The ERROR_WRITE_FAULT error code with The system cannot write to the specified device description occurs when users try to install the latest updates on their computers. Reportedly, this error is prevalent for driver updates.
It may also occur when users try to create and save backup files and folders. Irrespective of the causes, we have gathered the surefire solutions that will help you fix it in this guide.
What causes The system cannot write to the specified device error?
The system cannot write to the specified device error can be down varying reasons. Listed below are some of the various causes:
Damaged or corrupt system files: Corrupt system files is one of the chief causes of the FSlogix the system cannot write to the specified device and other variations of the issue. The quickest way around this is to repair the broken system files with either the built-in tool or dedicated software.
Issues with system memory: When there is a problem with your system memory, you can also get an error message. Running the CHKDSK command is should help here.
Malware infections: The presence of viruses on your PC can cause all sorts of problems, including this issue we are dealing with. You need to eliminate the malware using one of the best antivirus software.
How can I fix The system cannot write to the specified device error?
1. Perform an SFC scan
Press the Windows key + S, type cmd, and select Run as administrator under Command Prompt.
Type the command below and hit Enter: sfc/scannow
Wait for the command to finish running.
If your getting the 0x1d – the system cannot write to the specified device error on your PC, running the SFC scan on CMD should restore normalcy. This is because most variations of the error are caused by faulty or missing system files.
Alternatively, you can fix these files using a specialized tool to restore or replace corrupted files and folders as well.
2. Run the CHKDSK command
Launch Command Prompt as admin.
Type the command (replace C with your drive letter) below and hit Enter: chkdsk c: /r
If you receive a prompt, press Y and restart your PC. The scan will start immediately after your PC restarts.
Memory issues can make lead to the WinToUSB the system cannot write to the specified device error. The CHKDSK command is a powerful built-in tool known to fix many memory issues, including this one.
Thus, you should try it too.
3. Scan for malware
Press the Windows key, type virus, and select Virus & threat protection.
Click Scan options.
Choose the Full Scan option and click the Scan now button.
Malware may cause various issues on your computer, including the system cannot write to the specified device error. Performing a full system scan should help clear them and restore your PC’s health.
However, if you want to run a really deep scan and eliminate even the most stubborn virus, you should a third-party antivirus in ESET NOD32.
This lightweight software employs a no-nonsense policy against viruses. It eliminates them before they can affect your PC. All these without disturbing your activities.
4. Update your OS
Press the Windows key + I to open the Settings app and select Update & Security.
Click the Check for updates button.
Install all available updates including the optional ones.
Windows updates are important in fixing bugs and issues. If you have not updated your PC in a long time, you can face the system cannot write to the specified device error.
After installing the updates, remember to restart your PC.
As a quick reminder, Microsoft constantly rolls out Windows updates in order to improve the system’s stability and fix various issues.
5. Clean your temporary files and folders
Click the Start icon, type disk, and select Disk Cleanup.
Check the boxes for the files you want to clean.
Now, click theClean up system files button.
At times, the system cannot write to the specified device error can be because of junk files on your hard drive. The Disk Cleanup tool will help you clear the files you want to remove.
Another option, which is probably a better one, is to use a dedicated tool in CCleaner. This tool helps to optimize your PC by clearing out junk files and unwanted documents.
CCleaner also serves as an uninstaller software that can remove an unwanted app and its components. It might just be all you need to protect your PC from this type of issue.
Press the Windows key + S, type cmd, and choose Run as administrator under Command Prompt.
Type the command below and hit Enter: msdt.exe -id DeviceDiagnostic
Wait for the diagnosis to be complete and apply any recommendations.
One of the best things about the Windows OS is its array of troubleshooters. Running the hardware and devices troubleshooter helps to fix many hardware issues including the system cannot write to the specified device error.
You should restart your PC after applying the fixes to let them take effect.
With this, we can conclude this guide. We believe that you have everything you need to fix the system cannot write to the specified device error easily. All you need to do it to follow the steps carefully.
With the increased numbers of people needing to work remotely because of the latest global events, it becomes increasingly important to have Microsoft Office installed on your PC.
There’s no better time to invest in a powerful and capable laptop than during this year’s shopping spree, enabling you to secure a great laptop at an affordable price, and also get Microsoft Office pre-installed and licensed.
Because we know how hard it is to make an informed decision with the wide range of options available on the market, we decided to make things easier for you.
Make sure to read through the article in its entirety to make the best decision possible.
Note: All the prices and offers in this article are subject to change, so be sure to check the official product page to get the latest deal. If the product or offer you’re looking for is no longer available, you can try to find it on its official manufacturer page or get another one from our list.
What are the best laptops with Microsoft Office pre-installed?
The Lenovo IdeaPad 1.6GHz is a nice laptop that comes with a 1 year Microsoft Office subscription, ensuring that you will never have to worry about buying a license.
Featuring a 14-inch display with a 1366 x 768 HD resolution, you can easily carry this laptop with you wherever you are, and you get full access to a year of Office 365.
The ultra-compact memory system with DDR4 ensures that your data will be processed quickly and that you can complete tasks in a timely manner.
The Microsoft V4C-00022 Surface Laptop 3 is an amazingly powerful and versatile laptop that offers you touch-screen capabilities besides the amazingly looking design.
This laptop uses an Intel i5 processor, ensuring that even the most complex tasks can be achieved in a fraction of the time.
The 8 GB RAM also allows you to run multiple applications without worrying about your laptop getting stuck, thus allowing you to open a big number of Office-related windows at no cost for the processing power.
The ASUS L203MA-DS04 VivoBook ensures that you will always get noticed with an incredible folding design.
The Intel Celeron N4000 processor ensures a smooth operation sequence, being more than capable to run the included Microsoft Office software that comes included.
Another great advantage of this laptop is that because of its small size and thinness, you can carry it easily with you wherever you go.
The next Microsoft Multi-Touch Surface laptop is the ideal choice in terms of lightweight usage, system performance, or RAM memory specifications.
There is guaranteed high-quality offered by a powerful processor 10th generation Intel Core i5 or the 12.4-inch PixelSense display that offers you crystal clear graphics.
In addition, you benefit from the original Microsoft Office installed with cutting-edge features and immaculate condition without any marks or malfunctions.
The HP HD Intel N4000 is another great laptop that comes ready to do work using Office 365, offering decent processing speeds and great RAM memory to ensure you can run multiple versions of the software.
With a processing speed that goes up to 2.6 GHz, you don’t need to worry about stalling processes, and the 1 year Office subscription allows you to work using this software seamlessly.
Added to all this, the slick silver design is sure to fit in any environment you choose to use it.
These are the best options for laptops that have direct access to Microsoft Office 365 and are also on a deal this year.
We hope that this guide has provided you with useful information and that you chose a laptop from the list.
Feel free to share your opinion with us by using the comment section below.
Error 0xc1900223 is a Windows Update issue that can arise on Windows 11 and 10. This can be a problem and result in Windows Update not working.
There isn’t any one specific cause for the 0xc1900223 update error but it’s mainly due to glitches with the update components or corrupted system files. We can’t exclude issues with the update service or network connection problems. Flushing the DNS can sometimes help with the latter.
How can I fix error 0xc1900223?
1. Open the Windows Update troubleshooter tool
First, click Start, and the Settings app pinned to that button’s menu.
Select the Troubleshoot Settings category.
Click the Other trouble-shooters box to view a list of repair tools.
Select the Run option for opening Windows Update.
Then wait for the Windows Update troubleshooter to detect issues and hopefully apply fixes. It will display a completed troubleshooting overview when it’s done.
2. Enable and Run the Windows Update service
Open the Run command dialog by holding the Windows button on the keyboard and pressing R.
Type in services.msc within Run’s text box.
Select Run’s OK option to view Services.
Double-click the listed Windows Update service.
Select Automatic for the service’s startup.
Click Start to start Windows Update.
Press Apply on the Windows Update Properties window.
After restarting the service, check if error 0xc1900223 is gone.
NOTE
If Windows Update is already enabled and running, stop the service by right-clicking it and selecting Stop. Right-click it again and selectStartto restart the service.
3. Clear the DNS (Domain Name System)
To view the search tool’s box, press the Windows and S keys simultaneously.
Find Command Prompt by inputting the search phrase cmd.
Click Command Prompt’s Run as administrator option on the right side of the search tool.
Input this DNS flush command and press Return: ipconfig /flushdns
Also, input these separate ipconfig commands and press Return after each one entered: ipconfig /registerdns ipconfig /release ipconfig /renew
Finally, restart your laptop or desktop by selecting Power and then Restart from Start menu options.
This is a simple method, but it can help with error 0xc1900223, so be sure to try it.
Open Command Prompt with administrative privileges.
First, execute this Deployment Image Servicing and Management command: DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth
Then type in this SFC utility command and press Return: sfc /scannow
Wait for the SFC scan to finish and show an outcome message.
5. Rename the SoftwareDistribution and Catroot2 folders
Open Command Prompt with administrative rights as outlined in method three.
Disable Windows Update components by executing the following separate commands: net stop wuauserv net stop cryptSvc net stop bits net stop msiserver
Next, rename SoftwareDistribution to SoftwareDistribution.old by executing this command: ren C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old
Input this rename command for the catroot2 folder and hit Enter: ren C:\Windows\System32\catroot2 Catroot2.old
Restart the stopped update components by inputting and executing these commands: net start wuauserv net start cryptSvc net start bits net start msiserver
Restart your PC after restarting the services.
So, that’s how you can get error 0xc1900223 fixed on Windows 11 PCs. We don’t promise those potential fixes for error 0xc1900223 will work for everyone, but they’re some of the more likely solutions.
There are also workarounds for error 0xc1900223. You can instead try installing updates by downloading them from the Microsoft Update Catalog. Or you can install a build update with the Media Creation Tool.
You can discuss error 0xc1900223 in the comments section below. Feel free to add any questions about fixing that error or even share other resolutions for it there.
Spam emails are among the leading disturbances we receive daily. These emails can carry malicious links and advertisements of various fake products.
This is why most users prefer to use email privacy software. However, to get rid of these spam emails even with your regular email, you need the best spam email filters.
In this guide, we have gathered the list of the best filter tools you can download and use for this purpose today.
How can I stop spam emails permanently?
There are a few ways to stop spam emails for good. Below are some of the best methods to use:
Block spam emails: The first thing you can do is to flag and block any spammy email address. This can be done from your email client’s settings.
Disable unwanted newsletters: Sometimes, you subscribe to newsletters on some websites. These pages can become spammy over time. Your way out here is to unsubscribe from them and any other needless mailing list.
Report the email: Another option is to report the email as spam. With this, your email client will track the email address and prevent you from receiving emails from it in the future.
Use an email spam filter: Using one of the best email spam filter service software is an excellent way to stop spam emails. These tools combine the best spam-detecting techniques to ensure they never disturb you. You can find the top-notch options in the next section of this article.
What are the best free email spam filters that I can use?
eM Client – Email client with built-in spam filter
Topping off our list is not a spam filter per se, but an email client with ones already built into it.
While this feature is not that uncommon among modern-day email clients, eM Client’s spam filter stands out because it is one of the best, if not the best, in the world.
What makes it so great is not the fact that it blocks the spam itself but that you can tailor the spam filter’s settings to suit various scenarios and your needs.
More so, these settings can be later revised if you change your mind about a source of emails and no longer want to flag them as spam.
eM Client
Try out this fantastic email client and set the Spam Filter settings to whatever suits your needs most so that you can avoid annoying messages.
Spamfence is one of the best email spam filter software for Gmail, Yahoo mail, and other email clients. This tool is an excellent option because it uses a complex mechanism involving two email addresses to eliminate spam.
So, how does it work? When you sign up with Spamfence, you create a new email address after that and submit both your current, spam-riddled address and the new one to the service.
After that, all mail from your main account is forwarded to Spamfence filters, where the service checks if any message is spam and then sends approved messages to a secondary email protected from spambots.
You’ll be notified about any spam mail and have complete control over it.
Besides providing an effective way of filtering spam from your email, Spamfence also provides free virus security. So, this program won’t keep you safe from spam; it will also prevent the spreading of malicious software through the mail.
POPFile is another powerful POP and NNTP proxy. This tool can effectively filter your email address from spam messages. This software works on the principle of classification, as you can create as many mail categories as you want.
Of course, by default, categories are spam and not spam, as mail from the spam category goes through, and the other doesn’t. However, you can create custom categories, like work, personal, important project, hobby, and sort mail into each category.
POPFile uses the Bayes algorithm to classify messages, which means it uses statistics to determine which words are likely to appear in which messages.
But before POPFile effectively protects your email from spam, you must first train it to ‘tell’ it which messages should be marked as spam. So before start using POPFile, make sure you set it up.
Once you’ve ‘trained’ POPFile, it should automatically eliminate any unwanted mail you receive.
Spamihilator is perhaps the best email spam filter to use if you mainly receive your mail through desktop clients, like Outlook for Windows 10, Mozilla Thunderbird, etc. This program runs alongside your email client for the desktop and successfully removes any unwanted email of your choice.
You can also train Spamihilator for more successful filtering. It contains a unique feature called the Training area, where you mark specific messages as spam.
Based on your decisions in the Training area, Spamihilator will remove messages from the same sender or of a similar kind. The more you use the Training area to filter spam, the more effective it becomes.
Spamihilator also supports various plugins, which you can download to improve filtering even more. In addition, there are some additional options, like the ability to filter links. The program and all plugins are entirely free to download and use.
If your email service is Google’s Gmail, you don’t need any spam filter because this service has all it takes to keep your inbox clean. In Gmail, you can manually mark any email as spam, preventing it from appearing in your inbox.
Once you mark an email as spam, it will be automatically transferred to the spam section of Gmail, and future messages from that sender won’t make it to your primary inbox.
You also have the option to unsubscribe from receiving emails from a specific sender, which is extremely useful if you’ve accidentally subscribed to some newsletters and promotional offers.
Of course, marking each email individually can be exhausting and time-consuming. But you’ll disable it forever. So, if you don’t receive a lot of spam mail, Gmail’s built-in option is the best solution, but if you do, try some of the programs from this list.
MailWasher is a simple spam-filtering service for POP3, IMAP, or webmail email addresses. First, you must connect it to your email account and filter unwanted messages. Of course, it will require work first until you filter a certain amount of mail.
But since MailWasher also uses a Bayesian algorithm, it will automatically remember your choices and further filter based on your decisions. This is why it is considered one of the best email spam filter software.
The program is elementary, as you have two options – spam and good. So, check emails you want to get rid of, mark them as spam, and you’re good to go.
MailWasher also has a premium version that, of course, you need to pay for. But in our opinion, the free version contains all you need to keep your inbox clean.
However, it limits you to just one email account, but if you’re a regular user, that shouldn’t be a problem. However, if you want to add more than one account, and have some customization options, consider buying the paid version of MailWasher.
SpamBayes is another top email spam filter program that uses Bayesian statistics to eliminate unwanted mail in your inbox. This filter for POP and IMAP mail accounts plugs in directly into Outlook, and Mozilla Thunderbird, so installation on these clients is relatively easy.
However, some less popular email clients don’t support the direct SpamBytes plugin, so installation on these clients might be tricky.
Just like it’s the case with the majority of spam filters from this list, SpamBytes uses the Bayesian method to learn from your decisions and automatically filter unwanted mail.
The program also analyzes all spam messages, so you can have further insight into what you’re marking as unwanted mail.
The storage space required by new games adds up in time and you may end up not being able to save the game you played so much. Nobody wants that to happen.
Fortunately, there are enough options on the market that allow you to extend your Xbox One storage with up to 5TB of HDD space that also has plug-and-play features.
In this article, we will explore the best options for external HDD for your Xbox One that you can get.
Note: All the prices and offers in this article are subject to change, so be sure to check the official product page to get the latest deal. If the product or offer you’re looking for is no longer available, you can try to find it on its official manufacturer page or get another one from our list.
WD Passport X is a great storage option and it’s compatible with Xbox One. Passport X has 2 TB of storage space and can reach speeds of 5 Gbs/s when transferring files through its 3.0 USB ports.
The design is really nice, it’s a small portable device that you can carry around everywhere you need without feeling it’s an inconvenience.
Setting up the device is extremely simple and fast, all you need to do is carefully follow the instructions.
If you’re looking to amp up your online privacy and computer security this year, check out Surfshark. It’s a reliable VPN service for any Internet-dependent user.
Developed by Surfshark LTD, Surfshark keeps you anonymous when going online by hiding your browsing activity from your ISP. It supports more than 3,200 VPN servers in 100 countries.
All servers all P2P-friendly, which means that you can stay off the grid when downloading or uploading torrents.
Note: All the prices and offers in this article are subject to change, so be sure to check the official product page to get the latest deal. If the product or offer you’re looking for is no longer available, you can try to find it on its official manufacturer page or get another one from our list.
What is the best Surfshark promo discount this year?
80% off + 5 months free for 3.99$ a month
The plan includes a 30-day money-back guarantee and 24/7 live chat and email support.
Surfshark VPN
Get this powerful VPN at an incredible price and maximize your online privacy!
Surfshark has private DNS on each server and comes with a strict zero-logging policy, which is backed by the British Virgin Islands’ safe jurisdiction.
The best part about it is that you can set up Surfshark on any number of devices and share your VPN account since it allows unlimited simultaneous connections.
It works with Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Fire TV, Chrome, Firefox, and even routers. That makes Surfshark the best VPN for multiple devices.
This ensures the best possible privacy and security over VPN without sacrificing your connection speed.
As far as streaming is concerned, you can unblock multiple Netflix libraries, including Netflix US.
Furthermore, you can set up Surfshark on streaming devices without native VPN support (such as Smart TVs and gaming consoles) by turning to its Smart DNS service.
Other features include an ad and malware blocker for web browsers, an emergency kill switch, IP leak protection, obfuscated servers (Camouflage), double VPN connections (MultiHop), split tunneling (Whitelister), and anti-censorship (NoBorders).
Surfshark is one of the few VPNs that can change your GPS location on Android. So what are you waiting for? Get SurfShark VPN 80% off + 5 months free for this shopping season.
If you’re experiencing issues on your Windows computer, the cause may be in various bottlenecks, bloatware, and settings that slow down your computer’s performance. And a simple solution would be to download the Windows refresh tool.
The problem is that the Windows Refresh tool is no longer available for users to download. But you can still perform the same operation without it with the same level of ease. So, let’s find out!
What does the Refresh Windows tool do? A refresh means reinstalling Windows, but the files and the installed apps, both from the Microsoft Store and the ones that came along with the OS, are kept.
Here are a few issues a refresh to fix in Windows:
Corrupt system files – Corrupt system files are responsible for many problems and can considerably affect the functioning of the OS.
Problems with Windows Update –Update errors, though not a common occurrence in Windows, can affect the performance of the OS and put your PC at risk.
Inability to launch or run an app – Often, misconfigured settings or other underlying causes can prevent apps from launching, and a refresh is a proven fix.
How can I perform Windows refresh without the Refresh tool?
1 Use the Settings app
Press Windows + I to open the Settings app, and click on Update & Security.
Now go to Recovery and click on Get Started under Reset this PC.
Choose if you want to keep the personal files or remove them. We suggest using the Keep my files option since it’s similar to a refresh.
Now select what type of reinstallation you want to perform. Local reinstall is usually faster, so we recommend using it.
Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the process.
Remember that the Windows reset utility will remove your installed apps, but it should keep your files.
Once the file is downloaded, run it, and click on Accept to agree to the license terms.
Select Upgrade this PC now and click on Next.
The setup will now download the latest version of Windows 10.
When you get to the Ready to install screen, keep personal files and apps listed, if not, go to Change what to keep and enable it, and then click on Install.
Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the setup process.
Performing an in-place upgrade is another highly effective method to start afresh with a clean installation of Windows 10 and works as a perfect alternative to the Windows Refresh tool. With this, you don’t lose the installed apps.
Press Windows + I to open Settings, and click on Recovery in the System tab.
Click on Reset PC.
Select Keep my files.
Now pick the reinstall type. Again, we suggest using Local reinstall since it’s faster.
Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the process.
2. Perform an in-place upgrade
Visit Microsoft’s download page, choose the appropriate response from the dropdown menus, and download the Windows 11 ISO file.
Once the download is finished, run the file and click Open.
Now, launch setup.exe.
Click Yes in the UAC prompt.
Click Install in the Windows 11 setup.
Now, wait for the setup to initialize things and click on Accept to agree to the license terms.
Finally, verify that everything is in order, the setup lists, Keep personal files and apps, and click on Install.
Wait for the installation to complete. It shouldn’t take very long, so be patient and don’t interrupt the process.
That’s it! These are all the ways you can refresh the OS, both Windows 10 and Windows 11, without downloading the tool. And once done, any problem with it should be eliminated. If that doesn’t work, a clean install of the OS will do the trick.
Your microphone is an essential tool as it allows you to communicate and get information on what’s happening around you. For this reason, keeping your microphone sensitivity at the proper level is essential.
The problem is that your microphone is not working at times or can be too sensitive or not sensitive enough. This can cause issues when you want to talk with your friends, but your mic picks up a lot of background noise or even other people talking.
Why should I change my mic sensitivity?
The default mic sensitivity is the level at which your microphone picks up sound. The higher the sensitivity, the more sensitive it is to sound and vice versa. So, what prompts you to adjust your mic settings?
Accurate voice recognition – If you’re using an application like Skype, Discord, or Hangouts, having the proper mic sensitivity settings will make voice recognition much more accurate. Better yet, you can incorporate headphone software to boost your audio.
You have a hearing problem – A low mic sensitivity means that you’ll be able to hear more sounds around you than someone with a high mic sensitivity. This is especially useful for people with hearing problems.
Avoid repetitions – If you have a high mic sensitivity, other people may not hear everything you say because they’re not close enough to the speakers or the volume on your mic is too low. A low mic sensitivity will allow them to hear everything clearly without repeating themselves multiple times.
It’s less distracting – Another reason why lowering your mic sensitivity can help: it keeps other people from hearing every little sniffle and cough that you make. This can be incredibly distracting for those who are trying to listen in on the conversation.
Improve the quality of your voice recordings – When you’re recording a voiceover, it’s important to have the right mic sensitivity, as it will improve sound quality. This is especially useful if you’re recording in noisy environments, such as at a loud concert.
How can I adjust my mic sensitivity?
Click on the Windows key to launch the Start menu, and then select Control Panel from the options on the right.
Select Hardware and Sound.
Click on Sound.
In the Sound dialog that pops up, click on the Speakers you are using then select Properties at the bottom.
Navigate to the Levels tab and select Balance next to your speaker.
Now drag the sliders until you achieve your desired sensitivity level.
How can I boost the microphone sensitivity in Windows 7?
If you’re using a computer headset or a standalone microphone, you can try a few things to boost your microphone’s sensitivity.
Before trying anything else, the first step is to ensure your microphone is connected and working correctly with your computer. Other tips include:
1. Try moving closer to the mic
If you’re using an external microphone, move it toward or away from the source of sound until you find the sweet spot where it picks up your voice.
Some situations will require you to come closer while others further away to transmit sound at quality levels.
2. Adjust background noise levels
Background noise can interfere with the quality of your audio recording and make it harder for people to understand what you’re saying.
If you are in a noisy place with lots of distractions, this can significantly interfere with the sound quality of your speakers. You can try moving to an area with fewer distractions,
3. Adjust the microphone settings
Some speakers/headsets have specific settings for adjusting how much sound comes out of the microphone. You can easily change these settings until you find a good balance.
Others even have built-in settings that can detect your surroundings and adjust the sensitivity accordingly.
4. Use a quality headset
If you are using low-quality headsets or earphones, there are high chances that these devices may not work correctly with microphones and hence will not provide good sound quality.
Quality doesn’t necessarily mean expensive. You can find affordable headsets with excellent sound quality. There are even noise-canceling headsets that allow you to record in noisy places.
5. Check for software conflicts
If you are using multiple sound recordings or voice chat programs, they may conflict with each other. This could end up blocking the signal from reaching your headset mic.
You can disable or uninstall any other programs that may interfere with how your microphone works.
6. Update sound drivers
If you’re using a USB/Bluetooth headset, ensure that your computer has its latest drivers. If not, there’s a good chance the driver is causing problems.
An automated solution like Outbyte Driver Updater will help you greatly because it has a substantial database with which it locates the latest updates for your drivers.
And that’s how to adjust your microphone sensitivity in Windows 7. Should you encounter any other issues, such as the Volume Mixer not showing up in Windows 7, we have a detailed article on how to resolve them.
In addition to improving your mic sensitivity settings, you may be interested in audio booster software that can significantly enhance your sound quality.
Please let us know any other tips you may have on boosting your mic sensitivity in the comment section below.
Sims 4 is the latest addition to one of the most famous game series ever, the Sims. This timeless title certainly rose above its prequels with a few brilliant innovations.
However, EA is kind of known for the unfinished, buggy games that scream for a patch. And sadly, Sims 4 is not an exception.f
A lot of users reported various errors, but just a few of them are too repetitive and prevent the game from starting. That is the case with the Sims 4 error code 22. And in this article, we’ll try and address this issue.
What is the Sims 4 error 22?
Error Code 22 in the Sims 4 appears when users try to save their games. It usually means that your game cannot load the game files because it is blocked by another program, or the files are missing from your device.
The full error message reads: The game failed to Save. Please exit to the Main Menu and then select Play to reload the game. Error code: 22.
Read on to find out what solutions are available for solving this issue in no time and getting back to playing your beloved game.
How can I fix the Sims 4 error code 22 on PC?
1. Clean the game cache
The first step to fix the Sims 4 error code 22 would be to manually clean the game’s cache. Due to virus infection or a few other reasons, your game can get corrupted.
That can and will lead to performance drops or unexpected loading errors. In most cases, the autosave file (slot 001) is the culprit for error 22, so try loading other saves.
1. Quit the game and stop the Sims 4 process in Task Manager. If it’s already closed, skip to step 2.
2. Go to Documents (My Documents).
3. Open the Electronic Arts folder.
4. Click on the Sims 4 folder.
5. Locate the Saves folder in the list and copy it to the Desktop.
6. Delete these cache files from Cache folder:
localthumbcache.package
cache
cachestr
cachewebkit
lotcachedData
7. Launch the game. It will create a new save instead of loading the old ones.
8. After new save is created, move your old saves from the desktop Saves folder, one by one, to the newly generated Saves folder.
If your game for no apparent reason crashed while autosave was performing, the save file may be corrupted. For that purpose, we advise you to perform more often manual saves.
2. Update the game with Origin
There is a widespread opinion that the game won’t load saves because of a weird update error. Namely, the client may inform you that you are trying to load the save that has been saved on a newer game version. That is a bit confusing, but you may try and update the game with the Origin client.
Open the Origin desktop app.
Find Sims 4.
Right-click on the game and open the Check for update option.
If there are any updates/patches available, the client will download and install them.
On the other hand, if your game is up to date and the problem is still persistent, try other workarounds below.
3. Close background programs
Another reason for this specific issue can be the activity of background programs. Nonetheless, there are programs that won’t impact the game whatsoever. For that purpose, follow this list and disable these programs while playing:
Cloud applications (OneDrive, Dropbox, Google Drive etc.).
Torrent clients and download managers.
Antimalware and third-party Firewall solutions.
VoIP programs like Skype or Team Speak.
VPN and Proxy.
4. Start PC with Safe Boot
Additionally, to make sure that there’s no single program interfering with the game, try and start your PC with Clean Boot. The procedure is swiftly done in a few steps:
Open Windows Search and type msconfig.
Right-click and run System Configuration like Administrator.
Select the Services tab.
Click Hide All Microsoft Services.
Choose Disable All.
Click on the Start Up tab and Open Task Manager.
Right-click and choose Disable.
Disable all startup services individually.
Confirm selection and reset your PC.
If you’ve accidentally disabled any valuable services, you can easily retrieve them by repeating the process.
5. Check the Sims 4 game’s integrity with the Origin client
Before you lose your nerves and perform reinstallation, we advise you to try and repair the installation files. For that purpose, Origin implements a tool that is similar to the ones on Battle.net or Steam. And this is how you can use it.
Open Origin client.
Go to My Games.
Right-click Sims 4.
Choose Repair Install.
The tool will check your game and repair corrupted or incomplete files.
Finally, you can try and reinstall the game. Most of the time, the users with the mentioned error haven’t succeeded to fix this issue by reinstalling. Nevertheless, we think they overlooked the importance of a ‘clean’ install, as it might actually help you. Here’s what you need to do:
Open Origin and choose My Games.
Right-click and select Uninstall.
After the process is finished go to the location of installation and delete remaining folders.
Use CCleaner or similar 3rd-party tool to clean registry.
Restart your PC.
Start Origin again.
Find Sims 4 and select Install.
If this wasn’t helping your saved games are probably doomed. So, you’ll need to start the game from a scratch.
We hope you were able to solve the Sims 4 error code 22 with one of the presented workarounds. In case you have any questions or suggestions related to the subject, feel free to share them in the comments.
Game capture cards add new functionality to your computer or gaming console. They are designed to record audio, video, and gameplay so that you can show them off to your friends or followers on the Internet.
In this article, we focused on finding the 5 best game capture cards for Twitch that you can buy from Amazon.
Some devices on this list even support live streaming on Twitch, OBS, XSplit, YouTube, RECentral, and other streaming services.
And, if you’re lucky enough to find a card that delivers zero delays, you can play games while streaming.
Note: All the prices and offers in this article are subject to change, so be sure to check the official product page to get the latest deal. If the product or offer you’re looking for is no longer available, you can try to find it on its official manufacturer page or get another one from our list.
Is it better to stream with a capture card?
Many of the more popular Twitch users stream and game on a PC using a two-PC setup. In these terms, they’ll need a capture card.
With one PC for gaming and one for streaming duties, the capture card sends the video signal from the gaming PC to the streaming/recording PC.
Keep in mind that capture cards provide the best facility for live streaming and also if you wish to transform your old sources of movies like DVDs into HD format.
Now, let’s discover what are the most efficient options you can use to get the best out of this experience.
With the Elgato HD60 game capture card from Corsair, you can record and stream your gameplay in full HD. It has integrated support for Twitch, YouTube, and others.
The device supports Playstation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch (unencrypted HDMI) for the input, along with an HDMI passthrough for the output.
If you choose to use this capture card, you’ll be able to stream and record your finest gaming moment, offering a stunning 1080p quality with 60 fps.
The built-in Live Streaming feature gets you up and running on Twitch or YouTube in a snap. Also, with Stream Command, customizing your stream layout would be done without any limits.
The Live Gamer from AVerMedia offers you several great features, among which you have to consider the 4K with 60fps HDR and Full HD 240fps support.
The game capture card is ideal for video recording and live streaming. It can be used with various software applications such as Twitch, OBS, XSplit, and RECentral.
Its Ultra-Low Latency for broadcasting and recording PS4 Pro and Xbox One X would offer you a smooth and complete experience.
AverMedia is extremely popular among worldwide users, so it is no longer a surprise that it’s pretty efficient.
Streaming your best gaming moments can be very exciting, both for you and your viewers, especially when you are covering important content.
However, you need a good game capture card to make sure everything goes smoothly, and the MiraBox Capture Card is one such device.
It works on all mainstream OSes, and it is compatible with all 1080 and 720p devices, so unless your monitor is a 4K monster, you’ll be just fine.
For those of you who are beginners, keep in mind that it is very easy to set up and there is no need to install a driver. Also, it is compatible with multiple operating systems like Windows 7/8/10, Linux, or Mac OS.
Magewell’s Pro Capture Quad HDMI is a feature-rich HD video capture card that can be used for recording videos and live streaming, including Twitch.
Keep in mind that it has a PCIe Gen2 x4 host interface and supports any DirectShow application.
With a 10-bit video processing engine, it includes various video editing options, such as color adjustment, cropping, and deinterlace.
It is ideal for any video capture application, including live streaming and it’s also compatible with any DirectShow application.
Any game capture card from this list is suitable for recording your gameplay and streaming it on Twitch, OBS, YouTube, and others. But they distinguish themselves by feature set.
Therefore, you should carefully explore your options before deciding what to buy from Amazon to improve your overall gaming experience.
Noise canceling software is a brilliant way to cancel your microphone noise, and the market is filled with tools that are able to do this.
You may need noise cancellation software for various reasons such as talking to your friends while you are gaming, chatting on Skype, editing a recorded voice track, and so on.
Unfortunately, if you don’t have the highest-quality microphone, the audio will end up collecting a lot of background noise.
But the good news is that there are lots of programs that are able to cancel the microphone noise, and we’ve gathered the best options of noise suppression software for PC that you have at your disposal these days.
How does noise suppression software work?
A noise suppression software is an app created to reduce background noise on voice recordings, conference calls, and other types of audio.
It works as a virtual microphone filter that connects to any calling app and starts reducing surrounding noises automatically.
This kind of software is like a noise gate because it has a technology that relies on AI to master what a human voice sounds like, then becomes able to select only that part of the audio and develops an active noise canceling to cut out the background noise.
Krisp is another creative solution for noise reduction and disrupting sounds that stop your productivity. This AI-powered software is perfect for eliminating undesirable noise from online meetings.
With this feature-rich technology, it’s very easy to control the background noise that disturbs your concentration during video calls. If you can imagine a tool that can erase distracting sounds in a second, you have it.
The noise cancelation can be done with just a press of a button. This awesome software has an intuitive interface and it shows efficiency through comprehensive features such as noise reduction from both ends of the call.
To give you an example, there are various sounds that may disturb your meeting. By choosing Krisp it’s possible to remove all distractions like barking dogs, traffic sounds, or even keyboard and mouse noise during the calls.
Thereby you will enjoy the HD quality of video or audio calls by removing any type of noise from your side, other participants, or room echo resonating sound.
In other words, no background sounds will disturb your calls again with this powerful AI-built software, so have a free trial to see yourself.
Krisp is a great choice if you are looking for free noise cancelling software to use for a few files. The trial version allows you to test it and see if it fits your needs.
Check out the most important features of Krisp:
Acoustic room echo removal
AI noise cancellation
Support for any microphone or headphones
HD quality of voice
Audio recording option
Floating widget to access features
Krisp
Did somebody say noise removal? Get Krisp today if you need class-quality sound for your online video calls.
Those of you that aren’t aware of Adobe’s entire suite of programs will probably overlook Adobe Audition. This dedicated digital audio workstation has everything you may ever need for professional-level audio processing.
This includes both a multitrack, a non-destructive mix and an editing environment, and a destructive-approach waveform editing view.
You can use the audio professional toolkit of this program to achieve qualitative audio for any of your projects, from music to podcast recording.
Furthermore, knowing the complexity of this software you may need some guidance to help you out. Well, using the Essential Sound panel you can steadily identify tasks to optimize your sound.
In addition, the noise reduction capacities help you with adjusting noise levels, using audio effects like DeNoise, or modifying high or low frequencies with spectral frequency display.
Check out the most important features of this program:
DeReverb & DeNoise effects
Improved playback and recording performance
Improved multitrack UI
Improved multitrack performance
Add album art in MP3 files
…and more
As far as noise-canceling is concerned, Adobe Audition works as a noise cancellation software that can handle a wide variety of noises:
Crackle from wireless microphones or old vinyl records
You can fix this with the Automatic Click Remover effect.
Background noise like wind rumble, tape hiss, or power-line hum
These can be fixed using the Adaptive Noise Reduction effect and DeHummer effect.
Phase cancelation from poorly placed stereo microphones or misaligned tape machines.
These can be fixed using the Automatic Phase Correction effect.
Adobe Audition
Get professional support with noise cancelation software that is capable of complex sound editing and mastering.
If you’re looking for a reliable noise cancellation software, then LALAL.AI might be just what you need. The app is designed to remove vocals and instruments from any track without quality loss.
LALAL.AI is powered by neural network called Phoenix and it allows you to extract both audio and vocals. Unlike other services, it also can extract other instruments, including bass, acoustic or electric guitar, piano and synthesizer.
This makes LALAL.AI the world’s first 8-stem splitter. The app also has a Voice Cleaner feature that cancels noise, removes background music, mic rumble and other interference.
The app is available in web browser, so be sure to give it a try if you need a simple but powerful noise canceling solution.
LALAL.AI features:
Completely web-based
Offers 8-stem splitter
Can remove both vocals and instruments
Voice Cleaner feature for noise cancellation
Incredibly simple to use
LALAL.AI
Powerful and simple noise canceling directly in your browser.
Descript is an exceptional app with a sound remover that can help you easily cancel background noise and unwanted surround sounds.
It has a Studio Sound feature that uses AI to remove noise and echo and elevate speakers’ voices, thus improving your audio quality. It can make distorted recordings sound like professional-made audio.
Descript has a full effects suite with auto-leveling, loudness normalization, and room tone with creative and quality features such as compression, EQ, reverb, and many more.
Besides these features, it also offers a screen recorder with transcripts, faster exports, instant editing, and personalization of the thumbnails on your shared videos.
Furthermore, it has a well-developed feature that provides quality voiceovers for corrections to podcasts and screen recordings by plainly typing in the correction.
Take a look at the other good features of this noise cancelling software app:
This is quite a simple noise gate software that is intended for use with VOIPs such as Skype to cancel the background noise and provide you with an enhanced experience while you are talking to your buddies.
Simply said, this skillful program can remove your background noise effectively and help you to have a crystal-clear sound while talking in your meetings.
More so, it’s a lightweight app that routes through audio input to an audio output. The audio quality is analyzed to see if the sound level is higher than the average.
You can as well to use it with your microphone to see your voice in the headphones. Hence it’s possible to remove all background noise from your part too. Basically, it works as a mic filter software as well.
Lastly, this program requires Java 7 or higher to run in Windows and Mac alike.
Check out the most important features that are packed in this app:
NoiseGator is a lightweight app that is also effortless to use.
It routes the audio through an audio input to an audio output.
The app is able to analyze in real time the audio level, and if the audio level is higher than the threshold, the audio will bypass as normal.
If the audio level goes below the threshold, the gate will close, and the audio is cut.
When you are using the app with a virtual audio cable, it will be able to act as a noise gate for either a sound input such as a microphone, or sound output such as speakers.
The app can also be used to gate noise from your very own mic or play your mic through your speakers.
SoliCall developed a patented technology for improving the audio quality in telephony.
SoliCall’s audio noise reduction software includes innovative noise reduction, client, and cloud-based echo cancellation as well.
With this tool, you will be able to easily improve the audio quality in any type of phone call. Choosing this tool is beneficial for anyone who needs a better sound quality and robust noise cancelation functionality.
Check out the most impressive features of the software below:
This innovative technology has been improved over the years by solving highly complex audio quality issues.
The technology is used worldwide to filter millions of phone calls each day.
SoliCall customers include developers of communication software, call centers, conference bridge providers, and network operators and organizations all over the world.
It boosts the audio quality of the calls.
SoliCall also has a dedicated support team that will help users analyze the audio behavior in their systems and will guide them on the best tuning to enhance the sound quality in their environments.
The app comes with innovative and patented noise reduction technology, and it’s compatible with lots of devices and platforms. It is also available for cloud-based communications.
The Andrea PC Audio Software provides the latest Audio Commander and noise cancellation filters that you can use with Andrea USB devices. The service supports Windows.
This rich-featured tool comes with qualitative solutions such as speaker noise removal from VoIP received audio, so anyone can enhance sound audio quality in minutes.
More so, it includes aggressive noise cancelation to stay apart from disturbing loud noise. Plus, the graphic equalizer and microphone recording capabilities will change your sound settings to improve your audio immediately.
therefore with such an intuitive platform and qualitative sound you will get no distractions during important video calls or while recording your own voice.
Take a look at the essential features that come with Andrea PC Audio Software:
The app is able to provide noise cancellation, and the speaker output is enhanced with Andrea’s PureAudio noise reduction for removing noise from your VoIP received audio.
By cleaning up the signal that you are listening to, you will enhance intelligibility.
The Aggressive PureAusio noise reduction on the speaker output will remove even more noise from your VoIP received audio.
The software comes with a high fidelity ten band Graphic Equalizer with preset selections for specific control of the bass, mid-range and treble audio levels for customizing the sound tone to best fit your favorite music type.
The app also comes with microphone recording features such as stereo noise cancellation, acoustic echo cancellation, light beamforming, aggressive beam forming, beam direction, microphone boost, and many more.
Samson Sound Deck for Windows is a noise cancellation software for PC that is able to expand the capability of your computer communication and recording as well.
The software is inspired by the digital audio processing technology that is used in the cockpits of military fighter jets.
The program is powered by state-of-the-art digital noise reduction algorithms that produce crystal clear communications and recordings in any environment.
Check out the most impressive features that are packed in Samson Sound Deck:
This is the ultimate tool for home and office VoIP communication, voice recognition software, gaming and recordingmusic and audio for YouTube videos, webinars and more.
Samson Sound Deck Windows will reside on your computer’s taskbar always improving sound quality and removing repetitive background noises.
The software lets you control lots of filters.
If your surrounding suddenly becomes quieter, you can just turn off the Digital Noise Reduction and utilize the unfiltered sound that is captured by the microphone.
Samson Sound Deck Windows includes a digital audio recorder with simple file saving and export functionalities.
The built-in recorder is perfect for recording voice memos, or full audio files for webinars.
The merging of the Samson Sound Deck Windows with Samson’s USB microphones will result in some of the most advanced computer VoIP communication and recording solutions that are available these days.
Therefore you’ll be able to rejoice at the sound quality and provide stunning recording sessions for the projects you really believe in.
These are currently the best five solutions that you can find for canceling noise.
Check out all their features and according to your needs decide which program is the best one for you and is ideal for providing the best noise-canceling features.
They all come packed with tons of impressive features that you can check out in more detail by heading to their official websites.
We hope you managed to find out which is the best noise cancelling software for you from the list above. Let us know your choice in the lines below.
The hype level stays the same, it’s just different products we get excited about every year. The last couple of years of technological advancement brought an entirely new market. And that’s VR.
But VR isn’t just Oculus Rift anymore. There’s a whole new world to be explored, with thousands of options. From VR headsets to games and apps running on those headsets.
As the VR market is relatively new, chances are you’re not in it yet. And there’s no better time to dive into this new world of virtual reality than now.
To save you some time and energy (and money, of course), we compiled a list of the best VR deals. So, all you have to do is choose what’s right for you, and your journey into VR can start.
Note: All the prices and offers in this article are subject to change, so be sure to check the official product page to get the latest deal. If the product or offer you’re looking for is no longer available, you can try to find it on its official manufacturer page or get another one from our list.
You can’t even think about going VR without astrong GPUto power it. And there’s no better time to upgrade your computer than now.
HTC VIVE Cosmos comes with its own mixed-reality headset. Sure, it’s not as powerful as some better-known alternatives, but this device is a pretty good deal for the price.
You will have access to the VR library store from where you can play your favorite VR games and apps.
Pansonite 3D VR Glasses Virtual Reality Headset for Games & 3D Movies is great and comes upgraded from the previous model and the lightweight is adjustable.
The VR is compatible with all iPhones, and Android phones that are within 4.7-6 inches.
It’s easy to use with the design that helps dissipate the heat from the head area while the adjustable T-shaped straps will help reduce the pressure around the face by balancing the head stress.
With a system developed based on Android 5.1, it has a 2560*1440 super clear screen, S900 quad-core ARM Architecture A53 architecture, main frequency up to 1.7G processor, and a 3G running memory,
With the large storage, you can use the Wi-Fi connection to download massive resources online and play your favorite games as well as watch your favorite movies.
Oculus Rift S PC-Powered VR Gaming Headset comes along with controllers, batteries, and a display port along with a manual of instructions. But don’t worry about it, there is nothing complicated about using this VR.
This headset comes with a high level of comfort, enriching your overall experience. And with the built-in VR library, it is definitely something worth trying.
HTC VIVE is one of the most known and popular virtual reality headsets. So, you can hardly go wrong with this one.
It boasts one of the most diverse ecosystems, as more than 2500 apps and games are currently compatible with this device, including the full integration with Steam VR, so you can enjoy all the benefits of your favorite gaming platform in VR.
Realtek HD Audio Manager is an essential component of the audio system of any standard PC, but many users reported that their headphones are not working via it.
The problem is not new and can arise due to several reasons. Usually, identifying the underlying case is a task in itself, but we will help you fix things Realtek is not detecting headphones.
Why are my headphones not working with Realtek?
Here are some of the reasons why the Realtek headphones are not detected or working:
Outdated, corrupt, or incompatible drivers – These cases can lead to issues with the headphones, but it’s usually the outdated drivers to blame.
Issues with the connection – In some cases, the connection was improper, which led to Realtek not detecting the headset mic.
Misconfigured settings – If the input mode or audio settings are misconfigured, chances are that you will face trouble with the Realtek headphones.
What can I do if headphones are not working in Realtek HD Audio Manager?
Before we move to the slightly complex solutions, here are a few quick ones that might work:
With the headphone still plugged in, restart the computer and check if it works.
If the previous one didn’t work, restart the computer with unplugged headphones beforehand.
Update Windows to the latest available version.
If these fixes don’t work, head to the ones listed next.
1. Disable front panel jack detection
Launch the Realtek HD Audio Manager, and click on the folder icon near the right.
Now, tick the checkbox for Disable front panel jack detection, and click OK to save the changes.
Once done, restart the computer and check whether the Realtek HD audio manager headphones are still not working if that’s the case, head to the following method.
2. Set the headphone as the default device
Connect the headphone to the computer.
Press Windows + S to open Search, type Change system sounds in the text field, and click on the relevant search result.
Navigate to the playback tab, right-click on the headphone, and then select Set as Default Device.
Again, right-click on the headphone, and select Properties.
Go to the Advanced tab, untick the checkbox for Allow applications to take exclusive control of this device, and click OK to save the changes.
Now, restart the computer and verify if the headphones start to work.
3. Update the audio drivers
Press Windows + R to open Run, type devmgmt.msc, and click OK.
Expand Sound, video and game controllers, right-click on the headphone, and select Update driver.
Select Search automatically for drivers and wait for Windows to install the best one.
Once done, things should work if earlier Realtek HD Audio Manager had no headset option and the headphones were not working.
If the solution mentioned above didn’t seem to work, we recommend using Outbyte Driver Updater, a tool that will automatically find and update all outdated drivers on your system.
Outbyte Driver Updater
Have your Realtek driver updated along with all other outdated drivers in no time.
Press Windows + X to open the Power User menu, and select Device Manager.
Expand the Sounds, video and game controllers entry, right-click on Realtek audio, and select Uninstall device.
Now, tick the checkbox for Attempt to remove the driver for this device, and click on Uninstall.
Once done, restart the computer, and Windows will automatically install a fresh copy of the driver.
If you encounter a problem after Windows undergoes an update, disable automatic driver updates. Things should be fine if earlier Asus Realtek HD audio manager headphones were not working.
File Explorer is one of the most critical Windows utilities, as it allows you to access all your files and folders in one place. However, sometimes, the File Explorer is not responding and causes issues.
Users recently noted that they cannot open File Explorer and are getting an error message that reads: An attempt was made to reference a token that does not exist. According to the users, they started experiencing these issues immediately after a Windows update.
Why am I getting the Attempt made to reference a token that doesn’t exist error?
If you are getting the An attempt was made to reference a token that does not exist error, it could be due to one or more of the following reasons:
Corrupt registry – When you have a corrupt registry on your hands, it can cause errors and other problems with your computer. This is why we recommend using a registry cleaner periodically as part of your maintenance plans.
Problematic installations – If you’re having this problem too, chances are it has something to do with incompatible software installed on your system. This means that you have probably installed some new software recently, and it has caused problems.
Corrupt windows update – Sometimes, if one of these updates is incomplete or broken, it can upset how your computer functions and lead to such errors.
How can I fix the An attempt was made to reference a token that does not exist error?
1. Repair corrupt files
Hit the Windows key, type cmd in the search bar, and select Run as administrator.
Type the following commands and press Enter after each one: cd %WINDIR%\System32for /f %s in ('dir /b *.dll') do regsvr32 /s %s
Restart your PC.
If you aren’t sure about performing this manually, then you can opt for a specialized tool to scan your PC comprehensively and automatically repair all the corrupted files.
2. Run DISM and SFC commands
Hit the Windows key, type cmd in the search bar, and select Run as administrator.
Enter the following command: DISM.exe /Online /Restorehealth
Allow for the command to be executed, then type in the next one: sfc /scannow
3. Uninstall recently installed programs
Hit the Windows key, type Control Panel in the search bar and click Open.
Select Uninstall a program under Programs.
Navigate to the latest install and click on Uninstall.
Navigate to Windows Update and select Advanced options.
Scroll down and select Recovery.
Under Advanced startup, select Restart now.
Select Troubleshoot.
Click on Advanced options.
Now, click on Go back to the previous build.
If you have installed a Windows update that causes problems, you can restore your PC to its previous state. This will keep all your files but replaces all files in your system folders with the older versions of those files.
5. Reset Windows
Hit the Windows key and select Settings.
Navigate to Windows Update and select Advanced options.
Click on Recovery options, then under Reset this PC hit the Reset PC button.
Select Keep my files.
If reverting to a previous Windows version doesn’t do the trick, resetting your PC might be the answer. When you reset your PC, it returns the system to its original factory settings.
This means that all your files and apps are removed from the computer, returning to the state you were in when you first got them. Remember to back up all your files, so you don’t lose any critical information.
No doubt, you have at least heard of the Sims games at least once in your life. We say that because this gaming franchise is surely among the top 5 most popular ones in the world so far.
This simulator has managed to gain tens of millions of fans worldwide, and users are still playing old versions of the game such as The Sims 2, even though Sims 4 has been out for quite some time.
However, people still playing Sims 2 on Windows 10/11 are talking about a DirectX error that leaves them unable to play.
Lucky for you, today we are about to focus on this nasty issue and show you what you can do to fix it.
Why do I get the Sims 2 DirectX 9 error?
As with most games nowadays, such errors don’t just happen for one reason. The Sims 2 DirectX 9 error can be triggered by random game or PC bugs, corrupted game files, or maybe even outdated software or drivers.
You should know that incompatibility issues with other programs that are running on your PC can be another cause, along with a faulty or nonexistent internet connection.
There are many causes for the Sims 2 DirectX 9.0c error on Windows 10 or Windows 11, and we are about to show you how to fix it.
How can I fix the Sims 2 DirectX error?
1. On Windows 11
1.1 Restart your PC
We’re going to start you off with a pretty simple solution from this troubleshooting process. However, even though it is simple, it might very well prove to be the most effective one.
What is that, you ask? A simple system restart should do the trick and get rid of the DirectX 9 Sims 2 error, according to other users who were in the same situation.
Simply restart your PC and everything should go back to normal. If not, the following steps in this guide will surely help you overcome the issue.
1.2 Run The Sims 2 as an administrator
Navigate to the folder where The Sims 2 is installed.
Right-click the Sims 2 executable and select Run as administrator.
1.3 Update your GPU
Search for Device Manager and open the app.
Expand Display adapters, then right-click on our GPU and select Update driver.
Select Search automatically for drivers.
1.4 Update Windows
PressWindows+Ito access Settings.
Select the Windows updates tab and click Install all.
If no updates are queued for installation, press the Check for updates button
Navigate to the folder where The Sims 2 is installed.
Right-click the Sims 2 executable and select Run as administrator.
2.2 Update your graphics card driver
1. Search for Device Manager and open the app.
2. Expand the Display adapters section.
3. Locate and right-click on your GPU in the list and select Update driver.
4. Select Search automatically for drivers.
5. Wait for the new drivers to be updated, then check whether the Sims 2 DirectX error persists.
If you’re a Windows 10 user encountering the Sims 2 DirectX 9 error, updating your GPU is a method that is likely to solve it. This can be done quite easily via Device Manager.
2.3 Update your Windows
Press Win + I to access Settings.
Select the Update & Security tab.
Select the Windows Update tab and press the Check for updates button.
2.4 Manually download and install DirectX 9
Download DirectX 9.0c redistributable from June 2010 from the official website.
Run the directx_Jun2010_redist.exe setup file as an administrator.
Can I play The Sims 2 on Xbox Series X|S or Playstation 5?
Unfortunately, no, you can’t. There is no backward compatibility for this vintage game, so there’s no playing it on next-gen consoles just yet.
There have been some rumors about a remastered version of The Sims 2 in the works, but most Sims fans are waiting on Sims 5 after the fourth title was such a big hit.
If you want to play the vintage Sims 2, you have to look at machines/operating systems that will run it, first of all.
But, to answer your question, no, there’s no Sims 2 for Xbox Series X|S, or Sony’s latest PlayStation5. However, if you play it on your Windows PC, at least you have the guarantee it works.
Has this guide helped you fix the Sims 2 DirectX 9 error on your Windows 10/11 PC? Let us know in the comments section below.
Choosing the right CPU and motherboard combo is no easy feat. However, it is dependent on the purpose you intend to use them for, whether you are building a top-level gaming station or workstation.
With Amazon’s deals before us, it can be quite frustrating if you do not know what you want to buy. As such, incredible deals could easily slip away from you. Besides, you could end up saving a lot of money by leveraging the available deals.
Do not fret! We will help you make the decision based on your needs and budget. You will first need to look at the sed of the CPUs and the specifications of the motherboards.
It is important to note that they both must be compatible as this will guarantee the smooth performance of your device.
The same goes for the memory of your motherboard and chipset specifications. They both play a crucial role and can actually affect the performance of your PC.
If you’re planning on using this bundle for high-intensity work, then investing in a more powerful CPU might be the best choice for you.
This of course depends on the actual power of the motherboard, so they will need to be fully compatible for your system to work optimally.
Also, it is important to ensure that your motherboard can handle the speed of the CPU. It should also have enough memory in case you might want to make an upgrade in the future.
Note: All the prices and offers in this article are subject to change, so be sure to check the official product page to get the latest deal. If the product or offer you’re looking for is no longer available, you can try to find it on its official manufacturer page or get another one from our list.
Feel free to share your choices with us by using the comment section below. Which of these products fit your needs, and why?
A red tint on your laptop screen can be distracting—whether you’re working, browsing, or gaming. It’s usually caused by one of a few common issues:
Night Light mode adding a warm color filter
Outdated or corrupted display drivers
Third-party display software overriding color settings
Misconfigured color calibration
Loose or faulty cables, if you’re using an external monitor
The good news? Most of these are easy to fix. In this guide, we’ll walk you through simple steps to identify the cause and get your screen back to normal.
How do I fix a red tint on a laptop screen?
Before going through these solutions, if you use a monitor, ensure the connections are tight and correctly done. This way, you will rule out the possibility of simple issues arising from poor cable connections.
1. Confirm the Night Light mode is disabled
1.1 Disabling Night mode
Press the Windows + I keyboard shortcut to open the Settings app.
Open System, then under the Display section, toggle the Night Light mode off.
1.2 Reducing screen warmth
Press the Windows + I keyboard shortcut to open the Settings app.
Choose System, then under the Display section, click Night Light settings.
Under Color temperature at night, move the slider to the right to reduce the red tint effect.
2. Check the display driver
2.1 Update the driver
Right-click Start and open Device Manager.
Expand Display adapters.
Right-click on your GPU and choose Update driver from the contextual menu.
Click Search automatically for drivers.
Another reliable and easy way of updating your display drivers is to use an automated program, such as Outbyte Driver Updater, to help you find the most recent updates from its abundant database with a single click.
2.2 Reinstall the driver
Right-click Start and open Device Manager.
Expand Display adapters.
Right-click on your GPU and click Uninstall device.
Restart your PC and wait until the system installs the driver.
3. Inspect the accompanying third-party software
Press Windows + R, type control panel, and hit Enter.
Click Uninstall a program.
Search the list of programs for anyone associated with display configuration, click on it and select Uninstall.
Click the Search menu and type calibrate display color, then select the Calibrate display color app.
Click Next and follow the instructions to calibrate the color.
That’s it. The red tint on your laptop screen should now be gone. Since we have not written them in any particular order, you should pick the most appropriate.
If you’re unlucky, you might even encounter a Red Screen of Death error on your PC, but we have a guide that addresses it, so you shouldn’t worry too much.
Getting a pink crash screen on Windows? Follow these steps to resolve the Pink Screen of Death and stabilize your display.
Finally, don’t forget to tell us whether writing this was worthwhile or if the screen is still infuriatingly reddish. You can do that in the comments section below.
The Sims 4 is available in many languages, but sometimes the game defaults to one you don’t want.
Whether you bought it on Steam, Epic Games, or the EA App, changing the language settings is usually quick if you know where to go. Here’s a no-nonsense guide to changing your Sims’ language on PC.
How do I change the language in The Sims 4?
1. Change the language on Sims 4 PS4/PS5
Open Settings from the PS dashboard.
Scroll down until you find Language in the list. Then, open it by pressing X.
Choose your preferred language from the drop-down list that appears.
The game will now launch in the language you selected.
2. Change the Sims 4 language on Xbox
Open the Xbox menu.
Choose Settings.
Click on System Settings.
Enter the Console Settings option.
Find the Language and Locale entry, and click on Language.
Select your desired language from the list.
3. Change the Sims 4 language on Steam
Game language settings
Open your Steam Library.
Right-click on the Sims 4 game and select Properties (for the example, we are using Counter-Strike).
Open the Language tab.
Choose the language you want to use by clicking the drop-down menu.
Steam language settings
Log into your Steam account.
Click Steam from the top menu.
Open the Settings.
Click the Interface tab.
Choose the language you prefer from the drop-down menu.
Click OK and choose the Restart Steam option.
4. Change the Sims 4 language on Origin
Log into your Origin Client account.
Open the My Game Library option by clicking it.
Right-click the Sims 4 entry, and choose Game Properties.
Click the Advanced Launch Options and select your desired language from the drop-down.
5. Change The Sims 4 language from the Windows registry editor
1. Go to u003cstrongu003eStartu003c/strongu003e.
2. Type u003cemu003erunu003c/emu003e and click on the first result to launch the Run dialog.
3. In the Run box, type u003cemu003eregeditu003c/emu003e and then click on u003cstrongu003eOku003c/strongu003e.
4. Go to the following destination: u003cstrongu003eu003cspan id=u0022urn:enhancement-dba2fb7du0022 class=u0022textannotation disambiguated wl-thingu0022u003eu003ccodeu003eHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/Software/Wow6432Node/Maxis/The Sims 4u003c/codeu003eu003c/spanu003eu003c/strongu003e
5. Change the u003cstrongu003eLocale valueu003c/strongu003e to the desired u003cspan id=u0022urn:enhancement-af4e30bbu0022 class=u0022textannotation disambiguated wl-thing wl-no-linku0022u003elanguageu003c/spanu003e. For example, add pt_BR for Brazilian Portuguese.
If you don’t like editing the Registry, you can tweak the RIdOrigina.ini file. First, navigate to the folder where you installed your The Sims 4, and then open the GameBinRldOrigin.ini with Notepad.
Locate the line “Language,” and you should see a semicolon at the beginning of the line.
Remove the semicolon to activate the language of your choice. You can also change the language by using the following codes:
cs_CZ = Czech
da_DK = Danish
de_DE = German
en_US = US English
es_ES = Spanish (Spain)
fi_FI = Finnish
fr_FR = French (France)
it_IT = Italian
ja_JP = Japanese
ko_KR= Korean
nl_NL = Dutch
no_NO= Norwegian
pl_PL = Polish
pt_BR = Portuguese (Brazil)
ru_RU = Russian
sv_SE = Swedish
zh_TW= Chinese (Traditional)
Save the file, launch the game, and that’s all.
7. Use the Sims 4 Language Changer
NOTE
We need to specify that u003cstrongu003eyou will be downloading these files at your own risku003c/strongu003e, as our security systems can not vet the download source.
Update the game to the latest version to have all languages downloaded.
Not really—Simlish is hardcoded into the game and has been part of The Sims’ identity since the beginning. There’s no official mod that replaces Simlish with real spoken English or other languages.
A few YouTubers have experimented with voice-over mods or fan dubs, but nothing that’s truly functional or widely supported.
Keep in mind that the game can encounter issues, and we already wrote about Sims 4 not opening. We also have a guide on what to do if Sims 4 won’t update, so don’t miss it.
If you’re aware of another solution to the problem, please share it with us in the comments section below. Also, leave any other questions, and we’ll be sure to take a look.
First, disconnect your hard drive and restart your PC. Try using it on another computer. If it’s not working, keep reading:
1. Run the CHKDSK scan
Press the Windows key, type cmd, and click Run as administrator under Command Prompt.
Type the command below (replace C with the drive letter) and hit Enter: chkdsk c: /r
Wait for the command to finish running and apply any recommendations.
CHKDSK is a built-in tool that fixes many hard disk issues on Windows. For example, it can improve the problems causing the external hard drive error 0x80071ac3 and other versions of the error.
Remember to restart your PC after applying the recommended fixes.
2. Update drivers
Press the Windows key + X and select Device Manager.
Double-click the Disk drives option and right-click your external driver.
Select the Update driver option.
Now, choose Search automatically for drivers and install any available update.
Click the arrow next to the Universal Serial Bus controller option.
Right-click each device there, select Update driver, and choose the Search automatically for drivers option on the next page.
Better still, if you find any device with a yellow exclamation sign, right-click it and select Uninstall device.
Now, click the Uninstall button and restart your PC.
3. Assign a drive letter
Press the Windows key + X and select Disk Management.
Right-click the external drive and select Change Drive Letter and Paths.
If the drive already has a letter, click the Change button. If it does not have, click the Add button.
Now, choose a drive letter and click the OK button.
Drive letters make it easy to access your disks. So, if you are getting an I/O device error on your external hard drive, you might need to assign or change its letter.
4. Initialize disk
Launch Disk Management and right-click your external hard drive.
Select the Initialize Disk option.
Select the disks you want to initialize, select either MBR or GPT partition styles and click OK.
Initializing your hard drive is a way of activating it. This should clear any roadblocks that might be giving the error you are getting on your external hard drive.
Right-click the Start icon and select the Disk Management option.
Right-click the drive and select Format…
Select the NTFS or exFAT option, tick Quick format, and click the OK button.
You will likely face different errors if your external hard drive is in the wrong format. Changing the format to accessible ones should eliminate these issues and restore normalcy.
Press the Windows key + X and select the Device Manager option.
Double-click the Universal Serial Bus controllers option to expand it and right-click the driver there.
Choose the Properties option.
Now, click the Power Management tab at the top.
Finally, uncheck the box for Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power and click OK.
Your external hard drive needs the required power to function correctly. If the USB port device is set to turn off to save energy, your external disk might give error messages when the feature is activated.
The external hard drive error can be frustrating, as it might lead to the loss of crucial data. But by applying the fixes above, you should be able to fix them quickly.
You’ve upgraded to Windows 10 from Windows 8.1 or 7, and now your screensaver is not working anymore. You did a fresh install of Windows 10, but the screensaver still isn’t working. Or maybe it is working but only intermittently.
This is a problem many users have contended with, often without much success.
In today’s article, we’ll go through some things that might stop your screensaver from working and what to do in each case to fix it.
Why is my screensaver not working on Windows 10?
From user experience, there may be a few reasons to encounter this error. On top of the list are the following:
Settings configuration – In some cases, the problem may be that you have not correctly configured the screensaver. The moment you change your configuration, it should start working.
Connected peripherals – In some cases, if you have certain devices connected to your system, the problem may be triggered. This is often the case with some game controllers.
Damaged files– Corrupted system files may also play a role in the Windows screensaver problem.
As it appears, problems with the screensaver are quite common in Windows 10. In fact, screensaver issues come in various forms. Here are some of the most common screensaver issues you can encounter:
Screensaver won’t turn off Windows 10 – This can be a serious problem, as it may render your computer unusable. If you experience this issue, restart your computer, and check out the solutions from this article.
Windows 10screensaver won’t start – If your screensaver won’t even start, ensure it’s enabled first. If the screensaver is activated, check out other solutions from this article.
Windows 10screensaver won’t activate – This problem occurs when you cannot activate your screensaver. Keep reading this article for potential solutions.
Screensaver won’t stop Windows 10 – This issue makes your screensaver run constantly. It’s a serious problem, as it can also render your computer unusable.
Windows 10 screensaver won’t work – This error appears when the screensaver won’t show up under no circumstances.
Screensaver freezes Windows 10 – This problem occurs when you can start the screensaver, but it freezes. If your screensaver keeps freezing, you may not be able to use your computer, which is a serious problem.
Let us now consider some solutions.
How can I fix Windows 10 screensaver if it’s not working?
Before applying any of the solutions recommended in this article, we suggest doing the following:
Disconnect peripherals – In some cases, they may trigger the problem, and disconnecting them becomes the easy fix.
Restart your computer – Some tiny glitches require that specific processes are rebooted. A restart helps them reboot and may correct this problem.
Clean the mouse sensor and mouse pad – Optical mice use an optical sensor to detect movement and direction. Sometimes if the optical sensor or lens has dust on them, the mouse might detect false inputs and prevent your screensaver from showing up.
Device drivers are also prone to bugs; keeping them up to date is as important as doing it for your Windows installation.
Always keep ahead with updating your outdated drivers for your computer to work correctly. With the help of a professional driver updater tool, you can do it automatically and prevent the risk of downloading and installing the wrong driver versions.
Press Windows + I to open Settings, then select Update & Security.
Now, go to Troubleshoot and select Additional troubleshooter.
Scroll down, find Power, then click Run the troubleshooter.
Wait for the process to finish, and follow further on-screen instructions
Lastly, restart your computer
6. Run the SFC scan
Press Windows + X and select Command Prompt (Admin).
Enter the following script and hit Enter: sfc/scannow
Wait for the process to finish
Finally, restart your computer
The solutions will work if the Windows 10 screensaver timeout is not working or even after an update.
We hope these tips help solve the screensaver problems you’re facing in Windows 10. If not, let us know in the comment section below, and we’ll try to help you.
Are you looking for a protective laptop sleeve? Do you want your laptop to be fully protected against bumps, falls, and other unexpected events that may damage it? If the answer is ‘Yes, then look no further.
In this quick buying guide, we’re going to list the best laptop sleeve deals that you can get right now.
Note: All the prices and offers in this article are subject to change, so be sure to check the official product page to get the latest deal. If the product or offer you’re looking for is no longer available, you can try to find it on its official manufacturer page or get another one from our list.
Laptop sleeves are the lightweight version of a laptop bag, but they are still useful for transportation nonetheless, and one good example is the Arvok laptop sleeve.
The material is very soft to the touch and yet very durable, and the neoprene will make it so that your laptop will be safe from bumps, dust, and water damage.
More so, you don’t have to worry about carrying it, since it is so lightweight you won’t feel a difference with regards to your laptop.
This is a great slim laptop bag that can also be used as a laptop sleeve. It features a polyester foam padding layer that allows it to absorb shocks and bumps thus protecting your laptop.
It comes with a removable and adjustable padding shoulder strap that can vary from 27 inches to a maximum of 48 inches.
There is also a small side pocket that you can use to store power adapters, cables, pens, and other small items.
This ultra-slim laptop sleeve is perfect for 17″ display laptops. It fits right over your computer, allowing you to easily carry your laptop around in your backpack or in this pouch alone.
We really like this sleeve’s professional appearance. You can pick from a wide range of different colors, all following the same simple and elegant design.
Made of high-quality Oxford, this versatile laptop bag is the perfect fit if you want to easily carry your device.
Thanks to its added strap and handles, you can use it on its own, with no need for any additional bag. It runs in multiple colors.
The design is simple, but you can spice it up a little bit and pick a more vibrant color if that’s what you prefer.
These are the hottest laptop sleeve deals of the moment. We’ll keep an eye on these deals and update this guide as soon as we’ve found new laptop sleeve deals.
It’s that time of the year again when a lot of memories are made from Thanksgiving to the Christmas holidays.
It is also during this time that a lot of accidents take place as a lot of people are on the road traveling to see their families.
The pandemic has already done away with a significant number of people so you want to stay safe while on the road. As such, you need to hurry up your boots and get on the Christmas train with the amazing deals available for wireless backup cameras.
The wireless backup camera comes with its own advantages. While many people trust their rearview mirrors, it wouldn’t hurt to have a set of third eyes on deck.
Those moments in your driveway when you were close to hitting a kid or a blind spot will be long gone once you get yourself one of these wireless backup cameras.
If technical stuff is not your forte, you are in luck. These cameras are easy to install and you have two options either bracket or flush mounting.
You don’t even have to use it as a rearview camera. Simply place it where you feel most vulnerable from either the front or back.
The cameras have superior night vision with accuracy and stable vivid images with waterproofing capabilities.
What’s so good about the wireless backup cameras is their one-year and some up to two-year warranties with after-sale services and a professional technical team on call.
Note: All the prices and offers in this article are subject to change, so be sure to check the official product page to get the latest deal. If the product or offer you’re looking for is no longer available, you can try to find it on its official manufacturer page or get another one from our list.
Have your eye on any of the wireless backup cameras on sale this Cyber Monday? Let us know in the comment section below.
If you are unfamiliar with Sony Honda Mobility Inc., it is a joint venture established earlier in 2022 by the two Japanese companies to “create new technologies to pioneer a new era of mobility,” according to its mission statement. The venture is seen as one of the most likely competitors to seriously take on Tesla in the electric vehicle market.
The company’s first car models are expected to roll out (no pun intended) sometime in 2025. The stated aim of Sony Honda Mobility is to “develop a car as hardware that will cater to the entertainment and network we would like to offer.” In addition to going head to head with Tesla in the area of autonomous driving technology, Sony Honda Mobility also hopes to get an edge over Tesla in another key department: entertainment technologies. This is where Sony comes in to the Sony Honda Mobility equation.
Via The Verge.
Sony Honda Mobility President and COO Izumi Kawanishi said in an interview with the Financial Times,
Sony has content, services and entertainment technologies that move people. We are adapting these assets to mobility, and this is our strength against Tesla.
Microsoft Outlook is one of the top relevant desktop email clients that can be synced even with custom webmail.
Some Windows users reported that Microsoft Outlook won’t open PDF attachments in their emails. so this seems to be a general problem. It is known that this issue also occurs in Chrome, and also other popular browsers.
For this reason, Windows Report has compiled relevant solutions to this menacing problem. In case you can’t open PDF files in Outlook, consider the practical guide below.
Why can’t I open a PDF email attachment?
If you find yourself in this situation, it could be because of any of the following reasons:
Missing programs – Your computer may not have important programs to open files in PDF format.
Outdated applications – Sometimes, you would need updated applications to some PDF formats.
Damaged files – It is also likely that your current PDF reader is damaged and will need to be repaired or replaced.
Malware infections – There are chances that your antivirus is blocking the attachment because it is infected by malware.
Now that we have spoken about possible causes, we can discuss some accessible alternatives and solutions.
What can I do if I can’t open PDF attachments in Outlook?
Press Windows + I to open the Settings app, then select Update & Security.
Click on Windows Security and then select the Virus & threat protection option.
Select Scan options.
Click on Custom scan and click Scan now.
Select the folder where the PDF file is located, and click on scan to proceed.
If Outlook won’t open a PDF file, you need to scan it to ascertain whether it is safe for your Windows PC.
Some PDF files sent to email contain viruses, malware, or even spyware that pose unwanted threats to your system, so be sure to scan it.
Alternatively, you can right-click on the PDF file and select scan with ….(third-party antivirus) to scan the PDF file.
2. Use a PDF reader
You may be unable to open a PDF attachments in Outlook directly due to corrupted files or other causes. To bypass this unpleasant issue, it’s recommended to use PDF reader software.
So, you can get an all-rounded solution that will open each PDF file with no troubles, then pdfFiller is the go-to resolution.
This software lets you view, edit, and share your PDFs, giving the best viewing experience with its easy-to-use tools. The process is plain intuitive, with drag-and-drop action that will open your documents without any troubles.
Moreover, you can fill and sign PDF documents and get or offer feedback by adding notes, text boxes to your teammates.
Open the Settings app using Windows + I, then click Update & Security.
In the Windows Update windows, click on the Check for updates button.
Microsoft constantly releases frequent patches containing fixes and drivers for your Windows PC. Hence, ensure you’re running the latest OS version on your computer.
This would keep your PC bug-free and help you if Outlook doesn’t open a PDF file.
Some PDF files are encrypted using a password that secures the PDF from unwanted access—for example, bank statements, payment receipts, sensitive files, etc.
To open this set of files, you need to use the correct password, which is confidential and can only be known by the appropriate individual.
If your PDF file is password-encrypted, you may need to ask for the password to open the PDF file.
5. Temporarily disable the antivirus protection
Click on the hidden access arrow in the Taskbar.
Click on your antivirus icon, hover over Avast shields Control and select Disable for 10 minutes (This step varies for different antivirus software).
Try opening the PDF document again.
Sometimes, antivirus programs can delete or quarantine specific files, patches, or DLLs associated with programs. However, antivirus scanning engines might misinterpret files that can be trusted with potentially harmful packages.
So if you experience PDFs that are not opening in Outlook 365, disabling your antivirus might be a helpful workaround.
Note: After opening the PDF attachments, ensure you enable the antivirus protection afterward.
Please share your experience solving the Outlook won’t open PDF attachments problem. Feel free to comment below in the comment section, and we will get back to you.
It was only yesterday that we were saying that Microsoft just sneaked important software changes past you again and you didn’t even notice.
What were we talking about? Well, Windows 10 version 22H2, which was unofficially confirmed by Microsoft right under our noses some time ago.
Now, this feature update for the Windows 10 operating system has started rolling out and is now available as an enablement package for those sticking to good-old Windows 10 (version 2004 and newer).
Microsoft’s Windows 10 version 22H2 is ready
The Redmond-based tech company says this highly-anticipated release is now finally ready for broad deployment.
Even though Microsoft has yet to tell more about those mysterious productivity features, we managed to dig out some details about what is new in Windows 10 2022 Update.
As you know, broad deployment is the final rollout phase in the lifecycle of a Windows release, so we should all be excited.
It actually means more users with compatible computers receive offers to update, not only those daring to press the Check for updates button.
Just so you know, Windows 11 2022 Update (also 22H2) is currently available to all who check for updates manually.
Now, you can update to Windows 10 22H2 from version 20H2, 21H1, and 21H2, and the process will not take much time or bandwidth since all those releases are enablement packages only and work as regular cumulative updates.
Also, keep in mind that Microsoft is about to stop supporting Windows 10 version 21H1, so users must prepare for a forced upgrade to a newer release.
From what we can see in the official documentation, Windows 10 21H1 will reach its end of life on December 13, 2022.
Regular users running Windows 10 2022 Update Home and Professional editions will receive 18 months of support, while commercial customers with Enterprise and Education editions will get 30 months.
Microsoft also wanted to remind everyone that at least one version of Windows 10 will remain supported until October 14, 2025, which means users can expect more similar updates in the future.
You can download official ISO files for a clean installation or an in-place upgrade using the updated MediaCreationTool.
Windows 10 version 22H2 will install like the previous smaller feature updates for Windows 10, so there really isn’t anything new in the process itself.
The tech giant said that the Windows 10, version 22H2 release will not bring updates to the Windows Hardware Compatibility Program (WHCP).
Instead, it will follow the same guidelines as Windows 10, version 2004. Let’s have a bit of a closer look at this matter and decide for ourselves:
WHCP requirements – No change. Windows 10, version 2004 requirements remain applicable for Windows 10, version 22H2.
Windows Hardware Lab Kit – No change. Since WHCP requirements will persist in Windows 10, version 22H2, the Windows Hardware Lab Kit (Windows HLK) will also remain the same. There will not be a new Windows HLK release for Windows 10, version 22H2 and partners can continue using Windows 10, version 2004 HLK for certification.
Errata – No change. All Windows 10, version 2004 errata will continue to be valid for Windows 10, version 22H2.
Windows HLK playlist – No change. The Windows HLK version 2004 playlist can be used for Windows 10, version 22H2.
Driver signature – No change. Drivers that meet all the applicable Windows 10, version 2004 requirements will be digitally signed with the same signature attributes.
Submission – No change. Windows 10, versions 2004, 20H2, and 21H1 can be used for WHCP submission.
WHCP qualification – Windows 10, version 2004
Required OS version – Windows 10, version 22H2
HLK version – HLK version 2004
We will keep you posted as soon as new information on the 2022 update, or Windows 10 version 22H2, becomes available.
Until then, check for updates or use the MediaCreationTool and see for yourself what this update has actually brought to the Windows 10 OS.
Whether you’re attending a meeting, a lecture, or on your way to a business presentation, the laptop backpack is safe and very convenient.
And the latest models are so advanced and come with bonuses like USB charging ports meaning the backpack is now more than just a carrier.
Well, we’ve been out looking for great laptop backpack deals and returned with bucketloads of super offers. Here are the winning laptop backpack packages that you can get.
Note: All the prices and offers in this article are subject to change, so be sure to check the official product page to get the latest deal. If the product or offer you’re looking for is no longer available, you can try to find it on its official manufacturer page or get another one from our list.
The Matein travel laptop backpack 15.6-Inch is a professional office work bag, that can be also used for college, high school, for big students, or for boys, girls, and teens. This backpack got your back.
You can charge your phone while walking thanks to its built-in USB charger outside and built-in charging cable inside. This USB charging port only offers you easy access to charge, but it will not power itself.
The Mancro 15.6-Inch laptop backpack doesn’t only carry your favorite 15-inch laptop comfortably but is also spacious enough to haul a lot of your personal essentials.
It can thus serve a multitude of uses: as a college laptop backpack, or for everyday usage.
And while on the go, the external USB port will offer a convenient charging system for your cell phone. At the same time, you can be listening to your best beats via the headphones jack.
First and foremost, the used versatek fabric coupled with the abrasion-resistant special nylon base makes it super durable. Secondly, this backpack has a brilliant design and looks the part in every way.
This multi-compartment backpack will certainly fit and protect your laptop. All pockets are secured with strong zippers.
It’s a great choice to fit all your work or study supplies in one place. The bag itself is pretty light, so you don’t have to worry about having too much weight to start with.
While the Ogio Alpha Backpack has caused quite an excitement because of its long-lasting construction, the outstanding news here is its environmentally friendly nature.
Now, this backpack takes an approach drastically different from the others by using a fabric made from recycled plastics – mainly water bottles.
But that’s not where it all ends. The basics are well catered for so organization is perfect: you will have the waterproof zippered 15” laptop pocket, a luggage pass-through, front valuables pocket, an internal key clip, and reflective zipper pulls amongst other organizers.
It’s hard to separate our exquisite options so choosing may ultimately come down to your specific needs.
Regardless, you can rest assured that these are some of the best backpacks that you’ll ever come across!
You have probably just gotten an MSDN bugcheck video_tdr_error. Let us share all you need to know about this error.
Blue Screen of Death errors like this can cause many problems on your Windows 10 PC.
These BSOD errors will restart your computer every time they appear; therefore, you must know how to fix them.
Why am I getting MSDN bugcheck video_tdr_error?
Users have experienced this error for varying reasons. For example, on the top of the list of triggers, including the following:
Issues with drivers – On devices with bad, corrupted, or outdated graphics drivers, you may experience this and other errors.
Background apps – On devices with too many applications running in the background, you may also experience this error.
Graphics card – If you have a bad graphics card, it is often known to trigger the MSDN bugcheck video error.
The VIDEO_TDR_ERROR blue screen is a relatively standard error that can appear on any PC. Speaking of this error, users reported the following problems:
VIDEO_TDR_ERROR Windows 7, Windows 8.1 – This error can appear on any version of Windows, and both Windows 8.1 and 7 users reported it. Even if you’re not using Windows 10, you should be able to apply most of our solutions to your version of Windows.
VIDEO_TDR_ERROR nvlddmkm sys, dxgkrnl.sys – Sometimes, this error will give you the file name responsible for the crash. Once you know which file caused the crash, with some research, you can easily find the problematic software or device.
VIDEO_TDR_ERROR Nvidia, AMD, Geforce – Your graphics card drivers can cause this error, and both Nvidia and AMD users reported this issue. However, you should be able to fix this problem simply by updating your drivers.
VIDEO_TDR_ERROR blue screen, BSOD – This is a blue screen error, and just like any other BSOD error, it will force your PC to crash. However, you should be able to fix it using one of our solutions.
VIDEO TDR failure on startup, won’t boot – Many users reported this problem on startup. This is a big problem since your PC won’t be able to boot at all, and if that’s the case, be sure to remove overclock settings and check if that helps.
These are the primary triggers you may expect. That said, let us now consider some fixes.
How can I fix the msdn bugcheck video_tdr_error?
1. Use a dedicated tool for fixing BSoD
BSOD errors are not to be joked with and must be addressed immediately, as they can lead to more severe problems. But don’t worry because, as you can see, we offer plenty of solutions, and one will work.
Press Windows Key + X on your keyboard to open the Power User menu and select Device Manager from the list.
When Device Manager opens, locate the driver you want to update, right-click it and choose Update driver.
Select Search automatically for updated driver software and let Windows 10 download the appropriate driver.
Repeat these steps for all drivers that you want to update.
3. Reinstall your display drivers
Press Windows Key + X on your keyboard to open the Power User menu and select Device Manager from the list.
When Device Manager opens, locate the display driver you want to reinstall, right-click it and choose Uninstall device.
Confirm your choice, and restart the computer.
Sometimes the MSDN bugcheck video_tdr_error can be caused by your display adapter drivers, and to fix this error, you’ll have to reinstall your graphics card drivers.
Choosing drivers manually is a long and tedious process; therefore, you might want to use dedicated software that automatically downloads all the necessary drivers.
Outbyte Driver Updater can automatically repair and update your drivers in one go with just a few clicks, so make sure you try it out. Also, it will keep your system safe from malfunctions while installing the wrong driver versions.
4. Install the latest Windows updates
Press Windows Key + I to open the Settings app.
When the Settings app opens, navigate to the Update & Security section.
Now click on Check for updates button.
Sometimes you might miss an important update due to specific bugs, but you can always check for updates manually by performing the steps above.
Installing Windows updates is crucial for your system’s safety and stability. Windows 10 has a few issues with specific software and hardware, which can sometimes cause the MSDN bugcheck video_tdr_error to appear.
To prevent this and other BSOD errors from appearing, we advise you to use Windows Update and download the latest Windows 10 patches.
Many of these updates offer new features, but many bug fixes are related to hardware and software.
Therefore, if you want to keep your PC safe and error-free, we suggest installing the latest updates frequently.
Windows will check for available updates and download them automatically in the background.
Once the updates are downloaded, they’ll be installed automatically as soon as you restart your PC. So after you update your Windows, the problem should be resolved.
5. Remove overclock settings
Press Windows + I, navigate System, Recovery, and click Restart now under Advanced startup.
Select Troubleshoot from the options.
Click on Advance options.
Then click on UEFI Firmware Settings.
Click Restart.
Under Performance, find Overclocking, and change the setting to Disable (this final step will depend on the manufacturer).
You can get better performance by overclocking your hardware, but if your overclocking settings aren’t stable, you can cause the MSDN bugcheck video_tdr_error to appear.
To fix this and any other BSOD errors caused by overclocking, we strongly advise you to remove all overclocking settings.
Several users reported fixing the problem simply by changing their RAM frequency. For example, they changed their RAM frequency from 2400MHz to 1600MHz, solving the issue for them.
A few users reported that they managed to fix this error by underclocking their core by 50, so you might want to try that as well.
We must mention that overclocking and underclocking can be potentially dangerous; therefore, use extra caution.
Restart your PC several times during the boot sequence to force the PC to perform an Automatic Repair.
Now choose Troubleshoot, selectAdvanced options,and click on System Restore.
Select your username and enter your account password.
The System Restore window will now appear. Click the Next button to proceed.
A list of available restore points will appear. If available, check the Show more restore points option. Now select the desired restore point and choose Next.
Follow the instructions on the screen to restore your PC. Once your PC is fixed, check if the issue persists. If not, it means that a third-party application or a driver caused the problem.
The MSDN bugcheck VIDEO_TDR_ERROR can sometimes appear due to installed applications or Windows updates.
These solutions will help you resolve issues related to the MSDN bugcheck video_tdr_error.
We have not written them in any particular order, so we recommend that you try what seems most relevant to you.
Finally, please let us know what worked for you in the comments below.
If you’re a veteran gamer that grew up in the 90s, or a younger one that heard of the oldies but goldies, then you are probably well-familiarized with the Diablo franchise.
Their latest entry, Diablo III, has been a fan-favorite ever since it was first launched, and its popularity doesn’t seem to be dropping at all.
Blizzard knows that very well and is rewarding players that haven’t had the chance to play it yet with the opportunity to get it at a special discount price.
As you may already know, Diablo III has expansions launched until now, and both of them, along with the base game, are now available at discounted prices.
Note: All the prices and offers in this article are subject to change, so be sure to check the official product page to get the latest deal. If the product or offer you’re looking for is no longer available, you can try to find it on its official manufacturer page or get another one from our list.
Console players can take advantage of the Diablo III – Eternal Collection that combines the Ultimate Evil Edition and Rise of the Necromancer pack into a single game.
So, grab your console, and fight the demons of hell with your axe, arrows, and spells in the name of good!
Diablo III – Eternal Collection
Console players should rejoice at the chance to play this RPG, especially considering how the previous two entries were PC-exclusive.
This concludes our list of the best Diablo III deals that you can get this holiday.
It’s not every day that you can get these games at such a low price, so take advantage of the deal while it still lasts and tries one of the most beloved RPG games of all time.
The Outlook.com storage limit for free accounts is capped at 15 GB, but if you want more space, you can sign up for a Microsoft 365 subscription to get 50 GB of storage. Microsoft notes that the 50 GB storage space is unavailable to Microsoft 365 Trial subscribers, so they can’t gain access to the increased storage space until after the paid subscription starts.
If you start seeing “Quota Exceeded” or “Mailbox full” messages on Outlook, it might be time to take a look at how much space your emails, attachments, and whatever else is making you reach your Outlook.com storage limit.
Changes to Microsoft 365 cloud storage
Starting February 1, 2023, cloud storage used on Microsoft 365 apps and services will change. This update includes Outlook.com storage (messages and attachments) and certain content found on OneDrive.
This update will not affect your Outlook.com mailbox storage amount, but instead, this might change how much cloud storage you have available on OneDrive. If you fill up your OneDrive, lots of stuff will just stop working until you make more space.
Personal files you store, upload and sync from your computer or mobile device, such as Office documents, mobile camera roll, screenshots and other files and photos which have been saved to your OneDrive, including Desktop, Documents and Pictures folders.
Any items in your Recycle Bin.
Outlook.com attachments.
Teams message attachments & recordings.
If you’re interested, you can click the links below to check your storage limits:
To see how much mailbox storage you have used and to delete and clear up your Outlook.com storage space, follow these instructions.
Open Outlook.com Settings and search for “Storage,” the location is Settings > General > Storage.
Here, you will see a breakdown of your Outlook.com email account, including how much storage is being used, and where it’s located. Use the Empty option from the dropdown menu to permanently delete (All, 3 months, 6 months, or 12 months and older) items in these folders to free up space.
Suppose you are not a Microsoft 365 subscriber. In that case, you may see an option to upgrade to Microsoft 365 to get 50 GB of email storage space along with some other premium Outlook.com benefits.
Permanently delete Outlook.com email
When you delete items from Inbox, Sent, or other folders, items are sent to Deleted Items automatically by default. The Deleted Items folder’s storage does apply your email storage quota until it is manually emptied or the emails are deleted after 30 days, whichever happens first. Storage Items in the Junk folder are automatically deleted after 30 days.
So if you have a lot of large attachments quickly filling up your Outlook.com storage, it might be time to think of other ways of reducing your storage, here are some methods you can try.
Reduce storage space with Sweep
You can use the Sweep button in Outlook.com to remove unwanted emails from your inbox or archive folders. Sweep lets you delete all incoming mail from a particular email address, keeping only the latest message received from that email and deleting any email (from that sender) that is older than 10 days.
To use Sweep, choose an email from your Outlook.com account and select Sweep.
Get the best of Outlook.com
Another way to increase sending and storage limits is by upgrading your Outlook.com account with a Microsoft 365 subscription. A paid Microsoft 365 subscription gives you advanced email security, an ad-free inbox, 50 GB mailbox per person, larger OneDrive storage, installable Office apps and so much more!
Get a free trial today to try out premium Microsoft 365 features, including more cloud storage and advanced security features for your data and devices.
How do you manage your Outlook.com storage limit? Sound off in the comments below.
With a series of dazzling OLED TVs recently gaining a firm foothold in the market, OLED TV is finally showing signs of toppling the dominant LED LCD TV technology.
And while we all along suspected that OLED had the quality to offer stiff competition to LED LCD, nobody would have guessed it would take this long.
But the wait is proving to have been very worth it if the rate at which homes adopt these high-end TVs is anything to go by.
OLED (Organic Light-Emitting Diode) is a rising type of TV display technology where each pixel self-illuminates once fed with electricity. Comparatively, all pixels are illuminated in LCD by an installed LED backlight.
This makes OLED sets thinner and lighter than LCDs and delivers a stronger contrast ratio. They also tend to have wider viewing angles and better black levels than LED-backlit LCDs.
For these reasons, OLED TV displays are slowly becoming a phenomenon. But for one problem: the prices still look quite extravagant. And that’s where the best deals on OLED TV come in.
Note: All the prices and offers in this article are subject to change, so be sure to check the official product page to get the latest deal. If the product or offer you’re looking for is no longer available, you can try to find it on its official manufacturer page or get another one from our list.
The LG OLED55CXPUA TV LG with ThinQ AI technology has Google Assistant and Alexa built-in. It has a 4K processor and Dolby Vision IQ for a better adjustment of picture settings depending on ambient lighting conditions.
The OLED technology makes a difference in movies, shows, sports, and gaming. The NVIDIA G-SYNC and FreeSync give you less lag, high refresh rates, and smooth gameplay.
This VIDAA U5-operated TV supports 4K UHD & UHD AI Upscaler. It includes Dolby Vision and Dolby Vision IQ.
Great audio quality is ensured by Dolby Atmos & DTS Virtual X.
The TV supports multiple connections and can be operated through voice control. All in all, it’s a good product if you want high-quality video at a reasonable price.
This 55″ LED V offers amazing 4K picture quality and immersive sound with the X-Balanced Speaker. It’s a great option both for streaming movies and playing video games.
It offers dedicated support for all major streaming platforms.
The TV is easy to operate through the Android TV OS. The package includes an intelligent remote control, but you can also give voice commands.
By using the industry-leading 4k intelligent processor for OLED TVs, this TV is able to again deliver lifelike images with remarkably rich colors, sharpness, plus depth.
Best of all, it’s super-easy to operate with the LG magic remote especially attracting rave reviews because of the ease of issuing commands fromAlexa devices.
This achieves a peerless picture quality and is considered a benchmark as far as OLED TV is concerned.
The collection of unprecedented features paves the way for an enthralling show of bright, vibrant colors, mind-blowing contrast (with the famed 4K HDR clarity), and marvelous scenery.
OLED TV is big in many ways. It provides smashing true-to-life images, incredibly rich colors, super sharpness, and true depth for unrivaled picture quality. But of course, this revolutionary show comes at a price.
It is a great time of the year to get the things you wanted most at a discount price.
Those of you that love a bargain and escaping the reality of mundane life might be looking for a good deal on VR headsets this year.
Well if that’s the case, we have a few offers that might just catch your eye.
As always, before the actual shopping season begins, we give users a sneak peek at what sales are to come, and this year, some neat gaming gear is included.
Note: All the prices and offers in this article are subject to change, so be sure to check the official product page to get the latest deal. If the product or offer you’re looking for is no longer available, you can try to find it on its official manufacturer page or get another one from our list.
Two popular VR headsets are getting a big discount
The two VR headsets included in this year’s Holiday sale sneak peek are the two very popular HTC VR headsets:
The first item on our list is the much budget-friendlier HTC Vive Cosmos.
This VR headset will grant you crystal-clear imagery, all thanks to a 2880 x 1700 combined resolution, 90Hz refresh rate, and adjustable interpupillary distance (IPD) dial for visual comfort and quality.
Besides, getting back to the real world is as easy as 1, 2, and 3 thanks to the flip-up design, as all you need is to simply raise the visor, and that’s it.
Besides, this VR headset is the most affordable of the two, so if you’re on a budget, this is the better option.
6 tracking cameras
Superior visual fidelity
Convenient flip-up design
Steam and Viveport library access
2-month Viveport Infinity subscription
Tracking isn't as reliable as with other similar models
The two products are about 85% identical to one another, although the HTC Vive Cosmos Elite does have a more accurate tracking system, so you will benefit from better controls while inside the virtual worlds.
Besides, if you’re playing fast-paced games, the Cosmos Elite’s built-in pixel-perfect motion tracking will help you a great deal in achieving those high scores.
iCloud for Windows seems to be experiencing some technical issues. For those unfamiliar with the platform, it provides you with a unified experience where you can manage your photos, videos, calendar, files, and other important information on your Windows PC. Several users have lodged their complaints and concerns via the Macrumors Forums indicating that they are seeing photos of strangers in their photo libraries.
This issue seems to be centered around users that are either using the iPhone 13 Pro or the iPhone 14 Pro. What’s more, some users have also complained about not being able to view videos they recorded using their iPhones and synced them to iCloud for Windows. When trying to play the videos a black screen appears that features scan lines.
The strange and random photos appearing in some of the users’ photo libraries are reportedly of random families, children, and soccer games.
According to one of the affected users:
iCloud for Windows is corrupting videos recorded from an iPhone 14 pro max resulting in black videos with scan lines. On rare occasions, it is inserting stills into videos from unknown sources, possibly other’s iCloud accounts. I’ve been shown photos of other people’s families I’ve never seen in my life, soccer games, and other random photos. Obviously, this is extremely concerning and does not exactly make me feel safe using iCloud.
As a workaround for this issue, some users have tried deleting iCloud for Windows though this didn’t resolve the issue. This could be an indication that the issue is more technical and that it could be rooted in the server. In other related news, Windows Insiders recently got a new Photo app that features iCloud support.
Have you experienced this issue? Let us know in the comment section below.
Microsoft often uses the Dev Channel of the Windows Insider Program to release the latest Windows 11 features. However, the company may hide some of these features in code till it is ready to release them. As is the case with its latest hidden feature in Windows 11 build 25247, a VPN indicator which appears in the notification area of the taskbar.
As spotted by PhantomofEarth on Twitter, this new feature will allow users to easily check whether their device is connected to a VPN. The feature is represented by a small ‘shield’ overlay on the network icon.
Another neat hidden change in 25247, a minor one – when you are connected using a VPN, there will soon be a small 'shield' overlay on the network icon to indicate that. (also, it respects your accent color!)
Microsoft hasn’t communicated officially about this feature. Currently, this feature only works with wired connections. What’s more, you cannot use it to check the status of a third-party VPN app. This could be an indication that Microsoft is not yet ready to release the feature and that it is currently in the works.
Having a Windows 7 computer that randomly restarts is a pretty severe problem. It would be tragic to reboot while playing a game, but it’s also a sign of system failure.
You may also experience freezing and a drop in performance; something similar happens on Windows 10. This guide will explore what causes this problem and what you can do to fix it.
How do I fix my Windows 7 computer randomly restarting?
Click the Window logo in the bottom left corner and right-click Computer in the menu.
Select Properties in the context menu.
In the new window, click Advanced system settings.
A new window will appear. Select the Advanced tab and click the Settings button under Startup and Recovery.
In Startup and Recovery, uncheck the box next to Automatically restart underneath System Failure. Then, click the OK button and close the windows.
2. Uninstall and reinstall graphic drivers
Open the Windows menu and search for Device Manager. Then, click on the entry that appears.
In Device Manager, expand Display Adapters.
Right-click the GPU and choose to Uninstall in the new menu. Now restart your computer.
Windows 7 should automatically install the correct driver upon restart. If it doesn’t, go to your GPU’s manufacturer and download it there (the Device Manager entry will say it. The virtual machine image is just an example).
Conversely, you can also just select Update Driver Software.
To open your Windows 7 machine in Safe Mode, start restarting your computer as it’s rebooting. Then, press and hold the F8 key.
If you do this correctly, Advanced Boot Options will appear. Next, use your keyboard to select Safe Mode.
In Safe Mode, open the Windows menu and search for Command Prompt.
Type sfc /scannow in Command Prompt. Your computer will scan all protected system files and replace any corrupted ones with a cached copy.
It may take several minutes for the Command Prompt to finish.
4. Run Memory Diagnostics Tool in Safe Mode
The Memory Diagnostics Tool will scan your computer’s RAM to see if there’s anything wrong.
Reboot your Windows 7 in Safe Mode as per the previous solution.
Open the Windows menu after it finishes and search for Windows Memory Diagnostics.
Select the first option that reads Restart now and check for problems. Allow your Windows 7 computer time to finish the process.
After scanning, the Diagnostics Tool will say if there’s something wrong with the RAM. If this is a hardware problem, we recommend taking your computer in for repairs.
What causes my Windows 7 machine to reboot automatically?
There are many different causes of any computer suffering from random restarts. Below is a list of just a few likely culprits.
There’s something wrong with the hardware. It could be the GPU, CPU, RAM, or storage drive that’s causing the problem. It’s difficult to say which exactly without opening it up.
Similarly, the computer’s power supply may be faulty. You check if this is the case by downloading PSU test software and running diagnostics.
Something in the settings is messing up the computer. You may have a certain feature turned on that causes the random restarts.
Your computer is overheating. High internal temperatures can cause the software to behave erratically. We strongly recommended changing the computer’s power plan.
Are there ways to improve my Windows 7 computer?
For Windows 7, we recommend downloading a new browser. The vast majority of websites don’t support Internet Explorer anymore. You’ll have a tough time surfing the internet without a new browser.
You should also learn about the best hotspot software for Windows 7 to allow you to share an internet connection with other nearby devices. Virtual Router Manager is one of the best, thanks to its simplicity.
Feel free to comment below if you have questions about other Windows 11 problems or bugs. And leave comments about the most relevant solutions.
Users can encounter difficulties accessing the activation server, resulting in the Can’t reactivate Windows as our servers aren’t available right now. It can occur in various places on your PC.
Why do I encounter can’t reactivate Windows because servers aren’t available?
The most common factor that causes the error is interference from antivirus software. Also, the connection may be impeded by antivirus software or Windows Defender, resulting in a Windows activation error on your computer.
Other factors that may be responsible are:
Network connection issues –Users can encounter a Windows reactivation error if their network connections are unstable. Issues like network congestion on your device can cause problems.
Issues with Microsoft servers –The error may occur if there are issues with Microsoft servers or if it’s undergoing maintenance sessions. So, the error may indicate actual problems with the Windows activation servers.
Recent Windows update issues – Many issues can erupt from installing or upgrading to another version of Windows from a compromised or pirated version. It can prevent the system from being able to use the Windows activation servers for the new version.
These causes can vary depending on the service you’re running. Nevertheless, you can fix them with general fixes.
What can I do if I can’t reach Windows activation servers?
Before proceeding with any advanced troubleshooting steps, observe the following preliminary checks:
Press Windows + R to open the Run window, type slui, and press Enter to open the Windows Activation Client.
Click the Change Product key option, then enter the appropriate generic key for your Windows edition.
Navigate to the Windows Activation page and check if the error still appears.
Check our guide about finding Windows 10/11 product keys on your PC. If the error changes to Windows is activated with a digital license linked to your Microsoft account. Follow the steps below to replace your generic product key:
Left-click the Start button, type cmd, and select Run as Administrator.
Type this command and press Enter: slmgr -ipk product key
Replace the (product key) above with your product key’s code.
Close the Command Prompt and restart your PC.
Wait for a couple of hours before trying another Activation.
What causes netsh int IP reset access denied in Windows 10?
Issues with the netsh int IP command on Windows 10 can occur for numerous reasons. The most common cause of this problem is the lack of permissions for the netsh.exe file on your PC. If you don’t allow Windows to use the command, it can result in errors such as Access denied.
Some other factors that may be responsible for the netsh int IP error are:
Third-party antivirus software – Installing third-party antivirus software on your PC can cause issues with your network connection and affect the netsh int IP command. Sometimes, Windows Defender can also interfere with the netsh int IP command line.
Corrupt system files on the PC – Many issues may arise from having corrupt system files on your computer. They can impede the functionality of programs like netsh int ip running on your computer.
Network issues – The netsh int IP command serves as a troubleshooter for network-related issues. Hence, network issues on your device can affect its operations.
However, you may encounter the error on your computer for other reasons not listed above. Nonetheless, users can fix the issues by tweaking your system.
How do I fix netsh int IP reset access denied in Windows 10?
Before trying any advanced troubleshooting steps for the error, we recommend you go through the following preliminary check:
If the issue continues, proceed with the solutions provided below:
1. Give enough permissions for the netsh.exe file
Press Windows + R key to open the Run dialog box, type Regedit, and click OK.
Go to the following key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Nsi\{eb004a00-9b1a-11d4-9123-0050047759bc}
Click the drop-down button on the last folder, right-click on a folder named 26 and click on Permissions.
Click the Advanced button and click Change on the Advanced Security Setting window.
Navigate to Enter the object name to select and type your user account, then click OK.
Check the box for Replace owner on subcontainers and objects.
Click the Add button, then click the Select a principal link at the top of the page.
Click Advanced to select the user account, tap OK, then select the Everyone option.
Navigate to Basic permissions and choose Full control, then click Apply to initiate the changes you have made.
Restart your PC and check if the error persists.
Assigning enough permissions to the netsh.exe file will resolve any authorization issues affecting it. Check ways to fix the Access denied error on Windows 11.
Left-click the Start button, type the command and select Run as administrator from the drop-down.
Click Yes if the User Account Control prompt appears.
Type the following and press Enter: netsh winsock reset
Restart your PC and check if the issue persists.
Resetting Winsock can fix issues that may interfere with the netsh int ip command on your PC. Read our guide about what to do if the Winsock registry entries are missing on your computer.
3. Uninstall antivirus software
Press Windows + R key to open the Run dialog box, type control in the text bar, and press Enter to open the Control Panel.
Set the View by to Category, and select Uninstall a program under Programs.
Locate the antivirus software from the lists of programs, right-click on it and click Uninstall from the drop-down.
Restart your PC.
Uninstalling the antivirus software will automatically remove any interference it has on the command.
4. Run additional commands
Left-click the Start button and type Command Prompt in the text bar.
Right-click on the first result and select Run as administrator from the drop-down.
Type the following commands in the command bar and press Enter after each command: ipconfig /flushdnsipconfig /releaseipconfig /renew
Restart your PC and run the netsh int ip reset command to see if the issue persists.