⇒ Get Bass Treble Booster

Music Player-Audio Player & Bass Booster – With song library

The Music Player from Sandpiper Studio has a modern, minimalistic UI where it encompasses multiple music file management features, along with a song equalizer and bass booster.

You can add multiple types of audio files to the Music Player Library. It is compatible with WAV, AIFF, MIDI, AAC, MP3, OTA, MP2, S3M, MOD, MTM, UMX, MP1, XM, MO3, and M4A files.

The song library is simple and well organized. It has a search bar where you can type details about a song (e.g. song name, album name), and the results will be displayed in a list. You can also browse by using albums, artists, playlists, and also folder-specific filters.

Other key features of Music Player include:

Color theme change
Custom tone music style
Manually adjustable equalizer
Genre specific presets
Play Stats in the Music History Tab regarding Most Recent Plays, Recently Added Songs, and Most Played Songs
Shuffle/Repeat/No Repeat Controls
Allows you to set favorite tracks, and then easily find them in the Favorites Tab

Music Player has a free and a premium version. You can get the premium version as a one-time purchase, or get a subscription plan.

⇒ Get Music Player- Audio Player & Bass Booster

Bongiovi DPS – Personalized experience

Bongiovi DPS was created in a place called Motown, where Tony Bongiovi began his legendary career working with renown artists.

Digital Power Station (DPS) is a professional patented algorithm with 120 calibration points that is able to optimize any audio signal in real-time, adding depth, clarity, definition and incredible stereo field imaging.

Bongiovi DPS changes the way you listen to sound and allows you to get a personalized experience no matter if you use it for music, movies, streaming audio, internet communication, or games.

Bongiovi DPS with its Digital Power Station technology is one of the best software solutions that scans the audio signal of your device in reading time using its custom profiles to optimize as well as possible.

Bongiovi DPS key features:

Virtual Subwoofer Technology
Support for internet communications software – Google Voice, Skype, Face-time
120 calibration points
Adjustable spatial enhancements
Real-time adjustments without loss of quality (lossless)

⇒ Get Bongiovi DPS

This information presented in this article allows you to choose the best software options to boost your Windows 10 PC bass sound. We listed a wide array of bass boosting tools both at a professional and beginner level.

If you believe we missed some essential software, let us know in the comment section below.

Video Codecs for Windows 10: Best Codec Packs in 2026

Posted on December 27, 2022January 8, 2024 by Madalina Dinita

The best video codec packs for Windows 10 can help users effectively resolve unsupported video-playing file format issues. The Windows 10 Media Player supports a wide variety of multimedia file formats including MP3, MP4, WMV, AVI, etc.

However, there is a wide array of audio and video file formats in the market currently. Therefore, all file formats might not work effectively with all media players for Windows 10.

To resolve these issues, users definitely require the best video codec pack for compression, be it for Android, After Effect, QuickTime, or Plex.

Others include Windows 10 video codec pack for PowerPoint, Adobe Premiere, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, MP4, editing, streaming, HEVC (H.265) encoding, etc.

Does Windows 10 need video codecs?

A codec makes it possible to process audio-visual signals through encoding and decoding digital data streams. Consequently, Windows 10 definitely required a codec pack for the job.

It could either be an application or a device pack that helps interpret different media file formats.

Here’s a quick preview of our top choices to download the best codec pack:

1️⃣ WinX HD Video Converter Deluxe	The most versatile media player codec pack
CyberLink PowerDVD	Download video codecs for Windows 10 64-bit & 32-bit
? GOM Player	Top-notch MP4 codecs for Windows 10 & more
VLC Media Player	The ultimate open-source player to stream codec packs
? K-Lite Video Codec Packs for Windows 10	Best codec pack with regular updates
? Media Player Video Codec Packs for Windows 10	4K audio and video streaming

Now, Windows 10 does not include the latest video codec packs by default and you’ll need to download and install them yourself in order to render all kinds of videos, fix file format issues and overall improve your user experience,

Due to the large volume of codec packs available out there, just settling for any video codec could result in malware, adware, and other harmful virus or infectious files.

This article, therefore, presents users with the top 6 media codec players to download the latest video codecs and codec packs for Windows 10, both 32 and 64-bit systems.

What are the best video codec packs for Windows 10?

WinX HD Video Converter Deluxe – Most versatile media player codec pack

Although not a code pack, but rather an extremely versatile media player, WinX HD Video Converter is the king on our list.

With over 90 million users in the past 10 years, we can easily understand how this software has gained popularity.

The tool converts and processes media in any possible format, including hevc, h.264, mp4, mkv, avi, wmv, m2ts, avchd, and in whatever resolution or codec.

Besides, you can import, edit, store, share, or just play your media from a multitude of devices including action cams, drones, surveillance cams, or camcorders.

Thanks to the impressive Level-3 hardware acceleration technology, video transcoding speed spikes considerably without compromising the image quality.

The same technology is used to reduce any file size by up to 90%, with no impact on the video quality, only to make your media sharable.

WinX HD Video Converter

The most powerful video converter to edit any 4k media file and play it in Windows 10.

Check price Visit website

CyberLink PowerDVD – Download video codecs for Windows 10 64 & 32-bit

Coming second on our list is not a codec pack per se, but rather a video player that can pretty much support all user-grade video formats.

Given that you would only need a codec pack because you have a video that you cannot run, having a video player that can run anything is simply the better option.

Of course, Cyberlink Power DVD isn’t just your typical DVD or Blu-Ray player, it is an entire multimedia suite, allowing you to manage your entire collection of videos, music, and photos all from within one single menu.

More so, you can sync your content, allowing you to enjoy and share movies, TV shows, and photos anywhere, on any device.

Here are some of the perks of using CyberLink Power DVD:

Allows you to enjoy multimedia content on any device
Incredible audio and video quality enhancements
Full control over your videos, music, and photos
Gain access to the CyberLink cloud
Easy multimedia file sharing

CyberLink Power DVD

This singular program is an entire multimedia suite that will boost entertainment.

Check price Visit website

GOM Player – Top-notch MP4 codecs for Windows 10 & more

The next entry on our list follows the same trend, with GOM Player being a very reliable video player that can support pretty much all standard user-grade video formats.

However, even if it does manage to run into a file that it cannot open, it will immediately scan it and download the appropriate codecs anyway, as a form of self-improvement.

As for the video-playing part, GOM Player is incredibly lightweight and fast, and you won’t feel any strain on your PC, even when running high-definition formats such as Blu-ray or 4K content.

More so, it too features plenty of video-enhancement tools, the ability to switch audio, subs, and more.

Here are some of the perks of using GOM Player:

Support for different formats like AVI, MP4, MKV, FLV, WMV, or MOV
Offers automatic subtitles from classic to newly released movies
Access to 360° VR experiences
Build-in codecs included
No ad playback on the Pro version
Priority for technical support

GOM Player

Use this self-updating video player to watch any video you want without worrying about missing codecs.

Free Visit website

VLC Media Player – The ultimate open-source player to stream codec packs

VLC Media player is developed by Video LAN. The Media player is an excellent application that’s best suitable for viewing videos working with different file formats.

Users enjoy a free but open-source software multimedia player and framework playing audio, video CD, and DVD files across different streaming protocols.

VLC works perfectly with a wide variety of codecs even without the need for codec packs. Such formats include DivX, WebM, MP3, H.264, MKV, MPEG-2, etc. Some other great reason to give VLC Media Player a shot is that it comes entirely free to download.

As of September 2018, VLC Media Player has been downloaded 8.2 million times to show its popularity. The regular updating of VLC has helped to take care of issues with bugs and crashes.

As a universal media player, it’s possible to have VLC as the only media player on the user system. Though, programmers could develop other add-ons and extensions for attachment on VLC. These and more make VLC Media Player one of the best video codec packs for Windows 10.

⇒ Get VLC Codec Pack

K-Lite Video Codecs for Windows 10 – Best codec pack with regular updates

When searching for the best video codec pack for Windows 10 available in the market today K-Lite does offer the most popular and exceptional pack.

It is a virus-free application that plays almost any file format using a direct show filter.

The K-Lite codec pack developers regularly update the application to give users the best experience. It comes easily to install with an interesting graphic user interface and with over 1 million downloads.

K-Lite comes in four different packages:

Basic pack: It contains the essential tools for playing video codec files.
Standard pack: K-Lite standard pack offers the best pick for a regular user. It, however, has additional features for playing video formats not found in the basic pack.

Full pack: The full pack is richer with bigger and better features for users such as filters and other tools.
Mega Pack: K-Lite is the must-have package for heavy users seeking to have all available options. It allows one to encode video and audio files.

⇒ Get K-Lite codec pack

Media Player Codec Pack for Windows 10 – 4K audio and video streaming

The Media Player video codec pack is also another very helpful video codec pack for intermediate/ average and heavy users. If you want to get the Windows 10 codec pack from Microsoft itself, here’s your best shot: get the latest Windows Media Player codecs for Windows 10.

The Media player codec supports any file type or compression for audio and video files. It can support up to 4K audio and video streaming.

Media Player codec comes in two packages: easy installation and expert installation. The easy installation gives users the basic package while expert installation contains advanced features for heavy users.

Media Player codec pack offers the best video format and size for Real, VLC, DVDs, MP4, Xvid, etc. That again makes it an option for the best video codec packs for Windows 10.

⇒ Get Media Player Codec pack

❓How to check video codecs on Windows 10

Start Windows Media Player.
Press the Alt + H shortcut to open the Help menu and select About Windows Media Player.
Now click on Technical Support Information.
Scroll down to find all the audio and video codecs installed on your system.

If you have other players than the WMP, you can, of course, follow the instructions – and they shouldn’t be much different – to identify your codecs.

You may need to inspect the K-Lite codec pack or the VLC codec pack if you’re running any of these options.

Now, a list of the best video codec packs for Windows 10 cannot be exhausted in a single article.

Nevertheless, one thing remains critical when trying to pick the best free video codec pack. Namely, the user needs to consider what they expect from such software.

Even so, the above-listed video codec packs arguably make the top of the ranks and are suitable for a wide variety of file formats. Enjoy a pleasant streaming, music, or video-playing experience!

Windows 10 Deactivated Itself After Update [6 Quick Fixes]

Posted on December 27, 2022October 4, 2023 by Ivan Jenic

Have you updated your operating system to Windows 10, and it quickly deactivated itself after some time? If so, don’t worry: you’re not the only one.

Turn out this is a big issue with Windows 10, but luckily, this article will show you how to fix this problem quickly.

How to fix Windows 10 if it deactivates itself after update?

Run an SFC scan
Validate your product ID via Command Prompt
Reset your PC
Use System Restore
Clean install Windows 10
General activation solutions that may help you

1. Run an SFC scan

Press the Windows key, type cmd, and select Run as administrator under Command Prompt.
Type the command below and hit Enter: sfc /scannow
Wait for the command to finish running.

The first thing you need to do if Windows 10 deactivated itself is to search for faulty system files. Running the SFC scan should fix or replace any file causing problems.

2. Validate your product ID via Command Prompt

Press the Windows key + I and select the System option.
Click About in the left pane and note your Product ID.
Now, launch the Command Prompt as admin, type the command (replace product ID with the value in step 2) below, and hit Enter: slmgr/ipk Product ID
You should now have a window in front of you displaying an activation prompt.
Now, type the command below and hit Enter: slui
Finally, check if the product key displayed is the same as in Step 2 and restart your PC.

3. Reset your PC

Press the Windows key + I and select Update & Security.
Click the Recovery option in the left pane.
Now, click the Get Started button under Reset this PC.
Choose the Keep my files option and click Next.
Finally, follow the onscreen instructions to complete the process.

4. Use System Restore

Press the Windows key + R, type rstrui.exe, and click OK.
Click the Next button in the window that pops up.
Now, choose your preferred restore point and click the Next button.
Finally, click the Finish button to confirm the action and follow the onscreen instructions to complete the process.

With this, your system should return to a time when it was working well.

5. Clean install Windows 10

If you still cannot fix the Windows 10 deactivated itself issue after applying the fixes above, you might need to perform a clean install of the OS.

While this process can be time-wasting, it will help reactivate your PC, as you will need to enter the activation key during the installation. For everything, you need to make it successful, check our guide on how to clean install Windows 10.

6. General activation solutions that may help you

However, if you don’t want to resort to complex and irreversible solutions, such as clean installing Windows 10, follow the steps below.

Indeed, a few users confirmed that these methods worked for them, but the fact is that some of these solutions may help you activate the OS. You’ve got nothing to lose if you try them out.

6.1. Launch the Activation Troubleshooter

Press the Windows key + I and select Update & Security.
Click on Activation in the left pane.
Now, click on Troubleshoot.

You could run the Activation Troubleshooter if the digital license activation failed after Windows 10 deactivated itself. This tool will check for activation conflicts and hopefully resolve them.

6.2. Run a full system scan

Press the Windows key, type virus, and select Virus & threat protection.
Select Scan options.
Now, select the Full Scan option and click the Scan now button.

Malware may cause various issues on your computer, including activation errors. If malicious codes were already on your PC before you hit the upgrade button, they might be blocking the Windows 10 activation process.

Perform a full system scan to detect any malware running on your computer. You can use Windows’ built-in antivirus, Windows Defender, or third-party antivirus solutions.

6.3. Update your OS

Press the Windows key + I and select Update & Security.
Click the Check for updates button.
Finally, install all available updates, including the optional ones.

6.4. Check your disk for errors

Launch Command Prompt as admin.
Copy and paste the command below and hit Enter: chkdsk c: /r
If you get any prompt, press the Y key and wait for the command to finish running.

Some users reported they could activate Windows 10 after checking their disk for errors. Of course, perform this check on the disk where you installed the OS.

6.5. Clean your temporary files and folders

Press the Windows key, type disk, and select Disk Cleanup.
Check the boxes for the options you want to clean.
Now, click the Clean up system files option and wait for the process to finish.

The simplest and quickest manner to delete your temporary files and folders is to use Disk Cleanup. Using your computer or browsing the Internet, your PC accumulates various unnecessary files.

These so-called junk files may affect your computer’s processing speed, causing apps to respond slowly and triggering various error codes. In rare cases, they can even push Windows 10 to deactivate itself.

6.6. Contact Microsoft Support

If all the above methods fail to address this problem and you can’t use your key to activate the OS, try contacting Microsoft Support. You can chat online with a Microsoft Support Engineer or call Support directly.

With this, we can conclude this guide on how to fix the Windows 10 deactivated itself issue. All that is left for you to do is follow the instructions carefully, and you should regain your activation status.

If you want to know how long you can use Windows 10 without activation, check our detailed guide for all the necessary information.

Did you manage to fix this issue? Let us know in the comment section below!

Opera Browser Password Managers: Top 7 Options

Posted on December 27, 2022October 12, 2025 by Megan Moore

Looking for a third-party password manager for Opera? You’re in the right place.

Even though the browser has a built-in password manager, it doesn’t offer all the bells and whistles as others. If you feel you need more features, check out the options below.

What are the best password managers for Opera?

RoboForm – One-click login and saving

RoboForm is an excellent password manager compatible with Opera. It’s simple to install, with a Help center for guidance.

The free version offers unlimited logins, form fills, password audits, and generators, while paid plans offer advanced features. It uses AES-256-bit encryption for robust digital privacy.

Key features of RoboForm:

One-click logins
Multi-factor authentication
Security center
Offline access

RoboForm

Try the RoboForm Opera extension and avoid losing control of your passwords.

Free trial Visit Website

Dashlane – Rock solid encryption

Dashlane offers a secure web app accessible as a lightweight browser extension for most browsers, enabling easy login and form autofill.

It’s popular in small businesses and software industries, offering free, family, and premium plans. While it’s not available in the Opera add-on store, you can download it from the Chrome Web Store.

Key features of Dashlane:

Great for beginners
Password monitoring
High level of encryption
Sync for all devices and browsers

Dashlane

Easy setup, cross-platform and encrypted security for a safe online environment.

Free trial Visit website

LastPass – Most compatible

LastPass is a versatile Opera password manager with free and paid versions. It syncs login info across mobile and desktop platforms.

Moreover, it saves and autofills passwords, addresses, and credit card details, and features a Security Dashboard to strengthen weak passwords and monitor for suspicious activity on the dark web.

Key features of LastPass:

Cross-platform compatibility
Provides Security Dashboard
Password generator

LastPass

One secured vault for multiple devices with sync on all platforms.

Free trial Visit website

1Password – Best for traveling

1Password password manager for Opera browser.

1Password provides secure access to login information via a master password, offering convenience with robust security.

It’s a paid service with a 14-day free trial for new users. The Travel Mode feature hides sensitive data during travel and restores it easily.

Watchtower alerts users to weak or compromised passwords and offers customization options like fingerprint verification and master password settings for enhanced security.

Key features of 1Password:

Uses master password
Travel mode
Watchtower feature

1Password

Easily manage and change the compromised passwords to stay safe everywhere.

Check price Visit website

Keeper – The most features

Keeper offers both free and paid versions for password management. It’s available as a PC or mobile app with a browser extension for Opera from the Chrome Web Store.

Keeper suggests strong passwords, auto-fills logins, and handles two-factor authentication. The vault also stores sensitive files, photos, and more, organized neatly with folders.

Key features of Keeper:

Offers app and extension
Allows users to store files, photos, and more
Multiple accounts

Keeper

Advanced protection for your online identity for personal and business use.

Check price Visit website

Bitwarden – Easily manageable

Bitwarden Opera Browser password mananger.

Bitwarden offers unlimited free option and premium features available via subscription.

It securely stores logins with AES-256 bit encryption, salted hashing, and PBKDF2 SHA-256, ensuring data remains private. It’s very easy to use and syncs across all devices.

Key features of Bitwarden:

Syncs across devices
Encrypted vault
Open-source

⇒ Get Bitwarden

TweakPass – The most user-friendly

TweakPass is a free Opera browser extension and mobile app for managing sensitive login information.

It features a password generator and encryption at both device and server levels. Users receive password strength reports and expiration alerts.

Key features of TweakPass:

Password generator
Password strength report
User-friendly

⇒ Get TweakPass

Is Opera password manager safe?

Yes, the Opera password manager is safe. Your saved passwords are protected by your OS login and you need to type in your password before you can use them. To make things better, you cannot use the password on other devices or even on a different user account on the same PC.

How do I see saved passwords in Opera?

In Opera, click on the menu in the top left corner and select Settings.
Click on Advanced to reveal the dropdown menu, then click Privacy & security.
Scroll down to Autofill and select Passwords.
Here you have access to all of your saved login credentials. Click on the eye icon next to the password to view a password.
Enter your computer password to view.

Here, users can see any saved passwords and login data. Users can edit, copy, and remove individual passwords or export all stored passwords to their devices for safekeeping.

Why isn’t Opera saving my passwords?

The major reason Opera might not save your password is the issues with your OS. Many users have reported this issue, which can sometimes be traced to another app or a faulty user account.

We hope you enjoyed our list of the top password managers for Opera Browser.

Let us know in the comments which one you prefer to use.

VHS to PC Converter Software: 6 Best to Use in 2026

Posted on December 27, 2022January 8, 2024 by Matthew Adams

VHS tapes are now obsolete. So if you have few recorded VHS tapes gathering dust in a cupboard, you’ll need to convert them to a digital format for PC playback.

VHS to PC converters are packages that usually include a video capture adapter card device and software to convert the VHS to a digital format with ease.

The video capture adapter card connects a VCR player with the PC, and then you can further edit videos and add them to a digital versatile disc with the VHS to DVD converter software.

When selecting a VHS to PC converter, you’ve got to go for one with wide device compatibility. The best VHS converters will enable you to convert the video to various output formats.

Furthermore, they’ll also include editing software that you can further refine the digital videos with.

You can even utilize some VHS converters to optimize videos for mobile and tablet playback. These are a few of the best VHS to PC converter packages for Windows 10.

What is the best VHS to PC converter software for Windows 10?

WinX DVD Author

If you are looking for one of the best VHS to PC converters, you need to take a closer look at WinX DVD Author. This application empowers you to make personalized DVDs with ease.

Let us tell you from the start that it supports almost any video format and even if you’re in a hurry, speed is guaranteed.

Besides the conversion, you can also edit your videos. You can get professional DVD results. The software allows you to organize the footage by providing different layouts for chapter menus and DVD title menus.

An additional feature is that you can add subtitles to your video material. This can be of use in case your video has harder-to-understand audio, or if you want to translate the content into a different language.

Key features that WinX DVD Author brings to the table:

Dolby Digital AC-3 audio support
High-quality engine
Built-in YouTube downloader
Straightforward interface

The software is compatible with Windows 10 OS and lower. It is completely free and fairly easy to use.

WinX DVD Author

WinX DVD comes with a built-in powerful video encoder and can help you convert VHS to DVD with ease!

Free Download

Roxio Easy VHS to DVD 3 Plus

Roxio Easy VHD to DVD 3 Plus is a versatile and intuitive VHS converter with which you can convert both VHS tapes and vinyl records to digital formats.

The package includes a Roxio Video Capture USB, as well as an RCA cable. These help you connect most devices with composite outputs to your PC and then convert and edit them.

This VHS converter comes with its own exclusive software for transferring VHS videos directly to PC or burning them to digital versatile disc.

The conversion process is easy and fast. The software guides you through the necessary steps and once the process is done, you can start editing. The editor is intuitive and straightforward as well.

Roxio Easy VHS to DVD 3 Plus enables its users to trim videos, stabilize footage, add transition effects and titles, enhance clips’ color balance and lighting and stabilize footage.

Besides video materials, you can also convert audio formats from LPs and tape cassettes to digital audio formats.

Other key features of Roxio Easy VHS to DVD include:

Can add tittles and rolling credits
Color enhanching editing features
Disc burning assistance
Split movies across multiple discs
Convert videos for Android and iOS devices

The software is compatible with PCs running a Windows XP OS or higher.

Roxio Easy VHS to DVD

Connect and transform your VHS tapes into digital video formats, with easy-to-use editing software.

Check price Visit website

Cyberlink Director Suite

The CyberLink Director Suite is a very comprehensive package that offers software solutions for all types of analog to digital conversions. It comes with video editors, photo editors, video templates, audio editing software and more.

You already have an overview of the powerful capture features provided by the CyberLink PowerDirector software. It can help improve the quality of the video you’re starting with, so you can give your VHS tapes a new life.

The bundle also comes with photo editing software, the PhotoDirector 9. It is an easy-to-use software that comes with 360 photo editing features, group shot assistance, multi-exposure merging, and more. You can also use it to create motion stills, by inserting a few seconds of video footage into your image.

Another great tool that comes in this package is the Audio Director 8 that can enhance the quality of your audio files. You can use it along with the video editing software, or on its own, for audio files.

Other key features of the CyberLink Director Suite include:

Third party premium plug-ins and templates included
Pro level color grading
Fast exporting rendering engine

The CyberLink Director Suite is compatible with Windows operating PCs, starting with Windows 7.

CyberLink Director Suite

Fully edit media files to deliver professional-level end results.

Check price Visit website

Diamond Video Capture VC500

Diamond Video Capture VC500 is a highly rated VHS converter package that includes the CyberLink PowerDirector video-editing software and the Showbiz DVD burning software. It is a video capture adapter card that connects PCs with different VHS players or camcorders.

The best thing about Diamond Video Capture VC500 is probably the software that comes with it. CyberLink PowerDirector is one of the best video-editing applications for Windows, and with that, you can apply a wide range of transitions and effects to videos.

You can also use the CyberLink PowerDirector editing software to cut scenes out from videos and add text and audio to the footage. This can help you create professional-looking final products.

Another useful feature of the CyberLink Power Director is that you can organize all your videos within the software’s UI. You can create your own video library and make your video materials easy to access, edit and play, all in one place.

Showbiz is the other software bundled with VC500, so feel free to use it in order to burn videos to DVDs with menus and chapters included. The package provides all the necessary software features to convert, edit, and store video materials, so you don’t have to get additional tools.

Other key features of Diamond Video Capture include:

Compatible with most video sources
Supports video capture, you just have to connect a camera

Diamond VC500 is a one-time purchase, with an unlimited license for the software included. It is compatible with Windows OS from XP up.

⇒ Get Diamond Video Capture

AverMedia DVD EZMaker 7

AverMedia DVD EZMaker 7 is a VHS converter that does much more than burn VHS videos to DVD.

That’s largely thanks to the great media suite that comes with it. EZMaker 7 comes with the usual video capture card adapter that you can connect with VCR, cassette, and vinyl record players.

This VHS converter is compatible with Windows platforms from XP up and Mac OS X 10.8 or above.

That isn’t the most recent PowerDirector version, but you can still add more than 500 effects, titles, and audio to videos with that software.

PowerDirector also enables you to stabilize and trim footage. In addition, you can export clips to six alternative file formats and optimize footage for iOS, Android, and Blackberry devices with the video editor.

PowerProducer 5.5 is the other Cyberlink software bundled with EZMaker 7.

That’s DVD authoring software with which you can quickly add your videos to Blu-ray Disc and DVD. That software also includes a range of customizable menu templates for discs.

PowerProducer also enables its users to cut out ads from recorded videos, which is handy. So, with both PowerProducer and PowerDirector bundled with it, EZMaker 7 includes one of the best VHS converter media suites.

⇒ Get AverMedia DVD EZMaker 7

Vidbox Video Conversion Suite

Vidbox is one of the most straightforward VHS to PC converters. This package includes a video conversion box, which isn’t entirely the same as a video capture adapter card.

Vidbox users can capture videos from VCR, camcorders, DVD players, and even game consoles. The Vidbox software is a wizard that takes you through all the required steps to convert VHS tapes to digital formats.

As such, converting cassettes with Vidbox is a breeze. Vidbox users can convert their videos to MPEG1, MPEG2, WMV, MP4, and MOV or select to burn them to digital versatile disc.

You can also utilize Vidbox for converting audio to digital formats, which is another bonus. Although Vidbox lacks editing options for videos, it’s still a straightforward package for converting videos.

Other key features of the Vidbox package include:

USB video capture device
USB cable
RCA AV Cable
Interface available in English, French, Spanish and Portuguese

The software can be used on Windows PC running with the Windows 8 OS or higher.

⇒ Get Vidbox

Those are six of the best VHS to digital converters that you can use to revitalize your VHS videos. They’ll convert videos into a digital format for playback on DVD, Blu-ray Disc, PC media players, and other devices.

Do note that the list even includes some free VHS to DVD software tools for Windows 10. If you have any other suggestions or questions, feel free to reach in the comments section below.

Java Error Code 1618: Causes & Quick Fixes

Posted on December 27, 2022October 4, 2023 by Sagar Naresh

The Java error code 1618 is a common error that you will come across when trying to install Java on your Windows PC. This issue has been reported by multiple users, and it could pop up because of another instance of Java running on your PC.

What causes Java error code 1618?

After some research, we have found out a few of the most common reasons why you will get the Java error code 1618:

Java installation: In case you have Java installed on your PC, then you will get this error.
Antivirus is blocking Java: Aggressive antivirus settings can often lead to it blocking the Java installation.
The installation file is corrupt: Corrupt installation or program-related files can also trigger this problem, so don’t hesitate to refer to our below solutions.
Windows installer service is not running: A third-party program might have turned off the Windows Installer service. Here’s what to do if the Windows Installer service can’t be accessed.
Corrupt registry keys: If some important registry entries are missing or corrupt then they can cause multiple issues.

How can I fix the Java error code 1618?

Here are some quick fixes that you can apply before applying the advanced troubleshooting methods:

Restart your PC as it will load all the system-related files from scratch.
Close any other instance of the Java setup running on your PC.

Well, that’s about it. Let us check out the advanced solutions and possibly fix this problem.

1. Restart Windows Installer Service

Press the Win + I buttons to open the Run dialogue.
Type services.msc and press Enter.
Locate Windows Installer service.
Double-click to open it.
Under Service status, select Start.

You should make sure that the Windows Installer service is running to run the Java installation. Follow the above steps and start the service in case it is stopped.

2. Download Java offline installer

Remove all instances of Java from your PC.
Visit the official Java website.
Download the offline installer.
Right-click on the downloaded EXE file and select Run as administrator.
Install the program.
Restart your PC and check if this fixes the error or not.

Chances are the Java installer is unable to fetch the installation files required to complete the installation. In this case, we would suggest you download the Java offline installer.

The benefit of using an offline installer is that it will download the entire package, i.e., the installation files and other important program-related files required for a successful installation. Once you have downloaded the offline installer, you can install the program without the internet.

3. Disable antivirus

Open the Start menu.
Open Windows Defender Firewall.
Click on Turn Windows Defender Firewall on or off.
Select Turn off Windows Defender Firewall options for both Private and Public network settings.

Your Defender Firewall might be blocking Java installation because of aggressive settings, which is why you are getting the Java error code 1618.

All you need to do is disable the Windows Defender Firewall by following the above steps. We would suggest you turn Firewall back on when the issue has been resolved.

4. Install the latest Windows update

Press the Win + I buttons to open Settings.
Select Update & Security.
Click on Windows Update on the left pane.
Click the Check for updates button.
Windows will look for a new update and prompt you to install it if it detects a new one.

Several users have reported that updating their PC with the latest available update resolved the problem. Moreover, this issue was also associated with a specific version of the Windows 10 update.

Reportedly, the Windows 10 update version KB2918614 broke the Windows Installer and hence caused multiple issues including the Java error code 1618.

5. Clean boot your PC

Press Win + R to launch the Run dialogue.
Type msconfig and press Enter.
Click on the Services tab.
Check the box for Hide all Microsoft services option.
Click Disable all.
Click Apply.
Switch to the Startup tab.
Select Open Task Manager.
In the Startup tab, select each service and hit the Disable button.
Restart your PC and see if this resolves the problem or not.

When you perform a clean boot, your PC boots up with minimal drivers and programs that are the only essential ones required for the PC to function.

This also prevents the situation where a third-party program might be conflicting with the Java installation and trigger the Java error code 1618.

6. Install Java in a new folder

Launch the Java installer file.
Click on Next.
Click Change.
Choose a location, most probably C Drive.
Click OK.
Install Java and check if this resolves the issue or not.

Often Java can throw errors if the location isn’t apt for its installation. In such a case, we would suggest you install Java in a new folder and see if this resolves the Java error code 1618.

We have a dedicated guide that lists down all the steps that you need to download the latest version of Java, both 32-bit and 64-bit on your Windows PC.

Apart from Java error code 1618, you will also come across Java error 1603. To fix it, we have a guide that will help you. You can also check out our list of the best browsers that support Java and how you can enable it.

Let us know in the comments below, which one of the above solutions helped you resolve the Java error code 1618.

Fix: Windows 10 Activation Error 0x803f7001 [5 Quick Ways]

Posted on December 27, 2022October 4, 2023 by Milan Stanojevic

Microsoft has changed how the system activates with Windows 10, and due to different activation methods, some users are getting the 0x803F7001 error, so let’s see how to fix this error.

Previous versions of Windows could be activated simply by entering the product key, but Windows 10 brought us digital entitlement that doesn’t require you to enter the product key.

Using the digital entitlement method, your Windows 10 gets activated when you upgrade from genuine Windows 7 or 8.1. However, it has been reported that this activation method has flaws, with users keep reporting various activation errors on Windows PCs.

Here are some more examples of this problem:

0x803f7001 after hardware upgrade – This problem usually appears after you replace a piece of your computer’s hardware.
Windows 10 activation failed because this device doesn’t have a valid digital entitlement
slui 4 not working Windows 10 – slui 4 is one of the most common methods of activating Windows, but if it doesn’t work, the 0x803F7001 error will appear.

How do I fix error 0x803F7001 on Windows?

1. Change the product key

Press the Windows key + I to open the Settings app and select Update and Security.
Next, click the Activation option in the left pane and click the Change product key.
If you get User Account Control prompt just click Yes.
Find the version of Windows 10 that you’re using and enter the product key from the list below:
- Windows 10 Home: YTMG3-N6DKC-DKB77-7M9GH-8HVX7
- Windows 10 Pro: VK7JG-NPHTM-C97JM-9MPGT-3V66T
- Windows 10 Home N: 4CPRK-NM3K3-X6XXQ-RXX86-WXCHW
- Windows 10 Home Single Language: BT79Q-G7N6G-PGBYW-4YWX6-6F4BT
- Windows 10 Home Country Specific: 7B6NC-V3438-TRQG7-8TCCX-H6DDY
- Windows 10 Professional N: 2B87N-8KFHP-DKV6R-Y2C8J-PKCKT
After entering the product key, click Next.
You will get a message saying We couldn’t activate Windows.
Repeat the entire process from Step 1, but this time enter your serial number for your copy of Windows 7 or Windows 8.1.
If the process is successful, you should get a message saying you’re running a genuine Windows 10.

Users report getting the message saying, Activation failed because this device doesn’t have a valid digital entitlement or product key. Error code: 0x803F7001” when they navigate to the Activation section in the Settings app.

To fix this, you need to change the product key by following the instructions above.

2. Use Command Prompt

Press the Windows key + S, type cmd, and select Run as administrator under Command Prompt.
Type the command below and hit Enter: wmic path softwarelicensingservice get OA3xOriginalProductKey
Now, copy the code given and use it to activate your PC.

3. Run the Activation troubleshooter

1. Press the Windows key +I and select the Update & Security option.
2. Click Activation in the left pane.
3. Now, select Troubleshoot.
4. If the troubleshooter detects a digital license linked to your PC, it will help you activate it automatically.

Running the troubleshooter offers so many ways to fix the 0x803f7001 issue. If you have just changed your hardware, it will show that it can’t activate your PC with an option to activate it after changing hardware.

4. Activate Windows 10 via phone

Press Windows Key + R and enter Slui 4. Press Enter or click OK to run it.
Now, select your country or region from the list.
You should see a toll free number. You need to call it and enter your installation ID.
After you’ve made the call, you should get a confirmation ID.
Click Enter confirmation ID and type the confirmation ID that you were given.
Click Activate, and that’s it.

If you’re getting error 0x803F7001 while activating Windows 10, you might want to try activating it over a phone. If Slui.exe still shows error 0x2a 0x803F7001, proceed to the last fix below.

5. Upgrade to Windows 10 again

You should try this solution if the license activation (slui.exe) failed with the following error hr=0x803F7001. You’ll need to install a genuine version of Windows 7 or 8.1 and activate it. After you’ve activated Windows 7 or 8.1, you’ll have to upgrade to Windows 10 and try activating Windows 10 again.

As we said, this is the last solution, and only do it if there’s no other way to fix error 0x803F7001.

If you are experiencing a similar issue in Windows activation error 0xc004f211, check our detailed guide to fix it quickly.

If you have any comments, questions or suggestions, just let us know in the comments below.

Report claims Jim Ryan dismissed Xbox Game Pass as competition, seemingly contradicting statements to regulators

Posted on December 27, 2022 by Robert Collins

Insider Gaming has reported that CEO of Sony Interactive Entertainment Jim Ryan recently dismissed Xbox Game Pass as a threat to Sony’s position in gaming. The remarks were apparently made at an employee Q&A session earlier in December according to the anonymous source.

As the report claims, Jim Ryan told employees:

When we consider Game Pass, it seems to be getting lower [Game Pass numbers]. When we consider Game Pass, we’ve sold more PS5’s in two years than they have gathered subscribers and they’ve been doing that for 6-7 years…We’re just shy of 50 million subscribers and they are in the low 20s, but there’s more work to do to grow that number.

If the report is valid, these statements are in pretty stark contrast to those made by Ryan publicly to regulators. And they might also lend credence to Microsoft’s claims that Sony is trying to mislead regulators over the scope of the merger’s (between Microsoft and Activision Blizzard) impact should the deal conclude.

Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard is currently being reviewed in phase 2 investigations by both the European Commission and the U.K.’s CMA. Earlier this month, the Federal Trade Commission in the United States filed a lawsuit to block the deal.

Via Windows Central.

Minimize/Maximize/Close Buttons Missing [Chrome, Windows]

Posted on December 27, 2022October 24, 2025 by Ivan Jenic

Windows user interface has changed through the years, but Minimize, Maximize and Close buttons are present in every version of Windows.

They’re one of the most important aspects of the user interface of any Windows. But what if these buttons disappear?

Windows interface is simple to use, but sometimes certain issues can appear. Speaking of interface issues, users reported the following problems:

Close, Minimize, Maximize buttons missing Firefox, Chrome, Excel, Internet Explorer – Sometimes this problem can appear in various applications such as Firefox, Chrome, and many others. To fix it, open the affected application and restore its settings to default.
Minimize and Close buttons gone – Several users reported that Minimize and Close buttons are gone from their PC. To fix this problem, be sure to try some of our solutions.
Close, Minimize, Maximize buttons not working – In some cases, Close, Minimize, and Maximize buttons won’t work at all. This is most likely caused by a corrupted user profile, so you might have to create a new user profile.

One case or another, don’t worry, there’s a way to make these icons visible again.

What can I do if Minimize/Maximize/Close buttons are missing?

1. Restart Desktop Window Manager

Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to start Task Manager.
When Task Manager opens, locate Desktop Windows Manager, right-click it, and choose End Task.
The process will now restart and the buttons should appear again.

The reason why Minimize, Maximize and Close buttons disappeared is probably because of some kind of error with dwm.exe (Desktop Window Manager), and resetting this process should solve the problem.

But before we give you precise details about the solution, let’s talk a little about Desktop Window Manager itself.

Windows’ Desktop Window Manager is a built-in file in your system which manages the visual effects in Windows operating systems.

For example, this process allows your Start Menu to be transparent, and it was also managing the Aero environment in previous Windows versions.

It also manages other User Interface elements, such as our missing buttons.

So an error in the running of this process could cause various visual issues, and disappearance of Minimize, Maximize and Close buttons is just one of them.

Now that you know which service causes the problem, and all you need to do is to restart it, and Minimize, Maximize and Close buttons should show up as normal.

To get comfortable with window controls and learn how to minimize and maximize windows properly, see our full guide on how to minimize and maximize windows in Windows.

Desktop Window Manager stopped working and closed? No panic! Here is what to do!

2. Roll back to the older drivers

Press Windows Key + X to open Win + X menu and choose Device Manager from the list.
Locate your display adapter in Device Manager and double click it to open its properties.
Go to the Driver tab and click the Roll Back Driver button.

According to users, sometimes a problematic graphics card driver can cause this problem to appear. If that’s the case, we advise you to roll back to the older version of your graphics card driver.

Keep in mind that the Roll Back Driver option might not be always available. If this option isn’t available, you might want to try removing your driver and using the default driver instead.

There are several ways to do that, but the best is to use Display Driver Uninstaller.

If the default drivers don’t work, you can also try updating your graphics card driver and check if that helps.

We wrote a quick guide on how to update your graphics card driver, so be sure to check it out.

3. Make sure that you’re using a standard Windows theme

Right-click your desktop and choose Personalize.
Settings app should now appear. Navigate to Themes section in the left pane. In the right pane, select one of the default themes such as Windows or Windows 10.

Many users like to customize their Windows with custom themes, but some themes might not be fully compatible with Windows 10.

As a result, Minimize, Maximize and Close buttons can disappear from Windows.

This can be an annoying problem that can interfere with your work, but in order to fix it, it’s recommended to switch back to a standard Windows 10 theme.

After doing that, Windows 10 will switch back to the default theme and the problem should be resolved.

4. Remove problematic third-party applications

There are many great third-party applications that can customize the look of Windows 10. Using these apps you can add various features and enhance the look of Windows 10.

However, some third-party applications can cause certain problems to appear. If Minimize, Maximize and Close buttons are missing, the problem might be a third-party application.

To fix the issue, be sure to remove any application that allows you to change the look and functionality of your user interface.

To ensure that the problematic application is completely removed, we advise you to use uninstaller software.

These types of applications are great since they will remove the desired application as well as all files and registry entries associated with it.

If you’re looking for a good uninstaller application, be sure you try out a professional uninstaller program that helps you clean all unwanted residual files after the uninstallation process.

5. Make sure that you’re not using the Tablet Mode

Open the Action Center by clicking its icon in the Taskbar. Alternatively, you can open it quickly by pressing Windows Key + A shortcut.
Now look for Tablet Mode option, and click it to disable it. If Tablet Mode isn’t available, first click on Expand to reveal the Tablet Mode option.

Windows 10 is optimized for touchscreen devices, so it comes with a special Tablet Mode that mimics the look of a tablet interface.

In Tablet Mode there are no Minimize, Maximize, and close buttons available for Universal apps.

If these buttons are missing, you need to turn off the Tablet Mode. After that, the issue should be resolved and the buttons should appear again.

We’ve written a nice piece about Windows 10 Tablet Mode, do check it out!

6. Check the application settings

Many users reported that Minimize, Maximize, and Close buttons are missing from certain applications. This is usually caused by the application settings.

Many applications allow you to customize their user interface, and sometimes you can hide the title bar or these buttons by accident.

If this problem appears only in specific applications, be sure to open the affected application and change its user interface settings to default. After doing that, the problem should be completely resolved.

7. Change your graphics card configuration

Your graphics card comes with its own configuration software that allows you to change various features.

According to users, this problem usually appears with AMD graphics cards and it’s related to Catalyst Control Center.

According to users, their graphics card was configured to work in High-Performance mode in Catalyst Control Center which caused this error to appear.

To fix the issue, you need to change your mode from High Performance to Standard performance in Catalyst Control Center. After doing that, the issue should be completely resolved.

Another problem can also be the Dual Graphics option. This option will force your PC to use both dedicated and integrated graphics at the same time.

As a result, certain issues, such as missing buttons, can appear.

What to do if Catalyst Control Center is not working? Here are the best solutions.

8. Change your Project mode to Extended

Press Windows Key + P to open the Project panel.
A list of projects will appear. Select Extend from the list, and the issue should be resolved.

If you’re using a dual monitor setup, you might be able to switch between several different Project modes.

If the usual buttons are missing, you might be able to fix that simply by switching to the Extended Project mode.

Several users reported that this solution worked for them, so you might want to try it out.

9. Make sure that Windows is up to date

Open the Settings app. You can do that quickly by using Windows Key + I shortcut.
When the Settings app opens, navigate to the Update & Security section.
In the right pane, click on Check for updates button.

According to users, if Minimize, Maximize, and Close buttons are missing, the problem might be related to a Windows 10 glitch. To fix the issue, it’s advised to check for updates and keep your PC updated.

By default, Windows 10 will automatically download the missing updates, but sometimes you might miss an important update.

However, you can always check for updates manually as described above. Windows will now check for available updates.

If any updates are available, they will be downloaded automatically in the background.

Windows won’t update? Things are not as scary as they seem. Check out this guide to solve the issue quickly.

That’s all, Minimize, Maximize and Close buttons should show up after using one of our solutions.

If you have any questions or comments, or you maybe know some other solutions for this User Interface problem, please write it down in the comments.

Evernote Can’t Connect to Server: 4 Easy Fixes to Apply

Posted on December 27, 2022October 4, 2023 by Sagar Naresh

Evernote is a powerful note-taking and task-management application. It is available to install on Windows PCs and supports cross-platform operation. However, there are multiple users reports that they are coming across Evernote can’t connect to server error.

This Evernote error appears on the login page, and as soon as the user enters the credentials and hits the Sign in button, the error message pops up.

What am I getting Evernote can’t connect to server error?

After some research, we have found out a few of the common reasons you will face Evernote can’t connect to server error while signing in:

Server error: There could be a legit server error because of which the Evernote app is showing you the error message.
Evernote isn’t updated: Chances are that the Evernote app that you are using is not updated to the latest version, which is causing the server issue.
Problem with the app file: If any Evernote-related file is missing or corrupted then it could result in multiple issues.
Antivirus is blocking Evernote: Often antivirus software can block an app from accessing the internet and cause server error.

What should I do if Evernote can’t connect to server?

Here are a few things that you can try before trying the advanced troubleshooting methods:

Check the Evernote server status by heading to status.evernote.com. This will ensure that there isn’t a server-side problem triggering the Evernote can’t connect to server error while signing in.
Restart your PC and check if this resolves the problem as it will load all the program files from scratch.
Close the program, then relaunch the app and sign back in to see if this fixes the issue or not.
Check if your internet connection is working properly or not.

Let us check out the advanced troubleshooting methods and solve the problem.

1. Clear browser cache

Open Google Chrome.
Click on the 3-dot menu icon.
Select Settings.
Click on Privacy and security.
Select Clear browsing data.
Check the boxes for Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files.
Hit the Clear data button.

A corrupt or outdated browser cache can also cause issues with certain sites. You try clearing the browser cache to resolve the Evernote can’t connect to server error if you are facing the issue on a web browser.

If this doesn’t resolve the problem, we suggest you try a different web browser. We have a guide that lists some of the best web browsers that you can try on your PC.

2. Update Evernote

Open the Microsoft Store.
Click on Library.
Click on the Update all button. If Evernote update is pending, then hitting Update all will update the app.

Updating the app makes sure that you are not only able to use the latest features available for the app, but also fixes the bugs that might be present in the previous version.

3. Reinstall Evernote

Open the Start menu.
Open Control Panel.
Click on Programs and Features.
Select Evernote and hit the Uninstall button at the top.
Restart your PC.
Visit the Microsoft Store.
Search for Evernote and download the app.
After the installation is complete, launch the app and sign in.

A dedicated uninstaller can also help you get rid of all residual files of already uninstalled programs, enabling a clean reinstallation. Often when you perform a simple uninstall, some files related to the program still remains, and you will face the error again, even if you reinstall it.

In such a case, we would suggest you use a specialized tool like CCleaner. This tool will scan your PC for unwanted apps and software and uninstalls them. This works for apps that are built-in. So, using CCleaner to uninstall Evernote allows for a clean reinstallation with no leftover files.

Other benefits of using CCleaner uninstaller software it that you can uninstall multiple apps at a time, create backups, and more.

⇒ Get CCleaner

4. Disable Firewall

Open the Start menu.
Open Windows Defender Firewall.
Click on Turn Windows Defender Firewall on or off.
Select Turn off Windows Defender Firewall options for both Private and Public network settings.

Chances are your Defender Firewall is blocking Evernote from accessing your internet, and thereby you are getting the Evernote can’t connect to server error.

Simply disable the Windows Defender Firewall by following the above steps and check if this fixes the issue. However, make sure that you turn Firewall back on when not using Evernote as it protects your PC from unwanted viruses.

If you are facing issues with the Evernote to OneNote importer, then you can check out our guide and resolve the problem by following the solutions.

That is it from us in this guide. Let us know in the comments below, which one of the above solutions resolves the problem for you, and also share any other methods if they worked for you.

Best CD Ripper Software in 2026 [Out of 15 Tested]

Posted on December 27, 2022January 8, 2024 by Milan Stanojevic

So maybe CDs and DVDs won’t be a regular part of our daily lives in the future if advancements in the digital world are anything to go by.

In this case, you might want to archive your favorite audio collection stored in CDs. The best tool for the job isn’t File Explorer or your computer’s built-in media player.

Especially if you have an extensive collection, you will need CD ripper software for Windows 10 & 11.

How can CD ripper software help me?

Unlike ripping the audio with File Explorer or media players, CD ripper software sort of sieves out the errors when reading the data.

Thus, you get to enjoy the finest quality audio as they were on your original CDs.

If you want to preserve your audio tracks for a long time, away from the scratches and skipping that come with CDs, try any of our top picks for the best CD ripper software for Windows 10 & 11.

What is the best CD ripper software for Windows 10 & 11?

Express Rip

Express Rip is one of the easiest CD ripper software for Windows 10 you can use. Simply go to the options menu on the toolbar, modify the format for the ripping output, and then extract your digital audio from the CDs.

A good thing about this tool is it automatically detects the audio file, so if it’s a song, it will detect both the song and the artist’s information and then tag it appropriately.

With this tool, you get your digital audio files in perfect CD quality, ripped in the fastest time possible, and in major formats such as MP3 and WAV.

It applies the direct digital extraction technology which helps preserve the quality of your audio the same way they were on the CDs without the slightest of errors or differences.

Let’s quickly look at its key features:

Back up your CDs to digital formats
Extract other formats such as WMA, AAC, AIFF, and others
Save track information/tags to MP3 files
You can also link an online database with the tracks and album name information
Available for free (non-commercial purposes only)

Express Rip

The easiest CD ripper software that you can ever use is up for grabs. Digitize your CD collection effortlessly and enjoy it forever and ever!

Check price Visit Website

Xilisoft CD Ripper

Recovering all the music and audio files from your CDs can be tedious. With a tool like Xilisoft CD Ripper, you can restore old files from your CDs in just a few minutes effortlessly.

As a result of this software, you can convert all soundtracks from CDs to any format from a multitude of different audio formats. More exactly, you will be able to play your favorite files on Windows and Apple devices.

The tool includes various options through which you can improve the audio quality of the files from your CDs.

Supported audio formats are MP3, WMA, WAV, AAC, FLAC, OGG, and APE, with all playable within different music players.

Also, through Xilisoft CD Ripper you can separate tracks, or set audio effects such as fade-in/fade-out, normalize, or bandpass.

Next, you have a shortlist with its main features:

Convert multiple CD tracks to audio formats at once
Batch CD converting and transferring to IPad or iPhone
Add effects to audio tracks and customize it
Convert files in the background for saving CPU resources

Xilisoft CD Ripper

Convert all your audio files with Xilisoft CD Ripper and play the best tracks on your PC.

Check price Visit website

DVDFab Blu-ray Ripper

As the name suggests, DVDFab Blu-ray Ripper is a great option for ripping files from your Blu-ray discs. With this software, you can copy everything you need from Blu-ray discs, at a high quality, and at a suitable speed.

Compared to other solutions from the list, this tool offers the service of copying files stored on Blu-ray DVDs directly on your device. In other words, it can remove any type of protection from newly purchased Blu-ray DVDs such as CSS, APS, or DC.

Regardless of the format, you need to convert the files to, DVDFab Blu-ray Ripper can play it seamlessly on multiple devices, like mobile, PC, and even home theaters.

Moreover, you can compress video size but preserve quality for mobile devices, like smartphones or tablets. You can get this handy software for free on Windows 10, 8, or 7.

Here are the main features of this tool:

Built-in video editor
GPU acceleration technology for faster results
Multi-task mode for ripping files altogether
AI enhancement for videos, 1080 to 4K

DVDFab Blu-ray Ripper

If you need plain and efficient software for DVDs ripping, try this one to get the best video or audio quality.

Free trial Visit Website

WinX DVD Ripper Platinum

WinX DVD Ripper Platinum is taunted as the only DVD ripper accelerated by Intel CPU, Nvidia GPU, AMD, Multi-core CPU, and Hyper-Threading.

That is why the developers say that you will be able to pip a full DVD to MP4 (H.264) in only five minutes at the speed of 300fps to 500fps.

Also, this app is one of the most versatile on the market, with support for more than 350 formats out there, covering a huge variety of devices, including consoles and mobiles.

The tool can also rip videos of up to 4K at 60fps and that means it’s futureproofed in that department.

And if you get playback errors, there’s a big chance that WinX DVD Ripper Platinum will fix that too after conversion.

It can deal with encrypted DVDs, regional DVDs, unplayable DVDs, and a lot more. And if you’re prepping a home DVD with your footage, you’ve got an editor that will help you create a masterpiece.

Let’s see some of its best features:

Super-fast ripping
CPU and GPU acceleration with Intel, Nvidia, and AMD support
Supports 350+ media formats
4K @60fps support
Modern, easy-to-use interface

WinX DVD Ripper Platinum

Rip all your DVD in record time with this versatile tool that supports level 3 acceleration.

Free trial Visit Website

Roxio Easy CD & DVD Burning 2

As its name clearly suggests, Roxio Easy CD & DVD Burning 2 is a burning software but it also has advanced ripping features as well.

It easily converts your CDs and DVDs videos to MPEG2, WMV, WMV HD, AVC (H.264), and AVCHD formats.

The tool can also do a great job on your music media, transforming them into MP3, WAV, WMA, Ogg Vorbis, FLAC, MPEG-1/2, M4a, M4b AAC, and even Playlists (M3U, PLS, XSPF, WPL).

And if you’re looking to create a bootable media, the Roxio software reads ISO, C2D, BIN/CUE, and GI images and writes ISO.

This app is great also for authoring the footage shot at your family events and helps you create a memorable DVD for your folks to enjoy.

Take a look at some of its key features:

Extensive burning and ripping features
Comprehensive menus and options
Rips your audio CDs in various popular formats, including the creation of playlists
MPEG2, WMV, WMV HD, AVC (H.264), and AVCHD video formats supported
Authoring and backup options

Roxio Easy CD & DVD Burning 2

Rip or burn CDs and DVDs with this friendly tool that comes with all popular format possibilities.

Check price Get it now

iSkysoft Video Converter

Although it is basically a video converter (to MP4 format), the tool works excellently as a CD / DVD ripper as well.

Besides, it supports the most popular audio formats: MP3, AAC, M4R, M4A, AC3, WAV, AAC, OGG, APE, MKA, AU, FLAC, CAF, SD2, AIFF, APE, etc.

Moreover, you can convert HD video and sound files with ease and use any formats you need.

And if you are on the go it’s also convenient to convert your videos to other devices such as Apple or Android.

Beyond file converting, using iSkysoft assure editing and enhancement options to optimize your video files.

Also, the converting speed is 90X faster due to the GPU acceleration and use of multicore processors.

Let’s quickly look at its key features:

Ultra-fast conversion speed (APEXTRANS technology and sleek and innovative transcoding engine)
Built-in media player (add and browse local or downloaded files, making it extremely easy to import media files into the program)
Batch video conversion (saves a lot of time in processing videos with similar formats and settings)

iSkysoft Video Converter

Quickly and easily convert, edit and play over 150 media file formats with the easy-to-use and possibly fastest conversion solution out there.

Check price Get it now

dBpoweramp CD Ripper

dBpoweramp CD Ripper is not as complex as the other tools featured above but if you’re only looking for simple software to rip your CDs, it will do the job nicely.

Being specialized in audio ripping, this app connects to GD3, Discogs, SonataDB, Musicbrainz, and freedb, to grab the correct titles and album names and also high-resolution album artwork.

And it offers interesting DSP effects like processing the audio with Volume Normalize or HDCD decoding to 24 bit which is handy for any audio buff.

The ripping and encoding processes use all CPU cores at once for increased speed and if you use the Multi-Encoder feature, you will be able to encode to more formats simultaneously.

There’s a free trial version that you can test will full features for 21 days but after that, you will need to make a purchase.

Take a glance at its key features below:

Full range of audio encoders including MP3, M4A, WMA, Ogg Vorbis, FLAC, ALAC, and more
Encode to multiple different formats at the same time
Uses 5 metadata providers simultaneously
Removes the inbuilt drive offset
CD-Text, UPC, and ISRC support

⇒ Get dBpoweramp CD Ripper

Fre:ac

This software is a freeware solution for converting audio files and CD ripping. It can convert a lot of formats and encoders easily like MP3, M4A/AAC, FLAC, WMA, Opus.

Let’s get on point and see why this tool is worth it. Well, using the features of this software you have assured any media content from CDs to other modern portable media.

Thus, it can convert entire music libraries while keeping the filename structure which is extremely convenient.

On the other hand, you can do CD ripping effectively with an online CD database plus automatically query information and write it to ID3v2 or other ID tags.

Moreover, you can benefit from multi-core upgraded encoders that help to increase the conversion speed on modern computers.

Among all these useful features you should acknowledge the power and utility of this software for media consumption nowadays.

You can no longer rely on your CDs so you need to convert all the precious memories to more advanced devices.

With that being said, it’s no need to emphasize the importance of such tools because it’s already known. Hence check it out and rip your content now.

Let’s review its main features below:

MP3, M4A/AAC, FLAC, WMA, and Opus support
Convert entire music libraries while keeping the filename structure
Write it to ID3v2 or other ID tags
Multi-core upgraded encoders for enhanced speed
Supports the CDDB/GNUdb online CD database

⇒ Get Fre:ac

Exact Audio Copy

Exact Audio Copy is a free so-called audio grabber that can rip any audio from CDs or DVDs on your PC in no time.

The central difference between this tool and other sound ripping programs is the technology used to read audio CDs faultlessly, or the fact that it costs nothing.

So, stop worrying about scratched discs or wrecked sound by choosing this capable software that will bring any of your valuable audio tracks back to life.

Other important features of this software include support for any CD or DVD drives, hidden sector synchronization, fast and secure extraction, detection of reading errors, automatic speed reduction on read errors, etc.

Moreover, the technology used by this program is quite impressive due to its nearly perfect CDs read process, also helping with errors that can’t be detected in the first place.

All in all, with such practical software it’s almost impossible to not get attached and manage all your valuable recordings from old discs.

Let’s go through some of its key features:

Excellent CD reading
Hidden sector synchronization
Fast and secure extraction
Detection of reading errors
Automatic speed reduction on reading errors

⇒ Exact Audio Copy

FreeRIP

This is an advanced CD to MP3 converter but is a very easy-to-use CD ripper software for Windows 10.

With this tool, you can read audio files from your CDs and then save them to your PC or device in most major digital formats such as MP3, WMA, WAV, OGG, or even FLAC.

Simply insert your CD into your PC’s CD drive, run the FreeRIP converter, then click the Rip button and it does everything else.

Once ripped, you can then load your favorite audio to other devices or audio media players such as your smartphone, tablet, or any other device.

What makes this CD ripper software fantastic is that unlike ripping your audio using Windows Explorer or a media player, this tool supports high-quality yet lossless compression that the latter two do not prevent.

Other features include an advanced tag editor, track search shortcuts, and easy cataloging of your audio collections, and it supports Windows XP/Vista/7/8 versions as well (in case you’ve not yet upgraded to Windows 10.

FreeRIP comes in two versions: Basic (free), and Pro, which has more features and options but comes at a cost.

You also get to load or save album artwork for your audio files but only as BMP, JPG, and PNG, plus burn audio CDs for free and get CD information such as track titles and artist info.

You will benefit from the following best features:

Support for various formats including MP3, WMA, WAV, OGG, or FLAC
Advanced audio conversion features
High-quality, lossless compression
Advanced MP3 tag editor (supporting ID3 v1 and v2)
Integrated audio player

⇒ Get FreeRIP

FairStars

In order to get this free CD ripper software for Windows 10, you need a full-duplex sound card, Windows 10 or 11 OS, and a CD/DVD driver, plus some 3.25 MB of space to house it on your computer.

It is lightweight but very powerful with amazing features such as normalization or automatic volume adjustment, ID3 tag support, and audio file format support for MP3, WMA, OGG, WAV, and others.

It also has a built-in media player so you can preview your audio before ripping it from the CDs.

Plus, with this software, you can convert any media file like SmartMedia (RM, RA, RAM, RMJ, RMVB) or file formats such as MP3, AAC, and M4A.

If you as well need a fast-converting service without temporary files this is a good fit. Or if you need to convert a batch of audio files at the same time, it is useful to know that it’s covered by the tool.

Other great features include benefits like drag and drop actions, automated ID3 savings while converting, high converting speed, and the economy of hard disk resources.

Take into consideration some of its best features:

Very small footprint on your system
Convert any media file like SmartMedia (RM, RA, RAM, RMJ, RMVB) or file formats such as MP3, AAC, M4A
ID3 tag support
Convert a batch of audio files at the same time
Drag and drop functionality

⇒ Get FairStars

With this, we conclude our list and we hope that you found the best CD ripping software for Windows 10 & 11.

Take a look at all the options because some of the tools focus on speed and others promise perfect quality output.

However, you should know that none of this software can perform miracles and get you better results than the one you already have on the CD.

If the media was made with low-quality compressed tracks, you can’t expect to get out much more than that.

And while we’re on the ripping chapter, you might also be interested in our list including the best DVD copy software for Windows 10/11.

Did you already use some of these tools? Tell us all about your experience in the comments section below.

Windows Update Error 0x80244022: Fixed

Posted on December 27, 2022December 18, 2023 by Andrew Wafer

As a long-time user of Windows systems, I’ve come to learn that Microsoft frequently releases updates to fix bugs, introduce new features, and improve system stability.

Staying up to date with these updates is crucial for keeping your system secure against malware attacks.

However, things don’t always go smoothly when updating your operating system. Recently I’ve come across the 0x80244022 error code while trying to apply certain update patches on my Windows 10 device.

I can relate to the frustration this issue can cause, so I created this short list of tips and tricks, from my own experience, that you can use to solve this issue.

Windows update error 0x80244022: Why does it occur?

The 0x80244022 error code is associated with a dedicated software update issue and is displayed when a connection problem occurs in the middle of the update operation.

If you receive this error you shouldn’t panic – there is nothing wrong with your Windows 10 system, and usually, the problem can be fixed easily.

Note: the error code does not describe a system problem but an interrupted connection between your device and Microsoft’s servers.

The behavior for this system bug is the following one: you decide to check for updates and you run the Windows 10 Update feature.

Somewhere the process gets interrupted and you get this message: ‘There were some problems installing updates, but we’ll try again later. If you keep seeing this and want to search the web or contact support for information, this may help: (0x80244022)’.

If you are currently trying to find the perfect fix for this malfunction, you should also try the troubleshooting solutions listed below.

How do I fix the Windows update error 0x80244022?

1. Use Windows Update Troubleshooter

As usual, Microsoft is trying to offer the right software in order to guide you through different troubleshooting methods.

Well, in this case, we should discuss the Windows Update Troubleshooter which is a tool that once initiated will scan your computer for certain errors.

If any problems are found, then this official troubleshooter will address all the malfunctions automatically. You can run the Windows Update Troubleshooter from the Settings page.

Go to Settings > Update > select Troubleshoot
Go to ‘Get up and running’ > select Windows Update.

Not a fan of Windows Troubleshooter? Choose one of these troubleshooting tools!

2. Restart your computer

In most situations, the Windows update error code 0x80244022 signals an overloaded service.

Shortly, if you try to apply various update files at once, or if the server is busy, you can experience this update issue.

So, among the first solutions to apply, you should also include a restart. In this way, you can initiate a clean scan operation, which might even work this time.

3. Verify the date and the time

This is another fix that might not be considered by most of us – its simplicity might be the reason why.

However, if the Date and Time aren’t set correctly, the updates cannot be installed on your computer (this is a default security measure on Windows 10).

The bottom line is that you should adjust these system settings before reapplying the update sequence.

4. Install the updates manually

This is quite a complicated operation – not because it’s complex or anything but because it’s time-consuming.

Anyway, if you have enough time to spend on trying to get past the Windows update error code 0x80244022 malfunction, try to install the update packages manually.

You first need to note down the version number for each update file – access Update History and locate the latest Windows 10 KBs; then write down the KB numbers.

Finally, access the official Microsoft Update Catalog and search the KB codes noted down earlier. Download each update package and install it manually on your Windows 10 device.

Which is the latest version of Windows 10? Find out from our constantly updated article!

5. Repair system errors causing Windows Update issues

As usual, if system files are missing or if something got corrupted during other processes, you won’t be able to receive and apply further updates.

So, you should run a dedicated troubleshooting command.

First, you need to run the elevated command prompt: right-click on the Windows Start icon and choose Command Prompt (Admin).
The first command that must be executed here is DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth.
Press Enter and wait while the process runs.
Afterwards, enter and execute sfc /scannow.
As soon as this troubleshooter ends you should initiate the update process again.

The guidelines from above should clarify why the Windows update error 0x80244022 occurs. Also, the solutions listed in this tutorial should fix this error, so hopefully you can now update your Windows 10 device.