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.
Check Price Visit Website

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!
Check priceVisit website

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.
Free Trial Download now

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.
Free Trial Download now

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.
Free Trial Visit Website

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.

    8 Best Voice Recording Apps for Windows 10 [Free, Paid]

    Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

    I remember that among the first things that I did when I got my first computer was playing around with the sound recorder function.

    With the coming of Windows 10, we kept this secret passion, and whenever we have a free moment, we start singing and then laughing, listening to what we just recorded with our beautiful voices.

    Microsoft has a pretty Voice Recorder app inside Windows 10, but it’s rather basic, with a simple and clean interface.

    We will talk about Windows’ sound and voice recorder options, and bring up a shortlist of apps from the Microsoft Store that can do just the same, and maybe with some added features.

    We have tried our best to compile a shortlist below with some of the most useful recording tools. If you know of any others, don’t hesitate and let us know in the comments section.

    What are the best sound recorders for Windows 10?

    1. RecordPAD – Versatile voice recorder
    2. Adobe Audition – Excellent user interface
    3. Gilisoft Audio Recorder Pro – Enhanced recording clarity
    4. NowSmart Sound Recorder – Easy to use
    5. Audacity – Sound mixing feature
    6. Lucky Recorder – Tool for professionals
    7. Lexis Audio Editor – Superb audio editor
    8. Windows 10 built-in Voice Recorder – Simple tool

    RecordPAD

    RecordPad is a sound recording program that lets you record sound, music, audio, and narration snippets.

    It is a sophisticated program that enables you to record with various devices. With a command-line option, it may also be easily connected with other programs.

    With RecordPad Sound Recorder, you can easily discover your audio by utilizing the filter and speech search features. Adjust your audio clips using the play options, and then burn, convert, transcribe, or add your clips to an existing project when you’re through.

    RecordPAD can record sound, speech, notes, music, or any other type of audio. Audio recordings may be stored in WAV, MP3, and AIFF formats.

    You may also use the Express Burn software to burn the recordings directly to a CD. System-wide hotkeys allow you to control recording from the keyboard while working in other apps.

    You can use batch files to automate this application since it supports command line parameters.

    RecordPAD

    RecordPad is perfect for adding voice and other audio to digital presentations, producing audiobooks, or recording a message.
    Free trial Visit Website

    Adobe Audition

    Adobe Audition is our top pick in this guide as it provides various sound and voice recording features, and everything is packed in a visually pleasing user interface.

    What makes Audition stand out from the crowd is the fast processing speeds it offers and also the variety of other useful features.

    It’s a high-quality audio editing, processing, and mastering software with multi-tracking capabilities. It does not, however, support MIDI. Therefore, if you wish to mix and master in Audition, every track you produce must be audio.

    So, for example, you might export MIDI files from a DAW to audio tracks and then import them into Audition; but, Audition cannot handle MIDI data.

    You add effects to several recordings to obtain the exact sound you need for TV, film, or the web. You can effortlessly integrate audio into other Adobe products if you have Adobe Creative Cloud. If you do not have Adobe CC, you may export the audio and import it into your preferred video editing program.

    Adobe Audition also comes packed with various sound effects that can be customized to suit your needs.

    Here are the key features found in Adobe Audition:

    • Wide range of tutorials online that cover a vast array of utilities
    • Easy to record audio and voice with just a few clicks of the mouse
    • Works perfectly with Adobe Premiere Pro
    • Real-time clip stretching for fast and efficient previews
    • Non-destructive editing at its best
    • Great plug-in support

    Adobe Audition

    Adobe is a complete sound recording and editing solution, and it’s the choice for most professionals.
    Free trial Visit Website

    Gilisoft Audio Recorder Pro

    With GiliSoft Audio Recorder Pro, you can record music from YouTube, Pandora, or any other streaming audio website, online radio programs, and parts of a movie. The recording result can be played on a PC, a portable mp3 player, or a car audio system.

    This streaming audio recorder connects directly to your sound card, allowing you to record any sound or music in near-perfect clarity.

    Record all voice conversations, including those with Skype, Yahoo Messenger, Google Talk, and other VoIP apps, and store them as wav, mp3, Ogg, or WMA files. It may record automatically (when you make a call or have a voice chat with any VoIP application) or manually. You may configure it to run automatically with Windows.

    Gilisoft Audio Recorder Pro provides advanced time-triggered recording, which allows you to plan recording for a website or anything else that runs on your desktop to begin or end at a certain time.

    Before starting a recording, you may use the recording preview function to preview the outcome using the specified audio recording device/source. It can work with more than one sound card (including a USB sound card).

    What makes it different is the predefined audio recording to aid the fast setup and management of recording parameters, recording schedule, and voice activation when there is no sound to record.

    Gilisoft Audio Recorder Pro

    A useful and reliable tool for recording sounds to MP3, AAC, M4R, or WMA audio files.
    Free trial Visit Website

    NowSmart Sound Recorder

    NowSmart Sound Recorder is an easy-to-use app to record other apps, web pages, and many more.

    You wish to record music from YouTube, Pandora, or any other streaming audio website, as well as online radio programs or the audio portion of a movie so that you can listen to your favorite audio material later – on a PC, a portable mp3 player, or your car’s audio system.

    Audio Record Wizard in Windows 7, 8, and subsequent versions have a new function that allows you to record both computer noises and speech at the same time. In other words, it can record both sides of a Skype or Google Talk discussion.

    Unfortunately, NowSmart Sound Recorder does NOT save recording history, but you can find previous recordings by clicking on Settings (the three dots) and then Open Storage Location.

    The app is free, and you can download it from the Microsoft Store.

    ⇒ Get NowSmart Sound Recorder

    Audacity

    Audacity is an open-source sound/audio editor that is both powerful and free. It also functions as a multi-track recorder.

    It can only record and play sounds and import and export Wav, AIFF, MP3, and OGG files.

    When these files are loaded, you may modify them by utilizing tools like cut, copy, and paste, combine multiple tracks, and apply various effects.

    Use Audacity if you have a music track, a narration track, and some sound effects that you wish to combine into a mixed soundtrack. That’s what it’s made for.

    Create a mashup of some of your favorite songs, and experiment with it to see what you can come up with.

    There are several options for removing background noise when recording. So it’s a wonderful recording program that’s simple to use and can be utilized in various creative ways.

    Audacity is fairly capable of doing tasks such as deleting vocals from music or vice versa.

    ⇒ Get Audacity

    Lucky Recorder

    Lucky Recorder is the right tool for you if you’re looking for a professional audio recording app. It features a simple and intuitive user interface.

    High-quality audio recording with an easy-to-use user interface and settings provides you with a clear sound if you want to Karaoke or record your voice when translating books and other media. You may export to file, upload to OneDrive, and email the file.

    This app can record meetings, lectures, personal notes, and more. If you need to listen to particular recording parts, you can always play back your audio files and share them.

    ⇒ Get Lucky Recorder

    Lexis Audio Editor

    Lexis Audio Editor is an audio recorder and editor with lots of features.

    You can create or edit audio files and then save them in multiple formats. Other features include normalizing, noise reduction, recording and importing into existing files, and a 10-band equalizer.

    You can also change the tempo, speed, and pitch, then save the recordings in mp3 (-320kb/s), wav (16 Bit PCM), WMA (-192kb/s), and m4a (-192kb/s).

    Furthermore, using the Cut, Copy, and Paste features, you may select which sections of a music file to record into an existing file. You may also import a voice or sound into an existing format, resulting in a mash-up of customized sounds.

    Perhaps some voice recordings do not require any background sound, allowing you to remove, insert silence, normalize noise reduction, and fade in and out to create the perfect speech.

    Lexis Audio Editor has a free version and a paid one, the only difference between them is that saving in mp3 format is only available in the paid version.

    ⇒ Get Lexis Audio Editor

    Windows 10’s built-in Voice Recorder

    Inside Windows 10, there used to have been two solutions for recording sounds or just your voice: the old Sound Recorder and the new, official app of Voice Recorder.

    Now you can only access Voice Recorder by typing voice recorder in Windows Search.

    The Voice Recorder app for Windows 10 is quite fun and incredibly simple. After recording your voice or the sounds around you, you can choose to play, trim, delete or rename the file.

    Start a recording or restart a previously paused recording with a single click, and autosaved recordings are saved to your Documents folder for convenient access.

    You may easily share your recordings with friends and family or transfer the recordings to other audio editing applications. Note significant moments in the recording, and have your best sounds saved for later use.

    The recordings are saved in the Voice Recorder app menu. On Windows 10, Voice Recorder has a brand-new interface that is much lighter and simpler than the one available on Windows 8.

    ⇒ Get Windows Voice Recorder

    How to record sound with Voice Recorder App on Windows 10?

    1. Press the Windows key, type voice, and select Voice Recorder.
      type voice recorder windows 10
    2. Click the Microphone icon at the middle to start recording.
      microphone
    3. To pause or stop the recording, click the Pause or Stop icons respectively.
      stop
    4. Finally, to edit your recordings, use the tools in the bottom right corner of your screen.tools voice recorder windows 10

    Those are the simple steps to follow to record with the built-in app on Windows 10

    That’s it for our list of the best sound & voice recording apps for Windows 10. We hope that you found the perfect tool that you were looking for.

    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.

    Why is Xbox Mic Quiet? Here’s How to Fix & Make it Louder

    Posted on by Milan Stanojevic

    Xbox One is a great console, but many users reported that Xbox mic very quiet during gaming sessions. This isn’t the only issue, and many reported that Xbox is unable to find mic, but we covered that one in a separate guide.

    Fixing this issue is relatively simple on your Xbox, so let’s go ahead and do that.

    Why is my mic so quiet when I talk on Xbox?

    There are several reasons for this issue, and they usually fall into the following categories:

    • Hardware issues – If your device is damaged or not properly connected, you can experience this problem.
    • Profile settings – Your settings can prevent you from communicating with others, or make you unable to add friends on Xbox One.

    How to turn up mic volume on Xbox?

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

    • Check the hardware – Inspect the headset and its cord for any damage. Make sure that the connector is clean. Make sure that the headset is properly connected to your controller. If you can, try the headset on a different Xbox device.
    • Check for updates – Ensure that both your console and controllers are up to date.
    • Inspect the batteries – Check the batteries and make sure they are fully charged. Also, check if they are set properly in place.
    • Compatibility – Make sure that the headset is compatible with Xbox One.

    1. Test your Xbox One chat headset

    1. Sign in to Xbox Live on your Xbox One console
    2. Press the Xbox button to open the guide.
    3. Select Start a party (Note: You do not need to invite anyone for this test)
    4. Make sure the volume is turned up.
    5. Speak into the microphone.

    If your headset is working, you will see the ring around your avatar light up.

    2. Use Skype to test the headset

    1. Sign in to your account.
    2. Select the Skype app.
    3. Choose People, and then select the Skype Test Call contact.
    4. Select Voice call and Skype will try to connect your voice call.
    5. The call will ask you to speak into the mic and will repeat what was heard.

    3. Adjust the microphone volume

    1. Press the Xbox button.
    2. Navigate to System and then select Audio.
    3. Set Mic monitoring to a higher value.

    4. Change to Energy saver

    1. Open Xbox One’s settings and navigate to Power and Startup. Select Power mode.
    2. Set Power mode to Energy saving.
    3. Save changes.

    5. Check Xbox profile settings

    1. Press the Xbox button on your controller.
    2. Select Settings and then All Settings from the list of options.
    3. Go to Account using the left navigation pane and choose Privacy and online safety.
    4. Select Adult defaults and click on View details and customize.
    5. In Communicate with voice and text, select Specific friends or Everybody, depending on who you want that profile to talk to.


    6. Check mic through Sign in

    1. Go to the Home of Xbox One.
    2. Navigate to the Sign-in.
    3. Select Choose this person.
    4. After selecting the person which you have already created in Xbox, check your mic after joining any party

    7. Power cycle your Xbox

    1. Press the Xbox button on your controller for a few seconds to turn off the controller completely without removing the headphones.
    2. Press the Xbox button on Xbox One to turn it off.
    3. After all the modules are turned off, take out the power cable of Xbox One.
    4. Leave everything as it is for approximately 5 minutes.
    5. Turn everything back on and check if your mic is working properly.

    This isn’t the only issue and many reported that their Xbox One headset microphone isn’t working at all, but we covered that problem in a separate guide.

    In case you’re still dealing with this issue, you can use Microphone monitoring to test your microphone.

    Did any of these solutions help you solve your problem and now the mic works properly? Please let us know your thoughts on this in the section below.

    How to Fix GPU Memory Leak Issues for Windows Games

    Posted on by Matthew Adams

    Memory leak issues are not entirely uncommon on Windows PCs. When there’s a memory leak, software packages utilize excessive memory. Different types of memory leaks can arise for standard system RAM and graphics cards’ VRAM. Such leaks can have a notable impact on PC performance.

    Table of contents

    What’s VRAM?

    VRAM (Video Random Access Memory) is a specific type of graphical RAM for temporarily storing graphics data. Dedicated graphics cards have their own VRAM for handling advanced graphics. Some NVIDIA and AMD graphics cards (GPUs) boast up to 16 GB VRAM.

    What are GPU memory leaks?

    A GPU memory leak is one that more specifically pertains to graphics cards’ VRAM. Such leaks typically arise because games and other graphics-intensive software don’t correctly release memory. Consequently, VRAM utilization can reach up to, and even eclipse, 100 percent for affected programs.

    Such GPU memory leaks most commonly arise for Windows games, which are the most graphics-intensive software. When games utilize almost all available VRAM, notable frame rate drops can occur. Such frame rate drops result in stuttering and slow gameplay.

    In the worst cases, GPU memory leaks can crash games. For example, the Out of video memory error is a widely reported one for games. When that issue arises, games crash when starting; and the error message shown directly below pops up.

    Out of vide memory error gpu memory leak

    Such issues will more commonly arise on PCs equipped with lower-specification graphics cards. The less VRAM a graphics card has, the more likely games will outstrip available VRAM when GPU leaks occur. Therefore, lowering graphical settings can often reduce the impact of GPU memory leaks.

    If you ever need to fix a GPU memory leak for a game, various potential solutions might help reduce the excessive VRAM utilization. These are some of the more proven resolutions for fixing VRAM memory issues.

    How can I fix GPU memory leaks in Windows?

    1. Reduce in-game graphical settings

    1. Launch the game the GPU memory leak occurs for, and open the graphics or video settings tab for the game.
    2. Select a lower general graphical preset setting than the current one.
    3. If you can’t find any general graphics preset setting, manually lower the resolution, texture, FPS, and shadow graphical options instead.
      Graphics preset options gpu memory leak
    4. Thereafter, make sure you save the settings.

    This resolution is primarily for fixing GPU memory leaks that don’t crash games. When a game doesn’t start up because of a VRAM issue, try adjusting graphical settings outside it as outlined in the next resolution.

    2. Reduce your graphics card’s graphical settings

    NVIDIA

    1. Open the NVIDIA Control Panel app.
    2. Next, click the Adjust image settings with preview.
    3. Select the Use my preference emphasizing quality radio button.
    4. Now drag the bar’s slider to the left performance end.
    5. Click Apply to save the new graphical settings.

    AMD

    1. Right-click the desktop and select AMD Radeon Settings.
    2. Select the Gaming tab, then click Global Settings.
      Global Graphics settings gpu memory leak
    3. Next, select Performance for the Texture Filtering Quality option.
    4. Lower the Frame Rate Target Control setting.
    5. Turn off the Vertical Refresh and Anisotropic Filtering Mode settings if any are enabled.
    6. Select the Apply option to confirm the new settings.

    3. Run Steam games on DirectX 12

    1. Open the Steam app.
    2. Select Library at the top of Steam’s window.
    3. Right-click a game in your library you need to fix a GPU memory leak for and select Properties.
    4. Press the Set Launch Options button.
    5. Type the following in the text box: -force-d3d12
    6. Then click the OK button.
    7. Thereafter, restart Steam to start the game, which will now run with a DirectX 12 configuration.

    You can also adjust in-game DirectX settings for many games. If you don’t need to fix GPU memory leaks for Steam games, try selecting DirectX 12 via in-game graphical options.

    4. Increase virtual memory allocation

    1. Click the Start button, type advanced system settings and click View advanced system settings.
    2. Press the Settings button to bring up a Performance Options window.
    3. Select the Advanced tab, then click the Change button.
    4. Deselect the selected Automatically manage paging file size for all drives checkbox and click the Custom radio button.
    5. Enter the value 12000 within the Initial box, then input the value 30000 in the Maximum box.
    6. Click the Set button and restart your desktop or laptop when prompted to do so.

    5. Update your graphics card’s driver

    1. First, right-click the Start menu button to select Device Manager.
    2. Click on Display adapters to open that category, right-click your adapter and select Update driver.
    3. Then select the Search automatically for drivers option to initiate a search. Windows might detect and install a new graphics card driver.

    However, the Update Driver utility isn’t always entirely reliable for updating drivers. So, it might also be worth running a scan with a third-party driver updater utility.

    This driver updater software will better identify if your graphics card has an outdated driver and enable you to update it. Plus, due to its automatic scanning feature, it will notify you when your drivers go out of date.

    ⇒ Get Fortect Driver Updater

    6. Clean-boot Windows

    1. Press the Windows key + R to start the Run console, type msconfig and press Enter to launch the System Configuration applet.
    2. Click the Selective startup option.
    3. Uncheck the Load startup items checkbox, select the checkboxes for Load system services and Use original boot configuration if those options aren’t selected.
    4. Click Services to switch to that tab, click the Hide all Microsoft services option and choose Disable all.
    5. Press the Apply and OK to close the MSConfig utility.
    6. Select Restart on the dialog box that opens.

    If your graphics card has only a small amount of VRAM, it might be a good idea to get a new graphics card. GPU memory leaks aren’t necessarily hardware issues, but a graphics card will less likely run out of VRAM for games when it has more of it. However, give the resolutions above a try first. You may also want to read the related article on shared GPU memory in Windows 11.

    The potential resolutions above might make games’ GPU memory leaks arise for somewhat more playable. To resolve standard system RAM leaks for software, check out our Memory leaks in Windows 10 guide.

    Black Box on Mouse Pointer: 5 Ways to Get Rid Of It

    Posted on by Matthew Adams

    Some users reported a black box on mouse pointer, and it seems that this issue appears if your mouse cursor is corrupted.

    This is an annoying issue, and in today’s guide we’re going to show you how to properly fix it.

    Why does my Mouse pointer have a black square?

    This is an annoying issue, and it’s usually caused by the following:

    • Outdated drivers – If your graphics drivers are out of date, you might encounter glitches. Therefore, it’s advised to update your graphics drivers.
    • Mouse settings – In order to fix this issue, sometimes you just need to change mouse settings on your PC.

    How can I fix black box on mouse pointer?

    1. Select the None mouse pointer scheme option

    1. Press the Windows key + S and type pointer. Select Change the mouse pointer display or speed.
    2. Select the Pointers tab.
      Pointers tab black box on mouse pointer
    3. Then select the (None) option on the Scheme drop-down menu. Press the Apply button to save the new settings.

    2. Select the Enable pointer shadow setting

    1. Press the Windows key + S and type pointer. Now select Change the mouse pointer display or speed.

    2. Go to the Pointers tab and check Enable pointer shadow.
    3. Lastly, click Apply and OK to save changes.

    3. Adjust the mouse pointer’s size

    1. Press the Windows key + I to open the Settings app.
    2. Next, navigate to Ease of Access.
    3. Select the Mouse pointer from the left pane. After that, drag the slider on the Change pointer size bar to the far right to select an extra-large setting.
    4. Thereafter, close and then reopen the Mouse pointer tab in Settings.
    5. Then drag the Change pointer size bar’s slider to its original setting or one of preference.

    4. Update your graphics card’s driver

    1. Press the Windows key and X at the same time. Next, click the Device Manager menu shortcut.
    2. Double-click the Display adapters category in Device Manager.
    3. Right-click your PC’s listed graphics card and select Update driver.
    4. Click the Search automatically for drivers option. The Update Drivers utility might then download and install the latest driver for your graphics card.

    Note that the Update Drivers utility in Windows doesn’t always update drivers even when there are more recent ones available. So, it’s usually better to update drivers with third-party driver updater software.

    ⇒ Get Outbyte Driver Updater

    5. Disable the WDDM graphics display driver for Remote Desktop Connections policy

    Note icon NOTE
    Windows 10 Home edition does not include Group Policy Editor.
    1. Press Windows key + R and type gpedit.msc. Next, press Enter.
    2. Then click Computer Configuration within Group Policy Editor’s window.
    3. Expand Administrative Templates to select Windows Components.
    4. Select the Remote Desktop Services component. After that, navigate to Remote Desktop Session Host.

    5. Next, go to Remote Session Environment on the left side of Group Policy Editor. Finally, double-click on Use WDDM graphics display driver for Remote Desktop Connections.
    6. Click the Disabled radio button. Select the Apply and OK..

    Those are some of the potential resolutions for fixing black boxes around cursors users have confirmed to work.

    We hope this guide helped you get your mouse cursor back. What other solutions did you try? Let us know in the comments below.

    5 Best Oversize Light Up Gaming Mouse Pads for Your PC

    Posted on by Matthew Adams

    A quality gaming mouse pad is a must, and many are looking for the best oversize light up gaming mouse pad.

    These types of pads can really enhance your gaming setup, and in today’s guide, we’re going to show you the best models to choose from.

    Are larger mouse pads better?

    It comes down to personal preference, but larger mouse pads do have a couple of benefits:

    • More space – The obvious benefit of larger mouse bad is more space for your gaming keyboard and mouse.
    • Better sensitivity – If you’re using your mouse in low DPI mode, you will benefit from more space on your desk.

    What is the best oversize light up gaming mouse pad?

    Gerlos Gaming Mouse Pad – Best overall

    • 31.5×11.8 inches
    • 12 different lighting modes
    • Non-slip rubber base
    • Waterproof surface
    • Mouse drag issues for some users
    Amazon Product Check price

    This gaming pad comes with 12 different lighting modes, 3 dynamic and 9 static, so you can always find the perfect color that matches your gaming environment.

    The pad is made of high-elastic natural rubber, and with a non-slip rubber base, it will sit firmly in place during the most intense gaming sessions.

    The top comes with a smooth and waterproof surface, so it will be able to sustain accidental spillage. Regarding the size, it measures 31.5×11.8 inches, so it’s perfect for any keyboard and mouse.

    You can connect the mouse pad to the PC via a USB port, and adjust the color and brightness level with a press of a button.

    Overall, it’s a great mouse pad, and if you’re looking for an extra large one, this is the perfect model to get.

    Razer Goliathus– Works great with other Razer devices

    • Amazing Razer Chroma lighting
    • It includes a built-in cable catch for mouse cable
    • Users can enable color synchronization across Razer devices
    • Available with alternative black, pink, and mercury white color schemes
    • Its one USB port is restricted to RGB lighting only
    Amazon Product Check price

    Razer is renowned for its top-notch gaming products. The Razer Goliathus mouse pad is yet another top-notch gaming peripheral from Razer. This pad measures about 36.2 x 11.6 inches and features a well-balanced micro-textured surface that provides very precise tracking.

    The Goliathus incorporates advanced lighting effects that are a hallmark of Razer peripherals. This pad is powered by the Razer Chroma software that enables dynamic RGB lighting effects with 16.8 million colors. Its users can adjust brightness and apply quick and advanced RGB effects.

    This mouse pad’s Razer Chroma lighting effects can even integrate with some AAA games. For supported games, it has responsive lighting effects that respond to in-game events like explosions. Those integrated lighting effects for supported games are certainly a notable mouse mat novelty.

    Beyond its fancy lighting effects, Chroma also has a non-slip base like the LUXCOMS RGB Soft Gaming Mouse Pad. Thus, this is another grippy pad that stays very firmly in place without any slipping about.

    SteelSeries QcK Prism XL Gaming Surface – Highly customizable lighting

    • Its stitched edges prevent pad peeling
    • High-quality surface with a smooth feel
    • This pad works well with both high and low DPI (dots per linear inch) mouse settings
    • Nice RGB lighting novelties
    • It’s a bit pricey
    Amazon Product Check price

    The QcK Prism XL Gaming Surface is an intuitive mouse pad with some notable novelties. Its XL size is a 35.4 x 11.8-inch pad. However, the QcK Prism XL Gaming Surface also has a desk-size pad that measures a whopping 63 by 31.5 inches, which is surely too big (and pricey) for most users.

    This is a mouse mat with top-notch tracking precision for both optical and laser mice. Therefore, it gives you maximum control over action-packed games.

    Most of the QcK Prism XL Gaming Surface’s novelties are based on 2-zone RGB backlighting. With its Engine Apps, you can set up lighting effects for Discord Chat notifications and in-game alerts. The Audio Visual Engine App even enables you to set up visual shows with lights dancing to music beats.

    QcK Prism XL Gaming Surface is also PrismSync gear. That means you can sync the mouse pad’s lighting effects with those of other PrismSync devices. You can coordinate the pad’s lighting effects with illuminated PrismSync headsets, keyboards, and mice.

    Thermaltake Gaming Mouse Pad – Works with other Thermaltake products

    • Advanced RGB lighting options
    • Its lighting effects sync with products of the Thermaltake and Razer Chroma ecosystems
    • Durable stain-resistant design keeps the pad clean and fresh
    • An anti-slip base keeps the pad firmly in place
    • Pricey
    Amazon Product Check price

    The Thermaltake Level 20 Extended Gaming Mouse Pad is a flashy and durable mouse mat that’s built to last. It measures 35.4 x 15.8 inches, which makes it the same size as the QcK Prism XL Gaming Surface. If you want a luxurious mouse pad, then this is the one for you.

    This mouse pad is more durable than most because of its stain-resistant design. It also has a stitched perimeter that ensures the pad doesn’t peel and wrap around the edges.

    However, the Level 20 Extended Gaming Mouse Pad’s advanced RGB lighting is what really elevates it above most others. With its iTake software, users can set up six different lighting profiles with a range of effects. Users can also adjust color, speed, and intensity variables for modes.

    Furthermore, the Level 20 Extended Gaming Mouse Pad is TT RGB Plus compatible. As such, users can sync the mouse pad’s lighting with other Thermaltake products. Thermaltake keyboards, headsets, mice, liquid coolers, and gaming desks are among the other TT RGB Plus compatible devices.

    The Level 20 Extended Gaming Mouse Pad also supports Amazon Alexa for audio controls. With Alexa, users can control the mouse pad’s lighting by issuing voice commands.

    Tilted Nation RGB Gaming Mouse Pad – Requires no configuration

    • 31.5 x 11.8 inches
    • 7 static colors and breathing mode
    • Waterproof and smooth surface
    • Easy to use
    • Doesn’t have a dedicated app
    Amazon Product Check price

    If you need a gaming pad for your keyboard and mouse, you’ll be pleased to hear that this model measures 31.5 x 11.8 inches.

    Regarding the lighting, you can choose between 7 static colors and a breathing mode. The surface of the pad is smooth, so you won’t experience any mouse dragging while using it.

    The pad is made from neoprene, so it can withstand intensive mouse action without issues. It’s worth mentioning that this mouse pad is waterproof, so you won’t have to worry about accidental spillage.

    Tilted Nation RGB Gaming Mouse Pad comes with a braided cable and a power button that you can use to easily adjust the lighting. It’s simple to use and a great choice for any gamer.

    We hope that this guide helped you find the best oversize light up gaming mouse pad. Those are expansive mouse pads with some great lighting effects and other novel features to boot.

    If you need something more professional, consider these aluminum mousepads for your work PC.

    What’s your mouse pad of choice? Let us know in the comments below.

    More Xbox games are now officially supported on Steam Deck with latest update

    Posted on by Robert Collins

    Steam OS 3.4 is now available for Steam Deck, bringing with it a number of stability, performance and security improvements.

    Some of the more intriguing improvements are changes to Steam Deck’s desktop mode, KDE Plasma. These include,

    • Widget upgrades
    • New touchscreen gestrures
    • New themes and wallpapers
    • New Overview view displaying all open windows and virtual desktops

    Other improvements include the addition of an eject option for removable drives (this unmounts the removable drive, though it does now physically eject it). TRIM is also re-enabled for the internal drive to improve writing performance.

    Also, another 16 Xbox games are now classed as either “verified” or “playable” with the latest Steam Deck update. Note these games aren’t necessarily new to the platform; some were added to these lists in previous updates.

    Verified

    • Deathloop
    • Pentiment
    • DOOM Eternal
    • Dust: An Elysian Tail
    • New Super Lucky’s Tale
    • Ms. Splosion Man

    Playable

    • Halo Infinite
    • The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
    • Forza Horizon 4
    • Fallout 4
    • State of Decay 2
    • Tell Me Why
    • Quake Champions
    • Fable – The Lost Chapters
    • ReCore: Definitive Edition
    • LocoCycle

    Desktop Icons Not Showing: How to Get Them Back

    Posted on by Madalina Dinita

    Windows 10 is a stunning OS with a series of excellent features. However, it is not a perfect machine, with many users reporting that the desktop icons are not showing.

    This can be frustrating, but it is not an issue that is unheard of, just like the desktop icons blank issue. You can quickly fix it by applying the solutions in this detailed guide.

    Why did my icons disappear from my desktop on Windows 10?

    • Improper settings can sometimes cause your desktop icons to disappear from your PC.
    • In some instances, third-party applications can cause this problem and cause icons to go missing.
    • Your icon cache might be damaged or corrupted, and that’s what’s causing the issue.
    • Issues with a second monitor can cause glitches with desktop icons to appear.
    • Minor problems with the Windows Explorer process can make icons disappear.

    What can I do if my desktop icons are not showing?

    1. Make sure the Show Desktop icons feature is enabled

    1. Right-click on the empty area on your desktop.
    2. Choose View and select Show desktop icons.
      show view
    3. Try checking and unchecking Show Desktop icons option a few times, but remember to leave this option checked.

    If the Windows 11 desktop icons are not refreshing, read this dedicated guide to sort it out.

    2. Change the Desktop icon settings

    1. Click the Start button and select Settings.
    2. Choose Personalization.
    3. Go to Themes from the left pane, then scroll down on the right and click on Desktop icon settings.
    4. Now, select the icons you want to see on your desktop, then click on Apply and OK to make the changes.
    5. If you are here, you may also uncheck the Allow themes to change desktop icons box but this will only apply to their appearance on the screen.

    3. Rebuild the icon cache

    1. Press the Windows key + E to launch File Explorer and click the View tab at the top.
    2. Check the box for Hidden items to display hidden files and folders.
      view hidden desktop icons not showing
    3. Now, navigate to the path below: C:\Users\(User Name)\AppData\Local
    4. Right-click on IconCache.db and select Delete.
      delete
    5. Next, go to the Recycle Bin and empty it.
    6. Finally, restart your computer.

    One of the most common tweaks when resolving the missing desktop icons on Windows 10 is rebuilding the cache. It is always effective in fixing these issues. So, you should try it.

    4. Disable the tablet mode

    1. Press the Windows key + I to open Settings and select System.
      system
    2. Choose Tablet from the left.
    3. Now, click the dropdown under When I sign in and select Never use tablet mode.
      never desktop icons not showing

    One of the factors that make the desktop icons not toshow properly on Windows 10 is the tablet mode. Users have been able to fix this issue simply by disabling this feature. So, you should try it too.

    Although it may sound banal, it’s quite possible you overlooked this. So, to be sure, check if your Desktop icons are set to appear once again.

    5. Run explorer.exe

    1. Press the Ctrl + Shift + Esc keys to open Task Manager.
    2. Right-click the explorer.exe or Windows Explorer process under the Processes tab and select the End task button.
      end-task
    3. Now, click the File option at the top left and click Run new task.
      file desktop icons not showing
    4. Type explorer.exe in the box, and then proceed to click OK.
      explorer.exe

    The explorer.exe process is important for smoothly running your apps and processes. If it is a problem, your desktop icons might not be showing on Windows 10. The solution here is to restart the program.

    6. Move the desktop folder from OneDrive

    1. Press the Windows key + E to open File Explorer.
    2. Click the OneDrive folder in the left pane.
      onedrive
    3. Now, double-click the Desktop folder and copy its contents.
    4. Finally, select the Desktop option in the left pane and press the Windows key + V to paste them into the folder.
      desktop

    Sometimes, your PC might get too clever and move all the contents of the Desktop to OneDrive. This can be why your Desktop icons are not showing on Windows 10. The solution to this is to copy the contents out.

    7. Disable the second monitor

    1. Right-click on a free space on your desktop and select Display settings.
    2. Look for the Multiple displays option, click on the drop-down menu, and select Show only on 1, where 1 is your main display.
    3. You may also simply disconnect the second display.

    If you’ve used a dual monitor setup before, desktop icons may be set to appear on the second monitor. So, disable the second monitor if you’re not using it, and repeat solution 4.

    Your icons should appear again.

    8. Perform a system restore

    1. Press the Windows key + R, type rstrui.exe, and click OK.
      rstrui desktop icons not showing
    2. Click the Next button on the window that pops up.
      next
    3. Now, select a restore point and click the Next button.
      restore point desktop icons not showing
    4. Finally, click the Finish button to confirm the action and follow the onscreen instruction.
      finish

    If you noticed that your icons are missing after making some changes to your PC, you need to restore your device to when everything is working well.

    With this, we can conclude this guide on how to fix your desktop icons if they are not showing on Windows 10. All you need to do now is to follow the instructions to the letter, and things should be back to normal.

    Still, on icons, you may want to get rid of the shortcut arrows in Windows 11 so check out our guide on how to do it.

    If your Desktop icons are flashing, you can check our detailed guide dedicated to the issue to fix it quickly. Also, find out how to save the desktop layout and restore it anytime.

    In the comments below, let us know the solution that helped you fix this issue.

    Fix the System Application Force Next 0007 Error

    Posted on by Vladimir Popescu

    Getting errors displaying your content [system_application_force_next_0007] when using Azure can be frustrating. However, to solve the problem, you need to understand what caused the error.

    This guide will outline the reasons behind the error and potential fixes to resolve the issue. 

    What causes the error displaying your content [system_application_force_next_0007] on Azure?

    There could be various reasons behind the error in displaying your content on Azure. Some of the popular ones are mentioned above: 

    • Incorrect configuration of your application or service – If the configuration of your application or service is not correct, then you might see the issue.
    • Network or connectivity issues – If your internet connection is weak, then you might face this issue. Check your connection or talk to your ISP to speed it up.
    • Outages in Azure platform –  If the Azure platform is experiencing outages or is under maintenance, you can face this problem.
    • Bugs or compatibility issues –  If the service or application has compatibility issues or bugs, it could come up with this error.

    What can I do to fix the error displaying your content [system_application_force_next_0007] on Azure?

    Tip icon Tip
    The fixes mentioned below work for other errors, including Error loading extension and definition, and the RPC channel Microsoft_Azure_Marketplace was terminated for an unknown reason.

    Before engaging in advanced troubleshooting steps, you should consider performing the following checks:

    • Check your internet connection
    • Try to use Azure on a different browser.
    • Remove adblocker extensions from your browser before logging in to Azure.

    If these don’t help your case, follow the below-mentioned troubleshooting steps to resolve the error.

    1. Check Azure status 

    1. Launch your preferred browser.
    2. Go to the Azure status page.azure-status -error displaying your content azure
    3. You will see the platform’s status here if an outage or maintenance occurs.

    2. Check the logs of application or service

    1. Login to Azure.
    2. Go to the app’s page on the portal.
    3. From the left menu, go to the Monitor tab.
    4. Select the Logs option.view-activity-log
    5. You can use filters for a specific resource type, resource group, and time range for the logs you want to view on the Logs page. You can also search for particular entries using the search box.

    3. Check your application or service’s configuration 

    1. Go to the Azure portal.
    2. Sign in with your Azure account.
    3. Select the app or service you want to view the configuration from the left menu.
    4. Now, from the resource page, select the Configuration tab. This will display the current configuration settings for the web app or service.open-general - Error displaying your content Azure
    5. Check the connection strings, environment variables, and other settings and modify them.

    4. Check for updates or patches for your app or service

    1. Go to the Azure portal and sign in to your Azure account.1-all-services -error displaying your content azure
    2. Select the All services link from the left menu, go to the Administration section, and select Updates.
    3. On the Updates page, under the Resource provider section, you will get updates for the resource providers with State Available.Updates available
    4. If an update is available, you will see a notification. Alternatively, you can click on Check for updates button from the top menu.

    5. Contact Azure support

    If nothing has worked for you so far, it is advised to contact Microsoft Azure Support for assistance. Explain to them the situation, and all the steps you have performed, so that they can better understand the problem.

    So, these steps can be used to resolve errors displaying your content on Azure. Try them and let us know which worked for you in the comments below.

    Excel SUM Formula Not Adding Correctly: How to Fix

    Posted on by Matthew Adams

    As a spreadsheet application, Excel is one big calculator that also displays numeric data in tables and graphs. The vast majority of Excel users will need to utilize the application’s SUM function (or formula). As the SUM function adds numbers up, it’s probably Excel’s most widely utilized formula.

    The SUM function will never miscalculate numbers. However, SUM function cells don’t always display the expected results.

    Sometimes they might display error messages instead of numeric values. In other cases, SUM formula cells might just return a zero value. These are a few ways you can fix an Excel spreadsheet not adding up correctly.

    Why is the Excel SUM formula not adding correctly?

    There are several reasons why the SUM formula in Excel might not be adding correctly. Some possible causes include:

    • The formula is using the wrong cell references: Make sure you are using the correct cell references in your formula, and that the cells being referenced are actually part of the data you want to sum.
    • There are hidden rows or columns that are being included in the calculation: If you have hidden rows or columns in your data, make sure they are not being included in the calculation by accident. You can check this by looking at the cell references in the formula and seeing if they include any hidden cells.
    • There are cells with text or errors in them: If there are cells in the range being summed that contain text or errors, the SUM formula will not work correctly. You can fix this by making sure all cells being summed contain only numerical data.
    • The cell format is set to text: If the cell format is set to text, the SUM formula will not work correctly. You can fix this by selecting the cells you want to sum, and then going to the Home tab in the ribbon and clicking on the “Number” dropdown in the “Number” group. Choose “General” or another number format from the list.
    • The formula has been entered incorrectly: Make sure you are using the correct syntax for the SUM formula, including the equal sign (=) and the open and close parentheses.

    How can I fix Excel SUM functions that don’t add up?

    1. Check the syntax of the SUM function

    First, check you’ve entered the SUM function in the formula bar with the right syntax.

    The syntax for the SUM function is:

    =SUM(number 1, number 2)

    Number 1 and number 2 can be a cell range, so a SUM function that adds the first 10 cells of column A will look like this: =SUM(A1:A10). Make sure there are no typos of any description in that function that will cause its cell to display a #Name? error as shown directly below.

    #NAME? cell error excel spreadsheet not adding up correctly

    2. Delete spaces from the SUM function

    The SUM function does not add up any values when there are spaces in its formula. Instead, it will display the formula in its cell.

    To fix that, select the formula’s cell; and then click in the far left of the function bar. Press the Backspace key to remove any spaces before the ‘=’ at the beginning of the function. Make sure there aren’t spaces anywhere else in the formula.

    Function with spaces in it excel spreadsheet not adding up correctly

    3. Widen the formula’s column

    If the SUM formula cell displays #######, the value might not fit within the cell. Thus, you might need to widen the cell’s column to ensure the whole number fits.

    To do that, move the cursor to the left or right side of the SUM cell’s column reference box so that the cursor changes to a double arrow as in the snapshot directly below. Then hold the left mouse button and drag the column left or right to expand it.

    Narrow spreadsheet column excel spreadsheet not adding up correctly

    4. Remove text formatting from cells

    The Excel SUM function will not add up any values that are in cells with text formatting, which display text numbers on the left of the cell instead of the right side. To ensure all cells within a SUM formula’s cell range have general formatting. To fix this, follow these steps.

    1. Select all the cells within its range.
    2. Then right-click and select Format Cells to open the window shown directly belowFormat Cells window excel spreadsheet not adding up correctly
    3. Select General in the Category box.
    4. Click the OK button.
    5. The cells’ numbers will still be in text format. You’ll need to double-click each cell within the SUM function’s range and press the Enter key to switch its number to the selected general format.
      Cells with text format excel spreadsheet not adding up correctly
    6. Repeat the above steps for the formula’s cell if that cell displays the function instead of a value.

    5. Select the Add and Values Paste Special options

    Alternatively, you can add values in cells with text formatting without needing to convert them to general with this trick.

    1. Right-click an empty cell and select Copy.
    2. Select all the text cells with the function’s cell range.
    3. Click the Paste button.
    4. Select Paste Special to open the window shown directly below.Paste Special window excel spreadsheet not adding up correctly
    5. Select the Values and Add options there.
    6. Click the OK button. Then the function will add the numbers in the text cells.

    Those are a few of the best ways you can fix Excel spreadsheet formulas that aren’t adding up correctly.

    In most cases, the SUM function doesn’t add up because it hasn’t been entered right or because its cell reference includes text cells.

    If you know of any other way to fix this Excel-related issue, leave a message in the comment section below so other users can try it.

    Best Audio Drivers for Windows 10 + Setup Tips & Tricks

    Posted on by Loredana Harsana

    Whether you’re getting ready to join a meeting or dive into a new PC game, having a reliable audio driver installed on your Windows system is essential. Without it, your sound might not work properly—or at all. If you’re unsure which audio driver is best for your setup, don’t worry—this guide has you covered.

    We’ll walk you through the best audio driver available for Windows, along with clear steps on how to download and install it. Let’s get started!

    Realtek HD Audio Driver – The most popular audio driver

    relatek hd audio manager user interface

    Realtek Audio Drivers are the best free audio drivers available for your Windows 10 PC. They provide high-quality audio on a computer.

    These drivers are typically offered by motherboard or computer OEMs.

    They allow the computer to communicate with audio hardware on the motherboard. You can install the latest version of audio drivers from the manufacturers’ website, the Realtek website, or via dedicated updaters.

    More about Realtek HD Audio Driver

    • License available for free
    • The latest version available – is 6.0876.1
    • File size – 72.6 MB

    ⇒  Get Realtek HD Audio Drivers here

    ASIO4ALL– Popular among musicians

    ASIO driver for Windows

    This free universal audio ASIO driver for Windows can be downloaded from the ASIO4ALL website.

    This driver is designed to work with a wide range of audio devices.

    Music producers and audio professionals popularly use it because it provides low latency audio performance and support for advanced audio features. 

    More about ASIO4ALL

    • Available for free
    • Latest version available – 2.15
    • File size – 311 KB

    ⇒  Get ASIO4ALL Audio Drivers here

    Jack Audio

    jack audio

    Jack Audio Connection Kit offers professional-level audio features. It also includes a driver for Windows 10 that excels in low-latency audio and MIDI routing.

    It is designed for users who need advanced audio management capabilities, enabling complex setups and flexible routing of audio signals between multiple applications.

    More about Jack Audio:

    • Routes audio and MIDI between applications
    • Minimal audio delay
    • Customizable

    ⇒ Get Jack Audio

    How can I download and install an audio driver on Windows 10?

    1. Use the Device Manager 

    1. Press Windows + R to open the Run window. Device Manager RUN COMMAND
    2. Type devmgmt.msc and hit Enter to open Device Manager. 
    3. Go to Sound, video, and game controllers, right-click Realtek ® Audio and select Update driver.Update audio driver 
    4. Now on the next screen, select Search automatically for drivers.Update driver - Download an d install audio driver windows 10
    5. Click Search for updated drivers on Windows Update.Update driver - Best Audio drivers for Windows 10
    6. Go to Advanced options.Advanced options
    7. Under Additional options, click Optional updates. optional
    8. If there is any update available, click Download and Install. 

    A simpler method to update your drivers is to employ the help of a professional driver updater and let the software do all the work for you.

    2. Use the device manufacturer’s website

    1. Go to the device manufacturer’s website. Here we are using HP to demonstrate the process. Next, head to the HP support page.
    2. Go to the Software and Drivers tab, and then select your product.Hp customer support page audio driver download install Windows 10
    3. Click Let HP detect your product. Then, click OK on the prompt.Hp customer
    4. Select your device and the Windows OS version, then click Submit.Software and drivers
    5. Now click All drivers to expand. 
    6. Expand Driver-Audio and if there is an update, click Download.All drivers
    7. Double-click the .exe installation file to install it.
    8. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete.

    So, this is it! Now you know about the best audio drivers for Windows 10 and the methods to download and install the best drivers on your x64-bit Windows 10 computer.

    And if you’re interested in troubleshooting more audio-related issues, check out our guide on the Windows USB audio driver. You can also learn how to fix the generic audio driver problem or restore the Realtek HD Audio Manager if it’s missing

    If you find installing audio drivers manually time-taking, you can get a reliable third-party app to get the latest compatible drivers on your computer. Try these steps and let us know which worked for you in the comments below.

    How to Disable Analyze in Excel in Power BI: 3 Easy Steps

    Posted on by Milan Stanojevic

    There are many situations in which you don’t want users to download or export data from Power BI. Many people try to find this option in this tool but to no avail.

    Also, the problem is pretty heavy, since it’s all about protecting your data.

    One user opened a thread on the official forum:

    We are about to launch a Power BI Dashboard to external users and I have just realised that they will be able to use Analyse in Excel. It is not ideal that they can use Export but having external users being able to use Analyse in Excel gives them far to much access to the data and will mean that we would not be able to laucnh. Does anyone know if there is a way to turn this off?

    So, since this is a great feature to work with, the user wants to disable Analyse in Excel only for external users, but not for internal ones.

    Power BI Service has this option but is not so apparent at first sight. For that reason, we offer you an easy and approachable method to do it on your PC.

    How do I disable Analyze in Power BI Excel?

    1. Go to the Admin portal.
    2. Click on Tenant settings.
    3. Turn off Export data and Allow users to use Analyze in Excel with on-premises datasets.power bi disable analyze in excel

    Although this method solves the problem, it disables a part of Power BI that the OP planned to use for internal users. So, the option is far too blunt for some people.

    ? Why is Analyze in Excel greyed out?

    The Analyze in Excel option can be greyed out in the PowerBI apps because the Export data is disabled or the feature is not enabled by the tenant at all.

    You can get in contact with your tenant or organization admin to make sure the feature is enabled in PowerBi, thus solving this problem.

    ? How do I enable Excel Analyze in Power BI?

    The method is quite straightforward so you only need to enable the Export data option in the PowerBi interface.

    To do that, go to File > Options and Settings > Options. Under the Current file, go to Report settings and click on Allow end users to export summarized data option.

    That’s it! You should now be able to use the Analyze in Excel functionality with no issues.

    Conclusion

    As we said at the beginning of this article, Analyze in Excel poses a severe problem regarding data protection. Moreover, disabling this function looks more like a workaround than a solution.

    For quite a few users, it is necessary to preserve Analyze in Excel for some operations.

    Nonetheless, the option to disable the feature is there. Now, Microsoft will only need to twitch it just a little bit.

    Was our method helpful? Do let us know in the comment section below!

    Plugable USB Bluetooth 4.0 not Working: 4 Best Fixes

    Posted on by Vladimir Popescu

    If you notice your pluggable USB Bluetooth 4.0 adapter is not working when connected to your device, know that you are not alone.

    For many Windows 10 users, this problem occurs as they state on different forums, looking for a way to fix it.

    We will explore in this article the exact steps you need to take to solve this problem quickly, so keep reading.

    Why is my Bluetooth USB adapter not working?

    Different factors will trigger this problem among users. However, at the top of the list are the following:

    • Driver issues – These, in some cases, will be outdated drivers and, in other cases, corrupted ones.
    • Stopped services – Users may experience this issue if essential Bluetooth services have been stopped or not started on the computer.

    We will explore some of the most efficient fixes for this problem on your computer. These fixes may work for users facing Maxuni Bluetooth 5.0 driver download issues.

    How can I fix my pluggable USB Bluetooth 4.0 not working?

    1. Uninstall and reinstall the driver

    1. Right-click the Start menu and select Device Manager.
      pluggable usb bluetooth 4.0 not working
    2. Double-click the Bluetooth category.
      pluggable usb bluetooth 4.0 not working
    3. Right-click on your Bluetooth driver and select Uninstall device.
    4. Follow the prompts to complete the uninstallation, then restart the PC. At the restart, the driver would be reinstalled.

    2. Update the driver

    1. Right-click the Start menu and select Device Manager.pluggable usb bluetooth 4.0 not working
    2. Double-click the Bluetooth category.pluggable usb bluetooth 4.0 not working
    3. Right-click on your Bluetooth driver and select Update driver.
    4. Select the Search automatically for updates option.

    Check if issues of the pluggable USB Bluetooth 4.0 not working have been resolved.

    3. Check Bluetooth services

    1. Press the Windows key and R to open the Run box.
    2. Type in services.msc and press Enter.
    3. Next, right-click Bluetooth Support service and click Restart. 
      pluggable usb bluetooth 4.0 not working
    4. Now, double-click Bluetooth Support service and locate the General tab.
    5. Go to the Startup type and change it to Automatic.
    6. Next, press Apply and OK to save and exit. 

    4. Use a dedicated software

    Another common reason why your pluggable USB Bluetooth 4.0 is not working can be related to faulty or missing drivers.

    Although the drivers are usually updated anytime Windows 10 has new releases; there are situations where something may go wrong, and any issue with the drivers also impacts the associated software.

    To solve this problem and avoid it from occurring in the future, we recommend you use a dedicated third-party tool to solve the issue.

    We hope the solutions presented in this article helped you solve the pluggable USB Bluetooth 4.0 not working efficiently.

    Don’t hesitate to drop us a message in the dedicated section below and let us know which of the above steps worked best for you.

    Windows Security Not Opening in Windows 11: How to Fix it

    Posted on by Loredana Harsana

    When you install Windows 11, Windows Security or Windows Defender becomes the default antivirus and security solution. It is one of the most excellent remedies available, and it is effective in most circumstances.

    Nevertheless, one of the most frequently encountered concerns has been that the Windows 11 Windows Security is not opening or functioning as expected after an upgrade or random upgrade.

    Why is my Windows Security not opening on Windows 11?

    The reasons Windows Security settings are not opening or launching on Windows 11 after upgrading are close to close. Below are the popular reasons:

    • Glitches with the app: One of the reasons Windows security is not loading on Windows 11 is some glitches preventing it from opening. The solution here is to reset the app.
    • Faulty system files: If the system files meant to load the Windows Security apps are faulty, the app won’t open. You need to repair the system files to fix this.

    How can I fix the Windows 11 Windows Security not opening issue?

    1. Reset using PowerShell Command

    1. Right-click on the Start icon and select the Windows Terminal (Admin) option.windows-terminal windows 11 security center not opening
    2. Click the dropdown at the top and select the Windows PowerShell option.
      powershell security not opening windows 11-windows-11
    3. Copy and paste the command below and hit Enter: Get-AppxPackage Microsoft.SecHealthUI -AllUsers | Reset-AppxPackageget windows security not opening windows 11
    4. Restart your PC and check if the Windows Security app is now working.
    5. If it does not work, type the command below and hit Enter to reinstall the app: Set-ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml"} powershell-command windows 11 security center not opening

    You need to reset the app if Windows Security is not working or Windows Defender is not opening. The command below has worked for many. You can reinstall the app using the second command if resetting does not work.

    2. Repair the app

    1. Press the Windows key + I to open the Settings app, choose Apps in the left pane, followed by Apps & features.apps-apps-and-feature windows 11 outlook crashing
    2. Once you are inside the Apps & features window, search for Windows Security in the search bar from the top, and click on the three-dot menu next to it, followed by Advanced options.windows-security-app windows 11 security center not opening
    3. Scroll down until you find the Reset section, then click on the Repair button to start the repairing process.
      repair-app windows 11 outlook crashing

    Allow the Repair process to finish before rebooting your computer to guarantee your changes are applied. Then, by starting Windows Security, it lets you see if its functionality has been restored.

    3. Reset the app

    1. Press the Windows key + I, go to Apps in the left pane, followed by Apps & features.apps-apps-and-feature windows 11 outlook crashing
    2. Once inside the Apps & features window, search for Windows Security in the search bar, and click on the three-dot menu. Now click on Advanced options.windows-security-app windows 11 security center not opening
    3. Scroll down until you meet the Reset section, then click on the Reset button.reset-app windows 11 skype crashing

    4. Run SFC

    1. Press the Windows + S key to open the Search bar, then type cmd, right-click on the most relevant result shown to you, and run it as an Administrator to get full privileges.cmd-run-as-admin avast high cpu windows 11
    2. Type in the following command and press Enter to start the process:
      sfc /scannowsfc-scan-windows-11 gdi+windows error message on shutdown

    The process may take some time to finish, so you may need to restart your computer. SFC will automatically find and restore corrupted files and folders. If that does not help, you can try using specialized repair tools, which are much more advanced than Windows built-in tools.

    5. Run DISM

    1. Press the Windows + S key to open the Search bar, then type cmd, and right-click on the most relevant result to run it as an Administrator.cmd-run-as-admin avast high cpu windows 11
    2. Paste or type in the following commands and press Enter after each: DISM /online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealthdism-command the installer has encountered an unexpected error installing this package 2203

    Continue to be patient until the process is finished. Be advised that the process could take up to ten minutes to finish. Once you’ve completed this step, restart your computer to ensure the changes take effect.

    After you repair the Windows Security app, learn how to use every protection area with this clear guide: How to Use Windows Security.

    6. Disable your antivirus

    1. Click the expand arrow from your taskbar and right-click on your antivirus icon. Now choose Avast shields control followed by Disable for 10 minutes to stop it from interfering.disable-antivirus-icon xbox controller not recognized windows 11
    2. If you have other antivirus programs installed, you can temporarily disable the app following the same steps as above or similar ones with a few differences.avira-disable-icon xbox controller not recognized windows 11

    With the fixes above, you should be able to fix the Windows Security not opening on Windows 11 issue. If you want to use a third-party tool, check out our post on five of the best antiviruses for Windows 11.

    Alternatively, you can look at our article on the best antiviruses with low CPU usage for Windows 11.

    If you want to know how to turn on Dev Device protection on your Windows 11 computer, we have a detailed guide to help you with that.

    In case you have more issues, don’t miss our guide on how to reinstall Windows Security on Windows 11 for more solutions.

    Let us know in the comments section below which solution worked best for you in solving the Windows 11 Windows Defender not working issue and which antivirus software you prefer.

    Windows 11 Defender Not Working: 5 Ways to Fix it

    Posted on by Loredana Harsana

    A significant part of every Windows version, Microsoft Defender, has become one of the most reliable programs to protect your device against malware.

    Built into Windows 11 as well, this program offers in-depth threat resistance research and advanced security to provide protection on all Windows devices.

    So when an issue occurs and it doesn’t work properly or Windows 11 cannot open Windows Security, users turn to the Internet in search of causes and solutions to fix the error and get back the protection they need for their devices.

    That is why we are going to take a look at the most common causes and show you how to get things on the right track.

    How do I fix the Windows 11 Defender not working issue?

    Before trying out more complicated solutions when your Windows Defender is not working, try out some of these quick fixes:

    • Restart your computer
    • Restart Windows Defender

    1. Change the date and time

    1. Click on the Start icon from the taskbar.Start button
    2. Select the Settings option.Settings
    3. Go to Time & language option from the left pane.Time and language
    4. Select the Date & time option from the right pane.Date and time
    5. Click on the Change button and set the correct date and time for your zone.Change date and time

    2. Update Windows

    1. Click on the Start icon from the taskbar.Start button
    2. Select Settings.Settings
    3. Click on Windows Update.Windows update
    4. Click on Check for updates.Check for updates

    3. Enable real-time protection

    1. Click on the Search icon from the taskbar.Search
    2. Type Windows Security and select it from the options.Windows Security
    3. Head over to Virus & threat protection.Virus and threat
    4. On the right pane, under Virus & threat protection settings, click on Manage settings.Manage settings
    5. Switch the toggle On from under Real-time protection.Protection ON

    4. Run a SFC scan

    1. Click on Search from the taskbar.
    2. Type command prompt, and click on Run as administrator.Run as admin cmd
    3. Enter the following line: sfc/scannowsfc scan now
    4. Wait for the process to finish as it will take some time and then restart your computer.

    5. Change the Proxy Server

    1. Click on the Search icon from the taskbar.
    2. Type Command Prompt and select the Run as Administrator option.Run as admin cmd
    3. Type in one of the following:
      • NETSH WINHTTP SET PROXY 1.1.1.1:8080
      • NETSH WINHTTP SET PROXY MYPROXY.NET:8080
    4. Reboot the system and see if it solves the issue.

    If you change your mind and want to give a try to a third-party tool, choose Bitdefender since it’s known for the high detection rates of the latest malware, along with unbeatable multi-layer ransomware protection.

    This was our last solution for the Windows 11 Defender not working issue. Moreover, you can read more about the causes of this problem.

    Why is my Windows Defender not working in Windows 11?

    If you have third-party antivirus software installed on your computer, note that it might lead to certain Windows Defender errors.

    Choose to use either Windows Defender or a third-party antivirus tool. Also, if you just got a new laptop, check if it came with a preinstalled antivirus trial version as this can stop Windows Defender to work properly.

    Here is what Microsoft said regarding the compatibility with other antivirus products:

    What happens when another non-Microsoft antivirus/antimalware solution is used? Can you run Microsoft Defender Antivirus alongside another antivirus product? The answers depend on several factors, such as your operating system and whether you’re using Microsoft Defender for Endpoint (Defender for Endpoint) together with your antivirus protection.

    And if you work with programs like Flash or Java, you might need to uninstall the free security scanner which can cause some issues.

    Although this might come as a surprise, another common reason why Windows Defender might not start is an incorrect time and date as most system functions are dependent on time and date.

    Even more, an outdated PC can lead to many errors so we always recommend you perform a full update on your computer and on the antivirus as well.

    If you’re having difficulties updating Windows Defender, you might need to install the virus definitions manually.

    Windows 11 cannot open Windows Security

    Several users described a similar situation: when they click on the Open Windows Security button from the Windows Security tab inside Settings, they see an unusual pop-up instead of actually opening the application.

    It reads You’ll need a new app to open this windowsdefender link, giving them the option to search the Microsoft Store for an app.

    Fortunately, though, there is an easy solution to solve the problem right away. You simply need to press the Windows key, type PowerShell, right-click it and select Run as administrator, then copy-paste this command and press Enter: Get-AppxPackage Microsoft.SecHealthUI -AllUsers | Reset-AppxPackage

    Fore more info on what to do if Windows Security is not opening on Windows 11, check out our dedicated guide.

    What does Windows Defender has to offer to Windows 11 users?

    Windows Defender is pretty much the same as it was on the previous OS but there is one remarkable feature called Microsoft Defender Application Guard (MDAG) that you should know more about.

    It is available for several types of devices such as enterprise desktops and mobile laptops, as well as personally-owned laptops that are managed through Microsoft Intune or a similar tool.

    Designed for Microsoft Edge and for Microsoft Office, the main purpose for Microsoft’s Application Guard is to prevent developing attacks and improve employee productivity:

    Microsoft Defender Application Guard (Application Guard) is designed to help prevent old and newly emerging attacks to help keep employees productive. Using our unique hardware isolation approach, our goal is to destroy the playbook that attackers use by making current attack methods obsolete.

    The way the system works is quite easy to understand. For example, for Microsoft Edge or Internet Explorer, MDAG will help isolate previously defined untrusted sites, therefore, protecting your company from any attack.

    If someone opens a page from an untrusted website, Microsoft Edge will open the page in an isolated Hyper-V-enabled container.

    The course between the host PC and the isolated container – SOURCE: docs.microsoft

    You can choose which websites, cloud resources, or internal networks are to be trusted or not. Also worth mentioning is the fact that this feature doesn’t require Hyper-V to be turned on.

    Now there you have it, the most likely situations that can create errors and the solutions to fix them on your Windows 11 device.

    Moreover, if your Windows Defender is turned off on your Windows 11 PC, do not hesitate to edit your registry in order to enable it back on.

    And if the Windows Defender service won’t start, make sure to clean your registry and check your environment variables.

    What solution from the ones presented above worked for you to fix the Windows 11 Defender not working issue? Let us know in the comments section below.