How to Use a HEIC Viewer to Open a HEIC File

Posted on by Matthew Adams

HEIC is a popular format that’s not natively supported on Windows, and one way to view it is with a HEIC viewer, this guide will show you how to use them.

Why can’t Windows 10 open HEIC photos?

As mentioned earlier, the Windows environment does not provide native support for the HEIC format, so it’s not possible to open it.

How do I view a HEIC file?

Before we start, you can preview HEIC files on Dropbox from Windows, so you can use that as a workaround.

1. Use Adobe Lightroom

  1. Download Adobe Lightroom free (You need to register an Adobe account).
  2. Install it on your PC.
  3. Press Start and go to Settings.
  4. Select Apps and go to the Default Apps menu
  5. Under Photo viewer, select Adobe Lightroom as the default program.
  6. Try opening a HEIC file now.

2. Add HEIC image extensions to Windows

  1. Navigate to the HEIF Image Extensions page.
  2. Click on Download.
  3. Follow the instructions on the screen to install the necessary codecs.

For videos, you’ll need to use the HEVC Video Extensions codec instead.

3. Check out CopyTrans HEIC for Windows

  1. Visit the CopyTrans HEIC webpage.
  2. Download and install this tool.
  3. Use it to convert HEIC files.

4. Open HEIC images with Apowersoft Photo Viewer

  1. Navigate to Apowersoft Photo Viewer page.
  2. Download the software.
  3. Use it to open HEIC files.

So that’s how you can add HEIC support to Windows or open the files with alternative third-party software.

We also have guides on how to convert HEIC to JPG, and a list of the best browsers that support HEIC, so don’t miss them.

We hope that you found the best HEIC viewer Windows 10 and newer versions. If you happen to know more methods, let us know in the comments section below.

Can’t Install Windows 10 on SSD? Here are 5 Quick Fixes

Posted on by Milan Stanojevic

If you connected a new SSD on your computer, but you can’t use it to install Windows 10, continue reading this guide to learn how you can fix this problem.

Usually, the error message that appears on the screen is this:

Windows cannot be installed onto this disk. This computer’s hardware may not support booting to this disk. Ensure the disk’s controller is enabled in the computers BIOS menu.

There’s a reason why people prefer to install their Windows 10 operating system on SSD – it makes the computer run much faster.

However, if you can’t install Windows 10 on SSD storage, there are solutions that can help get you be able to do it so you can enjoy faster processing speeds and run time on your machine.

Why can’t I install Windows on my SSD?

The main cause of this issue occurring is a hardware disk that does not support booting, you will need to enable it from BIOS in most cases.

What can I do if I can’t install Windows 10 on SSD?

1. Preliminary fixes

  • One solution you can start with when you can’t install Windows 10 on SSD is to perform a clean install to a partition of the right size on an HDD, and clone that to the SSD. The only thing you’ll need to check is the number of free blocks before the partition.
  • Make sure that the SSD is attached correctly, with all cables plugged in properly.
  • Make sure you have the latest BIOS version on the laptop.
  • It shouldn’t matter which slot SSD is in, but if your machine says it should be in a particular spot, like primary bay then that’s where it should be.
  • Windows works best with UEFI. Unfortunately, there are machines where it got corrupted. It might be a repair job if update won’t fix things.
  • Make sure that SATA Operation mode is on AHCI.

2. Convert disk to GPT

When you can’t install Windows 10 on SSD, convert the disk to GPT disk or turn off UEFI boot mode and enable legacy boot mode instead. To do this:

  • Boot into BIOS, and set SATA to AHCI Mode.
  • Enable Secure Boot if it is available.
  • If your SSD still is not showing at Windows Setup, type CMD in the search bar, and click Command Prompt
  • Type diskpart
  • Type list disk to display all the disks
  • Type select disk [disk number] for exampe select disk 0
  • Make sure the selected disk has no valuable data.
  • Type clean all and press Enter to wipe out the SSD.
  • Type exit to close this windows and go back to Windows Setup screen.

Accessing BIOS seems too big of a task? Let us make things easier for you with the help of this amazing guide!

3. Download Windows 10 Media creation tool

Check the media, as this step is crucial because some Windows media can get corrupt and fail to use the SSD. To do this:

  • On a working computer, go to the Microsoft software download website
  • Download media creation tool and run it
  • Select Create installation media for another PCCreate installation media for another PC
  • Choose a language, edition and architecture (32 or 64-bit)
  • Follow the steps to create installation media then click Finish
  • Connect the installation media you created to the computer that isn’t working and turn it on
  • On the initial set up screen, enter language and other preferences and click Next
  • If you don’t see set up screen, your computer may not be set up to boot from drive so check how to change your computer’s boot order (from manufacturer’s website) and try again
  • Select Repair your computer
  • On Choose an option screen, click Troubleshoot
  • Select Advanced options
  • Select System Restore
  • Select Reset this PC to reinstall Windows 10

If you want to create a bootable USB drive with Windows 10 on it, follow the simple steps in this article and do it with ease.

4. Update BIOS

You can update your computer’s BIOS to version A16 by downloading the BIOS Update Executable file for Windows. Once you find the file from your computer manufacturer’s site, do the following:

  • Click Download File to download the file.
  • When the File Download window appears, click Save to save the file to your hard drive.
  • Run the BIOS update utility from Windows environment
  • Browse to where you downloaded the file and double-click the new file.
  • Windows System will auto restart and update BIOS while system startup screen.
  • After BIOS update is finished, the system will automatically reboot to effect changes.

Note: Do not turn off your computer or disconnect from your power source while updating the BIOS or you may harm your computer.

Do not carry out other tasks on the computer until the BIOS update has been completed. Back up your data files to external media before updating the BIOS.

If you don’t know how to backup your data on Windows 10, this step-by-step guide will help you do it in no time.

Also, if you want some backup software that will automatically do it for you, check out this list with our best picks.

If your SSD isn’t recognized by the BIOS when you attach it, check for these things:

  • Check the SSD cable connection or switch another SATA cable. You can also connect it to an external USB adapter.
  • Check if SATA port is enabled as sometimes the port is turned OFF in System Setup (BIOS). You may need to manually turn it on before you can see the drive in BIOS.
  • Connect the drive to another working computer to see if the SSD is damaged.

5. Set up GPT

If Windows 10 sees your SSD drive but you can’t install Windows 10 on SSD, you’ll get the error ‘Windows cannot be installed to this disk.

The selected disk is of the GPT partition style.’ This can be fixed by changing BIOS settings or converting the disk to MBR partition style. To do this:

  • Go to BIOS settings and enable UEFI mode. If you only see Legacy boot mode, convert the SSD to MBR disk
  • Press Shift+F10 to bring out a command prompt.
  • Type Diskpart
  • Type List disk
  • Type Select disk [disk number]
  • Type Clean Convert MBR
  • Wait for the process to complete.
  • Go back to Windows installation screen, and install Windows 10 on your SSD.

Were you able to install Windows 10 on SSD after using any of these fixes? Let us know your experience by leaving a comment in the section below.

Also, leave there any other questions you may have and we’ll be sure to check them out.

Virtual Credit Card Apps: 7 Best to Use [Instant, No Deposit]

Posted on by Matthew Adams

The use of virtual credit cards (VCCs) has been on the rise in the past few years with a number of card providers having introduced them for easier use of physical cards online.

With them, users can assign a maximum value and the cards expire in a few months, reducing fraud and eliminating points of entry for hackers.

You can set up a VCC with virtual credit card software, apps largely available for mobile and tablet platforms that save virtual cards for online transactions.

As Windows is a relatively small mobile platform compared to Android and iOS, there aren’t so many virtual card apps for it. However, these are a few virtual credit card apps you can add to Windows mobiles for the best experience.

The best virtual credit card apps with no deposit required

Revolut

Topping out our list is probably the most resounding name in the virtual card market today.

Revolut radically changes the way you perceive credit card payments since it is incredible just how many things you can do without strings attached.

Simply install the android app, register for a credit card, and just wait for a couple of business days until the actual physical card is delivered to you.

Enjoy real-time currency conversion, crypto trading, one-tap money transfers between you and your phone contacts, and more.

Here are some of the perks of using Revolut:

  • Premium accounts can get a customized metallic card
  • You can monitor your expenses over a timeline
  • Create budgets so not to overspend
  • You get a free physical card
  • Easy money transfers
Revolut

Revolut

Register now and get access to the next generation of virtual cards, now from the comfort of your phone.
Free Register now

Payonner

The next entry on our list is yet another virtual credit card that can easily replace your standard credit card.

Similar to the entries on this list, Payoneer will also provide you with an actual physical card if you feel more comfortable with it.

However, pretty much anything that you can do with the card can be accomplished from the company’s website, or from the phone app. In fact, you can even make payments without the card as long as your phone features NFC.

Transfer money to and from bank accounts, send easy money to other users, manage monthly expenses through it, and more.

Here are some of the perks of using Payoneer:

  • You can feed the account through your standard bank account
  • Pretty much anything can be done from the app
  • Fast money transfers between accounts
  • No hidden fees
Payoneer

Payoneer

Manage all of your banking needs without ever having to step foot into an actual bank with this great service.
Free Register now

Oxigen Wallet

Oxigen Wallet is a freely available Windows app that enables you to set up prepaid VISA virtual credit cards using the app itself and an RBL account.

Then, you make online transactions with anybody who accepts a VISA. The app enables users to create MB Way VISA gift cards and send them via email or SMS, as well.

You can also recharge mobiles and pay utility bills with Oxigen Wallet.

⇒ Get Oxygen Wallet

MB Way

MB Way is an app compatible with Windows, Android, and iOS. There’s also a desktop app for Windows 10.

By setting up a VCC with MB Way, you can make transactions with anybody who accepts MasterCard, American Express, and Visa. MB Way is one of the few virtual credit cards that enables you to make transfers with your mobile number.

You can also create VCCs with 14 different banks through the MB NET site.

⇒ Get MV Way

VCpay

VCpay is a VCC app that you can add to Windows, Android, and iOS smartphones. First, note that the VCpay virtual card isn’t one you can use internationally even if the app’s website states an international card will be introduced.

As such, this is currently a virtual credit card limited to retail in South Africa with the requirement of needing a South African ID. With the app, you can set up virtual MasterCards for yourself or as gift cards.

The app also provides clear card statements and supports EFT from banks.

A managing director of VCpay’s parent company stated VCpay empowers both banked and unbanked users to pay securely and interoperably for goods online, in-store, in other mobile applications, or on mobile services like Uber.

⇒ Get VCpay

Zeta

The Zeta app for Windows 10 and 8.1 mobiles is a virtual MasterCard RBL boasts is a new-age super card. That might be because the virtual card offers unique and dynamic PINs that change with every transaction made. Furthermore, you can use this VCC as an offline card at e-POS machines. The app also provides a number of other bonuses including tax-free meal vouchers and a Zeta Rewards Card.

⇒ Get Zeta

FreeCharge

FreeCharge is a unified digital wallet app you can add to Windows 10 desktops, tablets, and phones. The app enables you to set up a FreeCharge Go MasterCard for use on Indian websites and mobile apps, such as BigBasket, Snapdeal, Amazon, and Flipkart. It also gives you discounts and cashback on a variety of transactions. Note that the Windows app is not entirely the same as its Android and iOS counterparts since the former sports a redesigned UI and Cortana integration so you can recharge it with the virtual assistant. The FreeCharge CEO stated:

We at FreeCharge are continuously innovating to provide differentiated services. With the revamped Windows app, we have aimed at creating a seamless user interface that is simple and intuitive. One can now easily recharge/pay bills in less than 10 seconds.

Those are a few Windows apps that you can set up virtual credit cards with. VCCs are a convenient alternative to standard cards, and their apps also provide other bonuses and services. So, even if you don’t require a VCC, the apps might still be worth using.

⇒ Get FreeCharge

As a reminder, the above-mentioned apps also work if you are looking for the following:

  • Virtual credit card – All entries on this list have a virtual variant that allows you to better manage your funds, either via phone app or web client
  • Free online virtual credit card – You can use these services however you like, just as long as you are connected to the Internet
  • Prepaid virtual credit card – Some of the entries on this list will provide you with physical prepaid cards that you can use
  • Instant approval virtual credit card – Many of the entries allow for instant money transfer between users of your own bank accounts
  • Free virtual credit card – All services listed here are completely free of charge and have no hidden costs associated with them
  • No deposit create virtual credit card – Many of the entries here require no initial deposit in order to start using them

That pretty much wraps up our list of the best virtual card apps that you can use. If you happen to know other entries that are just as good, let us know by leaving us a message in the comments section below.

Fix: Repairing Disk Errors, This Might Take an Hour [9 Ways]

Posted on by Ivan Jenic

Are you getting the Repairing disk errors. This might take more than 1 hour startup error message? You are not alone; we have the solutions for this startup problem.

Many users reported getting the error alert Repairing disk errors. This might take over an hour to complete, when they boot into Windows 10, and the startup screen error still won’t go away.

If you experience this problem, the basic workaround would be to wait more than one hour for the boot process to complete. However, waiting won’t clear this problem.

Hence, the Windows Report team has compiled a list of solutions to fix this problem, so be sure to take a closer look.

How long should I wait for repairing disk errors?

The usual wait time for this procedure is around 10-15 minutes. Sometimes, you can get an error that says that it sometimes takes over an hour or even a day.

How do I fix Repairing disk errors. This might take over an hour to complete ?

1. Run CHKDSK

  1. Press the Windows Key + X, and select Command Prompt (Admin).reparing drive this might take more than 1 hour
  2. When Command Prompt opens, enter chkdsk /f /r and press Enter.
  3. If you see a message saying that you need to restart your PC before you can scan the C partition, be sure to follow the instructions, and restart your PC.

One of the fixes that worked for those who encountered this startup problem, was to run chkdsk. If you are still experiencing the error, you might want to proceed to the next solution.

Also, if you are experiencing corrupt directories on your Windows PC, check out our dedicated guide to fix it in no time.

2. Repair PC registry

  1. In Safe Mode, go to Start and type cmd.
  2. Right-click Command Prompt, and select Run as Administrator.CSGO blue circle
  3. Now, type the following command, and press Enter: sfc /scannowwe need your help to finish adding a feature
  4. Wait for the scanning process to complete and then restart your computer. All corrupted files will be replaced on reboot.

Sometimes, the Windows Registry might be bloated or corrupted; hence, you need to repair the registry.

Meanwhile, Microsoft’s System File Checker verifies the integrity of all system files and repairs files with problems when possible.

The simplest way to repair your Windows registry is to use a dedicated repair tool that scans your PC for any errors and irregularities and fixes faulty registries and files from the moment they appear.

3. Set the boot disk at the top of the computer’s boot order in BIOS

  1. Power up your computer.
  2. Press the F1 key or any specified key to enter the BIOS (other keys such as F1, F12, or Delete may be used depending on your HP system).
  3. Locate your computer’s boot order under BIOS Boot.
  4. Select the HDD/SSD i.e. the boot disk and move it upward using the arrow key.
  5. Save the changes by following the screen prompts, and exit the BIOS.

Another reason for this startup problem is that the HDD/ boot disk is not at the top of the boot order. The system retrieves boot information and OS details by following a boot order.

The boot order consists of the sequence of sources that the computer searches to retrieve valid information.

However, if the HDD/boot disk is not at the top of the boot order, the computer tries to boot from another source, which results in an error message.

If you intend to set the boot disk i.e. HDD at the top of the boot order in BIOS (Basic Input/Output System), follow the above steps.

This is a simple solution, but it can help you if you’re getting a Disk read error occurred message on your PC.

4. Run Automatic Repair/Startup Repair

  1. Insert the Windows bootable installation DVD, and restart your PC afterward.
  2. Press any key to boot from CD or DVD when prompted to continue.
  3. Select your language preferences, and click Next.
  4. Click Repair your computer in the bottom-left.
  5. In the Choose an option screen, click on Troubleshoot. reparing drive this might take more than 1 hour
  6. Select the Advanced option, and choose Automatic Repair or Startup Repair.reparing drive this might take more than 1 hour
  7. Then, wait for the Windows Automatic/Startup Repair to be complete.
  8. Restart your PC, and boot to Windows.
  9. Attach the second hard drive afterward.
Note icon NOTE
Ensure you already have a Windows bootable installation drive or USB before proceeding with this fix.

You can also fix the Repairing drive This might take more than 1 hour to complete the issue by performing automatic repair/startup repair on your system using a Windows bootable installation DVD.

5. Use System Restore

  1. Press down the power button until the Automatic Repair message appears.
  2. Go to Troubleshoot, select Advanced options, and choose System Restore.
  3. Now, select your username and enter your password.
  4. Click on Next, select the desired restore point, and follow the on-screen instructions to restore your PC.reparing drive this might take more than 1 hour
  5. After your PC is restored, check if the problem still appears.

System Restore reinstates your system to its previous state and fixes any recent issues, most especially related to the startup issue. Follow the above steps to run system restore on your Windows 10 PC.

6. Install Microsoft Hotfix

  1. Go to the Microsoft Support link.
  2. Now, click on the Hotfix download option.
  3. After downloading, install the Hotfix by following the prompts.
  4. Restart your PC afterward.

Some Windows users have reported great success in resolving the problem by installing Microsoft Hotfix, so it’s worth giving it a try.

However, if this method does not fix the problem, you may proceed to the next method.

7. Roll back to Windows 8.1/7

  1. Press the Windows Key + I to open the Settings app.
  2. Go to the Update & security menu.
  3. Select the Recovery tab, and click on the button Get started.reparing drive this might take more than 1 hour
  4. Follow the prompts to finish the downgrade processes.

Sometimes, the startup problem might be related to a recent upgrade from Windows 7/8/8.1 to Windows 10.

Hence, you may consider downgrading your Windows OS back to its previous OS, besides this fix won’t take more than 1 hour to complete.

However, you may have to enter Safe Mode in order to downgrade.

8. Rebuild BCD

  1. Insert the Windows 10 bootable media (USB stick or DVD), and restart your PC.
  2. Set USB/DVD as the primary boot device. Either by entering the Boot menu (F10, F11, or F12) or from the BIOS settings.
  3. The loading process of the installation file should start.
  4. Select the language, time/format, and keyboard input of choice and click the Next button.
  5. Choose Repair your computer from the bottom left corner.
  6. Open the Troubleshoot option, and select the Advanced Options.reparing drive this might take more than 1 hour
  7. Open Command Prompt. Select your account, and enter the password if asked.
  8. Copy-paste the following commands, and press Enter after each: bootrec /FixMbr bootrec /FixBoot bootrec /ScanOs bootrec /RebuildBcd

Although the BCD (Boot Configuration Data) is rarely affected, it still can get corrupted.

Sometimes, incomplete OS installation or frequent installation of different operating systems results in incomplete BCD, and your PC won’t be able to boot; hence, the BCD corruption.

This solution should finalize the repair procedure, and you should be able to boot your PC to Windows.

Also, if the operating system version is incompatible with Startup Repair, take a closer look at our detailed guide and fix it with ease.

9. Reset this PC

  1. Hard power off your PC 3 times until the Advanced Recovery environment appears.
  2. Choose the Advanced options, and select Troubleshoot.
  3. Click on the Reset this PC option.
  4. Choose whether you want to keep or delete your files and apps.
  5. Click Reset to proceed.

Finally, you can fix this problem by resetting your PC. This option is an advanced recovery option that restores your PC to its factory state.

The Repairing drive. This might take more than 1 hour to complete startup error can potentially be fixed by any of the solutions we mentioned above.

If you encounter the message Windows found errors on this drive that need to be repaired, be sure to take a look at our comprehensive guide and fix them in no time.

Also, feel free to share your experience with us and let us know how you were able to tackle the problem using our listed solutions. Comment below if you have any questions.

Fix: USB Headset Not Working on Windows 10 [Mic, Drivers]

Posted on by Milan Stanojevic

Many people use USB headsets, but it seems that some users are having issues with their USB headsets. If your USB headset is giving you trouble today we’ll show you how to fix those issues on Windows 10.

Users are reporting distorted sound on their USB headsets and replacing the USB headset with the exact same model doesn’t fix the issue. So if the problem isn’t the USB headset what can you do to fix this problem?

USB headsets are great, but sometimes you might encounter certain issues with them. Speaking of USB headset issues, here are some problems that users reported:

  • USB headset mic not working – Sometimes the microphone on your USB headset isn’t working properly. This can be a big problem, but you might be able to fix it by changing your microphone settings.
  • USB headset not working Windows 10, 8, 7, on Skype – This problem can appear on any version of Windows, and if you encounter it, you should be able to fix it using the solutions from this article.
  • USB headset not detected, not showing up in playback devices, not working with YouTube – Sometimes your headset might not be detected at all. To fix this issue, be sure to reinstall your USB headset and check if that works.
  • USB headset audio, sound not working – If your USB headset isn’t working, the issue might be a third-party application. To fix the problem, you need to find and remove this application from your PC.
  • USB headset noise problem, static, crackling, buzzing – These are some common problems that can appear with USB headsets. To fix the problem, temporarily disable your headset and enable it again.
  • USB headset is not working – If your USB headset isn’t working, you might have to reinstall your USB drivers. Once your drivers are installed, check if the problem is still there.

How to fix USB headset not detected or working on Windows 10?

1. Unplug the headset while Windows 10 boots

Users report that there might be some conflicts with your USB headset and other USB devices, and in order to fix this issue, it’s required that you unplug your USB headset while your system boots. When your Windows 10 starts you can plug in your USB headset and it should work without any problems.

2. Update your BIOS and reset CMOS

Some users report that updating BIOS and resetting CMOS fixes the distorted sound issue. Updating your BIOS is an advanced process and it’s different for each motherboard. If you don’t know how to do it properly maybe hire a professional to do it for you if you want to avoid any potential damage to your system.

3. Don’t use your headset as default playback device

This solution applies to headsets that come with built-in sound card and connect to both USB and audio port on your computer. The issue with these headsets is that you’re hearing sound only from one speaker when gaming, and in order to fix it you need to do the following.

  1. Right-click the Sound icon in the Taskbar and choose Open Sound settings from the menu.
    USB headset mic not working
  2. Select Sound control panel.
    USB headset not working on Skype
  3. The sound window will now appear. Right-click your headphones and choose Properties from the menu.
    USB headset mic not working
  4. Set Device usage to Don’t use this device (disable) and click Apply and OK to save changes.
    USB headset not working Windows 10

By doing this you will make the sound card process your audio instead of the card that is built in your USB headset.

4. Uninstall your USB drivers

According to users, sometimes USB headset issues can occur due to your USB drivers. Several users reported issues with USB 3 drivers, but after reinstalling them, the problem was permanently resolved. To do that, you just need to follow these steps:

  1. Press Windows Key + X to open Win + X menu. Now choose Device Manager from the list.
    USB headset is not working
  2. When Device Manager opens, locate your USB 3 driver, right-click it and choose Uninstall device.
    USB headset not detected
  3. Confirmation dialog will now appear. Choose Uninstall from the menu.
    USB headset audio
  4. After the driver is uninstalled, click Scan for hardware changes icon.
    USB headset noise problem

Windows will now search for the default driver and install it. Once the default USB driver is installed, be sure to check if the problem is resolved. Keep in mind that this solution works for both USB 2 and USB 3 drivers, so you can use it regardless of the USB type you’re using.

The default drivers should work without issues, but sometimes it’s better to use a dedicated driver. You can download the appropriate drivers from your motherboard’s manufacturer’s website. Simply visit the website, enter the model of your motherboard and download the latest drivers for it.

If searching for drivers manually seems a bit complicated to you, there are automated tools that can download the necessary drivers with just a single click.

5. Remove the problematic applications

Sometimes third-party applications can install their own drivers, and that can lead to USB headset issues. To fix the problem, it’s advised to remove the problematic application from your PC.

Some users reported that Etron software caused this problem to appear, and in order to fix the issue, you need to remove the software. You can remove the application using the Settings app, but this method isn’t always effective since it can leave certain leftover files that can still interfere with your USB headset.

To fix the problem, it’s advised to use an uninstaller software. This is a special application that can remove any application from your PC along with all of its files and registry entries.

By using an uninstaller application, you’ll remove all files and registry entries associated with the problematic application and prevent any future issues from occurring.

Once you remove the problematic application, the issue should be permanently resolved.

6. Temporarily disable your USB headset

Sometimes there might be a glitch in your system, and that glitch can cause various USB headset issues to appear. One of the fastest ways to fix this problem is to temporarily disable your USB headset. To do that, you just need to do the following:

  1. Open Device Manager.
  2. Locate your USB headset, right-click it and choose Disable device from the menu.
    USB headset not working Windows 8
  3. Now right-click your USB headset and choose Enable device.

After doing that, your USB headset will start working again. Keep in mind that this is just a workaround, so you’ll have to repeat it if the issue reappears.

7. Disconnect the headset and turn off Razer Synapse software

Sometimes USB headset issues can be caused by a software such as Razer Synapse. According to users, they managed to fix the problem simply by unplugging the headset and closing the Razer Synapse. After doing that, you just need to connect the headset again and restart Razer Synapse software.

Keep in mind that this is just a workaround, so you’ll need to repeat it whenever the issue occurs.

8. Check your privacy settings

According to users, USB headset issues can occur due to your privacy settings. Users reported that apps weren’t allowed to use the microphone on their USB headset due to certain settings. However, you can fix that issue by doing the following:

  1. Open the Settings app. You can do that quickly by pressing Windows Key + I.
  2. Navigate to the Privacy section.
    USB headset sound not working
  3. In the left pane choose Microphone. In the right pane, make sure that Allow apps to access your microphone is enabled. In addition, be sure to check the list below and allow individual applications to access your microphone.
    USB headset static

After enabling your microphone the issue with your USB headset should be completely resolved.

9.Uninstall any old USB headset drivers

Several users reported USB headset issues after purchasing a new headset. According to them, the problem was caused by drivers from an older USB headset. To fix the problem, it’s advised to remove the older driver since it might interfere with your new headset. To do that, just follow these steps:

  1. Open Device Manager.
  2. Now go to View > Show hidden devices.
    USB headset not showing up in playback devices
  3. Locate your old USB headset driver, right-click it and choose Uninstall device.
  4. If available, check Remove driver software for this device and click Uninstall.

After removing the older driver, the issue should be completely resolved, and you should be able to use your USB headset without any problems.

In case none of these solutions worked for you, go and check out our article about sound problems in Windows 10, maybe it will be helpful.

However, we hope this article helped you to solve the problem with your USB headset in Windows 10. If you have any comments or questions, just reach for the comments, below.

PDF Thumbnails are Not Showing on Windows 10 & 11 [FIX]

Posted on by Milan Stanojevic

Many users have documents in PDF format on their PC, and sometimes it’s easier to recognize different PDF files by their thumbnail.

Others reported that PDF thumbnails aren’t showing on Windows 11. This can be a bothersome issue, especially if the PDF preview is not working either. However, there are several solutions for this matter.

So, Windows 11 PDF thumbnails are essential since they allow us to find the needed files quickly without opening them.

However, many users reported problems with PDF thumbnails, so today we’re going to cover the following topics:

  • How to show PDF thumbnails in Windows 10 – In order to show PDF thumbnails on Windows 10, you need to have a default PDF viewer installed. Most users prefer Adobe Reader, but there are many great third-party alternatives.
  • Enable PDF thumbnail previews in Windows Explorer – In order to enable thumbnail previews in Windows Explorer, you need to set a default application for PDF files. After doing that, the issue should be resolved.
  • PDF thumbnails not showing Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 7 64-bit – This problem can occur on any version of Windows, and even if you’re not using Windows 10, you should be able to fix the issue using one of our solutions.
  • PDF thumbnails disappeared, don’t show, gone, no longer showing – If PDF thumbnails are missing, the issue is most likely Adobe Reader. To fix the issue, be sure to check its settings and update it to the latest version.

Why are the thumbnails not showing on Windows?

The main reason why this issue occurs is that images become corrupt, you will need to either install the latest Windows updates or follow 3rd party software to recover the files.

How to show PDF thumbnails on Windows?

1. Use Adobe Acrobat Reader

  1. Press Windows Key + S and enter default programs. Choose Default app settings from the list.
    Enable PDF thumbnail previews in Windows Explorer
  2. Select Choose default apps by file type.
    PDF thumbnails disappeared
  3. Find .pdf format on the list and double-click it to set the default application. Set Adobe Reader as a default application.
    PDF thumbnails not showing Windows 10

By following the steps above, you’ll set Adobe Reader as the default application for PDF files.

Many users reported that the Preview pane is not working for PDF files in Windows 10, but that can be fixed by changing a few settings.

  1. In Adobe Reader open Edit menu and go to Preferences.
  2. Select Updater.
  3. Enable Do not download and install updates automatically option.

After doing that your PDF thumbnails should return automatically and solve the PDF preview not working on Windows 10 situation.

If you can’t fix it using this workaround, there are other considerable methods to solve thumbnail preview is not showing up problems.

Make sure that you have the latest version of Adobe Reader installed

Some users claim that a recent Adobe Reader update fixed this issue, so be sure that you have the latest version of Adobe Reader installed. To ensure that you have the latest updates installed do the following:

  1. Open Adobe Reader.
  2. Go to Help > Check for updates.

If you have the latest version of Adobe Reader installed be sure to enable thumbnail previews by going to Preferences > General and selecting the Enable PDF thumbnail previews in FileExplorer option.

⇒ Get Adobe Reader

2. Install the latest updates

  1. Open the Settings app. You can do that quickly by using Windows Key + I shortcut.
  2. When Settings app opens, go to Update & Security section.
    Enable PDF thumbnail previews in Windows Explorer
  3. Now click Check for updates button.
    How to show PDF thumbnails in Windows 10

If PDF thumbnails are not showing on your Windows 10 PC, the problem might be the missing updates. Certain glitches with Windows can occur once in a while, and in order to keep your Windows working properly, it’s important to keep your Windows up to date.

By default, Windows 10 installs the missing updates automatically, but sometimes you might miss an important update due to certain bugs or errors.

To prevent these types of problems from appearing, be sure to keep Windows 10 up to date at all times.

If your PDF thumbnails are missing, the problem might be Adobe Reader X. Many users reported that this application was the cause for this issue, and after removing it, the problem with thumbnails was resolved.

To completely remove this application from your PC, it’s advised to use uninstaller software.

If you’re not familiar, these types of applications are specially designed for removing applications and they will remove all files and registry entries associated with a specific application.

By doing so, you’ll completely remove the desired application from your PC and ensure that the problem doesn’t appear anymore.

If you’re looking for good uninstaller software, you should check out our list of best uninstaller tools for Windows.

3. Install the fix for Adobe Acrobat

According to users, Adobe Acrobat isn’t showing thumbnails for PDF files on Windows 10, and in order to fix this issue, many users are suggesting installing a fix for it.

Supposedly this third-party fix fixes the problem on 64-bit versions of Windows 10 with Adobe Acrobat X, so be sure that you have a try.

Note: This fix comes from a third-party source, and we’re not responsible for any damage that it might cause.

4. Use PDF Preview

By default, Windows 10 can’t show thumbnails for PDF files, but you can easily fix that by using third-party solutions such as PDF Preview. This is a freeware tool available for both personal and commercial use.

This tool will generate thumbnails for all PDF files regardless of their version, therefore this application can be perfect if you work with PDF files on a frequent basis.

5. Use third-party tools

If PDF thumbnails aren’t showing on your PC, the problem might be Adobe Reader. While Adobe Reader is a great application, there are many other great PDF viewer apps.

All these applications have similar features to Adobe Reader, so they are a perfect alternative if you need a new PDF viewer.

Speaking of PDF viewers, many users reported that they fixed the problem with thumbnails simply by using Soda PDF.

According to users, after installing this application, the issue with PDF thumbnails was resolved, so be sure to try this application.

6. Use a preview pane

  1. Locate the PDF file that you want to preview in File Explorer.
  2. Now go to the View tab and enable Details pane.
    How to show PDF thumbnails in Windows 10

This is just a workaround, but it might be useful until you find a permanent solution. If the PDF preview is not working in File Explorer, you could use the preview pane to see your PDF files.

You should be able to see the preview of your documents in the preview pane simply by selecting them. If needed, you can also show or hide the Preview pane by using Alt + P keyboard shortcut.

Keep in mind that this is just a workaround and not the best long-term solution, but until you manage to solve the problem, you might want to keep using this workaround.

If you want to easily restore thumbnails in Windows 10, take a look at this dedicated guide and learn how you can do it in just a few steps.

7. Preview files using Adobe Reader

  1. Open Adobe Reader.
  2. Now choose File > Open.
  3. Navigate to the directory that has your PDF files. Your thumbnails should now be generated. Don’t open or select any PDF files.
  4. Close Adobe Reader.
  5. Now open File Explorer and go to the directory that has your PDF files.

If Preview pane is not working for PDF files in Windows 10, be sure to try this quick and simple workaround.

8. Use Disk Cleanup

In case the PDF thumbnails are not showing on Windows 10, the problem might be your temporary files. Sometimes temporary files can get corrupted and that can cause this and many other problems to appear.

Your thumbnail cache is a temporary file, and if your thumbnails aren’t showing, it’s rather likely that your temporary files are corrupted.

However, you might be able to fix this issue simply by using Disk Cleanup to remove temporary files. Once your thumbnail cache is removed, your PC will regenerate your thumbnails again.

To learn more about Disk Cleanup and see how to remove your temporary files, feel free to check our guide on how to use Disk Cleanup for detailed information.

Although Disk Cleanup can fix this problem for you, some users prefer third-party solutions.

If you likewise need stronger tools to clean your system thoroughly from temporary files, then consider more efficient deep clean hard drive software.

Not being able to see thumbnails for PDF files in Windows 10 can be inconvenient, but you can easily fix that problem by using one of our solutions.

If you have any other suggestions or questions, don’t hesitate to leave them in the comments section below and we’ll be sure to check them out.

Fix: Bluetooth Keyboard Problems [Not Connecting / Typing]

Posted on by Ivan Jenic

Transition to Windows 10 isn’t always as easy as you might think, and when you’re switching to a new operating system there are always going to be some issues with hardware.

Today, we’re going to explain to you how to deal with Bluetooth keyboard problems with Windows 10.

If your Bluetooth keyboard isn’t working with Windows 10, you’re having a driver issue, which can be quite annoying since you can’t do anything without your keyboard.

However, since this is a driver issue, it can be resolved with a few simple tricks.

Bluetooth keyboards are useful, but some users reported issues with them on Windows 10. Speaking of keyboard issues, users reported the following problems with their Bluetooth keyboard:

  • Windows 10 not generating passcode for Bluetooth keyboard – Many users reported that they can’t pair their Bluetooth keyboard with Windows since Windows 10 isn’t generating the necessary passcode. However, you can enter the passcode manually and the problem should be resolved.
  • Bluetooth keyboard Windows 10 not working – If your Bluetooth keyboard isn’t working with Windows 10, the issue might be your drivers. Reinstall or update your drivers, and the issue should be resolved.
  • Bluetooth keyboard disconnects Windows 10 – Many users reported that their Bluetooth keyboard disconnects frequently on Windows 10. However, you can fix that problem simply by connecting your USB receiver to a different port.
  • Bluetooth keyboard won’t connect, pair (Windows 10) – Several users reported that their Bluetooth keyboard won’t connect or pair with Windows 10. To fix that, be sure to try one of our solutions.
  • Bluetooth keyboard connected but not typing (Windows 10) – This can be an annoying problem, but you should be able to fix it simply by disconnecting and pairing your keyboard with your PC again.

How can I fix Bluetooth keyboard problems on Windows 10?

1. Uninstall and reinstall the Bluetooth driver

  1. Press Windows Key + X to open Win + X menu.
  2. Select Device Manager from the list.
    Bluetooth keyboard Windows 10 not working
  3. When Device Manager opens, find your keyboard, right-click it, and press Uninstall.
    Bluetooth keyboard disconnects Windows 10
  4. Windows will ask you to confirm that you wish to uninstall the driver.
  5. Click on Uninstall.
    Windows 10 not generating passcode for Bluetooth keyboard
  6. After confirming and uninstalling your keyboard driver, restart your computer.
  7. Now you need to visit your keyboard manufacturer’s website and check if there’s a new driver available for Windows 10.

Driver problems are one of the most common problems users are facing after the Windows 10 upgrade. So, just in case, you should go and check if your Bluetooth drivers are up to date.

We have to mention that sometimes after uninstalling the driver, Windows is able to reinstall the driver so you might not need to download a new driver from the manufacturer’s website.

We also have to mention that sometimes updating the driver from Device Manager helps and in order to do so you just need to follow the first two steps from this solution, but instead of clicking on Uninstall, you just need to click Update Driver instead, and when the process is completed just restart your computer.

1.2 Update drivers automatically

2. Run hardware and Device troubleshooter

Windows troubleshooter is Microsoft’s built-in tool which can solve a lot of system-related problems, and the problem with the Bluetooth keyboard may be one of them. To run the device troubleshooter, do the following:

  1. Press Windows Key + S, enter troubleshoot and choose Troubleshoot from the menu.
    Bluetooth keyboard disconnects Windows 10
  2. Select Hardware and devices from the list and click Run the troubleshooter button.
    Bluetooth keyboard won't connect, pair Windows 10
  3. Follow the instructions to complete the troubleshooting.

3. Enter the pairing number manually

  1. Start the pairing process. You’ll be asked to insert an 8-digit number.
  2. Enter any 8-digit number in the input field using your wired keyboard. If you don’t have a wired keyboard, you can also use a virtual keyboard. Click Next.
  3. Make sure that your Bluetooth keyboard is in the pairing mode and enter the same 8-digit number on your Bluetooth keyboard and press Enter.

Many users reported issues while connecting their Bluetooth keyboard with Windows 10. According to them, they experienced issues with pairing.

Wait for a few moments and your Bluetooth keyboard should be paired with your Windows 10 PC.

4. Change keyboard settings

  1. Press Windows Key + S and enter control panel.
  2. Select Control Panel from the list of results.
    Bluetooth keyboard connected but not typing Windows 10
  3. When Control Panel opens, enter Devices and Printers.
    Windows 10 not generating passcode for Bluetooth keyboard
  4. Locate your keyboard on the list, right click it and choose Properties.
  5. When the Properties window opens, go to Services tab. Select Drivers for keyboard, mice, etc (HID). Save changes.

If you have Bluetooth keyboard problems on Windows 10, the issue might be related to your keyboard settings. After doing that, the issues with your Bluetooth keyboard should be completely resolved.

5. Select OK, try entering passcode on it option

  1. Start Bluetooth keyboard pairing process.
  2. Hold the connection key on your keyboard until the Bluetooth icon starts flashing.
  3. Now click on OK, try entering passcode on it option.
  4. A code should be generated on your screen. Enter the code on your Bluetooth keyboard and it will be automatically paired with your PC.

If you’re having problems pairing your Bluetooth keyboard with your Windows 10 PC, you might be able to solve the problem by entering the desired passcode on your Bluetooth keyboard.

As you can see, this is just a minor glitch, but you can fix it by using this option.

6. Pair your keyboard with your phone first

  1. Pair your Bluetooth keyboard with your Android device.
  2. After doing that, press the Connect button on the keyboard and turn off Bluetooth on your phone.
  3. Now, try to pair your keyboard again with your PC.

According to users, they fixed this problem using a simple workaround. To fix this problem, first, you need to pair your Bluetooth keyboard with an Android phone.

This is an unusual workaround, but several users reported it works for them, so you might want to try it out. It seems that there’s a glitch that will prevent you from connecting the keyboard to your PC, but can easily fix it by using this workaround.

It’s worth mentioning that this is a long-term workaround, and it should work until you replace your keyboard batteries.

7. Try using a different USB port

If you’re having Bluetooth keyboard and Windows 10 issues, the problem might be related to your USB port. Sometimes certain devices won’t work with USB 3.0 or USB 2.0 ports, and that can cause this problem to appear.

To fix this, simply reconnect your Bluetooth receiver to a different port and check if that solves the problem. If you have USB 3.0 ports on your PC, connect your device to a USB 2.0 port and try to pair it again.

USB 3.0 port offers great transfer speed, however, your keyboard doesn’t require that kind of speed, so be sure to try using a USB 2.0 port instead.

8. Check other USB devices

If you’re having any problems with your Bluetooth keyboard, the issue might be caused by other USB devices. To fix this issue, be sure to disconnect any unnecessary USB devices from your PC and check if that solves the problem.

In addition, make sure that you remove any USB hubs that you have. If your Bluetooth receiver is connected to the USB hub, be sure to connect it directly to the PC and check if that solves the problem.

9. Change power saving options

  1. Open Device Manager.
  2. When Device Manager opens, locate your Bluetooth keyboard and double click it.
  3. When Properties window opens, navigate to Power Management and uncheck Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power. Now click on OK to save changes.
    Bluetooth keyboard Windows 10 not working

Windows allows you to turn off certain devices in order to save power, but that can cause issues with Bluetooth keyboard. To fix that problem, you need to change the power-saving options for your keyboard.

After doing that, check if the problem with the Bluetooth keyboard is resolved.

Some of our readers also complained about the Microsoft Designer Keyboard not pairing. If you also have problems with that, hit the link to fix the problem quickly.

For more questions or suggestions, reach out to the comments section below.

Windows Emulator for Mac: 5 Best to Use in 2026

Posted on by Matthew Adams

Windows emulators enable you to run Windows platforms and programs on Mac. This means that you can run a Windows OS within an Apple Macintosh.

Thus, you can get the best of both the Microsoft and Apple worlds with a virtual machine. As such, you can greatly expand the amount of software you can open on Mac.

There are two types of Windows emulators. The first is virtualization software that emulates operating systems with virtual machines.

The second enables you to run Windows apps on Mac without the VM. So which one should you use? Join us while we take a look at the best Windows emulators for Mac.

How does a Windows emulator work?

A Windows emulator is a virtual machine software that runs in an isolated environment inside your operating system.

With it, you’ll run an operating system, such as Windows, inside of macOS. Since you’re running another OS, it means that you can run all its programs as well.

Are Windows emulators safe to use?

Yes, all virtual machine software is made by reputable companies, which means they are perfectly safe to use.

Virtual machine isolation chart

The application will run the guest OS in a virtual environment, completely separated from your operating system, so even if you get malware on the guest OS, it can’t affect your host PC.

What is the best Windows emulator for Mac?

Parallels Desktop

If you’re looking to run Windows apps on your Mac, look no further than Parallels Desktop. The software can handle almost any application without issues, including Office and Internet Explorer.

Thanks to the seamless integration, you can easily test your code on multiple platforms, which is perfect for app developers.

In addition, you can easily share files between your Mac and the virtual machine. Drag and drop is fully supported, allowing you to copy data and files intuitively.

Parallels Desktop is incredibly simple to set up, and it will automatically download Windows, so you won’t have to obtain the ISO file on your own.

The entire process is straightforward, which makes it perfect for first-time users. Speaking of speed, it’s worth mentioning that the software is fast, and it won’t slow down even when running more demanding apps.

In addition to programs, you can use Parallels to run games, but your performance might vary depending on your hardware and the game in question.

Thanks to the Coherence Mode, you can completely hide the guest OS, and use its apps separately. Or if you prefer, you can run Windows in full screen and switch to macOS when needed.

If you’re a Boot Camp user, we have some good news. You can reuse your existing installation, so no need to set everything up again.

Overall, Parallels Desktop is an amazing Windows emulator for Mac, and if you want to run Windows on your macOS, this is one of the best tools for that task.

Other great features:

  • Touch Bar integration
  • One-click tuning
  • Ability to launch Windows software from the Dock
  • Travel Mode to extend the battery life
  • Ability to view your resource usage

Parallels Desktop

A unique way to integrate Windows software with the host Mac platform that brings you countless benefits on top!
Check price Visit website

VMware Fusion

Another great virtualization software for macOS is VMWare Fusion. Using it, you can run almost any Windows application inside of a virtual environment.

However, that’s not all. The software has 3D hardware-accelerated graphics support, as well as DirectX 11 with Shader Model 5.0 and OpenGL 4.1, so it can run 3D games as well.

Regarding virtual machines, you can assign to them up to 32 CPU cores, 128GB of RAM, and up to 10TB of virtual storage. To top it off, you can dedicate up to 8GB of vRAM per virtual machine.

Since you’re running Windows software inside of the virtual environment, it’s important to know that it’s completely isolated thanks to the sandboxing support.

Even if you get malware on your guest OS, your macOS will remain unaffected since the two are completely separated.

If you’re a developer, you’ll be pleased to hear that VMWare Fusion supports OCI container images and local Kubernetes clusters allowing you to build and debug modern applications.

Another feature that deserves a mention is the ability to convert your PC into a virtual machine. Just connect it to your Mac and the software will convert it thanks to the Migration Assistant feature.

Lastly, the software supports easy file sharing between the guest and the host OS, and you can even have shared or mirrored folders.

Overall, VMWare Fusion offers amazing features, and it’s a  great software if you want to run Windows in a virtual environment on your Mac.

Other great features:

  • Support for mass deployment
  • Full support for 4K, 5K, and Retina displays
  • Virtual Trusted Platform Module support
  • Snapshots
  • Support for Windows, Linux, and Mac guest operating systems

VMware Fusion

No other emulators can match Fusion’s seamless Mac integration, extensive virtual machine support, and graphics engine.
Check price Visit website

CrossOver

If you want to run Windows software without actually having to install Windows in the virtual environment, perhaps CrossOver is what you need.

Unlike the previous entries, this isn’t an emulator, so it runs faster while using fewer resources. Instead, the software translates Windows into Mac commands.

This allows you to run any app on your Mac with ease, almost like the native software. CrossOver integrates with your desktop environment, and you just need to click its icon, and that’s it.

It’s important to mention that there’s no need to restart your Mac to run Windows, everything is available right away, without having to reboot or interrupt your work.

According to the developers, the software can handle games as well, but your performance may vary depending on the type of game you’re trying to run and your hardware.

Virtual machine software tends to occupy your resources, which results in slowdowns even on high-end devices. However, that’s not a problem, and all Windows applications will run at native speed.

It’s important to mention that this tool is incredibly simple to use, and you just need to drag and drop applications to it to use them, it’s simple as that.

CrossOver is a unique type of software since it doesn’t require Windows to be installed to run its apps, so you’ll save precious time and space by using it.

This has advantages such as less resource usage and better performance, however, you should keep in mind that this software might not be able to handle every single application.

Other great features:

  • Incredibly simple to use
  • Available for Mac, Linux, and Chrome OS
  • Designed to boost your productivity
  • Offers great speed and performance

⇒ Get CrossOver

VirtualBox

If you’re looking for a free Windows emulator for Mac, then VirtualBox might be what you’re looking for. This is a well-known virtualization application, and it runs on almost all desktop platforms.

The software is classified as hosted hypervisor or type 2 hypervisor. This means that it doesn’t run directly on the hardware, instead, it requires an operating system to be installed to run.

Cross-compatibility is supported, and you can run a virtual machine created on a completely different operating system without issues.

This is achieved thanks to the Open Virtualization Format, also known as OVF. It’s worth mentioning that that other applications can create VMs in this format as well.

As a result, you can run a virtual machine created with another software and another platform in VirtualBox, as long as it’s saved in a compatible file format.

The software doesn’t require hardware virtualization, so there’s no need to have features such as Intel VT-x or AMD-V on your PC.

This allows users to run virtual machines even on older devices, but this can lead to some performance issues and slowdowns, so keep that in mind.

It’s important to mention that you can assign up to 32 virtual CPUs to each virtual machine, and there’s virtualization available for all types of hard disk controllers.

However, it doesn’t stop there, and the software virtualizes network and sound cards, serial and parallel ports, and I/O APIC controllers.

Overall, VirtualBox is an amazing multi-platform virtualization software, and if you’re looking for a free and open-source solution, this might be the one you’re looking for.

Other great features:

  • Seamless mouse integration
  • Shared folders
  • Shared clipboards
  • Branching snapshots
  • Remote access

⇒ Get VirtualBox

WineBottler

If you want to run Windows apps on your macOS, without having to install another operating system, then WineBottler is what you need.

The software is simple to set up, and once you start it, you need to pick a software that you want to install from the list of available apps.

After selecting the desired program, it will be installed and you’ll get an app icon on the desktop allowing you to run it like any other app.

Do keep in mind that WineBottler doesn’t come with applications preinstalled, instead, it runs the scripts to download, install, and configure them.

In case your desired software isn’t available on the list, you’ll be pleased to hear that you can convert any .exe or .msi file into a Mac app.

You don’t even have to convert the software if you don’t want to, instead, you can just run it directly in the generic environment.

Do keep in mind that this is 32-bit software, and it only works with 32-bit applications at the moment. Also, be prepared for some compatibility issues since not every app is optimized for this process.

In case you don’t want to install Windows inside your macOS, this might be a perfect alternative for you. It’s based on an open-source tool called Wine, and if you’re a Linux user, you’re most likely familiar with it.

Overall, WineBottler is a great tool, that allows you to run Windows software as native Mac apps, but be prepared for some compatibility issues along the way.

Other great features:

  • Easy to use
  • No need to install Windows
  • Ability to convert .exe files to Mac apps
  • Based on Wine

⇒ Get WineBottler

How does Boot Camp work?

Boot Camp is a feature of macOS that allows you to dual boot Windows and macOS. With this feature, you’ll make a dedicated partition for Windows, and switch to it when needed.

This feature is incredibly simple to use, and if you want to run Windows on your Mac, this is the fastest and arguably the best way to go.

Is Boot Camp better than a PC emulator?

Boot Camp will better utilize your resources since it doesn’t run in a virtual environment. As a result, you’ll get better performance especially when gaming.

However, you’ll need to restart your Mac every time you want to switch to Windows, so this isn’t perfect for users that do a lot of multitasking.

Lastly, Boot Camp runs directly on your hardware instead of the virtual environment, so it’s less safe to use. However, as long as you’re vigilant online and you have Windows antivirus software installed, you won’t have to worry.

Running Windows apps on Mac is possible with these tools, but not all of them offer the same features to its users.

For best compatibility, we suggest using virtual machine software, since it allows you to install Windows on Mac and run all the apps you want.

What is your Windows emulator for Mac of choice? Share your thoughts in our comments section below.

Unable to Reset Your PC: Required Drive Partition Missing

Posted on by Matthew Adams

Users can usually reset their PCs to factory settings with the Reset this PC tool in Windows 11/10. However, some users have reported an error that stops Windows resetting. That error’s message says:

Unable to reset your PC. A required drive partition is missing.

Sometimes users can’t boot into Windows because of this issue. In this case, troubleshooting needs to be applied via the Windows Recovery Environment.

What causes the Unable to reset your PC error?

The Unable to reset your PC error can arise because something is corrupted or file system errors. These are some of the more specific causes attributed to Unable to reset your PC issue:

  • A corrupted master boot record: Windows doesn’t reset the PC because of a corrupted master boot record.
  • Corrupted system files: The Unable to reset your PC error arises because of damaged system files.
  • Bad drive sectors: Your hard drive could have some bad disk sectors.
  • An incorrectly set active partition: The system partition isn’t set correctly.

To fix this error, you must apply solutions to address those causes. These are some potential Windows 11/10 resolutions for the Unable to reset your PC issue.

How can I fix the Unable to reset your PC error?

1. Run the SFC Command Prompt tool

  1. Enter Windows Recovery Environment with a method in our guide for accessing WinRE.
  2. Then select the Troubleshoot > Advanced Options buttons on the blue menu.
    The Troubleshoot option unable to reset your pc a required drive partition is missing
  3. Select Command Prompt on the Advanced options menu.
    Command Prompt option unable to reset your pc a required drive partition is missing
  4. To initiate a Deployment Image scan, execute this command: DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth
    Restorehealth command unable to reset your pc a required drive partition is missing
  5. Then run the SFC (System File Checker) tool by entering this text and pressing Return: sfc /scannow
    sfc scannow command unable to reset your pc a required drive partition is missing
  6. Wait for the SFC tool to finish the scanning and show an outcome.

Although running the SFC scan manually is helpful, you might want to try an automatic repair tool, since it can scan your PC for corrupt or missing files and replace them in a second with healthy ones from its database.

2. Run a Chkdsk (disk) scan

  1. Access the Command Prompt via WinRE as outlined in steps one to three of resolution one.
  2. Input and execute this scan command: CHKDSK c: /f /r
    chkdsk command unable to reset your pc a required drive partition is missing
  3. Restart the PC after the Chkdsk scan.

3. Run the Bootrec tool

  1. Open Command Prompt from WinRE as covered for the first potential fix.
  2. First, run this bootrec command: bootrec /scanos
    bootrec scanos command unable to reset your pc a required drive partition is missing
  3. Then input this command for repairing the master boot record and hit Return: bootrec /fixmbr
    bootrect /fixmbr command unable to reset your pc a required drive partition is missing
  4. Type in this bootrec command text and press Enter: bootrec /fixboot
    bootrec fixboot command unable to reset your pc a required drive partition is missing
  5. Finally, execute this fourth and final command for rebuilding boot configuration data: bootrec /rebuildbcd

4. Use the Startup Repair option

  1. Bring up the Windows Recovery Environment menu.
  2. Press the Troubleshoot button.
  3. Click (select) Advanced Options to go to that menu.
    Advanced options unable to reset your pc a required drive partition is missing
  4. Then select Startup Repair to initiate that tool.
    Start-up Repair option unable to reset your pc a required drive partition is missing
  5. Restart Windows when the Startup Repair tool has done its stuff.

5. Restore Windows to a previous date

  1. Go to the Advanced Options menu in WinRE as outlined for previous resolutions.
  2. Select System Restore on that menu.
    System Restore option unable to reset your pc a required drive partition is missing
  3. Click Next inside the System Restore tool.
  4. Choose the oldest restoration point from those available.
    System Restore tool unable to reset your pc a required drive partition is missing
  5. Select Next again to reach the confirmation step.
  6. Then click Finish roll back Windows 11/10.
    Finish button unable to reset your pc a required drive partition is missing

6. Set your system partition

  1. Bring up Command Prompt in WinRE as instructed for the first potential resolution.
  2. Then enter and execute this command to utilize the Diskpart tool: diskpart
  3. For example, to view drives, input the following and hit Enter: list disk
    list disk command unable to reset your pc a required drive partition is missing
  4. Next, execute this command to select a disk that includes the system partition: select disk 0
  5. Type in and run the following command: list partition
    list paritition command unable to reset your pc a required drive partition is missing
  6. Then select the system partition by inputting this command: select partition 0
  7. To set the system partition as active, execute this command: active
    active command unable to reset your pc a required drive partition is missing
  8. Finally, input this command to exit Diskpart: exit
  9. Select the Turn off your PC option in WinRE.

The select commands above include the value 0 only for the sake of an example. You should replace the 0 value in those commands with the actual number for your PC’s system partition and the disk, including that partition.

Note icon NOTE
Warning: Your PC won’t boot if you don’t set the system partition right.

The Unable to reset your PC error is a severe issue when users can’t get into Windows after it occurs. There aren’t any guaranteed fixes for this error, but the ones above are most likely to work.

If they don’t resolve the Unable to reset your PC error, consider reinstalling Windows via USB with the Media Creation Tool. Or send your PC to a reputable IT repair service for further support.

Comic Book / CBR Reader Apps for PC: 9 Best to Use in 2026

Posted on by Matthew Adams

Comics are now widely available in digital format, which sequential image viewer software first established.

As such, there are numerous software packages with which you can open and flick through comics in Windows, Mac OS X, Linux and other platforms.

Those programs support archived comic book file formats such as CBZ, CBR and CB7. These are some of the best digital comic book readers for Windows 10.

What is the best CBR reader for Windows 10 & 11?

Icecream Ebook Reader – Best for casual readers

Icecream Ebook Reader is the right choice for you if you’re an occasional comic reader. The app also packs some very useful features that allow you better manage your library of comic books.

Other reading features include single and double-page support, full-screen reading, zoom, page navigation, continuing from where you left off, and more.

The supported formats should be enough to allow you to read common comic book file formats (CBR and CBZ, FB2, EPUB, PDF, MOBI, and more).

You can also add notes or highlight text if you like a particular page and you would like to read it again. Bookmarks are also supported.

You can also use the copy, translate and search options to select the text, copy it and translate it or search Google.

This tool supports night mode as well, which is perfect is you often read in low light.

Icecream Ebook Reader

If you’re reading a comic book that’s not in a language you speak, use Icecream Ebook Reader to find out the action.
Check price Visit website

Soda PDF – Great for cloud integration

If you’re a comic book enthusiast, you need a safe comic book reader that will allow you to view the latest comics on any device.

Experience an interesting new way of reading comic books with Soda PDF’s innovative 3D page-flipping technology that allows you to read digital comic books on your PC just like a real book.

The Comic Book Reader feature is included in the Soda PDF Standard’s version. This feature has a user-friendly interface that will allow you to easily open and view your CBZ file with beautifully rendered graphics.

Some of its features include:

  • Absolute 3D view mode
  • Cloud integration: OneDrive, Google Drive, Dropbox, Box
  • Bookmarking
  • Full-screen mode
  • CBZ, CBR, EPUB, and PDF support

Soda PDF Reader

Soda PDF has a built-in 3D reader that gives you the experience of reading a real book.
Check price Visit website

Adobe Digital Editions – Great for smartphones & tabets

Adobe Digital Editions was one of the early adopters of ePub format which is one of the most popular eBook formats today along with PDF and Kindle.

The best part is that it is completely free, and you can use it on your PC, Mac, Tablet, or smartphone with the ability to sync the books across devices.

It supports the most popular comic book type files such as ePub and PDF. Also, you can easily bookmark any favorite parts from the manga you are reading.

Create filtered grouping and custom bookshelves based on author, publisher, or any personal criteria.

⇒ Get Adobe Digital Editions

Cover – Great free version

Cover is a native Windows 10 app you can download for free on Microsoft Store and it comes with a lot of useful features.

For instance, it allows you to sync your own comics files so you can load your stash of DRM-free files.

However, there’s a catch. You can only load 50 books in the free version and you will have to pay for the full version if you need more space.

On the bright side, if you go for the full version, you also get the chance to upload your content from cloud services like Google Drive, OneDrive, and Dropbox.

All in all, it’s a nice e-book reader that will load all the major comix formats in an elegant manner.

You can customize the reading mode with single/dual page, fit width/height/page, change the background color, cropping, night mode, and more.

⇒ Get Cover

MComix

comic

MComix is a fork of the Comix image viewer. This comic book reader has got better and better with more regular updates. This is open-source software compatible with both Windows and Linux.

Note that it’s also a portable program you can run from USB sticks.

The developers have designed MComix to open both western and manga comics in a various archive formats such as CBZ, CBR, CBT, PDF, ZIP, and RAR. It also supports JPEG, PNG, and GIF image file formats.

One great thing about this program is its intuitive UI layout that displays comic page thumbnails running down the left of the window with a large pane on the right that includes the current page.

Users can reconfigure the UI by removing toolbars, adjusting thumbnail scales, selecting background colors and choosing UI parts to include in full-screen mode.

This software also gives users multiple comic views such as double-page, fit image to window or manual zoom modes.

Image tools to enhance pictures with, bookmark support and customizable slideshows are a few more of the great things this program includes.

⇒ Get MComix

Comic Seer – Very good support

Comic Seer is multiplatform software freely available for Windows and Linux that has an effective UI design and reasonably extensive options. There’s also a Windows app version you can add to tablets.

With this software, you can open CBZ, CBR, RAR, and ZIP graphical novel file formats.

The program has a straightforward UI that incorporates a tabbed navigation panel with which you can open seven comics in one window.

The main viewer includes handy rotate, zoom, double or single page display, and Browse mode options. Comic Seer also includes a library management panel for you to set up and organize comic book databases with.

The program also automatically saves and reloads comics if you don’t close their files much the same as Chrome restores the previous browsing session tabs.

This can come in handy as it saves you from opening the comics again each time you restart the software.

Furthermore, this software even restores the last-read pages of comics that you close before exiting the software. However, it’s not free.

⇒ Get Comic Seer

YacReader – Great features

YacReader is a comic book reader freely available for Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux that has had some glowing reviews. You can add this program to desktops and laptops.

There’s also a YacReader Portable version for you to add to USB sticks and other external storage.

YacReader can open comics and magazines with RAR, CBR, CBZ, TAR, PDF and CB7 archive formats and image files.

The software also includes plenty of customizable hotkeys for quicker navigation, image adjustment options, a translator dictionary and bookmarks for comics.

The program has a stripped-down UI with minimal toolbars that preserves as much window space for the comic display as possible.

This tool also incorporates novel comic flow transitions into its library manager. These are transition effects displayed when you scroll through cover thumbnails as in the snapshot below.

You can select five alternative effects from the Page Flow tab such as Classic, Stripe, and Roulette Look; and each page flow has advanced customization settings.

⇒ Get YacReader

MangaMeeya – Ideal for manga fans

Manga are Japanese comics, and MangaMeeya (otherwise MMCE) is software more specifically designed for manga. As this is a portable tool no installation is required.

Even though the developers designed MMCE for displaying manga, you can still open all types of comics as it supports several image formats and CBR, CBZ, ZIP and RAR archives.

This program has quite a few options for users to explore such as three comic display modes, a slideshow mode, filters, and aspect ratio configuration.

It includes a page-flipping animation effect, which is a good touch. As a lightweight application with minimal system requirements, MMCE is a stable and fast program.

The one notable thing this tool lacks is library management options, but aside from that it’s a solid comic book reader.

⇒ Get MangaMeeya

Comic Collection Browser – Best for all your comics

The Comic Collection Browser is a 2-in-1 software because you can read and also browse and catalog all your loved comics collections.

Setting it up is a child’s play. You just need to point out the folders on your computer where you keep your stash and the app will do the rest.

You can have them in cbz, cbr, pdf, and even zip, and the tool will still be able to access them quickly.

A remarkable thing is that you can even have them stored as separate photos, it will still see them as a comic book. That way, you can make your own collage.

With Comic Collection Browser you will even be able to view the latest, mp4 moving comics and all are fluent and seamless for your enjoyment.

You can now also check out a free version of the software. However, you will be limited to 1 collection with 5 series and a total of 25 comics. It’s a great way to test the product!

⇒ Get Comic Collection Browser

So now you can open your favorite digital comics with the above software. Those programs support most archive formats and include extensive display and image adjustment options.

Note that you can also open comics with some ePub readers, but they probably lack some options found in YacReader, MangaMeeya, Comic Seer, MComix and ComicRack.

You may also check out our list of the best online comics websites to enjoy right now.

If you have any suggestions with other software we can include, mention them in the comments section below.

Projector Not Showing Computer Screen on Windows [Solved]

Posted on by Matthew Adams

Business users often utilize projectors to project slideshows on PC VDUs (Visual Display Units) to larger projector screens.

However, users can also run into a few snags when they try to set up a projector to display a slideshow on a laptop or desktop. Sometimes a projector might not display anything at all.

How do I display my computer screen on a projector?

1. Check for Loose Cables

Users who connect their projectors with HDMI and VGA cables should check that those cables aren’t in any way loose.

Check that the cables are securely connected with their required ports on both PC and projector. If not, unplug and the cable and then plug it back in again to ensure a secure connection.

2. Switch the Display Mode

  1. Press the Windows key + P hotkey, which opens the sidebar shown directly below.
  2. The Duplicate display mode option there is the one most widely utilized for projector presentations.
  3. So, that’s probably the best display mode option to select if it’s not already selected.

Some users might need to adjust their display mode settings to fix the projector’s display.

3. Update graphics card and port adapter drivers

  1. Press the Windows Key + S and type in Device Manager.
  2. Open the Device Manager and search for the display adapters.
  3. Right-click on the ones you wish to update and select Update driver.

A projector display error might also pertain to a graphics card or HDMI/VGA port adapter drivers.

Update drivers automatically

To check if those drivers need updating, use third-party driver updater software that automatically scans in seconds.

Updating drivers manually can be a time-consuming task. To be sure that all the work is safely made use a professional tool whose primary function is scanning for old drivers and updating them.

So, the most suitable software that can manage your drivers and update each one individually is undoubtedly Outbyte Driver Updater.

4. Turn on the PC’s Video Output

Some users might need to turn on their desktop’s or laptop’s video output to enable projection. To do that, users usually need to press an Fn hotkey combination.

For example, Acer laptop users can press an Fn + F5 hotkey to turn on the video output.

However, the video output hotkey varies between different PC brands. Users can check their PC manuals for further video output hotkey details.

5. Check if the Projector’s Standby Mode is On

The projector might be on standby mode. Users can wake up a projector in standby by pressing its standby mode button.

If you’re not sure where the standby mode button is, look through the projector’s manual for further details. This button differs from device to device.

Note icon NOTE
The projector hardware might also need repairing or has a lamp that needs replacing. Users can return projectors within their warranty periods to manufacturers for repairs.

Those are a few resolutions that might fix a projector that doesn’t project a laptop or desktop’s display.

Try them out and tell us which one worked for you, and feel free to add any information regarding the subject in the comment section below.

Windows 10 Services You Can Safely Disable & How to Guide

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

Did you know that you can safely disable Windows services to boost your computer’s performance?

However, the problem comes in determining which services are safe to disable and which ones are not. To save you from a bit of trial and error, we’ve devised the following guide.

In it, we have listed all the Windows services you can disable to boost your computer’s performance for gaming or enhance security.

In addition to this, we have also included a short section that shows you how to disable said services in Windows 10.

So you may find it beneficial to read this guide until the end. Without further ado…

What Windows 10 services can I disable?

Application Layer Gateway ServicePhone Service
Alljoyn Router ServiceProgram Compatibility Assistant Service
AVCTP ServicePrint Spooler
BitlockerParental Control
Bluetooth Support ServiceRemote Registry
Connected User Experience and TelemetryRetail Demo Service
Certificate PropagationSecondary Logon
Diagnostic Policy ServiceSmartcard
Diagnostic Service HostTCP/IP NetBIOS Helper
Diagnostic System HostTouch Keyboard and Handwriting Panel Service
Distributed Link Tracking ClientWindows Error Reporting Service
Download Maps ManagerWindows Insider Service
Enterprise App Management ServiceWindows Image Acquisition
FaxWindows Biometric Service
File History ServiceWindows Camera Frame Server
GameDVR and BroadcastWindows Connect Now
Geolocation ServiceWindows Insider Service
IP HelperWindows Media Player Network Sharing Service
Internet Connection SharingWindows Mobile Hotspot Service
NetlogonWindows Search
Offline FilesWindows Update
Parental ControlXbox Accessory Live Auth Manager
Payments and NFC/SE ManagerXbox Live Auth Manager
Xbox Live Networking ServicesXbox Live Game Save

How can I disable Windows Services?

  1. Open a Windows Run Dialog (Win + R).
  2. Type in services.msc.
    run-services-from-windows-run-dialog-services
  3. Right-click on the service and select Properties.
    service-right-click-context-menu-properties
  4. Click on the Stop button (if the service is running).
  5. Change the Startup type to Disabled.
  6. Click on OK.
    service-properties-general-tab-disable-windows-10-services

Disable Windows 10 services to improve performance: Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Frees up memory and boosts Windows Performance.
  • Can assist you in troubleshooting a problem.

Cons

  • Will stop certain Windows quality-of-life features from working.

You can safely disable all 48 Windows 10 services listed in this guide. However, it’s important to note that you may still need some of these services, depending on how you use your computer.

For instance, if you are a gamer, it would be inadvisable to stop the Xbox-related services. Thus, you should apply the tips in this guide with a bit of discernment.

Some of the functions of these services can be replaced with third-party applications. For example, you can replace the Windows Search service with a third-party file finding program.

Disabling these Windows 10 services isn’t permanent. Make a note of each service you disable. You may be required to re-enable them in the future.

Either way, we hope you’ve found this guide to be helpful. If you have your own list of inessential services, please share it down below. As always, thank you for reading.

How we Fixed Disney Plus Keeps Buffering Issue [Simple Guide]

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

Disney Plus has finally launched to the masses and seems successful. However, new technical problems are constantly reported by subscribers. One prominent issue is frequent Disney Plus buffering.

This isn’t the only problem, many reported that Disney Plus is not streaming in full screen. Luckily, buffering issues can be fixed, and this guide will show you how.

Why does Disney Plus keep buffering?

  • Network issues – A slow Internet connection can cause streaming problems. To fix it, be sure to check your Internet speed.
  • Application issues – It’s possible that the application is encountering issues like the error code 83. If that’s the case, go ahead and update it. If that doesn’t work, you might have to uninstall the Windows app to fix it.

What can I do if Disney Plus keeps buffering/freezing?

Before we start fixing this issue, there are a couple of preliminary checks you can perform:

  • Restart the app – In some instances, this problem can be caused by a temporary glitch, so go ahead and close the application, start it again, and check if that helps.
  • Restart your devices – If the problem isn’t related to your app, it might be caused by your devices. Turn off your device and unplug it. Leave it like that for a minute or two then turn it back on. You can also do this for your network devices.
  • Test Internet speed – Streaming services require a reliable Internet speed for the best performance. 5.0 Mbps for High Definition and 25.0 Mbps for 4K UHD streaming.
  • Change the video quality – In case you’re having network issues, changing the video quality from Automatic to Standard can sometimes help.

1. Uninstall and reinstall Disney Plus

  1. Press the Windows key + X and choose Apps and Features.
  2. Select Disney+ from the list and click on Uninstall.
  3. Follow the steps on the screen to complete the process.

After you’re done, just install the Disney+ client again.

⇒ Get Disney+

2. Check for Disney Plus/app updates

  1. Open the Windows Store app. Press Windows key + S on your keyboard. Next, type store and select Windows Store from the list.
  2. Navigate to Library.
  3. Next, locate Disney+ on the top and click Update to install the latest version.

If you’re a current Disney Plus user, issues like buffering shouldn’t scare you off. Things will most likely improve in the coming months.

For more solutions covering crashes, buffering, and login errors, check our full guide on Disney Plus App Not Working.

If the buffering issues persist, especially with specific titles, consider that Disney Plus is drawing in many subscribers these days.

Some programs are seeing heavy demand, so there are times when the only recommendation that stands is to wait a bit and try again later. Either way, the movie you’re eager to watch will still be there tomorrow.

Also, a good idea may be to clear the cache and data. If you need help deleting the browsing history, follow our detailed guide. After clearing the cache, log back into Disney Plus.

If Disney Plus is not working on Fire Stick, we have a special guide that addresses this issue. We also have a guide on what to do if Disney Plus plays only audio and no video, so don’t miss it.

Do you know another way to fix the problem? Do tell us in the comments section below!

Laptop Battery Health Check Software: 11 Best for 2026

Posted on by Milan Stanojevic

Your laptop battery can easily lose capacity over time, so it’s important that you frequently check its health.

Checking the battery health is relatively simple, and you can do that right from Windows 10 with these tools. Be sure to check them out below.

What are the best battery utility monitors for Windows?

Avast Battery Saver

We’ve all wanted to watch our favourite movie, but our laptop battery was about to die when the movie started playing.

Avast comes to the rescue with Avast Battery Saver that gives your Windows laptop up to 32% more battery life by stopping energy drainers.

It reduces CPU performance when you don’t need it, it adjusts the brightness of your monitor automatically, and turns off the screen when you’re not using it.

In addition to these great features, you should know that you can try it for free for 15 days, and you can also benefit from the 30-day money-back guarantee after you purchase it.

Avast Battery Saver

Avast Battery Saver

Wisely save your Windows laptop battery with this solution from Avast and enjoy your favorite content.
Free trialVisit website

Battery Report

  1. Press the Windows Key + X, and choose Command Prompt (Admin). Note: for the users with newer versions, Command Prompt (Admin) now is Windows PowerShell (Admin).
  2. When Command Prompt opens, enter powercfg /batteryreport command and run it.

Microsoft added a useful feature in Windows 8 that allows you to see your laptop battery health. This feature is also available in Windows 10, and you can use it in a matter of seconds.

To generate a Battery Report on Windows 10, you need to follow the above steps.

After running this command Windows 10 will create a report in your user account’s directory, such as C:UsersYour_username.

The report is stored in an HTML file that allows you to easily see the basic information about your system. The available information includes computer name, BIOS version, version of the operating system, etc.

The report will also show you the name, serial number and chemistry type of the battery.

Of course, additional information such as design capacity, full charge capacity and cycle count is also available. This information is rather important since batteries lose their capacity over time.

If your battery is new, it will have the same design capacity and full charge capacity. However, full charge capacity will become lower as you use the battery.

This is perfectly normal and it happens with every working laptop battery. Cycle count is also important since it tells you how many times was your battery completely drained and recharged.

Each laptop battery supports a certain number of cycles, so it can be useful to know how many cycle counts you had.

Battery Report can also show you your recent usage statistics. This section allows you to see battery usage in the last three days.

You can see the exact time when your laptop was active or suspended as well as battery charge percentage and mWh.

This section also has a graph that shows you the battery usage over the last three days.

There’s also a usage history section that shows you the detailed information about battery usage over time.

Unlike Recent usage, this section isn’t limited to the last three days, and it can show you older information with ease.

From this section you can see how much time your device spent using a battery or wall outlet.

There’s also Battery capacity history section so you can easily view how your full charge capacity changes over time. Probably the most useful information is offered in Battery life estimates section.

This section can estimate how long could your battery last if full charge capacity was unchanged. Thanks to this feature, you can compare your current battery life and estimated battery life with ease.

Battery Report offers extremely useful information regarding your laptop battery, and every laptop owner should know how to use this feature.

Although this feature is rather useful, it requires you to generate a new report from Command Prompt every time.

Battery Eater

If you’re looking for free software that can check your battery health, you might want to consider Battery Eater. This is small and portable application, so it should work on any PC without issues.

The application will show you your battery information, but you can also benchmark your battery in four different modes. If needed, the application can also generate a battery charging graph.

The software also allows you to view basic system information, which can be useful to some users.

Battery Eater is a simple application that can check your battery health with ease.

The application doesn’t offer any advanced options, but since it’s portable and simple to use, it will be perfect for basic users.

⇒ Get Battery Eater

BatteryCare

Another useful software that can help you check your laptop battery health is Battery Care. The application will reside in the bottom right corner, and simply by hovering its icon you can view some basic battery information.

In addition, you can also view temperature information regarding your CPU or hard drive. The application also allows you to quickly switch between power modes with just few clicks.

BatteryCare can also show you your battery status, remaining battery time and current battery capacity. If needed, you can also see detailed information such as battery model, designed capacity, total capacity and current capacity.

This information is extremely useful if you want to check how your capacity is changing over time.

The application also offers information such as charge and discharge rate, tension and wear level. You can also view total number of discharge cycles if needed.

The application uses advanced algorithm that can easily detect a complete discharge cycle. BatteryCare will also give you a notification after reaching a certain number of discharge cycles.

It’s worth mentioning that BatteryCare supports automatic power plan switching. As a result, your power plan will change automatically depending on the power source.

If needed, you can also disable demanding services right from this application in order to preserve your battery.

According to the developer, BatteryCare uses only 0.1% of your resources, so it won’t interfere with your system in any way. This is a solid battery health application, and it’s available for free.

It’s also worth mentioning that there’s a portable version as well, so you can run this tool without installation.

⇒ Get BatteryCare

Battery Optimizer

Battery Optimizer is another free application that can help you monitor your battery performance. Thanks to the advanced diagnostics, the application can optimize and extend your battery life.

Battery Optimizer also supports warnings, and you can get a notification whenever your battery usage reaches a certain threshold.

The application is light on your resources and it allows you to switch easily between different power profiles. In addition, you can also monitor your battery usage and charge statistics right from this application.

There’s also a powerful diagnostic tool, so you can easily check the health of your battery. The application has a simple-to-use interface, and since it’s completely free, there’s no reason not to try it.

⇒ Get Battery Optimizer

BatteryInfoView

Another free application that lets you check your battery health is BatteryInfoView. This is a lightweight and portable tool that will show you the necessary information regarding your battery.

The application will show you information such as battery name, manufacturer name, serial number and manufacture date.

BatteryInfoView can also show you current power state as well as current capacity percentage. In addition, you can view the capacity in mWh as well.

There’s also full charged capacity and designed capacity, so you can easily compare how much your capacity changed over time.

The application also lets you see battery wear level, voltage, charge or discharge rate and battery chemistry. Information such as battery temperature and number of charge and discharge cycles is also available.

BatteryInfoView can also show you the estimated battery charging or usage time.

There’s also a battery log feature that you can use to keep track of battery capacity and power state. The log is updated every 30 seconds, but you can easily customize the update rate.

BatteryInfoView is a free and portable application, so it’s perfect for all users that want to keep track of their laptop battery health. The application is simple to use, so even the most basic users will be able to use it.

⇒ Get BatteryInfoView

BatteryMon

If you want to monitor your laptop battery and check its health, you might want to consider BatteryMon. The application allows you to see charge and discharge rate on a graph, which makes it easier to keep track of your battery status.

There’s also detailed statistic available that you can use to diagnose problems. Speaking of problems, you can easily compare and measure your battery performance with the expected discharge rate.

Regarding discharge, you can easily see critical discharge points for your battery.

BatteryMon supports multiple battery packs, and you can easily see the status of each available battery. The application can also create a log thus allowing you to view a detailed report about your battery.

If you want to keep track of your battery at all times, there’s a mini window mode that can show you battery charge as well as estimated running time.

As for available information, this tool can show you battery status as well as device name, serial number, unique ID and manufacturer.

Additional information such as manufacture date and battery temperature is also available.

BatteryMon can also show you the chemistry of your battery, design capacity and full charge capacity. You can also view alert levels, number of charge cycles, voltage, and charge rate.

BatteryMon is a solid laptop battery health software, and it’s free for personal use. We have to mention that this application also works with UPS units, so it can be used on desktop computers as well.

⇒ Get BatteryMon

BATExpert

BATExpert is a lightweight laptop battery health software. The application offers simple interface so you can easily see the necessary battery information. All information is sorted in sections so it’s simple to access.

BATExpert allows you to easily see your battery manufacturer, but you can also see manufacture date and serial number. Available information also includes battery chemistry as well as its wear status.

Speaking of battery health, you can also see battery temperature and charge cycles.

Just like with any other similar software, the application allows you to see your battery status. This includes charge rate, estimated battery time, capacity, etc.

BATExpert lacks some advanced features, but it makes up for it with its simple design. This application is simple and completely free, so it will be perfect for first-time users.

We also have to mention that a portable version is available, so you can run this tool without installation.

⇒ Get BATExpert

BatteryBar

Another useful application that can help you monitor your laptop battery health is BatteryBar. This is a lightweight application, so it won’t use too much of your computer resources.

The application will monitor your battery and estimate remaining battery power based on your previous performance.

The tool also allows you to switch quickly to a different power scheme in order to preserve your battery life. BatteryBar also supports graphs, so you can easily monitor your battery charge or discharge.

The tool supports customization, and you can even set up warnings that will inform you when your battery charge reaches certain threshold.

The application can show you the current battery capacity in percent or in mWh. In addition, it will show you the charge rate as well as percent of battery wear.

BatteryBar offers the basic features regarding battery health, so it might not be the most advanced tool on our list. We have to mention that this application isn’t free, and some advanced features are only available in Pro version.

However, if you want to use only the basic features, you might want to try BatteryBar.

⇒ Get BatteryBar

Battery Status Monitor

This application allows you to keep track of your battery health, but it also allows you to monitor other hardware.

Battery Status Monitor has a floating widget that you can position anywhere on the screen in order to keep a close eye on your battery.

If needed, you can also switch to different power modes or turn off your laptop right from this application.

The application can show you the status of your battery as well as the current charge percent. In addition, you can also see the charge in mWh.

Information such as name, capacity and additional details about your battery is also available. Battery Status Monitor allows you to see the type of battery that you’re using, number of cycles as well as wear percent.

The application comes with a useful graph, so you can easily keep track of your battery charge. In addition, you can also see CPU speed and load.

Battery Status Monitor also allows you to monitor CPU and hard drive temperature, which can be quite useful.

Battery Status Monitor is a solid application, and it offers the necessary information regarding your laptop battery and other components.

The application is completely free, so we advise you to try it out.

⇒ Get Battery Status Monitor

Smarter Battery

calibrate laptop battery win10

Another application that can help you monitor your laptop battery health is Smarter Battery. The application has attractive and simple user interface, so it’s perfect for first-time users.

Smarter Battery can detect up to four batteries, which is more than enough for most users.

Thanks to the simple user interface, you can easily see current charge percent and remaining battery time. Of course, you can also see battery mode and number of cycles.

The application can show you information such as designed capacity and full charge capacity. In addition, you can also see current capacity in mWh.

If needed, you can check charge rate and alert values for your battery.

The application also has a battery graph that you can use to monitor your battery status. We have to mention that Smart Battery adds a small icon in the bottom right corner so you can monitor your battery with ease.

In addition, the application allows you to change a power plan, brightness or to turn off your PC right from the Taskbar.

Smarter Battery offers great visual interface as well as a lot of information that can help you monitor the health of your laptop battery.

Unfortunately this application isn’t free, but you can download and use the demo version free of charge.

⇒ Get Smarter Battery

Laptop battery health is rather important, so it’s crucial that you monitor it. We covered the best tools for laptop battery health, so be sure to try some of the tools from our list.

Fortunately, there are always solutions to avoid unpleasant or even dreadful events. There are many cases in which laptops closed unexpectedly because of battery issues.

If you want to check other components, don’t miss our guide on how to run hardware diagnostics on Windows for more information.

This is why it is extremely important to maintain the health of this crucial element of your device.

File Renamer: 7 Best to Use in 2026

Posted on by Ivan Jenic

If you are worried about renaming your files, we have got you covered. Today, we have come up with the best file rename software which you can use.

Sometimes, Windows users go online to source files such as documents and images, for organizational purposes, these files are often renamed. It’s much easier to keep track of your files if they are named in a certain manner. And built-in tools might not be enough to do so.

However, we have successfully compiled a list of great file renaming software that will suit your needs perfectly.

Best file rename tools for PCs

Easy File Renamer

This solution respects its name and provides users with cutting-edge organizing services. Developed by the leading company Sorcim, the software comes with a convenient user experience and useful features.

Firstly, you can use this user-friendly software in different ways, to rename or move your files easily on desktop, or using the cloud version. So you will spare time and effort by renaming your Drive files instantly.

You just have to perform 3 steps in order to restructure PC data and rename files in a bulk. Hence the process entails adding files or folders to rename at once, select the needed changes of your files, apply changes for all, see the preview, and enjoy the results.

Hence such a program delivers essential service for an organized PC, assuring a stress-free process of renaming any files to result in a satisfying outcome.

That being said, either you need file renaming on PC or Google Drive or music files rename, this tool is enough.

Features/Pros:

  • Multi-purpose tools (Cloud renamer, Music fixer, Copy or move files)
  • 12 rules of file renaming such as change suffix/ prefix, trim text, add asceding or descending files.
  • OneDrive, Google Drive, Amazon S3 cloud renamer
  • MP3 songs renamer by music tags
  • Support for Windows 7-10 or XP, Vista
  • Free download

Easy File Renamer

This effective software can help you move or rename files of all kinds altogether in no time, so give it a try.
Check price Visit website

EF Multi File Renamer

This Windows-Explorer-like software does just what’s advertised – it batch renames files, folders, or subfolders while offering quite a set of renaming options.

You have an option to use predefined rules, but you can, of course, customize them to your liking. The more complex tasks can combine different rules in the demanded order.

Moreover, you can preview all the changes in real-time and see what modification you made and how it looks. With this intuitive tool, the task couldn’t be easier.

Also, you can benefit from the variety of rules included, ranging from simple to more complex ones. However, the definitions are clear and help to understand the purpose of rules.

Features/Pros:

  • Clear and easy-to-grasp renaming rules.
  • Renaming filter restriction to rename only files under certain criteria.
  • Multilingual support.
  • Recursive processing of subfolders and containing files.
  • A full preview of new file names before you decide to rename them.
  • Third-party plugins support.

Cons:

  • Not expensive but also not free.

⇒ Get EF Multi File Renamer

1-ABC.net File Renamer

1-ABC.net File Renamer is, like other premium or freemium tools that found their way on this list, more than a worthy acquisition. It checks all the boxes when it comes to batch file renaming and even brings support for external storage.

Giving that such a process can be very time-consuming and dull, this tool comes in handy to help the users organize and find their files easily.

With this practical tool, you perform file renaming in minutes and without any effort. You only have to select your files in a folder and decide the further actions of renaming them.

Thus you should consider this software if you need effective file renaming or customization by numbers, date, or name. Also, it’s possible to write to SD cards or USB drives and rename your files on portable devices.

To conclude, this program can help with anything concerning file renaming on your PC, offering great support to organize your data.

Features/Pros:

  • Multilingual support (English, German, French, Hungarian, Catalon, and Polish).
  • Intuitive interface.
  • It allows us to save and restore renaming projects.
  • Backup unmodified files before renaming them.
  • Activity log for all your renaming actions

Cons:

  • Not official Windows 10 support

⇒ Get 1-ABC.net File Renamer

File Renamer Basic

This software can be used effectively to rename multiple files and images. It has a great interface that contains file listing and a directory tree.

Utilizing this practical solution, you can rename your files at once in a moment. The process works smoothly and files like digital images can be renamed incredibly fast.

More so, there are multiple things you can do using the tool, from automated copy or moving your files, rename MP3 files, sort and rename on EXIF, find and replace text, files filer, etc.

Therefore it’s a wholly choice for organizing your files efficiently with very few resources and saving a lot of your time.

Features/Pros:

  • It supports regular expressions, EXIF, ID3 v1 and ID3 v2, saved profiles for tasks repeated, renaming lists and tag editing.
  • Excellent help files.
  • License: Free (Limited features).
  • It has an interface that is well designed.
  • A solid file for renaming.

Cons

  • Subfolder, Undo and logging features are removed from the free version.
  • No regular expression information.

⇒ Get File Renamer Basic

Bulk Rename Utility

Bulk Rename Utility software is very easy to use. It has a great interface. It is very powerful and highly functional.

This tool is capable of doing everything other alike software can do, plus giving you lightning-fast renaming services. It’s also a lightweight choice and doesn’t consume much of your memory space.

It started as a freeware visual basic tool and then completely rewritten in C++ to become more robust. So its services hold the capacity of renaming folders with 100.000 entries or batch rename 1000 files in a few seconds.

Thereby, you can use it to rename different files quickly for free and enjoy the multitude of features, basic and advanced for an uncluttered PC.

Features/Pros:

  • You can auto date
  • Adding of prefix or suffix is allowed
  • Moving or copying of files to other locations can be done.
  • Regular expressions.
  • Custom file formats.
  • EFIX tags.
  • ID3 v 1 tags
  • License: Free (Private/ Educational use).
  • Very powerful, lots of features, it is a very good renaming software.

Cons:

  • It has a cluttered interface and lacks ID 3 v 2 support.

⇒ Get Bulk Rename Utility

Advanced Renamer

This tool has an attractive interface and renames multiple files and folders with renaming methods.

Advanced Renamer offers practical support in renaming files, with a variety of options to rename any file in one go. So the process is pretty standard, helping to manipulate your files as desired.

More so, it has multiple ways to organize the files using 14 methods to change attributes, names, or timestamps at once.

Briefly, you can rename digital images including thumbnail mode, GPS data files, music or video files, and so on. Thus this solution promises a sharp process for any Windows 10 user.

Features/Pros:

  • It has a picture preview.
  • The file change list is supported.
  • It has good help files.
  • It supports regular expressions.
  • License: Free
  • Easy to use.

Cons:

  • Supports just a little of EXIF and ID 3 tags.

⇒ Get Advanced Renamer

ReNamer

This software is very good for renaming files. It can offer all the standard functionalities you may need, including replacements, adding prefixes or suffixes, removing the content of brackets, numbering, and more.

It can also help to perform multiple tasks using a rule set, followed by a logical sequence, and saving or managing all within the tool.

Moreover, the software gives the support of renaming folders and processing regular expressions (RegEx). That means it can use syntax for a pattern of text to search for.

Lastly, it supports different meta tags like ID3V1, ID3V2, EXIF, OLE, AVI, MD5, and more. As well, there are included different languages you can choose from.

Features/Pros:

  • ReNamer has a good interface.
  • It supports a few different metatags and it is very powerful.
  • It has the PascalScript option for power users.
  • No installation is required.

Cons

  • A help guide is not efficient
  • The website might be malicious.

⇒ Get ReNamer

In conclusion, renaming documents, images or photos downloaded online before saving on your computer or phone is very important. Most of the software we mentioned above is easy and free to use. Select the one most suitable to fit your needs.

If you have any other questions or suggestions, don’t hesitate to leave them in the comments section below, and will surely check them out.

Fix: Windows 10 Stuck on Login Screen / Slow Login [12 Ways]

Posted on by Milan Stanojevic

One of the most painful scenarios for any computer user is when you get a login screen Windows 10 slow, stuck, frozen problem.

When this happens, most users don’t know how else to fix the problem, but the first two quick fixes would be a restart or trying to open Task Manager using CTRL+ALT+DEL buttons.

If you experience a login screen Windows 10 slow, stuck, frozen problem on your computer, here are solutions to help you resolve it in no time.

Why is my computer stuck on the login screen?

One of the most common causes of this issue is a failed Windows update. Booting in Safe mode is one of the main fixes that worked for a lot of users.

How can I fix slow, stuck, and frozen login screen issues on Windows 10?

1. Boot in Safe Mode

  1. Click on Start button
  2. Select Settings – the Settings box will open up
    login screen Windows 10 slow, stuck, frozen
  3. Click Update & Security
    Login screen Windows 10 slow, stuck, frozen
  4. Select Recovery
    Login screen Windows 10 slow, stuck, frozen
  5. Go to Advanced startup
    Login screen Windows 10 slow, stuck, frozen
  6. Click Restart now
  7. Select Troubleshoot from the Choose an Option screen, then click Advanced options
  8. Go to Startup Settings and click Restart
  9. Once your computer restarts, a list of options will come up.
  10. Choose 4 or F4 to start your computer in Safe Mode

Safe mode starts up your computer with limited files and drivers but Windows will still run. To know whether you’re on Safe mode, you’ll see the words at the corners of your screen.

If the login screen Windows 10 slow, stuck, frozen problem persists, check whether it occurs while your computer is in Safe mode.

A quicker way to get into Safe Mode is to restart your computer then do the following:

  1. From the Choose an option screen, select Troubleshoot>Advanced options>Startup Settings>Restart
  2. Once your computer restarts, a list of options will come up.
  3. Choose 4 or F4 to start your computer in Safe Mode

If the login screen Windows 10 slow, stuck, the frozen problem isn’t there while in Safe mode, then your default settings and basic drivers are not contributing to the issue.

Did this help? If not, try the next solution.

2. Perform a Clean Boot

In order to successfully perform a clean boot on Windows 10, you have to be logged on as the administrator, then follow these steps:

  1. Go to the search box
  2. Type msconfig
  3. Select System Configuration
    login screen Windows 10 slow, stuck, frozen
  4. Find Services tab
    login screen Windows 10 slow, stuck, frozen
  5. Select Hide all Microsoft services box
    login screen Windows 10 slow, stuck, frozen
  6. Click Disable all
  7. Go to Startup tab
    login screen Windows 10 slow, stuck, frozen
  8. Click Open Task Manager
    login screen Windows 10 slow, stuck, frozen
  9. Close Task manager then click Ok
  10. Reboot your computer

If you manage to boot in Safe Mode, perform a clean boot to eliminate any software conflicts that may be causing the login screen Windows 10 slow, stuck, frozen issue.

Performing a clean boot for your computer reduces conflicts related to software that can bring up the root causes of the problem. These conflicts can be caused by applications and services that start up and run in the background whenever you start Windows normally.

You will have a clean boot environment after all these steps are carefully followed, after which you can try and check if the problem is gone. If you want to know how to add or remove startup apps on Windows 10, check out this simple guide.

3. Temporarily turn off firewalls and any antivirus software

Sometimes having multiple firewalls, antivirus or anti-malware programs, may at times prevent you from performing certain tasks or running processes on your computer.

If this is the cause of the issue, while still in Safe Mode turn either of the three off temporarily then try to log in again.

Ensure you turn these programs back on immediately after you’re done to prevent hackers, viruses and worms from damaging your system.

4. Manually reset Windows Updates components

  1. Right-click Start
  2. Select Command Prompt (Admin)
    login screen Windows 10 slow, stuck, frozen
  3. Click Yes when asked for permissions
    login screen Windows 10 slow, stuck, frozen
  4. Stop the BITS, Cryptographic, MSI Installer, and Windows Update Services by typing the following commands at a command prompt:
    • net stop wuauserv
    • net stop cryptSvc
    • net stop bits
    • net stop msiserver
  5. Press Enter after each command you type
  6. Rename the SoftwareDistribution and Catroot2 folder by typing the commands below in the Command Prompt then press Enter after each command you type:
    1. Ren C:WindowssoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old
    2. Ren C:WindowsSystem32catroot2 Catroot2.old
  7. Restart the BITS, Cryptographic, MSI Installer, and Windows Update Services by typing the following commands in Command prompt:
    • net stop wuauserv
    • net stop cryptSvc
    • net stop bits
    • net stop msiserver
  8. Type Exit in the Command Prompt to close it

Try running Windows Updates again to check if the login screen Windows 10 slow, stuck, the frozen issue has been resolved.

Disclaimer: this solution contains steps that are part of modifying the registry. Please note that serious problems may occur if you do this incorrectly. Ensure you follow these steps correctly, and carefully.

Back up the registry before you modify it, then restore it if a problem occurs.

Note: It isn’t recommended to uncheck the Give me updates for other Microsoft products when I update the Windows update option. Windows Updates downloads and installs updates required to run Windows efficiently.

5. Change registry settings

  1. Right-click Start
  2. Select Run
    login screen Windows 10 slow, stuck, frozen
  3. Type regedit
    login screen Windows 10 slow, stuck, frozen
  4. Press Enter
  5. Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USERSOFTWAREPoliciesMicrosoftWindowsCurrent VersionPush Notifications
    login screen Windows 10 slow, stuck, frozen
  6. You will see NoToastApplicationNotification
  7. Double click on it
  8. Change its value from 1 (default value) to 0
  9. Click OK
  10. Sign out, then sign in again

If this doesn’t fix the login screen Windows 10 slow, stuck, frozen issue, try the next solution.

If you can’t edit your registry in Windows 10, take a look at this guide that will help you get past this problem.

6. Check Event Viewer

  1. Right click Start
  2. Select Event Viewer
    login screen Windows 10 slow, stuck, frozen
  3. Expand Windows Logs in the left pane
    login screen Windows 10 slow, stuck, frozen
  4. Click Application Log then highlight the first event in the log and use arrow keys to scroll down. You may come across logs with yellow warnings or red errors.
  5. If you see a red error, double click on it to bring it up then copy its contents to a document
login screen Windows 10 slow, stuck, frozen

Event Viewer may indicate what is causing the login screen Windows 10 slow, stuck, frozen issue. Such an issue may occur due to recent changes in software or hardware.

7. Run System Maintenance troubleshooter

This resolves most of the common system problems.

  1. Click Start
  2. Go to the search field box and type Troubleshooting
  3. Click on Troubleshooting
  4. Click on System and Security
    Login screen Windows 10 slow, stuck, frozen
  5. Click on System Maintenance
    Login screen Windows 10 slow, stuck, frozen
  6. Click Next
  7. Follow the instructions to run the system maintenance troubleshooter.

8. Perform an Automatic Repair

  1. Insert the Windows Installation disk or USB drive then restart your computer. You will see a message requesting you to Press any key to boot from DVD.
  2. Press any key to boot from DVD
  3. Once you see the Install Windows page displayed, click Repair your computer to start Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE)
  4. In WinRE, go to Choose an option screen
  5. Click Troubleshoot
  6. Click Advanced Options
  7. Click Automatic Repair

In order to do this, you need to download Windows 10 ISO then create a Media Creation tool, which you can do from another computer.

For more info on how to create a bootable USB drive with Windows 10 on it, check out this in-depth guide. The Media Creation Tool isn’t working on Windows 10? Don’t worry, we’ve got the right fix.

Note: If you don’t see the Press any key to boot from DVD message, you need to change the boot order in your BIOS settings to start from disk or USB.

Be careful when changing BIOS settings as the BIOS interface is designed for advanced computer users because you may change a setting that may prevent your computer from booting properly.

You should only update BIOS when necessary like when solving a compatibility problem. It can be complicated and render your computer inoperable in case of any errors.

Follow the steps below exactly as they are to change boot order then perform a repair:

  1. In the restart process, check for any instructions on how to interrupt normal startup
  2. Enter the BIOS Setup Utility.
    • Most computers use F2, F10, ESC or DELETE key to begin this setup
  3. Find a tab in BIOS set up utility labeled Boot Order, Boot Options, or Boot
  4. Use the arrow keys to go to Boot Order
  5. Press Enter
  6. Locate the removable device (CD, DVD, or USB flash drive) in the Boot list
  7. Use arrow keys to move the drive upwards to appear as the first in Boot list
  8. Press Enter
  9. Your boot order sequence has now been changed to boot from DVD, CD, or USB flash drive
  10. Press F10 to save changes and exit BIOS Setup Utility
  11. Click Yes in the confirmation windows
  12. Your computer will restart normally
    • Let the scan proceed for a few minutes to remove any malware infecting your computer
  13. Select your preferred language, currency, time, keyboard or other input methods
  14. Click Next
  15. Click Repair your computer
  16. Choose the operating system you want to repair (in this case Windows 10)
  17. Click Next
  18. On Choose an option screen, select Troubleshoot
  19. Select Advanced Options
  20. Click System Restore or Startup Repair

Once the repair is complete, check whether the login screen Windows 10 slow, stuck, frozen issue goes away, otherwise try the next solution.

9. Run Microsoft Safety Scanner

  1. Download the tool
  2. Open it
  3. Select the type of scan you want to run
  4. Start the scan
  5. Review scan results on the screen, which lists all malware identified on your computer

Microsoft Safety Scanner is a tool designed to locate and remove malware from Windows PCs. It only scans when manually triggered, then you get to use it 10 days after you download it.

This means you need to download the latest version of the tool before you perform each scan on your computer.

However, the Microsoft Safety Scanner tool doesn’t replace your antimalware program. It helps remove malicious software from your Windows 10 computer.

To remove the Microsoft Safety Scanner tool, delete the msert.exe file by default. Check if the login screen Windows 10 slow, stuck, frozen issue persists. If so, try the next solution.

10. Run a System File Checker (SFC Scan)

While you’re still in safe mode, you can perform the following actions to try and resolve the login screen Windows 10 slow, stuck, frozen issue:

  1. Run a System File Checker (SFC) scan
  2. Run the DISM tool

How to run an SFC scan

A System File Checker scan checks all protected system files, and then replaces the incorrect versions, with the genuine, correct Microsoft versions. Here’s how to do this:

  1. Click Start
  2. Go to the search field box and type CMD
  3. Select Command Prompt
    login screen Windows 10 slow, stuck, frozen
  4. Right click and select Run as Administrator
    login screen Windows 10 slow, stuck, frozen
  5. Type sfc/scannow
    Login screen Windows 10 slow, stuck, frozen
  6. Press Enter
  7. Restart your computer

How to run the DISM tool

If you still get the login screen Windows 10 slow, stuck, frozen issue, run the DISM tool, or Deployment Image Servicing and Management tool.

The DISM tool helps fix Windows corruption errors when Windows Updates and service packs fail to install due to corruption errors, like if you have a damaged system file.

Here’s how to run the DISM command on your PC to check if it helps:

  1. Click Start
  2. In the search field box, type CMD
  3. Click Command Prompt in the search results list
    login screen Windows 10 slow, stuck, frozen
  4. Type Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

Once the repair is complete, reboot your computer and check if the issue persists.

If Safe Mode is stable, then the issue is most likely with drivers, but your computer could also need disinfection or system file repair as most problems in Windows 10 are corruption issues passed from previous operating systems.

In this case, while still in Safe Mode, do the following:

  1. Click Start
  2. Go to the search box and type Update
  3. Click Check for Updates to check for and speed up critical updates taking time to install
    login screen Windows 10 slow, stuck, frozen
  4. Right click Start button
  5. Select Device Manager
  6. Import any missing or drivers with errors from the computer or manufacturer’s website

Have trouble updating your Windows 10? Check out this guide that will help you solve them in no time.

Also still in Safe mode, download, install, and decline trial version of Malwarebytes and adware cleaners, then update and run full scans. Make sure you uninstall bloatware antivirus programs and enable a built-in Windows Defender to test your PC’s performance.

Once the above is sorted, do the following:

  1. Right-click Taskbar
    login screen Windows 10 slow, stuck, frozen
  2. Select Task Manager
  3. On Startup tab, disable everything until your install is stabilized
    login screen Windows 10 slow, stuck, frozen
  4. Restore only what you need including Windows

11. Perform a System Restore

  1. Right click Start
  2. Click Control Panel
  3. Click System and Security
    Login screen Windows 10 slow, stuck, frozen
  4. Click System
    Login screen Windows 10 slow, stuck, frozen
  5. Click System Restore
  6. Click Choose a different restore point
  7. Click Next
  8. Click a restore point created before you experienced the problem
  9. Click Next
  10. Click Finish

If you get a login screen Windows 10 slow, stuck, frozen after an upgrade, use System Restore to create restore points when you install new apps, drivers, or Windows updates, or when you create restore points manually.

You can’t open Control Panel on Windows 10? Take a look at this step-by-step guide to find a solution.

Restoring doesn’t affect your personal files. It, however, removes apps, drivers and updates installed after the restore point was created.

However, if you’re facing a critical error and Windows deletes all your files in the update process, don’t panic just yet. We’ve written extensively about this and our guide will surely help you get all your files back.

To go back to a restore point, do the following:

  1. Right-click Start
  2. Select Control Panel
  3. In the control panel search box, type Recovery
  4. Select Recovery
    Login screen Windows 10 slow, stuck, frozen
  5. Click Open System Restore
    Login screen Windows 10 slow, stuck, frozen
  6. Click Next
  7. Choose the restore point related to the problematic program/app, driver or update
  8. Click Next
  9. Click Finish

If you’re interested in more info on how to create a restore point and how would that help you, take a look at this simple article to find out everything you need to know.

12. Run disk clean up

Before doing this, ensure you have sufficient disk space on a Windows drive.

  1. Click Start
  2. In the search field box, type disk cleanup
  3. Select Disk Cleanup from the search results
  4. The disk cleanup drive selection box will appear.
  5. Click Ok to set off the disk space calculation process
    login screen Windows 10 slow, stuck, frozen
  6. Go to Properties>Tools>Error checking
  7. Check the box and click Run

How to exit Safe Mode after fixing the login screen Windows 10 slow, stuck, frozen problem

Once you’re able to fix the login screen Windows 10 slow, stuck, frozen issue, exit Safe Mode using the steps below:

  1. Right click Start button
  2. Select Run
  3. Type msconfig
  4. A pop up will open
  5. Go to the Boot tab
    printer won’t print in Windows 10
  6. Deselect or uncheck Safe Boot option box
  7. Restart your computer

Did any of these solutions work to fix the login screen Windows 10 slow, stuck, frozen issue on your computer? Let us know in the comments section below.

Also, leave there any other suggestions or questions you may have and we’ll be sure to check them out.

Garry’s Mod Not Launching: How to Fix & Run it Smoothly

Posted on by Milan Stanojevic

Garry’s Mod managed to utilize Source’s physics model in order to create one of the best sandbox games of all time.

Garry’s Mod is a great game, however, the game has certain issues, and today we’re going check out some of the most common Garry’s Mod issues on Windows PC.

Garry’s Mod is a great game, but many users reported various issues. Speaking of issues, here are some of the most common Garry’s Mod problems on Windows 10:

  • Garry’s Mod won’t start
    • According to users, sometimes Garry’s Mod won’t start on their PC at all.
    • If you have the same problem, verify the game’s cache and check if that solves the issue.
  • Garry’s Mod engine error, engine.dll
    • This is another common problem with Garry’s Mod.
    • If you’re having this issue, you might want to check your DirectX configuration.
  • Garry’s Mod Lua panic
    • This is another error that can prevent you from running Garry’s Mod.
    • However, you should be able to fix the issue by using one of our solutions.
  • Garry’s Mod not launching
    • Several users reported that they are unable to start Garry’s Mod at all.
    • This can be a big problem, and if you’re having this issue, be sure to check the game’s cache.
  • Garry’s Mod not enough memory
    • Users reported this error message while trying to start Garry’s Mod.
    • If you’re having this problem, try changing your game configuration and check if that helps.
  • Garry’s Mod keeps crashing, minimizing
    • Many users reported that Garry’s Mod keeps crashing and minimizing on their PC.
    • This is an annoying problem, but you should be able to fix it using our solutions.
  • Garry’s Mod low fps
    • Another problem that users have with Garry’s Mod is low FPS.
    • However, you can fix this problem by changing your settings as explained below.
  • Garry’s mod lag and high ping
    • GMod’s high ping can be caused by network congestion or by being too far from the game servers.
    • The GMod lag spikes are annoying for many gamers but these can be fixed by using a good VPN solution.

How to fix Garry’s Mod crashing on Windows?

1. Set your graphics settings to High

If Garry’s Mod is crashing on your computer, it can be due to your graphics settings. Few users have suggested that you should set your graphics settings to High in order to fix this issue.

Although changing your graphics settings might cause your framerate to drop, it should fix the crashing issues.

2. Turn off the download for custom files

  1. Start the game and go to Options > Multiplayer.
  2. Find When a game server tries to download custom content to your computer option and set it to Do not download any custom files.

In some cases, crashes with Garry’s Mod can be caused by third-party content, and this is why users are suggesting to turn off download for custom files.

By turning this option off you might see a lot of purple textures and error signs, therefore it’s advised you download all the necessary elements by yourself.

3. Add +mat_dxlevel 95 launch options

  1. Start Steam and open your game Library.
  2. Locate Garry’s Mod, right click it and choose Properties from the menu.
  3. Click the Set Launch Options button and enter +mat_dxlevel 95.
  4. Save changes and start Garry’s Mod from your game Library.

Few users have recommended using +mat_dxlevel 95 launch option in order to fix Garry’s Mod crashing problem.

4. Verify game cache

  1. Open Steam and go to your game Library.
  2. Locate Garry’s Mod, right click it and choose Properties from the menu.
  3. Go to Local Files tab and click Verify Integrity Of Game Cache button.
    Garry's Mod won't start
  4. Wait for this process to complete.

Many games crash if their files get corrupted, so if Garry’s Mod is crashing on your PC, you should check the integrity of game cache.

5. Unsubscribe from certain add-ons

Garry’s Mod heavily relies on add-ons, and in some cases, certain add-ons can cause Garry’s Mod to crash.

To remedy this issue, it’s advised you unsubscribe to any add-ons you’ve added around the period the crashes started.

In worst-case scenario, you’ll have to deactivate all add-ons and mods and turn them on one by one until you find the one causing crashes.

6. Add -32bit launch option

  1. Open Steam and right click Garry’s Mod. Choose Properties.
    Garry's Mod engine error
  2. In General Panel click the Set Launch Options button and add enter -32bit.
    Garry's Mod lua panic
  3. Save changes and start the game.

Users report that adding this launch option fixes the issue for the most part, but crashes can still occur when pressing Alt+Tab.

7. Validate game cache of other Steam games

Garry’s Mod uses assets from other Source games, and if one of those games has any corrupt files, it can lead to crashes in Garry’s Mod.

To fix this issue we advise you to check the integrity of game cache for other games that are related to Garry’s Mod. Users have reported Team Fortress 2 as a common culprit, so make sure to check its game cache first.

After checking Team Fortress 2, proceed to check other Source games.

8. Type vgui_allowhtml 0 in-game console

If you’re having crashes in Garry’s Mod, you can try entering vgui_allowhtml 0 in-game console. Make sure to enable the console from the options menu and assign a hotkey to it.

When the game starts, press the console hotkey, enter vgui_allowhtml 0 and press Enter to run it. Many users have reported success with this solution, but you’ll have to repeat it every time you start Garry’s Mod.

9. Use autoconfig mode

Autoconfig mode is designed to use the best settings for Garry’s Mod on your computer, thus fixing crashing issues. To enable autoconfig mode, you need to remove all other launch options and use -autoconfig as the only launch option.

For detailed instructions on how to add launch options check the previous solutions. If -autoconfig launch option fixes your problems, remember to remove it from launch options next time you start the game.

10. Force the game to use a specific resolution

Crashes can sometimes be caused by your game resolution, and if that’s the case, maybe you should force the game to use a specific resolution. To do that, you can use one of the following launch options:

  • -w 800 -h 600
  • -w 1024 -h 768
  • -w 1280 -h 720
  • -w 1366 -h 768
  • -w 1920 -h -1080

You can also try running the game in borderless window mode by adding -window -noborder as launch options.

11. Force game to use a specific version of DirectX

If you’re having crashes, you can force the game to use a specific DirectX mode by adding one of the following launch options:

  • -dxlevel 81
  • -dxlevel 90
  • -dxlevel 95
  • -dxlevel 100
  • -dxlevel 110

Keep in mind that some of these options, such as -dxlevel 81 are considered unstable.

How to fix Garry’s Mod freezing?

1. Delete Garry’s Mod cfg folder

  1. Go to the following file location:
    • SteamSteamAppsyour Steam usernamegarrysmodgarrysmod
  2. You should see cfg folder. Make a copy of this folder and move it to your Desktop.
  3. In garrysmod folder, open the cfg folder and delete everything from it.
  4. Start the game.

Sometimes Garry’s Mod can freeze if your configuration files get corrupted, and if that happens it’s advised you remove your cfg folder.

After you start the game, cfg folder will be recreated and Garry’s Mod will run with default settings.

2. Remove installed add-ons

Garry’s Mod add-ons can cause freezes, and this is why it’s advised you delete them.

We have to mention add-ons will install automatically after you’ve deleted them, therefore keep a close eye on add-ons that are currently installing in order to find the ones causing freezing issues.

It has been reported that Silverlans Fallout NPCs, Dark Messiah and Eye Divine Cybermancy SNPCS can cause crashes and freezes with Garry’s Mod, so if you’re using aforementioned add-ons, we urge you to disable and remove them.

More so, users have reported removing workshop maps fixes freezing issues in Garry’s Mod, so you’re advised to remove any workshop maps you don’t use. According to reports, Awesomium often tests all downloaded maps causing your game to freeze.

3. Disable all add-ons and change priority of Awesomium process

  1. Start Garry’s Mod.
  2. In the main menu disable all add-ons.
  3. Pick your map.
  4. Pause the game and enable all mods. If the game freezes and you can’t do anything, run the game in windowed mode and repeat all the steps again.
  5. Minimize the game by pressing Alt + Tab and open Task Manager by pressing Ctrl + Shift + Esc.
  6. Once Task Manager starts, go to Details tab and locate Awesomium process. Right click Awesomium and choose Set Priority > High.
    Garry's Mod not launching
  7. Locate hl2.exe in the same tab and set Priority to High for that process as well.

The awesomium process is related to Garry’s Mod, therefore it’s important to give this process High priority.

4. Unsubscribe from all add-ons and reinstall Garry’s Mod

  1. Open Steam, go to game Library and locate Garry’s Mod.
  2. Right click Garry’s Mod and choose Delete Local Content.
  3. Now go to Steamsteamappscommon and delete GarrysMod folder.
  4. Install Garry’s Mod from Steam again.

If there’s no other way to fix freezing issues with Garry’s Mod, your last solution is to reinstall the game. Before you reinstall the game, make sure to unsubscribe from all add-ons.

Garry’s Mod is a fun game, but since this game heavily relies on add-ons and other games, some problems can occur from time to time.

We have covered some of the most common issues, and we hope our solutions have been helpful to you.

Fix: Mouse Selecting / Highlighting Everything on Windows 10

Posted on by Milan Stanojevic

There’s nothing more irritating and annoying than using a mouse while working on your computer, and the cursor or mouse selects everything.

This issue may look complicated or make you think there’s a virus on your computer (which shouldn’t be ruled out though), but there are a few workarounds for this, which are listed below.

What can I do if my mouse highlights everything?

1. Preliminary fixes

  1. Reboot your computer
  2. Try a different keyboard
  3. Clean the lens of your mouse gently with a cotton swab
  4. Try a different mouse as yours could be broken
  5. Scan your computer for any viruses using the Microsoft Safety Scanner tool.

2. Uninstall and reinstall the touchpad driver

  1. Launch Device Manager
  2. Go to Mice and other pointing devices, you should see the touchpad drivers.
  3. Right-click on the device and select Uninstalluninstall touchpad driver
  4. In the uninstall dialog, make sure you select the option to delete the driver package from the system. This causes the driver package installed earlier to be deleted.
  5. On the Action menu, select Scan for hardware changes. This will cause the device driver to be reinstalled

Updating drivers manually puts your PC at risk, so we recommend you use a specialized tool to do it automatically. Thus, downloading and installing the wrong driver versions will keep your system away from damage.

3. Run the hardware and device troubleshooter

  1. Click on Start and type troubleshooting in the search box
  2. Click on Troubleshooting
  3. Select Hardware and sound
  4. Click on Hardware and Devices then click Next to start the process and find out what could be the issue.

4. Check the selection settings in Word

  1. Click on the Windows orb in the top corner
  2. Choose Word options (next to exit button)
  3. Click Advanced
  4. Uncheck When selecting, automatically select entire word

5. Change the Use smart paragraph selection and Use smart cursoring options

  1. Go to File
  2. Select Options
  3. Select Advanced
  4. Select Editing options and change the two features

6. Install the drivers in compatibility mode

  1. Download the driver from the manufacturer’s website and save it on your local disk.
  2. Right-click on the setup file of the driver and select Properties.
  3. Select the Compatibility Tab.
  4. Place a checkmark next to Run this program in Compatibility mode and select the operating system from the drop-down list.
  5. Let the driver install and then check the functionality, and also install all the drivers from the manufacturer web site

7. Run the SFC scan

  1. Type cmd in the search bar
  2. Right-click on Command Prompt and select Run as administrator
  3. Enter sfc /scannow (note the space between sfc and /)bdservicehost-sfc-scan
  4. See whether there’s anything in the system files that is causing corruption in the system, hence Windows 10 mouse selects everything.

8. Boot in safe mode

  1. Click Start and select Settings
  2. Select Update & securityVideos not playing on Windows 10
  3. Select RecoveryCan’t type password in Windows 10
  4. Under Advanced startup, select Restart now.
  5. After your PC restarts to the Choose an option screenComputer Stuck On Ctrl Alt Delete Screen
  6. Select Troubleshoot Computer Stuck On Ctrl Alt Delete Screen
  7. Select Advanced options and select Startup Settings
  8. Click Restart.
  9. After your PC restarts, you’ll see a list of options. Select 4 or F4 to start your PC in Safe Mode.

9. Perform a clean boot

  1. Click start and type msconfig then select System Configuration from the search results.typing lag/slow keyboard response in Windows 10
  2. On the Services tab of the System Configuration dialog box, tap or click to select the Hide all Microsoft services checkbox.
  3. Click Disable all.There is insufficient disk space to complete operation
  4. On the Startup tab of the System Configuration dialog box, tap or click Open Task Manager.Windows Defender is not removing Trojan
  5. On the Startup tab in Task Manager, for each startup item, select the item and then click Disable.
  6. Close Task Manager.
  7. On the Startup tab of the System Configuration dialog box, click OK, and then restart the computer.

10. Update drivers

  1. Right-click Start and select Device Manager
  2. Go to Mice and other pointing devices
  3. Find your mouse type and right click then select Update driver softwareupdate mouse driver
  4. You can select to search for updates automatically or manually. You can also check your device manufacturer’s website for updates, or restart your computer and Windows 10 will automatically install pending updates.

11. Make the mouse easier to use on Ease of Access center

  1. Click Start and select Control Panel
  2. Click Ease of Access center
  3. Click Make the mouse easier to use
  4. Under the Make it easier to manage windows section, uncheck Activate a window by hovering over it with the mouse and click OK at the bottom

12. Uncheck ClickLock

  1. Click Start and select Control Panel
  2. Go to View by and select Large or small icons
  3. Click Mouse and open Mouse properties window
  4. Check to ensure ClickLock is unchecked

13. Permanently disable sticky keys

  1. Click the Start button on the bottom of the desktop page
  2. Go to Control Panel
  3. Go to Accessibility Options
  4. The top section reads StickyKeys. Click Settings next to StickyKeys
  5. Go to the Keyboard Shortcut and Uncheck use shortcut

14. Change the blink rate value of the cursor

  1. Click on Start and select Control Panel
  2. Open keyboard settings by clicking on Keyboard from Control panel
  3. Under Speed tab, check if you have any settings to increase or decrease cursor blink rate
  4. A slider from the least (slow) value to the highest (fast) value should be available
  5. Select an appropriate blink rate for the cursor by moving the slider from least to the highest value
  6. Click Apply then click OK

15. Uncheck Enable Edge Swipes

  1. Click on Start and select Control panel
  2. Click All control panel items
  3. Select Mouse
  4. In the window that opens, scroll to Enable Edge swipes and uncheck it
  5. Click Apply

The solutions here will also help when the cursor moves to the left while typing. And the problem is more common than you would expect.

Were you able to fix the Windows 10 cursor selects everything problem? Let us know in the comments section below.

Here’s How to Remove a Virus From Chrome on Android Phones

Posted on by Tashreef Shareef

If you are seeing pop-up viruses when using Google Chrome on Android, it could be due to the installation of unwanted software from third-party sources.

Several users have reported the Google Chrome virus in Android when accessing the browser.

The pop-up virus causes issues such as tabs that can’t be closed, search engines change without permission, and redirection to pages or ads.

In this article, we have listed a few steps that you can follow to remove the Google Chrome virus in Android.

How do I remove pop-up viruses from Google Chrome on Android?

1. Remove problematic apps using Safe Mode

remove Google Chrome Virus Android
  1. Tap on Settings.
  2. Open Biometrics and security.
  3. Tap on Other Security Settings.
    remove Google Chrome Virus Android
  4. Open Device Admin apps.
  5. Here you need to revoke device admin permission for third-party apps that are suspicious.

Revoking device admin permission may be necessary before you can remove the app in Safe mode. Once the permission is revoked, follow the next set of steps to remove the app.

Uninstall malicious apps

  1. Press and hold the power button to get the Power menu.
  2. On your screen, touch and hold the power off button.
  3. When you see the Safe Mode screen, tap again to restart the phone in Safe Mode. Android phone in Safe mode
  4. Next, remove the recently installed apps one by one.
  5. To remove the app, tap and hold the app icon.
  6. Select Uninstall and then confirm the action.
  7. Once all the suspicious apps are removed, reboot the phone to boot normally.

Launch Google Chrome on your phone and check if the pop-up issue is resolved.

What apps to remove?

Apps that you may have downloaded from third-party sources as APKs are most likely a source of the virus. Try to download and install the app from the Play Store or from the official website of the developer.

2. Enable Play Protect

Google Play Protect
  1. Open the Play Store app on your Android device.
  2. Tap the Menu (three dots).
  3. Select Play Protect.
  4. Turn on the Scan device security threats option.
  5. If it is already enabled, tap on the Scan button.
  6. Google will scan your installed apps for security issues and recommend actions accordingly.

Having Play Protect enabled protects your device from problematic apps.

3. Block website notifications

  1. Open Google Chrome on your Android app.
  2. Go to a web page.
  3. Tap on More (three dots).
  4. Select Settings.
  5. Tap on Site Settings.
  6. Under Permissions, tap on Notifications.
  7. Turn off notification for the webpage.

If you don’t see the Permission or Notification option, it means the site does not have notifications turned on. That should stop any annoying ads or pop up notifications in Chrome.

4. Factory reset

  1. Tap on Settings.
  2. Tap on General Management.
  3. Next, select Reset.
  4. Select Factory data reset.Factory Data Reset
  5. Make sure you read the description and then tap on Reset.
  6. You may have to enter your PIN or pattern.
  7. Then tap on Delete All.

Note: Factory resetting your device will erase all the data from your phone’s internal memory. Create a backup before proceeding with the steps below.

The reset process may take some time, so wait till it is complete. Once done, download and install the apps from Google Play Store and restore the data.

5. Use a reliable solution

The Google Chrome Virus in Android will become history once you try out a complete cyber security solution on your smartphone.

Not only it will remove this virus, but it will also improve your online privacy, and offer you extra theft protection.

Using its powerful antivirus technology, this solution is the best for protecting your digital identity. Thus, you can keep your confidential data safe without having to worry about phishing and ransomware.

Take advantage of this software’s premium features and encrypt files and removable media, store and organize passwords for your accounts, and use the Anti-Theft feature to protect your device.

Your device will now benefit from multilayered protection, which means that viruses, worms, spyware, ransomware and malware will not be a problem anymore.

TotalAV

TotalAV protects your Android device from viruses, malware and offers you lots of additional features.
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Installing Android apps from third-party and unknown sources can also inject malware and adware. By following the steps in the article, you can remove the Google Chrome virus in Android.

Minecraft Error Code Wither Rose: 3 Simple Fixes

Posted on by Henderson Jayden Harper

Getting the Error code Wither Rose in Minecraft is not uncommon. This issue can stem from slow internet, server downtime, or corrupted cached data, among other causes. Regardless of the cause, here’s how to fix it:

How can I fix the error code wither rose in Minecraft?

? First, turn off background apps running on your PC, and check the game server status to outrule outages on Minecraft’s end. Power cycling your router and restart Windows in Safe Mode could also help.

If the error persists, go ahead with the solutions below.

1. Reset the Microsoft Store cache

  1. Press Windows + R key to open the Run window, type wsreset.exe, and then press Enter.wsreset
  2. A black screen appears, and the Microsoft Store windows will appear on the taskbar. Then, restart your PC and check if the game error persists.

Resetting the Microsoft store cache will clear the corrupt game cache liable to cause the error.

2. Update the Minecraft client on your PC

  1. Left-click the Start button, type Microsoft Store, and click to open it.
  2. Click Library, and select the Get updates option to prompt all your installed apps, including Minecraft, to update.

Users can check how to update Minecraft on Windows 11 PCs if they encounter issues with the steps above.

3. Disable Windows Firewall

  1. Click the Start button and type control panel, then open it.
  2. Click on the Windows Defender Firewall option.
  3. Select the Turn Windows Defender Firewall on or off option from the left pane.
  4. Go to the Private and Public network settings, then click the radio buttons for the Turn off Windows Defender Firewall (not recommended) option.
  5. Restart your PC and open Minecraft to see if the error appears.

What causes the error code wither rose in Minecraft?

Some of the most common reasons why Wither Rose occurs include:

  • Network connection issues – The most common reason for the error is network congestion problems on your PC. It prevents the game from connecting with its servers. So, a bad network connection can result in the error code wither rose.
  • Issues with Minecraft servers – It is common for users to encounter errors when the game servers are down. It can render the game inaccessible for some time and may affect the gameplay. Minecraft server issues mainly occur during routine maintenance or server downtime.
  • Stored cache and Minecraft data – Cache files can become corrupt when they accumulate for a long time, and they can cause problems with the Minecraft game. So, you can run into the Error code wither rose if the Minecraft cache or app data is compromised.

Other factors, such as outdated graphics drivers and third-party app interference, can also cause the error.

Wrapping up

Besides this error, some users experience a total lockout because the Minecraft game won’t open on Windows 11 or settings not saving.

Disabling the settings above will resolve any Windows Defender Firewall interference with the game.

Alternatively, our readers can check our guide on how to make your own Minecraft server for free. Likewise, we have a detailed guide on fixing Minecraft not using GPU on your PC.

Suppose you have more queries, comment in the section below. Also, questions and suggestions are welcome.

Fix: Destiny 2 Not Using GPU [4 Ways]

Posted on by Claire Moraa

If a graphic-intensive game uses your CPU instead of GPU, it means that you will not be able to enjoy the best graphics because all the hard work is being done by your CPU. This can cause severe lag issues in some situations as well as make it impossible to play the game in high settings.

Destiny 2 gaming fanatics have reported on community platforms that the game is not using their GPUs. It could be that your PC is not detecting your GPU or other issues, such as your graphic settings. Nonetheless, let’s get into this issue and explore possible remedies.

Does Destiny 2 use CPU or GPU?

Destiny 2 uses both the CPU and the GPU for maximum performance. However, one of these resources is more important than the other. 

The CPU is responsible for calculating everything that happens in Destiny 2 — from how much damage you do to how fast your character runs. It’s also responsible for calculating how NPCs react to you, how much damage they do, and whether or not they drop loot when you kill them.

The GPU is responsible for displaying everything on your screen — from the textures on walls and floors to enemy characters’ faces and weapons. The more powerful your GPU, the better your frame rate will be in Destiny 2.

What can I do if Destiny 2 is not using the GPU?

Before you proceed to any technical troubleshooting, check off the following first:

  • Make sure your PC meets the minimum system requirements for Destiny 2.
  • Verify that there are no background programs running that could be using all the GPU.
  • Ensure you’re running the latest version of Destiny 2.
  • Check your graphics card temperature and ensure it’s at optimum levels.
  • Make sure you have enough system RAM.
  • If you’re getting a lot of stuttering and freezing, it’s likely that the game is using your hard drive as its virtual memory. For more on how to move your Steam games to your SSD, check out our expert article for the step-by-step process.

1. Adjust graphic performance to high

  1. Press Windows + I to open Settings.
  2. Click on System on the left pane, then select Display.
  3. Under Related settings, click on Graphics.graphics
  4. Select Destiny 2 from the list, and click on Options.
  5. Now, choose High Performance and click Save.

The most common reason for this is likely to be that the game’s graphics settings are set to Auto, and it doesn’t know what GPU it should be using.

2. Disable your default GPU

  1. Click on the Start Menu icon, type Device Manager in the search bar, and click Open.
  2. Navigate to Display adapters to expand, right-click on your graphics card, and select Disable device.disable device to fix elden ring not using gpu

The good news is that most modern games support multiple GPUs, so if you have two or more graphics cards installed in your system, they can work together to render frames faster than either could alone — and sometimes even faster than just one of them working alone.

Note that if you don’t have a dedicated graphics card, you should skip this step. This is because you’ll render your PC unusable, as all other apps depending on your graphics card will also stop working once you disable its driver.

However, if it is a case of your PC not recognizing your second GPU, you need to address the issue first before proceeding.

3. Update your graphics driver 

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

If you’re looking for a way to update your computer hardware drivers and make sure that you’re running the most current versions, an automatic tool should suffice.

A driver update utility is an excellent choice because it can scan your computer for outdated and missing drivers and help you fix common driver-related errors in a few clicks.

4. Update your OS

  1. Hit the Windows key and click on Settings.
  2. Select Windows Update and click on Check for updates.check for updates windows 11 settings
  3. Download and install if available.

You may also come across the Destiny 2 graphics runtime detected error but worry not, as our guide has all the answers you need.

That’s all we had for today so make sure to leave us a comment down below with any additional thoughts you may have on this topic.

How to Fix the Red Screen of Death on Windows 10 & 11 [10 Proven Methods]

Posted on by Milan Stanojevic

The Red Screen of Death (RSOD) in Windows 10 or 11 is a critical system error that typically points to serious hardware conflicts, faulty drivers, or firmware-level issues. Unlike the Blue Screen, this one often locks your system completely. Follow the methods below to resolve it.

How can I fix the Red Screen of Death errors on Windows 10 & 11

Table of contents

1. Use a repair tool

Using a third-party repair tool can be the best and fastest solution to solve the RSoD error.

Here’s how to use it:

  1. On a working PC, download and install EaseUS Partition Master.
  2. Launch the program and create a WinPE bootable USB using the “Bootable Media” feature.
  3. Insert the USB into the affected PC and boot from it (use BIOS/UEFI boot menu).
  4. Once EaseUS loads, select the system drive and run Boot Repair.
  5. Follow the on-screen instructions and restart your PC normally.

If your Windows 11 PC shows a Red Screen of Death and won’t boot properly, try EaseUS Partition Master’s Boot Repair tool. It helps restore startup functionality without wiping your files.

This method works best when system files or boot records have become corrupted, but the hardware is intact.

2. Remove the overclocking settings

Overclocking often pushes hardware beyond stable limits, which can trigger the Red Screen of Death (RSOD). To rule it out, reset your CPU, GPU, or RAM to factory defaults.

1. Enter BIOS/UEFI

  • Restart your PC and repeatedly press Del, F2, or Esc (depends on your motherboard) to access BIOS.

2. Reset to Default/Optimized Settings

  • In the BIOS menu, look for an option like:
    • Load Optimized Defaults
    • Load Setup Defaults
  • Select it and confirm to reset all settings.

3. Disable XMP or DOCP

  • Go to the AI Tweaker or Overclocking section.
  • Set XMP, DOCP, or EXPO profiles to Disabled.
  • This disables memory overclocking.

4. Save and Exit

  • Press F10 or select Save & Exit Setup.
  • Confirm and restart your PC.

5. Optional: Use Manufacturer Tools

  • If you overclocked using software (e.g. MSI Afterburner, Intel XTU, AMD Ryzen Master), open the app and click Reset to Default or uninstall it.

3. Update your BIOS/UEFI

1. Check Current BIOS Version

  • Press Win + R, type msinfo32, and hit Enter.
  • Note the BIOS Version/Date listed in the System Summary.

2. Identify Your Motherboard

  • If it’s not listed in System Information, use tools like CPU-Z to find your motherboard brand and model.

3. Download the Latest BIOS

  • Visit your motherboard manufacturer’s official website (e.g., ASUS, MSI, Gigabyte).
  • Go to the Support or Downloads page.
  • Select your model and download the latest BIOS/UEFI update file.

4. Create a USB Flash Drive

  • Format a USB stick to FAT32.
  • Copy the BIOS update file to it (usually a .CAP or .BIN file).

5. Enter BIOS and Flash

  • Restart your PC and enter BIOS (usually Del or F2 at startup).
  • Locate the EZ Flash, M-Flash, or Q-Flash utility (name varies by brand).
  • Select the update file from the USB stick and follow the on-screen prompts.

6. Wait Without Interruptions

  • The process will take a few minutes. Do not turn off your PC or remove power during the update.

7. Reboot and Load Defaults

  • Once updated, BIOS may reset to default. Enter BIOS again and load optimized defaults before exiting.

Caution: A failed BIOS update can brick your motherboard. Always use an official BIOS file and follow your manufacturer’s instructions exactly.

If you need more in-depth assistance, check our dedicated guide on how to update BIOS.

4. Update your graphic card driver

  1. In the Search bar type Device Manager and select it from the list of results.
  2. Find the Display adapters section and expand it. Right-click your device in the Display adapters section and choose Uninstall from the list.
    Red screen Windows 10 Nvidia
  3. Check Delete the driver software for this device and click on Uninstall.
    Windows 10 red screen startup
  4. After the current driver has been removed, restart your computer.

To fix RSOD and ensure system stability, update your graphics card drivers. If you use a desktop, go to your GPU manufacturer’s site and download the latest drivers. For laptops, get them directly from your laptop brand’s support page.

Manual updates can cause issues if you install incompatible drivers. To avoid that, use Fortect Driver Updater. It scans your system, finds outdated or faulty drivers, and updates them automatically, no risk of installing the wrong version.

5. Check for hardware malfunctions

Sometimes a red screen can be caused by faulty hardware, and users have reported that a faulty graphics card can cause this problem.

If your computer is under warranty, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to take it to the repair shop to have it checked for hardware malfunctions.

Few users have reported that a red screen was caused due to a faulty graphic card, and after replacing the problematic card, everything went back to normal.

There are also reports that CD/DVD readers may cause this issue in some rare cases, so you might want to temporarily remove your CD/DVD reader.

6. Remove recently installed software

  1. Click the Start button and choose Settings.
    Blank red screen Windows 10
  2. Click on Apps.
  3. In the left pane choose Apps & features. Find the recently installed software on the list, click it, and then click the Uninstall button.
    Red screen on laptop

Sometimes in order to fix this problem, you need to remove all files associated with the software you uninstalled. The fastest and most effective way to do that is to use an uninstaller application.

If you need an uninstaller app, we strongly recommend you try the following software solution. It’s extremely simple to use thanks to its clean and friendly user interface.

Hence, you can find many uninstaller solutions that remove problematic apps from your PC, but you should choose from the best uninstaller software to fix this issue properly.

7. Reinstall AMD drivers without Catalyst Control Center

  1. Remove your currently installed graphic card driver.
  2. Download the latest AMD drivers.
  3. Run the setup and extract files to a specific folder on your computer (remember where you extract these files because you’ll need them later).
  4. If the setup automatically starts, cancel it.
  5. Open Device Manager and expand the Display adapters section. Find your graphics adapter and right-click it. Choose Update driver.
    Windows 10 red screen startup
  6. Choose to Browse my computer for driver software.
  7. Find the folder where AMD drivers are extracted and click Next to install the drivers but make sure that the Include subfolders option is checked.
  8. Restart your PC.

For a faster process, you can also rely on the software recommended in the solution above.

8. Recover the atikmdag.sys file

  1. Open the AMD driver folder and find atikmdag.sy_ file. Copy it to your Desktop.
  2. Search for cmd and click on Run as administrator to run Command Prompt.
  3. In Command Prompt, change your current folder to Desktop. You can do that by typing the following line and pressing Enter on your keyboard:
    • chdir DesktopRed screen Windows 10 with cursor
  4. Type the following and press Enter to run it:
    • EXPAND.EXE atikmdag.sy_ atikmdag.sysRed screen Windows 10 explorer.exe
  5. Go to the following folder and find atikmdag.sys: C:WindowsSystem32Drivers
  6. Rename the file to atikmdag.sys.old.
  7. Now move the atikmdag.sys file from your Desktop to C:WindowsSystem32Drivers
  8. Restart your PC.

9. Change the settings.ini file

  1. Open Documents, go to the BFBC2 folder, and find the settings.ini file.
  2. Find the following line:
    • DxVersion=auto
      and change it to:
    • DxVersion=9
  3. Save the changes, and try to run the game again.

Note: Users report that the red screen affects Battlefield: Bad Company 2, and in order to fix this issue, you need to change the game’s settings.ini file.

10. Underclock your graphic card

Sometimes underclocking your device can fix the red screen issues on Windows 10. Few users have reported that lowering the original takt rate on AMD 7870X graphic card has fixed the red screen issues for them.

Once again, if you don’t know how to underclock your graphic card, ask a professional to do it for you.

What does a red screen of death mean?

A red screen is an unusual problem that can occur on Windows 10. Speaking of red screen issues, users reported the following problems as well:

  • Windows 10 red screen startup – Sometimes red screen can appear right on system startup. This issue might be caused by third-party software or by outdated drivers.
  • Blank red screen Windows 10 – This is most likely caused by overclocking, so be sure to remove all overclock settings.
  • Windows 10 red screen loading – Your PC can get stuck while loading on a red screen. This is an unusual problem, but you might be able to fix it using one of our solutions.
  • Red screen on laptop – Can appear on desktop PCs as well as laptops. If you have this issue on your laptop, the problem might be with your graphics card.
  • Red screen Windows 10 with cursor, audio – This is most likely caused by your graphics card or your drivers.
  • Red screen Windows 10 explorer.exe, Excel – This issue can appear while using Windows Explorer or Excel. Try reinstalling your graphics card drivers or the problematic applications.
  • Red screen Windows 10 two monitors – If this happens, the cause is most likely your configuration or a graphics card driver.
  • Red screen Windows 10 just flashes – If the red screen keeps flashing on your Windows PC, the problem might be caused by your overclock settings. In some cases, the issue might be faulty hardware.
  • Red screen Windows 10 Nvidia – Can appear while using Nvidia graphics. Be sure to remove overclock settings and update your drivers.

Red screen issues in Windows 10 can be quite serious, and in most cases, these issues are related to your hardware, so while fixing this problem on Windows, be careful to avoid any potential damage.

If you’re dealing with a red screen on Windows 10, vertical red lines on your screen, a red screen while playing games, or even a blue tint issue on Windows 10, each of these display problems may signal different underlying causes—from driver conflicts to faulty hardware.

Some users might confuse red tint on a laptop screen with this issue, but the two aren’t related.

As always, make sure to leave your comments in the section below.

6 Possible Solutions if PDF Files Won’t Open in Adobe Reader

Posted on by Madalina Dinita

Did you recently upgrade your computer or install Windows 10 and now have problems opening PDF files?

Then you have come to the right place. There are many factors that can prevent a PDF file from opening in Acrobat or Adobe Reader, including Reader or Acrobat being out of date, or the pdf file being damaged.

Also, you can have this problem if the files were created with non-Adobe programs or if you are trying to open some suspicious PDF files. Furthermore, the program itself, Reader or Acrobat, can be damaged.

In this guide, we will show you how to fix PDF not opening issues easily just like we did with the PDF not saving case.

Why can’t I open a PDF?

Below are some of the issues you may encounter while trying to view your PDF documents:

  • Outdated app: If PDF is not opening in Adobe Reader, it might be because the app is outdated. The quickaround for this is to update it to the latest version.
  • Wrong settings: Sometimes, you might be using Adobe Reader in protected mode. This can make it not open some PDF files. You need to disable this security feature to fix the problem. Also, you try the methods to edit a secure PDF document.
  • “We can’t open this file something went wrong PDF” error message: Different users reported this issue on their devices
  • Damaged file: If you are getting a PDF file not found prompt, it might be because the file is damaged. To be sure, contact the sender of the file to resend it or download a new copy.

What can I do if I can’t open PDF files in Adobe Reader?

1. Install the latest version of Adobe Acrobat

If you are using an outdated Adobe Acrobat version, then it might not be well-placed to open all your PDF files. Adobe updates its Acrobat Reader app on a regular basis.

Grabbing the latest version will most likely fix conflicts with your system and will make a huge difference if the current one is corrupted.

2. Disable the Protected mode at startup

  1. 1. Open Reader. You can type Adobe in the search box for ease of access.

    editor pdf not opening

  2. 2. Click the Edit button in the top left corner.

    edit

  3. 3. Scroll down the Edit menu until you see Preferences, then click on it.

    preferences

  4. 4. A new window will open with various categories. Select Security (Enhanced) by clicking on it.

    security enhanced

  5. 5. Under the Sandbox protections, uncheck the Enable Protected Mode at startup box.

    protected pdf not opening

Many users reported having fixed the PDF won’t open problem by performing this procedure.

The core of this problem lies in the settings. If the above procedure does not fix the issue, then read on to discover what might be the cause, and the possible solution to fix the problem.

We also have a complete guide on how to fix corrupted or damaged PDF on Windows that can offer alternatives to solve this problem quickly.

3. Try using an alternative PDF reader

If you can’t fix the PDF files trouble by now, there is a tailored document workflow tool that will do it for you.

DocHub is a free document solution you can simply use to open, edit, and sign your PDF documents without any viewing errors.

You can browse, edit, view, and convert your files with this intuitive platform that allows you to fill and create official documents in minutes.

Moreover, there are incredibly useful features that will streamline your workflow. For instance, you have 256-bit encryption file security. integration with Gmail or Google Drive, or collaboration services to share your files with anyone.

⇒ Get DocHub

If you need to see an alternative solution with useful functionality, you may also consider other free PDF readers like Foxit Reader.

4. Ask the sender to resend the file if it is damaged

This is not a very common problem, but it’s possible that the program that was used to make the PDF file did not create it perfectly. At times, the PDF file may also contain corrupt data.

Moreover, if the file was transferred using a USB or website, chances are that it may not have transferred to the stick or uploaded to the website perfectly.

The easiest way to ascertain this is to try opening another PDF file and if it opens, then you’ll know that the file in question is damaged. The easiest solution is to ask the sender to resend the file.

5. Revert to an earlier version for non-compliant PDFs

At times you may try to open several PDF files on your Windows 10 PC and they fail to open because they were created from non-Adobe products.

PDF files created from non-Adobe products don’t always comply with the PDF standards and specifications hence do not open in Adobe Acrobat or Reader.

Also, earlier versions of Adobe Acrobat or Reader are not as strict as the newer versions. So, when using the latest version you might not be able to open a PDF file that you used to open in the older version of the app.

If you trust the creator of the file and its origin, then you should consider reverting to an earlier version of Acrobat or Reader to open the file.

Reverting to an older version will require you to first uninstall the version of the Reader or Acrobat currently on your drive.

6. Repair program installation

pdf_files_repair

Adobe Acrobat or Reader, or the resources they rely on could be damaged, hence unable to execute their functions effectively. The solution here is to repair the installation.

You can use the control panel to perform the repair procedure or open the program and choose Help > Repair program installation which is easier. If this does not work, you can go for broke and reinstall the app.

If Adobe Reader won’t install on Windows 10 after removing it, check our detailed guide to complete the installation.

Most of the problems you will encounter when opening PDF files are due to one of the cases discussed above. It’s also important to ensure that your operating system recognizes PDFs.

For instance, Microsoft Edge is not only the default browser in Windows 10 but also the default PDF reader. You can change that so as to make Reader or Acrobat your default PDF reader.

The above solutions will help you address the issue with PDF files that won’t open after you have upgraded your system.

Did you find this article useful? Let us hear your thoughts in the comments section below.

8 Best Audio Editing Software For Windows 10/11 [2026 Guide]

Posted on by Madalina Dinita

If you like playing with sounds, you need a powerful audio editor for Windows 10. Whether you want to create your own ringtones or create and edit music, a reliable tool to edit audio files will always ease your work.

When choosing a sound editor for Windows 10, you should first consider the purpose you’re going to use it for. Then, you should review the features list and see if a particular tool meets your needs.

User feedback is also essential, as it gives you more information about the actual user experience.

In this article, we’re going to take into consideration all these elements and list the best audio editing software for Windows 10

What is the best audio editing software for Windows 10?

Adobe Audition – Best audio editing software

adobe-audition-windows-10-audio-editing-tool

Adobe is well-known for its PDF Reader, but the company also offers a powerful audio editor called Adobe Audition.

This tool allows you to edit your audio files like a pro: you can mix, edit, and create audio content with a tool that includes multitrack, waveform, and spectral display.

Adobe Audition is a part of Adobe Creative Cloud and offers professional-level editing features for your audio files.

The user interface is similar to that of other Adobe products, this helps you to get started quickly. Your audio files will have a pristine sound thanks to Adobe Audition.

The main features of this tool include:

  • Record audio files
  • Import audio files and browse media
  • Remove noise from audio files: use the Paintbrush selection tool to select the unwanted noise and remove it
  • Remove background noise, and heal your files automatically before you export them

Adobe Audition

Edit your music with one of the best sound editor software for Windows 10.
Check price Visit Website

WavePad Audio – Bookmark audio for precise editing

wavepad-audio-editor-windows-10

WavePad Audio is a professional audio editing software that offers more features than you’ll possibly have the time to test.

You can cut, copy and paste parts of recordings, and then add effects like echo, amplification, and noise reduction.

WavePad supports almost all audio files, so you can always rely on this tool to edit even the most obscure file types – WavePad can handle it.

Key features include:

  • Integrated VST plugin support for access to thousands of additional tools and effects
  • Batch processing allows you to apply effects and/or convert thousands of files as a single function
  • Scrub, search, and bookmark audio for precise editing
  • Create bookmarks and regions to find, recall, and assemble segments of long audio files
  • Spectral analysis (FFT), speech synthesis (text-to-speech), and voice changer

WavePad Audio

Edit your audio files like a professional with these great software that has plenty of features.
Check price Visit website

Gilisoft Audio Editor – Mixing effects

gilisoft audio editor

If you are looking for an audio editor that features professional-grade tools in a non-professional and very beginner-firnedly format, then Gilisoft Audio Editor is the tool for you.

You can do pretty much anything you want, including recording and editing music. When editing audio files, you can cut, copy, and paste parts of recordings and add effects like echo amplification.

As far as file format goes, it supports a wide range of audio formats, such as MPEG (MP3, MP2), WAV, Windows Media Audio, Ogg Vorbis, MP2, M4A, CDA, RA, RAM, TTA, Audio Tracks, Dialogic VOX, etc.

Finally, you can make the music you created your own since the program lets you edit the MP3 tag as well, so you can input any name in the artist or album fields of the file.

Gilisoft Audio Editor

Record and then edit your music with these excellent software tool.
Check price Visit website

FL Studio – Best for Beginners

fl-studio-windows-10-audio-editor

FL Studio is a very powerful audio editor perfect for music professionals.

This tool is a software music production environment that packs all the features you need to compose, arrange, record, edit, mix, and master professional-quality music.

You can notice its complexity from the moment you launch it. All the features are grouped into categories, and the lower part of the software’s screen looks like the mix studio of a professional artist.

Key features include:

  • Fits any screen size or resolution you use
  • Multi-touch capability extends to the Mixer
  • Multiple drag and drop for audio files onto Playlist (from a Windows file browser)
  • Detachable windows: put any window, even the top menu bar, where you like on the screen.
  • Lifetime free updates

Long story short, you should install FL Studio 12 only if you create or edit music, otherwise, any of the audio editors mentioned above will do.

FL Studio

Edit your music with one of the most powerful audio editor, perfect for music production environment.
Check price Visit website

Audacity – Multiple clip editing

audacity-audio-editor-windows-10

Audacity is an open-source, cross-platform audio software for multi-track recording and editing. This feature-rich tool is one of the most reliable and powerful audio editors currently available on the market.

It is constantly updated, and each version of Audacity will definitely bring a better user experience.

Audacity can not only edit audio files but also record audio content. It can record live audio through a microphone or mixer, digitize recordings from other media, and also capture streaming audio.

Key features include:

  • Import sound files, edit them, and combine them with other files or new recordings
  • Export your recordings in many different file formats, including multiple files at once
  • Supports the following formats: WAV, AIFF, AU, FLAC, Ogg Vorbis, GSM 6.10, 32-bit and 64-bit float WAV, RF64, U/A-Law, MP2, MP3, AC3, M4A/M4R (AAC) and WMA
  • Edit easily with scrubbing and seeking or Timeline Quick-Play
  • Multiple clip editing is supported
  • Draw tool to alter individual sample points
  • Automatic crash recovery in the event of abnormal program termination
  • Effects such as: noise reduction, alter frequencies, reduce or isolate vocals, other built-in effects

⇒ Get Audacity

Lexis Audio Editor – 10 band equalizer

lexis-audio-editor-windows-10-audio-editor

Lexis Audio Editor is perhaps the most user-friendly audio editor available for Windows 10. Its interface is very simple and easy to use, and the black background protects your eyes during long audio editing sessions.

Lexis Audio Editor allows you to create new audio records or edit audio files. You can then save the files in one of the 4 audio formats available.

Indeed, the file format variety is not that impressive, but the tool compensates through its reliability and the audio editing options it offers.

Key features include:

  • Cut, copy and paste
  • Delete, insert silence, trim, fade in, fade out
  • Normalizing, noise reduction
  • Record into existing file, import file into existing file
  • Mixes the current file with another file
  • Compressor
  • Change tempo, speed, pitch
  • Audio formats: mp3 (-320kb/s), wav (16 Bit PCM), wma (-192kb/s) and m4a (-192kb/s)

⇒ Get Lexis Audio Editor

Free Audio Editor – Built-in text-to-speech tool

free-audio-editor-windows-10

Free Audio Editor is a powerful tool for editing and enhancing your audio files.

According to the official description of this tool, this is the number 1 free audio editing software. After going through the full list of features, we think this statement is not at all exaggerated.

Free Audio Editor allows you to edit audio files using the traditional Waveform View or the frequency-based Spectral Display to quickly isolate and remove unwanted noise.

You can select and edit audio files with millisecond precision. If you’re working with low-quality audio content, you can use one of the tools available to remove the noise and reveal crystal-clear sounds.

Free Audio Editor lets you remove imperfections such as hiss, pops, clicks, rustles, chirps, shuffles, buzz, and creaks using the best noise reduction tools available.

Key features include:

  • More than 25 audio formats supported
  • The built-in audio CD burner lets you create your own custom music
  • Built-in text-to-speech tool
  • Frequency analysis and amplitude statistics
  • Keyboard shortcuts

More than 30 native signal and effects processing engines are available, and the real-time preview enables you to hear the results while creating the final version of the file.

⇒ Get Free Audio Editor 

Oceanaudio – Easy to use tool

oceanaudio-windows-10-audio-editor

Oceanaudio is an impressive Windows 10 audio editor suitable for regular audio file processing. If you’re looking for a fast and easy-to-use audio editor, then Oceanaudio is the right choice.

As the tool’s developers confirm it, Oceanaudio is the ideal software for people who need to edit and analyze audio files without complications.

Experienced users will also enjoy using this tool thanks to the advanced features it packs.
Key features include:

  • Real-time preview: you can hear the processed signal while adjusting the controls
  • Cross-platform support
  • Simultaneously select different portions of an audio file and listen, edit or even apply an effect to them
  • There is no limit to the length or the quantity of the audio files you can edit

Oceanaudio is not intrusive and always remains responsive, no matter how many files are open. Errors like the property requested was not found are less likely to occur. For this tool, the user comes first, as it focuses primarily on usability, offering intuitive audio editing features.

⇒ Get Oceanaudio

As you can see, the audio editing tools listed in this article share common features, but they also have unique, specialized features suitable for particular editing tasks.

You can use any of these tools to trim MP3 files with ease, or to edit them any way you like, so don’t hesitate to try them all.

We hope this list helped you decide which audio editor to install on your Windows 10 device.

Among Us Black Screen on PC? Here’s how to fix it

Posted on by Tashreef Shareef

Among Us is a popular multiplayer PC game available on Steam. Unfortunately for some users, Among Us black screens when launched from the Steam client and the PC desktop shortcut.

Among Us can stop working on PC due to several reasons. To fix the issue, check your firewall and antivirus, troubleshoot the home network, or check for server issues.

In this article, let’s take a look at a few troubleshooting steps to help you fix the Among Us not working on PC issues.

What can I do if Among Us black screens on PC?

1. Switch out of the game

Among Us not working on PC
  1. Press the Alt + Tab key on your keyboard.
  2. Select a different open window.
  3. Next, press the Alt + Tab key again and select Steam/Among Us window.

If you are experiencing black screen issues after launching the game, try switching between the windows.

If that does not work, check if the issue is triggered due to screen resolution conflict. Make sure you are in the Among Us black screen window and hit Alt + Enter to open the game in Windowed mode.

If the game works, enter Alt + Enter to make it a full window.

2. Verify the integrity of game files

  1. Launch Steam on your PC.
  2. Open the Library tab.

  3. Right-click on Among Us and select Properties.


  4. Open the Local Files tab in the Properties window.
  5. Click the Verify integrity of game files button.
  6. Wait for Steam to verify and fix any issues with the game files.
  7. Relaunch Steam and check if Among Us launches without any issues.

Sometimes the game files can get corrupted while the game is being updated and might cause Among Us to black screen on PC. Steam has a special feature that verifies your game data and replaces any faulty files.

3. Choose a different game server (if it black screens when joining a server)

Among Us not working on PC
  1. Launch Among Us on Steam.
  2. Click the Globe icon in the bottom right corner.
  3. Select a different server depending on the region.
  4. Trying joining a game again and check for any improvements.

Changing the in-game server is useful if you see a game full error when joining a lobby. However, make sure to choose a server that is closer to your region. Selecting a region that is not closer to your location can cause high ping and disconnection issues.

4. Check for permission issues

  1. Right-click on the Among Us .exe file from the desktop shortcut or installation folder.
  2. Select Properties.


  3. In the Properties window, open the Compatibility window.
  4. Under the Settings section, check Run this program as an administrator box.
  5. Click Apply and then click OK to save the changes.
  6. Relaunch Steam and open Among Us to see if that helps you resolve the issue.

If the game is crashing at launch, it could be due to GPU overclocking issues. Several users have reported that restoring their GPU frequencies to factory default has fixed the crashing issue on PC. You can read more on Among Us crashing and freezing here.

5. Run the game using Android emulator software

Another good way to ensure Among Us works is installing LD Player. The software is an Android Emulator which is meant to create a fake android mobile phone inside your PC, so you can play the Google Play specific games on your system.

If you are looking for the best mobile emulator on the market, LD Player is the choice for you, having features such as multi-instance gaming, support for both AMD and Intel processors, and mouse and keyboard compatibility to give you a head start in your games

In addition, the software is compatible with the most popular android games out there, such as PUBG Mobile, Mobile Legends, Clash of Clans, and Among Us.

Simply download the software and set up your virtual phone, install the game you wish to play, and enjoy a quality experience.

⇒ Get LD Player

6. Disable antivirus and firewall

  1. Press the Windows key + I.
  2. In the Windows Settings window, find Update & Security and select it.

  3. Open Windows Security, then click to open Firewall and Network Protection.

  4. Open Public profile.
  5. Toggle the switch to turn off Windows Defender Firewall. Click yes to proceed if prompted by UAC.

After disabling the firewall, check your antivirus. Disable the antivirus temporarily from the system tray. This should help you figure out if security programs are blocking the connection. Make sure to enable the firewall and antivirus after troubleshooting the problem.

7. Reinstall Among Us

Among Us black screen
  1. Launch Steam client on your PC.
  2. Open the Library tab from the top.
  3. Right-click on Among Us from the list of installed games.
  4. Select Manage > Uninstall.
  5. Click the Delete button once more, and that’s it.
  6. Once uninstalled, restart your PC.
  7. Launch Steam and download Among Us.

Among Us can stop working on your PC for many reasons. However, we have listed the most common reason and the fixes that should help you get back online and find the imposter.

These were the possible fixes that would make Among Us work on your PC. The game is not demanding, so it should work on any device. Give these a try, because they will surely help you out. Even more, you should take immediate action if getting a black screen when connecting your laptop to a TV HDMI.

You can also follow this guide on how to play Among Us on Windows to confirm your setup and rule out basic issues before you start troubleshooting black screen errors.

If you have anything to add regarding Among Us, feel free to say it in the comment section below.

Error Setting Traits on Provider: 5 Ways to Fix It

Posted on by Henderson Jayden Harper

Many Windows users have difficulty using their PCs for their activities. It is due to the recurrent Event IDs causing the system to crash or malfunction. The IDs follow the Error setting traits on the Provider message.

However, users can check for the Event IDs via the Event Viewer program on Windows 11.

What causes the Error setting traits on Provider?

Users report encountering The Error setting traits on Provider message {8444a4fb-d8d3-4f38-84f8-89960a1ef12f} on Windows. The error comes with several Event IDs that are stored in the Event Viewer. These Event IDs can vary on different devices.

Furthermore, the Error setting traits on Provider can occur for many reasons. Some of the common causes are:

  • Missing Windows Update – When essential Windows updates are missing, the system will lack needed updates to help fix issues affecting it and add new features to its Operating System. So, you can encounter the error if your OS lacks an essential update.
  • System file corruption – It is common to run into issues with Windows PC when there are corrupt system files on them. These files impede the activities of the PC and can cause the Error setting traits on Provider.
  • Issues with the graphics driver – The problem may be due to an outdated graphics driver or any inconsistency involving the current graphics driver you’re using on your PC. They can cause the system to crash or not operate properly.

However, we’ll take you through steps you can follow to fix the Error setting traits on Provider on your Operating System.

How can I fix the Error setting traits on Provider?

Go through the following preliminary checks:

 Proceed with the solutions below if you can’t fix the problem.

1. Run the SFC and DISM to repair damaged system files

  1. Left-click the Start button, type Command Prompt, then select Run as administrator.
  2. Click Yes if the Windows 10 User Account Control prompt appears.
  3. Type the following and press Enter: sfc /scannow
  4. Then, type the following commands and press Enter after each: DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
  5. Restart your PC and check if the updates.exe still appears.

The SFC and DISM scan will detect corrupt system files and restore the corrupted files. Check how to fix the run as administrator option not working on their PCs.

2. Update your graphics driver

  1. Press Windows + R keys to prompt the Run window, type devmgmt.msc, and click OK.
  2. Click on Display adapters, select the driver from the drop-down menu, and click the Update driver option.
  3. Select the Search automatically for drivers option and restart your PC.

Updating the graphics driver will fix bugs affecting it and install the latest features to improve game performance.

Check other steps for updating graphics drivers on Windows 11 if you have any issues.

3. Reset your PC

  1. Press Windows + L key to open the sign-in screen.
  2. Press the Shift key, click the Power button, then select Restart to restart your PC in Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) environment.
  3. On the Choose an option page, select Troubleshoot.
  4. Then click Reset this PC.
  5. Choose one of the options in the reset preference.

Resetting your PC will clear system settings and items causing the error to occur.

4. Update your BIOS

Note icon NOTE
This process differs, depending on your PC’s manufacturer.
  1. Go to the HP driver and software download website, select your product from the list, and input your serial number or computer model.
  2. Select your OS, the OS version, and click Submit.
  3. Click the + button against All drivers, click the + button against BIOS to see available updates, and click on Download.
  4. Double-click the downloaded file, install the .exe file, and then follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation.
  5. Restart your PC.
  6. Select the Apply Update Now option to implement the installed BIOS update during the startup.

Updating the BIOS will improve compatibility and enhance system stability.

The updating process varies on different PCs, so we have a guide on how to check and update BIOS on various laptops.

Alternatively, you can check our guide on how to fix the Event Viewer reboot event ID error in Windows 11.

If you have further questions or suggestions, kindly drop them in the comments section.

Windows 10 Password Recovery Tool: 11 Best for 2026

Posted on by Milan Stanojevic

Nowadays, passwords are more important than ever. You basically cannot log in to your Windows 10 or 11 computer without entering it (or without performing some tricks). And if you lost it, there are some password recovery tools that can help you out.

When a password is required to log in to your machine, the worst thing that can possibly happen is to lose it.

If this happened, it seems like there’s no other solution than clean installing your system again. Well, that doesn’t have to be the case, because there are ways to recover it.

In this article, we’re going to talk about various password recovery software for Windows 10 and 11. These specialized tools can help you solve your problem quickly, in case you’ve lost it and you’re unable to log in to your computer.

Note icon NOTE
Password recovery tools are specialized software used for recovering and resetting passwords. Take advantage of them only for personal use.

Why should you use a Windows password?

The main reason why you should create a password on your Windows OS is privacy. These days, there are a lot of security risks in the digital world, the main one being hackers.

Passwords are the first line of defense against any kind of unauthorized access. This means that you can protect your computer from being used by somebody else in your absence.

Setting up a password is mandatory when you’re working on a company housing multiple employees in the same office.

Additionally, it will protect you from hackers who are trying to access the PC while you’re being away. Having a password will make it harder (and in some cases, impossible) for them to steal your data.

What is the best password recovery software for Windows 10?

  1. Stellar Password Recovery – Overall best password recovery tool
  2. Password Kit Standard – Easy to use
  3. Windows Password Unlocker Bundle – Compatible with all Windows versions
  4. Windows Password Reset Standard – Versatile password reset tool
  5. Active Password Changer Professional – For Commercial use
  6. Ophcrack – Fast and accurate
  7. Offline NT password and Registry Editor – Complete password eraser
  8. LCP – Different password recovery modes
  9. Hash Suite – For professional use
  10. John the Ripper – Different OS compatibility
  11. PassFab 4WinKey – Works with Microsoft accounts

Stellar Password Recovery

When it comes to data recovery, you simply cannot go wrong with the most trusted software in the industry.

From memory cards to USB and RAW storage drivers, whatever the storage media, be it internal or external, you can easily retrieve your assets even if they were affected by corruption or malware infection with this amazing tool.

Powerful and reliable, the software is also incredibly easy to use – just launch the app and start scanning to retrieve your precious files.

The software is compatible with all Windows-based storage media and most popular file formats, including photo and video.

Easily retrieve information from corruption-affected hard drivers, formatted partitions, severe cases of data loss, and more.

You can also use filters to sort out the data that needs to be retrieved. There are different scanning methods, such as Deep Scan and Quick Scan.

Let’s quickly look at its key features:

  • Recover data on RAW drive volumes
  • Compatible with all Windows-based storage media
  • Supports most file formats
  • Deep Scan and Quick Scan modes are available
  • Filters to easily sort the data that needs retrieving

Stellar Password Recovery

Reliable and efficient data recovery under any circumstance. Any storage media, any format, any state.
Check price Visit website

Passware Kit Standard

Passware Kit Standard creates a bootable media that you can use on startup to recover your password.

The program is very simple to use, and it can even recover both local (standard version) and domain admin account (Enterprise edition only) passwords.

This tool provides faster password recovery for TrueCrypt, Android, Zip, and many other types of files, decrypts Apple File System (APFS) disks and macOS High Sierra Keychains.

Regarding speed, GPU-accelerated password recovery is now up to 350% faster for TrueCrypt system partitions. The software has plenty of power plans catered for different businesses, sizes, and even home use.

You can use a free trial of the program to create bootable media, but you won’t be able to recover any passwords until you pay for the full version.

Passware Kit Standard utilizes your computer’s hardware to increase its processing power and provide instantaneous results.

Additionally, the software was used in high-profile investigations by NASA, Deloitte, and the U.S. Departments of Justice and Security.

The best thing about this tool is that you don’t need to be an IT expert, everyone can handle it.

Let’s check out some of its best features:

  • 80+ file types supported
  • Resets Windows admin passwords
  • Works instantly
  • Utilizes the installed hardware
  • Provides a password history
Passware Kit Standard

Passware Kit Standard

Undo the mistakes of forgetting credentials with the #1 tool for decrypting files and quickly recovering passwords.
Check priceVisit website

Windows Password Unlocker Bundle

One of the premium software on our list is Windows Password Unlocker. This tool uses bootable media to recover passwords on startup.

If for any reason you have any of the email passwords lost or unavailable, you can easily recover them in a snap with Password Unlocker Bundle.

What’s not so encouraging about this software is that it requires Professional or Enterprise versions to actually be able to retrieve any passwords, as the Standard version is only used for creating bootable media.

The Password Unlocker is a technology made to recover passwords for Microsoft Office, Windows, PDF, RAR, ZIP, PDF, and more.

It can also recover email passwords for Outlook and those cached in the browser. Don’t worry about compatibility. As long as you are using it on any Windows version, you’re going to have no issues.

Note that it only takes a second for the application to successfully recover any lost password for chatting tools such as MSN, AOL, or GoogleTalk.

You might think that the price is a little bit high, but you have to keep in mind that this bundle will recover passwords for a wide variety of software, which is a big plus.

Here’s a list of the app’s best features:

  • Compatibility with all Windows versions
  • Works with all MS Office products
  • Supports a wide variety of file formads
  • Simple and intuitive UI
  • Also recovers lost passwords for popular chatting apps
Windows Password Unlocker

Windows Password Unlocker

If you’ve forgotten the password to your Windows PC, use this tool to recover it and log back in!
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Windows Password Reset Standard

Another premium software on our list is Windows Password Reset Standard. The only requirement is a new CD/DVD to install it on.

This tool also deletes your password instead of recovering it, working similarly to previous options of this kind from the list.

However, Windows Password Reset Standard is a lot simpler than others, but it also comes with fewer options. To start using it, just download an ISO file, mount it, and start resetting your password.

As this tool comes with fewer features than Active Password Changer Professional, it is also available for a smaller price.

If you want to buy Windows Password Reset Standard, know that the software is affordable, even if there aren’t multiple price plans available.

There’s even a trial version for you to check out and test before purchasing or upgrading to a paid one, so feel free to give that a go as well if you’re not sure yet.

Check out some of its core features:

  • 100% success rate
  • 24/7 technical support available
  • 90 days money back guarantee
  • Free updates for a lifetime
  • Compatible with all Windows versions

⇒ Get Windows Password Reset Standard

Active Password Changer Professional

Now, it’s time to check out some premium password cracking tools for Windows 10, in case you want to try some of the commercial solutions.

If you want to try some of the more commercial solutions, the first premium password cracking software for Windows 10 on the list is Active Password Changer Professional.

When it comes to this category, there’s no better choice than Active Password Changer Professional.

It’s extremely easy to set up and use, which is good news for novice users. If you are using Windows 7 you can recover your password with tools such as these.

Active Password Changer Professional acts as a paid, but much simpler version of Offline NT Password & Registry Editor, so it deletes your password instead of recovering it.

So, if you want a simple yet powerful program to delete your forgotten password almost immediately, Active Password Changer Professional is perhaps the best choice.

Unfortunately, you’ll need to pay to use it, but there are many price plan options that you can order, and some of them are really affordable.

Let’s see its awesome features:

  • Resets Windows user passwords
  • Improved & user friendly UI
  • Compatible with all Windows versions
  • BIOS & UEFI boot media modes
  • Supports multiple languages

⇒ Get Active Password Changer Professional

Ophcrack

By all charts and based on the experience of many users, Ophcrack is arguably one of the best Windows password recovery tools you can find.

It’s extremely effective, fast, and simple even for first-time users. This tool is so powerful that it doesn’t even require you to log in to Windows to be able to achieve your goal.

You just download the ISO image, mount it on bootable media, and it will automatically recover your password when you boot your PC.

The program will start, then it will locate your Windows (Microsoft) Account and begin the retrieval process immediately.

According to tests, Ophcrac is able to get your password back in minutes. And keep in mind that Ophcrack is completely free!

You should know that using the software requires a certain level of background knowledge. The recovery process is a bit tedious if it’s done manually, but the live CD version of it automates most of it so you don’t need to worry.

The preference menu gives you a few more options that help with the password cracking process, such as throttling the app’s use of your CPU and disk drivers while it’s working.

So, if you want to download Ophcrack, you can grab it for free at no additional cost. It will crack simple passwords in a matter of minutes or complex ones in a matter of hours.

Here are some of its main features:

  • Free
  • Supports all Windows versions
  • LiveCD cracks LM hashes
  • Open-source
  • Real-time graphs to analyze passwords

⇒ Get Ophcrack

Offline NT Password & Registry Editor

Offline NT Password & Registry Editor is another password recovery tool compatible with all the Windows versions.

In fact, it doesn’t recover your password. Instead, it erases it completely so you can set up a new one normally (and remember it this time), which makes it a unique tool on our list.

It works similarly to Ophcrack: you download an ISO file, mount it to a bootable media, plug it in your computer, and the process can start.

Windows stores its user information, including encrypted passwords, in a file called sam. The file is part of the Windows Registry found in the system32 config file, and it’s not easily accessible.

Thankfully, this Offline NT password and Registry editor can read and understand the contents of the file, decrypt and ultimately remove the password.

It’s even faster than Ophcrack because usually, it resets a password immediately. However, Offline NT Password & Registry Editor is not so easy to use for an average user, because it requires some command line work.

If you manage to get around the unusual interface, there’s no better password-deleting tool you can find. Offline NT Password & Registry Editor is available for free, and you can download it from the link below.

Some of its core features include:

  • Built on the CMD UI
  • Works on any bootable media
  • Supports al Windows versions
  • Doesn’t need an internet connection
  • Resets passwords of any complexity

⇒ Get Offline NT Password & Registry Editor

LCP

LCP is another free User Account Control password-recovering tool. But unlike the previous entries from the list, this one requires you to have access to a user account on a computer.

So, if you can’t access your user account, get back to one of the tools from above. It works with multiple operating systems, including Windows and Linux.

As for the program itself, it uses three methods of cracking your password: a dictionary attack, a brute force attack, or a hybrid dictionary/brute force attack.

Each method has its own benefits but you’ll need some basic knowledge of the matter to be able to perform any of these actions.

LCP can use a lot of resources from your computer while recovering a password, so it is advisable that you don’t use your machine for anything else during the process.

Moreover, the tool supports different languages such as Spanish, German, French, Portuguese, Italian, and Russian.

When it comes to updates, we have to admit that the program is not being changed frequently, but could only mean it doesn’t require any adjusting since it’s that good. The last update happened on the 28th of May, 2018, when version 1.5.0 was released.

Let’s see the software’s best features:

  • Multi-language support
  • Works with all Windows versions
  • Has multiple methods of cracking passowrds
  • Free
  • Simple and comprehensive interface

⇒ Get LCP

Hash Suite

Hash Suite is a tool for advanced password crackers. This program’s purpose is to test the security of password hashes, and of course, crack them.

It offers deep analysis, reports, and statistics. Basically anything you need to manage your passwords and hashes.

Keep in mind that it is extremely powerful and considered one of the fastest password crackers on the market. It has a simple design, and an easy-to-use user interface only adds up to the functionality of this tool.

As we said, this tool is not for beginners because it requires employing a pwdump tool to gain the necessary hashes for Hash Suite to crack.

Heat Suite can support up to 13 types of hash, including NTLM, LM, SHA-1, SHA-256, MD5, SHA-512, DCC, DCC2, SSHA, md5crypt, bcrypt, sha512crypt, and sha256crypt.

The software also uses network traffic capture file formats imported by WiFi WPA PSK (also known as pre-shared key).

So, if you’re not familiar with these terms, it’s better to look for another option. But if you know what you’re doing, check out the list of possible pwdump tools. If you want to download Hash Suite, you can do so for free from the link below.

The program gets constantly updated with minor tweaks or major feature improvements. You can find the changelogs containing all of these updates on their website.

Check out the software’s most notable features:

  • High performance
  • Completely free
  • Intuitive UI
  • Compatible with all Windows versions
  • Offers reports with statistics

⇒ Get Hash Suite

John the Ripper

John the Ripper is a free program, technically, though it requires the special wordlists to discover passwords that, of course, are available for a certain price.

However, you might find some free wordlist alternatives that are compatible with John the Ripper, but we’re not sure how these will perform.

Keep in mind that this software can reset the passwords for multiple operating systems such as Windows, Unix Flavours (Linux, *BSD, Solaris, ATX, etc), macOS, web apps such as WordPress, and more.

This tool is also aimed at advanced users, because it also uses a command-line environment, that average users will probably find hard to understand.

John the Ripper utilizes a special smart mode that tries probable password candidates first, instead of the widely used brute-force that doesn’t take the complexity and simplicity of a password into account.

When it comes to compatibility and system requirements, the app is not picky, and it works well with both integrated GPUs from Intel and AMD CPU cards, or dedicated ones such as the GTX 970, etc.

Note that John the Ripper is completely free, so you can grab it right now without being charged any dime!

Let’s have a look at its best features:

  • Smart mode included
  • Resets passwords for all operating systems
  • Works with WordPress and other software as well
  • Simple to use
  • Minimalist interface

⇒ Get John the Ripper

PassFab 4WinKey

If you are looking for a trusty password recovery and reset tool for Windows 10, you should definitely check out PassFab 4WinKey.

With a simple click, create a Windows password reset disk by inserting a USB, CD, or DVD. The process is simple and absolutely free.

Additionally, you can remove old user accounts that aren’t needed anymore, even if you don’t have permission to do it.

In the same manner, the software lets you set up new accounts with admin accounts in case you lost access to the user account.

The software will bypass any restrictions without needing a password, no matter if the account is an administrator or a normal user.

It also works with Microsoft accounts! No need for any extra security info. Just use PassFab 4WinKey and recover lost credentials.

More so, the app works with Windows Servers as well. If you no longer have access to it, this neat software will solve the problem.

The process is quite simple, and the app is compatible with Windows Server 2019, 2012, and 2008, no matter what kind of RAID server it is.

Tip icon Tip
You can get the product for 30% off by using the coupon PFULTI during the purchase!

Let’s have a look at the app’s main features:

  • Access locked computers
  • Create or delete accounts
  • Remove the admin/user local passwords
  • Create Windows password reset disks
  • Reset lost Microsoft account passwords

⇒ Get PassFab 4WinKey

Now that you probably used one of these tools to remove your old password, it is time to set another one for security reasons.

Setting up a password in Windows 10 isn’t hard, but make sure you don’t lose it this time. In case that happens, you can always use one of the many apps included in this list.

All the recommendations made in the article will work in these scenarios as well:

  • Windows 10 password recovery tool – A reset tool is also known as a recovery tool.
  • password finder Windows 10 – If you need to find your lost passwords, a password reset tool will do the job.
  • Windows 10 administrator password tool – If there are no other admins that can reset the password for you, feel free to do it all alone with one of the mentioned programs.
  • Windows 10 password cracker – Sometimes these tools are referred to as password crackers since they might be used by illegitimate users.
  • Windows 10 password remover – While you can’t permanently remove the password, you can replace it with a new one.
  • Windows 10 password reset USB free download – Most of the free tools recommended are installed on a USB that you boot up from.

How do you set up a password on Windows 10?

  1. Go to the Start Menu, type in Settings and select it.
  2. Select Accounts.
  3. Then, choose Sign-in options, and Password.
  4. Now, enter the password you chose twice.
  5. You can also create a hint to help you remember.

Make sure you never lose the Windows password again

If you want to remember the password you set for the administrator account on Windows, the best way to go about it is to create a memorable one.

Pick a topic, something meaningful that you know won’t slip away from your mind in time. Additionally, setting up a clever password hint that only you will be able to figure out is another good idea.

Lastly, you can install a password manager that will keep track of all of your passwords. They use encrypted files and other security measures to make sure all of your data is safe and won’t get stolen, so don’t worry about that.

That’s it for our list of the best password recovery tools. As you can see, all these programs are different in terms of power, usability, recovery methods, price, and more. So if you know exactly what you want, you can choose one based on your needs.

In order to avoid situations where you need to recover your Windows 10 password, we recommend you use a good password manager. It will not only help you manage your passwords, but it will also let you know when one of them is weak.

If you have one of the most often encountered problems – you can’t type the password, just check our guide and fix it.

Also, if your problem refers to a lost email account, here are the best software choices for email password recovery.

Do you agree with our list or do you have some other software to add? Tell us in the comments section below.

Code 43 in Windows 11: How to Fix This Error

Posted on by Kazim Ali Alvi

As time passes, more and more errors encountered in the previous iteration are now witnessed in Windows 11. So, the latest iteration may look much more user-friendly and advanced, but it’s not entirely immune to errors. One of these is the error code 43 in Windows 11.

The error message accompanying it reads Windows has stopped this device because it has reported problems (Code 43).

Also, the device with which the issue is encountered crashes. Therefore, it is imperative to eliminate the error code 43 in Windows 11 to get things up and running like before.

What does error code 43 mean?

The error is usually encountered with external USB devices or graphics cards, but it could also happen with other pieces of hardware.

From user experience, the two primary triggers include:

  • Driver-related factors – These may be corrupted drivers or, in some cases, outdated drivers.
  • Startup settings – Primarily, Fast Startup may trigger this error because even though it is efficient in reducing boot time, such speed may start drivers to malfunction.

When the error is encountered, it indicates an issue with the device that has stopped working, the relevant driver has crashed, or it has notified Windows that the device has run into a problem.

Since the error primarily involves the device driver, we will explore almost every troubleshooting method that deals with it.

And by the time you are done with this guide, error code 43 in Windows 11 will eliminate the problematic device.

How do I fix error code 43 in Windows 11?

Before going into the solutions, try the following primary measures:

  • First, reconnect the device if it is external. For instance, if you faced the error code 43 in Windows 11 with USB storage, remove it and connect it to another port on the same system.
  • Also, there’s a possibility that another device is conflicting with the current one, and you may run into the error. In this case, shut down the computer, and unplug all non-critical peripherals with only the mouse, monitor, and keyboard connected.

1. Update Windows 11

  1. Press Windows + I to launch the Settings app, and select Windows Update from the tabs on the left.Windows Update
  2. Click on the Check for updates button on the right.Download & install
  3. If an update is listed after the scan, click on Download & install.

2. Reinstall the driver

  1. Press Windows + S to launch the Search menu, enter Device Manager in the text field at the top, and click on the relevant search result.Device Manager
  2. Locate the malfunctioning device, right-click, and select Uninstall device from the context menu.
    Uninstall device to fix Windows 11 error code 43
  3. Tick the checkbox for Attempt to remove the driver for this device and click on Uninstall.Attempt to remove the driver for this device

If it’s a corrupt driver behind the Windows 11 error code 43, it can be easily fixed by reinstalling the device. Also, it’s easy to identify one. A device with a corrupt driver will have a warning sign at the corner of its icon.

3. Update the driver

  1. Press Windows + X or right-click on the Start icon to launch the Quick Access/Power User menu, and select Device Manager from the list of options.Device Manager to fix windows 11 error code 43
  2. Locate the problematic device, right-click, and select Update driver from the context menu.Update driver to fix windows 11 error code 43
  3. Now, click on Search automatically for drivers from the two options that appear in the Update Drivers window.
    Search automatically for drivers
  4. Wait for the system to find the best available driver and install it for the problematic device.

An outdated driver often caused the Windows 11 error code 43 for users. This could be a bug in the current version or a one-time crash. But to be on the safe side, you should update the driver.

With each update, the manufacturer will be various new features, performance enhancements, and patches for previously known bugs. Therefore, it’s recommended that you always have the latest driver version installed.

You can always manually install the latest driver version if the Device Manager method cannot get the update process through.

Or, you can use a reliable third-party app to update the installed drivers automatically. We recommend using Outbyte Driver Updater, a reliable tool that will automatically look for any available updates, and install them on your computer, thus keeping all the drivers up-to-date.

Outbyte Driver Updater

Install your drivers automatically with the best updates by using Outbyte Driver Updater.
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4. Roll back the driver update

  1. Press Windows + R to launch the Run command, enter devmgmt.msc in the text field, and either click OK or hit Enter to launch the Device Manager.devmgmt.msc
  2. Right-click on the malfunctioning device and select Properties from the context menu.Properties
  3. Navigate to the Driver tab and click on the Roll Back Driver option.roll back driver to fix windows 11 error code 43
  4. Now, select a reason for rolling back the driver update, and click on Yes at the bottom.select reason

If the error code 43 in Windows 11 started ever since you updated the driver, you could roll back to the previous version. When you update a driver, Windows will save the files for the currently installed version in case things don’t work out and you want to reinstall it.

5. Disable Fast Startup

  1. Press Windows + S to launch the Search menu, enter Control Panel in the text field at the top, and click on the relevant search result that appears.Control Panel to fix windows 11 error code 43
  2. Click System and Security.System and security
  3. Next, click on Change what the power buttons do under Power options.Change what the power buttons fo
  4. Click on Change settings that are currently unavailable.Change settings that are currently unavailable
  5. Untick the checkbox for Turn on fast startup (recommended), and then click on Save changes at the bottom.Untick turn on fast startup to fix windows 11 error code 43

Fast Startup is a Windows feature that lessens the OS’s boot time by keeping specific critical drivers and the kernel in an active state to load when the computer is turned on quickly.

After disabling fast startup, check if Windows 11 error code 43 is eliminated. In case it persists, head to the following method.

6. Change power settings for the malfunctioning device

  1. Press Windows + S to launch the Search menu, enter Device Manager in the text field, and then click on the relevant search result.Device Manager
  2. Next, right-click on the problematic device and select Properties from the context menu.Properties
  3. Navigate to the Power Management tab.
    Power management to fix windows 11 error code 43
  4. Untick the checkbox for Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power and click on OK at the bottom to save the changes.
    Disable allow the computer to turn off this device
  5. Once done, restart the computer for the changes to come into effect.

If the computer is allowed to turn off a device, it might lead to issues when restarting and cause the Windows 11 error code 43. So, you should disable the feature.

These are all the ways you can fix the error and get the malfunctioning device up and running. If none of the methods listed here work, you may reset Windows 11 to its factory settings.

Also, several users have reported that Windows 11 is not recognizing USB devices, another similar error that can be easily fixed. So, if you ever encounter it, go through the methods listed in the linked guide.

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

Here’s How to Fix Bluestacks Black Screen on your PC

Posted on by Milan Stanojevic

Bluestacks is a popular Android emulator for Windows, but many users reported a black screen while using Bluestacks.

This can be a big problem and prevent you from running many applications, and in this article, we’re going to try to fix this issue.

This isn’t the only issue that users encountered, and speaking of issues, here are some common problems that users reported:

  • Bluestacks black screen Intel graphics, Nvidia – Can be caused by driver problems, so reinstall or update them. Changing graphics card settings or running Bluestacks using the integrated graphics may also solve the issue.
  • Bluestacks black screen after loading app, apps not working black screen – The app you’re trying to run is encountering issues, can be solved by reinstalling the app.
  • The Bluestacks screen turns black – Can be caused by the sleep timer, can be solved by downloading the Settings app , and setting the sleep timer to 30 minutes or so.
  • Bluestacks goes to black screen – Occurs if your Bluestacks installation is damaged, can be fixed by reinstalling Bluestacks.
  • Bluestacks black screen after initializing, on startup – Try updating Bluestacks or switch to a different Android emulator.

How can I fix the Bluestacks black screen issue?

1. Reinstall your graphics card driver

  1. Press Windows Key + X and select Device Manager from the menu.
    device manager win +X menu bluestacks black screen
  2. Find your graphics card driver on the list, right-click it, and select Uninstall device.
    uninstall device menu bluestacks screen goes black
  3. If available, check to Remove driver software for this device option, and click the Uninstall button to remove the driver.
    uninstall device dialog bluestacks dark screen
  4. After you successfully remove the driver, click Scan for hardware changes icon to install the default driver.
    scan for hardware changes icon bluestacks black screen

Note: Bear in mind that the default driver might not offer the same performance, so if you want to play the latest games, you might want to update it.

2. Update your graphics card drivers

  1. Press Windows Key + X and select Device Manager from the menu.device manager win 10
  2. Select Display Adaptors in the list of Drivers to unfold the options.
  3. Update drivers by right-clicking on your GPU.
  4. Choose Search automatically for drivers, and wait for the process to finish.

If reinstalling the graphics card driver didn’t solve the problem with Bluestacks and black screen, you should definitely try updating your drivers to the latest version and check if that helps.

If the manual method seems a bit too complicated, you can always use third-party solutions.

By using this tool you’ll scan your entire system for outdated drivers and choose which drivers you want to update automatically.

The tool is quite simple to use, and you should be able to update all your drivers in just a couple of clicks.

⇒ Get Outbyte Driver Updater

3. Run Bluestacks with integrated graphics

A black screen in Bluestacks can sometimes appear if you have both dedicated and integrated graphics processors. Several users reported that they fixed the problem simply by setting Bluestacks to run with integrated GPU.

To do that, you just have to right-click the Bluestacks shortcut and choose the option to run it with integrated graphics. If this method works, you’ll have to repeat it every time you want to start Bluestacks.

If you want to configure Bluestacks to run always powered by your integrated GPU, you need to make a couple of changes in your graphics card control panel software.

Simply locate Bluestacks in Nvidia Control Panel or Catalyst Control Center and assign your integrated graphics as the default graphics processor.

Bear in mind that your integrated graphics doesn’t offer the same performance as dedicated graphics, so you might not be able to achieve the same performance in games while using your integrated graphics.

4. Turn off the sleep timer

According to users, sometimes a black screen appears simply because Bluestacks goes to sleep. This usually occurs after a minute or two or when loading certain games.

To fix this problem, users are suggesting installing the Settings app on Bluestacks and use the app to turn off the sleep timer. Once you disable the sleep timer, check if the problem is still there.

You can create a custom Power Plan when running BlueStacks by following these steps:

  1. Go to Control Panel → Hardware and Sound → Power Options.
  2. Create a Power Plan and name it Bluestacks.
  3. Change the setting for Put Computer to sleep to Never.

Select this Power Plan whenever you use Bluestacks, and you will never have problems with the PC going to sleep, preventing black screen errors. Nonetheless, should you want to change back to your favorite power plan, you can always go back and change it.

5. Turn off the Threaded optimization

  1. Open the Nvidia Control Panel.
  2. Select Manage 3D Settings from the left pane, click the Program Settings tab and select Bluestacks from the list (if it’s not there, click the Add button and select Bluestacks Frontend).
  3. Locate Threaded optimization on the list and set it to Off. Click Apply to save changes.
    threaded optimization nvidia control panel bluestacks black screen

After making these changes, check if the problem is still there. If you’re using AMD graphics, you should have the same options available in the Catalyst Control Center.

6. Reinstall the app you’re trying to run

If you keep getting a black screen while trying to run Bluestacks, perhaps the problem is related to your installation. Sometimes your Bluestacks installation might be damaged, and that can cause this issue to appear.

To fix the problem, it’s advised to uninstall Bluestacks completely from your PC, and then install it again.

After doing that, the app should be able to start without any problems.

7. Try a different emulator

Bluestacks is a solid Android emulator, but it’s not the only one, and if you’re having a black screen while using it, perhaps you might want to consider switching to a different Android emulator.

If you’re looking for a good Bluestacks alternative, we strongly recommend you try LD Player.

LD Player is one effective Android emulator. It has a lot of gaming features like setting your own shortcut key to make things easier while playing a game.

You may use keymapping for several types of gameplay and to test various Android applications. With LD Player, you may effortlessly download any application that is accessible through Google Play Store.

Furthermore, its multi-instance function allows your PC to run multiple applications in the background, without any disruptions.

Conclusion

If you want to learn more about this emulator, explore our comprehensive Bluestacks guide. Check out our awesome Gaming Hub for more information about the world you love.

We hope that one of our solutions helped you fix the problem with Bluestacks. If you have any suggestions or additions, please write them in the Comments section below.

How to Disable User Account Control in Windows 10 [Answered]

Posted on by Ivan Jenic

The User Account Control (UAC) is the feature that sends you prompts application tries to make a change to the system files. You can either allow or prevent this, giving you control over what changes are made to your PC.

However, sometimes, the UAC might encounter issues and you might need to disable it for a program you trust. This is why we have prepared this detailed guide to show you the easy ways to achieve this feat.

How to disable UAC in Windows 10

1. Use Control Panel

    1. Press the Windows key, type control, and select Control Panel.
    control

  2. 2. Select the User Accounts option.

    user disable uac windows 10

  3. 3. Now, choose User Accounts again in the next page.

    user accounts disable uac windows 10

  4. 4. Next, click Change User Account Control settings.

    change

  5. 5. Finally, drag the slider in the left down to the Never notify edge and click the OK button.

    never

With the above method, you should be able to disable UAC for good on Windows 10 using the Control Panel.

2. Use the Registry Editor

  1. Press the Windows key + R, type regedit, and click OK.
    regedit disable uac windows 10
  2. Navigate to the path below in the left pane: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System
  3. Now, double-click the EnableLUA DWORD in the right pane.
    enable
  4. Set its Value data to 0 and click OK.
    value data
  5. Finally, close the Registry Editor and restart your PC.

In some cases, you might find that disabling UAC in Control Panel on Windows 10 is proving difficult. In this situation, you can always use the Registry Editor, as shown above.

UAC in Windows 10 issues and fixes [2018 update]

You should be informed of some important things that happened to the UAC in Windows 10 before trying to manage it. First, there were rumors that UAC would be removed from Windows 10.

However, that has yet to materialize till this time of writing. And users are still reporting several issues with UAC changing system files one of the most dangerous ones.

With this, we can round up this guide on how to disable UAC on Windows 10.

Feel free to let us know if you encounter any issues while implementing any of the solutions above in the comments below.

Mobile Hotspot not Working in Windows 10: 6 Fixes to Try

Posted on by Milan Stanojevic

Many users use mobile hotspots, but what if mobile hotspot not working on Windows 10? This is a common issue, and many reported that their laptop won’t connect to a mobile hotspot.

Before we start fixing this problem, let’s see what causes it to appear on your PC.

Why is my mobile hotspot is not connecting to my PC?

There are several reasons for this issue, but here are some of the common ones:

  • Windows update -Sometimes a bad update can cause this issue, so you’ll need to uninstall the update.
  • Wireless driver issues – If your driver isn’t up to date, you might experience issues. Go ahead and update your drivers to fix that.
  • WAN Miniport adapter – This component can cause errors with hotspots, and removing it usually fixes the issue.
  • Firewall settings – Sometimes Windows Defender Firewall is preventing connections, and you’ll need to reset it to fix that.

How can I fix mobile hotspot if it’s not working on Windows 10?

Before we start fixing this issue, there are a few quick checks that you can perform:

  • Change the hotspot password – Few users claim that changing the hotspot password on your phone can help with this issue, so be sure to try it.
  • Turn the phone off and on – Sometimes a phone glitch can cause this issue. Simply restart it and check if that solves the problem for you.
  • Install the latest updates – Many reported that this is a Windows bug, and installing the latest updates usually helps.

1. Update the wireless driver

Note icon NOTE
For this method to work, you’ll need to use an Ethernet connection or download the drivers on a different device and then transfer them.
  1. Visit your Wi-Fi adapter manufacturer’s website.
  2. Locate your model on the list.
  3. Select the latest driver and click on Download.
  4. Once the driver is downloaded, install it.

If your mobile hotspot not working on Windows 10, we strongly suggest you update all outdated drivers automatically by using Outbyte Driver Updater.

This is a tool that will save you from manually searching and installing fresh driver versions since it will do the whole job.

It’s a great alternative and safe, at the same time, to ensure that your device gets the latest drivers’ updates.

  1. Download and install Outbyte Driver Updater.
  2. Allow the tool to scan your PC for missing and out-of-date device drivers.
  3. Inspect the detailed report the tool will offer once scanning finishes.
  4. Choose the device driver you want to update. (You can also bulk update all outdated drivers.)

Outbyte Driver Updater

Prevent possible manual-installing issues and let Outbyte Driver Updater automatically perform this task.
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2. Uninstall WAN Miniport adapters

  1. Press Windows key + X and choose Device Manager from the list.
  2. Locate WAN Miniport in the Network adapters section, right-click it and choose Uninstall device.
  3. Select Uninstall to confirm.
  4. Repeat these steps for all WAN Miniport adapters.
  5. After removing them all, restart your PC.

3. Reset Windows Firewall to default settings

Note icon NOTE
Restoring defaults might cause some issues with certain applications, so you’ll have to configure them again manually.
  1. Press Windows key + S and enter firewall. Choose Windows Defender Firewall.
     
  2. Click on Restore defaults.
  3. Lastly, click on Restore defaults to confirm.

4. Create an exception in the firewall

Note icon NOTE
This issue was reported in Bitdefender, but it might work for other firewalls.
  1. Open Bitdefender Firewall.
  2. Create a firewall exception rule.
  3. Check Apply this rule to all applications.

     
  4. Check Custom Local Address. Enter 192.168.137.1 as the IP and save changes.

After doing that, the problem should be gone from your PC.

5. Use a hotspot software app

Another simple, and automatic, solution would be to use a dedicated app such as Connectify Hotspot that can turn your Windows 10 device into a hotspot.

What this program does is extend the range of your wireless signal in your home by combining several Internet connections, either wired or wireless.

This facilitates Internet access for all devices without you having to resort to additional hardware.

When using Connectify Hotspot, you basically eliminate networking issues since it bridges other devices.

You also get real-time network usage monitoring as well as firewall protection for each connected device.

⇒ Get Connectify Hotspot

6. Rollback Windows update

  1. Press Windows key + S and enter update history. Select View your Update history from the list of results.
  2. Select Uninstall updates.
     
  3. Double-click the update you want to remove and follow the instructions on the screen.

Keep in mind that the update will likely install itself again, so you might need to block automatic updates to prevent that.

Hopefully, you managed to fix this issue by using the solutions from this guide. If the problem persists, our We can’t set up a mobile hotspot guide should be able to help you.

Let us know if any of the solutions we shared worked for you. If you have any other questions, leave them in the comments section below and we’ll be sure to check them out.

How to Fix Crunchyroll Error 403: 5 Tested Solutions

Posted on by Matthew Adams

Crunchyroll is a streaming service with an extensive library of anime videos for subscribers to watch. However, a forbidden 403 error can arise when users try to access Crunchyroll video content or pages. Consequently, users can’t view Crunchyroll videos or website pages when that issue arises.

What is the Crunchyroll 403 forbidden error?

The 403 forbidden error is a common one that can arise for many websites. Although there is some variation in 403 forbidden error messages, they usually mean users are trying to access forbidden website resources (or content).

Here are some of the reasons why you’re encountering the 403 forbidden error message in Crunchyroll:

  • Geographical restrictions – Crunchyroll is limited to users outside the United States. Therefore, many users outside the U.S. utilize VPN software to bypass the service’s geographical restrictions. However, Crunchyroll blocks a lot of VPN IP addresses.
  • Server outage – Sometimes, the service may be off due to server outage or maintenance. You may use an online tool like Downdetector to see if that is the issue with Crunchyroll.
  • Old cached page versions and URL typos – Some problems within your browser or an incorrectly written address may result in error 403.

So, Crunchyroll users aren’t always trying to access forbidden video content when error 403 arises.

Now that we know what this is all about, let’s go to the actual solutions to fix the problem as quickly as we can.

How can I fix Crunchyroll forbidden error 403?

Before getting to more complex solutions, let’s cross some preliminary checks and actions that may solve the problem quicker:

  • Restart your browser or try to access Crunchyroll on a different browser.
  • If you’re utilizing a VPN, try selecting a different server to connect to Crunchyroll. For bypassing Crunchyroll’s U.S. restrictions, you’ll probably be able to choose numerous different state servers.
  • Log out and into your Crunchyroll account.

If you already tried all these actions, let’s go to the actual solutions to fix the error 403 in Crunchyroll.

1. Clear your browser’s cookies and cache data

Google Chrome

  1. Click the Chrome’s Menu button (the three vertical dots), select More tools, and pick Clear browsing data.
  2. Select All Time on the Time range drop-down menu, select the Cached images and files and the Cookies and other site data checkboxes, and hit the Clear data button. You may select Browsing history as well.

Firefox

  1. Click the Open Application Menu button in Firefox and select Settings.
  2. Choose Privacy & Security from the left and press the Clear Data button.
  3. Select the Cookies and Site Data and the Cached Web Content options, then press the Clear button.

Edge

  1. Press Edge’s Menu button and click Settings.
  2. Select Privacy, search, and services on the left and press the Choose what to clear button.
  3. Select the Cookies and Cached images data options and click Clear now to erase the data.

We have outlined the methods to clear the cache on the most popular browsers out there. However, the method is very similar for other browsers as well.

2. Reset your web browser

Google Chrome

  1. Type the following line in Google Chrome’s URL bar, and press the Enter key: chrome://settings/
  2. Scroll down the Settings tab, and click Advanced to expand it.
  3. Then click on Reset and clean up, and select the Restore settings to their original defaults option.
  4. Press the Reset settings button to confirm.

Firefox

  1. Enter the following line in Firefox’s URL bar, and hit the Return key: about:support
  2. Press the Refresh Firefox button.
  3. Then click again the Refresh Firefox button in the pop-up window to reset the browser.

Edge

  1. Type the following line in Edge’s URL bar, and press the Enter keyboard key: edge://settings/reset
  2. Click Restore settings to their default values option and press the Reset button.

3. Try a VPN known to work with Crunchyroll

If selecting different servers with your current VPN doesn’t do the trick, you might need better VPN software. NordVPN is among the best VPN providers for Crunchyroll which has more than 5,000 servers. About 1,970 of those are U.S. servers you can connect with to access Crunchy’s U.S. catalog.

NordVPN comes with advanced features few other VPN providers can match. It works with several protocols and utilizes AES-256-CBC encryption algorithms. Furthermore, NordVPN doesn’t restrict connection speeds or bandwidth, which minimizes video buffering.

Other NordVPN features

  • It enables users to connect with P2P sharing and Tor networks
  • NordVPN’s kill switch automatically disconnects PCs when VPN connections drop
  • Users can pause VPN connections with NordVPN’s pause option
  • Comes with a 30-day refund guarantee

NordVPN

Let NordVPN protect your PC and get unlimited speeds and bandwidth to reduce video buffering.
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4. Disable your VPN if you don’t need it for Crunchyroll

Note icon NOTE
This resolution is more specifically for U.S. users who don’t need to bypass Crunchyroll’s geographical restrictions with VPNs.
  1. Click the Start button, type network connections, and select View network connections to open the window in the snapshot directly below.
  2. Right-click your listed VPN connection and select the Disable option.

Of course, you may also access the menu of your VPN software and disable it from there.

The above resolutions are the most likely fixes for Crunchyroll error 403. Note that utilizing VPNs to bypass video geo-restrictions can be considered a breach of Crunchyroll’s terms of service. So, users who do so run the risk of possible Crunchyroll account sanctions.

You might also be interested in how to fix the Internal Server Error on Crunchyroll. This guide will help you fix the problem quickly.

For any other questions or suggestions, don’t hesitate to write about them in the comments section below.

9 Best Pencil Sketch Converters for Photos and Drawings

Posted on by Milan Stanojevic

Have you ever wanted to convert your favorite photo to line drawing with free software? This type of effect makes the elements of the image pop out more and has that characteristic sketch look.

In order to achieve that look, sometimes the guidance lines are visible, and you can see the artist’s smudging of the paper, like the resulting piece of art, was hand-drawn using either charcoal or pencils.

Fortunately for you, you don’t have to start taking drawing classes and then spend more time until you actually learn how to do it properly.

In order to obtain a professional-looking result, the best option is to use specialized tools that analyze all pixels and color gradients found in your photo and then transform them into a sketch-like result.

In this article, we will explore some of the tools to convert photos to line drawing with the best free software, that allows you to transform any of your pictures into sketches in just a few clicks.

What are the best tools to convert photos to sketches?

Adobe Photoshop – Content-Aware Fill feature

If you’re into graphic design, photo editing, or any other image manipulation process, Adobe Photoshop should always be your first choice.

This software tool is used by millions worldwide. It’s easy to use but it also has some advanced features that come in handy for complex projects. That’s why amateurs and professionals prefer it over other tools.

Photoshop is also great if you want to convert photos to pencil sketches and drawings. Furthermore, it has an incredible array of brushes, filters, and photo effects that can help you take your editing to the next level.

Let’s take a look at some other useful features that you can find in Photoshop:

  • Content-Aware Fill lets you cut distracting parts of your image
  • A multitude of brushes to choose from
  • Customizable workspace with easy-to-use options
  • Advanced editing features for professional results
  • Frame tools, slicing tools, magic wand, symmetry mode, and many others

Fotor – Online usage

Fotor is an online photo editor with multiple editing tools, including a remarkable photo-to-sketch conversion tool.

Thanks to its AI technology, it helps you convert all your pictures into realistic sketches without any effort.

All you need to do is to upload your photos, choose a sketch filter and convert them into art pieces within a few seconds.

Fotor also offers a drawing converter that turns your photos into professional-looking and high-definition portraits.

Other best features you might want to know about:

  • Photo enhancer
  • Background remover
  • Collage maker

Colorcinch – Text masking feature

Colorcinch, formerly known as Cartoonize, is a very intuitive software that has not only various basic editing features but advanced settings as well.

That said, you can use this app to convert your photos into sketches and adjust them however you like with just a click.

Moreover, Colorcinch provides lots of sketch effects so that your pictures will look just like a pencil drawing.

You can also benefit from essential editing tools like resizing, enhancing, and exposure-controlling features to create beautiful images.

AKVIS Sketch – Easy to use

AKVIS Sketch gives you the power to easily apply a wide range of different effects to your digital photos. You can turn your picture into a black-and-white sketch, or into an oil painting.

The algorithms used by AKVIS collect data regarding the colors, proportions, and added effects, to offer you some of the best image processing on the market.

This software has an easy-to-use UI, that allows you to process your picture with any filters or editing you choose. Also, you can modify your image even more by choosing to make the hatching denser or finer.

One of the best features of this software is the Timeline options. This tool shows you a history of your latest 10 actions in the program and makes suggestions regarding the best filters to add.

You can also use this software to batch-process images, allowing you to save time, and offering the same level of results as in the case of single image processing.

AKVIS Sketch

A great app with an easy-to-use interface that allows you to process your pictures into sketches.
Check price Visit Website

Canva – Beautiful templates

Canva is an excellent program that unlocks your creativity by offering diverse design and editing tools.

It lets you turn your favorite photos into sketches, and drawings, making them look like professional artwork.

With Canva, all you have to do is to upload your photo, edit it however you prefer, adjust settings, and decrease the image transparency.

Furthermore, you can improve your photos with the enhancer tool and fix blurry, dark, or even oversaturated pictures in a matter of seconds.

SoftOrbits Sketch Drawer – Wide range of presets

SoftOrbits Sketch Drawer - picture to sketch

Sketch Drawer from SoftOrbits is a great software option that allows you to easily transform your digital pictures into amazing works of art with a sketch look.

This software analyzes your image and then, if you choose to do so, can convert all the colors into a colorful sketch, by transforming every pixel into a pencil stroke.

This process allows you to obtain great sketches by just using a few clicks and moving some sliders.

Sketch Drawer contains a wide range of presets that allow you to apply any desired effect – black and white sketch, watercolor, or color sketch.

⇒ Get SoftOrbits Sketch Drawer

FotoSketcher – Free usage

FotoSketcher - pic to painting/ pic to sketch

FotoSketcher is another great software option that can easily transform your digital images into professional-looking artwork.

The effects found in this program cover a few different styles -pencil sketches, watercolors, oil paintings, abstract art, etc.

You just need to download this free program, and with just a few clicks and movement of slides, you can add a wide range of effects, and then export them directly.

It contains a good range of presets that allow you to make an informed decision regarding how your image will look after the process is completed. Moreover, you can preview the effects before adding them.

The tool also allows you to edit your images with standard features like sharpening effects, luminosity customization, and color saturation. It also can customize options like edge intensity, threshold, and brightness.

⇒ Get FotoSketcher

XnSketch – Edge strength adjustments

XnSketch - photo to sketch

XnSketch is a very powerful and free software that allows you to easily turn your digital images into pencil sketches, among other effects.

This software contains a total of 18 different effects – black strokes, white strokes, pastels, pencil sketches, colored sketches, etc.

Using this software also gives you the power to adjust edge strength and opacity. The tool also offers options for adjusting contrast, brightness, saturation levels, etc.

It allows you to share your artwork with others either by exporting them as a PNG or JPG image on your hard drive or by sharing it on social networks.

⇒ Get XnSketch

Instant Photo Sketch – Lightweight software

instant photo Scheck

Instant Photo Sketch is a lightweight free software that allows you to easily transform your photos into sketches, by the use of its effects.

Compared to the other software options we presented in this list, Instant Photo Sketch doesn’t offer a wide range of features and customization options.

However, as the name suggests, it gets the job done fast when it comes to applying sketch effects to your images. This software can automatically transform your picture by clicking one button and moving one slider.

The slider allows you to choose the level to which the chosen effects are applied, and can also customize the brush stroke.

You can also zoom in when editing your images, and after the conversion is done, you can easily export your images into either .jpeg or .png files.

⇒ Get Instant Photo Sketch

The ability to turn your photos into sketches can make them look really cool. By using the tools we mentioned above, you should be able to turn a picture into a graphic.

Let us know in the comment section below what software option you chose and how it performed for you.

How to Fix Wi-Fi Repeater Not Working [Can’t Connect]

Posted on by Milan Stanojevic

Wi-Fi repeater/extender won’t connect? We’ll give you all the information you need to fix it.

There are cases in which your Wi-Fi works without any issues until you’re trying to connect an extender. Then, your device tells you that it can’t connect to the network, or, in some cases, can’t connect at all.

What do I do if the Wi-Fi extender isn’t working?

Firstly, make sure that you have connected it correctly, according to its manual. Every Wi-Fi repeater comes with a connection diagram or steps that you mush follow in order to make it work.

Now, let’s get to more advanced fixes.

1. Reset Wi-Fi extender/repeater

All WiFi extenders come with a reset button. All you have to do is press/switch the reset button and wait for 10 seconds. It’s usually located at the back of your extender, near the Ethernet cable port.

This will turn settings to default and let you adjust them. We recommend not changing anything before you check whether the extender works now. If it’s all working, be mindful of how you adjust your setup.

2. Forget the network from your PC

  1. Press Windows + I key combination to open Settings.
  2. Select Network & Internet.
  3. From the left pane, choose Wi-Fi.
  4. Click on Manage known networks.
  5. Click on your Wi-Fi repeater/extender and select Forget.
  6. After you click on Forget, the network will disappear from the list. Go to the right corner of your taskbar and click the Wi-Fi icon.
  7. Search for the repeater’s network and connect to it again.

3. Check to see if your Wi-Fi repeater is on the same network

Check your router’s SSID and check to see if another similar network is available by using another device (phone, tablet, etc.).

For example, if your router SSID is TP-Link_Router, the default SSID for your extender would be TP-Link_Router or Link_Router_EXT.

To change these settings, you will need to access the IP address for router settings your internet provider gave you, by using your PC‘s browser.

4. Check for hardware issues

If no LED is on, either the device is broken, the charger or the power outlet has an issue. To conclude that is a repeater problem, you can check the power outlet with another device, to see if it’s working properly.

In this article, we explored some of the best troubleshooting methods if your Wi-Fi repeater is not working and you are not able to connect to the Internet.

Please feel free to let us know if this guide helped you solve your issue, by using the comment section below.

6 Easy Fixes for COM Surrogate High CPU Usage

Posted on by Milan Stanojevic

In this guide, we will show you the easy ways to fix the COM Surrogate high CPU or high RAM usage. Despite being a basic process, it’s registering high resource usage for some users.

COM Surrogate helps run software extensions and handles tasks like thumbnail extraction in File Explorer. Here’s how to reduce the amount of CPU or RAM it uses:

    How do I fix COM Surrogate high CPU, disk and memory usage?

    Before starting the steps below, complete any pending downloads. COM Surrogate may be building thumbnail previews, causing high CPU usage.

    1. Perform a clean boot

      1. Press the Windows key + R, type msconfig, and click OK.
      msconfig com surrogate high cpu

    2. 2. Click the Services tab at the top, check the box for Hide all Microsoft services, and click Disable all.

      services com surrogate high cpu

    3. 3. Choose Startup at the top and click Open Task Manager.

      open

    4. 4. Right-click each of the processes there and select Disable.

      disable

    5. 5. Now, go back to the System Configuration window and click Apply, followed by OK.

      apply

    A clean boot starts your PC with only essential services. If the issue is fixed, re-enable apps in batches to find the cause.

    2. Perform SFC and DISM scans

    1. Press the Windows key + S, type cmd, and select Run as administrator under Command Prompt.
      cmd com surrogate high cpu
    2. Type the command below and hit Enter: sfc/scannowsfc scannow
    3. Wait for the command to complete, type the command below, and press Enter: DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealthdism restore
    4. Finally, wait till this command finishes its operation.

    Broken or corrupt system files cause many problems on PCs, and it is not surprising that it can lead to the COM Surrogate high CPU usage. Note that you should run the DISM scan even if the SFC scan fails.

    3. Scan for malware

    1. Press the Windows key, type virus, and select Virus & threat protection.
      virus com surrogate high cpu
    2. Click Scan options.
      scan options
    3. Choose your preferred scan option and click the Scan now button.
      scan now

    Malware can sometimes hide under a system process and cause it to behave abnormally. This can be the reason COM Surrogate is registering high CPU usage.

    Alternatively, if you want to be sure that you have removed even the most hidden viruses, we recommend using a third-party antivirus like TotalAV. This security software scans your PC thoroughly and removes all traces of malware.

    4. Close the process using Task Manager

    1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to start Task Manager.
    2. When Task Manager starts, find the COM Surrogate process and right-click it.
    3. Choose End task from the menu.
      end task com surrogate high cpu
    4. If you can’t find the COM Surrogate process, go to the Details tab and search for dllhost.exe.
    5. Right-click it and choose End Task.
      dll host

    After ending this process, check if the problem is resolved.

    5. Use Process Monitor to find the problematic file

    1. Download Process Monitor.
      process monitor
    2. Run it and find the file that dllhost.exe is trying to access.
    3. Remove that file. You might have to close COM Surrogate or dllhost.exe using Task Manager to delete that file.

    Sometimes a corrupt image or video file can cause the COM Surrogate high CPU usage issue. In this case, you need to find the file and remove it to restore normal service on your PC.

    6. Check your hard drive for errors

    1. Open the Command Prompt as administrator.
    2. Type the command below and hit Enter: chkdsk /f /rchkdsk
    3. Now, wait for the command to complete and restart your PC.

    At times, COM Surrogate does not just register high CPU usage but also high memory use. To make sure everything is alright with your memory, you need to run the CHKDSK command and try to fix any corrupt sectors.

    COM Surrogate’s high CPU usage can result from third-party apps, corrupt system files, or malware. To address high CPU usage, perform a clean boot to identify problematic apps, repair any corrupt system files, and run a virus scan to detect malware.

    Are you facing a similar issue with Explorer.exe high CPU usage or Windows 11 High CPU Usage? Then, check our excellent guides for the surefire ways to fix them.

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